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Bonus View Digest - May 10, 2013

Fri May 10, 2013 at 02:45 PM ET
Tags: The Bonus View, Bonus View Digest, Fun Stuff (all tags)

As we steer headlong into the coming summer months we here at The Bonus View would like to remind you that it's going to get hot outside. Really stinking hot. So, whenever you feel like heading inside for a cool glass of lemonade and air conditioning, know that we'll be here, bringing you the latest and greatest in the world of HD entertainment.

Blu-ray News

To start things off, we have a new contest running right now. We've had a contest going every week for, well, a lot of weeks now. This week you have a chance to win the 1963 classic 'The Great Escape.' Today is the last day to enter, so make sure you do. Speaking of contests check out the results of the'Silver Linings Playbook ' giveaway we had last week.

Wondering what to pick up this week? Is 'Jack Reacher' or 'Mama' worth you money? Find out what Josh thinks about this week's crop of Blu-rays in his weekly Blu-ray Highlights column.

Theatrical News

Luke didn't like 'Iron Man 3.' Agree, disagree? Add your two cents in the comment section of his essay poll entitled "What Did You Think of 'Iron Man Three'?"

Baz Luhrmann's 'The Great Gatsby ' opens this weekend. Find out what Bryan Kluger thought of the heavily stylized adaption.

In the Trailer Park we got our first taste of 'Ender's Game,' along with previews for 'The Purge' and 'The East.'

In sad news, we learned about the passing of a cinematic legend. Stop-motion pioneer Ray Harryhausen passed away this week. He will be missed.

TV Recaps

This summer TV season is a strong one indeed. We have recaps for 'Hannibal,' 'Game of Thrones,' 'Da Vinci's Demons,' 'Community,' and 'Bates Motel.'

That's all for this week. The summer movie season is heating up so stay tuned to The Bonus View to get the latest reviews and news about what's coming.


Bonus View Digest - April 12, 2013

Fri Apr 12, 2013 at 04:00 PM ET
Tags: The Bonus View, Bonus View Digest, Roger Ebert, Aaron Peck, Fun Stuff (all tags)

Have a hankering for some HD-related news, reviews, and other great stuff? See what transpired on The Bonus View in our weekly recap.

Blu-ray News

We're having another contest! We'd ask if you were tired of them, but we know as well as anyone, no one tires of getting free stuff. Last week we gave away a free copy of 'Les Miserables' (check out the results here), this week we're giving away a free copy of 'Wreck-it Ralph.' Trust me, your kids will love it. My son has watched it around 40 times already.

This week was a pretty slow week as far as Blu-ray releases were concerned. Check out our Blu-ray Highlights post to see a few of the gems that made this dismal release week worth it.

Theatrical News

Bryan Kluger has seen the Jackie Robinson biopic opening this weekend entitled '42.' Is it something you've been looking forward to seeing? If so you'll want to read his review to see if it’s a worthy account of his life.

Along with reviewing the newest films in theaters, Bryan has also been attending the Dallas Film Festival. Check out his reviews for festival films like 'A Teacher,' and 'Jump.'

It was with very heavy hearts that we said goodbye to Roger Ebert last week. Aaron took a few moments to write down exactly what the famed critic meant to him. What did he mean to you? Use the comments to tell your favorite Ebert stories.

Finally, E's Trailer Park features a hodgepodge of new movies slated to hit theaters in the near future. Check out trailers for 'Elysium,' 'This is the End,' and the remake of 'Carrie.'

TV Recaps

The summer TV season is heating up and we've got a ton of recaps this week following some of the most anticipated new shows as well as returning favorites. Check out our recaps of 'Game of Thrones,' 'Bates Motel,' 'Hannibal,' 'Community,' 'Dr. Who,' and 'Happy Endings.'

Special Features

Last week on the Weekend Roundtable we discussed what movies would be inappropriate for 3D conversions. It was a fun conversation. Have a few suggestions? Head on over and tell us in the comments.

That's it for this week. Thanks for being our faithful readers. Next week we'll try to pack in even more exciting HD fun!


Bonus View Digest - April 5, 2013

Fri Apr 05, 2013 at 04:00 PM ET
Tags: The Bonus View, Bonus View Digest, Aaron Peck, Fun Stuff (all tags)

More contests? Are we crazy! Apparently so. This week is your chance to win a free copy of the newest version of 'Les Miserables.'

Blu-ray News

In case you missed the previous paragraph, let me reiterate: we're having a contest and you can win a free copy of Tom Hooper's 'Les Miserables.' The deadline is Friday, so enter now.

Last week's contest was for a free copy of 'The Borgias: Season 2.' Check out the results of that contest here.

In his Blu-ray Highlights column Josh covered a the sparse offerings this week. The biggest release was Fox's TV miniseries 'The Bible.'

In the Steelbook department, check out the mighty fine metal packaging that can be purchased for 'Django Unchained' and 'Inglourious Basterds.'

Theatrical News

This weekend has some interesting releases. We have a review for the highly anticipated horror remake, 'Evil Dead,' along with a review of Danny Boyle's new flick 'Trance.' Check out Bryan's takes on both films and see if they're something you want to see this weekend.

Josh continues to revisit the literary world of Ian Fleming. Find out what he thought about Fleming's Bond novel "Live and Let Die."

Video Game News

Brian Hoss continues to mourn the loss of video game company LucasArts after Disney closed them down and laid off all their employees. In Episode II of his series on LucasArts, Brian takes a look at some of the best games the company produced, along with some games we'll likely never see.

TV Recaps

'Game of Thrones' began its third season last week. Follow along as Josh continues recapping the wildly popular fantasy show. Another big television event happened last Sunday. 'The Walking Dead' concluded its third season with, what Aaron thought to be, an extremely anti-climactic finale. We also have recaps for 'Doctor Who' and 'Happy Endings' for your reading pleasure.

Special Features

Last week in the Weekend Roundtable we wanted to know your thoughts on your favorite zombie movie. Take a few moments to think about it and then let us know. That's all we have for the first week in April. Have a safe and happy Springtime weekend.


Bonus View Digest - February 15, 2012

Fri Feb 15, 2013 at 04:00 PM ET
Tags: Bonus View Digest, The Bonus View, Fun Stuff, Aaron Peck (all tags)

Where does the time go? February is half over and the weather is starting to get a little warmer. Let's not jump to conclusions though. Warmer is a relative term here. Most of us are probably better off inside, next to our portable heater, reading The Bonus View.

Monster Madness

Since Sundance is officially over now, we can get back to the business of killing off monsters in order to find the supreme ruler of them all. Remember to vote! Below are the matchups we had this week:

The Mummy vs. Swamp Thing – Cthulhu vs. Graboid

Killer Birds vs. Killer Tomatoes – Kraken vs. Blob

Blu-ray News

In case you didn't know 'Skyfall' hit Blu-ray this week, let me refresh your memory. 'Skyfall' hit Blu-ray this week. There. If you find yourself in the "I Hate 'Skyfall' So Much I Want to Scream," club, then take a look at Josh's Blu-ray Highlights column this week to see if there are any other releases that tickle your fancy.

Into collector cases? Well, this week on Full Metal Jackets we cover the impending release of the Steelbook for the 25th anniversary release of 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit?' We also took some time to take a look at the killer new giftset Blu-ray release of 'The Walking Dead: Season 3.' Zombie heads in an aquarium anyone?

Theatrical News

The biggest opening this week was for the newest 'Die Hard' movie, 'A Good Day to Die Hard.' Bryan liked it, but there are plenty on the "Hated it," side also. What side are you on?

We also have a review for a little-known film called 'Bless Me, Ultima' if you're interested in what might be opening in your local art house cinema.

TV Recaps

So, 'The Walking Dead' returned to television. Does anyone still care? In case you do, Aaron recapped the 9th episode of the 3rd season for you. We also have a recap for 'Community.'

Special Features

The Weekend Roundtable last week was an extremely interesting topic. We discussed famous last movies from actors and directors. What are some film titles that come to mind when you think about that? The Mid-Week Poll appealed to people's varying degrees of OCD. In a Blu-ray Combo Pack, which side of the package do you like the Blu-ray to be? Vote now.

Thanks for joining us for another week of tremendous high-def hilarity. Here's to warmer weather and better movies!


Bonus View Digest - February 1, 2012

Fri Feb 01, 2013 at 03:30 PM ET
Tags: Bonus View Digest, The Bonus View, Aaron Peck, Fun Stuff (all tags)

January is over and February is here, but that doesn't mean it's any warmer! So bundle up in your blanket, get a warm cup of Joe, and join us for some exclusive Bonus View content, because, let's be honest, going outside is not an option.

Sundance Film Festival

Aaron is back from Utah's premiere film festival. Over the next week or so his reviews will continue to be published on the blog. This week we published reviews for Shane Carruth's anticipated 'Upstream Color'; Joseph Gordon-Levitt's directorial debut 'Don Jon's Addiction'; the controversial film 'Escape from Tomorrow' which was filmed entirely at Disneyland and Disney World without Disney's permission; the frightening 'Blue Caprice'; a documentary about the ills of America's illegal immigration issues in 'Who is Dayani Cristal? '; Jeremy Scahill's journey into uncovering U.S. military abuses of power in 'Dirty Wars'; the sexual adventures of a lesbian housewife conked in the head by a softball in 'Concussion'; and finally, Aaron's favorite movie of the festival, the unconscionably sad 'Fruitvale.' Keep an eye out in the coming days for more Sundance reviews.

Blu-ray News

There were some interesting releases this week, including a 25th Anniversary set of 'Die Hard,' the hilarious 'Seven Psychopaths,' and the overtly dramatic Downton Abbey: Season 3.' Want to know what else was released this week? Take a gander at Josh's weekly Blu-ray Highlights column to see if you missed anything that you wanted to buy.

Theatrical News

Director Steven Soderbergh has announced that he's going to retire, again. Does he mean it for real this time?

For the theatrical releases hitting cinemas this weekend you can check out Bryan Kluger's thoughts. See his reviews for the zombie love story 'Warm Bodies' and Stallone's 'Bullet to the Head' to see if they're worth your time.

The big news of the week was that J.J. Abrams signed on to direct the next 'Star Wars' movie. What do you think of the decision? Let us know in the poll.

TV Recaps

The only television recap we had this week was for the new serial killer thriller on Fox starring Kevin Bacon called 'The Following.' Josh reviewed the pilot episode to give you an idea of whether or not you should be watching this new show.

Special Features

We already covered the Mid-Week Poll above with J.J. Abrams directing 'Star Wars'. For the Weekend Roundtable we wondered "How did this movie get made?" Movies that completely baffle us as to how they were successfully pitched to a studio. What are some of the films you'd list? Let us know in the comments.

That's it for this week at The Bonus View. Hopefully, you had a warm January. Don't worry, we'll all make it through February together.


Bonus View Digest - Jan. 25, 2013

Fri Jan 25, 2013 at 04:00 PM ET
Tags: The Bonus View, Bonus View Digest, Fun Stuff, Aaron Peck (all tags)

Whoa boy, this week has been a crazy one. Between Josh moving and Aaron being at Sundance, we've been stretched way too thin. Even so, the content has kept flowing. Come see what you might have missed this week on The Bonus View.

Sundance Film Festival

Make sure you catch up with Aaron's daily journals about the festival experience on the High-Def Digest home page. Over on The Bonus View you can find his individual reviews for each movie he sees. Check out reviews for 'Upstream Color,' 'Stoker,' 'Mud,' 'The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete,' and 'The Spectacular Now.'

Keep an eye on the blog for the next week or two as we continue to post reviews from the festival!

Blu-ray News

Yikes! What a dismal week for new Blu-ray releases. However, if you're interested in a week where the most interesting release is a 20th anniversary edition of 'Cujo' then take a look at Josh's Blu-ray Highlights column.

Home Theater News

Did you know that Porsche is getting into the home theater market? In case you wanted to know what a 201-inch outdoor LED TV looks like, check it out. This thing is a marvel. Save your pennies!

In other news Josh's home theater renovations continue to move along at a brisk pace. Find out what the new theater looks like with sheetrock and an ingenious trick used to move the entry way.

Theatrical News

Want to know what to see this weekend? Check in to see what Bryan has to say about all the latest releases.

TV Recaps

We have recaps of 'Suits,' 'American Horror Story,' 'Fringe,' and 'Happy Endings.'

Special Features

This week's Weekend Roundtable was the most popular post of the week with 116 comments. With the Oscar nominations still fresh in everyone's minds we decided to take a slightly skewed view. We asked what are the worst movies made by 2013's Oscar nominees. Join in on the conversation!

That's it for this week. Coverage has been a little spotty here and there due to some hectic scheduling, but we're still working to bring you as much high-def content as our little fingers can type. Thanks for joining us for another week at The Bonus View.


Bonus View Digest - Jan. 11, 2013

Fri Jan 11, 2013 at 04:00 PM ET
Tags: Bonus View Digest, The Bonus View, Fun Stuff, Aaron Peck (all tags)

January is flying by. We've got a ton of stuff planned for this month. New features, film festival coverage, and contests. It's going to be a great couple weeks at The Bonus View.

Before we get into this week's Bonus View Digest we just wanted to remind you of the 'Looper' contest we have going right now. Head on over to the contest and enter a free copy of 'Looper on Blu-ray. Today is the last day you can enter.

Monster Madness

This week's battles were tough ones. Make sure to keep voting in the Monster Madness Tournament so we can eventually find out who is the toughest S.O.B. in the movie monster world.

Fell Beast vs. Giant Squid – Kothoga vs. Samael

Vermithrax vs. Xenomorph Queen – Killer Rabbit vs. Bat Gremlin

Blu-ray News

Were you wondering what Blu-rays to pick up? Well, Josh covers all of the new releases in our Blu-ray Highlights column. We hope that you give 'Dredd' a chance. You might have thought that it was only a generic action movie, but it's much more fun than that.

Home Theater News

Josh continues the renovation on his new place in order to put a custom home theater in the basement. Check out his progress with this week's post about plumbing troubles.

Theatrical News

First up we have the new movie releases hitting theaters this week. Bryan Kluger lets us know what he thought of 'Gangster Squad,' 'A Haunted House,' and 'Not Fade Away.' Find out if any of them are worth seeing.

We've also started a new feature here on the blog. Luke and Aaron are pretty competitive, and they've come up with a way to incorporate their friendly rivalry into a game about movies. It's called Box Office Pick'em. Each person tries to amass the most box office bucks by picking a roster of movies each month. Click on the link above to find out the details and to follow along.

The Oscar nominations were announced yesterday. Did your favorite movies get nominated? Snubbed? Check out the full list of nominees now.

Sundance Film Festival

Aaron will be headed to Sundance next week. Earlier in the week he posted his tentative schedule for the 9 days he'll be there. It's absolutely packed with movies to see. Check out his schedule and see if there are any movies you're excited to hear about.

Special Features

The Weekend Roundtable this past week focused on Underrated Movies of 2012. What were some of the movies that you thought didn't get enough love? In the Mid-Week Poll we were curious to see what sort of electronics failures you've had over the years. Care to share your story with us?

That's it for this week. Remember stay tuned, because all next week we'll be heading to the Sundance Film Festival, bringing you all the latest independent movie news, along with what the festival atmosphere is like. It should be a good time.

Thanks for joining us for another week. Stay warm Bonus View readers! One last reminder about our 'Looper' contest. Enter to win a free copy of the movie now!


Bonus View Digest - January 4, 2013

Fri Jan 04, 2013 at 04:00 PM ET
Tags: Bonus View Digest, The Bonus View, Fun Stuff, Aaron Peck (all tags)

There's no stopping it. Winter is in full effect. When you wake up and your pipes are frozen (like mine) you realize there's nothing better than snuggling up in some warm clothes to read about movies online. It's a good thing we're here, right?

Monster Madness

We've moved onto the second round in Monster Madness. If you haven't been voting, here's your chance. We had a handful of interesting match-ups this week.

Cloverfield vs. Godzilla – Chucky vs. Tire

Balrog vs. The Mist Walker – Darkness vs. Predator

Blu-ray News

There wasn't a lot of new stuff that came out the last week of 2012. Josh covered all of the new Blu-ray releases in his Blu-ray Highlights column. Although, there is one release you might want to check out and that's 'Looper.'

Are you a fan of fancy packaging? Check out the new UK steelbook for 'Skyfall.' Man, it looks good.

Theatrical News

Luke reviewed the new Quentin Tarantino flick, 'Django Unchained.' Check out his review to see if Tarantino is still at the top of his game or if he's slipping a bit.

In the Trailer Park we checked out new trailers for the 'tween crowd. Find out if 'Mortal Instruments: City of Bones,' 'Beautiful Creatures,' or 'The Host' interests you.

Home Theater News

Do you use your smart TV's apps? That's a question we posed this week. So many televisions come equipped with the same application power as our smart phones. We were wondering if you take advantage of it, or if they sit there gathering digital dust.

Special Features

The Weekend Roundtable this week was New Year related. Thinking ahead to the rest of 2013 we were wondering what your wishes were for you home theater system. What kind of equipment do you want to buy? Do you want to renovate a brand-new home theater, or do you like the way things are now?

That's it for this week. Continue to follow along with us during the next few weeks as we cover the latest and greatest in the world of television, movies, and HD gear. We'll also be covering the Sundance Film Festival in its entirety come January 17th.

So, here's to the New Year, and to the thought of warmer weather only a few months away...


Bonus View Digest - December 21, 2012

Fri Dec 21, 2012 at 05:00 PM ET
Tags: Bonus View Digest, The Bonus View, Fun Stuff, Aaron Peck (all tags)

The year may be winding down, but The Bonus View is still churning out the best in news and reviews.

Blu-ray News

Like most Decembers, we're starting to see a big influx of newer titles just in time to wind up under the tree for the movie lovers in your family. Want to know what came out this week? Well, in the Blu-ray Highlights column we discuss the releases of new titles like the 'Total Recall' remake and 'Premium Rush'.

Home Theater News

As you know by now Bonus View editor, Josh Zyber, purchased a new home. In his basement he's getting ready to construct a custom home theater. This week's editorial was about demolition. It's always fun tearing out the old and imagining the new. Continue to check in on his progress. Who knows, maybe it'll give you some ideas for your own theater.

Looking for something alternative to watch during the holiday season? Tired of all the cheesy family comedies that air around this time? Well, why don't you try E's suggestion from Netflix called 'It's a Very Scary Christmas'?

Theatrical News

This week's big release is 'Jack Reacher', which may come as a surprise to many. The trailers have made it seem like a clunky actioner, but it's actually a smartly crafted detective thriller. Yeah, we were surprised too, and we liked it.

Luke also reviewed the stellar thriller 'Zero Dark Thirty' that opens in a limited release this week. It gets a much wider release in January. However, if you're able to see this movie now, do so. It really is that great.

TV Recaps

This week we recapped 'Fringe', 'Happy Endings', and 'American Horror Story'.

Special Features

This week's Mid-Week Poll was technology based. We asked you what your preference is when it comes to phone service. Do you have a landline or do you or opt for a cell phone only approach? We had another great book review this week. This time Tom Landy reviewed "The Great Showdowns" by Scott C. Finally, the Weekend Roundtable was dedicated to movies we all regret buying. It sparked a very large discussion. If you haven't voiced your opinion on the subject, please do.

With the holidays quickly descending on us whether we like it or not, we here at The Bonus View would like to wish everyone cheer and good will. During your extended school and work breaks, be sure to take some time to watch a few good movies. There are a lot of them out there!


Bonus View Digest - December 14, 2012

Fri Dec 14, 2012 at 05:00 PM ET
Tags: Bonus View Digest, The Bonus View, Fun Stuff, Aaron Peck (all tags)

It's already that time of year again; trimming the trees, visiting distant relatives, racking up debt with layaway plans, and wrapping presents like mad. Yes, the holiday season is upon us and we here at The Bonus View are celebrating it by giving you the present of super-awesome high-def news every day until we bid 2012 farewell.

Monster Madness

The madness is in full swing. We've finished off the first round. Thirty-two monsters have met their match and are nothing more than piles of blood and flesh. The other half has moved on to the second round to face much stronger opponents. It only gets tougher from here on out.

Cthulhu vs. Eborsisk – Kothoga vs. Deadite

Orochi vs. Gorgo – Bat Gremlin vs. The Tingler

Blu-ray News

This week was a pretty big week for Blu-ray releases. In the weekly Blu-ray Highlights column Josh discussed big day-and-date titles like 'Ted,' 'The Bourne Legacy,' and 'Ice Age: Continental Drift.' There was also a highly-anticipated release from Disney. They brought the cult classic 'Dick Tracy' to Blu-ray. There's lots of great stuff here. Find out what would be best suited for the movie lovers on your Christmas list.

Theatrical News

The big movie opening this week is 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.' Luke has reviewed it. Find out what he thought about the newest addition to Peter Jackson's 'Lord of the Rings' movies and, maybe most importantly, what it was like watching it projected at 48 frames per second.

Next month Luke and Aaron will be headed back to the Sundance Film Festival to take in the sights, sounds, and movies that it has to offer. In order to get ready for one of the United States' biggest film festivals we're previewing the movies that will be offered there. This week we took a look at the U.S. Documentaries Competition.

The Golden Globes announced their nominations this week. As always there are quite a few, "What is the Hollywood Foreign Press thinking?" nominations in there.

Special Features

The Mid-Week Poll was especially popular this week. We asked you how you plan to see 'The Hobbit' when you go see it in the theater. Please, let us know not only how you're planning on seeing it (whether it is in 3D with a high frame rate or something else), but also let us know exactly what you thought after you made your decision. The Weekend Roundtable was reserved for our choices of really lame Blu-ray bonus features. What are some of yours?

Make sure to also check out Josh's plans to build a proper home theater in his newly purchased home. The first post about his project is up as he talks about how important location is when considering a dedicated home theater room and its design.

Well, that's it for this week. Assuming that the Mayan calendar thing was all just a big misunderstanding, we'll hopefully be around to bring you more news, reviews, and articles this time next week. If they were right then, this is officially the very last Bonus View Digest. If that's the case, it's been a great life. Thanks for tuning into the blog. With any luck the great and terrible world-ending calamities didn't hit you too hard.



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