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'The Complete Jean Vigo' Comes to Blu-ray[teaser]All four adventurous works from the pivotal film artist are bound for Blu-ray in August. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, the Criterion Collection is preparing 'The Complete Jean Vigo' for Blu-ray on August 30. Even among cinema’s greatest legends, Jean Vigo stands alone. The son of a notorious anarchist, Vigo had a brief but brilliant career making poetic, lightly surrealist films before his life was cut tragically short by tuberculosis at age twenty-nine. The Blu-ray features new high-definition digital restorations of all of Jean Vigo’s films: 'À propos de Nice,' 'Taris,' 'Zéro de conduite,' and 'L’Atalante,' with an uncompressed mono (with new and improved English subtitle translation), and supplements include: Audio commentaries featuring Michael Temple, author of Jean Vigo; Alternate shots from À propos de Nice, featuring footage Vigo cut from the film; Animated tribute to Vigo by filmmaker Michel Gondry; Ninety-minute 1964 episode of the French television series Cinéastes de notre temps on Vigo, directed by Jacques Rozier; Conversation from 1968 between filmmakers François Truffaut and Eric Rohmer on L'Atalante; Les voyages de "L'Atalante," Bernard Eisenschitz's 2001 documentary tracking the history of the film; Video interview from 2007 with director Otar Iosseliani on Vigo; and a booklet featuring essays by film writers Michael Almereyda, Robert Polito, B. Kite, and Luc Sante. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $39.95. You can find the latest specs for 'The Complete Jean Vigo' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under August 30.Posted Thu May 19, 2011 at 06:00 AM PDT by: -
TiVo Pricing Changes Today[teaser]It's getting simplified quite a bit, but lifetime membership costs are going up. [/teaser] Buying a TiVo is weird. Depending on where you get it and how you sign up, you can end up paying a different price. The folks at TiVo are making it a lot simpler. From this point on, no matter where you buy your TiVo Premiere, you'll be paying $19 a month with a one year commitment. No pre-pays or different subscription models. If you want to pick up a lifetime service option, you'll be paying $499, which is the same price you'd pay for 25 months. If you're going to use your TiVo for more than two years, this is the way you'll probably want to go. The units themselves will cost $99 for the Premiere and $299 for the Premiere XL. Source: Zatz Not FunnyPosted Wed May 18, 2011 at 05:50 PM PDT by: -
Midnight Madness Blu-ray Sale on at Amazon![teaser]Dozens of Blu-ray movies are now only $6 each at Amazon -- and only until midnight!! [/teaser] In another limited time sale, Amazon has lowered the prices on a fair number of Blu-ray titles for only six bucks! Some highlights include 'Scream,' ' Bad Boys' and more! Click here to check out the full selection currently on sale and remember there's only a few hours left to take advantage of this offer!Posted Wed May 18, 2011 at 01:45 PM PDT by: -
'The Battle of Algiers' Dated and Detailed for Blu-ray[teaser]The 1965 historical war drama shot in documentary-style on the streets of Algiers is getting a high-definition release in August. [/teaser] In an early retailer announcement, the Criterion Collection is planning to bring 'The Battle of Algiers' to Blu-ray on August 9. One of the most influential political films in history, 'The Battle of Algiers,' by Gillo Pontecorvo, vividly re-creates a key year in the tumultuous Algerian struggle for independence from the occupying French in the 1950s. The Blu-ray will be a two-disc set and feature 1080p video, an uncompressed mono soundtrack, and supplements include Gillo Pontecorvo: The Dictatorship of Truth, a documentary narrated by literary critic Edward Said; Marxist Poetry: The Making of "The Battle of Algiers," a documentary featuring interviews with Pontecorvo, Gatti, composer Ennio Morricone, and others; Interviews with Spike Lee, Mira Nair, Julian Schnabel, Steven Soderbergh, and Oliver Stone on the film's influence, style, and importance; Remembering History, a documentary reconstructing the Algerian experience of the battle for independence; "États d'armes," a documentary excerpt featuring senior French military officers recalling the use of torture and execution to combat the Algerian rebellion; "The Battle of Algiers": A Case Study, a video piece featuring U.S. counterterrorism experts; Gillo Pontecorvo's Return to Algiers, a documentary in which the filmmaker revisits the country after three decades of independence; Production gallery; Theatrical and rerelease trailers; and a booklet featuring an essay by film scholar Peter Matthews, excerpts from Algeria's National Liberation Front leader Saadi Yacef's original account of his arrest, excerpts from the film's screenplay, a reprinted interview with cowriter Franco Solinas, and biographical sketches of key figures in the French-Algerian War. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $49.95. You can find the latest specs for 'The Battle of Algiers' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under August 9.Posted Wed May 18, 2011 at 12:00 PM PDT by: -
'Sucker Punch: Extended Cut' Dated for Blu-ray[teaser]The epic CGI fantasy will explode on Blu-ray like never before next month! [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Warner Brothers is working on 'Sucker Punch: Extended Cut' for Blu-ray on June 28. The 2011 eye-candy extravaganza didn't go over very well with critics (22% rotten rating on Rotten Tomatoes), but seemed to have a mixed reception among the rest of the crowd. The release will be a Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy combo pack and will include the theatrical version as well as an all-new R-rated cut (with 18 additional minutes not seen in theaters) in 1080p, DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtracks, and supplements include a picture-in-picture commentary track with Zack Snyder and Animated Shorts: Sucker Punch Prequel Stories. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $35.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Sucker Punch: Extended Cut' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under June 28.Posted Wed May 18, 2011 at 11:35 AM PDT by: -
Samsung and RealD Sign a Deal for New 3D Tech[teaser]You'll get the full resolution of an active shutter display with the low cost of passive. [/teaser] Samsung and RealD have created a new 3D technology that addresses and solves the biggest problems with both active and passive 3D. Specifically, the tech allows you to use the same inexpensive glasses that you get in the theater, but still get the benefit of a full HD picture. The companies were able to achieve this by incorporating active shutter technology into the TV instead of into the glasses. It's a slick setup that should allow for a much better viewer experience. Sadly, it's not coming to large TVs just yet. Samsung's new tech will start in 23 and 27 inch computer monitors, which should be released in early 2012. Only after the monitor roll-out will Samsung start working on the TV version - specifically in a 55 inch size. Source: EONPosted Wed May 18, 2011 at 11:00 AM PDT by: -
'Secret Sunshine' Blu-ray Announced and Detailed[teaser]The 2007 Korean romance comedy is in the works for high-definition release in August. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, the Criterion Collection will bring 'Secret Sunshine' to Blu-ray on August 23. A master of intensely emotional human dramas, director Lee Chang-dong is a leading light of contemporary Korean cinema, and his place on the international stage was cemented by this stirring and unpredictable work examining grief and deliverance. The Blu-ray will feature a new 1080p digital transfer supervised and approved by the director, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack (with new and improved English subtitle translation), and supplements include: New interview with Lee; On the Set of "Secret Sunshine," a video piece featuring interviews with actors Jeon Do-yeon and Song Kang-ho, as well as behind-the-scenes footage; U.S. theatrical trailer; and a booklet featuring an essay by film critic Dennis Lim. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $39.95. You can find the latest specs for 'Secret Sunshine' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under August 23.Posted Wed May 18, 2011 at 10:00 AM PDT by: -
Samsung's Free 3D VODs Launch in UK[teaser]A release of the 3D VOD service in the States is expected to follow. [/teaser] Generally, if you want 3D you're going to have to pay dearly for it. You can see it theatrically, pay for another tier of cable channels or buy the Blu-rays, but Samsung's newest launch brings 3D content to you for free - assuming you live in the UK of course. Over 70 free 3D videos will be available through the "Explore 3D" app by the end of this year. This includes not only short-form content like music videos and trailers, but full length movies and children's features as well. Samsung says that there are 20 videos currently available. When the free 3D service was initially announced for Korean customers, the company said that a release in Europe and the US were soon to follow, so we expect something on this side of the pond shortly. Source: EngadgetPosted Wed May 18, 2011 at 09:00 AM PDT by: -
'The Killing' and 'Cul-de-sac' Announced for Blu-ray[teaser]Kubrick and more Polanski are coming to Criterion's Blu-ray library this August. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Criterion says 'The Killing' is planned for Blu-ray on August 16. Stanley Kubrick’s account of an ambitious racetrack robbery is one of Hollywood’s tautest, twistiest noirs. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p, an uncompressed mono soundtrack, and supplements include: New video interview with producer James B. Harris; Excerpts of interviews with actor Sterling Hayden from the French television series Cinéma cinemas; New video interview with film scholar Robert Polito about writer Jim Thompson and his work on The Killing; Restored transfer of Stanley Kubrick's 1955 noir feature Killer's Kiss; New video appreciation of Killer's Kiss with film critic Geoffrey O'Brien; Theatrical trailers; and a booklet featuring an essay by film historian Haden Guest and a reprinted interview with Marie Windsor on The Killing. On the same day, Criterion will also be bringing 'Cul-de-sac' to Blu-ray. Roman Polanski orchestrates a mental ménage a trois in this sly, surreal tale of paranoia from the director’s golden 1960s period. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, an uncompressed mono soundtrack, and supplements will include: Two Gangsters and an Island, a 2003 short documentary about the making of Cul-de-sac, featuring interviews with Polanski, producer Gene Gutowski, and cinematographer Gil Taylor; Interview with Polanski from 1967; Theatrical trailers; and a booklet featuring an essay by film critic David Thompson. Suggested list price for each of the Blu-rays is $39.95. You can find the latest specs for 'The Killing' and 'Cul-de-sac' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where they are indexed under August 16.Posted Wed May 18, 2011 at 08:00 AM PDT by: -
Televisions Fifty Inches and Higher Hit Sales Records[teaser]Larger sets made a huge impact during the first quarter of this month, making up more of the market than ever before. [/teaser] Back in the first quarter of 2010 the television market was dominated by sales of sets between 40 and 49 inches, while sets 50 inches or larger sat at a 20 percent market share. In the following quarters, large sets fell down to as low as 18.7 percent, but that's changed significantly for the beginning of this year. In the first quarter of 2011, 50 inch sets accounted for 22.7 percent of sales - a new record. Smaller sets took a dip across the board, except for those between 30 and 39 inches, which also rose. Analyst Riddhi Patel of iSuppli says that the primary reason for the change is the price. "The rising popularity of 50-inch-and-larger sets among U.S. consumers stems from pure market economics," says Riddhi. "Televisions have become less expensive for the consumer, allowing even bigger sets previously considered beyond the reach of most consumers to become accessible." Source: TwicePosted Wed May 18, 2011 at 07:00 AM PDT by:
