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'The Times of Harvey Milk' Announced For Blu-ray[teaser]The 1984 Academy Award-winning documentary is in the works for Blu-ray this March. [/teaser] The Criterion Collection has announced 'The Times of Harvey Milk' for a Blu-ray release on March 22. A true twentieth-century trailblazer, Harvey Milk was an outspoken human rights activist and the first openly gay U.S. politician elected to public office; even after his assassination, in 1978, he continues to inspire disenfranchised people around the world. The Oscar-winning 'The Times of Harvey Milk,' directed by Robert Epstein ('The Celluloid Closet,' 'Paragraph 175') and produced by Richard Schmiechen, was, like its subject, groundbreaking. One of the first feature documentaries to address gay life in America, it’s a work of advocacy itself, bringing Milk’s message of hope and equality to a wider audience. This exhilarating trove of archival footage and heartfelt interviews is as much a vivid portrait of a time and place (San Francisco’s historic Castro District in the seventies) as a testament to the legacy of a political visionary. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 soundtrack, and supplements include: Audio commentary featuring director Robert Epstein, coeditor Deborah Hoffmann, and photographer Daniel Nicoletta; New interview with documentary filmmaker and UC Berkeley professor Jon Else; New program about The Times of Harvey Milk and Gus Van Sant's Milk, featuring Epstein, Van Sant, actor James Franco, and Milk friends Cleve Jones, Anne Kronenberg, and Nicoletta; Postscript containing interview clips not used in the film; Rare collection of audio and video recordings of Harvey Milk; Interview excerpts from Epstein's research tapes; Footage from the film's Castro Theatre premiere and the 1984 Academy Awards ceremony; Panel discussion on Supervisor Dan White's controversial trial; Excerpts from the twenty-fifth anniversary commemoration of Milk's and Mayor George Moscone's assassinations; Original theatrical trailer; and a booklet featuring an essay by film critic B. Ruby Rich, a tribute by Milk's nephew Stuart Milk, and a piece on the film's restoration by the UCLA Film and Television Archive's Ross Lipman. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $39.95. You can find the latest specs for 'The Times of Harvey Milk' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under March 22.Posted Fri Dec 17, 2010 at 06:30 AM PST by: -
'Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie' & 'The Miracle Maker' Announced for Blu-ray[teaser]Two faith-based animated films are coming to Blu-ray in March. [/teaser] In an announcement to retailers, Lionsgate has revealed 'Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie' is planned for Blu-ray on March 8. This "playful, high-spirited and unmistakably amusing" (Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times) film has sold more than three million units to date and earned $25 million in its original theatrical run. Specs have yet to be revealed, but supplements will include audio commentaries, music videos, behind the scenes footage, family fun activities, and more! On the same date, also look for 'The Miracle Maker' starring Ralph Fiennes as the voice of Jesus which will include over 3 1/2 hours of bonus content. This film USA Today called "Miraculous" has sold more than half a million units since its release in 1999, pointing to the mass appeal of faith-based releases. Suggested list price for each Blu-ray/DVD combo pack is $19.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie' and 'The Miracle Maker' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where they are indexed under March 8.Posted Fri Dec 17, 2010 at 06:00 AM PST by: -
'Au revoir les enfants' and 'Yi Yi' Announced for Blu-ray[teaser]Malle and Yang get the Criterion treatment this March! [/teaser] Criterion has revealed the 1987 war drama 'Au revoir les enfants' for Blu-ray on March 15. This intensely personal film from Louis Malle ('The Lovers,' 'My Dinner with André') tells a heartbreaking story of friendship and devastating loss concerning two boys living in Nazi-occupied France. At a provincial Catholic boarding school, the precocious youths enjoy true camaraderie—until a secret is revealed. Based on events from writer-director Malle’s own childhood, 'Au revoir les enfants' ('Goodbye, Children') is a subtle, precisely observed tale of courage, cowardice, and tragic awakening. The Blu-ray will feature a 1080p transfer, a mono soundtrack, and supplements include: Video interviews with biographer Pierre Billard and actress Candice Bergen, director Louis Malle's widow; Joseph: A Character Study – a profile of the provocative character from Au revoir les enfants; The Immigrant: Charlie Chaplin's 1917 short comedy, featured in the film; Audio excerpts from a 1988 AFI interview with Malle; Original theatrical trailer and teaser; and a booklet featuring essays by film critic Philip Kemp and historian Francis J. Murphy. Criterion will also be bringing 'Yi Yi' to Blu-ray on the same date. The extraordinary, internationally embraced 'Yi Yi' ('A One and a Two...'), directed by the late Taiwanese master Edward Yang ('A Brighter Summer Day'), follows a middle-class family in Taipei over the course of one year, beginning with a wedding and ending with a funeral. Whether chronicling middle-age father NJ’s tentative flirtations with an old flame or precocious young son Yang-Yang’s attempts at capturing reality with his beloved camera, the filmmaker deftly imbues every gorgeous frame with a compassionate clarity. Warm, sprawling, and dazzling, this intimate epic is one of the undisputed masterworks of the new century. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 soundtrack, and supplements will include: Audio commentary by writer-director Edward Yang and Asian-cinema critic Tony Rayns, Video interview with Rayns about Yang and the New Taiwan Cinema movement, US theatrical trailer, and A booklet featuring an essay by film writer Kent Jones and notes from the director. Suggested list price for each Blu-ray is $39.95. You can find the latest specs for 'Au revoir les enfants' and 'Yi Yi' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where they are indexed under March 15.Posted Thu Dec 16, 2010 at 01:50 PM PST by: -
Panasonic's VT25 Picks up a Pair of Awards[teaser]The plasma was honored for being the best in 3D and performance. [/teaser] It's been a good year for Panasonic. The company has debuted plenty of new tech, secured 'Avatar' exclusivity for the near future and earned accolades for their work. At the TV 3.0 expo - a trade show focusing on new content and delivery methods - Panasonic was given a pair of awards for the VT25. Not surprisingly, the first focused on the set's impressive handling of 3D pictures. The second - an award for outstanding TV performance - means a bit more to people that aren't necessarily interested in making the move to 3D. Though the VT25 is 3D capable, it's proved itself as a set that's good at 2D as well. Source: PanasonicPosted Thu Dec 16, 2010 at 11:00 AM PST by: -
'Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure' Announced for Blu-ray[teaser]The 'High School Musical' spin-off is planned for Blu-ray this April. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Disney/Buena Vista is working on 'Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure' starring Ashley Tisdale for a Blu-ray release on April 19. Specs have yet to be revealed, but the Blu-ray/DVD combo pack will include bloopers and Blu-ray exclusive Austin cam: Austin Butler student film and Evolution of Sharpay. The release will also be available in a limited edition set that includes a pink clutch purse and a digital copy. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $39.99 and $49.99 for the limited set. You can find the latest specs for 'Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under April 19.Posted Thu Dec 16, 2010 at 10:00 AM PST by: -
Pioneer's BDXL Writer Ships in the US at $199[teaser]It records up to 128GB of data on a disc and it's available now. [/teaser] When we first heard about BDXL recordable discs, we assumed this was something that wouldn't be hitting the states any time soon. After all, we're not exactly the biggest buyers when it comes to recordable optical media. Imagine our surprise then, to find out that Pioneer's BDXL internal drive is available today at an unexpectedly reasonable $199. Not too shabby. The BDR-206MBK BDXL writer is capable of handling both 100GB triple layer discs and 128GB quadruple layer discs. It can, of course, play back CDs, DVDs and Blu-rays. The press release is a bit unclear, but it sounds like you'll be getting 3D Blu-ray playback as well. You can pick up Pioneer's new BDR-206MBK BDXL for $199 now at Fry's Electronics and at Pioneer's website. Source: Pioneer (via Engadget)Posted Thu Dec 16, 2010 at 09:00 AM PST by: -
HDD Deal of the Day: 'Watchmen: Director's Cut - Nite Owl Ship Edition' Blu-ray $14.99 at Amazon[teaser]Amazon will be selling their exclusive edition of Zack Snyder's comic masterpiece as a lightning deal today only from 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM PST for only $14.99! [/teaser] The online retailer is prepping a lightning deal for 'Watchmen: Director's Cut - Nite Owl Ship Edition' for $14.99! The release includes the 'Watchmen' Blu-rays with special exclusive packaging featuring Nite Owl's ship. The Gold Box offer can be viewed here and will only be in effect from 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM PST.Posted Thu Dec 16, 2010 at 08:22 AM PST by: -
'Dead Space: Aftermath' Blu-ray Announced[teaser]An animated direct-to-video tie-in to the 'Dead Space 2' video game is planned for Blu-ray this January. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Starz/Anchor Bay says 'Dead Space: Aftermath' is coming to high-definition on January 25. Coming from the award-winning game development team and the 2008 animated feature production company, 'Dead Space Aftermath' will feature several internationally renowned animation directors that use their unique and bold visions to explain what happened during the first-responder mission to Aegis VII. The directors will do this through the perspective of four survivors in this fast-paced horrifying thrill ride that stretches the limits of time and space. Making a return from the first 'Dead Space' animated feature film is producer Joe Goyette and supervising director Mike Disa. 'Dead Space Aftermath' will also be produced and animated by Film Roman (“The Simpsons,” “King of the Hill”), and boasts a stellar voice cast led by Christopher Judge (“Stargate: SG-1”), Peter Woodward (“Babylon 5,” “Charmed”), Graham McTavish (upcoming theatrical release of The Hobbit), Ricardo Chavira (“Desperate Housewives”) and Gwendoline Yeo (“Star Wars: The Clone Wars”). In 'Dead Space Aftermath,' the year is 2509 and not only has Earth lost contact with the USG Ishimura and Isaac Clarke, but also the USG O'Bannon, which is the first responder ship sent to rescue them. Four crew members of the O'Bannon have survived, but no one knows what happened to the rest of the crew, what they were doing, or what secrets they may be holding. All will be revealed...in the Aftermath! Specs and supplements have yet to be revealed, but the suggestedlist price for the Blu-rays is $34.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Dead Space: Aftermath' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under January 25.Posted Thu Dec 16, 2010 at 08:00 AM PST by: -
LG Shows Off the Nano Full LED Series[teaser]The new lighting technology made its debut at a sneak peek event earlier this week. [/teaser] LG's latest innovation is something that they're calling Nano Lighting Technology, a tech that they say will help to redefine the LED market. LG says that Nano Lighting Technology is a step up over even the best traditional LED screen. That's because it uses a proprietary light dispersion pattern placed over a full array of LEDs which creates even lighting across the whole screen. According to the company, this new method of LED backlighting will create not only a brighter picture, but one that's more uniform across the whole screeen. The first TVs to use this tech are the LW7700 and the LW9500, both of which offer localized dimming, 3D capability and an even greater range of colors. The 7700 boasts TruMotion 240Hz while the 9500 offers TruMotion 480Hz. Additional details including pricing and availability will be made available at the Consumer Electronics Show in just a few weeks. Source: PR NewswirePosted Thu Dec 16, 2010 at 07:00 AM PST by: -
'Sharktopus' Blu-ray Detailed[teaser]The eight-tentacled eating machine swimming to Blu-ray this March has been fully detailed! [/teaser] As previously reported, Starz/Anchor Bay says 'Sharktopus' will be available on Blu-ray on March 15. Oscar nominee Eric Roberts slums it as a genetic scientist who creates a shark/octopus hybrid for the U.S. Navy as a weapon that gets out of control. The film is also touted as featuring a hilarious cameo by legendary producer Roger Corman. In addition to capturing the hearts and minds of millions of viewers, 'Sharktopus' gripped critics with its outrageous fusion of horror and humor. Examiner.com called it “Awesome! An apex moment in Syfy’s history,” while Horrornews.net declared the film “full of kickassitude!” Reelz Channel said the film “…has all the blood and bikinis you've come to expect from the Roger Corman Film Factory,” and Joe Crowe from RevolutionSF.com noted “'Sharktopus' finally gets it right. That’s how a creature feature should be done.” Check out the trailer! The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 soundtrack, and an audio commentary with Roger and Julie Corman. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $24.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Sharktopus' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under March 15.Posted Thu Dec 16, 2010 at 06:00 AM PST by:
