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Smartphones to Blame for Low Commercial Viewership[teaser]It's not DVRs that advertisers have to worry about, but alternate entertainment sources. [/teaser] A new study from IPG Media Lab and YuM has found that it isn't the DVR or even channel surfing that advertisers have to fear. The biggest threat to keeping eyes on advertisements is the increasingly popular smartphone. The study tracked 48 adults who were asked to watch 30 minutes of TV in a living room style setup and 30 minutes of TV in an office-like environment. They watched content that they'd normally watch and were asked to bring whatever devices they normally have handy when watching television. It was found in the study that more people turned their heads away from the screen to use their smartphones than anything else. Those fast forwarding content with a DVR may have skipped through the ads, but they kept watching the screen during that time. Those using smartphones simply turned away and tuned out. Source: Ad Age (via EngadgetPosted Thu Jun 2, 2011 at 07:00 AM PDT by: -
'The House by the Cemetery' Announced for Blu-ray[teaser]Another cult Italian horror film will spill more blood on Blu-ray this September. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Blue Underground will open the doors to 'The House by the Cemetery' on Blu-ray on September 27. Catriona MacColl ('City of the Living Dead'), Paolo Malco ('The New York Ripper '), Ania Pieroni ('Tenebre') and Dagmar Lassander ('Forbidden Photos of a Lady Above Suspicion') star in this outrageous Italian shocker from Lucio Fulci, 'The Godfather of Gore.' Considered to be one of the master's last great films, 'The House by the Cemetery' is presented complete and uncut, featuring a mind-blowing onslaught of throat-ripping, skull-knifing, maggot-spewing and more! Specs and supplements are still forthcoming, and suggested list price for the Blu-ray will likely be $34.98. You can find the latest specs for 'The House by the Cemetery' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under September 27.Posted Thu Jun 2, 2011 at 06:00 AM PDT by: -
Top 5/Bottom 5: Nicolas Cageby Aaron Peck [teaser]'Drive Angry' is hitting Blu-ray shelves this week and with that we're going to take a look at one of the most polarizing actors out there, Mr. Nicolas Cage.[/teaser] Personally, I think Cage gets a bad wrap. Sure, he takes on some terrible roles in unforgivable movies, but he always gives it his all. No one lays it all on the line quite like Cage does with every single one of his roles. He goes all out in every movie he's in, whether that movie is good or beyond terrible. I've never walked out of a movie that Cage has been in and said "Man, Cage really phoned in that role." I've walked out of plenty of his movies hating everything about them, but I could never say that he didn't at least try. Sadly, I haven't seen two of his most recent films 'Drive Angry' or 'Season of the Witch' so they weren't eligible for my list here. Although I've heard that 'Season of the Witch' is truly dreadful. Feel free to add it to your worst of Nicolas Cage when compiling your own list. The Best 'Adaption' I would venture to say that 'Adaption' is probably the best film that Cage has been in, but not necessarily his best overall performance (more on that later). That isn't to say Cage isn't great in 'Adaption', he is. 'Adaption' is a curious movie where its screenwriter, Charlie Kaufman, has actually written a story with himself as the main character. Cage plays Kaufman as he deals with the fame from 'Being John Malkovich', and his struggles to write his next film. 'Adaption' is an experience unlike any other and must be seen by anyone who enjoys well written, creative cinema. Hopefully, we can get a Blu-ray release of this soon. 'Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans' I think this is where Cage produced his finest work as an actor. He's so great at playing a man on the brink, but here he's a man who's completely gone over the edge. Terence McDonagh is a strung-out detective who lives in two worlds. In one world he's actually trying to do the right thing. Trying to be a good, honest cop. However, in the other, McDonagh just can't handle the stress of life and ends up slowly losing it. This was a part tailor made for an actor like Cage, who is never afraid to go absolutely insane. With Werner Herzog's direction, 'Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans' is Cage's best acting performance. 'Face/Off' Out of all the semi-blockbuster action flicks Cage has done, 'Face/Off' remains his best in my mind. He had to play duel roles here, and he did so perfectly. First he had to take on the role of crazy criminal mastermind Castor Troy, then he had to become Troy's arch nemesis Sean Archer. At one point Cage has to be Sean Archer, but pretend to be Castor Troy. It really is something to watch. Every time I revisit that movie I'm impressed at the overall range Cage shows for the expansive role he has to play. 'Matchstick Men' No one plays quietly neurotic better than Cage, and his portrayal of obsessive compulsive con man Roy Waller is another great performance. 'Matchstick Men' is just a great all around movie. It's a well constructed whodunit flick with an ending that ends up being genuinely surprising. 'Raising Arizona' It's nearly impossible to put together a list of Nicolas Cage's best movies without mentioning the Coen Brothers' dark comedy 'Raising Arizona'. With the character H.I. McDonnough, Cage creates one of the most memorable characters we've ever seen in movies. All I need to do is see a still image from the movie with Cage's disheveled hair and blank stare and I start giggling. Even though he was in a few films before this, 'Raising Arizona' really is the movie that launched Cage's career, making him a household name. The Worst 'The Wicker Man' These are the types of movies that give Cage the sullied reputation that he has with some people. Movies that are so inept that they fail on any number of levels. 'The Wicker Man' is a remake of the a 1973 horror movie that simply shouldn't have been made. Not only does the movie prove to be one of the most scare-less horror movies out there, it also completely crumbles under scenes of unintentional humor. If you're looking for a crappy horror movie to riff on with a group of friends, 'The Wicker Man' is a perfect choice. It'll have you howling. 'Next' Yikes! Another phony action thriller starring Cage as a man who can see a few minutes into the future. 'Next' is far too hokey to take seriously, and manages to be another Philip K. Dick story which is obliterated by sheer stupidity on the big screen. I really do like Cage as an actor, but 'Next' is simply atrocious. 'Ghost Rider' Speaking of atrocious, enter Cage's foray into the comic book movie world as Johnny Blaze the Ghost Rider. Ugh! Not only was this a completely stupid comic book movie, but the CG in this movie is some of the worst I've ever witnessed. Truthfully, the only saving grace (if there is any) in 'Ghost Rider' is Cage's performance. He plays it with a sarcastic tone, but goes for it, hook, line, and sinker. It's a spectacular failure, but at least Cage tries to keep the movie's head above water. To top it all off there's a sequel planned for release in 2012. Heaven (or should I say Hell?) help us. 'National Treasure 2: The Book of Secrets' The first 'National Treasure' was mindless fun. A modern day 'Indiana Jones' movie where a man searches for artifacts and treasure by following clues left behind by ancient civilizations. Yes, I know the comparison to the great Indy is stretching it, but that's what Disney wanted these movies to be. While I enjoyed the first in the series, the second one is awful and sleep-inducing. If there was ever a time where I think Cage didn't give it his all in a role, it would have to be in this movie. Even when they're kidnapping the President of the United States, he looks a little bored. 'Bangkok Dangerous' Oh man, this movie makes me laugh just thinking about it. It's one of the dumbest movies I've ever sat through in a theater. Cage is a hitman named Joe who takes on an apprentice. Through montages of pushups he trains him as a hitman. Coupled with Cage's ratty mullet hairdo, 'Bangkok Dangerous' feels oddly like a disjointed straight to home video release. It's just so stupid, it's almost impossible to explain. If you haven't seen it, you should. It's one of those movies that's so bad it's somewhat entertaining. I'll usually see anything that Cage is in. Yeah he picks bad roles more often than not, but he usually puts everything he has into that character. When he finds those rare good roles, he's as good, or better, than any actor out there. If you need a sniveling neurotic mess of a man, then Cage is your guy. It's easy to dismiss him because he's done so many crappy movies, but when we remember his best we see what a great actor he can be. What are your favorite and not-so-favorite Nicolas Cage movies? Let us know your lists in the forums. Now if you'll excuse me I really should go and watch 'Drive Angry'. I have no clue what to make of it. It could either be as good as 'Face/Off' or as bad as 'Bangkok Dangerous'. I never know what to expect with this guy and his movies, but not knowing is half the fun.Posted Wed Jun 1, 2011 at 04:00 PM PDT by: -
High-Def Digest and AVRev are looking for Volunteers!WHAT WE NEED We know most of you are probably busy ranking westerns by True Grit/No Grit, so we'll make this quick: [teaser]We're looking for enthusiastic HDD readers who want to be interviewed about their gear and home theater systems![/teaser] WHY? Over at High-Def Digest's sister site, Audio|Visual Revolution (AVRev), we're starting up a new article series entitled Share Your Setup (Posted Wed Jun 1, 2011 at 01:50 PM PDT by: -
Save $5 on 'Rango' on Blu-ray[teaser]Save $5 on Paramount's animated hit by pre-ordering from Amazon! [/teaser] The online retailer is currently offering the chance to save an additional $5 on 'Rango' Blu-ray available on July 15! Simply visit this page to add the Blu-ray to your shopping cart at Amazon and enter the code RANGO5GO during checkout. There's no word how long this coupon will be available so be sure to order your copy as quick as you can!Posted Wed Jun 1, 2011 at 12:25 PM PDT by: -
'Hostage' & 'Swingers' Blu-rays Announced[teaser]Two more fan-favorite catalog titles are bound for Blu-ray this August. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Lionsgate is working on 'Hostage' and 'Swingers' for Blu-ray on August 16. Bruce Willis stars as a failed police negotiator turned small town cop who must deal with a local hostage situation involving a wealthy family in the thriller 'Hostage,' while the comedy 'Swingers' tells the tale of wannabe actors Trent (Vince Vaughn) and Mike (Jon Favreau) who become regulars in the stylish neo-lounge scene. Specs and supplements are still unknown, but suggested list price for each Blu-ray is $19.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Hostage' & 'Swingers' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it 's indexed under August 16.Posted Wed Jun 1, 2011 at 12:00 PM PDT by: -
Kubrick Collection Packaging Damaging Discs?[teaser]Reports from around the net peg the Blu-ray collection's packaging as a danger to your discs. [/teaser] While we're not averse to new and innovative packaging, it doesn't always work out. Take that awful 'Back to the Future' Blu-ray set packaging for example. It was so bad that Universal came out with instructions on how to use it, before they eventually changed the packaging altogether. The new Stanley Kubrick Blu-ray collection is apparently suffering a similar fate. While there are few complaints about the movies themselves, the packaging isn't up to snuff. When pulling a Blu-ray out of the sleeve, you'll reach a point where the Blu-ray sticks and has to be forced out. While we've seen plenty of complaints about the less than stellar packaging, High-Def Digest reader Ari Bach says that his discs were actually damaged during the removal. "The packaging literally destroys every disc removed from it as intended," he writes. As requested, we're spreading the word. Is this an isolated incident where one person's packaging was significantly worse than others or are your discs getting damaged too? Please tell us what you've found! Thanks for the tip Ari!Posted Wed Jun 1, 2011 at 11:30 AM PDT by: -
Buy Two Blu-rays and Save $8 at Amazon[teaser]Purchase two qualifying Blu-rays at Amazon and save eight bucks! [/teaser] For a limited time only, Amazon has a selection of Blu-ray movies that knocks an additional $8 off the total when two are purchased together. Some highlights include 'Legend: Ultimate Edition' for $14.99, 'Meet the Parents' for $12.99, and more! Plus according to forum member Wolvie, free shipping is based on the pre-discounted price! Click here to check out the full list of available titles that qualify!Posted Wed Jun 1, 2011 at 11:15 AM PDT by: -
'The Eagle' Blu-ray Fully Detailed[teaser]Kevin MacDonald's scenic action-adventure landing on Blu-ray at the end of the month has now been fully detailed. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Universal Studios is preparing 'The Eagle' for a Blu-ray release on June 21. The film stars Channing Tatum, Jamie Bell, and Donald Sutherland and follows a young Roman soldier determined to honor the memory of his father by seeking out the lost golden emblem of his legion. The Blu-ray will have both the theatrical (PG-13) and unrated cuts of the film in 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements include an audio commentary with director Kevin MacDonald, The Eagle: Making of a Roman Epic, deleted scenes, an alternate ending, and a digital copy. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $39.98. You can find the latest specs for 'The Eagle' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under June 21.Posted Wed Jun 1, 2011 at 10:00 AM PDT by: -
NHK Debuts Hybrid Internet/Cable Delivery System for 3D Content[teaser]It's still very much in the prototype stage, but combining broadband with traditional cable delivery could be a future solution for content delivery. [/teaser] NHK, also known as the Japan Broadcasting Corporation, has some very interesting plans for delivering 3D content - they're combining broadband streaming and standard television delivery into one. The way the tech works is easier said than done. To allow for a true 1080p 3D picture, you need 1080p going to each eye. NHK's Hybridcast technology does this by sending a 1080p signal to one eye via traditional delivery and a second 1080p signal to the other broadband. "We embed time stamp signals that are embedded in airwaves for synchronizing video and called PTS also in video data to be transmitted via a communication line," says NHK, "And we synchronize images for the right and left eyes based on PTS on the side of TV." Better 3D is just one of the ideas the company has for Hybridcast, and suggests that metadata transmission using timestamps is on the way as well. Source: Tech-On (via Engadget)Posted Wed Jun 1, 2011 at 09:00 AM PDT by:
