Warner Titles Go Blu-ray
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, DreamWorks, Disney, Lionsgate, Paramount, Sony, Universal, Warner Bros, Corporate Shakeups, Distribution, Home Entertainment, Technology,
Warner Home Video - the last major studio to spread the love between both Blu-ray and HD DVD - has finally chosen to consolidate. Unfortunately, its a decision owners of the Toshiba system aren’t going to like. As of May 2008, high definition titles released by the company will be Blu-ray exclusive.
This a major blow for the HD DVD camp which is now fighting a lopsided battle. Although Paramount Studios (with Dreamworks) announced back in August that it was joining the underdog’s team, it is now only one of two major studios (Universal being the other) on that side of the fence. Meanwhile, owners of the Sony product have selections from Walt Disney, Sony, Fox and Lionsgate to choose from.
Although Toshiba claimed to be ‘surprised’ by the announcement, Warner says its decision was simply based on consumer demand. Blockbuster cited this same reason when it Blu-ray only back in June.
Hollywood Reporter
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This Week on HD DVD and Blu-ray: October 30, 2007
Posted by Johnny Mercedes Categories: Paramount, Sony, Universal, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Animation, Documentary, Drama, Family, Foreign Language, Independent, Music, Romance, Science Fiction, Sequels, Comedy, Distribution, Home Entertainment, Lists, New Releases,
This past fortnight, the HD DVD release of Transformers made high-definition history with over 100,000 units sold in the first day—a record that supplanted day-one sales across both formats. But this week Sony will inevitably pull the warring robots off their high horses—likely with a quick tug on some carefully aimed webbing.
The hugely profitable but ambivalently received Spider-Man 3 releases Tuesday and will undoubtedly be a smash hit for Blu-ray. And for those who can’t justify said purchase, the film will also release in a high-def trilogy.
Universal and Warner also have some decent contributions this week, but the real content explosion comes from DVD International and their HDScape series. Finally, I can sit in my tiny condominium and watch a high-definition fireplace, an exotic aquarium, or the slow but steady thaw of Antarctica.
Check the full list of high-def releases after the jump.
Click to continue reading This Week on HD DVD and Blu-ray: October 30, 2007
Kurt Cobain Story Hits the Silver Screen
Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Universal, Adaptation, Drama, Filmmaking, Scripts, Upcoming Releases,
David Benioff (Troy screenwriter) has signed an agreement to write a movie about former Nirvana singer, Kurt Cobain. A Universal project, the movie will be based on the 2001 book Heavier Than Heaven, written by Charles Cross. Details are still up in the air on the film, which may or may not contain an on-screen appearance from Cobain’s widow, Courtney Love. She will, however, serve as an executive producer.
After Cobain’s 1994 death, rumors and innuendo abounded regarding the mysterious circumstances of how he died. Whenever a celebrity is involved, gossip circles will often repeat the same question: ‘Was it murder or suicide?’ From Marilyn to Anna Nicole, no one wants to believe their favorite stars would take their own lives (or attempt to). It’s unknown at this point which side of the story the movie will tell. In any event, it’s a death that will continue to remain question-rich and somewhat unsolved in the minds of fans…like many other Hollywood deaths before and since.
Read More 
| Yahoo! News
Watts And Campbell For ‘The Birds’
Posted by David Onda Categories: Universal, Adaptation, Classics, Horror, Thrillers, Casting, Filmmaking, Rumors, Upcoming Releases,
With Halloween only a week and a half away, it seems only fitting that we hear more news about the remake of The Birds. First brought to the big screen in 1963 by “The Master of Suspense“ Alfred Hitchcock, Universal has been planning a re-imagining of the terrifying classic for some time now.
The absolutely gorgeous Naomi Watts (King Kong, The Ring) will star while Casino Royale director Martin Campbell is in talks to helm the film. Variety reports that Universal is not rushing the film due to the looming possibility of a Hollywood strike. Michael Bay is among the several names reported to be producing the film via Platinum Dunes and Mandalay Pictures.
Watts, who can soon be seen in Warner Independent’s Funny Games, is filming The International and will also appear in the overly titled Kicked, Bitten and Scratched: Life and Lessons at the World’s Premiere School for Exotic Animal Trainers.
Read More | Variety
This Week on HD DVD and Blu-ray: October 9, 2007
Posted by Johnny Mercedes Categories: 20th Century Fox, DreamWorks, MGM, Paramount, Sony, Universal, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Animation, Classics, Drama, Family, Horror, Independent, Romance, Science Fiction, Sequels, Comedy, Thrillers, Home Entertainment, Lists, New Releases, Upcoming Releases,
The war between Blu-ray and HD DVD rages on, but this week the battle looks particularly one-sided.
HD DVD has only one exclusive release this Tuesday (and not even a very good one), which can’t counter-balance the nine exclusive Blu-ray titles. Now, one could see this as merely a slow week for the format’s proponents—Universal has the one title, and Paramount has zilch—or maybe Fox, Sony and MGM have simply realized that the holidays are fast approaching, and that … well, this is a war! Whatever the case, HD DVD loyalists will find little to drool over this week. As for the Blu-ray fans, they’ll find three day-and-date releases plus a high-def 28 Days Later to supplement its impressive new-release sequel.
Have a look at this week’s HD releases after the jump.
Check out this week’s standard-definition releases,
or take a look at the TV-on-DVD titles.
Click to continue reading This Week on HD DVD and Blu-ray: October 9, 2007
This Week on DVD: September 4, 2007
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Lionsgate, Universal, Drama, Independent, Comedy, Home Entertainment, Lists,
Has Lindsay’s stay at Utah’s Cirque Lodge left you feeling lonely? Are you trying to remember if she really can act? Well pick up her latest DVD this Tuesday and reacquaint yourself with the beloved scandal queen. But if you’re enjoying this DUI-free respite, here’s a glance at the slim pickings this week.
- Georgia Rule—starring Lindsay Lohan, Felicity Huffman and Jane Fonda
- Delta Farce—starring Larry the Cable Guy, Bill Engvall and DJ Qualls
- The Wind That Shakes The Barley—starring Cillian Murphy and Padraic Delaney
NOTE: Click here to see the TV-On-DVD options for this week.
Box Office Breakdown: Bourne Breaks Bank
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, Disney, Lionsgate, New Line, Paramount, Universal, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Animation, Family, Music, Musicals, Political, Romance, Science Fiction, Sequels, Comedy, Thrillers, Box Office, Lists, New Releases,
Matt Damon may still be vying for People magazine’s ‘Sexiest Man Alive’ title—but he has one thing that George Clooney and Brad Pitt don’t have: the biggest debut for an August opening ever.
The Bourne Ultimatum‘s $70 million take improved upon the previous Bourne installments and gave Damon his largest weekend to date (and that’s including all three Ocean’s movies).
Meanwhile, Lindsay Lohan should be happy that she’s holed up in rehab again—though seeing her movie kicked out of the Top Ten would have probably sent her there anyway. Apparently theatergoers can only handle one movie about Bratz at a time…
Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Bourne Breaks Bank
Box Office Breakdown: Almighty Only Does Alrighty
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Disney, MGM, Paramount, Sony, Universal, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Animation, Drama, Family, Political, Religious, Romance, Sequels, Comedy, Thrillers, Box Office, Lists, New Releases,
Question: When is being the #1 movie just not enough? (Hint: You have three chances to answer this question correctly).
Answer(s):
- When the critics don’t really have anything good to say about you
- When you made less than 1/2 of what your predecessor did on opening weekend
- When it cost over $175 million just to create you
Apparently having God on your side doesn’t guarantee you heavenly box office numbers. Evan Almighty, the follow-up to 2003’s Bruce Almighty, failed to bring in a large congregation this past weekend. Although it did better than the rest of the flock, it’s $32 million take paled in comparison to Bruce’s $68 million opening. And then there’s that glaring $175 million bill…
Of course, we shouldn’t feel so badly about Steve Carell’s career. I have a feeling that God is providing for him in other ways.
Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Almighty Only Does Alrighty
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