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Sony Prepping '1776: Director's Cut' for Blu-ray[teaser]The 1972 Tony Award-winning musical has been meticulously restored in 4K from the original camera negative, under the guidance of Peter H. Hunt and SPHE Executive Vice President of Asset Management, Film Restoration and Digital Mastering Grover Crisp, and arrives on Blu-ray this summer. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Sony will be releasing '1776: Director's Cut' on Blu-ray on June 2. Based on the international stage triumph that won the Tony Award® and The New York Drama Critics Circle Award as "Best Musical of the Year," 1776 is a musical celebration of the founding of the United States of America based on the award-winning Broadway production. The story centers around the familiar historical characters as they organize a movement for independence from Mother England: the tough unyielding John Adams (William Daniels); the charming and pragmatic Benjamin Franklin (Howard Da Silva); the brilliant young Thomas Jefferson (Ken Howard), who is chosen to write the Declaration of Independence even as he longs for the company of his new bride Martha (Blythe Danner); and the rest of the Continental Congress. All events lead up to that most significant date July 4, 1776 when the Declaration was signed. Now fully restored for its high definition debut on Blu-ray, 1776 looks and sounds better than ever. The film was nominated for both an Academy Award (Best Cinematography, Harry Stradling Jr., 1972) and a Golden Globe (Best Motion Picture-Musical/Comedy, 1972). Brought to the screen by legendary producer Jack L. Warner, 1776 was shot with most of the original Broadway cast, and features William Daniels as John Adams, Howard Da Silva as Benjamin Franklin, Ken Howard as Thomas Jefferson and Blythe Danner as Martha Jefferson. "The movie is not a 'whodunit'—we all know who signed the Declaration of Independence—it's a 'howdunit,'" Hunt said. "It creates dramatic tension from a story where everyone knows the ending." The new Director's Cut restores the film to its original visual brilliance and features newly discovered material. In addition to the Director's Cut, the Blu-ray also presents an Extended Cut of the film via seamless branching, along with a newly restored and remixed 5.1 soundtrack. "We worked tirelessly to return this film to as pristine a condition as possible and are excited to bring the newly restored version of 1776 to audiences worldwide," Crisp said of the restoration, which will have its world premiere screening March 28 at the TCM Classic Film Festival. The restored Director's Cut is based, in part, on an earlier restoration carried out for a 2002 DVD release. That version, also prepared with Hunt's oversight, added a number of scenes and lost elements that were missing from the original theatrical release. Among them was a musical number that had been dropped from the film by Warner at the request of President Richard Nixon (who felt the scene cast conservatives in an unfavorable light). Further detective work for the new version uncovered additional "lost" material, including dialogue that had been changed over ratings concerns. "There were a few lines that Jack Warner wanted changed… but the changes weren't funny," Hunt said. "The original lines from Broadway were funny, and now, for the first time, they are in the movie." The pace move up four State-of-the-art 4K digital technology made it possible to address problems and restore color fidelity to a level not possible at the time of the earlier restoration, which was done through photochemical processes. Variations in color, due to different levels of degradation in negative elements, have been eliminated as much as possible, resulting in a seamless look. "When a scene comes up that had been cut out or compromised in some way, it looks like it is supposed to be there because we could maintain consistency with the image and keep its natural filmic quality," Crisp explained. Colorworks Colorist Sheri Eisenberg said that much time was spent studying existing film prints and other reference material in order to ensure the restoration accurately represented the movie in its original form. "We did a lot of eyeballing," Eisenberg said. "We kept asking ourselves, 'Does it feel right?' 'What can we do to make it better?' We wanted to keep the theatrical feeling of the original." Hunt said that, in some ways, the results go beyond the original. "I'm ecstatic," he said. "1776 is back to where it should be. The work done by Grover and his team is miraculous. It looks better than when it premiered. It's gorgeous!" The Blu-ray will feature Commentary with Peter H. Hunt & Peter Stone, Archival Screen Tests, and Blu-ray exclusives include: All-new commentary with director Peter H. Hunt, William Daniels & Ken Howard, Deleted and alternate scenes with Filmmaker Commentary, Four never-before-seen Screen Tests, Original Theatrical Teaser & Trailer, and Extended Cut of the film. You can find the latest specs for '1776: Director's Cut' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under June 2.Posted Tue Mar 31, 2015 at 08:00 AM PDT by: -
'Seventh Son' Dated and Detailed for Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D[teaser]The fantasy starring Jeff Bridges, Julianne Moore, and Ben Barnes is headed for both Blu-ray formats in May. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Universal Studios will be releasing 'Seventh Son' and Seventh Son - 3D on May 26. In a time of enchantments when legends and magic collide, the sole remaining warrior of a mystical order (Jeff Bridges) travels to find a prophesized hero born with incredible powers, the last Seventh Son (Ben Barnes). Torn from his quiet life as a farmhand, the unlikely young hero embarks on a daring adventure with his battle-hardened mentor to vanquish a dark queen (Julianne Moore) and the army of supernatural assassins she has dispatched against their kingdom. Each combo pack will feature 1080p video, a lossless 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements include: Deleted/Alternate Scenes, Defenders of Good, Resurrecting the Wicked, Forging a Medieval Realm, The Legend and Lore of the Seventh Son, and Visual Effects Gallery. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $34.98 and the Blu-ray 3D is $49.98. You can find the latest specs for 'Seventh Son' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under May 26. Order the 2D Blu-ray Order the 3D Blu-rayPosted Tue Mar 31, 2015 at 06:00 AM PDT by: -
Showtime's 'Ray Donovan: Season Two' Dated for Blu-ray[teaser]The second season of the Showtime drama series is set for Blu-ray in May, and you can pre-order show now. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Paramount is preparing 'Ray Donovan: Season Two' for Blu-ray on May 26. Ray Donovan (Schreiber), Boston bouncer turned Hollywood crisis fixer, can protect just about anything except the unity of his family. As his estranged ex-con father (Voight) dodges the law, Ray's lonely wife Abby (Malcomson) finds herself drawn to a cop. Son Conor (Bagby) may be too close to home while daughter Bridget (Dorsey) is slipping away. Can he hold the pieces of his family together while going to bat for celebrities in crisis? In this sharp, edgy second season, Ray finds that what he wants the most is the hardest thing to fix. Notable guest stars this season include Hank Azaria, Sherilyn Fenn and Wendell Pierce. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video and a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements will include: Audio Commentary on "Yo Soy Capitan" by Jon Voight and Pooch Hall; Audio Commentary on "Walk This Way" by star/episode director Liev Schreiber; And more... Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $49.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Ray Donovan: Season Two' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under May 26. Order the Blu-rayPosted Mon Mar 30, 2015 at 12:30 PM PDT by: -
'The Toxic Avenger: Part II' and 'Class of Nuke 'Em High II: Subhumanoid Meltdown' Dated for Blu-ray[teaser]The Blu-ray of the hit comedy will attend summer school at the end of June. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Troma will be releasing 'The Toxic Avenger: Part II' and 'Class of Nuke 'Em High II: Subhumanoid Meltdown' on Blu-ray on April 14. 'The Toxic Avenger: Part II' - Toxie's mean, green, and back on the screen! Melvin Junko was a nerdy 98lb weakling until he fell into a vat of toxic waste, turning him into the first ever superhuman superhero from New Jersey. This time the hideously deformed creature of superhuman size and strength takes on Tokyo. The Toxic Avenger Part II is a spectacular sequel with even more ingenious special effects, even more bizarre action, and even more unbelievably famous fight scenes. He's come a long way from Tromaville, baby! The beloved sequel to the best-selling Toxic Avenger, known to some as "Toxie in Japan," includes a brand new introduction from director Lloyd Kaufman and many other 'Tromatic' special features! Lovingly remastered by legendary Troma filmmakers Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz, this Blu-Ray/DVD combo marks the film's first high-definition release in North America. 'Class of Nuke 'Em High II: Subhumanoid Meltdown' - First there was the super successful, now classic, theatrical smash hit and breakthrough blockbuster CLASS OF NUKE EM HIGH! Now, there comes the riotous sci-fi, hyper-action, big budget, ambitious sequellian comedy, Troma's CLASS OF NUKE EM HIGH PART II: SUBHUMANOID MELTDOWN! Those lovable cretins from CLASS OF NUKE EM HIGH! have graduated Summa Cum Weirdly and the once peaceful town of Tromaville is about to explode with a wave of sci-fi and special effects induced SUBHUMANOID MELTDOWN! Welcome to the Tromaville Institute of Technology, where a melt-down prone nuclear power-plant creates a hideously deformed but very positive thinking humongous mutant squirrels and obnoxious talking belly buttons with bad attitudes. In this incredibly bold adventure in gene-splicing, anarchy and terror rule the campus of Tromaville Tech as the students join forces with the subhumanoids to overthrow the insidious and hedonistic corporate slime responsible for a wave of malicious mutant meltdowns and massacres. Will peace and environmental hygiene ever be restored to the once-peaceful town of Tromaville? Find out as you enroll for the education of a lifetime in CLASS OF NUKE EM HIGH PART II: SUBHUMANOID MELTDOWN! Suggested list price for each Blu-ray is $24.95. You can find the latest specs for 'The Toxic Avenger: Part II' and 'Class of Nuke 'Em High II: Subhumanoid Meltdown' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where they are indexed under April 14. Order the Blu-ray Order the Blu-rayPosted Mon Mar 30, 2015 at 12:00 PM PDT by: -
Penelope Spheeris' 'The Decline Of Western Civilization Collection' Bound for Blu-ray[teaser]All three music films will be getting the high-definition treatment this summer. Pre-order your copy. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Shout Factory is working on 'The Decline Of Western Civilization Collection' for Blu-ray on June 30. Penelope Spheeris' The Decline Of Western Civilization was perceived as shocking and outrageous at the time of its original release in 1981 and its two follow-up films were no less extraordinary and revealing. Today, museums and educational institutions around the world present them as a historically significant works of art. Featuring some of the most influential and innovative musicians and groups of all time – Germs, Black Flag, X, Fear, Circle Jerks, Alice Cooper and Ozzy Osbourne, these riveting, unflinching and hard-core films adeptly captured the spirit of a major cultural phenomenon. Now for the first time, all three films are available in one deluxe box set. And while all three films have been restored in high definition, they are in keeping with the feel of the rebellious times in which they were shot. Here's an immersive tour of in-your-face filmmaking and music. The Blu-ray set will feature a new 2K scan of each film supervised by Director Penelope Spheeris and supplements will include: Audio Commentary By Dave Grohl, Tawn Mastrey Of KNAC Interviews Penelope Spheeris, Never-Before-Seen Original Footage, Performances and Interviews, Mark Toscano Of The Academy Film Archive Interviews Penelope Spheeris, Theatrical Trailers, 40-Page Booklet Featuring Rare Stills And Text By Domenic Priore, and More… Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $59.98. You can find the latest specs for 'The Decline Of Western Civilization Collection' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where its indexed under June 30.Posted Mon Mar 30, 2015 at 10:00 AM PDT by: -
'Sons of Liberty' Dated for Blu-ray[teaser]HISTORY's epic miniseries will charge onto Blu-ray in May. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Lionsgate will be releasing 'Sons of Liberty' on Blu-ray on May 26. As riots consume the streets of Boston, a dangerous game plays out between a British governor and ringleader Sam Adams, which escalates to extreme measures-street brawls, black market dealings, espionage and murder. A sizzling, romantic affair percolates against a backdrop of rising civil unrest, the infamous Boston Tea Party and Paul Revere's legendary ride. From the Battle of Lexington, a clash between the dedicated colonists and the superior British Army ensues, and the colonies join forces as a single, united country in the most epic revolution of our time. An action-packed, five-hour, scripted miniseries in the tradition of "The Vikings" and "Hatfields & McCoys," and scripted by the writer of HBO's "John Adams,"Sons of Liberty features an impressive ensemble cast, including Dean Norris (TV's "Breaking Bad," TV's "Under the Dome"), Ben Barnes (The Chronicles of Narnia), Ryan Eggold (TV's "The Blacklist"), Michael Raymond-James (TV's "Once Upon a Time"), Rafe Spall (Prometheus), Henry Thomas (Gangs of New York), Marton Csokas (The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King), Jason O'Mara (TV's "Terra Nova") and Emily Berrington (TV's "24: Live Another Day"), who come together to tell the dramatic interpretation of events that sparked a revolution. Specs haven't been revealed yet, but supplements include three featurettes: "Lensing Liberty: The Making of Sons of Liberty", "Men of Independence: The Historic Figures of Sons of Liberty", and "The Choreography of War: Creating the Battles and SPFX of Sons of Liberty". Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $29.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Sons of Liberty' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under May 26. Order the Blu-rayPosted Mon Mar 30, 2015 at 08:00 AM PDT by: -
'Vengeance of an Assassin' Blu-ray Bound[teaser]The action flick will seek revenge on Blu-ray in April. Pre-orders are now live. [/teaser]In an early announcement to retailers, Well Go USA is preparing 'Vengeance of an Assassin' for Blu-ray on April 14. The Assassins' Code: Stick to the mission. Never take your eyes off the target. Show no mercy. Natee (Dan Chupong) became a killer for one reason- to discover who killed his parents. As he gets closer to uncovering a secret network of power and corruption, he's double-crossed on a job, making him a target and putting everyone he loves in danger. Betrayed, exposed, and hunted by the deadliest killers in the business, now Natee has a new code. Be faster. Stronger. Hit harder. Survive. 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 'Vengeance of an Assassin' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under April 14. Order the Blu-rayPosted Mon Mar 30, 2015 at 06:00 AM PDT by: -
HDD Deal of the Week: 'The Best of Bogart Collection' $25.99 at Amazon[teaser]Four classics on Blu-ray starring Humphrey Bogart are on sale this week at Amazon. [/teaser] Amazon is selling 'The Best of Bogart Collection' on Blu-ray for $25.99 (48% off the suggested list price). The Blu-ray set includes four films (The Maltese Falcon / Casablanca / The Treasure of Sierra Madre / The African Queen). This offer is available from now through April 5. Order the Blu-rayPosted Sun Mar 29, 2015 at 07:27 AM PDT by: -
Mike Binder's 'Black or White' Headed for Blu-ray[teaser]The touching dramedy starring Oscar winners Kevin Costner and Octavia Spencer is headed for Blu-ray in May. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, 20th Century Fox is preparing 'Black or White' for Blu-ray on May 5. When two grandparents, Elliott (Costner) and Rowena (Spencer), engage in a heated custody dispute over their beloved granddaughter, the ensuing legal battle forces them to confront their true feelings on race and forgiveness. Can people from two seemingly different worlds find common ground when nothing is as simple as black or white? The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, a lossless 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements will include: Shades of Gray: The Making of Black or White, Theatrical Trailer, and Blu-ray exclusive Kevin Costner Featurette, and Family First Featurette. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $39.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Black or White' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under May 5. Order the Blu-rayPosted Fri Mar 27, 2015 at 12:00 PM PDT by: -
Zak Hilditch's 'These Final Hours' Dated for Blu-ray[teaser]The apocalyptic thriller starring Sarah Snook, Jessica De Gouw, and Nathan Phillips is planned for Blu-ray in May. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Sony will be releasing 'These Final Hours' on Blu-ray on May 12. In this apocalyptic drama, James (Nathan Phillips) is a troubled young man on a mission. He's desperate to join his girlfriend Vicky (Kathryn Beck) at the 'party to end all parties' and numb any feelings as the world comes to an end. On his journey however, James is greeted by a lawless and chaotic city, facing a cataclysmic event that will end life on the planet, and he discovers that getting to where he needs to be will not be easy. Along the way, he saves the life of a girl named Rose (Angourie Rice), frantically searching for her father. Out of options, James invites Rose to join him. Together they discover how they would truly like to spend their last moments on Earth in this world gone mad. Specs and supplements haven't been revealed yet, but the suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $35.99. You can find the latest specs for 'These Final Hours' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under May 12. Order the Blu-rayPosted Fri Mar 27, 2015 at 10:00 AM PDT by:
