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Netflix Preps Two New Comedy Specials from Chris Rock[teaser]The celebrated comedian is heading to Netflix. [/teaser] Netflix has announced plans to debut two new original comedy specials from Chris Rock. The shows will mark Rock's return to stand-up after an eight-year absence. "Chris Rock is a beloved actor and director, and his remarkable stand-up makes him comic royalty. There is no one like him, and Netflix offers the global platform and creative freedom that will serve as a perfect home for someone with his incredible talent," said Ted Sarandos, Netflix Chief Content Officer. The first stand-up special is scheduled to tape in 2017 following a new world tour. Beyond the new shows, Chris Rock recently directed the HBO comedy special 'Amy Schumer: Live at the Apollo,' guest-starred on 'Empire,' and made an appearance in the Netflix holiday special 'A Very Murray Christmas.' Likewise, Rock also wrote, directed, and starred in the critically acclaimed film, 'Top Five,' in 2014. "Increasingly, Netflix is becoming the preeminent destination for stand-up comedy, partnering with top-tier talent across a wide variety of styles and humor, enabling them to bring their fresh, distinctive and hilarious voices to our members in 190 countries around the world. Our members discover every day that we truly offer something for every comedy fan, and the comedians we partner with understand the power of having a direct line to our ever-growing global audience. Coming on the heels of our first Emmy win in the category (Patton Oswalt: Talking for Clapping), now is the perfect time to take things to the next level with Chris Rock," said Lisa Nishimura, VP of Original Documentary and Comedy. Other upcoming Netflix premieres include 'Black Mirror' on October 21, 'Into the Inferno' on October 28, 'The Crown' on November 4, 'Lovesick' on November 17, 'Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life' on November 25, and 'Iron Fist' on March 17. A current Netflix subscription starts at $10 for HD streaming and $12 for Ultra HD streaming. Source: NetflixPosted Wed Oct 19, 2016 at 12:30 PM PDT by: -
Benny Chan's 'Call of Heroes' Announced for Blu-ray[teaser]The crime actioner is slated for Blu-ray in December. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Well Go USA is preparing 'Call of Heroes' for Blu-ray on December 6. Multiple Award-Winning Director Benny Chan (Connected, The White Storm) directs a star-studded lineup of action stars in Call of Heroes. Koo stars as the spoiled son of a powerful General who has grown into a vicious and depraved Warlord. Accused of triple murder, his father will destroy the town if his son is convicted and sentenced to death. But injustice cannot go unanswered, and the villagers prepare for the repercussions of punishing a guilty man. Specs have yet to be revealed, but supplements will include the original trailer and the original Cantonese version of the film. You can find the latest specs for 'Call of Heroes' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under December 6. Order the Blu-rayPosted Wed Oct 19, 2016 at 12:00 PM PDT by: -
Michael Anderson's 'Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze' Blu-ray Bound[teaser]The 1975 action-comedy is headed for Blu-ray in November. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Warner Archive is working on 'Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze' for Blu-ray on November 1. Based on the first of Kenneth Robeson's 181 adventure-packed Doc Savage books, Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze hits the screen with all its gee-whiz, gung-ho spirit intact. And its bold protagonist, who along with having a Herculean body is also a surgeon, linguist and inventor, remains determined to do right to all and wrong to no one. Ron Ely (TV's Tarzan) plays the strapping Savage in this high-camp, big- heroics tale of his trek into the Valley of the Vanished to confront the power-hungry Captain Seas (Paul Wexler). And behind the camera are pros who know how to get the most of this entertainment bronze mine: veteran fantasy film producer George Pal (The War of The Worlds, The Time Machine) and director Michael Anderson (Around the World in 80 Days, Logan's Run). The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, lossless 2.0 audio, and supplements include the original theatrical trailer. You can find the latest specs for 'Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under November 1. Order the Blu-rayPosted Wed Oct 19, 2016 at 10:00 AM PDT by: -
Amazon Reveals Official Trailer for 'The Man in the High Castle' Season Two[teaser]A full trailer for the show's upcoming second season has been released. [/teaser] Amazon has debuted an official trailer for the second season of its original series, 'The Man in the High Castle.' The new season is set to premiere on December 16 exclusively for Amazon Prime Instant Video members. Based on Philip K. Dick's award winning novel, and executive produced by Ridley Scott (Blade Runner), and Frank Spotnitz (The X-Files), 'The Man in the High Castle' explores what it would be like if the Allied Powers had lost WWII, and Japan and Germany ruled the United States. Starring Rufus Sewell (John Adams), Luke Kleintank (Pretty Little Liars), and Alexa Davalos (Mob City). The show has been nominated for four Emmy awards, including Outstanding Production Design for a Narrative Contemporary or Fantasy Program (One Hour or More), Outstanding Cinematography for a Single Camera Series, and Outstanding Special Visual Effects. Check out the official season two trailer below! All ten episodes of 'The Man in the High Castle' season one are now available to stream exclusively though Amazon Prime Instant Video. In addition to 'The Man in the High Castle' season two, Amazon also recently renewed 'Bosch' for a fourth season, greenlit full season orders for its 2016 Comedy Pilot Lineup, announced a new series titled 'Britannia' for 2017, started development on 'Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan,' ordered a 13 episode documentary series called 'American Playboy: The Hugh Hefner Story,' announced an additional docuseries titled 'Novak' about tennis player Novak Djokovic, revealed plans to develop a series inspired by 'The Departed,' and renewed 'Catastrophe' for a third and fourth season scheduled for 2017 and 2018 respectively. A current Amazon Prime subscription costs $99 per year or $11 per month. Likewise, Prime Instant Video is available as a standalone service for $8 per month. Source: Amazon (YouTube)Posted Wed Oct 19, 2016 at 08:15 AM PDT by: -
Jem Cohen's 'Counting' Headed for Blu-ray[teaser]The documentary arrives on Blu-ray in November. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Cinema Guild says 'Counting' will be available on Blu-ray on November 8. In fifteen linked chapters shot in locations ranging from Moscow to New York to Istanbul, Counting merges city symphony, diary film, and personal/political essay to create a vivid portrait of contemporary life. Perhaps the most personal of Cohen's films (Museum Hours, Chain, Instrument, Benjamin Smoke), Counting measures street life, light and time, noting not only surveillance and overdevelopment but resistance and its phantoms as manifested in music, animals and everyday magic. Specs have yet to be revealed, but supplements include: Three short films by Jem Cohen: On Essex Road (2016, HD, 11 min), Bury Me Not (2016, HD, 10 min), and Light Years (1989, Super 8, 5 min); Theatrical Trailer; and Illustrated Booklet featuring and essay by Jem Cohen and review by Ann Hornaday of the Washington Post. You can find the latest specs for 'Counting' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under November 8. Order the Blu-rayPosted Wed Oct 19, 2016 at 08:00 AM PDT by: -
David Cronenberg's 'Rabid' Blu-ray Supplements Detailed[teaser]The Collector's Edition Blu-ray will be frothing at the mouth this November. [/teaser] As previously reported, Scream Factory says 'Rabid: Collector's Edition' will be available on Blu-ray on November 22. With Rabid, acclaimed director David Cronenberg (The Fly, Dead Ringers, Naked Lunch) delivers a high-tension thriller filled with "zombified sluts and shock moments… an irresistible combination that Cronenberg handles well" (Almar Haflidason, BBC)! After undergoing radical emergency surgery, Rose (former adult film star Marilyn Chambers in her first leading role in a mainstream film) develops an insatiable desire for blood. She searches out victims to satisfy her incurable craving, infecting them with an unknown disease which in turn swiftly drives them insane… and makes them equally bloodthirsty. Follow the lovely but deadly Rose through her terrifying ordeal as victim by victim, the spreading circle of casualties grows... until no one can escape their grisly fate of becoming... Rabid. Specs have yet to be revealed, but supplements include: NEW 2K Scan From The Negative At Director David Cronenberg's Preferred Aspect Ratio (1.66:1); NEW Audio Interview With Author Jill C. Nelson (Golden Goddesses: 25 Legendary Women Of Classic Erotic Cinema, 1968-1985) And Marilyn Chambers' Personal Appearances Manager Ken Leicht; NEW Young And Rabid – An Interview With Actress Susan Roman; Audio Commentary With Writer/Director David Cronenberg; Audio Commentary With William Beard, Author Of The Artist As Monster: The Cinema Of David Cronenberg; Archival Interview With David Cronenberg; Interview With Executive Producer Ivan Reitman; Interview With Co-producer Don Carmody; From Stereo To Video – A Video Essay By Caelum Vatnsdal, Author Of They Came From Within: A History Of Canadian Horror Cinema; Original Theatrical Trailer And TV Spot; and Radio Spots (U.S. And U.K.). You can find the latest specs for 'Rabid: Collector's Edition' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under November 22.Posted Wed Oct 19, 2016 at 06:00 AM PDT by: -
Criterion's January 2017 Blu-ray Titles Now Available for Pre-Order![teaser]The distributor has revealed its upcoming slate of January releases, including Howard Hawks' 'His Girl Friday.'[/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Criterion is preparing 'His Girl Friday,' 'Something Wild (1961),' 'Fox and His Friends,' and 'Black Girl' for Blu-ray throughout the month of January. 'His Girl Friday' (January 10) - One of the fastest, funniest, and most quotable films ever made, His Girl Friday stars Rosalind Russell as reporter Hildy Johnson, a standout among cinema’s powerful women. Hildy is matched in force only by her conniving but charismatic editor and ex-husband, Walter Burns (played by the peerless Cary Grant), who dangles the chance for her to scoop her fellow newswriters with the story of an impending execution in order to keep her from hopping the train that’s supposed to take her to Albany and a new life as a housewife. When adapting Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur’s smash hit play The Front Page, director Howard Hawks had the inspired idea of turning star reporter Hildy Johnson into a woman, and the result is an immortal mix of hard-boiled newsroom setting with remarriage comedy. Also presented here is a brand-new restoration of the 1931 The Front Page, the famous pre-Code adaptation of the same material, directed by Lewis Milestone. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, an uncompressed English mono soundtrack, and supplements will include: - New 2K restoration of Lewis Milestone’s The Front Page (1931), made from a recently discovered print of the director’s preferred version- New interview with film scholar David Bordwell about His Girl Friday- Archival interviews with director Howard Hawks- Featurettes from 1999 about Hawks, actor Rosalind Russell, and the making of His Girl Friday- Radio adaptation of His Girl Friday from 1940- New piece about the restoration of The Front Page- New piece about playwright and screenwriter Ben Hecht- Radio adaptations of the play The Front Page from 1937 and 1946- His Girl Friday trailers- PLUS: A booklet featuring essays on His Girl Friday and The Front Page by film critics Farran Smith Nehme and Michael Sragow Order the Blu-ray 'Something Wild (1961)' (January 17) - A complex exploration of the physical and emotional effects of trauma,Something Wild stars Carroll Baker, in a layered performance, as a college student who attempts suicide after a brutal sexual assault but is stopped by a mechanic played by Ralph Meeker—whose kindness, however, soon takes an unsettling turn. Startlingly modern in its frankness and psychological realism, the film represents one of the purest on-screen expressions of the sensibility of the intimate community of artists around New York’s Actors Studio, which transformed American cinema in the mid-twentieth century. With astonishing location and claustrophobic interior photography by Eugene Schüfftan, an opening-title sequence by the inimitable Saul Bass, and a rhythmic score by Aaron Copland, this film by Jack Garfein is a masterwork of independent cinema. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, an uncompressed English mono soundtrack, and supplements will include: - New conversation between Garfein and critic Kim Morgan- New interview with actor Carroll Baker- New interview with scholar Foster Hirsch on the Actors Studio’s cinematic legacy- Master Class with Jack Garfein, a 2015 recording of one of the director’s world-famous lectures on acting technique- PLUS: An essay by critic Sheila O’Malley Order the Blu-ray 'Fox and His Friends' (January 17) - A lottery win leads not to financial and emotional freedom but to social captivity in this wildly cynical classic about love and exploitation by Rainer Werner Fassbinder. Casting himself against type, the director plays a suggestible working-class innocent who lets himself be taken advantage of by his bourgeois new boyfriend (Peter Chatel) and his circle of materialistic friends, leading to the kind of resonant misery that only Fassbinder could create. Fox and His Friends is unsparing social commentary, an amusingly pitiless and groundbreaking if controversial depiction of a gay community in 1970s West Germany. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, an uncompressed German mono soundtrack, and supplements will include: - New interview with actor Harry Baer- New interview with filmmaker Ira Sachs- Excerpt from a 1975 interview with director Rainer Werner Fassbinder- Excerpts from a 1981 interview with composer Peer Raben- Trailer- PLUS: An essay by film critic Michael Koresky Order the Blu-ray 'Black Girl' (January 24) - Ousmane Sembène was one of the greatest and most groundbreaking filmmakers who ever lived, as well as the most internationally renowned African director of the twentieth century—but his name deserves to be better known in the rest of the world. He made his feature debut in 1966 with the brilliant and stirring Black Girl. Sembène, who was also an acclaimed novelist in his native Senegal, transforms a deceptively simple plot—about a young Senegalese woman who moves to France to work for a wealthy white couple and finds that life in their small apartment becomes a prison, both figuratively and literally—into a complexly layered critique of the lingering colonialist mind-set of a supposedly postcolonial world. Featuring a moving central performance by M’Bissine Thérèse Diop, Black Girl is a harrowing human drama as well as a radical political statement—and one of the essential films of the 1960s. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, an uncompressed Wolof/French LPCM mono soundtrack, and supplements will include: - 4K restoration of the short film Borom sarret, director Ousmane Sembène’s acclaimed 1963 debut- New interviews with scholars Manthia Diawara and Samba Gadjigo- Excerpt from a 1966 broadcast of JT 20h, featuring Sembène accepting the Prix Jean Vigo for Black Girl- New interview with actor M’Bissine Thérèse Diop- Trailer- PLUS: An essay by critic Ashley Clark- More! Order the Blu-ray Suggested list price for 'His Girl Friday' is $49.95. Suggested list price for 'Something Wild (1961),' 'Fox and His Friends,' and 'Black Girl' is $39.95 each. You can find the latest specs for all of the titles listed above linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where they're indexed throughout January.Posted Tue Oct 18, 2016 at 01:00 PM PDT by: -
Stephen Frears' 'Florence Foster Jenkins' Blu-ray Bound[teaser]The comedy drama starring Meryl Streep and Hugh Grant is planned for Blu-ray in December. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Paramount is working on 'Florence Foster Jenkins' for Blu-ray on December 13. Based on the incredible true story, Academy Award winner Meryl Streep stars as a New York socialite who dreams of becoming a great opera singer. While the voice she hears in her head is beautiful, to everyone else it is hilariously awful. Her husband and biggest fan, St. Clair Bayfield (Hugh Grant) is determined to protect his beloved Florence from the truth. But when Florence stages a huge concert at Carnegie Hall, he faces his greatest challenge to make sure her performance hits all the right notes. Directed by Stephen Frears (The Queen, Philomena), FLORENCE FOSTER JENKINS also stars Simon Helberg ("The Big Bang Theory") and Rebecca Ferguson (Mission: Impossible—Rogue Nation). Specs have yet to be revealed, but supplements include: Deleted Scenes; "Ours is a Happy World"; The Music and Songs of Florence; Designing the Look; From Script to Screen; Florence Foster Jenkins World Premiere; Q&A with Meryl Streep; and Live at Carnegie Hall. You can find the latest specs for 'Florence Foster Jenkins' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under December 13. Order the Blu-rayPosted Tue Oct 18, 2016 at 12:00 PM PDT by: -
VUDU Introduces "Movies On Us" Free Streaming Collection with Limited Commercials[teaser]The streaming platform now offers a growing collection of free titles. [/teaser] VUDU has announced the launch of its "Movies On Us" selection of free, ad-supported digital movies and TV shows. The current library includes content from Paramount, WB, Lionsgate, MGM, Anchor Bay and others. VUDU Movies On Us offers thousands of streaming movies and TV shows for free with limited commercials. Films available to stream now include 'True Grit,' 'A Walk to Remember,' 'Abduction,' 'Escape from Planet Earth,' 'School of Rock,' 'Winter's Bone,' 'Margin Call,' and more, along with several documentaries and anime titles. Free content is available to stream in up to 1080p with Dolby Digital sound when available. The Movies On Us selection is supported across many media devices, including Android and iOS products, Internet-enabled TV and Blu-ray players, PlayStation, and streaming players like Roku. To access the VUDU Movies On Us library users need to: - Sign in/Sign up at Vudu on your desktop, mobile or living room device- Click on the "New" tab on your desktop, or "Spotlight" tab on your living room or mobile device- Then click on "Movies On Us" to access thousands of free movies with limited ads In addition to its new free selection of Movies On Us titles, VUDU also recently announced the addition of 'Star Trek Beyond' to its library of 4K Ultra HD premium titles with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. The film is now available for sale and download directly from vudu.com or from the app on mobile devices, set-top boxes, and nearly all Smart TV's. Other VUDU Dolby Vision titles include 'Mad Max: Fury Road,' 'The Man from U.N.C.L.E.,' 'The Gallows,' 'Entourage,' 'San Andreas,' 'American Sniper,' 'Man of Steel,' 'Jupiter Ascending,' 'Pan,' 'We Are Your Friends,' 'Pacific Rim,' 'Edge of Tomorrow,' 'Into the Storm,' 'The Legend of Tarzan,' 'Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,' 'Warcraft,' 'Lucy,' 'Oblivion,' and more. Source: VUDUPosted Tue Oct 18, 2016 at 11:45 AM PDT by: -
Klipsch Unveils Limited Edition Cornwall and La Scala 70th Anniversary Heritage Series Speakers[teaser]Two more limited edition Heritage Series speakers have been detailed. [/teaser] To celebrate its 70th anniversary, Klipsch is releasing two more limited edition speaker models. The new collection includes the Cornwall and La Scala speakers. Both models feature an exotic Australian Walnut wood veneer, a unique silver luster grille cloth, special edition logos, and a signature 70th Anniversary plaque identifying their numbered sequence in the series. The Cornwall speaker was first introduced in 1959 and was the first Klipsch loudspeaker designed to work from a corner or against a wall -- hence its name. The Cornwall III uses a three-way design with horn-loaded compression drivers for the midrange and treble, and a direct-radiating 15-inch woofer for the low frequencies. Meanwhile, the La Scala speaker was first introduced in 1963 when it was designed for Arkansas gubernatorial candidate Winthrop Rockefeller to use as a public address speaker. The fully horn-loaded, three-way speaker can generate 105 decibels of sound pressure on a single watt. The 70th Anniversary Cornwall ($6,000 per pair) and La Scala ($14,000 per pair) speakers will be available at authorized retailers and at Klipsch.com in October 2016. The limited edition 70th anniversary run will include 70 handcrafted pairs of each model. In addition to the newly announced Cornwall and La Scala speakers, the company also previously released limited edition 70th Anniversary Heritage Series versions of its Klipschorn ($16,000 per pair) and Heresy ($3,200 per pair) speakers. Both models feature design enhancements, exotic wood veneer finishes, special edition logos, and unique grille cloths. The Klipschorn speaker was first developed in 1946 and is the only speaker model in the world to remain in continuous production for over 70 years. The current model features a newly enhanced rear low frequency horn that is now fully enclosed. Meanwhile, the Heresy speaker was originally released in 1957, and was designed to serve as a compact center channel speaker to be used with the Klipschorn in three speaker stereo setups. For its current third generation model, the Heresy was upgraded with a more powerful woofer, bi-wire network, and midrange and tweeter compression drivers with a titanium diaphragm. Source: KlipschPosted Tue Oct 18, 2016 at 10:00 AM PDT by:
