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Richard Wenk's 'Vamp' Announced for Blu-ray[teaser]The horror comedy is sharpening its fangs for Blu-ray in October. [/teaser]In an early announcement to retailers, Arrow Video is preparing 'Vamp' for Blu-ray on October 4. Two fraternity pledges head to a seedy part of town to find some entertainment for their college friends but are faced with bloodthirsty vampires! Keith (Chris Makepeace, Meatballs) and AJ (Robert Rusler, A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy s Revenge) want to make the right impression at college and so they devise a plan to get them into the best frathouse on campus. They head to the After Dark Club where they want to find a stripper for a party their friends won t forget, instead they find themselves among vampires led by Kinky Katrina (Grace Jones, A View to a Kill)! Almost certainly an influence on From Dusk til Dawn, Vamp is superbly designed by many of Grace Jones own award-winning collaborators and features stunning effects by four-time Oscar winner Greg Cannom (The Lost Boys, Bram Stoker s Dracula). Delivering laughs and scares in equal measure, with the added bonus of vampy sex appeal, Vamp is a comedy horror romp with real bite! The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, an LPCM mono soundtrack, and supplements will include: One of those Nights: The Making of Vamp - a brand new documentary featuring interviews with director Richard Wenk, stars Robert Rusler, Dedee Pfeiffer, Gedde Watanabe; Behind-the-scenes rehearsals; Blooper Reel; Image gallery; Dracula Bites the Big Apple (1979) - Richard Wenk's celebrated short film; and a Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by the Twins of Evil. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $29.95. You can find the latest specs for 'Vamp' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under October 4. Order the Blu-rayPosted Thu Aug 18, 2016 at 06:00 AM PDT by: -
LG Announces New Minibeam Portable Projectors, Prices Start at $350[teaser]Two new minibeam projector models have been detailed. [/teaser] LG has announced the latest additions to its portable projector lineup. The upcoming PH450U and PH150G are set to debut next month at IFA 2016 in Berlin. "With more variety than ever before, LG's expanded lineup Minibeam projectors offer expanded features with enhanced connectivity for consumers, which means delivering unparalleled freedom and viewing convenience to enjoy entertainment," said Tim Alessi, Senior Director, Product Marketing for home entertainment at LG Electronics USA. The PH450U minibeam DLP projector is capable of displaying an 80 inch HD (1280 x 720) image from a distance of only 13 inches from the screen. The model offers a contrast ratio of 100,000:1 and up to 450 lumens, making it one of the brightest battery-powered ultra short-throw projectors on the market. In addition to traditional projection, the device can also be positioned upright to create images on any flat, horizontal surface like a desk, table or even floor. HDMI with MHL capability, USB, and wireless connectivity via WiDi or Miracast are integrated as well. Likewise, users can wirelessly stream audio from the projector through Bluetooth. Finally, the unit comes equipped with a built in rechargeable 2.5-hour battery. Meanwhile, the PH150G offers the same connectivity features in an even more compact form factor. The LCoS projector is capable of displaying up to a 100-inch screen size in HD resolution (1280 x 720). The device offers up to 130 lumens of brightness along with a 100,000:1 contrast ratio. A built in rechargeable 2.5-hour battery is also included. Here's a full rundown of pricing and availability for LG's new minibeam projectors: - Battery Embedded Ultra Short-Throw Projector with TV Tuner (PH450U): $649.99, available September at Best Buy. - Battery Embedded Ultra Short-Throw Projector (PH450UG): $649.99, available October at retailers nationwide. - Battery Embedded Projector (PH150G): $349.99, available October at retailers nationwide. Source: LGPosted Wed Aug 17, 2016 at 06:00 PM PDT by: -
VUDU Adds New 4K Ultra HD Titles from Universal with Dolby Vision & Dolby Atmos[teaser]Several Universal movies are now available in Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. [/teaser] VUDU, Dolby, and Universal have announced the release of the first crop of Universal movies with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos on VUDU. Universal titles now available for purchase or rental through VUDU in Dolby Vision high dynamic range include 'The Huntsman: Winter's War,' 'Lucy,' 'Oblivion,' and 'Lone Survivor.' In addition, 'Lucy' and 'Oblivion' also feature Dolby Atmos immersive audio tracks. "We're thrilled to partner with UPHE to deliver these exciting titles with the breathtaking color, deep contrast, and striking highlights that customers have come to expect from Dolby Vision. Combined with Dolby Atmos immersive audio, Universal titles such as "Lucy" and "Oblivion" have never looked—or sounded—better," said Curt Behlmer, Senior Vice President, Content Solutions and Industry Relations, Dolby Laboratories. "As more Dolby Vision enabled displays hit the market, streaming partners like VUDU make Dolby's next-generation imaging technology easier to experience than ever before." Dolby Vision uses HDR (high dynamic range) and expanded colors to offer enhanced contrast and picture on supported displays -- including VIZIO's 2016 P-Series and M-Series, as well as LG's 2016 OLED and SUPER UHD lineup. Meanwhile, Dolby Atmos is an immersive, object-based audio technology that allows users to add overhead audio to supported sound systems. Beyond the new VUDU titles from Universal, here's a rundown of recent Dolby Vision news and highlights across cinemas and home entertainment platforms: - All 7 major Hollywood studios support Dolby Vision in the cinema and consumers can visit Dolby Cinema locations around the world for this experience. - Universal Pictures, MGM, Sony Pictures, Warner Bros., and Lionsgate support Dolby Vision in the home.- Nearly 50 titles available on VUDU from Universal, MGM, and Warner Bros.- On Amazon, 10 titles are available from Sony Pictures in addition to the second season of the Amazon Original Series Bosch.- Netflix is streaming Marco Polo season 1&2, The Do-Over, and The Ridiculous 6 in Dolby Vision, and has committed to 150 hours of original content by end of year.- Over 60 titles in Dolby Vision are now available for consumers via Netflix, Amazon Video and VUDU. "At VUDU, we're committed to providing customers with the best possible home entertainment experience, and partnering with Dolby on HDR delivers on that promise," said Scott Blanksteen, Vice President of Product, VUDU. "We're excited to add these new Universal titles to our library and offer customers the largest selection of premium HDR movies of any digital service." Source: DolbyPosted Wed Aug 17, 2016 at 04:15 PM PDT by: -
HDD Gear Deals: Up to 22% off Fire Tablets & Amazon Tap Portable Speaker[teaser]Amazon is offering discounts on the Amazon Tap and Fire tablets! [/teaser] As part of the online retailer's ongoing deals, Amazon is running a sale on select Fire tablets and the Amazon Tap Alexa-Enabled Portable Bluetooth Speaker. Fire Kids Edition Tablet, 7" Display, Wi-Fi, 8 GB, Pink Kid-Proof Case - Currently $70 (22% off). Fire Kids Edition Tablet, 7" Display, Wi-Fi, 16 GB, Blue Kid-Proof Case - Currently $80 (20% off). Fire HDX 8.9 Tablet, Wi-Fi and 4G LTE, 32 GB, Includes Special Offers - Currently $430 (19% off). Fire HDX 8.9 Tablet, Wi-Fi and 4G LTE, 64 GB, Includes Special Offers - Currently $480 (17% off). Amazon Tap Alexa-Enabled Portable Bluetooth Speaker - Currently $115 (12% 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 Wed Aug 17, 2016 at 03:15 PM PDT by: -
Criterion's November 2016 Blu-ray Titles Now Available for Pre-Order![teaser]The distributor has revealed its upcoming slate of November releases, including Paul Thomas Anderson's 'Punch-Drunk Love' and 'Akira Kurosawa's Dreams.' [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Criterion is preparing 'The Squid and the Whale,' 'One-Eyed Jacks,' 'Punch-Drunk Love,' 'Akira Kurosawa's Dreams,' and 'Lone Wolf and Cub' for Blu-ray throughout the month of November. 'Lone Wolf and Cub' (November 8) - Based on the best-selling manga series, the six intensely kinetic Lone Wolf and Cub films elevated chanbara to bloody new heights. The shogun’s executioner, Itto Ogami (Tomisaburo Wakayama), takes to wandering the countryside as an assassin—along with his infant son Daigoro (Akihiro Tomikawa) and an infinitely weaponized perambulator—helping those he encounters while seeking vengeance for his murdered wife. Delivering stylish thrills and a body count that defies belief, Lone Wolf and Cub is beloved for its brilliantly choreographed action sequences as well as for its tender depiction of the bonds between parent and child. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, uncompressed Japanese mono soundtracks, and supplements will include: High-definition presentation of Shogun Assassin, the 1980 English-dubbed reedit of the first two Lone Wolf and Cub films; New interview with Kazuo Koike, writer of the Lone Wolf and Cub manga series and screenwriter on five of the films; Lame d’un père, l’âme d’un sabre, a 2005 documentary about the making of the series; New interview in which Sensei Yoshimitsu Katsuse discusses and demonstrates the real Suio-ryu sword techniques that inspired those in the manga and films; New interview with biographer Kazuma Nozawa about filmmaker Kenji Misumi, director of four of the six Lone Wolf and Cub films; Silent documentary from 1937 about the making of samurai swords, with an optional new ambient score by Ryan Francis; Trailers; PLUS: A booklet featuring an essay and film synopses by Japanese pop culture writer Patrick Macias. Order the Blu-ray 'Akira Kurosawa's Dreams' (November 15) - Unfolding in a series of mythic vignettes, this late work by Akira Kurosawa brings eight of the beloved director’s own nighttime visions, informed by tales from Japanese folklore, to cinematic life. In a visually sumptuous journey through the master’s unconscious, tales of childlike wonder give way to apocalyptic visions: a young boy stumbles on a fox wedding in a forest; a soldier confronts the ghosts of the war dead; a power-plant meltdown smothers a seaside landscape in radioactive fumes. Interspersed with reflections on the redemptive power of art, including a richly textured tribute to Vincent van Gogh (played by Martin Scorsese), Akira Kurosawa’s Dreams is both a showcase for its maker’s imagination at its most unbridled and a deeply personal lament for a world at the mercy of human ignorance. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, a Japanese 2.0 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack, and supplements will include: New audio commentary featuring film scholar Stephen Prince; Making of “Dreams” (1990), a 150-minute documentary shot on-set and directed by Nobuhiko Obayashi; New interview with assistant director Takashi Koizumi; New interview with production manager Teruyo Nogami; Kurosawa’s Way (2011), a fifty-minute documentary by director Akira Kurosawa’s longtime translator Catherine Cadou, featuring interviews with filmmakers Theodoros Angelopoulos, Bernardo Bertolucci, Clint Eastwood, Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Bong Joon-ho, Abbas Kiarostami, Hayao Miyazaki, Martin Scorsese, Julie Taymor, Shin’ya Tsukamoto, and John Woo; Trailer; PLUS: A booklet featuring an essay by film critic Bilge Ebiri and Kurosawa’s script for a never-filmed ninth dream, introduced by Nogami. Order the Blu-ray 'Punch-Drunk Love' (November 15) - Chaos lurks in every corner of this giddily off-kilter foray into romantic comedy by Paul Thomas Anderson. Struggling to cope with his erratic temper, novelty toilet plunger salesman Barry Egan (Adam Sandler, demonstrating remarkable versatility in his first dramatic role) spends his days collecting frequent-flyer-mile coupons and dodging the insults of his seven sisters. The promise of a new life emerges when Barry inadvertently attracts the affections of a mysterious woman named Lena (Emily Watson), but their budding relationship is threatened when he falls prey to the swindling operator of a phone sex line and her deranged boss (played with maniacal brio by Philip Seymour Hoffman). Fueled by the careening momentum of a baroque-futurist score by Jon Brion, the Cannes-award-winning Punch-Drunk Love channels the spirit of classic Hollywood musicals and the whimsy of Jacques Tati into an idiosyncratic ode to the delirium of new romance. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, an English 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack, and supplements will include: Blossoms & Blood, a twelve-minute 2002 piece by Anderson featuring Adam Sandler and Emily Watson, along with music by Jon Brion; New interview with Brion; New piece featuring behind-the-scenes footage of a recording session for the film’s soundtrack; New conversation between curators Michael Connor and Lia Gangitano about the art of Jeremy Blake; Additional artwork by Blake; Cannes press conference from 2002; NBC News interview from 2000 with David Phillips, "the pudding guy"; Twelve Scopitones; Deleted scenes; Mattress Man commercial; and Trailers. Order the Blu-ray 'One-Eyed Jacks' (November 22) - A western like no other, One-Eyed Jacks combines the mythological scope of that most American of film genres with the searing naturalism of a performance by Marlon Brando, all suffused with Freudian overtones and male anxiety. In his only directing stint, Brando captures the rugged landscapes of California’s Central Coast and Mexico’s Sonoran Desert in gorgeous widescreen, Technicolor images, and elicits from his fellow actors (including Karl Malden and Pina Pellicer) nuanced improvisational depictions of conflicted characters. Though overwhelmed by its director’s perfectionism and plagued by production setbacks and studio re-editing, One-Eyed Jacksstands as one of Brando’s great achievements, thanks above all to his tortured turn as Rio, a bank robber bent on revenge against his one-time partner in crime, the aptly named Dad Longworth (Malden). Brooding and romantic, Rio marks the last, and perhaps the most tender, of the iconic outsiders Brando imbued with such remarkable intensity throughout his career. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, an uncompressed English mono soundtrack, and supplements will include: New introduction by Scorsese; Excerpts from voice recordings director and star Marlon Brando made during the film’s script development; New video essays on the film’s production history and its potent combination of the stage and screen icon Brando with the classic Hollywood western; Trailer; PLUS: An essay by film critic Howard Hampton. Order the Blu-ray 'The Squid and the Whale' (November 22) - With excruciating honesty, The Squid and the Whale chronicles the experiences of two young brothers growing up in 1980s Park Slope, Brooklyn, as they navigate the jagged contours of the divorce of their parents, both writers. The acclaimed third feature by Noah Baumbach marked a critical development for the filmmaker as he turned toward an increasingly personal style—a move that garnered him an Academy Award nomination for best original screenplay. Shot in Super 16 mm and featuring a quartet of nuanced, understated performances from Jeff Daniels, Laura Linney, Jesse Eisenberg, and Owen Kline, this comic and poignant drama, peppered with autobiographical elements, deftly captures the heartache and confusion of a fracturing family. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, an English 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack, and supplements will include: New interviews with Baumbach and actors Jeff Daniels, Jesse Eisenberg, Owen Kline, and Laura Linney; New conversation about the score and other music in the film between Baumbach and composers Dean Wareham and Britta Phillips; Behind “The Squid and the Whale,” a 2004 documentary featuring on-set footage and cast interviews; Audition footage; and Trailers. Order the Blu-ray Suggested list price for each single disc Blu-ray is $39.95. Suggested list price for the 3-Disc 'Lone Wolf and Cub' box-set is $99.95. 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 November.Posted Wed Aug 17, 2016 at 01:00 PM PDT by: -
Frank Capra's 'It's A Wonderful Life: Platinum Anniversary Edition' Dated for Blu-ray[teaser]An angel will get its wings on Blu-ray in October. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Paramount is preparing 'It's A Wonderful Life: Platinum Anniversary Edition' for Blu-ray on October 11. George Bailey has so many problems he is thinking about ending it all – and it’s Christmas! As the angels discuss George, we see his life in flashback. As George is about to jump from a bridge, he ends up rescuing his guardian angel, Clarence. Clarence then shows George what his town would have looked like if it hadn’t been for all of his good deeds over the years. Will Clarence be able to convince George to return to his family and forget suicide? Specs and supplements have not been announced yet. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $22.98. You can find the latest specs for 'It's A Wonderful Life: Platinum Anniversary Edition' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under October 11. Order the Blu-rayPosted Wed Aug 17, 2016 at 12:00 PM PDT by: -
Amazon Offers 10 Free Streaming Pilots on YouTube & Facebook[teaser]The free lineup includes shows like 'Transparent,' 'The Man in the High Castle,' and 'Mozart in the Jungle.' [/teaser] Amazon has posted free pilot episodes for 10 of its original series on YouTube and Facebook. The free streaming lineup includes 'Transparent,' 'The Man in the High Castle,' 'Mozart in the Jungle,' 'Bosch,' 'Red Oaks,' 'Annedroids,' 'Tumble Leaf,' 'Gortimer Gibbon's Life on Normal Street,' 'Wishenpoof,' and 'Just Add Magic.' Remaining episodes for each series are available through Amazon Prime Video. Check out the pilots below! 'Transparent' - An LA family with serious boundary issues have their past and future unravel when a dramatic admission causes everyone's secrets to spill out. Starring Jeffrey Tambor, Judith Light, Amy Landecker, Jay Duplass, and Gaby Hoffmann. 'The Man in the High Castle' - It's 1962, America has lost WWII; the east is the Greater Nazi Reich and the west, the Japanese Pacific States. Amidst this oppression there is new hope - films that seem to show a different world. When her sister gives her a film and is then murdered, a woman comes to believe the films hold the key to freedom and becomes obsessed with finding their mysterious guardian, The Man in the High Castle. 'Mozart in the Jungle' - What happens behind the curtains at the symphony is just as captivating as what happens on stage. Brash new maestro Rodrigo is stirring things up, and young oboist Hailey hopes for her big chance. 'Bosch' - Harry Bosch, an LAPD homicide detective, stands trial for the fatal shooting of a serial murder suspect -- just as a cold case involving the remains of a missing boy forces Bosch to confront his past. 'Red Oaks' - In the summer of 1985, 20-year-old David Meyers takes a job as a tennis pro at Red Oaks Country Club in suburban New Jersey, as his parents, girlfriend, and co-workers pull him toward a future he's increasingly unsure he wants. 'Annedroids' - Eleven-year old genius and kid-scientist Anne has invented and built her own amazing androids. Nick discovers Anne's secret junkyard laboratory and enlists the help of Shania to befriend Anne and her mechanical companions. 'Tumble Leaf' - After tossing coins to make wishes in a faraway wishing well, Fig and Maple find their way home in the dark by making giant clams laugh. 'Gortimer Gibbon's Life on Normal Street' - On the hottest day of summer, Gortimer and his two best friends, Mel and Ranger, discover a way to end the heat by solving a mystery involving an intimidating neighbor and an even more intimidating frog. 'Wishenpoof' - Presenting...Bianca! Bianca's class is having a talent show, and Bianca is ready to take the stage. But her friends Penelope and Charlie are feeling discouraged. Bianca tries to use her Wish Magic to help, but ultimately, needs to be a good friend. 'Just Add Magic' - Kelly Quinn and her two BFF's, Darbie and Hannah, stumble upon her grandmother's mysterious cookbook in the attic and discover some far from ordinary recipes. When the Shut'em Up Shortcake silences Kelly's pesky little brother and the Healing Hazelnut Tart heals Darbie's ankle, the girls discover they have the power of magic. A single-camera live-action pilot based on the popular book. 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), Amazon (Facebook)Posted Wed Aug 17, 2016 at 10:30 AM PDT by: -
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'Looking: The Complete Series and The Movie' Blu-ray Bound[teaser]HBO's acclaimed series comes to a close this November. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, HBO is preparing 'Looking: The Complete Series and The Movie' for Blu-ray on November 15. The movie will be available via digital download on August 22. 'Looking' revolves around three 30-something friends living in San Francisco, who explore the exciting, sometimes overwhelming, options available to a new generation of gay men. Friendship may bind them, but each is at a markedly different point in his journey: Patrick (Jonathan Groff) is a 29-year-old video game designer returning to the dating world in the wake of his ex's engagement; aspiring artist Agustín (Frankie J. Alvarez), 31, questions the idea of monogamy amid a move to domesticate with his boyfriend; and the group's oldest member, longtime waiter Dom (Murray Bartlett), 39, is facing middle age with dreams still unfulfilled. The trio's stories intertwine dramatically as they search for happiness and intimacy in an unparalleled era for gay men. The movie picks up when Patrick, who has been living in Denver for nearly a year, returns to San Francisco for the first time to celebrate the wedding of old friends. In the process, he must face the unresolved relationships he left behind and make difficult choices about what's truly important to him as he finds himself still drawn to former flame Richie (Raúl Castillo), while being vexed by memories of his crash-and-burn relationship with his former boss Kevin (Russell Tovey). Specs have yet to be revealed, but supplements will include: "Farewell to Looking" - new video piece and "Looking: The Movie Cast Featurette". You can find the latest specs for 'Looking: The Complete Series and The Movie' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under November 15.Posted Wed Aug 17, 2016 at 10:00 AM PDT by: -
Luciano and Nicolás Onetti's 'Francesca' Blu-ray Announced[teaser]The giallo-style horror film arrives on Blu-ray in September. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Unearthed Films says 'Francesca' will hit Blu-ray on September 27. It's been 15 years since the disappearance of little Francesca, daughter of the renowned poet and playwright, Vittorio Visconti. The community is stalked by a psychopath bent on cleaning the city of "impure and damned souls". Moretti and Succo are the detectives in charge of finding the killer of these "Dantesque" crimes. Francesca has returned, but she is not be the same girl they once knew. 'Francesca' is the winner of numerous film festival awards including Best Director at Buenos Aires Rojo Sangre 2015, Best Production Design at Tabloid Witch Awards - Hollywood Investigator 2015, Weird Visions Award at Ravenna Nightmare 2015, Best Giallo Film at Crypticon Kansas City 2016, and Special Mention at Horrorant 2016 in Greece. Specs and supplements have yet to be revealed, but the Blu-ray combo pack will include the CD soundtrack and has a suggested list price of $39.95. You can find the latest specs for 'Francesca' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under September 27. Order the Blu-rayPosted Wed Aug 17, 2016 at 08:00 AM PDT by: -
Frank Borzage's 'Bad Girl' Blu-ray Announced[teaser]The 1931 drama will be getting the Blu-ray treatment in November. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Kino says 'Bad Girl' will be available on Blu-ray on November 8. A man and woman, skeptical about romance, nonetheless fall in love and are wed, but their lack of confidence in the opposite sex haunts their marriage. Cinematography by Chester Lyons (Lucky Star). Specs have yet to be revealed, but supplements will include a new audio commentary by film historian Kent Jones. You can find the latest specs for 'Bad Girl' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under November 8.Posted Wed Aug 17, 2016 at 06:00 AM PDT by:
