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'Shark Night' Announced for Blu-ray[teaser]Horror fans will be venturing into shark infested waters on Blu-ray in January. [/teaser] In an early retailer announcement, 20th Century Fox has revealed 'Shark Night' is coming to Blu-ray on January 3. Your deepest fears are about to surface with this frightening tale of seven vacationers whose fun weekend at a lake house turns into a nightmare when they become victims of a series of hellish shark attacks. From David R. Ellis, the director of 'The Final Destination,' 'Shark Night' features a sexy ensemble cast who bring a whole new dimension of terror to the screen. The moment Sara (Sara Paxton) and her friends arrive at her parent's Louisiana lake house, the party is in full gear. Everyone is having a blast until Malik (Sinqua Walls) loses his arm in what initially appears to be a tragic wake-boarding mishap. Determined to get him to the nearest hospital as quickly as possible, it isn't until they're far from shore that they realize the lake is teeming with hungry sharks, and a tiny speedboat isn't about to stop them from getting their next meal. As the feeding frenzy begins, Sara and her pals realize that their only hope for survival is to swim for their lives! 'Shark Night' features performances from Sara Paxton ('Superhero Movie'), Dustin Milligan ('Slither'), Chris Carmack (“The O.C.”), Katharine McPhee (“American Idol,” 'House Bunny'), Chris Zylka ('My Super Psycho Sweet 16,' "The Secret Circle"), Alyssa Diaz (“As the World Turns”), Joel David Moore ('Avatar) and Sinqua Walls ('The Second Half'). Specs have yet to be detailed, but the Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy combo pack will include: Shark Attack Kill Machine -- a feature allowing viewers to jump to their favorite kills, Ellis' Island featurette on director yet David R. Ellis, and the Blu-ray exclusive Shark Night's Survival Guide and Fake Sharks, Real Scares. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $39.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Shark Night' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under January 3.Posted Fri Dec 9, 2011 at 06:00 AM PST by: -
HDD Study Hall: Gary Oldmanby Luke Hickman [teaser]In theaters this week is the new highly complex and equally confusing espionage investigation flick 'Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.' At the top of the credits is Gary Oldman, easily one of today's best working actors.[/teaser] During his 30 years on screen, Oldman has played nearly every type of character imaginable – hero, villain, cop, outlaw, rebel, vampire, drug dealer, musician, reverend, doctor, spider, terrorist, traitor, devil, and werewolf hunter. He's even done Robert Zemeckis' creepy motion capture stuff. While a lot of folks learned to love Oldman from his roles as Sid Vicious in 'Sid and Nancy,' I was too little to have that be my first experience with him. A few years after it was released, after visiting the Sixth Floor Museum in Dallas, Texas, my old man and I sat down and watched a VHS copy of 'JFK.' Watching Oldman's performance as the notorious Oswald marked the first performance I saw him in. It wasn't until 'The Fifth Element' that I saw him again. After that, he became an actor and a face that I'd look forward to seeing in every movie – both the good and the bad. I'm not going to make the bold statement that the list below contains the best of Oldman's roles. Instead, I'm going to fill it with what I consider to be the most memorable of them all. Be warned, there are spoilers lurking in these waters. Commissioner Gordon in 'Batman Begins' and 'The Dark Knight' Let's go ahead and get these out of the way first. If you think back to the pre-Nolan 'Batman' movies, Pat Hingle's Jim Gordon was nothing more than a scenery-chomping side character that carried no weight or relevance to the story at hand. He didn't protect or serve Gotham City – no, that was Batman's task. Batman was doing everything that Commissioner Gordon and his men couldn't. Then Christopher Nolan took over and gave that role a lot more importance. Gary Oldman not only entered the picture giving it his standard best, but he made you love him. I'd go so far as to say that if he wasn't in the series, it simply wouldn't be as good. All along, with Nolan's series, he's made the familiar elements from the graphic novels unpredictable by tweaking the comic book mythos. My prediction is that the Bane character's well-known story will be twisted around by having him break Commissioner Gordon's back in 'The Dark Knight Rises.' If I'm right, it will be a lot more devastating to see Oldman's back broken than it would to see Hingle's. You wouldn't even care if that had happened to Hingle's character, but if / when it happens to Oldman's, you'll surely feel it. Sirius Black in 'Harry Potter and Prisoner of Azkaban,' 'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire,' 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix' and 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2' With the exception of 'The Deathly Hallows,' I walked into the 'Harry Potter' movies fresh, not knowing who was good, who was bad, nor the fate of any of the characters. When Sirius Black was introduced in 'The Prisoner of Azkaban' (arguably the best 'Potter' film in the franchise), I was excited to see Oldman playing a crazy dark wizard. As the movie progressed and he became more evil and ominous, I was eating it up. But when the surprise was revealed that he was actually good, much to my surprise, I loved him even more. At the risk of sounding cheesy, he was reminded me of how my cool uncles treated me when I was a kid. 'The Goblet of Fire' (arguably the worst film of the franchise) missed out on the opportunity to let him shine once again, using a horrendous CG effect to his recreate his face out of smoldering talking embers. It's ridiculous how bad that effect looks compared to all of the other effects in the 'Potter' movies – even the corny Chris Columbus ones. They managed to ruin the one scene of 'The Goblet of Fire' in which he appeared. Luckily, 'The Order of the Phoenix' hurried along and brought Sirius back in a great way. While watching 'The Order of the Phoenix,' I was again eating up all of great Oldman moments. It was a best case scenario. But it quickly turned into a nightmare during the climax. The second Sirius stepped through the deadly archway, I started my trail down the five stages of grief: Denial – "He's not really dead. Just like Gandalf, they'll find a way to bring him back." But they didn't; Anger – "This is bull! They just killed the best character! I'm done with this series!" But I wasn't; Bargaining – "I'll just keep watching 'The Prisoner of Azkaban' over and over again. Then he won't be dead." But he was; Depression – "Who cares if Voldemort wins? It's just a stupid kid's book anyway." But it's so much more than that; and Acceptance – "Don't worry, dude. If Harry keeps seeing the ghost of his parents, before long, he'll see Sirius' ghost too." And he did! Agent Norman "Stan" Stansfield in 'Leon: The Professional' Three great loves were born from 'The Professional' – my love of Natalie Portman, Jean Reno and, of course, Gary Oldman. This was it. This was the film that I walked away from thinking that he was one of the very best actors. This was the movie that made me realize that even when he appears in terrible movies like 'Lost in Space' and 'Red Riding Hood,' he still gives it his all, usually making his performance the only thing worth watching. In 'The Professional,' Oldman plays one of the most evil, despicable characters put on screen. "Stan" held the title of Most Evil Movie Villain in my book up until I saw Javier Bardem as Anton Chigurh in 'No Country for Old Men.' Stan is a sleazy, dirty junkie pretending to be something that he's not - a DEA agent. Watching him gun down innocent men, women, and children is highly disturbing, but Oldman's ability to make you forget his past the second you see him in another film keeps the dark roles from distracting you during the light ones, and vice versa. Some actors carry about that weight, always making you associate them with past performances – but not Gary Oldman. Carnegie in 'The Book of Eli' The concept behind 'The Book of Eli' is much better than the movie itself. Falling victim to poor execution, it starts strong but gradually falls apart. Despite the good movie turning into a mediocre one, Oldman stands strong and I give him full credit for this not turning into a laughably bad movie. When a blind man (Denzel Washington) carrying a precious gift wanders into a post-apocalyptic town, Carnegie, the leader of this territory's gang, does everything he has to in order to uncover the blind man's secret. The film turns into a battle between the two, where Washington's character, the nameless man with integrity and a good heart, is tempted to give up something sacred to a man promising temporal rewards. 'The Book of Eli' isn't the most driven film, but the conflict between Oldman and Washington is what keeps it going. This is one of the films in Oldman's credits that leaves you wondering why he took the part – but had he turned it down, it would have been filled by some B-list actor with whom the film would have failed miserably. No other actor could have played Carnegie and made the slightly above par movie work. Lord Shen in 'Kung Fu Panda 2' Too many movie actors undeservedly land voice roles in animated movies. Just because an actor is great in front of the camera, it does not imply that he / she has what it takes to command a purely vocal performance – but Gary Oldman pulls it off perfectly. DreamWorks has pointlessly given a few 'Kung Fu Panda' voice roles to celebrity actors who don't add a thing to the motion pictures, but the decision to cast Oldman as the villainous peacock Lord Shen in 'Panda' sequel was brilliant. Just as the story of 'Kung Fu Panda 2' is a bit darker than the first (it's like the 'Empire Strikes Back' of the 'Panda' universe), so is its bad guy. When a soothsayer prophesied that a panda would stop him from ever reigning over China, Shen sent his henchmen wolf pack to ethnically cleanse the nation of pandas – which is why our Dragon Warrior central character Po was raised by a goose. The genocide began when Po was just a cub. When the wolves raided their village, his mother placed Po in a radish box that ended up in a vegetable delivery on his "dad's" porch. For such an evil villain, an actor with the rich talent of playing heinous characters was necessary. Oldman knocks it out of the park. He's disturbing, creepy and absolutely ruthless – a bad guy you love to hate. This one is well worth checking out! Now that I've shared what I believe to be some of Oldman's most memorable roles, let us know which are your favorites in the forums.Posted Thu Dec 8, 2011 at 11:55 AM PST by: -
Blu-ray Sales Up 35 Percent in 2011 - Even Stronger Overseas[teaser]As you might imagine, 'Star Wars' gave the format quite a boost. [/teaser] Blu-ray sales are up significantly this year, with growth reaching 35 percent in the U.S. Last year, 85 million Blu-rays were sold. This year the estimate is sitting at 115 million. It's a big step forward and certainly a sign of things to come. Part of the reason, of course, is the release of 'Star Wars' on Blu-ray. The HD version of the series inspired quite a few first-time Blu-ray disc purchases and spurred on sales of players. What may be even more important is the price of Blu-ray players. Customers are seeing Blu-ray players and DVD players at similar price points and at that point there's no reason to stick with DVD. It's getting to the point that making DVD players seems a bit pointless. One thing that needs to happen, according to Futuresource analyst Jim Bottoms, is a reduction in the prices of Blu-ray discs. In Europe, where sale growth is even stronger, there's a much smaller difference between DVD and Blu-ray prices. Source: Home Media MagazinePosted Thu Dec 8, 2011 at 09:00 AM PST by: -
'Ringo Starr and the Roundheads: Live' Blu-ray Dated[teaser]The former Beatle's 2009 concert will debut on Blu-ray next month. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Image Entertainment is preparing 'Ringo Starr and the Roundheads: Live' for Blu-ray on January 3. Filmed at this historic Genesee Theatre in Waukegan, Illinois, this amazing, one-night-only event presents Ringo Starr performing five Beatles classics along with his greatest solo hits in a career-spanning set with The Roundheads. Songs Include: It Don't Come Easy Octopus's Garden Choose Love I Wanna Be Your Man Who Can It Be Now? (with special guest Colin Hay) Don't Pass Me By I'm The Greatest Give Me Back The Beat Memphis In Your Mind Photograph Back Off Boogaloo Yellow Submarine Act Naturally With A Little Help From My Friends Specs and supplements have yet to be revealed, but suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $17.97. You can find the latest specs for 'Ringo Starr and the Roundheads: Live' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's now indexed under January 3.Posted Thu Dec 8, 2011 at 08:00 AM PST by: -
Toshiba Will Launch Their Glasses-Free 4K 3D TV in Japan on Saturday[teaser]It's priced at 900,000 yen, or around $11,500. No U.S. release date yet. [/teaser] Glasses-free 3D TV is hitting the market this Saturday in the form of Toshiba's 55X3. It's the first launch for this kind of technology on a TV sized screen and will certainly have a significant effect on the future of 3D. The 55X3 is an autostereoscopic set, which means you won't have to deal with 3D glasses while you're watching. It also means that the resolution of the movie or show you're watching will scale down significantly. Toshiba packed their set with a 4K display to combat this. You won't get a 1080p 3D picture, but at 720p you'll still be getting HD. Toshiba's new glasses-free set uses face tracking like that included in laptops and monitors to ensure that you get the best 3D effect it can give you. The set is launching in Japan at 900,000 yen, or $11,500. There's no word on a launch in the U.S. at this time. Source: EngadgetPosted Thu Dec 8, 2011 at 07:00 AM PST by: -
'The Phantom of the Opera: Live at the Royal Albert Hall' and 'Love Never Dies' Announced and Detailed for Blu-ray[teaser]Celebrate the 25th anniversary of the longest running musical of all-time on Blu-ray in February! [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Universal Studios says 'The Phantom of the Opera: Live at the Royal Albert Hall' will have a Blu-ray release on February 7. 'The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall' stars Ramin Karimloo (2011 Olivier Award nominee for Best Actor in a Musical for “Love Never Dies”) as the lovestruck Phantom and Sierra Boggess (2011 Olivier Award nominee for Best Actress in a Musical for “Love Never Dies”) as the beautiful and gifted soprano Christine. The show also features Barry James, Gareth Snook, Liz Robertson and Wynne Evans, as well as special guest appearances from the actors who originated the roles of The Phantom and Christine, Tony® Award winner Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman, in a memorable final curtain call. “Phantom” aficionados will also be thrilled to know that 'Love Never Dies,' Andrew Lloyd Webber’s spectacular follow-up musical will also arrive on Blu-rayTM and DVD for the first time on February 7. With lush visuals and a mesmerizing score that rivals the original in power and beauty, this live production of “Love Never Dies” finds Christine and the Phantom reunited in turn-of-the-century New York City after a decade apart. “The Phantom of the Opera” premiered at Her Majesty's Theatre in London on October 9, 1986. It has won more than 60 major theatre awards, including seven Tony® Awards and three Olivier Awards, and became the longest-running show in Broadway history on January 9, 2006 when it celebrated its 7,486th performance. “The Phantom of the Opera” has grossed over $5.6 billion worldwide and been seen in 145 cities in 27 countries. Live productions of “The Phantom of the Opera” are currently playing in London, New York, Budapest, Las Vegas and Kyoto. The Blu-rays will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements include Getting Past the Point of No Return ('Phantom') and Behind-the-scenes featurette with Love Never Dies creator Andrew Lloyd Webber ('Love Never Dies'). Suggested list price for the 'The Phantom of the Opera' is $39.98 while 'Love Never Dies' is $26.98. You can find the latest specs for 'The Phantom of the Opera: Live at the Royal Albert Hall' and 'Love Never Dies' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where they're indexed under February 7.Posted Thu Dec 8, 2011 at 06:00 AM PST by: -
'The Fabric of Time - 3D' Announced for Blu-ray 3D[teaser]A documentary on the Shroud of Turin arrives on Blu-ray 3D. [/teaser] Although the exact release date seems to be a mystery, Grizzly Adams Productions' 'The Fabric of Time - 3D' seems to be available now on Blu-ray 3D. We live in a world where science and religion have often been on opposing sides. But is all that changing? For the first time, science and religion have come together to uncover an age-old mystery. Who was Jesus Christ? What did he actually look like? And can the story of his death and resurrection now be proven as true? Viewers around the world are in the jury box as newly found scientific discoveries are presented by scholars, scientists, and historians in an unflinching search for evidence -- nothing has been held back. Could it be that actual documentation of this amazing story is still available today? Is it possible that a single fiber from an ancient artifact might hold the answers? And has science found a way to unlock the hidden information contained in the artifact that could provide a link to the past—one that might explain the universe in a whole new light and give hope to people around the world? Did Christ leave us physical evidence that only now with quantum leaps forward in science, are we able to understand? Have scientists actually been able to produce a full three dimensional image of Christ? See the evidence and decide for yourself in 'The Fabric of Time': Are the Secrets of the Universe Hidden in an Ancient Cloth? Specs have yet to be revealed, but supplements include Legal Arguments for the Shroud of Turin, Seeing the Unseen, Is the Shroud of Turin a Painting or Not?, Preservation of the Shroud of Turin, and Extended Expert Interviews. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $34.98, but it's only $24.95 directly from Grizzly Adams here and be sure to use the coupon code THANKS for an additional $5.00 off. You can find the latest specs for 'The Fabric of Time - 3D' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under December 6 (for now).Posted Wed Dec 7, 2011 at 12:00 PM PST by: -
Disc-By-Mail Services May Face Delay Thanks to New USPS Plan[teaser]If this goes through, it may spell doom for disc by mail services. [/teaser] Blockbuster and Netflix disc-by-mail subscribers may be in for some bad news - movies are going to be getting to you even slower. This isn't something you can blame on Netflix or Blockbuster though. This one goes to the USPS. Apparently, our postal service isn't doing so well. They've been losing money hand over fist and there doesn't seem to be any sign of it stopping. They've talked about ending Saturday deliveries but now there's an option on the table that would make disc-by-mail incredibly inconvenient. The proposal would put an end to next-day delivery of First Class mail, instead allowing up to 72 hours for your letter or disc to get to its destination. Source: Hacking NetflixPosted Wed Dec 7, 2011 at 10:00 AM PST by: -
Samsung Provides Panels to Other Manufacturers but Doesn't Want You to Know About It[teaser]Samsung has ordered that Australia based Kogan stop advertising the use of Samsung panels. [/teaser] It's common knowledge that manufacturers often sell parts to other brands, often buying parts in return. That's not something that companies want you to know about though, especially when those parts are going to companies more focused on value than quality. Kogan, an Australian TV maker, recently advertised publicly that Samsung and LG components are used in its TVs, with the message that a value conscious consumer would be better off buying Kogan than the major brands. Samsung was not happy about this and issued a cease-and-desist order. Kogan founder and CEO Ruslan Kogan, argues that there's nothing wrong with telling the consumer where you get your parts and that there's no reason to try and conceal the truth. Source: EngadgetPosted Wed Dec 7, 2011 at 09:00 AM PST by: -
'Spellbound' Dated for Blu-ray[teaser]One more Hitchcock classic sneaks in under the wire for Blu-ray release in January! [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, MGM/UA will be bringing 'Spellbound' to Blu-ray on January 24. The 1945 film noir mystery about a female psychiatrist who protects the identity of an amnesia patient accused of murder while attempting to recover his memory stars Ingrid Bergman, Gregory Peck, and Michael Chekhov. Specs and supplements have yet to be revealed, but suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $24.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Spellbound' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under January 24.Posted Wed Dec 7, 2011 at 08:00 AM PST by:
