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'Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa' Dated and Detailed for Blu-ray[teaser]One of the funniest movies of the year is arriving on Blu-ray next month and is now available for pre-order. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Paramount will be bringing 'Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa' on Blu-ray on January 28. 'Jackass' ringleader Johnny Knoxville reprises his role as 86-year-old Irving Zisman in the story of a crotchety old man unexpectedly saddled with the care of his 8-year-old grandson, Billy (Jackson Nicoll). The two generations of troublemakers soon develop a bond, as they hustle their way across the heartland of America pursuing hijinks and pulling pranks on unsuspecting, real-life people—all of whom had no idea they were starring in a hidden camera film and “one of the sharpest comedies of the year.”(Scott Bowles, USA Today). “We had so much hilarious footage that we had to cut for various reasons, so I’m psyched that people are going to get to see everything, especially when it’s unrated and on Blu-ray. Woohoo!!” said Johnny Knoxville. “Plus I think fans will get a kick out of seeing how we pulled off some of the pranks in the behind-the-scenes footage. As Irving would say, ‘The show’s not over until I hogwrench the fat lady's spatooly.'" The Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy Combo Pack will feature both the Theatrical and Unrated cuts of the film with 1080p video, a lossless 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements include Behind-the-Scenes Featurettes and Deleted Scenes. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $39.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under January 28.Posted Mon Dec 23, 2013 at 08:00 AM PST by: -
Blu-ray Highlights: Week of December 22nd, 2013It's Christmas time and the holiday slowdown is in full effect. Nevertheless, a handful of new Blu-rays will be released this week. Check out our coverage in the blog.Posted Mon Dec 23, 2013 at 07:00 AM PST by: -
'The Freshman' Announced for Blu-ray[teaser]The 1925 silent comedy classic is bound for Blu-ray in March. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Criterion has revealed 'The Freshman' will head to Blu-ray on March 25. Harold Lloyd's biggest box-office hit was this silent comedy gem, featuring the befuddled everyman at his eager best as a new college student. Though he dreams of being a big man on campus, the freshman's careful plans inevitably go hilariously awry, be it on the football field or at the Fall Frolic. But he gets a climactic chance to prove his mettle—and impress the sweet girl he loves—in one of the most famous sports sequences ever filmed. This crowd-pleaser is a gleeful showcase for Lloyd's slapstick brilliance and incandescent charm, and it's accompanied here by a new orchestral score by Carl Davis. The Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack will feature a New 4K digital transfer from a restoration by the UCLA Film and Television Archive, an uncompressed stereo soundtrack, and supplements include: Audio commentary featuring director and Harold Lloyd archivist Richard Correll, film historian Richard Bann, and film critic and historian Leonard Maltin; Lloyd's prologue to the film, created for the 1966 rerelease; Three newly restored Lloyd shorts: The Marathon (1919), with a new score by Gabriel Thibaudeau, and An Eastern Westerner and High and Dizzy (both 1920), with new scores composed and conducted by Davis; Big Man on Campus, a new visual essay on the film's locations by silent-film historian John Bengtson; Conversation between Correll and film historian Kevin Brownlow; Footage from a 1963 Delta Kappa Alpha tribute to Lloyd, featuring comedian Steve Allen, director Delmer Daves, and actor Jack Lemmon; Lloyd's 1953 appearance on the television show What's My Line; and a booklet featuring an essay by critic Stephen Winer. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $39.95. You can find the latest specs for 'The Freshman' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under March 25.Posted Mon Dec 23, 2013 at 06:00 AM PST by: -
Weekend Roundtable: Favorite Con Artist MoviesWith the much-buzzed 'American Hustle' now in theaters, this week's Roundtable is all about some of our other favorite con artist movies. See our picks and share some of yours in the blog today.Posted Fri Dec 20, 2013 at 12:00 PM PST by: -
Samsung Reveals 105-Inch 21:9 UHD TV[teaser]Hot on the heels of LG's similar announcement, Samsung has detailed its own ultra-wide Ultra HD display. [/teaser] Clearly not content to let LG have all the fun, Samsung has revealed plans to demo its own gigantic 105-inch ultra-wide, curved screen UHD TV. Like the similar LG offering, this display also features a 21:9 aspect ratio (as opposed to the traditional 16:9 ratio). "We are happy to unveil the 105-inch Curved UHD TV, the culmination of Samsung's advancements, following the world's first Curved UHD TV at IFA 2013," said HS Kim, executive vice president of Visual Display Business, Samsung Electronics. "You will experience a true curved TV optimized for consumer viewing environments at CES 2014." The Samsung model will feature a resolution of 5120X2160 giving it an impressive 11 million pixels. In addition, the company is touting a new proprietary picture algorithm that promises improved color and depth. The display also uses Samsung's Quadmatic Picture Engine for Ultra HD upscaling on all sources. Though details on pricing and availability have not been announced yet, the display will be demoed at Samsung's booth at CES 2014 in Las Vegas from January 7-10, putting it head-to-head with LG's nearly identical offering. Source: Samsung TomorrowPosted Fri Dec 20, 2013 at 11:00 AM PST by: -
'The Fifth Estate' Blu-ray Dated and Pre-Orders Live[teaser]Bill Condon's intense thriller arriving on Blu-ray next month is now available for pre-order! [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Disney/Buena Vista will be releasing 'The Fifth Estate' on Blu-ray on January 28. Based on true events, this fast-paced global thriller takes you behind the shocking headlines. The Fifth Estate reveals the Wikileak’s rebel founder’s (Benedict Cumberbatch) quest to expose fraud and corruption to the widest audience possible: the internet. Specs have yet to be revealed, but supplements include: The Submission Platform - Visual Effects: From conception and pre-viz, through on-set photography and post, this featurette will explore the VFX challenges of bringing the submission platform to life; In Camera: Graphics: A study of the techniques and work involved in capturing the on screen graphics in camera, and allowing realistic interaction with the actors' performances; Scoring Secrets: A detailed examination of the soundscape created by both the composer Carter Burwell as he records his score, and the film's music supervisor as songs are chosen for the unique soundtrack; and Theatrical Trailers & TV Spots. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy Combo Pack is $36.99. You can find the latest specs for 'The Fifth Estate' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under January 28.Posted Fri Dec 20, 2013 at 10:00 AM PST by: -
Theatrical Reviews: News Team, Assemble!From Disney Land in the 1960s to a near future dystopia, this is a really big week for new movies, and we have a bunch of theatrical reviews in the blog ready for your reading pleasure. Check out our staff's reviews of 'Anchorman 2', 'American Hustle', 'Saving Mr. Banks' and 'Her'.Posted Fri Dec 20, 2013 at 09:00 AM PST by: -
'1' Blu-ray Dated[teaser]Paul Crowder's Formula 1 documentary speeds to Blu-ray at the end of January. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Millennium Entertainment will race '1' to Blu-ray on January 28. '1' is an action documentary showcasing the glamour, speed, danger and excitement of Formula 1® Grand Prix racing. Narrated by Michael Fassbender, the film tells the story of the golden age of Formula 1®, when the sport became terrifyingly dangerous. In the late 1960s, Formula 1® cars doubled their engine size and sprouted wings, making them incredibly quick, but even more hazardous. With money pouring in from sponsorship and a new worldwide television audience, superstar drivers were born, thrown like gladiators into the ring. The drivers were legendary with charisma and raw talent, but many of them paid the ultimate price. "1" follows the stories of the drivers who raced on the edge and those who stood up to change the sport forever. It is about the greatest show in the world: Formula 1®. Featuring never-before-seen archive footage and the most impressive list of Formula 1® interviewees ever assembled, including world champions Sir Jackie Stewart, Mario Andretti, Lewis Hamilton, Michael Schumacher, Jenson Button and Sebastian Vettel, 1 tells the story of the golden age of Formula 1®, when the sport became terrifyingly dangerous and the drivers were like rock stars with charisma and raw talent, but with many of them paying the ultimate price. '1' thrilled fans of Formula One when it screened at the 2012 FORMULA 1 UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX™ in Austin, Texas as part of a special presentation by SXSW Film Festival and The Circuit of The Americas (CoTA). The film is currently available on all VOD platforms. Specs and supplements have yet to be revealed, but suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $24.99. You can find the latest specs for '1' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under January 28.Posted Fri Dec 20, 2013 at 08:00 AM PST by: -
HDD Gear Deal Spotlight: Samsung Tablet & Epson Projector[teaser]Amazon is offering limited time discounts on a Samsung Galaxy Tablet and an Epson projector! [/teaser] Though Black Friday and Cyber Monday might be over, great holiday shopping deals are still in full swing. Amazon has selected the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 32GB and the Epson EX7210 Projector to be part of their lightning deals of the day. As of 9:40AM EST this morning, the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 32GB is now on sale for $380, a 31 percent discount off of its retail price. The tablet features a 10.1-inch 1280 x 800 display powered by a 1.4 GHz Quad-Core Processor and 2GB of RAM running Android 4.1. In addition, the Epson EX7210 Projector will also go on sale at 1:00PM EST. The 3LCD projector features a 1280 x 800 resolution and is rated for 2800 Lumens of color and white brightness. As always, both lightning discounts will only last for a limited time while supplies last. Make sure to stay tuned to High-Def Digest for more holiday related deals, and don't forget to check out Amazon's Holiday Deals Page for all their latest sales and special promotions!Posted Fri Dec 20, 2013 at 07:00 AM PST by: -
'The Hidden Fortress' Blu-ray Dated and Detailed[teaser]The samurai classic from the legendary Akira Kurosawa is planned for Blu-ray in March. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, the Criterion Collection will present 'The Hidden Fortress' on Blu-ray on March 18. A grand-scale adventure as only Akira Kurosawa could make one, 'The Hidden Fortress' stars the inimitable Toshiro Mifune as a general charged with guarding his defeated clan's princess (a fierce Misa Uehara) as the two smuggle royal treasure across hostile territory. Accompanying them are a pair of bumbling, conniving peasants who may or may not be their friends. This rip-roaring ride is among the director's most beloved films and was a primary influence on George Lucas's Star Wars. 'The Hidden Fortress' delivers Kurosawa's trademark deft blend of wry humor, breathtaking action, and compassionate humanity. The Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack will feature a new 2K digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray; Alternate 5.1 surround soundtrack preserving the original Perspecta simulated stereo effects, presented in DTS-HD Master Audio on the Blu-ray; and supplements include: New audio commentary by film historian Stephen Prince, author of The Warrior's Camera: The Cinema of Akira Kurosawa; Documentary from 2003 on the making of the film, created as part of the Toho Masterworks series Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create; Interview from 2001 with filmmaker George Lucas about Kurosawa; Trailer; and a booklet featuring an essay by film scholar Catherine Russell. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $39.95. You can find the latest specs for 'The Hidden Fortress' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under March 18.Posted Fri Dec 20, 2013 at 06:00 AM PST by:
