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'Willow: 25th Anniversary Edition' Blu-ray Dated and Detailed[teaser]The 1988 fantastical adventure makes its high-definition debut this March! [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, 20th Century Fox has slated 'Willow: 25th Anniversary Edition' for Blu-ray on March 12. Written and produced by George Lucas and directed by Ron Howard, the film tells a timeless fantasy tale in which heroes come in all sizes...and adventure is the greatest magic of all. In celebration of its 25th anniversary, the unforgettable classic has been fully digitally restored in a 25th Anniversary Edition. When young Willow Ufgood (Warwick Davis; 'Harry Potter' franchise) finds an abandoned baby girl, he learns she is destined to end the reign of the wicked Queen Bavmorda (Jean Marsh; “Upstairs, Downstairs”). In order to protect the child, Willow must team up with a rogue swordsman (Val Kilmer; 'Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang') and overcome the forces of darkness in the ultimate battle of good versus evil! The Blu-ray/DVD combo pack will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements will include: All-new Digital Transfer Overseen by Lucasfilm; NEW Willow: Deleted Scenes with Ron Howard; NEW Willow: An Unlikely Hero Personal Video Diary of Warwick Davis; The Making of an Adventure with an all new introduction from Ron Howard; From Morf to Morphing with an all new introduction from Dennis Muren; Matte Paintings; and Easter Egg. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is still undetermined at this time. You can find the latest specs for 'Willow: 25th Anniversary Edition' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under March 12.Posted Fri Dec 14, 2012 at 10:00 AM PST by: -
A&E Channels Go Streaming on the iPad[teaser]Included are A&E, Lifetime and The History Channel. [/teaser] You can debate how much "A" is actually being shown by the Arts and Entertainment network, but there is a slew of popular shows just waiting to be consumed. A&E, Lifetime and The History Channel have all been added for streaming on the iPad though annoyingly, they all use separate apps to do so. All of the apps are free, as is the streaming. The selection seems to be pretty comprehensive too, so if you're a fan of any of the three channels, you're in luck. A&E The History Channel LifetimePosted Fri Dec 14, 2012 at 09:00 AM PST by: -
'Dangerous Liaisons' Remake Hitting Blu-ray[teaser]The 2012 Asian film will arrive on Blu-ray this February. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Well Go USA is prepping 'Dangerous Liaisons' for a Blu-ray release on February 12. 1930s Shanghai: the glamorous, tumultuous “Paris of the East” whose salons, streets and bedrooms frame this Chinese adaptation of Pierre Choderlos de Laclos’ “Les Liaisons Dangereuses” into a lush, new vision. Zhang Ziyi ('Memoirs of a Geisha,' 'Til Death Do Us Part'), Jang Dong-Gun ('My Way,' 'Friend') and Cecilia Cheung ('Legendary Amazons') embody the classic triangle under the direction of Jin-ho Hur ('A Good Rain Knows') in the timeless story about an aging socialite's infatuation with her ex-boyfriend that manifests itself as a risky game, where her former lover agrees to seduce, then abandon a naive young woman.. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements include: Behind the Scenes" Featurette, "The Making of Dangerous Liaisons" Featurette, and Trailer. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $29.98. You can find the latest specs for 'Dangerous Liaisons' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under February 12.Posted Fri Dec 14, 2012 at 08:00 AM PST by: -
'House of Cards Trilogy: Special Edition' Announced for Blu-ray[teaser]Andrew Davies' acclaimed political TV series is getting the Blu-ray treatment in January. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Warner Brothers/BBC has set 'House of Cards Trilogy: Special Edition' for a Blu-ray release on January 15. Adapted for the screen by Andrew Davies ('Pride and Prejudice,' 'Bleak House'), 'House of Cards' is a spell-binding dissection of naked ambition, greed and rampant hypocrisy in the corridors of power. The series documents in thrilling detail the rise of Tory Chief Whip Francis Urquhart (Ian Richardson, 'Dark City,' 'Becoming Jane'), a man with unwavering contempt for those with "no background, no bottom." With the downfall of Margaret Thatcher, a bitter internecine power struggle ensues within the Conservative Party. Urquhart schemes more devilishly than Iago to depose Thatcher's colorless John Major-style successor. And even Machiavelli would baulk at Urquhart's methods. Any and every act -- including murder -- is legitimate and the ends very much justify the means. Specs have yet to be revealed, but supplements will include: Commentary for Ep 1 of each season with Davies and star Ian Richardson; Andrew Davies on "To Play The King" controversy; and TBC: Westminster Behind Closed Doors With Tony Benn. Suggested list price for the 3-Disc Blu-ray set is $49.99. You can find the latest specs for 'House of Cards Trilogy: Special Edition' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under January 15.Posted Fri Dec 14, 2012 at 06:00 AM PST by: -
Theatrical Review: 'The Hobbit'Peter Jackson's highly-anticipated return to Middle Earth opens Friday morning, and HDD's Luke Hickman has a review. Does the movie live up to the hype? What did he think of the 48 fps photography? Check out what Luke has to say in the blog today!Posted Thu Dec 13, 2012 at 04:20 PM PST by: -
High-Def Digest's Holiday Gift Guide 2012: HD Gear & Demo Material[teaser]We've once again researched and tested the top equipment available, watched all the latest Blu-rays on the market, and scoured the net for the very best deals, all to give you HDD's 2012 Gift Guide to HD Gear & Demo Material![/teaser] by Michael S. Palmer Happy holidays, HDD Readers! Tis the season where you best be on the lookout for new HD gear for your loved ones (or yourself!). 2012 has been an exciting high definition year for me, personally. A few months ago, I purchased the 3D Plasma display of my dreams, a Panny VT50 along with a new 3D-capable AVR. For enthusiasts like us, other than your very first HD purchase, I'm not sure if there's anything better than swapping out aging gear for the latest and gee-whiz greatest. When I was a kid, we had the same TV for what felt like centuries, and then, when we did go out and get a new one, chances are we placed it right on top of the old TV because it was too heavy to remove. But everything changes so quickly these days... Blu-ray version 1.0 to 2.0. HDMI 1.1 to 1.4a. 3D. 4K capabilities. It's hard to keep up with the technology itself, let alone the cost of constant upgrades. So we wait. Years go by. Prices plummet. And finally, when we can't takes it no more, a trip to the store to research the 2012 HD Gear Gift Guide turns into an cat n' mouse dance of haggling and epic credit card bills. Enough about me, though. I want to let you guys know about some excellent 2012 gear at a few different price points. Everything here is top notch in terms of image and sound, and includes all the latest Internet connectivity, streaming, and 3D capabilities. Friends, I hope this is your year for an upgrade. I hope you love what you get. I hope you inspire passion in others to care about picture and sound. But most of all, thank you for reading our humble site. Thank you for loving film and television. DISPLAYS Bargain 3D: Panasonic's ST50 Series. What's to Love: Other than a few filters, calibration menus, appearance, and THX-mode, Panasonic's cheaper plasmas include most of the same technology from their flagship televisions. According to CNET, the ST50 series outperforms black levels on most 2011 plasmas, and you can pick up one for less than $1,000 (for the 50-incher) and less than $2,000 (for the 65-incher). They also include built-in WiFi with access to Vierra Connect streaming services. The ST50 series are available in the following sizes: 50-inches, 55-inches, 60-inches, and 65-inches. Potential Tradeoffs: There are certainly better televisions, and cheaper televisions, but there aren't any televisions that are bigger and better at these price points. As always, plasmas are constructed with a reflective glass panel, which isn't great in overly bright rooms. For the Bright Room: LG's Cinema Screen LM6700 Series. What's to Love: Light and bright, the beautifully styled LG LM6700 series TVs are Internet ready, ship with six pairs of passive 3D glasses, and features 4 HDMI inputs. They do need a bit of calibration to tone down the factory defaults, but once set up right, these TVs look sharp and don't suffer from terrible amounts of light bleed. The 55-inch LG-55LM6700 will set you back just under $1,500, and the smaller 47-inch LG-47LM6700 just over a grand. Potential Tradeoffs: Passive 3D technology may be a little easier on the eyes than Active Shutter glasses, but there's a trade off in resolution, which may be noticeable to some viewers. Best Overall Picture Quality: Panasonic VT50 Series. What's to Love: Panasonic's flagship VT50 series boasts the inkiest black levels of any plasma television available in 2012. It's still not quite KURO good, but it's damn close. The VT50 is built with a single sheet of glass, making the display appear slim and futuristic. The built-in ambient filter also helps reduce reflections. I just purchased one of these, and the 3D experience is truly immersive and breathtaking (check out the 3D demos listed below). I tested a passive 3D TV last year for this list, but didn't love the loss in resolution. Some active shutter glasses give me headaches, but I've watched full two to three hour movies on this TV and enjoyed every minute. Incredible picture and black levels, I can't recommend this display enough. The 65-inch TC-P65VT50 is under $3,400 and the 55-inch TC-P55VT50 is under $2,300. Potential Tradeoffs: It's pricy, does not come with any $80/pair 3D glasses, the included plastic stand is surprisingly flimsy, there is minor crosstalk with 3D content, and side-facing HDMI inputs are annoying. Better Black Levels than Kuro: Sharp Elite PRO-X5FD LED TVs. What's to Love: From what I've seen and read, this is the best looking LED TV on the market, with black levels and contrast that outperforms even the old Kuros. The massive 70-inch Pro-70X5FD, and the 60-inch Pro-60X5FD will set you back around $5,000 and $4,600, respectively, and includes two pairs of 3D glasses. Potential Tradeoffs: The most expensive model listed here, the X5FD might be overkill and it doesn't perform as well at off-angles than the aformentioned plasmas. BLU-RAY DISC PLAYERS Best Bang for Your Buck: Panasonic DMP-BDT220. What's to Love: Much like last year's BDT210, the Panasonic BDT220 loads Blu-rays faster than just about any standalone machine, plays back 3D content and, thru Viera Connect and built-in WiFi, includes all the best streaming services like Netflix, Hulu Plus, Vudu, Amazon, Pandora, Skype, and MLB.tv. There's also an front panel SD card slot and USB input. CNET calls it the "best Blu-ray value of 2012". Pick one up for less than $100. Potential Tradeoffs: No support for DivX, Xvid, or subscription music services like Spotify. The Gold Standard: OPPO BDP-103 What's to Love: Brand new for this year, the BDP-103 includes everything we love about Oppo BD players -- 3D playback, the ability to play just about any digital file, 7.1 analog audio outputs -- but its Marvell Qdeo video processor is capable of upscaling video to 4K. There are also dual HDMI outputs as well as dual inputs to take advantage of the audio and video processing on board. Through in unmatched build quality, Netflix/Pandora/Vudu streaming, and Vertical Stretch Mode for constant height projection setups, and this is an outstanding Blu-ray player. [FYI, if you're big on importing titles, for a few hundred dollars more, you can get a Region Free OPPO BDP-93.] Potential Tradeoffs: At $499, Oppo Blu-ray players are more expensive than many stand alone units. A/V RECEIVERS The Entry Level Bargain:Posted Thu Dec 13, 2012 at 01:30 PM PST by: -
'Silent Hill: Revelation' Dated and Detailed for Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D[teaser]The horror sequel based on the popular video games will arrive in two HD flavors this February. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Universal is preparing 'Silent Hill: Revelation' Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy combo pack and 'Silent Hill: Revelation - 3D' Blu-ray 3D/Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy combo pack for release on February 12. When her father disappears, Heather Mason is drawn into a strange and terrifying alternate reality that holds answers to the horrific nightmares that have plagued her since childhood. The releases will feature 1080p video, DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtracks, and there doesn't appear to be any supplements for either release. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is set $34.98 and the Blu-ray 3D is $49.98. You can find the latest specs for 'Silent Hill: Revelation' and 'Silent Hill: Revelation - 3D' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where they're both indexed under February 12.Posted Thu Dec 13, 2012 at 12:00 PM PST by: -
Redbox Instant Details Announced - $9.00 for Streaming and Four Blu-ray Rentals[teaser]A beta test will be launching this month that includes 30 days of free service. [/teaser] After seeing a few leaked details for Rebox Instant we came away underwhelmed. Getting a look at the whole package though, we can say that this is pretty exciting – especially for Blu-ray fans. The service runs $8.00 a month for unlimited streaming and four DVD rental credits. If you want to upgrade those to Blu-ray, it's just a buck more. So for $9.00 a month you get four Blu-ray rental credits, each good for a one day rental – that's $1.50 each so the total comes to $6.00. That leaves $3.00 for unlimited streaming on iOS and Android devices, TVs and other gear from Samsung and LG as well as Google TV. Not a bad deal by any means, and a welcome alternative to Netflix. We'll let you know more about beta information as soon as we have it. Source: Home Media MagazinePosted Thu Dec 13, 2012 at 11:00 AM PST by: -
'Major Dundee' and 'The Song of Bernadette' Announced for Blu-ray[teaser]The classic western and acclaimed drama are bound for Blu-ray this April. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Twilight Time has set 'Major Dundee' and 'The Song of Bernadette' for a Blu-ray release on April 9. Sam Peckinpah's 'Major Dundee' stars Charlton Heston as a cavalryman who leads an army into Mexico to hunt down a rogue band of Apaches, and Henry King's 'The Song of Bernadette' is set in 1858 France where it is believed that a young girl has a vision of the Virgin Mary at the city dump. Specs, supplements, and suggested list prices have yet to be set, but each Blu-ray release will be a limited edition of 3000 units. You can find the latest specs for 'Major Dundee' and 'The Song of Bernadette' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where they're indexed under April 9.Posted Thu Dec 13, 2012 at 10:00 AM PST by: -
CALM Goes In Effect Today – Commercials are Getting Quieter[teaser]It's been a long time coming, but commercials are finally getting toned down. [/teaser] So there you are, watching your favorite show. You're really invested in the plot that's unfolding – the main character is going through some sort of emotional trauma and you're on the edge of tears. Then bam, a commercial comes on that's so loud it jolts you out of your mood. Commercials are interruption enough, but when they're significantly louder than the show you're watching, they can be downright infuriating. The Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation Act, otherwise known as CALM, is in effect as of today. This requires that ads be brought down to a level that's manageable and won't blow out your eardrums unexpectedly. The CALM act has no influence on the quality of ads though, so expect more talking babies and anthropomorphized animals. Source: EngadgetPosted Thu Dec 13, 2012 at 09:00 AM PST by:
