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'Tom and Jerry's Giant Adventure' Announced for Blu-ray[teaser]The crazy cat and mouse will be climbing up a beanstalk in August. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Warner Brothers says 'Tom and Jerry's Giant Adventure' will hit Blu-ray on August 6. This Tom and Jerry original movie finds the classic Hanna-Barbera duo assisting Jack, the young owner of a storybook amusement park, which has fallen on hard times. All that changes, though, when a handful of magic beans provide the means for Jack, Tom and Jerry to get their hands on a golden goose. But what dangers (and hijinks) await atop the beanstalk the beans produce? Specs and supplements for the Blu-ray/DVD/Ultraviolet Digital Copy Combo Pack haven't been revealed yet, but suggested list price is $24.98. You can find the latest specs for 'Tom and Jerry's Giant Adventure' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under August 6.Posted Wed May 1, 2013 at 10:00 AM PDT by: -
HDD Spotlight Bargain: 'Star Wars: Original and Prequel Trilogies' on Blu-ray $32.99 Each at Amazon[teaser]Pick your favorite 3-film set on Blu-ray and save over fifty percent at Amazon![/teaser] The online retailer is now selling 'Star Wars: The Original Trilogy (Episodes IV-VI' and 'Star Wars: The Prequel Trilogy (Episodes I-III' on Blu-ray for only $32.99 each (53% off suggested retail price). Each 3-disc set features 1080p video, 6.1 lossless audio, and supplements include audio commentaries for the films. Click here to head to a galaxy far, far away and this offer is available now through May 4.Posted Wed May 1, 2013 at 09:42 AM PDT by: -
HDD Interviews the Filmmakers Behind 'Mama,' Andres and Barbara Muschiettiby Luke Hickman Guillermo Del Toro has made a name for himself. Now, he's not only making huge movies of his own, but helping other filmmakers rise to higher levels. His latest production 'Mama' is boosting the careers of two other up-and-coming Spanish filmmakers break into the international market. Their little $15 million film grossed $138.6 million at the worldwide box office and will be available on Blu-ray on May 7, 2013. 'Mama' introduces us to the Spanish filmmaking siblings Andres and Barbara Muschietti. The idea for 'Mama' came from a chilling three-minute short film that Andres and Barbara made in 2008. Del Toro hopped aboard to produce their feature length version of the short, which was released in January 2013. After watching the short, which is available as a special feature on the Blu-ray, it's no wonder a feature was to follow. [teaser]Andres and Barbara Muschietti are two humble, personable, and very likeable filmmakers, hopefully their personalities and charisma translate in the following interview transcript.[/teaser] Enjoy! Andres Muschietti: Hello, Luke! Barbara Muschietti: Hi, Luke! HDD – Luke Hickman: Hi, guys! How are you? Andres Muschietti: Doing well. Barbara Muschietti: Very good. HDD: Being international filmmakers, I have to ask – where are you right now? Barbara Muschietti: We are in our house in Barcelona ... and it's raining outside. Andres Muschietti: It's not a great day. Being the beginning of spring, it sucks. HDD: It's the same here. I live just outside Salt Lake City. It rained this morning and we even had a snow storm last week. Andres Muschietti: During spring?! HDD: Oh, yeah. That's why I feel your pain! Andres Muschietti: Enjoy! (laughs) Barbara Muschietti: (laughs) HDD: (laughs) Well, thank you for taking time out of your evening to talk with me. Barbara Muschietti: It's our pleasure. HDD: We only have 10 minutes so let's dive into this. First off, I love that the original short film is included on the Blu-ray because it's fantastic. I hadn't seen it prior to watching the feature film, so it was a real treat. How did the short come about? Andres Muschietti: It actually wasn't through the usual way. Instead of writing a story, it came up in a morning vision. I was just thinking in bed and this image came in my head. The whole sequence came in. I sort of sat on it because these sorts of things you don't give much focus to, but I thought, 'Maybe I could make this into a beautiful and horrifying short film.' I tried to make it make sense and to rationalize it – create the story behind it – but this was not the case. I thought, 'Why not make it without [a backstory]?' And it works! There's a shock behind the images of the film that I think makes it enigmatic. People want to know what the story is, so there's an important hook there. … There's the build up of the tension, the atmosphere. And that's how we came to it. I told my sister, 'I have this idea' – because we have have a production company here. We have been doing commercials for more than 10 years. We are shooting all the time and during one day of a shoot, when the shooting was done, I realized that - we were in this house on the outskirts of Barcelona – I realized that it was the house from the dream. HDD: No! Andres Muschietti: Yeah! It was the exact house – it had the hallways, the spiraling staircase, the connection to the kitchen. It was exactly what my vision was. I said to my sister, "We have to do it." So she talked to the owner and the owner said, "Okay, but you have to shoot this fast. We're tearing the house down in two weeks." And we made it! HDD: That's awesome. So let me make sure I have this right – when you made the short film, you didn't have a backstory to it at all? Andres Muschietti: No, we didn't. It was enigmatic. That was the value of the movie. Watching it with an audience and hearing, "What the fuck was that? Why are they being chased by their mom? Why is their mom a ghost or a monster?" - some people think it's a zombie – but she's definitely not. HDD: Was it difficult expanding this three-minute short into a feature length film? Andres Muschietti: Well, it's complicated and complex, but I wouldn't say "difficult." There's a lot of work that we put into it, especially when they are a few parties involved. In this case, Guillermo [Del Toro] was involved and there was a studio, so the most complex thing of it all was making consensus with all of the parts. But finding the story wasn't difficult at all. As I was trying to come up with story of the feature film, I came across this video about a cheetah eating a monkey, a baboon. The monkey gives birth to a baby as she's being killed and so the cheetah starts to take care of the baby [cheetah]. That's a crazy story of nature, but it's true. It happened and it's a reflection of how things work in nature. I thought that was an amazing idea to carry on into a story, so I thought, 'That's what 'Mama' is about' – it's about two little girls who think that the monster is their mom and that's why she's there when they are abandoned. The idea of imprinting, which is the reverse of that, like when a baby looks up and the first thing that she sees she becomes attached to it. HDD: That's crazy! Andres Muschietti: I'm sorry. I'm extending too much! HDD: No – it's great. I love hearing about it. So, how did Guillermo Del Toro become involved? Was he the one that provoked the feature? Barbara Muschietti: The first person that really inspired us and encouraged us to go on for a feature is another director and friend Juan Carlos Fresnadillo. He basically told us, "You guys have to write a feature about this. Drop whatever you're doing and go for it." So, then we basically started shopping the project around. We had phone calls with quite a few people – with Sam Raimi's production house, with the Weinsteins, with Lorenzo di Bonaventura – but when we heard that Guillermo had seen the short, we knew that it was a match. The next day, he called us and said, "I'm going to help you make this movie. It doesn't matter if we make in English or Spanish or Chinese – I'm going to help you make this movie." And that's what he did! HDD: Where did the decision come from for making the film in English? Andres Muschietti: It was a hot week. Barbara Muschietti: (laughs) HDD: (laughs) Andres Muschietti: Of course, I was concerned with jumping to a Formula 1 just like that, from a short film to a high budget – which wasn't really a high budget, but for us, we don't get to shoot with that kind of money and in English with Hollywood actors. It was tough, a challenge that we had to face. For a moment, we were thinking, 'Let's do it here in Spain. Let's make it small.' but Guillermo told us, "You're going to do this movie in Spanish in Spain and it's going to be a success and the Americans are going to do it as a remake." HDD: (laughs) Barbara Muschietti: With a much bigger budget! Andres Muschietti: At that time, it didn't seem like something bad for me, but from a financial point-of-view, of course, the producers of a remake would make hundred of thousands [of dollars] more than us. HDD: (laughs) Alright, I've only got time for one more question. Do you two see yourselves continuing as a sibling duo for the rest of your careers? Andres Muschietti: Yeah yeah yeah. We are a duo. Barbie is the producer, I am the director and we intend to keep it that way for at least 20 movies. Barbara Muschietti: (laughs) HDD: (laughs) Andres Muschietti: We'll see what happens after that.Posted Wed May 1, 2013 at 09:30 AM PDT by: -
Screen Innovations Adds Pure Zero Edge to Its Line of Pure and Black Diamond Screens[teaser]Rigid screen design supports up to an 8K resolution, frameless edge, and LED backlighting. [/teaser] Screen Innovations, credited for producing affordable screens that excel in dark and light environments, is now offering the Pure Zero Edge line of screens. From SI, "Filling a void onscreen and in the marketplace, our new Pure™ projection screen materials feature an enhanced texture that is 9x finer than that of the best screen available. Redefining what white and gray screens can do to enhance the visual entertainment experience, our proprietary Micro Texture delivers absolute perfection when reproducing resolution from 1080P to 8K. The image is razor sharp with perfect color and uniformity, providing a sensory experience unlike any other." The aluminum-backed rigid screen design aims to offer the kind of appearance that consumers normally seek in bezel-less screen design without compromising image quality. Pure White and Pure Gray now join the company's Black Diamond screens. SI promises that these screen options in a two piece projector set-up yield much larger screen sizes than comparably priced flat panel TVs. One capability being pushed by Screen Innovations is LED backlighting, which can easily be included in the Pure Zero Edge backing. The idea behind LED backlighting is to complement onscreen content while making it easier to watch bright content in a dark room. Source: Screen Innovations Author: Brian HossPosted Wed May 1, 2013 at 08:30 AM PDT by: -
'Baltimore Ravens: Road to XLVII' Blu-ray Announced[teaser]The super bowl champs will be rushing toward the end zone on Blu-ray in June. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Gaiam Vivendi Entertainment is preparing 'Baltimore Ravens: Road to XLVII' for Blu-ray on June 4. For the second time in franchise history, the Baltimore Ravens are Super Bowl champions! Now the original network broadcasts of the Ravens 2012 playoff surge are yours to own in this exciting Blu-ray set 'Baltimore Ravens: Road to XLVII'. All the great moments from the Ravens unforgettable playoff journey are here - Ray Lewis' final home game vs. the Colts, the incredible last-minute touchdown pass known forevermore as the Mile High Miracle, the dismantling of Tom Brady and the Patriots in Foxboro, and the crowning glory of the Super Bowl XLVII victory of the San Francisco 49ers. Over these four games, the Ravens went from perennial contenders to Super Bowl champions and their story became a new chapter in Charm City's remarkable football history. 'Baltimore Ravens: Road to XLVII' is a must-have for any Ravens fan. Specs and supplements have not been revealed yet, but suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $49.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Baltimore Ravens: Road to XLVII' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under June 4.Posted Wed May 1, 2013 at 08:00 AM PDT by: -
'The Amazing Adventures of the Living Corpse' Announced for Blu-ray[teaser]The animated adventure featuring a zombie with a soul will shamble onto Blu-ray in June. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Starz/Anchor Bay will be releasing 'The Amazing Adventures of the Living Corpse' on Blu-ray on June 18. An instant fan favorite when it premiered at last year’s Comic-Con in San Diego, 'The Amazing Adventures of the Living Corpse' is a hip horror fantasy done in CG animation and brings new life to the zombie genre. Unlike any living dead story before, this wildly entertaining film is based on the cult underground Dynamite comic series, “The Living Corpse Exhumed” by Ken Haeser and Buz Hasson. “… the attention to detail and love of the material is clear…The pacing of the film is great and the soundtrack rocking!” - HorrorMovieNews.net The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements have yet to be revealed. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $24.99. You can find the latest specs for 'The Amazing Adventures of the Living Corpse' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under June 18.Posted Wed May 1, 2013 at 06:00 AM PDT by: -
High-Def Digest's Essential Picks: April 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 a noir mystery with an animated twist, a controversial historical thriller, and a visually stunning examination of survival. If you haven't already, be sure to check out the Essential Picks for November, December, January, February, and March. [teaser]This month, we're covering an unconventional romance, a revisionist "spaghetti southern," and a harrowing story about familial bonds and hope. [/teaser]Please be aware, that if you haven't already seen them, there might be some spoilers for the films listed. If you can only buy three titles that hit Blu-ray in April, here's what we suggest you pick up, starting with the most essential... 'Silver Linings Playbook' - Much more than just that movie with all that "ho heying" in its trailer, David O. Russell's Oscar nominated film is a romantic dramedy with a refreshing edge. Avoiding most (but not all) of the clichéd tropes that plague its genre, the movie's characters feel fresh, and there is real insight layered within the drama and humor that helps the film dance into the hearts of even its most jaded viewers. Through the story of two broken individuals who find common ground within their mutual distress, Russell taps into a very raw component of humanity. The film's examination of mental illness is multifaceted, finding both sorrow and humor in dysfunction without ever being too flippant or heavy handed. Granted, it's not exactly 'A Woman Under the Influence' when it comes to nuance, complexity, and realism, but Russell's display of sensitivity and honesty with the material is commendable. Not afraid to delve into some potentially dark and unsettling realities, the director doesn't shy away from the hardships his characters' face, nor does he ignore their joys and triumphs, lending the film some genuine bite in both content and cinematic form -- something that most of its genre contemporaries sorely lack. In her much deserved Academy Award winning performance, Jennifer Lawrence easily cements herself as one of the best actresses working today. Fearless and unfiltered, her manic, spirited portrayal of Tiffany is like a force of nature, oscillating between feisty vigor and devastating vulnerability. There's a palpable level of electricity to her on-screen presence as her character rides a rogue wave of mixed temperaments. Her breakdown in the diner sequence is particularly impressive, unleashing a honed in display of unbridled emotion bursting into fits of passion, frustration, and pent-up fury. Though slightly up-staged by his co-star, Bradley Cooper is also very impressive as Pat, filling the character with a likeable, earnest positivity that's dashed by dangerous anger. They're both wholly flawed and damaged human beings, scarred by trauma, loss, and heartache, and both performers lend their grief real weight and surprising levity. Despite their fifteen year age gap, the pair shares completely natural chemistry, and one never thinks twice about their potential coupling. When they're on screen together, they simply fit -- even when they're nearly at each other's throats. Actually, especially when they're nearly at each other's throats. As atypical and multi-layered as Russell's approach is, the film does falter slightly here and there. The scene where the climactic bet is made feels a little out of place, with some tonal choices that seem at odds with the rest of the picture. Likewise, the conclusion adheres to tried-and-true romcom sensibilities, and though the destination is disappointingly predictable compared to the more unconventional path that precedes it, the execution is more than strong enough to make it work. At the end of the day, this is really a film about optimism, but unlike other inferior efforts, it doesn't find its positivity through sugarcoated contrivance. It finds it through genuine struggles and pain and hard work. In other words… "Excelsior!" 'Django Unchained' - A spaghetti western about slavery. If it was directed by anyone else, I might have outright balked at such a notion, but under the insane guiding hand of Quentin Tarantino, this precarious concept becomes a pitch-perfect piece of cinematic exploitation. A stylistic throwback remixed with modern sensibilities, 'Django Unchained' is pure motion picture bliss. Fueled by an incredible soundtrack, amazing performances, playful wit, sumptuous dialogue, and wavering pangs of over-the-top cartoon violence and disturbing savagery, the flick is an impossibly bloody and richly verbose gunshot of filmic excess, carefully concentrated into an engaging and wholly satisfying story of revenge. After his star making turn in 'Inglorious Basterds,' Christoph Waltz reteams with Tarantino, and this time the pair create a character on the complete opposite end of the moral spectrum from the infamous Hans Landa. A perfectly mannered, surprisingly cordial and business-like bounty hunter, Dr. King Schultz is an utterly likeable killer marked by a high code of ethics. A softie at heart, he gets swept up in Django's romantic quest, risking everything to reunite the former slave with his beloved Broomhilda (Kerry Washington). Sickened by the cruel realities of slavery, the man is slowly unraveled by the hellish horrors he sees, revealing his one, sadly fatal flaw… his conscience. In the title role, Jamie Foxx oozes cool and icy determination. Willing to do anything to save his wife, the character exposes a sometimes unsettling level of fortitude, begrudgingly accepting injustice in order to free his love. Unlike Schultz, he really is willing to walk through hell to get what he wants. Making that hell a reality, is Leonardo DiCaprio in the part of the gleefully detestable Calvin Candie. A very special kind of evil, Candie is like an overgrown spoiled child, selfish and without morals. DiCaprio essentially disappears into the role, displaying so much dedication that he apparently went so far as to literally bleed for the movie. Violent, disturbing, exciting, funny, and unabashedly entertaining, 'Django Unchained' is a true cinematic anomaly. Tarantino's approach to the potentially controversial content really has no right to work, and yet it does. Through a perfectly balanced mixture of spaghetti western, old school exploitation, revenge thriller, over-the-top action, crackling dialogue, and fully realized characters, the director funnels all of his disparate influences into something bizarrely unique. One could argue (very justly) that a topic like slavery shouldn't be dealt with in such an ostensibly immature manner, but Tarantino's command of tone and style is so secure and tight that it somehow works -- bringing thrills, laughs, and genuine emotion to the story. An explosive culmination of all of the director's varied sensibilities and inspirations, the film is among his very best work, and it easily earns a spot on this month's must own list. 'The Impossible' - An intense, inspirational film about love, hope, and endurance, 'The Impossible' is a non-stop, unrelenting roller coaster of emotion. Through one family's true story of survival, the filmmakers reveal mankind's universal propensity for compassion and unity in the face of unimaginable crisis. While director Juan Antonio Bayona technically spends very little time setting up the characters and relationships, he uses this comparatively quick preamble to say so much with so little. Economic but potent, these early scenes perfectly establish the family through key interactions, giving the audience just enough to latch onto throughout the following chaos. Brilliantly juxtaposing the peaceful stillness that comes before and after, the tsunami sequence itself is simply horrifying, creating a breathlessly visceral experience that is uncomfortable, disorienting, and frequently painful to watch. Using a mixture of heavy practical effects with fairly minimal CG compositing and embellishments, the rushing waters and raging debris carry a distressing level of reality. Getting swept up in this violent onslaught, Naomi Watts is simply incredible, turning in an equally primal and affectionate performance as Maria, the mother of three who fights to survive. Nearly torn apart by the disaster, she somehow clings to life, determined to care for her son Lucas (Tom Holland), while her husband (Ewan McGregor) and two other children remain missing and presumed dead. Of course, her wounds make this task incredibly difficult, forcing an occasional role reversal where Lucas has to become the protector and leader. As the character states in the movie, they "took care of each other." To this end, Holland is actually called upon to carry the film during several stretches, and the young actor does an exceptional job. Faced with unrelenting confusion and chaos in the wake of the tragedy, both mother and son do everything they can to not only help each other, but fellow survivors as well. Throughout it all, Bayona maintains a heart-tugging air of inspiration and emotion, and while his methods occasionally veer toward excess sentiment and dramatic contrivance, the core of the story is so powerful and harrowing that these slight oversteps become easily forgivable. Some have criticized the filmmakers for focusing on white characters and changing the nationality of the protagonists, and while these concerns certainly have merit, judged for what it is, the movie remains a rather striking piece of cinema -- both from a technical and an emotional level. As the real-life Maria imparts in the included special features, this is a film about "people helping people," and on that front, it succeeds wholeheartedly. With incredible, disturbing visuals and powerfully immersive audio, the Blu-ray itself offers a fully enveloping experience that totally engulfs the audience in the characters' plight. This isn't always an easy movie to watch and there are some issues here and there, but the filmmakers and actors do the inspirational story justice, helping to cement this disc a spot on this month's essential picks. So, there you have it. While there are many titles worth picking up this April, 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 April's must own titles?Posted Tue Apr 30, 2013 at 12:30 PM PDT by: -
'Iron Man 3' Blu-ray Up for Pre-Order![teaser]The explosive Robert Downey Jr. blockbuster is already up for Blu-ray pre-orders at Amazon! [/teaser] Amazon has just listed Disney's 'Iron Man 3' for a Blu-ray release sometime later this year. Marvel’s “Iron Man 3” pits brash-but-brilliant industrialist Tony Stark/Iron Man against an enemy whose reach knows no bounds. When Stark finds his personal world destroyed at his enemy’s hands, he embarks on a harrowing quest to find those responsible. This journey, at every turn, will test his mettle. With his back against the wall, Stark is left to survive by his own devices, relying on his ingenuity and instincts to protect those closest to him. As he fights his way back, Stark discovers the answer to the question that has secretly haunted him: does the man make the suit or does the suit make the man? Specs, supplements, and a release date have not been set yet, but suggested list price for the Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy combo pack is set at $44.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Iron Man 3' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under PENDING.Posted Tue Apr 30, 2013 at 12:15 PM PDT by: -
'The Incredible Burt Wonderstone' Blu-ray Announced and Detailed[teaser]The comedic battle of magicians will commence on Blu-ray this June. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Warner Brothers says 'The Incredible Burt Wonderstone' is coming to high-definition on June 25. Starring Steve Carell and Steve Buscemi as long-reigning Las Vegas headliners, “The Incredible Burt Wonderstone” follows the struggling magicians as they attempt to overcome a fading friendship and battle Steve Gray, a rival guerilla street magician played by Jim Carrey, for illusionist fame. Directed by Emmy® Award-winner Don Scardino (“30 Rock”), “The Incredible Burt Wonderstone” also stars Olivia Wilde as Burt and Anton’s glamorous magic assistant Jane; Alan Arkin as old-school illusionist Rance Holloway; and James Gandolfini as casino mogul Doub Munny. The release will be a Blu-ray/DVD/UV Digital Copy combo pack with 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements will include: Deleted Scene & Alternate Takes; Making Movie Magic with David Copperfield; Best of The Brain Rapist; and Gag Reel. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $35.99. You can find the latest specs for 'The Incredible Burt Wonderstone' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under June 25.Posted Tue Apr 30, 2013 at 12:00 PM PDT by: -
'The Man Who Shook the Hand of Vicente Fernández' Blu-ray Available Now![teaser]The final performance of Academy Award-winner Ernest Borgnine is in stores now. [/teaser] Indican's 'The Man Who Shook the Hand of Vicente Fernández' is now available for purchase on Blu-ray. Retired radio DJ, Rex Page (Ernest Borgnine), always dreamed of being a Western movie cowboy - After suffering a back injury, Rex finds himself recovering at Rancho Park nursing home, a facility held in the villainous grip of local businessman Mr. Walker (Barry Corbin) and his evil henchman, Dr. Dominguez (Tony Plana). At first, Rex is helpless in this lawless world, but when the Latino staff realizes that Rex once met their icon, Vicente Fernandez, Rex becomes a local celebrity. And like the cowboys from his dreams, Rex discovers the love and respect of his family and the staff when he faces down the tyrannical owners of Rancho Park this homage to the Spaghetti Westerns of yore. Specs and supplements have yet to be revealed, but suggested list price is set at $29.99. You can find the latest specs for 'The Man Who Shook the Hand of Vicente Fernández' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under April 30.Posted Tue Apr 30, 2013 at 10:00 AM PDT by:
