-
Aaron's Sundance 2013 Journal: Day 2by Aaron Peck [teaser]Today was the day I realized the schedule I had previously mapped out, simply wasn't going to work at all. I'd put too much faith in the memory of public screening tickets being easier to procure in earlier years. This year, press tickets for public showings have become a competitive race to see who can get to the press office first. Most movie bloggers are horribly out of shape, so this makes for a very awkward race indeed.[/teaser] Yesterday I'd been shut out of 'The Spectacular Now' premiere, which caused my meticulously planned schedule to crumble like a house of cards. Now I was left scanning the schedule to see what tickets I could request instead. Premieres were being snapped up fast. So I decided to get a ticket to see Joseph Gordon-Levitt's directorial debut premiere of 'Don Jon's Addiction.' Thankfully, I got into that screening even though there was a long line for requests. With my schedule somewhat set for the rest of the day, I tried to relax. This year I've been trying not to rush around so much. Last year I pushed myself as hard as I possibly could and became exhausted. This year, even though I wanted to see a lot of films, I really didn't want to push myself to point of exhaustion. This is a promise that sounds good, but ultimately is impossible. So many films to see, so little time. To make matters worse, the organizers and Park City health services are scared of an influenza outbreak. Think about it. The nation is seeing one of the worst flu seasons ever and now all those flu strains are gathering in one small town in the mountains. It's a recipe for disaster. Someone even took it upon themselves to create a comedic Twitter account called @SundanceFlu to remind people that influenza is lurking everywhere. Ready to strike. The first screening of the day was for 'The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete.' The press tent was full of the all too familiar cattle guard gates where they herd everyone in, line them up, and then keep them confined until it's time to fill the theater. I immediately noticed the sea of coffee and Red Bull. People were already gearing up for what was going to be a strenuous week of watching and writing. 'Mister and Pete' ended up being a decent little story about two kids in the ghetto that are forced to live on their own for an entire summer. The performances are astounding and genuine. Even though the movie runs through some standard conventions, it still pulled at a few of my heartstrings. The second movie I saw was 'Mud.' Another movie about two kids, with a couple more surprising performances by child actors. 'Mud', starring Matthew McConaughey, already premiered in Cannes to rave reviews. That buzz is well-founded. Jeff Nichols, who directed the fantastic 'Take Shelter,' puts together another wonderfully constructed movie filled with rich characters. The last screening of the day was the premiere of 'Don Jon's Addiction.' There's no way that Joseph Gordon-Levitt's original cut of this movie will get an R rating. As it stands, I would bet anything that it'll get an NC-17. The movie is about a Guido from New Jersey who has an addiction to porn. Gordon-Levitt has decided to cut in real porn clips that show everything except for penetration. Sundance likes risqué, but the MPAA will most certainly tell him to cut out a lot of the clips he included. The movie itself has too much of a tonal problem going on. It tries to be both hard and unforgiving – like 'Shame,' – and then sweet and loving – like '(500) Days of Summer.' The Q&A was fantastic though. Almost the entire cast was there. Scarlett Johansson and Brie Larson were missing. Despite the scheduling snafus of the first day, the second day turned out to be a decent one. Day three, however, would prove to be one of the worst festival-going days I'd ever had...Posted Thu Jan 24, 2013 at 07:20 AM PST by: -
Aaron's Sundance 2013 Journal: Day 1by Aaron Peck [teaser]Seems like just a few months ago I was traipsing around Park City watching brand-new indie movies, and now here I am doing it again. The next nine days will be chock full of as many movie screenings as I can possibly fit in. Caffeine consumption is up and sleep duration is down. It's time to see some movies![/teaser] Opening Day. There isn't much to do on the first day of Sundance. The movies that open the festival don't start until the evening, so you're basically stuck waiting. So, I wasn't in that big of a rush to get to the festival. I should have rushed. I hadn't seen one movie yet and my prepared schedule had already taken a catastrophic body blow. I love seeing public screenings because you get the Q&A session and you get to see the movie with a real audience. There's not much that's "real" when watching a movie with a bunch of press and industry people. Granted, the press members are much more wrapped up in the movie, but the industry people (people buying, selling, or representing movies) are a finicky bunch. They can't stay off their phones, they get up and leave halfway through the movie. It's tiresome watching movies with those people. Which brings me back to my dilemma. For public screenings, press members have to request tickets. There are only so many tickets allotted for us during any one screening. I hurried into the press office when I finally got into the city and stared sullenly at the bad news. It was only 8:30 AM and all the tickets for the premiere for 'The Spectacular Now' had been taken. I was bummed. All that planning was quickly circling the drain. Not only that, but I found out that the premiere I was planning on seeing Saturday for Lynn Shelton's 'Touchy Feely' was also gone. This day was not turning out well at all. I was gutted. Instead I picked up a ticket for the premiere of 'Don Jon's Addiction', and hoped for the best. Best laid plans and all that, right? Still, it feels like this year they're making it harder to get into public screenings for whatever reason. Last year I was able to get into the premiere of 'Your Sister's Sister' on the same day I requested the tickets. I'm now planning on seeing the adaption of Tim Tharp's novel on Sunday. Hopefully it works out. The opening night film I ended up seeing was a documentary called 'Who is Dayani Cristal?' The synopsis, which describes a mysterious body, with a cryptic tattoo being found in the desert, ended up having very little in the way of mystery. Instead the movie really is a comment on illegal immigration. While preachy at times, I found it to be a humanizing exercise. Putting faces, families, and feelings with statistics of undocumented workers. After the movie is was off to a party for Nintendo's Wii U. There was the requisite open bar, tiny hor d'oeuvres, and music blasting-way-too-loud. It reminded me why I don't usually do the party scene at Sundance. The branding side of the festival doesn't really interest me. Although, seeing a S.H.I.E.L.D. vehicle made me think that something exciting was going on somewhere. All I could think about when I got back home was that tomorrow held more promise. But, dammit, I had to be up early to request tickets or I'd be out of luck again.Posted Thu Jan 24, 2013 at 07:15 AM PST by: -
'Kill Your Darlings' Dated for Blu-ray[teaser]John Krokidas' directorial debut heads to Blu-ray in March. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Sony will be releasing 'Kill Your Darlings' on Blu-ray on March 18. A true story of friendship, love and murder, 'Kill Your Darlings' recounts the pivotal year that changed Allen Ginsberg's life forever and provided the spark for him to start his creative revolution. Specs haven't been revealed yet, but supplements include: Audio Commentary with Daniel Radcliffe, Dane DeHaan, John Krokidas and Austin Bunn; Deleted Scenes; Q&A with John Krokidas and Austin Bunn; In Conversation with Daniel Radcliffe and Dane DeHaan; and On the Red Carpet at the Toronto Film Festival. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is still undetermined at this time. You can find the latest specs for 'Kill Your Darlings' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under March 18.Posted Thu Jan 24, 2013 at 06:00 AM PST by: -
'Adventures in Zambezia' Wal-Mart Exclusive Blu-ray[teaser]The 2012 animated adventure soars to Blu-ray this March. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Sony's 'Adventures in Zambezia' will be available on Blu-ray exclusively at Wal-Mart on March 26. When a spirited young falcon named Kai (Jeremy Suarez, TV's "The Bernie Mac Show") learns of Zambezia, the fabulous city of birds, he leaves his remote country home against the wishes of his father (Samuel L. Jackson). But when his dad is captured by an evil lizard who plans to attack the city, Kai must learn the importance of teamwork if he's to rescue his father, save his new friends and help keep Zambezia lizard free. Samuel L. Jackson, Abigail Breslin, Jeff Goldblum and Leonard Nimoy give voice to this beautifully animated fun-filled adventure the whole family will enjoy.. Specs have yet to be revealed, but supplements for the Blu-ray/DVD combo pack will include: Come Fly with Me music video by Jewels Jaselle and Benj Heard; Birds of a Feature; An African Story; The Tree City; and Technical Challenges. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is still undetermined at this time. You can find the latest specs for 'Adventures in Zambezia' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under March 26.Posted Thu Jan 24, 2013 at 06:00 AM PST by: -
'Sommersby' Dated for Blu-ray[teaser]Jon Amiel's 1993 romantic period drama is headed for Blu-ray in May. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Warner Brothers is working on 'Sommersby' for a Blu-ray release on May 21. Set after the civil war, a man by the name of Jack Sommersby (Richard Gere) returns home several years after he was presumed dead. He arrives armed with ideas and vigor, and soon brings his town back to prosperity, turning his once bitter marriage to his wife Laurel (Jodie Foster) into a passionate romance. Despite his many accomplishments, though, whispers spread and suspicions arise that Jack might not be the man he says he is. Specs and supplements have yet to be revealed, but suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $19.98. You can find the latest specs for 'Sommersby' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under May 21.Posted Wed Jan 23, 2013 at 01:00 PM PST by: -
'Jurassic Park - 3D' Announced and Detailed for Blu-ray 3D[teaser] Explore Steven Spielberg's 1993 blockbuster like never before on Blu-ray 3D in April! [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Universal Studios is working on 'Jurassic Park - 3D' for a Blu-ray release on April 23. In theaters on April 5th and available via a Blu-ray/DVD/UltraViolet Combo Pack on April 23rd, Jurassic Park 3D finds the beloved epic remastered and presented in state-of-the-art 3D. The 3D reissue allows Spielberg to introduce the three-time Academy Award-winning blockbuster to a new generation of moviegoers while allowing longtime fans to experience the world he envisioned in a way that was unimaginable during the film's original release. Starring Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, Samuel L. Jackson and Richard Attenborough, the film is based on the novel by Michael Crichton and is produced by Kathleen Kennedy and Gerald R. Molen. Regular Blu-ray editions of 'Jurassic Park,' 'The Lost World: Jurassic Park,' and 'Jurassic Park III' will also be sold separately in Blu-ray/DVD/Ultraviolet Digital Copy combo packs a month prior on March 26. Fans can expect 1080p video, DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 soundtracks, and the same supplements ported over from the 'Jurassic Park Ultimate Trilogy' Blu-ray set. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray 3D combo pack is $49.98 and the single releases will be $34.98. You can find the latest specs for the individual 'Jurassic Park' films and 'Jurassic Park - 3D' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where they're indexed under March 26 and April 23 respectively.Posted Wed Jan 23, 2013 at 12:00 PM PST by: -
'Gorgo' Announced for Blu-ray[teaser]The 1961 monster movie will be unleashed on Blu-ray in March. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, VCI will be bringing 'Gorgo' to Blu-ray on March 19. A volcanic eruption in the North Atlantic brings to the surface a 65-foot prehistoric monster. Two treasure divers capture the creature and take him to London where he is put on display in a circus. A scientist is thoughtful enough to point out that the sailors' bonanza is only an infant, and that a full-grown specimen would be over 200 feet in height. Sure enough, Gorgo's mama comes thundering ashore, reclaims her offspring and heads back to sea - but not before she trashes a generous portion of London. The special effects in GORGO, provided by Tom Howard - two-time Academy Award winner, are truly admirable. The monster is quite ferocious - except when he wiggles his ears. Released by MGM in 1961. Specs have yet to be revealed, but supplements will include: "Ninth Wonder Of The World: The Making Of Gorgo" a new documentary by Daniel Griffith; Gorgo - Video Comic Book and Comic Book Cover Gallery; Extensive Lobby Card & Poster Gallery; Photo Gallery; Gorgo Toys & Collectibles Gallery; Production Notes; Original Theatrical Trailer; Pressbook Gallery; Star Ciné Cosmos - French-language "fumetto" (comic book); and Before & After Restoration Video. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is still undetermined at this time. You can find the latest specs for 'Gorgo' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under March 19.Posted Wed Jan 23, 2013 at 10:00 AM PST by: -
'The Man with the Iron Fists' Announced and Detailed for Blu-ray[teaser]RZA's action-packed epic arrives on Blu-ray in February. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Universal Studios says 'The Man with the Iron Fists' will have a Blu-ray release on February 12. Starring Academy Award winner Russell Crowe ('Gladiator,' 'American Gangster'), Lucy Liu ('Kill Bill Vol.1'), and RZA ('Wu-Tang Clan,' 'American Gangster'), 'The Man with the Iron Fists' unrated extended edition includes jaw-dropping martial arts action that you couldn't see in theaters. The film also stars mixed martial arts fighter Dave Bautista (6-Time WWE champion, 'Scorpion King 3'), Rick Yune ('The Fast and the Furious') Jamie Chung ('Sucker Punch,' 'The Hangover Part II'), Cung Le ('Pandorum') and Byron Mann. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements include: Deleted Scenes, A Path to the East, A Look Inside The Man with the Iron Fists, and On the Set with RZA. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $34.98. You can find the latest specs for 'The Man with the Iron Fists' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's now indexed under February 12.Posted Wed Jan 23, 2013 at 08:00 AM PST by: -
Blockbuster is Closing 300 Stores in the US[teaser]It's been bad news after bad news on the Blockbuster front – this time in the States. [/teaser] Following right on the heels of 129 stores being closed in the UK, Blockbuster will be closing doors in the US. 300 stores of the existing 850 will be shut down, leaving the company with around 550. The closing will also mean the elimination of around 3,000 employees who were all informed of the shutdowns late last week. At this point, things aren't looking good for Blockbuster. Dish sees the stores as a potential benefit if the company's ends up expanding into the mobile broadband market, but the days of disc rentals from Blockbuster are all but over. When one of the biggest problems facing your chain is convenience, shutting more stores isn't going to improve things. Source: Home Media MagazinePosted Tue Jan 22, 2013 at 11:00 AM PST by: -
'Rise of the Guardians' Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D Announced[teaser]The family adventure film will debut on video just in time for Easter! [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, DreamWorks is preparing 'Rise of the Guardians' Blu-ray/DVD combo pack and 'Rise of the Guardians - 3D' Blu-ray 3D/Blu-ray/DVD combo pack for March 12. The animated feature brings to life Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, Jack Frost and the Sandman like never before as they join forces against the Bogeyman. Specs have yet to be revealed, but supplements for the Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy combo pack will include: The Croods trailer, Sneak Peek - Turbo, Featurette: Legendary Features, and Additional Scenes (Blu-ray exclusive). Apparently there will also be an Easter Blu-ray combo pack that will include two hopping egg toys. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is set $44.99 and the Blu-ray 3D is $54.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Rise of the Guardians' and 'Rise of the Guardians - 3D' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where they're indexed under March 12.Posted Tue Jan 22, 2013 at 10:00 AM PST by:
