Image Entertainment Sets Superhero Sparks Thriller For A DVD Rollout On Mar. 11

Writer/director Christopher Folino teamed with fellow filmmaker Todd Burrows for the award-winning combination film noir and superhero thriller Sparks (based on the comic book series of the same name), which will be making its way to DVD on Mar. 11 courtesy of Image Entertainment.

A throwback film — set in the noirish timeframe of the 1940s — finds Ian Sparks (Chase Williamson — John Dies at the End) trying to make the best of it after his parents are tragically killed in an auto accident.   At first all seems wonderful when this would-be masked avenger hooks up with the stunning Lady Heavenly (played to perfection by Ashley Bell, who appears to be doing all of her own stunts — best known as Nell in The Last Exorcism and The Last Exorcism, Part II) and they are able to combine their passion for crime fighting with romance.  But their bliss is shaken to the core when they cross paths with Metanza, a serial killer and an utterly ruthless villain.

It may come as a surprise to some — even shock — but Metanza is played by the comic book series co-creator, William Katt, who knows just a little bit about superheros.   Just take his Ralph Hinkley character from The Greatest American Hero and turn it completely inside out and upside down … that’s the evil of Metanza.

Not only do you have a top front line cast in Folino’s Sparks with Williamson, Katt and Bell, but the supporting cast is also top-notch (Clint Howard, Clancy Brown and Jake Busey … among others) and both the special effects and all of the post-filming work (editing, music, etc.) belie the production budget … it is easily what you would expect from a similar studio-level film production (how they pulled it off has be a combination of industry experience and planning).

No word at this time on bonus features … or if the film is going to get a brief theatrical break during the run up to its DVD debut.   This is certainly one worth marking on your must-see calendar come Mar. 11.

To download this week's complete edition of the DVD and Blu-ray Release Report:  DVD & Blu-ray Release Report

Capital Games On DVD From Breaking Glass Pictures On Feb. 11

Prolific romance novelist and former Seattle beat cop, G.A.Hauser, will see her 2010 best-selling gay fiction novel, Capital Games, released as a feature-length motion picture on Feb. 11 courtesy of Breaking Glass Pictures.

Actor-turned-director Ilo Orleans handled the film adaption, with Eric Presnall (as Eric in the Who Let the Dogs Out reality television series) taking on the role of Steve Miller, a form Los Angeles cop who turns in his badge — and his high stress job — for what he thinks in a more lucrative and far less stressful career in advertising.

He gets a rude awakening when he finds himself in direct competition over the landing of a key account that he’s been courting when an imported advertising and marketing “gunslinger” named Mark Richfield (Gregor Cosgrove), who comes complete with a smug attitude and a shrew-like fiancé in tow.

The agency head, wants to build them into a team and comes up with a retreat idea — “a team-building” challenge, if you will — in the rugged landscape of New Mexico (shot on location).   It is a simple idea, work together, overcome your conflict and mistrust of each other and everyone will be a winner.   What takes place between the two out there in the wilds will change everything … in a most unexpected way.

Behind-the-scenes production featurette.

To download this week's complete edition of the DVD and Blu-ray Release Report:  DVD & Blu-ray Release Report

Bad Grandpa Ready For Action From Paramount Home Media On Jan. 28

There are lessons to be learned — if one is so inclined to learn lessons — from the success and failure of certain films that were released theatrically during 2013.

For the sake of brevity, we will just focus on two of these films, both with tickets sales in the $85 to $100 million range.   

Both films have established stars — with a proven track record of box office acceptance — in heavy makeup.

Both films feature the established star with a sidekick.  

Both films were made as entertainment vehicles with no thought of winning awards.   Just make money and have fun doing it.

So each film had more or less the same components — recognizable name on the marquee, a sidekick (or buddy) and both were put into product as pure entertainment … let Nebraska, 12 Years a Slave, Captain Phillips and Gravity duke it out for all those prestigious awards.

The results are clear.   One film made oodles of money for its studio, while the other was a complete financial disaster (the stockholders should be asking questions).   One film is all but certain to win an award, while the other was simply entertaining and pleased its targeted audience (laughs aplenty!!!).

On the same day that Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment dumped — without any fanfare — The Lone Ranger (this year’s front runner for the Razzie Award as worst picture of 2013) into the home entertainment market place (Dec. 17), Paramount Home Media Distribution announced, for delivery as both a Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack edition and a stand-alone DVD product offering, director Jeff Tremaine’s Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa.

The street date is Jan. 28, which yields an ARR of just 95 days.  Ticket sales topped the $100 million dollar with $100.6 million (and still counting).   The Lone Ranger, on the other hand, grossed less than it cost to make — another write-off for that studio.

Johnny Depp and his sidekick (quick, name his sidekick if you can) tanked, while Johnny Knoxville and his sidekick, Jackson Nicoll, had them rolling in the aisles with laughter.

Bonus features, which are limited to the Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack, include two viewing options (a theatrical cut and an unrated version), a behind-the-scenes featurette, deleted scenes and alternative reaction shots from those totally fooled by Irving and Billy.

Also added to the release calendar this past week is director David Lowell Rich’s long-overdue all-star disaster flick, The Horror at 37,000 Feet.   Street date for the DVD debut is Mar. 18.

Back in 1973, right around the time of The Poseidon Adventure, Towering Inferno and Earthquake, this terror-on-a-jetliner disaster gem featured an all-star cast that included William Shatner, Chuck Connors, Buddy Ebsen, Paul Winfield, Roy Thinnes, Tammy Grimes and Jane Merrow.

To download this week's complete edition of the DVD and Blu-ray Release Report:  DVD & Blu-ray Release Report

Indican Pictures' Catching Dreams On DVD Jan. 21

Indican Pictures has selected Jan. 21 as the DVD release date for documentary filmmaker Kevin Flint’s insightful and feel-good look at his brother, Brian Flint, and his quixotic quest to become a center ring trapeze artist.   The film is titled Catching Dreams.

Brian Flint had a successful career going in the financial industry as an investment banker with a secure future and all that goes with it.  But that wasn’t his dream … making money was not what he wanted to do with his life.  Instead, this one-time water polo combatant for a position on the U.S. Olympic Water Polo Team chucked it all and began an eight-year quest to become an aerial trapeze artist for Cirque Du Soleil.   

As the film unfolds we see that Brian’s goal is one that most would have given up on early on.  He had a serious injury at the Cirque Du Soleil training camp which should have ended his career, but once his injuries healed he took to the road and literally traveled the world learning the craft before returning once again to Cirque Du Soleil for a fourth — and last — attempt at making the cut … eight years out of his life and four auditions to fulfill his dream (sorry, you will have to see Catching Dreams on DVD on Jan. 21 to see if he made it).   Was it worth it … you be the judge!!!

To download this week's complete edition of the DVD and Blu-ray Release Report:  DVD & Blu-ray Release Report

Reaching For The Moon Makes Its DVD Debut From Wolfe Video On Feb. 11

Director Bruno Barreto’s multi-award-winning biopic, Reaching for the Moon, will be heading to DVD from Wolfe Video on Feb. 11.   

The film — after working the international festival circuit throughout early 2013 to terrific reviews and numerous awards — is now playing the domestic theatrical arthouse circuit.  The ARR works out to 95 days the current box office number is $45,502.

Based on the biographical novel by Brazilian Carmen L. Oliveira, Reaching for the Moon, details the love affair between American poet Elizabeth Bishop (Miranda Otto — as Eowyn in the Lord of the Rings film series, plus such films as War of the Worlds, Flight of the Phoenix, etc.) and famed Brazilian architect Lota de Macedo Soares (Glória Pires) during the 1950s and 60s.

In English and Portuguese, bonus features include a making-of featurette.

To download this week's complete edition of the DVD and Blu-ray Release Report:  DVD & Blu-ray Release Report

 

 

Lionsgate Home Entertainment Sets Ender's Game For Feb. 11 Delivery

Lionsgate Home Entertainment has tabbed Feb. 11 as the street date for writer/director Gavin Hood’s film adaptation of sci-fi novelist Orson Scott Card’s 1985 futuristic work, Ender’s Game.   

 The ARR is 102 days and the domestic box office haul was a tasty $60.5 million.

Planned for release are a Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack and a DVD SKU (both featuring UltraViolet).  Bonus features include commentary from producers Gigi Pritzker (Drive, The Open Road, etc.) and Roberto Orci (screenwriter for such films as Star Trek, Cowboys & Aliens, etc.), deleted scenes with optional commentary from filmmaker Gavin Hood … exclusive to the Blu-ray SKU is an eight-part production featurette.

To download this week's complete edition of the DVD and Blu-ray Release Report:  DVD & Blu-ray Release Report

Fujimi Orchestra: Cold Front Conductor From Ariztical Entertainment On Feb. 25

Ariztical Entertainment has captured the domestic distribution rights to director Satoshi Kaneda’s film adaptation of Kô Akizuki’s popular Yaoi manga and anime series, Fujimi Orchestra: Cold Front Conductor.   Feb. 25 has been selected as the DVD debut date — in Japanese with English subtitles.

Yuki Morimura and Kei Tonoin draw the live-action leads respectively as Shôta, the current leader of a less-than-successful symphony orchestra, and Yûsuke, the hot-shot conductor who has been recruited to take the group to the next level.

As tensions build — both in a professional sense and of a sexual nature — Shôta and the domineering Yûsuke find themselves coming into greater and greater conflict.   While Shôta is pushed to the breaking point and abandons his friends, it doesn’t mean that Yûsuke has accomplished his goal of driving him from the group … he has a sexual agenda that is only acted upon in the film’s dramatic conclusion.

Bonus features for the DVD release of Fujimi Orchestra: Cold Front Conductor includes a making-of featurette.

Also streeting on Feb. 25 is the third installment of Ariztical Entertainment’s popular short film series, Straight Men and the Men Who Love Them #3.

Leading the parade of five short films is writer/director George Ameer’s latest work, Quarters (filmed between last year’s feature-length D'Agostino and the much anticipated 2014 launch of Medusa).   

Paul (Tom Drexel) and Jeremy (Robert Brinkley) are childhood friends who celebrate Paul’s forthcoming wedding with a final night of drinks and a “friendly” game of quarters, which takes the two into unexpected territory.

Rounding out the collection are Rubber Duckie (director Henry Alberto), Boy Game (directed by Anna Österlund Nolskog), Early One Summer (director Gary Thomas) and from Hong Kong, From Here to There (Yee Lam Wong is the filmmaker).

To download this week's complete edition of the DVD and Blu-ray Release Report:  DVD & Blu-ray Release Report