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Theatrical Review: 'The Bourne Legacy'Can the Bourne franchise survive without Jason Bourne? Does Jeremy Renner have what it takes to grab the reins from Matt Damon? Our theatrical reviewer Luke Hickman takes a look at 'The Bourne Legacy'. Read his review in the blog today.Posted Thu Aug 9, 2012 at 12:15 PM PDT by: -
'Ella Enchanted' Dated for Blu-ray[teaser]The 2004 fantasy rom-com starring Anne Hathaway will magically appear on Blu-ray this October. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Lionsgate says 'Ella Enchanted' will arrive on Blu-ray on October 16. Ella lives in a fanciful and magical world where all children are given a "gift" from a fairy Godmother at the moment of their birth. Little Ella's birthright is the gift--and curse--of obedience. As a result of this unfortunate circumstance, Ella cannot refuse any command, and is often left at the mercy of unscrupulous personalities. In a bid to regain control of her life, Ella goes on a quest to free herself from this mysterious curse. Ella must outwit a kingdom filled with ogres, giants, wicked stepsisters, talking books and evil plots. And, if she's lucky, she may find love. Specs and supplements haven't been revealed yet, but the suggested list price for the Blu-ray/DVD combo pack is $14.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Ella Enchanted' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under October 16.Posted Thu Aug 9, 2012 at 12:00 PM PDT by: -
Acer Announces Laser/LED Projector Hybrids[teaser]They say the combination gives you a better picture, but its the energy savings that are really impressive.[/teaser] The folks at Acer have a first on the way. It's called the K750, and it's the first projector to combine laser and LED technologies for its light source. Acer says that you'll get better color saturation to 85% of NTSC thanks to the system of three independant sources. You'll also find a 100,000:1 contrast ratio and 1,500 lumens brightness. The more tauted stat, however, is the energy savings that comes with this combo. Not only will you get 20,000 hours from the hazardous substance free lighting, but the projector offers an ExtremeECO mode that gives you an energy savings as high as 90%. The K750 hits the UK this month of a price around $2,650. There's not yet word on a US release. Source: EngadgetPosted Thu Aug 9, 2012 at 11:00 AM PDT by: -
'Black Magic Rites' Announced for Blu-ray[teaser]The 1973 gothic horror is hitting Blu-ray in a few weeks! [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Kino has slated 'Black Magic Rites' for Blu-ray on August 21. Director Renato Polselli ('Delirium') delivers yet another sadomasochistic shocker set in a gothic castle. Hundreds of years ago, a Jack Nelson (Mickey Hargitay) was restrained while he watched his lover Isabella (Rita Calderoni) burned at the stake for witchery. His threat that she will live again overtakes his life and he spends the next several centuries refining the method to reincarnate his precious lover. His obsession turns him into a monster, walking the Earth in search of virgins to kidnap in his attempt to raise his lover from the grave. Specs haven't been revealed yet, but the Blu-ray will include the theatrical trailer. The suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $19.95. You can find the latest specs for 'Black Magic Rites' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under August 21.Posted Thu Aug 9, 2012 at 10:00 AM PDT by: -
'The Living Dead Girl' and 'Two Orphan Vampires' Announced for Blu-ray[teaser]Two cult horrors from director Jean Rollin will sink their teeth into Blu-ray at the end of the month. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Kino's Redemption label is preparing 'The Living Dead Girl' for Blu-ray on August 28. Catherine Valmont (Francoise Blanchard, Sidewalks of Bangkok), a wealthy heiress dead before her time...is accidentally reanimated when some unfortunate movers attempt to store drums of chemical waste in the neglected burial vaults below her uninhabited chateau. It comes mastered in HD from the 35mm negative, and is presented in its original French language soundtrack with optional English subtitles. The disc includes special features, including an introduction by Jean Rollin himself; four featurettes by Daniel Gouyette: "Jean-Pierre Bouyxou on La Morte Vivante", "The Living Dead Girl:The American Version", "Music by Philippe D'Aram", and "When I Was Seventeen:An Homage to Benoit Lestang"; Jean Rollin at Fantasia (2007, 36 min.); an excerpt of an interview with Jean Rollin by Joshua T. Gravel; a 12-page booklet with an essay by Tim Lucas, editor of Video Watchdog; the original theatrical trailer; and original trailers of nine other Rollin films. The director's 'Two Orphan Vampires' will also be available on Blu-ray on the same date. 'Two Orphan Vampires' (Les Deux Orphelines Vampires) follows Henriette and Louise (Isabelle Teboul and Alexandra Pic), two blind girls of unknown origin, raised in an orphanage by two adoring nuns. Little do the nuns know, each night as the sun goes down, their 'little angels' acquire night vision (they 'see blue'), as well as an appetite for blood and teenage mischief. Rollin's entire filmography, more or less, could be summarized as a poetical consideration of death, termination, and unreality, but coming to terms with his own pending death had a way of affecting how he regarded them (the film was undertaken just as he was diagnosed with kidney failure). Something previously conceptual and child-like, nostalgic and precious in Rollin's work becomes more concrete and dimensional, unflinching and adult. When they commit one violent transgression against their kindly benefactor, the scene's abrupt and awkward brutality recalls the best of Henri-Georges Clouzot." (excerpt of the essay by Tim Lucas). Specs have yet to be revealed, but supplements will include: English dubbed version; Memories of a Blue World, the Making of Les Deux Orphelines Vampires by Daniel Gouyette, featuring interviews with the film's cast and crew; Interview with Jean Rollin by Rebecca Johnson; Twelve-page booklet with an essay by Tim Lucas, editor of Video Watchdog; original theatrical trailer; and original trailers of nine other Rollin films. Suggested list price for each Blu-ray is $24.95. You can find the latest specs for 'The Living Dead Girl' and 'Two Orphan Vampires' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where they're indexed under August 28.Posted Thu Aug 9, 2012 at 08:00 AM PDT by: -
The 48fps 'Hobbit' Getting Positive Feedback, But You Might Not See It[teaser]Apparently, not even all the theaters equipped to handle the higher frame rate will be getting the movie at 48fps.[/teaser] When 'The Hobbit' was first shown earlier this year, it didn't go over so well. The 48fps speed was unnatural, and those that watched it said that the increased frame rate made effects stand out as fake and gave the movie a TV show like feeling. Apparently, that's become less of a problem. According to Variety, the movie is looking a lot better now that post-production has started. We've got high hopes for the new style, but depending on where you live, this may be a non-issue. "The high frame-rate (HFR) version will go out to only select locations, perhaps not even into all major cities," said a source with knowledge of Warner's release plans. "The studio still wants to protect the format by going into a limited release for the HFR version, hoping to test the marketplace and expand the HFR release for the second and third installments." Source: Topless RobotPosted Thu Aug 9, 2012 at 07:00 AM PDT by: -
'Berserk: The Golden Age Arc I - The Egg of the King' Dated for Blu-ray[teaser]The anime feature based on Kentaro Miura's manga series is getting the Blu-ray treatment in November. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Warner Brothers will be releasing 'Berserk: The Golden Age Arc I - The Egg of the King' on Blu-ray on November 27. The lone mercenary Guts travels the land where a hundred-year-old war is taking place. His ferocity and ability to take down enemies attracts the attention of Griffith, the leader of a group of mercenaries called 'The Band of the Hawk.' Griffith desires Guts's power to help him achieve his goals. He succeeds in recruiting Guts by challenging and winning a duel with him. As the Band of the Hawk fight together and their bond as a unit is strengthened, Griffith and Guts' bond deepens even more. Thanks to their continued success on the battlefield, Griffith achieves the first step in fulfilling his goal: his band of mercenaries becomes a full-fledged army within the Midland Kingdom. Despite all their success, Guts begins to question his reasons for fighting for Griffith's dream. Unknown to Guts, this unyielding dream is about to bestow a horrible fate on them both. Specs, supplements, and suggested list price haven't been revealed yet. You can find the latest specs for 'Berserk: The Golden Age Arc I - The Egg of the King' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under November 27.Posted Thu Aug 9, 2012 at 06:00 AM PDT by: -
'Indiana Jones: The Complete Adventures' Blu-ray Detailed[teaser]The supplements have now been detailed for the adventurous boxed set arriving on Blu-ray in September! [/teaser] As previously reported, Paramount has slated 'Indiana Jones: The Complete Adventures' for Blu-ray in the fall, and the date is now confirmed for September 18. In June of 1981 director Steven Spielberg and executive producer George Lucas introduced the world to Indiana Jones when the unforgettable 'Raiders of the Lost Ark' debuted in theaters. Exploding to instant acclaim, the film has now been carefully restored, alongside remastered versions of the archaeologist’s other thrilling adventures—'Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom,' 'Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade' and 'Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.' Prepare for excitement, adventure and snakes—why did it have to be snakes?—all with pristine picture and sound! 'Raiders of the Lost Ark' has been painstakingly restored with careful attention to preserving the original look, sound and feel of the iconic film. The original negative was scanned at 4K and then examined frame-by-frame so that any damage could be repaired. The sound design was similarly preserved using Burtt’s original master mix, which had been archived and unused since 1981. New stereo surrounds were created using the original music tracks and original effects recorded in stereo but used previously only in mono. In addition, the sub bass was redone entirely up to modern specifications and care was taken to improve dialogue and correct small technical flaws to create the most complete and highest quality version of the sound possible while retaining the director’s vision. The Blu-ray set will feature all four films in 1080p, DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround, and supplements include: Newly produced On Set with Raiders of the Lost Ark featurettes (From Jungle to Desert and From Adventure to Legend); Indy's Women: The American Film Institute Tribute; Indy's Friends and Enemies; Iconic Props in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull; The Effects of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull; Adventures in Post Production for Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull; High definition trailers and teasers for each film; 5 Making the Films Featurettes; The Stunts of Indiana Jones; The Sound of Indiana Jones; The Music of Indiana Jones; The Light and Magic of Indiana Jones; Raiders: The Melting Face!; Indiana Jones and the Creepy Crawlies; and Travel with Indiana Jones: Locations. Suggested list price for the set is $99.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Indiana Jones: The Complete Adventures' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under September 18.Posted Wed Aug 8, 2012 at 02:05 PM PDT by: -
Stanley Kubrick's 'Fear and Desire' Dated for Blu-ray[teaser]Newly restored by the Library of Congress, Stanley Kubrick's rarely-seen first feature film is planned for Blu-ray in October! [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Kino has slated 'Fear and Desire' for Blu-ray on October 23. An existential war film that is often compared with Kubrick's 'Paths of Glory' (1957)-among three Kubrick films selected for the Library's National Film Registry-and 'Full Metal Jacket' (1987), 'Fear and Desire' follows a squad of soldiers who have crash-landed behind enemy lines and must work their way downriver to rejoin their unit. In the process, they encounter a peasant girl (Virginia Leith) and tie her to a tree, where she is tormented by a mentally unbalanced soldier (future director Paul Mazursky). Before making their escape, the soldiers determine the location of an enemy base and formulate a plot to assassinate its commanding officer. The event marks a major milestone for Kubrick aficionados as, in the years since its original release in 1953, 'Fear and Desire' has rarely screened to the public, and has never been given a proper video release in any format. "It's both the mission and privilege of the Packard Campus to preserve the breadth and depth of America's film, video, and sound recording heritage," said Mike Mashon, Head of the Library of Congress Moving Image Section. "Yet preservation is only a means towards making these treasures more accessible. We're pleased that 'Fear and Desire' can now been seen but also well protected for generations to come." "Kino Lorber is immensely grateful to the talented team at the Library of Congress for brilliantly restoring such a key work in the history of American cinema," said Kino Lorber CEO Richard Lorber. "We're honored to participate in the process of making sure this seminal film of a 24-year-old Stanley Kubrick will now be widely available-an inspiration for film students and a thrill for film lovers everywhere." Independently financed, and shot by a skeleton crew - with Kubrick controlling almost every aspect of production - 'Fear and Desire' was conceived as a European-style art film, cloaked in the guise of a Hollywood war picture. Kubrick described the film to distributor Joseph Burstyn as allegorical and poetic. "A drama of 'man,' lost in a hostile world-deprived of material and spiritual foundations-seeking his way to an understanding of himself, and of life around him." Burstyn acquired the film for distribution, and released it along with such art house fare as Roberto Rossellini's 'The Miracle,' Morris Engel's 'Little Fugitive,' and Luis Bunuel's 'El Bruto.' While it did receive some favorable notices, Kubrick's film was often dismissed as being too pretentious, and quickly disappeared from the screen. In 1971, Kubrick told writer Alexander Walker, "The ideas we wanted to put across were good...but we didn't have the experience to embody them dramatically." "It was very important to have this experience and to see with what little facilities and personnel one could actually make a film," Kubrick said, "This experience and the one that followed with 'Killer's Kiss,' which was on a slightly more cushy basis, freed me from any concern again about the technical or logistical aspects of filmmaking." Though Kubrick has dismissed the film as "a bumbling amateur film exercise," the film has had its champions, even from its initial release. Variety called 'Fear and Desire,' "a literate, unhackneyed war drama, outstanding for its fresh camera treatment and poetic dialogue." Author and critic James Agee reportedly took Kubrick out for a drink to offer encouragement to the young filmmaker. "The need for encouragement of fresh talent and its fairly common concomitant, the audacity of youth, was never made more pointed than in 'Fear and Desire,' the drama fashioned by a tiny group of young, independent film makers," wrote A.H. Weiler in The New York Times in 1953, "For, in essaying a dissection of the minds of men under the stress of war, Stanley Kubrick, 24-year-old, producer-director-photographer, and his equally young and unheralded scenarist and cast, have succeeded in turning out a moody, often visually powerful study of subdued excitements." It is remarkable that 'Fear and Desire' exists today, in any form. As Kubrick found his voice as a filmmaker, he grew more self-conscious about his early work, and preferred that it remain buried in the past. On those rare occasions when a print would surface, Kubrick took measures to halt-or at least limit-public screenings of the film. Thanks to the preservation efforts of the Library of Congress, Kino Lorber, Inc. can share with the world 'Fear and Desire,' fresh from the 24-year-old mind of the man who would become the most influential filmmaker of his generation Specs, supplements, and suggested list price for the Blu-ray are still undetermined at this time. You can find the latest specs for 'Fear and Desire' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under October 23.Posted Wed Aug 8, 2012 at 12:00 PM PDT by: -
'Once Upon a Time: The Complete First Season' Detailed for Blu-ray[teaser]The complete first season of ABC's fantasy series is planned for Blu-ray in a few weeks. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Disney/Buena Vista will release 'Once Upon a Time: The Complete First Season' on Blu-ray on August 28. The Evil Queen has cast an evil spell on an enchanted forest filled with fairytale characters. The curse trapped these characters in a place where all their happy endings were stolen – our world. Now the Evil Queen is acting as town mayor, and all of the inhabitants of the fairytale world of Storybrooke can’t seem to remember any details of their past lives. As the truth starts to unfold, the battle between good and evil begins. The 5-disc Blu-ray set will feature 1080p video and supplements include: Fairy Tales in the Modern World; Building Character; Welcome to Storybrooke!; The Story I Remember... Snow White; The Fairest Bloopers of Them All; Nine Deleted Scenes; Five Episode Commentaries; and the Blu-ray exclusive “ONCE UPON A TIME: ORIGINS” – Viewers enter into this interactive archive and uncover the rich and diverse historical origins of the world’s favorite fairy tale characters from “Once Upon A Time.” Josh Dallas guides fans to discover how each of these European based tales has evolved over centuries of retellings into the stories known and loved today. Suggested list price for this release is $79.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Once Upon a Time: The Complete First Season' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under August 28.Posted Wed Aug 8, 2012 at 10:00 AM PDT by:
