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Criterion Details May 2018 Blu-ray Titles[teaser]The distributor has revealed its upcoming slate of May releases, including John Schlesinger' Midnight Cowboy and Robert Bresson's Au hasard Balthazar.[/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Criterion is preparing Moonrise, The Other Side of Hope, Graduation, Beyond the Hills, Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters, Midnight Cowboy, and Au hasard Balthazar for Blu-ray throughout the month of May. Moonrise (May 8) - A small-town fable about violence and redemption, Moonrise is the final triumph of Frank Borzage, one of Hollywood’s most neglected masters. Stigmatized from infancy by the fate of his criminal father, young Danny (Dane Clark) is bruised and bullied until one night, in a fit of rage, he kills his most persistent tormenter. As the police close in around him, Danny makes a desperate bid for the love of the dead man’s fiancée (Gail Russell), a schoolteacher who sees the wounded soul behind his aggression. With this postwar comeback, Borzage recaptured the inspiration that had animated his long and audacious early career, marrying the lyrical force of his romantic sensibility with the psychological anguish of film noir in a stunning vindication of faith in the power of love. - New, restored 4K digital transfer, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray- New conversation between author Hervé Dumont (Frank Borzage: The Life and Films of a Hollywood Romantic) and film historian Peter Cowie- PLUS: An essay by critic Philip Kemp Order the Blu-ray The Other Side of Hope (May 15) - This wry, melancholic comedy from Aki Kaurismäki, a response to the ongoing global refugee crisis, follows two people searching for a place to call home. Khaled (Sherwan Haji), a displaced Syrian, lands in Helsinki as a stowaway; meanwhile, middle-aged Finnish salesman Wikström (Sakari Kuosmanen) leaves his wife and his job and buys a conspicuously unprofitable seafood restaurant. Khaled is denied asylum but decides not to return to Aleppo—and the paths of the two men cross fortuitously. As deadpan as the best of the director’s work, and with a deep well of empathy for its down-but-not-out characters (many of them played by members of Kaurismäki’s loyal stock company), The Other Side of Hope is a bittersweet tale of human kindness in the face of official indifference. - New 2K digital transfer, approved by director Aki Kaurismäki, with 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack on the Blu-ray- New interview with actor Sherwan Haji- Footage from the 2017 Berlin Film Festival press conference for the film, featuring Kaurismäki and the film’s actors- Aki and Peter, a new video essay by Daniel Raim about the friendship between Kaurismäki and film critic Peter von Bagh, to whom the film is dedicated- Music videos- Trailer- PLUS: An essay by critic Girish Shambu Order the Blu-ray Graduation (May 22) - Blending rigorous naturalism with the precise construction of a thriller, this Cannes award–winning drama from Cristian Mungiu sheds light on the high stakes and ethical complexities of life in contemporary Romania. As his daughter nears high-school graduation, Romeo (Adrian Titieni), an upstanding doctor, counts on her winning a competitive scholarship that will send her to university in England. But when an injury sustained during a sexual assault compromises her performance on an important exam, Romeo’s best-laid plans for her threaten to crumble, leading him to seek favors in a world that runs on backscratching and bribery. Suffused with quiet dread, Graduation takes a humane and deeply ambiguous look at how corrosive rampant corruption is to moral convictions. - 2K digital master, approved by director Cristian Mungiu, with 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack on the Blu-ray- New interview with Mungiu- Press conference from the 2016 Cannes Film Festival, featuring Mungiu and actors Adrian Titieni, Maria Drăguș, Mălina Manovici, and Rareș Andrici- Deleted scenes- Trailer- New English subtitle translation- PLUS: An essay by film critic Bilge Ebiri Order the Blu-ray Beyond the Hills (May 22) - With this arresting drama based on notorious real-life events, Cristian Mungiu mounts a complex inquiry into faith, fanaticism, and indifference. At a desolate Romanian monastery, a young novice nun, Voichita (Cosmina Stratan), reunites with her former companion Alina (Cristina Flutur), who plans to take her to Germany. But Voichi?a proves unwilling to abandon her calling, and Alina becomes increasingly desperate to reclaim her devotion, putting the outsider at odds with the monastery’s ascetic priest—and precipitating a painfully misguided, brutal attempt to save her soul. A naturalistic tragedy with the dark force of a folktale, anchored by the fraught dynamic between cinema newcomers Flutur and Stratan (who shared the best actress prize at Cannes), Beyond the Hills bears powerful witness to individuals at cross-purposes and institutions ill-equipped to help those most in need. - 2K digital transfer, approved by director Cristian Mungiu, with 5.1 surround DTS‑HD Master Audio soundtrack on the Blu-ray- New interview with Mungiu- The Making of “Beyond the Hills,” a documentary from 2013, produced by Mungiu- Press conference from the 2012 Cannes Film Festival, featuring Mungiu and actors Cosmina Stratan, Cristina Flutur, Valeriu Andriuţă, and Dana Tapalagă- Deleted scenes- Trailer- New English subtitle translation- PLUS: An essay by film scholar Doru Pop Order the Blu-ray Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters (May 22) - Paul Schrader’s visually stunning, collagelike portrait of the acclaimed Japanese author and playwright Yukio Mishima (played by Ken Ogata) investigates the inner turmoil and contradictions of a man who attempted the impossible task of finding harmony among self, art, and society. Taking place on Mishima’s last day, when he famously committed public seppuku, the film is punctuated by extended flashbacks to the writer’s life as well as by gloriously stylized evocations of his fictional works. With its rich cinematography by John Bailey, exquisite sets and costumes by Eiko Ishioka, and unforgettable, highly influential score by Philip Glass, Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters is a tribute to its subject and a bold, investigative work of art in its own right. - New, restored 4K digital transfer (Blu-ray) and restored high-definition digital transfer (DVD) of the director’s cut, both supervised and approved by director Paul Schrader and cinematographer John Bailey, with 2.0 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack on the Blu-ray- Two optional English narrations, including one by actor Roy Scheider- Audio commentary from 2008 featuring Schrader and producer Alan Poul- Interviews from 2007 and 2008 with Bailey, producers Tom Luddy and Mata Yamamoto, composer Philip Glass, and production designer Eiko Ishioka- Interviews from 2008 with Mishima biographer John Nathan and friend Donald Richie- Audio interview from 2008 with coscreenwriter Chieko Schrader- Interview excerpt from 1966 featuring Mishima talking about writing- The Strange Case of Yukio Mishima, a 55-minute documentary from 1985 about the author- Trailer- PLUS: A booklet featuring an essay by critic Kevin Jackson, a piece on the film’s censorship in Japan, and photographs of Ishioka’s sets Order the Blu-ray Midnight Cowboy (May 29) - One of the British New Wave’s most versatile directors, John Schlesinger came to New York in the late-1960s to make Midnight Cowboy, a picaresque story of friendship that captured a city in crisis and sparked a new era of Hollywood movies. Jon Voight delivers a career-making performance as Joe Buck, a wide-eyed hustler from Texas hoping to score big with wealthy city women; he finds a companion in Enrico “Ratso” Rizzo, an ailing swindler with a bum leg and a quixotic fantasy of escaping to Florida, played by Dustin Hoffman in a radical departure from his breakthrough in The Graduate. A critical and commercial success despite controversy over what the MPAA termed its “homosexual frame of reference,” Midnight Cowboy became the first X-rated film to receive the best picture Oscar, and decades on, its influence still reverberates through cinema. - New 4K digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray- Alternate 5.1 surround soundtrack, presented in DTS-HD Master Audio on the Blu-ray- Audio commentary from 1991 featuring director John Schlesinger and producer Jerome Hellman- New selected-scene commentary by cinematographer Adam Holender- The Crowd Around the Cowboy, a 1969 short film made on location for Midnight Cowboy- Waldo Salt: A Screenwriter’s Journey, an Academy Award–nominated documentary from 1990 by Eugene Corr and Robert Hillmann- Two short 2004 documentaries on the making and release of Midnight Cowboy- Interview with actor Jon Voight on The David Frost Show from 1970- Interview from 2000 with Schlesinger for BAFTA Los Angeles- Excerpts from the 2002 BAFTA LA Tribute to Schlesinger, featuring Voight and actor Dustin Hoffman- Trailer- PLUS: An essay by critic Mark Harris Order the Blu-ray Au hasard Balthazar (May 29) - A profound masterpiece from one of the most revered filmmakers in the history of cinema, Au hasard Balthazar, directed by Robert Bresson, follows the donkey Balthazar as he is passed from owner to owner, some kind and some cruel but all with motivations outside of his understanding. Balthazar, whose life parallels that of his first keeper, Marie, is truly a beast of burden, suffering the sins of humankind. But despite his powerlessness, he accepts his fate nobly. Through Bresson’s unconventional approach to composition, sound, and narrative, this simple story becomes a moving parable about purity and transcendence. - New 2K digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray- Interview from 2005 with film scholar Donald Richie- “Un metteur en ordre: Robert Bresson,” a 1966 French television program about the film, featuring Bresson, filmmakers Jean-Luc Godard and Louis Malle, and members of Balthazar’s cast and crew- Original theatrical trailer- Plus: An essay by film scholar James Quandt Order the Blu-ray You can find the latest specs for all of the titles listed above linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where they're indexed throughout May.Posted Fri Feb 16, 2018 at 11:30 AM PST by: -
Coming Soon to Streaming: 'Love,' 'Bosch,' 'A Series of Unfortunate Events,' and More[teaser]Detectives, con men, and more are all coming to your favorite streaming device.[/teaser] Netflix, Amazon, and Hulu have released new trailers and info for several of their upcoming shows and movies, including Marlon Wayans: Woke, Love: Season Three, Benji, A Series of Unfortunate Events: Season Two, Rapture, The Week Of, The Rain, Sneaky Pete: Season Two, Bosch: Season Four, and National Treasure: Kiri. Here's a full rundown of upcoming titles set to hit each streaming service: Marlon Wayans: Woke - (Netflix, February 27) - Comedian and actor Marlon Wayans brings down the house in his honest, energetic and animated debut Netflix Original stand-up comedy special, "Marlon Wayans: Woke-ish." Filmed at MGM National Harbor's The Theater in Washington D.C. in front of a packed audience, Wayans doesn’t miss a beat as he opens people’s eyes about the White House feeling like a reality show, jokes about rappers aging with their music, addresses the blatant racism in America, and reflects on the conversations he’s had with his teenage children. Love: Season Three (Netflix, March 9) - After a long, complicated, and somewhat messy journey, Gus and Mickey enter Season 3 in a place we’ve never seen them before: a fully committed relationship… And while to some people, a committed relationship feels like the end, for Gus and Mickey, navigating this new state together is only the beginning showing us that love, for all it’s weird ups, downs and hilarious in-betweens, is both incredibly complicated and wonderfully simple. After all, all you need is love. Benji (Netflix, March 16) - A modern day retelling of the classic, the story of Benji follows one orphaned puppy and Carter and Frankie, two capricious New Orleans school kids who strike up a friendship with the tenacious street dog. When danger befalls them and they end up kidnapped by robbers who are in over their heads, Benji and his scruffy sidekick come to the rescue. A Series of Unfortunate Events: Season Two (Netflix, March 30) - Based on the internationally best selling series of books by Lemony Snicket (aka Daniel Handler), season two of the Netflix original series plunges further into the epic world of this darkly comedic mystery. Executive produced by Emmy Award-winner Barry Sonnenfeld and Daniel Handler - the new season of A Series of Unfortunate Events consists of ten cinematic one-hour episodes. Starring Emmy and Tony Award-winner Neil Patrick Harris, A Series of Unfortunate Events recounts the tragic tale of the Baudelaire orphans – Violet, Klaus, and Sunny – and their extraordinary encounters with the devious Count Olaf who will stop at nothing to get his hands on their inheritance. Foiling his many dastardly plans and disguises, the young siblings discover clues to their parents’ mysterious death, links to a covert organization, and begin to unlock long-held family secrets. Rapture (Netflix, March 30) - From Mass Appeal, Rapture stares directly into the bright light that hip hop culture shines on the world and doesn’t blink. Throughout 8 episodes and featuring a diverse swath of artists -- Nas and Dave East, T.I., Rapsody, Logic, G-Eazy, A Boogie wit da Hoodie, 2 Chainz and Just Blaze – Rapture dives into the artists’ lives with their families and friends, to sitting front row in the studio and grinding on tour, to experiencing the ecstatic power of moving the crowd. The Week Of (Netflix, April 27) - The comedy tells the story of a devoted, middle class father (Adam Sandler) determined to pay for his daughter's wedding despite the prodding of the wealthier father of the groom (Chris Rock). A series of calamities forces the dads (and their families) to come together and endure the longest week of their lives. The Rain (Netflix, Spring 2018) - 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? Sneaky Pete: Season Two (Amazon Prime Video, March 9) - On the verge of starting fresh, Marius (Giovanni Ribisi) is dragged back into the role of Pete Murphy when two thugs—believing he’s Pete—threaten to kill the Bernhardts if he doesn’t take them to Pete’s estranged mother and the millions she stole from their employer. Now Marius must tread a dangerous line to find her and protect the family, all while keeping up the Pete con. Bosch: Season Four (Amazon Prime Video, April 13) - Detective Harry Bosch returns for a new explosive season. He is assigned a new case that has the city of Los Angeles on a verge of a riot. Bosch finds himself at several crossroads both professionally and personally. He remains relentless in his pursuit of his mother’s killer and will stop anything to pursue justice. This will be a season unlike any other. National Treasure: Kiri (Hulu, April 4) - Written by Jack Thorne, this four-part drama is the story of a young black girl in the process of being adopted by a middle class white family. We follow Miriam, as the fingers of suspicion and blame point at her and her judgement is questioned; Kiri’s birth family, as they find both their past failings and their present dysfunctional relationships put under the microscope; and Kiri’s adoptive family – particularly Alice, Kiri’s fiercely articulate white foster mother, as they are thrust into the national limelight. All of them are asking the same two questions: what happened to Kiri, and who is to blame? - 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 ($6 limited time promotional price now available). In addition, ad-free playback is available for $12 per month. Sources: Netflix (YouTube), Amazon (YouTube), Hulu (YouTube)Posted Thu Feb 15, 2018 at 09:15 PM PST by: -
Sony Announces Limited Time Sale on PlayStation VR Headsets & Bundles[teaser]PlayStation VR headsets and bundles will be available for $100 off their regular MSRPs.[/teaser] Sony has announced plans to offer limited time discounts on its PlayStation VR headset and bundles, with sale prices set to start at $200. The deals will be active from February 18 through March 3. Here's a rundown of the upcoming PS VR deals: PlayStation VR Standalone Headset - $200 ($100 off regular MSRP of $300) PlayStation VR Gran Turismo Sport Bundle - $200 ($100 off regular MSRP of $300) PlayStation VR Doom VFR Bundle - $300 ($100 off regular MSRP of $400) PlayStation VR Skyrim VR Bundle - $350 ($100 off regular MSRP of $450) Designed for use with a PS4 and PlayStation Camera, the PS VR headset features a 1920×RGB×1080 (960×RGB×1080 per eye) OLED display with a 100-degree FOV (Field of View) and up to a 120Hz refresh rate. The default standalone package includes the headset along with a processor unit, PlayStation VR headset connection cable, HDMI cable, USB cable, Stereo headphones, AC power cord, and AC adaptor. Meanwhile, the Grand Turismo Sport Bundle includes a PlayStation VR headset, PlayStation Camera, and Gran Turismo Sport. The Doom VFR Bundle includes a PlayStation VR headset, PlayStation Camera, the PS VR Demo Disc 2.0, and the Doom VFR Blu-ray Disc. Finally, the Skyrim VR Bundle comes with a PlayStation VR headset, PlayStation Camera, two PlayStation Move controllers, the PS VR Demo Disc 2.0, and Skyrim VR with the core game and Dawnguard, Hearthfire, and Dragonborn add-ons. These deals will only be active through March 3 while supplies last at participating retailers. Source: SonyPosted Thu Feb 15, 2018 at 01:10 PM PST by: -
Latest 'Ready Player One' Trailer is Full of Even More Pop Culture References[teaser]Audiences can enter the OASIS in March.[/teaser] Warner Bros. has released a new trailer for Steven Spielberg's Ready Player One, inviting viewers to step into a world of pure imagination filled with plenty of references to 80s and 90s pop culture. The upcoming movie will hit theaters on March 29, 2018. The film is set in 2045, with the world on the brink of chaos and collapse. But the people have found salvation in the OASIS, an expansive virtual reality universe created by the brilliant and eccentric James Halliday (Mark Rylance). When Halliday dies, he leaves his immense fortune to the first person to find a digital Easter egg he has hidden somewhere in the OASIS, sparking a contest that grips the entire world. When an unlikely young hero named Wade Watts (Tye Sheridan) decides to join the contest, he is hurled into a breakneck, reality-bending treasure hunt through a fantastical universe of mystery, discovery and danger. Check out the new trailer below! Ready Player One is based on Ernest Cline's novel of the same name and comes from director Steven Spielberg from a screenplay written by Cline and Zak Penn. Producers include Spielberg, Donald De Line, Kristie Macosko Krieger and Dan Farah, along with executive producers Adam Somner, Daniel Lupi, Chris DeFaria, and Bruce Berman. The cast features Tye Sheridan (X-Men: Apocalypse, Mud), Olivia Cooke (Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, Bates Motel), Ben Mendelsohn (Rogue One – A Star Wars Story, Bloodline), T.J. Miller (Deadpool, Silicon Valley), Simon Pegg (Star Trek, Shaun of the Dead), and Mark Rylance (Bridge of Spies, Dunkirk). Source: Warner Bros. (YouTube)Posted Thu Feb 15, 2018 at 11:20 AM PST by: -
New 'Incredibles 2' Trailer Highlights Challenges of Superhero Parenting[teaser]The superhero family will return to save the day in June.[/teaser] Disney/Pixar have revealed a new trailer for Incredibles 2. The animated sequel comes from director Brad Bird and is set to hit theaters on June 15. In Incredibles 2, Helen (voice of Holly Hunter) is called on to lead a campaign to bring Supers back, while Bob (voice of Craig T. Nelson) navigates the day-to-day heroics of "normal" life at home with Violet (voice of Sarah Vowell), Dash (voice of Huck Milner) and baby Jack-Jack—whose superpowers are about to be discovered. Their mission is derailed, however, when a new villain emerges with a brilliant and dangerous plot that threatens everything. But the Parrs don’t shy away from a challenge, especially with Frozone (voice of Samuel L. Jackson) by their side. That’s what makes this family so Incredible. Check out the trailer below! The film serves as a sequel to 2004's The Incredibles and features the return of original writer and director Brad Bird. Bird's last Disney/Pixar film was 2007's Ratatouille which he served as a co-director and writer on. Since then, the filmmaker has helmed a couple of live-action films, including MIssion: Impossible - Ghost Protocol and Tomorrowland. Incredibles 2 stars the vocal talents of Holly Hunter as Helen Parr / Elastigirl, Craig T. Nelson as Bob Parr / Mr. Incredible, Sarah Vowell as Violet Parr, Huck Milner as Dashiell 'Dash' Parr, Samuel L. Jackson as Lucius Best / Frozone, Sophia Bush as Voyd, Catherine Keener as Evelyn Deavor, Bob Odenkirk as Winston Deavor, Jonathan Banks as Rick Dicker, Isabella Rossellini as Ambassador, Brad Bird as Edna Mode, and John Ratzenberger as The Underminer. Source: Disney/Pixar (YouTube)Posted Thu Feb 15, 2018 at 08:20 AM PST by: -
Acer Releases VL7860 4K UHD Laser Projector[teaser]The compact projector is now available.[/teaser] Acer has announced the launch of its newest Ultra HD projector: the VL7860. Designed with flexible placement options in mind, the device is now the world's smallest 4K UHD 3000 lumens laser projector model on the market (according to Acer's most recent internal survey). "Ultra high-definition projection offers the ultimate home theater experience," said Ronald Lau, Acer America director – stationary products. "Combined with a compact design that provides flexibility in placement options and dynamic 10W audio, the Acer VL7860 will delight even the most discriminating customers." The VL7860 DLP projector uses a laser light source with laser diode technology and features support for projecting 120-inch 4K UHD (3,840 x 2,160) resolution images with 8.3 megapixels on screen. In addition, the unit is HDR compatible and can produce 110% of the Rec. 709 color space. Brightness is rated for up to 3,000 ANSI lumens and the unit offers a 1,500,000:1 DynamicBlack contrast ratio by dynamically adjusting lamp power to optimize black levels. An AcuMotion frame interpolation system, 1.6X zoom, ISFccc-certified (Certified Calibration Controls) Professional Calibration mode, and vertical lens shift are featured as well. Connectivity options include VGA and dual HDMI ports (one with MHL), and the projector also come with two built-in 5W speakers. Finally, lamp life is rated for 20000 hours under the Normal Mode and 30000 hours under the Economy Mode. The Acer VL7860 4K UHD Laser Projector is now available in the US for an MSRP of $4,000. And in addition to the new VL7860, Acer also sells a V7850 4K projector model with 2200 ANSI Lumens of brightness, HDR, and a 1,200,000:1 contrast ratio for an MSRP of $2,500. Source: Acer via PRWebPosted Wed Feb 14, 2018 at 11:55 AM PST by: -
'Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle' Announced for Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray[teaser]The hit adventure/comedy will be available on both formats next month. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Sony has revealed 'Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle' will be available on Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray on March 20. When four high-school kids discover an old video game console with a game they’ve never heard of--Jumanji--they are immediately drawn into the game’s jungle setting, literally becoming the avatars they chose: gamer Spencer becomes a brawny adventurer (Dwayne Johnson); football jock Fridge loses (in his words) "the top two feet of his body" and becomes an Einstein (Kevin Hart); popular girl Bethany becomes a middle-aged male professor (Jack Black); and wallflower Martha becomes a badass warrior (Karen Gillan). What they discover is that you don’t just play Jumanji--you must survive it. To beat the game and return to the real world, they’ll have to go on the most dangerous adventure of their lives, discover what Alan Parrish left 20 years ago, and change the way they think about themselves--or they’ll be stuck in the game forever ... Now fans can experience what it’s like to be transported into the world of Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle. For the first time ever, the home entertainment packaging will feature a Snapchat Snapcode that unlocks an augmented reality experience. When fans pick up a copy of the film on Blu-ray or DVD at any retailer and scan the Snapcode with their Snapchat app, they will find the jungle brought to life right in front of them. Once there, they can record their experience and share it with their friends. There will be an additional Snapcode on an insert inside the package, exclusively for consumers who purchase the disc, that will trigger a second first-of-its-kind AR experience that will bring the characters from Jumanji into your living room. The releases will include a Gag Reel, Music Video, and 5 Featurettes plus the 4K UHD will feature Dolby Vision high dynamic range and a Dolby Atmos soundtrack. You can find the latest specs for Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle linked from our Blu-ray and 4K Release Schedules, where it is indexed under March 20. Order the Blu-ray Order the 4K Blu-rayPosted Wed Feb 14, 2018 at 09:55 AM PST by: -
Anime Fans Get Ready for 'Batman Ninja' in May![teaser]The anime-style Batman movie is heading for Blu-ray in May. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Warner Brothers says 'Batman Ninja' will be available on Blu-ray (a SteelBook edition will also be available) on May 8. Batman Ninja takes a journey across the ages as Gorilla Grodd’s time displacement machine transports many of Batman’s worst enemies to feudal Japan – along with the Dark Knight and a few of his allies. The villains take over the forms of the feudal lords that rule the divided land, with the Joker taking the lead among the warring factions. As his traditional high-tech weaponry is exhausted almost immediately, Batman must rely on his intellect and his allies – including Catwoman and the extended Bat-family – to restore order to the land, and return to present-day Gotham City. Specs have yet to be revealed, but supplements include: “East / West Batman” (Featurette) – Batman meets the anime medium, as this documentary looks into some of the Western tropes and archetypes, meshed into the world of feudal Japan. East meets West, swords, samurai and giant robots, all playing into the clash between Batman and his Rogues gallery. “Batman: Made in Japan” (Featurette) – To make a special film about Batman requires just the right artist to bring the mix of style and energy that is unmistakably anime. The filmmakers discuss the Japanese character models, influences and design create a fusion experience into this hyper real world. You can find the latest specs for Batman Ninja linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under May 8. Order the Blu-ray Order the SteelBookPosted Wed Feb 14, 2018 at 08:21 AM PST by: -
Lisa Henson Talks The Dark Crystal 4K Restoration & Dolby Atmos Soundtrack"Another world… another time…" Get ready to return to the mystical world of Thrall in a big way! 2018 is turning into one hell of a celebratory year for Jim Henson and Frank Ox's seminal fantasy creature feature The Dark Crystal. After years of development, the film was released in the winter of 1982 and completely revolutionized puppetry and creature films for the next decade. Few people are aware of the fact that so much practical creature effects were conceived and invented just for this film. 35 years after it's original theatrical release, The Dark Crystal has remained a classic and a childhood favorite of this writer. I was all of five months old when my parents took me and my older sister to see it in theaters. I may not remember that first viewing but it was one alongside Labyrinth that we would routinely watch until the sad day when a tape rewinder ate it (insert sad tears here). Now, Sony Pictures and the Jim Henson Company are set to bring The Dark Crystal back to theaters courtesy of Fathom Events with a fresh new 4K Restoration with a Dolby Atmos soundtrack that looks and sounds better than ever. I recently got to chat with Lisa Henson, CEO of the Jim Henson Company about the return to the land of Thrall and upcoming Fathom Event screenings of The Dark Crystal on February 25th and 28th and March 3rd and 6th. "It's exciting that people can see it on the big screen on those two days and the restoration looks amazing as well. This is a film that if there is one thing that everybody appreciates about this film is the level of details. The detail in the sets, the detail in the costumes, and in the puppet builds - the way that they were built. the greater definition of the restoration really makes it possible to see all those details as well as when it's on the big screen." As many of you are aware I'm a big fan of practical creature effects as they were a big part of my cinematic upbringing as were the numerous creations of Jim Henson's creature factory. So naturally, I had to gush a little about the critters that populate The Dark Crystal. To which, Lisa offered up a great amount of insight into the vast array of creatures found in the film and how Jim Henson, Frank Oz, and artist Bryan Froud brought them to life. "It's such a handcrafted production I think particularly as people associate to seeing CG, and CG has amazing details as well, they can't really be compared, but what you see in The Dark Crystal is the handy work of people who can really sculpt and sew and punch individual hairs into puppets. It's the handmade quality of everything that jumps out. There are no two things that are the same in that world. Also, think about in making such a large film with such large sets, the sets were populated with props and set dressing that had to be made completely for the world because you couldn't go out and rent props that would fit in The Dark Crystal. The amount of art department creativity that you see on the screen along with the puppet building and puppet sculpting and the performances I hope people look at it and think about of artistry that went into creating that production." On top of the intricate world-building and fantasy character design that artist Brian Froud and Jim Henson and Frank Oz brought to life, you also need to take a step back and appreciate the fact that this was the first film to utilize cable-operated creatures and puppets. Prior to the interview, I was given an opportunity to screen the new short retrospective featurette that will be available on the new Anniversary Blu-ray and 4K UHD Blu-ray releases called The Dark Crystal: The Myth Magic and Henson Legacy. This featurette may not be very long, but it covers a ton of ground. I was amazed to learn that for certain scenes featuring the Skeksis as many as six to eight men were required to hold, move, and operate a single creature. "This film enjoyed years of development. They experimented for years before they even had a script. All of that could be done more simply now, but in those days those puppets could be incredibly heavy. it was back-breaking work to perform some of those characters. If you think about the guys on stilts for the Landstriders or in the case of the Mystics somebody walking around in a crouch with their hands over their head literally breaking their backs, there's amazing contortions puppeteers work in addition to the puppetry technology and the invention of creature animatronics that was occurring on this film. This movie comes right at the beginning of all that creature animatronics work that we saw throughout the 80s. We started our creature shop right after this film wrapped. It wasn't just Henson films that had that, we were putting puppets into Star Wars, Little Shop Of Horrors - there were probably a decade's worth of amazing animatronic creature films that all kind of came out of this early development on The Dark Crystal." Now that the film has undergone a full 4K restoration and is about to return to theaters February 25 and 28th followed by a 4K UHD Blu-ray and Aniversary Edition Blu-ray release on March 6th, I was able to view a stream of the new restoration. Unfortunately, it wasn't uncompressed nor did it enjoy an HDR kick, but just looking at my old Blu-ray, the improvements in detail clarity and color were noticeable. I honestly can't wait to spin the 4K UHD Blu-ray. Here is what Lisa had to say about the picture and audio restoration: "I can't really speak to the restoration, my brother worked more closely with that and the team was amazing. When I watched the restoration with them they pointed out some of the highlights of what worked particularly well. I wouldn't say that they had difficulty with it, but there are a couple of shots that still look crude, but those were the shots that looked crude from the beginning which were the old optical shots. Shots like where you have the three suns coming together outside the window, there was really nothing to restore there, it was a crude shot to begin with. But in general, the image is so beautiful and the image particularly brought a brilliance to the light and the crystal that is quite outstanding. I'm glad to hear you're fans of Atmos because it sounds amazing. I feel like the sound is so important particularly for like the forest scenes. We weren't in the forest. We were on a soundstage, the sound is what convinces you that you are in the forest." On top of the film enjoying a fresh new 4K restoration and theatrical re-release, The Dark Crystal will also be taking over your Netflix account late this summer with the 10-episode series The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance. Naturally, I had to express my excitement over the project in hopes of gleaning a little bit of info about the new show. "Oh, you think you're excited? We are so excited! I can't speak much to the Netflix series but what I can say is that they challenged us at the outset "can we make a television series that looks like the film?" and it does and we are and I think the fans are going to be really excited by that." While that may not have been a lot of new information about the show or where it's going, but it's something to get excited about none the less as Lisa and the rest of the Jim Henson Company have set the bar high for themselves to bring a first-rate production to Netflix. If you're a fan of The Dark Crystal, this is an exciting time to be a fan of one of the greatest, most intricate creature features ever committed to film. I personally can't wait to get a look at the 4K UHD Blu-ray release, but I'm very happy and excited to see one of my favorite movies coming back to theaters. For those of you who are interested in delving a little deeper into the world of Thrall, Lisa and the Jim Henson Company has been doing a terrific job expanding the universe of the film with a series of graphic novels. If you didn't know they existed or haven't read them, I strongly encourage you to take a look at them - you can pick up the first collection Jim Henson's Power of the Dark Crystal Vol. 1. It's well worth a read! Pre-order The Dark Cyrstal Special Edition Blu-ray HERE and the 4K UHD Blu-ray HERE. OR check out The Dark Crystal on the big screen and be sure to pre-order your tickets for the Fathom Events screenings on February 25 and 28th or March 3rd and 6th HERE. See you at the show!Posted Wed Feb 14, 2018 at 07:09 AM PST by: -
Coming Soon to Blu-ray: 'I, Tonya,' 'Molly's Game,' 'Phantom Thread,' and More[teaser]Films starring Margot Robbie, Jessica Chastain, Daniel Day-Lewis, and more are all in the works for Blu-ray.[/teaser] New info has been revealed for several upcoming Blu-ray releases from Universal, MGM, 20th Century Fox, MGM, Flicker Allery, and MVD Rewind Collection. Here's a full rundown of recently revealed details and title announcements: First up, Universal will release Nora Twomey's The Breadwinner starring Saara Chaudry, Soma Chhaya, and Noorin Gulamgaus on March 6. Supplements will include: - Introduction by director Nora Twomey and executive producer Angelina Jolie- Audio commentary with the filmmakers- The Making of The Breadwinner- Original Trailer In addition, the studio is bringing Craig Gillespie's I, Tonya starring Margot Robbie, Sebastian Stan, and Allison Janney to Blu-ray on March 13. Supplements will include: - Audio Commentary with Director Craig Gillespie- Deleted Scenes- Behind the Scenes Featurette- Original Trailers Meanwhile, Aaron Sorkin's Molly's Game starring Jessica Chastain, Idris Elba, Kevin Costner, Michael Cera, and Chris O'Dowd will hit Blu-ray on April 10. Supplements will include: - Building an Empire – Writer/Director Aaron Sorkin and star Jessica Chastain comment on Molly Bloom and her remarkable story Likewise, Paul Thomas Anderson's Phantom Thread starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Lesley Manville, and Vicky Krieps will also arrive on Blu-ray on April 10. The disc will feature a DTS:X soundtrack and supplements will include: - Camera Tests – With audio commentary by Paul Thomas Anderson- Behind the Scenes Photographs – Photographs from the film by Michael Bauman with demo versions of Jonny Greenwood's score- For the Hungry Boy – A collection of deleted scenes. Music by Jonny Greenwood- House of Woodcock Fashion Show – Fashion Show narrated by Adam Buxton And rounding out the studio's upcoming slate will be Killjoys: Season Three starring Hannah John-Kamen, Luke MacFarlane, Aaron Ashmore, and Sarah Power on April 17. Supplements have not been announced yet. Order the Blu-ray Order the Blu-ray Order the Blu-ray Order the Blu-ray Order the Blu-ray As previously reported, MGM is prepping The Handmaid's Tale: Season One starring Elisabeth Moss, Joseph Fiennes, and Yvonne Strahovski, and the release date has now been set for March 13. Newly announced supplements will include: - From Script to Screen - Go inside the premiere episode's "Salvaging", a harrowing scene where Handmaids violently participate in the execution of an alleged attacker. Interviews with series Showrunner/Executive Producer Bruce Miller, Elisabeth Moss, Ann Dowd and Madeline Brewer, as well as an in-depth look at the story points, character arcs and complexity of shooting this sequence with Director of episodes one through three, Reed Morano.- Hope in Gilead - Examine the reasons why "THE HANDMAID'S TALE" has captivated millions and become a cultural phenomenon. The cast and crew discuss parallels with today's political climate as well as the series' themes of hope, resilience and the fight for freedom. Order the Blu-ray 20th Century Fox is set to release David Mickey Evans' The Sandlot: 25th Anniversary Edition starring Tom Guiry, Mike Vitar, Patrick Renna, and Chauncey Leopardi on March 27. Supplements will include: - Featurette- Theatrical Trailer & TV Spots- Full-Color Poster- Collectible Booklet- 10 Custom Topps Baseball Cards- Slipsleeve Order the Blu-ray HBO is bringing Ballers: The Complete Third Season starring Dwayne Johnson, John David Washington, and Omar Benson Miller to Blu-ray on April 3. Supplements have not been detailed yet. Order the Blu-ray As previously reported, MVD Rewind Collection is bringing Jim Wynorski's The Return of Swamp Thing starring Louis Jourdan, Heather Locklear, Sarah Douglas, Ace Mask, Monique Gabrielle, and RonReaco Lee to Blu-ray, and now the release date has been announced as May 8. The disc will feature a brand new 2K remaster of the film and newly detailed supplements will include: - NEW Audio commentary from Director Jim Wynorski, Composer Chuck Cirino and Editor Leslie Rosenthal- NEW Interview with Director Jim Wynorski (HD)- NEW Interview with Editor Leslie Rosenthal (HD)- NEW Interview with Composer Chuck Cirino (HD)- NEW Interview with Lightyear Entertainment Executive Arnie Holland (HD)- Audio commentary from Director Jim Wynorski (from 2003)- Original Theatrical Trailer (New HD Transfer from original 35mm materials)- 6 Promotional TV Clips (SD) and 2 TV Spots (SD)- 2 Greenpeace Public Service Announcements (SD)- 1989 Promo Reel (SD)- Photo Gallery (accompanied by Chuck Cirino's film's score)- Collectible Mini- Poster In addition, the label is set to release Ryan Schifrin's Abominable: Collector's Edition starring Lance Henriksen, Jeffrey Combs, and Matt McCoy on June 12. The disc will feature a brand new 2K remaster of the film from the original camera negative and supplements will include: - NEW Introduction from Director Ryan Schifrin (HD)- NEW ''Basil & Mobius: No Rest For The Wicked'' (16:28, HD) Short film written and directed by Ryan Schifrin featuring a score by legendary composer Lalo Schifrin and starring Zachari Levi, Ray Park, Malcolm McDowell and Kane Hodder- Audio Commentary with writer/director Ryan Schifrin, Actors Matt McCoy and Jeffrey Combs- 'Back to Genre: Making ABOMINABLE'' featurette (SD)- Deleted and Extended Scenes (SD)- Outtakes and Bloopers (SD)- ''Shadows'' Director Ryan Schifrin's USC Student Film (SD)- The original 2005 version of ''Abominable'' (Blu-ray only, 94 mins, SD)- Original Theatrical Trailer- Poster & Still Gallery- Storyboard Gallery- Collectible Poster Order the Blu-ray Order the Blu-ray Flicker Alley is prepping Bill Colleran and Louis De Rochemont III's Windjammer: The Voyage of the Christian Radich (Deluxe Edition) starring Bjørn Amvik, Arne Andersen and Per Antonsen for Blu-ray on May 15. Supplements will include: - New Documentary on the film's original production (56 min.)- Mini documentary featuring before and after demos on the films remastering (14 mins.)- The Windjammer Breakdown Reel (14 min.)- The Christian Radich Today at the Aalbourg Denmark Tall Ships Festival 2010 (7 min.)- Windjammer Trailer (3 mins.)- Special Photo Galleries Order the Blu-ray You can find the latest specs for all of the titles listed above linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule.Posted Wed Feb 14, 2018 at 06:00 AM PST by:
