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'Star Wars: The Last Jedi' Rumored for 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Release (UPDATED)[teaser]The Star Wars franchise might be making its 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray debut in 2018.[/teaser] According to a report from The Digital Bits, Star Wars: The Last Jedi is rumored for a 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray release sometime next year. The news comes from five of the site's international and domestic retail sources which all state that the film will hit 4K Blu-ray, Blu-ray, and DVD on the same day. In addition, listings for the potential 4K disc are now live on Swedish retailers CDON.se and DiscShop.se, along with separate Blu-ray, Blu-ray SteelBook, Blu-ray 3D/Blu-ray, and DVD versions. With that said, the studio has yet to officially confirm the disc and no release date has been announced. (Placeholder cover art via cdon.se) Though full specs for the rumored 4K Blu-ray have not been revealed, the film was completed with a 4K digital intermediate and made its world cinema premiere in Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. Star Wars: The Last Jedi is set to hit theaters on December 15. The movie comes from director Rian Johnson and will pick up where Star Wars: The Force Awakens left off, following Rey (Daisy Ridley) as she continues her epic journey with Finn (John Boyega), Poe (Oscar Isaac) and Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) in the next chapter of the Star Wars saga. The film also stars Adam Driver as Kylo Ren, Carrie Fisher as General Leia, Gwendoline Christie as Captain Phasma, Domhnall Gleeson as General Hux, Lupita Nyong'o as Maz, Peter Mayhew as Chewbacca, Andy Serkis as Supreme Leader Snoke, Anthony Daniels as C-3PO, and Benicio Del Toro as DJ. Source: The Digital BitsPosted Thu Dec 14, 2017 at 09:35 AM PST by: -
Redbox Announces New On Demand Movie & TV Service[teaser]The company is returning to the digital streaming market.[/teaser] Redbox has announced the launch of its new Redbox On Demand platform. The service allows users to rent or buy digital movies and TV shows via streaming or mobile download options, serving as a complement to the company's existing physical disc rental kiosks. "Redbox customers have asked, and today we're delivering an On Demand option that offers them the best of both the physical and digital worlds," said Galen Smith, CEO of Redbox. "Redbox provides our customers with choice – the value they want and expect from our kiosks, the instant gratification of On Demand rentals and purchases, and the availability of new-release content, all without monthly subscription fees." Redbox On Demand offers access to many of the same new-release movies that are available at the company's disc kiosks, along with a broader collection of movies and TV shows. Titles can be rented or purchased for streaming with prices starting at $3.99 for 48-hour VOD rentals and $9.99 for EST transactions. In addition, purchased content can also be downloaded for offline, mobile viewing. "The newest-release movies are not available in subscription streaming services," said Ash Eldifrawi, Chief Marketing and Customer Experience Officer at Redbox. "Redbox's stronghold on new releases has played a big factor in our ongoing relevance to consumers who crave the latest content." The Redbox On Demand service is now available in public beta through the Redbox website, the Redbox Android and iOS app, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku players and TVs, and LG and Samsung Smart TVs. Prior to its new on demand platform, Redbox previously offered a subscription steaming service called Redbox Instant which was terminated back in 2014. Sources: Redbox, RokuPosted Thu Dec 14, 2017 at 08:30 AM PST by: -
Disney Officially Set to Acquire 21st Century Fox in $52.4 Billion Deal[teaser]The massive merger is now official.[/teaser] After weeks of rumors, Disney has officially announced the purchase of 21st Century Fox. The $52.4 billion deal includes Twentieth Century Fox Film and Television studios, along with cable and international TV properties. With that said, the Fox Broadcasting network and stations, Fox News Channel, Fox Business Network, FS1, FS2, and Big Ten Network will be separated into a new company and will not be part of the agreement. "The acquisition of this stellar collection of businesses from 21st Century Fox reflects the increasing consumer demand for a rich diversity of entertainment experiences that are more compelling, accessible and convenient than ever before," said Robert A. Iger, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, The Walt Disney Company. "We're honored and grateful that Rupert Murdoch has entrusted us with the future of businesses he spent a lifetime building, and we're excited about this extraordinary opportunity to significantly increase our portfolio of well-loved franchises and branded content to greatly enhance our growing direct-to-consumer offerings. The deal will also substantially expand our international reach, allowing us to offer world-class storytelling and innovative distribution platforms to more consumers in key markets around the world." As part of the deal, Disney will now add Fox's many film and TV properties, including Avatar, The Simpsons, FX Networks, and National Geographic to its own portfolio. Likewise, the agreement will finally let Fox's Marvel film/TV franchises enter Disney's MCU, including the X-Men and Fantastic Four -- allowing Wolverine and The Human Torch to pal around with The Avengers on the big screen for the first time. In addition, Disney is also receiving 21st Century Fox's investment in Hulu, giving Disney the majority stake in the streaming platform, which might bolster the company's plans for its own previously announced digital entertainment services. Finally, Disney will gain Fox's international properties as well, including Star in India and Fox's 39% ownership of Sky across Europe. "We are extremely proud of all that we have built at 21st Century Fox, and I firmly believe that this combination with Disney will unlock even more value for shareholders as the new Disney continues to set the pace in what is an exciting and dynamic industry," said Rupert Murdoch, Executive Chairman of 21st Century Fox. "Furthermore, I'm convinced that this combination, under Bob Iger’s leadership, will be one of the greatest companies in the world. I'm grateful and encouraged that Bob has agreed to stay on, and is committed to succeeding with a combined team that is second to none." Both companies' Boards of Directors have approved the transaction, but the deal is still subject to shareholder approval, clearance under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act, merger reviews, regulatory reviews, and customary closing conditions. Source: DisneyPosted Thu Dec 14, 2017 at 07:30 AM PST by: -
MovieZoot Now Streaming Four Early Alfred Hitchcock Films for Free[teaser]The free streaming service has added a collection of early Hitchcock flicks.[/teaser] This week, MovieZoot is streaming four Alfred Hitchcock films from the 1930s for free, offering a look at the director's early days honing his craft as a filmmaker. The collection includes Murder! from 1930, Number 17 from 1932, Secret Agent from 1936, and The Man Who Knew Too Much from 1934 (incorrectly listed as the 1956 version on the company's site). MovieZoot offers a library of free full-length streaming movies uncut, unedited, and without interruptions. The service is available on mobile devices, laptops, or desktop computers. In addition to the four Hitchcock films listed above, the platform features several other classic and contemporary films from directors like Sam Peckinpah, John Huston, Howard Hawkes, Wes Craven, George Cukor, John Carpenter, and more. Some other currently available titles include Breathless, Charade, Diabolique, Little Shop of Horrors, Night of the Living Dead, To Kill a Mockingbird, and Village of the Damned. Here's a full rundown of the recently added Hitchcock films: Murder! (1930) - A juror in a murder trial, after voting to convict, has second thoughts and begins to investigate on his own before the execution. Starring Herbert Marshall, Norah Baring, and Phyllis Konstam. Number 17 (1932) - A gang of thieves gather at a safe house following a robbery, but a detective is on their trail. Starring Leon M. Lion, Anne Grey, and John Stuart. The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934) - A man and his wife receive a clue to an imminent assassination attempt, only to learn that their daughter has been kidnapped to keep them quiet. Starring Leslie Banks, Edna Best, and Peter Lorre. Secret Agent (1936) - After three British agents are assigned to assassinate a mysterious German spy during World War I, two of them become ambivalent when their duty to the mission conflicts with their consciences. Starring John Gielgud, Madeleine Carroll, and Robert Young. Source: MovieZootPosted Wed Dec 13, 2017 at 08:45 AM PST by: -
Amazon Sets December 13 Launch Date for HDR10+ Streaming on Samsung 4K TVs[teaser]HDR10+ content will be available through Prime Video on select Samsung displays starting December 13.[/teaser] Samsung and Amazon have announced a launch date for HDR10+ streaming support through Prime Video. The first crop of HDR10+ content will be available through Prime Video on 2017 Samsung QLED and UHD TVs starting Wednesday, December 13. Serving as an updated version of the HDR10 open standard for high dynamic range content, HDR10+ uses dynamic metadata to create improved contrast and colors. The initial library of HDR10+ titles will include Amazon original shows like The Grand Tour, The Tick, Bosch, and The Man in the High Castle, along with around 100 other movies and TV shows found on the platform. In addition, the service plans to gradually add more HDR10+ content in the future. Currently, the standard HDR10 format uses static metadata that does not change during playback, offering a fixed picture enhancement across an entire piece of content. This can lead to inconsistent HDR quality in certain scenes, especially if a movie has an overall bright color palette mixed in with a few dimly lit sequences. But with HDR10+, the format is now introducing dynamic metadata which will allow a compatible display to adjust brightness levels on a scene-by-scene or even frame-by-frame basis, producing images that are closer to the director's intent. Likewise, this upgrade makes the new HDR10+ standard more in line with the competing Dolby Vision HDR process, which already incorporates dynamic metadata along with higher specs for max color and brightness performance compared to HDR10. In addition to Samsung and Amazon, Panasonic and 20th Century Fox have also pledged their support for the HDR10+ format. More details on other HDR10+ products and content solutions will likely be announced at CES 2018 which will be held in Las Vegas from January 9-12. Sources: Samsung, SamMobile, EngadgetPosted Tue Dec 12, 2017 at 01:00 PM PST by: -
'Star Wars: The Last Jedi' Premieres in Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos[teaser]Episode VIII made its theatrical debut using Dolby's premium cinema format.[/teaser] Disney held the world premiere for Star Wars: The Last Jedi this past Saturday, December 9, in Los Angeles. And to help ensure an optimal screening experience for the movie's big debut, the studio opted to team up with Dolby to convert the Shrine Auditorium to support Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos cinema technologies. According to a report from The Hollywood Reporter, the six month process involved installing a 70 ft. wide by 30 ft. high screen and a Dolby Vision projection system with dual Christie laser projectors, a backup Xenon projector, and a third projection system for use on the red carpet. In addition, the setup also featured 193 speakers for 40 channels of Dolby Atmos audio, including ceiling speakers held by 2,500-pound overhead trusses. The Dolby Vision laser projection system offers support for high dynamic range images with 500-times the contrast ratio of conventional projection systems (1,000,000 to 1!), pure black levels, expanded color gamut capabilities, and twice the brightness (up to 31fL). Meanwhile, Dolby Atmos audio uses object-based mixing and ceiling speakers to create an immersive experience with overhead sound. In addition to the Shrine Auditorium premiere of Star Wars: The Last Jedi, both technologies are used in Dolby Cinema locations worldwide, including more than 80 AMC theaters throughout the US. Click here to see a full list of locations. Star Wars: The Last Jedi is set to hit theaters on December 15. The movie comes from director Rian Johnson and will pick up where Star Wars: The Force Awakens left off, following Rey (Daisy Ridley) as she continues her epic journey with Finn (John Boyega), Poe (Oscar Isaac) and Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) in the next chapter of the Star Wars saga. Source: The Hollywood ReporterPosted Mon Dec 11, 2017 at 07:20 AM PST by:
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Universal Unleashes Trailer for 'Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom'[teaser]"Life finds a way."[/teaser] Universal has officially released the first trailer for Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. The movie comes from director by J.A. Bayona (The Impossible) and is set to hit theaters on June 22, 2018. It's been four years since theme park and luxury resort Jurassic World was destroyed by dinosaurs out of containment. Isla Nublar now sits abandoned by humans while the surviving dinosaurs fend for themselves in the jungles. When the island's dormant volcano begins roaring to life, Owen (Chris Pratt) and Claire (Bryce Dallas Howard) mount a campaign to rescue the remaining dinosaurs from this extinction-level event. Owen is driven to find Blue, his lead raptor who’s still missing in the wild, and Claire has grown a respect for these creatures she now makes her mission. Arriving on the unstable island as lava begins raining down, their expedition uncovers a conspiracy that could return our entire planet to a perilous order not seen since prehistoric times. Check out the trailer below! Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom is produced by Frank Marshall, Pat Crowley, and Belén Atienza. Meanwhile, Steven Spielberg (Jurassic Park) and Colin Trevorrow (Jurassic World) serve as executive producers. Likewise, Trevorrow is one of the film's screenwriters along with co-writer Derek Connolly. Additional cast members include James Cromwell, Ted Levine, Justice Smith, Geraldine Chaplin, Daniella Pineda, Toby Jones, Rafe Spall, and Isabella Sermon. Actors BD Wong and Jeff Goldblum reprise their roles as Dr. Henry Wu and Ian Malcolm respectively from previous entries in the Jurassic Park franchise as well. The movie serves as a direct sequel to director Colin Trevorrow's Jurassic World, which was released in theaters and Blu-ray back in 2015. Source: Universal (YouTube)Posted Fri Dec 8, 2017 at 10:00 AM PST by: -
Denis Villeneuve's 'Blade Runner 2049' Bound for Blu-ray, Blu-ray 3D and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray[teaser]The acclaimed science fiction sequel starring Ryan Gosling and Harrison Ford comes to home video next month. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Warner Brothers has revealed that 'Blade Runner 2049' will be available on Blu-ray, Blu-ray 3D and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray on January 16. Three decades after the events of the first film, a new blade runner, LAPD Officer K, unearths a long-buried secret that has the potential to plunge what’s left of society into chaos. K’s discovery leads him on a quest to find Rick Deckard, a former LAPD blade runner who has been missing for 30 years. Each release will feature a Dolby Atmos soundtrack and supplements include: Blade Runner 101 plus Blu-ray exclusive Designing The World of Blade Runner 2049; To Be Human: Casting Blade Runner 2049; and Prologues. You can find the latest specs for Blade Runner 2049 linked from our Blu-ray and 4K Release Schedules, where it is indexed under January 16. Order the Blu-ray Order the 4K Blu-rayPosted Fri Dec 8, 2017 at 09:16 AM PST by: -
'Better Call Saul: Season Three' Announced for Blu-ray[teaser]The third season of the critically-acclaimed AMC series arrives on Blu-ray in January. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Sony says 'Better Call Saul: Season Three' will be available on Blu-ray on January 16. The acclaimed second season of Better Call Saul ended with a pair of cliffhangers: determined to prevent his brother from practicing law, Chuck staged an elaborate con, secretly recording Jimmy’s confession to a felony, and when Mike set his sights on sociopathic cartel boss Hector Salamanca, an ominous intervention stopped him from pulling the trigger, raising questions as to what other dangerous players may be in the game. As Season Three begins, the repercussions of Chuck’s scheme test Jimmy and Kim’s fledgling law practices – and their romance – as never before. Jimmy’s faltering moral compass is pushed to the limit, leading to a shattering climax. Meanwhile, Mike searches for a mysterious adversary, which brings him to the doors of Los Pollos Hermanos, and into the orbit of the enigmatic Gus Fring. The third season received ten Emmy® nominations including Outstanding Drama Series, Lead Actor (Bob Odenkirk), Supporting Actor (Jonathan Banks), Outstanding Directing (Vince Gilligan) and Outstanding Writing (Gordon Smith). Better Call Saul also yielded two nods for Single-Camera Picture Editing, one for Sound Mixing and one for Music Supervision. The companion series “Los Pollos Hermanos Employee Training” took home the Emmy for Outstanding Short Form Comedy or Drama Series. The release will be prevented in 1080p with lossless 5.1 audio and supplements include: Cast & Crew Audio Commentaries for all 10 EpisodesGag ReelEmmy®-winning “Los Pollos Hermanos Employee Training” Videos“Gene of Omaha” Featurette“In Conversation: Bob Odenkirk, Jonathan Banks, and Rhea Seehorn” Featurette Blu-ray exclusives include: Deleted & Extended Scenes “It’s a Bad, Bad World”“Signs of Saul”“The Return of Gus Fring” You can find the latest specs for Better Call Saul: Season Three linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule where it is indexed under January 16. Order the Blu-rayPosted Fri Dec 8, 2017 at 06:59 AM PST by: -
'Luke Cage: The Complete First Season' Headed for Blu-ray[teaser]The first season of the Netflix series arrives on home video next week. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Disney and Netflix is preparing 'Luke Cage: The Complete First Season' for Blu-ray on December 12. Gritty, groundbreaking and profoundly powerful, Marvel's Luke Cage: The Complete First Season blazes with action and suspense while redefining what it means - and what it costs - to be a true hero. Framed for a crime he didn't commit, escaped convict Luke Cage is just trying to live under the radar. Mysteriously blessed - or cursed - with superhuman strength and unbreakable skin, he hides his abilities and shuns getting involved. But when ruthless crime boss Cornell "Cottonmouth" Stokes turns his beloved city of Harlem into a bloodbath of chaos and carnage, Luke is forced to come out of the shadows and embrace his ultimate destiny in this riveting fusion of dark drama, hip-hop and classic super hero thrills. The release will include all 13 episodes in 1080p with lossless a 5.1 audio and supplements include: Offstage at Harlem's Paradise - Join stars Mike Colter (Luke Cage), Alfre Woodard (Mariah), Theo Rossi (Shades) and Simone Missick (Misty) in an intimate round table discussion about life during production of Luke Cage: The Complete First Season. You can find the latest specs for Luke Cage: The Complete First Season linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule where it is indexed under December 12.Posted Thu Dec 7, 2017 at 05:37 PM PST by:
