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DTS & Paramount Bring DTS:X & DTS Headphone:X Soundtracks to Select Home Entertainment Titles[teaser]The studio will support the immersive audio format on select titles. [/teaser] Paramount and DTS have announced a partnership to include DTS:X and DTS Headphone:X audio tracks on select home entertainment releases. Paramount Blu-ray discs with DTS:X audio currently include 'Daddy's Home,' 'The Big Short,' 'Zoolander No. 2 The Magnum Edition' and 'Whiskey Tango Foxtrot.' "Paramount continues to progress the entertainment experience for audiences at home," said Edward Hoxsie, Senior Vice President, Worldwide Product Production & Fulfillment, Paramount Pictures. "Working with DTS, a leading contributor in sound innovation, allows us to deliver a great consumer experience with audio technology that enables the immersive audio our feature content deserves." DTS:X is an object based immersive audio format that allows users to add overhead speakers to their surround sound systems. Companies like Denon, Marantz, Sony, Trinnov and Yamaha have all recently added DTS:X to many of their AVR models through firmware updates. Likewise, more brands like Acurus, Anthem, ARCAM, Integra, Krell, McIntosh, Onkyo, Outlaw Audio, Pioneer, Steinway Lyngdorf and Theta Digital/ATI will also bring DTS:X support to their AVRs later this year. Outside of receivers, the Yamaha YSP-5600 sound bar is also set to receive DTS:X support this summer. "DTS is constantly innovating in order to offer consumers the best entertainment experience possible," said Bill Neighbors, general manager, digital media and streaming solutions at DTS, Inc. "DTS:X is our most recent, most advanced product offering, raising the bar for in-home entertainment. Consumers and content creators have higher expectations than ever and DTS:X will exceed the most demanding expectations." In addition to DTS:X audio, Paramount is also including DTS Headphone:X tracks on select home entertainment releases. DTS Headphone:X technology simulates the 3D environment of a film's soundscape, providing an immersive surround sound experience through any pair of headphones or earbuds. Order the Blu-ray Order the Blu-ray Order the Blu-ray Order the Blu-ray Source: DTSPosted Wed Jul 20, 2016 at 05:00 PM PDT by: -
Amazon Dates Live-Action Kids Series 'The Kicks' for August 26 Premiere[teaser]The upcoming kids series will start streaming next month. [/teaser] Amazon has announced a premiere date for its latest original series. 'The Kicks' is based on the book series by US Olympic Gold Medalist and current US Women's National Team soccer player Alex Morgan. The show is geared toward children ages 6 to 11 and is set to debut on August 26. 'The Kicks' follows Devin Burke (played by newcomer Sixx Orange), who was the star player on her soccer team until her family moved to California midway through the school year. Now, Devin has to rise to the challenge after discovering her new school team, The Kicks, has been on a losing streak over the last few months and they are badly in need of a leader to rally the team. The first season finds The Kicks going head-to-head with the boys' team, helping Devin regain her confidence after losing her lucky headband, Devin being forced to make a decision between her friend and what's best for the team, and Devin overcoming adversity after an injury. "Both Alex Morgan and now Devin are undeniably strong female role models who will inspire our audience to work hard and passionately to achieve their goals," said Tara Sorensen, Head of Kids Programming at Amazon Studios. "The Kicks showcases the value of overcoming the odds and our audience will relate with the broader themes of passion, determination and camaraderie developed throughout the season." The show's pilot episode is now available to stream through Amazon. Nine additional episodes will arrive on August 26 exclusively for Prime members through the Amazon Video app for TVs, connected devices including Amazon Fire TV, mobile devices, or online at Amazon.com/originals. A current Amazon Prime subscription costs $99 per year or $11 per month. Likewise, Prime Video is available as a standalone service for $8 per month. Source: AmazonPosted Wed Jul 20, 2016 at 02:30 PM PDT by: -
Sony Unveils Z Series 4K Ultra HD TVs with HDR, Prices Start at $7,000[teaser]The company's latest premium Ultra HD TVs have been detailed. [/teaser] Sony has announced the launch of its newest 4K Ultra HD TV series. The flagship Z Series includes the XBR65Z9D, XBR75Z9D, and XBR100Z9D. "The Z series is a generational advance in TV technology, which brings the 4K HDR viewing experience to a whole new level. Our best and brightest HDR Ultra HD television is proof of Sony's continuing commitment to deliver the ultimate home entertainment experiences to our customers." said Mike Fasulo, President and COO of Sony Electronics. "With expertise in both the creative and the technical aspects of 4K HDR shooting, editing, recording, transmission and display, Sony understands 4K HDR like no other company. The Z series is a direct result of that unique partnership between our engineering and creative teams." Sony's Z series features the company's new 4K HDR Processor X1 Extreme and Backlight Master Drive precision backlight boosting technology to expand brightness and contrast for superior wide color and HDR performance. The Backlight Master Drive uses "a dense LED structure with a super accurate lighting algorithm, discrete lighting control, and a unique optical design with a calibrated beam LED." Unlike traditional local dimming tech which uses zones of LEDs, this means that the Z series can dim and boost each LED individually. In addition, the 4K Processor X1 Extreme offers "object-based HDR remaster, dual database processing, and Super Bit Mapping 4K HDR." Finally, the displays incorporate the Android TV platform with Sony's exclusive interface. Here's a rundown of full pricing and availability for the Z Series: - XBR65Z9D, 65” class (64.5” diagonal), $6,999 MSRP, available summer 2016- XBR75Z9D, 75” class (74.5” diagonal), $9,999 MSRP, available summer 2016- XBR100Z9D, 100” class (99.5” diagonal), pricing and availability details to be announced later this year The Z series now joins Sony's previously released 2016 X850D series, X930D series, and X940D series 4K Ultra HD TVs. Source: SonyPosted Wed Jul 20, 2016 at 01:00 PM PDT by: -
Criterion's October 2016 Blu-ray Titles Now Available for Pre-Order![teaser]The distributor has revealed its upcoming slate of October releases, including Guillermo del Toro's 'Pan’s Labyrinth' and Richard Linklater's 'Boyhood.' [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Criterion is preparing 'Pan's Labyrinth,' 'Trilogía de Guillermo del Toro,' 'Boyhood,' 'Short Cuts,' 'The Tree of Wooden Clogs,' and 'The Executioner' for Blu-ray throughout the month of October. 'Pan's Labyrinth' (October 11) - An Academy Award–winning dark fable set five years after the end of the Spanish Civil War, Pan’s Labyrinth encapsulates the rich visual style and genre-defying craft of Guillermo del Toro. Eleven-year-old Ofelia (Ivana Baquero, in a mature and tender performance) comes face to face with the horrors of fascism when she and her pregnant mother are uprooted to the countryside, where her new stepfather (Sergi López), a sadistic captain in General Franco’s army, hunts down Republican guerrillas who refuse to give up the fight. The violent reality in which she lives merges seamlessly with a fantastical interior world when Ofelia meets a faun in a decaying labyrinth and is set on a strange, mythic journey that is at once terrifying and beautiful. In his revisiting of this bloody period in Spanish history, del Toro creates a vivid depiction of the monstrosities of war infiltrating a child’s imagination and threatening the innocence of youth. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, a Spanish DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack and alternate DTS-HD MA 7.1 soundtrack, and supplements will include: Audio commentary by del Toro from 2007; New interview with del Toro by novelist Cornelia Funke about fairy tales, fantasy, and Pan’s Labyrinth; New interview with actor Doug Jones; Four 2007 making-of documentaries, examining the characters, production, special effects, themes, and music of the film; Interactive director’s notebook; Footage of actor Ivana Baquero’s audition for the film; Animated comics featuring prequel stories for the film’s menagerie of creatures; Programs comparing selected production storyboards and del Toro’s thumbnail sketches with the final film; visual effects work for the Green Fairy; and elements of the film’s score; Trailers and TV spots; PLUS: An essay by film critic Michael Atkinson. Order the Blu-ray 'Trilogía de Guillermo del Toro' (October 11) - Throughout a career that encompasses both visually arresting art-house hits and big-budget Hollywood spectacles, director Guillermo del Toro has continually redefined and elevated the horror genre with his deeply personal explorations of myths and monsters. These three Spanish-language films, each a tale of childhood in troubled times, showcase his singular fusion of the fantastic and the real. Drawing inspiration from a rich variety of sources, from Alfred Hitchcock to Francisco de Goya, the gothic-infused stories collected here—populated by vampires, ghosts, and a fairy-tale princess—make evident why del Toro is considered the master cinematic fabulist of our time. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, Spanish DTS-HD MA soundtracks, and supplements will include: Audio commentaries on all three films; Interviews with del Toro, director of photography Guillermo Navarro, and actors Doug Jones, Federico Luppi, and Ron Perlman; Welcome to Bleak House, a 2010 video tour by del Toro of his personal collections; New piece on Pan’s Labyrinth featuring del Toro and novelist Cornelia Funke; Interactive director’s notebooks for The Devil’s Backbone and Pan’s Labyrinth; Making-of documentaries for The Devil’s Backbone and Pan’s Labyrinth; Geometria, a 1987 short horror film by del Toro finished in 2010; Footage of actor Ivana Baquero auditioning for Pan’s Labyrinth in 2005; Original Spanish-language voice-over introduction for Cronos; Introductions by del Toro for The Devil’s Backbone and Pan’s Labyrinth; Deleted scenes from The Devil’s Backbone, with commentary by del Toro; Selected on-screen picture-in-picture presentation of del Toro’s thumbnail sketches for The Devil’s Backbone; Programs comparing del Toro’s thumbnail sketches and production storyboards for The Devil’s Backbone and Pan’s Labyrinth with the final films; Piece on The Devil’s Backbone’s depiction of the Spanish Civil War; Animated comics featuring prequel stories for the creatures of Pan’s Labyrinth; Gallery of stills from Cronos, captioned by del Toro; Trailers and TV spots; Deluxe box set for the Blu-ray, featuring new illustrations by Vania Zouravliov; and A 100-page hardcover book featuring an introduction by author Neil Gaiman and essays by critics Michael Atkinson, Mark Kermode, and Maitland McDonagh, along with production notes and sketches by del Toro and illustrators Carlos Giménez and Raúl Monge. Order the Blu-ray 'Boyhood' (October 18) - There has never been another movie like Boyhood, from director Richard Linklater. An event film of the utmost modesty, it was shot over the course of twelve years in the director’s native Texas and charts the physical and emotional changes experienced by a child named Mason (Ellar Coltrane), his divorced parents (Patricia Arquette, who won an Oscar for her performance, and Ethan Hawke), and his older sister (Lorelei Linklater). Alighting not on milestones but on the small, in-between moments that make up our lives, Linklater fashions a flawlessly acted, often funny portrait that flows effortlessly from one year to the next. Allowing us to watch people age on film with documentary realism while gripping us in a fictional narrative of exquisite everydayness, Boyhood has a power that only the art of cinema could harness. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, an English DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements will include: New audio commentary featuring Linklater and nine members of the cast and crew; New documentary chronicling the film’s production, featuring footage shot over the course of its twelve years; New discussion featuring Linklater and actors Patricia Arquette and Ellar Coltrane, moderated by producer John Pierson; New conversation between Coltrane and actor Ethan Hawke; New video essay by critic Michael Koresky about time in Linklater’s films, narrated by Coltrane; Collection of portraits of cast and crew by photographer Matt Lankes, narrated with personal thoughts from Linklater, Arquette, Hawke, Coltrane and producer Cathleen Sutherland; PLUS: An essay by novelist Jonathan Lethem. Order the Blu-ray 'Short Cuts' (October 18) - The work of two great American artists merges in Short Cuts, a kaleidoscopic adaptation of the stories of renowned author Raymond Carver by maverick director Robert Altman. Epic in scale yet meticulously observed, the film interweaves the stories of twenty-two characters as they struggle to find solace and meaning in contemporary Los Angeles. The extraordinary ensemble cast includes Tim Robbins, Julianne Moore, Robert Downey Jr., Jack Lemmon, and Jennifer Jason Leigh—all giving fearless performances in what is one of Altman’s most compassionate creations. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, an English DTS-HD MA 2.0 surround and alternate 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements will include: Isolated music track; Conversation between Altman and actor Tim Robbins from 2004 Luck, Trust & Ketchup: Robert Altman in Carver Country, a 1993 feature-length documentary on the making of Short Cuts; To Write and Keep Kind, a 1992 PBS documentary on the life of author Raymond Carver; One-hour 1983 audio interview with Carver, conducted for the American Audio Prose Library; Original demo recordings of the film’s Doc Pomus–Mac Rebennack songs, performed by Dr. John; Deleted scenes; A look inside the marketing of Short Cuts; PLUS: An essay by film critic Michael Wilmington. Order the Blu-ray 'The Tree of Wooden Clogs' (October 25) - A painterly and sensual immersion in late nineteenth-century Italian farm life, Ermanno Olmi’s The Tree of Wooden Clogs lovingly focuses on four families working for one landowner on an isolated estate in the province of Bergamo. Filming on an abandoned farm for four months, Olmi adapted neorealist techniques to tell his story, enlisting local people to live as their own ancestors had, speaking in their native dialect on locations with which they were intimately familiar. Through the cycle of seasons, of back-breaking labor, love and marriage, birth and death, faith and superstition, Olmi naturalistically evokes an existence very close to nature, one that celebrates its beauty, humor, and simplicity but also acknowledges the feudal cruelty that governs it. Winner of the Palme d’Or at Cannes in 1978, The Tree of Wooden Clogs is at once intimate in scale and epic in scope—a towering, heart-stirring work of humanist filmmaking. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, an uncompressed mono and alternate Italian soundtrack, and supplements will include: Ermanno Olmi: The Roots of the Tree, an hour-long episode of The South Bank Show from 1981, featuring an interview with Olmi on the film and a visit to the farm where it was shot; New program featuring cast and crew discussing the film at the Cinema Ritrovato film festival in Bologna, Italy, in 2016; Archival interviews with Olmi; Trailer; PLUS: An essay by film critic Deborah Young. Order the Blu-ray 'The Executioner' (October 25) - This masterpiece of black humor, beloved in Spain but too little seen elsewhere, threads a scathing critique of Franco-era values through a macabre farce about an undertaker who marries an executioner’s daughter and reluctantly takes over her father’s job so the family can keep their government-allotted apartment. As caustic today as it was in 1963, this early collaboration between Luis García Berlanga and his longtime screenwriter Rafael Azcona is an unerring depiction of what Berlanga called "the invisible traps that society sets up for us." A furiously funny personal attack on capital punishment, The Executioner escaped the state censors who sought to suppress it, and today is regarded as one of the greatest Spanish films of all time. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, an uncompressed Spanish mono soundtrack, and supplements will include: New interview with filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar; New program on director Luis García Berlanga, featuring interviews with his son José Luis Berlanga; film critic Carlos F. Heredero; writers Fernando R. Lafuente and Bernardo Sánchez Salas; and director of the Berlanga Film Museum Rafael Maluenda; Spanish television program from 2012 on The Executioner, featuring archival interviews with Berlanga; Trailer; PLUS: An essay by film critic David Cairns. Order the Blu-ray Suggested list price for each single disc Blu-ray is $39.95. Suggested list price for the 3-Disc 'Trilogía de Guillermo del Toro' 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 October.Posted Wed Jul 20, 2016 at 01:00 PM PDT by: -
'Frankenstein' and 'The Wolf Man' Blu-ray Boxed Sets Announced[teaser]Two classic film collections will be available on Blu-ray in September. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Universal will be bringing 'Frankenstein Complete Legacy Collection' and 'The Wolf Man Complete Legacy Collection' to Blu-ray on September 13. The original Frankenstein is one of the silver screen's most unforgettable characters and, along with the other Universal Classic Monsters, defined the Hollywood horror genre. Frankenstein: Complete Legacy Collection includes all 8 films from the original legacy including the tragic classic starring Boris Karloff and the timeless films that followed. These landmark motion pictures defined the iconic look of Henry Frankenstein's Monster and his Bride, and continue to inspire countless remakes and adaptations that strengthen the legend of Frankenstein to this day. 'Frankenstein Complete Legacy Collection' includes eight films (Frankenstein / Bride of Frankenstein / Son of Frankenstein / Ghost of Frankenstein / Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man / House of Frankenstein / House of Dracula / Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein). The original Wolf Man is one of the silver screen's most unforgettable characters and, along with the other Universal Classic Monsters, defined the Hollywood horror genre. The Wolf Man: Complete Legacy Collection includes all 7 films from the original legacy including the eerie classic starring Lon Chaney Jr. and the timeless films that followed. These landmark motion pictures defined the iconic look of the tragic monster and continue to inspire countless remakes and adaptations that strengthen the legend of the Wolf Man to this day. 'The Wolf Man Complete Legacy Collection' includes seven films (Werewolf of London / The Wolf Man / Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man / House of Frankenstein / House of Dracula / She-Wolf of London / Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein). Specs and supplements haven't been revealed yet, but the suggested list price for each Blu-ray set is $39.98. You can find the latest specs for 'Frankenstein Complete Legacy Collection' and 'The Wolf Man Complete Legacy Collection' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where they are indexed under September 13. Order the Blu-ray Order the Blu-rayPosted Wed Jul 20, 2016 at 12:00 PM PDT by: -
Eddy Matalon's 'Cathy's Curse' to Haunt Blu-ray[teaser]The 1977 horror film will be getting the Blu-ray treatment in 2016. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Severin is preparing to bring 'Cathy's Curse' to Blu-ray later this year. After a terrible car accident twenty years ago killed his father and sister, a man returns to his family home with his wife and daughter. The daughter takes up residence in her deceased aunt's room and, after finding some of her possessions, becomes possessed by her spirit. Soon strange happenings and mysterious deaths begin to occur in the household as the possessed girl lashes out at those around her. No other details have been revealed at this time. You can find the latest specs for 'Cathy's Curse' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under PENDING.Posted Wed Jul 20, 2016 at 10:00 AM PDT by: -
Jean-Marc Vallée's 'Demolition' Blu-ray Now Available[teaser]The dramedy starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Naomi Watts arrives on Blu-ray in July. [/teaser] As previously reported, 20th Century Fox will be releasing 'Demolition' on Blu-ray, and the disc is now available in stores. Davis, a successful investment banker, struggles after losing his wife in a tragic car crash. Despite pressure from his father-in-law, Phil, to pull it together, Davis continues to unravel. What starts as a complaint letter to a vending machine company turns into a series of letters revealing startling personal admissions. Davis' letters catch the attention of customer service rep, Karen, and, amidst emotional and financial burdens of her own, the two form an unlikely connection. With the help of Karen and her son Chris, Davis starts to rebuild, beginning with the demolition of the life he once knew. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $39.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Demolition' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under July 19. Order the Blu-rayPosted Wed Jul 20, 2016 at 08:50 AM PDT by: -
Well Go USA Preps 'The Tiger' for Blu-ray[teaser]Director Hoon-jung Park's latest film will hit Blu-ray in August. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Well Go USA is preparing 'The Tiger' for Blu-ray on August 9. An ex-sharpshooter for the Kingdom of Korea (Choi Min-sik, 'Oldboy') is hunting the country's last tiger. But Japanese forces and vicious local poachers also seek "The Four-Legged Mountain Lord," and will stop at nothing to claim their prey. Specs have not been detailed yet, but supplements will include the Original Theatrical Trailer. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $29.98. You can find the latest specs for 'The Tiger' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under August 9. Order the Blu-rayPosted Wed Jul 20, 2016 at 08:00 AM PDT by: -
Nils Gaup's 'The Last King' Blu-ray Supplements Revealed[teaser]The bonus features for the action-adventure coming to Blu-ray in September have now been revealed. [/teaser] As previously reported, Magnolia is preparing 'The Last King' for Blu-ray on September 20. In the year 1206 Norway is raged by civil war. The King's illegitimate infant son, Håkon Håkonsson, which half the kingdom wants killed off, is guarded in secrecy by two men. A story which changed the course of the country's history. Specs haven't been revealed yet, but supplements include: Interview With Actor Kristofer Hivju; The Last King Music Video: Bifröst; and Theatrical Trailer. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $29.97. You can find the latest specs for 'The Last King' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under September 20. Order the Blu-rayPosted Wed Jul 20, 2016 at 06:00 AM PDT by: -
'Game of Thrones: The Complete Sixth Season' Blu-ray Dated and Supplements Detailed[teaser]Nominated for 23 Emmy Awards® the sixth season of the hit HBO the series arrives on Blu-ray in November. [/teaser] HBO will be releasing 'Game of Thrones: The Complete Sixth Season' on Blu-ray on November 15. Last year’s Emmy® Award winner for Outstanding Drama Series and currently nominated for 23 2016 Emmy® Awards including Outstanding Drama Series, Outstanding Writing, Outstanding Directing Outstanding Supporting Actress (Lena Headey, Emilia Clarke, Maisie Williams) and Outstanding Supporting Actor (Peter Dinklage, Kit Harrington), Game of Thrones is bigger than ever delivering “the power and pathos fans have come to expect” (Los Angeles Times). The most-watched series in HBO history and a worldwide TV phenomenon, Game of Thrones returns with another power season. This year, after the shocking developments at the end of Season 5 – including Jon Snow's bloody fate at the hands of Castle Black mutineers, Daenerys' near-demise at the fighting pits of Meereen, and Cersei's public humiliation in the streets of King's Landing – survivors from all parts of Westeros and Essos regroup to press forward, inexorably, towards their uncertain individual fates. Familiar faces will forge new alliances to bolster their strategic chances at survival, while new characters will emerge to challenge the balance of power in the east, west, north and south. Specs have yet to be revealed, but supplements will include: The Battle of the Bastards: An In-Depth Look – Behind-the-scenes piece examining the production challenges of creating this epic event, including explorations of VFX, stunts, and interviews with key cast and crew; Recreating the Dothraki World – Behind-the-scenes piece looking at the creation of Vaes Dothrak and its importance to Dany's evolution; 18 Hours at the Paint Hall –Follow all three shooting units as they converge in this behind-the-scenes snapshot of a day in the life of the largest show on television; Audio Commentaries – The most commentaries ever recorded for Game of Thrones; and Four Deleted Scenes. Blu-ray exclusives include: In-Episode Guide – Dig deeper into the show with this in-feature resource that provides background information about on-screen characters, locations, and relevant histories; and Histories and Lore – Learn about the mythology of Westeros and Essos as told from the varying perspectives of the characters themselves in 18 history pieces. You can find the latest specs for 'Game of Thrones: The Complete Sixth Season' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under November 15. Order the Blu-rayPosted Tue Jul 19, 2016 at 01:00 PM PDT by:
