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'Lockout' Dated and Detailed for Blu-ray[teaser]The futuristic action-thriller written and produced by Luc Besson is bound for Blu-ray in July. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Sony is working on 'Lockout' for Blu-ray on July 17. Guy Pearce stars as a renegade CIA agent who is falsely convicted of a crime he didn't commit but is given a chance at freedom if he can rescue the President's daughter (Maggie Grace) from a prison 50 miles above the Earth. The Blu-ray/DVD/Ultraviolet Digital Copy combo pack presents the film in an unrated cut and will feature1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements will include: Breaking into Lockout and A Vision of the Future: Production Design and Special Effects. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $35.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Lockout' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under July 17.Posted Wed Jun 6, 2012 at 06:00 AM PDT by: -
Top 5 / Bottom 5: Denzel Washingtonby Aaron Peck [teaser]Denzel Washington's latest movie 'Safe House' hits store shelves this week and I got to thinking that until now we haven't taken the time to do a Top 5/Bottom 5 article for the accomplished actor. So I thought it was about time.[/teaser] As I was listing out my top five movies of his a curious thing happened, the film he won an Academy Award for, 'Training Day,' didn't make the list. I always felt that movie was far too cartoony for its own good and it seemed like a make-up Oscar for all the times he didn't get the award, like when he should've won for 'Malcolm X' or could've easily won for his role in 'The Hurricane.' If you travel through Washington's filmography Alonzo Harris definitely isn't his strongest character, but the field during the 74th Academy Awards seemed especially thin in the actor department. Denzel is a versatile actor who takes on as many dramatic roles as he does genre roles. In one movie he's a famous historical figure like Rubin "Hurricane" Carter and a few years later he's trying to stop a runaway train full of dangerous chemicals. However, I noticed that as I was listing my top five favorite movies of his I realized that they're all dramatic roles. Whereas I found that many of his genre roles like 'Man on Fire,' 'The Book of Eli' and 'Out of Time' ended up somewhere in the middle. Don't get me wrong I love a good Denzel Washington thriller, but it seems that every time he takes on a dramatic part he really nails it. The Best 'Glory' For my money this is the best, most poignant film Washington has ever made. Yes, much of that is due to the subject matter and the ensemble cast – not to mention Edward Zwick's masterful direction. Still Washington, who at the time was a relatively new feature-film actor, made us take notice of his skills as the memorable Trip. After 'Glory' Washington got bigger and bigger roles until he became the ultra-superstar we know today. By scanning his filmography it's pretty easy to spot 'Glory' as his real springboard into getting leading roles and becoming one of Hollywood's most bankable film stars. Winning his first Oscar for his role in 'Glory' might have had a tiny part to play in his eventual fame. 'The Hurricane' I know a lot of people loved Kevin Spacey in 'American Beauty,' me included, but I always look back at the Oscars from 2000 and wonder if Denzel should've won that award. His job in 'The Hurricane' is a transcendent piece of acting. It really is. 'American Beauty' was the darling of those awards, but I can't help but think that this is the movie Washington really won the Oscar for when he won a couple years later for 'Training Day.' Almost like the Academy waited for a particularly weak field that included Denzel and said, "Sorry, our mistake. Here, take it." I'm still sad that we have yet to see a Blu-ray for this movie even though the HD DVD has been out forever. 'He Got Game' This is going to be the controversial pick, I know that. Most people may have filled this slot with 'Crimson Tide,' or 'American Gangster' and to that I say, more power to you. Believe me, it was hard to cut those other movies for this one, but one thing pushed Spike Lee's 'He Got Game' over the top for me. I'm a huge basketball fan. I mean, huge. When I heard there was going to be a movie starring Denzel Washington and Ray Allen (one of my favorite basketball players of all-time, even during his early NBA years) I was in. I know what you're thinking right now, and the answer is no. I don't love 'He Got Game' just because Spike Lee inserted a threesome between Ray Allen and a couple college hussies just to show what fame can get a person. There's much more the movie than that small montage of flesh. Whenever I watch the movie I'm mesmerized by the commanding father figure played by Denzel. He's demanding and hard-nosed. It's definitely one of his best roles and one of his most overlooked I think. Plus, Ray Allen's character's name is Jesus Shuttlesworth. That's just a great name. 'Malcolm X' It was 1992 and Denzel was cast as one of the most recognizable African American historical figures. It was a huge role and it was the second collaboration with director Spike Lee ('Mo' Better Blues' being the first). Denzel is absolutely captivating as the civil rights activist. He earned his first Academy Award nomination for in the Best Actor category. It was a tough field that year and he lost to Al Pacino in 'Scent of a Woman,' but I think that Denzel could've taken that award home for sure. 'Philadelphia' In 1993, Jonathan Demme's hard-hitting drama brought the discussion of AIDS to the forefront. Not only did it tackle the topic, but it also dealt with the issue of workplace discrimination, a war we're still fighting today. Tom Hanks won an Oscar for his role in this movie, but I've always liked Denzel's role just a little bit more here. His is a much more subtle kind of drama. He doesn't have to act out the effects of having such a deadly, debilitating disease like Hanks did, but he does have to journey through a pathway of acceptance and tolerance, which is quite moving in its own right. The Worst 'The Bone Collector' I remember being excited to catch 'The Bone Collector' at the local movie theater. I was still in that phase of my life when I felt a little rush when I got into an R-rated movie. In my teenage years I liked almost any movie that was rated R simply because I had to sneak into it (the cashiers at my cinemas growing up were especially adamant about checking IDs). My friends and I had elaborate ways of sneaking from one theater to another without the ushers noticing us. Anyway, imagine my disappointment, when I found out that 'The Bone Collector' was one of the most mind-numbing crime thrillers I'd ever seen, and I was only 15 at the time it came out. I thought it sucked then, I can't imagine what I'd think about it now. 'Heart Condition' Okay, if you haven't seen this movie I highly recommend you see it at least once since it's such an oddball movie that you'll be surprised it even exists. I think when I saw it, it was on TBS or TNT in the middle of the day years ago. Here's a movie that stars Bob Hoskins as a racist moron with terrible eating habits and Denzel Washington as a lawyer. They share a hooker in common who ends up going with the good-looking lawyer in the end. Then, Washington's character is killed in a car crash. His heart is transplanted into Hoskins' character's body. But, the movie doesn't stop there. After the heart is transplanted Denzel's ghost haunts Hoskins throughout the movie. It's just as bad as it sounds. I mean, really, really bad. 'The Pelican Brief' It was one of those Grisham thrillers that seemed tepid throughout the movie. It never really grabbed me, but then again, the only Grisham thriller that really sucked me in was 'The Firm' and even that has dead spots here and there. Looking back I just thought 'The Pelican Brief' was a ho-hum experience. I still do. 'The Siege' I've always thought 'The Siege' was a pretty subpar movie even though whenever it's on cable I'll sit and watch it at least through a couple commercial breaks until I realize, "Hey, I'm watching 'The Siege.' I wonder if 'Storage Wars' is on right now." click. Now, I know you just linked over to my review of 'The Siege' and noticed that I didn't think it was half-bad when I reviewed it. Well, chalk that up to Denzel's filmography being that good. Still, I think I was in a particularly good mood when I wrote that review. 'Virtuosity' Yes, I know that there are a lot of fans of this movie, but when you look over Denzel's film history 'Virtuosity' stands out as a less-than-stellar film. Considering how dated the movie's technology has become it probably holds up even worse today. It's been years since I watched it, but I don't think I could ever sit down and intentionally take in another viewing of this clichéd action thriller especially when Washington has so many other good to great ones on his resume. I must admit that making my top five list was especially tough. I really wanted to fit in movies like 'Crimson Tide,' 'American Gangster,' 'The Manchurian Candidate,' and 'Inside Man,' but I couldn't. There's definitely a Top Ten Denzel Washington Movies list waiting in the wings somewhere. I must say this was the hardest list to put together since the man has so many quality movies. It doesn't help that he's made a ton of movies. It just means there's that many more films I have to pick from. Follow the link below to let me know you're Top 5 / Bottom 5 Denzel Washington films. I'm curious to see how everyone would rank them. It's definitely one of the hardest lists I've ever had to come up with. I'm sure your lists will be wildly different than mine.Posted Tue Jun 5, 2012 at 02:30 PM PDT by: -
'Dr. Seuss' The Lorax' Dated for Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D![teaser]The animated adventure based on the classic story from one of the best-selling children’s book authors of all time is getting a home video release in August! [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Universal is readying 'Dr. Seuss' The Lorax' for Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D on August 7. 'Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax' transports viewers into a fantastical landscape imagined by Dr. Seuss and vividly brought to life by Chris Meledandri and his acclaimed filmmaking team at Illumination Entertainment (Despicable Me). Directed by Chris Renaud ('Despicable Me') from a screenplay adapted by Ken Daurio and Cinco Paul ('Despicable Me,' 'HOP,' 'Horton Hears a Who') from the 1971 children’s classic, the film is an imaginative journey that begins in the town of Thneedville, where a boy searches for the one thing he knows will win the heart of his dream girl. But in order find it, he must discover the story of the Lorax, the often grumpy but loveable protector of Truffula Valley, in an exciting adventure filled with comedy and heart that USA Today’s Claudia Puig calls, “The right blend of funny, silly, and sweet.” Each Blu-ray combo pack will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements will include: Directors' Commentary; 3 Mini Movies; Making of the Mini Movies; Deleted Scene; Seuss to Screen; Seuss It Up; Truffula Run Game; "Let It Grow" Sing-Along; Once-Ler's Wagon; and high-definition exclusives include: Get Out of Town Game; O'Hare TV; and Expedition to Truffula Valley. You can find the latest specs for 'Dr. Seuss' The Lorax' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under August 7.Posted Tue Jun 5, 2012 at 01:00 PM PDT by: -
'Sixteen Candles' Dated and Detailed for Blu-ray[teaser]The 1984 John Hughes' coming-of-age comedy classic is coming to high-definition this fall! [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Universal Studios is preparing 'Sixteen Candles' for Blu-ray on September 4. It's Samantha Baker's Sweet Sixteen and no one in her family remembers the important occasion. John Hughes, the writer of National Lampoon's Vacation, shows how coming-of-age can be full of surprises in this warm hearted teenage comedy starring Molly Ringwald. She's your average teen, enduring creepy freshmen, spoiled siblings, confused parents and the Big Blonde on Campus who stands between her and the boy of her dreams. But wait...the day isn't over yet! This sparkling film features a dynamic score, and outstanding performances by Paul Dooley, Emmy winner Blanche Baker and Oscar nominee Justin Henry. The Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy combo pack will feature1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements will include: Celebrating Sixteen Candles, The '80s, and Unforgettable Characters. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $19.98. You can find the latest specs for 'Sixteen Candles' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under September 4.Posted Tue Jun 5, 2012 at 12:00 PM PDT by: -
'Get the Gringo' Blu-ray Dated and Detailed[teaser]Mad Mel is back and he's even more dangerous behind the wheel in this dark comedy coming to Blu-ray next month! [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, 20th Century Fox has slated 'Get the Gringo' for Blu-ray on July 17. Academy Award Winner Mel Gibson steals the show - and anything else he can get his hands on - in this explosive, nonstop thrill ride packed with equal parts action and attitude! A career criminal (Gibson) pulls off the heist of a lifetime, but his getaway plans go south of the border when a high-speed car chase lands him in a hard-core Mexican prison community known as "El Pueblito." Now, in order to survive, he'll have to fend off corrupt cops, take down ruthless druglords...and team up with a streetwise ten-year-old who has a few secrets of his own! The Blu-ray combo pack will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements will include: Get the Gringo: A Look Inside, "El Corrido del Gringo" music video, and three on-set featurettes (The Car Chase, The Showdown, and The Raid). Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $29.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Get the Gringo' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under July 17.Posted Tue Jun 5, 2012 at 10:00 AM PDT by: -
'Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein' Announced and Detailed for Blu-ray[teaser]The classic comic duo returns to Blu-ray this September! [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Universal Studios is working on 'Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein' for a Blu-ray release on September 4. In the 1948 comedy/horror directed by Charles Barton, Bud Abbott Lou Costello star as two hapless freight handlers who find themselves encountering Dracula (Bela Lugosi), the Frankenstein Monster (Glenn Strange) and the Wolf Man (Lon Chaney Jr.). The Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy combo pack will feature1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 soundtrack, and supplements include: Commentary with film historian Gregory W. Mank, Abbott and Costello Meet the Monsters, and production photographs. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $26.98. You can find the latest specs for 'Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under September 4.Posted Tue Jun 5, 2012 at 08:00 AM PDT by: -
'The Tall Man' Blu-ray Dated[teaser]The next thriller from Pascal Laugier ('Martyrs') will haunt Blu-ray in September. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Image Entertainment is working on 'The Tall Man' for Blu-ray on September 25. The horror film is about the mysterious legend of The Tall Man -- a being who has been abducting children, and stars Jessica Biel, Jodelle Ferland and Stephen McHattie. Specs and supplements have yet to be revealed, but suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $29.97. You can find the latest specs for 'The Tall Man' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under September 25.Posted Tue Jun 5, 2012 at 06:00 AM PDT by: -
Beyond the Blu - June 2012by Dick Ward [teaser]Hardcore fans don't just watch movies – they live movies. [/teaser] They're the folks that watch Indiana Jones while drinking dark red "blood" punch out of grails and eat Jello monkey brains. They're the people that watch 'The Lord of the Rings' straight through while clutching their precious the whole time. They're my personal favorite kind of wonderfully crazy obsessive people. "Beyond the Blu" is all about taking the movie watching experience one step further, showing you some of the cool things you can pick up to coincide with this month's releases, whether it's a piece of memorabilia or something that's just tangentially related. Cocktail Every time I see 'Cocktail' I get the feeling that I'm wasting my life by not learning how to throw bottles into the air, catch them, and then serve people watered down drinks. It's something we all really need to get on top of, and luckily we can, using this OXO Steel 11-Piece Barware Set. At the very least, it's not too terribly expensive, so it won't matter so much if you break it. Hondo Fine, I'll admit it. I only know about 'Hondo' because of Al Bundy. There's this tremendous episode where Al is trying to watch 'Hondo' on TV – this is before the whole VHS thing – and misses it, only to find out that the movie won't air for another 17 years. Pick up the ' Married with Children: The Complete Eighth Season' and see it for yourself. And I guess watch 'Hondo' too. Harold and Maude There's a lot to love about 'Harold and Maude' but one of the absolute coolest things in there is Harold's Jaguar hearse. I can't promise that you'll find that hearse in The Little Book of E-Type Jaguar, but you can get all the info you need on the car that got converted. Maybe it'll help you finally decide to create one of your own. Newsies 'Newsies' is one of my very favorite musicals, and right up there in my list of my favorite Christian Bale movies. It was also a huge flop for Disney, who sunk a ton of money into the production. Have a theme night and enjoy 'Newsies' with the recent big budget flop ' John Carter,' which also set Disney back significantly. The Big Lebowski Donnie is memorable, sure. So are Walter and The Dude, but the most quoted character per second of screen time is The Jesus, who is ridiculous and hilarious and wonderful, and any chance to mimic him while bowling is an opportunity worth taking. Pick up a Buff-A-Ball White Polisher/Carrier and you're partway there. Meatballs 'Meatballs' is your prototypical late 70s early 80s comedy with one dimensional characters and plenty of sexy girls. Aside from the title, it doesn't tie in at all with the four pounds of Ohama Steaks Precooked Italian Meatballs you can order on Amazon. I'm just fascinated that you can buy meat on Amazon. King Kong It's strange considering the actual havoc and terror that a giant gorilla would bring with it, but 'King Kong' is actually kind of cute. Don't believe me? Recreate the famous climactic scene with a King Kong Plush and 28" Model Empire State Building and you'll see what I mean. You won't find that level of cuteness with other movies. A Barbie version of 'The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo' doesn't really work, and even Gamera just comes off creepy when put into toy form. Then again, Gamera is always creepy.Posted Mon Jun 4, 2012 at 03:05 PM PDT by: -
'The Three Stooges' Blu-ray Dated and Detailed[teaser]Nyuk-Nyuk! The 2012 comedy will slap Blu-ray silly this July! [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, 20th Century Fox is preparing 'The Three Stooges' for Blu-ray on July 17. The Farrelly Bros. ('There's Something About Mary,' 'Dumb & Dumber') bring back a beloved classic comedy act with 'The Three Stooges,' a contemporary take on America's favorite trio of boneheads. Sean Hayes ('Will & Grace'), Chris Diamantopoulos ('24') and Will Sasso ('MADTV') portray the troika of knuckleheads in three hysterical misadventures. The Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy combo pack will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements will include: What's the Big Idea? A History of The Three Stooges; Knuckleheads: Behind the Scenes of The Three Stooges; Did You Hear that? The Three Stooges Sound Effects; Poifect: Casting The Three Stooges; Deleted/extended scenes; The Three Stooges Mash-up; and original screen test. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $39.99. You can find the latest specs for 'The Three Stooges' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under July 17.Posted Mon Jun 4, 2012 at 12:00 PM PDT by: -
'Prometheus' Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D Up for Pre-Order[teaser]One of the most anticipated films of the year is already up for pre-order on Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D at Amazon! [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, 20th Century Fox's 'Prometheus' appears to be coming to Blu-ray as well as Blu-ray 3D in the near future. In the Ridley Scott film, a team of explorers discover a clue to the origins of mankind on Earth, leading them on a journey to the darkest corners of the universe. There, they must fight a terrifying battle to save the future of the human race. Specs, supplements, and a release date have not been set yet, but suggested list price for the Blu-ray is set at $39.99 and the Blu-ray 3D is $49.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Prometheus' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under PENDING.Posted Mon Jun 4, 2012 at 10:00 AM PDT by:
