Archived On The Mark Updates - November/December, 2007
December 28, 2007 - I saw Aliens Vs Predator - Requiem. I have not read any reviews, but personally I liked it. It was better in many ways than the first one and I was happy that it continued right from where the last film ended. The film is short. Only 85 minutes. It's rated R for lots of gore and scary images. The Aliens do what they do, but this time no one gets a free pass. I mean not even babies. I suspect that because of the extreme violence and the fact that nothing is sacred in this film, critics will say it was in bad taste (no pun intended.) However if you ever wondered exactly how does an alien eat with two mouths or perhaps get a hint at how the Predators may reproduce as well as glimpse of their homeworld, it is worth checking out, especially on DVD where I'm sure there will be more AVP fun. If you are familiar with the films that would chronologically follow like Alien, Aliens, etc, there is a special surprise that wraps the two films together nicely enough that if another AVP is never made, they've built their bridge to set up Alien.
December 25, 2007 - Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you all. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Home Entertainment and Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment has announced details regarding the upcoming straight to video release of Stargate: The Ark Of Truth while Sony has released details on the upcoming DVD and Blu-ray Disc release of 30 Days Of Night. Both press releases can be read below by scrolling down. Thank you.
STARGATE SG-1 RETURNS WITH THE ULTIMATE VOYAGE
STARGATE: THE ARK OF TRUTH
First Of Two DVD Premiere Feature-Length Adventures
From MGM Home Entertainment Ascends Onto DVD March 11th
LOS ANGELES, CA – Continuing the thrilling journey of the popular “Stargate
SG-1” television series, Stargate: The Ark of Truth debuts exclusively on DVD
March 11th from MGM Home Entertainment. Concluding the primary storyline of
seasons 9 and 10 of the “Stargate SG-1” Ori arc, which began in
“Avalon,” the Stargate: The Ark of Truth plot picks up after “Unending,”
the SG-1 series finale. Stargate: The Ark of Truth continues the legacy of
“Stargate SG-1,” the longest running American Sci-Fi series, and the only
series ever to receive the United States Air Force Seal of Approval. “Stargate
SG-1” also obtained four Saturn Awards, two Gemini® Awards, nine Leo® Awards
and eight Emmy® nominations. From creative masterminds Brad Wright and Robert
C. Cooper, Stargate: The Ark of Truth stars series favorites Amanda Tapping
(2005 Saturn Award, Best Supporting TV Actress), Golden Globe® winner and
three-time Emmy Award® winning actor Beau Bridges, Michael Shanks, Ben Browder,
Christopher Judge, and Claudia Black. In search of an ancient weapon which could
help them defeat the sinister Ori force, SG-1 discovers it may be in the Ori’s
own home galaxy and must travel there aboard the Odyssey, only to find
themselves in a distant galaxy fighting two powerful enemies. Stargate: The Ark
of Truth DVD bonus materials include feature-length audio commentary with
writer, director and producer Robert C. Cooper, actor Christopher Judge and
director of photography, Peter Woeste as well as featurettes including
“Stargate SG-1: The Road Taken: Prelude to The Ark of Truth,” “The Ark of
Truth: Stargate at Comic-Con” and “Uncovering The Ark of Truth,” and will
be available for the suggested retail price of $26.98 U.S. / $37.98 Canada.
Pre-book is February 13.
Synopsis:
This thrilling feature-length film picks up where “Stargate SG-1,”
left off, thrusting the Stargate team – Daniel Jackson (Michael Shanks), Vala
(Claudia Black), Teal’c (Christopher Judge), Sam (Amanda Tapping) and Cam (Ben
Browder) – into their most exciting adventure yet. In search of an
Ancient artifact they hope can defeat the oppressive Ori, the team learns that
the Ori are set to launch a final assault on Earth and a double-crossing I.O.
operative is aboard the Odyssey!
DVD Special Features:
* Audio Commentary with Writer, Director and Producer Robert C. Cooper, Actor
Christopher Judge and Director of Photography, Peter Woeste
* Stargate SG-1: The Road Taken: Prelude to The Ark of Truth featurette
* The Ark of Truth: Stargate at Comic-Con featurette
* Uncovering The Ark of Truth featurette
30 DAYS OF NIGHT
The Fright Begins February 26th
On Blu-ray High-Def™, DVD & PSP
Culver City, CA (12/17/07) – From producers Sam Raimi (director, Spider-Man
trilogy, producer, The Grudge) and Robert Tapert (producer, The Evil Dead
series) and director David Slade (Hard Candy), comes 30 DAYS OF NIGHT, available
February 26, 2008 on Blu-ray High-DefTM, DVD and PSP from Sony Pictures Home
Entertainment for the SLP of $28.95 (DVD) and $38.96 (Blu-ray Disc™).
Starring Josh Hartnett (Black Hawk Down), Ben Foster (X-Men: The Last Stand),
Melissa George (“Alias”) and Danny Huston (Children of Men),
30 DAYS OF NIGHT pits a small band of humans against blood-thirsty vampires in a
frozen Alaskan town. Director David Slade turns the pages of the harrowing
graphic novel into a visceral experience of pure fright that represents the
ultimate in survival horror. The DVD and Blu-ray High-DefTM of 30 DAYS OF
NIGHT see the light of day with bonus material including a filmmaker and cast
commentary, and eight featurettes, including “Blood, Guts and the Nasty
#@$&!” that reveals secrets behind the spine-chilling visual effects and
“Building Barrow,” a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of the
hard-scrabble Alaskan town where the story is set, and much more. The Blu-ray
High-DefTM includes an enhanced photo gallery, 30 Images of Night, a Graphic
Novel-to-Film Comparison available only on the Blu-ray Disc.
Synopsis
In a sleepy, secluded Alaska town called Barrow, the sun sets and doesn't rise
for over thirty consecutive days and nights. From the darkness, across the
frozen wasteland, an evil will come that will bring the residents of Barrow to
their knees. The only hope for the town is the Sheriff and Deputy, a husband and
wife who are torn between their own survival and saving the town they love.
30 DAYS OF NIGHT is directed by David Slade, produced by Sam Raimi and Rob
Tapert (The Evil Dead, The Grudge), written by Steve Niles (author, 30 Days of
Night), Stuart Beattie (Collateral), Brian Nelson (Hard Candy) and Ben
Templesmith (author, 30 Days of Night), and stars Josh Hartnett, Ben Foster,
Danny Huston and Melissa George (The Amityville Horror).
DVD and Blu-ray High-DefTM Bonus Material
o 8 Behind-the-Scenes Featurettes
* “Pre-Production” - As the script powers its way through development,
Director David Slade and Producer Rob Tapert begin to assemble a team. See
everything from high-tension story meetings with Writer Brian Nelson, to Slade
picking out his equipment and crew. Also Steve Niles discusses the beginnings of
his idea for the graphic novel.
* “Building Barrow” - Production Designer Paul Austerberry takes the viewer
through the steps in bringing Barrow to life on a sound stage in New Zealand.
See side-by-side comparisons with Barrow as envisioned in the graphic novel, as
well as meeting the construction crew and tracking their progress.
* “The Look” - Director David Slade and his Director of Photography Jo
Willems tackle the challenge of bringing the graphic novel to life on the
screen. Learn about the important camera decisions, lighting techniques, and
post-production tricks involved in creating the look of “30 Days of Night.”
* “Blood, Guts and the Nasty #@$&!” - From prosthetic moldings to
selecting the right consistency of blood, WETA and David Slade walk us through
the battlefield of carnage.
* “Stunts” - Stunt coordinator Allan Poppleton will guide us through the
construction of four of the movie’s big stunt sequences, from David Slade’s
conception of a scene to stunt rehearsals, safety precautions, and final
execution on the shoot day. Vampires will fly off of moving cars, crash through
windows and wrestle with a bulldozer.
* “The Vampire” - From graphic novel to screen, take a tour with WETA as
they design and bring to life each of the vampires. Watch as Director David
Slade meets with his team of vampire actors and instructs them on how to
properly behave like blood-thirsty beasts.
* “Night Shoots” - As the production moves into five weeks of night shoots,
the cast and crew slowly begin to resemble the blood-thirsty creatures from the
film. As Director David Slade explains, “At this point, coffee is more
important than film stock.”
* “Casting” - Director David Slade and company discuss casting decisions.
Josh Hartnett, Melissa George, and many more discuss what their characters mean
to them, the influences they’ve pulled from the graphic novel, and the
experience of shooting a high-tension action/horror film.
o Filmmaker and Cast Commentary with Josh Hartnett, Melissa George and Producer
Rob Tapert
o “Blood +” Episode 1
Also, Only on Blu-ray High-Def™: 30 IMAGES OF NIGHT - Graphic Novel to
Film Comparison Gallery
December 22, 2007 - Here are DVD reviews of Starz Home Entertainment's "HATCHET: Unrated Director's Cut" and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Home Entertainment's/Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment's "Panic In Year Zero & The Last Man On Earth: Midnight Movies Double Feature." Finally below are my thoughts on Warner Brothers' recent theatrical release of "I Am Legend."
Will Smith's on screen charisma makes this third cinematic adaptation of Richard Matheson's book of the same name, I Am Legend arguably the best of the three filmed versions that exist. While none of the films have been exact reproductions of the book and few films in general ever come close, the film offers some food for thought over the notion of fate and science and has some truly heartbreaking moments that are quite haunting. Some of the aspects regarding the infected do not make much logical sense and ultimately I found some of tricks Smith's character has up his sleeve to be far fetched. In addition the virus in the film infects animals through blood and I guess saliva so we see infected dogs and even infected rats, but I personally would have found it interesting to see what happens to animals we don't take as being dangerous, like the deer featured in the film, and watch their behavior then. How would a virus like this infect other creatures in both the animal and plant kingdom in general. We've seen enough movies with scary dogs and rats that quite honestly it is not shocking. Another reality is the fact that there are so many rats in large cities for example that it is estimated that wherever one may be there is probably a rat or mouse of some type ten feet away from you right now! So how could even an immune person survive with statistics like this? Ultimately this is a dark holiday popcorn film and it's easy to get caught up in Smith's performance, especially in the first half and then forget the improbabilities that exist in the film. Overall, I liked I Am Legend and think that along with this past summer's Transformers, it is the must see popcorn film of the season. It may not be perfect or even earth shattering, but it is far from being a terrible film, mostly because of it's star.
December 12, 2007 - LATE UPDATE - Here is my review of CBS Video's and Paramount Home Entertainment's "Star Trek: The Original Series Season One HD DVD And DVD Combo Format Ten-Disc Box Set." Unfortunately I was unable to secure a high definition copy of "The Omega Man" for review for my support of Warner Home Video's big screen release of I Am Legend, which stars Will Smith and will be released theatrically on Friday December 14, 2007. So I have reposted my review of the original standard definition DVD release of Warner Home Video's "The Omega Man." "The Omega Man" is actually the second time Richard Matheson's book was adopted for the big screen and this adaptation was extremely loose. A somewhat closer adaptation was released through American International Pictures in 1964 and starred Vincent Price. This film was called "The Last Man On Earth." Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment have released the film on DVD and I will have a DVD review up presently of the original along with my thoughts on this third 2007 version right here so please stay tuned. Thank you.
December 10, 2007 - I saw The Golden Compass over the weekend and here is my review below. I'll have my review of CBS/Paramount Home Entertainment's "Star Trek: The Original Series: Season One HD DVD And DVD Combo Format" online next. Please stay tuned.
After the huge success of The Lord Of The Rings, New Line Cinema optioned a trilogy of fantasy books, which they hoped would be another windfall for them. However between The Return Of The King and the present, New Line has not had a blockbuster so with a budget of nearly $200 million dollars, New Line produced The Golden Compass AKA Northern Lights.
The film takes place in a parallel universe on a parallel Earth similar to our own and yet very different. They still use steam technology, but their steamships have progressed the way airplanes have progressed in our world. From what I recall, there is not a horse in this film so instead of horse drawn buggies, they have a driver that peddles like a bike. This England is one where the Reformation never occurred and a quasi-religious/political organization called the Magisterium decides what is real science and what is heresy. In this world a human's soul is outside of his body, but attached in such a way that it is always close beside you like your shadow. The
should takes on the shape of an animal and eventually after puberty the shape it takes becomes an everlasting representation of you. Thus some people have mice running beside them. Others have snakes, etc.
In particle physics this Earth is ahead of our own since a scientist has discovered a doorway that could enable people to cross over into other parallel Earths and dimensions. The Magisterium sees this as a threat to to their authority and sets out on a plot to make sure this does not happen. The Golden Compass is an alethiometer, a device that measures truth. They have been
seized by the Magisterium over time for obvious reasons and the Golden Compass is the last one known to exist and it has been secretly entrusted to a young woman named Lyra, who has a destiny that could heal the breach between the universes and free her world and countless others from the oppression of the Magesterium.
Other differences between this Earth and our own include the existence of Witches and in addition, while here Dolphins and Whales are considered very intelligent, on the Earth of the story, Polar Bears - they called them Ice Bears - are the most intelligent animals with the ability to speak and a monarchy like society of their own in the far North.
Now the idea presented here I like and I bet the books are interesting, but unlike The Lord Of The Rings, New Line cut this film down to fit into less than two hour blocks for maximum amount of shows per day and consequently the film feels rushed and I was never pulled into the fantasy and cared enough about what was going on like I do with The Lord Of The Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia, and Harry Potter. It feels heavily edited to a point where by the time it was over, I asked myself, "Is this it?"
If the film is a success then maybe they'll produce the other two films back to back and have more confidence in letting the stories breathe on screen, but if it is not then don't count on it. As it is the ending of the book was cut from the film to place at the beginning of the sequel if it ever gets made and there appear to be scenes in the trailer that are not in the cut I saw. General reaction appears to be like it or hate it, but I want to like it. When I think about it hindsight, I like it even more then when I saw it, but I just think the film feels like a Cliff's Notes version when it should have felt like an epic dramatization on the same scale as the films listed below and countless others. It will make a great DVD, but it should be a great movie on the big screen. I feel the heavy editing prevented it from being so.
December 6, 2007 - Have you ever wanted to board a life size facsimile of the Starship Enterprise? See William Shatner in person? Well now you possibly can. Read the press release below to find out all about it.
STAR
TREK®
THE TOUR MAKES NORTH AMERICAN DEBUT JANUARY 18
AT THE QUEEN MARY DOME IN LONG BEACH, CA
***
INTERACTIVE
EXHIBIT LETS GUESTS EXPLORE THE STAR TREK
UNIVERSE THROUGH SHOW-BASED SIMULATORS AND MULTIMEDIA ATTRACTIONS PLUS WORLD’S
LARGEST COLLECTION OF STAR TREK SETS,
COSTUMES & PROPS
***
WILLIAM SHATNER is
Celebrity Ambassador
***
Tickets
Go on Sale to Public December 15th
Exclusive
Presale for American Express Card Members beginning December 7th
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Los Angeles, CA – December 5, 2008 – SEE Touring Productions
and Metropolitan Talent present STAR TREK
THE TOUR, the largest interactive Star
Trek exhibit ever, which makes its North American debut on January 18th
for a limited engagement at the Queen Mary Dome in Long Beach, CA.
This unprecedented event will give
the public the opportunity to step inside the Star Trek world and become active participants in the legacy that
has captured the imagination of generations:
From the chance to sit on a starship bridge from the Original TV series
to traveling through space on motion simulators, STAR TREK THE TOUR offers the whole family the opportunity to be
fully immersed in the action. Plus, the Tour features the world’s largest
collection of authentic Star Trek
ships, sets, costumes and props from all 5 TV series and 10 films over the last
40+ years.
William Shatner, who portrayed Star
Trek’s most iconic character, Captain James T. Kirk, is the official
Celebrity Ambassador for the tour and will be making appearances at various
times throughout the tour’s multi-city run.
“STAR TREK THE TOUR promises to be the largest, most interactive and
entertaining Star Trek event ever presented to the public,” Mr.
Shatner said. “This will truly be
an impressive experience for the whole family and I am happy to be associated
with it."
Tickets will go on sale Friday, December 7th for American Express Cardholders and will be available to the general public beginning December 15th. The tour lifts off in Long Beach, CA for a limited engagement, and will run through February 17. Following the Long Beach / Los Angeles engagement, the next 4 cities STAR TREK THE TOUR will visit are San Francisco, Minneapolis / St. Paul, Chicago and Detroit.
Highlights of STAR TREK THE TOUR include:
The 50,000 square foot exhibition is
equal in size to nearly two football fields filled with 250 tons of priceless Star
Trek sets, original props, costumes and creations. STAR
TREK THE TOUR brings together some of Hollywood’s finest craftsmen and
artists who created and shaped the signature look and image of Star Trek over the years, including production designer Herman
Zimmerman, costume designer Robert Blackman, make-up artist Michael Westmore and
visual effects creator Dan Curry. All
of these original Star Trek artists
lent their talents to STAR TREK THE TOUR
to provide visitors with an authentic, behind-the-scenes view.
Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry’s son, Eugene “Rod”
Roddenberry, provides a rare insider’s look at what it took to make his
father’s vision into reality as he narrates a tribute to the man who started
it all. A
complete audio tour is also available."
“Years
in the making, the creation of STAR TREK THE TOUR has been a voyage of discovery worthy of the show
itself,” explained Martin Biallas, CEO of SEE Touring Productions, Inc, which
is producing the event. “Over the past 10 years, we secured privileged access
to the vaults for the Star Trek TV
shows and films, plucked select gems and tirelessly assembled the world’s
leading collection of priceless Star Trek
sets, ships, props and costumes. Now, we’re bringing Star Trek to life and inviting the public to experience it
up-close-and-personal in a way never before possible.”
“The universal appeal of STAR
TREK THE TOUR is undeniable,” explained John Scher, President of
Metropolitan Talent. “It has
something to offer for everyone -- from 8-year-old children to 80-year-old
grandparents, we have all grown up with Star Trek and watched it become
one of the most beloved and popular series of all time.
It has captured our imagination. Now, for the first time, we’re
turning fantasy into reality. We’re pulling back the curtain to give the
public an exclusive opportunity to step inside the Star
Trek world for themselves.”
STAR TREK THE TOUR, under a licensing
agreement with CBS Consumer Products, is produced by SEE Touring Productions
Inc. and presented by Metropolitan Talent Inc.
Tickets to STAR TREK THE TOUR will go on sale on December 7th during an exclusive 7-day pre-sale offer for American Express Cardholders. Beginning December 15th tickets will be available to the general public. Tickets can be purchased by calling 213-480-3232 or by logging onto www.ticketmaster.com or www.StarTrekTheTour.com. Tickets will be $30 for adults on weekdays and $35 on weekends. Special pricing is available for children ages 12 and under: $16.50 weekday/ $17.50 weekend, and for seniors 65+ and military personnel: $25 weekday / $30 weekend. Special prices available for groups of 15 or more. Visit www.ticketsforgroups.com or call 800.840.1157 for more information. Exclusive VIP and travel packages are also available at www.StarTrekTheTour.com. The show will be open 7 days a week, from 10AM – 8PM Monday–Friday and 10AM – 10PM on Saturday and Sunday. Weekday tickets will be in effect Monday – Friday at 5PM; weekend tickets will be in effect Friday at 6PM – Sunday.
SEE Touring Productions, Inc (SEE) is
the established leader in ‘themed entertainment,’ known for successfully
producing and managing unique and imaginative touring attractions for a global
audience. Based on universally familiar and popular entertainment properties,
SEE-produced attractions let the audience become a part of the event through
interactive adventures and multimedia technology. SEE has brought to life STAR
TREK and TITANIC, providing fans throughout the world with memorable
experiences, and is now launching its unique immersive tours here in North
America. When SEE brought STAR TREK to London, Dusseldorf, Vienna, and
Singapore, it met with great success, attracting 120,000-200,000 visitors in
each city during its limited engagements. SEE
Touring Productions, Inc was founded by Martin Biallas in 1997 and is based in
Los Angeles, CA.
New
York-based Metropolitan Talent, Inc is a multi-faceted entertainment company led
by music industry veterans and co-CEOs John Scher and Al Cafaro. Metropolitan
Talent operates divisions including concert production (Metropolitan Talent
Presents), artist management (Bruce Hornsby, Little Feat, Art Garfunkel,
Grateful Dead’s Bob Weir & RatDog) and independent record label Hybrid
Recordings (Johnette Napolitano, Gin Blossoms, Assembly of Dust, Jen Chapin).
®
& © 2007 CBS Studios Inc. All rights reserved. STAR TREK and related marks
are trademarks of CBS Studios Inc.
December 5, 2007 - I have moved my "GENRE ONLINE.NET INTERVIEW with WWE Superstar John Cena" to the Archived GENRE ONLINE.NET Interviews Page. I will have more media reviews soon, but in case you have not visited the official site, Warner Brothers has added a lot of content on the I AM LEGEND official website, which you can reach either by clicking here or on any banner throughout the site. I AM LEGEND stars Will Smith and will open theatrically on Friday, December 14, 2007.
November 30, 2007 - LATE UPDATE - Here is a DVD review of Universal Studios Home Entertainment's "Battlestar Galactica: RAZOR: Unrated Extended Edition."
November 28, 2007 - Maybe I'll be able to do a hardware review of this in the near future if it is made available, but in the mean time, here is a press release regarding Pioneer's new Blu-ray Disc Player and the holiday season.
PREMIUM
PRODUCTS REIGN THIS
Pioneer® Seeks Input from Luxury Industry Expert Brent Butterworth on
Premium Consumer Electronics Trends for the Holidays
Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. is appealing to these consumers and undergoing a rebranding effort seeking to reposition the company alongside other premium brands. Pioneer’s KURO television line epitomizes the quality and fulfillment consumers seek for an emotional experience with entertainment. In this repositioning effort, the company interviewed Brent Butterworth, editor-in-chief of luxury publication Robb Report Home Entertainment, on premium technology trends for the 2007 holiday season. Butterworth identified five things to look for relating to the quality home entertainment experience:
· WITH FLAT PANEL TELEVISIONS…SIZE MATTERS: In 2007, a holiday splurge will be large-screen flat panel televisions. According to Butterworth, “more people are going to be buying flat-panel TVs, and in larger sizes. It used to be that 42-inch was a huge part of the market but 50-, 55-, and 60-inch models will grow dramatically in sales this holiday season, while 42-inch will play a much smaller role.” The technology of choice for large screen displays will be plasma. When forecasting 2007 Black Friday sales, Sang Tang, HDTV research analyst with Current Analysis West, an NPD Group company, stated that “plasma will be very aggressive at 50-inches and will maintain a foothold on the high-end market.” Leading the premium market in picture performance, Pioneer’s KURO televisions, which are available both in 720 and 1080p models, and in sizes ranging from 42- to 60-inches, are premium plasma displays that offer industry-leading black levels, resulting in richer colors and sharper details.
· HIGH-END HOME THEATER FURNITURE: A variety of furniture has been developed specifically for use with flat panel televisions, said Butterworth. He adds that “this furniture has actually started to drive home theater sales. For the first time, it’s now easy to put in a great-looking, high-performance home theater.” Companies that produce premium home theater furniture include Lovan USA, which offers the Lovan Harmony plasma / LCD lift cabinet and BDI, offering a collection of home theater furniture with integrated features such as hidden wheels, adjustable shelves, flow-through ventilation and wire management.
· PREMIUM SPEAKERS ARE NOT WHITE AND PLASTIC: iPod® speaker systems are beginning to rise above the original plastic versions that previously dominated the category, Butterworth notes. There are now a variety of iPod speakers that cost more than $500 and “for many people, these will become their idea of what a high-end audio system is.” These speakers include Bowers & Wilkin’ Zeppelin, an integrated iPod speaker system with a stainless steel iPod dock. Stereo systems that are iPod-ready are another option for consumers seeking high-end sound. For example, Pioneer’s Elite® X-Z9 delivers professional quality sound in a premium desktop system. In addition to having a source for iPods, the X-Z9 offers USB connection, satellite radio and networked audio. It also plays SACDs and conventional CDs.
· VIDEO GAME SYSTEMS WILL BE CENTRAL TO THE HOME THEATER: Video game systems are no longer just for the kids. Instead, Butterworth discusses how they are becoming the primary source device and high-end home theater system for the whole family. “The explosive sales of Halo 3 show how important this category is to consumers of all ages and incomes. Even the most extravagant custom home theater systems now often, if not usually, feature video games,” Butterworth adds. In addition to video games, these systems play both traditional DVDs and the high-definition optical disc formats. For example, Playstation 3 includes a Blu-ray Disc drive in the actual system. There are also a variety of stand-alone Blu-ray Disc players available this holiday season including Pioneer’s Elite BDP-95FD, which delivers high definition picture quality utilizing True24FPS so films are viewed exactly as the director intended. The BDP-95FD Blu-ray Disc player also incorporates HDMI 1.3 for high-resolution audio output.
·
OUTDOOR
HOME THEATER: Consumers are beginning to bring their home theater
outdoors. Butterworth remarks that “outdoor audio/video will
be the next growth area in high-end consumer electronics, thanks in part to the
introduction of some interesting new products in the last two years.”
This will likely first take place in the warmer climates such as
“In our rebranding effort, we are looking to position Pioneer with other great premium brands,” said Russ Johnston, executive vice president of marketing and product planning for the Home Entertainment and Business Solutions Group at Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. “Our products – from the KURO televisions to our premium X-Z9 system and unrivaled Blu-ray Disc player – deliver an emotional connection to entertainment for those individuals who seek a premium experience. These consumers contribute significantly to luxury purchases during the holidays.”
About
Pioneer Electronics (
Pioneer’s Home Entertainment and Business Solutions Group develops high definition home theater equipment for sports and entertainment junkies. Its flat panel televisions, Blu-ray Disc players, A/V receivers and speakers heighten the emotions created by great HD content. The company brands include Pioneer® and Elite®. When purchased from an authorized retailer, consumers receive a limited warranty for one year with Pioneer products and two years with Elite products. More details can be located at www.pioneerelectronics.com.
November 27, 2007. - Below is a new press release detailing an exciting Warner Home Video DC Comics adaptation that will be released on DVD, HD DVD, and Blu-ray Disc next year.
the
next installment of the dc universe original
ANIMATED movies soars onto shelves when
-
justice league: the New frontier –
ON
The
Title is the Second DC Universe
Original PG-13 Animated Movie and the First Ever HI-Definition Animated DVD from
Warner Premiere
BURBANK,
CA, (November 27, 2007) – Warner Premiere, DC Comics and Warner Bros.
Animation are set to release the all-new original movie Justice
League: The New Frontier on February 26, 2008 on DVD, HD DVD and Blu-ray
Disc, distributed by Warner Home Video. The
original movie will also be available OnDemand and Pay-per-View as well as
available for download on
Based
on the graphic novel by Darwyn Cooke and produced by Michael Goguen and
animation legend, Bruce Timm, Justice
League: The New Frontier is the epic tale of the founding of the Justice
League. The animated film,
written by Stan Berkowitz, features an incredible celebrity-laden voice cast
including David Boreanaz, Brooke
Shields, Lucy Lawless, Neil Patrick Harris, Miguel Ferrer, Kyra Sedgwick, Jeremy
Sisto and Kyle MacLachlan and
will be available on DVD for $19.98 SRP. There
will also be a 2 disc Special Edition DVD available for $24.98 SRP which
contains additional bonus features including a documentary about the pathology
of the super villain and three bonus episodes from the Justice
League animated series selected by Bruce Timm.
All the content from the 2-disc Special Edition DVD will be available on
HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc.
The
New Frontier takes
viewers on an action-packed adventure, exploring the origins of the Justice
League. DC
Comics legends Superman, Batman
and Wonder Woman are all featured in
the film as well as Green Lantern,
Martian Manhunter and The Flash
– as they band together to form the legendary super team.
Strangers at first, these very different heroes must overcome fear and
suspicion to forge an alliance against a monster so formidable, even the mighty Superman
cannot stop it alone. If they fail,
the entire planet will be “cleansed” of humanity.
Justice
League: The New Frontier DVD will
feature incredible extras including:
“Super
Heroes United!: The Complete Justice
League History”- The documentary is a comprehensive forty seven year Justice
League chronology from the inception in the comics to vivid animated
renditions. The story is told with a myriad of interviews tracing back the
early days of DC Super Hero team ups during the Golden Age, to the Silver Age
rendition where the established heroes emerged and beyond.
Interviews include Paul Levitz (President of DC Comics), Dan Didio (SVP
Executive Editor at DC Comics), Michael Uslan (Historian), Gregory Noveck (SVP
Creative Affairs DC Comics), Mark Waid (DC Comics Historian and Writer), Mike
Friedrich (Writer JLU), Denny O’Neil (Writer and Editor at DC Comics), Mike
Carlin (DC Comics Executive Editor), Stan Lee (Marvel Comics Co-Creator) and
Marv Wolfman (Writer of Fantastic Four).
“Sneak Peak: Batman:
Gotham Knight” - One part anime, one part Caped
Crusader, the result is a glimpse at the world of Eastern anime
sensibilities combined with a Western tradition of Batman.
A detailed look at the world of Warner Bros Animation, and how they joined
forces with the renowned Japanese animators to create the highly anticipated anime
film of 2008.
·
“Audio Commentary I”
(featuring the talented filmmakers of New Frontier)
·
“Audio Commentary II”
(featuring Comic Book Writer and Artist Darwyn Cooke)
·
Widescreen (1.78:1)
·
5.1 Dolby Digital
The
2 disc Special Edition DVD will feature even more incredible extras including:
“The
Legion of Doom: The Pathology of the
Super Villain”- This documentary will examine the early mythological
archetypes of nemesis characters from a historical perspective, and see how the
tenants of this rich history were adapted and woven into the Justice
League stories. The bonus feature includes many of the talent included in Super
Heroes United! As well as Jim Kreuger (Writer of “Justice”).
“Justice
League Unlimited Bonus Episodes”
Bruce Timm selects three of his favorite episodes from the Justice
League Unlimited animated series:
1.
Dark Heart – Alien invaders attempt to thwart the Justice
League. The fate of the world rests on the shoulders of Ray
Palmer, AKA The Atom.
2.
To Another Shore - Wonder Woman
learns of a plot to steal the powers of the 3,000 year-old corpse of The Viking
Prince. It is up to the Justice
League to make things right.
3.
Task Force X - Four incarcerated villains are released from prison by Cadmus
to undertake an impossible mission: steal a powerful mystic artifact from the JLU
Watchtower under the noses of the League.
"Having the opportunity to take the unique work of such a legendary comic talent as Darwyn Cooke and create a small screen faithful adaptation of that style is one of the cornerstones in what we hope to develop for core and new fans alike as part of the DC Universe initiative on the Warner Premiere slate", said Matt Bierman, Vice President Production, Warner Premiere.
“Darwyn
Cooke's New Frontier is justifiably considered a modern classic, and we at DC
comics are excited to share this thrilling adaptation with the book's legions of
loyal fans. On Feb. 26, DC Universe Animated Movies will lead everyone across
the New Frontier,” said Gregory Novek, Senior Vice President of Creative
Affairs, Dc Comics.
“Following
the huge success of Superman Doomsday, we
are delighted to be releasing the
second DC Universe PG-13 animated movie,” said Amit
Desai, WHV Vice President, Family, Animation and Sports Marketing. “Justice
League: The New Frontier will certainly not disappoint fans who have
been eagerly awaiting this next action-packed DC
Universe installment.”
November 21, 2007 - Happy Thanksgiving Everyone! I'll be back with more reviews after the holiday. Thank you.
November 13, 2007 - Here is a DVD box set review of CBS Video's and Paramount Home Entertainment's "The Adventures Of Young Indiana Jones Volume One."
November 10, 2007 - Here is a new GENRE ONLINE Interview with WWE Superstar John Cena.
November 2, 2007 - I have moved my TV reviews of the "Stargate: Atlantis Two-Part Fourth Season Premiere" and "Lost Book Of Nostradamus" to the Archived TV Reviews Page and I have moved my "On The Mark Updates For October Of 2007" to the Archived On The Mark Updates Page. New reviews coming soon so stay tuned. Thank you.