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'The Caine Mutiny' Blu-ray Available NOW![teaser]The 1954 classic war film starring Humphrey Bogart seems to have snuck under the radar and is now available on Blu-ray! [/teaser] We're used to this with Best Buy exclusives, but according to Amazon, Sony has released 'The Caine Mutiny' on Blu-ray as of September 6! When a US Naval captain shows signs of mental instability that jeopardizes the ship, the first officer relieves him of command and faces court martial for mutiny. Specs and supplements have yet to be confirmed, but suggested list price for what may very well be an Amazon exclusive is $19.99. You can find the latest specs for 'The Caine Mutiny' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under September 6.Posted Thu Sep 8, 2011 at 06:00 AM PDT by: -
10 Fall Catalog Releases That Aren't Named 'Star Wars'by Aaron Peck Yes, we all know that ' Star Wars' finally hits Blu-ray later this month. That's not really news. We've heard endless amounts of information about the release. Many of us have been anticipating it since the inception of the high definition video format. It's finally here, and the world knows. But along with 'Star Wars,' some other huge catalog releases are expected this fall, like 'Jurassic Park,' and 'Citizen Kane.' Most movie buffs have been waiting years to get their hands on these movies in high-def. [teaser]It's important to remember that other than George Lucas' dual film trilogies, this season is also packed with a few lesser-known catalog titles that are finding their way to the format for the very first time, or getting released in special editions that just may warrant a double dip.[/teaser] '12 Angry Men' (Criterion) Blu-ray Release Date: November 22nd Not only are we getting the cinematic classic '12 Angry Men' on Blu-ray this fall, but Criterion is releasing it. This means we can almost certainly expect a spot-on treatment of the source material giving us the best looking transfer possible. We can rely on Criterion to reproduce the original sound with clarity. And finally, we can only hope that they pack that release full of new and old (DVD release) extras. 'Ben-Hur: Ultimate Collector's Edition' Blu-ray Release Date: September 27th If the gargantuan Ultimate Collector's Edition of 'The Ten Commandments' is any kind of barometer, we can expect 'Ben-Hur's giant box set will be well worth owning even if it takes up an entire shelf by itself. 'Ben-Hur' is definitely one of the greatest film achievements in the history of cinema, but it's release has sort of been overshadowed by the release of another classic in 'Citizen Kane.' When the AFI-appointed number one film of all time comes to Blu-ray, it's kind of easy to forget about number 100 . 'Birth of a Nation' Blu-ray Release Date: November 22nd D.W. Griffith's controversial silent film will be getting the high-def treatment this fall in a two-disc special edition. 'Birth of a Nation' is film history in and of itself. It will be interesting to see how this always controversial film, now nearly 100 years old, transfers to Blu-ray. Film aficionados will no doubt want to add this one to their Blu-ray collections. 'Blue Velvet' Blu-ray Release Date: November 8th For better or worse, David Lynch is in a league of his own. Fans of the director have most likely been looking forward to a release of 'Blue Velvet' on Blu-ray. The time has arrived. Lynch's film is definitely one that you must watch, even if by the end you don't understand what you just saw. I know I'm still trying to piece together the pieces of 'Muholland Drive' in my mind, and 'Blue Velvet' is no different. The movie has that dtsinctly Lynchian feel to it, and will likely be a sneaky must have on the format considering everything turns out all right in the authoring process. 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' Blu-ray Release Date: September 20th The classic Audrey Hepburn film is getting a 50th anniversary treatment in high definition. It's always nice to see classic films such as this find their way to Blu-ray. The format really brings older movies like this brand new life. This is one of those movies that may get lost in all the hubbub about 'Jurassic Park' and 'Star Wars,' but it's probably just as important in the grand scheme of things. 'Dragon Tattoo Trilogy: Extended Editions' Blu-ray Release Date: November 22nd Normally, I wouldn't list a double-dip like this, but these new extended editions promise to add "over 2 hours of additional, never-before-seen feature content," according to the Amazon.com pre-order page. That's enough for me to bite. I'm a huge fan of the books and the movies, and the promise of that much more Noomi Rapace has me excited already. If you've read the books and seen the films, you've noticed that while they have been fairly faithful adaptations, they've had to leave stuff out due to time constraints. Here's hoping that these extra hours flesh out some of the stories that were left on the the cutting room floor. This, to me, is the most intriguing double-dip opportunity of the fall. 'Hook' Blu-ray Release Date: November 1st I know 'Hook' has its detractors, but I can't figure out why someone would dislike such a loveable movie. I'm excited for 'Hook' to get the Blu-ray treatment, and with Sony releasing it, it's sure to get a well done audio and visual presentation. For my money, one of the better Peter Pan adaptations out there. 'Jackie Brown' Blu-ray Release Date: October 4th One of the big releases this fall is 'Pulp Fiction.' So, it's kind of easy to forget that another famous Tarantino movie comes out the same week. 'Jackie Brown' is perhaps the best adaption of an Elmore Leonard novel other than 'Get Shorty' (screw you 'Be Cool'). 'Brown' has that decided Tarantino feel, and is still considered one of his best movies, but it seems to be constantly overshadowed by 'Pulp Ficition.' Either way, October 4th is going to be a busy Blu-ray release day for Tarantino fans. 'Looney Tunes - Platinum Collection: Vol. 1' Blu-ray Release Date: November 15th Isn't it about time we had some volumes of classic TV animation on Blu-ray? 'Looney Tunes' is finally getting the treatment it deserves. Since the DVDs came out not too long ago I thought that the Blu-rays were going to be quite far down the road. Fortunately, I was wrong. I'm very excited to see how Bugs and the rest of the gang look in HD. 'Scrooged' Blu-ray Release Date: November 1st Every year I celebrate part of my Christmas holiday with stingy old Bill Murray as Frank Cross, a maniacal, impersonal television executive who hates everyone and everything. 'Scrooged' brought Dickens tale into modern times, but now that a few decades have passed since it was made it hardly seems modern anymore. I still laugh at the fact that Frank uses the gift of VCRs for the people he wants to impress. Even after all these years though, 'Scrooged' is still a must-see movie over the holiday season. It's funny, clever, and you'll be hard-pressed to find a funnier portrayal of Scrooge than from Bill Murray. Yes this fall seems to be packed with the summer's blockbusters, and has seemingly been taken over by talk of the 'Star Wars' Blu-rays and how much tweaking has been done to the films. With all that commotion it's easy to forget some of cinema's most important and memorable movies are coming to Blu-ray. What catalog titles are you excited for this fall? Let us know in the forums.Posted Wed Sep 7, 2011 at 02:10 PM PDT by: -
Netflix Glitches Cause Loss of Simultaneous Streaming and 'Star Trek'[teaser]Customers are up in arms, but Netflix says the offending changes are a glitch in the system. [/teaser] Folks are getting pissed. Netflix has made some very unwelcome changes in the last few months and now some members aren't able to stream to multiple devices at once. Even worse, depending on your love of sci-fi, the entire first season of 'Star Trek: The Next Generation' has just up and disappeared. Netflix says that these aren't new policies or issues with contracts, but glitches in the system caused by the recent Latin America expansion. According to communications VP Steve Swasey, "No Netflix member is limited to less than two concurrent streams. A few Netflix members have heard differently from us, which is an error that we are correcting." On the 'Star Trek' front, Netflix is a bit more jovial. "The Starship Enterprise has veered off course temporarily because of a blip in the system with the start of streaming in Brazil," says a spokesman. "We will welcome the Enterprise and her crew back shortly." Source: Hacking NetflixPosted Wed Sep 7, 2011 at 01:00 PM PDT by: -
Blu-ray Will 'See No Evil, Hear No Evil' this Winter[teaser]Another Gene Wilder/Richard Pryor crime comedy is planned for Blu-ray this December. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Image Entertainment has slated the 1989 film 'See No Evil, Hear No Evil' for Blu-ray on December 6. The movie centers around a blind man and his deaf friend who witness a murder and set out to solve the mystery after becoming suspects for the crime. Specs and supplements have yet to be revealed, but suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $17.97. You can find the latest specs for 'See No Evil, Hear No Evil' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's now indexed under December 6.Posted Wed Sep 7, 2011 at 12:00 PM PDT by: -
'Adaptation' Blu-ray Announced[teaser]Charlie Kaufman's acclaimed comedy will be available on Blu-ray in early December. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Image Entertainment is preparing ' Adaptation' for Blu-ray on December 6. 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 December 6.Posted Wed Sep 7, 2011 at 10:00 AM PDT by: -
'Michael Jackson: The Life of an Icon' Announced for Blu-ray[teaser]A new documentary on the King of Pop is planned for an early November Blu-ray release. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Universal Studios is preparing 'Michael Jackson: The Life of an Icon' for Blu-ray on November 1. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements include additional interview footage with Katherine Jackson, Tito Jackson, Rebbie Jackson, and other contributors. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $26.98. You can find the latest specs for 'Michael Jackson: The Life of an Icon' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under November 1.Posted Wed Sep 7, 2011 at 08:00 AM PDT by: -
HDD Spotlight Bargain: 'Dexter: The Complete Seasons 1-5' Blu-ray $124.99 at Amazon[teaser]Today's Amazon deal is all five seasons of the award-winning Showtime series currently on Blu-ray! [/teaser] The online retailer is selling the box set of 'Dexter: The Complete First Season,' 'Dexter: The Complete Second Season,' 'Dexter: The Complete Third Season,' 'Dexter: The Complete Fourth Season,' and 'Dexter: The Complete Fifth Season' starring Golden Globe winner Michael C. Hall for just $124.99 (57% off suggested list price). Click here to own one of the best (and bloodiest) shows on TV! This offer is available until midnight PST.Posted Wed Sep 7, 2011 at 07:18 AM PDT by: -
'The Pebble and the Penguin' Blu-ray Detailed[teaser]The Don Bluth production coming to Blu-ray in October has now been detailed. [/teaser] As previously reported, MGM says 'The Pebble and the Penguin' is planned for Blu-ray on October 11. The animated adventure from the makers of 'The Secret of NIMH' and 'All Dogs Go to Heaven' tells the story of a bashful penguin searching for true love and stars the voices of Martin Short, James Belushi, and Tim Curry. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements will include a making-of featurette, music featurette, and theatrical trailer. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $19.99. You can find the latest specs for 'The Pebble and the Penguin' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under October 11.Posted Wed Sep 7, 2011 at 06:00 AM PDT by: -
Fall Promises a Cornucopia of Major New Releases On Blu-rayby Aaron Peck [teaser]Summer is quickly drawing to a close and ushering in the beginning of Autumn. The leaves are changing, we're starting to venture back indoors in preparation for the cold months ahead. Fall is a great time to stock up on new movies to get you through the winter doldrums. Here is a list of our most anticipated day-and-date releases coming out in the very near future.[/teaser] Fall is when we usually see quite a few of the summer blockbusters finally getting released. This year is no exception. There's a wealth of sizzling summer titles to get excited for. The first day of Fall in 2011 (at least in the northern hemisphere) is September 23, but we realize this is a worldwide site, and readers in other countries are facing polar opposite seasons, so for our purposes Fall releases will include anything released from September until Christmas.< Here are the big new releases we'll be marking on our calendars at High-Def Digest: 'Attack of the Block' Blu-ray Release Date: October 25th This comedic British alien invasion movie didn't get a lot of love when it came to a wide release in the states, but it's supposed to be brilliantly hilarious. Bordering on the greatness of 'Shaun of the Dead' and 'Hot Fuzz' and truly injecting some new life into a genre which has been extremely played out over the 2011 movie season, here's to seeing a snarky, British take on alien invasion! 'Boardwalk Empire' Blu-ray Release Date: Rumored November For you HBO fans, 'Boardwalk Empire' hits the format a little later this year, and if HBO's other TV seasons are any indication, this one should be another near demo-worthy experience. I never watched the show, but heard very good things about it and look forward to checking it out. Fans of the series will be happy it's getting the high-def treatment it deserves, but may find the steep list price hard to stomach. Lets hope for some good sale prices. 'Bridesmaids' Blu-ray Release Date: September 20th The age of the R-rated comedy is upon us. 'Bridesmaids' was lauded as the female 'Hangover,' and it definitely didn't disappoint at the box office. Being relatively cheap to film (compared to the other blockbusters of the summer), 'Bridesmaids' scored at the box office with a $270 million take worldwide. I never saw 'Bridesmaids,' but intend to when it's released on Blu-ray. From everyone that's seen it I've only heard good things. This is one to keep an eye out for. 'Captain America: The First Avenger' Blu-ray Release Date: October 25th As far as superhero movies go I thought 'Captain America' was middle of the road at best. I never felt connected to any of the characters here, and never felt like Cap was placed in any danger he couldn't easily escape from. A few simple montages and he'd defeated Red Skull's army without breaking a sweat. However, I understand that people out there (chiefly HDD reviewer Luke Hickman) think differently about this movie. This suggestion is for you fans, since there's no doubt in my mind that this one will look and sound great. 'Cars 2' Blu-ray Release Date: November 1st You're not looking forward to 'Cars 2' because it was a good movie. This one is by far Pixar's worst movie to date. It's essentially 90 minutes of Larry the Cable Guy stand up comedy. What you're looking forward to, however, is the promise of another breath-taking Pixar high-def presentation. Not to mention the fact that this is probably going to be one of the best 3D Blu-rays out there. 'Fast Five' Blu-ray Release Date: October 4th Ah, yes. The fifth 'Fast and the Furious' movie. Out of all of them though, this one is definitely the best. At least in my book. You'll most likely laugh all the way through the litany of ridiculous stunts piled one on top of the other, but this audio presentation is sure to be one of the most rip-roaring tracks out there. I'm really looking forward to the rumbling mayhem of the last chase scene as Paul Walker and Vin Diesel pull a giant safe on chains through downtown Rio. 'Hanna' Blu-ray Release Date: September 6th In a cinematic wasteland full of chaotic camera movements, incessant editing, and unyielding shaky-cams, Joe Wright is a different kind of director. His tracking shot on the beach in 'Atonement' was a pinnacle of staging a scene and shooting it in the most grandiose way possible. Even though 'Hanna' does get schizophrenic at times, he makes it work. He also lets us know that it's still him behind the camera with a one shot fight scene involving Eric Bana which is deadly in its beautiful simplicity. 'Modern Family: The Complete Second Season' Blu-ray Release Date: September 20th It's not all about movies this Fall. Right around the time ABC's comedy about a dysfunctional, yet hilarious, family starts its third season, the second season heads to Blu-ray. Just as funny as the debut season, the second year of 'Modern Family' is definitely one you'll want to have in your collection. The great thing about this show is that you can jump in anywhere and still find it funny. There are some inside jokes as the show moves along, but it really is a show for everyone. 'Our Idiot Brother' Blu-ray Release Date: November 2nd I got to catch the premiere of 'Our Idiot Brother' at Sundance earlier this year. At that time it was called 'My Idiot Brother,' but in the end it's still the same hilarious film. Paul Rudd can do no wrong, and here he's great as Ned. A man so outwardly optimistic and trusting that he gets absolutely pummeled by the cynical people around him. 'Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides' Blu-ray Release Date: October 18th Better than the third installment (which isn't saying that much), 'On Stranger Tides' was sort of a bland movie-going experience. Yet, the Blu-ray is sure to look and sound like a million bucks like most Disney home video experiences. So, that's something to look forward to. 'Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale' Blu-ray Release Date: October 25th An R-rated action comedy from Finland that features Santa Claus being dug up in an archeological dig? Yes please! Critics loved 'Rare Exports,' and I'm sure had it been given a wider release in the states more people would've found room in their hearts for it. It'll find indelible cult status on Blu-ray, that much is for sure. 'Red State' Blu-ray Release Date: October 18th Kevin Smith's very dark thriller about a religious cult finally finds its way to home video after its nationwide tour. Smith seems to get ever fuller of himself as time goes by. His speech at Sundance, after the premiere of this movie, was fairly self-aggrandizing and annoying to endure. Still, I have to admit that 'Red State' was surprisingly good and wasn't what I expected at all. It truly is a movie where no one is safe. And I mean no one. 'Super 8' Blu-ray Release Date: October 18th Not only was 'Super 8' one of the best movies of the summer, it's one of the best movies of the year. J.J. Abrams did a spectacular job recreating the feeling of old childhood adventure movies like 'The Goonies.' 'Super 8' is a giant bag of nostalgic popcorn ready to be munched. The kids (this is the first film for some of them) are the reason to see this movie. Forget the alien plot, or the large special effects sequences (although that train wreck scene is jaw-droppingly awesome), the kids and their interaction with one another are the true heart of the movie. Not to mention how fun their amateur zombie movie is that plays during the credits. 'Terri' Blu-ray Release Date: October 11th Here's another little indie comedy that you should keep a lookout for. It's survived the first of this year as a festival darling, and aims to please once it hits home video. There are so many huge blockbusters coming out that it would be easy to miss this little comedy starring John C. Reilly, but make sure you don't. 'Thor' Blu-ray Release Date: September 13th I thought for sure that 'Thor' was going to be corny as hell. I actually like the way the story of Thor was explained here. Thor and his family have visited earth way back when. They're from a different planet, aliens essentially, but were worshiped as gods at one point in time because of their powers. The movie was surprisingly fun, and humor-filled. For me it came in second among superhero movies during the summer. 'Tree of Life' Blu-ray Release Date: October 11th I won't pretend to understand the depths of Terrence Malick's 'Tree of Life.' There are scenes in it that absolutely baffled me and had me rolling my eyes. On the other hand, the emotion conveyed on screen is stunningly resonant. Out of all the movies I've seen this year, I think I've thought about 'Tree of Life' the most after the fact. It's simply a dazzlingly unique and equally confusing experience. 'X-Men: First Class' Blu-ray Release Date: September 9th For my money, this was the best superhero movie of the summer. James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender bolstered this superhero period piece with their terrific performances. Add in Kevin Bacon as a no-good German villain who resembles many a past 'Bond' villain, complete with world domination goals, and you have a great movie all around. Now if only Matthew Vaughn and crew could've thought up a substitute mutant for Angel. Let's face it, she was by far the worst part of that film. Her dainty insect wings mixed with her fiery loogies made her a very dumb mutant indeed. By no means is this a complete list, but just a good smattering of what big name new releases you can expect to see on store shelves this fall. As the summer blockbusters start coming out, prepare yourself for some rocking good audio and visual presentations. I don't know about you, but my wallet aches as I look over this list. At least Christmas is coming up soon right? What new releases did we miss that you're eagerly anticipating? Let us know in the forums.Posted Tue Sep 6, 2011 at 12:30 PM PDT by: -
'Hawaii Five-0: The Complete First Season' Blu-ray Best Buy Exclusive[teaser]The first season of the hit CBS remake will catch the Blu-ray wave in a few weeks, only at Best Buy. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Paramount will release 'Hawaii Five-0: The Complete First Season' on Blu-ray exclusively at Best Buy on September 20. The police procedural series stars Alex O'Loughlin, Scott Caan, Daniel Dae Kim ('LOST'), and Grace Park ('Battlestar Galactica'). Specs and supplements have yet to be revealed, but suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $59.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Hawaii Five-0: The Complete First Season' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under September 20.Posted Tue Sep 6, 2011 at 12:15 PM PDT by:
