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Is 'Logan' The End of Superhero Movies? (Or the Beginning of Phase Two)?[teaser]If genres have lifecycles, could superhero flicks be entering their twilight years?[/teaser] James Mangold's Logan has been met with almost universal acclaim, cementing itself as one of the best superhero movies of the modern era. But with its sobering deconstruction of larger-than-life comic book archetypes and tropes, does the film also mark the limits of its genre? Have filmmakers finally exhausted everything there is to say about mutants and capes? It's an intriguing question, and one that YouTube vlogger, The Nerdwriter, examines to great detail in his latest video essay, Logan: Superhero Movies Get Old. To help form his argument, The Nerdwriter regularly cites John G. Cawelti's essay "Chinatown and Generic Transformation in Recent American Films," explaining how genres change and grow over time in response to increasing audience familiarity and fatigue. As pointed out in the video, Cawelti breaks down this genre transformation into four forms: Burlesque, Nostalgia, Demythologization, and Reaffirmation. Burlesque - In this stage, filmmakers turn to parody as a means of exaggerating and making fun of familiar genre tropes and cliches. The video cites the works of Mel Brooks as examples. And when it comes to superhero flicks, Deadpool serves as the poster boy for this type. Nostalgia - With this form, filmmakers attempt to evoke the feel of old genre conventions while also placing them in a slightly new context, allowing the movie to embrace the relationship between past and present while blending nostalgic storytelling techniques with contemporary twists. The video uses True Grit and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang as examples. Demythologization - Aimed at exposing the flaws and weaknesses of mythic genre tropes and archetypes, this stage sheds a realistic and often disturbing light on cinematic conventions, intentionally subverting genre expectations -- like good prevailing over evil. Examples used in the video essay are Chinatown and No Country for Old Men. Reaffirmation - In the final stage, genre tropes and their myths are still subverted and deconstructed, but instead of being rejected in the end, they are ultimately reasserted as necessary. The Wild Bunch and The Dark Knight are pointed out as examples of this form. The Nerdwriter proposes that Logan includes elements of Demythologization but primarily falls into the Reaffirmation stage, using the physical and emotional trauma caused by the title character's brutal violence to break down the myth of the righteous superhero, before eventually reaffirming that same myth through Logan's climactic sacrifice. But do the movie and its deconstructionist elements really signal a creative limit for superhero films? Or do they instead signal a transformation into something new? Well, as far as I'm concerned... probably neither. At least, not on their own. While The Nerdwriter makes a lot of interesting observations about how Logan relates to the superhero genre at large, and I thought that the film itself was quite exceptional, I'm not so sure I completely agree with the central conceit that the movie marks any kind of unique shift on its own -- primarily because deconstructionist and genre subverting superhero films are nothing new. Previous efforts like Kick-Ass, Watchmen, Unbreakable, and Super have all touched upon various elements found in the stages listed above, and the superhero genre has continued to both evolve and regurgitate formula just fine in their wake. And though there are notable bombs here and there (cough, Fantastic Four, cough), even the most tried-and-true comic book flicks still make pretty good bank despite supposed audience fatigue. Of course, Logan is the most high profile, mainstream, and successful (both financially and creatively) superhero blockbuster to attempt such deconstructionist tactics so far, and that in itself does offer some hope that Hollywood is open to more experimentation with comic book movies, potentially helping to usher in a genuinely new phase of superhero storytelling. But more than Logan's sobering take on superhero archetypes, I'd actually argue that it's the films use of genre blending that marks a more prevalent trend for the next stage of comic book movies. Superheroes actually lend themselves very well to any number of ancillary genres, allowing filmmakers to drop super powered characters into a western (like Logan), a political thriller (Captain America: The Winter Soldier), a space opera (Guardians of the Galaxy), a crime drama (The Dark Knight), a heist flick (Ant-Man), and more. It's this propensity toward genre elasticity that might allow superhero storytelling to stay fresh and reinvent itself even in the face of continued oversaturation in the market. Likewise, to see how superheroes could continue to grow and change on screen post Logan, one need only look to the medium where it all originated: comic books. Stories that go far beyond the genre evolving aspects of Logan are commonplace on the page, with works from authors like Alan Moore, Warren Ellis, Grant Morrison, Frank Miller, and Neil Gaiman all offering glimpses into what the big screen superhero movie could become. That is, if Hollywood lets it. For now, the critical and commercial success of movies like Logan make me hopeful that we will continue to see more different and innovative cinematic stories featuring capes, claws, and cowls for many years to come. Logan is now available on Ultra HD Blu-ray, Blu-ray, and Digital HD. Order the Ultra HD Blu-ray Order the Blu-ray Sources: The Nerdwriter (YouTube), John G. Cawelti's "Chinatown and Generic Transformation in Recent American Films" via Virginia BonnerPosted Fri May 26, 2017 at 06:00 PM PDT by: -
Blu-ray News Roundup: 'Supergirl,' 'Prison Break,' and More[teaser]New titles from Universal, Fox, Warner Bros., and more are among the latest Blu-ray announcements.[/teaser] New info has been revealed for several upcoming Blu-ray releases from 20th Century Fox, Universal, Warner Bros., Lionsgate, Shout Factory, and Vinegar Syndrome. Here's a full rundown of recently revealed details and title announcements: First up, 20th Century Fox is set to release Prison Break: The Event Series on June 27. Supplements will include: -A Return Home: The Making of "Prison Break" Event Series In addition, the studio will release Prison Break: The Complete Series on June 27 as well. Supplements will include: -Audio Commentaries-Alternate/Deleted Scenes-Making of "Prison Break"-If These Walls Could Speak-Beyond the Ink-Behind-the-Scenes Featurettes & Interviews-The Plan, The Execution and The Bullet-Director's World-Fade Out: The Final Episode Order the Blu-ray Order the Blu-ray Meanwhile, Universal will bring Niki Caro's The Zookeeper's Wife starring Jessica Chastain, Daniel Brühl, and Iddo Goldberg to Blu-ray on July 4. The disc will feature: -Deleted Scenes-The Making of The Zookeeper's Wife-The Zabinski Family Order the Blu-ray Warner Bros. is prepping Supergirl: The Complete Second Season starring Melissa Benoist, Mehcad Brooks, and Chyler Leigh for Blu-ray on August 22. Supplements will include: -Supergirl: 2016 Comic-Con Panel-Supergirl: Alien Fight Night-Aliens Among Us-Supergirl Lives Audio Commentary featuring Andrew Kreisberg and Kevin Smith-A Conversation with Andrew Kreisberg and Kevin Smith-Did You Know Facts for Fans The label will also release Gotham: The Complete Third Season starring Ben McKenzie, Donal Logue, and David Mazouzon on August 29. Supplements will include: -Gotham: 2016 Comic-Con Panel-Deleted Scenes-Madness Rising: the New Villains of Gotham-Ben McKenzie Directorial Debut-The Dark Within the Dark: The Court of Owls Order the Blu-ray Order the Blu-ray Lionsgate is prepping Lone Scherfig's Their Finest starring Gemma Arterton, Sam Claflin, and Bill Nighy for Blu-ray on July 11. Supplements will include: -Flickers of Hope: The Making of Their Finest Featurette-Audio Commentary with Director Lone Scherfig Shout Factory is bringing Robin Swicord's Wakefield starring Bryan Cranston, Jennifer Garner, and Beverly D'Angelo to Blu-ray on August 1. No other details have been announced yet. Warner Archive is set to bring Lucifer: The Complete Second Season starring Tom Ellis, Lauren German, and Lesley-Ann Brandt to Blu-ray on August 15. Supplements will include: -Lucifer: 2016 Comic-Con Panel-Reinventing Lucifer in the City of Angels-Deleted Scenes-Gag Reel In addition, the label will release The Originals: The Complete Fourth Season starring Phoebe Tonkin, Joseph Morgan, and Claire Holt on August 29. Supplements will include -The Originals: 2016 Comic-Con Panel-Deleted Scenes-Gag Reel Finally, Vinegar Syndrome has announced plans to bring Henri Pachard's Matinee Idol and David Beaird's My Chauffeur to Blu-ray later this year. No other details have been revealed so far. You can find the latest specs for all of the titles listed above linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule.Posted Fri May 26, 2017 at 07:45 AM PDT by: -
'The Boss Baby' Blu-ray, Blu-ray 3D, and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Dated & Supplements Detailed (UPDATED)[teaser]The animated comedy is available for preorder on all three formats at Amazon.[/teaser]As previously reported, DreamWorks is preparing 'The Boss Baby' for Blu-ray, Blu-ray 3D, and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray later this year, and now the date has been set for July 25. A new baby's arrival impacts a family, told from the point of view of a delightfully unreliable narrator -- a wildly imaginative 7-year-old named Tim. The most unusual Boss Baby (Alec Baldwin) arrives at Tim's home in a taxi, wearing a suit and carrying a briefcase. The instant sibling rivalry must soon be put aside when Tim discovers that Boss Baby is actually a spy on a secret mission, and only he can help thwart a dastardly plot that involves an epic battle between puppies and babies. The Boss Baby comes loaded with bonus features including the NEW Mini Adventure, a 3-minute action-packed journey through time featuring Boss Baby and Tim. Join the fun as Boss Baby and Tim battle pirates, travel through outer space, swim deep into the sea, and go toe-to-toe with some ferocious dinosaurs! Additional bonus materials include featurettes like "Cookies are for Closers: Inside BabyCorp," Deleted Scenes and more! You can find the latest specs for 'The Boss Baby' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under July 25. Order the Blu-ray Order the 3D Blu-ray Order the UHD Blu-rayPosted Thu May 25, 2017 at 10:00 AM PDT by: -
Studiocanal Prepping James Cameron's 'Terminator 2: Judgment Day' for Blu-ray 3D[teaser]The sci-fi sequel will be making its way to Blu-ray 3D in time for the holidays. [/teaser]According to Skynet's Army, Studiocanal has confirmed that they are preparing 'Terminator 2: Judgment Day' for Blu-ray 3D later this year. Skynet, the 21st century computer waging a losing war on humans sends a second terminator back in time to destroy the leader of the human resistance while he is still a boy. His mother is the only one who knows of the existence of the Terminators, human-like robots that exist only to kill and are nearly indestructible, and Sarah, the boy's mother is currently in a state mental hospital because of her 'delusions'. A second protector is sent back to the past by the Human resistance to protect John Connor, their future leader, at all costs. No other details have been revealed at this time. You can find the latest specs for 'Terminator 2: Judgment Day - 3D' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under PENDING.Posted Thu May 25, 2017 at 09:15 AM PDT by: -
'Kong: Skull Island' Announced for Blu-ray, 3D, & 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray[teaser]The epic action-adventure starring Tom Hiddleston, Brie Larson, and Samuel L. Jackson arrives on all three formats in July.[/teaser]In an early announcement to retailers, Warner Brothers is preparing 'Kong: Skull Island' for Blu-ray, Blu-ray 3D, and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray on July 18. This compelling, original adventure tells the story of a diverse team of scientists, soldiers and adventurers uniting to explore a mythical, uncharted island in the Pacific, as dangerous as it is beautiful. Cut off from everything they know, the team ventures into the domain of the mighty Kong, igniting the ultimate battle between man and nature. As their mission of discovery becomes one of survival, they must fight to escape a primal Eden in which humanity does not belong. Specs have yet to be revealed, but supplements include: Director's Commentary; Creating a King: Realizing an Icon; Creating a King: Summoning a God; Monarch Files 2.0; Tom Hiddleston: The Intrepid Traveler; Through the Lens: Brie Larson's Photography; On Location: Vietnam; and Deleted Scenes. You can find the latest specs for 'Kong: Skull Island' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under July 18.Posted Thu May 25, 2017 at 08:43 AM PDT by: -
Hisense Launches 2017 H9D & H9D Plus ULED 4K UHD TV Lineup[teaser]Several new Ultra HD display models are now hitting select retailers.[/teaser] Hisense has announced the US launch of its 2017 H9D and H9D Plus 4K ULED TV lineup. Likewise, the company has also released its H7D and H6D 4K Smart TV Series. "At Hisense, our mission is to make premium picture quality, like our proprietary ULED™ technology, accessible to everyone." says Mark Viken, Hisense USA Vice President of Marketing. "Amazing content is bringing consumers back to the living room and we believe that our Hisense 4K television line-up offers an amazing, large screen viewing experience for everyone." The premium H9D and H9D Plus displays both use Hisense's proprietary ULED technology, which enhances color, contrast, black level, brightness, and smooth motion through a combination of advanced hardware and software. In addition, both models offer local dimming, HDR, and wide color gamut support. Meanwhile, the affordable H7D and H6D also include HDR support but do not provide advanced ULED tech, local dimming, or wide color gamuts. Here's a full rundown of specs and pricing for each series: Hisense H9D Plus Series – 4K Smart ULED™ TV · HDR* · Wide Color Gamut · Motion Rate 480 (65”) · Motion Rate 240 (55”) · Local Dimming · UHD Upscaler · Smart TV with Apps and Web Browser · 4K Media Player · dbx-tv® Award-Winning Audio Technology · Wireless Digital Audio · 55” $1,299.99 · 65” $1,999.99 Hisense H9D Series – 4K Smart ULED™ TV · HDR* · Wide Color Gamut · Motion Rate 240 (75”, 65”) · Motion Rate 120 (55”) · Local Dimming · UHD Upscaler · Smart TV with Apps and Web Browser · 4K Media Player · dbx-tv® Award-Winning Audio Technology · Wireless Digital Audio · 55" $899.99 · 65” $1,299.00 Hisense H7D Series – 4K Smart TV · HDR* · Motion Rate 120 · UHD Upscaler · Smart TV with Apps and Web Browser · 4K Media Player · dbx-tv® Award- Winning Audio Technology · 43" $$399 · 50" $499.99 · 55" $549.99 Hisense H6D Series – 4K Smart TV · HDR* · Motion Rate 120 · UHD Upscaler · Smart TV with Apps and Web browser · 4K Media Player · dbx-tv® Award-Winning Audio Technology · 43" $348.00 · 50" $398.00 · 55" $468.00 · 65" $828.00 Source: HisensePosted Wed May 24, 2017 at 12:45 PM PDT by: -
HBO Unleashes Trailer for 'Game of Thrones' Season 7[teaser]Winter is here.[/teaser] HBO has released the first official trailer for the upcoming seventh season of Game of Thrones. The show is set to premiere on Sunday, July 16. Summers span decades. Winters can last a lifetime. And the struggle for the Iron Throne continues. It stretches from the south, where heat breeds plots, lusts and intrigues, to the vast and savage eastern lands, where a young queen raises an army. All the while, in the frozen north, an 800-foot wall of ice precariously protects the war-ravaged kingdom from the dark forces that lie beyond. Kings and queens, knights and renegades, liars, lords and honest men...all play the 'Game of Thrones.' An original series based on George R.R. Martin's best-selling 'A Song of Ice and Fire' series. Check out the official season 7 trailer below! Season 7 is set to be the penultimate season of the series and will include seven new episodes. An eighth and final season is scheduled to debut in 2018 with a total of six new episodes. In addition, HBO is currently working with several writers and author George R.R. Martin to develop scripts and concepts for potential spinoff shows. Game of Thrones Season 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 are now available on Blu-ray and Digital HD. Likewise, the series is available to stream through HBO Go and HBO Now. HBO Go is currently available through the web, several streaming devices, and smart TVs as part of an authenticated HBO pay-TV subscription. Meanwhile, the HBO Now app is available as a stand-alone streaming platform for $15 per month. Source: Game of Thrones (YouTube)Posted Wed May 24, 2017 at 12:00 PM PDT by: -
Blu-ray News Roundup: 'Free Fire,' 'The Warlock Collection,' and More[teaser]New titles from Universal, Lionsgate, and more are among the latest Blu-ray announcements.[/teaser] New info has been revealed for several upcoming Blu-ray releases from Severin, Universal, Sony, ClassicFlix, Lionsgate, Warner Bros., and Kino. Here's a full rundown of recently revealed details and title announcements: First up, Severin is set to release Henrik Möller's horror thriller Feed the Light on June 27. Supplements will include: -Making of Feed The Light - Featurette-The Lovecraft Influence: Interview With Co-Writer/Director Henrik Möller-Original Trailer Order the Blu-ray Meanwhile, Universal will bring Aaron Woodley's animated film Spark: A Space Tail starring Jessica Biel, Susan Sarandon, and Patrick Stewart to Blu-ray on July 11. The disc will feature: -A Creative Spark: Voicing the Characters-Bringing Sparks to Life-Spark Concept Art Reel Order the Blu-ray Sony is prepping John Jencks' comedy The Hippopotamus starring Matthew Modine, Russell Tovey, and Adrian Bouchet for Blu-ray on August 1. No other details have been announced so far. Order the Blu-ray As previously reported, Classicflix has announced plans to release Fritz Lang's You Only Live Once starring Sylvia Sidney, Henry Fonda, and Barton MacLane. The newly announced release date is set for July 11. No other details have been revealed. Lionsgate is prepping Ben Wheatley's Free Fire starring Brie Larson, Enzo Cilenti, Sam Riley, Michael Smiley, Cillian Murphy, and Armie Hammer for Blu-ray on July 18. Supplements will include: -Audio Commentary with Co-Writer/Director Ben Wheatley-Making Of Featurette In addition, the studio will release The Warlock Collection starring Julian Sands, Bruce Payne, and Lori Singer on July 25. The 2-Disc set will include Warlock (1989), Warlock: The Armageddon (1993), and Warlock III: The End of Innocence (1999). Supplements will include: -Behind-the-Scenes Footage-Vintage Interviews-Vintage Featurettes-Still Galleries-Trailers & TV Spots-Video Sales Promo-NEW Audio Commentary with Director Steve Miner-NEW Isolated Score Selections/Audio Interview with Author Jeff Bond-NEW Interviews ("Satan's Son" with Actor Julian Sands; "The Devil's Work" with Director Steve Miner; and "Effects of Evil" with Make-up Effects Creators Carl Fullerton and Neal Martz)-NEW Audio Commentary with Director Anthony Hickox Warner Archive is set to bring Riverdale: The Complete First Season starring J. Apa, Cole Sprouse, Camila Mendes, Lili Reinhart, Madelaine Petsch, and Ashleigh Murray to Blu-ray on August 15. No other details have been announced at this time. Kino will release Ewald André Dupont's silent film Varieté starring Emil Jannings, Maly Delschaft, Lya De Putti, Warwick Ward, and Alice Hechy on August 22. Supplements will include: -NEW score by Berklee Silent Film Orchestra-Short documentary on the creation of the score-The complete OTHELLO (German 1922) - Starring Emil Jannings and Lya De Putti, Werner Krauss - Directed by Dimitri Buchowetzki Finally, the label has also announced plans to bring Walter Hill's The Long Riders starring David Carradine, Randy Quaid, and Stacy Keach to Blu-ray later this year. The disc will feature a new 4K restoration, but no other details have been revealed so far. You can find the latest specs for all of the titles listed above linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule.Posted Tue May 23, 2017 at 10:45 PM PDT by: -
'The Lincoln Lawyer' 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Bound[teaser]The crime drama starring Matthew McConaughey is headed for the 4K format this August. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Lionsgate is working on 'The Linco. ln Lawyer' for 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray on August 15. Mickey Haller is L.A.'s top criminal defense lawyer – a fast-living, freewheeling pro who does business out of the back seat of his classic Lincoln Town Car. He knows all the ins and outs of the legal system and how to exploit them to his clients' advantage. But after agreeing to defend a wealthy young man accused of rape and murder, Mickey suddenly finds himself embroiled in a deadly game of violence, vengeance, and deception that threatens to not only end his career, but also his life. The release will feature a Dolby Atmos soundtrack and supplements include: "Making the Case: Creating The Lincoln Lawyer" Featurette; "At Home on the Road" Featurette with Michael Connelly; "One On One" Featurette with Matthew McConaughey and Michael Connelly; and Deleted Scenes. You can find the latest specs for 'The Lincoln Lawyer' linked from our UHD Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under August 15.Posted Tue May 23, 2017 at 06:34 AM PDT by: -
HDD Gear Deals: Up to 50% off Home Theater Speakers[teaser]Amazon is offering big discounts on select surround sound speakers![/teaser] As part of the online retailer's ongoing deals, Amazon is running a sale on home theaters speakers from Polk Audio and Klipsch. Polk Audio T50 Home Theater and Music Floor Standing Tower Speaker - Currently $75 (50% off). Polk Audio T15 Bookshelf Speakers - Currently $50 (50% off). Polk Audio T30 Center Channel Speaker - Currently $65 (39% off). Klipsch R-24F Floorstanding Speaker - Currently $195 (22% off). Klipsch Reference R-25C Center Channel Speaker - Currently $200 (20% off). Klipsch R-15M Bookshelf Speakers - Currently $210 (16% off). These deals will only be active for a limited time while supplies last. Make sure to stay tuned to High-Def Digest for more sales and special promotions!Posted Tue May 23, 2017 at 06:30 AM PDT by:
