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Sony Releases New Portable Speaker Systems[teaser]The SRSX5 and the SRSX7 Portable Wireless Speaker Systems are now available for purchase. [/teaser] Sony is now shipping its latest portable speaker options, the SRSX5 and the SRSX7. Both models offer 2.1 channel sound with a mobile design, built-in battery, and robust audio streaming support through wireless Bluetooth technology. The SRSX5 offers 2.1 sound with 20 Watts of power and two full-range 1-1/2 inch drivers. The integrated 2-3/8 inch subwoofer features dual passive radiators that will output 50 Hz to 20 kHz. Battery life is rated at 8 hours. Meanwhile, the SRSX7 features 2.1 audio with 32 Watts of power and two full-range 1-7/8 inch drivers. The integrated 2.4 inch subwoofer also features dual passive radiators with a response of 50 Hz to 20 kHz. Battery life is rated at 6 hours. In addition to Bluetooth, this model includes Wi-Fi support as well. The SRSX5 is now shipping for a suggested retail price of $200, but Amazon currently has it on sale for $173. The SRSX7 is now shipping for a suggested retail price of $300. Source: EngadgetPosted Tue Mar 18, 2014 at 10:30 AM PDT by: -
Criterion Details June Titles[teaser]The distributor has revealed its upcoming slate of June releases, including The Beatles' classic 'A Hard Day's Night' and Douglas Sirk's 'All That Heaven Allows.' [/teaser]In an early announcement to retailers, Criterion is preparing 'All That Heaven Allows,' 'L’eclisse,' 'Hearts and Minds,' 'Judex,' 'Picnic at Hanging Rock,' and 'A Hard Day's Night' for Blu-ray throughout the month of June. 'All That Heaven Allows' (June 10) - This heartbreakingly beautiful indictment of 1950s American mores by Douglas Sirk follows the blossoming love between a well-off suburban widow (Jane Wyman) and her handsome and earthy younger gardener (Rock Hudson). After their romance prompts the scorn of her selfish children and snooty country club friends, she must decide whether to pursue her own happiness or carry on a lonely, hemmed-in existence for the sake of the approval of others. With the help of ace cinematographer Russell Metty, Sirk imbued nearly every shot with a vivid and distinct emotional tenor. A profoundly felt film about class and conformity in small-town America, 'All That Heaven Allows' is a pinnacle of expressionistic Hollywood melodrama. The Blu-ray/DVD combo pack will feature 1080p video, an uncompressed mono soundtrack, and supplements will include: Audio commentary featuring John Mercer, coauthor of Melodrama: Genre, Style, Sensibility, and film scholar Tamar Jeffers-McDonald; Rock Hudson's Home Movies (1992), a groundbreaking essay film about the actor by Mark Rappaport; French television interview with Sirk from 1982; Excerpts from Behind the Mirror: A Profile of Douglas Sirk, a 1979 BBC documentary featuring rare interview footage with the director; Contract Kid: William Reynolds on Douglas Sirk, a 2007 interview with the actor, who costarred in three Sirk films, including All That Heaven Allows; Trailer; and A booklet featuring an essay by film scholar Laura Mulvey and an excerpt from a 1971 essay by filmmaker Rainer Werner Fassbinder on Sirk. 'L’eclisse' (June 10) - The concluding chapter of Michelangelo Antonioni’s informal trilogy on contemporary malaise (following 'L’avventura' and 'La notte'), 'L’eclisse' ('The Eclipse') tells the story of a young woman (Monica Vitti) who leaves one lover (Francisco Rabal) and drifts into a relationship with another (Alain Delon). Using the architecture of Rome as a backdrop for the doomed affair, Antonioni achieves the apotheosis of his style in this return to the theme that preoccupied him the most: the difficulty of connection in an alienating modern world. The Blu-ray/DVD combo pack will feature 1080p video, an uncompressed mono soundtrack, and supplements will include: Audio commentary by film scholar Richard Peña, former program director of New York’s Film Society of Lincoln Center; Michelangelo Antonioni: The Eye That Changed Cinema (2001), a fifty-six-minute documentary exploring the director’s life and career; Elements of Landscape, a twenty-two-minute piece from 2005 about Antonioni and L’eclisse, featuring Italian film critic Adriano Aprà and longtime Antonioni friend Carlo di Carlo; and A booklet featuring essays by film critics Jonathan Rosenbaum and Gilberto Perez, as well as excerpts from Antonioni’s writing about his work. 'Hearts and Minds' (June 17) - A startling and courageous film, Peter Davis’s landmark 1974 documentary 'Hearts and Minds' unflinchingly confronted the United States’ involvement in Vietnam at the height of the foment that surrounded it. Using a wealth of sources—from interviews to newsreels to footage of the conflict and the upheaval it occasioned on the home front—Davis constructs a powerfully affecting picture of the disastrous effects of war. Explosive, persuasive, and wrenching, 'Hearts and Minds' is an overwhelming emotional experience and the most important nonfiction film ever made about this devastating period in history. The Blu-ray/DVD combo pack will feature 1080p video, an uncompressed mono soundtrack, and supplements will include: Audio commentary featuring Davis; A collection of over two hours of never-before-seen outtakes from the film, including interviews with presidential adviser George Ball, broadcast journalist David Brinkley, French journalist and historian Philippe Devillers, political activist Tony Russo, and General William Westmoreland; and A booklet featuring essays by Davis, film critic Judith Crist, and historians Robert K. Brigham, George C. Herring, and Ngo Vinh Long. 'Judex' (June 17) - This effortlessly cool crime caper, directed by Georges Franju, is a marvel of dexterous plotting and visual invention. Conceived as an homage to Louis Feuillade’s 1916 cult silent serial of the same name, 'Judex' kicks off with the mysterious kidnapping of a corrupt banker by a shadowy crime fighter (American magician Channing Pollock) and spins out into a thrillingly complex web of deceptions. Combining stylish sixties modernism with silent-cinema touches and even a few unexpected sci-fi accents, 'Judex' is a delightful bit of pulp fiction and a testament to the art of illusion. The Blu-ray/DVD combo pack will feature 1080p video, an uncompressed mono soundtrack, and supplements will include:Interview from 2007 with the film's cowriter Jacques Champreux, the grandson of Louis Feuillade, cocreator of the silent serial Judex; Interview from 2012 with actor Francine Bergé; Franju le visionnaire, a fifty-minute program from 1998 on director Franju's career and imagination; and A booklet featuring an essay by film scholar Geoffrey O'Brien, along with reprinted writings by and excerpted interviews with Franju. 'Picnic at Hanging Rock' (June 17) - This sensual and striking chronicle of a disappearance and its aftermath put director Peter Weir on the map and helped usher in a new era of Australian cinema. Set at the turn of the twentieth century, 'Picnic at Hanging Rock' concerns a small group of students from an all-female college and a chaperone, who vanish while on a St. Valentine’s Day outing. Less a mystery than a journey into the mystic, as well as an inquiry into issues of class and sexual repression in Australian society, Weir’s gorgeous, disquieting film is a work of poetic horror whose secrets haunt viewers to this day. The Blu-ray/DVD combo pack will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements will include: Extended interview with Weir; New piece on the making of the film, featuring interviews from 2003 with executive producer Patricia Lovell, producers Hal McElroy and Jim McElroy, and cast members; New introduction by film scholar David Thomson, author of The New Biographical Dictionary of Film; A Recollection . . . Hanging Rock 1900 (1975), an on-set documentary hosted by Lovell and featuring interviews with Weir, actor Rachel Roberts, and source novel author Joan Lindsay; Homesdale (1971), an award-winning black comedy by Weir; Trailer; and A booklet featuring an essay by author Megan Abbott and an excerpt from film critic Marek Haltof’s 1996 book Peter Weir: When Cultures Collide; a new paperback edition of Lindsay's original novel, previously out of print in the U.S. 'A Hard Day's Night' (June 24) - Meet the Beatles! Just one month after they exploded onto the U.S. scene with their Ed Sullivan Show appearance, John, Paul, George, and Ringo began working on a project that would bring their revolutionary talent to the big screen. 'A Hard Day’s Night,' in which the bandmates play slapstick versions of themselves, captured the astonishing moment when they officially became the singular, irreverent idols of their generation and changed music forever. Directed with raucous, anything-goes verve by Richard Lester and featuring a slew of iconic pop anthems, including the title track, “Can’t Buy Me Love,” “I Should Have Known Better,” and “If I Fell,” 'A Hard Day’s Night,' which reconceived the movie musical and exerted an incalculable influence on the music video, is one of the most deliriously entertaining movies of all time. The Blu-ray/DVD combo pack will feature 1080p video, an uncompressed mono and DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements will include: Audio commentary featuring various members of the film’s cast and crew; In Their Own Voices, a new piece combining interviews with the Beatles from 1964 with behind-the-scenes footage and photos; You Can't Do That: The Making of 'A Hard Day's Night,' a 1994 documentary program by producer Walter Shenson; Things They Said Today, a 2002 documentary about the film featuring Lester, music producer George Martin, writer Alun Owen, cinematographer Gilbert Taylor, and others; New piece about Lester's early work, featuring a new audio interview with the director; The Running Jumping and Standing Still Film(1959), Lester's Oscar-nominated short featuring Peter Sellers and Spike Milligan; Anatomy of a Style, a new piece on Lester's approach to editing; New interview with Mark Lewisohn, author of Tune In: The Beatles: All These Years—Volume One; Deleted scene; Trailers; A booklet featuring an essay by critic Howard Hampton; And More! Suggested list price for each Blu-ray is $39.95.You can find the latest specs for all of the titles listed above linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where they are indexed throughout the month of June.Posted Tue Mar 18, 2014 at 10:00 AM PDT by: -
'Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit' Blu-ray Dated and Detailed[teaser]The latest Tom Clancy adaptation arrives on Blu-ray this summer. Pre-order here! [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Paramount will be releasing 'Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit' on Blu-ray on June 10. In an update of Tom Clancy's classic character, ex-Marine and Moscow-based financial analyst Jack Ryan (Star Trek's Chris Pine) uncovers a plot to finance a terrorist attack designed to collapse the U.S. economy. Ryan must race against time to save America and his wife (Keira Knightley). The Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy combo pack will feature 1080p video, a lossless 7.1 soundtrack, and supplements include: Commentary by Kenneth Branagh and Lorenzo di Bonaventura; Deleted & Extended Scenes with Optional Commentary with Branagh and di Bonaventura; Jack Ryan: The Smartest Guy in the Room; Sir Kenneth Branagh: The Tsar of Shadow Recruit; Jack Ryan: A Thinking Man of Action; and Old Enemies Return. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $37.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under June 10.Posted Tue Mar 18, 2014 at 08:00 AM PDT by: -
'Bushido Man: Seven Deadly Battles' Dated for Blu-ray[teaser]The martial arts epic heads to Blu-ray in June. Pre-orders are now available. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Shout Factory will be releasing 'Bushido Man: Seven Deadly Battles' on Blu-ray on June 10. Toramaru, lord of integrated martial arts Mugen-ga-ryu, ends his training journey and visits his master, Gensai. "You have to duel with every martial arts master and win, in order to obtain their esoteric books of martial secrets." Receiving such an order from Gensai, Toramaru makes a pilgrimage around Japan and spends a year fighting. Through his fights with genuine masters in every martial arts such as kung-fu, stick fighting, sword fighting, and nunchaku, this film passionately tells what "Budo" is and what Bushido is. Full of fierce and diverse action! The original fighting movie is finally born here! Specs and supplements haven't been revealed yet, but the suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $19.97. You can find the latest specs for 'Bushido Man: Seven Deadly Battles' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under June 10. IfPosted Tue Mar 18, 2014 at 06:00 AM PDT by: -
Amazon's Streaming Device Could Be a Dongle[teaser]Amazon's rumored set-top box might actually be a streaming stick similar to Google's Chromecast. [/teaser] According to a report from TechCrunch, Amazon's upcoming streaming video device will come in the form of a dongle rather than a traditional set-top box like the Apple TV. Instead, the rumored stick will resemble Google's Chromecast and Roku's HDMI streaming stick. Previous reports indicated that the streaming device would likely use a modified version of Google's Android OS and allow users to play video and music from a variety of sources including Amazon's Prime Instant Video and MP3 library. The rumored dongle is being designed by Lab126 and TechCrunch's sources also claim that the stick will be able to stream full PC games. Amazon has yet to officially announce the potential device, but earlier rumors hinted at a March release. Likewise, images of an alleged Amazon console controller leaked last week, and it's possible that these items are related, bringing the company's streaming video and gaming plans together. Stay tuned to High-Def Digest for more details as they become available. Source: CNETPosted Mon Mar 17, 2014 at 05:30 PM PDT by: -
Fox Searchlight Announces 20th Anniversary Releases[teaser]Fox Searchlight Pictures is celebrating its 20th Anniversary with a slew of Blu-ray debuts and a 20-film box set. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Fox Searchlight Pictures and Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment have announced a campaign to celebrate Fox Searchlight’s 20th Anniversary. The “We Have Your Story” anniversary event will spotlight Fox Searchlight’s collection of more than 140 smart, thoughtful and distinctive films including currently available award-winning favorites like '12 Years a Slave,' 'Beasts of the Southern Wild,' 'The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel,' 'The Descendants,' 'The Tree of Life,' and '127 Hours.' The campaign will consist of several new to Blu-ray releases, anniversary editions and themed collections that will be supported by event publicity campaigns, retail promotions, social media engagement, branded Digital HD™ store fronts with select retailers, in-theater promotions and more.Anniversary titles with event celebrations include 'Crazy Heart' (5th anniversary), 'Garden State' (10th anniversary), 'Kinsey' (10th anniversary), 'Napoleon Dynamite' (10th anniversary), 'Sideways' (10th anniversary) and 'Boys Don’t Cry' (15th anniversary).Fox Searchlight titles making their Blu-ray debut in 2014 include: 'Johnson Family Vacation' (Available Now) - Buckle up for the wildest road trip of the year! Cedric the Entertainer leads an all-star cast in this hilarious comedy adventure about a misfit family trying to survive outrageous obstacles (including each other) on a cross-country trek to their annual family reunion. 'Garden State' (Available Now) - Writer/Director Zach Braff delivers "an Oscar-worthy performance" (CBS-TV CHICAGO) in this quirky coming-of-age comedy that has been hailed as "the seminal film for today's generation" (USA TODAY). Twentysomething, emotionally detached Andrew Largeman (Braff) returns home to New Jersey after nine long years. Now, as he tries to re-connect with his past, a series of chance encounters with Sam (Natalie Portman) - a free-spirited girl who's everything he isn't - sets the stage for a fateful, mind-blowing take on what his future might hold. 'Once' (April 1) - A serendipitous meeting on the streets of Dublin between a down on his luck Irish street performer and a poor Czech immigrant sparks a bond that plays out in this hip, modern day music film. 'Once' follows the two as they write, rehearse and record the songs that reveal their unique love story. 'Notes On A Scandal' (April 29) - A veteran high school teacher befriends a younger art teacher, who is having an affair with one of her 15-year-old students. However, her intentions with this new "friend" also go well beyond platonic friendship. 'The Deep End' (May 6) - A woman spirals out of control while trying to keep her son from being found culpable in a murder investigation. 'The Ringer' (June 3) - A young guy's only option to erase a really bad debt is to rig the Special Olympics by posing as a contestant. 'Kissing Jessica Stein' (June 3) - A woman searching for the perfect man instead discovers the perfect woman. 'The Full Monty' (August 5) - Six unemployed steel workers form a male striptease act. The women cheer them on to go for "the full monty" - total nudity. In addition, Fox Searchlight will wrap its 20th anniversary celebration with 20 of its most iconic films in a one-of-a-kind collectible box set. The films (TBA) will be chosen based on considerations of timelessness, cultural impact, awards recognition and box office success. The package will also include an 80-minute documentary featuring notable directors and stars from the studio’s impressive catalog of films. This perfect holiday gift will be available for purchase in November.Fox Searchlight Presidents Nancy Utley and Stephen Gilula said, “Fox Searchlight has been a creative and collaborative home for filmmakers who share our passion for storytelling and for taking audiences on unique and unexpected journeys. We are extremely proud of all that Searchlight has accomplished in its 20 years, and we will continue to champion films that entertain and illuminate.” Event details, exact title configurations, packaging, specs, supplements, and pricing for Fox Searchlight’s 20th Anniversary Blu-ray releases will be confirmed individually in the coming weeks. A dedicated website - www.foxsearchlight20th.com - created by Fox Searchlight and fans, will tell the studio’s 20-year story through its most iconic films and invite fans into the #WeHaveYourStory campaign. 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 2014.Posted Mon Mar 17, 2014 at 02:00 PM PDT by: -
Onkyo Details 4K A/V Receivers[teaser]Two new home theater receivers with HDMI 2.0 support are coming soon. [/teaser] Hot on the heels of Pioneer's recent announcement, Onkyo has revealed its own lineup of 4K ready HDMI 2.0 A/V receivers. The upcoming slate includes the TX-NR535 and the TX-NR636. The TX-NR535 is a 5.2 channel receiver while the TX-NR636 offers support for 7.2 channels. Both devices are 4K/60 Hz and 21:9 compatible, making them a perfect fit for Ultra HD TVs and PC gamers. Likewise, both models are designed with custom high-current architecture with "a massive customized transformer, extra-large capacitors, and discrete low-distortion amplifiers." Built-in Wi-Fi and Blutetooth connectivity is included as well, allowing users to stream high-res music from their mobile devices and services like Spotify, Deezer, AUPEO!, and TuneIn. In addition, the TX-NR636 offers support for the HDCP 2.2 DRM copy-protection standard which will be used for future 4K content. This model also uses Onkyo's Three-Stage Inverted Darlington Circuitry on the front and center channels, and two 32-bit DSP engines. The Onkyo TX-NR535 is expected to launch later this month for a suggested retail price of $499. The Onkyo TX-NR636 will be available in April for a suggested retail price of $699. Source: OnkyoPosted Mon Mar 17, 2014 at 10:00 AM PDT by: -
'Mr. Jones' Blu-ray Trailer Added[teaser]Karl Mueller's horror/thriller will stalk Blu-ray in May. [/teaser] As previously reported, Starz/Anchor Bay will be releasing 'Mr. Jones' on Blu-ray on May 6. Scott (Jon Foster of 'Stay Alive') and Penny (Sarah Jones of "Sons Of Anarchy") just moved to a remote cabin to escape the pressures of the world and breathe new life into their art. But they'll soon discover they are not alone: an infamously reclusive artist - known only as 'Mr. Jones' - lives nearby. He doesn't like to be disturbed, and only comes out at night when he drags his strange, sinister sculptures deep into the woods. When Scott and Penny's curiosity leads them too close for Mr. Jones' comfort, he plunges the young couple into a nightmare world of mayhem, madness and mind-bending terror. ) Specs and supplements haven't been revealed yet, but suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $26.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Mr. Jones' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under May 6.Posted Mon Mar 17, 2014 at 10:00 AM PDT by: -
'Knights of Badassdom' Blu-ray Detailed[teaser]The long delayed role playing comedy starring Peter Dinklage and Summer Glau arriving on Blu-ray in April has been detailed. It's available for pre-order now.[/teaser] As previously reported, Entertainment One is preparing 'Knights of Badassdom' for Blu-ray on April 1. A group of costumed "Live Action Role Players," dressed as knights, elves and other medieval characters, take to the woods for "The Battle of Evermore." But when a make-believe wizard casts a spell from an ancient book, purchased on eBay, fantasy becomes reality as a powerful demon manifests itself. Can these pretend warriors muster the courage to save themselves and the rest of humanity? The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, a lossless soundtrack, and supplements will include: Interviews with Peter Dinklage, Steve Zahn and director Joe Lynch, a Behind -the-Scenes featurette, a Summer Glau: Hottie Montage and the San Diego Comic Con Panel. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $24.98. You can find the latest specs for 'Knights of Badassdom' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under April 1.Posted Mon Mar 17, 2014 at 10:00 AM PDT by: -
'Space Battleship Yamato' Blu-ray Bound[teaser]The Japanese sci-fi flick based on the cult anime series is rocketing toward Blu-ray in April. You can pre-order it now. [/teaser]In an early announcement to retailers, FUNimation is preparing 'Space Battleship Yamato' for Blu-ray on April 29.A cult classic from the glory days of anime blazes to life on the big screen in this feature-length sci-fi epic starring Takuya Kimura ('Redline,' 'Howl's Moving Castle')! The year is 2199. Mankind teeters on the brink of extinction as the Gamilas, a heinous race of alien invaders, wage an endless war for the right to inhabit the Earth. The last hope for humanity lies on the distant planet of Iskander, and the only battleship capable of attempting the journey is the legendary Yamato. Armed with the devastatingly-powerful Wave Motion Cannon, grizzled Captain Okita and the Yamato's crew venture boldly into the darkest depths of space. The Gamilas attack at every turn, but fallen hero Susumu Kodai and ace pilot Yuki Mori fight side-by-side for the future of their world. Together, these young lovers unlock the secrets of Iskander - only to face a harrowing voyage home that will change their world forever! Specs have not been detailed yet, but supplements will include: Space Battleship Yamato Pre-Visualization; VFX "Making of"; Local Yamato; News Flashes; Premiere Announcements; Original Trailer #1; Original Trailer #2; and Previews. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray/DVD combo pack is $29.98. You can find the latest specs for 'Space Battleship Yamato' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under April 29.Posted Mon Mar 17, 2014 at 08:00 AM PDT by:
