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Funimation Details 'The Boy and the Beast' for Blu-ray[teaser]The latest feature film from award-winning Japanese director Mamoru Hosoda is coming to Blu-ray in June. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, FUNimation Entertainment is preparing 'The Boy and the Beast' for Blu-ray on June 7. When Kyuta, a young orphan living on the streets of Shibuya, stumbles into a fantastic world of beasts, he's taken in by Kumatetsu, a gruff, rough-around-the-edges warrior beast who's been searching for the perfect apprentice. Despite their constant bickering, Kyuta and Kumatetsu begin training together and slowly form a bond as surrogate father and son. But when a deep darkness threatens to throw the human and beast worlds into chaos, the strong bond between this unlikely pair will be put to the ultimate test-a final showdown that will only be won if the two can finally work together using all of their combined strength and courage. Supplements have not been revealed yet, but the Blu-ray/DVD/Digital HD combo pack will feature 1080p video, and Japanese and English Dolby TrueHD 5.1 soundtracks. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $34.98. You can find the latest specs for 'The Boy and the Beast' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under June 7. Order the Blu-rayPosted Tue Apr 5, 2016 at 06:00 AM PDT by: -
'Every Thing Will Be Fine' on Blu-ray in June[teaser]Wim Wenders' drama starring Rachel McAdams and James Franco will arrive on Blu-ray in June. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, IFC Films is preparing 'Every Thing Will Be Fine' for Blu-ray on June 7. This searing drama charts the emotional odyssey of a struggling novelist whose life is turned upside down one wintry night following a fatal car accident. The incident sets him on a soul-searching, decades-long journey toward redemption, a quest that profoundly touches the lives of both his girlfriend and the accident victim's mother. Specs and supplements have not been detailed yet. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $29.98. You can find the latest specs for 'Every Thing Will Be Fine' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under June 7. Order the Blu-rayPosted Mon Apr 4, 2016 at 12:00 PM PDT by: -
Lionsgate Readies 'The Choice' for Blu-ray[teaser]The latest Nicholas Sparks adaptation is heading to Blu-ray in May. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Lionsgate is preparing 'The Choice' for Blu-ray on May 3. When feisty medical student Gabby Holland moves in next door to perennial ladies' man Travis Shaw, it sends them both on a romantic journey neither ever dreamed possible. Travis has always believed a serious relationship with a woman would cramp his easygoing lifestyle, while Gabby is all set to settle down her long-term boyfriend-until an irresistible attraction between the unlikely couple upends both of their well-planned lives. After a whirlwind courtship, Gabby and Travis wed and build a family together, making every decision hand-in-hand until one of them is forced to make the most important choice of their life alone. A poignant and life-affirming celebration of love, marriage and family that explores the most heart-wrenching question of all: how far would you go to keep the hope of love alive? Specs have not been detailed yet, but supplements will include: Deleted Scenes; "Cinematic Choices: Making The Choice" Featurette; "Choosing Home: Nicholas Sparks and North Carolina" Featurette; "Nicholas Sparks with..." Featurette; Molly & Moby: Choice Dogs; and Audio Commentary with Director Ross Katz and Actor Benjamin Walker. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray/DVD/Digital HD combo pack is $39.99. You can find the latest specs for 'The Choice' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under May 3. Order the Blu-rayPosted Mon Apr 4, 2016 at 10:00 AM PDT by: -
Alan Myerson's 'Private Lessons' Planned for Blu-ray[teaser]The classic 1981 comedy is headed for Blu-ray in May. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Cinema Epoch is working on 'Private Lessons' for Blu-ray on May 24. The surprise smash '80s comedy that enticed a generation and inspired a legion of imitators makes its first uncensored appearance on Blu-ray. Philly (Eric Brown) is an affluent Albuquerque teenager whose hormones have been trumping his common sense, as he and his best friend Sherman prowl for girls but only find embarrassment. When his father takes a long business trip, and hires comely and exotic Nicole Mallow (Sylvia Kristel) as the new housekeeper, he finds himself unable to contain his attraction to the alluring woman, and is shocked to discover she's quite willing to indulge his wildest fantasies! But all the while, the family's slithery chauffeur Lester (Howard Hesseman) is watching everything, with a plan to take advantage of Eric's budding passions. Specs have yet to be revealed, but supplements include: Original Theatrical Trailers; Audio Commentary with director Alan Myerson, writer Dan Greenburg, and actor Howard Hesseman; and Comedy Commentary with Marc Edward Heuck (Beat the Geeks), Gariana Abeyta (Out of Print), and Jackson Stewart (Invasion Roswell). You can find the latest specs for 'Private Lessons' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under May 24. Order the Blu-rayPosted Mon Apr 4, 2016 at 08:00 AM PDT by: -
Leslie Stevens' 'Private Property' Blu-ray Bound[teaser]The recently rediscovered crime drama will make its Blu-ray debut later this year. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Cinelicious Pics is preparing 'Private Property' for Blu-ray this summer. 'Private Property' begins as two homicidal Southern California drifters (played to creepy perfection by Warren Oates and Corey Allen) wander off the beach and into the seemingly-perfect Beverly Hills home of an unhappy housewife (played by Leslie Stevens' real-life spouse, Kate Manx). Shimmering with sexual tension and lensed in stunning B&W by master cameraman Ted McCord (The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, East of Eden), Private Property is both an eerie, neo-Hitchcockian thriller and a savage critique of the hollowness of the Playboy-era American Dream. Specs, supplements, and a suggested list price have not been detailed yet. You can find the latest specs for 'Private Property' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under PENDING.Posted Mon Apr 4, 2016 at 06:00 AM PDT by: -
Paul Dalio's 'Touched with Fire' Announced for Blu-ray[teaser]The drama starring Katie Holmes and Luke Kirby heads to Blu-ray this summer. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Lionsgate says 'Touched with Fire' will arrive on Blu-ray on June 7. Katie Holmes and Luke Kirby star as two poets with bipolar disorders whose art is fueled by their emotional extremes. When they meet in a treatment facility, their chemistry is instant and intense, driving each other to new heights. They pursue their passion, which breaks outside the bounds of sanity and swings them from fantastical highs to tormented lows, until they ultimately must choose between sanity and love. Hailed as "Katie Holmes' best performance in years!" by the Huffington Post, the film was an official selection at the 2015 SXSW Film Festival and a New York Times Critic's Pick. From Executive Producer Spike Lee (Chi-raq) and writer/director Paul Dalio (Faith, Love and Whiskey). The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, lossless 5.1 audio, and supplements include: "The Making of Touched with Fire" Featurette; Audio Commentary with Writer/Director Paul Dalio and Producer/Director of Photography Kristina Nikolova; "A Conversation with Paul Dalio and Dr. Kay Jamison" Featurette; Deleted Scene; and Photo Gallery. You can find the latest specs for 'Touched with Fire' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under June 7. Order the Blu-rayPosted Fri Apr 1, 2016 at 12:00 PM PDT by: -
Vincente Minnelli's 'Father of the Bride' Headed for Blu-ray[teaser]The 1950 romantic comedy starring Spencer Tracy and Elizabeth Taylor is bound for Blu-ray in May. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Warner Archive is preparing to bring 'Father of the Bride (1950)' on Blu-ray on May 10. "I would like to say a few words about weddings," a weary man says from the middle of a muddle of rice and scattered bottles. What follows is a warm, witty look at what it means to be Father of The Bride. Spencer Tracy is the father and Elizabeth Taylor is the bride in this lively Vincente Minnelli-directed classic. Taylor is glowingly showcased - and reflected in three mirrors when first seen in a wedding gown. Tracy's performance captures every loving father's exasperations and joys as the day approaches. It also captured the fourth of his nine Best Actor Academy Award® nominations. The film also earned nominations for Best Picture and Screenplay. Here comes the bride, there goes dad's wallet...and everyone's heart. What sparkling fun! The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, a lossless 2.0 soundtrack, and supplements include: Two Newsreels: "Wedding Bells for Movie Star Elizabeth Taylor" and "President Truman Meets Father of the Bride" and Theatrical Trailer. You can find the latest specs for 'Father of the Bride (1950)' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under May 10.Posted Fri Apr 1, 2016 at 10:00 AM PDT by: -
Nathan Juran's 'The Boy Who Cried Werewolf' Announced for Blu-ray[teaser]The 1973 horror will be getting a Blu-ray release this summer. [/teaser] Scream Factory is preparing 'The Boy Who Cried Werewolf' for Blu-ray on July 26. Richie Bridgestone's parents are getting a divorce, but that's the least of his problems at the moment. Richie is hoping his parents will reconsider and on a visit to his father 's secluded cabin, he witnesses his dad being attacked by a werewolf. Much like the tale of the boy who cried wolf, no one in the town will believe Richie's claims that his father will change into a werewolf at the next full moon. This was the third and final pairing of actor Kerwin Matthews and cult filmmaker Nathan Juran (Attack of the 50 Foot Woman, The Brain from Planet Arous). The two had also worked together on the classic 7th Voyage of Sinbad and Jack the Giant Killer. No other details have been revealed at this time. You can find the latest specs for 'The Boy Who Cried Werewolf' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under July 26.Posted Fri Apr 1, 2016 at 08:00 AM PDT by: -
Michael Bay's '13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi' Announced for Blu-ray[teaser]The action-packed film based on a true story heads to Blu-ray in June. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Paramount will be releasing '13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi' on Blu-ray on June 7. '13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi' tells the incredible true story of six elite ex-military operators who fought to protect the CIA against overwhelming odds when terrorists attacked a U.S. diplomatic compound on September 11, 2012. The film is based on the nonfiction novel "13 Hours: The Inside Account of What Really Happened in Benghazi" by New York Times best-selling author Mitchell Zuckoff with the members of the Annex Security Team. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, a Dolby Atmos soundtrack, and supplements include: For the Record: Finding the Truth Amid the Noise; Uncovering Benghazi's Secret Soldiers; and Preparing for Battle: Behind the Scenes of 13 Hours. You can find the latest specs for '13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under June 7. Order the Blu-rayPosted Fri Apr 1, 2016 at 06:00 AM PDT by: -
High-Def Digest's Essential Picks: March 2016Every 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 attention, 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 powerful investigative thriller, a seductive coming of age classic, and a stirring espionage drama. Be sure to check out the Essential Picks for November 2012, December 2012, January 2013,February 2013, March 2013, April 2013, May 2013, June 2013, July 2013, August 2013, September 2013, October 2013, November 2013, December 2013, January 2014, February 2014, March 2014, April 2014, May 2014, June 2014, July 2014, August 2014, September 2014, October 2014, November 2014,December 2014, January 2015, February 2015, March 2015, April 2015, May 2015, June 2015, July 2015, August 2015, September 2015, October 2015, November 2015, December 2015, January 2016, and February 2016. [teaser]For March, we're covering an awkwardly heartfelt coming-of-age series, an Italian Neorealist masterpiece, and an epic show fueled by ice and fire. [/teaser]Please be aware, that if you haven't already seen them, there are some MAJOR SPOILERS for the discs listed. If you only buy three titles that hit Blu-ray in March, here's what we suggest you pick up, starting with the most essential... 'Freaks and Geeks: The Complete Series' - High school. A time full of awkward changes, constant confusion, unruly emotions, misguided rebellion, and continual reinvention, the transition from freshman year to senior graduation is a period rife with embarrassment, discover, joy, and frustration. And in Paul Feig and Judd Apatow's 'Freaks and Geeks,' these everyday growing pains are turned into ample laughs and unashamedly sweet musings. Fueled by the writers' own experiences, the series carries a rare sense of unassuming truth, providing a generous helping of humiliating comedy and affecting drama -- even if it did only last for a single season. Nerd, burnout, jock, overachiever, bully, cheerleader -- chances are we all fit into at least one of those categories during our formative high school years, and the characters in 'Freaks and Geeks' are no different. The now famous cast -- including James Franco, Linda Cardellini, Seth Rogen, Jason Segel, John Francis Daley, Samm Levine, Martin Starr, and Busy Philipps -- runs the full gamut from dork to "cool guy," but the true genius of the show rests in its ability to expand beyond the limits of those labels. By ostensibly boxing its ensemble into categories, the series ultimately reveals how they don't actually fit into any boxes at all. Through school dances, first kisses, house parties, dodgeball games, fake IDs, and Dungeons & Dragons, the show follows its protagonists as they survive one teenage rite of passage after another, never losing sight of the show's central, painfully honest sense of humor. In reality, we are all geeks. And we are all freaks. And the moments we endure in those stumbling teen years stick with us, informing our evolving adulthood with lingering scars, cherished memories, untold secrets, and bittersweet nostalgia -- bonding us all together through the shared experience of growing up, warts and all. More so than any other series that I've seen (or movie, for that matter), 'Freaks and Geeks' taps into those nearly universal pangs of adolescence, resulting in one of the most effortlessly relatable, endearingly entertaining, and heartwarmingly honest shows ever made. This complete series box set is an absolute treasure trove for existing fans, with great video, audio, and supplements. And if you're not a fan yet, then this release is the perfect way to enjoy this gem of a series for the very first time. More than just March's top must own release, this is one of the most essential TV shows on Blu-ray period. And, on a somewhat related personal note, it's taken me 29 years on this earth, but I finally played D&D for the first time a few weeks ago. Sir Kevan the Paladin might not be ready to slay dragons with Carlos the Dwarf just yet, but my broadsword does pack a mighty punch! Buy the Blu-ray 'Bicycle Thieves' - Under the right hands, films have an ability to reflect reality -- to evoke a level of emotional truth in their images that ties directly to society as a whole or even a viewer's own personal life experiences. At their most powerful, films can truly connect with us. A defining example of Italian Neorealism, Vittorio De Sica's 'Bicycle Thieves' is full of such power, weaving a delicately human tale of isolation, desperation, and deep empathy. Through the movie's deceptively simple examination of impoverished plight, the director elaborates on the larger, cyclical nature of human suffering and affection, revealing the beautifully understated power of pure, honest filmmaking. Concerned with presenting "life as it is," Italian Neorealist movies deliberately avoid manipulative stylistic techniques in favor of a more stripped down storytelling aesthetic -- and 'Bicycle Thieves' is one of the movement's purest examples. With a simple narrative focused on the struggles of the lower class, a mostly functional shooting style, a reliance on real locations instead of studio sets, and a cast primarily made up of non-professional actors, the movie acts like a genuine checklist for Neorealism. Thankfully, this last attribute ends up paying off beautifully, as both Lamberto Maggiorani and Enzo Staiola end up turning in powerfully natural performances. The latter non-professional actor was just seven years old when the film was shot, and he ends up completely stealing the show as he stumbles to keep up with his father, evoking smiles and tears with his expressive reactions. The film's devastating climax is especially noteworhty in this regard, and Staiola's distraught emotions result in one of cinema's most powerful moments. As the film reaches its distressingly ironic conclusion, the plurality of the movie's title is finally explained, creating a simple yet absolutely gut-wrenching finale. Not just one of the best films in the Italian Neorealist movement, 'Bicycle Thieves' ranks high among the greatest films ever made. Thankfully, this release form Criterion treats the title with all the respect it deserves, offering a great restoration and some strong supplements. Though Antonio and Bruno may end up forever disappearing into an anonymous sea of fellow struggling souls, the movie itself remains a singular work of art -- one that easily sticks out in any crowd. Buy the Blu-ray 'Game of Thrones: The Complete Fifth Season' - With its extensive ensemble and intricate web of storylines, 'Game of Thrones' can often feel like several different shows wrapped up into one -- following numerous characters spread all over the map. This level of separation has been most evident when it comes to the "Mother of Dragons" herself, Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke). Amassing an army across the Narrow Sea, the would-be queen of Westeros has essentially had no interaction with the rest of the show's primary protagonists, slowly building anticipation for that fateful day when she finally crosses paths with one of the series' other main characters. In season five, that fateful day finally arrives, presenting a much welcomed "gift" that fans have been waiting for, while helping to elevate some of the season's more uneven elements. When Tyrion (Peter Dinklage) stands before Dany in the fighting pits, the moment almost feels surreal. For so long, the Targaryen ruler has been relegated to her own isolated narrative, but with this milestone, long gestating storylines are finally starting to intersect, ushering in a new phase in the show's overarching plot. And the interaction between both characters does not disappoint, resulting in a rather amusing conversation over wine. Other major developments come fast and hard in the final four episodes as well, picking up speed after a relatively slow start in the season's first half. The White Walker battle and full introduction of the Night's King at the end of episode eight is now easily a series highlight, and the moment when Daenerys finally rides atop one of her dragons at the end of episode nine has been a long time coming. With that said, it has also been a moment that I've been quietly dreading, as said visual could have easily come across as horribly cheesy. Thankfully, despite some slightly iffy VFX, the sequence works beautifully, capturing all of the awe and grandeur that it demands. Though more inconsistent than previous efforts in the show, it's these big moments that end up making season five another must own release for the series. Of course, a gorgeous video presentation, demo worthy Dolby Atmos soundtrack, and a plethora of interesting supplements certainly don't hurt either. The apparent "death" of Jon Snow can't help but feel like a slight fake-out (yes, this show is bold enough to kill off anyone, but there's just too much story left to clarify with his character for there not to be some kind of twist coming), but that final scene still makes for a powerful cliffhanger. Season six premieres on April 24, so binge-watchers better pick this up quick if they want to catch up in time. And for those already up to date, feel free to dissect and overanalyze the trailer below. I know I have -- is that Targaryen armor I see?! Buy the Blu-ray So, there you have it. While there were many titles worth picking up this March, 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 March's must own titles?Posted Thu Mar 31, 2016 at 10:25 AM PDT by:
