-
'Frankie Go Boom' Announced for Blu-ray[teaser]Jordan Roberts' zany comedy hits Blu-ray in May. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Universal Studios says 'Frankie Go Boom' will have a Blu-ray release on May 14. Two brothers, a girl with a broken heart, a sex tape, an angel... and a pig. For his whole life, Frank (Charlie Hunnam) has been tortured, embarrassed and humiliated on film by his horrible brother, Bruce (Chris O'Dowd). When Bruce makes and uploads a video of a disastrous one-night stand featuring Frank, the sex tape immediately becomes a viral hit and things really hit the fan. Will Jack (Chris Noth), Bruce's violent drug-fiend rehab buddy, find out it's his daughter (Lizzy Caplan) in the video? Can Phyllis (Ron Perlman), Bruce's transsexual computer hacker prison buddy, get them out of trouble? 'Frankie Go Boom' is a comedy about brotherly hate, amateur porn, and the dangers of online fame. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements will include: Behind the Scenes: Interviews with Roberts and his ensemble; Deleted and Alternate Scenes: Roberts introduces each omitted scene with insights into his editing process; and Pig in the Pool: A short featurette surrounding one of the film's most memorable characters, a pig. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $26.98. You can find the latest specs for 'Frankie Go Boom' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's now indexed under May 14.Posted Fri Mar 1, 2013 at 08:00 AM PST by: -
Breakthrough Products Featuring Flexible Displays Three Years Away[teaser]Uses for products like Willow glass are temporarily elusive. [/teaser] Flexible glass displays, the key to rollaway displays of all sizes, is now practical in many aspects, according to an interview between Corning Glass Technologies President James Clappin and Bloomberg. What's missing in part are the flexible components required to make a completely flexible device, but what Clappin is stressing is that the end product goal is lacking. "People are not accustomed to glass you roll up. The ability of people to take it and use it to make a product is limited." While tablets and cell phones are the most obvious target products, the fact remains that a flexible display could be useful for all sorts of portable and space maximizing conditions. Unrolling a display like a newspaper or a bed sheet could be game changer for many, but the other use that is being tested is for wearable displays, such as watches and shirts. Wearable displays are prime targets for solar power, just as all flexible displays are targets for touch capability. Whether it is projector-less bed sheet size displays or a new line of display clothing, three years begins to seem too short a time. Source:Bloomberg via GizmodoPosted Fri Mar 1, 2013 at 07:00 AM PST by: -
Reminder: 'Skyfall' Contest Ends TodayDon't miss your chance to win a free copy of the James Bond blockbuster hit (and now Oscar winner!) 'Skyfall' on Blu-ray. Our contest ends tonight. Get your entries in while you still can!Posted Fri Mar 1, 2013 at 07:00 AM PST by: -
Theatrical Review: 'Jack the Giant Slayer'It may be the biggest movie of the year, or at least the tallest. After a year's delay (the film was originally scheduled for release last summer), is Bryan Singer's fairy tale adventure 'Jack the Giant Slayer' a towering achievement, or a monstrous dud? High-Def Digest's Luke Hickman weighs in with his review in the blog today.Posted Fri Mar 1, 2013 at 06:15 AM PST by: -
'The Other Son' Blu-ray Detailed[teaser]The 2012 French drama from director Lorraine Levy headed for Blu-ray in March has now been detailed. [/teaser] As previously reported, Entertainment One is working on 'The Other Son' for Blu-ray on March 19. Joseph (Jules Sitruk), an 18-year-old musician preparing to join the Israeli army for his mandatory military service, lives at home in a comfortable suburb of Tel Aviv with his parents, France-born physician Orith (Emmanuelle Devos) and Israel-born army commander Alon Silbers (Pascal Elbé). A blood test for Joseph's military service reveals that he is not their biological son; during the Gulf War Joseph was evacuated from a clinic along with another baby; both were given back to the wrong families. While the Palestinian Joseph went to Tel Aviv with the Silbers, their actual Jewish son, Yacine (Medhi Dehbi) was brought to the West Bank by the Arab couple, Said (Khalifa Natour) and Leila (Areen Omari). The revelation turns the lives of the two families upside-down, forcing them to reassess their respective identities, values and beliefs. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements will include a making-of featurette, deleted scenes, blooper reel, and more. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $34.95. You can find the latest specs for 'The Other Son' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under March 19.Posted Fri Mar 1, 2013 at 06:00 AM PST by: -
'The Last Stand' Announced for Blu-ray[teaser]Kim Jee-Woon's explosive action flick starring Arnold Schwarzenegger has been dated for Blu-ray release in April. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Lionsgate says 'The Last Stand' is coming to Blu-ray on April 30. After leaving his LAPD narcotics post following a bungled operation that left him wracked with remorse and regret, Sheriff Ray Owens (Schwarzenegger) moved out of Los Angeles and settled into a life fighting what little crime takes place in the sleepy border town of Sommerton Junction. But that peaceful existence is shattered when Gabriel Cortez (Eduardo Noriega), the most notorious, wanted drug kingpin in the western hemisphere, makes a deadly yet spectacular escape from an FBI prisoner convoy. With the help of a fierce band of lawless mercenaries led by the icy Burrell (Peter Stormare), Cortez begins racing towards the US-Mexico border at 250 mph in a specially-outfitted Corvette ZR1 with a hostage in tow. Cortez' path: straight through Summerton Junction, where the whole of the U.S. law enforcement, including Agent John Bannister (Forest Whitaker) will have their final opportunity to intercept him before the violent fugitive slips across the border forever. At first reluctant to become involved, and then counted out because of the perceived ineptitude of his small town force, Owens ultimately rallies his team and takes the matter into his own hands, setting the stage for a classic showdown. Specs have yet to be revealed, but supplements include: Not In My Town: Making The Last Stand; Cornfield Chaos; The Dinkum Firearm and Historic Weaponry Museum; Actor-Cam Anarchy: with Johnny Knoxville and Jaimie Alexander; and Deleted/Extended & Alternate Scenes. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is still undetermined at this time. You can find the latest specs for 'The Last Stand' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under April 30.Posted Thu Feb 28, 2013 at 12:00 PM PST by: -
'Texas Chainsaw - 3D' Announced for Blu-ray[teaser]A new take on the classic horror franchise comes to Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D in April. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Lionsgate says 'Texas Chainsaw - 3D' is coming to Blu-ray on April 30. In Newt, Texas, people have been going missing without a trace for decades. Years later and hundreds of miles away from the original massacre, a young girl named Heather (Daddario) discovers that she has inherited a sprawling Texas estate from an unknown grandmother. To claim her estate, Heather goes on a road trip with her friends to Newt, but soon learns that wealth comes at a price when she discovers the horror that waits in the cellar of her new mansion. The Blu-ray 3D/Blu-ray/Ultraviolet Digital Copy combo pack will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements include: Two Audio Commentaries: The first with producer Carl Mazzocone and filmmaker Tobe Hooper, the second with Chainsaw Alumni Bill Moseley, Gunnar Hansen, Marilyn Burns and John Dugan; Texas Chainsaw Legacy: A look back at the history and 40-year legacy of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre series with Hooper; Resurrecting the Saw: A look at the development of Texas Chainsaw with director John Luessenhop, producer Carl Mazzocone and writers Adam Marcus, Debra Sullivan, Kirsten Elms and Stephen Susco; The Old Homestead: A detailed look at the re-creation of the shooting location from the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre with production designer William A. Elliott and cast members (and Chainsaw series alumni) Moseley, Hansen, Burns and Dugan; Casting Terror: Interviews with the cast, including Alexandra Daddario, Trey Songz, Tania Reynolds, Keram Malicki-Sanchez, Kyle Eastwood, Sean Sipos and others; Leatherface 2013: An interview with Leatherface actor Dan Yeager on his interpretation of this legendary role, along with a look at the creation of Leatherface's costume, mask and signature chainsaw; Lights, Camera, Mayhem: A look at the film's 3D photography with DP Anastas Michos, along with a look at the creation of several sequences from the film; It's in the Meat: A detailed look at the film's grisly special make-up effects with make-up effects supervisor Robert Kurtzman, and make-up artists Alex Diaz and Mike McCarty; and On-Set Short Subjects: Five Minute Massacres. Suggested list price for the release is still undetermined at this time. You can find the latest specs for 'Texas Chainsaw - 3D' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under April 30.Posted Thu Feb 28, 2013 at 10:00 AM PST by: -
'Murdoch Mysteries: Season 5' & 'Murdoch Mysteries: Seasons 1-4 Value Pack' Blu-rays Announced[teaser]Next week will be the perfect time to catch up on the hit Canadian crime drama on Blu-ray. [/teaser] In an announcement to retailers, Acorn Media has revealed 'Murdoch Mysteries: Season 5' (along with a Seasons 1-4 Value Pack) for Blu-ray on March 5. Based on the characters from award-winning author Maureen Jennings’ Detective Murdoch novels, the acclaimed Canadian series has garnered 25 Gemini® nominations to its credit, including Best Writing and Best Dramatic Series. Set in Victorian-era Toronto, this mystery series follows Detective William Murdoch (Yannick Bisson, 'Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye') as he investigates the city’s most challenging cases and encounters the famous figures of his day. Seasons 1-4 aired in Canada on CityTV (2008 – 2011), and the first season aired on select PBS stations in the U.S. A fifth season aired in Canada in 2012, and a sixth season is airing in early 2013. Acorn previously released Season 1-4 in individual season sets on DVD and Blu-ray. Bonus features include: Pilot episode commentary, interviews with the author and cast (18 min.), behind-the-scenes featurettes (30 min.), Season 3 alternate ending, Season 4 alternate love letters (2 min.), photo galleries, and character biographies. Still reeling from a personal and professional crisis, Murdoch has taken up gold prospecting at the start of Season 5. Soon he’s back in detective mode, helping a woman accused of murder; investigating an Egyptian curse; experimenting with time travel; and crossing paths with Jack London, Henry Ford, and his idol, Alexander Graham Bell. Meanwhile, Dr. Ogden (Gemini® winner Hélène Joy, 'Durham County') hires a feisty new coroner, Dr. Emily Grace (Georgina Reilly, 'The L.A. Complex'), who catches the eye of Constable Crabtree (Jonny Harris, 'Hatching, Matching & Dispatching'). Season 5 guest stars include Aaron Ashmore ('Smallville'), Matthew Bennett ('Battlestar Galactica'), Peter Keleghan ('The Red Green Show'), Lisa Faulker ('Murder in Suburbia'), and opera star Measha Brueggergosman. Season 5 aired in Canada on CityTV in 2012 but has not aired in the U.S. Special Features include: Season overview (5 min.); featurettes for episodes 1, 5, and 6 (11 min.); costume design featurette (2 min.); and sound bites (6 min.) Suggested list price for Season 5 is $59.99 and the Seasons 1-4 Value Pack is $149.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Murdoch Mysteries: Season 5' & 'Murdoch Mysteries: Seasons 1-4 Value Pack' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where they're indexed under March 5.Posted Thu Feb 28, 2013 at 08:00 AM PST by: -
'My Neighbor Totoro' and 'Howl's Moving Castle' Blu-ray Supplements Detailed[teaser]Bonus features have now been detailed for the two animated masterpieces from Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki on their way to Blu-ray in May. [/teaser] As previously reported, Disney/Buena Vista will be releasing 'My Neighbor Totoro' and 'Howl's Moving Castle' on Blu-ray on May 21. 'My Neighbor Totoro' - Disney presents a Studio Ghibli film about the magic of friendship and sisterhood from Academy Award®-winning director Hayao Miyazaki (Best Animated Feature, 2001, Spirited Away). Celebrate the 25th anniversary of My Neighbor Totoro – available for the first time on Disney Blu-ray, with a new HD digital transfer and perfect picture and sound! Follow the adventures of Satsuki and her four-year-old sister Mei as they discover their new neighbor is a mysterious forest spirit named Totoro who can only be seen by the eyes of a child. As Totoro introduces the girls to his extraordinary friends, they embark on the journey of a lifetime. Featuring the voice talents of Tim Daly, Lea Salonga and real-life sisters Dakota and Elle Fanning, My Neighbor Totoro is an amazing animated adventure the whole family will fall in love with. Specs have yet to be detailed, but supplements include: Behind the Microphone; Behind the Studio; Original Japanese Storyboards; and Original Japanese Trailer. 'Howl's Moving Castle' - A simple young girl called Sophie is put under a curse by the evil Witch Of The Waste, transforming her into an ugly old woman. Ashamed of her appearance, Sophie deserts her hat shop and heads into the hills in search of a cure. She comes across the strange, yet awesome Moving Castle, the abode of the much-feared magician, Howl. Inside the castle, Sophie befriends the fire demon Calcifer, who can see through the spell and offers to help her return to her natural form. For his efforts, however, Sophie must help Calcifer break the contract he has with Howl, the details of which he is forbidden to explain. So Sophie assumes the position of the castle's cleaning lady and gets close to the young, handsome Howl, who takes a fancy to the young Sophie, whom he can also see behind her withered facade. Specs have yet to be detailed, but supplements include: Behind the Microphone; Interview with Pixar Animation Studios Director Pete Docter; Hello Mr. Lasseter: Hayao Miyazaki Visits Pixar Animation Studios; Original Japanese Storyboards; and Original Japanese TV Spots and Trailers. Suggested list price for each Blu-ray combo pack is $39.99. You can find the latest specs for 'My Neighbor Totoro' and 'Howl's Moving Castle' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where they're indexed under May 21.Posted Thu Feb 28, 2013 at 06:00 AM PST by: -
High-Def Digest's Essential Picks: February 2013by Steven Cohen Every month, dozens of Blu-rays hit shelves, littering stores with high-def temptation. New releases, catalog titles, complete TV seasons, and elaborate box-sets all vie for affection, and with so many worthy releases targeting our wallets, choosing which discs to spend our hard earned cash on can be rather tricky. To make things a little easier, we here at High-Def Digest thought it might be helpful to bring you our top three must own recommendations for the month. From important classics to contemporary blockbusters, these are the discs that we consider to be the absolute cream of the crop. High quality releases with great video, audio, and supplements, these are the Blu-rays that are truly worth every penny. Last month we spotlighted a gritty cop drama, a Woody Allen classic, and an action-packed sci-fi reboot. If you haven't already, be sure to check out the Essential Picks for November, December, and January. After a fairly underwhelming start to 2013, the last few weeks have actually been packed with a great assortment of top-notch Blu-rays, including a 007 blockbuster, an epic clash of kings, and a thrilling Best Picture winner. [teaser]If you can only buy three titles that hit Blu-ray in February, here's what we suggest you pick up, starting with the most essential...[/teaser] 'Skyfall' - When it was announced that a third Daniel Craig James Bond adventure was finally going into production, I was relieved. Then, when Academy Award winning director Sam Mendes was confirmed to be helming the picture, I was intrigued. And then, when celebrated cinematographer Roger Deakins was announced to be shooting the movie… well, I think had a bit of a film geek heart attack. Suffice to say, I was fully expecting 'Skyfall' to deliver the goods, and thankfully, despite a few easily forgivable hiccups, the impressive creative team delivers in spades. Fully acknowledging the series' important 50th Anniversary milestone, the script is packed with loving nods to the franchise's history, while also carving a unique identity of its own. All the essential elements of Bond are here -- the exotic locations, the beautiful women, the larger-than-life stunts, the cheeky quips, the shaken (not stirred) martinis, etc. -- but the filmmakers opt to put a slightly new spin on the proceedings, choosing to play up certain classic Bond aspects while diminishing -- but not altogether ignoring -- others. This allows the movie to further the more "realistic" interpretation started in 'Casino Royale,' without losing the sense of escapist extravagance that makes the franchise so fun to watch. The third act does take a notable departure from typical 007 fare, but this gamble pays off, and manages to result in a strong emotional component that emphasizes the interesting relationship between Craig's infamous philanderer and the only woman who's ever truly been able to tame him. In fact, while Naomie Harris and Berenice Marlohe both light up the screen with sultry allure, in her own way, it's really Dame Judi Dench who becomes the film's ultimate Bond Girl. While 'Quantum of Solace' was forgettable (seriously, I can’t even say whether I liked it or not because I literally don't remember any of it), 'Skyfall' further elaborates on the strong promise established in 'Casino Royale,' leaving viewers with a 21st century 007. The Blu-ray itself is mesmerizing, the Oscar winning sound editing is sure to give your home theater a workout, and Roger Deakins' Oscar nominated (but sadly not winning) cinematography is an absolute treasure trove of eye candy (the film's lighting design is impeccable). Considering the various interpretations the character has gone through over the years, it's nearly impossible to completely satisfy every faction of Bond fandom. Though the flick does have its detractors, I think Mendes and company really have done a remarkable balancing act, resulting in one of the most successful entries in the series to date. Action-packed, exciting, visually arresting, and thoroughly entertaining, this is February's top must own title. 'Game of Thrones: The Complete Second Season' - I'm not sure if I've mentioned this yet, but I really like HBO's 'Game of Thrones.' In fact, I've already spent two lengthy reviews extolling my great love for the series, and yet somehow I still haven't run out of good things to say about it. Hell, now that I look back at my last review, I can't believe just how much I didn't get to touch upon. Every element of the show's production and storytelling is so densely layered, that I could probably go on and on about even the most minute details. With that in mind, I'm now going to use this opportunity to elaborate on two aspects of the series that I failed to discuss in my full review. First up -- Lena Heady. Wow. The actress was already impressive in season one, but what she does over the course of the second season (especially in episode 9), is just plain incredible. Cercei is not a likeable woman, and it would be all too easy for her character to come across as one dimensional, but the actress completely imbues her with a believable undercurrent of vulnerability and genuine pathos. As Tyrion himself points out, her one redeemable quality is her love for her children, and this comes to a head in episode 9. The actress' performance is simply masterful, balancing every conflicting range of emotion she's experiencing. From her torment of Sansa, to the brilliantly cut sequence where she tells her son a "little story" about lions, and stags, and wolves -- she somehow creates a character that is regal, motherly, petty, manipulative, terrifying, tragic, and reprehensible all at once. In a cast full of standout performances, her turn in "Blackwater" really does rise above them all. While the first season offered some tiny hints of the supernatural, this batch of episodes takes us further into the realm of fantasy. Newborn dragons, White Walkers, shadow assassins, and creepy warlocks all make appearances, and the show's treatment of magic continues to be unique, avoiding many of the clichés and cheesiness sometimes associated with the genre. In the world of 'Game of Thrones,' spells don't just conjure up with the twirl of a wand. Instead, there is something dark, primal, and inherently physical about the show's take on the otherworldly. Likewise, many of the characters are just as surprised by the mystical happenings as we are, further grounding these supernatural aspects in a certain level of realism. And the season's final shot? Well, much like last year, it's pure fantasy awesomeness. Again, I could continue pointing out even more impressive feats of acting and writing that litter the series, but really I think you all get the idea. This is one of the best shows on TV, and this set from HBO features demo worthy video and audio, and a great assortment of special features. It's a must own release in every sense of the word. While I continue to count down the days until season three premieres, HBO has decided to help make the wait a little less agonizing by finally releasing the first trailer (embedded below). You know what? I think I was wrong. After watching that, the wait is even more agonizing now! 'Argo' - A harrowing hostage situation and a cheesy science fiction ripoff. Under normal circumstances, these are two worlds that should have absolutely no association with each other -- but in 1979, the United States Government and Hollywood thought differently. Based on actual events, Ben Affleck's 'Argo' is a classically structured suspense thriller with a true-to-life twist, celebrating the unlikely intermingling of international crisis and flying saucers. Packed with edge-of-your-seat drama and palpable tension, the movie is among 2012's most absorbing, giving viewers an enthralling and anxiety-ridden experience that holds up surprisingly well under repeat viewings. Every element of the writing, editing, and directing works to create an aura of suspense, and Affleck goes a step further by including a faintly satirical sense of humor that never undermines the film's strong sense of danger. Fun jabs at Hollywood add some levity to the situation, and Alan Arkin and John Goodman both turn in memorable performances. More than just a source of laughs, however, the moviemaking connection is also used to draw some interesting parallels. One cross-cutting montage sequence is particularly striking. As we see images of the turmoil in Iran juxtaposed against an elaborate Hollywood table read (complete with silly costumes and lavish media fanfare), we suddenly realize just how bizarre the incongruity between these worlds is, and just how much is resting on the success of their improbable union. Really, my only complaint about the runtime is just how transparent the script's third act divergences from history become, with the writer relying on all the most basic and predictable Hollywood suspense embellishments imaginable. Thankfully, though a tad forced, these tried-and-true beats are executed perfectly, proving that when done right, clichéd plotting can actually work. In fact, it can work brilliantly. The film's final images are actually among my favorites from any movie released last year. Filled with an endearing fondness for science fiction wonder, these closing shots add some nostalgic perspective, further reinforcing the unbelievable reality that rests at the core of the film -- that one day in 1979, a silly little story about spacemen and aliens actually played some small part in helping to save six lives. Recently crowned the Best Picture winner of 2012, 'Argo' is a great suspense film that hits all the right beats. It's not my personal pick for the year's best film, but it's certainly deserving of recognition. This disc from Warner Brothers is technically strong, helping to make the movie an easy selection to cap off this month's top three must own titles. Also, if nothing else, the film is responsible for creating one of my favorite movie catch phrases of all time. Basically, if you don't want to pick up this disc, then just 'Argo' f*&%# yourself! So, there you have it. While there are many titles worth picking up this February, those are our top three must own recommendations. We'll be back next month with three more essential picks, but for now, what do you think of our selection? What are your choices for February's must own titles?Posted Wed Feb 27, 2013 at 04:15 PM PST by:
