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'Pirate Radio' Blu-ray Announced[teaser]The boat will rock high-definition in March. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Universal Studios has revealed Pirate Radio' starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, Bill Nighy, and Kenneth Branagh will be coming to Blu-ray on March 9. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements still have to be revealed. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray has been set at $36.98. You can find the latest specs for 'Pirate Radio' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under March 9.Posted Fri Jan 8, 2010 at 06:00 AM PST by: -
CES 2010: Press Day Run Down[teaser]CES is upon us, and things are off to an impressive start. Toshiba detailed the Cell TV and Samsung showed off some impressive LED backlit sets as well as some plasmas. Oh, and every single company talked about 3D.[/teaser] Though LG’s press conference started the day, it was Toshiba’s that brought the first bit of really exciting news. The much lauded Cell TV will be making its way to the US. It’s not priced or dated yet, but we know a lot about what may be a real game changer of a television. Toshiba’s Cell does more than any other television on the market today. It handles 3D content like a champ. The 480Hz refresh rate may seem a bit excessive at first, but it’s there for reason. 3D video requires two simultaneous pictures to be shown, which cuts television refresh rates in half. By using 480Hz technology, the Cell TV is able to show 3D at a still impressive 240Hz. It’s all part of Toshiba’s new plan to avoid the rush to the bottom. During the press conference they said that people who know quality will pay for quality, and they’ll pay for the Cell TV. The Cell has a few more features not found on other sets. Your Blu-ray player or receiver is the traditional sources for upscaling your standard definition signals, but the Cell can do it too. It’s a nice feature for television signals, or for the built in DVD (not Blu-ray) player. It even goes a step further than that with net content upscaling and eliminating compression and noise; handy since it streams Netflix, Vudu, CinemaNow and more. It’s also got a 1TB hard drive, wireless HDMI, WiFi, and a video phone option that will upscale to 1080p. In addition to the Cell TV, Toshiba announced ten new series of televisions – seven of which will be LED backlit – and a 3D Blu-ray player. Samsung’s press conference was packed to the brim with people waiting to see the latest and greatest. In addition to the impressive LED LCD television lines, Samsung showed off an MP3 player called the Samsung Ice Touch. It’s got a 2” transparent OLED display, which Samsung says is ideal for touch screen users. Since you can see right through the screen, it can be controlled from behind, so your fingers don’t cover the screen that you’re trying to navigate. They also mentioned the Samsung Mobile TV, a mobile device that you can watch television shows on. Details were sparse, but it’s based on the Samsung Moment, and a trial run will start in Washington D.C this spring. Of course, 3D is the focus of Samsung’s new efforts, and they brought on Jeffery Katzenberg of Dreamworks to announce a new partnership with the content company. 3D is the future, says Samsung, and their new mission statement is to “Inspire the world, create the future.” In addition to 3D televisions that convert 2D to 3D in real time like Toshiba’s Cell, Samsung announced that they’ll be releasing 3D Blu-ray players, active shutter glasses, and even 3D HTiB’s. Samsung was quick to assure us that these products all meet the Blu-ray and Broadcast 3D standards. Panasonic, like its competition, was quick to announce their plan to dominate the 3D market. Panasonic does have one distinct advantage in that they provide an end to end solution. They have 3D TVs and Blu-ray players, but also the first prosumer level 3D video camera. It costs $21,000, and it looks like an overblown viewmaster, but it’s the cheapest way to film 3D yet. Panasonic announced a partnership with DirecTV, which will debut a trio of 3D channels this summer, just after the spring launch of Panasonic’s 3D Viera televisions. Partners providing content for the 3D channel will include CBS, NBC, MTV, and Fox Sports. 'Avatar' producer Jon Landau took the stage to talk about all the Panasonic gear used in the filming and production of 'Avatar,' and said that he sees 3D video as the new stereo sound. “At first,” he said “stereo was a novelty, and now we’ve come to expect it.” The new Viera Plasma V series is 3D capable and will have WiFi built right in. The most interesting addition to Panasonic’s television line may be Skype, which will allow video calling right from the television. They’ll also be bringing a 3D Blu-ray player with HDMI 1.4 specification support. On the non-3D front, Panasonic announced their new BD-85. It’s a Blu-ray player with built in WiFi and an impressive load time. It’s one of those “I’ll believe it when I see it” statements, but Panasonic claims a half second load time for Blu-ray discs. They’ll also be bringing out the B15 Portable Blu-ray player that features the Viera Cast network and built in WiFi, and an HTiB with subs built right in to the left and right channel speakers. Don’t forget to keep checking back to High-Def Digest for more updates direct from the show floor at CES.Posted Thu Jan 7, 2010 at 01:50 PM PST by: -
Netflix / Warner: "Buy the disc or wait 28 days."[teaser]In an announcement that will no doubt go over badly with Netflix customers, the popular movie rental site announced an agreement with Warner Brothers that will get them a discount on discs, but will force customers to wait 28 days, or go to stores to buy a copy if they can't wait.[/teaser] Both companies are being pretty candid regarding the reasoning behind the announcements, with Ron Sanders, of Warner Home Entertainment stating, "The 28-day window allows us to continue making our most popular films available to Netflix subscribers while supporting our sell-through product." As for Netflix's viewpoint, Ted Sarandos, a chief content officer, had this to say, "We've been discussing new approaches with Warner Bros. for some time now and believe we've come up with a creative solution that is a 'win-win' all around." It will be interesting to see if Netflix subscribers agree. If Blockbuster's executives are worth their salt, this editor believes they'd be wise to turn this agreement to their advantage.Posted Thu Jan 7, 2010 at 01:35 PM PST by: -
HDD Spotlight Bargain: 'The Pink Panther' Blu-ray $9.49 at Amazon[teaser]Own the original 1963 Peter Sellers comedy classic for under $10. [/teaser] The online retailer is selling 'The Pink Panther' on Blu-ray for $9.49 (73% off suggested retail price). Click here to join the (mis)adventures of Inspector Clouseau!Posted Thu Jan 7, 2010 at 01:15 PM PST by: -
'A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)' Announced for Blu-ray[teaser]Whatever you do, don't fall asleep watching Blu-rays in April. [/teaser] Warner Brothers has slated Wes Craven's 'A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)' for high-definition treatment on April 6. Specs have yet to be revealed, but supplements will include: Audio commentary with Director Wes Craven, co-stars Heather Langenkamp and John Saxon, and cinematographer Jacques Haitkin; Audio commentary with Wes Craven, co-stars Robert Englund, Heather Langenkamp and Ronee Blakley, producer Robert Shaye and co-producer Sara Risher; Alternate endings; The House That Freddy Built: The Legacy of New Line Horror; Never Sleep Again: The Making of A Nightmare on Elm Street; and Night Terrors: The Origins of Wes Craven's Nightmares. Exclusive to the Blu-ray will be Ready Freddy Focus Points - revealing filmmaking secrets and alternate takes through video highlights during the film. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is still undetermined at this time. You can find the latest specs for 'A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under April 6.Posted Thu Jan 7, 2010 at 10:45 AM PST by: -
'The Box' Announced and Detailed for Blu-ray[teaser]The thriller based on a Richard Matheson short story is slated for high-definition release in February. [/teaser] Warner Brothers has announced 'The Box' starring Cameron Diaz, James Marsden, and Frank Langella will be released on Blu-ray on February 23. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and the only shared supplement with the DVD release will be Visual Effects Revealed - A comprehensive look at the elaborate visual effects Richard Matheson: in His Own Words – An intimate interview with a sci-fi legend. Exclusive to the Blu-ray will be: Commentary by director Richard Kelly; The Box: Grounded in Reality - How family experiences helped Richard Kelly expand a classic short story for the screen; and Music Video Prequels - Surveillance montages propel you into a secretive world where you are the experiment. The release will also include a DVD and digital copy of the film. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is undetermined at this time. You can find the latest specs for 'The Box' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under February 23.Posted Thu Jan 7, 2010 at 08:00 AM PST by: -
'36' Blu-ray Announced[teaser]The French thriller will take its North American Blu-ray bow in February. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, it seems Palisades Tartan will be releasing '36' on Blu-ray on February 9. Specs have yet to be revealed, but supplements will likely include a making-of documentary, an interview with the director, a pair of featurettes (Choosing Weapons, Choosing Costumes), and a trailer. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray has been set at $29.97. You can find the latest specs for '36' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under February 9.Posted Thu Jan 7, 2010 at 06:00 AM PST by: -
3D Alert!! 'The Final Destination' Blu-ray Now Available[teaser]Fans of 3D may appreciate a reminder that the fourth chapter in the horror franchise is out this week. [/teaser] 'The Final Destination' hit stores on January 5. The Blu-ray features 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements include: Two alternate endings; Previsualization and Storyboards; Body Count: The Deaths on The Final Destination – Deconstructing Key Death Scenes; and Additional Scenes. The release contains both the 2D-3D versions of the film as well as a digital copy. You can find the latest specs for 'The Final Destination' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under January 5.Posted Wed Jan 6, 2010 at 02:00 PM PST by: -
HDD Spotlight Bargain: 'Dodgeball' Blu-ray $9.99 at Amazon[teaser]If you can dodge a wrench, you can dodge a dodgeball! [/teaser] Amazon has reduced the price of the 'Dodgeball' Blu-ray starring Vince Vaughn and Ben Stiller to only $9.99 (60% off suggested retail price). Click here to order this great comedy for your collection today!Posted Wed Jan 6, 2010 at 11:30 AM PST by: -
'Dreamscape' Blu-ray Announced[teaser]Joseph Ruben's 1984 sci-fi thriller will take a Blu-ray bow in April. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Image Entertainment is preparing the cult classic 'Dreamscape' starring Dennis Quaid for Blu-ray on April 6. Specs have yet to be revealed, but it appears supplements may include an audio commentary, a special effects makeup test reel, and a still gallery. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray has been set at $29.98. You can find the latest specs for 'Dreamscape' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under April 6.Posted Wed Jan 6, 2010 at 10:00 AM PST by:
