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'Flicka: Country Pride' Wal-Mart/Sam's Club Exclusive Blu-ray Announced[teaser]The inspiring coming-of-age family drama based on Mary O'Hara's novel will ride onto Blu-ray as a retailer exclusive just in time for Mother's Day. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, 20th Century Fox will be releasing 'Flicka: Country Pride' on Blu-ray on May 1 exclusively at Wal-Mart and Sam's Club. Directed by Michael Damian ('Flicka 2,' 'Marley & Me: The Puppy Years'), 'Flicka: Country Pride' stars country music superstar Clint Black ('Flicka'), Lisa Hartman Black (“Knots Landing”) and Kacey Rohl (“The Killing”) in a heartwarming adventure for the entire family. Grammy Award® Winner Clint Black is one of country music’s superstars with over 20 million albums sold worldwide. Having written over 100+ songs including 23 #1 songs Clint is an active philanthropist overseeing numerous charities. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements will include: The Making of Flicka: Country Pride – The Legend Continues, Black is Back, and a full-length music video. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is TBA. You can find the latest specs for 'Flicka: Country Pride' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under May 1.Posted Thu Mar 22, 2012 at 08:00 AM PDT by: -
Sharp 7-Series Shipping Now – 8-Series Coming in Late March/Early April[teaser]Sharp's higher end sets are on their way to stores now, with the 80 behemoth coming later this month. [/teaser] This is a big month for Sharp. Early in March the company's 6-Series TVs shipped out and now their 7 and 8-Series sets are headed to stores. The 7-Series includes a 60" model at $2,299.99 and a 70" at $3,299.99. The sets incorporate built-in Wi-Fi for access to streaming content and social media through Sharp's SmartCentral. They offer active 3D and utilize LED edge lighting. The 8-Series steps it up by adding in the yellow pixel that Sharp has become known for. You'll find the same edge LED lighting in the $2,699.99 60" model and $3,799.99 70" model, but things really get impressive when you go to the largest set. For $5,999.99 you'll get 80" of screen with full array LED backlighting and AquoMotion for a 480Hz refresh rate. Source: ElectonistaPosted Thu Mar 22, 2012 at 07:00 AM PDT by: -
'The Samurai Trilogy' Bound for Blu-ray[teaser]Hiroshi Inagaki's sweeping three-part epic is getting the Criterion Blu-ray treatment this summer. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Criterion is working on 'The Samurai Trilogy' for Blu-ray on June 26. 'The Samurai Trilogy,' directed by Hiroshi Inagaki and starring the inimitable Toshiro Mifune, was one of Japan’s most successful exports of the 1950s, a rousing, emotionally gripping tale of combat and self-discovery. 'Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto'(1954) -- In the first part of the epic 'Samurai Trilogy,' Toshiro Mifune thunders onto the screen as the iconic title character. 'Samurai II: Duel at Ichijoji Temple' (1955) -- Toshiro Mifune furiously embodies swordsman Musashi Miyamoto as he comes into his own in the action-packed middle section of the 'Samurai Trilogy.' 'Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island' (1956) -- A disillusioned Musashi Miyamoto (Toshiro Mifune) has turned his back on the samurai life, becoming a farmer in a remote village, while his nemesis Kojiro (Koji Tsurata) now works for the shogun. The Blu-ray will feature a 1080p transfer, an uncompressed mono soundtrack, and supplements include: New interviews with translator and historian William Scott Wilson about the real-life Musashi Miyamoto, the inspiration for the hero of the films; Trailers; and a booklet featuring essays by film historian Stephen Prince and Wilson. Suggested list price for the 2-disc Blu-ray is $69.95. You can find the latest specs for 'The Samurai Trilogy' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under June 26.Posted Thu Mar 22, 2012 at 06:00 AM PDT by: -
Ranking the Muppet Moviesby Aaron Peck [teaser]While my fondest Muppet memories come from the 120 glorious episodes of 'The Muppet Show,' their big screen movies have provided more than enough laughs over the years as well. Until now, I've never sat back and thought about where I would rank the individual Muppet films, but with 'The Muppets' coming out on Blu-ray this week, I thought I'd do that very thing.[/teaser] As with all lists, this one is completely my opinion. I must confess that I really do love the Muppets. I've been a fan of Kermit and the gang since I was a tadpole. I grew up watching the movies and the television show. The early big screen incarnations seemed to follow along with general Muppet mayhem, like 'The Muppet Movie' and 'The Muppets Take Manhattan,' but later on the movies took on a different context, where the beloved characters were inserted into well-known stories like 'The Muppets Christmas Carol' and 'Muppet Treasure Island'. With these differences came varying degrees of success both in terms of box office and humor. We're going to consider each film and see which ones were great and which ones were only so-so. So, on with the show! 7. 'Muppets From Space' One of the biggest cons of 'Muppets From Space' is its non-musical status. The Muppets are known for catchy tunes and throughout their filmography they'd played that up perfectly. It's almost like they consciously went away from the musical side of things to appeal to a younger generation of kids who didn't like musicals. That and they tacked on a simplistic plot about Gonzo's true origin as an alien. There are still a few laughs in this movie, but out of the franchise it really is the most forgettable one of the bunch. 6. 'The Muppets Take Manhattan' Don't get me wrong. I like 'The Muppets Take Manhattan' (I just like the other films ahead of it more). I gave it three and a half stars when I reviewed it for the site. It's a perfectly serviceable Muppet movie. I even dig the "Let's get everyone back together and take over Broadway," shtick. What really brings this movie to a screeching halt is Kermit suddenly developing amnesia. That plot device really kills much of the movie's momentum. 5. 'Muppet Treasure Island' Like I said above, sometimes Muppet movies consist of original Muppet tales of the whole group, and sometimes we simply get a parody of a story we already know. This time the Muppets take on Robert Louis Stevenson's 'Treasure Island'. Tim Curry as Long John Silver is one of the high points of this movie. Not to mention the catchy "Cabin Fever" tune, and more than enough Pepe the Prawn to go around. 4. 'The Muppet Movie' It was the pioneer of the bunch. Branching out from the TV show, Jim Henson and his immensely talented team of puppeteers set out to make a full-length feature. It's a very strong feature indeed, but it isn't without its flaws. Because it was the first film, Henson and company were still trying to work out the kinks, and because of that the pace of the movie was a tad herky-jerky when it was intercut with the movie's songs. Although, there are some great tunes here; "Movin' Right Along" will always be one of my all-time favorite Muppet songs. 3. 'The Muppet Christmas Carol' This parody is full of the Christmas spirit. It's true that they set out to make a funny version of Charles Dickens' classic story. In the end they created something that had laughs, but still embodied the meaning of the original story. Michael Caine as Ebenezer Scrooge is the perfect casting choice. This is a must-watch every time Christmas rolls around. 2. 'The Great Muppet Caper' It had been only two years since 'The Muppet Movie' but you could already tell that they'd figured out what they were doing. 'The Great Muppet Caper' contains some great puppeteering for anyone interested in the art form. Just take a look at Miss Piggy's underwater sequence to see what type of stuff Jim Henson was coming up with back in the 80s. On top of the masterful puppeteering at work, 'The Great Muppet Caper' features a strong, tight plot along with some great cameos from the likes of John Cleese, Peter Falk, and Robert Morley. I also really liked Charles Grodin in his leading role. Very funny. 1. 'The Muppets' This is coming from a dyed-in-the-felt Muppets fan, but yes, I think the newest Muppet movie is actually the best one yet. That may be heresy to some, but I feel confident in my ranking. I always felt that the strongest Muppet moments always came from their TV show anyway. The TV show was the essence of the franchise, and this movie pays perfect tribute to that bygone show. I understand that there was some trouble behind the scenes, which hasn't been fully revealed, but I still thought this was one of the greatest Muppet movies because it complemented one of the best TV shows so impeccably. So, now the question is, how would you rank the Muppet movies? Disagree with my rankings? Well, let us know in the forums where you can let us know just how you'd rank the filmography of the world's most famous puppets. When all is said and done, I think we've all learned one valuable thing from this list. We desperately need more Muppet movies on Blu-ray!!Posted Wed Mar 21, 2012 at 12:20 PM PDT by: -
'Mutant Girls Squad' Blu-ray Announced[teaser]Another outrageous Japanese splatter film is gunning for Blu-ray in September.[/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Well Go USA will be releasing 'Mutant Girls Squad' for a high-definition release on May 22. Three leaders in the Japanese splatter movement -- Noboru Iguchi ('The Machine Girl'), Yoshihiro Nishimura ('Tokyo Gore Police') and Tak Sakaguchi ('Yoroi: Samurai Zombie') -- join forces to bring three times the heart-pounding action, three times the jaw-dropping comedy and three times the head-exploding splatter of your average action/horror/comedy with 'Mutant Girls Squad.' A soon-to-be cult film from the prolific Japanese cult film label Sushi Typhoon, 'Mutant Girls Squad' is touted as a warped version of X-MEN, adapted into the violent, body-horror-filled universe of the three directors. 'Mutant Girls Squad' focuses on Rin, a beautiful 16-year-old who experiences one hell of a coming-of-age when her birthday present from nature comes in the form of a shocking revelation. The film stars Yumi Sugimoto, Yuko Takayama, Suzuka Morita and Naoto Takenaka. Specs have yet to be revealed, but the Blu-ray/DVD combo pack will include Opening Day, The Making of Mutant Girls Squad, Interviews with filmmakers, and a short film: "Yoshi Zero". Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $29.98. You can find the latest specs for 'Mutant Girls Squad' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under May 22.Posted Wed Mar 21, 2012 at 11:30 AM PDT by: -
'Gray's Anatomy' and 'And Everything is Going Fine' Announced for Blu-ray[teaser]Two films from Steven Soderbergh will be released on Blu-ray this summer. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Criterion is preparing 'Gray's Anatomy' for Blu-ray on June 19. One of the great raconteurs of stage and screen, the late Spalding Gray, came together with one of cinema’s boldest image-makers, Oscar-winning director Steven Soderbergh, for 'Gray’s Anatomy,' a spellbinding adaptation of Gray’s 1993 monologue of the same name. The Blu-ray will feature a 1080p transfer, DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements will include: New interviews with Soderbergh and cowriter Renée Shafransky; A Personal History of the American Theater monologue by Spalding Gray, filmed in 1982; theatrical trailer; and a booklet featuring an essay by film critic Amy Taubin. The director's 'And Everything is Going Fine' will also be available on Blu-ray on the same date. After the death in 2004 of American theater actor and monologist Spalding Gray, director Steven Soderbergh pieced together a narrative of Gray’s life to create the documentary 'And Everything Is Going Fine.' The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, an uncompressed monaural soundtrack, and supplements will include: Making of And Everything Is Going Fine, featuring director Steven Soderbergh, producer Kathie Russo, and editor Susan Littenberg; Sex and Death to the Age 14, Spalding Gray's first monologue, created in 1979 and filmed in 1982; Trailer; and a booklet featuring an essay by writer Nell Casey, editor of The Journals of Spalding Gray. Suggested list price for each Blu-ray is $39.95. You can find the latest specs for 'Gray's Anatomy' and 'And Everything is Going Fine' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where they're indexed under June 19.Posted Wed Mar 21, 2012 at 10:00 AM PDT by: -
Amazon Secures ABC Family Shows for Streaming[teaser]You'll also be able to find TV shows available on CreateSpace for on-demand DVDs. [/teaser] Amazon has just secured a nice bit of ABC Family TV shows for streaming in its latest deal with Disney. The bit that they're hyping, though, is the availability of 'The Secret Life of the American Teenager' for their CreateSpace on Demand service. You can pick up Volume Seven of the season for $14.99 right now, though there's no Blu-ray currently available. Brad Beale, director of digital video content acquisition for Amazon says that Amazon is only too happy to help bring series to DVD for the first time. "We’re always working to offer our customers more great content," he says, "and The Secret Life of the American Teenager is another example of that." Source: Home Media MagazinePosted Wed Mar 21, 2012 at 09:00 AM PDT by: -
'Superman vs. The Elite' Announced for Blu-ray[teaser]The next direct-to-video DCU animated adventure featuring the Man of Steel is bound for Blu-ray in June. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Warner Brothers is working on 'Superman vs. The Elite' for a Blu-ray release on June 12. The Elite, a team of super-powered antiheroes, is renowned for killing their enemies. Despite the acclaim and approval the Elite enjoy, Superman knows they are in the wrong, creating more harm than good by their methods. Tensions between them finally culminate in a mass showdown on Jupiter’s moons, when Superman is forced to prove that violence is never a positive. Specs and supplements have yet to be revealed, but suggested list price for the Blu-ray/DVD/Ultraviolet Digital Copy combo pack is $24.98. You can find the latest specs for 'Superman vs. The Elite' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under June 12.Posted Wed Mar 21, 2012 at 08:00 AM PDT by: -
New Pro Control Remotes and Processors Shipping Now[teaser]Both controllers come equipped with a 2.4" LCD touchscreen and backlit buttons. [/teaser] If you're looking for a new controller, Pro Control's latest may be serious contenders. The Pro24.r and Pro 24.z - $249 and $449 respectively – both offer up touchscreen control and additional hard buttons. The Pro 24.z also packs a five-way programmable joystick. At the same price points are the ProLink.r and ProLink.z processors, which pair with the remotes. Each processor gives you complete control over your IR signal, but only the ProLink.z has a ZigBee antenna for use with the Pro24.z. Both controllers and processors are shipping now. An iOS app for the ProLink.z will be coming in April while iOS and Android apps for the remaining devices are due out later this year. Source: Electronic HousePosted Wed Mar 21, 2012 at 07:00 AM PDT by: -
'One for the Money' Dated for Blu-ray[teaser]The action-comedy that brings Stephanie Plum to life on screen will arrest Blu-ray in May. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Lionsgate says 'One for the Money' will have a Blu-ray release on May 15. Katherine Heigl ('Killers') stars as the feisty bounty hunter in this comedic, action-packed film based on the worldwide best-selling eighteen-book mystery series by Janet Evanovich. With a supporting cast of Jason O'Mara (TV's "Terra Nova"), Daniel Sunjata (TV's "Rescue Me"), Sherri Shepherd (TV's "The View") and Debbie Reynolds ('Singin' in the Rain') and a screenplay by Stacy Sherman, Karen Ray and Liz Brixius, join in Stephanie's non-stop adventures with her family, the men in her life and her unusual new job. Specs have yet to be revealed, but the Blu-ray/Digital Copy combo will include behind-the-scenes featurettes, gag reel, and a deleted scene. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $39.99. You can find the latest specs for 'One for the Money' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under May 15.Posted Wed Mar 21, 2012 at 06:00 AM PDT by:
