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Philips Details New 4K Quantum Dot Monitor with HDR1000 Certification[teaser]The new 4K monitor offers up to 1,000 nits of brightness.[/teaser] EPI has announced its latest Philips branded product, the Momentum 43-inch 4K HDR Quantum Dot Monitor. The display is the world's first monitor to receive VESA DisplayHDR 1000 Certification. "As with any new technology there can be confusion out there regarding HDR specs and benefits. VESA's new DisplayHDR standard will make monitor shopping easier by offering consumers a comparable standard to judge HDR picture performance between monitors," stated Chris Brown, Philips Monitors Global Marketing Manager, TPV. "We are very excited to launch the world's first DisplayHDR 1000 monitor, the Philips Momentum 43-inch 4K Display. DisplayHDR 1000 level of picture performance will offer a more intense gaming and entertainment experience. The contrast and color really bring action scenes alive, like we’ve never seen before." The monitor uses a 43-inch panel with 4K UHD resolution and quantum dot technology, enabling wide color gamut capabilities. HDR support is included as well with DisplayHDR 1000 Certification ensuring a peak brightness level of up to 1,000 nits. The DisplayHDR designation is certified based on eight parameters and corresponding tests, including three peak luminance tests, two contrast measurement tests, color testing of the BT.709 and DCI-P3 color gamuts, bi-depth requirement test, and a HDR response performance test. In addition, the display features Ambiglow technology to create a halo of light around the outside of the screen for enhanced immersion with movies and games. The light's color and brightness are adapted to match the content being watched, and users can also adjust the ambience to their liking. Finally, the unit also offers support for MultiView technology, allowing customers to connect two sources at the same time for multi-tasking. For instance, a user could watch a movie from a connected media player on one side of the screen and play a game from a connected PC on the other side simultaneously. EPI's Philips branded Momentum 436M6 is set to launch later this summer for an MSRP of $999.99. Source: EPI via EngadgetPosted Wed Apr 25, 2018 at 07:22 AM PDT by: -
5 Things We "Hate" About The Marvel Cinematic Universe[Teaser]As much as we love the Marvel Cinematic Universe, we have to be honest and admit, there are a few things we hate. Okay, hate's a strong word (cough-clickbait-cough). We don't hate the MCU at all, but we did a 5 Things We Love article and we wanted to balance that out, and 5 Minor Quibbles with the MCU doesn't quite sound the same.[/Teaser] So, as Avengers Infinity War is set to dominate cinema screens this week, we thought it was appropriate to point out a few things we wish the MCU would do or could have done differently. Let us know in the comments below if there's anything you'd add to the list, or take off of ours. 5 Things We "Hate" About The Marvel Cinematic Universe 1: Weak Villains Aside from Loki, Ego, maybe Vulture, and with Thanos only-now making his true big bad galaxy dominating appearance - most of the MCU villains have been pretty weak sauce. Even Ultron, who had a film named after him, proved to be a relatively inconsequential villain. Baron Zemo, the guy who pits our heroes against each other in Captain America: Civil War - kind of a go-nowhere character at the end of the day. While Thanos has been teased as the big ultimate baddie of the universe, one can't help but wish there were higher stakes - how many bald corporate power-hungry ego-maniacs with access to high-tech weaponry are there in this cinematic universe? The MCU somehow even managed to make Hannibal actor Mads Mikkelsen a dead end villain for Doctor Strange - and that's something we "hate" to see! 2: Creative Differences While the MCU can be credited for letting great talent play with their toys, there have been some notable and unfortunate exceptions. Perhaps the most famous was the sad and unceremonious exit of Edgar Wright from Ant-Man. While Peyton Reed did a fine job and his followup Ant-Man and the Wasp looks to be another hit, one can't help wonder how different Ant-Man could have been with Wright in the chair. Toss in Wonder Woman director Patty Jenkin's exit from Thor: The Dark World due to creative differences and you can't help but wonder about the possibly great films that we missed out on. Granted, we don't know the full scale and scope that lead to these high-profile exits, so hopefully, they're isolated incidents. 3: Lack Of Solo Movies For Side Characters Why hasn't there been a female fronted solo film for Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow? Let alone Renner's Hawkeye? There are a lot of great characters out there who seem to be constantly stuck playing the second fiddle when in their own comic book lore they are forces to be reckoned with. Granted, new heroes we haven't seen yet are exciting, but in all the noise of sequels and new heroes, some great characters who can hold their own weight and franchises are getting lost. I'd be 100% on board of a Haley Atwell fronted 50s/60s themed Agent Carter film and I'm sure there are a number of fans who would love to see that as well given the abrupt and unfortunate cancelation of the television series. These don't need to be $100million+ epics. Modest budget and room to play could make for a little extra fun for fans with a respectable return on investment for the studio. 4: Fractured Marvel Universes This infographic from TheGeekTwins.com perfectly spells out the rights mess that is Marvel. When you think of Marvel movies, you forget that multiple studios own or have licensed so many different characters. Sony has Spider-Man and Venom. Fox has X-Men, distribution rights for Fantastic Four, and various other side characters. Universal has Incredible Hulk. And Disney-Marvel own everything else that we know and love as the proper MCU. Fingers crossed for the upcoming Fox/Disney deal that the X-Men and our favorite first family of superheroes can join the MCU. It's taken years to get this close and the deal could still fall apart scattering our heroes to the four winds. The last thing we need or want to ever see happen again is two different versions of Quicksilver in two movies in the same year. Woof. 5: Genre Fatigue Sure, Black Panther set box office records left and right, Infinity War is already blowing pre-sale records and the MCU shows no signs of slowing down, but at what point does this whale of a franchise go belly up and drown? While fans (myself included) long for more of our favorite heroes to get some solid screen time, it'd be a lie not to admit that we may be getting too much of a good thing. As Marvel proper aims to release 2-3 movies a year, there's also the issue of competition from Warners' DCEU as well as other projects like the long in development Spawn reboot on top of all the seemingly never-ending barrage of television series. That is a lot of comic book overload! While Marvel does seem to be very judicious with their planning - one does have to worry about genre burnout especially as the bottom of the barrel characters become the only options left. ~~~ While we've been big fans of Marvel's output, we have to admit that it's been a bit of a rocky road. For every great decision, there's been Mickey Roarke talking to a parrot. No franchise is ever flawless and Marvel has had its fair share of ups and downs, we hope that they've learned from their past mistakes and can make up for some of these grievances with the future films already in the development pipeline. What do you think? Anything we missed? Sound off respectfully to others and their opinions in the comments below!Posted Tue Apr 24, 2018 at 03:11 PM PDT by: -
5 Things We LOVE About The Marvel Cinematic Universe[Teaser]As Avengers: Infinity War looms over cinema screens this week, we thought it was time to take a step back and appreciate all of the things we love about the Marvel Cinematic Universe.[/Teaser] It's been a wild ride to get to this point, but we've seen a lot of great and exciting flicks hit movie theaters over the last ten years. Sure there may be a few things we "hate" and would love to see fixed in the MCU, but there is a lot we love about and look forward to seeing. 5 Things We LOVE About The Marvel Cinematic Universe 1: Universe Building This was the first time anything like this had been attempted. Sure, there have been other great comic book movies in the past, Superman: The Movie, Batman, Spider-Man 2, but none of them tried to be part of a cohesive universe. Sure, the idea of The Avengers may have started out as a goof at the end of Iron Man with a teaser appearance of Sam Jackson's Nick Fury or Downey's appearance as Tony Stark at the end of The Incredible Hulk. But, it planted a little seed that grew into one hell of a mighty oak! 18 films later and $14 billion in the global box office, this franchise shows no signs of slowing down as each new release becomes a major cinematic event not to be missed. 2: Talented Filmmakers If there's one thing that can be credited to Kevin Feige and his team at Disney/Marvel, they know how to get strong filmmakers and storytellers in the right positions. Who would have thought the Russo Brothers - the men behind Community and Arrested Development among other comedies - would manage to create two terrific Captain America movies and are aiming to one-up everyone with The Avengers: Infinity War? Toss in filmmakers like James Gunn with Guardians of the Galaxy and most recently Ryan Coogler with his fantastic Black Panther, and you can see why Marvel has done well by putting an enormous amount of trust in their creative partners to deliver great flicks people line up in anticipation for. 3: Casting If there's one thing Marvel has done right is getting the right people to slip into the colorful costumes. Robert Downey Jr. easily makes us forget that at one time Tom Cruise was in line to play Tony Stark/Iron Man! Chris Evans is Captain America. Toss in terrific terns from cast members like Scarlett Johansson, Chadwick Boseman, Jeremy Renner, Tom Holland, the entire Guardians of the Galaxy cast, and it's hard to imagine any other actors taking on these iconic characters making the prospect of recasting when contracts expire less likely and even less appealing to the legion of fans who have fervently devoured these films over the years. 4: Story Approach One has to tip their hat to Marvel for at least trying to make their films a little different from one another. Sure some elements remain the same, but each feels like they get their own genre to play around in. The Captain America movies got to plunge into Political Espionage. Ant-Man was a heist movie. Doctor Strange got to be a sorcery-styled sci-fi fantasy, while Guardians of the Galaxy got to play around as a pseudo Space Opera similar to the classic Star Wars movies. Sure some of these films can feel a tad routine at times, the fact that the MCU is willing to play around with the approach to their genre helps make these movies feel unique and fun. 5: Adapting Popular Storylines Civil War, Winter Soldier, Infinity War, Ragnarok, Planet Hulk - if there is one thing Marvel is doing right it's going to their well of popular storylines to adapt. While we hate that their fractured franchise meant that the X-Men couldn't be a part of the Civil War movie, we appreciate the simple fact they at least pull from these classic stories to pull inspiration for their cinematic offerings. For the last decade they've smartly built their franchise towards the defining moment of Avengers: Infinity War and its to-be-titled sequel as all of our favorite heroes face off against the biggest baddy of all - Thanos. While it looks like a number of stories will come to a close, we're going to lose some of our favorite heroes in this war, there is still a number of great stories and characters for the MCU to explore for years to come. ~~~ One has to give Marvel a lot of credit for carefully crafting their Cinematic Universe. They may have had a few bumps, there may be a couple things we "hate" about it -- don't miss this article's companion piece, 5 Things We "Hate" About the Marvel Cinematic Universe -- but overall we have to admit that this decade-long journey has been a hell of a thrill ride. Think about that first cameo appearance of Nick Fury at the end of Iron Man. We all dreamed of the cinematic possibilities of what it could bring, but did we ever really believe that Marvel would commit to a multi-year multi-film franchise of this scale? Even this optimistic writer never thought it would get to this point let alone a sprawling cinematic universe where even the most obscure characters are given the chance to shine. Here's hoping the next ten years are this good - and hopefully better! What do you think dear readers? Did we miss anything you loved about this Cinematic Universe? Sound off (respectfully to others and their opinions in the comments!Posted Tue Apr 24, 2018 at 11:13 AM PDT by:
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'A Wrinkle in Time' Dated and Detailed for Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray[teaser]The time-traveling adventure from acclaimed director Ava DuVernay will be available in stores this summer. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Disney says 'A Wrinkle in Time' will be available on Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray on June 5. More than 50 years after Madeleine L'Engle's young adult novel "A Wrinkle in Time" was awarded the prestigious Newbery Medal, the big-screen retelling of this timeless classic takes audiences on a transformative journey, exquisitely illustrated through jaw-dropping visual effects, a stirring musical score and diverse, star-studded cast. Three celestial guides, Mrs. Which (two-time Academy Award® nominee Oprah Winfrey), Mrs. Whatsit (Oscar®, Golden Globe® and Emmy® winner Reese Witherspoon) and Mrs. Who (Emmy nominee Mindy Kaling), come to Earth to share their wisdom and love with struggling eighth-grader Meg Murry (Storm Reid) as she journeys across dimensions with classmate Calvin (Levi Miller) and younger brother Charles Wallace (Deric McCabe) in search of her father (Chris Pine), a world-renowned physicist who mysteriously disappeared four years ago. As fantastical as the film’s premise and imagery may seem, “A Wrinkle in Time” centers on a universal human need that feels particularly relevant and relatable today. “This is a story about belonging,” says DuVernay. “It’s about a girl who just doesn’t feel strong in her mind, body and spirit. But through this epic journey, she finds her strength and learns that the center of the universe starts inside her. It’s about Meg feeling like she belongs in the universe and has a mighty part to play… as do we all.” Each release will feature a lossless 7.1 soundtrack (Dolby Atmos on the 4K UHD) and supplements include: A Journey Through Time – Take an up-close look at the making of this magnificent movie with Director Ava DuVernay, Oprah Winfrey, and the cast and crew; Deleted Scenes (with optional director audio commentary); Audio Commentary; Bloopers; and Original Songs/Music Videos. You can find the latest specs for A Wrinkle in Time linked from our Blu-ray and 4K Release Schedules, where it is indexed under June 5. Order the Blu-ray Order the 4K Blu-rayPosted Tue Apr 24, 2018 at 09:00 AM PDT by: -
'Peter Pan' Joins the Walt Disney Signature Collection in June[teaser]Celebrate the 65th anniversary of the animated classic with a new Blu-ray release this summer. [/teaser] Disney is preparing 'Peter Pan: The Signature Collection' for Blu-ray on June 5. In Peter Pan, fantastic adventures await the Darling children—Wendy, John and Michael—when Peter Pan, the hero of their stories, whisks them away to the magical world of Never Land. After flying with Peter and the delightfully impish Tinker Bell past the “second star to the right and straight on till morning,” they explore the enchanted island and Peter’s secret hideout with the Lost Boys, and leap into high-flying battles with swashbuckling pirates and the infamous villain Captain Hook. Peter Pan is the seventh title to join the Walt Disney Signature Collection, which includes groundbreaking films created or inspired by the imagination and legacy of Walt Disney, featuring timeless stories and characters that have touched generations. The film takes its place alongside Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Beauty and the Beast, Pinocchio, Bambi, The Lion King and Lady and the Tramp. The Signature Collection edition offers over two hours of classic bonus features plus never-before-seen extras, including the latest installment of “Stories from Walt’s Office,” which explores Walt’s love of flying and the company planes; a nostalgic reunion between Kathryn Beaumont (the voice of Wendy) and Paul Collins (the voice of John); and new “Oke” renditions of the classic song “You Can Fly” and deleted song “Never Smile at a Crocodile” accompanied by on-screen lyrics and the film’s unforgettable animated characters. Full new features include: - Stories from Walt’s Office: Walt & Flight – “Think of the happiest things, it’s the same as having wings”. One thing you’ll notice inside Walt Disney’s office are all of the models and pictures of airplanes. Walt loved planes and was an aficionado of flying. As a continuation of the “Stories from Walt’s Office” series, we’ll soar into the world of one of Walt’s favorite pastimes and look at the history behind the company airplane he used to scout Central Florida looking for the perfect place to build his second theme park. - A “Darling” Conversation with Wendy & John: Kathryn Beaumont and Paul Collins – Join Disney Legend Kathryn Beaumont (the voice of Wendy) and Paul Collins (the voice of John) as they reunite for the first time in many years to reminisce and discuss their experiences working on Peter Pan, meeting Walt Disney and learning to fly … literally. - You Can Fly” – A new “Oke” rendition and graphic look of the classic Disney song, “You Can Fly,” with fun lyrics on screen and lots of your favorite “Peter Pan” characters.- “Never Smile at a Crocodile” – A new “Oke” rendition and graphic look of the deleted song, “Never Smile at a Crocodile”, with fun lyrics on screen and highlighting the relationship between Captain Hook and Tick- Tock the Crocodile. Full legacy/classic features include: - DisneyView- Sing-along Version of the film: Sing along with your favorite songs from the movie.- Growing Up with Nine Old Men – “Peter Pan” is both a story of living with a child’s sense of openness to the world and an acknowledgement that the path to adulthood most often leads away from those qualities. A parallel of sorts to that duality can be found in Walt Disney and his core group of animators, the Nine Old Men, in their lives and in their work. Our short film will look at who they were and the parts they played in one of the most remarkable team of artists that ever worked together.- Deleted Songs- Deleted Scenes - Disney Song Select – Simply play the clip from the movie with subtitles underneath it. - Audio Commentary Hosted by Roy Disney – Audio commentary hosted by Roy Disney, but carried on by several other people. - Music and More - Backstage Disney You can find the latest specs for Peter Pan: The Signature Collection linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under June 5. Order the Blu-rayPosted Tue Apr 24, 2018 at 07:45 AM PDT by: -
'Dirty Grandpa' Announced for 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray[teaser]The comedy starring Robert De Niro and Zac Efron comes to 4K Dolby Vision in June. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Lionsgate is set to release 'Dirty Grandpa' on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray on June 12. Robert De Niro and Zac Efron get down and dirty in this raunchy comedy about a wild road trip shared by an uptight guy and his foul-mouthed granddad. The film co-stars Julianne Hough, Aubrey Plaza, Zoey Deutch, and Dermot Mulroney. The 4K release will feature 2160p video in Dolby Vision with Dolby Atmos audio and supplements include: “Lessons in Seduction” Featurette“Filthy Filmmakers Who Have No Shame” Audio Commentary (Blu-ray™ Only)“The Filthy Truth: The Making of Dirty Grandpa” Featurette“Daytona Heat” Featurette“I Got Nothin’ to Hide: A Look at Daytona’s Most Vibrant Drug Dealer” FeaturetteGag Reel You can find the latest specs for Dirty Grandpa - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray linked from our 4K Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under June 12.Posted Tue Apr 24, 2018 at 06:50 AM PDT by: -
'The Equalizer' starring Denzel Washington Hits 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray this July[teaser]Antoine Fuqua's revenge crime-thriller will be getting the 4K treatment this summer. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Sony is set to release 'The Equalizer' on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray on July 10. McCall (Denzel Washington) has put his mysterious past behind him and is dedicated to living a new, quiet life. But when he meets Teri (Chloë Grace Moretz), a young girl under the control of ultra-violent Russian gangsters, he can’t stand idly by. Armed with hidden skills that allow him to serve vengeance against anyone who would brutalize the helpless, McCall comes out of his self-imposed retirement and finds his desire for justice reawakened. If someone has a problem, if the odds are stacked against them, if they have nowhere else to turn, McCall will help. He is THE EQUALIZER. The 4K release will feature 2160p video in HDR with Dolby Atmos audio and supplements include: ALL-NEW: Five Never-Before-Seen Deleted Scenes, featuring McCall’s Epilogue teasing The Equalizer 2“A Villain's Psychosis”“Boston: On Location”“A Modern Hero”“Joining Forces Again: Denzel Washington and Antoine Fuqua”“Playing the Part: The Cast of The Equalizer”“The Home Mart Advantage: The Action of The Equalizer”Theatrical Trailers You can find the latest specs for The Equalizer - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray linked from our 4K Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under July 10. Order the 4K Blu-rayPosted Tue Apr 24, 2018 at 06:02 AM PDT by: -
Tom Hardy Transforms into the Symbiote in New 'Venom' Trailer[teaser]The Marvel comics villain tuned anti-hero is heading to theaters in October.[/teaser] Following an initial teaser, Sony has released a full trailer for Venom, finally offering fans their first look at Tom Hardy in full symbiote mode as the title character. The movie comes from director Ruben Fleischer and is set to premiere on October 5. One of Marvel’s most enigmatic, complex and badass characters comes to the big screen, starring Academy Award nominated actor Tom Hardy as the lethal protector Venom. This film is not yet rated by the Motion Picture Association of America. Check out the official trailer below! Venom stars Tom Hardy as Eddie Brock / Venom, Michelle Williams as Anne Weying, and Riz Ahmed as Dr. Carlton Drake. The film comes from a script written by Scott Rosenberg, Kelly Marcel, and Jeff Pinkner. The character of Venom originated as a villain in the Spider-Man comic books, and previously made his big screen debut in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man 3 where he was played by actor Topher Grace. Though some rumors continue to hint otherwise, Sony has previously stated that this film will not be connected to Spider-Man: Homecoming or the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe. With that said, the studio does plan to use the movie to help kick off its own series of motion pictures based on supporting characters from the Spider-Man franchise, including Black Cat and Silver Sable. In addition, Sony is also set to release a new animated Spider-Man movie titled Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse on December 14, 2018. The CG film features the Miles Morales version of the character and comes from a script written by Phil Lord (The Lego Movie). Source: Sony (YouTube)Posted Tue Apr 24, 2018 at 05:00 AM PDT by: -
Yamaha Reveals First AV Receivers and Speakers with Wireless MusicCast Surround Technology[teaser]New audio products with wireless surround sound support have been revealed.[/teaser] Yamaha has detailed several upcoming home theater components with support for the company's new MusicCast Surround technology. The lineup includes the 5.1-channel RX-V485 receiver, 7.2-channel RX-V585 receiver, and 7.2-channel RX-V685 receiver, along with the MusicCast 20 speaker, MusicCast 50 speaker, and the MusicCast SUB 100 subwoofer. "For entertainment fanatics who love movies, TV and gaming, nothing beats using an AV receiver to build a true surround sound system," said Robert Goedken, general manager, AV division, Yamaha Corporation of America. "By adding a wireless surround capability to our new line, we’ve made it easier than ever to create an amazing, theater-like experience at home. MusicCast Surround suddenly makes an AV receiver an attractive option for a whole new audience of entertainment fans." Building upon the company's MusicCast wireless multi-room audio platform, the new MusicCast Surround feature on compatible Yamaha RX-V 85 Series receivers enables users to configure 5.1-channel surround sound systems with wired front channel speakers, wireless MusicCast 20 or MusicCast 50 surround speakers, and a wireless MusicCast SUB 100 subwoofer. When using the MusicCast Surround feature, a direct Wi-Fi connection is made between an RX-V 85 series AV receiver and the MusicCast 20 or MusicCast 50 wireless speakers, allowing the surround sound audio to stream without having to pass through a user's home router. In addition, all of the new MusicCast Surround products include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Apple AirPlay, and Spotify Connect, along with access to Pandora, SiriusXM Internet Radio, TIDAL, Deezer, Napster and thousands of free internet radio stations via the free MusicCast app. Likewise, voice control through Amazon Alexa-equipped devices is provided as well with the free MusicCast skill. The 5.1-channel RX-V485 supports Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio surround sound, while the 7.2-channel RX-V585 and RX-V685 also add support for Dolby Atmos and DTS:X decoding. 4K 60 FPS pass-through is enabled on all three models, along with HDR10, Dolby Vision, Hybrid Log-Gamma, and BT.2020 wide color gamut (WCG) compatibility. YPAO auto-calibration and Cinema DSP are also included on each unit. Meanwhile, the MusicCast 20 and MusicCast 50 wireless speakers both offer playback support as standalone audio systems, multi-room systems with existing MusicCast components, or wireless surround speakers with a connected MusicCast Surround-enabled AV receiver. Likewise, two MusicCast 20 speakers can be paired together to enable a stereo mode. And though a single MusicCast 50 is capable of stereo two channel sound on its own, two units can also be paired for an even higher output and wider sound field. Finally, the MusicCast SUB 100 is designed to serve as a wireless subwoofer option for the new RX-V 85 series receivers. Likewise, the device can also be paired with one or two MusicCast 20 or MusicCast 50 speakers to create a 1.1-channel or 2.1-channel system. Here's a rundown of pricing and availability for the new lineup: • RX-V485 5.1-Channel AV Receiver, $449.95 MSRP, May • RX-V585 7.2-Channel AV Receiver, $549.95 MSRP, May • RX-V685 7.2-Channel AV Receiver, $649.95 MSRP, May • MusicCast 20 Speaker, $229.95 MSRP, July • MusicCast 50 Speaker, $499.95 MSRP, July • MusicCast SUB 100 Subwoofer, $549.95 MSRP, September Source: Yamaha via PRWebPosted Mon Apr 23, 2018 at 04:30 PM PDT by: -
Coming Soon to Streaming: 'GLOW,' 'The Rain,' and More[teaser]More new shows and movies are heading to various streaming platforms. [/teaser] Netflix. Amazon, and Hulu have released trailers and other details for several of their upcoming series and films. Here's a full rundown of titles scheduled to arrive on each service: Candy Jar (Netflix, April 27) - An introverted high school girl from a working-class background and her wealthy debate team nemesis can't agree on anything, but when they're forced to work together to compete in the state championship, they discover opposites can sometimes attract. Starring Christina Hendricks, Helen Hunt, and Uzo Aduba. Directed by Ben Shelton. The Rain (Netflix, May 4) - The world as we know it has ended. Six years after a brutal virus carried by the rain wiped out almost all humans in Scandinavia, two Danish siblings emerge from the safety of their bunker to find all remnants of civilization gone. Soon they join a group of young survivors and together set out on a danger-filled quest through abandoned Scandinavia, searching for any sign of life. Set free from their collective past and societal rules the group has the freedom to be who they want to be. In their struggle for survival, they discover that even in a post-apocalyptic world there’s still love, jealousy, coming of age, and many of the problems they thought they’d left behind with the disappearance of the world they once knew. Who will you be when the rain comes? Anon - (Netflix, May 4) - Sal Frieland is a detective in a world with no privacy or anonymity; where everyone’s lives are transparent, traceable, and recorded by the authorities; where crime almost ceases to exist. But in trying to solve a series of murders, Frieland stumbles on a young woman known only as the Girl. She has no identity, no history and is invisible to the cops. Sal realizes this may not be the end of crime, but the beginning. Forgive Us Our Debts (Netflix, May 4) - Threatened by creditors, a newly unemployed man agrees to work for a debt collector, but soon discovers his deal with the devil has unexpected costs. Starring Marco Giallini, Claudio Santamaria, and Jerzy Stuhr. Directed by Antonio Morabito. Safe: Season One (Netflix, May 10) - Tom's wife died a year ago and he's bringing up his two daughters, living in a beautiful gated community, with close friends nearby and a new relationship starting. But when his eldest daughter disappears in mysterious circumstances he realises that in fact he knows nothing about the people closest to him - dark secrets about the people he loves and the place where he lives. Bill Nye Saves The World (Netflix, May 11) - Bill Nye – the Emmy-nominated host, educator, engineer, and curator of curiosity – returns with a new season that tackles topics from a scientific point of view, dispelling myths, and refuting anti-scientific claims. But the revelations are real, Bill reminds us, as he neutralizes falsehoods and boosts the truth: “It’s not magic – it’s science!” Each episode of Bill Nye Saves the World entertainingly and enthusiastically dives into a specific topic or concept through lively panel discussions, wide-ranging special correspondent reports and Bill’s very special blend of lab procedure and genuine persona. Equipped with inquisitiveness, chemical-resistant gloves, and his beloved bow ties, Bill’s a magnetic force that’s hard to resist. GLOW: Season Two (Netflix, June 29) - Inspired by the short-lived but beloved show from the 80s, GLOW tells the fictional story of Ruth Wilder (Alison Brie), an out-of-work, struggling actress in 1980s Los Angeles who finds one last chance for stardom when she’s thrust into the glitter and spandex world of women's wrestling. In addition to working with 12 Hollywood misfits, Ruth also has to compete with Debbie Eagan (Betty Gilpin), a former soap actress who left the business to have a baby, only to be sucked back into work when her picture perfect life turns out not to be what it seems. At the wheel is Sam Sylvia (Marc Maron), a washed-up, B-movie director who now must lead this group of women on the journey to wrestling super stardom. All Night (Hulu, May 11) - After their graduation, the class of 2018 gathers to celebrate their last night together at their local rec center for “Grad Night,” an all-night party with dancing, karaoke, games—and a rule that no one can come in or out for twelve full hours. For most the night signals their last chance to accomplish some high school dream: Nerdy Cody wants to make his mark on the school, and popular Roni wants to finally lose her virginity to her boyfriend Oz. Valedictorian Melinda plans to sneakily sell alcohol to her classmates at the party to pay her tuition, and every-girl Deanna gets ready to finally admit her feelings for her best friend Fig, who only has eyes for Roni. As the night goes on, the kids’ quests overlap, intertwine, and -in some cases- implode. What would you do with your last night in high school? Picnic at Hanging Rock (Amazon Prime Video, May 25) - A gripping reimagining of the Australian novel that plunges into the mysterious disappearance of three schoolgirls and their governess. Starring Natalie Dormer as the enigmatic headmistress of Appleyard College, the six episode limited series follows the subsequent investigation and the event’s far-reaching impact on the students and staff of the college. - A current Netflix subscription starts at $11 per month for HD streaming and $14 per month for Ultra HD streaming. - A current Amazon Prime subscription costs $99 per year or $11 per month. Likewise, Prime Instant Video is available as a standalone service for $9 per month. - A current Hulu subscription starts at $8 per month with commercials. In addition, ad-free playback is available for $12 per month. Sources: Netflix (YouTube), Amazon (YouTube), Hulu (YouTube)Posted Mon Apr 23, 2018 at 01:40 PM PDT by:
