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'Eve of Destruction' Blu-ray Dated[teaser]The 1991 sci-fi thriller starring Gregory Hines is bound for Blu-ray in November. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Scream Factory has revealed 'Eve of Destruction' is planned for Blu-ray on November 19. Off-beat sci-fi adventure in which a female scientist creates a sexy android version of herself and equips it with both the passionate emotions she lacks and a nuclear bomb. The trouble begins when the android is taken out for a test run and it ends up in the midst of a bank robbery where its internal bomb is accidentally activated. Things get worse, when the robot comes emotionally unglued and launches into a destructive rampage while enacting out its repressed creator's darkest desires. Specs, supplements, and suggested list price have yet to be revealed. You can find the latest specs for 'Eve of Destruction' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under November 19.Posted Thu Aug 1, 2013 at 06:00 AM PDT by: -
High-Def Digest's Essential Picks: July 2013by Steven Cohen Every month, dozens of Blu-rays hit shelves, littering stores with high-def temptation. New releases, catalog titles, complete TV seasons, and elaborate box-sets all vie for affection, and with so many worthy releases targeting our wallets, choosing which discs to spend our hard earned cash on can be rather tricky. To make things a little easier, we here at High-Def Digest thought it might be helpful to bring you our top three must own recommendations for the month. From important classics to contemporary blockbusters, these are the discs that we consider to be the absolute cream of the crop. High quality releases with great video, audio, and supplements, these are the Blu-rays that are truly worth every penny. Last month we spotlighted an undead comedy romance, a classic of world cinema, and an imaginative cartoon for all ages. If you haven't already, be sure to check out the Essential Picks for November, December, January, February, March, April, May, and June. [teaser]This month, we're covering an inspirational biopic on one of baseball's greats, a hypnotic noir thriller, and the gruesome return of a cult horror franchise.[/teaser] Please be aware, that if you haven't already seen them, there might be some spoilers for the films listed. If you only buy three titles that hit Blu-ray in July, here's what we suggest you pick up, starting with the most essential... '42' - Fully embracing old school Hollywood sensibilities, Brian Helgeland's '42' tells the incredible true story of Jackie Robinson with all the heart, grandeur, and humanity the subject so greatly deserves. Focused on Robinson's inaugural season with the Brooklyn Dodgers, the film follows the man as he overcomes vicious racism from disgruntled fans and peers alike in order to stand tall as the first African American player in modern major league baseball. It's inspiring, exciting, and just the right amount of sentimental. In other words, it's exactly what one looks for in a great baseball flick. As Jackie Robinson, actor Chadwick Boseman evokes the perfect amount of steadfast determination, breezy charisma, and boiling frustration. Faced by an onslaught of discrimination from those unwilling to accept a black player in the league, Robinson is subjected to cruel taunts, relentless threats, and even violent abuses, and Boseman bottles up a palpable layer of rage and pain within the character, giving the audience just a small taste of what it must have felt like to walk in his shoes. Though he wants to fight back, Dodgers' General Manager Branch Rickey urges him to "turn the other cheek," and through this effort to take the high ground, Robinson's struggle reveals that choosing not to fight takes much more strength than simply throwing a punch. In the role of Branch Rickey, Harrison Ford actually gets to act, something the celebrated movie star hasn't really done much of in recent years, and he fully inhabits the larger-than-life true character, giving Boseman's Robinson the little extra support and backup he needs. Writer/director Brian Helgeland hits all the right dramatic beats on and off the baseball field, eliciting the type of grand inspiration that only the best silver screen stories can. Admittedly, his approach can be a bit hokey and generic at times, but the film's old fashioned tone is actually refreshing, and despite the rousing sentiments of hope, Helgeland never shies away from the dark challenges Robinson faces, respecting the incredible perseverance it took to break the color barrier. The story of two great men who worked together to change the face of baseball -- and in some ways the very face of our country -- '42' is classic Hollywood inspiration at its best. The Blu-ray from Warner Bros. might be a little light on extras, but the technical presentation is top-notch, helping the disc slide into the number one spot on this month's essential picks. 'Trance' - Director Danny Boyle has had a very eclectic career, taking on projects of all genres. From science fiction, to horror, to modern day fairy tales, and even family friendly adventures, the British filmmaker has just about covered the entire spectrum of cinema. 'Trance' sees the director more or less return to his earlier roots, tackling a noir inspired thriller filled with psychological twists and turns. A cerebral heist film concerned with memory, identity, and control, the film takes audiences on a parallel journey to its characters, confusing and manipulating our perceptions at every turn. Through the deceptively simple story of an art heist gone bad, the movie constantly forces viewers to question what's real. On the surface, the plot is about using hypnosis to uncover the forgotten location of a stolen painting, but there's really much more than money and art on the line here. Sanity, identity, and free will itself are the real stakes. Tackling concepts of exploitation, revenge, and fractured psyches, the movie features an ensemble of flawed characters -- and while poor Simon (James McAvoy) and his increasingly fractured mind might be our main window into this world, in the end, no one here is really good or bad. They're all manipulators and the manipulated, anxious to remember and desperate to forget. Innocents become exploiters and predators become victims and even their very desires become subject to the whims of those in power. But just who is really pulling the strings? That's the central question that runs throughout the runtime, and once Boyle provides us with the answer, we realize that the film's duped characters never really had a chance. Combining elements of noir, heist flicks, and psychological thrillers, the script's manipulative plot and exploration of mental thievery evokes everything from David Fincher's 'The Game,' to Christopher Nolan's 'Inception,' and even Michel Gondry's 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,' weaving a familiar but still original caper that keeps viewers on their toes for the duration of the runtime. Just when you think you know what's going on, you're taken down a new path, and while some of these turns can be a little convoluted or messy, the overall experience is engrossing and exciting. This disc from 20th Century Fox features a great video presentation that respects Boyle's dreamy and distorted visuals, a fantastic audio track that surrounds the audience with the film's rhythmic beats and delicate sound design, and a very welcome collection of interesting supplements. It's not a perfect movie by any means, but the hypnotic direction's cinematic power of suggestion will likely compel one to forget many of its flaws. 'Evil Dead (2013)' - Though it lacks some of the "groovier" qualities that make Sam Raimi's classic trilogy ('The Evil Dead,' 'Evil Dead II,' 'Army of Darkness') so much fun, as an exercise in visceral, gory mayhem, Fede Alvarez's 'Evil Dead' reboot offers horror fans a frantic, terrifying return to the woods. Through a striking and often downright disgusting sense of impending dread and non-stop terror, the film should leave many viewers' hearts racing and stomachs churning. Though filled with several loving and bloody nods to the original series, Alvarez's take on the material is actually a little different, helping to give the flick an identity all its own. Sure, the film still focuses on five friends who find themselves stranded in a cabin haunted by an evil presence summoned by The Book of the Dead, but the story and mythology is a little more fleshed out, introducing a drug rehab plotline that serves as a surprisingly effective metaphor for demonic possession. Likewise, while the original film carries an undercurrent of comedy (and the sequel is a flat-out slapstick masterpiece), Alvarez basically plays it straight here, upping the gore to extreme levels while assaulting the audience with impossibly gruesome imagery and dismemberments. With that said, as M. Enois Duarte mentions in his full review, this extravagant display of blood soaked mayhem is so excessive that there does end up being a subtle sense of absurd humor layered beneath the disturbing content. The director also displays a penchant for cinematic ingenuity and deprave creativity when it comes to finding new ways to torment his characters and terrify his audience, evoking Raimi's original kinetic visuals with impressive camera movements and exciting scares all his own. Sadly, there are times when this new take on the franchise does start to veer too much toward "torture porn" for my tastes and, for the most part, the characters are severely underwritten. Thankfully, as the recovering drug addict Mia, Jane Levy ends up being a great lead and does an amazing job -- whether she's trying to fight off evil with a chainsaw or succumbing to it as a possessed blade licking demon. In fact, Levy's brave performance and Alvarez's inventive camera work are what end up elevating the film, saving it from becoming just another disposable, gratuitous horror remake -- though, as the end credits reveal, this may not be a true remake at all… While I can't help but miss the goofy, slapstick humor that permeates throughout the original franchise, this new take still offers a palpable explosion of horror that manages to earn the final spot on July's list thanks to the help of a killer disc from Sony. Now hurry up with a sequel! I can't wait to see what Raimi and Alavarez have in store for future installments, and if things work out as planned, Levy and the impressively chinned Bruce Campbell could make for a very entertaining duo. After all, two chainsaws are definitely better than one. So, there you have it. While there are many titles worth picking up this July, those are our top three must own recommendations. We'll be back next month with three more essential picks, but for now, what do you think of our selection? What are your choices for July's must own titles?Posted Wed Jul 31, 2013 at 03:00 PM PDT by: -
'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey: Extended Edition' Announced for Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D[teaser]The first part of Peter Jackson's new epic trilogy will be getting 13 additional minutes of footage this November! [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, New Line Cinema will be bringing 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey: Extended Edition' starring Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen and Richard Armitage to high-definition on November 5. 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey: Extended Edition - 3D' will also be available on the same date. Unassuming Hobbit Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) is swept into a quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor, long ago conquered by the dragon Smaug. Approached by the wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen), Bilbo finds himself among a company of thirteen dwarves led by the legendary warrior Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage). Their journey takes them through treacherous lands swarming with Goblins and Orcs, deadly Wargs, giant Spiders, Shapeshifters and Sorcerers. They must escape the goblin tunnels, where Bilbo meets the creature Gollum (Andy Serkis), who will change his life forever. Alone with Gollum on the shores of an underground lake, Bilbo not only discovers guile and courage that surprise him, he also gains possession of Gollum's "precious," a ring tied to the fate of all Middle-Earth. “I’m thrilled that the Extended Edition will give fans the opportunity to experience certain key scenes in the film as they were originally shot, as well as an abundance of special features,” said Jackson. “It’s exciting to present this expanded and enriched version of 'An Unexpected Journey' to allow fans to fully immerse themselves in the movie, before seeing the second part of the trilogy.” The nearly nine hours of new special features boasts audio commentary with Peter Jackson, director/producer/screenwriter, and Philippa Boyens, co-producer/screenwriter, and “The Appendices,” a multi-part documentary focusing on various aspects of the film and the Trilogy. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $35.99, while the Blu-ray 3D will be $54.99. You can find the latest specs for 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey: Extended Edition' and 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey: Extended Edition - 3D' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where they are indexed under November 5.Posted Wed Jul 31, 2013 at 02:00 PM PDT by: -
Where Movies and Home Theater Fail Math - How 2.35 = 2.40Have you noticed that some movies on Blu-ray claim to have a 2.35:1 aspect ratio while others say 2.40:1? Did you realize that these two numbers actually mean the same thing? In the second part of his Constant Image Height tutorial, our HD Advisor Josh Zyber attempts to explain this mathematical oddity in the blog today.Posted Wed Jul 31, 2013 at 01:00 PM PDT by: -
'Bates Motel: Season One' Blu-ray Trailer Now Available[teaser]Check out the new Blu-ray trailer for the upcoming first season of the hit series arriving in September! [/teaser] As previously reported, Universal Studios has revealed 'Bates Motel: Season One' will have a Blu-ray release on September 17. This re-imagining of one of Hitchcock's beloved masterpieces weaves a web of deception, murder, and unexpected twists in a small town where nothing is what it seems. The first ten episodes of the popular series also stars Nestor Carbonell ('Lost'), Max Thieriot ('House at the End of the Street'), Mike Vogel ('Cloverfield'), Nicola Peltz ('The Last Airbender') and Olivia Cooke ('Blackout'). Filled with gruesome horrors, nail-biting suspense, Bates Motel was A&E's most-watched original drama series debut in the network's history. A second season is already confirmed for 2014. The 2-disc Blu-ray/Ultraviolet set will feature 1080p video, DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements will include: Paley Center Panel Discussion with Cast and Creative Team; Deleted Scenes; and a set of limited edition collector cards taken from artwork on the show ("Jiao's Sketchbook"). Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $49.98. You can find the latest specs for 'Bates Motel: Season One' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under September 17.Posted Wed Jul 31, 2013 at 12:00 PM PDT by: -
'The Reluctant Fundamentalist' Blu-ray Announced[teaser]Mira Nair's adaptation of the bestselling novel is heading toward Blu-ray in August. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, MPI Home Video is preparing 'The Reluctant Fundamentalist' for Blu-ray on August 27. Based on the international bestseller, 'The Reluctant Fundamentalist' is both a gripping thriller and a fascinating look at the post-9/11 world. Kate Hudson ('Glee,' 'Something Borrowed'), Kiefer Sutherland ('24,' 'Touch') and Liev Schreiber ('X-Men Origins,' 'Repo Men') lead a powerful cast in the story of a young man caught in the middle of an unfolding international crisis. When an American academic in Pakistan is kidnapped by anti-American radicals, the CIA thinks popular young Pakistani professor Changez (Riz Ahmed, 'Trishna') is involved. But as Changez tells his remarkable story about his life in the US - including his rising career on Wall Street and passionate relationship with a beautiful New York artist - to an American foreign correspondent, the truth becomes harder to pin down. Acclaimed director Mira Nair's ('Monsoon Wedding') adaptation of Mohsin Hamid's novel is a tense tale of hidden agendas and best intentions gone wrong. Specs have not been revealed yet, but supplements will include: Making of Featurette; and Original Theatrical Trailer. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $29.98. You can find the latest specs for 'The Reluctant Fundamentalist' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under August 27.Posted Wed Jul 31, 2013 at 08:00 AM PDT by: -
Theatrical Review: 'The Smurfs 2'Did 2011's live-action 'The Smurfs' really gross $560 million? How? With that kind of success, it was inevitable that we'd be inflicted with a sequel. Here it is, and our reviewer has taken a bullet to find out just how undiscriminating a parent has to be to let a child watch something like this. You can express your pity for him in the blog today.Posted Wed Jul 31, 2013 at 07:00 AM PDT by: -
'Europa Report' Blu-ray Announced[teaser]The science fiction thriller will blast off toward Blu-ray in October. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Magnolia is preparing 'Europa Report' for Blu-ray on October 8. 'Europa Report' follows a contemporary mission to Jupiter's moon Europa to investigate the possible existence of alien life within our solar system. When unmanned probes suggest that a hidden ocean could exist underneath Europa's icy surface and may contain single-celled life, Europa Ventures, a privately funded space exploration company, sends six of the best astronauts from around the world to confirm the data and explore the revolutionary discoveries that may lie in the Europan ocean. After a near-catastrophic technical failure that leads to loss of communication with Earth and the tragic death of a crewmember, the surviving astronauts must overcome the psychological and physical toll of deep space travel, and survive a discovery on Europa more profound than they had ever imagined. Supplements have not been detailed yet, but the Blu-ray will feature 1080p video and a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $29.98. You can find the latest specs for 'Europa Report' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under October 8.Posted Wed Jul 31, 2013 at 06:00 AM PDT by: -
Eagle Rock SD Blu-ray Series Dated and Detailed[teaser]Standard definition upconverts of the Rolling Stones, the Bee Gees, the Scorpions, and Pink Floyd will rock out on Blu-ray this summer. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Eagle Rock Entertainment is preparing 'The Bee Gees: One Night Only' and 'Scorpions: Moment Of Glory' for Blu-ray on July 30. The studio is also readying 'The Rolling Stones: Stones in Exile' and 'Pink Floyd Classic Albums - The Making Of Dark Side Of The Moon' for Blu-ray on August 27. 'One Night Only' features the Bee Gees performing at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas in November 1997. One of the few Bee Gees performances ever filmed, this Blu-ray, completed with bonus tracks from "An Audience with the Bee Gees," and a band interview, has been fully restored with remastered sound. 'Moment of Glory,' originally released in 2001, captures the Scorpions backed by the world famous Berliner Philharmoniker Orchestra. The Blu-ray includes not only this 2000 concert, which was part of Berlin's millennium celebrations, but bonus band interviews and director's cuts of "Hurricane 2000," "Moment Of Glory," and "Here In My Heart." 'Stones in Exile,' originally released in 2010, chronicles the incredible story behind the Stones' monumental "Exile on Main Street" album. Recounted in the band's own words, this film explores the spring of 1971, when the Stones fled the UK as tax exiles, settled into Keith Richards' French villa Nellcote in Villefranche-sur-Mer, and proceeded to create this double-album masterpiece. The Blu-ray includes extensive bonus footage, interviews with all band members (as well as some well-known Exile fans) and a featurette of Mick Jagger and Charlie Watts visiting Olympic Studio and Jagger's Stargroves country house, where most of the early work on the album was done. 'Classic Albums – The Making Of Dark Side Of The Moon' was originally released in 2003, and traces the creation of Pink Floyd's iconic 1973 album. Interviews with band members (Roger Waters, Richard Wright, David Gilmour, and Nick Mason), engineer Alan Parsons, the late designer Storm Thorgerson, and others involved unveil the creative process behind this magnum opus which, 40 years after its release, is still one of the best selling albums in history. Bonus features include 40 minutes of additional footage not seen in the original 50-minute television version. The Blu-rays will feature upconverted 1080p video and uncompressed stereo and DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtracks. Suggested list price for the Blu-rays is $17.98 You can find the latest specs for 'The Bee Gees: One Night Only,' 'Scorpions: Moment Of Glory,' 'The Rolling Stones: Stones in Exile,' and 'Pink Floyd Classic Albums - The Making Of Dark Side Of The Moon' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where they are indexed under July 30 and August 27.Posted Tue Jul 30, 2013 at 12:00 PM PDT by: -
'Santana and McLaughlin: Invitation to Illumination' Blu-ray Dated[teaser]The two celebrated guitarists will reunite in concert on Blu-ray in August. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Eagle Rock Entertainment is preparing 'Santana and McLaughlin: Invitation to Illumination' for Blu-ray on August 20. On July 1st, 2011, Montreux hosted the reunion of two master guitarists, Carlos Santana and John McLaughlin, with their "Invitation to Illumination" concert. Both musicians have been regulars at Montreux across the years but this was the first time they headlined their own concert together. The show features most of the tracks from their classic 1973 album Love Devotion Surrender mixed in with a wealth of other material. The evening was a showcase of supreme musical virtuosity and spirituality and typified the approach of these two great artists. It is certainly a performance not to be missed. Line-Up: Carlos Santana (Lead Guitar & Vocals); John McLaughlin (Lead Guitar & Vocals); Cindy Blackman Santana (Drums); Dennis Chambers (Drums); David K. Mathews (Keyboards); Tommy Anthony (Guitar & Vocals); Raul Rekow (Congas, Percussion & Vocals); Etienne M'Bappé (Bass); Benny Rietveld (Bass); Tony Lindsay (Vocals); Andy Vargas (Vocals). Track Listing: 1) Echoes Of Angels / Introduction 2) The Life Divine 3) Medley: Peace On Earth / A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall / Stairway To Heaven / Our Prayer / SOCC 4) Right Off 5) Vuelta Abajo 6) Vashkar 7) The Creator Has A Master Plan 8) Naima 9) Lotus Land Op 47, No. 1 10) Downstairs 11) Venus / Upper Egypt 12) Let Us Go Into The House Of The Lord 13) Black Satin 14) Cindy Blackman Santana Drum Solo 15) A Love Supreme 16) Shake It Up And Go. Specs and supplements have not been revealed yet, but suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $19.98. You can find the latest specs for 'Santana and McLaughlin: Invitation to Illumination' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under August 20.Posted Tue Jul 30, 2013 at 10:00 AM PDT by:
