Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Rocketman 4K Ultra HD Review

  12:15 AM   , , , , , , ,   No comments   Edit

ROCKETMAN 4K ULTRA HD REVIEW


STORY

An epic musical fantasy about the uncensored human story of Sir Elton John’s breakthrough years.

REVIEW

     I'll be the first to admit that I am not a huge fan of musicals, especially the ones that break out into musical numbers and then resume a scene as if nothing happened. So when I heard that Rocketman had those types of scenes, I was already a bit apprehensive about enjoying. I'm going to proudly eat crow and let you know that Rocketman is easily one of my favorite movies of the year.

     This movie has a story that a lot of us are familiar with and I'm not directly referring to Elton John's story, but more of a rock star and his rise to fame and the troubles that come with it. Rocketman does not hold anything back and I really appreciated that. It shows the highs and the extremely low lows. We've heard that fame comes with a price and sometimes that price can almost cost you your life. I don't like spoiling movies, so I won't get into the details. I guess I was just pleasantly surprised with how open this movie was. Especially after Bohemian Rhapsody received some criticism for overlooking some aspects of the the story. Rocketman does not have the same issues.

    Now, onto the cream of the crop. What makes Rocketman one of my favorite movies of the year is the performance of Taron Egerton. His charisma and enthusiasm for the role just pop off the screen. I'm not a huge Elton John fan but I've obviously seen clips of his performances and how flamboyant he was, so when Taron Egerton was casted I wasn't completely sold on it. Once again, I was wrong. What is even more impressive is that Egerton actually did his own singing and he actually gave it his own flair. Do yourself a favor and look up his live performances on YouTube, the man is super talented. This felt like a career defining role for Egerton and I hope he receives the recognition he deserves.

  You do get your performance scenes and they all look amazing. I know there are plenty of videos out there that do side by side comparisons on music videos that were recreated and you can only respect the time and dedication that went into those scenes. For those who are fans of the music and performances, you will not be disappointed.


VIDEO

Rocketman is presented in 4K UHD courtesy of Paramount Pictures with a 2160p transfer in a 2.39:1 aspect ratio. There are a ton of vivid colors that popped off the screen in this movie and most of them come from Elton John's wardrobe. It's been a while since I've seen a 4K presentation that was as saturated and rich as this one, and that I mean that in a good way. Finer details are also noticed, from wardrobe textures to aging characters.


AUDIO

The 4K disc comes with a Dolby Atmos mix that does a superb job of bringing the musical sequences to life. I was not disappointed by any of the performances as far as sound goes. Everything from the dialogue to the environment in the more mundane scenes sounded clear and natural.


EXTRAS

The 4K disc does not include any extras but the Blu-ray that comes in the combo pack is loaded with extras!
·       Extended Musical Numbers:
o   Introduction by Dexter Fletcher
o   The Bitch Is Back
o   Saturday Night’s Alright (For Fighting)
o   Breaking Down the Walls of Heartache
o   Honky Cat
·       Deleted and Extended Scenes:
o   Introduction by Dexter Fletcher
o   I Love Rock And Roll
o   You’ve Got to Kill the Person You Were Born To Be
o   Arabella
o   Elton in the Gas Oven
o   Stylish Boots
o   You’re Not the First Closet Queer with a Mummy Complex
o   The Blood Test
o   The Heart Attack
o   The Launderette
o   Do You Want Anything?
·       It’s Going to Be a Wild Ride: Creative Vision
·       Becoming Elton John: Taron’s Transformation
·       Larger Than Life: Production Design & Costuming
·       Full Tilt: Staging the Musical Numbers
·       Music Reimagined: The Studio Sessions - Behind the scenes in the recording studio with Taron & Elton​
·       ROCKETMAN Lyric Companion: Sing-Along with Select Songs (English only):
o   The Bitch Is Back
o   I Want Love
o   Saturday Night’s Alright (For Fighting)
o   Your Song
o   Crocodile Rock
o   Tiny Dancer
o   Honky Cat
o   Rocket Man
o   Bennie and the Jets
o   Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me
o   Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word
o   Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
o   I’m Still Standing
·       ROCKETMAN Jukebox: Jump Straight to the Music

LANGUAGES

  • English Dolby Atmos, French 5.1 Dolby Digital, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital, and English Audio Description


SUBTITLES

  • English, English SDH, French, and Spanish


FINAL THOUGHTS

     Rocketman is not only worth picking up but it is a film that is worth watching and watching again. One of my favorite films of the year!

Rocketman is available now on Digital, 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack, Blu-ray, and DVD now from Paramount.


Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Toy Story 4 arrives on Digital on October 1st and on Blu-ray and 4K UHD on October 8th.

  11:30 PM   , , , , ,   No comments   Edit
Toy Story 4
Coming to Homes Digitally Oct. 1st and on
Blu-ray™ and 4K UHD Oct. 8th 


Disney and Pixar’s Toy Story 4 Captures the Hearts of Fans Old & New

Extras include all-new deleted scenes, conversations with the talent and filmmakers sharing the most memorable moments and characters and much more!  

BURBANK, Calif. (August 22, 2019) — This summer, Disney and Pixar’s “Toy Story 4” took audiences on a hilarious and heartwarming road trip with Woody, Buzz Lightyear and the whole gang, earning a 98 percent critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes and more than $1 billion at the global box office. Packed with old friends and new faces, the fourth film in the beloved Toy Story series, which leads Woody to an unexpected fork in the road, arrives home on Digital in 4K Ultra HD™, HD, and Movies Anywhere Oct. 1, and on 4K Ultra HD™, Blu-ray,™ DVD Oct. 8.

Fans who bring home “Toy Story 4” will be treated to over an hour of bonus features celebrating the film’s iconic characters, Pixar’s filmmaking team and the legacy of “Toy Story,” which began as the world’s first fully computer-animated feature film released nearly 25 years ago. Extensive extras includes deleted scenes such as an alternate ending, an all-new featurette with an endearing look back on Woody and Buzz’s legendary friendship throughout the years; entertaining studio stories shared by members of the Pixar team; a nostalgic look back at the creation and first storyboard screening of “Toy Story” with filmmakers; and the pioneering efforts of Pixar artists who created the sets, characters, look and feel of the original film and much more.

In “Toy Story 4,” Woody (voice of Tom Hanks) has always been confident about his place in the world, and that his priority is taking care of his kid, whether that’s Andy or Bonnie. So, when Bonnie’s beloved new craft-project-turned-toy Forky (voice of Tony Hale) calls himself “trash,” Woody decides to teach Forky how to embrace being a toy. But a road-trip adventure, including an unexpected reunion with his long-lost friend Bo Peep (voice of Annie Potts), shows Woody how big the world can be for a toy. In addition, carnival prizes Ducky (voice of Keegan-Michael Key) and Bunny (voice of Jordan Peele) bring a new level of fun to the film.

The must-own, fourth installment in the Toy Story series will be packaged several ways to ensure families get the most out of their in-home entertainment experience. “Toy Story 4” arrives home a week early on Digital 4K Ultra HD™, HD and SD with two exclusive extras including a deleted scene, “Bonnie’s Playtime”.  A physical copy of the film is available as a 4K Ultra HD™ Combo Pack (4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and Digital Code), a Multi-Screen Edition (Blu-ray, DVD and Digital Code) and a single DVD. Fans who wish to relive all four Toy Story adventures may opt for a Digital bundle, which is available for pre-order.

BONUS FEATURES (may vary by retailer)
            Blu-ray & Digital:
  • 'Toy Stories - The Toy Story 4 cast and crew share their love of toys!
  • Woody & Buzz - Take a look at the relationship between these two legendary characters.
  • Bo Rebooted - Discover how Team Bo reimagined all aspects of Bo Peep's identity to arrive at the fully realized character seen in the film.
  • Toy Box - Enjoy a collection of mini-docs on the film’s memorable new characters, featuring the voice actors, director Josh Cooley and Pixar artists talking about the many elements that make these characters fun and lovable
  • Let’s Ride With Ally Maki - Ally Maki, voice of Giggle McDimples, learns all about Pixar’s dialogue recording process from director Josh Cooley and his team.
  • Deleted Scenes introduced by director Josh Cooley including:
    • Scamming Playtime
    • Bo Knows Hippos
    • Desperate Toys
    • Knock-Offs
    • Recruit Duke
    • She’s The One
  • Audio Commentary, Trailers and more!
Digital Exclusive:
  • Anatomy of a Scene: Prologue - Filmmakers and crew review key scenes of the movie and dissect the practical and technological methods used to bring them to life.
  • Additional Deleted scene -  Bonnie’s Playtime

Trailer



“Toy Story 4” Cast and Crew
“Toy Story 4” welcomes both veteran and new voices, including Tom Hanks as Woody, Tim Allen as Buzz Lightyear, Annie Potts as Bo Peep, Tony Hale as Forky, Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele as Ducky and Bunny, Madeleine McGraw as Bonnie, Christina Hendricks as Gabby Gabby, Keanu Reeves as Duke Caboom, Ally Maki as Giggle McDimples and Joan Cusack as Jessie. The voice cast also includes Jay Hernandez, Lori Alan, Bonnie Hunt, Kristen Schaal, Emily Davis, Wallace Shawn, John Ratzenberger, Blake Clark, the late Don Rickles and Estelle Harris.

“Toy Story 4” is directed by Josh Cooley, and produced by Mark Nielsen and Jonas Rivera. Andrew Stanton, Lee Unkrich and Pete Docter are executive producers, and Stanton and Stephany Folsom wrote the screenplay. Longtime “Toy Story” collaborator Randy Newman composed the score and wrote two new original songs, “I Can’t Let You Throw Yourself Away,” performed by Newman, and “The Ballad of the Lonesome Cowboy,” which is performed by Chris Stapleton for the end credits.

Product Specifications
Product SKUs:                  Digital = 4K UHD, HD, SD
                                                  Physical = 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack (4K UHD+Blu-ray Feature+Blu-ray Bonus +Digital Code),
                                                  Multi-Screen Edition (Blu-ray Feature+Blu-ray Bonus+DVD+Digital Code) and DVD
Feature Run Time:          Approximately 100 minutes
Rating:                                  G in U.S. and Canada
Aspect Ratio:                    2.39:1
Audio:                                  4K UHD Blu-ray = English Dolby Atmos, English, Spanish and French 7.1 Dolby Digital Plus, English
                                                5.1 Dolby Digital, English 2.0 Dolby Digital, English 2.0 Descriptive Audio
                                                Blu-ray = English 7.1 DTS-HDMA, English 5.1 DTS-HDHR, English 2.0 Dolby Digital, Spanish
                                                and French 5.1 Dolby Digital, English 2.0 Descriptive Audio
                                                DVD = English, Spanish and French 5.1 Dolby Digital, English 2.0 Dolby Digital,
                                                English 2.0 Descriptive Audio
                                                4K UHD Digital = English Dolby Atmos (platform dependent), English 7.1 (platform dependent),
                                                 English, Spanish & French 5.1, English, Spanish & French 2.0
                                                 HD Digital = English 7.1 (platform dependent), English, Spanish & French 5.1,
                                                English, Spanish & French 2.0
Subtitles:                            4K UHD Blu-ray = English SDH, Spanish and French Subtitles
                                                Blu-ray = English SDH, Spanish and French Subtitles
                                                DVD = English SDH, Spanish and French Subtitles (French subtitles are on Canadian DVD only)
Closed Captions:           English (DVD and Digital)

The Dead Center arrives on Blu-ray and DVD on October 15th.

  11:19 PM   , , , , ,   No comments   Edit

The Dead Center


EXPERIENCE THE SMART PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER IN US AND UK THEATERS AND 4K DIGITAL HD STARTING OCTOBER 11, 2019


AVAILABLE ON BLU-RAY AND DVD OCTOBER 15, 2019 

ARROW FILMS is pleased to make available the International trailer for THE DEAD CENTER, the brand-new thriller from “a masterful new voice in terror” (Nerdist), Billy Senese, director of the acclaimedA Frankenstein Story. Helmed by genre stalwart Shane Carruth, the creator of Primer and Upstream Color, THE DEAD CENTER is a unique tale of existential terror that explores the demons that live inside of all of us. The film features exceptional supporting performances from Jeremy Childs (Preacher) and Poorna Jagannathan (Big Little Lies).

In further news, ARROW FILMS is also delighted to announce that they have acquired world-wide rights to the film. Fran Simeoni, Arrow’s Director of Content and Distribution, had this to say:

“We have had a fantastic experience working on THE DEAD CENTER with Billy, from the trade and critical response to fans and our own enjoyment of building the campaign and assets. It’s always a gift to be able to work on films you enjoy and that offer so many opportunities and this has been a pleasure to do so in collaboration with Billy. To extend our investment on the film to a global level was the next logical step and we look forward to bringing the film to more audiences.”

Director / Producer Billy Senese adds:

 “My relationship with Arrow began with them acquiring the rights to my film, THE DEAD CENTER, in a few of the larger territories. But as we worked closely together on the release, I knew I was in the right place. It was a natural transition to lock in a worldwide deal with them. They’ve shown a true investment in my film. Not only with the money side of things, but with their time and care. They are curators. As a filmmaker, this is very important to me. Being with Arrow has been a great partnership, and I look forward to our upcoming release."

The Dead Center will be released in UK and US Cinemas, and on 4k Digital HD, on October 11, 2019 and available to buy on DVD & Blu-ray from October 14. Pre-order the Blu-ray here:http://bit.ly/DEADCENTER.

SYNOPSIS
WHEN JOHN DOE ROSE FROM THE DEAD, HE BROUGHT SOMETHING BACK.

When a very dead suicide victim (Jeremy Childs, Preacher, Nashville) disappears from the morgue, it sets in motion a chain of events that has the power to immolate everything, and everyone, it touches.

Troubled psychiatrist Daniel Forrester (Shane Carruth, Primer, Upstream Color) is drawn to help a mysterious patient who is brought to the emergency psych ward in a catatonic state with no memory of how he reached the hospital. As if to exorcise his own demons, the doctor feverishly tries to break through to his mysterious patient. But as a spate of mysterious deaths shake the ward to its core, Forrester comes to suspect that there is more to his new ward than meets the eye. As he comes to realize what he’s unleashed, a desperate race against the forces of evil threatens to swallow him whole.

The Dead Center is a smart supernatural thriller that explores the demons that live inside all of us from writer-director Billy Senese, recently hailed as a “masterful new voice in terror” (Nerdist).

Trailer


PRODUCT INFORMATION 

Runtime:         93 mins approx. (DVD and BD)
Certification:  18

SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS
  • High Definition (1080p) Blu-ray™ presentation
  • 5.1 DTS-HD master audio and lossless stereo audio
  • Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
  • Commentary with writer-director Billy Senese, producer-actor Shane Carruth and co-star Jeremy Childs
  • Commentary with writer-director Billy Senese, producers Denis Deck and Jonathan Rogers, and cinematographer Andy Duensing
  • A Walk Through The Dead Center, an in-depth making-of documentary featuring new interviews with writer-director Billy Senese, producer-actor Shane Carruth, cinematographer Andy Duensing, and many others revisiting the locations and discussing the production
  • Nine deleted scenes, including an alternate ending
  • On-set interviews with actors Shane Carruth and Poorna Jagannathan
  • Head-Casting with Jeremy Childs, a brief look at the creation of the make-up effects seen in the climax of the film
  • Intruder, a short film from 2011 directed by Billy Senese and starring Jeremy Childs
  • The Suicide Tapes, the original short film from 2010 directed by Senese and starring Childs that later inspired The Dead Center
  • Midnight Radio Theater, six chilling radio plays (“Insomnia”, “The Long Weekend”, “Disposable Life”, “The Suicide Tapes”, “The Woman In The Basement”, “Blood Oath”, “Flu”) written, produced and directed by Billy Senese
  • Theatrical trailer and teasers
  • Image gallery
  • Reversible sleeve featuring new and original artwork
  • FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Illustrated collectors’ booklet featuring new writing on the film by Jamie Graham

Thursday, August 22, 2019

It's a Wonderful Life arrives on 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack on October 29th.

  10:15 PM   , , , , ,   No comments   Edit
Director Frank Capra’s Beloved Masterpiece Arrives on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray™
For the First Time Ever
IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE

Fully Restored from the Original Negative, Perennial Favorite Arrives in
4K Ultra HD Combo October 29, 2019

Also Available in 2-Disc Blu-ray™ with Newly Remastered Black-and-White Film, Along with Colorized Version

Return to Bedford Falls to experience the life-affirming message of director Frank Capra’s enduringly popular classic all over again when IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE arrives on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray for the first time ever October 29, 2019.  Fully restored from the original negative IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE in 4K delivers amazing clarity with sharper and brighter images for a sensational home viewing experience. 

Paramount spent over a year painstakingly restoring this treasured film, using the original nitrate negative along with two fine grain masters made in the 1940s.  Each element was carefully scanned using the very latest technology to both preserve the delicate negative and create the best possible digital image.  Fortunately, 13 of the 14 reels of the original negative survived, but portions had begun to deteriorate so the best image was selected from one of the three original sources on a shot-by-shot basis.  The result is a more vibrant and detail-rich picture that brings this classic to life like never before.

The 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack includes the black-and-white film in 4K high definition, as well as a colorized version on Blu-ray, along with three special features new to 4K Ultra HD disc: “Restoring a Beloved Classic,” “Secrets from the Vault,” and “It’s A Wonderful Wrap Party.”  A 2-Disc Blu-ray set will also be available that includes the newly remastered film in black-and-white, along with a colorized version and the three special features listed above.

Galaxy Quest arrives on Blu-ray Steelbook on September 21st.

  10:11 PM   , , ,   No comments   Edit
“Never give up!  Never surrender!”

The Outrageously Hilarious Sci-Fi Spoof Celebrates Its 20th Anniversary 

GALAXY QUEST

All-Star Comedy Classic Arrives in a Blu-ray™ Steelbook For the First Time September 21, 2019

By Grabthar’s hammer, the intrepid crew of the NSEA Protector is back to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the uproarious classic GALAXY QUEST, arriving in our solar system September 21, 2019 in a Limited Collector’s Edition Blu-ray Steelbook exclusively at Best Buy from Paramount Home Entertainment.

Featuring an out-of-this-world all-star cast including Tim Allen, Sigourney Weaver, Alan Rickman, Tony Shalhoub, Sam Rockwell, Enrico Colantoni, Daryl Mitchell and Justin Long, this rollicking send-up of sci-fi fanaticism is as funny today as it was when it premiered in theaters 20 years ago.  

The Limited Collector’s Edition Blu-ray Steelbook includes:
·         Galactopedia—On-screen information about characters, ships, aliens and more
·         Historical Documents: The Story of Galaxy Quest—Cast and filmmakers discuss how the film came together
·         Never Give Up, Never Surrender: The Intrepid Crew of the NSEA Protector—Celebrates the incredibly talented cast
·         By Grabthar’s Hammer, What Amazing Effects—Explores the effects by ILM and Stan Winston
·         Alien School—Creating the Thermian Race—Actor Enrico Colantoni’s process of developing the voice and manner of an alien race
·         Actors in Space—Delves into the psyche of the cast
·         Sigourney Weaver Raps— Needs no further explanation
·         Deleted Scenes
·         Theatrical Trailer


The Haunting of Hill House arrives on Blu-ray and DVD on October 15th.

  10:05 PM   , , , , ,   No comments   Edit
THE TERRIFYING SERIES ARRIVES ON BLU-RAY & DVD
JUST IN TIME FOR HALLOWEEN

The Haunting of Hill House
 
All 10 Episodes Debut on Blu-ray & DVD October 15, 2019 with Exclusive Bonus Content Including Three Extended Episodes and Director Commentary

HOLLYWOOD, Calif. – Hailed as “one of the best TV shows of 2018” (RogerEbert.com) and “absolutely terrifying” (Rolling Stone), “THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE” arrives on
Blu-ray and DVD October 15, 2019 from Paramount Home Entertainment. 
           
Certified Fresh with a 92% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and nominated for six Saturn Awards, including Best Streaming Horror & Thriller Series, “THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE” has been renewed by Netflix as an anthology series, telling a new story each season.
           
“THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE” 3-Disc Blu-ray and 4-Disc DVD sets feature all 10 episodes from the acclaimed first season, including, for the first time, three Extended Director’s Cut episodes with never-before-seen content.  The Blu-ray and DVD also include exclusive commentary by creator and director Mike Flanagan on four episodes.
           
“THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE” is the critically acclaimed, modern reimagining of Shirley Jackson's legendary novel about five siblings who grew up in the most famous haunted house in America. Now adults, they're reunited by the suicide of their youngest sister, which forces them to finally confront the ghosts of their pasts... some of which lurk in their minds... and some of which may really be lurking in the shadows of the iconic Hill House.

“THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE” Blu-ray & DVD sets include the following:
·         EP 101: Steven Sees a Ghost
o    Steven Sees a Ghost Extended Director’s Cut
o    Steven Sees a Ghost Extended Director’s Cut Commentary by Director Mike Flanagan
·         EP 102: Open Casket
·         EP 103: Touch
·         EP 104: The Twin Thing
·         EP 105: The Bent-Neck Lady
o    The Bent-Neck Lady Extended Director’s Cut
o    The Bent-Neck Lady Extended Director’s Cut Commentary by Director Mike Flanagan
·         EP 106: Two Storms
o    Two Storms Commentary by Director Mike Flanagan
·         EP 107: Eulogy
·         EP 108: Witness Marks
·         EP 109: Screaming Meemies
·         EP 110: Silence Lay Steadily
o    Silence Lay Steadily Extended Director’s Cut
o    Silence Lay Steadily Extended Director’s Cut Commentary by Director Mike Flanagan

“THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE” is an Amblin Television, FlanaganFilm and Paramount Television production.

About Paramount Home Entertainment
Paramount Home Entertainment (PHE) is part of Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a major global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment.  PPC is a unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA), home to premier global media brands that create compelling television programs, motion pictures, short-form content, apps, games, consumer products, social media experiences and other entertainment content for audiences in more than 180 countries.  The PHE division oversees PPC’s home entertainment and transactional digital distribution activities worldwide. The division is responsible for the sales, marketing and distribution of home entertainment content on behalf of Paramount Pictures, Paramount Animation, Paramount Television, Paramount Players, MTV, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central and CBS and applicable licensing and servicing of certain DreamWorks Animation titles.  PHE additionally manages global licensing of studio content and transactional distribution across worldwide digital distribution platforms including online, mobile and portable devices and emerging technologies.

About Paramount Television
Paramount Television is a leading studio, developing and financing a wide range of cutting-edge and entertaining television content across all media platforms for distribution worldwide. The studio’s robust slate includes Tom Clancy’s “Jack Ryan” (Amazon), “13 Reasons Why” (Netflix), “Maniac” (Netflix), “Berlin Station” (EPIX), “The Alienist” (TNT), “The Angel of Darkness” (TNT), “The Haunting of Hill House” (Netflix), “Catch-22” (Hulu), “First Wives Club” (BET), “Looking for Alaska” (Hulu), “Boomerang” (BET), “Dream Team” (BET), “Briarpatch” (USA) and “Home Before Dark” (Apple), among others. Paramount Television is part of Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment. PPC is a subsidiary of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA), a global content company with premier television, film and digital entertainment brands.