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Bonus View Digest - March 23, 2012[teaser]Every time I do one of these Bonus View Digest's I'm amazed at how fast time is flying. Spring is coming as we find ourselves suddenly at the tail-end of March. Even though the weather is getting warmer (except in Seattle and Portland), we here at The Bonus View are diligently tucked away in our dark offices bringing you the best HD content commentary around.[/teaser] We're well into the TV Madness tournament. If you don't know about the TV Madness tournament, here's a refresher. It's a tournament to the death, modeled after the NCAA tournament. It features 64 of TV's iconic action stars pitted together in battles to the death. There can only be one victor and through your votes we'll eventually whittle the field down to the champion. TV Madness During the first round we usually do two matchups for every post or else the tournament would take forever to complete. This week we had quite a few interesting matchups. On Monday Michael Westen took on, and defeated Adam West's Batman. In the other Monday matchup two cable heavyweights squared off, but Raylan Givens walked away with a win against Walter White. Wednesday we watched as the mighty Hercules bested 'Alias' star Sydney Bristow while The Tick pummeled Tony Soprano into submission. Today's contest features some great matchups. First you have Jack Bauer squaring off against Xena the Warrior Princess. Then you have DIY superstar MacGuyver going up against genetically engineered super-hot, super-soldier Max Guevara. Make sure to cast your vote in those matchups. Blu-ray News This week 'The Muppets' came out on Blu-ray along with a slate of other releases. Check out Josh's Blu-ray Highlights post to see everything that hit store shelves this week. Interested in turning your Blu-ray collection into a cloud-enabled VUDU collection? Josh has a few points to make about Walmart's Disc-to-Digital Program and why it may not be so bad after all. Theatrical News Luke saw the new 'Hunger Games' movie this week. Want to know if this is one of the best book-to-movie adaptions out there? Then take a look at his review. In the trailer department, E covered a couple generic horror movies in his Trailer Park post this week. Check out if '7500' or 'Playback' starring Christian Slater are for you. Chances are they won't be. TV Recaps This past week marked the season finale of 'The Walking Dead.' Check out what Aaron thought about the finale and his thoughts on what's to come on AMC's zombie apocalypse hit. Other recaps from this week include: 'Alcatraz,' 'Fairly Legal,' 'Awake,' and 'Missing.' Special Features In this week's Mid-Week Poll we asked our readers if they share their movie-watching habits on social networking. Is this something you do? Come on over and take the poll and then join in on the discussion. The Weekend Roundtable featured the writers talking about which TV-to-movie adaptions that they loved, and which ones they hated. Finally, you won't want to miss E's book review. Yes, we even review books from time to time on The Bonus View. E takes on the task of reviewing "Sherlock Holmes On Screen" by Alan Barnes, a complete history of the different incarnations of the world's most famous detective on the big and small screen. Thanks for joining us for another fun-filled week on The Bonus View. As always, be sure to keep an eye on the blog for engaging discussions and numerous contests.Posted Fri Mar 23, 2012 at 11:00 AM PDT by: -
'The Early Films of Stanley Kubrick' Announced for Blu-ray[teaser]A boxed set of four early Kubrick films is coming to Blu-ray this fall. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Kino Lorber has slated 'The Early Films of Stanley Kubrick' for Blu-ray in the latter half of 2012. The collection includes 'Day of the Fight' (1951), 'The Flying Padre' (1951), 'Fear and Desire' (1953), and 'The Seafarers' (1953). Specs, supplements, and suggested list price are still undetermined at this time, but we'll be sure to keep you posted with any news as soon as it's available. You can find the latest specs for 'The Early Films of Stanley Kubrick' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under PENDING.Posted Fri Mar 23, 2012 at 10:00 AM PDT by: -
'Yellow Submarine' Announced and Detailed for Blu-ray[teaser]The Beatles' 1968 animated musical is getting the Blu-ray treatment in May. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, EMI says 'Yellow Submarine' will have a Blu-ray release on May 29. The film has been given a 4k restoration "frame-by-frame without automated software assistance as a means of preserving the original artwork" by Triage Motion Picture Services and Eque Inc. Once upon a time ... or maybe twice, there was an unearthly paradise called Pepperland, a place where happiness and music reigned supreme. But all that was threatened when the terrible Blue Meanies declared war and sent in their army led by a menacing Flying Glove to destroy all that was good. Enter John, Paul, George, and Ringo to save the day! Armed with little more than their humor, songs, and of course, their yellow submarine, The Beatles tackle the rough seas ahead in an effort to bring down the evil forces of bluedom. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, an uncompressed mono soundtrack, and supplements will include: Mod Odyssey documentary; Storyboard sequences; Interviews: Paul Angelis (voice of Ringo and Chief Blue Meanie), John Clive (voice of John), David Livesey (key animator), Millicent McMillan (art director Heinz Edelmann's assistant), Jack Stokes (animation director), and Erich Segal (co-writer); Original theatrical trailer; Twenty-nine original pencil drawings; Thirty behind-the-scenes photographs; Physical Memorabilia (Animation Cel Reproductions & Collectible Stickers); and sixteen-page booklet with a new essay by Pixar Animation Studios' Chief Creative Officer, John Lasseter. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is still undetermined at this time. You can find the latest specs for 'Yellow Submarine' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under May 29.Posted Fri Mar 23, 2012 at 08:00 AM PDT by: -
'Bending the Rules' Wal-Mart Exclusive Blu-ray[teaser]The WWE's R-rated superstar teams up with Jamie Kennedy for a PG-13 action-comedy available on Blu-ray next week. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, WWE Studios is getting ready to release 'Bending the Rules' on Blu-ray exclusively at Wal-Mart on March 27. Detective Nick Blades (WWE Superstar Edge) is a New Orleans cop on trial for corruption. Assistant District Attorney Theo Gold (Jamie Kennedy, "Ghost Whisperer") is the man in charge of putting him behind bars. When these two unlikely partners from opposite sides of the law stumble onto a criminal plot, they'll need to rely on luck -- and patience -- to take down a dangerous killer without killing each other first. Alicia Witt ('88 Minutes'), Jennifer Esposito ('Crash'), and Jessica Walter ("Arrested Development") co-star in a story that proves that when the going gets tough, it's time to start 'Bending the Rules.' Specs and supplements have yet to be revealed, and suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $29.95. You can find the latest specs for 'Bending the Rules' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under March 27.Posted Fri Mar 23, 2012 at 06:00 AM PDT by: -
'Harry Potter Wizards Collection' Blu-ray Dated[teaser]A Blu-ray collector's set of all eight films, new content, and more is coming in September. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Warner Brothers is working on 'Harry Potter Wizards Collection' for Blu-ray on September 7. The mammoth boxed set contains 31 discs, inclusive of all content ever previously released (including the 3D versions of 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Parts 1 & 2'), in addition to over 5 hours of never before seen special features, in a limited and numbered edition. New content includes: The Harry Potters You Never Met; Creating the World of Harry Potter, Pt. 7: Story; Creating the World of Harry Potter, Pt. 8: Growing Up; Extended version of the Conversation with J.K. Rowling and Daniel Radcliffe; and exclusive memorabilia including a Map of Hogwarts, concept art prints, catalogs of props and posters, all designed by the graphic designers from the films. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray set is $499.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Harry Potter Wizards Collection' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under September 7.Posted Thu Mar 22, 2012 at 12:00 PM PDT by: -
'Flame Over India' Announced for Blu-ray[teaser]J. Lee Thompson's 1959 action/adventure also known as 'The North West Frontier' is slated for Blu-ray in June. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, VCI will be bringing 'Flame Over India' featuring Kenneth More, Lauren Bacall and Herbert Lom to Blu-ray on June 3. It is the North West Frontier of India at the turn of the century. Captain Scott (More) is sent by the British Governor to rescue a five-year-old Prince and his American Governess, Catherine Wyatt (Bacall), when a rebellion breaks out amongst the tribesmen. Scott is instructed to take the child to safety in Kalapur, which is 300 miles away, on the pretext that while he is alive, no rebellion can succeed. They are forced to travel on an old and fragile train, but it soon becomes clear that the danger from the train is the least of their worries. Someone on the train is trying to kill the Prince. Specs and supplements have yet to be revealed, but suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $19.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Flame Over India' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under June 3.Posted Thu Mar 22, 2012 at 10:00 AM PDT by: -
Blu-ray Player Penetration Exceeds a Quarter of Homes[teaser]We're up to 26%, up significantly from last year. [/teaser] Last year at this time, Blu-ray players were in 18% of homes – nearly one in five. As of the fourth quarter of 2011, we're sitting at a much more comfortable 26%, which shows a steady growth for the high definition format. One unexpected revelation from the 2,000 respondents is that the amount that owned DVD players grew from 87% to 91%. It's not clear from the data what counts as a DVD player though. If the PlayStation 3 counts as a Blu-ray player, would the Xbox 360, a personal computer or a laptop count as a DVD player? If so, that might explain the growth. HDTV and DVR penetration increased a bit too, while high definition cable and satellite service rose to 42% of households. That's a number that seems to go against the losses that cable companies have been taking recently. Source: Home Media MagazinePosted Thu Mar 22, 2012 at 09:00 AM PDT by: -
'Flicka: Country Pride' Wal-Mart/Sam's Club Exclusive Blu-ray Announced[teaser]The inspiring coming-of-age family drama based on Mary O'Hara's novel will ride onto Blu-ray as a retailer exclusive just in time for Mother's Day. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, 20th Century Fox will be releasing 'Flicka: Country Pride' on Blu-ray on May 1 exclusively at Wal-Mart and Sam's Club. Directed by Michael Damian ('Flicka 2,' 'Marley & Me: The Puppy Years'), 'Flicka: Country Pride' stars country music superstar Clint Black ('Flicka'), Lisa Hartman Black (“Knots Landing”) and Kacey Rohl (“The Killing”) in a heartwarming adventure for the entire family. Grammy Award® Winner Clint Black is one of country music’s superstars with over 20 million albums sold worldwide. Having written over 100+ songs including 23 #1 songs Clint is an active philanthropist overseeing numerous charities. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements will include: The Making of Flicka: Country Pride – The Legend Continues, Black is Back, and a full-length music video. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is TBA. You can find the latest specs for 'Flicka: Country Pride' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under May 1.Posted Thu Mar 22, 2012 at 08:00 AM PDT by: -
'The Samurai Trilogy' Bound for Blu-ray[teaser]Hiroshi Inagaki's sweeping three-part epic is getting the Criterion Blu-ray treatment this summer. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Criterion is working on 'The Samurai Trilogy' for Blu-ray on June 26. 'The Samurai Trilogy,' directed by Hiroshi Inagaki and starring the inimitable Toshiro Mifune, was one of Japan’s most successful exports of the 1950s, a rousing, emotionally gripping tale of combat and self-discovery. 'Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto'(1954) -- In the first part of the epic 'Samurai Trilogy,' Toshiro Mifune thunders onto the screen as the iconic title character. 'Samurai II: Duel at Ichijoji Temple' (1955) -- Toshiro Mifune furiously embodies swordsman Musashi Miyamoto as he comes into his own in the action-packed middle section of the 'Samurai Trilogy.' 'Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island' (1956) -- A disillusioned Musashi Miyamoto (Toshiro Mifune) has turned his back on the samurai life, becoming a farmer in a remote village, while his nemesis Kojiro (Koji Tsurata) now works for the shogun. The Blu-ray will feature a 1080p transfer, an uncompressed mono soundtrack, and supplements include: New interviews with translator and historian William Scott Wilson about the real-life Musashi Miyamoto, the inspiration for the hero of the films; Trailers; and a booklet featuring essays by film historian Stephen Prince and Wilson. Suggested list price for the 2-disc Blu-ray is $69.95. You can find the latest specs for 'The Samurai Trilogy' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under June 26.Posted Thu Mar 22, 2012 at 06:00 AM PDT by: -
Ranking the Muppet Moviesby Aaron Peck [teaser]While my fondest Muppet memories come from the 120 glorious episodes of 'The Muppet Show,' their big screen movies have provided more than enough laughs over the years as well. Until now, I've never sat back and thought about where I would rank the individual Muppet films, but with 'The Muppets' coming out on Blu-ray this week, I thought I'd do that very thing.[/teaser] As with all lists, this one is completely my opinion. I must confess that I really do love the Muppets. I've been a fan of Kermit and the gang since I was a tadpole. I grew up watching the movies and the television show. The early big screen incarnations seemed to follow along with general Muppet mayhem, like 'The Muppet Movie' and 'The Muppets Take Manhattan,' but later on the movies took on a different context, where the beloved characters were inserted into well-known stories like 'The Muppets Christmas Carol' and 'Muppet Treasure Island'. With these differences came varying degrees of success both in terms of box office and humor. We're going to consider each film and see which ones were great and which ones were only so-so. So, on with the show! 7. 'Muppets From Space' One of the biggest cons of 'Muppets From Space' is its non-musical status. The Muppets are known for catchy tunes and throughout their filmography they'd played that up perfectly. It's almost like they consciously went away from the musical side of things to appeal to a younger generation of kids who didn't like musicals. That and they tacked on a simplistic plot about Gonzo's true origin as an alien. There are still a few laughs in this movie, but out of the franchise it really is the most forgettable one of the bunch. 6. 'The Muppets Take Manhattan' Don't get me wrong. I like 'The Muppets Take Manhattan' (I just like the other films ahead of it more). I gave it three and a half stars when I reviewed it for the site. It's a perfectly serviceable Muppet movie. I even dig the "Let's get everyone back together and take over Broadway," shtick. What really brings this movie to a screeching halt is Kermit suddenly developing amnesia. That plot device really kills much of the movie's momentum. 5. 'Muppet Treasure Island' Like I said above, sometimes Muppet movies consist of original Muppet tales of the whole group, and sometimes we simply get a parody of a story we already know. This time the Muppets take on Robert Louis Stevenson's 'Treasure Island'. Tim Curry as Long John Silver is one of the high points of this movie. Not to mention the catchy "Cabin Fever" tune, and more than enough Pepe the Prawn to go around. 4. 'The Muppet Movie' It was the pioneer of the bunch. Branching out from the TV show, Jim Henson and his immensely talented team of puppeteers set out to make a full-length feature. It's a very strong feature indeed, but it isn't without its flaws. Because it was the first film, Henson and company were still trying to work out the kinks, and because of that the pace of the movie was a tad herky-jerky when it was intercut with the movie's songs. Although, there are some great tunes here; "Movin' Right Along" will always be one of my all-time favorite Muppet songs. 3. 'The Muppet Christmas Carol' This parody is full of the Christmas spirit. It's true that they set out to make a funny version of Charles Dickens' classic story. In the end they created something that had laughs, but still embodied the meaning of the original story. Michael Caine as Ebenezer Scrooge is the perfect casting choice. This is a must-watch every time Christmas rolls around. 2. 'The Great Muppet Caper' It had been only two years since 'The Muppet Movie' but you could already tell that they'd figured out what they were doing. 'The Great Muppet Caper' contains some great puppeteering for anyone interested in the art form. Just take a look at Miss Piggy's underwater sequence to see what type of stuff Jim Henson was coming up with back in the 80s. On top of the masterful puppeteering at work, 'The Great Muppet Caper' features a strong, tight plot along with some great cameos from the likes of John Cleese, Peter Falk, and Robert Morley. I also really liked Charles Grodin in his leading role. Very funny. 1. 'The Muppets' This is coming from a dyed-in-the-felt Muppets fan, but yes, I think the newest Muppet movie is actually the best one yet. That may be heresy to some, but I feel confident in my ranking. I always felt that the strongest Muppet moments always came from their TV show anyway. The TV show was the essence of the franchise, and this movie pays perfect tribute to that bygone show. I understand that there was some trouble behind the scenes, which hasn't been fully revealed, but I still thought this was one of the greatest Muppet movies because it complemented one of the best TV shows so impeccably. So, now the question is, how would you rank the Muppet movies? Disagree with my rankings? Well, let us know in the forums where you can let us know just how you'd rank the filmography of the world's most famous puppets. When all is said and done, I think we've all learned one valuable thing from this list. We desperately need more Muppet movies on Blu-ray!!Posted Wed Mar 21, 2012 at 12:20 PM PDT by:
