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Netflix Competitor Launches Without 28 Day Window[teaser]Zediva, the newest contender, does things a little bit differently by streaming actual DVDs. [/teaser] When you stream a movie from Netflix, Amazon, Vudu or any of the other streaming services available, you're watching a file that's stored on a massive server. When you stream a movie from Zediva, you're watching an actual DVD that's in an actual DVD player. The latest Netflix competitor boasts that by using actual DVDs instead of digital media files they're able to do a few things that others can't. For starters, Zediva gives you access to movies on the day of release instead of making you wait for the 28 day window. Even better, Zediva is making special features available. At the moment, you can only access subtitles and audio tracks, but that does give you access to commentary on DVDs that offer it. Other features will be made available in the future. HD movies aren't yet available, thought Zediva does plan to expand to Blu-ray. Source: ZedivaPosted Thu Mar 17, 2011 at 01:15 PM PDT by: -
'Quigley Down Under' Blu-ray Wal-Mart Exclusive[teaser]Tom Selleck will be gunning for Blu-ray this May! [/teaser] In an early retailer announcement, 20th Century Fox will release 'Quigley Down Under' co-starring Laura San Giacomo and Alan Rickman on Blu-ray exclusively at Wal-Mart on May 24. Sharpshooter Matt Quigley is hired from Montana by an Australian rancher paying a very high price. But when Quigley arrives Down Under, all is not as it seems. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements will include a featurette and the original theatrical trailer. Suggested list price will be $16.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Quigley Down Under' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under May 24.Posted Thu Mar 17, 2011 at 01:00 PM PDT by: -
Samsung Launches 3D VOD Service In Japan[teaser]US and European launches are expected this summer. [/teaser] The 3D wars are heating up, with Samsung rolling out a new service that allows you to order 3D video content directly through your TV. The new 3D VOD service is live now in Japan, and offers access to titles like 'How to Train Your Dragon,' 'Megamind' and even a Japanese concert series - all in 3D. Samsung doesn't say whether these are coming to you in HD or not, but it seems safe to assume that high-definition is a part of it. Along with the more standard 3D faire, Japanese 3D fans have access to educational content that includes a program teaching children to speak English. The service should be hitting the US in the first half of the year (assuming that Google Translate didn't goof up the wording too badly) and roll out to the rest of the world not too long after. Source: EngadgetPosted Thu Mar 17, 2011 at 11:00 AM PDT by: -
'Black Moon,' 'Zazie dans le métro,' & 'People on Sunday' Announced for Blu-ray[teaser]Three more Criterion titles will hit Blu-ray on June 28. [/teaser] First up is Louis Malle's 'Black Moon' starring Cathryn Harrison. This Freudian tale of adolescent sexuality set in a postapocalyptic world of shifting identities and talking animals is one of Malle’s most experimental films and a cinematic daydream like no other. The Blu-ray will feature a 1080p transfer, an uncompressed mono soundtrack, and supplements include: Archival interview with director Louis Malle; Gallery of behind-the-scenes photos; Alternate French-dubbed soundtrack; Original theatrical trailer; and a new essay by film scholar Ginette Vincendeau. Criterion will also bring Malle's 1960 comedy 'Zazie dans le métro' starring Catherine Demongeot. Based on a popular novel by Raymond Queneau that had been considered unadaptable, Malle’s audacious hit Zazie dans le métro is a bit of stream-of-conscious slapstick, wall-to-wall with visual gags, editing tricks, and effects, and made with flair on the cusp of the French New Wave. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, an uncompressed mono soundtrack, and supplements will include: Archival interviews with director Louis Malle, novelist Raymond Queneau, and the young actress Catherine Demongeot; Original theatrical trailer; Le Paris de Zazie, an interview with assistant director Philippe Collin; and a new essay by film scholar Ginette Vincendeau. And lastly we have Robert Siodmak and Edgar G. Ulmer's 1930 silent film 'People on Sunday.' 'People on Sunday' was both an experiment and a mainstream hit that would influence generations of film artists around the world. This unique hybrid of documentary and fictional storytelling offers a rare glimpse of Weimar-era Berlin. The Blu-ray will feature a 1080p transfer, an uncompressed stereo soundtrack, and supplements include: Weekend am Wannsee, Gerald Koll's 2000 documentary about the film, featuring an interview with star Brigitte Borchert; Ins Blaue Hinein, a thirty-six-minute short from 1931 by People on Sunday cinematographer Eugen Schüfftan; and a booklet featuring a new essay by film scholar Noah Isenberg and reprints by scriptwriter Billy Wilder and director Robert Siodmak. Suggested list price for each Blu-ray is $39.95. You can find the latest specs for 'Black Moon,' 'Zazie dans le métro' & 'People on Sunday' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where they're indexed under June 28.Posted Thu Mar 17, 2011 at 10:00 AM PDT by: -
Time Warner Debuts iPad Streaming - Then Cuts Available Titles in Half[teaser]Time Warner says the new app is running into problems with authentication and a surge in users. [/teaser] Time Warner was much celebrated for the release of a new iPad app that allowed iPad owners to stream content directly to their device, but things have quickly turned around. The cable company has cut the available channels from 32 to 15. The folks at Time Warner say that this is due to server authentication issues. A massive surge of users all trying to get to the same content at once can certainly take its toll on a network infrastructure. Analyst Richard Greenfield has his own idea. "We believe several cable network groups are seriously considering filing lawsuits against Time Warner Cable," writes Greenfield, "and sending cease and desist letters to TWC to stop them from in-home live streaming to iPads without a new contract." Source:Posted Thu Mar 17, 2011 at 09:00 AM PDT by: -
Netflix Spending Big on David Fincher/Kevin Spacey Original Series[teaser]The new David Fincher/Kevin Spacey drama could be a Netflix exclusive. [/teaser] The folks at Netflix know the content they have can only keep them a contender for so long. After the announcement of the Amazon Prime video streaming service, stock dropped significantly. If a real competitor were to rear its head, Netflix could be in a heap of trouble. Since closing that 28 day rental window seems unlikely in the near future, Netflix is banking on exclusive original content. First up is a new drama called 'House of Cards' that's helmed by David Fincher and will star Kevin Spacey. It's a huge deal and could be worth over $100 million according to Business Insider. Netflix has outbid both AMC and HBO for the show, which means that Netflix exclusivity is fairly likely. The move is a big one, and could establish Netflix as a real competitor in the media space. It could also paint a big target on the back of the company. Either way, the next few years will be fascinating to watch. Source: Business InsiderPosted Thu Mar 17, 2011 at 07:00 AM PDT by: -
Criterion Announces 'Kiss Me Deadly' Blu-ray[teaser]Robert Aldrich's 1955 adaptation of the Mickey Spillane novel is in the works for Blu-ray in June. [/teaser] The Criterion Collection has just revealed 'Kiss Me Deadly' for a Blu-ray release on June 21. Brazen and bleak, 'Kiss Me Deadly' is a film noir masterpiece as well as an essential piece of cold war paranoia, and it features as nervy an ending as has ever been seen in American cinema. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, a uncompressed monaural soundtrack, and supplements include: Audio commentary by film noir specialists Alain Silver and James Ursini; Theatrical trailer; New video tribute from director Alex Cox (Repo Man, Walker); Excerpts from The Long Haul of A. I. Bezzerides, a 2005 documentary on the Kiss Me Deadly screenwriter; Excerpts from Mike Hammer’s Mickey Spillane, a 1998 documentary on the author whose book inspired the film; A look at the film’s locations; Alternate ending; and a booklet featuring an essay by critic J. Hoberman and a 1955 reprint by director Robert Aldrich. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $39.95. You can find the latest specs for 'Kiss Me Deadly' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under June 21.Posted Thu Mar 17, 2011 at 06:00 AM PDT by: -
Save $5 on 'The Fighter' Blu-ray[teaser]Print out a $5 off coupon for one of the best films of 2010 on Blu-ray! [/teaser] Paramount is offering a coupon offer to save $5 on 'The Fighter' on Blu-ray. The movie was nominated for seven Academy Awards, with Christian Bale and Melissa Leo winning Best Supporting Actor/Actress. Click this link to access to the page where you can print out your coupon valid at participating retail stores. Note that this coupon requires the installation of special coupon printing software.Posted Wed Mar 16, 2011 at 12:00 PM PDT by: -
Sharp's New 3D Blu-ray Players are Available Now[teaser]Offering 3D compatibility and 7.1 channel audio, the new players from Sharp start at $299. [/teaser] Those hoping to get their hands on the new Blu-ray players that Sharp showcased at CES 2011 can finally stop waiting. All of the new players are in stores now and ready to be put through their paces. Each of the models offers a 1080p output of both 2D and 3D Blu-ray content and access to a variety of internet based sources like Netflix, Vudu, Pandora, YouTube and more. The $329 BD-HP75U and $299 BD-HP35U can make use of built-in Wi-Fi, but the $249 25U need an optional dongle to go wireless. All of the new models offer upscaling of DVDs to 1080p using the Sharp Super Picture functionality that changes the picture pixel by pixel instead of frame by frame. Both the 35U and 75U offer IP control, but only the 75U gives you an RS232 port. Source: Crunch GearPosted Wed Mar 16, 2011 at 11:00 AM PDT by: -
'The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy - Limited Edition Extended Editions' Blu-ray Details[teaser]We now have more details for the upcoming extended editions of Peter Jackson's adaptation of Tolkien's trilogy on Blu-ray! [/teaser] As previously reported, Warner Brothers' 'The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy - Limited Edition Extended Editions' appeared on Amazon as a pre-order a while ago, and now retailers are indicating that the set will be released on June 28. The collection reportedly will also consist of 15 discs (6 Blu-rays, 9 DVDs) with 1080p video, DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtracks, and all of the supplements found on previous editions (most of which will be found on the included DVDs). Supplements include: Audio Commentaries (multiple tracks for each film); Easter Eggs: MTV Movie Award Spoof (The Council of Elrod), MTV Movie Awards clip (Gollum accepting award); Costa Botes Documentaries: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, The Return of the King: Behind the Scenes (on DVD); The Appendices (on DVD): Part 1: From Book to Vision; The Appendices: Part 2: From Vision to Reality; The Appendices: Part 3: The Journey Continues; The Appendices: Part 4: The Battle for Middle Earth; The Appendices: Part 5: The War of the Ring; The Appendices: Part 6: The Passing of an Age; Sixteen cast members, including Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Andy Serkis, John Rhys-Davies, Orlando Bloom, Christopher Lee, Bernard Hill, and Miranda Otto; and online digital copies. Suggested list price for this set is $119.98. You can find the latest specs for 'The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy - Limited Edition Extended Editions' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under June 28.Posted Wed Mar 16, 2011 at 10:10 AM PDT by:
