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'Michael Jackson: The Life of an Icon' Announced for Blu-ray[teaser]A new documentary on the King of Pop is planned for an early November Blu-ray release. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Universal Studios is preparing 'Michael Jackson: The Life of an Icon' for Blu-ray on November 1. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements include additional interview footage with Katherine Jackson, Tito Jackson, Rebbie Jackson, and other contributors. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $26.98. You can find the latest specs for 'Michael Jackson: The Life of an Icon' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under November 1.Posted Wed Sep 7, 2011 at 08:00 AM PDT by: -
HDD Spotlight Bargain: 'Dexter: The Complete Seasons 1-5' Blu-ray $124.99 at Amazon[teaser]Today's Amazon deal is all five seasons of the award-winning Showtime series currently on Blu-ray! [/teaser] The online retailer is selling the box set of 'Dexter: The Complete First Season,' 'Dexter: The Complete Second Season,' 'Dexter: The Complete Third Season,' 'Dexter: The Complete Fourth Season,' and 'Dexter: The Complete Fifth Season' starring Golden Globe winner Michael C. Hall for just $124.99 (57% off suggested list price). Click here to own one of the best (and bloodiest) shows on TV! This offer is available until midnight PST.Posted Wed Sep 7, 2011 at 07:18 AM PDT by: -
'The Pebble and the Penguin' Blu-ray Detailed[teaser]The Don Bluth production coming to Blu-ray in October has now been detailed. [/teaser] As previously reported, MGM says 'The Pebble and the Penguin' is planned for Blu-ray on October 11. The animated adventure from the makers of 'The Secret of NIMH' and 'All Dogs Go to Heaven' tells the story of a bashful penguin searching for true love and stars the voices of Martin Short, James Belushi, and Tim Curry. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements will include a making-of featurette, music featurette, and theatrical trailer. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $19.99. You can find the latest specs for 'The Pebble and the Penguin' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under October 11.Posted Wed Sep 7, 2011 at 06:00 AM PDT by: -
Fall Promises a Cornucopia of Major New Releases On Blu-rayby Aaron Peck [teaser]Summer is quickly drawing to a close and ushering in the beginning of Autumn. The leaves are changing, we're starting to venture back indoors in preparation for the cold months ahead. Fall is a great time to stock up on new movies to get you through the winter doldrums. Here is a list of our most anticipated day-and-date releases coming out in the very near future.[/teaser] Fall is when we usually see quite a few of the summer blockbusters finally getting released. This year is no exception. There's a wealth of sizzling summer titles to get excited for. The first day of Fall in 2011 (at least in the northern hemisphere) is September 23, but we realize this is a worldwide site, and readers in other countries are facing polar opposite seasons, so for our purposes Fall releases will include anything released from September until Christmas.< Here are the big new releases we'll be marking on our calendars at High-Def Digest: 'Attack of the Block' Blu-ray Release Date: October 25th This comedic British alien invasion movie didn't get a lot of love when it came to a wide release in the states, but it's supposed to be brilliantly hilarious. Bordering on the greatness of 'Shaun of the Dead' and 'Hot Fuzz' and truly injecting some new life into a genre which has been extremely played out over the 2011 movie season, here's to seeing a snarky, British take on alien invasion! 'Boardwalk Empire' Blu-ray Release Date: Rumored November For you HBO fans, 'Boardwalk Empire' hits the format a little later this year, and if HBO's other TV seasons are any indication, this one should be another near demo-worthy experience. I never watched the show, but heard very good things about it and look forward to checking it out. Fans of the series will be happy it's getting the high-def treatment it deserves, but may find the steep list price hard to stomach. Lets hope for some good sale prices. 'Bridesmaids' Blu-ray Release Date: September 20th The age of the R-rated comedy is upon us. 'Bridesmaids' was lauded as the female 'Hangover,' and it definitely didn't disappoint at the box office. Being relatively cheap to film (compared to the other blockbusters of the summer), 'Bridesmaids' scored at the box office with a $270 million take worldwide. I never saw 'Bridesmaids,' but intend to when it's released on Blu-ray. From everyone that's seen it I've only heard good things. This is one to keep an eye out for. 'Captain America: The First Avenger' Blu-ray Release Date: October 25th As far as superhero movies go I thought 'Captain America' was middle of the road at best. I never felt connected to any of the characters here, and never felt like Cap was placed in any danger he couldn't easily escape from. A few simple montages and he'd defeated Red Skull's army without breaking a sweat. However, I understand that people out there (chiefly HDD reviewer Luke Hickman) think differently about this movie. This suggestion is for you fans, since there's no doubt in my mind that this one will look and sound great. 'Cars 2' Blu-ray Release Date: November 1st You're not looking forward to 'Cars 2' because it was a good movie. This one is by far Pixar's worst movie to date. It's essentially 90 minutes of Larry the Cable Guy stand up comedy. What you're looking forward to, however, is the promise of another breath-taking Pixar high-def presentation. Not to mention the fact that this is probably going to be one of the best 3D Blu-rays out there. 'Fast Five' Blu-ray Release Date: October 4th Ah, yes. The fifth 'Fast and the Furious' movie. Out of all of them though, this one is definitely the best. At least in my book. You'll most likely laugh all the way through the litany of ridiculous stunts piled one on top of the other, but this audio presentation is sure to be one of the most rip-roaring tracks out there. I'm really looking forward to the rumbling mayhem of the last chase scene as Paul Walker and Vin Diesel pull a giant safe on chains through downtown Rio. 'Hanna' Blu-ray Release Date: September 6th In a cinematic wasteland full of chaotic camera movements, incessant editing, and unyielding shaky-cams, Joe Wright is a different kind of director. His tracking shot on the beach in 'Atonement' was a pinnacle of staging a scene and shooting it in the most grandiose way possible. Even though 'Hanna' does get schizophrenic at times, he makes it work. He also lets us know that it's still him behind the camera with a one shot fight scene involving Eric Bana which is deadly in its beautiful simplicity. 'Modern Family: The Complete Second Season' Blu-ray Release Date: September 20th It's not all about movies this Fall. Right around the time ABC's comedy about a dysfunctional, yet hilarious, family starts its third season, the second season heads to Blu-ray. Just as funny as the debut season, the second year of 'Modern Family' is definitely one you'll want to have in your collection. The great thing about this show is that you can jump in anywhere and still find it funny. There are some inside jokes as the show moves along, but it really is a show for everyone. 'Our Idiot Brother' Blu-ray Release Date: November 2nd I got to catch the premiere of 'Our Idiot Brother' at Sundance earlier this year. At that time it was called 'My Idiot Brother,' but in the end it's still the same hilarious film. Paul Rudd can do no wrong, and here he's great as Ned. A man so outwardly optimistic and trusting that he gets absolutely pummeled by the cynical people around him. 'Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides' Blu-ray Release Date: October 18th Better than the third installment (which isn't saying that much), 'On Stranger Tides' was sort of a bland movie-going experience. Yet, the Blu-ray is sure to look and sound like a million bucks like most Disney home video experiences. So, that's something to look forward to. 'Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale' Blu-ray Release Date: October 25th An R-rated action comedy from Finland that features Santa Claus being dug up in an archeological dig? Yes please! Critics loved 'Rare Exports,' and I'm sure had it been given a wider release in the states more people would've found room in their hearts for it. It'll find indelible cult status on Blu-ray, that much is for sure. 'Red State' Blu-ray Release Date: October 18th Kevin Smith's very dark thriller about a religious cult finally finds its way to home video after its nationwide tour. Smith seems to get ever fuller of himself as time goes by. His speech at Sundance, after the premiere of this movie, was fairly self-aggrandizing and annoying to endure. Still, I have to admit that 'Red State' was surprisingly good and wasn't what I expected at all. It truly is a movie where no one is safe. And I mean no one. 'Super 8' Blu-ray Release Date: October 18th Not only was 'Super 8' one of the best movies of the summer, it's one of the best movies of the year. J.J. Abrams did a spectacular job recreating the feeling of old childhood adventure movies like 'The Goonies.' 'Super 8' is a giant bag of nostalgic popcorn ready to be munched. The kids (this is the first film for some of them) are the reason to see this movie. Forget the alien plot, or the large special effects sequences (although that train wreck scene is jaw-droppingly awesome), the kids and their interaction with one another are the true heart of the movie. Not to mention how fun their amateur zombie movie is that plays during the credits. 'Terri' Blu-ray Release Date: October 11th Here's another little indie comedy that you should keep a lookout for. It's survived the first of this year as a festival darling, and aims to please once it hits home video. There are so many huge blockbusters coming out that it would be easy to miss this little comedy starring John C. Reilly, but make sure you don't. 'Thor' Blu-ray Release Date: September 13th I thought for sure that 'Thor' was going to be corny as hell. I actually like the way the story of Thor was explained here. Thor and his family have visited earth way back when. They're from a different planet, aliens essentially, but were worshiped as gods at one point in time because of their powers. The movie was surprisingly fun, and humor-filled. For me it came in second among superhero movies during the summer. 'Tree of Life' Blu-ray Release Date: October 11th I won't pretend to understand the depths of Terrence Malick's 'Tree of Life.' There are scenes in it that absolutely baffled me and had me rolling my eyes. On the other hand, the emotion conveyed on screen is stunningly resonant. Out of all the movies I've seen this year, I think I've thought about 'Tree of Life' the most after the fact. It's simply a dazzlingly unique and equally confusing experience. 'X-Men: First Class' Blu-ray Release Date: September 9th For my money, this was the best superhero movie of the summer. James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender bolstered this superhero period piece with their terrific performances. Add in Kevin Bacon as a no-good German villain who resembles many a past 'Bond' villain, complete with world domination goals, and you have a great movie all around. Now if only Matthew Vaughn and crew could've thought up a substitute mutant for Angel. Let's face it, she was by far the worst part of that film. Her dainty insect wings mixed with her fiery loogies made her a very dumb mutant indeed. By no means is this a complete list, but just a good smattering of what big name new releases you can expect to see on store shelves this fall. As the summer blockbusters start coming out, prepare yourself for some rocking good audio and visual presentations. I don't know about you, but my wallet aches as I look over this list. At least Christmas is coming up soon right? What new releases did we miss that you're eagerly anticipating? Let us know in the forums.Posted Tue Sep 6, 2011 at 12:30 PM PDT by: -
'Hawaii Five-0: The Complete First Season' Blu-ray Best Buy Exclusive[teaser]The first season of the hit CBS remake will catch the Blu-ray wave in a few weeks, only at Best Buy. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Paramount will release 'Hawaii Five-0: The Complete First Season' on Blu-ray exclusively at Best Buy on September 20. The police procedural series stars Alex O'Loughlin, Scott Caan, Daniel Dae Kim ('LOST'), and Grace Park ('Battlestar Galactica'). Specs and supplements have yet to be revealed, but suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $59.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Hawaii Five-0: The Complete First Season' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under September 20.Posted Tue Sep 6, 2011 at 12:15 PM PDT by: -
Blu-ray Goes 'Stir Crazy'[teaser]The 1980 crime comedy will be sentenced to Blu-ray this December. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Image Entertainment is working on 'Stir Crazy' for Blu-ray on December 6. The film about two innocent friends who are framed and sent to prison stars Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor and is directed by Sidney Poitier. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 soundtrack, and supplements will include talent filmographies and trailers. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $17.97. You can find the latest specs for 'Stir Crazy' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's now indexed under December 6.Posted Tue Sep 6, 2011 at 12:00 PM PDT by: -
Dish May Launch Blockbuster Streaming Service in October[teaser]The plans that have been set in place by Dish will finally be revealed, and it could mean a big shakeup for the streaming game. [/teaser] According to sources belonging to the folks at Bloomberg, Dish is going to be launching its subscription based streaming service next month. The service will offer streaming movies at a yet-to-be named price and will almost certainly start to lure customers away from Netflix. Part of the reason for the launch timing, according to that source, is the Netflix price raise, which will be hitting customers this month. The other reason seems to be based around content. Starz and Netflix failed to come to an agreement so the streaming service is about to lose a big chunk of its catalog. Instead of Netflix, they'll be taking those movies over to Dish and Blockbuster. Netflix hasn't faced much in the way of real competition yet, but the face of the streaming market is about to change. With a Blockbuster streaming service on the way and a rumored iTunes streaming service, it'll be interesting to see what happens. Source: EngadgetPosted Tue Sep 6, 2011 at 11:00 AM PDT by: -
'Jig' Announced for Blu-ray[teaser]Sue Bourne's acclaimed dance documentary is planned for Blu-ray next month. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Screen Media Films will release 'Jig' for Blu-ray on October 4. 'Jig' is the remarkable story of the 40thIrish Dancing World Championships, held in Glasgow, Scotland. This feature length documentary gives viewers unprecedented access to the little known world of competitive Irish Dancing. Thousands of dancers and their families and teachers from around the globe descend upon Glasgow for one drama-filled week. Clad in wigs, make up, fake tans, diamonds, and dresses costing thousands of dollars, these ambitious dancers won't let anything stand in their way as they will compete for the coveted world titles. Specs haven't been revealed yet, but the Blu-ray/DVD combo pack will include: Audio commentary with director Sue Bourne and world champion John Carey, Irish Dance Dresses: Interview with costume designer Gavin Doherty, The Dziaks from Chicago, Breaking of the Guinness World Record: Special Footage, and Bonus Story Segments. Suggested list price for this release is $38.98. You can find the latest specs for 'Jig' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under October 4.Posted Tue Sep 6, 2011 at 10:00 AM PDT by: -
SIM2 Launches New 3D DLP Projector Line[teaser]The Nero series consists of four different single chip projectors, three of which handle your 3D needs. [/teaser] The latest line of high-end projectors from SIM2 offers a few different options to those looking for an upgrade. All utilize the ALPHAPATH light engine and are made to work in what SIM2 calls "real world lighting conditions." The Nero 3D-1 is the baseline model of the series. It features a DarkChip that helps to offer a contrast ratio of over 10,000:1. The 3D-2 steps things up with a DarkChip4, a 30,000:1 contrast ratio and a few other built-in technologies to improve picture and performance. The Nero 3D, meanwhile, focuses on brightness, offering 3,000 lumens instead of the 2,000 from the other projectors. The oddball in the pack is the Nero 235, which doesn't do 3D but offers a 2560 x 1600 resolution and plenty of noise reduction and detail enhancement technologies. Pricing for the new line starts at $16,000. Source: eCousticsPosted Tue Sep 6, 2011 at 09:00 AM PDT by: -
'Mysterious Island (1961)' & 'Fright Night (1985)' Announced for Blu-ray[teaser]Classic Sony titles will be getting the royal limited edition Blu-ray treatment from Twilight Time in the upcoming months. [/teaser] Specialty label Twilight Time has struck a deal with Sony Pictures Home Entertainment to license and release classic films from the Sony-owned Columbia Pictures library in high-definition Blu-ray editions. In line with Twilight Time’s innovative limited series concept, just 3000 units of each title will be produced, aimed at the collector/classic film aficionado market, and available exclusively online through www.screenarchives.com, the nation’s largest independent distributor of specialty soundtracks. The November 8th Blu-ray debut of director Cy Endfield’s and special effects master Ray Harryhausen’s 1961 science fiction/fantasy classic, ''Mysterious Island,' will be followed by a new release on the first Tuesday of each month. Scheduled follow-up on December 13th is the original 'Fright Night' (1985), the horror/comedy cult favorite written and directed by Tom Holland and starring Chris Sarandon and Roddy McDowall. Twilight Time—the label that has made a recent splash in the classic film home video pond with the release of such titles as 'The Kremlin Letter,' 'Violent Saturday,' and 'The Egyptian'—is the brainchild of 30-year Warner Bros veteran Brian Jamieson and filmmaker/music restoration specialist Nick Redman. In his long tenure at Warner Home Video, Jamieson initiated and oversaw countless legacy restorations, including the films of Stanley Kubrick, Samuel Fuller’s 'The Big Red One,' and Sam Peckinpah’s 'The Wild Bunch.' Redman, a film historian and Oscar nominee for his 1997 documentary, 'The Wild Bunch: An Album in Montage,' is also a prime mover behind Twentieth Century Fox’s pioneering series of limited edition soundtracks, the inspiration for Twilight Time’s release model. Twilight Time, Jamieson explains, is motivated by a desire “to optimize the film enthusiast’s dream, providing long sought-after collectible and fully restored titles, in their original aspect ratios, all manufactured to the highest quality available, and at an affordable price.” Unlike movies-on-demand offerings, each Twilight Time release is a BD or DVD (not a DVDr) properly pressed from a restored transfer. Each is accompanied by a collectible 8-page booklet complete with original essay, stills, and poster art. And each Twilight Time disc provides, whenever possible, that extra most coveted by cinemusic enthusiasts: an isolated score. 'Mysterious Island' offers a particularly high incentive along these lines, featuring music by pantheon composer Bernard Herrmann. Grover Crisp, Sony Pictures Entertainment's Executive Vice President for Asset Management, Film Restoration, and Digital Mastering, is enthusiastic about his studio's new partnership with the label. “Our collaboration with Twilight Time will allow us to make available for Blu-ray release some of our library's most collectible titles in a way fans have been asking for: restored and re-mastered with attention to detail and quality.” And Jamieson concurs: “Sony and Twilight Time,” he says, “will be serving both the collectible drive of film aficionados, and, in a larger sense, the cause of cinema literacy.” You can find the latest specs for 'Mysterious Island' and 'Fright Night' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where they're indexed under November 8 and December 13 respectively.Posted Tue Sep 6, 2011 at 08:00 AM PDT by:
