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Warner Bros. Unveils Second Trailer for Denis Villeneuve's 'Blade Runner 2049'[teaser]A brand new trailer for the sci-fi sequel is now live.[/teaser] Following the first official trailer, Warner Bros. has released a second preview for Denis Villeneuve's Blade Runner 2049 with tons of new footage and story details. The upcoming film serves as a sequel to Ridley Scott's 1982 sci-fi classic Blade Runner. Thirty years after the events of the first film, a new blade runner, LAPD Officer K (Ryan Gosling), 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 (Harrison Ford), a former LAPD blade runner who has been missing for 30 years. Check out the second trailer below! Blade Runner 2049 will hit theaters on October 6. The movie comes from executive producer Ridley Scott (Blade Runner, Alien, Alien Covenant) and director Denis Villeneuve (Arrival, Prisoners, Sicario). Blade Runner 2049 stars Ryan Gosling, Harrison Ford, Ana De Armas, MacKenzie Davis, Sylvia Hoeks, Lennie James, Carla Juri, Robin Wright, Dave Bautista and Jared Leto. The original Blade Runner was first released in theaters back in 1982. A Director's Cut was produced in 1991 and a more recent Final Cut was released on Blu-ray in 2007. Based on the novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick, the first film follows a 21st-century detective, Rick Deckard, (Harrison Ford). In a future of high-tech possibility soured by urban and social decay, Deckard hunts for fugitive, murderous replicants - and is drawn to a mystery woman whose secrets may undermine his soul. The movie also stars Rutger Hauer, Sean Young, Edward James Olmos, Daryl Hannah, Joanna Cassidy, William Sanderson, M. Emmet Walsh, Joe Turkel, and James Hong. Source: Warner Bros.Posted Mon Jul 17, 2017 at 07:45 AM PDT by: -
Disney Releases New Behind The Scenes Look at 'Star Wars: The Last Jedi'[teaser]Lots of new behind-the-scenes footage has been unveiled![/teaser] During this weekend's D23 Expo, Disney and Lucasfilm revealed a new behind-the-scenes featurette for Star Wars: The Last Jedi. The film is set to premiere on December 15. Having taken her first steps into a larger world in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Rey (Daisy Ridley) continues her epic journey with Finn (John Boyega), Poe (Oscar Isaac) and Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) in the next chapter of the saga. The new featurette includes tons of cool behind-the-scenes clips from the upcoming movie, offering a look at the film's sets, props, costumes, stunts, creatures, and characters. Likewise, interview snippets from cast & crew members, including Anthony Daniels, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Mark Hamill, and Carrie Fisher, are peppered throughout as well. Check out the video below! Star Wars: The Last Jedi is written and directed by Rian Johnson (Looper, Brick). 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, and Anthony Daniels as C-3PO. Likewise, Benicio Del Toro has also joined the cast in a currently unspecified role. Beyond The Last Jedi, Disney and Lucasfilm are currently shooting the still untitled Han Solo spin-off film. The movie stars Alden Ehrenreich as a younger version of the iconic smuggler first made famous by Harrison Ford in the original trilogy. Additional cast members include Emilia Clarke, Donald Glover, Thandie Newton, and Woody Harrelson. Though originally directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, the studio has since replaced the filmmaking pair with Ron Howard who will finish the production. The Han Solo movie is set to hit theaters on May 25, 2018. Source: Star WarsPosted Sun Jul 16, 2017 at 02:00 PM PDT by: -
Blu-ray News Roundup: 'Veep,' 'Dawn of the Dead,' and More[teaser]Politicians, zombies, and more are heading to Blu-ray.[/teaser] New info has been revealed for several upcoming Blu-ray releases from 20th Century Fox, Severin, Universal, Shout Factory, HBO, Lionsgate, and Kino. Here's a full rundown of recently revealed details and title announcements: First up, 20th Century Fox is prepping Roger Mitchell's My Cousin Rachel starring Sam Claflin, Rachel Weisz, Holliday Grainger, and Iain Glen for Blu-ray on August 29. Supplements will include: - Deleted Scenes- Promotional Featurettes- VFX Progressions- Scoring Sessions- Audio Commentary by Roger Michell and Kevin Loader- Gallery Order the Blu-ray Severin Films is set to bring Jesús Franco's Two Female Spies with Flowered Panties starring Lina Romay, Lynn Monteil, Olivier Mathot, and Susan Hemingway to Blu-ray on August 29. Supplements will include: - Two Cats In The Canaries – An Interview With Director Jess Franco- Filmmaker Donald Farmer Interviews Longtime Franco Composer Daniel White- Stephen Thrower on Two Female Spies- Location Out-takes- Theatrical Trailer- Reversible Cover Order the Blu-ray Lionsgate will release Jonathan Baker's Inconceivable starring Gina Gershon, Faye Dunaway, and Nicolas Cage on August 29. Supplements will include: - Audio Commentary with Filmmaker Jonathan Baker- Deleted Scene- Cast and Crew Interviews- Behind the Scenes Featurette In addition, the studio will bring Michael G. Kehoe's The Hatred starring Sarah Davenport, Andrew Divoff, and Darby Walker to Blu-ray on September 12. No other details have been announced at this time. Order the Blu-ray Order the Blu-ray HBO is preparing Veep: The Complete Sixth Season starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Anna Chlumsky, Tony Hale, and Matt Walsh for Blu-ray on September 12. Supplements will include seven exclusive new audio commentaries featuring cast (Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Tony Hale, Reid Scott, Matt Walsh, Timothy Simons, Sam Richardson, Sarah Sutherland, and Clea DuVall), David Mandel, and additional Writers, Directors, and Producers. Likewise, the network will bring Silicon Valley: The Complete Fourth Season starring Thomas Middleditch, T.J. Miller, Martin Starr, Kumail Nanjiani, and Zach Woods to Blu-ray on September 12. Supplements will include three hilarious, never-before-seen, deleted scenes. Meanwhile, Barry Levinson's The Wizard of Lies starring Robert De Niro, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Hank Azaria will hit Blu-ray on October 3. No other details have been announced at this time. In addition, HBO will release a Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook of Westworld: Season One on November 7. The Blu-ray will feature a Dolby Atmos soundtrack and supplements will include: - Welcome to Westworld- Crafting the Narrative- An Invitation to The Set- Reality of A.I.: Westworld- Welcome to Westworld: About the Series- The Big Moment Featurettes- Gag Reel (New)- Inside Look with Jonah Nolan and Lisa Joy – Season One (New Featurette)- Imagining the Main Title (New Featurette)- The Key to The Chords (New Featurette)-2017 Comic Con Panel (New) Order the Blu-ray Order the Blu-ray Order the Blu-ray Shout Factory has revealed a number of upcoming titles under its Shout Select label... Doug Pray's documentary Hype! Collector's Edition is due to hit Blu-ray on September 29. Phil Joanou's Three O'Clock High: Collector's Edition starring Casey Siemaszko, Annie Ryan, and Richard Tyson is coming to Blu-ray on October 17. Joel Schumacher's The Incredible Shrinking Woman starring Lily Tomlin, Charles Grodin, and Ned Beatty is set for an October 24 release. No other details for the above titles have been announced at this time. Order the Blu-ray Order the Blu-ray In addition, Shout has also announced several new titles under its Scream Factory label... Stephen Fingleton's The Survivalist starring Mia Goth, Martin McCann, Andrew Simpson, and Douglas Russell is being prepped for October 3. Kevin Greutert's Jackals starring Deborah Kara Unger, Johnathon Schaech, and Stephen Dorff will also hit Blu-ray on October 3. John Erick Dowdle's The Poughkeepsie Tapes starring Ben Messmer, Samantha Robson, and Stacy Chbosky is coming on October 10. George A. Romero's Land of the Dead: Collector's Edition starring Simon Baker, John Leguizamo, Asia Argento, Robert Joy, and Dennis Hopper will be available on October 24. Zack Snyder's Dawn of the Dead: Collector's Edition starring Mekhi Phifer, Ving Rhames, and Sarah Polley will also arrive on October 24. No other details for the above titles have been announced at this time. Order the Blu-ray Order the Blu-ray Order the Blu-ray Order the Blu-ray Order the Blu-ray Kino has announced a September 5 release date for Sydney Pollack's They Shoot Horses, Don't They? starring Jane Fonda, Michael Sarrazin, Susannah York, Gig Young, and Red Buttons. Supplements will include: - Audio Commentary by Director Sydney Pollack- Audio commentary by Actress Jane Fonda, Producer Irwin Winkler, Producer Martin Baum, Actress Bonnie Bedelia, Actor Michael Sarrazin, Actor Red Buttons, and Hair Stylist Sydney Guilaroff- Making of Featurette- Reversible Blu-ray Art- Original Theatrical Trailer Likewise, the label is also planning to bring Larry Cohen and Fred Williamson's Original Gangstas starring Fred Williamson, Jim Brown, and Pam Grier to Blu-ray on October 3. No other details have been revealed. In addition, Kino is prepping two more titles for Blu-ray later this year... John Cromwell's Since You Went Away: The Roadshow Edition starring Claudette Colbert, Jennifer Jones, Joseph Cotten, Shirley Temple, and Monty Woolley. Garry Marshall's Young Doctors in Love starring Sean Young, Michael McKean, and Kyle T. Heffner. Universal will bring Alain Desrochers' Security starring Ben Kingsley, Antonio Banderas, and Liam McIntyre to Blu-ray on September 5. Supplements will include a Behind the Scenes Featurette. Likewise, the studio will release Xavier Manrique's Chronically Metropolitan starring Ashley Benson, Shiloh Fernandez, Addison Timlin, Mary-Louise Parker, and Chris Noth on September 5 as well. Supplements will include Chronically Interviewed: Behind the Scenes with the Stars of Chronically Metropolitan. Finally, Universal is prepping Mune: Guardian of the Moon starring Omar Sy, Izïa Higelin, Michaël Grégorio for Blu-ray on September 26. Supplements will include: - The Making of Mune - Featurette- The Art of Mune - Featurette- U.S. Trailer You can find the latest specs for all of the titles listed above linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule.Posted Fri Jul 14, 2017 at 07:25 PM PDT by: -
HDD Attends 2017 CE Week 4K Ultra HD TV ShootoutYes, it's that time of year again. The time to get holed up in a dark room for hours along with the industry's best TVs as they're pitted against each other in the ultimate 4K HDR cage match. And we got a front row seat. Jealous? Thought so. [teaser]Earlier this week, High-Def Digest was invited to attend the 2017 CE Week TV Shootout held in New York City. The annual event places the year's top displays side by side in order to choose the new "King of UHD TV."[/teaser] And though now in its 14th year, 2017's competition featured a few notable changes from previous iterations in an effort to improve transparency and judging. First, this year's Shootout was officially held by CE Week itself rather than former organizer Value Electronics, a leading independent audio video retailer in Westchester County, NY. Despite being the event's original creator, Value Electronics President, Robert Zohn, graciously handed over the reins to squash any potential concerns about retailer investment in picking a particular winner. In addition, the judging was limited to three industry professionals with backgrounds in content creation and calibration rather than all the guests in attendance. Finally, the award categories were also amended slightly this year, resulting in prizes for: -Studio Lighting/Home Theater performance -HDR/Bright Room performance -Streaming performance To determine the winner, the six competing Ultra HDTV models were measured and compared against each other based on various display aspects including: -Perceived contrast (40% of score) -Color saturation and color volume (20% of score) -Colorimetry (20% of score) -Motion artifacts (20% of score) The judges then voted on the different picture quality attributes to determine a winner in each of the three categories. Joel Silver of the Imaging Science Foundation hosted the event, and evaluation sessions were conducted on July 12 and July 13. I attended the full session on July 12 (filled mostly with press and other industry members) and the last half of the July 13 session which featured the judges and the results. Below, I'll offer details on the competing displays used and the tests conducted, along with my own impressions of each TV and my feelings on the winners. Let the shootout begin! THE TESTS To properly test and compare the competing displays, each TV was calibrated to full SDR and HDR standards using high-end meters and Calman calibration software. The six competing models were all placed side-by-side. The order from left to right was as follows: -LG 65E7P OLED Ultra HD TV -Sony XBR65A1E Bravia OLED Ultra HD TV -Sony XBR65Z9D 4K Ultra HD LED TV -Samsung QN65Q9 Ultra HD QLED TV -VIZIO P-Series Ultra HD HDR Home Theater Display -Westinghouse WA65UFA1001 LED 4K Ultra HD TV And as a key point of reference, a Sony BVM-X300 broadcast monitor was included as well. Used for professional mastering, this monitor offers just about the most accurate picture possible, allowing direct comparisons to be drawn to each consumer display. Throughout the shootout, various test patterns and clips were used to judge the different picture criteria -- first with the lights off for home theater performance and then with the lights turned on for bright room performance. All tested panels were concurrently fed through a professional HDMI distribution amp from the latest 4K signal generator for test patterns. Ultra HD Blu-ray material was played back through an Oppo UDP-203. Those familiar with typical display calibration software should have a good idea of what the evaluation process was like. Like last year, host Joel Silver walked us all through the different test patterns (in SDR and HDR) -- including numerous pluges, ramps, checkerboards, and color bars -- pointing out what we should look for while occasionally bringing out the meters to indicate specific results. Tests for local dimming (a thin white line scrolled across a black background and a floating white ball), 1080i deinterlacing, and a new gradient pattern for HDR nit performance were employed as well. As the various tests were conducted, Silver encouraged all of the attendees to get up close and personal with each TV. Likewise, the three judges all walked down the display line to fully evaluate each set's performance. And while grayscale patterns are surely fascinating on their own, actual content was also used to help judge the displays, including Ultra HD Blu-ray clips from Planet Earth II, Lucy, and Kingsman: The Secret Service playing side-by-side in HDR10. It should be noted, however, that there was an issue with how the Oppo player was outputting content during the first evaluation session, resulting in notable banding and false contouring on all the displays when playing the Planet Earth II disc. Thankfully, this was corrected for the second day of testing when the judges were present. Finally, for the last category of judging, all of the displays played back the Netflix short film, Meridian, using their integrated Netflix smart TV apps to compare how each set handles streaming material (models with Dolby Vision support played the film in that format while the others played it back in HDR10). IMPRESSIONS As I stated last year, before going into my individual impressions for each display, I do think it's important to note just how impressive and similarly well performing most of the competing models really were. At times, it was hard to spot specific differences or weaknesses between the TVs. With that said, the test patterns and demo material did reveal a few key pros and cons. Note: All prices below reflect current Amazon or manufacturer discounts before taxes or shipping fees. LG 65E7P OLED Ultra HD TV ($4,797) - As one of LG's flagship 2017 OLED TVs, this model offers Dolby Vision and HDR10 support (with an HLG firmware upgrade coming soon), improved picture performance over 2016 models, perfect black levels, wide viewing angles, wide color gamut playback, a Picture-on-Glass design, and a Dolby Atmos 4.2 Ch 60W sound bar stand. Pros - Thanks to its OLED screen, the LG E7P offered some of the most impressive black levels and viewing angles of the bunch (tied with the Sony A1E). As one of two TVs in the shootout capable of displaying true black on a pixel by pixel level, the E7 produced a gorgeous, deep inky look. Likewise, the TV offered very strong performance for perceived contrast in a dark room, and though not the best performer when it comes to HDR, the test pattern revealed a measurement around 700 nits. With these factors in play, the TV was one of the most well rounded of the bunch and came the closest to matching the picture of the reference broadcast monitor. Cons - As fantastic as the LG OLED was, the display was not quite perfect, particularly when it came to bright room performance. In this category, the Sony and Samsung LCD sets clearly had an advantage, allowing for a brighter picture that maintained their pop better even with the lights on. Likewise, the TV featured a bit more visible noise when looking closely at the panel compared to the LCDs and the Sony OLED, but this really wasn't an issue from a normal viewing distance. Sony XBR65A1E Bravia OLED Ultra HD TV ($4,998) - Sony's first big-screen OLED uses the same panel as LG's model while incorporating Sony's own proprietary video engine and processing. Key features include HDR10 (Dolby Vision and HLG via future firmware update), perfect black levels, wide color gamut playback with Triluminos tech, wide viewing angles, and a unique Acoustic Surface sound system that produces audio directly from the screen itself. Pros - Almost identical to the LG model, the Sony OLED basically offered the same pros with equally good black levels and viewing angles, nearly tying for best home theater performance in a dark room. In addition, the set also offered slightly superior video processing compared to the LG, resulting in a little less noise when up close and personal with the TV. Cons - While picture quality was almost the same between both OLEDs, the Sony looked just a little dimmer compared to the LG in most instances (though some meter readings proved this wasn't always the case). To this end, the HDR test pattern showed results a little under the LG. In addition, the Sony panel featured a slightly more teal tinge to its color, making the LG's image ever so slightly closer to the reference monitor's picture. Sony XBR65Z9D 4K Ultra HD LED TV ($5,498) - Though technically a 2016 model, the Z9D was not yet available during last year's Shootout and remains Sony's flagship LCD display. The TV features full-array local dimming, wide color support, and HDR10 performance. Likewise, the set will reportedly receive a Dolby Vision firmware update later this year. Pros - Demonstrating that LCD tech still isn't down for the count, the Z9D was capable of producing the brightest picture and the most impressive HDR performance. To this end, the HDR test pattern revealed levels over 1,000 nits. Likewise, while not quite as impressive as the OLED panels, the display's full array local dimming allowed the TV to produce deep, inky black levels from a direct viewing angle. For these reasons, I thought the TV offered the best bright room performance. Cons - Though fantastic from a direct view, the Z9D suffered from off-angle viewing, resulting in washed out colors and black levels compared to the OLEDs. Some light blooming from the TV's local dimming feature was also visible in dark scenes with isolated bright lights -- including a sequence from Planet Earth II with glowing eyes. And while the TV actually had some of the most accurate grayscale readings, the picture looked just a hair warm compared to the reference monitor. Samsung QN65Q9 Ultra HD QLED TV ($3,998) - Samsung's flagship 2017 Ultra HD TV uses new metal quantum dot technology to deliver wide color gamut support and 100 percent color volume. Likewise, the set includes HDR10 support and is among the first displays to include new HDR10+ support (but not Dolby Vision). Pros - The Q9 was capable of getting brighter than the OLED panels offering great light room performance. Likewise, the set was capable of strong HDR performance, with the test pattern showing around 1,000 nits. Cons - Sadly, all of the lingering flaws of LCD tech were readily apparent with this set. The edge-lit local dimming panel did not do a good job of creating deep black levels, resulting in grey blacks, clearly visible clouding, and uniformity issues. To this end, one could see the LEDs shifting brightness at the corners of the screen during the local dimming test and dark content. In addition, viewing angles were also subpar compared to the OLEDs. Overall, this was one of the least impressive models when viewed in home theater conditions. VIZIO P-Series Ultra HD HDR Home Theater Display ($1,700) - VIZIO's flagship 4K display includes full-array local dimming with 128 zones, Dolby Vision and HDR10 support, and wide color gamut support. With that said, the display does not include a TV tuner. Pros - While the VIZIO P-Series display was not the top performer in any of the categories, the set held its own remarkably well against the much more expensive competition. Local dimming performance was very good (though not quite as good as the Sony) resulting in very strong black levels from a direct angle, and though toward the low end of the pack, HDR performance was still solid with about 600 nits in the test pattern. Backlight uniformity was also much better than the Samsung and Westinghouse. Cons - Like all of the LCDs in the Shootout, viewing angles suffered from the side. And though local dimming was very good overall, the white line noticeably pulsed during one of the test patterns as it moved across zones, and a scene from Meridian where a character held a flashlight also revealed some blooming. Westinghouse WA65UFA1001 LED 4K Ultra HD TV ($650) - Westinghouse's new 4K Ultra HD TV is geared toward budget conscious buyers and features the Amazon Fire TV platform for streaming apps. Though the TV's listed specs make no mention of HDR support, it was apparently able to at least receive an HDR signal properly during the Shootout. Pros/Cons - No disrespect to Westinghouse, as this is a model geared toward a completely different budget level compared to the rest of the displays featured here, but the WA65UFA1001 really did not hold its own in this lineup and probably should not have been included in a Shootout with these premium flagship models. Though not a terrible performer for the price, this was the least impressive display across the board with subpar accuracy, comparatively harsh, exaggerated colors and poor black levels and uniformity. WINNERS AND FINAL THOUGHTS When all was said and done, the LG 65E7P OLED Ultra HD TV was crowned the winner in all three categories by the panel of judges, claiming top awards for Best Studio Lighting/Home Theater, HDR/Bright Room Performance, and Streaming Performance. This marks the fourth year in a row that an LG OLED has won the prize. The Sony XBR65A1E Bravia OLED Ultra HD TV came in at a very close second and received a special honorable mention for Best Studio Lighting/Home Theater performance. While I completely agree with LG's win for Home Theater performance, I'm actually a little surprised the OLED panel snagged the best HDR/Bright Room award. Based on what I saw (and ignoring viewing angles), the Sony XBR65Z9D 4K Ultra HD LED TV was the clear winner for HDR with the lights on. Meanwhile, Streaming performance was more of a toss-up for me, as I didn't really see any of the displays stand out in this regard. Still, it's hard to begrudge the panel for their selection. The LG OLED really was the closest to the reference monitor across almost all of the tests and material. Likewise, it was simply the best overall performer, especially when playing back the featured Ultra HD Blu-ray discs thanks to its inky blacks and HDR highlights. Here's my own rankings for Best Home Theater Performance from the Shootout: -LG 65E7P OLED Ultra HD TV -Sony XBR65A1E Bravia OLED Ultra HD TV (almost tied for top spot) -Sony XBR65Z9D 4K Ultra HD LED TV -VIZIO P-Series Ultra HD HDR Home Theater Display -Samsung QN65Q9 Ultra HD QLED TV -Westinghouse WA65UFA1001 LED 4K Ultra HD TV High-Def Digest would like to extend a big thanks to the folks over at CE Week and Joel Silver and his team for hosting the event. Likewise, another big thanks to Robert Zohn for starting the Shootout and ensuring that it remains in good hands. We're looking forward to seeing what next year's competition has in store, but for now, what do you think about the 2017 CE Week TV Shootout results? Do you own or plan to buy any of the participating displays? Let us know your thoughts in the forums!Posted Fri Jul 14, 2017 at 11:00 AM PDT by: -
'Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales' Announced for Blu-ray & 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray[teaser]Captain Jack Sparrow sails on home video once again this October. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Disney/Buena Vista is set to release 'Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales' on Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray on October 3. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales is a rollicking new tale of the high seas, infused with all the elements of fantasy, humor and action that have resulted in an international phenomenon for the past 13 years. Johnny Depp returns to his Academy Award®-nominated role as the outrageous, swashbuckling scoundrel Captain Jack Sparrow, and is joined by Oscar® winners Javier Bardem (Best Supporting Actor, "No Country for Old Men") and Geoffrey Rush (Best Actor, "Shine"). The release will feature a Dolby Atmos soundtrack and supplements include: Dead Men Tell More Tales: The Making of a New Adventure – Get unique access into the making of this exciting new "Pirates of the Caribbean" movie with this collection of revealing and entertaining stories that you can view individually or as a "play all"; Bloopers of the Caribbean; Jerry Bruckheimer Photo Diary; and Deleted Scenes. You can find the latest specs for 'Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under October 3.Posted Fri Jul 14, 2017 at 08:54 AM PDT by: -
LG OLED 4K Ultra HD TV Wins 2017 CE Week TV Shootout[teaser]The new "King of TV" has been crowned.[/teaser] LG's 65-inch E7 OLED 4K Ultra HD TV has been awarded top honors at the 2017 CE Week TV Shootout held in NYC. The competition placed six flagship Ultra HD TV models side-by-side in a head-to-head contest to determine the year's best display. This is the fourth consecutive year that an LG OLED has come away with the top prize. High-Def Digest was in attendance at the Shootout, so check back soon for full impressions on the event and all the TVs featured! "The honor of being awarded the overall top performer at the CE Week TV Shootout for the 4th consecutive year underscores LG's commitment to delivering the absolute best TV technology in the industry, period," said Tim Alessi, Senior Director, Product Marketing for home entertainment at LG Electronics USA. "Our 2017 OLED TVs are the ultimate expression of a cinema-quality experience in the home, being the first TVs in the market to offer stunning image reproduction and add Dolby Atmos sound quality to complete the home theater experience." Here's a rundown of all the sets featured in the Shootout: -LG 65E7P OLED Ultra HD TV -Sony XBR65A1E Bravia OLED Ulrta HD TV -Sony XBR65Z9D 4K Ultra HD LED TV, -Samsung QN65Q9 Ultra HD QLED TV -VIZIO P-Series Ultra HD HDR Home Theater Display -Westinghouse WA65UFA1001 LED 4K Ultra HD TV. All six displays were rated for perceived contrast ratio, color saturation and color volume, colorimetry, motion artifacts, and other performance criteria across three categories: Studio Lighting/Home Theater, Brightroom HDR, and Streaming. The LG 65E7P OLED swept the top prize in all three categories. We'll have full impressions from the Shootout posted soon, so be sure to check back for more coverage! Source: LGPosted Thu Jul 13, 2017 at 04:45 PM PDT by: -
LP Review: Baby Driver SoundtrackINTRO Soundtracks are an integral part of any movie. They add an extra layer of entertainment and can even become a central character to the film, such as with Edgar Wright's Baby Driver. Whether it be John Williams' score to Star Wars or the rock and funk classics of Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction, we can all agree that music really takes the visuals of our favorite movies and adds a big emotional tone to every scene. As long as Edgar Wright has been on the scene, his films have been full of amazing music that cover most genres and decades. With Shaun of the Dead, he made me look at Queen's Don't Stop Me Now differently, as everyone was beating zombies with pool cues to the rhythm of the song and the pub lights would flash on and off to the beat of the music. In Hot Fuzz, we were delighted with Goody Two Shoes by Adam Ant and Solid Gold Easy Action by T.Rex. Then along came Scott Pilgrim, which gave Beck and Nigel Godrich an outlet to be creative with their impressive indie rock creations such as Garbage Truck. Of course, how can you forget The Doors' Alabama Song in The World's End where everyone is pub-crawling the golden mile, drunk off of beer and the past? Needless to say, Edgar Wright knows his music and uses it as an important part in every film, which brings us to Baby Driver, which I believe is Wright's first musical film. THE PACKAGING The Baby Driver LP comes with an amazing Gatefold fully illustrated LP cardboard sleeve with artwork by Rory Kurtz. There are two black colored records in the album with illustrated sleeves. The record also includes a digital download of the soundtrack, including Run the Jewels' Chase Me. There are liner notes, track information, and a note from Edgar Wright on the sleeves. THE MUSIC (I used the Technics SL-1200MK2 Turntable for listening purposes.) There are a whopping 30 tracks included in this soundtrack on vinyl, spanning both records that play perfectly with the film or without it. It all begins with The John Spencer Blues Explosion's Bellbottoms that hits those two rock notes hard and fast, along with a funky guitar medley and a groovy bass line. When listening to this song, you immediately want to hop in the car, roll down the windows, hit the pedal, and row through the gears as it amps you way up. Spanning a few decades of music, you can expect to hear Queen's Brighton Rock, Beck's Debra as well as T.Rex's Debora. There's even The Beach Boys singing Let's Go Away For A While, Blur's Intermission, Sam and Dave's When Something Is Wrong With My Baby, and Nowhere to Run by Martha and the Vandellas, which was a big hit on the Good Morning Vietnam soundtrack as well. Lastly, there is a funked up version of Tequila by Button Down Brass that makes you want to dance like John Travolta in Mia Wallace's house in Pulp Fiction. With each song, Wright has incorporated the beats, instruments, music, and lyrics in the actual film's story, where the characters do or say something to every aspect of the music. It's a musical opus in a very Edgar Wright sort of way. Being on vinyl, there is no compression here, but rather a full sound of the highs and lows of every bass note and guitar chord. There is no digital sound here like you would find on an MP3, but rather an analog sound on 180g vinyl that just takes your breath away. Listen to the way Nowhere to Run sounds on vinyl, with every bass note providing a pounding low end, along with The Commodores' Easy track. Each song is perfectly mixed and provides a full sound as if you were listening to it live in person. THE SETLIST DISC 1, SIDE A 1. Bellbottoms – Jon Spencer Blues Explosion 2. Harlem Shuffle – Bob & Earl 3. Egyptian Reggae – Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers 4. Smokey Joe’s La La – Googie Rene 5. Let’s Go Away For Awhile – The Beach Boys 6. B-A-B-Y – Carla Thomas 7. Kashmere – Kashmere Stage Band 8. Unsquare Dance – Dave Brubeck DISC 1, SIDE B 1. Neat Neat Neat – The Damned 2. Easy (Single Version) – The Commodores 3. Debora – T. Rex 4. Debra – Beck 5. Bongolia – Incredible Bongo Band 6. Baby Let Me Take You (in My Arms) – The Detroit Emeralds 7. Early In The Morning – Alexis Korner DISC 2, SIDE A 1. The Edge – David McCallum 2. Nowhere To Run – Martha Reeves & The Vandellas 3. Tequila – The Button Down Brass 4. When Something Is Wrong With My Baby – Sam & Dave 5. Every Little Bit Hurts – Brenda Holloway 6. Intermission – Blur 7. Hocus Pocus (Original Single Version) – Focus 8. Radar Love (1973 Single Edit) – Golden Earring DISC 2, SIDE B 1. Never, Never Gone Give Ya Up – Barry White 2. Know How – Young MC 3. Brighton Rock – Queen 4. Easy – Sky Ferreira 5. Baby Driver – Simon & Garfunkel 6. Was He Slow (Credit Roll Version) – Kid Koala FINAL THOUGHTS This Baby Driver soundtrack -- executive produced by Edgar Wright and distributed by 30th Century Records (an imprint of Columbia Records) -- just hits every perfect note that you'd want to hear in a soundtrack of this caliber. There are 30 tracks, giving you plenty to listen to over and over again, along with some great liner notes and an amazing cover art that pops on the big 12 inch LP case. You won't hear a better soundtrack this year. MUST-OWN!Posted Thu Jul 13, 2017 at 02:03 PM PDT by: -
UPDATED: James Gunn's 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2' Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Coming in August[teaser]The action-packed MCU sequel is set to arrive on both formats this August.[/teaser] According to an advertisement posted on the Marvel Cinematic Universe Facebook page (see below), Disney/Buena Vista is preparing to release Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 on Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray on August 22. Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) and his crew of misfits search for his long-lost father in this sequel to the hit 2014 sci-fi adventure film. James Gunn returns to write and direct this installment of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which also stars Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Kurt Russell, Karen Gillan, and the voices of Bradley Cooper and Vin Diesel. Specs and supplements have yet to be revealed, but the releases will include an exclusive music video with special guest stars, a gag reel, deleted scenes, and more. UPDATE 7/12/17: Some fantastic news, folks, but not necessarily the news we were hoping for. Guardians Vol.2 will 100% be available in 4K UHD with HDR in BOTH Dolby Vision & Dolby Atmos, BUT that dual Dolby combo is only going to be featured on the DIGITAL RELEASE via Disney Movies Anywhere (and their partners), and it will likely be retailer-dependent. This digital UHD version will be available August 8 and, per Disney, will also be available in HDR10 (not sure if its dual-HDR format or if you have to pick one based on the retailer). --- SECOND UPDATE 7/13/17 Folks, I'm well aware of what Bill Hunt is reporting over at the Bits. Bill is a terrific guy and I wish (perhaps still even hope) he was somehow right, but... Per DOLBY themselves, the Vol.2 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray will feature Dolby ATMOS, but NOT Dolby VISION. Yes, again per Dolby, HDR10 only. This 4K UHD Blu-ray will come in at least three different versions: -Cinematic Universe 4K UHD Combo Pack (4K UHD with HDR, Blu-ray, Digital Copy)-4K/3D Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook-4K Target Exclusive Combo Pack (also no 3D). Also, I read a RUMOR this morning that said the 3D version MAY include the IMAX aspect ratios. Stay tuned for confirmation. And, we have reached out to Disney's PR agency to confirm the STREAMING retailers that will have Vol.2 in Dolby Vision or HDR10, as well as whether or not the Digital Copy code INCLUDED with the 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray will unlock a UHD streaming version (or HD/SD only). Either way, more to come and we can't wait to get all of these reviewed for you. Cheers! --- The Blu-ray included in the above Combo Packs or the Blu-ray Combo Pack (Blu-ray, DVD, Digital HD copy) will feature 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio. Blu-ray Bonus Materials include (but may vary by retailer): The Making of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2 four-party behind-the-scenes documentary. Visionary Intro with director James Gunn Guardians Inferno Music Video with David Hasselhoff Four Deleted Scenes Audio Commentary with director James Gunn The Digital HD bonus materials include all of the above PLUS Three Scene Breakdowns Eclector EscpaeGamora and NebulaRocket and Ravagers Guardians of the Galaxy - Mission: Breakout! sneak peak at the new Disneyland ride (formerly The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror). You can find the latest specs for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule and our Ultra HD Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under August 22.Posted Thu Jul 13, 2017 at 06:31 AM PDT by: -
Google Play Movies & TV Adds HDR Playback Support[teaser]Google's digital movie service now includes HDR support.[/teaser] Google has announced the launch of HDR (high dynamic range) playback for select titles in the Google Play Movies and TV store in the US and Canada. HDR support for Google Play titles is currently available through HDR compatible 4K Ultra HD TVs connected to a Chromecast Ultra dongle. Support for Android TV, Google Cast enabled TVs, and other HDR media devices could be added in the future. Google Play titles available in 4K with HDR includes movies like Pacific Rim, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Suicide Squad, Mad Max: Fury Road, Kong: Skull Island, Batman v Superman, and more. Current prices range from $25 to $30. HDR playback is only available with the 4K versions of supported titles and Google recommends a consistent download speed of at least 15 megabits per second. The Chromecast Ultra ($69) plugs into a display's HDMI port, allowing users to cast all of their favorite content from thousands of apps using a smartphone, tablet, or laptop. In addition, the device supports 4K, HDR (high dynamic range) and Dolby Vision content, offering playback support for videos with higher resolution, expanded colors, and enhanced contrast. The Ultra model loads videos 1.8 times faster than older Chromecast models, includes major Wi-Fi improvements for streaming, and offers integrated Ethernet support for wired connections. Customers can also mirror any content from an Android device or a Chrome browser tab on a laptop to their TV screen. Finally, the device includes Google Home support as well, allowing users to control their Chromecast from their voice-activated speakers. Click here to check out a full list of currently available Google Play Movie HDR titles. Source: GooglePosted Wed Jul 12, 2017 at 05:00 PM PDT by: -
'The Mummy' Blu-ray & 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Dated and Detailed[teaser]Tom Cruise's latest action blockbuster gets unwrapped on both formats this September. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Universal Studios is set to release 'The Mummy' on Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray on September 12. Thought safely entombed deep beneath the desert, an ancient princess (Sofia Boutella, Star Trek Beyond, Kingsman: The Secret Service) whose destiny was unjustly taken from her is awakened in our current day. Her malevolence has grown over millennia and with it come terrors that defy human comprehension. From the sands of the Middle East through modern-day London, The Mummy balances wonder, thrills, and imagination. Each release will feature a Dolby Atmos soundtrack and supplements will include: Deleted and Extended ScenesCruise & Kurtzman: A Conversation Rooted in Reality - Tom Cruise and Alex Kurtzman discuss the making of The Mummy.Rooted in Reality - Filmmakers and cast reveal how they broke away from old tropes and traditions to create a dynamic and realistic 21st century monster movie.Life in Zero-G: Creating the Plane Crash - Watch Tom Cruise, Annabelle Wallis, and the crew shoot the incredible plane sequence.Meet Ahmanet - Sofia Boutella shares the excitement of reinventing a monster icon.Cruise in Action - A behind-the-scenes look at Tom Cruise's most memorable Mummy stunts.Becoming Jekyll and Hyde - Find out how the casting of Russell Crowe brought a bold new dimension to the roles of Jekyll and Hyde.Choreographed Chaos - Watch as cast and filmmakers create an epic outdoors clash between ancient and modern worlds.Nick Morton: In Search of a Soul - Tom Cruise describes what drew him to play a man seemingly without a soul.Ahmanet Reborn Animated Graphic Novel - Witness Ahmanet's descent into the monstrous underworld as she is reborn into the Goddess of Chaos and Wrath.Feature Commentary with director and producer Alex Kurtzman, and cast members Sofia Boutella, Annabelle Wallis and Jake Johnson You can find the latest specs for 'The Mummy' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under September 12. Order the Blu-ray Order the UHD Blu-rayPosted Wed Jul 12, 2017 at 12:32 PM PDT by:
