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'Sid and Nancy' Best Buy Exclusive Blu-ray Detailed[teaser]MGM has finally decided to give us the scoop on the catalog Blu-ray spotted on store shelves only at Best Buy. [/teaser] As previously reported, MGM has released 'Sid and Nancy' on Blu-ray at Best Buy late last month, and will have a retailer-wide release on December 27. The film is a biopic of Sid Vicious (played by Gary Oldman) from the Sex Pistols and his girlfriend Nancy Spungen (Chloe Webb). The Blu-ray has 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements include For the Love of Punk and Junk Love featurettes. The Blu-ray can be yours for $14.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Sid and Nancy' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under September 27.Posted Wed Oct 5, 2011 at 07:00 AM PDT by: -
Blu-ray Won't Be Going 'Stir Crazy' Until 2012[teaser]The 1980 crime comedy sentenced to Blu-ray this December won't be arriving until late January. [/teaser] As previously reported, Image Entertainment was working on 'Stir Crazy' for Blu-ray on December 6, but now the date has been pushed to January 24. The film about two innocent friends who are framed and sent to prison stars Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor and is directed by Sidney Poitier. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 soundtrack, and supplements will include talent filmographies and trailers. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $17.97. You can find the latest specs for 'Stir Crazy' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's now indexed under January 24.Posted Wed Oct 5, 2011 at 06:00 AM PDT by: -
HDD Spotlight Bargain: 'Tucker and Dale vs. Evil' Blu-ray $15.99 at Amazon[teaser]Save nearly fifty percent on the hillbilly hoedown on Blu-ray at Amazon![/teaser] The online retailer is now selling 'Tucker and Dale vs. Evil' on Blu-ray for only $15.99 (47% off suggested retail price). The film stars Alan Tudyk and Tyler Labine as a pair of mountain folk who are trying to enjoy their vacation when they are attacked by preppy college kids. Click here to pre-order your copy of this dark comedy hitting stores on November 29!Posted Tue Oct 4, 2011 at 11:05 AM PDT by: -
'Adaptation' Blu-ray Postponed[teaser]Charlie Kaufman's acclaimed comedy won't be available on Blu-ray until the end of January. [/teaser] As previously reported, Image Entertainment was preparing 'Adaptation' for Blu-ray on December 6, but now the release seems to be coming January 31. Spike Jonze directs Nicolas Cage as a lovelorn screenwriter who turns to his less talented twin brother for help when his efforts to adapt a non-fiction book go nowhere. The film was nominated for four Academy Awards including Best Actor (Nicolas Cage), Best Supporting Actress (Meryl Streep), Best Adapted Screenplay, and Chris Cooper won for Best Supporting Actor. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and the only supplement announced so far is the theatrical trailer. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $17.97. You can find the latest specs for ' Adaptation' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's now indexed under January 31.Posted Tue Oct 4, 2011 at 10:45 AM PDT by: -
'30 Minutes or Less' Blu-ray Dated & Detailed[teaser]The hit comedy from the director of 'Zombieland' is planned for Blu-ray in November. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Sony has slated Ruben Fleischer's '30 Minutes or Less' for Blu-ray on November 29. The release will also be available in a Blu-ray/DVD combo pack. The film stars 'The Social Network's Jesse Eisenberg as a pizza delivery man who is forced to rob a bank by two bumbling crooks played by Danny McBride and Nick Swardson. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements will include: Picture-in-picture video commentary with director Ruben Fleischer and actors Jesse Eisenberg, Aziz Ansari, Danny McBride, and Nick Swardson; Blowing Up with the Cast & Crew of 30 Minutes or Less featurette; The Perfect Crime: Action and Comedy in 30 Minutes Or Less featurette; Deleted Scenes; and 30 Minutes or Less PS3 Theme/Wallpaper. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $35.99, while the combo pack is $40.99. You can find the latest specs for '30 Minutes or Less' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under November 29.Posted Tue Oct 4, 2011 at 10:00 AM PDT by: -
'These Amazing Shadows: The Movies That Make America' Announced for Blu-ray[teaser]The 2011 official Sundance Film Festival selection directed by Paul Mariano and Kurt Norton is coming to Blu-ray in November. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, PBS is readying 'These Amazing Shadows: The Movies That Make America' for Blu-ray on November 22. The documentary tells the history and importance of The National Film Registry, a roll call of American cinema treasures that reflects the diversity of film, and indeed the American experience itself. Specs and supplements haven't been revealed yet, but the suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $29.99. You can find the latest specs for 'These Amazing Shadows: The Movies That Make America' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under November 22.Posted Tue Oct 4, 2011 at 08:00 AM PDT by: -
HDD's Exclusive Interview with Robert Forsterby Luke Hickman Robert Forster is one of those great actors that has been around for a very long time, successful on both the small and big screens. His role as bail bondsman Max Cherry in Quentin Tarantino's 'Jackie Brown' is arguably the part he's best known for. Forster received an Oscar nomination for his supporting role and gives Tarantino credit for rejuvenating his acting career. [teaser]After a few Miramax sell-offs, 'Jackie Brown' is finally coming to Blu-ray next week, and to help promote the Blu-ray release of 'Jackie Brown,' Forster took some time to chat with High-Def Digest about the film, his fondest memories attached to it, the insanely complex dynamic of acting, and his upcoming role in Alexander Payne's 'The Descendants.' Enjoy![/teaser] HDD – Luke Hickman: Hello! How are you doing this morning? Robert Forster: I'm good. I've got my first cup of coffee. I start my morning at this little coffee shop and I said, “This morning I've got to get my coffee before I start talking.” So here we are. How can I be helpful? HDD: I'm looking forward to 'Jackie Brown' on Blu-ray and when the opportunity to speak with you presented itself, I got excited. Robert Forster: Well, thanks. What is High-Def Digest like? You feed information about high definition products to whom? HDD: There are so many people out there into new high-def technology, they follow it constantly, so we let them know what's out there. Robert Forster: Yeah. …. I've had Blu-ray in my house for years. ... HDD: Do you have a home theater? Robert Forster: No. I've got a flatscreen Sharp that's connected to – well, somebody connected to the other things, but I don't have streaming stuff, Netflix for instance. … I would like to have that thing – if it was easy – where in my house, when I'm far away in bed in Vancouver, I could jump on my iPad … and access my Tivo, my recorded shows. These are probably the simplest of things, but that's next on my list. HDD: It's great what you can do with technology these days. Don't worry, you'll get it down and they'll have that technology around soon enough. Robert Forster: So, low-def 'Jackie Brown' in high-def. HDD: Have you gotten to see the Blu-ray yet? Robert Forster: I have not. I saw it on a screen about three nights ago. They screened it out here at LACMA (the Los Angeles County Museum of Art), the – where are you? HDD: I'm in Salt Lake City. Robert Forster: I see. Well, we've got a nice museum where they screen movies once in a while and they screened 'Jackie Brown.' It was a real good audience. These people knew the picture. I suppose it's like those 'Rocky Horror' shows. Remember those, whatever those were? People would go on Friday night's and everyone knew the words? Everybody knew the jokes from 'Jackie Brown' because they laughed a lot. I was very delighted with this audience. HDD: Did they show the new remastered version, or was it an old print? Robert Forster: You know, it looked pretty good, but I have no idea. This is a museum, so they probably had the best print you could get. I got to see a few seconds of it because they kept pulling us out for interviews and photos. It's a work day. I never knew it was a “work day” when they said, “Would you come and promote the picture.” But since 'Jackie Brown,' all these things have become understandable. HDD: It's not been 14 years since 'Jackie Brown' was first released. What comes to your mind when you think of the film? Robert Forster: Wow. (laughs) Good – thanks. Now I'm searching my mind for that first thing. (laughs) I know one of the things comes to my mind. Oh, gee. I can remember the moment in my kitchen when I was with my daughter after [the nomination] – now we're talking about a personal experience. Or do you want movie experience? HDD: Either or – both! Robert Forster: There was a moment driving back from the day I was nominated. This was a huge thing. I didn't expect such a thing. It was a very [big] surprise. And I didn't know that I needed to go out and do interviews. We did 29 interviews that morning. When the car was driving me back, I realized that the reason that I got a nomination was because a lot of people signed my name – they didn't just check off a box – and the thought of that gave me such warmth. It was the strongest little emotional thing that movie represents to me. If you're talking about the movie, the very very moment in the end when [Jackie] comes in the office and she throws out the idea that he might want to come to Spain with her. He's giving it some thought and she says, “You scared of me?” And I tell her, “A little bit.” That scene ends with a kiss – and a close-up on that kiss. When we got to that point in the scene, Quentin came over and said, “Now, look. I haven't figured out how I'm going to end this movie yet, but this moment is the beginning of the end – this kiss moment.” He said, “The phone will ring. Pick it up.” We were in the middle of the kiss on the first take, the phone rang and I wasn't quite sure what I wanted to say to the other person, but I fumbled it a little bit. Then we shot it a second time and by then I knew what I wanted to say. And so the moments immediately after the phone rings were a big surprise to me on the set. … Movies are a business of making movie shots – there's a discreet number … of shots in a day. You set them up. They're complex. The guy who wrote it wants you to deliver a piece of information inside that shot. And there's the director who may have a plan inside that shot – it's a motion maybe, or an entrance, or some dialog, or a reaction. … The director may give you something he wants to see in that scene or maybe some timing that he's hoping you can achieve for him. And then you have to stand so the guy who sets the lights is happy. And the one listening to words has to be happy. Otherwise, at the end of the shot he's going to say, “It's no good. Start it again.” Or if I put the cup in the wrong spot, somebody says, “It's no good for continuity. Start it again.” Or if I do something too big for the size shot I'm in, the guy behind the lens says, “It's no good for composition. Start it again.” The actor have to deliver a stroke that meets everyone's needs at once. Everybody is your boss. And that's not the end of it. The one who's cutting this picture wants you to deliver stuff that can be cut. In the old days it was harder. Matching was one of the things I learned when I started, it's so that you can cut the cut looking like you're drinking the same cup of coffee or whatever. We've got to know the rollercoaster shape of this movie so that we can give the audience … a ride. They've got to be there going around the curves or they wont be there at the end of the ride with us. We've got to give our audience something too. To the one who hired me, I am responsible for helping to deliver this picture on time. I've got to be ready on the first, second, third take so that this picture can come in on time and they'll be willing to hire me again. There's an awful lot of little things that you've got to be doing. Every movie shot is important. It's an existential exercise because never is any [movie shot] the same as the one before. So, you're out there shooting movie shots and [the last shot of 'Jackie Brown'] is one that I think of as warm when I think of it. Gee, was that a nice shot. I grabbed the phone. By then I knew what I wanted to say. I talk to the mother, ask whether the father was in the house, da-da-da, and by the time I look up, the car was pulling away. It was a nice movie shot. Those are the things you do on a daily basis. HDD: I love the way you explain the complexity of making a movie. It's poetic. Robert Forster: Thank you, Luke. HDD: You're welcome. Breaking off topic a little, next up you appear in 'The Descendants.' Robert Forster: Yes, I do. HDD: I'm excited to see it because you get to work with Alexander Payne. Can you tell us a little about it? Robert Forster: 'The Descendants' is a really nice picture. I knew this guy Alexander Payne from 'Sideways,' then I saw 'Election.' And then I saw 'About Schmidt.' That may be how I got to know this guy. … Boy, I knew this was a real interesting filmmaker. And when my agent called me – I was in the car – and said, “Would you be willing to do one scene in a movie?” I, who am not afraid of doing just one scene, said, “Sure.” I had a meeting with this Alexander Payne – what a nice guy – and nothing happened. A month, two, three go by and I don't hear a thing. And then I get a phone call from a guy who says, “Hi. This is Alexander Payne. I'd like to invite you to Hawaii to work with us on our movie.” Wow! This seems to be a really really classy guy. Usually I get to know that I got a role when the wardrobe designers calls. What do I want to say about the movie? I heard about one review that said something like I abused everyone in sight. I'm an angry father-in-law of George Clooney, my daughter is in a coma and I blame him. By the way, [my part] turned into two scenes – I said one scene, he said, “No, there's two scenes. You don't have the right script. You read an old script.” HDD: Alexander Payne is great, so I'm really looking forward to 'The Descendants.' Robert Forster: Yeah, I play a father with his family in crisis. He gets to know his children. It's quirky, lovely and touching. I don't know what everyone else thinks about it, I just hear it's getting nice reviews. I'll be delighted to see this picture. HDD: Thanks again for fitting me in with your morning coffee. I really appreciate it. Robert Forster: By all means, Luke. HDD: I look forward to the 'Jackie Brown' Blu-ray and seeing you in 'The Descendants.' Robert Forster: Thank you. Have a good day!Posted Mon Oct 3, 2011 at 11:50 AM PDT by: -
High-Def Holidays: The Hunt for Blu-Octoberby Dick Ward It's finally here - the month you've been waiting for. The month that culminates in one wonderful day of candy, cider, and costumes and ends with you waking up tied to your bed by a Wonder Woman that looked so much better the night before. At least that's how mine usually go. [teaser] There's much more to October than one day at the end to the month where all the goth kids feel out of place because they look like everyone else. And that's what High-Def Holidays is all about - finding some quality Blu-rays to celebrate some less quality holidays.[/teaser] National Apple Month Granted, National Apple Month is almost certainly taking a pro-apple stance. I do too, especially if they're covered in caramel. But still, my mind wanders to the most anti-apple story since the book of Genesis. That, of course, is the Disney classic ' Snow White and the Seven Dwarves.' Watch it and balk at the propaganda against one of the doctor-away-keepinest fruits there is! National Clock Month We're going back to Disney to talk about a movie that's ripe with clocks, and of course the desire to not be late. Specifically, the desire not to be late for a very important date. Consider 'Alice in Wonderland' to keep your clocks wound and properly calibrated so you don't have to go running around with your pocket watch out. Week 1 - National Fire Prevention Week Fires can start in a lot of ways. You could leave the gas on or drop a lit cigarette in the woods. Sometimes they happen due to faulty wiring or just because everything's too darn dry. And sometimes they happen because you made fun of the weird girl in school and dumped pigs blood on her head. ' Carrie' is the Smoky the Bear of Bullying. "Only you can prevent pyrokinetic fires." October 1st - World Vegetarian Day I've probably pimped 'Scott Pilgrim vs. the World' before. Maybe a few times. Well it's that damn good. And of course, it ties in to World Vegetarian day because of the vegan evil ex boyfriend. If he wasn't kind of a dick about it, his vegan superpowers could really have been cool. October 2nd - Name Your Car Day Some people name their cars. Those people are weird. To be fair though, I've always wanted to name my car Desire just to see if anyone gets the joke. If you can't think of any good title to attribute to your beater, you can always crib something from ' Cars,' a movie so good that it made Larry the Cable Guy tolerable. Barely. October 10th - Indigenous People's Day Unlike a lot of holidays that I feature here, Indigenous People's Day is actually serious. It's all about celebrating Native American culture and I think 'Dances With Wolves' is a good way to do that. And if the 1990 classic isn't your style, you can always check out the more modern remake 'Avatar.' Zing! October 12th - Farmer's Day I drive by a lot of farms on my way up to my grandmother's place, and while they're pretty cool and quaint in the daytime, they're creepy at night. Giant areas of land with nothing in them, and of course plenty of potential for some creepy kids to go all ' Children of the Corn' on you. October 16th - Boss's Day Ah bosses. They're the people that make sure things are going right at work, keep people on task and encourage them to do their best. Or you've got a real boss and they're more like the folks in 'Office Space.' Celebrate Boss's Day by kicking back and living vicariously through a man who doesn't mind shirking authority. October 20th - Monster Mash Day I can't think about the great song 'Monster Mash,' - if you were wondering, is indeed a graveyard smash - without thinking about ' Monster Squad,' which in my youth I remembered as a fairly edgy Halloween comedy. It's less edgy now, but it features the creepy German guy, some really out-of-place serious moments, cuss words that kids don't get to say anymore and of course, the answer to life's ultimate question. "Does Wolfman have nards?" October 22nd - National Stuttering Awareness Day Sure, yeah, 'The King's Speech' earned critical acclaim. Whatever, no one died watching it. But according to a Wikipedia "fact" that I may of may not have inserted for the sole purpose of writing this article, the John Cleese starring 'A Fish Called Wanda' did kill a man with humor. Interesting that it's something Monty Python joked about so many years ago.Posted Mon Oct 3, 2011 at 11:20 AM PDT by: -
'Queensrÿche: Mindcrime at the Moore' Announced for Blu-ray[teaser]The 2006 live performance of both acclaimed Mindcrime albums is coming to Blu-ray in a few weeks. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Eagle Rock Entertainment is prepping 'Queensrÿche: Mindcrime at the Moore' for a high-definition release on October 18. Following the release of Operation: Mindcrime II, Queensrÿche performed both albums in their entirety on tour in a mammoth stage production featuring actors, staging and films. Filmed on this tour in high definition at the Moore Theater in the band's hometown of Seattle over three nights in October 2006, Mindcrime At The Moore is now being released on Blu-ray for the first time and presents these legendary albums as they were meant to be seen and heard. Performances include: OPERATION: MINDCRIME PART I 1) I Remember Now 2) Anarchy-X 3) Revolution Calling 4) Operation: Mindcrime 5) Speak 6) Spreading The Disease 7) The Mission 8) Suite Sister Mary 9) The Needle Lies 10) Electric Requiem 11) Breaking The Silence 12) I Don't Believe In Love 13) Waiting For 22 14) My Empty Room 15) Eyes Of A Stranger OPERATION: MINDCRIME PART II 16) Freiheit Ouverture 17) Convict 18) I'm American 19) One Foot In Hell 20) Hostage 21) The Hands 22) Speed Of Light 23) Signs Say Go 24) Re-Arrange You 25) The Chase 26) Murderer? 27) Circles 28) If I Could Change It All 29) An Intentional Confrontation 30) A Junkie's Blues 31) Fear City Slide 32) All The Promises ENCORE 33) Walk In The Shadows 34) Jet City Woman The Blu-ray will feature 1080i video, DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and uncompressed 2.0 soundtracks, and supplements will include: Tour Documentary; Queensrÿche Rock'n'Ride; and a version of "The Chase" from Los Angeles with Ronnie James Dio as Dr. X.' Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $19.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Queensrÿche: Mindcrime at the Moore' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under October 18.Posted Mon Oct 3, 2011 at 08:00 AM PDT by: -
'One Day' Blu-ray Detailed[teaser]The 2011 romance coming to Blu-ray in November has now been fully detailed. [/teaser] As previously reported, Universal Studios says 'One Day' will have a Blu-ray release on November 29. The film spans twenty years following the lives and relationship of two people (stars Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess) on the same day each year and is based on the 2009 David Nicholls' novel. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements will include: Audio Commentary with Director Lone Scherfig; Em and Dex Through the Years; Anne Hatheway: Bringing Emma to Life; The Look of One Day: Making a 20-Year Love Story, Creating Emma with Anne and Dexter's Transformation; and Deleted Scenes. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $34.98. You can find the latest specs for 'One Day' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under November 29.Posted Mon Oct 3, 2011 at 06:00 AM PDT by:
