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'Augustine' Announced for Blu-ray[teaser]The Official Selection at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival arrives on Blu-ray in September. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Music Box Films is planning to bring 'Augustine' to Blu-ray on September 17. In Belle Epoque, Paris, 19-year-old kitchen maid Augustine (Soko) suffers an inexplicable seizure that leaves her partially paralyzed. Shipped off to an all-female psychiatric hospital specializing in the then-fashionable ailment of "hysteria," Augustine captures the attention of renowned neurologist Dr. Jean-Martin Charcot (Vincent Lindon), mentor of Sigmund Freud, after she has another attack that appears to give her intense physical pleasure. Intrigued, Charcot begins using her as his principal subject, hypnotizing her in front of his fellow doctors. As Augustine displays her spectacular fits in lecture halls, the lines between doctor and patient become blurred, radically impacting the course of both of their lives. The Bluray will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements include: Hysteria Gallery: Photography from the Salpetriere; Q&A with Soko; Interview with director Alice Winocour; Theatrical trailer; Kitchen - a film by Alice Winocour; Magic Paris - a film by Alice Winocour; and Two music videos by Soko. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $34.95. You can find the latest specs for 'Augustine' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under September 17.Posted Fri Aug 2, 2013 at 08:00 AM PDT by: -
Reminder: 'G.I. Joe: Retaliation' Contest Ends TodayDon't miss your chance to win 'G.I. Joe: Retaliation' on Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D. You have until the end of the day to get your contest entries in. Yo Joe!Posted Fri Aug 2, 2013 at 07:00 AM PDT by: -
'Stuck in Love' Blu-ray Announced[teaser]Director Josh Boone's romance heads to Blu-ray in October. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers 'Stuck in Loveis planned for Blu-ray release on October 8. Three years past his divorce, veteran novelist Bill Borgens (Greg Kinnear) can't stop obsessing over, let alone spying on, his ex-wife Erica (Jennifer Connelly), who ignominiously left him for another man. Even as his neighbor-with-benefits, Tricia (Kristen Bell), tries to push him back into the dating pool, he remains blind to anyone else's charms. Meanwhile, his fiercely independent collegiate daughter Samantha (Lily Collins) is publishing her first novel while recoiling at the very thought of first love with a diehard romantic (Logan Lerman); and his teen son Rusty (Nat Wolff) is trying to find his voice, both as a fantasy writer and as the unexpected boyfriend of a dream girl with unsettlingly real problems. As each of these situations mounts into a tangled trio of romantic holiday crises, it brings the Borgens to surprising revelations about how endings become beginnings. Specs and supplements have yet to be revealed, but suggested list price for the Blu-ray is set at $29.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Stuck in Love' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under October 8.Posted Fri Aug 2, 2013 at 06:00 AM PDT by: -
'James Dean: Ultimate Collector's Edition' Blu-ray Up for Pre-Order![teaser]'Giant,' 'East of Eden,' and 'Rebel Without a Cause' are now available for Blu-ray pre-order! [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Warner Brothers' 'James Dean: Ultimate Collector's Edition' appears to be coming to Blu-ray in the near future. One legendary actor. Three unforgettable films. Experience the movies that made James Dean a Hollywood legacy: 'East of Eden,' 'Rebel Without a Cause' and 'Giant.' The box set will be loaded with supplements including: Expert Commentaries on All Three Films; Three Feature-Length Documentaries on 3 Separate DVDs: James Dean: Sense Memories; James Dean: Forever Young; and George Stevens: A Filmmaker's Journey; Vintage Documentaries: James Dean Remembered; Forever James Dean; and George Stevens: Filmmakers Who Knew Him; All-New Featurette: Dennis Hopper: Memories from the Warner Lot; East of Eden: Art in Search of Life; Premiere Footage for East of Eden; Screen Tests and Deleted Scenes for East of Eden; Rebel Without a Cause: Defiant Innocents; Recently Recovered Screen Tests for Rebel Without a Cause; Recently Recovered Outtakes for Rebel Without a Cause; Behind the Cameras Episodes; Return to Giant Featurette; Memories of Giant Featurette; Giant Wardrobe Tests; Theatrical Trailers; and More! This set will also include a 40-page Hardcover Commemorative Book; Three Mini Reproductions of the Original Theatrical Movie Posters; Authentic Production Memos from East of Eden and Rebel Without a Cause; and Behind-the-Scenes Photos. Each film will also be sold separately in digibook packaging. Suggested list price for each digibook is $27.98 while the Ultimate Collector's Edition is $99.98. You can find the latest specs for 'James Dean: Ultimate Collector's Edition,' 'Giant,' 'East of Eden,' and 'Rebel Without a Cause' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where they're indexed under PENDING.Posted Thu Aug 1, 2013 at 12:00 PM PDT by: -
'Downton Abbey: Seasons 1, 2, & 3' Blu-ray Dated[teaser]The first three seasons of the hit PBS drama will be getting a limited edition box set release with new bonus content this October. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, PBS has revealed 'Downton Abbey: Seasons 1, 2, & 3is in the works for Blu-ray on October 1. 'Downton Abbey' tells the story of a complicated community. The house has been home to the Crawley family for many generations, but it is also where their servants live, and plan, and dream, and they are as fiercely jealous of their rank as anyone. Some of them are loyal to the family and committed to Downton as a way of life, others are moving through, on the look out for betterment or love or just adventure. The difference is that they know so many of the secrets of the family, while the family know so few of theirs. But for all the passions that rage beneath the surface, this is a secure world, serene and ordered, and, at first glance, it seems it will last forever. Little do they know, family or staff, that the clouds of the conflict that will change everything are already gathering over their heads. The 9-disc Blu-ray set will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 soundtrack, and over 3 hours of previously unreleased content including Downton Abbey: The Making Of, Downton Abbey: Behind the Drama, and more. There will also be a bonus disc: "Secrets of Highclere Castle" -- an hour-long behind the scenes documentary. Suggested list price for this set is still undetermined at this time. You can find the latest specs for 'Downton Abbey: Seasons 1, 2, & 3' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under October 1.Posted Thu Aug 1, 2013 at 10:00 AM PDT by: -
'JFK: Ultimate Collector's Edition' Blu-ray is Up for Pre-Order[teaser]A deluxe collector's edition of Oliver Stone's award-winning drama is now available for pre-order at Amazon. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Warner Brothers' 'JFK: Ultimate Collector's Editionis planned for Blu-ray in the near future. JFK chronicles the investigation into the assassination of President John F. Kennedy led by New Orleans district attorney Jim Garrison (Kevin Costner), a man who adamantly believes the "lone gunman" theory is a fraud and that Lee Harvey Oswald (Gary Oldman) was nothing more than a patsy. Garrison encounters insurmountable obstacle after obstacle as he moves closer and closer to the truth, all the while working to prove the assassination was carried out by a ring of conspirators. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, a lossless soundtrack, and supplements include: Audio Commentary with Director Oliver Stone; Feature-Length Documentary: Beyond JFK: The Question of Conspiracy; Deleted and Extended Scenes; and Alternate Ending. Additionally, three DVDs will also be included: Feature Film, PT 109 (DVD); All-New Documentary, JFK Remembered: 50 Years Later (DVD); and Remastered 1964 Documentary, John F. Kennedy: Years of Lightning, Day of Drums (DVD). Finally, the set will be packed with the following collectibles: 44-Page Hardcover Movie Photo Book; 32-Page Hardcover JFK Quotations Book; 6 Character Cards Featuring the Film's Actors; Inaugural Address Reproduction (10.5" x 14.5"); Campaign Poster Reproduction (14.5" x 21"); 20 Photos and 16 Pieces of Correspondence Reproduced Courtesy of the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum. Suggested list price for this set is $49.00. You can find the latest specs for 'JFK: Ultimate Collector's Edition' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under PENDING.Posted Thu Aug 1, 2013 at 08:00 AM PDT by: -
'Eve of Destruction' Blu-ray Dated[teaser]The 1991 sci-fi thriller starring Gregory Hines is bound for Blu-ray in November. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Scream Factory has revealed 'Eve of Destruction' is planned for Blu-ray on November 19. Off-beat sci-fi adventure in which a female scientist creates a sexy android version of herself and equips it with both the passionate emotions she lacks and a nuclear bomb. The trouble begins when the android is taken out for a test run and it ends up in the midst of a bank robbery where its internal bomb is accidentally activated. Things get worse, when the robot comes emotionally unglued and launches into a destructive rampage while enacting out its repressed creator's darkest desires. Specs, supplements, and suggested list price have yet to be revealed. You can find the latest specs for 'Eve of Destruction' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under November 19.Posted Thu Aug 1, 2013 at 06:00 AM PDT by: -
High-Def Digest's Essential Picks: July 2013by Steven Cohen Every 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 affection, 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 an undead comedy romance, a classic of world cinema, and an imaginative cartoon for all ages. If you haven't already, be sure to check out the Essential Picks for November, December, January, February, March, April, May, and June. [teaser]This month, we're covering an inspirational biopic on one of baseball's greats, a hypnotic noir thriller, and the gruesome return of a cult horror franchise.[/teaser] Please be aware, that if you haven't already seen them, there might be some spoilers for the films listed. If you only buy three titles that hit Blu-ray in July, here's what we suggest you pick up, starting with the most essential... '42' - Fully embracing old school Hollywood sensibilities, Brian Helgeland's '42' tells the incredible true story of Jackie Robinson with all the heart, grandeur, and humanity the subject so greatly deserves. Focused on Robinson's inaugural season with the Brooklyn Dodgers, the film follows the man as he overcomes vicious racism from disgruntled fans and peers alike in order to stand tall as the first African American player in modern major league baseball. It's inspiring, exciting, and just the right amount of sentimental. In other words, it's exactly what one looks for in a great baseball flick. As Jackie Robinson, actor Chadwick Boseman evokes the perfect amount of steadfast determination, breezy charisma, and boiling frustration. Faced by an onslaught of discrimination from those unwilling to accept a black player in the league, Robinson is subjected to cruel taunts, relentless threats, and even violent abuses, and Boseman bottles up a palpable layer of rage and pain within the character, giving the audience just a small taste of what it must have felt like to walk in his shoes. Though he wants to fight back, Dodgers' General Manager Branch Rickey urges him to "turn the other cheek," and through this effort to take the high ground, Robinson's struggle reveals that choosing not to fight takes much more strength than simply throwing a punch. In the role of Branch Rickey, Harrison Ford actually gets to act, something the celebrated movie star hasn't really done much of in recent years, and he fully inhabits the larger-than-life true character, giving Boseman's Robinson the little extra support and backup he needs. Writer/director Brian Helgeland hits all the right dramatic beats on and off the baseball field, eliciting the type of grand inspiration that only the best silver screen stories can. Admittedly, his approach can be a bit hokey and generic at times, but the film's old fashioned tone is actually refreshing, and despite the rousing sentiments of hope, Helgeland never shies away from the dark challenges Robinson faces, respecting the incredible perseverance it took to break the color barrier. The story of two great men who worked together to change the face of baseball -- and in some ways the very face of our country -- '42' is classic Hollywood inspiration at its best. The Blu-ray from Warner Bros. might be a little light on extras, but the technical presentation is top-notch, helping the disc slide into the number one spot on this month's essential picks. 'Trance' - Director Danny Boyle has had a very eclectic career, taking on projects of all genres. From science fiction, to horror, to modern day fairy tales, and even family friendly adventures, the British filmmaker has just about covered the entire spectrum of cinema. 'Trance' sees the director more or less return to his earlier roots, tackling a noir inspired thriller filled with psychological twists and turns. A cerebral heist film concerned with memory, identity, and control, the film takes audiences on a parallel journey to its characters, confusing and manipulating our perceptions at every turn. Through the deceptively simple story of an art heist gone bad, the movie constantly forces viewers to question what's real. On the surface, the plot is about using hypnosis to uncover the forgotten location of a stolen painting, but there's really much more than money and art on the line here. Sanity, identity, and free will itself are the real stakes. Tackling concepts of exploitation, revenge, and fractured psyches, the movie features an ensemble of flawed characters -- and while poor Simon (James McAvoy) and his increasingly fractured mind might be our main window into this world, in the end, no one here is really good or bad. They're all manipulators and the manipulated, anxious to remember and desperate to forget. Innocents become exploiters and predators become victims and even their very desires become subject to the whims of those in power. But just who is really pulling the strings? That's the central question that runs throughout the runtime, and once Boyle provides us with the answer, we realize that the film's duped characters never really had a chance. Combining elements of noir, heist flicks, and psychological thrillers, the script's manipulative plot and exploration of mental thievery evokes everything from David Fincher's 'The Game,' to Christopher Nolan's 'Inception,' and even Michel Gondry's 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,' weaving a familiar but still original caper that keeps viewers on their toes for the duration of the runtime. Just when you think you know what's going on, you're taken down a new path, and while some of these turns can be a little convoluted or messy, the overall experience is engrossing and exciting. This disc from 20th Century Fox features a great video presentation that respects Boyle's dreamy and distorted visuals, a fantastic audio track that surrounds the audience with the film's rhythmic beats and delicate sound design, and a very welcome collection of interesting supplements. It's not a perfect movie by any means, but the hypnotic direction's cinematic power of suggestion will likely compel one to forget many of its flaws. 'Evil Dead (2013)' - Though it lacks some of the "groovier" qualities that make Sam Raimi's classic trilogy ('The Evil Dead,' 'Evil Dead II,' 'Army of Darkness') so much fun, as an exercise in visceral, gory mayhem, Fede Alvarez's 'Evil Dead' reboot offers horror fans a frantic, terrifying return to the woods. Through a striking and often downright disgusting sense of impending dread and non-stop terror, the film should leave many viewers' hearts racing and stomachs churning. Though filled with several loving and bloody nods to the original series, Alvarez's take on the material is actually a little different, helping to give the flick an identity all its own. Sure, the film still focuses on five friends who find themselves stranded in a cabin haunted by an evil presence summoned by The Book of the Dead, but the story and mythology is a little more fleshed out, introducing a drug rehab plotline that serves as a surprisingly effective metaphor for demonic possession. Likewise, while the original film carries an undercurrent of comedy (and the sequel is a flat-out slapstick masterpiece), Alvarez basically plays it straight here, upping the gore to extreme levels while assaulting the audience with impossibly gruesome imagery and dismemberments. With that said, as M. Enois Duarte mentions in his full review, this extravagant display of blood soaked mayhem is so excessive that there does end up being a subtle sense of absurd humor layered beneath the disturbing content. The director also displays a penchant for cinematic ingenuity and deprave creativity when it comes to finding new ways to torment his characters and terrify his audience, evoking Raimi's original kinetic visuals with impressive camera movements and exciting scares all his own. Sadly, there are times when this new take on the franchise does start to veer too much toward "torture porn" for my tastes and, for the most part, the characters are severely underwritten. Thankfully, as the recovering drug addict Mia, Jane Levy ends up being a great lead and does an amazing job -- whether she's trying to fight off evil with a chainsaw or succumbing to it as a possessed blade licking demon. In fact, Levy's brave performance and Alvarez's inventive camera work are what end up elevating the film, saving it from becoming just another disposable, gratuitous horror remake -- though, as the end credits reveal, this may not be a true remake at all… While I can't help but miss the goofy, slapstick humor that permeates throughout the original franchise, this new take still offers a palpable explosion of horror that manages to earn the final spot on July's list thanks to the help of a killer disc from Sony. Now hurry up with a sequel! I can't wait to see what Raimi and Alavarez have in store for future installments, and if things work out as planned, Levy and the impressively chinned Bruce Campbell could make for a very entertaining duo. After all, two chainsaws are definitely better than one. So, there you have it. While there are many titles worth picking up this July, 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 July's must own titles?Posted Wed Jul 31, 2013 at 03:00 PM PDT by: -
'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey: Extended Edition' Announced for Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D[teaser]The first part of Peter Jackson's new epic trilogy will be getting 13 additional minutes of footage this November! [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, New Line Cinema will be bringing 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey: Extended Edition' starring Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen and Richard Armitage to high-definition on November 5. 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey: Extended Edition - 3D' will also be available on the same date. Unassuming Hobbit Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) is swept into a quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor, long ago conquered by the dragon Smaug. Approached by the wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen), Bilbo finds himself among a company of thirteen dwarves led by the legendary warrior Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage). Their journey takes them through treacherous lands swarming with Goblins and Orcs, deadly Wargs, giant Spiders, Shapeshifters and Sorcerers. They must escape the goblin tunnels, where Bilbo meets the creature Gollum (Andy Serkis), who will change his life forever. Alone with Gollum on the shores of an underground lake, Bilbo not only discovers guile and courage that surprise him, he also gains possession of Gollum's "precious," a ring tied to the fate of all Middle-Earth. “I’m thrilled that the Extended Edition will give fans the opportunity to experience certain key scenes in the film as they were originally shot, as well as an abundance of special features,” said Jackson. “It’s exciting to present this expanded and enriched version of 'An Unexpected Journey' to allow fans to fully immerse themselves in the movie, before seeing the second part of the trilogy.” The nearly nine hours of new special features boasts audio commentary with Peter Jackson, director/producer/screenwriter, and Philippa Boyens, co-producer/screenwriter, and “The Appendices,” a multi-part documentary focusing on various aspects of the film and the Trilogy. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $35.99, while the Blu-ray 3D will be $54.99. You can find the latest specs for 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey: Extended Edition' and 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey: Extended Edition - 3D' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where they are indexed under November 5.Posted Wed Jul 31, 2013 at 02:00 PM PDT by: -
'Bates Motel: Season One' Blu-ray Trailer Now Available[teaser]Check out the new Blu-ray trailer for the upcoming first season of the hit series arriving in September! [/teaser] As previously reported, Universal Studios has revealed 'Bates Motel: Season One' will have a Blu-ray release on September 17. This re-imagining of one of Hitchcock's beloved masterpieces weaves a web of deception, murder, and unexpected twists in a small town where nothing is what it seems. The first ten episodes of the popular series also stars Nestor Carbonell ('Lost'), Max Thieriot ('House at the End of the Street'), Mike Vogel ('Cloverfield'), Nicola Peltz ('The Last Airbender') and Olivia Cooke ('Blackout'). Filled with gruesome horrors, nail-biting suspense, Bates Motel was A&E's most-watched original drama series debut in the network's history. A second season is already confirmed for 2014. The 2-disc Blu-ray/Ultraviolet set will feature 1080p video, DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements will include: Paley Center Panel Discussion with Cast and Creative Team; Deleted Scenes; and a set of limited edition collector cards taken from artwork on the show ("Jiao's Sketchbook"). Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $49.98. You can find the latest specs for 'Bates Motel: Season One' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under September 17.Posted Wed Jul 31, 2013 at 12:00 PM PDT by:
