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Criterion & Turner Set October 19 Launch Date for FilmStruck Streaming Service[teaser]The upcoming streaming platform is geared toward film buffs. [/teaser] The Criterion Collection and Turner Classic Movies have announced a launch date for their new subscription streaming service, FilmStruck. The ad-free subscription platform will arrive on October 19, offering a curated and constantly refreshed library of streaming independent, art-house, international, cult, and contemporary cinema. "FilmStruck is a departure from the timeless Hollywood classics that we offer at TCM and a genuinely distinct offering for the streaming marketplace, focusing on a thoughtfully curated experience around hard-to-find, critically acclaimed, independent films from the most celebrated libraries in the world," said Jennifer Dorian, general manager of TCM and FilmStruck. "By combining the expertise at TCM and the Criterion Collection - two of the leading authorities in film preservation and history - we have created something really special that is a must-have for passionate film lovers." FilmStruck offers a mix of contemporary and classic arthouse, indie, foreign and cult films from many major studios and independent distributors, including Janus Films, Flicker Alley, Icarus Films, Kino, Milestone, Zeitgeist, Film Movement, Global Lens, First Run Features, Oscilloscope Laboratories, Shout Factory, Warner Bros., and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). Likewise, the platform also includes extensive bonus content, filmmaker interviews and rare footage. Titles set to be featured include 'Babette's Feast,' 'Blood Simple,' 'Blow-Up,' 'Breaker Morant,' 'A Hard Day's Night,' 'Mad Max,' 'Metropolis,' 'Moulin Rouge,' 'My Life as a Dog,' 'Paths of Glory,' 'The Player,' 'A Room with a View,' 'Seven Samurai,' 'The Seventh Seal,' 'The Unbearable Lightness of Being,' 'Stardust Memories,' 'The Trip to Bountiful,' 'The Umbrellas of Cherbourg' and more. And beyond the standard FilmStruck library, starting November 11 subscribers will also be able to sign up for the Criterion Channel -- a premium add-on service that will be dedicated to the Criterion Collection with access to the company's entire streaming library of films and special features. Here's a full rundown of subscription plans per the press release: - FilmStruck Subscription: $6.99/month, offering hundreds of constantly refreshed, hard-to-find and critically acclaimed films, plus exclusive bonus content including hosted introductions, originally produced pieces, interviews and rare footage - FilmStruck + The Criterion Channel Subscription: $10.99/month, offering everything in the FilmStruck subscription plus unlimited access to Criterion's entire streaming library of films and special features, along with channel-exclusive original programming such as filmmaker profiles, master classes, and curated series by celebrated guests from the film world and beyond - Annual Subscription: $99/year for FilmStruck + The Criterion Channel (a $30 annual savings) FilmStruck will launch on October 19 exclusively on Amazon Fire TV, web, iOS and Android devices. Support for Apple TV and other devices will be added in the coming months. In addition, new users can receive a special 14-day free trial. Source: FilmStruckPosted Thu Oct 6, 2016 at 02:30 PM PDT by: -
'Jason Bourne' Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Announced[teaser]Matt Damon is back as the titular badass this winter. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Universal is working on 'Jason Bourne' for Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray on December 6. Years after the events of The Bourne Ultimatum, former CIA assassin Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) resurfaces just as his former employers are implementing a new program aimed at hunting him down. Now fully recovered from his amnesia, Bourne teams up with Nicky Parsons (Julia Stiles) to uncover the ultimate truth about his past and his family while simultaneously exacting revenge and eluding capture by the government forces hot on his trail. Paul Greengrass returns to helm this sequel, with Tommy Lee Jones, Alicia Vikander, and Vincent Cassel co-starring. Each release will feature a DTS:X soundtrack and supplements include: Bringing Back Bourne - Matt Damon and Director Paul Greengrass discuss how they brought a beloved character back to the big screen; Bourne to Fight - A behind-the-scenes look at the fight sequences in Jason Bourne; The Athens Escape - Matt Damon, stunt coordinator Gary Powell and second unit director Simon Crane discuss the challenges of shooting a chase sequence through cramped city streets; and Las Vegas Showdown - For the final act of Jason Bourne, filmmakers wanted something bigger and bolder than ever before. Here's an inside look at how they pulled it off. You can find the latest specs for 'Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under December 6. Order the Blu-ray Order the Blu-rayPosted Thu Oct 6, 2016 at 12:30 PM PDT by: -
'Suicide Squad' Dated for Blu-ray, Blu-ray 3D & Ultra HD Blu-ray[teaser]The ragtag team of supervillains will assemble on Blu-ray, Blu-ray 3D and Ultra HD Blu-ray this holiday season.[/teaser] As previously reported, Warner Bros. is preparing 'Suicide Squad' for Blu-ray and Ultra HD Blu-ray, and now the date has been set for December 13. A Blu-ray 3D release has also been recently announced. From director David Ayer ('Fury,' 'End of Watch') comes 'Suicide Squad,' starring Oscar nominee Will Smith, Oscar winner Jared Leto, Margot Robbie, Joel Kinnaman and Oscar nominee Viola Davis. It feels good to be bad... Assemble a team of the world's most dangerous, incarcerated Super Villains, provide them with the most powerful arsenal at the government's disposal, and send them off on a mission to defeat an enigmatic, insuperable entity. U.S. intelligence officer Amanda Waller has determined only a secretly convened group of disparate, despicable individuals with next to nothing to lose will do. However, once they realize they weren't picked to succeed but chosen for their patent culpability when they inevitably fail, will the Suicide Squad resolve to die trying, or decide it's every man for himself? Specs and supplements have yet to be revealed, but the releases will include the extended cut of the film with 13 additional minutes of footage not seen in theaters. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $35.99. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray 3D and Ultra HD Blu-ray is $44.95. You can find the latest specs for 'Suicide Squad' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule and our Ultra HD Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under December 13. Order the Ultra HD Blu-ray Order the Blu-rayPosted Thu Oct 6, 2016 at 12:00 PM PDT by: -
Henry King's 'David And Bathsheba' Blu-ray Bound[teaser]The 1951 film starring Gregory Peck and Susan Hayward is headed for Blu-ray next year.[/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Kino is working on 'David And Bathsheba' for Blu-ray next year. A Biblical tale of love, tragedy, loss and redemption. Gregory Peck stars in this gripping retelling of the beloved Old Testament story. Although he has killed Goliath and prevailed in countless battles, there is one that Israel's King David (Peck) cannot vanquish: love. Smitten with the beautiful Bathsheba (Susan Hayward), David sends her soldier husband, Uriah (Kieron Moore), into a hopeless battle, setting into motion his own downward spiral. Neglecting kingdom and faith, David incurs the wrath of God, the destruction of his country and the ill will of his people, who expect Bathsheba to pay the ultimate price for adultery. Gorgeously filmed, rapturously acted and deeply moving David And Bathsheba's tale of romantic obsession is as beautiful as it is timeless. You can find the latest specs for 'David And Bathsheba' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under PENDING.Posted Thu Oct 6, 2016 at 12:00 PM PDT by: -
'The Secret Life of Pets' Dated and Detailed for Blu-ray, Blu-ray 3D, and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray[teaser]The animated comedy arrives on all formats this December.[/teaser]As previously reported, Universal is preparing 'The Secret Life of Pets' for Blu-ray, Blu-ray 3D, and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray later this year, and now the date has been set for December 6. In addition, a Target exclusive Steelbook Edition will also be available. Louis C.K., Eric Stonestreet, and Kevin Hart lend their voice talents to this action/adventure comedy taking a hilarious look into the lives of Pets. Set in a Manhattan apartment building, pets gather to start their day as the two-legged residents head for work and school. The head hound is a quick-witted terrier rescue, whose position at the epicenter of his master's universe is suddenly threatened when she comes home with Duke, a sloppy mongrel with no polish. The two soon find themselves on the mean streets of New York, where they meet the adorable white bunny Snowball. It turns out that Snowball is the leader of an army of pets that were abandoned and are determined to get back at humanity and every owner-loving pet. The dogs must thwart this plot and make it back in time for dinner. Each release will feature a Dolby Atmos soundtracks and supplements include: How to Make an Animated Film – A behind-the-scenes look at how to make an animated film from the various departments that make up Illumination. (Blu-ray exclusive); Anatomy of a Scene – Filmmakers and animators take us through the multi-step process it takes to create a specific scene in the Secret Life of Pets (Blu-ray exclusive); 3 Mini-Movies: Norman Television, Weenie, and Mower Minions; All About The Pets – Kevin Hart and Eric Stonestreet, with the help of animal trainer Molly Mignon O'Neill take you on an educational journey to learn more about your average and not-so average, household pets; Animals Can Talk: Meet The Actors – The comedy superstars who give voice to the film's menagerie of characters talk about their roles and the process of bringing them to life; Hairstylist To The Dogs – Inspired by "Hairspray Live!," Eric Stonestreet, with the help of a professional dog groomer Jess Rona, will take you through the basic steps to help your pups look as awesome as possible when they're hanging out with their pet pals; The Best Of Snowball – A rapid-fire, fun and oddly musical mash-up of all the best Snowball one-liners; Hot Dog Sing-Along – Join Max and Duke as they perform for their dinner in the sausage factory. This straightforward sing along is fun for the whole family to enjoy; Sing Trailer; "Lovely Day" Lyric Video; The Humans that Brought You Pets – Producers Chris Meledandri and Janet Healy, directors Chris Renaud and Yarrow Cheney, and writer Brian Lynch discuss what went into creating The Secret Life of Pet's compelling characters and non-stop action; GoPro®: The Secret Life of Pets; and The Making of the Mini-Movies – A fun and interesting take on the Making of the Mini-Movies – we'll explore the themes of each of the mini-movies through the eyes of the artists who made them. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $34.98. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray 3D is $44.98. Suggested list price for the Steelbook is $22.99 You can find the latest specs for 'The Secret Life of Pets' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under December 6. Order the Blu-ray 3D Order the Blu-rayPosted Thu Oct 6, 2016 at 11:00 AM PDT by: -
SVS Announces a New Flagship Subwoofer, the SVS 16-Ultra[teaser]Available in both sealed and ported models.[/teaser] SVS, a brand built on their history of legendary subwoofers, has a new top of the range. The SVS 16-Ultra Series uses a 16-inch driver and an 8-inch wound voice coil to go with the 1,500 watts continuous, 5,000+ watts peak amplifier, but this design is much more than just more power in a big mold. Both the sealed SB16-Ultra and the ported PB16-Ultra utilize MOSFET output and a top-tier Analog Devices Audio DSP to deliver incredible power in an effortless manner. And when it comes to controlling and dialing that power in, the 16-Ultra offers users a bevy of options including custom presets that the user can set in a Smartphone App (delivered via Bluetooth) or with the angled front display and control combo. The included IR remote is likely to be a popular choice, but with the smartphone app, the sub can be controlled even when out of sight. Being a SVS product, special attention has been paid to the materials and construction, and the SVS claims to have delivered "an acoustically inert environment" free of any resonance from the cabinet and able to deliver the "deepest low frequencies" at reference levels. The sealed SB16-Ultra is priced at $1,999.99 and houses its 16" driver and 8" wound coil in a 20" (H) x 19.5" (W) x 20.1" (D) cabinet which weighs in at 122lbs. The sub comes in Piano Gloss Black and Black Oak Veneer with a steel mesh grille. The triple ported PB16-Ultra is priced at $2499.99 and houses its 16" driver, 8" wound coil, and triple ports in 25" (H) x 21.7" (W) x 30.9" (D) cabinet which weighs in at 174.5lbs. As with the SVS PB12-Plus and PB13-Ultra, the PB16-Ultra ports can be sealed remotely and the PB16-Ultra can even go from 3 to 2 ports open when needed. The sub comes in Piano Gloss Black and Black Oak Veneer with a steel mesh grille. Both the SB16-Ultra and the PB16-Ultra start shipping on November 1st, and will be demonstrated at the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest this weekend (Room 8004). SVS is hosting a series of demonstrations which will include the new subs and the Prime Elevation Speaker throughout October and will be giving away a SVS Prime 5.1.2 speaker package at each event (see the locations and details here). Source: SVSPosted Thu Oct 6, 2016 at 10:37 AM PDT by: -
'The Perfect Weapon' Blu-ray Announced[teaser]The 2016 sci-fi thriller starring Steven Seagal, Johnny Messner, and Sasha Jackson will hit Blu-ray this December. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Sony is preparing 'The Perfect Weapon' for Blu-ray on December 6. In a not too distant future, a totalitarian state secret government organization run by the Director (Steven Seagal) controls all aspects of life. All enemies of the state are dealt with in the harshest way possible and executed by a secret organization's operatives and assassins. The best operative, code-named Condor (Johnny Messner), is an elite agent and hit man for the corrupt government. But in his latest assignment he fails to eliminate his target and soon finds himself on the run from the very same government agency that made him. As he starts to question why this particular mission failed, Condor discovers that he's been betrayed and manipulated by the very few people he trusted. This includes Nina (Sasha Jackson), Condor's beautiful ex-girlfriend with an agenda of her own. His revelation sets in motion a chain of events with unimaginable and deadly consequences for everyone involved including the powerful and ruthless Director. On the run and out of time, Condor may just survive the government's attack and his so-called allies' betrayal as he is… The Perfect Weapon. No other details have been revealed at this time. You can find the latest specs for 'The Perfect Weapon' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under December 6.Posted Thu Oct 6, 2016 at 10:00 AM PDT by: -
Larry Charles' 'Army of One' Headed to Blu-ray[teaser]Nicolas Cage is on a mission from God in November. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Starz/Anchor Bay says 'Army of One' will be available on Blu-ray on November 15. Gary Faulkner (Nicolas Cage) is an ex-con, unemployed handyman, and modern day Don Quixote who receives a vision from God (Russell Brand) telling him to capture Osama Bin Laden. Armed with only a single sword purchased from a home-shopping network, Gary travels to Pakistan to complete his mission. While on his quest, Gary encounters old friends back home in Colorado, the new friends he makes in Pakistan, the enemies he makes at the CIA - and even God and Osama themselves. Wendi McLendon-Covey, Rainn Wilson, and Paul Scheer also star in this hilarious tale of patriotism and one man's quest for justice. No other details have been revealed at this time. You can find the latest specs for 'Army of One' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under November 15. Order the Blu-rayPosted Thu Oct 6, 2016 at 08:00 AM PDT by: -
Dick Maas's 'Amsterdamned' and 'The Lift' Prepped for Blu-ray[teaser]Both cult films are slated for Blu-ray in 2017. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Blue Underground says 'Amsterdamned' and 'The Lift' will be available on Blu-ray sometime in the new year. 'Amsterdamned' - There is a serial killer at bay in Amsterdam's canal network and the race is on to stop him before mass hysteria grips the nation. Dick Maas's cult slasher movie starts as it means to go on when the predator leaves the protective habitat of the dark canal to claim his first victim before dragging her back into a watery grave. Starring Huub Stapel, Monique van de Ven, Serge-Henri Valcke, Tanneke Hartzuiker, Wim Zomer, and Hidde Maas. 'The Lift' - A lift begins displaying some erratic behavior, like trapping some party goers and nearly suffocating them, and decapitating a security guard. Felix, the technician from the lift company, can't find anything wrong with the circuitry. When he and a nosy reporter begin asking questions of the lift company's electronics partner (Rising Sun Electronics), his boss puts him on a leave of absence. A subsequent visit to a professor leads them to believe that some evil experiments are being conducted with microchips. Starring Huub Stapel, Willeke van Ammelrooy, Josine van Dalsum, and Liz Snoyink. No other details have been revealed at this time. You can find the latest specs for 'Amsterdamned' and 'The Lift' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where they're indexed under PENDING.Posted Thu Oct 6, 2016 at 06:00 AM PDT by: -
Hisense Reveals New Big Screen 4K Ultra HD TV Lineup with HDR, Prices Start at $1,000[teaser]The company is entering the big-screen TV market with several new display models. [/teaser] Hisense has announced several new additions to its LCD Ultra HD TV lineup, offering screen sizes larger than 65-inches for the first time. In addition, the company has also announced a 100-inch 4K Laser TV. "At Hisense, we are dedicated to continually pushing the envelope with innovative design, technology and value to the consumer," said Jerry Liu, Chief Executive Officer of Hisense Americas. "It only makes sense that as we continue to grow our presence in the United States, we bring our approach to affordable luxury to the larger screen television categories as well." As part of the expanded lineup, Hisense will be releasing four new models under its H8 series, including 65 ($1,000), 70 ($2,500), 75 ($3,000) and 86-inch ($6,000) displays. All four models offer 4K HDR10 processing. In addition, the 65 and 75-inch screen sizes use edge-lit panels with multi-zone Local Dimming, while the 70 and 86-inch sizes use direct LED technology and Ultra Black Full Array Local Dimming. Likewise, both the 65 and 75-inch screen sizes feature a Pure Color Wide Color Gamut that supports more than 83 percent of the DCI-P3 color spectrum. The 70 and 75-inch models will be available in December, and the other sizes are expected to go on sale in early 2017. Next up, Hisense also detailed the new 65-inch H9 series ULED Ultra HD TV. The display uses an edge-lit panel with multi-zone local dimming and features 4K HDR10 playback, Wide Color Gamut support for over 83 percent of DCI-P3, UHD upscaling, and dbx-Award-Winning Audio. The 65-inch H9 will be available in early 2017 for $1,700. Also set for an early 2017 release, is the company's upcoming 70-inch H10 series ULED Ultra HD TV. The advanced display features Ultra Black Full Array Local Dimming with 320 zones, UHD Premium certification with 4K HDR10 playback, Quantum Dot technology, Wide Color Gamut support, and dbx Award winning audio. The 70-inch H10 display will retail for $3,500. Finally, Hisense also revealed a 100-inch state-of-the-art 4K Laser TV. The TV uses a short-throw projector to display a 4K picture that measures 100-inches diagonal. In addition, the Laser TV offers HDR processing, UHD upscaling, and a 5.1 surround sound speaker system. The H9900 Series 4K Laser TV will be available in Summer 2017 for an expected retail price of $12,999. "As screen sizes get larger, the panels become heavier and more costly to produce. Bringing a 4K panel television of over 100-inches into the home is extremely cost-prohibitive," says Jerry Liu, CEO of Hisense America’s. "We believe the future of the big-screen is panel-less, and our 4K Laser TV is evidence that size and picture quality can be more accessible." Stay tuned to High-Def Digest for detailed impressions of Hisense's new Ultra HD TV and 4K Laser TV lineup! Source: HisensePosted Wed Oct 5, 2016 at 05:15 PM PDT by:
