Archived On The Mark Updates - November & December, 2006

December 29, 2006 - I had an intestinal virus over the Christmas weekend that I'm finally overcoming, but it sure is a bummer to be sick during the holidays. So here I am making a quick note in this update so you all know what's been going on and to wish you all a safe, peaceful, healthy, prosperous, success filled, and of course, Happy New Year!

December 22, 2006 - Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays To All! Will be back next week with more new reviews and a bit of online housecleaning over the break too.

December 21, 2006 - Here is an HD DVD review of Warner Home Video's "The Polar Express."

December 19, 2006 - Here is a review of Universal Studios Home Entertainment's "Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas: HD DVD And DVD Combo Format."

December 18, 2006 - Here is a DVD review of Warner Home Video's "A Scanner Darkly: Widescreen."

December 16, 2006 - Below is a press releases for upcoming 2007 Fox titles on Blu-ray Disc. New reviews coming soon. Please stay tuned.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FOX EXPANDS BLU-RAY LIBRARY
WITH MAJOR HITS IN MARCH
--Favorites ICE AGE, DODGEBALL, COMMANDO and MR. & MRS. SMITH  Showcase The Format’s Superior Sound And Picture Quality--

Century City, Calif.  (December 12, 2006) – Continuing its unwavering commitment to the Blu-ray Disc (BD) format, the only high-definition packaged media platform broadly supported by the film, music, gaming, computing and consumer electronics industries, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment announces it’s March wave of BD titles scheduled for release on March 13, including the animated family favorite Ice Age, the sizzling action blockbuster Mr. & Mrs. Smith and the hilariously irreverent comedy Dodgeball.  In addition, the action-packed film Commando headlined by Arnold Schwarzenegger originally slated for January ’07 release has been rescheduled to street with these additional BD titles on March 13.

Showcasing picture quality with twice the resolution of DVD and theater quality “uncompressed” audio for the purest digital sound, the cutting-edge discs also feature enhanced and integrated menus, games, high-definition bonus materials and Java-encoding for more dynamic and sophisticated interactivity. In addition to highlighting the technological superiority of the BD format, Fox’s March BD slate features performances from some of Hollywood’s most exciting stars, including Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Ray Romano, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Queen Latifah, Ben Stiller, Denis Leary, John Leguizamo and Vince Vaughn.  Each of Fox’s BD releases is available for the suggested retail price of $39.98 U.S. / $49.98 Canada.

Fox takes advantage of the next generation format’s high definition technology and advanced functionality to present its titles the highest quality audiovisual elements.

Fox’s commitment to emerging technologies is dedicated to enhancing the consumer experience of its products and providing for backward compatibility with their existing home entertainment libraries while also aggressively protecting its intellectual property from piracy. The Blu-ray companies fully embrace the Studio’s steadfast commitment to the fight against piracy and the preservation of the integrity of its properties. Twentieth Century Fox is a member of the Board of Directors of the Blu- ray Disc Association.

Titles and disc configurations are detailed below:

ICE AGE:  Presented as a single-layer (25gb) disc with MPEG2 compression and English 5.1 DTS HD Lossless Master Audio, the BD release of ICE AGE boasts commentary by director Chris Wedge and co-director Carlos Saldanha, deleted scenes with optional commentary, Gone Nutty:
Scrat’s Missing Adventure animated short and three original theatrical trailers.

MR. & MRS. SMITH:  Presented as a dual-layer (50gb) disc with AVC compression and English 5.1 DTS HD Lossless Master Audio, the BD release of Mr. & Mrs. Smith features commentary tracks by director Doug Liman and screenwriter Simon Kinberg, producers Lucas Foster and
Akiva Goldsman as well as designer Jeff Mann and visual effects supervisor Kevin Elam, in addition to deleted scenes, a featurette entitled Making a Scene and original theatrical trailers.  

DODGEBALL:  Presented as a single-layer (25gb) disc with MPEG2 compression and English 5.1 DTS HD Lossless Master Audio, the Dodgeball BD features the original theatrical trailer.

COMMANDO: Authored in MPEG2 compression with English 5.1 DTS HD Master Audio (Lossless), Commando includes the original theatrical trailer and HDMV menus.
Blu-ray Disc is a next generation optical disc format developed for high-definition video and high-capacity software applications. A single-layer Blu-ray Disc holds up to 25 gigabytes of data and a dual-layer Blu-ray Disc holds up to 50 gigabytes of data. This greater storage capacity enables the Blu-ray Disc to store over six times the amount of content than is possible with current DVDs, and is particularly well-suited for high definition feature films with extended levels of additional bonus and interactive material. Blu-ray also features the most advanced copy protection, backward compatibility with the current DVD format, connectivity and advanced interactivity.

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.

December 15, 2006 - Here is a DVD review of HBO Video's "When The Levees Broke: A Requiem In Four Acts."

December 11, 2006 - Here is a Blu-ray Disc review of Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment's "Kingdom Of Heaven: Director's Cut." I saw Mel Gibson's Apocalypto over the weekend. It was the first time I had been to a movie theater casually in months and I had read a local New York newspaper review the morning before I went to see the film. The film critic is one whose reviews I admire very much. No one ever agrees with film critics one hundred percent of the time, but sometimes there are critics whose opinions one tends to agree with more often than not. This said I was kind of surprised at the review the motion picture critic wrote because I just did not see the film in the same manner as his review made it seem or would have me expect it to be. For the record, Apocalypto is not a great film, but compared to much of what has been released over the past year, it is far from the worst. While some have focused on the film's violence, which in my opinion is tame compared to some of the movies I've reviewed, and Gibson himself has remarked about the signs from within that detail the fall of a great civilization, what struck me as interesting about Apocalypto was the subtext concerning fathers and sons.  In the film we two sets of fathers and sons. One is the father of Jaguar Paw (Rudy Youngblood), who instills a sense of pride, self reliance, and knowledge of how fear can infect one's soul. The other father figure is leader of the Mayan invaders who attack the village and who rewards his son with his knife during their long trek back to the city with their captives. Both fathers in the film love their sons and both sons look up to and respect their fathers. What ultimately differentiates the fate of the two sons is the environment and manner in which they were raised. To the very end Jaguar Paw's father is honorable and teaches his son to think while the son of the Mayan is not in my opinion a fully matured adult. He is still seeking his father's approval and the example his father sets is one of obeying commands without thinking for one's self.

This dichotomy can be seen in a larger scale in the manner in which the village Elder tells the tribe a story about man's unquenchable desire without giving a soothing resolution. Indeed this is a foreshadowing of things to come. However haunting the story might be, the question it sends both the villagers and the movie theater viewer invites one to ponder the meaning of the words in their own life. Conversely the Mayans blindly follow their Mayan High Priest with bread and circuses provided through ritual bloodlust sacrifices to appease their gods and ignore the obvious signs as to why their civilization is dieing. They grow crops near a pit of rotting headless corpses, allow their people to suffer and die from pestilence and famine without taking into consideration why they are being faced with extinction. Despite the Mayan advances in mathematics, architecture and building, as well as an understanding of astronomy that was ahead of their European counterparts at one time, they abandon science and reason out of fear in favor of religious theatrics and empty rituals. In short they no longer think for themselves. They only react and thus that is why the quality of life for the villagers in the jungle is better than the Mayan citizens. The tragedy of Apocalypto has nothing to do with the stars to paraphrase Shakespeare. It lies within the people themselves. Thus hopefully people who see Mel Gibson's Apocalypto will not just walk away thinking about the film as an adventure story, but as an allegory  for our own troubled world today. It may not be easy, but we need to think people... 

December 10, 2006 - Here is a TV review of the SCI FI Channel Original Movie "Dead And Deader," which will premiere on Saturday, December 16, 2006 at 9pm (ET/PT). The first season of  Masters Of Horror series is now available in it's entirety on DVD from Anchor Bay Entertainment and there have been some very good second season episodes airing on Showtime too. For those of you who are still not familiar with the show, check out this press release below.

PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 8, 2006


ANCHOR BAY ENTERTAINMENT SHIPS OVER ONE MILLION UNITS OF MASTERS OF HORROR DVD SERIES

Season One DVD Releases Culminate with William Malone’s Fair Haired Child” on December 12th

BURBANK, CA –Anchor Bay Entertainment, a division of Starz Home Entertainment and the acknowledged leader in horror DVD programming, announces the recent milestone of shipping one million units of the Emmy™-Award winning Masters of Horror anthology series.  The announcement comes on the heels of the final DVD release from Season One – William Malone’s “Fair Haired Child” debuting December 12th.

The innovative, thirteen-installment series has taken the horror genre to new creative and commercial heights. Available on DVD since March, each one-hour Masters of Horror film elevates the genre to a new standard in terror, written and directed by many of the genre’s leading practitioners. 

“We at Starz Home Entertainment are extremely gratified that consumers have made Masters of Horror an integral part of their home entertainment libraries,” observed Bill Clark, Executive Vice President and General Manager.

The executive producers of Masters Of Horror are Starz Media’s John W. Hyde, Industry Entertainment’s Keith Addis and Andrew Deane, and Nice Guy Productions’ Mick Garris.  Reunion Pictures’ Lisa Richardson and Tom Rowe are also producers.  Industry’s Adam Goldworm and Ben Browning are co-producers.

“I’m thrilled to see that Masters of Horror is filling the appetite the fans have for original horror, made by people who love and know it best,” said Mick Garris, series creator and Executive Producer. “We hoped that if we could present the horror audience with films that were free of studio and network intervention, that we could provide them a great variety of fear in all its forms, they would respond.  And it seems to be working, all around the world.”

Anchor Bay Entertainment is a division of Starz Media.  Starz Media is a programming production and distribution company operating worldwide. It includes the Film Roman, Anchor Bay Entertainment, and Manga Entertainment brands. Its units create animated and live-action programming – including theatrical films -- and programming created under contract for other media companies. It distributes that programming, and programming acquired from outside producers, through home video retailers, theaters, broadcasters, ad supported and premium television channels, and Internet and wireless video distributors in the US and internationally. Starz Media is a wholly owned subsidiary of Starz, LLC which in turn is a wholly owned subsidiary of Liberty Media Corp. and which is attributed to Liberty Capital Group, www.starz.com.

December 7, 2006 - Here is a TV review of the Cartoon Network original animated/live action movie "Re-animated." I have also posted information on the upcoming DVD and Blu-ray Disc release of Lionsgate's The Descent below.

“Hands down the best scare film of the summer...” – Rolling Stone

 “Opens with a bloody bang and never lets up…it’ll have your hair standing up like stalagmites” - People  magazine

THE DESCENT

Lionsgate to Release First Blu-ray (50GB) Day and Date with Loaded DVDs

Available on December 26

Street Date: 12/26/06

Order Date: 11/29/06
 Unrated Widescreen DVD SRP: $28.98
Unrated Full Screen DVD SRP: $28.98

Rated R Full Screen DVD SRP: $28.98

Blu-ray Unrated/Rated R SRP: $39.99 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Hailed by Access Hollywood as “terrifying! A masterpiece of modern horror,” Lionsgate will release The Descent in four different versions – the full original unrated cut on widescreen, the original unrated cut on full screen, the Rated R theatrical version on full screen and finally, the first day and date release on Blu-ray that will allow for viewing either the original unrated cut or the R-rated version on the same disc.  Directed by Neil Marshall, winner of the British Independent Film Award for Best Director, The Descent follows six women on their annual extreme outdoor adventure to explore a remote cave hidden deep in the Appalachian woods. 

Far below the surface of the earth, disaster strikes when a rock fall blocks their exit and there’s no way out.  The women push on, praying for another exit, but there is something else lurking under the earth.  The friends are now prey, forced to unleash their most primal instincts in an all out war against an unspeakable horror – one that attacks without warning, again and again and again.  Both unrated versions feature bone-chilling extras that include outtakes, deleted scenes, commentaries with the director and cast, featurettes and more.  In addition, the original unrated cut features an ending never-before-seen in U.S. theaters!

With groundbreaking Blu-ray features such as THE GATE: The Descent Underground Experience, special features presented in high-definition, along with 6.1 PCM audio (uncompressed), Blu-ray java interactive menus, The Descent dual-layer (BD) 50GB sets the bar for maximizing the capabilities of the Blu-ray format.  With Blu-ray, it is also possible to view both the high-definition original unrated cut of the film as well as the theatrical version that was released in the United States.

DVD SPECIAL FEATURES

Original Unrated Cut (Widescreen) and Original Unrated Cut (Full screen)

Blu-ray 50GB Theatrical/Rated R Default Original Unrated Cut Option - Seamless Branching

Theatrical/ Rated R (Full Screen)

CAST 

Shauna Macdonald             TV’s “MI-5,” Late Night Shopping, upcoming The Mutant Chronicles

Natalie Mendoza             Moulin Rouge, The Great Raid, TV’s “Farscape”

Nora-Jane Noone            Ella Enchanted, The Magdalene Sisters

PROGRAM INFORMATION

Year of Production: 2005

Title Copyright: © 2005 Celador Films.  All Rights Reserved.

Type: Theatrical Release

Rating: Rated R for strong violence/gore and language and Unrated

Genre: Horror

Closed Captioned: English Closed Captioned

Subtitles: English and Spanish subtitles

Format: 16x9 2.35 Letterbox (widescreen)

Feature Running Time: Rated R: 98 minutes

      Unrated: 99 minutes

DVD Audio Status: 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround EX, 2.0 Dolby Digital

Blu ray Audio Status: 6.1 PCM audio (uncompressed), 5.1 Dolby Digital EX

December 5, 2006 - LATE UPDATE - Here is a TV review for the upcoming SCI FI Channel miniseries event, "The Lost Room." Warner Home Video has announced some upcoming HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc titles for January. You can read all about them by checking out the press release below.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 WARNER HOME VIDEO STARTS THE NEW YEAR WITH THREE NEW HIGH DEFINITION TITLES

AVAILABLE JANUARY 16

GoodFellas

Hailed as “The Best Mob Movie Ever” – Siskel & Ebert

Poseidon

Features the In-Movie Experience (IME)

Scooby D oo: The Movie

Makes Simultaneous HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc Debut

Burbank, California (December 5, 2006) – On January 16 consumers will start the New Year off with three new high definition titles from Warner Home Video. GoodFellas will be debuting on Blu-ray Disc while Poseidon debuts on HD DVD and Scooby Doo: The Movie will be making its simultaneous debut on HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc.

Poseidon makes its HD DVD debut with In-Movie Experience (IME), the interactive feature allowing viewers to enjoy new ways of accessing interviews and other material – Josh Lucas leads you through the trials of creating visual effects, special effects and action on an upside-down water-filled set.

All HD DVD and Blu-ray titles will be available for $28.99 SRP. All bonus materials on the Standard Definition version will be included on the high definition versions.

About the Movies

GoodFellas Blu-ray Disc - Based on the true-life best seller “Wiseguy” by Nicholas Pileggi and backed by a dynamic pop/rock oldies soundtrack, critic Roger Ebert declared GoodFellas “the best mob movie ever.”  It earned six Academy Award® nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director and was named 1990’s ‘Best Film’ by the New York, Los Angeles and National Society of Film Critics.  Scorsese was also awarded the Silver Lion Award in Venice.  Robert De Niro received wide recognition for his performance as veteran criminal Jimmy “The Gent” Conway, and Joe Pesci, as the volatile Tommy DeVito, walked off with the Best Supporting Actor Oscar®.  Academy Award® nominees Lorraine Bracco, Ray Liotta and Paul Sorvino also turned in electrifying performances.  GoodFellas explores the criminal life like no other movie.  It’s an electrifying, fact-inspired tale of living – and dying.

Poseidon HD DVD, directed by Wolfgang Peterson and stars Kurt Russell, Andre Braugher, Emmy Rossen, Freddy Rodriguez and Josh Lucas. When a rogue wave capsizes a luxury cruise ship in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, a small group of survivors find themselves unlikely allies in a battle for their lives. As the unstable vessel rapidly floods with water, they face unimaginable odds and life-altering decisions in their desperate fight to the surface.

Scooby Doo: The Movie HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc - Scooby-Doo and his clever crime-solving cohorts Fred (Freddie Prinze, JR), Daphne (Sarah Michelle Gellar), Shaggy (Matthew Lillard) and Velma (Linda Cardellini) are individually summoned to Spooky Island to investigate a series of paranormal incidents at the ultra-hip Spring Break hot spot.  Concerned that his frightfully popular resort might truly be haunted, Spooky Island owner Emile Mondavarious (Rowan Atkinson) tries to reunite those notoriously meddling detectives to solve the mystery before his supernatural secret scare away the college crowds.  Scooby and the gang will have to overcome their personal differences and forget everything they think they know about fake ghouls and phony creatures to crack the case, save themselves and possibly…the world. 

Warner Home Video HD DVDs and Blu-ray Discs offer resolution six times higher than standard definition DVDs, as well as extraordinarily vibrant contrast and color and beautifully crisp sound. The new formats also provide a higher level of interactivity, with instant access to extra features via a seamless menu-bar where viewers can enjoy features without leaving or interrupting the film.

With operations in 90 international territories, Warner Home Video, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, commands the largest distribution infrastructure in the global video marketplace. Warner Home Video's film library is the largest of any studio, offering top quality new and vintage titles from the repertoires of Warner Bros. Pictures, Turner Entertainment, Castle Rock Entertainment, HBO Home Video and New Line Home Entertainment.

December 1, 2006 - Here is an HD DVD review of Universal Studios Home Entertainment's "Dune."

November 29, 2006 - LATE UPDATE - Here is the conclusion of my three-part combined Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD box set review of Paramount Home Entertainment's "Mission: Impossible - Ultimate Missions Collection" with "Mission: Impossible III: 2-Disc Collector's Set."

November 21, 2006 - Here is part two of my  Here is part one of my combined Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD box set review of Paramount Home Entertainment's "Mission: Impossible - Ultimate Missions Collection"with a combined Blu-ray & HD DVD review of "Mission: Impossible II."

November 15, 2006 - Here is part one of my combined Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD box set review of Paramount Home Entertainment's "Mission: Impossible - Ultimate Missions Collection" with a combined Blu-ray & HD DVD review of "Mission: Impossible: Special Collector's Edition." In celebration of the DVD release of You, Me and Dupree, the hilarity and fun of the film extends online with an interactive game, “Ride of Dupree.” This entertaining and addictive online game will be sure to test your skills, as you help Dupree locate his friend Carl.  Do you have what it takes to find him? Log on and find out for yourself at www.youmeanddupree.com/game. Finally Warner Home Video has announced some new Holiday Season HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc releases and you can read about it in the press release below!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

WARNER HOME VIDEO’S HAPPY HI-DEF HOLIDAYS BEGIN DECEMBER 5!

Three All-Time Family Favorites Available

A Christmas Story

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

Debut on HD DVD & Blu-ray Disc

The Polar Express

Also Available on HD DVD  

Burbank, California (Nov 15, 2006) – Anticipating a big holiday demand for high definition DVD product, Warner Home Video has announced the December 5th new format debut of two hit family favorites. A Christmas Story and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation will be making their simultaneous debut on HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc while The Polar Express, the dazzling classic and one of Warner Home Video’s all-time best-selling family DVDs, continues to be available on HD DVD.

All HD DVD and Blu-ray titles will be available for $28.99 SRP. All bonus materials on the Standard Definition version of National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation will be included on the high definition versions.

“The hot holiday items this year will be all things high definition,” said Stephen Nickerson,

WHV’s Senior Vice President, Market Management.  Whether consumers purchase Xbox 360 HD DVD players or Sony Playstation BD; Toshiba or RCA’s HD DVD player or Panasonic BD player, those giving and those receiving gifts will be thrilled to discover our great hit family titles available in both high definition formats.”

About the Movies

The Polar Express is based on the beloved Caldecott Medal children’s book by Chris Van Allsburg about a doubting young boy who takes an extraordinary train ride to the North Pole on Christmas Eve.  He embarks on a journey of self-discovery that shows the wonder of life never fades for those who believe.

A Christmas Story – Humorist Jean Shepherd’s nostalgic view of Christmastime in Indiana during the 1940s stars Peter Billingsley as a nine-year-old named Ralphie who has only one thing on his Christmas list: a Red Ryder Carbine-Action 200-Shot Air Rifle.  With his parents unwilling to buy him the gun because he might “shoot his eye out,” Ralphie decides to mount a full-scale, hint-dropping, Santa-begging campaign.  He also endures a slew of calamities from snowsuit paralysis to the dreaded tongue-on-a-frozen-flagpole gambit.  The New York Times calls A Christmas Story “maybe the best Christmas movie ever.”

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation – Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) attempts to create a picture perfect, old-fashioned Christmas for his family and invites his extended family to celebrate the holidays at his home.  But a festive supporting cast including Beverly D’Angelo, Randy Quaid, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Juliette Lewis and Doris Roberts, 25,000 lights on the roof, an exploding turkey on the dining room table and a SWAT team taking siege outside soon help Clark realize that more does not always mean merrier.  “Chevy Chase is at his best!”  John Hughes wrote and was a producer on National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation; Jeremiah S. Chechik directs.  

Warner Home Video HD DVDs and Blu-ray Discs offer resolution six times higher than standard definition DVDs, as well as extraordinarily vibrant contrast and color and beautifully crisp sound. The new formats also provide a higher level of interactivity, with instant access to extra features via a seamless menu-bar where viewers can enjoy features without leaving or interrupting the film.

With operations in 90 international territories, Warner Home Video, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, commands the largest distribution infrastructure in the global video marketplace. Warner Home Video's film library is the largest of any studio, offering top quality new and vintage titles from the repertoires of Warner Bros. Pictures, Turner Entertainment, Castle Rock Entertainment, HBO Home Video and New Line Home Entertainment.

November 13, 2006 - This is the best news I've read in a long time related to the best space opera of the 1990s bar none.... As they say "faith manages" and Babylon 5 is coming back and you can read all about it in the press release below!

For Immediate Release  

WARNER HOME VIDEO TO RELEASE

BRAND NEW “BABLYON 5”

MADE FOR VIDEO IN 2007

 

BABLYON 5: THE LOST TALES TO BEGIN PRODUCTION NOVEMBER 13, 2006

 

 

BURBANK , CA , November 13, 2006 – Warner Home Video (WHV) and Warner Bros. Television (WBTV) have announced the start of production of “ Babylon 5: The Lost Tales,” a made-for-video movie that will be targeted towards the Babylon 5 loyal audience and science-fiction fans in general .  The announcement was jointly made by Jeff Brown, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Non-theatrical Franchise, Warner Home Video and Gregg Maday, Senior Vice President, Movies and Miniseries, WBTV.

 

WHV will be the home entertainment distributor for this made-for-DVD release which will include two new Babylon 5 stories collectively entitled “Voices of the Dark” in one film plus exclusive behind the scenes content. The stories will be written and directed by executive producer and original “ Babylon 5” creator J. Michael Straczynski.  Executive producer Doug Netter also returns in that role. Actors from the original series that have signed on to participate in the project include Bruce Boxleitner (“President John Sheridan”), Tracy Scoggins (“Captain Elizabeth Lochley”) and Peter Woodward (“Galen”).

 

Babylon 5 is a top selling franchise on DVD to date with over $44 million in consumer sales.  Launched in February 1993, the award winning series was a top rated show on television with more than 13.7 million viewers in its debut season. After its original planned five-year run – introducing the concept of a five year arc before other TV series began to use multi-season arcs -- the show went on to enjoy 9 successful years in syndication and Cable on the Sci-Fi Channel and TNT.  It also spurred the creation of five feature length movies based on the series including The Gathering, In the Beginning, Thirdspace, River of Souls and A Call to Arms, as well as the limited series Crusade. Babylon 5 has received numerous awards including two Emmys, two consecutive Hugo Awards, the Ray Bradbury Award for Dramatic Screenwriting from the Science Fiction Writers of America, five English Media ‘Cult TV’ Awards, the E Pluribus Unum Award from the American Cinema Foundation, the Sci-Fi Universe Reader Choice Award for Best TV Series and was the winner of the TV Guide Poll for Best Sci-Fi Show.

 

  “We are very excited to be releasing this new made-for-video release filled with original content for ‘ Babylon 5’, one of the most successful science fiction series of all time,” said Jeff Brown. “This popular TV show which has been off the air for a few years continues to have a strong loyal fan base that is hungry for more content.  This is the first time we’re utilizing one of our popular TV franchises as a made-for-video title, and we have a strong commitment to the growth of this sector.”

 

 “It’s great to be reunited with Joe and Doug once again,” commented Maday.  “I have always been very proud to be associated with their wonderful work on Babylon 5 and I’m confident the “Lost Tales” will add to the legacy of this very special franchise.”

 

On an immense space station built by the Earth Alliance in the 2250s, the crew of Babylon 5 are charged with maintaining the peace among the various alien races by providing a sanctuary where grievances and negotiations can be worked out among duly appointed ambassadors. Aside from its diplomatic function, Babylon 5 also serves as a military post for Earth and a port of call for travelers, traders, businessmen, criminals, and Rangers.  The story of The Lost Tales picks up several years after the events of its original story, and follows several of its major characters in new adventures set against the backdrop of the Babylon 5 universe.

 

About Warner Home Video

With operations in 90 international territories Warner Home Video, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, commands the largest distribution infrastructure in the global video marketplace.  Warner Home Video's film library is the largest of any studio, offering top quality new and vintage titles from the repertoires of Warner Bros. Pictures, Turner Entertainment, Castle Rock Entertainment, HBO Home Video and New Line Home Entertainment.

 

About Warner Bros. Television

Warner Bros. Television (WBTV) is one of the entertainment industry's most respected providers of original content, producing award-winning drama and comedy series, made-for-television movies and miniseries for both network and cable television.  Having produced 28 series for the 2006-2007 season, WBTV is the industry's number one supplier of primetime television programming, with multiple shows on each of the five broadcast networks, as well as numerous cable networks.

November 10, 2006 - Here is a review of Universal Studios Home Entertainment's "Slither: HD DVD And DVD Combo Format."

November 7, 2006 - Sony has announced Kung Fu Hustle and All The Kings Men for Blu-ray Disc release on December 12, 2006 and December 19, 2006 respectively. Read the press release below to learn more and note that I have added the titles to the Upcoming DVD/HD DVD/Blu-ray Disc Page, which you can view by clicking here or clicking on the "Coming Soon" button above.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

KUNG FU HUSTLE AND ALL THE KING’S MEN

ADDED TO HIGH DEFINITION HOLIDAY SLATE

-- Kung Fu Hustle to Arrive December 12; All the King’s Men Hits December 19 --  

CULVER CITY , CALIF. (November 6, 2006) – Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (SPHE) today announced two new additions to its expanding Blu-ray Disc library just in time for the high definition holiday shopping season.  Kung Fu Hustle, the Golden Globe®-nominated high-flying, action-packed martial arts comedy from writer and star Stephen Chow, will be available on store shelves December 12.  Robert Penn Warren’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel All the King’s Men arrives on Blu-ray Disc December 19. The film, written and directed by Academy Award®*-winner Steven Zaillian, features a stellar cast including Academy Award®-winners Sean Penn and Anthony Hopkins as well as two-time Academy Award-nominee Jude Law. 

KUNG FU HUSTLE

As China ’s top grossing film in 2004 and an Official Selection at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival, Kung Fu Hustle was a box-office hit in the U.S. and amplified audiences worldwide with its fresh, original action sequences and electrifying visual effects. Kung Fu Hustle maximizes Blu-ray’s pristine picture quality and superior uncompressed surround sound with its jaw-dropping fight sequences by Yuen Wo Ping (famed action choreographer of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and The Matrix). 

Added value features include:

Added value features continued:

Synopsis:  In a town ruled by the Axe Gang, Sing (Chow) desperately wants to become a member. He stumbles into a slum ruled by eccentric landlords who turn out to be kung fu masters in disguise.  Sing’s actions eventually cause the Axe Gang and the slumlords to engage in an explosive kung fu battle.  Only one side will win and only one hero will emerge as the greatest kung fu master of all. 

ALL THE KING’S MEN

All the King’s Men was inspired by the career of Louisiana governor, Huey P. Long and other high-profile political figures, and was one of the last major films shot in New Orleans before the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.  The location was integral to the mood and texture of the film and many scenes were shot on location where the story’s events originally took place. Blu-ray’s true high definition picture and native uncompressed surround sound captures the heart and soul of a politically charged Louisiana .

Synopsis: All the King’s Men tells the riveting story of an idealist’s rise to political power in the South during the 1940s and 50s. The story follows the rise and fall of charismatic politician, “Boss” Willie Stark (Sean Penn) and uses politics as the framework to explore the more profound dilemmas of human existence – sin, guilt and redemption.  It’s a complex and captivating story of human nature, power, corruption, idealism, romance and betrayal. 

Both single-layer BD 25GB titles were authored by the Sony Pictures Digital Authoring Center (DAC) and manufactured by Sony DADC.  Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has released a broad selection of highly entertaining high-definition movies since the format’s initial launch in June. SPHE was the first studio to deliver a 50GB Blu-ray Disc to the marketplace with the release of Click on October 10, and will release two more 50GB titles in time for the holidays with Black Hawk Down hitting store shelves November 14 and Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby following on December 12.

Additional Blu-ray Disc titles currently available to consumers from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment include 50 First Dates; The Fifth Element; Hitch; House of Flying Daggers; XXX; Ultraviolet; Underworld: Evolution; Basic Instinct 2: Risk Addiction; The Benchwarmers; Stealth; RV; Silent Hill; Into the Blue; Memento; S.W.A.T.; A Knight’s Tale; The Big Hit; Tears of the Sun; Monster House and Little Man (November 7).

* “Academy Awards®” and “Oscar®” are the registered trademarks and service marks of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

About Sony Pictures Home Entertainment:

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is a division of Sony Corporation of America , a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. Sony Pictures Entertainment's global operations encompass motion picture production and distribution; television production and distribution; digital content creation and distribution; worldwide channel investments; home entertainment acquisition and distribution; operation of studio facilities; development of new entertainment products, services and technologies; and distribution of filmed entertainment in 67 countries. Information on Sony Pictures Entertainment and Blu-ray can be found on the World Wide Web at www.sonypictures.com/bluray.

November 6, 2006 - Here is a TV review of the upcoming History Channel documentary "Desperate Crossing: The Untold Story Of The May Flower," which will have it's History Channel World Premiere on Sunday, November 19, 2006, at 8pm (ET)/7pm (CT). I have also moved my TV reviews of "Battlestar Galactica: Third Season Premiere", "Eureka: First Season Finale", "Frisky Dingo: Series Premiere", "Doctor Who: Second Season Premiere" and "Hellboy Animated: Sword Of Storms" to the Archived TV Reviews Page.

November 4, 2006 - Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment has added "X-Men: The Last Stand" to their November 14, 2006 Blu-ray Disc wave one lineup. You can read about it on the press release below.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 

SEE THE MUTANTS LIKE NEVER BEFORE IN HI-DEF ON BLU-RAY

 

Fox’s 1st  BD Release Featuring 100%  High-Def Content Also Includes A Cool,           Graphically Spectacular Marvel Trivia Feature
-- On Blu-Ray November 14, Perfect For The Playstation 3 on November 17 –
 

CENTURY CITY, Calif.  (November 2, 2006) –  Continuing its unwavering commitment to the Blu-ray Disc format (BD), the only high-definition packaged media platform broadly supported by the film, music, gaming, computing and consumer electronics industries, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (TCFHE) today announced the North American Blu-ray debut of X-MEN: THE LAST STAND on November 14, timed and demographically perfect for the launch of Sony’s much-anticipated Playstation 3 on November 17.  The three X-MEN movies are among the studio’s most popular and successful, collectively grossing over $1 billion at the worldwide box office and selling over 45 million DVD/VHS units.  Reigning as one of the biggest films of the year and the industry’s biggest BD release ever, X-MEN: THE LAST STAND features 100% HD content in AVC (MPEG4) including the film and the bonus features – a first for Fox.  It carries a suggested retail price of $39.98 U.S. / $49.98 Canada.

The BD release of X-MEN: THE LAST STAND on November 14 joins Fox’s stellar, action-packed line-up of initial BD releases, which includes BEHIND ENEMY LINES, FANTASTIC FOUR, KINGDOM OF HEAVEN (Director’s Cut), KISS OF THE DRAGON, THE OMEN (2006), THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN, SPEED and THE TRANSPORTER.  These releases also carry a suggested retail price of US$39.98/CAN$49.98.

The following week bring the Studio’s first day-and-date DVD and BD release with the concurrent release of ICE AGE:  THE MELTDOWN on November 21 in North America. This inaugural day-and-date release will benefit from the comprehensive, multi-million dollar marketing campaigns already in place for ICE AGE:  THE MELTDOWN, which will tout the availability of the title on both DVD and BD.

Authored in HDMV with AVC (MPEG 4 compression) and exceptional 6.1 DTS ES HD Lossless Master Audio, the X-MEN: THE LAST STAND BD release boasts two commentary tracks (director Brett Ratner with writers Zak Penn and Simon Kinberg; separate track featuring producers Avi Arad, Lauren Shuler Donner and Ralph Winter), 12 alternate / extended scenes presented in 5.1 Dolby Digital audio (with optional director / writer commentary) and enhanced Marvel Trivia Track – with this feature activated, color graphics pop up throughout the film giving inside information from the Marvel universe on characters and events, plus favorite Marvel Comics are referenced and Marvel characters and graphics are incorporated into the presentation.

Fox’s commitment to emerging technologies is dedicated to enhancing the consumer experience of its products and providing for backward compatibility with their existing home entertainment libraries while also aggressively protecting its intellectual property from piracy. The Blu-ray companies fully embrace the Studio’s steadfast commitment to the fight against piracy and the preservation of the integrity of its properties. Twentieth Century Fox is a member of the Board of Directors of the Blu- ray Disc Association.

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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November 3, 2006 - Here is an HD DVD review of Universal Studios Home Entertainment's "John Carpenter's The Thing." I have moved my "GENRE ONLINE.NET INTERVIEW with Comedian and Saturday Night Live Alumni Norm Macdonald" to the Archived GENRE ONLINE.NET Interviews Page and I have also moved my "On The Mark Updates For October, 2006" to the Archived On The Mark Updates Page.

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