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'Dead Silence' heads to Blu-ray this August[teaser]The 2007 horror will have its Blu-ray debut in August. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Universal is set to release 'Dead Silence' on Blu-ray on August 11. Dare to unlock the deadly curse of Mary Shaw...From the writers and director of Saw comes a new thriller of relentless terror! Ever since Mary Shaw was hunted down and killed, the small town of Ravens Fair has been haunted by horrific deaths. When a local's wife is brutally murdered, he returns home to unravel the terrifying legend of Mary Shaw and the reason why when you see her, you should never, ever scream. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, a lossless 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements include: Alternate Opening/Endings, Deleted Scenes, The Making of Dead Silence, Mary Shaw's Secrets, Evolution of a Visual FX, and Aiden's "We Sleep Forever" Music Video. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $19.98. You can find the latest specs for 'Dead Silence' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under August 11. Order the Blu-rayPosted Tue May 26, 2015 at 08:00 AM PDT by: -
HDD Deal of the Week: 'Farscape: The Complete Series' is $52.99 this week at Amazon[teaser]Own the fantastic science fiction series on Blu-ray and save over sixty percent off this week at Amazon. [/teaser] Amazon is currently offering 'Farscape: The Complete Series' for a $52.99 (65% off suggested list price). From Jim Henson Productions comes the Sci-Fi cult classic FARSCAPE. Follow John Crichton and the crew of Moya on a journey to places they never dreamed possible. Sizzling with brilliant characters, breathtaking effects, high-stakes action, and irreverent humor, Farscape is like no science fiction before. It is a story of good versus evil, obsession, friendship, and even love. The unpredictable twists and turns of this international TV hit will keep you riveted and cheering for more. Click here to order your copy and this offer is available from now through May 31. Order the Blu-rayPosted Mon May 25, 2015 at 08:30 AM PDT by: -
Top Five Dolby Atmos Demo Moments from 'American Sniper' on Blu-rayDolby Laboratories turned 50 this week and, much like the Ford Mustang, there's no sign this brand is slowing down as it marches boldly into its sixth decade. In honor of Dolby's 50th Anniversary celebration, I thought it would be fun to break down the newest Dolby Atmos equipped Blu-ray Disc. Available now, 'American Sniper' stars Bradley Cooper as Navy SEAL Chris Kyle, the deadliest combat sniper in American history. HDD's own Shannon Nutt Highly Recommends this film, calling it Clint Eastwood's best film in a decade, as well as "a pro-soldier movie with an anti-war sentiment" featuring reference quality picture and audio. Without further ado, let's dive into the Top Five Dolby Atmos Demo Moments from 'American Sniper' on Blu-ray. What I've done is not rank them in order, but rather try to characterize why they're each different types of demo options. Warning: minor spoilers. BEST LFE & DYNAMIC RANGE "They fry you if you're wrong."Chapter 1 -- 00:00:00 - 00:03:35 The film's opening sequence is as tense as it is audio heaven. You've probably seen part of this scene before in the excruciating trailer where Kyle has to decide whether or not to take a young Iraqi life in order to save his fellow soldiers. The sequence begins dead center, with the familiar "Allahu Akbar" broadcast mosque prayer over studio logos. As we are thrust into this world, of tanks rolling over rubble, of Kyle surveying the growing tension, the audio wraps around the audience and the tank engines growl. 'American Sniper' makes the bold decision to avoid orchestral score until its somber closing credits, allowing instead the sound effects and cinematography to build pure tension. This sequence is electrifying. BEST SUBJECTIVE CHARACTER POV "Tend to my daughter, please."Chapter 8 01:15:00 - 01:15:58 In a movie with no orchestral score, sound designers often use intense audio to build tension and evoke a character's emotional state. A fun and quick demo, albeit tragic, takes place between tours in Iraq, when Kyle comes home and his visiting his newborn baby in the hospital. Unable to calm her cries or convince a nurse to do likewise, Kyle's fragile emotional state becomes an intense surround experience, building from the mundane to a sonic powerhouse. It's a perfect demonstration for Sound as Character Pathos. BEST ATMOSPHERE (TIE) "Glory" & "Target Practice"Chapter 8: 01:26:50 - 01:28:43 & Chapter 12: 01:58:24 - 01:59:35 It was important to the 'American Sniper' sound designers that Kyle's two separate worlds -- home world and war world -- sound unique. The home worlds become a showcase of how subtle, complex surround elements create a rich, lived-in universe. "Glory" is a transition scene, taking Kyle (along with the bodies of his fellow soldiers) from war to home. This sequences transitions from heavy emotions to a natural literalism that is cut by echoing gunfire and a sorrowful rendition of Taps. "Target Practice" likewise mixes nature and gunfire. Chirping birds and buzzing insects, the slightest bit of wind, give way to a powerful sniper rifle shooting down range. These solitary gunshots will test your speakers' ability to replicate sharp, percussive blasts. BEST SURROUND PANNING "Butcher's on the move"Chapter 8: 01:08:27 - 1:12:20 This nighttime thriller sequence begins with ramping tension. Chris Kyle and Team use an enemy insurgent to gain entry into the building where notorious terrorist, The Butcher, is hiding. But it all goes to hell, devolving into an immersive shootout that swirls around the audience. Machine guns, RPG explosions, and taut LEF are all sequence highlights. Use this chaotic, yet precise demo immediately after calibrating your system. And, if you're looking for more context to this demo, feel free to extend it by starting at 01:07:13 (in Chapter 7), which is less boom-boom-bang, and more cat-n-mouse tension-ramping. BEST OVERALL CHAPTER "Rooftop Sandstorm"Chapter 10: 01:37:26 - 01:51:56 From a structural standpoint, it makes sense that the film's climax is also going to be its grandest, therefore offering up a chance for prime surround sound demo material. As such, the most dynamic chapter on the disc is Chapter 10. Fifteen minutes of adrenaline and emotion, the first half is quiet and subdued; the cat n' mouse chase as Kyle hunts an enemy sniper. He has the man in his sights, but if Kyle takes the shot, he's putting his life and his mens' lives in jeopardy. But if he doesn't take the shot, the sniper will kill soldiers construction a wall. This part of the chapter is sparse and often quiet, escalating as enemy insurgents storm the building where our heroes are trapped. At the 01:47:44 mark (a great starting location if you're looking for a quicker demo) is when all the elements combine... helicopters and bullets and RPGS and a roaring sandstorms. It's chaotic and immersive, the environment really swallowing your entire home cinema. Two things make this sequence truly stand out, both in against other sequence in this film, as well as in relation to other blockbusters: One, you can hear all the details. It's never muddy. Individual grains of sand are as clear as streaking and exploding bombs. Second, and more importantly, there are more moments of Kyle's subjective POV, where sound becomes his breathing and his heartbeat -- at this moment, he is a man (finally) ready to come home. And so are you, Dear Reader, to the home cinema... because aside from the moral ambiguities and real world tragedies this film portrays, the technical filmmaking in 'American Sniper' makes for crazy-good demo material. It is equal parts thought-provoking as it is adrenaline infused entertainment. ~~~ Congrats again to Dolby on 50 years. I can't wait to see where their innovations take us. What about you, dear Reader, what are your favorite 'American Sniper' demos? What are you favorite Dolby Atmos demos (if you've already upgrade)? Or, if not, what Blu-rays do you pop in to show off your home theatre? Let us know below, or in the forums. Dolby Atmos Titles Released1. 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) Dolby Atmos Titles Announced11. Jupiter Ascending (Warner Bros): Release date June 2, 201512. The Gunman (Universal): Release date June 30, 201513. The Divergent Series: Insurgent (Lionsgate): Release date August 4, 2015Posted Fri May 22, 2015 at 10:02 AM PDT by: -
Steven Seagal Wants 'Absolution' on Blu-ray[teaser]The action thriller will target Blu-ray in July. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Lionsgate will be releasing 'Absolution' on Blu-ray on July 7. When a contract killer (Seagal) encounters a girl on the run from a mob boss (Vinnie Jones) with powerful political ties, he is torn between protecting the girl, and remaining loyal to the government agency that hired him for the mission. Specs have yet to be revealed, but supplements include: "Behind the scenes of Absolution" featurette; Cast Interviews; and Audio Commentary with Co-Writer/Director Keoni Waxman, Actor Josh Barnett and Producer Binh Dang. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $19.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Absolution' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under July 7. Order the Blu-rayPosted Fri May 22, 2015 at 10:00 AM PDT by: -
'New Worlds' Starring 'The Fall's Jamie Dornan Announced for Blu-ray[teaser]The gripping period drama is planned for Blu-ray next month. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Acorn Media has revealed 'New Worlds' will arrive on Blu-ray on June 2 th. Set during the tumultuous time of North American colonization, this gripping drama follows the lives of four young people—Abe Goffe (Jamie Dornan), Beth Fanshawe (Freya Mavor, Skins), Ned Hawkins (Joe Dempsie, Game of Thrones), and Hope Russell (Alice Englert, Beautiful Creatures)—as they fight for a better future in the wilderness of the New World and back home in England. Originally premiering on Acorn TV in February and “on the scale of Game of Thrones or The Pacific”, this four-part miniseries sets political intrigue, action-packed adventure, and passionate romance against the historical backdrop of the Restoration, all brought to life in stunning location shoots and rich cinematography. “Gripping, passionate…New Worlds has a winning combo…Beautifully shot.” (Elle). The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, a lossless soundtrack, and supplements include: Behind-the-scenes featurettes (16 min.), deleted scene (2 min.) and a photo gallery. You can find the latest specs for 'New Worlds' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under June 2. Order the Blu-rayPosted Fri May 22, 2015 at 08:00 AM PDT by: -
All Aboard! 'Hell on Wheels: The Complete Fourth Season' Bound for Blu-ray[teaser]The fourth season of the hit AMC series arrives on Blu-ray in August. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Entertainment One says 'Hell on Wheels: The Complete Fourth Season' will be coming to Blu-ray on August 18th. In Season 4 of AMC's top-rated drama, Hell freezes over. Following the brutal winter of 1868, the railroad is at a standstill and restless workers wreak havoc on Cheyenne. Cullen Bohannon is trapped in a fort with a pregnant wife and the Swede. Thomas Durant is broke and Elam Ferguson is presumed dead. The task of uniting America by rail remains undone and the costs and consequences are rising, for everyone. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, a lossless 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements have yet to be revealed. You can find the latest specs for 'Hell on Wheels: The Complete Fourth Season' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under August 18.Posted Fri May 22, 2015 at 06:00 AM PDT by: -
The Blockbuster Smash 'The Divergent Series: Insurgent' Dated for Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D[teaser]The action-packed sequel arrives on both Blu-ray formats in August. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Lionsgate will be releasing 'The Divergent Series: Insurgent' on Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D on August 4. Based on Veronica Roth's #1 New York Times best-selling novel Insurgent, The Divergent Series: Insurgent raises the stakes for Tris (Shailene Woodley) as she searches for answers and allies in this star-powered, action-packed second installment of the Divergent series. On the run and targeted by ruthless faction leader Jeanine (Kate Winslet), Tris fights to protect the people she loves, facing one impossible challenge after another as she and Four (Theo James) race to unlock the truth about the past—and ultimately the future—of their world. Each release will feature 1080p video, Dolby Atmos audio, and supplements include: Audio Commentary with Producers Doug Wick and Lucy Fisher, "Insurgent Unlocked: The Ultimate Behind-the-Scenes Access" (Feature-Length Documentary), Five Featurettes, and a Marketing Gallery. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $35.99 and the Blu-ray 3D is $39.99. You can find the latest specs for 'The Divergent Series: Insurgent' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under August 4. Order the 2D Blu-ray Order the 3D Blu-rayPosted Thu May 21, 2015 at 12:00 PM PDT by: -
David Robert Mitchell's Horror Flick 'It Follows' Blu-ray Detailed[teaser]The critically acclaimed horror flick will stalk Blu-ray in 2015, and you can pre-order the movie now.[/teaser]As previously reported, Starz/Anchor Bay is preparing 'It Follows' for Blu-ray later this year, and now the date has been set for July 14. For 19-year-old Jay, fall should be about school, boys and weekends out at the lake. But after a seemingly innocent sexual encounter, she finds herself plagued by strange visions and the inescapable sense that someone, or something, is following her. Jay and her teenage friends must now find a way to escape the horrors that seem to be only a few steps behind in this chiller that Bloody Disgusting calls “the scariest movie of 2015.” The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, a lossless 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements include: critics’ commentary hosted by Nerdist’s Scott Weinberg and featuring Eric D. Snider (MovieBS), Britt Hayes (Screencrush), Samuel D. Zimmerman (Shock Till You Drop), Alison Nastasi (Flavorwire) and Eric Vespe (Ain't It Cool News); the featurette “A Conversation with Film Composer Disasterpeace” and a Poster Art Gallery. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $29.99. You can find the latest specs for 'It Follows' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under July 14. Order the Blu-rayPosted Thu May 21, 2015 at 10:00 AM PDT by: -
Gren Wells' Drama 'The Road Within' Blu-ray Announced[teaser]The film starring Zoë Kravitz, Robert Sheehan, and Robert Patrick is planned for Blu-ray in July. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Well Go USA is working on 'The Road Within' for Blu-ray on July 7. Vincent (Robert Sheehan), a young man with Tourette's syndrome, just lost his mom. As his symptoms get worse, his dad (Robert Patrick), a frustrated politician, sends him to a behavioral clinic run by an unconventional doctor (Kyra Sedgwick). But Vincent made his mom a promise, and with the help of a rebellious anorexic (Zoe Kravitz) and his withdrawn OCD roommate (Dev Patel), the three embark on a life-changing race to the sea that includes car theft, shoplifting, fights, self-discovery, and maybe finding a new way to live. Specs have yet to be revealed, but supplements include: Interviews with Director and Cast, Deleted Scenes, and Music Video: "Get it Right" by Oh Honey. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $29.98. You can find the latest specs for 'The Road Within' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under July 7. Order the Blu-rayPosted Thu May 21, 2015 at 08:00 AM PDT by: -
Sang Jun Park's Korean Thriller 'For the Emperor' Dated for Blu-ray[teaser]The neor-noir drama heads to Blu-ray in July. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Well Go USA will be releasing 'For the Emperor' on Blu-ray on July 7. A disgraced pro baseball player goes to work for a mob-connected loan shark, rising through the ranks of money and power. But when his love interest disappears, he finds himself in a deadly battle of wits against his bloodthirsty mentor. Specs and supplements haven't been revealed yet, but the suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $29.98. You can find the latest specs for 'For the Emperor' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under July 7. Order the Blu-rayPosted Thu May 21, 2015 at 06:00 AM PDT by:
