Archived On The Mark Updates - January/February, 2008

February 29, 2008 - Here is a Blu-ray Disc review of Miramax Home Entertainment's "No Country For Old Men."

February 15, 2008 - LATE UPDATE - It Could Be The End Of Home Video As We Know It. Do You Feel Fine?

Things are sure moving fast. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Toshiba is weeks away from announcing HD DVD is over. You know what does scare me though? A home video market crash. I was looking at the videogame market as it lead to the crash of 1983 and it occurred to me that even though BD has won, we could see a home video crash occur if BD doesn't start to climb the sky like an eagle.

There are hardly any video stores left. Hollywood Video went bankrupt. I don't know about Blockbuster, but I haven't rented a movie in years. Why would I given my job?

I think advanced VOD is coming faster than we think though not yet perfected quite enough, especially when it comes to HD programming.

TV is the future but the software will change I imagine to flash drive like USB cards to backup protected content. Discs will become like tapes.

I'm sorry for being gloom & doom like, but now that BD has won, it will have to do much better faster and there needs to be the killer "Matrix" like title that could sell it without Star Wars and Jurassic Park.

I've seen good SF/sci-fi, but nothing that has captured my imagination in the last ten years. I think the only fantasy film that could move BD is not yet made and that will be The Hobbit.

You may disagree with me and I'd like to know if you do. I don't think we are going to Star Wars on BD this year that's for sure and as much as Indiana Jones is fun, it is no where near as popular as Star Wars.

February 15, 2008 - Now this is freakin' sweet! Fox is releasing AVP-R on DVD and BD with a Digital Copy to boot. I love the 21st century!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

IN SPACE, NO ONE COULD HEAR THE SCREAMS.
ON EARTH…IT WON’T MATTER!

ALIENS VS. PREDATOR - REQUIEM

Two Of The Deadliest Sci-Fi Creatures In Movie History
Return To Battle On Unrated DVD And Blu-Ray Disc April 15th
From Fox Home Entertainment

Erupting With Killer Special Features, The No-Holds-Barred Unrated Special Edition
Two-Disc DVD and Blu-ray Disc Includes Five Behind-The-Scenes Featurettes,
Multiple Commentaries, Design Photo Gallery, Digital Copy Download & More

CENTURY CITY, Calif. – America’s own backyard becomes the most brutal battlefield yet for the iconic creatures from two of the scariest film franchises ever when Aliens vs. Predator - Requiem
(AVP-R) descends onto DVD and Blu-ray Disc (BD) April 15th from Fox Home Entertainment. Capturing the magic of the “Alien” and “Predator” legacies are first time directors and long-time fans of both film series, The Brothers Strause, renowned for their visual effects wizardry in such films as 300,
X-Men: The Last Stand and Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. Picking up immediately after the events of the 2004 worldwide blockbuster Alien vs. Predator, the Predator gives birth to the crossbreed ‘PredAlien’ shortly before the ship crashes into a small Colorado town. Caught in between the invasion of the Aliens and a new ruthless and methodical Predator, a group of townspeople must join forces to stop the infestation before the military obliterates the town to contain the outbreak. With thrilling performances by Steven Pasquale (“Rescue Me,” “Six Feet Under”), Reiko Aylesworth (“24”) and
John Ortiz (American Gangster, Miami Vice), AVP-R breeds the gritty horror roots of the original films back into the series while adding fresh, new digital effects and creature variations.

Available on both two-disc DVD and in high-definition format on Blu-ray Disc, the
Aliens vs. Predator - Requiem Extreme Unrated Special Edition features more than ten minutes of never-before-seen gruesome footage added back into the movie plus is packed with five behind-the-scenes featurettes, still design galleries, directors commentary, special FX/creature creator commentary and more.

The AVP-R Extreme Unrated Special Edition will be available to own on two-disc DVD for $34.98 U.S./ $45.98 Canada and on BD for $39.98 U.S./$49.98 Canada. AVP-R will also be released as a theatrical rated and unrated single-disc version available for the suggested retail price of $29.98 U.S./$43.48 Canada. Plus, a special DVD two-pack collection featuring both films Alien vs. Predator Unrated Collector’s Edition and AVP-R Unrated single-disc will be priced at $34.98 U.S./$45.98 Canada, along with a Blu-ray Disc two-pack priced at $69.98 U.S/$89.98 Canada.

As an added bonus, both the Two-Disc Extreme Unrated Special Edition and the Blu-ray Disc release will offer Fox’s new Digital Copy feature that allows viewers to quickly and easily download a digital version of the film to a Mac® or Windows-based PC computer and then transfer to select portable video devices including an iPod® and/or iPhone™.

Synopsis:
In the follow-up to the worldwide hit Alien vs. Predator, the iconic monsters from two of the scariest film franchises ever, wage war in an American Midwestern town – with the residents caught in the middle.

DVD Specs:
The AVP-R theatrical version is presented in both widescreen and full screen versions on a flipper disc with English 5.1 Dolby Surround, Spanish/French Dolby Surround with English/Spanish subtitles. The unrated single-disc and Two-Disc Special Edition will be available in widescreen only (2.35:1 aspect ratio) with English 5.1 Dolby Surround and DTS audio, Spanish/French Dolby Surround with English/Spanish subtitles. Individual disc bonus materials include:

Rated / Unrated Single-Disc Version
* Commentary by directors Colin and Greg Strause and producer John Davis
* Commentary by creature effects designers/creators Tom Woodruff Jr. and Alec Gillis

Two-Disc Extreme Unrated Special Edition
Includes all above single-disc content with the following extra material featured on the second disc:
* Digital Copy feature
* Behind-the-Scenes Featurettes
o
o Prepare for War: The Making of AVP-R
o Fight to the Finish: The Making of AVP-R
o AVP-R: The Nightmare Returns – Creating the Aliens
o Crossbreed: The PredAlien
o Building the Predator Homeworld
* Still Design Galleries
o
o Designing the Predator
o Designing the Alien
o Designing the PredAlien
o On Set: The Rooftop
o On Set: The Sewer
o On Set: The Hive
o On Set: Cast & Crew
o
* Theatrical trailers (including Restricted Audience trailer)

Blu-ray Disc Specs:
The Aliens vs. Predator - Requiem BD features both the theatrical rated and unrated versions of the film seamlessly branched in widescreen format, with all above standard-def DVD special features included, plus the BD-exclusive interactive picture-in-picture reference guide “Weyland-Yutani Archives” which allows viewers access into the movie-based corporation’s top-secret computer mainframe to discover information on all things Alien and Predator. The disc will be presented on a 50GB dual-layer disc authored in BD-J with AVC (MPEG 4) compression with English 5.1 DTS HD Lossless Master Audio and French / Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital.

A recognized global industry leader, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment LLC (TCFHE) is the worldwide marketing, sales and distribution company for all Fox film and television programming on VHS, DVD and Blu-ray Disc (BD) as well as acquisitions and original productions. The company also releases all products around the globe for MGM Home Entertainment. Each year TCFHE introduces hundreds of new and newly enhanced products, which it services to retail outlets -- from mass merchants and warehouse clubs to specialty stores and e-commerce - throughout the world. Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment LLC is a subsidiary of Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, a News Corporation company.

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February 14, 2008 - I have updated the upcoming DVD, HD DVD, and Blu-ray Disc calendar to reflect select upcoming genre film titles. You can click on the button above or here. New reviews coming soon. Thank you.

February 13, 2008 - In the words of Peter Griffin, "This is Freakin' Sweet!" Below. here is a press release for the upcoming Lucasfilm production Star Wars: The Clone Wars, which will be airing on Cartoon Network.

February 9, 2008 - Here is a Blu-ray Disc review of Sony Pictures Home Entertainment's "30 Days Of Night."

February 6, 2008 - I am sorry for the delay so in case you missed it, here is a Blu-ray Disc review of Sony Pictures Home Entertainment's "Dragon Wars D-War." Below is a press release for the fourth season premiere of Doctor Who as well as another spin-off, The Sarah Jane Adventures beginning in April, 2008. The second season of Torchwood, another spin-off of Doctor Who, but intended for a more mature audience, is now airing on BBC America with new episodes premiering as a part of BBC America's Supernatural Saturday at 9pm (ET). Check your local cable and satellite listings for additional channel and airtime listings. Now below is the press release.

New York, NY - February 4, 2008 - SCI FI Channel has acquired the fourth season of People's Choice Award-nominated Doctor Who and the phenomenally popular series’ new spin-off The Sarah Jane Adventures from BBC Worldwide America. Both series are slated to premier on SCI FI in April 2008.

The Sarah Jane Adventures is written and produced by the same creative team behind Doctor Who, including multi-award winning writer Russell T. Davies. Having traveled the universe with The Doctor, Sarah Jane is used to alien encounters. Accompanied by her new young friends Maria, Luke and Clyde, she becomes embroiled in an offbeat world of mystery and danger.

In season four of Doctor Who, David Tennant reprises his role as the tenth Timelord. For his latest adventures he is joined by a brand new companion, Donna Noble, played by award-winning actress Catherine Tate (The Catherine Tate Show, BBC AMERICA) who appeared as ‘the runaway bride’ in the previous season. ‘Martha Jones,’ played by Freema Agyeman, the Doctor's most recent companion, who had a dramatic role last season’s finale, makes a triumphant return in the middle of season four.

“We are excited to have Doctor Who back on SCI FI for its 4^th season,” said Chris Regina, Vice President of Programming, SCI FI Channel. “It’s an exciting franchise that continues to reinvent itself for new generations of viewers. The youthful appeal of The Sarah Jane Adventures will no doubt attract even younger new viewers.”

Candace Carlisle, EVP Sales and Co-productions, BBC Worldwide Americas commented, "The imagination of Russell and the rest of the production team in Cardiff who have produced these two incredible shows is outstanding. We are so pleased that the loyal fans of the SCI FI Channel will be able to meet a whole new range of characters and aliens that are intrinsically linked to the Doctor’s history. Both ‘Sarah Jane Adventures’ and the new season of ‘Doctor Who’ are jam packed with some of the most creative storylines ever produced by the BBC's brilliant team.”

The third season of the new Doctor Who averaged 1.3 million weekly viewers on SCI FI.

The deals were brokered by Lisa Hofer, Vice President of Co-Production & Sales, BBC Worldwide Americas. Executive Producers for The Sarah Jane Adventures are Russell T Davies, Head of Drama, BBC Wales, Julie Gardner and Phil Collinson. The series producer is Matthew Bouch. Doctor Who season four is produced by Phil Collinson; Executive Producers are Julie Gardner and Russell T Davies. Doctor Who season four is a BBC production in association with CBC.

February 4, 2008 - Here is a Blu-ray Disc review of Sony Pictures Home Entertainment's "Dragon Wars D-War." I posted my manifesto if you will regarding my feelings toward the Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD format war, which in my opinion is almost a non issue. Having shared this already with colleagues at other websites like The Digital Bits and with the studio distributors as well as having published my thoughts back on January 23, 2008 here as well as on my MY SPACE blog, I am reposting this again here as well as providing a link to it on a permanent page so should anyone be interested in reading it, they can find it by clicking on a link like this one here or as already has been the case, you can read it below. too. Thank you.

REPOSTED FROM January 23, 2008 - I have updated the upcoming DVD, HD DVD, and Blu-ray Disc calendar to reflect select upcoming genre film titles. You can click on the button above or here. I have been resistant toward discussing my feelings regarding Warner Home Video's decision to go Blu-ray Disc exclusive over the past few weeks partially because I was shocked and partially because I had personal affairs going on that demanded my attention outside of doing what I do here. Now that the dust is settling, I am going to state my personal feelings on this matter. First off I think Warner Brothers did the right thing in the long run because at some point this format war has to end one way or another. That stated while I will continue to review Universal HD DVD and Paramount/DreamWorks HD DVD titles, my main focus will be on Blu-ray Disc outside of these two distributors. I also will continue to cover DVD and television as I have in the past. If Paramount/DreamWorks and Universal go format neutral, then I will cease covering HD DVD all together since I just cannot see how the format will survive given the hard facts regarding sales and the availability of product as well as the larger software support Blu-ray Disc now has.

I think Toshiba has done a terrific job supporting their HD DVD players. I love my HD-XA1 and I'll probably keep using it as an upconverting DVD player since it does a fantastic job upconverting standard definition DVDs to near HD resolution. I think Microsoft's HDi interactivity technology as well as the web enabled features available now on HD DVD are superior to anything I have seen for the most part on Blu-ray Disc though the newer titles are catching up so I have no doubt that soon Blu-ray Disc will exceed what HD DVD has been able to do simply because it is an evolving high definition optical disc format while HD DVD will probably become extinct by the year's end. How quickly people adopt Blu-ray Disc depends greatly on how comfortable they are with investing in a higher resolution format after buying DVDs for nearly 11 years. As the quality of HDTVs improve and true 1080p sets from major manufacturers like Sony become more affordable, I think more people will see the difference between Blu-ray Disc and upconverted DVD. Now what Blu-ray Disc needs is a killer new film that will blow away people enough that they will buy the player just to get the movie on Blu-ray Disc. Blu-ray Disc needs a film that will impact the consumer the way DVD broke through into the mainstream when The Matrix came out in 1999. I believe it must be a new movie. Unfortunately films like The Matrix are rare, but I think we are about do for something new. What that will be is anyone's guess, but I hope it will be out very soon. In the meantime I'll be watching , waiting, and writing. Thank you.

January 25, 2008 - More swords, sorcery, and sex are in store for adult viewers in Top Of The Food Chain's second season premiere of the acclaimed crossover VOD adult fantasy series "WhoreLore: Birth Of Destruction."

January 24, 2008 - Hot off the presses. Buena Vista Home Entertainment has officially announced the upcoming DVD and Blu-ray Disc release of the Coen Brothers' No Country For Old Men. The Coming Soon Calendar has been updated to reflect this highly anticipated release and the press release have been posted below.

From Joel and Ethan Coen comes a Spellbinding Tale of Money, Murder and Mayhem Starring Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, and Woody Harrelson

BURBANK , Calif. , January 25, 2008 — A pair of award-winning filmmakers and an acclaimed cast propel a riveting crime saga to its unforgettable conclusion in one of the most honored films of the year, No Country for Old Men, coming to DVD and Blu-ray Disc on March 11, 2008 from Miramax Films. Joel and Ethan Cohen deliver their most gripping and ambitious film yet in this sizzling and supercharged action-thriller. This gritty game of cat and mouse will take you to the edge of your seat and beyond. A collection of behind-the-scenes bonus features including a look at the Coen Brothers filmmaking process makes the No Country for Old Men DVD and Blu-ray Disc an experience you don’t want to miss.

Delivering their most viscerally compelling and ambitious film yet, Joel and Ethan Coen wrote, directed and produced No Country for Old Men based on the novel by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Cormac McCarthy (2007 Fiction for The Road). The film features virtuoso acting turns by Tommy Lee Jones, Woody Harrelson, Javier Bardem, Golden Globe nominee Kelly MacDonald (2005 Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie nominee for “The Girl in the Café”) and Josh Brolin (Grindhouse).

No Country for Old Men has been nominated for 8 Academy Awards® including Best Picture (Drama), Best Director (Joel Coen & Ethan Coen), Best Adapted Screenplay (Joel Coen & Ethan Coen) and Best Supporting Actor (Javier Bardem), Best Cinematography, Best Sound Mixing, Best Sound Editing and Best Film Editing. The film won two Golden Globes, including Best Screenplay – Motion Picture and Best Performance by an Actor in a supporting Role, as well as Best Picture of the Year, Best Ensemble Cast and Best Adapted Screenplay from the National Board of Review and Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor from the New York Film Critics Circle. It also was named Best Picture of the Year by the Washington D.C. Film Critics, Boston Film Critics, Chicago Film Critics, Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association and Southeast Film Critics Association.

Critically lauded for its powerhouse performances, pulse-pounding suspense, and achingly beautiful cinematography, No Country for Old Men has appeared on countless “Best Movie” lists for 2007. Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times declares it "Flawless." Peter Travers of Rolling Stone calls the taut crime thriller "The Coens at the peak of their powers," while David Ansen of Newsweek raves "Riveting...an instant classic!"

Violence and mayhem erupt in the parched scrubland and panoramic skies of West Texas after Llewelyn Moss (Josh Brolin) stumbles on a suitcase containing $2 million dollars at the site of drug deal gone bad. Fleeing with the money, he is stalked relentlessly by hired gun Anton Chigurh (Javier Bardem), an unstoppable sociopathic killer unafraid to leave a bloody trail in the wake of his cold-blooded search to recover the cash. As Moss scrambles to hang on to the money and his life, small-town sheriff Ed Tom Bell (Tommy Lee Jones) closes in on both men in a tautly plotted cat-and-mouse game that will keep viewers on the edge of their seats until the final credits roll.

Both the DVD and Blu-ray Disc include bonus features that take viewers behind the scenes of one of the most compelling thrillers of the year and shed new light on the complex characters and celebrated creators of No Country for Old Men.

Take a journey through the Coen Brothers’ process and back to their roots as storytellers with a unique voice and vision.

Explore the relationship between the compassion of Sheriff Bell and the brutality of Anton Chigurh.

No Country for Old Men on DVD has a suggested retail price of $29.99 in the

U.S.

The Blu-ray Disc is priced at $34.99 in the

U.S.

January 23, 2008 - I have updated the upcoming DVD, HD DVD, and Blu-ray Disc calendar to reflect select upcoming genre film titles. You can click on the button above or here. I have been resistant toward discussing my feelings regarding Warner Home Video's decision to go Blu-ray Disc exclusive over the past few weeks partially because I was shocked and partially because I had personal affairs going on that demanded my attention outside of doing what I do here. Now that the dust is settling, I am going to state my personal feelings on this matter. First off I think Warner Brothers did the right thing in the long run because at some point this format war has to end one way or another. That stated while I will continue to review Universal HD DVD and Paramount/DreamWorks HD DVD titles, my main focus will be on Blu-ray Disc outside of these two distributors. I also will continue to cover DVD and television as I have in the past. If Paramount/DreamWorks and Universal go format neutral, then I will cease covering HD DVD all together since I just cannot see how the format will survive given the hard facts regarding sales and the availability of product as well as the larger software support Blu-ray Disc now has.

January 22, 2008 - Rest in peace Heath Ledger. The Actor with a bright future passed away today in his So Ho home. He was only 28.

January 21, 2008 - Here is a TV review of The History Channel World Premiere Two-Hour Event "Life After People," which debuts tonight at 9pm (ET/PT).

January 17, 2008 - LATE UPDATE - Been longer than I expected and certainly a lot has happened, especially since CES, but getting down to business here is a review of Universal Studios Home Entertainment's "Eastern Promises: HD DVD And DVD Combo Format."

This past year for movies in general has been for the most part, a walk on the dark side. Sure there were some great comedies and fun popcorn flicks like Transformers, but as much as I liked Frank Darabont's adaptation of Stephen King's The Mist, I think the film would have been better received if it were released in October. I Am Legend is a film that no matter how much you try to create a Hollywood hopeful ending and bring in a big star as charismatic as Will Smith is still a dark film to be released just a few weeks before Christmas. Beowulf for Thanksgiving is nothing short of an epic tragedy that literally offers a kind of original sin metaphor in the form of Angelina Jolie as the cause for misery in this world. Well it is not just she alone, mind you. It is the act of free will to give into temptation that ultimately gives her strength. Finally Aliens Vs. Predator - Requiem features a nasty scene where a woman whose water just broke has her belly invaded for some hungry chest bursting embryos and that film was released on Christmas Day!

Despite what I've noted above I still enjoyed all these films and recommend them all for genre film fans. I guess like any art, regardless of how commercial, they reflect our uncertain times. Fear of invasion, the hidden evil, no trust for the government to do the right thing, fear of another terrorist attack in some form, and so on. That's what makes science fiction/sci-fi, and horror films so much fun actually. They can exploit our worst fears and say things considered subversive in ways one can pick up, but flies under the radar of others. I'm already looking forward toward J.J. Abrams' Cloverfield on January 18, 2008 and then there's George A. Romero's Diary Of The Dead in February. Plenty of reasons right here alone to wish you all a very Happy and Safe New Year.

For Release: February 12, 2008