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Blu-ray Highlights: Week of October 20th, 2013This week in Blu-ray, Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson crash Google, Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga conjure up some scares, Ryan Gosling begs forgiveness for making a godawful movie, and more. Check out our roundup of the latest high-def releases in the blog today.Posted Mon Oct 21, 2013 at 07:00 AM PDT by: -
'Parkland' Dated and Detailed for Blu-ray[teaser]Peter Landesman's acclaimed historical drama will be available on Blu-ray in November. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Millennium Entertainment is set to release 'Parkland' on Blu-ray on November 5. Written and directed by Landesman and produced by Playtone partners Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman, Bill Paxton and Exclusive Media's Nigel Sinclair and Matt Jackson, 'Parkland' is the ferocious, heart-stopping and powerful untold true story of the people behind the scenes of one of the most scrutinized events in history. It weaves together the perspectives of a handful of ordinary individuals suddenly thrust into extraordinary circumstances: the young doctors and nurses at Parkland Hospital; Dallas' chief of the Secret Service; an unwitting cameraman who captured what became the most watched and examined film in history; the FBI agents who nearly had the gunman within their grasp; the brother of Lee Harvey Oswald, left to deal with his shattered family; and JFK's security team, witnesses to both the president's death and Vice President Lyndon Johnson's rise to power over a nation whose innocence was forever altered. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and the only supplements will be deleted scenes. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $29.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Parkland' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under November 5.Posted Mon Oct 21, 2013 at 06:00 AM PDT by: -
HDD Deal of the Week: 'A Nightmare on Elm Street Collection' and 'The Tim Burton Collection' Blu-ray Sets $25.99 at Amazon[teaser]Two great Blu-ray collections are on sale this week at Amazon! [/teaser] Amazon is selling 'A Nightmare on Elm Street Collection' for $25.99 (57% off the suggested retail price). This set includes the seven original films in the franchise (A Nightmare on Elm Street / Freddy's Revenge / Dream Warriors / The Dream Master / The Dream Child / Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare / Wes Craven's New Nightmare). Also available is 'The Tim Burton Collection' for $25.99 (57% off the suggested retail price). The collection includes seven films (Beetlejuice / Batman / Mars Attacks! / Batman Returns / Pee-Wee's Big Adventure / Charlie and the Chocolate Factory / Tim Burton's Corpse Bride) and comes packaged with a colorful booklet. Click here for the bogeyman or here for Burton and this offer is available from now through October 27.Posted Sun Oct 20, 2013 at 07:32 AM PDT by: -
Weekend Roundtable: Best & Worst Stephen King MoviesWith the author's new novel 'Doctor Sleep' on bookstore shelves and a remake of 'Carrie' in movie theaters this weekend, this seems like a good time to do a Roundtable about the best and worst movies based on the writings of Stephen King. Join us in the blog to share your picks.Posted Fri Oct 18, 2013 at 12:30 PM PDT by: -
'Throne of Blood' Blu-ray Dated and Detailed[teaser]Another Akira Kurosawa classic will be getting the Criterion Blu-ray treatment in January! [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, the Criterion Collection will proudly present 'Throne of Blood' on Blu-ray on January 7. Akira Kurosawa’s 'Throne of Blood' reimagines Macbeth in feudal Japan. Starring Kurosawa’s longtime collaborator Toshiro Mifune and the legendary Isuzu Yamada as his ruthless wife, the film tells of a valiant warrior’s savage rise to power and his ignominious fall. The Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack will feature a 2K 1080p video transfer, an uncompressed mono soundtrack, and supplements will include: Audio commentary featuring Japanese-film expert Michael Jeck; Documentary on the making of Throne of Blood, created as part of the Toho Masterworks series Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create; Two alternate subtitle translations, by Japanese-film translator Linda Hoaglund and Kurosawa expert Donald Richie; Original Trailer; and a booklet featuring an essay by film historian Stephen Prince and notes on the subtitling by Hoaglund and Richie. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $39.95. You can find the latest specs for 'Throne of Blood' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under January 7.Posted Fri Oct 18, 2013 at 12:00 PM PDT by: -
Cable and Smart TV Features Combine with Samsung's Smart Media Player[teaser]The company's latest media device offers consumers a cable box alternative along with smart TV apps. [/teaser] Samsung has detailed its Smart Media Player, bringing live TV and smart TV functions to its users. The device supports live content from many major cable providers without a monthly rental fee for an additional box, and includes several popular apps. Through the use of a CableCard from their provider, users can access local channels and content through the player. Likewise, the Smart Media Player features over 100 apps, including Amazon Instant Video, Netflix, VUDU, and YouTube. An All Share mode is offered as well, letting users share content on their TV from their mobile devices. "With our new Samsung Smart Media Player, we're providing consumers with an all-in-one solution that makes the TV-watching experience 'smarter,'" said Jim Kiczek, Director of Digital Audio and Video at Samsung Electronics America. "This great product brings the Samsung Smart TV experience to any digital TV, giving customers a seamless home entertainment experience that combines live cable content and Smart TV applications all in one device." The Samsung Smart Media Player will be available on October 23 for a suggested retail price of $150. Source: EngadgetPosted Fri Oct 18, 2013 at 11:00 AM PDT by: -
'The Mortal Instruments: City Of Bones' Blu-ray Announced[teaser]The fantasy adventure based on the bestselling series of novels by Cassandra Clare arrives on Blu-ray in December. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Sony is preparing to release 'The Mortal Instruments: City Of Bones' on Blu-ray on December 3. Clary Fray (Lily Collins) is an ordinary teenage girl living in New York, but when her mother is attacked by a demon in her home Clary learns she is descended from a secret race of half-angel Shadowhunters who are fighting an ancient battle protecting the earth from evil forces. As Clary is then introduced to the world the Shadowhunters and other forces inhabit, she must grow to accept her new identity and work at saving her mother before it's too late... The Blu-ray/DVD/Ultraviolet Combo Pack will feature 1080p video, a lossless 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements will include: Bringing Them to Life - Filmmakers & Cast discuss the characters of The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones; Descendants of the Cup - A look at the stunts and the cast's transformation into Shadowhunters; Music Video: "Almost is Never Enough" by Ariana Grande ft. Nathan Sykes; Deleted Scenes; and Into the Shadows: From Book to Screen. Blu-ray exclusives include: Entering The Shadow World – Creating the extraordinary creatures of the shadow world; Interactive Lineage Tracker – Allows users to learn more about all the characters in the world of The Mortal Instruments; and Deadly Attraction – Lily Collins & Jamie Campbell Bower on their roles as Clary Fray & Jace Wayland Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $40.99. You can find the latest specs for 'The Mortal Instruments: City Of Bones' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under December 3.Posted Fri Oct 18, 2013 at 10:00 AM PDT by: -
Lenovo Details Miix2 Tablet[teaser]The new 8-inch HD tablet will be available soon. [/teaser] Lenovo has announced its latest tablet, the Miix2. The Windows 8.1 device features an 8-inch 1200x800 10-point multi-touch IPS display and measures 8.35mm thick and weighs just 350g. The Miix2 is powered by an Intel Bay Trail-T Quad Core processor and integrated Intel HD Graphics. A 5MP rear camera and a 2MP front camera are also included. In addition, the tablet comes with Microsoft Office Home & Student 2013 preinstalled, and offers stylus and detachable cover options as well. "Many users want the convenience of a smaller screen tablet, but do not want to lose the performance and convenience of a powerful, quad core Windows 8.1 device. With the Lenovo Miix2 8-inch, users can take advantage of a small, light form factor without sacrificing performance," said Bai Peng, vice president and general manager, notebook business unit, Lenovo Business Group. "The Lenovo Miix2 8-inch is a great example of how thoughtful design can deliver the best of both worlds." The Miix2 is set to launch later this month for a suggested retail price of $299. Source: LenovoPosted Fri Oct 18, 2013 at 09:00 AM PDT by: -
'Barbara' Blu-ray Announced[teaser] Christian Petzold's acclaimed film heads to Blu-ray in November. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Kino Video says 'Barbara' will hit Blu-ray on November 12. East Germany, 1980. Barbara Wolff is a young doctor who has applied for an exit visa from the GDR and, as punishment, has been transferred from her prestigious post in Berlin to a small pediatric hospital in the country. She must weigh her absolute dedication to her patients against a potential escape to the West, and her newfound attraction to a doctor in whom she sees a kindred spirit. 'Barbara' is a story of self-sacrifice and freedom and quiet heroism at a time and place when such values are at a premium. It is also about a healer whose morality and set of personal ethics are being called into question by circumstances specific to that same time and place in history. Mark Olsen in the Los Angeles Times called 'Barbara' "A quietly gripping thriller. A riveting performance." Melissa Anderson in the Village Voice praised it as "Transfixing, superb, brilliantly played by Nina Hoss." The film had its US premiere at the New York Film Festival in 2012, followed by a theatrical release by Adopt Films. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, a lossless 5.1 soundtrack, and there doesn't appear to be any supplements for this release. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $34.95. You can find the latest specs for 'Barbara' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under November 12.Posted Fri Oct 18, 2013 at 08:00 AM PDT by: -
'Hail Mary' Blu-ray Dated[teaser]Jean-Luc Godard's controversial 1985 film is heading to Blu-ray in January. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Cohen Media Group is preparing 'Hail Mary' for Blu-ray on January 7. Denounced by the Pope and banned and boycotted worldwide, this surprisingly serene and lyrical work translates the Virgin Birth into tangible contemporary terms, with Mary as a teenage basketball-playing gas-station attendant who receives the Annunciation by jetliner. Mary is a beautiful yet ordinary teenager who vows to maintain her chastity. Following a warning from an angel, a confused and innocent Mary unexpectedly falls pregnant and is forced to wed her taxi-driving boyfriend Joseph. He, in turn, must love his virgin bride from a distance, revering her without touching her. Forced to face a shocking reality, Mary and Joseph along with their family and friends must struggle to cope as the provocative theme unfolds. 'Hail Mary' is a sensational and bold work from French master director Jean-Luc Godard which touched off an uproar of protest heard around the world. Specs, supplements, and a suggested list price for the Blu-ray have not been announced yet. You can find the latest specs for 'Hail Mary' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under January 7.Posted Fri Oct 18, 2013 at 06:00 AM PDT by:
