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'Star Trek: The Next Generation - Season 2' Blu-ray Dated[teaser]The second season of the classic sci-fi series will boldly go where Season 1 has gone before on Blu-ray this December! [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Paramount has set 'Star Trek: The Next Generation: Season 2' for Blu-ray on December 4. "Fans have been clamoring for a high-definition release of "Star Trek: The Next Generation,"" Ken Ross, Executive Vice President and General Manager of CBS Entertainment, said in a statement. "Transferring the series to high-definition presented difficult technical challenges, but our team has come up with a process to create true 1080p HD masters with true HD visual effects. We can’t wait to show fans how pristine the series looks and sounds with our upcoming Blu-ray releases." CBS is, in fact, returning to the original film negatives, a mother lode of material encompassing 25,000-plus reels of footage, and editing the episodes together precisely as they were when they originally aired between 1987 and 1994. Visual effects will not be upconverted from videotape, but instead will be recompositioned. The freshly cut film will ultimately be transferred to high definition with 7.1 DTS Master Audio. And all of the work is being done in conjunction with respected, longtime Star Trek figures Denise and Michael Okuda, who are on board as consultants." Specs and supplements have yet to be revealed, but suggested list price for the Blu-ray set is $129.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Star Trek: The Next Generation: Season 2' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under December 4.Posted Wed Sep 5, 2012 at 02:00 PM PDT by: -
High-Def Holidays: Fall into Bluby Dick Ward [teaser]The summer is over and that means it’s time to go back to school. Or at least it used to be. For most of us, the end of summer just means that we’ll continue going to work every day, but we won’t have to stare longingly out our windows wishing we were outside. It’s actually a pretty nice feeling. “High-Def Holidays” is a celebration of that and all the other strange and wonderful things that September brings us.[/teaser] Classical Music Month When I think classical music, the first thing that leaps to mind is the ridiculously long but insanely good ‘ Amadeus.’ You may need an intermission in the middle, but ‘Amadeus’ is a fascinating movie and it has one of the finest soundtracks you’re ever going to hear. Yes, even better than ‘Top Gun.’ Suck it, Kenny Loggins. National Honey Month You know what? It’s about time to start a petition to get this month changed to “National Hunny Month,” because dangit, ‘ Winnie the Pooh’ is great. Admittedly, the new Pooh movie didn’t have the same adult appeal that ‘The Muppets’ did, but it’s a fine flick nonetheless, and well worth watching. Especially with some waffles covered in honey. Or just some honey on its own. Go nuts, I won’t judge you. National Sewing Month Some people think about Betsy Ross. Others think about quilts and Boy Scout badges. When I think about sewing, I think about my very favorite sewing serial killer Buffalo Bill from ‘The Silence of the Lambs.’ Sure he’s sick and twisted and deranged, but the man loves sewing! September 4th - Newspaper Carrier Day Until the hard-R Quentin Tarantino version of the videogame ‘Paperboy’ gets made, there will only be one movie that represents just what it means to work one of the most thankless jobs there is. On top of that, ‘Newsies’ does it in style, complete with Christian Bale, Ann Margaret, Bill Pullman, and the videogame playing kid from ‘The Wizard.’ That being said, where the hell is ‘The Wizard’ on Blu-ray? September 6th - Read a Book Day I read a lot as a kid, and I mean a lot. I read walking to school, I read at the dinner table, and I even took baths instead of showers so I could keep my book with me. The reason, of course, is that I loved reading, but I think a little part of me thought that one day things would get all ‘ Neverending Story,’ and I’d get myself a princess and a flying dog and I guess a snail too. September 10th - Swap Ideas Day Alright, hear me out on this. ’17 Again’ is awesome. It’s a body-swap movie starring Zac Efron, but you really can’t hold that against it. Or rather, you shouldn’t. If you do, then you miss out on one of my favorite Thomas Lennon – Lt. Dangle from ‘Reno 911’ - performances ever. He turns this from a forgettable body-swap flick into one that you really should see. September 13th - Positive Thinking Day There’s something wonderfully reassuring about a movie where the main character doesn’t have a mean thought in his head. That’s Chance, from Hal Ashby’s ‘ Being There.’ He’s a sort of Forrest Gump like character, but unlike Forrest, he doesn’t seem to be concerned with much at all – just gardening. The movie is a satire of just about everything you can satire, and the performance of Peter Sellers really brings the whole thing together. Look, just see it alright? 4th Week - National Dog Week I’ll just come right out and say it. I don’t care for dogs. I try, but dogs and I have come to an understanding – they don’t like me and I don’t like them. That being said, ‘Lady and the Tramp’ is still one of the finest Disney movies there is. Every kiss that has happened because of two people eating the same end of a piece of spaghetti is directly attributable to this movie. If that doesn’t put it up there as a reason to celebrate our quadruped friends, I don’t know what does. September 23rd - Checkers Day Keeping with the whole dog theme, let’s talk about one of the most famous political dogs of all time – Checkers. While the dog himself didn’t do too much, he was one of the subjects of a very famous speech that Richard Nixon once gave. I didn’t see ‘ Frost/Nixon,’ but they probably mentioned that in the movie. If not, well, Sam Rockwell is in it and he’s great. So go watch it. September 30th – Safety Pin Invented Apparently safety pins were made for things besides showing how punk you are, which is why I had to go to a grocery store to get them in high school instead of Hot Topic. Well whatever their real purpose – fastening things maybe? – we’re going to go all punk rock with this and enjoy some glorious Gary Oldman in ‘Sid and Nancy.’Posted Wed Sep 5, 2012 at 01:30 PM PDT by: -
'The Magic of Belle Isle' Announced for Blu-ray[teaser]Rob Reiner's uplifting drama comes to Blu-ray in mid September. [/teaser] In an announcement to retailers, Magnolia has revealed 'The Magic of Belle Isle' for Blu-ray on September 18. Reuniting with director Rob Reiner from the hit film, 'The Bucket List,' Morgan Freeman plays Monte Wildhorn, a famous Western novelist whose struggle with alcoholism has sapped his passion for writing. He takes a lakeside cabin for the summer in picturesque Belle Isle, and befriends the family next door – an attractive single mom (Virginia Madsen) and her young daughters – who help him find inspiration again. Specs have yet to be revealed, but supplements will include: Audio Commentary, Deleted Scenes, HDNet: A Look At, and Original Trailer. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $29.98. You can find the latest specs for 'The Magic of Belle Isle' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under September 18.Posted Wed Sep 5, 2012 at 10:00 AM PDT by: -
'Doctor Who: Series Seven, Part One' Announced for Blu-ray[teaser]Five more episodes of the sci-fi drama are bound for Blu-ray in November. [/teaser] In an announcement to retailers, BBC is preparing 'Doctor Who: Series Seven, Part One' for Blu-ray on November 13. Join the Doctor, his companions Amy and Rory (aka the Ponds) and numerous friends on their latest escapades through space and time where they puzzle an unexpected invasion of Earth, save a spaceship full of dinosaurs, don Stetsons in a Wild West adventure and are even kidnapped by the Doctor's oldest foe. The explosive series concludes with Amy and Rory's heart-breaking farewell – a race against time through the streets of Manhattan. Will the Doctor really lose the Ponds forever? There's only one way to find out. Specs have yet to be revealed, but supplements for the 2-disc set will include: The Science of Doctor Who, Doctor Who at Comic Con, and Bonus Scenes. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $29.98. You can find the latest specs for 'Doctor Who: Series Seven, Part One' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under November 13.Posted Wed Sep 5, 2012 at 08:00 AM PDT by: -
'Beyond the Black Rainbow' Dated for Blu-ray[teaser]The sci-fi thriller from director Panos Cosmatos arrives on Blu-ray next week. [/teaser] In an announcement to retailers, Magnolia says 'Beyond the Black Rainbow' is coming to Blu-ray on September 11. Set in the strange and oppressive emotional landscape of the year 1983, 'Beyond the Black Rainbow' is a Reagan-era fever dream inspired by hazy childhood memories of midnight movies and Saturday morning cartoons. From the producer of 'Machotaildrop,' 'Rainbow' is the outlandish feature film debut of writer and director Panos Cosmatos. Featuring a hypnotic analog synthesizer score by Jeremy Schmidt of "Sinoia Caves" and "Black Mountain," 'Rainbow' is a film experience for the senses. Specs have yet to be revealed, but supplements will include: Audio Commentary with Director Panos Cosmatos, Extended Scenes, Behind the Scenes, Making of Beyond The Black Rainbow, and Original Trailer. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $29.98. You can find the latest specs for 'Beyond the Black Rainbow' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under September 11.Posted Wed Sep 5, 2012 at 06:00 AM PDT by: -
Back to School Blus - Part 1[teaser]It's that time of year again! Grab your backpacks and books, 'cause you're heading back to school! Oh come on, it's not that bad. We'll tell you what, here's a long list of back to school movies to take your mind off the back to school blues...[/teaser] Whether you're in middle school, high school, college, or grad school, chances are we've got just the movie for you! After classes and homework, why not take some time out of your hectic Fall schedule to enjoy a movie or three. You'll need it, trust us! 8th Year College Senior Congratulations! You've somehow piled up 254 credits and still haven't graduated. You've become the campus legend, trolling around campus on your longboard, sporting flip-flops, no shirt, and a worn-out guitar you use to woo the ladies. Life is good, right? As you live the life of campus luxury, one might wonder what you do with all your free time. We're pretty sure you've watched 'Van Wilder' approximately 170 times since entering college. The first time you watched it you probably realized, hey that dude's got the right idea! Another great title to add to your growing collection of Blu-rays would be 'Old School.' Those guys are looking toward the future just like you. A future full of quads, ultimate Frisbee, and midnight streaking. Damn, it feels good to be the king. (Note: We know you already have 'Animal House' playing on a constant loop in your frat house living room, that's why we didn't mention it.) Hipster High School Senior Living in the 80s Look, we totally understand the whole awesome retro vibe you've got going on here. It's cool, nobody else understands you because you're edgy and you don't kowtow to the popular tastes of the day. Instead you revel in vinyl and brag about the sweet albums you just picked up at the thrift store. Who cares if you were born in the mid-90s, you know what's cool. A connoisseur of tastes such as yours requires very discerning movie-watching habits. In this case anything made in the 80s by John Hughes is free game. Everything else isn't worth your time. It's time to break out all the classics, or as you like to call them, "The only high school comedies with real substance." 'The Breakfast Club' will resonate with your outsider status. 'Sixteen Candles' will play with your keen sensibilities. 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off' was, at one time, a little too mainstream for your tastes, but has been somewhat forgotten by the recent generation of hardcore gamers and fanboys, so don't worry, it's cool to like it again. You may even want to give a comedy like 'Fast Times at Ridgemont High' a try. It's not John Hughes, but it does involve Cameron Crowe (and Amy Heckerling), and somehow, when you reference Cameron Crowe in everyday conversation, it makes you feel a little more enlightened than the person you're talking to... just like the man himself. (Note: Hear me out here. We know you absolutely wrote-off the recent '21 Jump Street' as Hollywood remake trash. You probably even own the DVDs for the original TV show because you like to pretend you knew about Johnny Depp before anyone else. Well, give the remake a try. Seriously, it's funny. Just don't let your other hipster friends know about it.) Sexually Frustrated Teenager It's tough. We know. You go to health class and you see all those hot charts of the female reproductive system, except you can't find a real girl to actually show them to you. This is a difficult time in your life. So it's understandable if you'd want to go home and find out exactly what you're missing out on. Thankfully sex-crazed Hollywood and their devious plans to corrupt the youngsters of our nation (your parent's words, not ours) play right into your favor. Hollywood has been producing nudity-filled high school movies ever since…well, we don't know when, but that doesn't matter because boobs are awesome. There's a long list of libido-livening movies that you could pick up to enjoy. Why not take in the classic 'American Pie'? Those Shannon Elizabeth scenes never get old. Or there's 'Cruel Intentions,' because Hollywood understands your fascination with seeing girls smooch on screen and has totally got your back. Another good selection would be 'Superbad,' which is an anthem to sexually repressed teenagers everywhere. Cultured Introvert Some people call you emo, but you don't really care since they don't know anything about you anyway. Your parents didn't understand you, your ex-boyfriends didn't understand you, even your therapist doesn't understand you. You're your own person and we completely appreciate that. The next time you set down your copy of Leaves of Grass and deign to take in a cultured flick about education, you may want to check out the likes of 'Dead Poets Society.' Yes, we know it has Robin Williams and he's just about everything you despise in an actor, but this role is a complete 180-degree turn for him. Trust us, you'll love it. Also, you're so cultured that you probably hate listening to "regular dialogue," hence the Whitman poems. How about checking out 'Brick'? How could you pass up an exchange like this? Brendan: "Your muscle seemed plenty cool putting his fist in my head. I want him out." The Pin: "Looky, soldier..." Brendan: "The ape blows or I clam." See, you don't even know what that scene is about but you still can't wait to see the movie right? You're definitely the only one who truly understands subtext. 'Brick' has oodles of it. All-Star High School Quarterback Why do we even bother? You've got 'Remember the Titans' and 'Friday Night Lights' on a daily rotation to get you pumped for the big game. They also give you that feeling of football being larger than life and we all know that you are. Lovesick High School Sophomore Who Listens to Far Too Much Taylor Swift Guys suck, but you can't help but fall for them. Only you always fall for the wrong ones and then end up driving alone at night, crying, and cranking Swift's break-up ballads at ear-screeching volume. All you need to know is that love conquers all. Just like the pop songs say. As you sit, waiting for Mr. Right, you'll probably want to take in a few movies that confirm your completely realistic ideal that a perfectly sensitive, six-pack sporting Mr. Right is out there somewhere. '10 Things I Hate About You' is a good place to start because it's still a good movie without being too cheesy with the whole, "Love Knows No Boundaries" theme. After that, fire up 'She's All That.' This movie has a two-pronged approach. On one hand it demonstrates how terrible and insensitive guys can be, and on the other hand it shows that deep down they're everything you've dreamt they could be. (Note: Watch as many of the 'Twilight' films as much as possible. You've read the books and you've fantasized aplenty about Edward Cullen stealing into your bedroom in the middle of the night and then abstaining from having sex with you because he's just that awesome. It's great to have dreams for the future, especially if they include that totally realistic and completely sane sliver of hope that maybe one day a Cullen will bite you, impregnate you, and then fight with a Native American werewolf for your undying love.) That's it for Part 1. Part 2 will be along shortly. Until then watch 'Can't Hardly Wait' because it's just plain hilarious and everyone will enjoy it.Posted Tue Sep 4, 2012 at 12:45 PM PDT by: -
Stanley Kubrick's 'Fear and Desire' Blu-ray Restoration Comparison[teaser]Check out the restoration video for Stanley Kubrick's rarely-seen first feature film, newly restored by the Library of Congress and planned for Blu-ray in October. [/teaser] As previously reported, Kino has slated 'Fear and Desire' for Blu-ray on October 23. An existential war film that is often compared with Kubrick's 'Paths of Glory' (1957)-among three Kubrick films selected for the Library's National Film Registry-and 'Full Metal Jacket' (1987), 'Fear and Desire' follows a squad of soldiers who have crash-landed behind enemy lines and must work their way downriver to rejoin their unit. In the process, they encounter a peasant girl (Virginia Leith) and tie her to a tree, where she is tormented by a mentally unbalanced soldier (future director Paul Mazursky). Before making their escape, the soldiers determine the location of an enemy base and formulate a plot to assassinate its commanding officer. The event marks a major milestone for Kubrick aficionados as, in the years since its original release in 1953, 'Fear and Desire' has rarely screened to the public, and has never been given a proper video release in any format. "It's both the mission and privilege of the Packard Campus to preserve the breadth and depth of America's film, video, and sound recording heritage," said Mike Mashon, Head of the Library of Congress Moving Image Section. "Yet preservation is only a means towards making these treasures more accessible. We're pleased that 'Fear and Desire' can now been seen but also well protected for generations to come." "Kino Lorber is immensely grateful to the talented team at the Library of Congress for brilliantly restoring such a key work in the history of American cinema," said Kino Lorber CEO Richard Lorber. "We're honored to participate in the process of making sure this seminal film of a 24-year-old Stanley Kubrick will now be widely available-an inspiration for film students and a thrill for film lovers everywhere." Independently financed, and shot by a skeleton crew - with Kubrick controlling almost every aspect of production - 'Fear and Desire' was conceived as a European-style art film, cloaked in the guise of a Hollywood war picture. Kubrick described the film to distributor Joseph Burstyn as allegorical and poetic. "A drama of 'man,' lost in a hostile world-deprived of material and spiritual foundations-seeking his way to an understanding of himself, and of life around him." Burstyn acquired the film for distribution, and released it along with such art house fare as Roberto Rossellini's 'The Miracle,' Morris Engel's 'Little Fugitive,' and Luis Bunuel's 'El Bruto.' While it did receive some favorable notices, Kubrick's film was often dismissed as being too pretentious, and quickly disappeared from the screen. In 1971, Kubrick told writer Alexander Walker, "The ideas we wanted to put across were good...but we didn't have the experience to embody them dramatically." "It was very important to have this experience and to see with what little facilities and personnel one could actually make a film," Kubrick said, "This experience and the one that followed with 'Killer's Kiss,' which was on a slightly more cushy basis, freed me from any concern again about the technical or logistical aspects of filmmaking." Though Kubrick has dismissed the film as "a bumbling amateur film exercise," the film has had its champions, even from its initial release. Variety called 'Fear and Desire,' "a literate, unhackneyed war drama, outstanding for its fresh camera treatment and poetic dialogue." Author and critic James Agee reportedly took Kubrick out for a drink to offer encouragement to the young filmmaker. "The need for encouragement of fresh talent and its fairly common concomitant, the audacity of youth, was never made more pointed than in 'Fear and Desire,' the drama fashioned by a tiny group of young, independent film makers," wrote A.H. Weiler in The New York Times in 1953, "For, in essaying a dissection of the minds of men under the stress of war, Stanley Kubrick, 24-year-old, producer-director-photographer, and his equally young and unheralded scenarist and cast, have succeeded in turning out a moody, often visually powerful study of subdued excitements." It is remarkable that 'Fear and Desire' exists today, in any form. As Kubrick found his voice as a filmmaker, he grew more self-conscious about his early work, and preferred that it remain buried in the past. On those rare occasions when a print would surface, Kubrick took measures to halt-or at least limit-public screenings of the film. Thanks to the preservation efforts of the Library of Congress, Kino Lorber, Inc. can share with the world 'Fear and Desire,' fresh from the 24-year-old mind of the man who would become the most influential filmmaker of his generation Specs have yet to be revealed, but supplements will include ''The Seafarers'', A short subject film, restored and remastered in HD (for the first time) by the The Museum of Modern Art & The Film Foundation.. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray are still undetermined at this time. You can find the latest specs for 'Fear and Desire' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under October 23.Posted Tue Sep 4, 2012 at 11:25 AM PDT by: -
'Wrong Turn 5: Bloodlines' Blu-ray Announced and Detailed[teaser]The fifth chapter in the horror franchise of inbred mutant rednecks arrives on Blu-ray this October! [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, 20th Century Fox will be releasing 'Wrong Turn 5: Bloodlines' on Blu-ray on October 23. A small West Virginia town is hosting the legendary Mountain Man Festival on Halloween, where throngs of costumed party goers gather for a wild night of music and mischief. But an inbred family of hillbilly cannibals kill the fun when they trick and treat themselves to a group of visiting college students. The Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy combo pack will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements will include: A Day in the Death, Hillbilly Kills, Director's Die-aries, and Audio Commentary by Declan O'Brien. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $29.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Wrong Turn 5: Bloodlines' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under October 23.Posted Tue Sep 4, 2012 at 10:00 AM PDT by: -
'Chronos' Blu-ray Available Today[teaser]A reissue of the 1985 IMAX film is now available on Blu-ray. [/teaser] Image Entertainment's 'Chronos' hits stores on Blu-ray today, September 4. You can read our review for the 2007 edition from Koch Entertainment here. A stunning visual symphony in seven movements, 'Chronos' embarks on a spellbinding and unprecedented cinematic journey across the world of natural beauty and manmade monuments, exploring the very essence of time. A milestone in the history of giant screen films, 'Chronos' imparts a unique vision of our planet – the first non-verbal, non-fiction motion picture filmed in time-lapse photography, scored with exotic instrumentation in a multi-channel Surround soundtrack. Prepare to travel through history in the ultimate home theater experience that may just change the way you look at the world and our place in it. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio soundtrack, and supplements include: Filmmaker's commentary, globe image locations, and annotations presenting detailed information about each location. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $24.98. You can find the latest specs for 'Chronos' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's now indexed under September 4.Posted Tue Sep 4, 2012 at 08:00 AM PDT by: -
'Call the Midwife: Season One' Announced for Blu-ray[teaser]All six episodes of the BBC series' first season are planned for Blu-ray this November. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, BBC has revealed 'Call the Midwife: Season One' is coming to high-definition on November 6. A moving, intimate, funny and, above all, true-to-life look at the colorful stories of midwifery and families in East London in the Fifties, based on the best-selling memoirs of the late Jennifer Worth. When Jenny Lee first arrives in Poplar, she knows nothing about hardship, poverty or indeed, life itself. Attached to an order of nursing nuns at Nonnatus House, Jenny is part of a team of midwives who visit expectant mothers, providing the poorest women with the best possible care. Here, the streets teem with children and with just one eight-bed maternity ward to serve the whole district; most deliveries take place at home. Following Jenny as she travels through the streets to meet her patients - like Conchita, who is on her 25th pregnancy and Mary, a prostitute and pregnant at just 15 - Call the Midwife offers a fascinating insight into a community on the brink of huge social change. Specs have yet to be revealed, but the 2-disc Blu-ray set will include cast and crew interviews. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray set is $39.98. You can find the latest specs for 'Call the Midwife: Season One' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under November 6.Posted Tue Sep 4, 2012 at 06:00 AM PDT by:
