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The Wii U Will Not Play Blu-rays or DVDs[teaser]Nintendo says there are enough devices that serve that purpose already. [/teaser] Microsoft and Sony have some big plans for their systems. Sony packed Blu-ray capabilities into the PS3 and added 3D support, while Microsoft was the first to add Netflix streaming and may even allow customers to watch TV on their systems. Both companies see their consoles as all-in-one devices that you can use for all of your entertainment needs. Nintendo is different. They were the last to add Netflix, and though you can hack your Wii to play DVDs, it doesn't do so out of the box. The Wii U will be no different - Nintendo's new high-def system won't play Blu-rays or DVDs. "The reason for that is that we feel that enough people already have devices that are capable of playing DVDs and Blu-ray," says Nintendo. "It didn't warrant the cost involved to build that functionality into the Wii U console because of the patents related to those technologies." Source:Posted Fri Jun 17, 2011 at 10:00 AM PDT by: -
'African Cats' Bound for Blu-ray[teaser]The awe-inspiring Disneynature adventure will roar onto Blu-ray this October.[/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Disneynature will be bringing 'African Cats' to Blu-ray on October 4. An awe-inspiring adventure blending family bonds with the power and cunning of the wild, 'African Cats' captures the real-life love, humor and determination of these majestic kings of the savanna in an exciting, heartwarming and visually stunning tale that is sure to engage children and adults alike. The film is narrated by Oscar®-nominated actor Samuel L. Jackson and directed by Alastair Fothergill (Disneynature 'Earth') and Keith Scholey. For every movie purchased through October 10, 2011, Disneynature will be contributing a portion of its home entertainment sales through the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund to the “See African Cats, Save the Savanna” effort – an initiative developed between Disneynature and the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) to protect lions, cheetah, elephants, zebra, giraffe and a host other species in Africa. The release will be a Blu-ray/DVD combo pack with 1080p video, an English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and bonus supplements will feature Disney & Nature – Viewers get a deeper look into the conservation efforts around the world being sponsored by The Walt Disney Company andSave The Savanna – A comprehensive look at Disney’s “See African Cats, Save the Savanna” program and its impact on the region. Blu-ray exclusives include a Jordin Sparks “The World I Knew” Music Video and Filmmaker Annotations – This interactive in-movie feature is a viewing mode with 12 different segments that allows consumers to watch behind-the-scenesfootage of the production process and hear stories from the filmmakers and conservationists who spent several years making the film. Suggested list price is $39.99. You can find the latest specs for 'African Cats' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under October 4.Posted Fri Jun 17, 2011 at 09:00 AM PDT by: -
Warner is the First to Offer VODs in China[teaser]Warner is the first to tap into the market in China with YOU On Demand. [/teaser] China is a weird market to enter for any business. With lax enforcement of copyright and piracy laws, China can be a bit of a risky venture, but Warner Bros is going in with a new video on demand service called YOU On Demand. YOU On Demand will bring the VOD viewing option to millions of households, and Warner estimates that up to three million will have access this summer. "Our distribution agreement with Warner Bros. marks a historic milestone for our company," says YOU On Demand CEO Shane McMahon - yes wrestling fans, it's that Shane McMahon. "I’m excited for the millions of Chinese consumers that will be able to experience and enjoy the very best content that Hollywood has to offer through the YOU On Demand platform." Source: Home Media MagazinePosted Fri Jun 17, 2011 at 08:00 AM PDT by: -
'The Bad Seed' Blu-ray Announced[teaser]The acclaimed 1956 thriller is planned for Blu-ray just in time for Halloween. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Warner Brothers is working on 'The Bad Seed' for Blu-ray on October 11. The movie was nominated for four Oscars (Best Actress - Nancy Kelly, Best Supporting Actress - Eileen Heckart, Best Supporting Actress - Patty McCormick and Best Cinematography (Black-and-White) - Harold Rosson). Specs and supplements have yet to be revealed, but suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $19.98. You can find the latest specs for 'The Bad Seed' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under October 11.Posted Fri Jun 17, 2011 at 07:00 AM PDT by: -
LG Unveils New Passive 3D Televisions[teaser]They also boast HD recording, which means that, sadly, we probably won't be seeing them in the U.S. [/teaser] Alright, so it's apparently official - every manufacturer using passive tech and polarized glasses is going to be calling their version of the tech something along the lines of "Cinema 3D." Not the best name, but people don't seem to dig the word "passive" so that's what we get. LG has revealed a few new Cinema 3D sets for those that don't want to have to shell out for expensive glasses and deal with charging batteries. They range in size from 32 inches on up to 47 inches, so they'll fit nicely in the living room or in smaller rooms. The big downside to the new LW5700 sets is that it doesn't seem like something that's going to come stateside. They support USB hard drive recording, which tends to be something specific to sets released in Japan. LG could surprise us, of course, or simply disable the functionality for the U.S. versions. Source: EngadgetPosted Fri Jun 17, 2011 at 06:00 AM PDT by: -
5 Films You Might Not Realize Were Directed by Martin Campbellby Luke Hickman New Zealand-born director Martin Campbell returns to theaters this week with the comic book adaptation of 'Green Lantern.' Starring Ryan Reynolds ('X-Men Origins: Wolverine') and Blake Lively ('The Town'), Campbell's latest film tells the story of a fighter pilot who is chosen by a supernatural force to be a protective guardian with unreal superpowers. [teaser]Just as we did last week with 'Super 8' director J.J. Abrams, this week we're going to highlight some of Campbell's past films that you may not realize are his.[/teaser] While the majority of his work lies in television series - mostly on the BBC - Campbell has plenty of theatrically released credits under his belt, and the majority of them are pretty damn good. 'GoldenEye' (1995) Campbell's first whack at the James Bond series was awesome. I will never forget the opening base-jumping sequence off the face of a 720-foot dam. 'GoldenEye' was Pierce Brosnan's first 'Bond' film, and - if I may say so - his best 'Bond' film. This was also when Judi Dench took over the role of James Bond's boss, M. 'GoldenEye' was unique for the series because it was the first 'Bond' not based on an Ian Fleming novel or short story. The previous 16 'Bond' films were all based on his books. The modernized take on 'Bond' was well received by critics (it holds an 80 percent Rotten Tomatoes rating), and Campbell's later bout with 'Bond,' eleven years later, was rated even higher. On a spin-off note, since I was a teenager when 'GoldenEye' opened, the only thing that held more esteem than the movie was its accompanying Nintendo 64 game. The game's multi-player mode struck video gaming gold. With over eight million copies sold, 'GoldenEye 007' held the record of highest selling game for over a decade until 'Halo 3' passed it in 2007. 'The Mask of Zorro' (1998) Say what you want - I've always considered 'The Mask of Zorro' a fine action flick. It capitalized on Antonia Banderas during his peak and Catherine Zeta-Jones pretty much owes her career to Campbell for casting her as Zorro's feisty romantic interest. When Robert Rodriguez dropped out from directing 'Zorro,' Campbell turned down directing 'Tomorrow Never Dies' to take over the Steven Spielberg-produced production. While 'The Mask of Zorro' went on to earn an 82 percent Rotten Tomatoes rating, it's a shame that Campbell felt the need to return to the franchise in 2005 with the family-friendly 'Legend of Zorro', which earned a rotten 26 percent. For his sub-par merits on 'The Legend of Zorro', Campbell very well could have been featured in our Bonus View Roundtable "Bad Movies From Good Directors." 'Vertical Limit' (2000) There's only one thing I remember from 'Vertical Limit' - the opening rock climbing family outing. While I recall thinking that intense scene was awesome and (obviously) unforgettable, the rest of the movie was forgettable. Even as I read the plot synopsis on IMDB, none of it is coming back to me. Even though my memory has 'Vertical Limit' pegged as being a sub par film, it received a 48 percent Rotten Tomatoes rating, which isn't as terrible compared to 'The Legend of Zorro'. An interesting note about 'Vertical Limit' is that portions of the movie were shot on location on K2, the Karakoram Mountain Range in Pakistan. All politics aside, can you image a Hollywood blockbuster being shot in Pakistan nowadays? 'Casino Royale' (2006) Returning to direct 'Bond 21,' Campbell earned his highest Rotten Tomatoes rating (94 percent) with 'Casino Royale'. Not only did Campbell direct Pierce Brosnan's first 'Bond' film, he also directed Daniel Craig's first. Telling the early story of James Bond just after reaching double-'O' status and obtaining his "license to kill", it's easy to mistake 'Casino Royale' for prequel, when in reality it's essentially a reboot. 'Casino Royale' brought everything expected from a 'Bond' movie to the table - the "Bond girls," the action, the dry humor - but it upped the quality with heightened intensity, real danger, emotional connections and completely solid story telling. In fact, the plot of 'Casino Royale' was so strong that it warranted the first-ever true "sequel" to a Bond film. 2008's follow-up 'Quantum of Solace' continued the story begun in 'Casino Royale,' picking up less than one hour after the film's closing scene. There have been plenty of great 'Bond' movies, but it's definitely not a coincidence that Campbell was at the helm for two of the greats. 'Edge of Darkness' (2010) I hate the term "celebrity," and the non-stop paparazzi coverage that the news media gives actors and musicians these days. When Mel Gibson's fights with his girlfriend are covered on the primetime evening "news," I get angry. But that's just my opinion. Many want to know every detail of this garbage and base their movie going and listening experiences on the talents' personal lives and not on the art at hand. Most people did not see 'Edge of Darkness' for this reason. I'm not saying it's a brilliant piece of art; it just deserves more love than it receives. In 'Edge of Darkness', Gibson plays a single, almost-retired homicide detective, whose child is gunned down on his front porch and dies in his arms. Completely alone, he follows his only notable skill set - investigating homicides - and sets off to find his daughter's killer. What most American's don't know is that 'Edge of Darkness' is a feature-length adaptation (courtesy of 'The Departed' screenwriter William Monahan) of a 1985 BBC mini-series that was also directed by Campbell. Watching Gibson's character obsess over finding his daughter's killer is mesmerizing, especially once he (spoiler alert) starts seeing and talking to her. No, he doesn't see her in a 'Sixth Sense' fashion - he merely goes down the 'Black Swan' bat-shit crazy route. And it's captivating. If you haven't seen 'Edge of Darkness,' hide away those judgmental thoughts of Mel, replace them with positive ones - think back to 'Braveheart', 'The Passion of the Christ,' 'Signs', 'Payback' and 'Mad Max' - and see one of Campbell's most insanely great films to date.Posted Thu Jun 16, 2011 at 11:30 AM PDT by: -
'Sons of Anarchy: Season Three' Announced for Blu-ray[teaser]SAMCRO will motor on to Ireland in their third season for Blu-ray this August. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, 20th Century Fox is working on 'Sons of Anarchy: Season Three' starring Ron Perlman, Katey Sagal, and Charlie Hunnam for Blu-ray on August 30. The 3-disc set will contain all 13 episodes with 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack, and supplements will include: Episode Commentary on "SO" featuring Kurt Sutter, Dave Erickson, Chris Collins, Regina Corrado, Katey Sagal and Marco Ramirez; Episode Commentary on "Firinne" featuring Kurt Sutter, Charlie Hunnam, Katey Sagal and Maggie Siff; Episode Commentary on "NS" featuring Kurt Sutter, Charlie Hunnam, Ron Perlman, Mark Boone Jr., Kim Coates, Tommy Flanagn, Theo Rossi and Dayton Callie; "Bainne" (Extended Episode); "June Wedding" (Extended Episode); Season 3 Bridge Pieces; Writers Roundtable; Bike Customizer; Directing the Finale with Kurt Sutter; "NS" Table read with Cast; Gag Reel; Deleted/Extended Scenes; and Fox Movie Channel Presents World Premiere: Sons of Anarchy Season 3. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray set is $69.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Sons of Anarchy: Season Three' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under August 30.Posted Thu Jun 16, 2011 at 10:40 AM PDT by: -
'Madea's Big Happy Family' Announced for Blu-ray[teaser]The gun-toting grandma with an attitude will be back in the latest Tyler Perry dramedy coming to Blu-ray this August. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Lionsgate says 'Madea's Big Happy Family' is coming to high-definition on August 30. Based on the stage play by the same name, the film stars the infamous matriarch as she once again puts a hilarious and inspirational twist on the family unit. Writer-director Tyler Perry ('For Colored Girls') stars as Madea, along with Shad "Bow Wow" Moss (HBO's "Entourage"), Loretta Devine ('For Colored Girls'), Cassi Davis (TV's "House of Payne") and other Perry fan favorites. Specs have yet to be revealed, but the release will include four featurettes and a digital copy. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $39.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Madea's Big Happy Family' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under August 30.Posted Thu Jun 16, 2011 at 10:00 AM PDT by: -
Skype Comes to Comcast Cable Boxes[teaser]Skype features will also be coming to Comcast's Xfinity apps. [/teaser] Remember a year or two ago when Netflix was the must have app for internet connected devices? This year is all about Skype, and Comcast is the latest to add the capabilities. If you have Comcast cable you won't need to get a Smart TV or set-top box - you can use Skype right on your cable box. Of course, you'll still need a few things to make it all work. A camera is required, but you probably could have guessed that. Comcast says you'll also need an adaptor box and a specially designed remote control that makes it simple to enter text. "Our unique relationship with Skype not only will change how our customers interact with their TV, but also will create new and meaningful ways to bring our customers closer to the people they care about," says Comcast president Neil Smit. "TV has evolved into a social experience, and Comcast and Skype will be delivering a product that personalizes the TV experience even more, and brings friends and family together through the biggest screen in their homes." Source: EngadgetPosted Thu Jun 16, 2011 at 09:00 AM PDT by: -
'Jane Eyre' Announced and Detailed for Blu-ray[teaser]The 2011 adaptation of the Charlotte Brontë literary classic will sweep Blu-ray off its feet in August. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Universal Studios is working on 'Jane Eyre' for a Blu-ray release on August 16. The film stars Mia Wasikowska (Tim Burton's 'Alice in Wonderland') and Michael Fassbender ('X-Men: First Class') and is directed by Cary Fukunaga. The Blu-ray will have 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements include: Commentary with director Cary Fukunaga, A Look Inside Jane Eyre, To Score Jane Eyre: Cary Fukunaga and Dario Marianelli Team Up, The Mysterious Light of Jane Eyre, My Scenes, and pocket Blu. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $35.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Jane Eyre' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under August 16.Posted Thu Jun 16, 2011 at 08:00 AM PDT by:
