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'Into the Universe with Stephen Hawking' Dated for Blu-ray[teaser]The Discovery Channel's documentary series is going high-def at the end of the month. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Gaiam Americas says 'Into the Universe with Stephen Hawking' for Blu-ray on January 31. In an epic, new kind of cosmology series, 'Into the Universe With Stephen Hawking' gives us the ultimate guide to the universe. From the nature of the universe itself, to the chances of alien life and the real possibility of time travel, watch the world's most famous scientific mind at work through the limitless possibilities of computer animation. Specs and supplements still haven't been revealed yet, but suggested list price is $14.98. You can find the latest specs for 'Into the Universe with Stephen Hawking' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under January 31.Posted Wed Jan 4, 2012 at 12:00 PM PST by: -
High-Def Holidays: Ringing in the Blu-Year!by Dick Ward [teaser]It's January and all the holiday hubbub is over. Well, the major, well recognized mainstream holidays are over anyway. Me, I'm sort of a holiday hipster. I was into Talk Like a Pirate Day before it was cool and I dug National Catfish Month before the corporations ruined it. So let's talk about these obscure or strange holidays and the Blu-rays you can watch to celebrate them.[/teaser] National Blood Donor Month If there's an easier gag than linking vampires to Blood Donor Month than I'd like to hear it. I'm certainly hoping that if you give blood it's going to be voluntary, but if not then here's hoping you'll be giving it to some sexy vampires like the ones on ' True Blood.' National Thank You Month When trapped in a car with a serial "I love you man" kinda guy, there's only one escape. Learn from Garth Algar in ' Wayne's World' and just say "thank you." It's so much better than the alternative. January 2nd - Run it up the Flagpole and See if Anyone Salutes Day This is a phrase not too many people use these days but it's used when someone has an idea that's not quite conventional, typically in a business setting. It means, basically, to try it out and see what happens. Take, for example, the business of ghost busting undertaken by the aptly named ' Ghostbusters.' They ran it up the flagpole and it worked like a charm. Mostly. January 7th - Old Rock Day I'm sure this day has something to do with actual rocks, but I'm going to use it to pay tribute to my favorite old rocker, Billy Mack. Mack, played by the consistently awesome Bill Nighy in 'Love Actually,' has that kind of wonderful honest attitude that you only get from someone who's been around long enough to get cynical. January 8th - Elvis Presley's Birthday It seems natural to celebrate someone's life by experiencing their work again, but I prefer the idea of celebrating as they did. The King may have had a little bit of an ego, but I find it hard to believe he'd sit and watch one of his own flicks during his party. More likely, he'd be taking in one of his favorites, like 'The Pink Panther,' a comedy classic. January 13th - Poetry Break Day You could celebrate the whole poetry thing by going out to an open mic night but those can be painful affairs full of pretentious wannabe artists and folks giving awful readings of awful poems. Instead, sit inside and check out 'So I Married an Axe Murderer' where you'll get your fill of earnest attempts at beat poetry. Jane, get me off this crazy thing... called love. January 16th - National Nothing Day Nothingness is a concept that's way too heavy for a light-hearted list like this, so let's turn our focus to nihilism. Since there hasn't been a movie made out of the Rancid song of the same name - hey, it happened to Convoy! - I'm singling out 'The Big Lebowski.' It's a great film and features a few discussions on nihilism. "Say what you want about the tenants of National Socialism, at least it's an ethos!" January 20th - Penguin Awareness Day This Penguin Awareness Day, share the hit documentary 'March of the Penguins' with someone else who isn't aware of penguins. Who on earth isn't aware of penguins? I mean, my nephew knows what a penguin is and he's four. You know what? Skip it. If you have a friend who doesn't know what a penguin is, they don't deserve to know. Watch it on your own. January 26th - Australia Day Beer, 'Crocodile Dundee' and Yahoo Serious jokes aside, Australia has contributed some great things to cinema and even more to low budget exploitation flicks. 'Mad Max' is the best known contribution and definitely worth checking out on Blu-ray. If you're a Netflix streamer, give 'Not Quite Hollywood' a watch - it's a great documentary on Ozsploitation movies and features plenty of clips from Quentin Tarantino who, surprise, loves every single one of them. January 31st - Backwards Day For Backwards Day I'm going to go ahead and recommend some movies that are just plain bad. ' Avatar' is the easy choice here. It's just plain bad, no matter what anyone says. And no, I'm not complaining about the plot - the plot is fine and it's not a ripoff of anything else. I can name plenty of movies and books with the same basic story structure. If you're one of those people that actually liked 'Avatar,' give 'Catwoman' a try. It's so bad that a room of my friends and I couldn't make fun of it. Few movies are bad enough that I won't watch them on bad movie night, but 'Catwoman' bested me.Posted Wed Jan 4, 2012 at 11:00 AM PST by: -
'Lady and the Tramp: Diamond Edition' Blu-ray Bonus Clips[teaser]The romantic Disney animated classic is getting the Diamond treatment in February and now you can check out some bonus clips for this release! [/teaser] As previously reported, Disney/Buena Vista says 'Lady and the Tramp: Diamond Edition' is coming to Blu-ray on February 7. Generations of fans have fallen in love with Disney's 15th animated masterpiece -- an irresistible song-filled adventure about Lady, a lovingly pampered cocker spaniel, and Tramp, a roguish mutt from across the tracks. When Aunt Sarah moves in with her devious felines Si and Am to baby-sit, the very protective Lady soon finds herself being fitted for the unthinkable -- a muzzle! In her bid for freedom, she meets and is charmed by Tramp, dog-about-town. Together with friends Jock, Trusty, and Peg, they share thrilling adventures on an enchanting evening as Lady learns what it means to be footloose and leash-free. Disney’s Blu-ray Diamond Collection represents The Walt Disney Studios’ most prestigious and treasured animated classics. Diamond Edition titles boast the highest level of picture and sound; feature groundbreaking, state-of-the-art immersive bonus content; and include unprecedented levels of interactivity, personalization and customization, made possible because of Blu-ray technology. The Blu-ray/DVD combo pack will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 soundtrack, and supplements include: Lady’s Pedigree: The Making of Lady and the Tramp; Finding Lady: The Art of the Storyboard; Original 1943 Storyboard Version of the Film; PuppyPedia: Going to the Dogs; “The Siamese Cat Song,” Finding a Voice for the Cats; “Bella Notte” Music Video; Trailers; and Excerpts from “Disneyland” TV Shows. Blu-ray exclusives include: Disney Second Screen: Inside Walt’s Story Meetings; Audio Commentary: Inside Walt’s Story Meetings; Diane Disney Miller: Remembering Dad; Three Never-Before-Seen Deleted Scenes; and Never Recorded Song: “I’m Free as the Breeze.” Gift for Darling: Full Grown Lady: Bella Notte: He's a Tramp: Suggested list price for the Blu-ray/DVD combo pack is $39.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Lady and the Tramp: Diamond Edition' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under February 7.Posted Wed Jan 4, 2012 at 10:00 AM PST by: -
'Lady for a Day' Announced for Blu-ray[teaser]One of Leonard Maltin's 151 Best Movies You've Never Seen gets a high-definition release in March. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Inception Media Group has revealed that 'Lady for a Day' will have a Blu-ray on March 20. The 1933 comedy/drama directed by Frank Capra ('It's a Wonderful Life') is based on the short story by Damon Runyon and was nominated for four Oscars including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, and Best Actress. Specs haven't been revealed yet, but supplements will be introduction and commentary by Frank Capra Jr. as well as a new essay by film critic and historian Scott Eyman. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $29.98. You can find the latest specs for 'Lady for a Day' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under March 20.Posted Wed Jan 4, 2012 at 08:00 AM PST by: -
'Tower Heist' Announced and Detailed for Blu-ray[teaser]The Brett Ratner comedy caper will hit Blu-ray courtesy of Universal Studios in February. [/teaser] A wealthy Wall Street swindler gets his just desserts at the hands of the employees he stiffed in the year’s most uproarious action comedy, 'Tower Heist' coming to Blu-ray on February 21. Ben Stiller and Eddie Murphy lead an all-star comedy cast in this hilarious tale of sweet, sweet revenge. The film’s stellar ensemble cast includes Casey Affleck ('Ocean’s Eleven' trilogy), Alan Alda ('The Aviator'), Matthew Broderick ('The Producers'), Stephen McKinley Henderson (“Law and Order”), Judd Hirsch ('A Beautiful Mind') Téa Leoni ('Fun with Dick and Jane'), Michael Peña ('Battle: Los Angeles') and Gabourey Sidibe ('Precious'). The film is produced by Academy Award® winning-producer Brian Grazer ('8 Mile,' 'A Beautiful Mind,' 'American Gangster'). The Blu-ray/DVD/Ultraviolet Digital Copy combo pack will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements include: Feature Commentary with director Brett Ratner, editor Mark Helfrich and co-writers Ted Griffin & Jeff Nathanson; Two Alternate Endings; Hilarious Deleted & Alternate Scenes; Gag Reel; and Plotting Tower Heist. Blu-ray exclusives include U-Control Picture-in-Picture; The Music of Tower Heist; Pocket Blu; and BD-Live. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $34.98. You can find the latest specs for 'Tower Heist' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under February 21.Posted Wed Jan 4, 2012 at 06:00 AM PST by: -
High-Def Digest-Digest: January 3, 2012by Dick Ward [teaser]Normally we'd give you a little bit of flak for not keeping up with the news, but at least you had a good reason. The holidays can be crazy and the entire month of December seems like a blur in retrospect. But now your guests are out of the house, you've recovered from your New Year's party, and it's time for life to return to normal. That means you've got to get a handle on everything that went down last month - and there sure was a lot of it![/teaser] Blu-ray News 'Jaws' Planned for Blu-ray! Well it's about time! Spielberg's breakout action film will finally be coming to Blu-ray on August 14th. It's a shame not to have it out on July 4th since that's when the movie takes place, but a summer release is still appropriate. Special features are not yet announced. 'The Last Temptation of Christ' Announced and Detailed for Blu-ray Martin Scorsese's picture on the life of Jesus hits shelves on March 13th in the form of a Criterion Collection Blu-ray. Included on the disc are a 1080p digital transfer, commentary from Scorsese and Willem Dafoe and plenty more. 'A Night to Remember' Dated and Detailed for Blu-ray Long before James Cameron tackled the event, Roy Ward Baker made 'A Night to Remember,' a film from 1958 about the sinking of the Titanic. The Criterion Collection Blu-ray comes out on March 27th, complete with audio commentary, behind the scenes footage and more. 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail: 35th Anniversary Edition' Dated for Blu-ray ! It doesn't get much funnier than the 1975 film that helped to cement the legacy of Python in the hearts and minds of fans across the globe. There's not much information on what's coming along with the new release, but it'll hit shelves on March 20th. 'Anonymous' Announced and Detailed for Blu-ray Roland Emmerich takes us on a journey to explore just who created the works of William Shakespeare with 'Anonymous,' coming to Blu-ray on February 7th. You'll find commentary from the director and writer as well as a few other goodies. Gear and Industry News The Super Bowl Will Be Streamed Online for the First Time Pretty cool stuff here. NBC is putting the Super Bowl online, allowing you to watch live from a computer for the first time ever. If you're a Verizon customer it gets even better, since you'll be able to stream directly from your phone. The New iTunes Edition of Avatar Brings Special Features to Digital Distribution One of the things that's sorely missing when it comes to digital distribution is the ability to watch the special features that fans love. The version of 'Avatar' for iTunes brings quite a bit of that to digital distribution. LG is Bringing a 55" OLED Display to CES OLED is a display technology with a lot of promise and LG's 55" inch set gives us some hope for the future of the format. We'll have to wait to see what happens of course, but reasonably sized OLEDs are a step in the right direction. Most Would Rather Have a TV Than a Couch in the Living Room A study ordered by the folks at Logitech revealed that 53% of respondents would rather have a TV in their living room than a couch. Just goes to show how important having a nice set to watch really is. LG Will Build Wireless Video Into 2012 3D Smart TVs A new wireless technology from Intel will be baked into LG's 2012 line of 3D Smart TVs. The use is specific to Intel based devices, but this could be a start down the road of wireless video for all TVs. Videogame News The New 'Twisted Metal' Comes with 'Twisted Metal: Black' for Free If you pick up 'Twisted Metal' this Valentine's day you'll get a downloadable copy of 'Twisted Metal: Black' for free. You won't have to buy a special edition, but the download code only comes with the first printing of the game. 'Devil May Cry' HD Collection Hits April 3rd, 2012 We're really loving all these HD remakes that take away the pain of playing an SD 4:3 game on a nice HDTV. 'Devil May Cry' will be joining the fray on April 3rd, 2011. Early 3DS Adopters Get 10 Free GBA Games The 3DS was pretty pricey when it launched and was dropped down fairly quickly. If you're one of those that picked up the system at the original price, you're entitled to some free GBA games, available now from the eShop. Capcom Plans to Rebuild Bridges with Disappointed 'Mega Man' Fans 'Mega Man' hasn't been getting much love from Capcom these days but company VP Christian Svensson says that's going to change. He says Capcom won't be announcing anything until they're sure it's coming out, but that plans are in the works. 'Skyrim' Ships 10 Million Copies - Dominates PC Sales The latest addition to the 'Elder Scrolls' series has been bringing in some big money, but what might surprise some folks is just how good it's been doing on PC. 'Skyrim' sold triple the amount of the next best selling PC title in 2011. Now those are some good bragging rights for the folks at Bethesda.Posted Tue Jan 3, 2012 at 12:30 PM PST by: -
Blockbuster Express Customers Rented Better Movies than Redbox Customers in 2011[teaser]At the top of Redbox kiosks was the Adam Sandler/Jennifer Aniston movie 'Just Go With It.' Blockbuster's top title was 'Bridesmaids.' The differences get even more glaring from there. [/teaser] Blockbuster and Redbox released their top rental lists for 2011 and we noticed one very glaring disparity between the two services. Blockbuster Express customers rented generally good films while the folks that picked up movies from Redbox rented the worst of the worst. We decided to go ahead and math this out using Rotten Tomatoes as an indicator for movie quality. Blockbuster revealed a Top 10 list while Redbox posted the top five in each category. We went ahead and used the top two in each category for Redbox, which seems like a pretty fair way to go about it. The average rating for Blockbuster Express rentals according to Rotten Tomatoes is an impressive 78.2 percent. 'The King's Speech' sits at the top of the pile with 95 percent while 'Transformers: Dark of the Moon' takes the bottom slot with 35 percent. The latter title is the only one to drop under 75 percent for Blockbuster Express. By comparison, Redbox averages 50.7 percent. The high for the Redbox titles we used in our calculations was 'Rango,' with a score of 88. It's one of only three titles on the list to score above 75 percent. The lowest rated title is also the number one title rented from Redbox kiosks - the disastrous romantic comedy 'Just Go With It,' starring Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler. 'Just Go With It' scored just 19 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. What this says about the folks that rent from Redbox as opposed to Blockbuster Express customers is up for you to decide. Source: Home Media MagazinePosted Tue Jan 3, 2012 at 11:55 AM PST by: -
'Downton Abbey: Season Two' Announced for Blu-ray[teaser]The second season of the six-time Emmy winning drama is bound for Blu-ray in February. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, PBS is readying 'Downton Abbey: Season Two' for Blu-ray on February 7. Last season opened with the sinking of the Titanic in 1912, which had dire consequences for Downton Abbey. The new season picks up in the middle of another disaster, World War I, which affected every aspect of life in England, accelerating the social change that was already transforming an age-old system of class and privilege. As the Great War rages across Europe, discord is sown even into the serene Yorkshire countryside. Simmering tensions behind the gates of Downton Abbey are beginning to come to a boil as the men and women of Downton do their part on both the front lines and the home front. What's more, the brutality and intensity of war seem to inflame more familiar passions - love, loss, blackmail, and betrayal - leaving family and staff alike to struggle in an ever-changing world, against a host of new demons. The 3-disc set will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 soundtrack, and supplements have yet to be revealed. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $49.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Downton Abbey: Season Two' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under February 7.Posted Tue Jan 3, 2012 at 10:00 AM PST by: -
HDD Spotlight Bargain: 'Blue Velvet' Blu-ray $10.99 at Amazon![teaser]David Lynch's provocative masterpiece is now available for over fifty percent off at Amazon! [/teaser] Amazon is currently offering 'Blue Velvet: 25th Anniversary Edition' for $10.99 (56% off suggested list price). Beneath the surface of small-town serenity lies a dark domain where innocence dare not tread and unpredictability is the norm. It is the haunting realm of 'Blue Velvet.' In this “shocking, deeply disturbing, startling mixture of the heartfelt and the horrific” (Newsweek), clean-cut Jeffrey Beaumont (Kyle MacLachlan, “Twin Peaks”) realizes his Mayberry-like hometown is not-so-normal when he discovers a human ear in a field. His investigation catapults him into an alluring, erotic murder mystery involving a disturbed nightclub singer (Isabella Rossellini, 'Death Becomes Her') and a drug-addicted sadist (Dennis Hopper, 'Speed'). Soon, Jeffrey is led deeper into their depraved existence past the point of no return. Click here add this terrific title to your Blu-ray collection!Posted Tue Jan 3, 2012 at 09:41 AM PST by: -
'West Side Story' Blu-ray Exchange Program Launched[teaser]Fox has launched an exchange program for faulty discs with the incorrect opening titles and has detailed how to spot the good releases in stores. [/teaser] As previously reported, 20th Century Fox has released 'West Side Story: 50th Anniversary Edition' on Blu-ray on November 15 with a bit of controversy over the opening credits, but now the studio has finally issued replacement info. The Blu-ray is available in a Limited Edition 4-Disc Boxed Set featuring 2 disc Blu-ray, newly-restored DVD, Tribute CD and collectible memorabilia, as well as a 2-disc Collector’s Edition Blu-ray. Five decades after its historic debut, a timeless classic returns to dazzle audiences young and old. Based on the hit Broadway musical of the same name, the iconic film 'West Side Story' won a record-breaking ten Academy Awards® including Best Picture, Best Directing and Best Original Score, the film took home more awards than any other movie-musical in the history of cinema. This monumental production not only featured the timeless lyrics from master American composer Stephen Sondheim, but a brilliant score from Leonard Bernstein, and beautiful direction from Robert Wise. This “brilliant” (The New Republic) film sets the ageless story of Romeo and Juliet against a backdrop of gang warfare in 1950’s New York. A love affair is fated for tragedy amidst the vicious rivalry between two street gangs – the Jets and the Sharks. When Jets member Tony (Richard Beymer, 'The Longest Day') falls for Maria (Natalie Wood, 'Splendor in the Grass'), the sister of the Sharks leader, it’s more than these two warring gangs can handle. As mounting tensions rise, a battle to the death ensues and innocent blood is shed in a heartbreaking finale. Featuring the famous songs “Maria,” “America,” “Tonight,” and “I Feel Pretty,” WEST SIDE STORY: 50th Anniversary Edition showcases thrilling performances by Best Supporting Actress® winner Rita Moreno ('The King and 'I), Best Supporting Actor® winner George Chakiris ('Two and Two Make Six') and Russ Tamblyn ('How the West Was Won'). The Blu-rays feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 soundtrack, and supplements include: ALL-NEW: Pow! The Dances of West Side Story – cast members, contemporary filmmakers, dancers and choreographers analyze and illuminate the film’s film’s famous dance sequences; ALL-NEW: A Place for Us: West Side Story’s Legacy – a look back at the iconic film and the impact it has had all over the world; Song Specific Commentary by Lyricist Stephen Sondheim; Music Machine – allows viewers to go straight to their favorite musical numbers; West Side Memories; Storyboard to Film Comparison Montage; and Trailers. The Digital Bits has just reported an update on the status of the botched opening credits on the Blu-rays. If you received a copy of MGM's 'West Side Story' Blu-ray with the incorrect opening titles and wish to request a replacement disc, please call 877-369-7867 (Monday to Friday 8AM-5PM PST) or email [email protected] for more details. The only way to spot the fixed versions in stores is by the UPC bar codes. For the Blu-ray Single you want to look for UPC #88390424523082 and for the Blu-ray Box Set UPC #88390424521681. You can find the latest specs for 'West Side Story: 50th Anniversary Edition' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under November 15.Posted Tue Jan 3, 2012 at 08:00 AM PST by:
