-
'Fringe: The Complete Fifth Season' Dated for Blu-ray[teaser]The fifth and final season of J.J. Abrams' sci-fi series is bound for Blu-ray in May. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Warner Brothers has dated 'Fringe: The Complete Fifth Season' for Blu-ray on May 7, and a complete series box set is also expected on the same date. SPOILER ALERT: Critically acclaimed, fan-favorite series Fringe returns for its fifth and final season to deliver a climactic conclusion to the saga... in all worlds. Picking up from events depicted in the fourth season's flash-forward episode, the seemingly peaceful Observers have seized control of our universe in 2015. Now, in 2036, they have become ruthless rulers who stand unopposed. What awaits in the future, however, is the Fringe Team's final stand, which will bring together all they have witnessed in preparation for the final battle to protect our world. Joining Fringe scientist Water Bishop (John Noble), FBI agent Olivia Dunham (Anna Torv), Peter Bishop (Joshua Jackson) and the Fringe team is Olivia and Peter's now-grown daughter, Etta (Georgina Haig), in a final season filled with struggle, surprises, and sacrifice. The 3-disc set will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements include: Producer Commentary, Featurette: A Farewell to Fringe, Fringe Panel at Comic-Con 2012, and Gag Reel. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray sets are still undetermined at this time. You can find the latest specs for 'Fringe: The Complete Fifth Season" linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under May 7.Posted Fri Jan 25, 2013 at 10:00 AM PST by: -
Aaron's Sundance 2013 Journal: Day 5by Aaron Peck [teaser]Up until now there hadn't been many stand-out movies for me. It's a good thing that Day 5's plans included two of the festival's most anticipated titles 'Stoker' and 'Upstream Color.'[/teaser] 'Stoker' gained steam fast before the festival opened, mostly because it was Korean director Park Chan-wook's first English language film. His film 'Oldboy' had its North American premiere at Sundance in 2005. The man is a master at creating visually stunning movies and people were extremely interested to see what he'd come up with. The trailers depicted a creepy, unsettling film, which was exactly what was delivered. Before viewing 'Stoker' I stood outside in the cattle tent. Usually, it's easy to make conversation with people. You end up meeting some pretty fascinating film fans. Either they work in film or simply love it so much that they're willing to hop on a plane and come to frigid Utah for a week of movies and line waiting. I wasn't so lucky this time around though. A man and woman behind me in line were droning on about how terrible his ex-wife is. In front of me a girl from New Jersey was telling an older couple about her newly extracted wisdom teeth and candy addiction. A few days earlier, in this same tent, a stampede took place. Hundreds of people were lined up to see the premiere of 'Kill Your Darlings' when there was a loud hiss and then several pops that sounded like gunfire. People fled the tent like someone had opened fire. Turned out it was a fire extinguisher malfunction. Exciting and frightening things can happen while you're waiting in line, just not very often. 'Stoker' as expected, turned out to be a visual feast. I was a little taken back by how similar it was to Hitchcock's 'Shadow of a Doubt.' Eerily similar in fact. A young girl is taken with her new mysterious uncle that has come to live with the family. His name is Uncle Charlie. He has those same sweetly devious looks and flies off the handle at a moment's notice. Oh, and whenever he's about to do something really evil, he whistles. Apparently in the Q&A after the movie's premiere, which a few nights ago, he stated that he had no intention of having any Hitchcock references in the movie. The script was penned by Wentworth Miller ('Prison Break') and was finished before Chan-wook was attached to direct. Even then, he must have known that there were some Hithcockian references, because many of them are pretty blatant. (Pictured above left to right: Producer Michael Costigan, Nicole Kidman, Matthew Goode, Mia Wasikowska, Park Chan-wook, and his translator.) That said, 'Stoker' is a chillingly evil tale about killers. A bloodier, creepier version of 'Shadow of a Doubt.' In the Q&A after the movie, a press member (who, incidentally, comments at every single Q&A he attends) asked him the ridiculous question, "So, how does it feel to have out Hitchcocked Hitchcock." Chan-wook's interpreter relayed the remarks to the director. Calmly he put the microphone to his mouth, said a few words, and then put it back down. His interpreter grabbed the mic and said, "He says that he doesn't think he measures up to The Master. Not even an inch." Shane Carruth's 'Upstream Color' came next, in the same theater. Where to start? 'Upstream Color' is a magnificently bold and utterly confusing movie about worms, pigs, thieves, lovers, confusion, mind-control, and the life cycle. It's told 'Tree of Life' style. A movie constructed of a labyrinthine puzzle of images coupled with limited dialogue. There isn't one piece of standard exposition in the whole movie. You're left on your own to figure out what's happening, why worms can control people's brains, and why the same people are connected to swine surrogates. It's absolutely bizarre and at the same time breathtaking. I left the movie feeling simultaneously confused and euphoric. Carruth's Q&A was just as cryptic as his film. He had a hard time giving straight answers about the meaning of the film. He kept referring to the film as a "construct" of the life cycle. Although, he didn't seem so sure of what he was saying. Lastly, the audio in this movie is some of the most enveloping I've ever heard. When it eventually comes out on Blu-ray (it damn well better get a high-def release) it should contain some of the best demo-quality audio on the format. If it doesn't, I'll demand a refund. The last movie of the day was 'Manhunt,' which is being billed as the real-life story of 'Zero Dark Thirty.' Suggestion: stay with 'ZDT.' A good documentary should be able to take a subject that is unknown or inherently uninteresting and make it interesting for the audience. 'Manhunt' takes a subject that's already loaded with interest – espionage, spying, and the hunt for bin Laden – and ends up making a boring, repetitive doc. How you can take this material and make it appear mundane is a mystery to me, but they've done it. With the night closing in and the cold starting to once again seep through my layers of clothing I decided to call it a night.Posted Fri Jan 25, 2013 at 08:55 AM PST by: -
'The Thief of Bagdad' Announced for Blu-ray[teaser]Raoul Walsh's 1924 silent classic is getting the high-definition treatment in February. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Cohen Film Collection is working on 'The Thief of Bagdad' for a Blu-ray release on February 19. Newly restored from two 35mm negatives and incorporating the color tints and tones of the original release prints, this definitive edition of 'The Thief of Bagdad' features silent film score maestro Carl Davis conducting the Philharmonia Orchestra, performing a magnificent score that intermingles Davis' own music with the iconic Orientalia of Rimsky-Korsakov. Specs have yet to be revealed, but supplements will include: Audio commentary by Fairbanks biographer Jeffrey Vance and a featurette including rare behind-the-scenes photographs. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $24.98. You can find the latest specs for 'The Thief of Bagdad' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under February 19.Posted Fri Jan 25, 2013 at 08:00 AM PST by: -
'Playing for Keeps' Blu-ray Announced and Detailed[teaser]The soccer-themed romantic comedy will be given a Blu card this March. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Sony says 'Playing for Keeps' is in the works for high-definition on March 5. The film stars Gerard Butler as a retired soccer player who decides to coach his son's soccer team in an effort to give his failed marriage a second chance. Uma Thurman, Jessica Biel, and Dennis Quaid co-star. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements will include: Deleted Scenes Stacie Lectures George, The Playbook: Making Playing for Keeps, and Creating An All-Star Team: The Cast of Playing For Keeps. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is set at $35.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Playing for Keeps' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under March 5. 129190Posted Fri Jan 25, 2013 at 06:00 AM PST by: -
'Skyfall' Hitting Blu-ray February 12th - Full Details Confirmed[teaser]We finally have official confirmation. The highest-grossing Bond film of all time is heading to Blu-ray on February 12th![/teaser] After a month or so of rumors, we finally have an official release date for the 'Skyfall' Blu-ray. Mark your calendars for February 12th! The third outing for Daniel Craig as secret agent 007 co-stars Javier Bardem, with Judi Dench once again returning as M. The movie is directed by Sam Mendes. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements will likely include: Commentary by Director Sam Mendes; Commentary by Producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson and Production Designer Dennis Gassner; Behind the Scenes Intro - 2:21; Opening Sequence – The Death of Bond 4:15; Title Sequence – Working The Titles 2:57; 007 – The return of James Bond 3:46; Q- Back to Basics 1:54; DB5 – Behind the wheel 1:33; Women – The Good, The Bad and the Beautiful 4:22; Villains – In The Shadows 7:00; Locations – License To Travel 3:23; Music – The Sound of Bond 3:38; The End sequence – The Beginning of the End 13:57; M – Changes 4:42; The Future - New Beginnings 2:10; Skyfall Premiere 5:00; and Soundtrack Promotional Spot 0:29. The preliminary artwork has been posted on Amazon (note that it still might change on the final product): Suggested list price for the Blu-ray has been set at $39.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Skyfall' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under February 12th.Posted Thu Jan 24, 2013 at 01:00 PM PST by: -
'One Night with the King' Announced and Detailed for Blu-ray[teaser]The 2006 sweeping epic arrives on Blu-ray in March. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, 20th Century Fox is readying 'One Night with the King' for a Blu-ray release on March 5. With lush cinematography, a mesmerizing score, and an all-star cast that includes Peter O’Toole, Omar Sharif and John Rhys-Davies, 'One Night with the King' is a sweeping epic about Hadassah, the young Jewish orphan who becomes the biblical Esther, Queen of Persia. Born into poverty, Hadassah (Tiffany DuPont) grows up to become a beauty who catches the eye of the powerful King Xerxes – and ultimately becomes his bride. But despite her position, Hadassah’s life is in danger, as the state has decreed that all Jews will be put to death. Defying warnings to remain silent, however, Hadassah struggles to save her people, even as she attempts to hide her heritage, in this exciting and inspiring story about courage, faith and destiny.. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements will include an audio commentary featuring Matthew Crouch, Richard Cook, and Stephan Blinn Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $16.99. You can find the latest specs for 'One Night with the King' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under March 5.Posted Thu Jan 24, 2013 at 12:00 PM PST by: -
'The Marine 3: Homefront' Blu-ray Dated and Detailed[teaser]WWE Superstar Mike "The Miz" Mizanin suits up for the third 'Marine' actioner bound for Blu-ray in March. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, 20th Century Fox has slated 'The Marine 3: Homefront' for Blu-ray on March 5. WWE superstar Mike “The Miz” Mizanin delivers a knock-out performance in the most explosive, action-packed Marine adventure yet. After returning to his hometown on leave, Sgt. Jake Carter learns that his sister has been abducted by a band of violent extremists. To save her, Carter launches a daring one-man assault on their base of operations...only to discover the group’s ruthless leader is plotting a deadly terrorist strike. With time running out, Carter realizes he’s the only man who can stop the impending massacre -- but this American hero may have to make the ultimate sacrifice to save thousands of innocent lives. Showcasing one tough cast, 'The Marine 3: Homefront' also stars Neal McDonough ('Captain America: The First Avenger', 'Justified'), and Ashley Bell ('The Last Exorcism II'press). In preparation for the film, “The Miz” trained one-on-one with several production personnel, including stunt coordinator Ernest Jackson, armorer Robert Fournier and military advisor Darrion Holiwell. The movie was directed by Scott Wiper ('The Condemned') and filmed in Vancouver, Mission and Maple Ridge, B.C. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements will include: Shipwrecked: Breaking Down the Boat, The Miz Rocks the Boat, The Miz Declassified, Casting Call: Ready to Enlist, and Miz Journal. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is still undetermined at this time. You can find the latest specs for 'The Marine 3: Homefront' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under March 5.Posted Thu Jan 24, 2013 at 10:00 AM PST by: -
'Red Dawn' Announced for Blu-ray[teaser]The 2012 action-packed remake will fight to take back America on Blu-ray in March! [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, 20th Century Fox says 'Red Dawn' will have a Blu-ray release on March 5. Chris Hemsworth ('Thor'), Josh Hutcherson ('The Hunger Games'), and Adrienne Palicki ('G.I. Joe: Retaliation') deliver a full arsenal of pulse-pounding excitement in this explosive action-adventure! The unsuspecting citizens of Spokane, Washington, wake up one morning to the shocking sight of foreign paratroopers dropping from the sky in a surprise attack on the United States. Soon the entire region is under enemy control, but a group of courageous teenagers has decided to fight back, waging an all-out war against the invaders, to take back their town – and their freedom! The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements haven't been revealed yet. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is still undetermined at this time. You can find the latest specs for 'Red Dawn' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under March 5.Posted Thu Jan 24, 2013 at 08:40 AM PST by: -
Aaron's Sundance 2013 Journal: Day 4by Aaron Peck I put my stomach troubles behind me on Day 4. I felt like a new man, but I couldn't help but think about poor pregnant Kristen Bell who was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Hopefully, today would go smoother than the last. I started the day off at Starbucks. It's the only place near the bus stop where a hot drink can be purchased. It's the same Starbucks where just a few days ago, I spotted Montel Williams buying lattes for his small entourage. Not all celebrity encounters are created equal. They can't all be sightings of Daniel Radcliffe taking pictures with dozens of squealing teenage girls – most of which were taller than him. No, sometimes it's just a lowly talk show host/infomercial guru buying coffee. After getting a drink I went back to wait at the bus stop. I checked my phone, the temperature, according to a handy app, was around -2 – degrees. It's weeks like this that are frustrating when going to a winter film festival. Years past Sundance has been blanketed in snow and cold weather, but this year is an anomaly. A huge snowstorm hit Utah right before the festival kicked off. Since then it's been nothing but sunny skies and warmer than usual weather. Except the mornings and evenings are still crackling with ice-cold air. This presents a dilemma. Do I wear thermals to counteract the cold? Or do I tough it out so I'm not sweating when the temp rises substantially throughout the day? I don't know why I always choose the first choice seeing that it's so cold in the mornings that the wind rips right through however many layers I've put on. Then the afternoon rolls around and I’m cooking to death inside my layered protection against the cold. It's a no-win situation. The first movie of the day was Michael Winterbottom's ('The Killer Inside Me') 'The Look of Love,' which could quite possibly be the worst movie up here. Even with more naked flesh than anyone could care to quantify, 'The Look of Love,' a story about British pornographer Paul Raymond, is utterly boring in every respect. Steve Coogan tries to save it with a few Coogan-y facial expressions and line deliveries, but the movie is dead on arrival. So, I guess it makes sense that IFC picked it up. After the movie's Q&A with Winterbottom and actress Tamsin Egerton (both pictured above), I made my way back to the theater where the press screenings take place. The tent is starting to reek of exhaustion and Clif Bars. Press and industry people are waddling down the lines in a daze. What was once enthusiasm for a brand new collection of films has turned into "Just another job," kind of vibe. The movie I see next is called 'Concussion.' It's a movie about a lesbian housewife who is frustrated with her increasingly loveless partnership so she looks for lovin' from hookers on Craigslist. Then she moves on to higher class escorts. And finally she becomes an escort herself. I was surprised at how much I liked 'Concussion.' It's erotic without being vulgar. TV mainstay Robin Weigert ('Sons of Anarchy') gives a terrific, sexy performance as Abby. These are the kind of movies that make Sundance worth it. Outside it was becoming dusk. The air was getting colder again and would soon blast through my layers and chill me to the bone. That didn't matter though because I was excited that I'd finally been able to procure a ticket to see a public screening of 'The Spectacular Now.' A bus ride later I was standing in line waiting to see my most anticipated movie of the festival. Josh Radnor clomped by in the theater lobby looking rather glum. I debated briefly asking for a photograph with him, mostly because my wife loves him, but my shyness prevailed yet again. At the head of the line was an older man – late sixties – who was greeted by the filmmakers when they came walking through the doors. They insisted he didn't have to stand in line, but he did all the same. 'The Spectacular Now' was everything I thought it was going to be. It was honest and candid. A beautifully real assessment of high school life and the real dangers of young alcoholism. The reason I was anticipating this movie so much was because I had read Tim Tharp's novel before the festival began. While I enjoyed the characters he'd created and the arcs that they go through, I was struck with the hankering suspicion that this was an old guy writing dialogue for teenagers. Then the Q&A came and the same guy from the front of the line walked up with James Pondsolt, the director. Pondsolt introduced him as Tim Tharp (pictured above) and I nodded to myself. I knew it! Fortunately the script, which was penned by the team behind '(500) Days of Summer' ironed out the gimmicky dialogue from the book. They made it sound much more natural coming from the mouths of Shaliene Woodley and Miles Teller. Both great leads. It was the perfect way to end the night.Posted Thu Jan 24, 2013 at 07:40 AM PST by: -
Aaron's Sundance 2013 Journal: Day 3by Aaron Peck You know what they say; you can only eat so much Burger King before your body launches a full scale revolt against you. What? They don't say that? Well, they should, because, boy is it true. [teaser]This isn't a journal entry for the weak stomached. This is a cautionary tale, like many of the films up here at Sundance. This is a what-not-to-do festival rundown. If you ever find yourself taking on the mammoth task of a film festival, please use this information wisely.[/teaser] The day started off nicely enough. I hopped on a crowded morning bus heading into the city. I put my headphones on and listened to some local radio as we traveled into town. The drive is a nice one, particularly when you're sitting at your own window seat gazing out at the snow-covered mountains. When you're crunched between a large man and a woman who has no idea where she's going and has to ask the bus driver every stop if this is hers, then it's not as enjoyable. I had an early start to the day, which is always nice. There's something about sitting down for a movie at 9:00 AM that makes me happy. I don't know why, because by all rationality I should be sleeping. The first movie of the day was a documentary called 'Dirty Wars.' A startling tale about covert operations, innocent people being killed during night raids across the world, and the U.S. government agencies behind it. A reporter pieces the labyrinthine puzzle together and what comes out the other side is staggering. My original plan hadn't included 'Virtually Heroes,' but since the first couple days were ruined by weak planning on my part and the scarcity of press tickets for screenings I wanted to get in to, I decided to hit up the Park City at Midnight entry. It would've been better as a 20 minute short. It's a low-budget live-action version of 'Wreck-It Ralph.' A couple of guys in a first-person shooter video game become self-aware. All the references are used up in the first few moments of the movie. Oh yeah, Mark Hamill makes an appearance. So there's that. It was about this time that I felt the first tummy rumble. Like a harbinger of doom my innards gurgled and popped. "Uh oh," I thought. "This can't be good." 'Austenland,' the new movie from the 'Napoleon Dynamite' people was next. Standing in the press line waiting to get in I was wondering what my body was trying to tell me. Was I coming down with the dreaded Sundance Flu? Or was it my careless fast food eating the previous two days? I had a hard time sitting through 'Austenland.' My stomach was speaking more than an elderly lady in a complicated sci-fi movie. This was getting bad, but I had a packed schedule I didn't want to let up. 'Austenland' was agreeable enough. It's the best movie the Hesses have made, but that's not saying a whole lot. I'm not a huge fan of their weirdo quirky humor. Although, Jennifer Coolidge needs to take it down a notch, or five. She's so far over the top in this movie that it caused quite a few of my colleagues to simply give up and walk out. Keri Russell plays a woman who is obsessed with Jane Austen and the time period that her books portray. So, she travels to a reenactment place in England when it's all Austen all the time. After getting out of 'Austenland' I had only 30 minutes to make it to the premiere of 'The Lifeguard' starring Kristen Bell. I underestimated the time it would take to get from the theater I was at to the theater where 'The Lifeguard' was playing. Any other day, I would have jogged there. Not today though. Not with my stomach feeling like a Xenomorph could burst through my gut at any moment. The road to the theater was packed with cars. It was a parking lot. There was no way I'd get there in time on a bus, so I started walking. Time seemed to be passing faster than it should've been. I switched to a brisk walk, and then a light jog. The cold air stung my lungs. Exhaust fumes from the stalled cars on the road choked me. My stomach gurgled in resistance. I barely made it and was greeted with the worst seat in the house: very front row, far right. I craned my neck all the way to the left like I was watching a one-sided tennis match. The movie started. Beads of sweat started forming on my head. This wasn't going to be pretty. I ran to the bathroom. Relief! Or so I thought. 'The Lifeguard,' directed by Liz Garcia (pictured above) is about an older woman, played by Kristen Bell, who falls for an underage teenager after she moves back home because her life is in shambles (FYI: A shamble-y life is a Sundance staple). It's a completely ridiculous movie that is made all the more unwatchable by the sheer number of implausible and uninteresting subplots they try to shoehorn in. My stomach was feeling alright now, so I stayed for the Q&A session. Kristen Bell was there looking very pregnant. I took a few pictures and the session ended. Mrs. Bell came walking back over to my side of the room. I got up, put on my jacket, picked up my bag and started to walk out. The sudden change in position shifted something deep inside my bowels. "Uh oh," I thought. I half-turned my head to see pregnant Kristen Bell directly behind me. I couldn't hold it in. Kristen, if you're reading this, I'm sorry for crop dusting you.Posted Thu Jan 24, 2013 at 07:25 AM PST by:
