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M. Night Shyamalan's 'Split' Blu-ray Dated and Supplements Detailed[teaser]The horror/thriller is coming to home video in April.[/teaser] As previously reported, Universal Studios is working on 'Split' for Blu-ray later this year, and now the date has been set for April 18. Heralded as "one of his best films – period" (Alex Welch, IGN), M. Night Shyamalan returns to the screen with SPLIT. Kevin Crumb's (James McAvoy) fractured mind has revealed 23 personalities, but one remains dangerously submerged, set to materialize and dominate the others. McAvoy delivers "the role of his career" (Peter Debruge, Variety) as Kevin reaches a war for dominance among all those that rage within him, threatening his stability and impacting the survival of everyone around him. Specs have yet to be revealed, but supplements include: Alternate Ending; Deleted Scenes; The Making of Split- Filmmakers, cast, and crew discuss what attracted them to the project and how they were able to bring such a unique premise to life; The Many Faces of James McAvoy- A look at how James McAvoy approached the challenge of playing so many different identities; and The Filmmaker's Eye: M. Night Shyamalan - Director and writer M. Night Shyamalan has a singular, big-picture vision of his projects. Producers, cast, and crew discuss how Night's process gives them the freedom to execute their roles to the fullest. You can find the latest specs for 'Split' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under April 18. Order the Blu-rayPosted Thu Mar 2, 2017 at 12:00 PM PST by: -
Amazon Sets March 17 Premiere for Spring 2017 Pilot Lineup[teaser]Five new pilots will debut on Amazon later this month.[/teaser] Amazon has revealed its upcoming Spring 2017 pilot lineup. 'The Legend of Master Legend,' 'Budding Prospects,' 'The New V.I.P.'s,' 'The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,' and 'Oasis' are all set to premiere through Amazon Video in the US, UK, Germany, Austria, and Japan on March 17. After watching, all viewers will then have the option to review the shows in order to help Amazon decide which titles get picked up for full seasons. "Pilots continue to be the best way to take risks, find voices and evolve the art form of television," said Joe Lewis, Head of Comedy, Drama & VR, Amazon Studios. "We're excited about these new worlds, characters and filmmakers. We’re looking forward to another Amazon Pilot Season and more great customer feedback." The Legend of Master Legend - The Legend of Master Legend is a dark comedy about the life of Frank Lafount, aka Master Legend -- a homemade superhero whose mission is to protect the people of Las Vegas from evil doers. Master Legend juggles the demands of justice with the even more complicated demands of his real family, who don’t see him as a hero at all. The Legend of Master Legend is executive produced by Youree Henley (20th Century Women), Joshuah Bearman (Argo) and David Klawans (Argo), along with executive producers and writers Micah Fitzerman-Blue (Transparent) and Noah Harpster (Transparent). The pilot is directed by James Ponsoldt (The Spectacular Now) and stars John Hawkes (Winter’s Bone), Dawnn Lewis (Major Crimes), Shea Whigham (Boardwalk Empire) and newcomer Anjelika Washington. Budding Prospects -In 1983, three hapless city boys move from their comfort zone of the San Francisco counter-culture to Mendacino to grow marijuana. Their expectations of the experience being a back-to-the-land, nurturing adventure in a beautiful rustic setting run up against the harsh truth prior to their arrival at "The Summer Camp" – a miserably run-down shanty out in the middle of nowhere, where they are bedeviled by rats, snakes, mosquitoes, and harsh, unfriendly growing conditions, noisy neighbors, dangerous locals, and menacing law enforcement. Budding Prospects is directed and executive produced by Terry Zwigoff (Bad Santa), executive produced by Vincent Landay (Her) and co-written by Melissa Axelrod. The pilot stars Adam Rose (Veronica Mars), Joel David Moore (Bones), Will Sasso (MADtv) and Brett Gelman (Fleabag). The New V.I.P.’s - Amazon’s first adult animated comedy show, The New V.I.P.’s follows a group of low level employees who seize control of a major corporation after accidently murdering their boss. The show was created by Steve Dildarian (The Life & Times of Tim), Titmouse served as the production company (Ben Kalina and Dave Newberg), along with producer Peter Principato (Central Intelligence) from Principato Young. The pilot stars Matt Braunger (Agent Carter), Ben Schwartz (Parks and Recreation), Missi Pyle (Gone Girl) and Jonathan Adams (Last Man Standing). The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel - The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is written and directed by Amy Sherman-Palladino (Gilmore Girls) and executive produced by Daniel Palladino (Family Guy) and Sherman-Palladino. It’s 1958 Manhattan and Miriam “Midge” Maisel (Rachel Brosnahan, House of Cards) has everything she’s ever wanted—the perfect husband, two kids, and an elegant Upper West Side apartment perfect for hosting Yom Kippur dinner. But her perfect life suddenly takes an unexpected turn and Midge discovers a previously unknown talent—one that changes her life forever. She charts a course that takes her from her comfortable life on Riverside Drive, through the basket houses and nightclubs of Greenwich Village as she storms the world of stand-up comedy…a course that will ultimately lead her to a spot on Johnny Carson’s couch. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel also stars Michael Zegen (Boardwalk Empire) as Midge’s husband Joel Maisel, Alex Borstein (Family Guy) as Susie Myerson, Golden Globe winner and three-time Emmy Winner Tony Shalhoub (Monk) as Midge’s father Abe Weinberg, and Marin Hinkle (Two and a Half Men) as Midge’s mother Rose Weinberg. Oasis - Based on the cult-hit novel The Book of Strange New Things from Michel Faber, Oasis follows a chaplain (Richard Madden, Game of Thrones) who is sent into space to help establish a colony on a distant planet. What he ends up discovering not only puts his faith to the test, but life as we know it. The pilot also stars world-renowned Indian actor and producer Anil Kapoor (Slumdog Millionaire, 24) as Vikram Danesh, the head of the base on Oasis, Michael Shaw (Limitless) as B.G., Antje Traue (Man of Steel) as Grainger, Mark Addy (Game of Thrones) as Halloran, Haley Joel Osment (The Sixth Sense, Alpha House) as Sy, Maureen Sebastian (American Gothic) as Alicia Ruiz, Michael Shaffer (Coach Sinclair) as Phelps, and Zawe Ashton (Nocturnal Animals) as Severin. Oasis is written by Matt Charman (Bridge of Spies), executive produced by Charman, Andy Harries (The Crown) and Lila Rawlings (Left Bank Productions), produced by Rob Bullock (The Night Manager), with Kevin MacDonald (The Last King of Scotland) directing. The one-hour drama pilot is a co-production of Amazon Studios and Left Bank Productions. 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. Source: AmazonPosted Thu Mar 2, 2017 at 10:15 AM PST by: -
'A League of Their Own: 25th Anniversary Edition' Announced and Detailed for Blu-ray[teaser]Penny Marshall's 1992 baseball comedy is getting a 25th anniversary edition in April.[/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Sony will be bringing the PG film 'A League of Their Own' to Blu-ray on April 18. Celebrate the 25th anniversary of this hilarious and beloved comedy starring Tom Hanks, Geena Davis and Madonna. Hanks stars as Jimmy Dugan, a washed-up ballplayer whose big league days are over. Hired to coach in the All-American Girls Baseball League of 1943 – while the male pros are at war – Dugan finds himself drawn back into the game by the hearts and heroics of his all-girl team, led by the indomitable Dottie Hinson (Davis). Lori Petty, Rosie O'Donnell and Jon Lovitz round out the all-star roster. Based on the true story of the pioneering women who blazed the trail for generations of athletes. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements include Commentary with Penny Marshall, Lori Petty, Megan Cavanagh, and Tracy Reiner; deleted scenes with video introductions by Penny Marshall; Nine Memorable Innings Pre-Game; and "This Used to Be My Playground" music video; along with an ALL-NEW featurette: "Bentonville, Baseball & The Enduring Legacy of A League of Their Own". Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $19.99. You can find the latest specs for 'A League of Their Own: 25th Anniversary Edition' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under April 18. Order the Blu-rayPosted Thu Mar 2, 2017 at 10:00 AM PST by: -
High-Def Digest Essentials: February 2017Every month, dozens of Blu-rays hit shelves, littering stores with High-Def temptation. New releases, catalog titles, complete TV seasons, and elaborate box-sets all vie for attention, and with so many worthy releases targeting our wallets, choosing which discs to spend our hard earned cash on can be rather tricky. To make things a little easier, we here at High-Def Digest thought it might be helpful to bring you our top three must own recommendations for the month. From important classics to contemporary blockbusters, these are the discs that we consider to be the absolute cream of the crop. High quality releases with great video, audio, and supplements, these are the Blu-rays that are truly worth every penny. Last month we spotlighted a quintessential screwball comedy, a harrowing disaster film, and a delicate animated adventure. Be sure to check out the Essential Picks for November 2012, December 2012, January 2013,February 2013, March 2013, April 2013, May 2013, June 2013, July 2013, August 2013, September 2013, October 2013, November 2013, December 2013, January 2014, February 2014, March 2014, April 2014, May 2014, June 2014, July 2014, August 2014, September 2014, October 2014, November 2014,December 2014, January 2015, February 2015, March 2015, April 2015, May 2015, June 2015, July 2015, August 2015, September 2015, October 2015, November 2015, December 2015, January 2016, February 2016, March 2016, April 2016, May 2016, June 2016, July 2016, August 2016, September 2016, October 2016, November 2016, December 2016, and January 2017. [teaser]For February, we're covering a romantic trilogy, a sci-fi drama, and a super hero adventure.[/teaser] Please be aware, that if you haven't already seen them, there are some SPOILERS for the discs listed. If you only buy three titles that hit Blu-ray in February, here's what we suggest you pick up, starting with the most essential... 'The Before Trilogy' - Love is an ongoing conversation. It can be exciting and awkward and scary to start. And it requires work and effort and active participation from all parties to keep going and growing and evolving. Fully examining this notion in ways both figurative and quite literal, Richard Linklater's 'Before Trilogy' captures one couple's romance through three distinct yet irrevocably connected phases -- creating one unified cinematic conversation about love, change, and human connection. Blending a dialogue heavy presentation with a loose narrative construction and understated visuals, Linklater essentially crafts three movies that more or less follow one couple, Jesse and Celine (Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy), as they walk and talk their way through Vienna, Paris, and Greece. All the while, they discuss the general mysteries of existence while they fall in love, part ways, reconnect, get together, and ultimately face the mounting flaws in their once idyllic romance. Shifting nine years with each new installment, the trilogy sees the characters and cast age from their twenties to their thirties to their forties, weaving in real life inspirations from the cast and filmmaker's own experiences in love, marriage, and parenthood. A perfect encapsulation of the director's unassuming, everyday approach to arthouse cinema, the trilogy ultimately paints a deceptively striking and realistic picture of relationships through an affecting tug of war between romanticism and cynicism. With 'The Before Trilogy,' Linklater, Hawke, and Delpy form one of contemporary film's most rewarding collaborations, resulting in a perfectly complementary fusing of their individual artistic gifts and perspectives, elevating the material in ways that would simply be impossible if one link were removed. Collected in a comprehensive boxset complete with a wealth of interesting supplements and an authentic technical presentation, these three films have been given the special treatment that they deserve, giving viewers the opportunity to revisit Jesse and Celine's ongoing conversation whenever they want. Buy the Blu-ray 'Arrival' - Within a linear interpretation of time, the concept of cause and effect couldn't be any simpler. Make one action first, and another incident will occur as a direct consequence. But what if this chain of events was far less rigid and concrete? What if choices and their results existed as sustainable paradoxes, with the response coming at the same time or even before the question? If you already knew the answer would you still ask it? If you already knew the destination and its cost, would you still embark on the journey? Fueled by an emotionally charged examination of memory and communication, Denis Villeneuve's 'Arrival' probes deep into these heady ideas, fully exposing the power of cinematic language and its unique ability to reshape time. Placing a more intimate spin on typical big-screen first contact scenarios, the movie uses its high-concept premise to weave a fundamentally human tale, using the heptapods' arrival and their unique perception to comment directly on our own species' larger struggles to communicate and on one woman's deeply personal journey. As Louise (Amy Adams) gradually unravel the aliens' unconventional language, she begins to experience their nonlinear relationship with time, shifting and rearranging the nature of her choices, allowing Villeneuve to cut in and out of the present and future while simultaneously revealing new meaning within the movie's own structure. As the film's delicately emotional climax unfolds, cause and effect are shed in a new light, forcing us to weigh one tragic result against the immeasurable value of all that leads us there in the first place -- fusing grief and joy into one inseparable amalgam of the human condition. Through memories of the future, 'Arrival' creates an absorbing and emotionally affecting twist, balancing an intimate portrait of love and loss with a larger commentary on the potentially world-saving effects of proper communication. In other words, this is sci-fi at its best. Thankfully, whether viewed on Blu-ray or Ultra HD Blu-ray, this release features solid video, demo-worthy audio, and a great selection of supplements -- making this disc an essential new arrival to any film fan's shelf. Buy the Blu-ray Buy the Ultra HD Blu-ray 'Doctor Strange' - Over the last nine years, Marvel has brought various aliens, gods, monsters, superheroes, and talking raccoons to the silver screen -- but with Doctor Strange, the studio finally opens the door to the world of magic and mysticism. Bringing the legendary Sorcerer Supreme into their cinematic universe, the studio has once again presented an engaging origin story. And though certain elements of the narrative formula are growing stale, the movie features some of Marvel's most striking and engaging visuals yet -- filling the frame with enough mind-bending imagery to put a smile on even the most skeptical Steve Ditko fan's face. Yes, the character's overall arc is undeniably familiar -- turning an arrogant selfish man into an honorable selfless hero -- but that doesn't make the journey any less thrilling and entertaining, especially when a perfectly cast Benedict Cumberbatch serves as its star. And with a generous helping of imaginative effects, the runtime does a great job of introducing audiences to the mystical side of Marvel's world. To be honest, when I first saw the trailers, I thought the flick's visuals made it look like a generic 'Inception' rip-off, but in the practice, the city-folding imagery leads to some very creative set pieces, adding a welcomed sense of scope and scale to the production. Likewise, the filmmakers aren't afraid to embrace the source material's appropriately "strange" elements, leading to one particularly trippy voyage through the multiverse that is sure to leave audiences breathless… and questioning what's in their popcorn. Ending with a rather clever spin on the usual "let's destroy an entire city" superhero finale, the movie leaves us with an unconventional, timey-wimey solution to defeating the big bad -- fully cementing Cumberbatch's take on Doctor Strange as a force to be reckoned with. Likewise, with a great technical presentation (especially in 3D) and a nice assortment of special features, this disc itself is quite a force to be reckoned with as well. Now, let's hurry up and get Strange on screen with the rest of The Avengers. I'm sure I'm not the only one who can't wait to see Cumberbatch and Downey Jr. finally meet goatee to goatee. Buy the Blu-ray Buy the Blu-ray 3D So, there you have it. While there were many titles worth picking up this February, those are our top three must own recommendations. We'll be back next month with three more essential picks, but for now, what do you think of our selection? What are your choices for February's must own titles?Posted Thu Mar 2, 2017 at 10:00 AM PST by: -
Original Theatrical Edition 'Star Wars' Trilogy Blu-ray Rumors Debunked[teaser]A 4K scan of the latest special edition exists, but rumors of restored theatrical cuts of the original trilogy are sadly false.[/teaser] According to a report from The Digital Bits, there are still currently no plans to release the theatrical versions of the original 'Star Wars' trilogy on Blu-ray, digital HD, 4K Ultra HD, or any other formats. Rumors about a possible 40th Anniversary release of the unaltered trilogy originated last week via a story from the website Making Star Wars but, for now, it appears as if those rumblings were false. After some digging, The Digital Bits has discovered that Disney's current 4K scan of 'Star Wars' consists of the latest special edition version -- not the 1977 theatrical edit. In fact, during a recent special event at Ohio State University’s Wexner Center for the Art, Disney’s director of Library Restoration and Preservation, Theo Gluck, stated that the actual studio negative for 'Star Wars' currently exists only as the Special Edition cut. With that said, 20th Century Fox’s Senior Vice President of Library and Technical Services, Shawn Belston, added that the "trims" removed from the original negative during the 90s still exist -- meaning, that if the studio did eventually want to release a restored HD or 4K version of the original trilogy edits, they could technically still piece them together. But, it appears that such a reconstruction is not currently in the works, so the rumored 2017 40th Anniversary release of the theatrical 'Star Wars' trilogy has sadly been debunked. In other words, those still waiting for Han to shoot first again, will have to keep waiting... for now. Meanwhile, the most recent special edition versions of Episodes IV - VI are currently available on Blu-ray, with or without the prequels. Order the Blu-ray Order the Blu-ray Source: The Digital BitsPosted Thu Mar 2, 2017 at 09:00 AM PST by: -
Claude Nuridsany and Marie Pérennou's 'Microcosmos' Announced for Blu-ray[teaser]The acclaimed 1996 documentary is planned for Blu-ray in April. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Kino is bringing 'Microcosmos' to Blu-ray on April 25. One of the most successful nature documentaries of all time, Microcosmos (1996) captures the fun and adventure of a spectacular hidden universe revealed in a breathtaking, close-up view unlike anything you ve ever seen! Your family will marvel at a pair of stag beetles dueling like titans. The kids will stare bug-eyed as a magnificent army of worker ants race to stock their larder ... while trying to avoid becoming a feisty pheasant s dinner. And you ll have a front row seat to witness an amazing transformation from caterpillar to butterfly, the remarkable birth of a mosquito, and several other minute miracles of life. With its tiny cast of thousands, Microcosmos leaves no doubt that Mother Nature remains the greatest special effects wizard of all (New York Times). Specs have yet to be revealed, but supplements include: Making of the documentary (88 minutes); Video interview with directors Claude Nuridsany and Marie Perennou; and Original trailer. You can find the latest specs for 'Microcosmos' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under April 25. Order the Blu-rayPosted Thu Mar 2, 2017 at 08:00 AM PST by: -
'Wheeler' Blu-ray Now Available (February 28)[teaser]The drama starring Stephen Dorff and Kris Kristofferson is now available on Blu-ray. [/teaser] Momentum Pictures has released 'Wheeler' on Blu-ray this week. 'Wheeler' is the story of an aspiring musician from Kaufman, Texas who travels to Nashville with the lifelong dream of trying his hand at country music. By embodying the title character under prosthetic make up, actor Stephen Dorff successfully infiltrates Music City and takes his character on an authentic singer / songwriter journey. With the help of key allies on the ground, "Wheeler" converses with real people in real locations, with every musical number performed live. The line between reality and fiction blurs as Wheeler chases his dream in this touching tribute to old school country legends. Special features include Life Performance from the Bluebird Cafe and Creating Wheeler - Special Effects Makeup. You can find the latest specs for 'Wheeler' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under February 28. Order the Blu-rayPosted Thu Mar 2, 2017 at 06:00 AM PST by: -
Sound United Acquires D+M Group, Including Denon, Marantz, and Boston Acoustics Brands[teaser]D+M Group and its various audio brands will now join Sound United.[/teaser] Sound United LLC has announced the acquisition of D+M Group. As part of the deal, D+M Group's Denon, HEOS by Denon, Marantz, and Boston Acoustics brands will now be owned and operated by Sound United, joining the company's existing portfolio of brands like Polk Audio, Definitive Technology, and Polk BOOM. "Sound United and the D+M Group employees share a culture of innovation and customer focus. We plan to leverage those core values in the combined company in order to offer consumers and our channel partners a breadth of complementary products while expanding our investments in technology development and marketing," said Kevin Duffy, CEO of Sound United. "We welcome the addition of the D+M team and are excited to work together to ensure that this strategic combination capitalizes on its global leadership position while also ensuring that each of our individual brands continues to be highly differentiated in the marketplace. Our existing customers and channel partners will benefit from the enhanced breadth and depth of the combined product portfolio, while our strategic suppliers should be well-positioned to expand with us as we grow." Terms of the sale have not been revealed, but the acquisition was finalized on February 28, 2017. The consolidated company will now combine D+M Group's leadership in audio/video receivers and wireless multi-room audio, with Sound United's leadership in loudspeakers, sound bars, and wireless music systems -- bringing the Denon, HEOS by Denon, Marantz, Boston Acoustics, Polk Audio, Definitive Technology, and Polk BOOM brands all under one combined company. "This transaction is a testament to D+M Group's employees and exceptional brands and all that we've accomplished in the audio industry," said D+M Group CEO Jim Caudill, who will continue as an advisor to the consolidated company. "By joining Sound United, we expect to deliver tremendous value to our customers through access to Sound United's aspirational speaker brands including Polk Audio and Definitive Technology. We believe that this transaction will drive compelling opportunities for our employees, customers, and suppliers, and are looking forward to ensuring the success of the new organization." Source: Sound UnitedPosted Wed Mar 1, 2017 at 06:00 PM PST by: -
Netflix Releases Teaser for 'War Machine' Starring Brad Pitt[teaser]The war film from director David Michôd will hit Netflix in May.[/teaser] Netflix has released a teaser for its latest original film, 'War Machine.' The movie stars Brad Pitt and is set to start streaming exclusively through Netflix on May 26. An absurdist war story for our times, writer-director David Michôd (Animal Kingdom) recreates a U.S. General’s roller-coaster rise and fall as part reality, part savage parody – raising the specter of just where the line between them lies today. His is an exploration of a born leader’s ultra-confident march right into the dark heart of folly. At the story’s core is Brad Pitt’s sly take on a successful, charismatic four-star general who leapt in like a rock star to command NATO forces in Afghanistan, only to be taken down by a journalist’s no-holds-barred exposé. Check out the teaser below! The movie is inspired by the book "The Operators: The Wild & Terrifying Inside Story of America’s War in Afghanistan" by the late journalist Michael Hastings. The cast also includes Tilda Swinton, Sir Ben Kingsley, Anthony Michael Hall, Topher Grace, Will Poulter, Lakeith Stanfield, Emory Cohen, John Magaro, RJ Cyler, Alan Ruck, Scoot McNairy and Meg Tilly. Other upcoming Netflix premieres include a new Amy Schumer comedy special on March 7, 'Love' season two on March 10, 'Iron Fist' on March 17, 'Grace and Frankie' season three on March 24, 'The Discovery' on March 31, '13 Reasons Why' on March 31, 'The Get Down - Part II' on April 7, 'Mystery Science Theater 3000' on April 14, 'Sandy Wexler' on April 14, 'Girlboss' on April 21, 'Bill Nye Saves the World' on April 21, 'Dear White People' on April 28, 'Casting JonBenet' on April 28, 'Anne' on May 12, 'Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt' season three on May 19, 'House of Cards' season five on May 30, 'Orange is the New Black' season five on June 9, and 'Stranger Things' season two on October 31. A current Netflix subscription starts at $10 for HD streaming and $12 for Ultra HD streaming. Source: NetflixPosted Wed Mar 1, 2017 at 03:15 PM PST by: -
'Underworld: Blood Wars' Headed for Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray[teaser]Kate Beckinsale returns to fight Lycans and Vampires on both formats this April.[/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Sony says 'Underworld: Blood Wars' will hit Blu-ray and Ultra HD Blu-ray on April 25. In the next installment of the blockbuster franchise, UNDERWORLD: BLOOD WARS follows Vampire death dealer, Selene (Kate Beckinsale) as she fends off brutal attacks from both the Lycan clan and the Vampire faction that betrayed her. With her only allies, David (Theo James) and his father Thomas (Charles Dance), she must stop the eternal war between Lycans and Vampires, even if it means she has to make the ultimate sacrifice. Specs have yet to be revealed, but supplements include: Official Movie Graphic Novel (Exclusive to iTunes); "The Evolution of Selene"; "Building a Blood War"; "Old & New Blood"; and "The Evil Evolved". You can find the latest specs for 'Underworld: Blood Wars' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under April 25. Order the Blu-ray Order the UHD Blu-rayPosted Wed Mar 1, 2017 at 12:00 PM PST by:
