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Wes Craven's 'Shocker: Collector's Edition' Blu-ray Bound[teaser]The horror flick will get the Collector's Edition treatment on Blu-ray in September. Pre-orders are now live. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Scream Factory is preparing 'Shocker: Collector's Edition' for Blu-ray on September 8. Master of horror Wes Craven directs this exciting visual treat which introduces a diabolical mass murderer who harnesses electricity for unimaginable killing powers. About to be electrocuted for a catalog of heinous crimes, the unrepentant Horace Pinker transforms into a terrifying energy source. Only young athlete Jonathan Parker, with an uncanny connection to Pinker through bizarre dreams, can fight the powerful demon. The two dive in and out of television programs, chasing each other from channel to channel through stunning scenes of disaster, game shows and old reruns. A blend of dazzling special effects, jolting humor and an electrifying soundtrack, Shocker is an ironic tale of terror and madness in the video age. Specs and supplements have not been detailed yet. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $29.93. You can find the latest specs for 'Shocker: Collector's Edition' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under September 8. Order the Blu-rayPosted Thu Jun 25, 2015 at 08:00 AM PDT by: -
Andrew Niccol's 'Good Kill' Hits Blu-ray September 1st[teaser]The thriller starring Ethan Hawke and January Jonesheads to Blu-ray September 1st. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Universal is set to release 'Good Kill' at the start of September. A Las Vegas-based fighter pilot turned drone pilot fights the Taliban by remote control for 12 hours a day, then goes home to the suburbs and feuds with his wife and kids for the other 12. But the pilot is starting to question the mission. Is he creating more terrorists than he's killing? Is he fighting a war without end. Specs and supplements haven't been revealed yet, but the suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $39.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Good Kill' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under September 1st. Order the Blu-rayPosted Thu Jun 25, 2015 at 06:00 AM PDT by: -
HDD Remembers the Work of James HornerMusic can make or break a film. In order to ensure the right emotions are evoked from the piece, you need that extra touch to help the audience feel the wonder of a space battle, the thrills of an ocean liner sinking, or the terror of being hunted down by acid spewing creatures. James Horner was a man who could do all of this with just a few musical notes. [teaser]With the tragic passing of this iconic film composer, we thought the best way to pay tribute to the man was by remembering his incredible body of work, which spanned nearly four decades, with ten Academy Award nominations, and two wins.[/teaser] While we have but a few more unreleased films featuring his music to enjoy, Horner leaves behind an indelible mark on the world of film music. With entirely too many incredible films to list, we're only able to choose but a few of his many standouts. This list is by no means definitive - there's just too much amazing work to delve into, and entirely too many amazing compositions. Here is a list of my top ten favorite James Horner film scores. I had to limit it to ten because honestly, this list could have gone on forever if I didn't cap it off someplace. 1: Glory (1989) This incredible piece of music simply grabs at the heart strings and doesn't let go. It fits beautifully with the film's somber, thoughtful tone and accentuates the powerful material. I spent hours of my life listening to this score over and over again. From the quiet introspective moments to the beautiful and thrilling climax, Horner's score moves the film forward and makes the drama all the more compelling. 2: Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982) & Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984) Just when it seemed the cinematic future of the franchise was in doubt, 'Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan' arrived. While the more action heavy story elements and tragic ending are often cited as reasons for the film's endearing popularity, I would argue Horner's score helped the film maintain an aura of suspense, danger, and wonder as the crew of the Enterprise faced their most deadly foe. Tracks like 'Battle In The Mutara Nebula' and 'Epilogue/End Title' are absolutely unforgettable themes. When it came time to get the third film underway, the powers that be were wise to bring back the prolific composer. While reusing many of the same movements from the previous film, he managed to compose unique and moving new material that helps distinguish the two films and yet maintain a sense of familiarity. Since I can't choose one over the other, these two films are tied for the number two slot. 3: The Rocketeer (1991) Perhaps one of my all time favorite scores, Horner's music perfectly captures the innocence of an era while playing to the thrills and the excitement of a man flying through the air with a rocket strapped to his back. I honestly can't count how many times I've listened to the opening track 'Main Title/Takeoff' and 'The Zeppelin.' This music perfectly accentuates the sense of wonder and adventure prevalent throughout the movie. It just wouldn't have been the same without Horner's contribution. To this day I remember watching this one in the theaters and marveling at the action, but loving the sweeping epic music. 4: Apollo 13 (1995) James Horner's music made many trips into space, but his score for 'Apollo 13' struck several cords. It beautifully captures the thrills of outer space travel and the dangers when something goes wrong for a spacecraft. I remember with the first release of the soundtrack being very irritated that someone felt it necessary to play clips from the film over Horner's amazing compositions. Thankfully the full score was released without that unneeded interference. This was another one of those amazing theater going experiences where the thrilling visuals and the heart-pounding, enthralling score grabbed me and has stayed with me these last twenty years. 5: Aliens (1986) While James Horner and Jim Cameron may have butted heads a time or two over the intricacies of the score and where it fit within the film - no one can say the results weren't worth it. Earning Horner his first Academy Award nomination for Best Original Score, the music for this film is iconic. One moment somber and haunting the next creepy and thrilling; Horner's score for this film is an amazing piece of work and proved to be so successful that it influenced numerous science fiction and horror movies. This was actually the first movie in the series I saw as a possibly far too young child. While I hold 'Alien' as the better film, this one has always been my favorite and the tense music is a big reason why. 6: Braveheart (1995) 1995 was certainly a bumper year for James Horner. Not only did he compose music for 'Apollo 13' but also for Mel Gibson's Best Picture-winning 'Braveheart.' Both films earned Horner an Oscar nomination for Best Original Dramatic Score and yet somehow neither of these films won their respective awards. Like 'Apollo 13,' Horner's score for 'Braveheart' captures all of the thrills and adventure of battle while also grabbing onto the romantic overtones - the results are absolutely amazing and it's a large reason why the film holds up so well to this day. 7: Titanic (1997) Say what you will about the movie itself, it can easily be argued that this film wouldn't be what it is without Horner's score and his co-writing credit for the song 'My Heart Will Go On.' In spite of their differences while working on 'Aliens,' Horner and Cameron were able to bury the hatchet, and the results were worth the effort. Not only is the 'Titanic' soundtrack one of the best selling film scores of all time, this film also earned Horner his only two Academy Award wins for Original Score and Best Song. As cheesy as the movie is, it's hard not to get a little choked up whenever the subdued themes kick in. 8: Field of Dreams (1989) This movie is simply wonderful, from the heart-felt story, to the intricate direction, to the fantastic cast - 'Field of Dreams' has it all. However I would argue that more credit needs to be given to Horner for his contributions. His subtleties as a composer were in fine form here as the music perfectly accentuates the films comedic and dramatic beats without overpowering any particular scene. The man certainly knew how to compose music for a climax as single musical notes are all that are needed to instill the importance of a character's decision to cross a simple gravel path. 9: Sneakers 1992 The 90s was filled with a number of thrillers, action films and suspense pictures that all sported fantastic scores from James Horner. 'Sneakers' just so happened to carry themes and movements that would be used in such films as 'The Pelican Brief,' 'Swing Kids,' and 'Clear and Present Danger.' Sneakers is an all around fun film from Phil Alden Robinson, the director of 'Field of Dreams', that provides the right mix of fun and thrills to still be entertaining over twenty years after its release. Part of the suspense is Horner's plucky but steady piano-leaden score. Watching Robert Redford walking really slowly couldn't possibly be any more suspenseful and if the music hadn't been pitch perfect, the scene would have been a joke. 10: The Land Before Time (1988) Note: Only available on DVD, sadly. I don't think any other movie made me want to cry this much as a kid and Horner's haunting score is a big reason for that effect. While the music plays wonderfully alongside the antics of Littlefoot and his friends, the music terrified me and then also hit me hard in the gut when Littlefoot's mom gives him the leaf. Getting a little misty just thinking about this movie, so I better move things along. As I said at the outset, this list is far from complete. It can't possibly encompass the full breadth of James Horner's incredible career and the legacy he's left behind. All one has to do to fully appreciate the man's work is pick up any one of the films featuring his compositions and absorb the beautiful melodies. Thankfully with websites like screenarchives, complete scores for his many compositions exist and can be enjoyed over and over again. He may have died far too young, but at least his work is left behind for fans to enjoy and rediscover. If you have a favorite James Horner score of your own that didn't make the list, let us know in the forums, we'd love to hear what films or specific pieces of Horner's compositions are your favorites.Posted Wed Jun 24, 2015 at 08:05 AM PDT by: -
ABC's 'Once Upon a Time: The Complete Fourth Season' Dated and Detailed for Blu-ray[teaser]The fourth season of the fantasy series arrives on Blu-ray in August. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Disney/Buena Vista will be releasing 'Once Upon a Time: The Complete Fourth Season' on Blu-ray on August 18. Love. As seductive and dangerous as magic, this potent, unpredictable force proves to be the ultimate weapon in the epic battle between good and evil in ABC's Once Upon a Time: The Complete Fourth Season. Soon after Emma (Jennifer Morrison) and Hook (Colin O'Donoghue) unwittingly bring Elsa of Arendelle (Georgina Haig) to Storybrooke, they encounter the mysterious Snow Queen, whose relentless obsession with both Emma and Elsa has chilling consequences. Meanwhile, it appears Regina (Lana Parrilla) has at last found true love with Robin Hood (Tom Ellis). But how will she react when her happy ending is thwarted yet again by a maddening twist of fate? Then, a banished Rumplestiltskin (Robert Carlyle) enlists the Queens of Darkness - Maleficent (Kristin Bauer van Straten), Ursula (Merrin Dungey), and Cruella De Vil (Victoria Smurfit) - in an insidious scheme to rewrite their own endings and corrupt the Savior by turning her newly blissful heart pitch-black. The 5-disc set will feature 1080p video, lossless 5.1 audio, and supplements include: Defrosting Frozen - An arctic blast hit Storybrooke this year as the characters from Frozen and The Snow Queen took over the first half of the season; Behind the Magic Tour - Join hosts Josh Dallas and Ginnifer Goodwin as they take you on an exclusive back stage tour on the stages of Once Upon A Time; Three Who Stayed - Meet three residents of Storybrooke who decided to stay after the ice wall came down; The Fairest Bloopers of Them All; Deleted Scenes; and Audio Commentaries. You can find the latest specs for 'Once Upon a Time: The Complete Fourth Season' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under August 18. Order the Blu-rayPosted Wed Jun 24, 2015 at 07:30 AM PDT by: -
Russell Crowe's 'The Water Diviner' Blu-ray Up for Pre-Order[teaser]The epic drama will journey to Blu-ray in July, and you can pre-order the film here. [teaser]In an early announcement to retailers, Warner Bros. is preparing 'The Water Diviner' for Blu-ray on July 28. Russell Crowe's directorial debut, The Water Diviner, is an epic adventure set four years after the devastating battle of Gallipoli during World War I. Australian farmer Joshua Connor (Russell Crowe) travels to Turkey in 1919 to discover the fate of his three sons, reported missing in action. Initially blocked by military bureaucracy, his determination unwavering, he is helped first by the beautiful Ayshe (Olga Kurylenko) who owns the hotel in which he stays in Istanbul and then by Turkish Officer Major Hasan, who had fought against Connor’s sons. Holding on to hope, Connor and Major Hasan must travel across the war-torn landscape to find the truth, and for Joshua to find his own peace. Specs have not bee detailed yet, but supplements will include The Making of The Water Diviner. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray/Digital HD combo pack is $44.95. You can find the latest specs for 'The Water Diviner' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under July 28. Order the Blu-rayPosted Wed Jun 24, 2015 at 06:00 AM PDT by: -
Top Five Dolby Atmos Blu-ray Demos: 'Jupiter Ascending'If there's one thing us home theatre geeks love to do, it's grab friends and family, sit them down in the Sweet Spot, and dazzle their eyes and ears with home cinema audio-visual glory. But which demo to play? [teaser]Keeping track of titles and chapters and time codes can be a hassle so, in what we hope will be a continuing HDD series highlighting amazeballs Blu-ray demos, we figured we'd dive once again into the most recent reference-quality Dolby Atmos Blu-ray. [/teaser] Written and directed by Lana and Andy Wachowski, 'Jupiter Ascending' is a grand Shakespearian space opera about young Earth woman, Jupiter Jones (Mila Kunis), who finds herself thrust squarely into the middle of galactic kingdom's game of thrones. Along the way, Jupiter and her new friend, Caine Wise (Channing Tatum), must survive a sea of lies, double crosses, and technological wonders far beyond Jupiter's imagination. With numerous mind-bending action sequences, 'Jupiter Ascending' offers an excellent 3D presentation and numerous ways to show off your surround set-up (even if you don't have Dolby Atmos just yet)... But here's our Top Five favorites from the movie (mild SPOILERS to follow). BEST OVERHEAD IMMERSION "Jupiter's Chamber Presence"Chapter 6: 00:51:19 - 00:51:55 We'll get to the bombast in a moment, but let's begin with a quick and quiet scene for those looking to show off Dolby Atmos' height capabilities and how well this new technology creates a total sonic hemisphere. Jupiter awakes floating in a strange room as a digital voice informs Jupiter that she is Jupiter's "Chamber Presence" -- it's basically a futuristic version of the iPhone's "Siri". The melodic vocal intonations hang over and envelope the listener, a trick that really makes you feel like you're IN the room with Jupiter. Many surround sound systems can play loud, but they also need to replicate delicacy and nuance. BEST SURROUND ARTICULATION (TIE) "Alley Shootout" & "Our Ride's Here"Chapter 2: 00:10:50 - 00:11:51 & Chapter 3: 00:25:25 - 00:31:30 I choice these two sequences because they're sonically similar -- featuring a blistering array of laster blasts and immersive, aerial combat -- but vastly different lengths. Sometimes you only have time for a quick demo; sometimes you want to drop the mic for an extended time. The Alley Shootout hearkens back to the opening sequence in 'The Matrix' (when Trinity makes that spectacular leap from building to building). It's a bold sequence introducing Caine Wise while defining this cinematic universe, screaming, "the world looks like ours, but it's also one where aliens have laser weapons and anti-grav boots that allow you to, effectively, rollerblade through the air!" Boom. Characters fly through the air, wielding weapons and future tech, all tracking perfectly around the audience. Laser blasts, specifically impact and ricochet with a delightful accuracy. Our Ride's Here is the demo for people who have a little more time. This might be my favorite sequence in the whole film. A balls to the wall setpiece, it begins with a sense of wonder as Caine floats with Jupiter up to a waiting semi-transparent space ship -- it's gorgeous. When the space baddies arrive and destroy Caine's ride, the whole thing devolves into a cat n' mouse chase across Chicago...but with, you know, space ships. Here we get a repeat of highly articulate panning in the form of more laser blasts and explosions, but what makes this sequence an audio stunner is the vast range of sonic environments the audiences experiences... from open air to under water to on city streets to the interior of space ships. This sequence represents what audio geeks typically gravitate towards in demo -- cinematic chaos carefully orchestrated by master sound designers. BEST ATMOSPHERE "I Actually Have a Date"Chapter 13: 01:55:45 - 01:58:00 While much of the film is set in sterile sci-fi environments -- ships and cities and refineries -- this final "tag" scene in 'Jupiter Ascending' showcases the sound mixers' use of subtle effects to create a realistic environment (FWIW, the sequences at the farm house are also pretty good at doing this). Given that this is the last scene in the movie, this is likely to be the most SPOILERIFIC demo description, but then again, if you've watched enough movies, you can probably guess which characters survive all the way through. This demo begins in Jupiter's house, offering a wonderful transition moment where Jupiter's family, asking about her mysterious date, erupt in laughter which morphs into soft, swirling winds as Jupiter and Caine sit atop a Chicago skyscraper. Through their conversation, the environment the side, rear, and heigh surrounds are rich with wind, music, and other small details. And, finally, the sequence builds as our characters enjoy [their date activity], which climaxes with one last Dolby Atmos flourish... the sound panning hard from left to right and up and over our heads. It's a fun way to end a demo or the film. BEST NON-KABOOMING LFE "You Don't Treat Your Cousin Like Chicken!"Chapter 9: 01:19:35 - 01:20:25 Low Frequency Effects are designed to rumble and roar, to proverbially punch you in the gut while making your home theatre feel energized (or perhaps "pressurized"). The catch, of course, is that most mixes save LFE for explosions and gun shots and monstrous beasts, which makes total sense as theses effects are generally saved for bigger setpieces. But what I really love is when sound designers surprise us by tucking LFE into an effect that really creates character. In this demo, we begin during a comedic Jones family argument back on Earth when all of a sudden a strange light fills the room, rattling dishes, and monstrous alien lizard men drop in through the ceiling. They stomp and roar and threaten, but the highlight comes as they speak. With each uttered line, the ".1" channel offers up gorgeous grunt and depth without unneeded "booming". Again, we're filing this one more under nuance than bombast because our next demo is all about those things. BEST OVERALL CHAPTER "The Collapsing Eye of the Storm"Chapter 12: 01:43:26-01:52:59 SPOILERS for those who don't wish to know where the climax takes place and what type of setpiece it is... When 'Jupiter Ascending' reaches its climax, it takes everything that's worked well in the mix before -- aggressive panning, dynamic and nuanced sound effects, guttural LFE, and spherical immersion -- and adds a collapsing/exploding alien refinery that's set inside the red eye of that massive storm on Jupiter (the planet, not the main character). This sequence has everything from hand to hand combat to booming explosions and roaring spacecraft engines. In other words, its nine-plus minutes of controlled aural chaos, Dolby Atmos style. ~~~ What about you, dear Reader, what 'Jupiter Ascending', Dolby Atmos, 7.1, or 5.1 Blu-ray demos do you pop in to show off your home theatre? Let us know below, or in the forums. Dolby Atmos Titles Released 1. Transformers: Age of Extinction (Paramount Pictures)2. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Paramount Pictures) 3. Step up All In (Lionsgate) 4. Expendables 3 (Lionsgate) 5. John Wick (Lionsgate) 6. On Any Sunday: The Next Chapter (Red Bull Media House)7. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 (Lionsgate)8. Unbroken (Universal)9. Gravity (Warner Bros.)10. American Sniper (Warner Bros)11. Jupiter Ascending (Warner Bros) Dolby Atmos Titles Announced 12. The Gunman (Universal): Release date June 30, 201513. The Divergent Series: Insurgent (Lionsgate): Release date August 4, 201514. Age of Adeline (Lionsgate): Release date September 8, 2015Posted Tue Jun 23, 2015 at 09:32 AM PDT by: -
Blu-ray Will Have a 'Showdown in Little Tokyo' This Summer[teaser]The 1991 action flick staring Dolph Lundgren and Brandon Lee is planned for Blu-ray in July. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Warner Archive will be releasing 'Showdown inShowdown in Little Tokyo Little Tokyo' on Blu-ray on July 21. Detective Chris Kenner was orphaned as a child as his father was in the service and was killed and lived in Japan. Now he is on the trail of ruthless Yakuza leader named Yoshido, who helped establish a small Japanese area in Los Angeles and is now running a drug ring disguised as a brewery. However, Kenner must team up with a Japanese-American detective named Johnny Murata, and he also must protect a witness named Minako who would testify against Yoshido. But what Kenner will soon discover that he will be in a lot more than what he bargained for. No other details have been revealed at this time. You can find the latest specs for 'Showdown in Little Tokyo' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under July 21.Posted Tue Jun 23, 2015 at 09:30 AM PDT by: -
Blu-ray Invites You to a 'Psycho Beach Party' This Summer[teaser]Robert Lee King's horror comedy heads to Blu-ray this August. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Strand Releasing is working on 'Psycho Beach Party' for Blu-ray on August 18. PSYCHO BEACH PARTY is a wickedly fun satire of Hollywood movie genres. Chicklet (Lauren Ambrose - CAN'T HARDLY WAIT, HBO's SIX FEET UNDER), a wannabe surf-girl with a split personality, becomes the primary suspect after a string of humorously gruesome murders terrifies the teen set. When the clues take her to the beach, the fun and suspense begin. At the beach, Chicklet crosses paths with burnt-out surf guru Kanaka (Thomas Gibson, CRIMINAL MINDS, DHARMA & GREG), dreamy surfboy Starcat (Nicholas Brendon, BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER), and stylish homicide detective Monica Stark (Charles Busch, DIE MOMMIE DIE!). PSYCHO BEACH PARTY also stars Amy Adams (AMERICAN HUSTLE, BIG EYES), Matt Keeslar (SCREAM 3), Beth Broderick (SABRINA THE TEENAGE WITCH), Kimberly Davies (THE NEXT BEST THING) and Kathleen Robertson (BEVERLY HILLS, 90210). The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, lossless 5.1 audio, and supplements include: Commentary Track with Director Robert Lee King and Charles Busch; a Music Video, and Trailers. You can find the latest specs for 'Psycho Beach Party' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under August 18. Order the Blu-rayPosted Tue Jun 23, 2015 at 08:00 AM PDT by: -
'Brother's Keeper' Blu-ray Bound[teaser]The inspirational drama will arrive on Blu-ray in August. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Alchemy is preparing 'Brother's Keeper' for Blu-ray on August 4. Identical twins Andy and Pete Goodwynn (Alex and Graham Miller) have always been there for each other. With high school graduation near, Pete plans to marry the love of his life and head off to seminary to become a preacher. Andy, a rebel at heart, has no plans and seemingly no future. But in a cruel twist of fate orchestrated by the town's most powerful family their lives are forever altered. Pete is framed for murder, leaving Andy struggling to find a way to save his brother. Can the brothers gain vengeance on those who have taken everything from them? While revenge may seem sweet, Brother's Keeper is a powerful reminder that only forgiveness can truly heal. Specs and supplements have yet to be revealed, but suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $24.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Brother's Keeper' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under August 4. Order the Blu-rayPosted Tue Jun 23, 2015 at 06:00 AM PDT by: -
The Soska Sisters' 'Vendetta' Blu-ray Bound[teaser]Dean Cain hunts WWE's Big Show on Blu-ray this summer. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Lionsgate and WWE Studios are preparing 'Vendetta' for Blu-ray on August 18. When his wife is killed by a criminal that he put away, Mason (Dean Cain), a hard-nosed detective, deliberately gets arrested for murder in order to get revenge. While inside, Mason discovers a new criminal enterprise that those behind it would kill to protect. Specs have yet to be revealed, but supplements will include three featurettes: "The Making of Vendetta", "A Haunted Location", and "A Big Transformation". You can find the latest specs for 'Vendetta' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under August 18. Order the Blu-rayPosted Mon Jun 22, 2015 at 10:00 AM PDT by:
