-
Richard Linklater's 'Everybody Wants Some!' Dated and Detailed for Blu-ray[teaser]The comedy will make its Blu-ray debut in July. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Paramount says 'Everybody Wants Some!' will arrive on Blu-ray on July 12. Hailed by critics as “fun, irreverent and downright hilarious” (Michael Calore, Wired), EVERYBODY WANTS SOME!! follows freshman pitcher Jake as he arrives at college in the summer of 1980 and meets his new rowdy teammates. Together, they must navigate their way between girls, parties and baseball, all in the last weekend before school begins. The film features an outstanding ensemble cast of up-and-coming actors including Blake Jenner, Tyler Hoechlin, Wyatt Russell, Glen Powell, J. Quinton Johnson, Ryan Guzman and Zoey Deutch. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, lossless 5.1 audio, and supplements include: Everybody Wants Some!! More Stuff That’s Not in the Movie; Rickipedia; Baseball Players Can Dance; Skills Videos; and History 101: Stylin’ the 80s. You can find the latest specs for 'Everybody Wants Some!' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under July 12. Order the Blu-rayPosted Fri Jun 3, 2016 at 12:00 PM PDT by: -
'The Return of Godzilla' Bound for Blu-ray in September[teaser]The legendary monster will terrorize Blu-ray in September. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Kraken Releasing is preparing 'The Return of Godzilla' for Blu-ray on September 13. With a higher budget and more advanced special effects than any previous film in the series, The Return of Godzilla returns Japan's greatest monster to his intended role as an epic force of destruction and the film's spectacular success re-launched the Godzilla franchise after nearly a decade in suspended animation. Unfortunately for North American audiences, this direct sequel to the original 1954 feature film has previously only been available in a highly edited version that cut over twenty minutes of original footage and effects, changed key plot points and altered the dark dramatic tone and narrative by inserting additional scenes and humor in an attempt to "Americanize" the film. But now, at long last, the acclaimed kaiju masterpiece finally hits American shores in all its uncut original glory! Get ready for the biggest Godzilla epic that you've never seen as Kraken Releasing unleashes the complete and unedited The Return of Godzilla! Featuring both the original Japanese version with English subtitles, as well as an English dubbed version. Specs and supplements have not been detailed yet. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $14.98. You can find the latest specs for 'The Return of Godzilla' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under September 13. Order the Blu-rayPosted Fri Jun 3, 2016 at 10:00 AM PDT by: -
'DC's Legends of Tomorrow: The Complete First Season' Bound for Blu-ray[teaser]The first season of the super-powered series will time-travel to Blu-ray in August. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Warner Brothers will be releasing 'DC's Legends of Tomorrow: The Complete First Season' on Blu-ray on August 23. From the creators of The Flash and Arrow comes this Super Hero team-up that combines characters from both series, as well as new heroes from the DC Comics pantheon. Having seen the future, one he will desperately try to prevent from happening, time-traveling rogue Rip Hunter is tasked with assembling a disparate group of both heroes and villains to confront the unstoppable threat of the immortal Vandal Savage— a threat which not only puts the world at stake, but all of time itself. The 2-disc set will feature 1080p video, lossless 5.1 audio, and supplements include: DC’s Legends of Tomorrow: 2015 Comic-Con Panel - Warner Bros. Television Presents a Night of DC Entertainment at Comic-Con 2015: DC's Legends of Tomorrow; Jonah Hex: Hex Marks the Spot - Journey behind the scenes of "The Magnificent Eight" as producers bring the legend of Jonah Hex and the ways of the Old West to life; A Fantastic Voyage: Touring the Waverider Set - Journey behind the scenes with the production design team responsible for bringing the Waverider to life. From the origin of the time traveling ship, to the VFX that completes the illusion, a complete look; History in the Making - Explore the cross over between fact and fiction, as the Legends team makes contact with a variety of eras thought the series. Time travel with the heroes and villains of DC's Legends of Tomorrow; and Gag Reel. You can find the latest specs for 'DC's Legends of Tomorrow: The Complete First Season' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under August 23.Posted Fri Jun 3, 2016 at 08:00 AM PDT by: -
'The Originals: The Complete Third Season' Dated for Blu-ray[teaser]The third season of the supernatural series arrives on Blu-ray this September. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Warner Archive will be releasing 'The Originals: The Complete Third Season' on Blu-ray on September 20. Klaus and Elijah have spent 1,000 years fighting to protect their dysfunctional family, but now that Klaus and the hybrid Hayley share an infant daughter, Hope, the stakes are higher than ever. As season three begins, Klaus and Elijah are estranged from each other, even as both brothers adjust to life with their long-lost sister, Freya. Hayley suffers mightily at the hands of Klaus's petty vengeance, while Marcel and Davina rule the city under a new status quo. Meanwhile, Cami and Vincent find themselves caught up in a surprising mystery involving the newest resident of New Orleans -- the first vampire ever sired by the Mikaelsons a thousand years ago. Season three of The Originals stars Joseph Morgan (The Vampire Diaries, Ben Hur), Daniel Gillies (The Vampire Diaries, Saving Hope), Phoebe Tonkin (The Vampire Diaries,The Secret Circle), Charles Michael Davis (Grey's Anatomy), Leah Pipes (Sorority Row), Danielle Campbell (Prison Break), Yusuf Gatewood (The Interpreter) and Riley Voelkel (The Newsroom). Julie Plec (The Vampire Diaries, Kyle XY) executive produces along with Michael Narducci (The Vampire Diaries, Medium), Diane Ademu-John (Body of Proof) and Leslie Morgenstein (The Vampire Diaries, Pretty Little Liars). Created by Julie Plec, the series is produced by Bonanza Productions Inc. in association with My So-Called Company, Alloy Entertainment, Warner Bros. Television and CBS Television Studios, and based in part on the character Klaus from The Vampire Diaries novels by L.J. Smith. The Originals will continue for a fourth season on The CW in fall 2016.. Specs have yet to be revealed, but supplements include: The Originals: 2015 Comic-Con Panel; Charles Michael Davis in the Big Easy (Featurette); Deleted Scenes; and Gag Reel. You can find the latest specs for 'The Originals: The Complete Third Season' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under September 20.Posted Fri Jun 3, 2016 at 06:00 AM PDT by: -
Samsung Offers Free Gear VR Promotion for Father's Day[teaser]Buyers of select Galaxy smartphones can now claim a free Gear VR for a limited time. [/teaser] Following a similar promotion back in March, Samsung is once again running a limited time deal for buyers of select Galaxy smartphones. From 6/1/16 through 6/19/16 customers who buy a Galaxy S7 edge, Galaxy S7, Galaxy S6 edge+, Galaxy S6 edge, Galaxy S6, or Galaxy Note5 from a participating retailer can also receive a free Gear VR headset and free VR content experience download (estimated $150 total value). Qualified retailers include AT&T, Best Buy, Costco, Metro PCS, Sam's Club, Sprint, Target, T-Mobile, US Cellular, Verizon, Walmart, and more. The Galaxy S7 features a 5.1-inch screen while the S7 Edge features a 5.5-inch dual edge screen. Both displays use Quad HD Super AMOLED panels with a resolution of 2560x1440. Likewise, the smartphones now incorporate Always-On displays for easy zero touch access to notifications. The devices are constructed of 3D glass and metal and use an ergonomic design with IP68 water and dust resistance. Under the hood, the phones are powered by Octa core (2.3GHz Quad + 1.6GHz Quad) or Quad core (2.15GHz Dual + 1.6GHz Dual) processors with 4GB of RAM running Android 6.0. A rear Dual Pixel 12MP camera and a front 5MP camera are integrated as well. In addition, the smartphones include a hybrid SIM card tray that allows users to insert a microSD card for up to 200GB of additional storage. Finally, the S7 uses a 3,000mAh battery and the S7 Edge uses a 3,600mAh battery -- both with fast wired and wireless charging technology. Meanwhile, the Gear VR is a virtual reality headset that weighs just 318g and offers an FOV of 96 degrees. In addition to the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge, the Gear VR is compatible with the Galaxy Note 5, S6 edge+, S6, and S6 edge smartphones, using each device's super AMOLED display to help create an immersive VR experience. Suggested retail price for the Gear VR is $99. Customers can claim their free Gear VR by clicking here. Source: Samsung via EngadgetPosted Thu Jun 2, 2016 at 04:15 PM PDT by: -
Zack Snyder's 'Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice Ultimate Edition' Announced for Blu-ray, Blu-ray 3D, and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray[teaser]The showdown between the Dark Knight and the Son of Krypton will be getting an R-rated Ultimate Cut in July. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Warner Brothers is working on 'Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice Ultimate Edition' for Blu-ray, Blu-ray 3D, and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray on July 19. In “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,” fearing the actions of a god-like Super Hero left unchecked, Gotham City’s own formidable, forceful vigilante takes on Metropolis’s most revered, modern-day savior, while the world wrestles with what sort of hero it really needs. And with Batman and Superman at war with one another, a new threat quickly arises, putting mankind in greater danger than it’s ever known before. Each release will feature two cuts of the film -- PG-13 Theatrical (151 Minutes) and R-rated Ultimate (182 Minutes) with only the Theatrical being 3D on the 3D version with a Dolby Atmos soundtrack and loads of supplements including: Uniting the World’s Finest; Gods and Men: A Meeting of Giants; The Warrior, The Myth, The Wonder; Accelerating Design: The New Batmobile; Superman: Complexity & Truth; Batman: Austerity & Rage; Wonder Woman: Grace & Power; Batcave: Legacy of the Lair; The Might and the Power of a Punch; The Empire of Luthor; and Save the Bats. You can find the latest specs for 'Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice Ultimate Edition' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under July 19.Posted Thu Jun 2, 2016 at 02:00 PM PDT by: -
Netflix Reveals Trailer for 'The Fundamentals of Caring,' Streaming Preimere Set for June 24[teaser]A trailer has been released for the film starring Paul Rudd and Selena Gomez. [/teaser] Netflix has unveiled a trailer for its latest movie. 'The Fundamentals of Caring' will be available for streaming exclusively through Netflix on June 24. The film follows the story of Ben, a retired writer who becomes a caregiver after suffering a personal tragedy. After 6 weeks of training, Ben meets his first client, Trevor, a foul-mouthed 18-year-old with muscular dystrophy. One paralyzed emotionally, one paralyzed physically, Ben and Trevor take an impromptu road trip to all the places Trevor has become obsessed with while watching the local news, including their holy grail: the World's Deepest Pit. Along the way, they pick up a sassy runaway and a mother-to-be who help test the pair’s survival skills outside of their calculated existence as they come to understand the importance of hope and true friendship. Check out the trailer below! 'The Fundamentals of Caring' is based on the novel by Jonathan Evison, and the film is written, directed, and produced by Rob Burnett. The cast includes Paul Rudd, Craig Roberts, Selena Gomez, Jennifer Ehle, Megan Ferguson, and Frederick Weller. After SVOD rights were acquired by Netflix, the movie premiered at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival in January as the Closing Night film. In addition to streaming, the movie will also get a theatrical awards qualifying run. Other upcoming Netflix premieres include 'Voltron: Legendary Defender' on June 10, season four of 'Orange is the New Black' on June 17, 'Marco Polo' season two on July 1, the documentary 'Tony Robbins: I Am Not Your Guru' on July 15, season three of 'BoJack Horseman' on July 22, 'The Little Prince' on August 5, 'Project Mc2' season two on August 12, and 'The Crown' on November 4. Likewise, the streaming platform is also prepping a new sci-fi series called 'Travelers' from writer Brad Wight. A current Netflix subscription starts at $10 for HD streaming and $12 for Ultra HD streaming. Source: NetflixPosted Thu Jun 2, 2016 at 01:30 PM PDT by: -
Dolby Atmos Designers: Formosa GroupWalking into Formosa Group's loft-like Santa Monica offices is a bit of a homecoming. I haven't worked here, personally, but a few years ago I formed a friendship with Formosa employee Tim Hoogenakker, who is not only one of the preeminent Dolby Atmos re-recording mixers in Los Angeles, but also one heck of a nice guy. When we first met, Tim was re-recording stereo mixes into 5.1 (the DVD days) before seguing into 7.1 mixes for Blu-rays. More on all of this in a minute.Formosa Group offices feel like the genetic coupling of a Silicon Valley startup and a Hollywood Studio. An ivy-strewn entrance leads to the vaulted ceiling reception area and a kitchen with beer on tap. The beating heart of a busy building. Hallways meander off in all directions to meeting rooms, office spaces, a server farm and, of course, dozens of sound mixing and recording environments. In each of these environments, here in Santa Monica as well as across their four other Los Angeles locations, Formosa Group has in-house professionals ready work with various feature film, television, musical score, video game, and commercial productions. [Teaser]If you've watched ANY movies and TV, or played video games, in the last few years, there's a significant chance you've heard sound mixes and music that were created, edited, recorded, and/or finalized within the Formosa family.[/Teaser]'Star Trek: Beyond', 'The Revenant', 'Mad Max: Fury Road', 'Game of Thrones', 'Ballers', 'Jason Bourne', 'The Secret Life of Pets', 'Uncharted 4', and 'Call of Duty Black Opps III' are just the tip of the iceberg.The reason I'm at Formosa Group today is to demo Dolby Atmos (to be fair, that's usually why I'm anywhere). I write about the technology a lot, but if you haven't been following along at home, here's a quick recap: DOLBY ATMOS EXPLAINED Dolby Atmos redefined home and theatrical surround sound, taking conventional surround mixes, which were built for a specific number of "channels" in hopes of creating 360-degree immersion, and adding individual sound OBJECTS to the mix as well as OVERHEAD SPEAKERS.The result is an enveloping HEMISPHERE of sound.The home entertainment version of Dolby Atmos works by adding height channels to traditional 5.1 or 7.1 configurations. And, because customers don't always want to cut holes, Dolby partnered with speaker companies like Klipsch, KEF, Definitive Technology, Pioneer, and Onkyo to make Atmos-enabled speakers and add-on modules, which bounce height sound elements off your ceiling, tricking your ears into believing you have in-ceiling speakers. Cool, right? As of May, 2016, Dolby Atmos is built into 67 AVR and Home Theater-in-a-Box systems, not to mention 29 different speaker models. With support from every major studio home entertainment division, except Disney, you can find (or will soon be able to find) Dolby Atmos on 43 Blu-ray titles, 17 Ultra HD Blu-rays exclusives (won't release on Blu-ray), and 6 OTT streaming exclusives on VUDU UHD. Looking at global availability, or announcements, that title-count jumps from 66 to 100+.Of those 100+ titles announced, around one third of all of them, have passed through the hands of the folks at Formosa Group. Which brings us back to my buddy Tim Hoogenakker. DOLBY ATMOS AT FORMOSA GROUP Tim works with Dolby Atmos soundtracks every day (almost as much a me!), dividing his work between two main jobs: up-mixing to Dolby Atmos, and near-field re-recording for Dolby Atmos.Near-field re-recording is a process where artisans like Tim get all the elements from a recent theatrical mix (like say the 'The Expendables 3', another Atmos event where you might have read about Tim's work) and tweak it for the home experience. Granted, it's possible to plug-and-play Atmos mixes into the home environment (Dolby's that good), but there's a chance this experience may be affected by the volume differences between large cinema auditoriums and homes.Theatrical mixes need to move a LOT of air. Tim, for his part, adjusts near-field mixes for our smaller home environments, ensuring levels are consistent and pans stay true. Basically, it's Tim's job to retain the original Dolby Atmos theatrical mix as much as possible. It's actually fascinating to watch this process in-person, as the Dolby Atmos mixing suite includes a visual representation of all the sound objects in 3D space (pictured above).Tim's other main job is to up-mix older 5.1 or 7.1 mixes into Dolby Atmos. Tim hates to brag, but he's the mad scientist responsible for the titanically awesome work done for 'Bram Stoker's Dracula', 'The Fifth Element', and 'Game of Thrones' Seasons One, Two, Three, Four, and Five... All of which prove Dolby Atmos is a fantastic option for many different types of content, old and new. DOLBY ATMOS DEMOS Tim's Formosa Group Demo was a special treat. Not only did we revisit Tim's work that you can buy right now, but Formosa received special permission to have Tim do one-off Dolby Atmos up-mixes for three clips just to show off the format's capabilities to press and filmmakers, demonstrating how hemispherical, object-based sound mixing is the best of the best.With clips from 'The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2' (available commercially) and 'The Hunger Games' (unavailable), we were treated to the delicacy of object sound placement -- trackerjackers everywhere! -- as well as Dolby Atmos' ability to world build, evoking a cavernous hangar as well as a cramped aircraft interior. But Dolby Atmos is more than just for action movies, as demonstrated by a clip from Eric Claptain's 2013 'Crossroads' guitar festival. As John Mayer & Keith Urban perform "Don't Let Me Down", Dolby Atmos was less about cinematic immersion than it was placing listeners in a stadium to recreate the CONCERT EXPERIENCE -- music heavily in the front, with crowd atmospherics and reverb overhead and around.Next, we turned to TV, which these days is often more cinematic and character-focused than feature films. For this demo, we heard an exclusive-to-the-event mix from Showtime's 'The Affair', which featured a pool scene and rain. Submerging and popping out of the water, walking through the deluge, we were laser focused into the main character's POV. In that sense, Dolby Atmos is less look at me! and more putting the audience into the mind of a character so we get to feel what he is feeling in ways that were previously impossible. Lastly, we were treated to a dragon-enhanced gladiator battle from Season Five of 'Game of Thrones'. Fortunately, you CAN buy this one, and you should, because this sequence of dragon roars and flapping wings is only one of many demo-worthy moments in this multi-disc set.Damned impressive is the only way to describe it. FIRST LOOK: YAMAHA YSP-5600 DOLBY ATMOS SOUNDBAR We were also able to demo the same clips from 'The Hunger Games', 'Crossroads', and 'Game of Thrones' on the new Yamaha YSP-5600 Dolby Atmos soundbar, which helped us compare and contrast the full mix in a 7.1.4 environment to a soundbar-sub combo that sells itself as 7.1.2... I won't say too much about that just yet because I actually have the YSP-5600 in for review right now, so I'd like to spend a little more time with it before making full conclusions.But I will say two things: YES, it does an admirable job recreating the side surrounds as well as the overhead experience -- which for me is the main reason in adding Dolby Atmos to a home cinema or soundbar -- but NO, it doesn't quite recreate the sensation of rear surrounds. To me, it's more like a 5.1.2 system. More on that another day. FINAL THOUGHTS Thanks again to Formosa Group, and Tim, for inviting me and others to visit your Santa Monica offices. As a home cinema geek, it's beyond cool to meet the people and get a sense of the facilities (at least partly) responsible for the Dolby Atmos mixes we experience in our home theatres.If you're a producer looking for a place to finish your sound mix, or re-record an older title, in Dolby Atmos, I can't recommend Formosa Group enough.And if you're like me a few years ago, where you love surround sound because of how it envelops and pulls you into your favorite stories, then it's time for you to start picking out some new gear. There's an Atmos budget for almost everyone, from sub-$500 home theatre-in-a-box systems to money-no-object premium speakers. And with new gear you can even listen to NON-Atmos mixes in the Atmos-esque Dolby Surround (although Dolby's up-mixer not quite as talented as Tim). For more info, here's a semi-up-to-date GUIDE Steven Cohen put together last year. WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE ATMOS MIX? I know I have my personal favorites, but if you're already a Dolby Atmos adopter, what's your favorite mix so far and why? Hit us up in the forums or the comments down below. Cheers!Posted Thu Jun 2, 2016 at 01:02 PM PDT by: -
Integra Releases DRX Series AV Receivers with Dolby Atmos & DTS:X[teaser]Four new 7.2 channel receiver models with immersive audio support have been detailed. [/teaser] Integra has announced the latest additions to its AV receiver lineup. The DRX series is geared toward custom installers and includes four 7.2 channel receivers, the DRX-2 ($800), DRX-3 ($1,000), DRX-4 ($1,300), and DRX-5 ($1,700). The DRX-2 is a 7.2 channel receiver with 80W/ch (@8 ohms) and 25 amps of high instantaneous current capability (HICC). Meanwhile, the DRX-3 features 100W/ch (@8 ohms) and 30 amps of HICC. The DRX-4 offers 110W/ch (@ 8 ohms) and HICC at 35 amps. Finally, the DR-5 features 130W/ch (@ 8 ohms) and 40 amps of HICC. All four models feature integrated Dolby Atmos support and future support for DTS:X through an upcoming firmware update. Likewise, support for MQA decoding, Tidal, and Google Cast for audio will also be enabled through future updates. The receivers all use a 384k/32-Bit (AKM 4458) DAC, Vector Linear Shaping Circuitry (VLSC) for noiseless signal processing, and the latest generation of Integra’s AccuEQ featuring AccuReflex Phase Alignment Technology. HDMI 2.0a connections with HDCP 2.2 compliancy, Ultra HD 4:4:4@4K/60 pass through, HDR (high dynamic range) support, and 4K upscaling for 1080p sources are included as well. In addition, the step up DRX-4 and DRX-5 models offer THX Select2 Plus certification for theater grade performance, Zone 2 HDMI and matrix switching, and HDBaseT output. Integra's DRX-2 ($800), DRX-3 ($1,000), DRX-4 ($1,300), and DRX-5 ($1,700) 7.2 channel receivers are now available. Outside of Integra, Yamaha recently announced the RX-A660, RX-A760, RX-A860, RX-A1060,RX-A2060, and RX-A3060 receivers with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X support. Likewise, Denon announced the AVR-X1300W and AVR-X2300W receivers with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. Source: IntegraPosted Thu Jun 2, 2016 at 12:30 PM PDT by: -
'The Angry Birds Movie' Blu-ray & Ultra HD Blu-ray Pre-Orders Live[teaser]The animated flick is flying toward Blu-ray and Ultra HD Blu-ray. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Sony will be releasing 'The Angry Birds Movie' on Blu-ray, Blu-ray 3D, and Ultra HD Blu-ray later this year. In addition, a Target Exclusive Blu-ray will also be available. In the 3D animated comedy, The Angry Birds Movie, we'll finally find out why the birds are so angry. The movie takes us to an island populated entirely by happy, flightless birds - or almost entirely. In this paradise, Red (Jason Sudeikis, We're the Millers, Horrible Bosses), a bird with a temper problem, speedy Chuck (Josh Gad in his first animated role since Frozen), and the volatile Bomb (Danny McBride, This is the End, Eastbound and Down) have always been outsiders. But when the island is visited by mysterious green piggies, it's up to these unlikely outcasts to figure out what the pigs are up to. Specs and supplements have not been detailed yet. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $38.98, Suggested list price for the Blu-ray 3D is $45.99. Suggested list price for the Ultra HD Blu-ray is also $45.99. You can find the latest specs for 'The Angry Birds Movie' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule and our Ultra HD Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under PENDING. Order the Blu-ray Order the Blu-ray 3D Order the Ultra HD Blu-rayPosted Thu Jun 2, 2016 at 12:00 PM PDT by:
