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LCD and Plasma Growth Takes a Dive[teaser]Both display formats are still growing, but that growth has slowed significantly. [/teaser] LCD and plasma televisions have been experiencing a great deal of growth, especially over the last year, but it seems that growth spurt has ended. In the first quarter of 2010, LCD TV shipments grew by 50 percent. That was spurred on in part by the World Cup, but 50 percent growth is remarkable no matter how you slice it. In 2011, the first quarter growth was just nine percent. Plasma sets were in a bit of a resurgence thanks to lower prices and the busting of a few common plasma TV myths, but this quarter they're down to six percent growth - not exactly mind blowing. Interestingly, plasma TVs still improved a good deal in the 720p category. Analysts cite low prices for large screen sizes as the primary cause. Source: Home Media MagazinePosted Wed Jun 8, 2011 at 07:00 AM PDT by: -
HDD Deal of the Day: 'Battlestar Galactica: The Complete Series' Blu-ray $113.99 at Amazon[teaser]Today's Gold Box deal at Amazon is the entire run of the re-imagined sci-fi series on Blu-ray! [/teaser] Amazon has reduced the price on the reissued 'Battlestar Galactica: The Complete Series' Blu-ray for $113.99 (62% off suggested retail price. This collection includes all four seasons, the miniseries, 'Battlestar Galactica: Razor,' as well as 'Battlestar Galactica: The Plan.' Click here to be linked to the offer.Posted Wed Jun 8, 2011 at 06:33 AM PDT by: -
'Nikita: The Complete First Season' Announced and Detailed For Blu-ray[teaser]The first season of the sexy and suspenseful CW series will take a Blu-ray bow this August. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Warner has just revealed 'Nikita: The Complete First Season' will hit high-definition home video on August 30. Nikita has gone rogue. Division is an ultra-secret government agency whose operatives are recruited young people with severed ties to family, friends and society. Trained to be invisible assassins, no one ever leaves Division -- except the charming and deadly Nikita, who has managed to escape, making it her mission to undermine the now-corrupt organization. A force to be reckoned with, the rogue Nikita taunts Division, staying on their radar, but always one step ahead. Yet as determined as Nikita is to bring down her former agency, there are those just as determined to stop her, including Division's newest recruit Alex, a beautiful young woman who seems destined to replace Nikita as their next top operative. The Blu-ray release will be a four disc set housing all 22 episodes with 1080p video, a Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements will include Inside Division, Part 1: The New Nikita; Inside Division, Part 2: Executing an Episode; Profiling Nikita, Alex, Percy & Michael; Commentary of Two Episodes; Gag Reel; Deleted Scenes; and the Blu-ray exclusive Division Tracker - Hack into Division and uncover a global tracking device designed to record every major character’s move throughout the years. Can you predict Nikita’s future by discovering her past? We think this cover especially warrants a closer look: Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $67.97. You can find the latest specs for 'Nikita: The Complete First Season' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under August 30.Posted Wed Jun 8, 2011 at 06:00 AM PDT by: -
'Paul' Announced and Detailed for Blu-ray[teaser]Greg ('Superbad') Mottola's alien adventure comedy will probe Blu-ray's you-know-what this August. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Universal Studios is preparing 'Paul' for a Blu-ray release on August 9. 'Paul' reunites Simon Pegg and Nick Frost ('Hot Fuzz,' 'Shaun of the Dead') as two sci-fi geeks on a pilgrimage to America’s UFO heartland, where they accidentally encounter an alien who sends them on an insane road trip that alters their universe forever. Written by Pegg and Frost, Paul boasts a star-studded cast that features Seth Rogen ('The Green Hornet,' 'Knocked Up') as the voice of Paul, Sigourney Weaver ('Avatar'), Jason Bateman ('Hancock'), Kristen Wiig ('Date Night,' 'Knocked Up'), Jane Lynch (“Glee”), Bill Hader ('Pineapple Express'), Joe Lo Truglio ('Role Models'), Jeffrey Tambor (“Arrested Development”) and Blythe Danner ('Little Fockers'). The release will be a Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy combo pack with both the theatrical and unrated cuts of the film in 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements include: Feature Commentary with director Greg Mottola, stars Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, and Bill Hader and producer Nira Park; Bloopers; The Evolution of Paul; Simon's Silly Faces; Who the Hell is Adam Shadowchild?; Photo Galleries, Storyboards and Posters. Blu-ray exclusive will entail: Between the Lightning Strikes: The Making of Paul; RV Doorway: The Cast of Paul On-Location; Runway Santa Fe: An Interview with Nancy Steiner; Smithereens; 5th Date Level Direction: The Cast on Greg Mottola; Mexico Zero: The Locations of Paul; The Many Pauls; Paul: The Musical; The Traveler Beagle; and BD-LIVE™ (pocket BLU™, Advanced Remote Control Video Timeline, Mobile-To-Go). Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $39.98. You can find the latest specs for 'Paul' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under August 9.Posted Tue Jun 7, 2011 at 03:00 PM PDT by: -
Have you "Liked" High-Def Digest on Facebook yet?[teaser]Have you visited the High-Def Digest Facebook page lately? If not, why not swing by and let your friends know that you like us? In return, we'll make sure you never miss a Blu-ray bargain or a great review.[/teaser] Please check out the High-Def Digest Page on Facebook, click "like," and spread the word, so you and your friends can always find the best Blu-ray and High-Def news and reviews online. Our Facebook page is still going strong, and we'd love you to join in the fun. In addition to our reviews, highlights from The Bonus View, and priceless witticisms, we use the page as one more way of spreading the word about the best high-def releases on the market. If you haven't joined the fun yet, you can check it out here. Hope to see you there soon!Posted Tue Jun 7, 2011 at 02:10 PM PDT by: -
HDD Exclusive: Our Interview With 'Beginners' Writer/Director Mike Millsby Luke Hickman [teaser]Few directors have the ability to show something on screen that puts you in the role of the characters and truly makes you experience their same emotions. Mike Mills is one of those rare directors. Not a moment passes in his latest feature film, 'Beginners', where you aren't emotionally connected to everything on screen.[/teaser] While promoting the film in Denver, Mills took a few minutes to chat with me over the phone to tell me how 'Beginners' came about, what the writing process was like, and how much the superb cast affected the outcome of his intimately personal film. Mills' first feature-length narrative ('Thumbsucker') was an adaptation from a Walter Kirn novel of the same title. 'Beginners', his first feature-length original screenplay, it is a semi-autobiographical telling of his relationship with his father. In the film, Ewan McGregor plays the role of the son (Oliver) and Christopher Plummer plays the father (Hal). 'Beginners' is told in a non-linear fashion that bounces back and forth through three different periods of Oliver's life. Each time we shift to another period we learn things that help us better connect to the characters. The earliest of those times in his life is the period we see the least - Oliver's childhood. The other two periods are closer together in time and share the remainder of the film's runtime. The first of those two takes place when, just six months after his wife's passing, Hal tells Oliver that he is gay. The other takes place shortly after Hal's death when Oliver meets and falls for a beautiful French actress, Anna (Mélanie Laurent). "Writing [an original] screenplay is wildly different from adapting." Being based on such influential moments from his own life, Mills recalls the experience of writing 'Beginners' as "exciting, depressing and difficult to stare at for any length of time." "When writing something based on your memories … you see it from your particular slant on the situation. You see them the way you remember them - not the way they were. … 'Beginners' is the memory of my dad, his coming-out and his passing [told] with a funny hybrid of facts and fiction. Oliver is the cross-reference. I never intended for it, but he [ended up being] a slice of myself that I ran with." Casting became an important factor for Mills. Making sure the actors were able to fully convey the intended emotion, he went for "live in the moment actors." McGregor and Plummer were quickly selected, but Anna's casting proved a little more difficult. Mills knew what he wanted from an actress, but didn't have one in mind. He was "looking for a European - someone far from home, strong, fiery, intelligent." She had to possess "independence and strength." While Mills was seeking his Anna, Laurent was still unknown in the U.S. because 'Inglourious Basterds' had not yet opened. Based on suggestions from friends, Mills began scouring the Internet for European actresses who could display the previously mentioned characteristics. When he can across footage of Laurent, he immediately knew she was Anna. "I found an interview with her. She was smoking and talking up a storm. The way she sat there and carried herself - even though I didn’t understand a word - I knew she was it." Once she was cast and rehearsing began, Mills felt vindicated in his casting decisions. "Ewan and Chris were a great duo [that] formed a great relationship. Ewan admired Chris … [and] that translated to film. … Ewan and Mélanie really liked working together. Since we shot the film on digital RED cameras, we could shoot as much as we wanted. [Ewan and Mélanie] liked playing with each other. They would ask to do takes again just to play with the scenes. Those two went through emotional rollercoasters together. Both are very professional." Mills isn't exaggerating. The relationship between Oliver and Anna is so genuine and honest that it will make you experience falling in love for the first time again. The 'Beginners' trailer opens with Ewan McGregor talking to a dog who, in return, responds through subtitles. Mills' wife, fellow filmmaker Miranda July, premiered her latest film 'The Future' at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival. With 'The Future' narrated by a cat, I couldn't help but ask Mills about the talking animals in their films. According to him, "the dog came before the cat."Posted Tue Jun 7, 2011 at 01:20 PM PDT by: -
Top 5/Bottom 5: Adam Sandlerby Aaron Peck [teaser]Sony's release of 'Just Go With It' was the perfect time for Universal to turn around and release two highly sought after Adam Sandler catalogue films. Fans of the funny man will be ecstatic that they can finally get 'Happy Gilmore' and 'Billy Madison' on Blu-ray. Because today sees the release of two of Sandler's biggest films (and also his most recent), we take a look at his career to determine which are his best and worst movies.[/teaser] Even though Sandler has made a (really good) living playing, essentially, a loud moron in a too big T-shirt in most of his movies, there are times his performances shine through. It's no coincidence that three of his best movies involved more dramatic roles. Like Jim Carrey and Robin Williams, Sandler is actually a fairly strong actor in more serious roles, but when he produces films, he sticks to the slapstick, generic comedy because it brings in the big bucks (and keeps Rob Schneider fed). The Best 'Funny People' It seemed like people either loved or hated 'Funny People', there really wasn't any in between. Directed by Judd Apatow, 'Funny People' followed George Simmons (Sandler), a world famous comedian and actor, as he finds out that he has a terminal illness. Suddenly life is serious, but how does a man who thinks he'll die at any moment end up living his life? 'Funny People' had a darker tone than other Apatow flicks, but that didn't stop Sandler from shining through in the demanding role. 'Happy Gilmore' This is my favorite classic Sandler movie. Most people will point to 'Billy Madison', but I've never found that movie all that great or funny. Sandler's role as Billy becomes more grating by the second. It's true that the same argument could probably be made for Sandler's depiction of Happy, but the movie surrounding him is much funnier. There are so many classic and quote-worthy scenes in 'Happy Gilmore' that I've lost count. All these years, and it's still a fun movie to start up if you need a few good laughs. 'Punch Drunk Love' Wow! Adam Sandler can actually act. At least that's what we found out when he took on the role of Barry Egan in Paul Thomas Anderson's 'Punch Drunk Love'. Up until then Sandler had been pigeon-holing himself in roles in movies like 'Billy Madison' and 'The Waterboy'. Movies that made millions of dollars, but were essentially like watching an 'SNL' skit that lasted an hour and a half. Here, Sandler finally showed the world that he had some dramatic acting chops, and they weren't half bad! 'Reign Over Me' I know some people absolutely hated 'Reign Over Me' and that's just fine. The fact remains that Sandler's role as the reclusive Charlie Fineman is definitely one of his best. Yes it's another one of his dramatic roles, but he excels here just like he has in his other dramatic films. 'The Wedding Singer' Even though 'The Wedding Singer' ventures into a middle-of-the-road Sandler affair there's something about it that lifts it above the rest. Maybe it's the way they nail down the 80s, or maybe it's the subtle changes that Sandler has to go through in what should be just another comedy. I know one thing though, I'd watch 'The Wedding Singer' over 'Billy Madison' any day. The Worst 'Click' So, Adam Sandler finds a remote that can control time. Where does he find it? In the "Beyond" section of Bed, Bath and Beyond of course. Christopher Walken supplies him with it, and now Sandler has all the time in the world to play the giant bouncing jugs of his jogging neighbor in ultra-slow motion. That about sums up the ugliness that is 'Click'. 'Grown Ups' If there's one rule in Sandler movies it's this: Never trust the movie if Sandler is teaming up with Rob Schneider. Seriously, never do it. You'll regret it. Watching the inanity that is 'Grown Ups' is akin to having a frontal comedic lobotomy. It's sad, and almost feels like Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock, and the guys got together and said, "Hey, let's throw together a movie where we all play people we've played before. Tell some of the same jokes. Get that Schneider guy to do some stupid stuff, and we'll make a boatload of money." 'I Now Pronounce You, Chuck and Larry' This is probably the most unfunny, insensitive, and patronizing movie I've seen in a long, long time. Sandler and Kevin James get married so they can still take advantage of the benefits at the fire department they work at. Not only is the movie dreadfully insensitive to an entire community, it also involves one of the most racist scenes I've ever witnessed in a movie. Ever. Who else would be qualified to perform such a scene other than Rob Schneider? What a terrible, terrible movie. 'Mr. Deeds' A sad-sack remake of a movie that starred Gary Cooper. I wonder what Frank Capra would have thought had he been around to watch Sandler and company take a giant – for lack of a better word – dump on one of his classic films. I wonder if he would have simply shaken his head as John Tuturro beat Sandler 's dead foot with a fireplace poker and called it comedy. 'The Waterboy' I know a ton of people love 'The Waterboy', but for the life of me I just can't see why. Like I said above, 'The Waterboy' is like watching an 'SNL' skit that should last five minutes tops, but instead it lasts 90. I can't stand Sandler's slurred lisp-ridden voice that he tacks onto the character. I can't stand how Rob Schneider randomly appears yelling "You can do it!" I can't stand anything about this movie. It's a grating experience. Sandler has shown time and again that if he's given the right script and the right character he can pull off some tremendous performances. Sadly, as the head of Happy Madison Productions, he usually picks the projects he can do with his buddies on both sides of the camera. Like an old 'SNL cast getting back together for a couple of laughs. This works out for Sandler, as he makes millions of dollars for each ridiculous movie he puts out, but as his filmography fills up with true stinkers, the genuine, cinematic gems are growing fewer and farther between.Posted Tue Jun 7, 2011 at 01:15 PM PDT by: -
Sony Debuts Cheaper 3D Glasses and a New 24" 3D Gaming Display[teaser]Heads up, PS3 fans. Sony hit the stages at E3 last night to apologize profusely for the Playstation Network outage and to talk up 3D gaming. [/teaser] Integral to this is the Playstation Move, which will enhance just about all of their new games, including titles like 'Bioshock: Infinite' and 'NBA 2K12'. Second, Sony has heard your complaints about the high costs associated with upgrading to 3D, both in terms of displays and glasses. To address these customer concerns, this fall Sony will debut more affordable active-shutter 3D glasses as well as a new game/display/glasses bundle. The glasses themselves should work with all Sony 3DTV displays, and will retail for around $70. They include a rechargeable Li-on battery that is designed to quick-charge. Meaning, charge these batteries for 3 minutes, and you'll get 3 hours of use. Or, charge them for 45 minutes and you'll get 30 hours. Sounds impressive, but we'll have to see how long these optimum charging/usage times last over the life of the batteries. The 3D gaming bundle will retail for a penny shy of $500. It includes two pairs of the aforementioned glasses, a 6-foot high speed HDMI cable, a copy of 'Resistance 3' (playable in 3D, of course), and a brand new 24'-inch 3D display. Now, while most people aren't drooling over getting a 24-incher in their living rooms, Sony said this edge-LED 3D display was designed for gamers specifically, for bedrooms and dorm rooms. It has some impressive stats, some nifty tricks, and should be available in Japan, North America, Europe/PAL territories, as well as Asian countries/regions (pricing may vary, however). Spec-wise, the new 3D display is a full HD 1080p TV (and only 35mm thick), with a 176 degree viewing angle, a 5,000:1 contrast ratio, and a 4ms response time. It also has two, full range, 28mm stereo speakers and a 50mm built-in subwoofer. It supports "frame packing", "top and bottom", and "side by side" options for 3D viewing. File under "nifty features", this new 3D display is also designed for to support multiplayer games in a unique way that promises to eliminate horizontal or vertical split-screen gaming. Specifically, thanks to 3D's ability to divide content into two separate images, game players will be able to face off against friends (up to two players) with both players seeing two, separate full screen images. What do you think? Have you been looking for a gaming-only display? Do you care about full screen multiplayer gaming? And most importantly, is $500 a good price for a 24-inch display, a game, two glasses and an HDMI cable? Hit up the forums and let us know.Posted Tue Jun 7, 2011 at 12:50 PM PDT by: -
Nintendo Announces Next HD Console: The Wii U[teaser]As expected, Nintendo announced its next generation, HD console gaming system this morning at the company's E3 press conference. [/teaser] Dubbed the Wii U ["We You"], the real show stopper for the platform isn't the up-rezzed graphics, which still aren't fully competing with PS3 or Xbox 360, but rather it’s the system's brand new controller. The Wii U controller features a 6.2" touch screen, making the whole thing look like a video game controller by way of a tablet device a la an iPad. Like its Wii-mote predecessors, the new Wii U controller can be used in three different ways: 1. As a normal game controller. Play the new Wii U in HD on your HDTV, using this controller as you would any normal video game controller. 2. As a standalone screen. If someone comes into the room and wants to not watch you play, the new Wii U control can be used as its own, separate screen. But, the key here is that this controller is not actually a portable system a la the 3DS. You still need to be within range of the console itself. 3. As a second screen. The new Wii U controller also adds a new dimension to traditional Wii games acting as a complimentary screen to the action already unfolding on your HDTV. As we saw today in the E3 trailer montage, when playing the updated version of Wii Sports, players can look down at the ground and see his or her golf ball when prepping to hit it. Or, you could have a stash of throwing stars, which you would whip off the tablet and onto your HDTV where they interact with the environment. Apart from those three separate uses, the new Wii U controller will surf the web, and then display whatever content you find (ie, pictures) on your HDTV. Also, you can draw with it and beam your drawings onto your HDTV. And it will work as a video chat device (WiFi required, of course). For original Wii owners, the Wii U is backwards compatible to all previous games, but they won't be getting up-rezzed. At the time of this writing, Wii U's exact specs (720p or 1080p?) are unclear, but keep your eyes out for updates as we get closer to the release date. In terms of games, expect new versions of all the usual Nintendo suspects, but also exciting titles from third parties, who are excited to take advantage of the Wii U console's larger processor, as well as the new tablet controller. As for the console itself, according to Nintendo execs, the Wii U will not feature a Blu-ray optical drive, but they didn't specify what exactly it would be (they hinted that it would have to have enough storage to handle the higher resolution content). What do you think? Sound like something you need? For our gamers here on the site, what's your favorite console for HD gaming? What's your dream HD console?Posted Tue Jun 7, 2011 at 12:10 PM PDT by: -
'A Fistful of Dollars' & 'For A Few Dollars More' Blu-rays Announced[teaser]The two Clint Eastwood westerns are going solo on Blu-ray this August. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, MGM/UA will release 'A Fistful of Dollars' and 'For A Few Dollars More' on Blu-ray on August 2. Both titles are currently available as part of 'The Man With No Name Trilogy' which also includes 'The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.' The Blu-rays will most likely just be a repackage deal with 1080p video, DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtracks, and supplements including audio commentaries, featurettes, interviews, and publicity assets. Suggested list price for each Blu-ray is $16.99. You can find the latest specs for 'A Fistful of Dollars' & 'For A Few Dollars More' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under August 2.Posted Tue Jun 7, 2011 at 12:00 PM PDT by:
