-
VUDU Adds New 4K Ultra HD Warner Bros. Titles with Dolby Vision & Dolby Atmos[teaser]Dolby has expanded its Dolby Vision lineup and has released a handy infographic detailing how to watch its content. [/teaser] VUDU and Dolby have announced the arrival of two new Warner Bros. titles to their 4K Ultra HD Dolby Vision lineup. 'In the Heart of the Sea' and 'The Intern' are now available to watch in Dolby Vision through VUDU. In addition, 'In the Heart of the Sea' also features a Dolby Atmos soundtrack. Dolby Vision uses HDR (high dynamic range) and expanded colors to offer enhanced contrast and picture on supported displays. Meanwhile, Dolby Atmos is an immersive, object-based audio technology that allows users to add overhead audio to supported sound systems. There are now more than 30 VUDU titles available in Dolby Vision, including 14 films with Dolby Atmos soundtracks. Additional Warner Bros. 4K Ultra HD titles with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos on VUDU include 'Mad Max: Fury Road,' 'The Man from U.N.C.L.E.,' 'The Gallows,' 'Entourage,' 'San Andreas,' 'American Sniper,' 'Man of Steel,' 'Jupiter Ascending,' 'Pan,' 'We Are Your Friends,' 'Pacific Rim,' 'Edge of Tomorrow,' and 'Into the Storm.' Likewise, Warner Bros. VUDU titles available with Dolby Vision only include 'Vacation,' 'Focus,' 'Get Hard,' 'Run All Night,' 'The Lego Movie,' 'The Great Gatsby,' 'Sherlock Holmes,' 'Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows,' 'The Hangover trilogy,' 'Goodfellas,' 'The Conjuring,' 'Annabelle,' 'The Hangover,' 'Magic Mike XXL,' and more. To experience VUDU titles in Dolby Vision, customers will need a supported display like the recently released VIZIO Reference Series Ultra HD TV or upcoming models from LG and TCL. Likewise, to enjoy VUDU titles in Dolby Atmos users will need an Atmos-enabled receiver and speakers, or an Atmos-enabled soundbar like the upcoming YSP-5600. For more details on VUDU's Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos lineup, check out the handy infographic below! Source: DolbyPosted Tue Feb 23, 2016 at 10:15 AM PST by: -
'Roger Corman's Death Race 2050' Speeds to Blu-ray[teaser]Director G.J. Echternkamp ('Hard Candy') and legendary producer Roger Corman will be bringing Frankenstein back to Blu-ray in 2016. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Universal will be releasing 'Roger Corman's Death Race 2050' on Blu-ray sometime later this year. In the not-too-distant future, America is controlled by an all-powerful corporate government that keeps the masses placated with violent virtual-reality entertainment. The event of the year is the Death Race, where a motley assortment of drivers compete in a cross-country road race, scoring points for running down pedestrians and killing each other. The reigning champion and popular favorite is half-man, half-machine Frankenstein — but little does he know he's taken on a rebel spy as his co-pilot. An outrageous action-packed film and reboot of the original Death Race 2000, Roger Corman's Death Race 2050 began filming February 8 in Peru. Filled with the full-throttle mayhem and black-hearted humor, this all-new film drops the flag on a phalanx of automotive gladiators who earn points for killing pedestrians — and their fellow drivers. Roger Corman's Death Race 2050 is an original release from Universal 1440 Entertainment, a production entity of Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. Roger Corman's Death Race 2050 stars Manu Bennett (The Hobbit franchise) as Frankenstein, as well as Malcolm McDowell (A Clockwork Orange) as the Chairman, Burt Grinstead ("NCIS"), Marci Miller (Viper), Folake Olowofoyeku (The Beaver), Anessa Ramsey (Footloose), Yancy Butler (Hard Target) and Charlie Farrell (Cantar). No other details have been revealed at this time. You can find the latest specs for 'Roger Corman's Death Race 2050' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under PENDING.Posted Tue Feb 23, 2016 at 10:00 AM PST by: -
'Open Season: Scared Silly' Headed for Blu-ray[teaser]The animated comedy sequel will target Blu-ray next month. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Sony says 'Open Season: Scared Silly' will hit Blu-ray on March 8. Boog and Elliot are back in an all-new fun-tastic adventure! When Elliot tells a campfire story of a monster in the woods, Boog – who has never been the bravest of bears – becomes very scared. His best friend Elliot comes up with a crazy plan to scare the fear out of Boog! With the help of Mr. Weenie, McSquizzy and the rest of their forest friends, they embark on a memorable journey where the power of friendship helps Boog overcome his fears with lots of laughs and some surprises along the way! This national debut, from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, is the latest release for one of the most successful animated franchises to date, bringing back Elliot, Boog and all of the beloved woodland creatures from the previous Open Season series. The fourth installment is a comedic mystery adventure directed by David Feiss (head of story on the original Open Season and creator of the popular TV series “Cow and Chicken”); produced by John Bush (TV’s “The Simpsons”); and featuring computer animation from Rainmaker Entertainment, Inc. Says Director Feiss, “My affection for these characters has only grown since we introduced them in Sony Pictures Animation’s first feature. We’re having a lot of fun bringing them back for a new adventure—it feels like a big party with old friends.” Most recently, Feiss -- whose prolific career began as a story artist for Hanna-Barbera -- directed four mini-movies for the home entertainment release of Sony Pictures Animation’s Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs 2, entitled Steve’s First Bath, Super Manny, Attack Of The 50 Ft. Gummy Bear and Earl Scouts. Specs have yet to be revealed, but supplements include: OPEN SEASON Super Speedy Re-Cap; Feature Audio Commentary with Director David Feiss and Writer Carlos Kotkin; Director profile – David Feiss; Stepping into the Spotlight - Mr. Weenie’s Process; Blooper and outtakes; and Scaredy Pants: The Fears of OPEN SEASON: SCARED SILLY. You can find the latest specs for 'Open Season: Scared Silly' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under March 8. Order the Blu-rayPosted Tue Feb 23, 2016 at 08:00 AM PST by: -
Kelly Reichardt's 'River of Grass' Dated for Blu-ray[teaser]The 1994 film has been restored and will arrive on Blu-ray in April. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Oscilloscope Pictures will be releasing 'River of Grass' on Blu-ray on April 26. Kelly Reichardt s darkly funny debut feature, newly restored in 2K, brought the writer/director back to the setting of her adolescence, the suburban landscape of southern Florida. Shot on 16mm, the story follows the misadventures of disaffected house-wife and mom Cozy, played by Lisa Bowman, and the aimless layabout Lee, played by up-and-comer Larry Fessenden, whose drunken flirtation one fateful night sends their lives into a tailspin. Described by Reichardt as a road movie without the road, a love story without the love, and a crime story without the crime, River of Grass introduced viewers to a breakout director defining her signature style. Reichardt went on to direct the award-winning and critically acclaimed films Old Joy (2006), Wendy and Lucy (2008), Meek's Cutoff (2010), and Night Moves (2013). Specs and supplements haven't been revealed yet, but the suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $39.99. You can find the latest specs for 'River of Grass' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under April 26. Order the Blu-rayPosted Tue Feb 23, 2016 at 06:00 AM PST by: -
Amazon Increases Minimum Order Total for Free Shipping to $49[teaser]The online retailer has increased the minimum order amount to qualify for free shipping. [/teaser] Amazon has raised its free shipping minimum for non-prime members. Initially, Amazon offered free shipping on qualifying orders of $25 or more. This amount was increased by $10 to $35 back in 2013, and now the company has raised the total again -- this time by $14, bringing the new qualifying amount to $49. With that said, the increase does not impact qualifying book orders, which still remain at the original $25 minimum for free shipping. The retailer's site now states: Orders including $25 or more of eligible books qualify for FREE Shipping. All orders of $49 or more of eligible items across any product category also qualify for FREE Shipping. With free shipping, your order will be delivered 5-8 business days after all of your items are available to ship, including pre-order items. The increase is likely the result of increased costs for the company. As reported by TechCrunch, Amazon's fulfillment costs went up 32.8 percent year-over-year in its last earnings release. In addition, the increase is a way for the company to further promote its Amazon Prime subscription service. Amazon Prime currently offers: FREE Two-Day Shipping with no minimum order size on over 20 million items Unlimited, ad-free access to over a million songs and hundreds of playlists Instant streaming of thousands of movies and TV episodes with Prime Instant Video Unlimited photo storage with anywhere access Over 500,000 books to borrow for free, as frequently as once a month, with no due dates through the Kindle Owners' Lending Library 30-minute early access to Lightning Deals on Amazon and limited time events on MyHabit.com Amazon's new $49 minimum order total for free shipping is now in effect. A Prime membership currently costs $99 per year. Sources: Amazon, Engadget, TechCrunchPosted Mon Feb 22, 2016 at 04:04 PM PST by: -
Lenovo Announces TAB3 Series Tablets with Dolby Atmos Sound[teaser]The company has detailed a new line of family and business tablets. [/teaser] At Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Lenovo has revealed the latest additions to its tablet lineup. The new TAB3 Series consists of three models: The TAB3 7 and TAB3 8 family tablets and the TAB3 10 business tablet. All three models incorporate Dolby Atmos audio technology. "We are excited to further enrich Lenovo's Dolby Atmos mobile device offerings with the launch of the Lenovo TAB3 series products," said Jeff Meredith, Vice President and General Manager, Tablets, Mobile Business Group, Lenovo. "Dolby Atmos sound has been a key differentiator of the Lenovo tablets through the past year. We look forward to delivering the amazing moving audio experience to more consumers with the new Lenovo TAB3 series." The TAB3 10 is designed for business use and features a 10 inch full HD IPS display with Gorilla Glass 3. Under the hood, the tablet is powered by a 1.3GHz Quad-core processor running Android for Work and sports up to 12 hours of battery life. An 8MP auto-focus rear camera and 5MP fixed-focus front camera are integrated as well. Meanwhile, the TAB3 7 and TAB3 8 are designed for multi-user families. The TAB3 7 features a 7 inch SD IPS display and the TAB3 8 features an 8 inch HD IPS display. Both models are powered by a 1.0GHz Quad-Core processor. Likewise, both devices include a 2MP front and 5MP rear camera. In addition, all three tablets use Dolby Atmos audio technology which enhances mobile entertainment over headphones and built-in speakers with immersive audio that flows above and around the user. "The launch of the Lenovo TAB3 series devices with Dolby Atmos has further strengthened the growing momentum of Dolby Atmos in the mobile world," said John Couling, Senior Vice President, E-Media Business Group, Dolby Laboratories. "We will continue to innovate together with Lenovo to enhance immersive mobile entertainment experiences for consumers around the world." Lenovo's TAB3 series is expected to launch in June 2016. Sources: Lenovo, DolbyPosted Mon Feb 22, 2016 at 01:30 PM PST by: -
'The Peanuts Movie' Ultra HD Blu-ray Up for Pre-Order![teaser]Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the gang are heading to Ultra HD Blu-ray in March. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, 20th Century Fox is preparing 'The Peanuts Movie' for Ultra HD Blu-ray on March 8. Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, Linus and the rest of the beloved "Peanuts" gang make their big-screen debut, like they've never been seen before, in state of the art 3D animation. Charlie Brown, the world's most beloved underdog, embarks upon an epic and heroic quest, while his best pal, the lovable beagle Snoopy, takes to the skies to pursue his arch-nemesis, the Red Baron. From the imagination of Charles M. Schulz and the creators of the ICE AGE films, THE PEANUTS MOVIE will prove that every underdog has his day. Exact specs and supplements have not been detailed yet. Suggested list price for the Ultra HD Blu-ray/Blu-ray/Digital HD combo pack is $39.99. You can find the latest specs for 'The Peanuts Movie' linked from our Ultra HD Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under March 8. Order the Blu-rayPosted Mon Feb 22, 2016 at 01:00 PM PST by: -
Criterion's May 2016 Blu-ray Titles Now Available for Pre-Order![teaser]The distributor has revealed its upcoming slate of May releases, including Robert Altman's 'The Player' and Nicholas Ray's 'In a Lonely Place.' [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Criterion is preparing 'Easy Rider,' 'In a Lonely Place,' 'The Naked Island,' 'The Player,' and 'Wim Wenders: The Road Trilogy' for Blu-ray throughout the month of May. 'Easy Rider' (May 3) - This is the definitive counterculture blockbuster. The down-and-dirty directorial debut of former clean-cut teen star Dennis Hopper, Easy Riderheralded the arrival of a new voice in film, one pitched angrily against the mainstream. After the film’s cross-country journey—with its radical, New Wave–style editing, outsider-rock soundtrack, revelatory performance by a young Jack Nicholson, and explosive ending—the American road trip would never be the same. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, an English LPCM Mono soundtrack, 2.0 DTS-HD MA soundtrack, and 5.1 DTS-HD MA soundtrack. Supplements will include: Two audio commentaries, one from 2009, featuring actor-director-writer Dennis Hopper, and the other from 1995, featuring Hopper, actor-writer Peter Fonda, and production manager Paul Lewis; Born to Be Wild (1995) and “Easy Rider”: Shaking the Cage (1999), documentaries about the making and history of the film; Television excerpts showing Hopper and Fonda at the Cannes Film Festival in 1969; Interview from 2010 with BBS Productions cofounder Steve Blauner; Theatrical trailers; and An essay by film critic Matt Zoller Seitz. Order the Blu-ray 'In a Lonely Place' (May 10) - When a gifted but washed-up screenwriter with a hair-trigger temper—Humphrey Bogart, in a revelatory, vulnerable performance—becomes the prime suspect in a brutal Tinseltown murder, the only person who can supply an alibi for him is a seductive neighbor (Gloria Grahame) with her own troubled past. The emotionally charged In a Lonely Place, freely adapted from a Dorothy B. Hughes thriller, is a brilliant, turbulent mix of suspenseful noir and devastating melodrama, fueled by powerhouse performances. An uncompromising tale of two people desperate to love yet struggling with their demons and each other, this is one of the greatest films of the 1950s, and a benchmark in the career of the classic Hollywood auteur Nicholas Ray. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, an uncompressed English mono soundtrack, and supplements will include: New audio commentary featuring film scholar Dana Polan; I’m a Stranger Here Myself, a 1975 documentary about director Nicholas Ray, slightly condensed for this release; New interview with biographer Vincent Curcio about actor Gloria Grahame; Piece from 2002 featuring filmmaker Curtis Hanson; Radio adaptation from 1948 of the original Dorothy B. Hughes novel, broadcast on the program Suspense; Trailer; PLUS: An essay by critic Imogen Sara Smith. Order the Blu-ray 'The Naked Island' (May 17) - Director Kaneto Shindo’s documentary-like, dialogue-free portrayal of daily struggle is a work of stunning visual beauty and invention. The international breakthrough for one of Japan’s most innovative filmmakers—who went on to make such other marvelous movies as Onibaba and Kuroneko—The Naked Island follows a family whose home is on a tiny, remote island off the coast of Japan. They must row a great distance to another shore, collect water from a well in buckets, and row back to their island—a nearly backbreaking task essential for the survival of these people and their land. Featuring a phenomenal modernist score by Hikaru Hayashi, this is a truly hypnotic experience, with a rhythm unlike that of any other film. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, a Japanese LPCM mono soundtrack, and supplements will include: Video introduction by director Kaneto Shindo, recorded for a 2011 retrospective of his work; Audio commentary recorded in 2000, featuring Shindo and composer Hikaru Hayashi; New appreciation of the film by actor Benicio Del Toro; New interview with film scholar Akira Mizuta Lippit; Trailer; PLUS: An essay by film scholar Haden Guest. Order the Blu-ray 'The Player' (May 24) - A Hollywood studio executive with a shaky moral compass (Tim Robbins) finds himself caught up in a criminal situation that would fit right into one of his movie projects, in this biting industry satire from Robert Altman. Mixing elements of film noir with sly insider comedy, The Player, based on a novel by Michael Tolkin, functions as both a nifty stylish murder story and a commentary on its own making, and it is stocked with a heroic supporting cast (Peter Gallagher, Whoopi Goldberg, Greta Scacchi, Dean Stockwell, Fred Ward) and an astonishing lineup of star cameos that make for a remarkable Hollywood who’s who. This complexly woven grand entertainment (which kicks off with one of American cinema’s most audacious and acclaimed opening shots) was the film that marked Altman’s triumphant commercial comeback in the early 1990s. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, an English DTS-HD MA 2.0 surround soundtrack, and supplements will include: Audio commentary from 1992 featuring director Robert Altman, writer Michael Tolkin, and cinematographer Jean Lépine; Interview with Altman from 1992; New interviews with Tolkin and production designer Stephen Altman; Cannes Film Festival press conference from 1992 with cast and crew; "The Player" at LACMA, a short documentary about the shooting of the film’s fund-raiser scene; Map to the Stars, a gallery dedicated to the cameo appearances in the film; Deleted scenes and outtakes; The film’s opening shot, with alternate commentaries by Altman, Lépine, and Tolkin; Trailers; More; PLUS: An essay by author Sam Wasson. Order the Blu-ray 'Wim Wenders: The Road Trilogy' (May 31) - In the 1970s, Wim Wenders was among the first true international breakthrough artists of the revolutionary New German Cinema, a filmmaker whose fascination with the physical landscapes and emotional contours of the open road proved to be universal. In the middle of that decade, Wenders embarked on a three-film journey that took him from the wide roads of Germany to the endless highways of the United States and back again. Starring Rüdiger Vogler as the director’s alter ego, Alice in the Cities, Wrong Move, and Kings of the Road are dramas of emotional transformation that follow their characters’ searches for themselves, all rendered with uncommon soulfulness and visual poetry. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, an uncompressed German mono soundtrack on 'Alice in the Cities,' and DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtracks on 'Wrong Move' and 'Kings of the Road.' Supplements will include: Audio commentaries for all three films, featuring Wenders and actors Rüdiger Vogler and Yella Rottländer on Alice in the Cities, and featuring Wenders on Wrong Move and Kings of the Road; New interview with Wenders, directed and conducted by filmmaker Michael Almereyda; New interviews with Vogler, Kreuzer, Rottländer, and actor Hanns Zischler; Outtakes and Super 8 home movies; Restoring Time, a 2015 short about the restoration work done by the Wim Wenders Foundation; Same Player Shoots Again (1967) and Silver City Revisited (1968), two newly restored early short films by Wenders; More!; PLUS: A book featuring essays on the films by filmmaker Allison Anders, author James Robison, and critic Nick Roddick. Order the Blu-ray Suggested list price for each single-disc Blu-ray is $39.95. Suggested list price for the 3-Disc 'Wim Wenders: The Road Trilogy' 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 May.Posted Mon Feb 22, 2016 at 12:00 PM PST by: -
'Killjoys: Season 1' Bound for Blu-ray[teaser]The first 10 episodes of the Canadian Syfy series is planned for Blu-ray in May. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, 20th Century Fox will be releasing 'Killjoys: Season 1' on Blu-ray on May 10. From the producers of Orphan Black and the creator of Lost Girl comes Killjoys, a sci-fi adventure that follows a fun-loving, hard living trio of interplanetary bounty hunters (a.k.a. Killjoys) sworn to remain impartial as they chase deadly warrants around the Quad, a system of planets on the brink of revolution. A motley crew that always has each other's back, until a dark secret threatens to tear apart their trio for good. Follow their adventures and discover their secrets with all 10 episodes back-to-back and uninterrupted. Specs and supplements have yet to be revealed, but suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $44.98. You can find the latest specs for 'Killjoys: Season 1' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under May 10. Order the Blu-rayPosted Mon Feb 22, 2016 at 08:00 AM PST by: -
'Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip' Dated and Detailed for Blu-ray[teaser]The zany musical-loving chipmunks will be back on Blu-ray next month. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, 20th Century Fox will be releasing 'Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip' on Blu-ray on March 15. Hit the road with your favorite fur balls in the funniest Alvin and the Chipmunks ever! Alvin, Simon and Theodore race to Miami on a wild road trip, but their jaunt soon takes a nutty detour, leading to hilarious hijinks and music-packed adventures across the country. The Ultimate Playlist is featured on both Blu-ray™ and DVD so you can MUNK OUT to all the top hits from all the Alvin & The Chipmunks movies! The Blu-ray combo pack will feature 1080p video, a lossless 7.1 soundtrack, and supplements include: Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Story So Far; Cue the Chipmunks: The Great Big Chipmunks Music Finale; Our Furry Planet; Alvinisms; WETA and the Chipmunks: Animators’ Reference Reel; Ultimate Playlist; Munk Rock; RedFoo “Squeaky Wiggle” Dance Instructional; and After the Party: A Munkumentary. You can find the latest specs for 'Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under March 15. Order the Blu-rayPosted Mon Feb 22, 2016 at 06:00 AM PST by:
