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'Sushi Girl' Blu-ray in 2013[teaser]The hotly anticipated genre-bending thriller by director Kern Saxton is coming to Blu-ray next year. [/teaser] In an early announcement to the press, Magnolia/Phase 4 Films have revealed they've acquired the North American distribution rights to 'Sushi Girl' and plan on bringing the film to Blu-ray in early 2013. Mark Hamill ('Star Wars' Franchise) and Tony Todd ('Candyman') lead a cast of cult heroes including Noah Hathaway ('The NeverEnding Story'), James Duval ('Donnie Darko'), Andy Mackenzie ('MacGruber'), David Dastmalchian ('The Dark Knight') and Cortney Palm ('Superbad'). 'Sushi Girl' also includes feature appearances by Michael Biehn ('Aliens'), Sonny Chiba ('Kill Bill Vol. 1'), Jeff Fahey ('Grindhouse') and Danny Trejo ('Machete'). The film centers on the compelling character of a man called “Fish,” just released after six years in jail after successfully not ratting on those involved in the robbery that sent him to prison. The night he is released, the men he protected with silence celebrate his freedom with a congratulatory dinner. The meal is a lavish array of sushi, served off the naked body of a beautiful young woman. The sushi girl seems catatonic, trained to ignore everything in the room, even if things become dangerous. Sure enough, the unwieldy thieves can’t help but open old wounds in an attempt to find their missing loot, with violent results. “'Sushi Girl’s all-star ensemble of fan favorite actors will resonate with the Magnet audience,” said Head of Magnolia Home Entertainment Randy Wells. “Kern and the 'Sushi Girl' production team have put together an incredibly cool, well-crafted thriller, and Mark Hamill’s performance will leave fans buzzing.” You can find the latest specs for 'Sushi Girl' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under PENDING.Posted Tue Aug 7, 2012 at 06:00 AM PDT by: -
High-Def Digest's Olympic Games Movies Listby Aaron Peck If you're like me you've been glued to your television set (and computer screen) watching every single piece of Olympic competition your mind can possibly take in. Even as I write this article the U.S. men's basketball team is pounding Nigeria into the ground 132 to 66 on my minimized Internet browser window. It's a brutal game to watch (especially if you're Nigerian), but it's the Olympics and the Olympics are great no matter what the sport. [teaser]We decided to put together a must-see list of Olympic-themed movies that you can watch in between those blistering handball matches.[/teaser] There are a few problems with the field of Olympic movies though. Many of them are really old, really obscure, or both. There aren't nearly enough movies focused on the more unknown events of the Olympics (you're not going to find a thrilling edge-of-your-seat sporting drama about skeet shooting). Instead, most of the movies are centered on inherently dramatic sports like figure skating or track and field. Olympic Movies On Blu-ray Another problem with Olympic-themed movies is the fact that not too many of them have had Blu-ray releases. Only a select few have been given the HD treatment, for that reason, we've had to be a little creative in developing this list. 'Blades of Glory' Sure it's Olympic satire, and the games here are called something generic like the World Winter Sport Games, but it's one of the handful of movies that has actually found its way to Blu-ray. 'Blades of Glory' is a love it or hate it type of movie. You can love it for all of the Will Ferrell antics (him lifting Jon Heder up by the crotch is a personal favorite), or you can hate it for Heder's "I'm really trying to leave 'Napoleon Dynamite' behind me but I just can't shake it," acting style. I prefer to travel along the Love It route though, if not simply for Jenna Fischer winning a gold medal in the Lingerie Wearing event. 'Chariots of Fire' Sometimes I find myself wondering why 'Chariots of Fire' is as highly regarded as it is. I really don't understand it's huge appeal, but my personal reservations aside it's one of the most memorable Olympic-themed films, not to mention it spurred one of the most iconic movie scores ever. Just sitting here writing this, I can't help but hum dun, dunnn, dunnnn, dunnnnn; dun, dunnn, dunnnn, dunnnnn, … to myself... 'The Cutting Edge' Does anyone else think "Hey, Paul Rudd is in an ice skating movie?" when they see the cover for 'The Cutting Edge'? Is it just me? D.B. Sweeny could easily stand in for Paul Rudd or vice-versa. Now I'm thinking of how great a Paul Rudd ice skating movie would be. Please make it happen Hollywood. Please. My favorite weird fact about 'The Cutting Edge,' an over-the-top dramatic figure skating movie, is that it was penned by 'Bourne' writer Tony Gilroy. No, really. It was. 'Miracle' This, for my money, is the best Olympic-themed movie of the bunch because it features the most improbable Olympic wins of all time. A win that was tailor-made for a feel-good Hollywood sporting drama. Why is 'Miracle' so awesome? Well, just think of the original Miracle on Ice. A team of Americans defeated the big bad Russians, a group of hockey players who were considered by EVERYONE to be the best players in the world. The Americans winning that gold medal game seemed just as improbable as poor Nigeria beating up on the U.S. men's basketball team. If those teams played ten times you'd bet that the Kobe, LeBron and the rest of the gang would win all ten games. You could say the same thing about the 1980 U.S. ice hockey team against the Russians. Desperately Needs a Blu-ray Release 'Cool Runnings' "Feel the rhythm. Feel the rhyme. Get on up its bobsled time! Cool runnings!" Thanks 'Cool Runnings' for producing the best "Why Did I Just Quote That?" quote of all time. It's a quote that spontaneously rolls of the tongue at the weirdest times. All you need to do is hear someone talking about rhythm or rhyme and it automatically pops into your head like a particularly annoying Justin Bieber song. Suddenly you start saying it, then everyone around you begins saying it with you, then you suddenly have an urge to watch a movie about Jamaicans bobsledding. Crap, now I want to watch it.Posted Mon Aug 6, 2012 at 02:45 PM PDT by: -
'Batman: The Dark Knight Returns - Part One' Blu-ray Detailed[teaser]Full details are now in for the next DC Universe animated movie based on Frank Miller's graphic novel arriving this September. [/teaser] As previously reported, Warner Brothers has slated 'Batman: The Dark Knight Returns - Part One' for Blu-ray on September 25. It is ten years after an aging Batman has retired, and Gotham City has sunk deeper into decadence and lawlessness. Now, when his city needs him most, the Dark Knight returns in a blaze of glory. Joined by Carrie Kelly, a teenage female Robin, Batman takes to the streets to end the threat of the mutant gangs that have overrun the city. And after facing off against his two greatest enemies, the Joker and Two-Face, for the final time, Batman finds himself in mortal combat with his former ally, Superman, in a battle that only one of them will survive. The Blu-ray/DVD/Ultraviolet Digital Copy combo pack will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements will include: The Dark Knight Returns digital comic; Her Name is Carrie...Her Role is Robin; Batman and Me: The Bob Kane Story; Two bonus Batman cartoons from the WB vault; and a sneak peek at The Dark Knight Returns: Part Two. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray combo is $24.98. You can find the latest specs for 'Batman: The Dark Knight Returns - Part One' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under September 25.Posted Mon Aug 6, 2012 at 12:00 PM PDT by: -
'Futurama: Volume 7' Dated for Blu-ray[teaser]The next batch of episodes from Matt Groening's cult animated series is planned for Blu-ray in December. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, 20th Century Fox will be releasing 'Futurama: Volume 7' on Blu-ray on December 11. The boxed set will include 13 hilarious episodes spread across two Blu-ray discs. Specs and supplements haven't been revealed yet, but the suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $39.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Futurama: Volume 7' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under December 11.Posted Mon Aug 6, 2012 at 10:00 AM PDT by: -
Contest: Win 'Rushmore' on Criterion Collection Blu-ray!You like free stuff, don't you? How would you like a free copy of Wes Anderson's hilarious 'Rushmore' on Blu-ray from the Criterion Collection? Head on over to the blog today for your chance to win!Posted Mon Aug 6, 2012 at 09:25 AM PDT by: -
HDD Deal of the Week: 'The Bourne Trilogy' Blu-ray $27.99 at Amazon[teaser]Own triple the Jason Bourne action in Amazon's Deal of the Week! [/teaser] The online retailer is now selling 'The Bourne Trilogy' starring Matt Damon for $27.99 (53% off suggested price). It's worth noting that this offer is for the slim packaging reissue that may or may not include flipper discs and not the box set reviewed on our site. Click here to order yours and this offer is available from now through August 12.Posted Mon Aug 6, 2012 at 09:09 AM PDT by: -
Redbox Reups with Sony - Still Renting on Day of Release[teaser]There's one company at least that isn't worried about the rental window.[/teaser] The folks at Redbox had a killer quarter, with earnings on the rise. They're also edging closer to the launch of the streaming service that they've been working on with Verizon for some time now. Those aren't the only reasons for Redbox to be celebrating though. The renewal of a contract with Sony kept things looking very good for the folks at Redbox. There's no 28 day wait to rent DVDs or Blu-rays to customers - they go into Redbox kiosks on the same day they come out at retail. The deal goes through September of 2014. Source: EngadgetPosted Mon Aug 6, 2012 at 09:00 AM PDT by: -
'Assassin's Bullet' Blu-ray Announced[teaser]Isaac Florentine's latest action thriller is on target for Blu-ray in August. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Arc Entertainment has set 'Assassin's Bullet' for Blu-ray on August 14. When an unknown vigilante begins killing high-priority terrorists from America’s Most Wanted list in Europe, a former FBI field agent (Christian Slater) is brought in by the US Ambassador (Donald Sutherland) to discover the identity of the assassin. Specs have yet to be revealed, but supplements will include: Behind the Scenes in Sofia, The Making of Assassin's Bullet, and Theatrical Trailer. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $26.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Assassin's Bullet linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under August 14.Posted Mon Aug 6, 2012 at 08:00 AM PDT by: -
RealD Has Hobbit Themed 3D Glasses in the Works[teaser]They're cheesy and uncomfortable looking, but they do say 'The Hobbit' on the side, so that's something.[/teaser] The folks at RealD have come up with new glasses themed around 'The Hobbit,' which is due out this winter. Apparently they're headed straight to theaters instead of to retailers, but there's no indication as to their exact purpose. The glasses are, well, dorky as hell. They're supposed to look like "hammer forged steel" but they look, as you might imagine, like plastic. They also look sharp and uncomfortable, though time will tell. Source: Electronic HousePosted Mon Aug 6, 2012 at 07:00 AM PDT by: -
'Touchback' Blu-ray Announced and Detailed[teaser]The inspirational football drama will tackle Blu-ray in September. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Starz/Anchor Bay is working on 'Touchback' starring Brian Presley ('Borderland,' 'Home of the Brave,' ABC’s “General Hospital”) and Golden Globe® Nominee Kurt Russell ('Grindhouse,' Miracle') for Blu-ray on September 4. Written and directed by Don Handfield, 'Touchback' tells the story of a high school football star that loses everything he ever dreamed of, only to receive a second chance to get it all back. The Blu-ray/DVD combo pack will feature 1080p video, a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements include an audio commentary and behind-the-scenes featurette. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $34.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Touchback' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under September 4.Posted Mon Aug 6, 2012 at 06:00 AM PDT by:
