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'Vanya on 42nd Street' Announced and Detailed for Blu ray[teaser]The final film from Louis Malle is coming to high-definition at the end of February. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, the Criterion Collection will release 'Vanya on 42nd Street' on Blu-ray on February 28. In the nineties, André Gregory mounted a series of spare, private performances of Anton Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya in a crumbling Manhattan playhouse. These treasures of pure theater would have been lost to time had they not been captured on film, with subtle cinematic brilliance, by Louis Malle. The Blu-ray will feature a 1080p digital transfer, DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 soundtrack, and supplements include: New documentary featuring interviews with André Gregory, the play’s director; actors Lynn Cohen, George Gaynes, Julianne Moore, Larry Pine, Wallace Shawn, and Brooke Smith; and producer Fred Berner; Trailer; and and a booklet featuring an essay by critic Steven Vineberg and a 1994 on-set report by film critic Amy Taubin. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $39.95. You can find the latest specs for 'Vanya on 42nd Street' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under February 28.Posted Fri Nov 18, 2011 at 06:00 AM PST by: -
'Anatomy of a Murder' and 'World on a Wire' Announced for Blu-ray[teaser]Preminger and Fassbinder are coming to Blu-ray in the Criterion Collection in February. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Criterion is preparing the 1959 crime drama 'Anatomy of a Murder' for Blu-ray on February 21. This gripping, envelope-pushing courtroom potboiler, the most popular film from Hollywood provocateur Otto Preminger, was groundbreaking for the frankness of its discussion of sex—more than anything else, it is a striking depiction of the power of words. The Blu-ray will feature a 1080p transfer, DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements will include: New interview with Otto Preminger biographer Foster Hirsch; Critic Gary Giddins explores Duke Ellington’s score in a new interview; A look at the relationship between graphic designer Saul Bass and Preminger with Bass biographer Pat Kirkham; Newsreel footage from the set; Excerpts from a 1967 episode of Firing Line, featuring Preminger in discussion with William F. Buckley Jr.; Excerpts from the work in progress Anatomy of “Anatomy”: The Making of a Movie; Behind-the-scenes photographs by Life magazine’s Gjon Mili; Trailer, featuring on-set footage; and a booklet featuring an essay by critic Nick Pinkerton and a 1959 Life magazine article on real-life lawyer Joseph N. Welch, who plays the judge in the film. Rainer Werner Fassbinder's 'World on a Wire' will also be available on Blu-ray on the same date. Originally made for German television, this recently rediscovered, three-and-a-half-hour labyrinth is a satiric and surreal look at the weird world of tomorrow from one of cinema’s kinkiest geniuses.. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, an uncompressed monaural soundtrack, and supplements will include: Fassbinder’s “World on a Wire”: Looking Ahead to Today, a fifty-minute documentary about the making of the film by Juliane Lorenz; New interview with German-film scholar Gerd Gemünden; Trailer for the 2010 theatrical release; and a booklet featuring an essay by film critic Ed Halter. Suggested list price for each Blu-ray is $39.95. You can find the latest specs for 'Anatomy of a Murder' and 'World on a Wire' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where they're indexed under February 21.Posted Thu Nov 17, 2011 at 12:00 PM PST by: -
Vizio's Passive 3D TVs are Available Now[teaser]They're LED edge lit and Wi-Fi enabled, but the big attraction is the passive 3D technology. [/teaser] One of the things people have been crying out for since 3D televisions hit the market is the use of passive technology. They want to use the same glasses they use in theaters and they don't want to have to shell out for expensive glasses that need batteries or charging. At least, that goes for mainstream consumers who don't mind giving up a bit of resolution for their 3D set. Vizio's M-Series brings passive to the masses, with sets ranging from 42 inches up to 55 inches, with a 65 inch TV due out in January of 2012. They offer LED edge lighting as well as built in Wi-Fi so you can stream from Netflix, Pandora, Vudu or whatever other online service you prefer. The 42 inch model comes in at an MSRP of $1,039 and the 55 inch model runs $1,649 with the rest of the prices falling in between. Vizio's 65 inch set will cost $2,099 when it comes out in January 2012. Source:EngadgetPosted Thu Nov 17, 2011 at 11:00 AM PST by: -
'La Jetée / Sans Soleil' Announced and Detailed for Blu ray[teaser]Two films from Chris Marker are coming to Blu-ray in February. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, the Criterion Collection will release 'La Jetée / Sans Soleil' on Blu-ray on February 7. One of the most influential, radical science-fiction films ever made and a mind-bending free-form travelogue, La Jetée and Sans Soleil couldn’t seem more different—yet they’re the twin pillars of an unparalleled and uncompromising career in cinema. The Blu-ray will feature a 1080p digital transfer, uncompressed monaural soundtracks, and supplements include: Gillo Pontecorvo: The Dictatorship of Truth, a documentary narrated by literary critic Edward Said; Two interviews with filmmaker Jean-Pierre Gorin; Chris on Chris, a video piece on Marker by filmmaker and critic Chris Darke; Two excerpts from the French television series Court-circuit (le magazine); A look at David Bowie's music video for the song "Jump They Say," inspired by La Jetée; An analysis of Hitchcock's Vertigo and its influence on Marker; Junkopia, a six-minute film by Marker about the Emeryville Mudflats; and a booklet featuring an essay by Marker scholar Catherine Lupton, an interview with Marker, notes on the films and filmmaking by Marker, and more. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $39.95. You can find the latest specs for 'La Jetée / Sans Soleil' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under February 7.Posted Thu Nov 17, 2011 at 10:00 AM PST by: -
HiFiMAN Releases a Budget Priced Pocket Sized USB DAC[teaser]It provides improved sound for computers and portable audio devices alike. [/teaser] "A friend asked me to develop a DAC that everyone could afford yet would substantially improve the sound of any conventional audio product," Says HiFiMAN president Fang Bian. "The result was the HM-101 which has exceeded even our high expectations." The HM-101 measures in at 2-1/2 inches long, 1-1/2 wide and 1/2 inch thick. It offers a USB connection for computers as well as a standard headphone jack so you can plug in your iPhone, CD player or whatever else could use an audio boost. HiFiMAN's new DAC has a signal to noise ratio of 98 dB and total harmonic distortion of 0.07 percent. It has a nice wide frequency response too, from 20Hz to 20kHz. The HM-101 is available now for $39. Source: eCousticsPosted Thu Nov 17, 2011 at 09:00 AM PST by: -
'Three Outlaw Samurai' and 'Tiny Furniture' Announced for Blu-ray[teaser]Gosha and Dunham are getting the Criterion Blu-ray treatment in February. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Criterion is working on 'Three Outlaw Samurai' for Blu-ray on February 14. This first film by the legendary Hideo Gosha is among the most canonized chambara (sword-fighting) films. The Blu-ray will feature a 1080p transfer, uncompressed mono soundtrack, and supplements will a booklet featuring an essay by film critic Bilge Ebiri. Lena Dunham's 'Tiny Furniture' will also be available on Blu-ray on the same date. As painfully confessional as it is endlessly amusing, Tiny Furniture is an authentic, incisive portrait of a young woman at a crossroads. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements will include: Director Lena Dunham talks about filmmaking and autobiography in a new interview with writer and filmmaker Nora Ephron; New interview with writer-director Paul Schrader; Creative Nonfiction, Dunham's first feature film; Four short films by Dunham; Trailer; and a booklet featuring an essay by critic Phillip Lopate. Suggested list price for each Blu-ray is $39.95. You can find the latest specs for 'Three Outlaw Samurai' and 'Tiny Furniture' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where they are indexed under February 14.Posted Thu Nov 17, 2011 at 08:00 AM PST by: -
Biscotti Launches a Video Phone for your TV[teaser]It's an interesting idea but it's not cheap and it lacks Skype support. [/teaser] Biscotti is a company new to the scene and they've just launched their first product - the TV Phone. It's essentially a video phone type device that turns your TV into the monitor. To use it, simply set up the camera/microphone combo on the top of your TV and then call up whoever you want using the included remote. It's a nice concept, but for a $199 device it lacks one big feature that seems like a no-brainer. Biscotti can call anyone on a smartphone, tablet, Google contact or other Biscotti users. What it can't do is access Skype, which is becoming a commonplace application on connected TVs. Source: EngadgetPosted Thu Nov 17, 2011 at 07:00 AM PST by: -
'Restless' Dated and Detailed for Blu-ray[teaser]Gus Van Sant's sweeping romance has been dated for Blu-ray in January. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Sony has revealed 'Restless' is headed for Blu-ray on January 24. The drama starring Mia Wasikowska and Henry Hopper tells the story of a terminally ill teenage girl who falls for a boy who likes to attend funerals and their encounters with the ghost of a Japanese kamikaze pilot from WWII. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements will include: Gus Van Sant's Silent Version of Restless, Enoch & Annabel: One Love featurette, Enoch & Hiroshi: The Best of Friends featurette, Gus Van Sant: Independent Voice featurette, Being Restless featurette, Coming to Life: This is Restless featurette, and Deleted Scenes. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $45.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Restless' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under January 24.Posted Thu Nov 17, 2011 at 06:00 AM PST by: -
'Unforgiven: 20th Anniversary Edition' Blu-ray Announced[teaser]Clint Eastwood's four-time Oscar-winner is getting a Blu-ray double dip in February. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Warner Brothers has revealed 'Unforgiven: 20th Anniversary Edition' starring Clint Eastwood and Morgan Freeman will be reissued on Blu-ray in a digibook on February 21. The film won Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actor, Best Film Editing, Best Director, and Best Picture. The release appears to be exactly the same as the current edition available on Blu-ray except for the addition of a "54-Page Commemorative Blu-ray Book With Photos, Production Notes, and More." You can find the latest specs for 'Unforgiven: 20th Anniversary Edition' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under February 21.Posted Wed Nov 16, 2011 at 12:00 PM PST by: -
Outdoor TV Specialist Pantel May be Going Under[teaser]Orders aren't being filled, calls aren't being answered, and inside sources say bankruptcy is on the way. [/teaser] When we think of niche products, outdoor televisions immediately spring to mind. They're unnecessary for most and priced well above their indoor counterparts, but specializing in a niche market isn't a bad idea for a company. Sadly though, it seems that things aren't working out well for Pantel. The company hasn't been responding to calls or emails since September and one dealer says that his distributor is unable to get TVs that he's ordered. Company phones are disconnected and even the CEO's number results in a disconnect message. Pantel has not officially filed for bankruptcy as of yet, but these aren't good signs. Source: CE ProPosted Wed Nov 16, 2011 at 11:00 AM PST by:
