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HDD Deal of the Week: 'Braveheart / Gladiator' Blu-ray $13.99 at Amazon[teaser]Save nearly fifty percent on the Oscar-winner two-pack at Amazon this week![/teaser] The online retailer is selling 'Braveheart / Gladiator' starring Mel Gibson and Russell Crowe for just $13.99 (48% off suggested list price). Click here to Pick up this recommended set for your Blu-ray library now! This deal is in effect from now through Sunday, November 20.Posted Sun Nov 13, 2011 at 12:14 PM PST by: -
HDD Deal of the Day: 'Firefly: The Complete Series' Blu-ray $18.99 at Amazon[teaser]Joss Whedon's cult sci-fi series on Blu-ray is nearly eighty percent off TODAY ONLY!! [/teaser] The online retailer has dropped the price of 'Firefly' to only $18.99 (79% off suggested list price). This set includes all 14 episodes in 1080p with a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack and supplements include featurettes, select audio commentaries, and more! Click here to join the browncoats in high-definition today!Posted Sun Nov 13, 2011 at 08:27 AM PST by: -
Bonus View Digest - November 11, 2011[teaser]Happy 11/11/11! Happy Veterans Day. And happy 33rd birthday to Jason Croatto (11+11+11=33... freaky)![/teaser] The holidays are fast approaching, and what better way to keep up to date with all your holiday high-def needs than reading The Bonus View as much as possible. We'll keep you informed about Blu-ray news, theatrical happenings, and TV goings on. It's a veritable cyber party over on The Bonus View blog and we'd love for you to join us. So, as you gear up for your impending Black Friday midnight store excursions, be sure to stay glued to our blog. You never know what's going to pop up. Blu-ray News In addition to Josh's weekly post about what titles are hitting the store shelves, blogger Tom Landy introduced us to the wonderful world of Steelbooks cases and what they have to offer. As a blast from the past, Josh put up a post about his special edition 'Kill Bill' DVDs. Boy, those 'Kill Bill' Bearbrick figurines look great. Even our Weekend Roundtable dealt with home movie collections. We asked our writers how they personally organize their movie collections and then our readers started up a huge comment thread to talk about how they organize theirs. Theatrical News Along with covering the weekly box office report and what movies we can expect to see in the theaters over the weekend, Luke Hickman also reviewed the surprisingly watchable (if forgettable) comedy 'Tower Heist.' He also reviewed the atrocious 'Jack and Jill,' the surprisingly decent 'Melancholia' and the lackluster 'J. Edgar' E took time out to give us another round of The Trailer Park as he featured trailers from the upcoming movies 'Man on a Ledge' and 'Contraband.' Aaron took some time out to contemplate the existence of a 'Cars' World and what that would actually mean. Raising pertinent questions like "Do the cars have sex?" Aaron delved as deep as he could into the 'Cars' Conundrum without losing his mind. In Oscar news, Brett Ratner has been ousted from his perch as Oscar producer along with his choice of host Eddie Murphy. Whew, we dodged a bullet right? Well, that was until we just found out that Billy Crystal will now be hosting the Oscars. Why do the Oscars hate viewers? That's what we'd like to know. Home Theater News In the home theater section we used the Mid-Week Poll to ask you, our dear readers, how many speakers your home theater consists of. There were a myriad of different choices, and we're quickly finding out that everyone has slightly different tastes when it comes to setting up their audio wonderland. Don't know what to watch this weekend? Take a look at our weekly articles about what's on the Netflix Stream or what is new to VUDU. Josh began writing a new column called VUDU Diaries, where he highlights a movie on the service. This week he checked out Tony Scott's vampire movie 'The Hunger.' TV Recaps We've always got enough TV recaps to go around. This week we recapped the series premiere of 'Hell on Wheels,' 'Terra Nova,' 'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia,' 'Chuck,' 'Fringe,' 'American Horror Story,' 'Covert Affairs,' and the ever-popular 'Walking Dead.' Even blogger Wayne Rowe's One From the Vault column revisited the campy television classic 'Hawaii Five-O.' Also, we know that Halloween is over, but in case you missed it, Aaron outlined his top ten favorite 'Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror' episodes. Check them out, add your own. Huge week this week! Looking into my crystal ball I see nothing but good things ahead. So come and join us on The Bonus View every week, to get your fill of high-def news straight from the high-def experts.Posted Fri Nov 11, 2011 at 11:11 AM PST by: -
'Poirot: Series 1' & 'Poirot: Series 2' Announced for Blu-ray[teaser]Another nineteen mysteries featuring Agatha Christie's Belgian super sleuth (David Suchet) are coming to Blu-ray in January. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Acorn Media has just revealed 'Poirot: Series 1' and 'Poirot: Series 2' for Blu-ray on January 31. Series 1 will include ten episodes: The Adventure of the Clapham Cook, Murder in the Mews, The Adventure of Johnnie Waverly, Four and Twenty Blackbirds, The Third Floor Flat, Triangle at Rhodes, Problem at Sea, The Incredible Theft, The King of Clubs, and The Dream. There will be nine episodes included with Series 2: Peril at End House, The Veiled Lady, The Lost Mine, The Cornish Mystery, The Disappearance of Mr. Davenheim, Double Sin, The Adventure of the Cheap Flat, The Kidnapped Prime Minister, and The Adventure of the Western Star. Both releases will be a 2-disc set and will have a Dolby Digital 2.0 soundtrack, but supplements haven't been detailed yet.. Suggested list price for each Blu-ray set is $49.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Poirot: Series 1' and 'Poirot: Series 2' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where they're indexed under January 31.Posted Fri Nov 11, 2011 at 10:00 AM PST by: -
iOGEAR's Wireless HDMI Streamer Does 3D and 1080p up to 100 Feet[teaser]It only does 5.1 channel audio unlike HP's version, but it gives you four times the distance. Of course, it's also $200 more. [/teaser] Is wireless streaming season a thing? If it is then we're right smack dab in the middle of it. Both HP and iOGEAR have released new PC to TV streamers with differing capabilities. The iOGEAR GW3DKIT is 3D capable and can send 1080p video to your TV with a simple sender/receiver arrangement. It can only do 5.1 channel audio, unlike HP's Wireless TV Connect which can handle 7.1. The advantage of the GW3DKIT is that thanks to the use of the 5GHz wireless spectrum you'll be able to get 100 feet out of it instead of the 25-30 that HP promises. It's priced at $379 which is $200 higher than its competitor, but a room or two worth of range might be worth it to the right person. Source: EngadgetPosted Fri Nov 11, 2011 at 09:00 AM PST by: -
'Mysterious Island (1961)' Blu-ray Now Shipping[teaser]The limited-edition release of the Ray Harryhausen classic is now on the way from Twilight Time. [/teaser] As previously reported, Twilight Time has set 'Mysterious Island' for Blu-ray on November 8, and now discs are being shipped to customers. During the US Civil War, Union POWs escape in a balloon and end up stranded on a South Pacific island, inhabited by giant plants and animals. They must use their ingenuity to survive the dangers, and to devise a way to return home. Sequel to '20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.' The region-free Blu-ray is limited to 3000 copies and features 1080p video, DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (plus original mono) soundtracks, and supplements include: 8-Page Booklet, Isolated Score Track (2.0 Stereo), Original Theatrical Trailer, and Trailer TV Spot #1. The Blu-ray is only available here from Screen Archives Entertainment for $34.95. You can find the latest specs for 'Mysterious Island (1961)' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under November 8.Posted Fri Nov 11, 2011 at 08:00 AM PST by: -
Boxee Will Add Live TV Through the Boxee Box[teaser]A dongle will be needed, but you'll be able to pull in over-the-air television signals through your Box. [/teaser] The Boxee Box is really working hard to appeal to cord-cutters everywhere and the upcoming version of the Box will be offering even more. The folks over at NewTeeVee were able to get their hands on a build of the Boxee Box 1.5 update and were surprised to see a new option called Boxee Live TV, which is just what it sounds like. Live TV gives you the option to watch over-the-air broadcasts through your Boxee Box if you pick up a special dongle to enable it. While watching live TV on your Boxee Box is certainly a nice addition, Boxee will also be adding plenty of the social integration that they're known for. There's no word yet on when this update will come out and Boxee hasn't yet commented on the reveal. Source: New TeeVeePosted Fri Nov 11, 2011 at 07:00 AM PST by: -
'Division III: Football's Finest' Blu-ray Announced[teaser]Another ensemble sports comedy will score a touchdown on Blu-ray in January. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Image Entertainment is working on 'Division III: Football's Finest' for Blu-ray on January 17. Comedy mad man Andy Dick ('Old School') leads a winning ensemble cast in this outrageous comedy in the no holds barred tradition of 'Bad Santa' and 'Bad Teacher.' Meet bad coach Rick Vice, a redneck psycho with a suspect record (the attempted murder of a Pee Wee football team). When the Pulham Blue Cocks coach drops dead on the sidelines, Vice is the last resort to turn around the worst team in college football's worst division (it's one step up from Nerf). Marshall Cook costars as Mitch, the slacker second-string quarterback who butts helmets with Vice, his worst nightmare, but maybe Vice's demented methods will be just the spark to turn Mitch and the Blue Cocks into winners. Adam Corolla ('The Man Show') and MadTV veterans Will Sasso, Debra Wilson, Mo Collins and Bryan Callen go the extra yard in this comedy that will blindside you. Specs and supplements have yet to be revealed, but suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $29.97. You can find the latest specs for 'Division III: Football's Finest' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under January 17.Posted Fri Nov 11, 2011 at 06:00 AM PST by: -
HDD Study Hall: Clint Eastwoodby Luke Hickman Placing both the known and the secret lives of J. Edgar Hoover on the big screen, opening nationwide tomorrow, is Clint Eastwood's new dramatic bio-pic 'J. Edgar.' [teaser]With Eastwood seemingly always in the running for Academy Awards, I figured he would be a worthy topic for Study Hall, only this time we'll review his past in a different format. Instead of looking at a few of Eastwood's classic titles, we're going to take a look at the many filmmaking roles he's successfully filled over his 56-year career.[/teaser] Acting Eastwood started in the business in front of the camera. Until the last decade, he was known first and foremost as an actor. His first few years in Hollywood were spent playing small roles in television shows and uncredited bit parts in small movies - mostly war flicks and, as you know, westerns. It didn't take long for him to find his niche. After four short years in the business, Eastwood landed the role of Rowdy Yates in the popular television series 'Rawhide,' and the rest is history. After 217 episodes of 'Rawhide,' Eastwood made his way back onto the silver screen in Sergio Leone's spaghetti western 'A Fistful of Dollars.' One year later, he appeared in Leone's 'For a Few Dollars More' and just one year after that, they again reteamed for 'The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.' Arguably, this trio of films, known as 'The Man with No Name Trilogy' is the most well-known credit on Eastwood's resume. Personally, 'The Good, the Bad and the Ugly' is not only my favorite western but my favorite of the films in which Eastwood stars. Over the 14 years following his work with Leone, Eastwood appeared in at least one film a year - westerns, war films, and then crime dramas. In 1971, Eastwood kicked off a the five-film 'Dirty Harry' series, where he played a San Francisco cop who didn't play by the rules. Unlike 'The Man with No Name Trilogy,' Eastwood spread his Dirty Harry roles over 17 years, filling the gaps with notable titles 'The Outlaw Josey Wales,' 'Every Which Way But Loose' and 'Escape from Alcatraz.' Alng the way, he's received two nominations for acting in 'Million Dollar Baby' and 'Unforgiven,' but hasn't won. The older he's gotten, the less films he's acted in. Eastwood's current focus is placed on producing and directing. Directing Eastwood began directing while shooting his 1971 film 'The Beguiled.' When not in front of the camera, he was behind a camera of his own shooting a making-of documentary about the film's director Don Siegel short called 'The Beguiled: The Storyteller.' He must have caught the directing bug because he stuck to it. His feature directorial debut was 'Play Misty for Me,' after which he directed some of his own westerns and war flicks, as well as one 'Dirty Harry' film. Along the way, he would occasionally direct a film that he would not act in, but after 2004's 'Million Dollar Baby,' he's only returned for one film - 2008's 'Gran Torino.' Eastwood won his first Academy Award for directing 'Unforgiven.' In 2005, he won another Academy Award for directing 'Million Dollar Baby.' He's also have had two other Academy Award directing nominations for 2003's 'Mystic River' and 2006's 'Letters From Iwo Jima.' Along the way he has directed ten actors to Oscar-nominated performances. Producing Since he started directing, Eastwood has produced nearly all of his own films, as well as a few musical and historical documentaries. If you see the Eastwood-produced 'You Must Rememeber This: The Warner Bros. Story' on your TV's listings, be sure to set your DVR to record this fascinating tale of the studio's formation, trials and successes from creation to modern releases. As a producer, Eastwood has won two Best Picture Academy Awards for 'Unforgiven' and 'Million Dollar Baby,' as well as two additional nominations for 'Mystic River' and 'Letters From Iwo Jima.' Composing How many other director/producer/actors out there have also composed their own music? My guess is very few. To date, Eastwood has composed six big screen scores. 'Mystic River,' 'Million Dollar Baby,' 'Flags of our Fathers,' 'Changeling' and 'Hereafter' were all his own films, but 2007's 'Grace is Gone' is the surprise title under his composing credits. Eastwood has no apparent connection to the filmmakers nor the studio that distributed the indie film, yet he composed the simple score. Perhaps he was drawn to the intimate script about a father (John Cusack - who appeared in the Eastwood directed 'Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil') trying to cope with the death of his wife serving in the Middle East while looking for the right moment to break the news to their daughters. Conclusion Even though I personally view the Eastwood-directed flicks as hit-and-miss, there's no arguing that he's a filmmaking legend. The guy has proven himself in numerous roles within the Hollywood system.Posted Thu Nov 10, 2011 at 12:45 PM PST by: -
'Radiohead: The King of Limbs from the Basement' Blu-ray Announced[teaser]The British rock band is getting ready for a Blu-ray release sometime in the new year. [/teaser] In a recent announcement, the band says 'Radiohead: The King of Limbs from the Basement' will hit Blu-ray likely sometime in January. The session was recorded in Nigel Godrich's basement and features a pair of unreleased songs (The Daily Mail and Staircase). There's still no word on specs, supplements, suggested list price, or even an exact release date yet, but the Blu-ray will include a 32-page hardback photo book and a digital download. You can find the latest specs for 'Radiohead: The King of Limbs from the Basement' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under PENDING.Posted Thu Nov 10, 2011 at 12:00 PM PST by:
