-
HDD Goodie Bag: Your Horror Blu-rays For Halloween 2012[teaser]Just like we do every year around this time, High-Def Digest has scraped together another maggot-infested candy bowl of fun to help you prepare for Halloween! [/teaser] What's in the Goodie Bag? --- Horror Blu-rays for this Halloween Season! by M. Enois Duarte (The HDD Crypt Keeper) Greetings, boils and ghouls! With the Hell-idays finally around the corner, High-Def Die-gest decided to resurrect another selection of gory treats to celebrate this year's feast-ivities. And with the political race starting to really heat up, I'm dressed in my ghoulish best to show my patriotic spirit for what's sure to be a suspenseful and frightful carnival freak show. A battle royale with lots of hunger, mudslinging, and bloodsucking mayhem! In one corner, we have a Harvard graduate with the experience of a jackal, but full of grand, extremists ideas to gut and rip apart the nation into ruin. In the other corner, we have a Harvard graduate with little experience and extremist notions to shred the nation into pieces and restructure the social order. So, umm . . . place your bets on the loser? Well, never fear, kiddies, I've scraped together a terror list of putrid horror tales that will set the perfect mood and distract from this miserable lot. The scary stories are separated into three stomach-churning categories and in alphabetical order. The queasy gathering is organ-ized according to each title delivering a spooky atmosphere, offering you creeps the best variety in scares and creepy laughter. So, without further ado . . . Frights! Camera! Hack-tion! MILD DECOMPOSITION THE CABIN IN THE WOODS This year's biggest surprise is from Joss Whedon and 'Cloverfield' writer Drew Goddard, who has also worked on J.J. Abrams's 'Lost.' It's a highly entertaining and clever love letter to horror movies before they devolved into torture stupidity — or "a very loving hate letter" as Whedon describes it. Disguised as a reality TV spoof, the movie delivers a terrific blend of gore, suspense, mystery, and comedy as it tackles a variety of clichés and archetypes. Starring Chris Hemsworth, with memorable appearances by Richard Jenkins, Bradley Whitford, and Sigourney Weaver, the meta-spoof of a familiar formula with a serious horror undertone is a great way to kick of the Halloween season. HALLOWEEN COLLECTION Pick your poison, from Collector's Editions of 'Halloween II (1981)' and 'Halloween III: Season of the Witch' via Shout! Factory to 'Halloween 4' and 'Halloween 5,' which see the return of Michael "The Shape" Myers, through Anchor Bay, the franchise is most popular and always a fun treat during this spooky season. These four releases are the only reason why the series makes this year's horror list. We also have 'Halloween H20' and 'Halloween: Resurrection' available on Blu-ray, but they come from Echo Bridge, a company that never cares to provide the best possible presentation of any movie. Fan can complete their collection with a double feature that includes 'Halloween 6' but that also comes from Echo Bridge. Or you can wait for Echo's triple feature release. None of the sequels compare to John Carpenter's original or even come close, but they've become a traditional watch around this time of the year. JAWS While Steven Spielberg's first massive box office hit is arguably more appropriate during the summer months, the story of a great white shark terrorizing a small beach community remains one of the best and scariest horror movies ever made. Featuring one of the most iconic musical motifs by John Williams, the film changed the way Hollywood studios marketed future releases and initiated the summer blockbuster tradition that continues today. With clever editing by Verna Fields and inspired direction by a then up-and-coming filmmaker, 'Jaws' still delivers the nerve-wracking chills it did during its original, record-shattering theatrical run. Never has a wood fragment from a small pier been so unnerving or two yellow barrels moving across the water been so thrilling to watch. ROSEMARY'S BABY Roman Polanski made his American debut with this macabre, spine-chilling masterpiece based on the bestselling novel by Ira Levin and featuring amazing performances by Mia Farrow, John Cassavetes, and Ruth Gordon. Ranking as one of the best by the Polish filmmaker, this creepy tale about a young's woman's disturbing ordeal with her seemingly loving husband and her overtly friendly neighbors spawned a trend of horror flicks that centered around the occult, black magic and Satanists. The second in Polanski's unofficial "Apartment Trilogy," the landmark film of stylishly artful horror is an ingeniously slow-build of unsettling atmosphere that disturbingly spirals in psychological terror. Not only did it scare the bejesus out of audiences in 1968, turning it into a box-office hit, it also continues to rank as one of the most terrifying motion pictures ever filmed. UNIVERSAL CLASSIC MONSTERS Personally, the inclusion of this wonderful collection of classic horror movies from the Golden Age of Hollywood goes without saying and doesn't need an introduction. Horror fans and cinephiles everywhere know the influential significance and importance of these splendid films within the history of cinema. Along with Todd Browning's 'Dracula,' which has made Bela Lugosi into a screen legend, we also get the more stylishly atmospheric and arguably better Spanish version. Boris Karloff also became a household name of horror when he made 'Frankenstein' into the iconic face of monsters. He's accompanied by the superior masterpiece 'Bride of Frankenstein.' Joining the festivities are 'The Wolf Man,' 'The Mummy,' 'The Invisible Man' and 'The Phantom.' Also crashing the party is the 'Creature from the Black Lagoon' for the first time in 3D, the format in which it was originally shot! Others Worthy of the Cleaver: The 39 Steps, Arachnophobia, The Boogens, The Dark Mirror, Dead Ringer, Dial M for Murder - 3D, The Entity, The Game, Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956), The Little Shop of Horrors (1960 & 1986), Mad Monster Party, Night of the Living Dead (1990), A Nightmare on Elm Street Collection, The Ring (2002), Shallow Grave, Terror Train (1980), What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? MOULDY AROUND THE CORNERS (Just Eat around the Maggots) THE DEAD After years of waiting for a good zombie movie where the dead actually behave like rotting corpses walking the Earth, this low-budget independent feature rises from the earth to quench the insatiable hunger for apocalyptic mayhem. Set in the scorching deserts of western Africa, providing the plot with a chillingly immersive atmosphere, two men with military backgrounds are forced to overcome their difference and work together in order to survive. Directed, written, produced, and even photographed by the Ford brothers, 'The Dead' wears its influences with pride, carrying a solemn political undertone similar to the 'Living Dead' films from George A. Romero. It makes for a suspenseful, scary flick with brains. PARANORMAL ACTIVITY TRILOGY Yes, 'Paranormal Activity 3' should technically be the only one on the list for being the newest to hit Blu-ray, but this is the box set featuring all three together. What better way to spend the spooky season than with some fun jump scares, something to genuinely creep you out and make you afraid of the dark. And honestly, all three of these micro-budget flicks are far better and imaginative in the way they build fright than the latest idiocy going out of its way to make you barf rather than scream. What I find most interesting and appealing are sequels that play as prequels, with the third going as far back as the childhood of the sibling protagonists. And with each one, the filmmakers keep designing new ways of giving the audience goose bumps. Granted, there are some flaws worth noting, but when you're having this much fun being scared by a camera attached to an oscillating fan, you simply sit back and enjoy the supernatural horror. PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE As far as I'm concerned, the best way to enjoy the Halloween festivities is with a good balance of cheese to go along with all the tasty treats. And what better cheese to savor than this smelly, moldy mass of perfectly aged celluloid from the legendary filmmaker of Z-grade dreck Ed Wood. It's an oddly delightful piece of awful filmmaking that still ranks as one of greatest bad movies ever made. The plot is deceptively simple but hilarious about Earthlings creating a weapon that could destroy the universe and the aliens resurrecting the dead (as in zombies, but called ghouls in the movie) in order to distract them. Production issues and goofs abound, from the terrible acting (except for maybe the wonderful "Vampira"), continuity problems and the sometimes confusing editing. Topping it off is the bewildering presence of Bela Lugosi, which is actually footage of another Ed Wood movie that was never completed. 'Plan 9' is for great Halloween laughs and fun, not scares. RE-ANIMATOR Another cheese-tacular spectacle of low-budget horror is this cult classic from Stuart Gordon. However, the silliness doesn't come from terrible production values or any major gaffes. In fact, the adaptation of H.P. Lovecraft's short story is filled to the brim with amazingly realistic special effects and is ultimately one of the best modernized inspirations of the Frankenstein tale. Instead, what makes this 1985 sci-fi horror flick so memorable is the flawless balance of horror and comedy mixed with outrageous levels of gore which are sometimes shockingly accurate. In addition to that, we also get a splendidly deadpan performance from the always terrifically funny Jeffrey Combs as the psychotic Herbert West, a deluded medical student obsessed with reanimating the dead. Things only get better once the decapitated head of David Gale enters the bedlam. THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE 2 (1986) Extending the cheese factor further is Tobe Hooper's cult sequel to his own seminal vérité classic of hillbilly horror. After thirteen years since the incident on a normally quite Texan farmland, Hooper decides to revisit the cannibal family and give fans an update as to their whereabouts. Going against the intense, creepily atmospheric tone of the original, and pretty much eschewing its subtle political commentary, the script by L.M. Kit Carson ('Paris, Texas') goes for a more black comedy style — a very dark, ultra-black type of comedy, I might add — while opening doors for gooey amounts of gore by make-up maestro Tom Savini. It's a bit off-putting at first, but after a while, it's fairly hilarious, especially with Dennis Hooper's over-the-top performance, and essentially set the tone for future installments. Along with the return of Leatherface and Bill Moseley's Chop Top, the movie is a gruesome entertainment for the whole family. Others Worthy of the Cleaver: Dark Shadows (2012), The Deadly Spawn, The Devil's Advocate, Exorcism, The Faculty, The Funhouse, The Hand That Rocks the Cradle, Hocus Pocus, Jeepers Creepers, Killer Klowns From Outer Space, The Night of the Devils, Pet Sematary, Puppet Master 1-3 (Three-Pack), The Walking Dead: The Complete Second Season, The Woman in Black (2012) A FESTERING, PUTRID STENCH DON'T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK I don't know which is scarier: the thought of having to suffer through this cure for insomnia a second time or the fact that well-regarded Mexican filmmaker Guillermo del Toro actually believed this would scare the bejesus out of audiences. The remake to the 1973 made-for-television horror feature, which today enjoys a strong cult following and remains an amusing watch, is the best way to keep trick-or-treaters away from your house. I know I would if I saw this dreck playing inside your house. If you find this anywhere remotely scary, you're also probably the type to hand out toothbrushes and floss instead of some delicious, tooth-rotting goodness. LOVELY MOLLY Trying to wring out every drop from his fifteen-minutes of notoriety, Eduardo Sánchez writes and directs another horror movie that ultimately fails to impress. In fact, it's downright boring and verges towards the idiotic on several occasions because characters would rather cry and argue than give the protagonist the psychological help she clearly needs. Sure, the filmmakers try to have audiences question whether it's all in Molly's head or if she's actually possessed by a demonic presence, but they never once succeed at making the latter a genuine possibility. The only good thing to come out of this dreadful mess is Gretchen Lodge, delivering an amazing debut performance. Unless you find feelings of frustration and a desire to yell at the screen scary, then I'd avoid this at all cost. INTRUDERS The thought of a faceless stranger in a hooded raincoat living in my daughter's closet is utterly terrifying. So much so that there is little for a filmmaker to do when turning that idea into a creepy horror flick. Yet, Spanish director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, who previously worked on '28 Weeks Later' and is attached to the 'BioShock' adaptation, has managed to turn something that sounds disturbing on paper into a sleep aid. Granted, the movie starring Clive Owen has its moments of raising the hairs on the back of your neck, but it ultimately flounders towards the end and collapses under its own heavy-laden plot. In an effort to find a conclusion that wraps everything up nice and neat, the story opts for a coincidental twist sugarcoated in melodrama. THE MOTH DIARIES I'm sorry to have to include this one on the list of dreadful horror flicks to avoid, mostly because it marks the fourth feature-length film from Mary Harron, a director who impressed me enough with 'I Shot Andy Warhol,' 'The Notorious Bettie Page' and especially 'American Psycho' to tempt me into giving this foul piece of s**t a chance. Based on another tween novel but nowhere near as crappy as the Twilight series (yes, the books are undeniably garbage and Stephenie Meyer is a hack), the adaptation is clearly an attempt to capitalize on the latest trend but it also lacks pretty much everything you'd expect from a horror movie, like an actual scary tone. Worse still is Harron's script missing many of the mature themes about adolescence and sexuality found in the book and the mystery of Ernessa being a vampire is all but lost in this awful snoozefest. SILENT HOUSE (2011) Gimmick movies like 'Silent House' depend too much on contrived conveniences to be effective. The house in which Elizabeth Olsen becomes trapped in conveniently has all the windows boarded up, and the front door conveniently requires a key for unlocking it from the inside. The house conveniently has no power for lights, except when certain scenes conveniently need more lighting, and the property is conveniently located in an area where cell phone reception is poor. Sadly, these conveniences, along with the movie's single-continuous-shot gimmick (which it's not, by the way), are more of a glaring nuisance than a frightfully good time. From Chris Kentis and Laura Lau, the team behind the much better 'Open Water,' the horror psycho-thriller is a waste of Ms. Olsen's talent, with a predictable twist and a finish that's complete rubbish. Others Worthy of the Cleaver: ATM, Beneath the Darkness, Cold Creek Manor, The Devil Inside, The Haunting of Whaley House, Hellraiser VI: Hellseeker, The Hills Have Eyes: Part 2, The Human Centipede 2: Full Sequence, The Innkeepers, Piranha 3DD, Queen of the Damned, The Shock Labyrinth - 3D, Sleepwalkers THE LEFTOVERS (just because they didn't make it to the main course, doesn't mean they can't be enjoyed as a side-dish.) The Asphyx, Bell, Book, and Candle (1958), Black Magic Rites, Black Sunday, Blade, Blade II, Blade: Trinity, The Blood Beast Terror, Chained, Demoniacs, The Divide, Chernobyl Diaries, Female Vampire, Gremlins 2: The New Batch, Hatchet for the Honeymoon, House of Dark Shadows, Hocus Pocus, Killer's Moon, The Living Dead Girl, Mother's Day (1980), Mutant Girls Squad, Murder Obsession, Night of Dark Shadows, Night Train Murders, The Rape of the Vampire, Requiem for a Vampire, The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea, Sector 7 - 3D, Strip Nude for Your Killer, Thou Shalt Not Kill... Except, Two Orphan Vampires, Virgin Witch, The Wizard of Gore / The Gore Gore Girls THE OTHER UNMENTIONABLES (the abnormal putrefaction from the far bowels of dead imagination) Camel Spiders, The Day the Dead Walked, Edgar Allen Poe's Requiem for the Damned, Filth to Ashes, Flesh to Dust, Kill List, Monster Brawl, Night of the Demons (2009), Psychotica, The Summer of Massacre, Ubaldo Terzani Horror Show, The Wicker Tree, Where the Dead Go to Die, Wrong Turn 5: Bloodlines WANTS FOR NEXT YEAR (Now, This is What I Can Sink My Teeth Into) Here's hoping for the best and that studios will take note of what horror aficionados really hunger for and of what will truly please our insatiable appetites. Some of these are available on Blu-ray in other parts of the world. But since they're region locked, this list is offered in hopes of one day receiving announcement of a North American release. Please share your own wish lists in the forum. All the Boys Love Mandy Lane, Alone in the Dark (1982), The Beyond, The Birds, Black Sabbath, Blood and Black Lace, The Brood, The Burning, Candyman, Cannibal Apocalypse, The Changeling, The Children (1980), Death Becomes Her, Dellamore Dellamorte (Cemetery Man), Demons, Don't Look Now, Eden Lake, The Fog (1980), Freaks, From Beyond, Ginger Snaps, The Haunting (1963), Hell Night, Horror of Dracula, The Howling, The Hunger, Idle Hands, The Innocents, It's Alive (1974), The Legend of Hell House, Martyrs, The Mask of Satan (Black Sunday), May, Night of the Living Dead (1968), Nightmare City, Nosferatu (1922), Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979), Oasis of the Zombies, Peeping Tom, Phantasm, Prom Night (1980), Rear Window, Ringu (2003), Scanners, The Serpent and the Rainbow, The Stepford Wives (1975), Shadow of the Vampire, Sleepaway Camp, A Tale of Two Sisters, The Tenant (1976), White Zombie, Zombie Lake.Posted Tue Oct 30, 2012 at 12:40 PM PDT by: -
Microsoft Rumored to Bid on Netflix[teaser]The rumbles of Microsoft trying to buy out the company have set Netflix stock on a significant rise. [/teaser] With an incredible amount of competition in the streaming video market and an alternative from Redbox on the way, Netflix isn't the giant it once was. Shares are down significantly and that means the company is a lot easier to nab at a low price. For a company like Microsoft that would absolutely love to take a lead role in streaming video, this is the time to buy. Adding to the validity of the rumor is the fact that Netflix CEO Reed Hastings recently stepped down from Microsoft's board. Having a seat on the board of the company that's buying your other company, well, that just doesn't look good. As you might imagine, Microsoft and Netflix have taken the usual approach of "we do not comment on rumors and speculation." Source: Home Media MagazinePosted Tue Oct 30, 2012 at 11:00 AM PDT by: -
Hulu Falls out of the Top 10 Streaming Websites – Still Number Three in Ads[teaser]Hulu averages 51 ads per viewer, well over double the next highest competitor. [/teaser] Hulu has been on a bit of a decline of late, and the streaming video site has taking one step further down, dropping off of the charts of popular streaming services. Taking Hulu's place is Amazon, which has been seeing a lot of growth in recent months. At the very top of the streaming game is Google, thanks of course to YouTube. Following are Yahoo, AOL, VEVO and Facebook, though they don't even come close to Google's numbers. Google boasts 150 million total unique viewers in September, while the next closest brought in 57 million. Advertising stats are where things get interesting for Hulu. The company only has a 7.5 percent reach and doesn't even make the top 10 in popularity, but the company is number three in ads. Google averages 19.2 ads per viewer while Hulu comes in at a whopping 51 ads per viewer. Source: TechCrunchPosted Tue Oct 30, 2012 at 09:00 AM PDT by: -
DLNA Home Audio and Video Devices Double to Over 500[teaser]The alliance says that we can expect that number to keep growing as connected devices grow in popularity. [/teaser] The Digital Living Network Alliance has been making a strong push into the home theater over the last few years and it seems to have been going pretty well. The number of certified home theater devices has doubled since 2010, now peaking at over 500. According to Parks Associates, 60 percent of home audio products will be network enabled by 2016 and the DLNA is certainly hoping that translates to big numbers for them. Source: TWICEPosted Tue Oct 30, 2012 at 07:00 AM PDT by: -
High-Def Digest Checks Out The First 4K Ultra-HD TV in the USby Michael S. Palmer Hundreds gathered last Thursday -- some waiting overnight -- at Video & Audio Center in sunny Lawndale, California (which, the Mayor reminded everyone is NOT Torrance) for the official launch of the first Ultra-High-Definition television available in the US market. [teaser]The 84-inch television, model 84LM9600, is an LED TV with a "4K" 3840 x 2160 screen resolution. At eight million pixels, that's four times the pixel count and resolution of current "Full HD" 1080p televisions. [/teaser]The 48LM9600 includes LG's Magic Remote for hand gesture and voice control, is 3D capable using passive glasses and, as one of LG's Smart TVs, comes equipped with apps and access to streaming audio and video content. But "wait a minute," you may be asking yourselves. They have 4K digital projectors in commercial cinemas, but is there any home entertainment -- broadcast, streaming, download, physical media -- available today in the new Ultra-HD standard? That depends. There are a few 4K DSLR cameras and video recording devices, so if you're a budding filmmaker or a home-movie enthusiast, you could watch your own content on the Ultra-HD TV. However, in terms of professionally produced product -- Hollywood films, television series, and video games -- you're currently limited to Blu-ray's 1080p content. But fret not, my friends, LG has you covered with its proprietary up-conversion engine (this TV has two dual-core processors built-in), the "LG Resolution Upscaler Plus," which automatically up-coverts all of your content to 3840 x 2160. I didn't get to check a variety of sources in person, but after watching the in-store demo loop over and over again (the source, according to LG: an LG Blu-ray player), and it looked stunning. Jaw-dropping even. Most of the footage was from HD time lapse photography -- famous landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, beautiful desert canyons, rolling clouds in clear blue skies, starscapes swimming across the horizon. You've seen this material before, and I would have sworn LG hooked up a 4K source. Other than some light banding seen at an unfair distance of 12-24 inches, which I'm guessing is in the source material or Blu-ray encode, the Ultra-HD TV was mesmerizing. Though, to be fair, ever other 1080p HDTV in the store wasn't running the demo loop so there wasn't a chance to compare and contrast it with the best LEDs and Plasmas from LG and competing brands, but still the demo was breathtaking. For what it's worth, LG claims the LG Resolution Upscaler Plus will work with SD footage as well, but I didn't get to see that first hand. My guess is results would vary depending on the source quality and viewing distance. So how much will you have to pay to be among the world's first to own a 4K display and is it even worth it? The MSRP is listed as $19,999.99, but the retail price at Video & Audio Center was a few pennies shy of $17,000. LG claims that any TV or display above 65-inches (what this intrepid reporter owns) will benefit from the added pixels Ultra-High-Definition, but then again there are a lot of people with projectors happy with screens in the 100-200 inch range. Also, the lack of native 4K content concerns me. The full press release follows below, but here's the one disclaimer that caught my eye: *No “ultra high definition” or “4K” video content is currently available. No broadcast or other standard currently exists for “4K” or “ultra high definition” television, and the 84LM9600 may or may not be compatible with such standards if and when developed. Remember all those early adopters who had DVI or RGB component HD inputs on their "HDTVs" who ran into limitations when HDMI arrived on the scene? The risk here is that you'll be stuck with a next-generation TV that can't actually play next-generation content. But then again, if you're in the market for an 84-inch television, having four-times the pixels is certainly a benefit much like having a high quality computer monitor -- Retina Display or other -- where everything on your computer looks better, even 720p and 1080p content. Here's a few more pictures of the world's first Ultra-HD TV in action, followed by the official LG Press Release: LG ELECTRONICS LAUNCHES FIRST ‘ULTRA-HIGH-DEFINITION’ 4K TVs IN U.S. LG’s 84-inch Class Display Boasts Four Times the Resolution of Full HD, Ushers in New Era in Picture Quality for Large-Screen TVs LOS ANGELES, Oct. 25, 2012 – Ushering in a new era in home entertainment, the first “Ultra High Definition” flat-panel TV – with four times the resolution of today’s HDTVs – went on sale today to consumers in the United States. LG Electronics USA chose Southern California, the epicenter of entertainment and innovation, as the consumer launchpad for this groundbreaking technology. Teaming up with high-end retailer Video & Audio Center, LG hosted hundreds of consumers eager to be among the first in the United States to have an opportunity to see and purchase LG’s new Ultra HD TV. The LG 84-inch class (84-inch diagonal) LED TV, with a native Ultra High Def screen resolution of 3840 x 2160 to match its impressive size*, has an MSRP of $19,999.99. Model 84LM9600 quadruples the level of detail from full 1080p HD resolution to a massive 8 million pixels. Even before so-called “4K” content is available, LG’s powerful up-conversion engine, the proprietary “LG Resolution Upscaler Plus,” delivers higher detail from current HD/SD external sources. On hand at Video & Audio Center’s Lawndale/Torrance, Calif. store today to discuss the importance of Ultra HD’s development and its expected market adoption were industry luminaries, including Jeff Joseph of the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA); Randall Dark, an award winning director and 4K content pioneer; and industry insider and technologist Tom Campbell. Joseph, CEA’s senior vice president of communications and strategic relationships and passionate advocate for 4K technology, said, “Innovation drives our industry, and Ultra High Definition is the latest innovation that will transform home entertainment. This milestone is a pivotal moment in TV history because Ultra HD 4K technology will make it possible for consumers to purchase huge TVs with crystal clear picture quality.” Dark, CEO of Randall Dark Productions, and one of the world’s first directors/ cinematographers to advance high-definition programming, said, “Content is always a major factor when new hardware technologies are introduced on the market. The LG Ultra HD TV’s upscaling capability is crucial so consumers can enjoy the benefits of higher resolution now, while the rest of the industry, myself included, work on ways to advance this new format with native 4K content.” Campbell, widely quoted technologist and futurist who serves on the CEA Ultra HD Working Group, said, “I liken the dawn of Ultra HD technology to the switch from standard-definition analog TV to digital high-definition TV in the late 1990s. It’s going to be big, and not just because it’s key for big screens. I can already see consumers calling for more models, more sizes and more content.” “Picture quality has always been LG’s foremost priority, one that’s especially important now as manufacturers scale TVs to meet the trend line pointing toward larger and larger class sizes,” said Jay Vandenbree, senior vice president, LG Electronics USA, and head of LG’s U.S. home entertainment business. “We were instrumental in developing the HD standard and, similarly, our goal now is to pioneer Ultra High Def technology to create the crisp and immersive viewing experience consumers are currently missing with large-screen TVs.” Joseph Akhtarzad, vice president and co-owner of Video & Audio Center’s three LA-area stores, said, “Ultra High Definition is a very significant development, a high-end product catering to a high-end consumer who demands the ultimate home entertainment experience. We are proud to be the first retailer in the nation to sell this cutting-edge LG technology to consumers.” In addition to its excellent picture quality, LG’s 84LM9600 boasts a growing Smart TV ecosystem, which is composed of over 1,000 apps and gives users access to a growing range of premium content services**. Users can easily browse and navigate through the Smart TV ecosystem using LG’s Magic Remote, which allows users to make commands using the control modes of Voice Recognition, Wheel, Magic Gesture and Point. It also features LG’s CINEMA 3D technology and an imbedded 2D to 3D conversion engine expanding 3D content availability. For more information on LG’s Ultra HD TV please visit, https://www.lg.com/us/tvs/lg-84LM9600-led-tv. *No “ultra high definition” or “4K” video content is currently available. No broadcast or other standard currently exists for “4K” or “ultra high definition” television, and the 84LM9600 may or may not be compatible with such standards if and when developed. **Internet connection and certain subscriptions required and sold separately. Content and services vary by product and are subject to change without notice. For a small percentage of the population, the viewing of stereoscopic 3D video may cause discomfort such as dizziness or nausea. If you experience any of these symptoms, discontinue using the 3D functionality and contact your health care provider. Designs, features and specifications subject to change without notice. LG LED TVs are LCD TVs with LED backlighting. About LG Electronics USA, Inc. LG Electronics USA, Inc., based in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., is the North American subsidiary of LG Electronics, Inc., a $49 billion global force and technology leader in consumer electronics, home appliances and mobile communications. In the United States, LG Electronics sells a range of stylish and innovative home entertainment products, mobile phones, home appliances, commercial displays, air conditioning systems and energy solutions, all under LG’s “Life’s Good” marketing theme. LG Electronics is a 2012 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year. For more information, please visit www.lg.com.Posted Mon Oct 29, 2012 at 02:00 PM PDT by: -
Samsung Nearly Doubles Profits in Third Quarter of 2012[teaser]TV and home theater products accounted for a chunk, but the real savior for Samsung was mobile. [/teaser] The folks at Samsung have been having a great year, much unlike the rest of the home theater and consumer electronics industry. Where companies like Sharp and Sony continue to falter, Samsung is thriving. A good chunk of the increased profits for the third quarter of the year come from their smartphones and tablets, which increased sales by 41 percent over last year's number. In all, the mobile and IT division was up 132 percent in profits as well as 82 percent in revenue. Despite other companies losing sales in TVs, Samsung is growing there. The 19 percent increase in sales is a bit more modest than the mobile numbers, but it's still a significant jump. With the holidays coming up, Samsung is expecting to boost those sales numbers even more. Source: TWICEPosted Mon Oct 29, 2012 at 09:30 AM PDT by: -
Amazon is Making Big Investments in Video Content[teaser]The company has seen great growth in its Prime Instant Video service and is aiming to keep that trend going. [/teaser] "We’re seeing great new [numbers] of subscribers coming to Prime and we like what we see so far," says Amazon CFO Tom Szkutak regarding the Prime Instant Video service. "That’s why we continue to invest there." During Amazon's October 25th third-quarter analyst call, the CFO would not divulge just how much they've been putting into video content, but simply says that the company is investing heavily into Amazon and LoveFilm video. Wedbush analyst Michael Pachter estimates that Amazon will put a billion dollars into video content, with that number increasing as they begin to close the gap on Netflix. Source: Home Media MagazinePosted Mon Oct 29, 2012 at 07:00 AM PDT by: -
Bonus View Digest - October 26, 2012[teaser]If you're like me then you're staring out your window right now at snow covering the ground, wondering, just where the hell October went. As the cold and snow arrives I know I'll be spending much more time indoors. I venture to guess you will too. So sit back, watch a few good movies, and a keep your browser tuned to The Bonus View for all your high-def needs.[/teaser] Monster Madness Halloween looms ever closer. This week we had some fun matchups as our monsters begin to battle it out to see who will be left standing as supreme overlord of Monsterdom. This week's matchups: King Kong vs. Aragog - Beast of Gevaudan vs. Swamp Thing Cloverfield vs. Sandworm – Pyramid Head vs. The Mummy Make sure to cast your vote to see who will move on in the tournament. We'll be continuing on through the Monster Madness tournament for the next few months, so we hope you'll continue to participate, especially as the contests become more heated. Blu-ray News Just in time for Halloween we have Josh's Blu-ray Highlights column that shows us all of the Halloween-related titles being released around this time, like 'Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter.' Find out what's worth picking up. We also have some interesting packaging-related posts. Josh did another unboxing. He took time to go through the 'Indiana Jones Limited Edition Collector's Set' from the UK. Find out what you're missing if you didn't pick up this set instead. Also, Tom covers a story of how the 'Bourne Legacy' Steelbook will turn out. Theatrical News The big opening this weekend is 'Cloud Atlas.' Nearing three hours, 'Atlas' is a perplexing movie that will most likely require multiple viewings to understand it. Check out Aaron's review to see what he thought about it. Also opening this weekend is 'Chasing Mavericks,' which Luke saw and reviewed. If you thought this movie looked terrible because of its commercials then maybe you should read Luke's review to find out if that's really accurate. TV Recaps As always we posted a new recap of 'The Walking Dead.' We covered the second episode of the third season. Have opinions about it? Do you love or hate this season? Please come on over and sound off in the comments. Josh also covered the season premiere of 'American Horror Story's second season. If you love this show you'll want to follow Josh's recaps all season long. Special Features In the Mid-Week Poll this week we asked you what you've thought about the new fall TV season and asked you to tell us what new shows you're still watching. In the Weekend Roundtable we took a look at some of the best and worst examples of actors turned directors. Thanks for joining us for another eventful week on The Bonus View. We urge you to stay inside, stay warm, and catch a good flick. Until next week!Posted Fri Oct 26, 2012 at 11:00 AM PDT by: -
HDD Interviews 'Prometheus' Blu-ray Producer Charles de Lauzirikaby Luke Hickman [teaser]Have you ever wondered where Blu-rays come from, how your favorite film goes from the big screen to your Blu-ray player with pretty little menus, specials features galore, and loads of behind-the-scenes makings-of featurettes? Meet Charles de Lauzirika, seasoned Blu-ray Producer and the man responsible for the recent fully-loaded and glorious 'Prometheus' Blu-ray.[/teaser] Shortly after joining the High-Def Digest crew last April, I quickly made enemies by expressing my negative opinions of the 'Transformers' series. The comments were negative and any time that I mentioned 'Transformers' or Michael Bay, I was accused of "stirring the pot." Taking into account the current comment frenzy following my rave review of the 3D four-disc 'Prometheus' Blu-ray release, I'm ready to take the heat for stirring the pot – only this time I'm in love with a title that the haters want to get heated about. Even if the following interview with Charles de Lauzirika was conducted pertaining to a film that I didn't care for, I'd still enjoy the interview because it offers a quick glimpse at the "man behind the curtain" when it comes to Blu-rays. Six minutes into the interview, technical difficulties arose, so I was forced to follow a different format for the second half. HDD – Luke Hickman: Good morning, Charles. How are you doing today? Charles de Lauzirika: I'm good. How are you? HDD: I'm actually very excited to be talking with you because I'm quite passionate about 'Prometheus' – in a good way. Charles de Lauzirika: (Laughs) That's good. HDD: I've got to ask for clarification – what exactly is your title? Because you've done a lot. Charles de Lauzirika: Well, uh – (Laughs) It kind of changes from project to project, but for 'Prometheus' I am the Blu-ray Producer and I produced and directed the documentary 'The Furious Gods.' HDD: As a Blu-ray Producer, how much of the Blu-ray creation process are you involved with? Everything? Charles de Lauzirika: Yeah. (laughs) Pretty much everything that's specific to the Blu-ray. I have some involvement in – or a lot of involvement in, depending on what aspect it is – documenting the making of the film and putting together a making-of experience – whether it's in the form of a documentary or other extras that go on the disc. That's the work of me and my team. I'm also involved in some degree with the menus, packaging and everything else that requires my input. HDD: Forgive me for gushing, but I have to tell you that this Blu-ray is gorgeous in every way. From the packaging and the menus to the content and even the transfer, this is an amazing Blu-ray release. Charles de Lauzirika: Thank you. I'm glad that you think so. HDD: As a filmmaker – because you've made your own films before – is it hard to get the studio to allow you to give films the Blu-ray release that you want? Charles de Lauzirika: Every project is different and I've never had the same experience twice on [Blu-rays]. Some turn out to be amazingly easy when you thought that they were going to be huge nightmares. Others, when you thought they were going to be a slam dunk, can be terrible. A lot of these are fun and the amount of studio support varies from time to time. In terms of 'Prometheus,' I was expecting it to be – you know, it's a very ambitious project with a lot of people with interest in it – I thought it was going to drive the direction that the project was going to go with it, but Fox really gave me a lot of freedom and a lot of support. To me, it was a lot of fun actually. The only thing that I wish we would have had was more time, but I guess that's a common complaint. All Blu-ray Producers wish they had more time. HDD: The lack of time doesn't show, especially with your making-of documentary. Were you on shoot for the entire film to gather this footage? Charles de Lauzirika: Oh, yeah. I started shooting well over a year before production even began. I was shooting around the offices of Scott Free [Productions] in L.A. and any other time that there was something worth covering. I went out for pre-production at Pinewood studios in England and when I couldn't be there, I had another camera operator named Vanessa White who would shoot in my absence – it was a long stretch to be out there. I would go, and them come, following the production as best I could. For post-production, we followed all the way up to the end at its release. HDD: One attribute of the Blu-ray that I love is how expansive and how deep you were able to dive with your special features. Most special features shy away from mentioning the draft-to-draft evolution of the screenplay, but 'Prometheus' doesn't. It explains it all – included hints and nods to the other 'Alien' movies and even 'Blade Runner.' Going back to the studio involvement, was Fox okay with all this? Charles de Lauzirika: To be honest, when working on a Ridley Scott production, it's Ridley Scott who allows me to do it. Basically, I have a long relationship with him, so when it's appropriate, he lets me come in, document – with 'Prometheus,' we all knew that it was the type of film worth documenting and doing a real treatment of [what we shot]. He was not only the one who said "yes,' but he said, "Come on in and start cracking," so I did. I literally shot just as much as I could. HDD: There is so much work that goes into the Blu-ray process that - if you'll forgive me for saying so - that doesn't get recognition, which is why it's really exciting to be speaking with you. Charles de Lauzirika: Yeah, it's great. I'm kind of fortunately, actually – I've been doing this for 14 years now and I think – (laughs) I agree with your opinion about the recognition. I find it interesting the people come up to me and mention a commonality between making movies – pre-production, production and post-production – that rarely changes significantly. For me, it's the stories – the human stories – from film to film that change. And that's what interests me. That's what makes it fresh and new every single time I start one of these. HDD: Speaking of these unique human stories, is there any single one in particular that you're especially proud of on the 'Prometheus' discs? Charles de Lauzirika: For sure. The thing that I'm most proud of is the primary documentary, 'The Furious Gods: Making 'Prometheus.'' It's over three-hours and forty-minutes – At this moment in the interview, my computer – which I use as a recorder – froze entirely. I couldn't view IMDb or my notes, so the second half had its flaws. I hoped that it was still recording the audio; afterall, I could still hear and speak, but it didn't. Luckily, I takes notes while conducting over-the-phone interviews, so I can relay a paraphrased version of the remainder of the interview. Charles de Lauzirika went on to talk about how privileged he felt to have been given the opportunity to make 'The Furious Gods' documentary. It's rare that a Blu-ray Producer is given so much access to a shoot. The result is well-documented footage from the entire filmmaking process, including the good and the bad. His job isn't to promote the film, but to show the history of how it came about. For Charles de Lauzirika, a job like 'Prometheus' is a dream come true. One of my favorite features on the Blu-ray set is the interactive second-screen Weyland Corp interactive app. If your Blu-ray player and your mobile phone or tablet are connected to the same wireless internet service, then your device syncs with the playing of the film allows you to customize your viewing experience, even allowing you to "flick" some of the deleted scenes from your device to your TV at the appropriate part of the film where it would appear had it not been deleted. You can see the trailer for the app here: When I expressed how much I enjoyed this function, de Lauzirika explained that this app was Fox's trail for mobile syncing. He didn't have much to do with the design and creation of it (mostly because of the technicality of it), but he believes that apps much like it will be a big part of Blu-rays in the future. I closed out our conversation asking about other titles that de Lauzirika is especially proud of, titles that offer him great satisfaction. The first and most fond of them is 'Blade Runner.' De Lauzirika not only produced the Blu-ray, but also produced the film – which is why he considers it his "most fun and in-depth" of them all. Other collaborations that he's enjoyed were those with David Lynch on 'Twin Peaks' and anything with Tony Scott, Michael Bay, and Marc Webb. When de Lauzirika was producing commercials, he actually hired Webb as an editor. Starting with '(500) Days of Summer,' the two switched roles. Webb became the boss, de Lauzirika the employee. Charles de Lauzirika produced the '(500) Days' Blu-ray for Webb and has just wrapped up production of Webb's 'The Amazing Spider-Man' Blu-ray. When I asked for a hint of what to expect from 'The Amazing Spider-Man' Blu-ray, he told me that he's especially proud of a 3D tutorial with Marc Webb. If you look into the Blu-rays that Charles de Lauzirika has produced, you'll notice that they all share one attribute – they're all meaty and full of actually-special special features. When I asked which titles he'll be producing after 'The Amazing Spider-Man,' he informed me that he's not allowed to talk about them yet – but if there are any upcoming titles that you love, you can only hope that he will be the brain behind them.Posted Thu Oct 25, 2012 at 10:55 AM PDT by: -
Sharp Announces Aquos XL Series with Moth-Eye Technology[teaser]The new tech is designed to reduce glare and keep contrast high. [/teaser] The newest sets from Sharp, which are due out in Japan in late November and mid-December, are already using the recently announced Moth-Eye display technology that the company showed off just a few weeks back. Moth-Eye displays are designed in such a way that you'll get high contrast and color without having to deal with glare. The new line, which appears to be Japan only at the moment, includes sets ranging from 46 inches all the way up to 80 inches. They sport a 1080p resolution, Quattron yellow sub-pixels, and LED backlighting. Pricing isn't set quite yet, but quantities are fairly limited so we're expecting that a high price will accompany that. Source: EngadgetPosted Thu Oct 25, 2012 at 07:00 AM PDT by:
