To download this week's complete edition of the DVD and Blu-ray Release Report: http://www.dvdreleasereport.com/
Friday, November 16, 2012
New Theatrical Release: Year-to-Date Comparisons
To download this week's complete edition of the DVD and Blu-ray Release Report: http://www.dvdreleasereport.com/
The Criterion Collection Sets February Release Slate
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The Criterion Collection, with sales and distribution
expertise provided by Image Entertainment, announced its Feb. ’13 line-up this
past week … a delightful mix of foreign-language imports anchored by one
all-American classic, auteur
filmmaker Elia Kazan’s 1954 Best Picture winner, On the Waterfront.
On the Waterfront is set for Feb. 19 (timed to take advantage
of the Oscar telecast of Feb. 24) as both a double-disc Blu-ray edition and as
a three-disc DVD collection, complete with a new digital restoration (and
presented in two different aspect ratios 1.85:1 and 1.33:1 … which should raise
a few eyebrows among cinefiles attracted to the Criterion brand since neither
viewing choice is the “pure” 1.37 original theatrical aspect ratio), a
newly-prepared commentary and more.
The commentary features the teaming of film critic Richard
Schickel with Elia Kazan biographer Jeff Young (“Kazan: The Master Director
Discusses His Film”), plus there is a separate “Conversation” (featurette) between
fellow auteur Martin Scorsese and
film critic Kent Jones.
Other bonus goodies include documentary filmmaker Annie
Tresgot’s 1982 film, Elia Kazan: An Outsider, David
Naylor’s 2001 short documentary titled Contender: Mastering the Method (an
in-depth look at the pivotal scene between Rod Steiger and Marlon Brando) and
four separate video interviews — one vintage: Elia Kazan in 2001 and three
newly-minted, including one with Eva Maria Saint.
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| Kid With A Bike From the Criterion Collection, Feb. 12 |
Another award-winning film getting the Criterion treatment
in February is that of the writing/directing team of Jean-Pierre Dardenne and Luc
Dardenne’s Cannes Film Festival Grand Prix-winner, The Kid With a Bike.
This French-language import (from Belgium actually) arrives
in the domestic market as a stand alone Blu-ray SKU and as a double-disc DVD
product offering on Feb. 12. The ARR comes in at
333 days and the ticket sales were a very nice $1.4 million (a solid number for
a foreign-language film).
What makes The Kid With a Bike and interesting
— even riveting — piece of cinema is that the brothers Dardenne (L’Enfant,
Rosetta,
etc.) have deftly blended the elements of a classic British “Kitchen Sink”
drama with those of a lyrical fairy tale.
The focal character, 12-year-old Cyril (newcomer Thomas
Doret), is cut from the same mold as Tom Courtenay’s character in director Tony
Richardson’s 1962 film masterpiece, The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner. Angry, alone and headed for a world of hard
times and crime … he’s even a ward of the state (Cyril’s father has abandoned
him).
Instead of the dreary black and white world of those
post-war British films, The Kid With a Bike has been infused
with color and hope, which comes in the form of the beautiful 30ish Samantha (Cécile
De France — Hereafter, Russian Dolls, etc.), who — for
reasons that are never quite explained — takes an interest in the brutish,
angry boy. An “angel” of redemption and
hope, perhaps.
Bonus features include interviews with the two stars, Cécile
de France and Thomas Doret, a “Conversation” with the filmmakers and film
critic Kent Jones and the half hour documentary titled Return to Seraing.
Rounding out February release calendar from the Criterion
Collection are two Japanese film classics, Ballad of Narayama (Feb. 5 — director
Keisuke Kinoshita, 1958 … 1961 release in the U.S.) and Sansho the Bailiff (Feb.
26 — director Kenji Mizoguchi, 1954 … 1955 domestically), plus the 1961
experimental cinéma vérité film from
French filmmaker Jean Rouch, Chronicle of a Summer (also on Feb.
26).
Blu-ray and DVD editions will be available for all three of
these vintage foreign language imports.
For more information these February announcement, plus other
Criterion Collection releases, please visit the company’s website at http://www.criterion.com.
To download this week's complete edition of the DVD and Blu-ray Release Report: http://www.dvdreleasereport.com/
To download this week's complete edition of the DVD and Blu-ray Release Report: http://www.dvdreleasereport.com/
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Lionsgate Opens Q1'13 Release Campaign
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Lionsgate Home Entertainment has been busy of late in filling
in its Q1’13 release calendar with a series of new product announcements for
recent theatrical releases making their transition to the DVD and Blu-ray
arena.
First up on Jan. 8 is the remake of the Stallone sci-fi
comic book film adaptation from 1995, Judge Dredd, which has been
shortened for the remake to just Dredd.
This vision of a hellish future arrives as both DVD and
Blu-ray product SKUs — the Blu-ray version showcases both 3D and 2D versions of
the film — that are complete with UltraViolet Digital Copy download
option.
The ARR for this January date works out to 109 days and the
box office take was on the light side with just $13.4 million in ticket sales.
Bonus features common to both the DVD and Blu-ray release editions
include five production featurettes, including one titled “Mega-City Masters:
35 Years of Judge Dredd.”
Already announced and in place on Jan. 15 are DVD and
Blu-ray SKUs for director Ole Bornedal’s outstanding horror chiller, The
Possession. For the record, the
ARR came in at 137 days and the domestic box office was a tasty $49.1 million.
The Possession is the only theatrical release from the
pre-Labor Day period grossing in excess of $25 million to be held over to Q1’13
… all others made the Christmas cut. This
was probably a smart move on the part of Lionsgate to sit on it since it is a
genre flick that doesn’t really fit into the Christmas period.
Despite the solid box gross, it is neither a
blockbuster theatrical hit or for does the horror subject matter have any real
significance for the holidays (Jan. 15 works just fine … nothing gained or
missed by waiting a few weeks).
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| Perks of Being a Wallflower on Feb. 12 |
The other announcement this week is the Feb. 12 DVD and
Blu-ray launch of the Summit Entertainment-produced film adaptation of Stephen
Chbosky’s 1999 first-person narrative novel, The Perks of Being a Wallflower. Chbosky, who is probably best known for
producing and writing the apocalyptic Jericho television series, delivered
the screen adaptation for his novel and also directed the film.
The ARR comes in at 144 days and the box office tally — despite
solid reviews — was just so-so at $14.6 million.
Both the DVD and Blu-ray editions will include the
UltraViolet Digital Copy download option.
Other bonus features include two separate commentary options — one with
Stephen Chobsky going solo and the other with Chobsky and members of the cast —
plus there is the featurette titled “Best Summer Ever” and deleted scenes (with
optional commentary).
To download this week's complete edition of the DVD and Blu-ray Release Report: http://www.dvdreleasereport.com/
To download this week's complete edition of the DVD and Blu-ray Release Report: http://www.dvdreleasereport.com/
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
New Theatrical Hits to DVD & Blu-ray Release Windows
To download this week's complete edition of the DVD and Blu-ray Release Report: http://www.dvdreleasereport.com/
Midnight Releasing's The Hounds Debuts Jan. 22
Midnight Releasing will open its 2013 DVD release campaign
on Jan. 22 with the directing tandem of Roberto and Maurizio Del Picco’s debut
film under their Moviedel
Productions banner, The Hounds.
Four
college friends have their share of drinks in a English pub and decide that a jaunt
into the nearby forest for some hiking and camping is a spot-on idea. As one might suspect from a genre flick
titled The Hounds, their beverage-induced plan will be anything but,
spot-on.
If
you’ve seen your share of horror flicks, then your knee-jerk is that these are just
“victims” being led to the slaughter, but brothers Del Picco have thrown in a
few clever twists that keep the proceeding both inventive and fresh.
For
example, there’s an adjunct storyline that they cut to from time to time
involving a Brit detective (Andy Callaghan) investigating some sort of case
that doesn’t seem connected … but wait.
When our happy campers discover a half-buried body in the woods, it
quickly comes to mind that this has something to do with whatever crime our
half-soused copper is onto.
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| Maddie Moate stars in The Hounds (Jan. 22 on DVD) |
With The Hounds, you’d be wrong on all counts … there is something else going on in these creepy woods on what appears to be an otherwise bright and sunshiny day!
The only bonus goodie on the DVD is the “House of Noises”
music video.
To download this week's complete edition of the DVD and Blu-ray Release Report: http://www.dvdreleasereport.com/
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Jan. 15 For FilmWorks Entertainment's Tarology
Titled Tarology, this artist has turned the “art” and mysticism of Tarot card reading completely on its head by turning “readings” into storytelling … a performance, if you will.
Tarology tracks Enrique through the streets of Manhattan as he puts his storytelling gift to work for all to see and enjoy. He is truly one of a kind when it comes to Tarot.
Bonus features include extended interviews, a photo gallery and deleted scenes.
To download this week's complete edition of the DVD and Blu-ray Release Report: http://www.dvdreleasereport.com/
Hannover House's Upon A Midnight Clear, Dec. 11
Very much in the spirit of It’s a Wonderful Life, this bullied and outcast preteen receives divine guidance from God, which transforms her life on the very eve of Christmas. She has all but given up on the spirit of the season … doubts about herself and troubling relationship with her classmates are overcome as she embarks upon a journey of self-discovering in this delightful family-friendly film.
To download this week's complete edition of the DVD and Blu-ray Release Report: http://www.dvdreleasereport.com/
Image Entertainment's Fast Girls, Feb. 26
Director Regan Hall, using the run-up to the 2012 Olympics, takes what could have been a cliché-ridden sports saga of an unlikely underdog rising to the heights of national fame and has instead delivered a damn good little film.
Lenora Crichlow of Being Human fame, stars as the underdog with talent, while Lily James (Wrath of the Titans) is the more experienced athlete … together they overcome their own rivalry to become an unstoppable force!
To download this week's complete edition of the DVD and Blu-ray Release Report: http://www.dvdreleasereport.com/
Inventory of $25 Million-Plus Theatrical Releases
Calendar of $25 Million-Plus Theatrical Releases as of week ending November 9, 2012.
To download this week's complete edition of the DVD and Blu-ray Release Report: http://www.dvdreleasereport.com/
Assassins From Well Go USA on Jan. 8
Veteran Chow Yun Fat stars as would-be Emporor Cao Cao, who only needs a move or two more to successfully achieve his goal. But forces have been set in motion — based on astrological signs — that may bring him down.
Key to the plans to bring Cao Cao down are lovers and secret assassains Mu Shun (Tamaki Hiroshi — The Lady Shogun and Her Men, Midnight Eagle) and Gong Ling Ju (Crystal Liu Yifei — White Vengeance).
To download this week's complete edition of the DVD and Blu-ray Release Report: http://www.dvdreleasereport.com/
Paramount Doubles-Up On Comedy In January
Chris Hardwick is one busy man, from stand-up comedian to voice talent (as Otis in the Barnyard), from recording artist (as part of Hard ‘n Phirm) to radio DJ (Los Angeles-based KROQ-FM) … and he has even found time to be in such Rob Zombie films as House of 1000 Corpses and Halloween 2.
So now it’s time for his first Comedy Central special with Chris Hardwick: Mandroid, which arrives on DVD extended and uncensored. A free-wheeling list of comedy targets include “virginity,” “shark vaginas” (really?) and “chess club” … whoa!!
Amy Schumer is the whole package. Smart, beautiful and laugh-your-ass off funny in her stand-up routines … plus 2012 saw her in three films, including Seeking a Friend for the End of the World and Sleepwalk With Me.
Amy Schumer: Mostly Sexy Stuff is her one-hour Comedy Central special, which was filmed live at the Fillmore Theatre in San Francisco … dating, her sex life and more are all fair game for her to explore.
To download this week's complete edition of the DVD and Blu-ray Release Report: http://www.dvdreleasereport.com/
The Python's Are Back On Feb. 12!!!
The ARR is 102 days and the one-theatre test run generated ticket sales of $5,102 (hey, it’s Oscar-eligible for Best Animated something or other).
Of course Graham Chapman has been gone since 1989 (cancer), so pure Monty Python films have been a little hard to come by, but this little delight gets around that by using Graham Chapman’s own audio book narration for the necessary insights provided here … the animation (stop-motion, cartoons … you name it — think: Monty Python animation) takes care of the rest.
Virgil has a major hit in the making here and has generously given themselves three full months to work the streets … spread the word, Monty Python is (are?) back!!!
As to bonus goodies, the word is that there will be over an hour’s worth included on both the DVD and Blu-ray SKUs … unspecified at this time.
To download this week's complete edition of the DVD and Blu-ray Release Report: http://www.dvdreleasereport.com/
Green Apple Entertainment's Rule Of Law, Jan. 29
Armed with a screenplay literally ripped from today’s news headlines, cinematographer-turned-producer Moziko Wind (Diamond Dawgs, Unsigned) has fashioned an interesting thriller that has an Iranian terror cell leading the FBI on wild goose chases by framing innocent Americans for terror acts that are not of their doing.
But what makes the storyline especially sinister is that they are getting help from within. FBI Director Frank Fitzgerald (Circus-Szalewski — Zombies vs. Strippers, The Chicago 8, Shades of Julia, etc.) is revealed as the mastermind behind the bombings and terror attacks — motivated by the raw human emotion of revenge.
His latest random target is divorcee Tom Cali (John Brody — Who Stole the Electric Car?, Crucifix Wizard), who is arrested in front of his young son for killing 17 people at a local upscale coffee bistro bombing. Hauled into FBI headquarters his fate has already been predetermined … signed, sealed and delivered as a mass murderer.
Peppered with twists and turns, Cali suddenly finds an unexpected ally — the daughter of another framed “terrorist” (played by Stephanie Betesh), who knows that Cali is as innocent as her father. She helps him escape, but that’s just one of those “out of the frying pan and into the fire” set-ups as one of the Cali’s terror victims was the sister of a local gang leader who has vowed revenge!
On the run from the law for his heinous act of mass murder and the target of one Los Angeles’ most powerful street gangs, it is just a matter of time before Tom Cali ends up dead.
To download this week's complete edition of the DVD and Blu-ray Release Report: http://www.dvdreleasereport.com/
Mill Creek Sets First Wave For Q1'13Mill Creek Sets First Wave For Q1'13
Leading the pack on Jan. 8 is the seven-disc, priced-to-own mid-90s TV sitcom teaming John Ritter with Markie Post (plus the likes of Billy Bob Thornton, Clark Duke and Ed Asner) in Hearts Afire: The Complete Series. All 54 episodes are included, plus the unaired bonus episode from the third season titled “The Outsider.”
Bonus goodies include a blooper reel and outtakes.
Also heading to market in the first group will be both DVD and Blu-ray editions of the seven-part documentary series titled Guns: The Evolution of Firearms. The series traces the history of firearms over a 400 year period with special emphasis on the weapons of the Civil War and World Wars I and II.
The double-disc DVD edition is priced at just $9.98, while the Blu-ray SKU carries the eye-popping pricing of just $14.98 (a major bargain for over four and half hours of high quality programming).
Also for history buffs on Jan. 8 is the 10-disc collection titled The Definitive Civil War Collection — 28 hours worth of programming for just $29.98 (and that’s before discounts at retail).
There will also be three-disc DVD editions of 3rd Rock from the Sun: The Complete Season Five and 3rd Rock from the Sun: The Complete Season Six, plus eight priced-to-own volumes of Baby First DVDs featured in the Jan. 8 release package, along with a three-disc collection (showcasing 23 episodes) of Fury: The Lost Episodes (starring Peter Graves).
Shifting to Jan. 15, we find the eight film, four-disc DVD collection titled Star-Studded Dramas, which showcases such films as All the Pretty Horses, The Squid and the Whale and Running with Scissors) … the SRP is just $19.98.
There are also two box sets streeting on Jan. 15 — Go West!: America’s Western Frontier (a five-disc collection) and WWII: America Joins the Fight (a seven-disc set).
For more information on these products (and more), please visit the company’s website at millcreekent.com
To download this week's complete edition of the DVD and Blu-ray Release Report: http://www.dvdreleasereport.com/