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High-Def Digest's Holiday Gift Guide 2012: The Ultimate Blu-ray Shopping ListWith the holiday shopping season looming, and Black Friday bearing down on us, we here at High-Def Digest wanted to give you a head start on your holiday shopping. [teaser]2012 has been a stellar year for Blu-ray releases. We've seen numerous highly sought after catalog titles finally make it to the format. In an effort to ease your holiday shopping stress, High-Def Digest presents "The Ultimate Blu-ray Shopping List" for 2012. We've got everyone in your family covered here, don't worry.[/teaser] Family-Friendly Want to get the whole family together for an activity? There isn't a more effective way to capture everyone's attention than sticking in a movie that everyone can enjoy. This year has been full of family-friendly releases that will not only dazzle the little ones, but will also entertain the grownups as well. We'd be remiss if we didn't mention Pixar's latest film. 'Brave' may not be their best movie, but it certainly is entertaining. Pixar's lush animation is on full display here as the Blu-ray is sure to provide demo quality visuals. One of the most anticipated Pixar titles finally gets its Blu-ray due. 'Finding Nemo' has long been a highly sought after title and it's finally getting released on December 4th. This film is certainly worth a pre-order as it remains one of Pixar's very best movies. It's almost assuredly going to be as close to perfection as any demo-quality Blu-ray has ever been. Pixar may be the king of computer animation, but when it comes to hand drawn animation few do it better than Hayao Miyazaki. This year we saw the release of two of his great catalog titles, 'Castle in the Sky' and 'Whisper of the Heart.' Along with those wonderful releases we also got 'The Secret World of Arrietty.' It may not be directed by Miyazaki, but the screenplay is written by him and the movie has his fingerprints all over it. If you're a fan of emotion-filled storylines mixed with absolutely stunning animation then do yourself a favor and seek out a few of these Studio Ghibli titles. On the Disney side of things, the long-awaited fourth Tinker Bell movie has finally come out. After being delayed and undergoing a name change, 'Tinker Bell: Secret of the Wings' is sure fun for the entire family. It may appear to be something that only pre-teen girls will love, however, it will end up surprising you with its wonderful animation and its light, bubbly spirit. Animation not your thing? Well, there's also some really great live-action family-friendly material out there. The 'Diary of a Wimpy Kid' movies are always a light and breezy way to spend time with the family. This year the third installment in the franchise gets a release on December 18th. If you haven't seen any of these movies then make sure to pick up 'Diary of a Wimpy Kid' and 'Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules.' Action Junkie You've most likely got a few action junkies in the house. You may even be one yourself. It's a good thing that 2012 didn't have any shortage of action movies. This was a great year for action and it's time to jump on a few of these releases if you haven't already. Perhaps the biggest Blu-ray release this holiday season is the final chapter in Christopher Nolan's 'Batman' franchise. This is certainly one of those must-pre-order-now titles. Coming out on December 4th, 'The Dark Knight Rises,' promises to look every bit as awesome on Blu-ray as it did in the theaters. Not to mention this is going to have one rocking audio mix. Speaking of thumping audio, how could we not mention the impending release of 'The Expendables 2'? This will be the first Blu-ray to ship with DTS Neo: X, meaning if you have the equipment you'll be able to produce sound that will fill a whopping 11 channels, plus a sub-woofer. This is going to be one loud audio mix. Audiophiles should be all over this. One of the greatest action movies in years hit Blu-ray in 2012. If you haven't seen 'The Raid: Redemption' then you have missed one of the most exciting Blu-ray releases of the entire year. 'The Raid' is non-stop martial arts action from beginning to end. It's a choreographed dance of blood and carnage. Seriously, this is the pinnacle of the action genre in 2012. Whether you love action, adventure, or cinema in general there's no way you can pass up the recently released 'Indiana Jones: The Complete Adventures' collection. This is probably one of the best releases of 2012. After 'Star Wars' it was probably the most anticipated set of titles to get a Blu-ray release. Finally, they're here! If you haven't picked this set up yet, the holiday season is a perfect excuse to get it. Film Lover Not all great movies are big budget blockbusters. This year has seen its fair share of cinematic gems that didn't rake in the box office dough, but will certainly find places in the hearts of film lovers everywhere. After it premiered at Sundance earlier this year, 'Beasts of the Southern Wild' became one of the most talked about and beloved independent films of 2012. There's a reason for that. It's one of the most powerful films you'll see all year. This is a story that will challenge your emotions. Plus, the little actress Quvenzhané Wallis provides one of the year's best performances. This has truly been the year of Hitchcock. We have seen a boom in Blu-ray releases when it comes to Hitchcock's illustrious filmography. The crown jewel of these releases has to be 'Alfred Hitchcock: The Masterpiece Collection' which houses 15 of his most famous films. Released by Universal 'The Masterpiece Collection' includes first-time Blu-ray releases of 'Saboteur,' 'Shadow of a Doubt,' 'Rope,' 'Rear Window,' 'The Trouble with Harry,' 'The Man Who Knew Too Much,' 'Vertigo,' ' The Birds,' 'Marnie,' 'Torn Curtain,' 'Topaz,' 'Frenzy,' and 'Family Plot.' Also included are 'Psycho' and 'North by Northwest,' which are repurposed discs from recent standalone releases. MGM has also released a bunch of great Hitchcock movies this year. 'Notorious,' 'Rebecca ,' and 'Spellbound' can all be acquired easily. Warner Bros. has gotten in on the act releasing 'Strangers on a Train' and 'Dial M for Murder.' Speaking of fantastic Blu-ray sets, what about the 'Bond 50' set that includes all 22 Bond films? This is an enormous set that the Bond fanatic in your family is sure to enjoy. Many of the movies included are finding their way to Blu-ray for the very first time. This is a set you'll be proud to display. Even its packaging is beautiful. Looking for a more adult-oriented animated effort? 'Chico and Rita' is a beautifully animated movie with a stunningly rich soundtrack. It's sexy, sultry, and has a great love story attached to it. You may not have heard of it, but it's undoubtedly worth your time. There are many more options for the hardcore film lovers in your life. Also check out 'Moonrise Kingdom,' 'Le Havre,' 'A Separation,' and 'The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.' 3D Enthusiast There has been no shortage of 3D releases this year. If you're looking to fire up your newly purchased 3D HDTV over the holidays then these are some of the discs you should invest in. These discs will show off your freshly acquired 3D technology. You'll be the envy of the neighborhood. We got the 2D version a while ago, but 3D owners everywhere have been anticipating the release of 'Avatar' in glorious 3D. Well, it's here and it earned top marks from our reviewer: "The 3D effects are amazing, proving that the work put into the creation of Cameron's camera system was worth its weight in gold." Another demo-quality 3D Blu-ray is 'Hugo.' Released back in February, this is a must-own for anyone with a 3D setup. Hugo's visual style is perfect for the technology and looks spectacular in three dimensions. If you don't have this disc, get it now! Computer animation usually lends itself perfectly to 3D technology. 'Arthur Christmas' is further proof of this. The beautifully simple animation takes on three dimensions like it was destined to do. The entire movie looks amazing with those glasses on. Plus, you'll be getting into the holiday spirit while watching it. It's a win-win situation for everyone. No matter what you think of Ridley Scott's latest foray into the beloved 'Alien' universe one thing is for sure, 'Prometheus' is a gorgeously filmed movie. Adding to the wonder is a spectacular 3D presentation that is sure to blow your friends away. You must own this title if you're truly looking for demo-quality 3D material. Other titles that are bound to look great on your 3D TV are 'Finding Nemo – 3D,' 'Tinker Bell: Secret of the Wings - 3D,' and 'Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted - 3D.' Have a Laugh Looking for something that will have you and your family rolling on the floor? Well, these titles are guaranteed to keep you laughing all the way through. At Nate Boss says in his review, "All 236 episodes of the much-loved sitcom have been fully remastered for Blu-ray. At $149.99 on Amazon, that comes out to a measly sixty three cents per episode. That, and the 1080p video, is priceless. 'Friends' has aged quite well since it ceased producing new episodes in 2004, and whether you're a fan of Ross, Joey, Chandler, Rachel, Phoebe, or Monica, this show doesn't work on nostalgia alone. This was, and is, a genuinely funny, touching series. As for the set, it's highly recommended." This is sure to please many of the folks on your holiday shopping list! If you are a fan of horror movies, but always like to see a well done spoof, then 'Cabin in the Woods' is for you. Written by Joss Whedon, 'Cabin in the Woods' features his trademark humor as he pokes fun at the entire genre. Because it's so serious about itself, 'Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter' is almost impossible to watch without a smile plastered on your face. This is a hilarious take on the presidency of one of our most beloved American historical figures. Lincoln beats the crap out of dozens of vampires with his silver-tipped axe. Honestly, how can you not laugh? Are you a big football fan? Do you play fantasy football? It doesn't really matter. Sure, FX's 'The League' is about a group of guys who play fantasy football together, but knowing anything about football isn't necessary. The fact is you'll laugh regardless at this irreverent show and its slew of clever potty humor. Just know that this show isn't suitable for younger audiences. Looking for some more laughs? Check out the following titles: 'Key and Peele: Season 1,' 'Magic Mike,' 'Looney Tunes: Vol. 2,' and 'School of Rock.' The holidays are a time for enjoying each other's company, and what better way to do that than with a good movie? There are plenty of 2012 Blu-ray releases that you'll be able to enjoy this holiday season. Pick up a few for the people on your list, we know they'll love them! We here at High-Def Digest would like to wish you all a very merry holiday season. Be safe and watch great movies!Posted Wed Nov 14, 2012 at 02:55 PM PST by: -
Emo Labs Changes Name to ClearView Audio – New Products Coming at CES[teaser]It's been a while since we've heard anything from the company that came up with "invisible" speakers. [/teaser] If you've been following the HD gear scene for a while you may remember a company called Emo Labs. A little over three years ago the folks at Emo Labs came up with a brand new speaker technology designed to take things in a different direction. Instead of traditional speakers, Emo Labs used a screen protector like film that vibrates and sends sound outward. From an audio quality standpoint, the company said that this beat traditional TV and laptop speakers. It would also allow manufacturers to slim down their TVs even more thanks to the exclusion of speakers. After that big announcement, the company disappeared – until now. Emo Labs has rebranded as ClearView and will be showing new products at CES 2013. The company says that its recently acquired funding will go towards developing products for the consumer market. According to the press release, the focus is still on these unique Edge Motion speakers. Source: EngadgetPosted Wed Nov 14, 2012 at 11:00 AM PST by: -
Hisense Introduces Thin Bezel 3D TVs Starting at 42 Inches and $800[teaser]They also come with two sets of active 3D glasses and smart TV features. [/teaser] Hisense isn't a company we talk about a lot but their new offerings are hard to overlook, at least in terms of pricing. The latest from the company is the Hisense T770, a 3D television with a 7mm bezel, smart TV features and 120hz SmoothMotion technology. All those features are typical of a new TV these days, but what isn't typical is the price. The 42 inch T770 comes in at just $800. 55 inches will cost you $1200. Whether you pick up the 42 or 55 inch model, you'll be able to enjoy active 3D, and you'll even get two pairs of glasses thrown into the mix. We haven't gotten a look at the T770 yet and at the price we don't imagine that it'll stack up to the competition in terms of picture quality, but the price is hard to scoff at. This might be well worth looking at as a secondary set, or something for the bedroom. Source: EngadgetPosted Tue Nov 13, 2012 at 10:25 AM PST by: -
Louis CK's New HBO Standup Special Will Be Available as a DRM-Free Download[teaser]This is a big change for HBO, which is usually incredibly protective of its content. [/teaser] The pattern for HBO, traditionally, is one of content protection. Their goal is to get you to subscribe, and they do that by making sure that HBO is the only place you can see their original programming. That, or you can pay for the series on Blu-ray, the price of which is typically far above the norm. Louis CK's new comedy special is a change for the company. HBO will be airing CK's standup initially, but "a few months after," it will be available everywhere around the world for just $5 with no digital rights management attached. Pay your five bucks and you get the file to do whatever you want with. This isn't the first time CK has offered a DRM-free version of his standup, but this instance is unique in that it pairs with the typically protective HBO. Source: EngadgetPosted Tue Nov 13, 2012 at 09:00 AM PST by: -
Wii U Games Must be Terminated to Allow For Video Chat[teaser] In an interview with Nintendo's Satoru Iwata, it was revealed that video chatting on the Wii U necessitates that the user exit/end their game.[/teaser] When the feature was first unveiled just before E3, it was touted as something to be used during gameplay. The technical limitation is one that Iwata hopes "is an area that we can improve on in the future." For developers to not have to support such a taxing feature and deal with the associated certification headaches would seem to be addition by subtraction for a capability that is secondary to what Nintendo has traditionally delivered. Source: CVGPosted Tue Nov 13, 2012 at 07:30 AM PST by: -
The Wii U To Sell 3.5 Million Units Before Falling Off[teaser] The Wii U's initial sales pace is expected to be faster than the Wii's debut was before falling back to only 70% of Wii sales after four years according to a research report picked up by Forbes.[/teaser] The report was produced by IHS Screen Digest and cites “Pent-up demand from Nintendo evangelists, many of which were introduced to the console market through the success of the Wii, is predicted to drive this explosive start.” The report goes on to predict supply shortages for the Wii U over the next two months while still managing to sell 12% more units than the Wii did over a similar period six years ago. The 70% number after four years translates to 53.2 million Wii U units sold before 2017, which is ambitious to say the least. Source: ForbesPosted Tue Nov 13, 2012 at 06:30 AM PST by: -
High-Def Digest's Holiday Gift Guide 2012: The Greatest Films of All Time on Blu-rayThis past summer, the British Film Institute (BFI), through their monthly magazine Sight & Sound, released their decennial list of the greatest films of all time. The list is compiled using a poll that asks an international group of film professionals, critics, and academics for the films they consider "the best." This year marks a historic turning point, as 'Vertigo' steals the number one spot from 'Citizen Kane' for the first time since 1962. [teaser]In celebration of this year's most respected list of the greatest films, we at High-Def Digest have decided to take a look at which of the top-twenty masterpieces of cinema are currently available on Blu-ray. With the holiday season fast approaching, this is the perfect time to buy the cinephiles in your family precisely what they want most — the twenty films considered the best of the best! [/teaser] THE TOP TWENTY Vertigo (1958) Based on Boileau-Narcejac D'entre les morts and adapted for the screen by Alec Coppel and Samuel A. Taylor, Alfred Hitchcock's 'Vertigo' is a film as much about the central mystery and the characters as it is a love of cinema itself. Once again displaying his mastery and genius behind the camera, Hitchcock's thriller demonstrates his ability to transform pulp melodrama into a piece of eye-candy art. A constant innovator and visionary, the Master of Suspense broke from classical Hollywood standards, experimenting with unusual framing and editing while also practically pioneering the dolly zoom, which today is affectionately known as "the Vertigo effect." Working closely with cinematographer Robert Burks, one of the film's most dramatic effects is the use of bright, vivid colors to express the psychological and emotional states of characters during certain moments of the narrative. The effect also creates an atmosphere of fantasy, desire, and ambiguity, making it a clear masterpiece deserving of endless adulation and continued critical study. Citizen Kane (1941) Losing favor with moviegoers and coming close to being forgotten, Orson Welles's 'Citizen Kane' was rediscovered in the mid-1950s by an appreciative audience, and it has maintained the reputation of "cinematic perfection" ever since. The film à clef examining the life of an American capitalist and tycoon is a remarkable piece of art, famous for its innovation and inspiration in the cinematic and narrative arts. Defying the classic formula and structure of pure entertainment, Welles recognized the artistic potential to communicate an idea, to design through a variety of stylistic camera techniques a commentary on modernity. Look at the two juxtaposing pictures above to see how the young first-time director used imagery, especially when considering the film as a whole, to express an idea while leaving room for interpretation. Tokyo Story (1953) A simple, mostly unexceptional tale about an elderly couple visiting their adult children, Yasujirō Ozu's 'Tokyo Story' is an exceptional piece of simplicity and restraint. Set only a few years after WWII, the open-ended narrative, which Ozu co-wrote with long-time collaborator Kōgo Noda, is really about the relationship of parents and their children in the modern world and the generational divide that sometimes builds between them. As director, Ozu also takes a detached approach to his own creation, barely ever moving the camera, slowly revealing plot details through the dialogue and focusing our attention on the nuance of character interactions. In doing this, he makes his audience aware of the off-screen action being as equally important to what is seen, making us mindful of the empty gap Shukichi and Tomi is experiencing while only wanting to spend time with their children. With today's technology and latest gadgets further making this divide more apparent, Ozu's masterpiece becomes arguably more than ever a gripping and heartbreaking motion picture. [NOTE: As of this writing, the film is only available on Blu-ray in the United Kingdom, courtesy of BFI Video and Region B locked. Please click here to order.] The Rules of the Game (1939) A spirited and animated comedy of manners, Jean Renoir's 'The Rules of the Game' is often cited and largely remembered for its naturalistic approach and marvelous use of deep focus. It's a satirical farce on the impulsive and decadent wealthy class, in many ways condemning their perfunctory attitude at the rest of society with a sense of superficiality and meaninglessness. Yet, this masterful cinematic beauty from Renoir, who was also very aware of film's artistic potential, comes with a darker, grimmer subtext. Adapted from Alfred de Musset's Les Caprices de Marianne, the well-designed film is a social critique and eerie prologue to WWII, of the cruelty and mayhem of things to come while a culture of gluttony wallows in a kind of bacchanalia. Examine the brilliantly elegant hunting scene to understand this deeper, darker tone to one of the greatest films of all time. Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans (1927) Making his American debut thanks to William Fox of Fox Studios, German Expressionist F.W. Murnau astounds with a lavish portrait of rekindled love in the modern city. 'Sunrise' is, in every aspect, a director's movie — one which pushed the boundaries of cinematography and filmmaking in general with ingenious photographic techniques. The story of a farmer unable to murder his innocent wife for the sake of another love is by all standards a lachrymose melodrama that follows the couple into the big city as they rediscover their affection for one another. With hardly any intertitles used, the film is a sumptuous visual delight of striking production design and stunning beauty. The brilliance of this silent masterpiece is the skill and craftsmanship with which Murnau tells an otherwise overly-sentimental tale, sucking viewers into the mawkish tragedy with little effort and leaving them as warm and fuzzy as the couple on screen. [NOTE: As of this writing, the film is only available on Blu-ray in the United Kingdom, courtesy of Eureka! Entertainment through their "Masters of Cinema" series and Region B locked. Please click here to order.] 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) Whatever one's opinion of Stanley Kubrick's majestically epic masterpiece, few films have ever challenged its audience or so openly welcomed a wide range of criticism and interpretation as '2001: A Space Odyssey.' The film'simagery and its use of music is intentionally open-ended, allowing for viewers to see what they want to see — to speculate on the philosophical and allegorical meanings on their own and from their individual perspective, as Kubrick once said — while also maintaining a narrative form with a particular thought and question in mind. What is the impetus behind our advancement as a species and where is it taking us? What lies in the future and beyond? That's the mysterious black monolith which connects the four sections of the film. Ripe with inquiry on human will and imagination, technology as the end of history, enlightenment and rebirth, and the human species as God and creators of sentient life, Kubrick's film is about many things and one of the most fascinating motion picture experiences ever. The Searchers (1956) Widely considered one of the most influential and venerated filmmakers of all time, John Ford was a talented, visionary man who continuously pushed the power of the medium, and 'The Searchers' is his pièce de résistance in a career that spanned more than 50 years and over 140 motion pictures. The classic Western is a visual masterpiece of technique and style, of carefully deliberate framing and lush, majestic photography. It's a thing of cinematic beauty. It also remains a highly controversial film in spite of its magnificence due to its subject matter. However, that controversy is largely born out of misunderstanding what Ford is actually suggesting, a thematically complex retelling of Captain Ahab's chase for the white whale. The film questions the morals, virtues and the self-described righteousness of the Western hero archetype, the genre itself and possibly even our celebration of them. John Wayne's Ethan Edwards is viewed and portrayed in a negative light, a man driven by his selfish desires and racism not by some mythical moral code. The real brilliance of 'The Searchers' is that it has more to offer than just pretty pictures. The Passion of Joan of Arc (1927) A stunning piece of film art, 'The Passion of Joan of Arc' is as rich with controversy and history as it is with striking beauty and lush camera-work. Instantly praised by critics but considered a box-office flop, the fight for the film started with Danish, non-Catholic director Carl Theodor Dreyer helming the historical tragedy that sees the saintly heroine suffer through a humiliating trial, gruesome torture, and her eventual death. In a strange twist of irony, the film, which subtly brings attention to the religious right's lack of compassion and tolerance, was itself persecuted much like the plot's central figure and heavily censored by the church. Decades later, when a complete negative of Dreyer's original vision was finally discovered, this remarkable work of art was recognized as one of the most harrowing and inspiring portraits of spiritualism and faith. Dreyer's successful approach — a series of close-ups and iconographic visuals constantly focusing on Joan's sorrow — is one that draws audiences into the heartache and pain of suffering for one's convictions. [NOTE: As of this writing, the film is only available on Blu-ray in the United Kingdom, courtesy of Eureka! Entertainment through their "Masters of Cinema" series and Region B locked. Please click here to order.] 8½ (1963) By the time '8½' was completed and releasedin theaters, Federico Fellini was already recognized as a dazzling genius of film technique and style. This comedy-drama with Marcello Mastroianni only proves it when the Italian director suddenly turns the camera at himself. The brilliance behind the film is that it is both a self-reflexive autobiography (the title refers to the number of movies made by Fellini up to that point) and a universal expression of the artist. The world is seen and experienced from the point of view of celebrated filmmaker Guido Anselmi, a man praised and admired for his dazzling genius behind the camera. No other film perfectly captures the anguish and anxious torment of the creative process, the stress placed upon an artist deemed by an invasive public eye as a maestro of the craft and the pressure of having to live up to those expectations. This is a stunning celebration and commentary on modernity's relationship to art and its creator, a masterpiece with much to admire. Battleship Potemkin (1925) Although Edwin S. Porter already proved the potential of narrative continuity in film editing two decades earlier, Sergei Eisenstein turned the post-production process into an art form with 'Battleship Potemkin.' His visual dramatization of social unrest during the 1905 mutiny aboard the Russian battleship Potemkin is a skillful display of generating meaning and stirring an emotional response from the audience via the montage. With exquisite framing and innovative cinematography, the 1925 silent masterpiece in intently focused on the acting — relying more on facial expressions than dialogue — creating a series of haunting images that have inspired countless filmmakers to study it endlessly. The massacre on the Odessa steps sequence is arguably the film's most famous, demonstrating that even simple staging if edited properly can serve a powerful impression on a complex epic scale. L'Atalante (1934) Decades ahead of his time, Jean Vigo in many ways anticipated the Le nouvelle vague movement of 1960s French filmmaking with a stylistic approach towards realism and of self-awareness. The French drama is an extraordinary, poetic portrait of life and the innate urge to live it with passion and curiosity. Despite the film's title taking its name from the canal barge on which a newlywed couple, Jean and Juliette, spends their improvised honeymoon, the title has more to do with the character of Greek mythology, Atalanta. A confident, independent-minded woman that defies gender norms, her character is best captured in one telling where she challenges potential husbands to footrace, meaning that men must learn to be her equal rather than the other way around. In the only full-length motion picture ever made by Vigo, this spirit for life and equality is beautifully expressed in the tension that rises between the newlyweds and the introduction of a third character, Jules, that is more accepting of Juliette exactly as she is. Breathless (1960) Remembered by many almost exclusively as the motion picture that ushered in the French New Wave, a cinematic revolution that intentionally and brazenly called attention to itself as a filmmaking process, Jean-Luc Godard's 'Breathless' is a challenging experiment with the medium's structure and arrangement. When thought of as a linear, coherent whole, the film is a simplistic, straightforward tale of a young, careless criminal on the run from police with his American girlfriend in tow. What makes this such a wonderful piece of art is the way in which Godard forces his audience to experience it with fresh eyes and with an awareness to the stylistic techniques used by the director as author and creator for manipulating that experience. Much like the petty criminal Michel wanting to fashion himself after his movie heroes, especially Humphrey Bogart, Godard, too, wishes to live within cinema, be a part of it and even exhale it as part of his being. Apocalypse Now (1979) One of the most troubled productions in the history of cinema, Francis Ford Coppola's 'Apocalypse Now' is also considered one of the greatest war films ever made. It's a poignant portrait of the negative effects and chaotic lunacy of a misunderstood but generally unwanted conflict upon the human psyche. And while that could probably be said of almost any war, this staggering epic is an intensely brilliant portrayal of the instinctive, animalistic darkness writhing deep within humanity's soul, an aspect of our core we've worked hard to suppress and deny and call it civilization. With dazzling cinematography, jaw-dropping stage design and exhilarating directing, Coppola and co-writer John Milius take inspiration from Joseph Conrad's novella Heart of Darkness to explore how war only serves to awaken this inner horror, transforming good, kind-hearted people into cynical, unsympathetic killers. Late Spring (1949) Honored as the only director to have two of his films featured in this top twenty list, Yasujirō Ozu's 'Late Spring' in the first in a loose trilogy known as the "Noriko Trilogy," which ends with the aforementioned 'Tokyo Story.' It's another brilliant display of simplicity and carefully designed framing about middle-class working families adjusting to modernity in post-war Japan. This last bit is never outright spoken or discussed, but audiences can gather a sense of an unresolved issue concerning recent events. As is the usual case in Ozu cinema, what characters don't say and what we don't see has as much to do with what is said and seen. The uncomplicated, largely unadorned tale about a father and daughter deals with Japanese customs and traditions in the new world as the two sacrifice a great deal for the happiness of the other. It's a splendidly moving motion picture experience about the loss of freedom — self-inflicted due to poor decisions and bad judgments. Seven Samurai (1954) After the global success of 'Rashomon,' Akira Kurosawa set his sights on a tale of a samurai defending a village of farmers, making this is his first in the genre. Mixing Eastern history and legend with Western mythology and archetypes, the film is an array of photographic splendor and exciting thrills which introduces the concept of the ambiguous, reluctant hero. It's a 270-minute philosophical treatise on the role of the individual in relation to the social collective of humanity, how one person's actions and deeds can affect those around him or her, sometimes leaving a profound impact. In also telling it as the story of a rōnin being paid for his protective services by a poverty-ridden community, the plot becomes a challenge to our concepts of the hero figure, an individual that does good for its own sake versus an incentive promise in order to accomplish what is expected of such an archetype. 'Seven Samurai' is a phenomenal masterpiece of introspection told as a universally-appealing action-adventure drama. Singin' in the Rain (1951) An infectious and marvelous "Technicolor Musical Treasure," the classic film was one of the last produced during the Golden Age of the Hollywood studio system. Directed by Stanley Donen and Gene Kelly, who also stars, the lavish, breathtaking spectacle is a celebration and fervent eulogy to American cinema and entertainment, its progress and its future. Set in 1927, it's a witty satire that parodies the transition from the silent film era to the talkies. With a keen awareness of what makes silent films great, the story, which breaks out into song and dance as the perfect expression of a character's emotional state at that moment, forges ahead to rejoice in what can be achieved in film when using sound and color as a complementary element to the medium. As technology pushes and challenges cinematic techniques, such as the uses of 3D, 'Singin' in the Rain' reminds audiences that the transition can be awkward, but it can also be a fruitful endeavor that will provoke and expand the imaginative potential of cinema.Posted Mon Nov 12, 2012 at 12:00 PM PST by: -
This Year's Cheapest Black Friday Blu-ray Player is $38 from Walmart[teaser]Best Buy, Kmart and others will be selling players for as little as $40. [/teaser] There were some solid deals on Blu-ray players last year but only one dropped under $50. 2012's lineup is looking much better for bargain shoppers, with several players priced at $40 and the LG BP125 selling at Walmart for just $38. The LG BP125 is a baseline player, but it'll get the job done at a ridiculously low price. It doesn't have internet access or fancy apps, but it does upscale DVDs, play content from USB drives and, most importantly, play Blu-rays. If you need a backup player or something cheap for the bedroom, this might not be a bad pickup. It's also worth thinking about what prices like this will do for Blu-ray as a whole. Being as entrenched in the format as we are it's easy to forget that the majority of movies sold are still on DVD. With everybody and their mothers picking up a $38 Blu-ray player this holiday season though, we may see a significant shift. Source: Home Media MagazinePosted Mon Nov 12, 2012 at 09:00 AM PST by: -
'The Hobbit' Atmos and HFR Theaters Revealed[teaser]There's plenty of overlap between the two, which means you have a decent shot at seeing both. [/teaser] 'The Hobbit' is kind of a big deal and it's not just because Peter Jackson is tackling more Tolkien. The movie is also an experiment in cinema technology like a frame rate of 48 per second, the inclusion of Dolby Atmos and, of course, 3D. There are 450 theaters that will be showing the HFR (high frame rate) version of the movie, and a select number of those feature Dolby Atmos surround sound. There are a few lists floating around online, but we found the pdf compiled atPosted Fri Nov 9, 2012 at 09:00 AM PST by: -
PSB Intros New On-Wall Speakers[teaser]The W1 speakers operate traditionally, while the W3 sports both left, right and center channels. [/teaser] So you don't want to spend the floor room that's demanded by speakers but you don't want to spring for in-walls. PSB's new Imagine series of on-wall speakers is for you. With a depth of three inches, these speakers are made to sit flush with your similarly wall mounted TV. The W1 is a more traditional speaker. It operates on a single channel, and can be used as a left, right, center or surround speaker. The W3 has left, right and center in one enclosure, making it more akin to a soundbar than an individual speaker. "Properly designing a wall-hugging speaker like the Imagine W1 requires a thorough understanding of acoustics to get sound that is true-to-nature," says PSB founder Paul Barton. "PSB has perfected the tools required to get the optimal result for every loudspeaker application." Both speakers begin selling this month, with the W1 coming in at $599 and the W3 running $1,199. Source: Electronic HousePosted Wed Nov 7, 2012 at 11:00 AM PST by:
