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'Trouble with the Curve' Dated for Blu-ray[teaser]The baseball drama starring Clint Eastwood comes to Blu-ray this December. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Warner Brothers will be releasing 'Trouble with the Curve' on Blu-ray on December 21. The film about an ailing baseball scout in his twilight years who takes his daughter along for one last recruiting trip co-stars Amy Adams, Justin Timberlake, and John Goodman. 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 'Trouble with the Curve' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under December 21.Posted Thu Oct 25, 2012 at 01:00 PM PDT by: -
Halloween Sale at Full Moon Direct[teaser]Trick or Treat! Save on cult horror goodies for a limited time at Full Moon Direct! Sale starts tomorrow! [/teaser] Full Moon is preparing for their annual Halloween Sale with DVDs for $6.66, Blu-rays for $13.13, and 50 percent off on all box sets! Blu-ray movies include titles like 'Puppet Master,' 'Subspecies,' and more. Click here to check out the sale... if you dare! This sale starts on Friday, Oct 26th at noon PST and ends on Thursday, Nov 1st at noon PST.Posted Thu Oct 25, 2012 at 12:00 PM PDT by: -
HDD Interviews 'Prometheus' Blu-ray Producer Charles de Lauzirikaby Luke Hickman [teaser]Have you ever wondered where Blu-rays come from, how your favorite film goes from the big screen to your Blu-ray player with pretty little menus, specials features galore, and loads of behind-the-scenes makings-of featurettes? Meet Charles de Lauzirika, seasoned Blu-ray Producer and the man responsible for the recent fully-loaded and glorious 'Prometheus' Blu-ray.[/teaser] Shortly after joining the High-Def Digest crew last April, I quickly made enemies by expressing my negative opinions of the 'Transformers' series. The comments were negative and any time that I mentioned 'Transformers' or Michael Bay, I was accused of "stirring the pot." Taking into account the current comment frenzy following my rave review of the 3D four-disc 'Prometheus' Blu-ray release, I'm ready to take the heat for stirring the pot – only this time I'm in love with a title that the haters want to get heated about. Even if the following interview with Charles de Lauzirika was conducted pertaining to a film that I didn't care for, I'd still enjoy the interview because it offers a quick glimpse at the "man behind the curtain" when it comes to Blu-rays. Six minutes into the interview, technical difficulties arose, so I was forced to follow a different format for the second half. HDD – Luke Hickman: Good morning, Charles. How are you doing today? Charles de Lauzirika: I'm good. How are you? HDD: I'm actually very excited to be talking with you because I'm quite passionate about 'Prometheus' – in a good way. Charles de Lauzirika: (Laughs) That's good. HDD: I've got to ask for clarification – what exactly is your title? Because you've done a lot. Charles de Lauzirika: Well, uh – (Laughs) It kind of changes from project to project, but for 'Prometheus' I am the Blu-ray Producer and I produced and directed the documentary 'The Furious Gods.' HDD: As a Blu-ray Producer, how much of the Blu-ray creation process are you involved with? Everything? Charles de Lauzirika: Yeah. (laughs) Pretty much everything that's specific to the Blu-ray. I have some involvement in – or a lot of involvement in, depending on what aspect it is – documenting the making of the film and putting together a making-of experience – whether it's in the form of a documentary or other extras that go on the disc. That's the work of me and my team. I'm also involved in some degree with the menus, packaging and everything else that requires my input. HDD: Forgive me for gushing, but I have to tell you that this Blu-ray is gorgeous in every way. From the packaging and the menus to the content and even the transfer, this is an amazing Blu-ray release. Charles de Lauzirika: Thank you. I'm glad that you think so. HDD: As a filmmaker – because you've made your own films before – is it hard to get the studio to allow you to give films the Blu-ray release that you want? Charles de Lauzirika: Every project is different and I've never had the same experience twice on [Blu-rays]. Some turn out to be amazingly easy when you thought that they were going to be huge nightmares. Others, when you thought they were going to be a slam dunk, can be terrible. A lot of these are fun and the amount of studio support varies from time to time. In terms of 'Prometheus,' I was expecting it to be – you know, it's a very ambitious project with a lot of people with interest in it – I thought it was going to drive the direction that the project was going to go with it, but Fox really gave me a lot of freedom and a lot of support. To me, it was a lot of fun actually. The only thing that I wish we would have had was more time, but I guess that's a common complaint. All Blu-ray Producers wish they had more time. HDD: The lack of time doesn't show, especially with your making-of documentary. Were you on shoot for the entire film to gather this footage? Charles de Lauzirika: Oh, yeah. I started shooting well over a year before production even began. I was shooting around the offices of Scott Free [Productions] in L.A. and any other time that there was something worth covering. I went out for pre-production at Pinewood studios in England and when I couldn't be there, I had another camera operator named Vanessa White who would shoot in my absence – it was a long stretch to be out there. I would go, and them come, following the production as best I could. For post-production, we followed all the way up to the end at its release. HDD: One attribute of the Blu-ray that I love is how expansive and how deep you were able to dive with your special features. Most special features shy away from mentioning the draft-to-draft evolution of the screenplay, but 'Prometheus' doesn't. It explains it all – included hints and nods to the other 'Alien' movies and even 'Blade Runner.' Going back to the studio involvement, was Fox okay with all this? Charles de Lauzirika: To be honest, when working on a Ridley Scott production, it's Ridley Scott who allows me to do it. Basically, I have a long relationship with him, so when it's appropriate, he lets me come in, document – with 'Prometheus,' we all knew that it was the type of film worth documenting and doing a real treatment of [what we shot]. He was not only the one who said "yes,' but he said, "Come on in and start cracking," so I did. I literally shot just as much as I could. HDD: There is so much work that goes into the Blu-ray process that - if you'll forgive me for saying so - that doesn't get recognition, which is why it's really exciting to be speaking with you. Charles de Lauzirika: Yeah, it's great. I'm kind of fortunately, actually – I've been doing this for 14 years now and I think – (laughs) I agree with your opinion about the recognition. I find it interesting the people come up to me and mention a commonality between making movies – pre-production, production and post-production – that rarely changes significantly. For me, it's the stories – the human stories – from film to film that change. And that's what interests me. That's what makes it fresh and new every single time I start one of these. HDD: Speaking of these unique human stories, is there any single one in particular that you're especially proud of on the 'Prometheus' discs? Charles de Lauzirika: For sure. The thing that I'm most proud of is the primary documentary, 'The Furious Gods: Making 'Prometheus.'' It's over three-hours and forty-minutes – At this moment in the interview, my computer – which I use as a recorder – froze entirely. I couldn't view IMDb or my notes, so the second half had its flaws. I hoped that it was still recording the audio; afterall, I could still hear and speak, but it didn't. Luckily, I takes notes while conducting over-the-phone interviews, so I can relay a paraphrased version of the remainder of the interview. Charles de Lauzirika went on to talk about how privileged he felt to have been given the opportunity to make 'The Furious Gods' documentary. It's rare that a Blu-ray Producer is given so much access to a shoot. The result is well-documented footage from the entire filmmaking process, including the good and the bad. His job isn't to promote the film, but to show the history of how it came about. For Charles de Lauzirika, a job like 'Prometheus' is a dream come true. One of my favorite features on the Blu-ray set is the interactive second-screen Weyland Corp interactive app. If your Blu-ray player and your mobile phone or tablet are connected to the same wireless internet service, then your device syncs with the playing of the film allows you to customize your viewing experience, even allowing you to "flick" some of the deleted scenes from your device to your TV at the appropriate part of the film where it would appear had it not been deleted. You can see the trailer for the app here: When I expressed how much I enjoyed this function, de Lauzirika explained that this app was Fox's trail for mobile syncing. He didn't have much to do with the design and creation of it (mostly because of the technicality of it), but he believes that apps much like it will be a big part of Blu-rays in the future. I closed out our conversation asking about other titles that de Lauzirika is especially proud of, titles that offer him great satisfaction. The first and most fond of them is 'Blade Runner.' De Lauzirika not only produced the Blu-ray, but also produced the film – which is why he considers it his "most fun and in-depth" of them all. Other collaborations that he's enjoyed were those with David Lynch on 'Twin Peaks' and anything with Tony Scott, Michael Bay, and Marc Webb. When de Lauzirika was producing commercials, he actually hired Webb as an editor. Starting with '(500) Days of Summer,' the two switched roles. Webb became the boss, de Lauzirika the employee. Charles de Lauzirika produced the '(500) Days' Blu-ray for Webb and has just wrapped up production of Webb's 'The Amazing Spider-Man' Blu-ray. When I asked for a hint of what to expect from 'The Amazing Spider-Man' Blu-ray, he told me that he's especially proud of a 3D tutorial with Marc Webb. If you look into the Blu-rays that Charles de Lauzirika has produced, you'll notice that they all share one attribute – they're all meaty and full of actually-special special features. When I asked which titles he'll be producing after 'The Amazing Spider-Man,' he informed me that he's not allowed to talk about them yet – but if there are any upcoming titles that you love, you can only hope that he will be the brain behind them.Posted Thu Oct 25, 2012 at 10:55 AM PDT by: -
'Easter Parade' Announced for Blu-ray[teaser]Irving Berlin's 1948 musical heads to Blu-ray in February! [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Warner Brothers is preparing 'Easter Parade' for Blu-ray on February 19. If you can't join 'em, beat 'em! When his long-time dance partner abandons him for the Ziegfeld Follies, Don Hewes decides to show who's who what's what by choosing any girl out of a chorus line and transforming her into a star. So he makes his choice and takes his chances. Of course, since Fred Astaire portrays Don and Judy Garland plays the chorine, we know we're in for an entertainment sure thing. 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 'Easter Parade' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under February 19.Posted Thu Oct 25, 2012 at 10:00 AM PDT by: -
'Silent Night' Blu-ray Announced and Detailed[teaser]You better watch out! Santa Claus is coming to Blu-ray this December! [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Starz/Anchor Bay is working on 'Silent Night' for Blu-ray on December 4. A loose remake of the horror classic 'Silent Night, Deadly Night,' the film’s stellar cast includes Malcolm McDowell (Rob Zombie’s 'Halloween'), Jaime King ('My Bloody Valentine 3D'), Donal Logue ('Shark Night 3D'), Lisa Marie ('Sleepy Hollow'), Brendan Fehr ('Final Destination'), and Ellen Wong ('Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World').. The Blu-ray/DVD combo pack will feature 1080p video, a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 soundtrack, and the disc will include a Behind-the-scenes featurette and deleted scenes. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $24.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Silent Night' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under December 4.Posted Thu Oct 25, 2012 at 08:00 AM PDT by: -
'Kill 'Em All' Blu-ray Announced[teaser]Raimund Huber’s non-stop martial arts action film will be unleashed on Blu-ray in December [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Well Go USA is prepping 'Kill 'Em All' for Blu-ray on December 11. Captured international assassins are locked up inside a high-tech bunker known as the Killing Chamber and to break out they must kill 'em all! The cast includes Johnny Messner ('Bad Ass'), Chia Hui Liu ('Flying Swords of Dragon Gate'), Joe Lewis ('Bloodmoon'), Tim Man ('Bangkok Adrenaline'), Ammara Siripong ('Chocolate'), Brahim Achabbakhe ('Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li'), and Erik Markus Schuetz ('Blood Ties'). . Specs and supplements have yet to be revealed, but suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $29.98. You can find the latest specs for 'Kill 'Em All' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under December 11.Posted Thu Oct 25, 2012 at 06:00 AM PDT by: -
'Killer Joe' Dated for Blu-ray[teaser]William Friedkin's 2011 black comedy heads to Blu-ray this December. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Lionsgate will be releasing 'Killer Joe' on Blu-ray on December 21. Hailed as one of the best films of the year, the crime thriller stars Matthew McConaughey, Emile Hirsch, Juno Temple, Thomas Haden Church, Gina Gershon, and Scott Martin. Specs and supplements haven't been revealed yet, but the suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $24.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Killer Joe' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under December 21.Posted Wed Oct 24, 2012 at 01:00 PM PDT by: -
'Best in Show' Dated for Blu-ray[teaser]The cult comedy hit will let the dogs out on Blu-ray this February! [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Warner Brothers is working on 'Best in Show' for a Blu-ray release on February 19. The tension is palpable, the excitement is mounting and the heady scent of competition is in the air as hundreds of eager contestants from across America prepare to take part in what is undoubtedly one of the greatest events of their lives -- the Mayflower Dog Show. 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 'Best in Show' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under February 19.Posted Wed Oct 24, 2012 at 12:00 PM PDT by: -
'Branded' Blu-ray Dated and Detailed[teaser]The futuristic psychological thriller will debut on Blu-ray in January. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Lionsgate has revealed 'Branded' will hit Blu-ray on January 15. Ed Stoppard, Leelee Sobieski, Jeffrey Tambor and Max Von Sydow star in this mind-bending, sci-fi thriller set in a surreal, not-so-distant future. In a dystopian society where mega-corporations rule, a terrifying conspiracy has been unleashed - one that controls the minds of the citizens. One man (Stoppard) is determined to unlock the truth behind the conspiracy. His quest to find it will plunge him into a tangled web of power and intrigue, leading to a shocking revelation and an epic battle with the hidden forces and creatures that threaten the fate of mankind.. The Blu ray will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements include an audio commentary with directors Jamie Bradshaw and Alexander Doulerain. Suggested list price for each Blu-ray is $29.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Branded' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under January 15.Posted Wed Oct 24, 2012 at 10:00 AM PDT by: -
'Lady Antebellum: Own the Night World Tour' Blu-ray Announced[teaser]The 2012 concert from the country music superstars will rock Blu-ray in December. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Eagle Rock is readying 'Lady Antebellum: Own the Night World Tour' for Blu-ray on December 4. Filmed in June of 2012, the concert features the Nashville-based band—Hillary Scott, Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood—complete with documentary footage of the tour and seven additional bonus tracks. Lady Antebellum’s headlining tour traveled across the US, Canada, Europe and Australia, where the Grammy winning trio was welcomed by over one million fans in 11 countries on three continents. Lady A sold out shows in top markets including Los Angeles, Chicago, two nights in New York City, Toronto, London, three nights at Sydney’s Opera House and even had a chance to open a sold out show at London’s Hard Rock Calling for one of their idols Bruce Springsteen. The concept for the stage was simply sketched out on a paper plate while out on tour the summer of 2011 and evolved into one of the trio’s proudest accomplishments as a band. Before taking the show overseas, Lady Antebellum celebrated the final weekend of the North American leg by documenting the show from Little Rock, AR. The 90-minute performance includes #1 hits “I Run To You,” “We Owned The Night,” “American Honey,” “Just A Kiss,” “Our Kind of Love,” and, of course, the greatest selling country single of all time, “Need You Now.” Among the performances are documentary excerpts depicting their lives as songwriters, musicians, and close friends. According to Variety, “Lady Antebellum certainly pushes all the right buttons in concert: backdrops dominated by shooting stars and bucolic scenery, a careful placement of the hits--but there's more to their appeal than just that. Their palette is broader, more forcefully colored than most of their peers, and the soulfulness that results is unmistakable. Lady Antebellum is currently nominated for “Vocal Group of the Year” and “Album of the Year” for OWN THE NIGHT at the 46th Annual CMA Awards. OWN THE NIGHT debuted at the No. one position on Billboard’s Top 200 and has spawned two No. one hits “We Owned The Night” and “Just A Kiss.” The trio has sold over 11 million albums across the globe, scored seven GRAMMY Awards and tallied six No. one hits. Track Listing: 1) Intro 2) We Owned The Night 3) Stars Tonight 4) The Road To Here 5) Love Don’t Live Here 6) The Red Piano 7) Just A Kiss 8) Rebuilding Through Music 9) Dancin’ Away With My Heart 10) From The Ground Up 11) Our Kind Of Love 12) Touring The World 13) Perfect Day 14) Club LaBellum 15) American Honey 16) Coming Full Circle 17) Hello World 18) Evolution Of A Song 19) Wanted You More 20) Connection With The Fans 21) I Run To You 22) Lookin’ For A Good Time 23) The Next Chapter 24) Need You Now 25) We Owned The Night (Credits) 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 'Lady Antebellum: Own the Night World Tour' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under December 4.Posted Wed Oct 24, 2012 at 08:00 AM PDT by:
