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'Riddick' and 'Riddick: The Complete Collection' Announced for Blu-ray[teaser]Vin Diesel will be hunted down again on Blu-ray this January. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Universal Studios says 'Riddick' will have a Blu-ray release on January 14. Diesel reprises his role as antihero Riddick, a dangerous, escaped convict wanted by every bounty hunter in the known galaxy. Left for dead on a sun-scorched planet that appears to be lifeless, Riddick finds himself fighting for survival against alien predators more lethal than any human he's encountered. The only way off is for the hardened killer to activate an emergency beacon and alert mercenaries who rapidly descend to the planet in search of their bounty. The first ship to arrive carries a new breed of merc, more lethal and violent, while the second is captained by a man whose pursuit of Riddick is more personal. With time running out and a storm on the horizon that no one could survive, his hunters won't leave the planet without Riddick's head as their trophy. The Blu-ray will feature the Unrated Director’s Cut (with even more intense, heart-pounding sequences not shown in theaters and an alternate ending) in 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements include: Vin's Riddick: Vin Diesel, his co-stars and the entire filmmaking team provide an inside look at the superstar's passion for everything from the film's production and development to his intensive physical training, as well as just what makes Diesel ideal for the role of the indestructible Richard B. Riddick; Meet The Mercs: From Karl Urban and Katee Sackhoff to Jordi Mollà, Dave Bautista, Bokeem Woodbine, and Nolan Gerard Funk, this featurette spotlights the dynamic supporting cast of Riddick and the characters they portray, exploring what the actors bring to their roles, as well as the weapons and clothing styles that define them to enhance this heart-stopping thriller; and Riddick - Blindsided: A motion comic prequel that fills in the gap since The Chronicles of Riddick. Blu-ray exclusives include: The Twohy Touch: In this short film, writer and director David Twohy explains the development of Riddick, the third feature film in his high-concept sci-fi series; Riddickian Tech: The filmmakers, including Riddick's amazing effects team, talk about the extraordinary technologies used to create Riddick's eye-popping sci-fi elements, from the practical effects to the green screen wonders that made it possible to bring this high-intensity, futuristic thriller to the big screen; and The World Of Riddick: Key members of the filmmaking team, including director David Twohy, production designer Joseph C. Nemec III and director of photography David Eggby talk about the inspiration and influences behind the film's vivid and unique visuals and savage predators. A Blu-ray boxed set featuring all four films in the franchise will also be available on the same date for diehard fans of the series. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $34.98, while the box set is to be determined. You can find the latest specs for 'Riddick' and 'Riddick: The Complete Collection' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's now indexed under January 14.Posted Wed Nov 13, 2013 at 01:00 PM PST by: -
'Closed Circuit' Blu-ray Dated and Detailed[teaser]John Crowley's intense crime drama heads to Blu-ray in January. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Universal is working on 'Closed Circuit' for Blu-ray on January 7. Eric Bana and Rebecca Hall star in this tense thriller as former lovers caught up in a conspiracy when they're both placed on the same defence team for a high-profile terrorist trial. When terrorists explode a bomb in a crowded London market, the only surviving suspect Farroukh Erdogan (Denis Moschitto), is arrested pending trial. Because of the nature of the classified evidence involved, lawyers Martin Rose (Bana) and Claudia Simmons-Howe (Hall) are appointed by the Attorney General (Jim Broadbent) to represent Farroukh, with Claudia strictly limited to reviewing the 'closed' secret evidence submitted by the security services, and Martin representing the accused in open court. With no contact permitted between the two lawyers during the trial, they're decision to conceal a previous affair from the courts comes back to haunt them when, after uncovering unsettling facts about their client, they find themselves under surveillance and fearing for their lives. The Blu-ray/DVD/Ultraviolet Combo Pack will feature 1080p video, a lossless 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements include Secrets Behind the Camera: Closed Circuit. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $34.98. You can find the latest specs for 'Closed Circuit' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under January 7.Posted Wed Nov 13, 2013 at 12:00 PM PST by: -
LG Demos Ultra HD OLED Display and Hints at Upcoming 4K Content[teaser]An impressive new 77-inch UHD display has been unveiled, and speculation about 4K content delivery heats up. [/teaser] LG showed off an impressive curved-screen 4K OLED display at the TWICE/CEA Ultra HD Conference held in New York yesterday. The 77-inch set features a resolution of 3,840 x 2,160 and uses OLED technology which offers superior contrast and black levels. Though likely only a proof of concept for the time being, the display offers a peek into what the near future has in store for television technology. According to TWICE, Jay Vandenbree, senior VP of LG Electronics USA's home entertainment division was on hand during the unveiling and addressed buyers' concerns about a lack of 4K content. While he emphasized the upscaling capabilities of LG Ultra HD displays as an immediate selling point, he also acknowledged the importance of true 4K content, and hinted that such media could be coming sooner rather than later. An industry panel held during the same conference also shed more light on the developing path toward 4K content. Currently, Sony is the only company offering 4K media delivery through its own proprietary device, but the panelists speculate that more over-the-top Ultra HD streaming options are on the way, including tentative support from Netflix in 2014. Furthermore, Marc Finer, technical director of the Digital Entertainment Group, predicts that the BDA will officially announce a 4K disc medium within the next 12 months. On the broadcast front, the Advanced Television Systems Committee is also working on a 4K compliant option, and the ATSC 3.0 broadcast standard could be finalized in 2016. For now, however, early adopters without Sony's media player will have to make do with upscaling 1080p content, but it's clear that the industry is actively preparing for a full Ultra HD evolution within the next few years. Sources: TWICE - LG OLED, TWICE - 4K PanelPosted Wed Nov 13, 2013 at 11:00 AM PST by: -
'The Artist and the Model' & 'You Will Be My Son' Blu-rays Announced[teaser]Two French dramas are heading to Blu-ray in February. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Cohen Media Group is preparing 'The Artist and the Model' for Blu-ray on February 11 and 'You Will Be My Son' on February 25. 'The Artist and the Model' - Summer of 1943. In an occupied France, not far away from the Spanish border, a famous old sculptor who is tired of life and wars finds the desire to work on his last masterpiece when a beautiful young Spanish girl comes knocking after escaping a refugee camp in the South of France. 'You Will Be My Son' - Paul de Marseul ('Aretrup,' 'A Prophet') is the passionate, demanding proprietor of his prestigious family wine estate. But he has no faith in his son, Martin (Deutsch), who works at the vineyard. Paul dreams of a harder-working, successful son—a dream that one day seemingly materializes when he meets Philippe (Nicolas Bridet), the son of his dying estate manager (Chesnais). Can Paul turn against his own blood and turn Philippe into the rightful heir of his family estate? Shot on location in the French region of Saint Emilion at the Chateau Clos Fourtet, 'You Will Be My Son' deeply explores the meaning of work, love, and family. Supplements and suggested list prices have not been announced, but the Blu-rays will feature 1080p video and a French DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack. You can find the latest specs for 'The Artist and the Model' and 'You Will Be My Son' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where they're indexed under February 11 and February 25.Posted Wed Nov 13, 2013 at 10:00 AM PST by: -
Hisense Releases 55-inch 4K TV[teaser]Another competitively priced UHD display is hitting the market, this time courtesy of Hisense electronics. [/teaser] Following Seiki's recent reveal of a new 55-inch budget 4K TV, Hisense has detailed its own low cost Ultra HD set, the XT880. The 55-inch LCD 4K display will retail for $2,000. While that's $500 more than Seiki's similar offering, the XT880 includes various smart TV features, something that's missing on Seiki's competing SE55UY04. The LCD LED backlit display features a resolution of 3,840 x 2,160 giving it about four times the pixels of a traditional 1080p HDTV. The television also includes four HDMI inputs, a USB port for viewing digital media, built-in Wi-Fi, a static contrast ratio of 4000:1, and support for apps like Netflix, Vudu HD Movies, YouTube, Vimeo, Pandora, Twitter, Facebook, Picasa, and AccuWeather. The XT880 is expected to go on sale in several retail stores, including Walmart, Costco, and hhgregg for a suggested retail price of $2,000. Sources: Hisense, EngadgetPosted Wed Nov 13, 2013 at 09:00 AM PST by: -
'Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans' Blu-ray Dated and Detailed[teaser]F.W. Murnau's silent 1927 classic is in the works for Blu-ray in January. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, 20th Century Fox is bringing 'Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans' to Blu-ray on January 14. German Expressionist, F.W. Murnau's film won Academy Awards for Best Actress and Best Cinematography and remains a critically acclaimed piece of silent cinema. George O'Brien plays the young farmer who falls for The Woman From the City (Margaret Livingstone) and agrees to murder his Wife (Janet Gaynor) by drowning her. He is unable to fulfil his plan though, and is reconciled with his Wife. Together they embark on a celebratory adventure in the city (one of the most celebrated montage sequences ever filmed), but on their way home The Wife is lost overboard in a storm and believed drowned. The Woman from the City arrives to claim The Man, believing he has committed murder for her; but word arrives that his Wife has been saved and he rushes to her side. The 2-disc set will include both the Original Fox Movietone Version and European Silent Version; Commentary by ASC Cinematographer John Bailey; Outtakes with Commentary by John Bailey; Original Theatrical Trailer; Original Scenario by Carl Mayer with Annotations by F.W. Murnau; Original Sunrise Screenplay; and Restoration Notes. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $29.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under January 14.Posted Wed Nov 13, 2013 at 08:00 AM PST by: -
'Il Generale Della Rovere' Bound for Blu-ray[teaser]Roberto Rossellini's 1959 drama will be locked up on Blu-ray in December. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Raro Video is preparing 'Il Generale Della Rovere' for Blu-ray on December 3. In a magnetic performance, Academy Award nominee Vittorio De Sica ('A Farewell to Arms') is Bardone, an opportunistic rascal in wartime Genoa, conning and cheating his fellow Italians, exploiting their tragedies by promising to help find their missing loved ones in exchange for money. But when the Nazis force him to impersonate a dead partisan general in prison to extract information from fellow inmates, Bardone finds himself wrestling with his conscience for the first time. Roberto Rossellini's gripping drama, among his most commercially popular films, is further evidence of the compassionate artistry of one cinema's most important voices. Full specs have not been detailed yet but the Blu-ray will feature a new HD transfer from an original 35 mm negative print, and supplements will include: Theatrical and Director's Cuts; Adriano Apra Interview; Renzo Rossellini Interview; Aldo Strappini (Raro Video) Interview; Video Essay: Truth Of Fiction; and an Original Theatrical Trailer. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $34.95. You can find the latest specs for 'Il Generale Della Rovere' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under December 3.Posted Wed Nov 13, 2013 at 06:00 AM PST by: -
'The Jungle Book: Diamond Edition' Blu-ray Detailed[teaser]The 1967 animated classic swinging to Blu-ray in February has now been fully detailed. [/teaser] As previously reported, Disney/Buena Vista will release 'The Jungle Book: Diamond Edition' on Blu-ray next year, and the official date has been confirmed for February 11. Now for the first time ever on Blu-ray with glorious digital high definition, Disney’s Jumpin’ Jungle Classic has never looked so lush or sounded so good. Beloved characters, swinging music and new behind-the-scenes bonus features make this Diamond Edition Blu‐ray a must-have for every family’s classic collection. Meet the most unforgettable characters and embark on a thrilling adventure with Mowgli as he journeys deep into the jungle and learns “The Bare Necessities” of life from happy-go-lucky Baloo the bear. Meet Bagheera, the wise old panther, and crazy King Louie, the orangutan. But watch out for the cunning tiger Shere Khan and Kaa, the ssssneakiest snake in the jungle. Explore your family’s wild side as you venture into The Jungle Book for extraordinary adventures and a heartwarming tale that celebrates the true meaning of friendship. The Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy combo pack will feature 1080p video, a lossless 7.1 soundtrack, and supplements will include: Introductions by Diane Disney Miller and Richard M. Sherman; Alternate Ending: Mowgli and The Hunter; @DisneyAnimation: Sparking Creativity; Music, Memories & Mowgli: A Conversation with Richard M. Sherman, Diane Disney Miller and Floyd Norman; Disney Intermission: Bear-E-Oke hosted by Baloo; I Wanna Be Like You: Hangin' Out At Disney's Animal Kingdom; and all the classic bonus features included in the original DVD release. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy combo pack is $39.99. You can find the latest specs for 'The Jungle Book: Diamond Edition' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under February 11.Posted Tue Nov 12, 2013 at 01:00 PM PST by: -
'In The Heat of the Night' Blu-ray Announced[teaser]Norman Jewison's 1967 Academy Award-winning crime thriller arrives on Blu-ray in January. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, MGM/UA is working on 'In The Heat of the Night' for Blu-ray on January 14. Starring Academy Award winners Sidney Poitier, Rod Steiger and Lee Grant, this provocative mystery thriller won five 1967 Oscars including Best Picture. Highlighted by an evocative score from Oscar-winning composer Quincy Jones, 'In The Heat of the Night' is a "powerful film" (The New York Times) that delivers the "highest level of exciting entertainment" (New York Daily News)! While traveling in the deep south, Virgil Tibbs, a black Philadelphia homicide detective, becomes unwittingly embroiled in the murder investigation of a prominent businessman when he is first accused of the crime -- and then asked to solve it! Finding the killer proves to be difficult, however, especially when his efforts are constantly thwarted by the bigoted town Sheriff (Steiger). But neither man can solve this case alone. Putting aside their differences and prejudices, they join forces in a desperate race against time to discover the shocking truth. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, a lossless 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements will include: Audio Commentary with Norman Jewison, Lee Grant, Rod Steiger and Cinematographer Haskell Wexler; Turning Up the Heat: Moviemaking in the '60s; The Slap Heard Around the World; and Quincy Jones: Breaking New Sound. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $19.99. You can find the latest specs for 'In The Heat of the Night' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under January 14.Posted Tue Nov 12, 2013 at 12:00 PM PST by: -
Seiki Reveals 55-inch Ultra HD Television[teaser]The company has added another competitively priced model to its growing 4K display lineup. [/teaser] Seiki has detailed a new addition to its affordable Ultra HD brand. The 55-inch SE55UY04 is now available exclusively from Sears for a suggested retail price of $1,500, making it the least expensive 55-inch 4K set on the market "In June, Seiki and Sears teamed up to introduce the 39-inch class 4K Ultra HD TV model, and demonstrated how it can be used for 4K digital entertainment as a TV or a PC monitor," said Frank Kendzora, executive vice president, Tongfang Global, Inc., for Seiki Digital brand. "Sears will be an exclusive authorized retailer offering the Seiki 55-inch class 4K model. With the new model and Sears, Seiki is staying at the forefront of introducing an immersive 4K Ultra HD experience to consumers, and offering the best value in large-screen 4K Ultra HD TVs with exceptional build quality." The LCD LED backlit display features a resolution of 3,840 x 2,160 giving it about four times the pixels of a traditional 1080p HDTV, a piano black bezel, integrated digital and analog tuning, support for the HDMI 1.4 standard, and a USB port for viewing 4K photos. The SE55UY04 can be purchased from Sears online and through its retail stores. The new model joins the company's already available 39-inch SE39UY04 and 50-inch SE50UY04 4K displays. A 65-inch model is also expected to launch early next month. Source: Seiki via PR NewswirePosted Tue Nov 12, 2013 at 11:00 AM PST by:
