One film that I didn’t get to check out last year was Gary Oldman in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy but luckily I won’t be waiting too long until I can watch it in my own home. Universal Pictures released details on the Blu-Ray and DVD release coming up next month.

From the Press Release

Things aren’t always as they seem in the Oscar^®-nominated, suspenseful, and stylish thriller from director Tomas Alfredson (Let the Right One In), based on the classic novel by John le Carré. Focus Features’ Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy will be available on Blu-ray^™Combo Pack with UltraViolet^, on DVD,on Digital Download and On-Demand March 20, 2012, from Universal Studios Home Entertainment.  At the height of the Cold War, Britain’s Secret Intelligence Service (SIS), a.k.a. MI6 and code-named the Circus, has been compromised.  An ever-watchful former top lieutenant and career spy, George Smiley (Gary Oldman, The Dark Knight, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix ), is called out of retirement by the government to help identify and track a suspected mole at the top of the agency.  The list of suspects is narrowed to five men.  Even before the startling truth is revealed, the emotional and physical tolls on the players enmeshed in the deadly international spy game will escalate…Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is Academy Award^®-nominated for Best Actor (Gary Oldman), Best Adapted Screenplay (Bridget O’Connor & Peter Straughan), and Best Original Score (Alberto Iglesias); and is nominated for 11 BAFTA Awards including Best Film and Best Actor.

Also starring Oscar^® winner Colin Firth (The King’s Speech) with Benedict Cumberbatch (“Sherlock”), David Dencik (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo), Tom Hardy (Inception), Ciarán Hinds (The Debt), Oscar^® nominee John Hurt (Midnight Express), Toby Jones (The Hunger Games), and Mark Strong (Robin Hood), Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is “a pleasurably sly and involving puzzler” (Manohla Dargis, The New York Times) and showcases “easily one of the year’s best pictures – Gary Oldman gives a performance that is flawless in every detail.” (Peter Travers, Rolling Stone).

Included with the Blu-ray^™ Combo Pack is an all-new UltraViolet^™ copy of the film. UltraViolet^™ is the revolutionary new way for consumers to collect movies and TV shows, put them in the cloud and download and stream instantly to computers, tablets and smartphones and soon, consumers can download to devices of their choice too. The Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy Blu-ray^™ Combo Pack also includes a Digital Copy of the film which is compatible with iTunes^®, iPad^®, iPhone^®, iPod^™ touch, Android or other retail partners.  So now, consumers can truly enjoy their movies and TV shows anytime, anywhere, on the platform of their choice!

BONUS FEATURES EXCLUSIVE TO Blu-ray^TM : Unleash the power of your HDTV with perfect hi-def picture and perfect hi-def sound.

• TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY: FIRST LOOK
• DELETED SCENES
• INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR JOHN LE CARRÉ
• BD-LIVE^TM : Access the BD-Live^™ Center through your Internet-connected player to watch the latest trailers and more!
• pocket BLU^TM app: The groundbreaking pocket BLU^™ app uses iPad^®, iPhone^®, iPod^® touch,  Android^™, PC and Mac^® to work seamlessly with a network-connected Blu-ray^™ player.  Plus iPad^® and Android^™ tablet  owners can enjoy a new, enhanced edition of pocket BLU^™ made especially to take advantage of the tablets’ larger screen and high resolution display.  Consumers will be able to browse through a library of Blu-ray^™ content and watch entertaining extras on-the-go in a way that’s bigger and better than ever before.  pocket BLU^™ offers advanced features such as:
• Advanced Remote Control: A sleek, elegant new way to operate your Blu-ray^™ player. Users can navigate through menus, playback and BD-Live^™ functions with ease.
• Video Timeline: Users can easily bring up the video timeline, allowing them to instantly access any point in the film.
• Mobile-To-Go: Users can unlock a selection of bonus content with their Blu-ray^™ discs to save to their device or to stream from anywhere there is a Wi-Fi network, enabling them to enjoy content on the go, anytime, anywhere.
• Browse Titles: Users will have access to a complete list of pocket BLU^™-enabled titles available and coming to
  Blu-ray^™ Hi-Def.  They can view free previews and see what additional content is available to unlock on their device.
• Keyboard: Entering data is fast and easy with your device’s intuitive keyboard.
• uHEAR^™:  Never miss another line of dialogue with this innovative feature that instantly skips back a few seconds on your
• Blu-ray^™ disc and turns on the subtitles to highlight what you missed.

BONUS FEATURES (BLU-RAY^™ and DVD):

• INTERVIEWS  WITH ACTORS GARY OLDMAN, COLIN FIRTH, TOM HARDY; DIRECTOR TOMAS ALFREDSON; AND SCREENWRITER PETER STRAUGHAN
• FEATURE COMMENTARY WITH DIRECTOR TOMAS ALFREDSON AND ACTOR GARY OLDMAN

TECHNICAL INFORMATION – BLU-RAY^™:

Street Date: March 20, 2012
Copyright: 2012 Universal Studios.  All Rights Reserved.
Selection Number:  61120849
Running time:  2 Hours, 8 Minutes
Layers: BD-50
Picture Format : Widescreen
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Rating:  Rated R for violence, some sexuality/nudity, and language
Languages/Subtitles:  English SDH, Spanish, French
Sound:  DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, Spanish DTS Surround 5.1, French (EU) DTS Surround 5.1

TECHNICAL INFORMATION – DVD:

Street Date: March 20, 2012
Copyright: 2012 Universal Studios.  All Rights Reserved.
Selection Number: 61120847
Running time: 2 Hours, 8 Minutes
Layers: Dual Layer
Picture Format: Anamorphic Widescreen
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Rating:  Rated R for violence, some sexuality/nudity, and language
Languages/Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish, French
Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1, Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1, French Dolby Digital 5.1

Pre-Order the Blu-Ray

Pre-Order the DVD

Joss Whedon is a hero among comic geeks. I have a feeling, if the hype is true, he might even be a hero to horror geeks this April with The Cabin in the Woods. While we all wait for The Avengers movie, we can see what he did with the X-Men Dangerous line via Marvel Knights in a new animated film.

From the Press Release

Danger takes on a whole new meaning as the X-MEN are forced to confront a reality they never thought possible. Continuing the saga of the ASTONISHING X-MEN, comic book pages come alive when Shout! Factory, in association with Marvel Knights Animation, debut the highly anticipated Marvel Knights Animation ASTONISHING X-MEN: DANGEROUS on DVD, April 10, 2012. The highly popular “Dangerous” storyline and eye-popping visuals from the graphic novel by pop culture icons Joss Whedon and John Cassaday combine smart story telling, incredible action, and startling revelations in the second story arc of the acclaimed ASTONISHING X-MEN multi-part series. This DVD invites viewers to delve deep inside the imaginative world of the Marvel Universe. A must have for collectors and loyal fans, this deluxe DVD is featured with a graphic rich cover and a unique replica of comic book-style packaging that bridges the comic book to DVD concept. It is priced to own at $14.97.

Marvel Knights Animation
Marvel Knights Animation remains true to the heritage of panel-by-panel graphic storytelling, boasting groundbreaking illustrations, sensational soundscapes, and of course, the explosiveness of the Mighty Marvel Universe. Behind every image and every word lies the genius of Marvel’s celebrated creators like Robert Rodi, Esad Ribic, Brian Michael Bendis, Alex Maleev, Joss Whedon, Reginald Hudlin, John Romita Jr, Warren Ellis, Adi Granov, John Cassaday, and more.

ASTONISHING X-MEN: DANGEROUS
Synopsis: The tragic death of a student at the Xavier Institute reveals that a powerful enemy is working from inside the mansion to destroy the X-Men. It’s an enemy who knows all their weaknesses and can predict their every move. This new foe doesn’t want wealth, power or world domination – it only wants them dead. As the X-Men fight for their lives, they learn they’ve been deceived by one of their own. Even if they survive, the team will never be the same.

Marvel Knights Animation ASTONISHING X-MEN: DANGEROUS is produced by Atomic Studios; and written by Joss Whedon with art by John Cassaday.

Pre-Order the DVD Now!

To get you excited about the upcoming Tim Burton feature length adaptation, MPI will be releasing the original TV show that started it all in a comprehensive collectible box-set.  Every episode from the popular gothic drama series will be available in a handsomely packaged set in the shape of a coffin.  Obviously, very fitting.  Fans know that the show has been available before on DVD, but never before has the entire series been collected in one giant set.  On April 10, MPI will be releasing a massive 131-disc set, containing a whopping 1225 episodes!  It’s being said that the transfers are all carried over from the previous release.  No official announcement has been made from MPI as of yet, but Tvshowsondvd.com has a comprehensive inside look at what they know so far.  The package art and Amazon link can be found below.

Burton’s film is set for release on May 11.

One of the more psychologically bizarre films to have come out in recent memory was Pedro Almodovar’s The Skin I Live In.  In a lot of ways I’m quite surprised that the Academy failed to nominate it for an Oscar for “Best Foreign Film” at this morning’s announcement.  Obviously a fan of Hitchcock’s Vertigo, Almodovar has crafted a psycho-sexual thriller that follows a mad-scientist and his captive test-patient as the details of their entanglement are slowly revealed.  The Spanish filmmaker is known for his stunning imagery and beautiful use of color, but for horror fans, this is his first attempt at a true horror film.  It’s definitely not your typical Hollywood jump-scare horror film, but it is certainly one that will get under your skin and have you thinking about it long after its final moments.  It has at least for me.  You can read my initial review HERE.

It has now been announced that the DVD and Blu-ray/DVD Combo will be released on March 6, 2012.  Extras will include a “7-part Making of The Skin I Live In” featurette, “An Evening with Director Pedro Almodóvar Q&A,” and an “On The Red Carpet: New York Premiere” featurette. The package artwork is attached below.

Source: DVDActive

My interest in Roman Polanski’s Chinatown originally stemmed from John Carpenter mentioning it as an influence in the lighting of his classic, Halloween. I remember being infatuated for a year or more with Chinatown. Something about that film is haunting yet seductive. I can’t wait to see it in high-definition and Paramount is looking to fulfill my wish.

From the Press Release:

HOLLYWOOD, CALIF. — Teeming with murder, corruption, greed and sex, director Roman Polanski’s unforgettable classic Chinatown arrives for the first time ever on Blu-ray April 3, 2012 from Paramount Home Media Distribution. Starring Jack Nicholson, Faye Dunaway and John Huston, the film follows an intricate web of deception as private investigator Jake Gittes (Nicholson) unravels a mystery involving water rights that are critical to the development of Los Angeles, as well as unspeakable family secrets. Written by Academy Award® winner Robert Towne, Chinatown was nominated for 11 Oscars® and was named by the AFI as one of the top 25 American films ever made.

With a new high definition transfer, the Chinatown Blu-ray sports packaging that features the original theatrical poster and includes a collectible booklet. The disc includes over 2 ½ hours of bonus material such as an illuminating, feature-length commentary by screenwriter Robert Towne and director David Fincher (Zodiac); an in-depth, three-part documentary on the history and impact of the Los Angeles Aqueduct and the continuing efforts to cultivate water resources for the metropolis; an appreciation of the film by prominent filmmakers; a look at the filming; an exploration of the legacy of this cinematic masterpiece; and more.

The Chinatown Blu-ray will presented in 1080p high definition with English 5.1 Dolby TrueHD, English Restored Mono Dolby TrueHD, French Mono Dolby Digital, Spanish Mono Dolby Digital and Portuguese Mono Dolby Digital, as well as English, English SDH, French, Spanish and Portuguese subtitles.

Special features are set to include:

• Commentary with Robert Towne and David Fincher

  — Towne and Fincher offer unique insights into this classic film.

• Water and Power (HD)

  — In this three-part documentary, Robert Towne visits sites along the original Los Angeles Aqueduct for the first time.  He is informed of the social and environmental impacts and given insight into the major issues around the creation and ongoing operation of the aqueduct.

• The Aqueduct (HD)

  — The City of Los Angeles completed the 233-mile gravity-fed aqueduct from the Owens Valley in 1913, under the leadership of a self-taught engineer named William Mulholland. L.A. Department of Water and Power representatives along with Catherine Mulholland, granddaughter of the engineer, discuss the development of the aqueduct and its contribution to the growth of the nation’s second-largest city.

• The Aftermath (HD)

  — For decades a large rural community was desiccated under the management of water rights by the City of Los Angeles over a vast area of the Owens Valley.  Legal victories beginning in the 1970’s lead to successful reductions in environmental damages and the restoration of some natural habitats.  Historians, local ranchers and activists discuss the up-to-date impacts of the aqueduct and struggle to maintain a stable environment and community.

• The River & Beyond (HD)

  — Prior to the building of the first aqueduct a century ago Los Angeles relied solely on its own local water supply: the Los Angeles River and its aquifer.  Today the river as a water resource is largely forgotten. Currently there are plans to re-develop the river to reduce L.A.’s dependence on imported water, reducing the environmental impact on distant communities, while creating parks and open spaces for the city.

• Chinatown: An Appreciation

  — In this featurette, prominent filmmakers express their personal admiration for the film: Steven Soderbergh – Director ( Traffic), James Newton Howard – Composer ( The Dark Knight), Kimberly Peirce – Writer/Director (Boys Don’t Cry), and Roger Deakins – Cinematographer ( No Country For Old Men).

• Chinatown: The Beginning and the End

• Chinatown: Filming

• Chinatown: The Legacy

• Theatrical Trailer (HD)

  
  
  
  
  

  Pre-Order @ Amazon.com now!

I remember hearing about Battle Royale back in 2000 and it was available through many bootlegs but I always held out waiting on a proper release. Come 2005, I realized that North America might not be getting the proper release I have been waiting for so I imported a Korean version of the film on DVD. All the special features didn’t have subtitles and I could only enjoy the Tarantino endorsement. Now, 2 DVD sets and the Arrow Films Blu-Ray set later, Anchor Bay will be releasing the film and its sequel on Blu-Ray & DVD.

From the Press Release:

Battle Royale. A title that has shocked, thrilled and unnerved audiences. A film whose fiendishly simple premise has inspired many imitations, including the upcoming The Hunger Games motion picture. Based on the 1999 global best-seller by Koushun Takami, the futuristic tale first came to the screen in 2000, directed by the legendary Kinju Fukasaku. Authors, filmmakers and film fans the world over consider the film and its 2003 sequel Battle Royale II: Requiem sacred cinematic classics. And now, fans can own them on high-definition Blu-ray™ and DVD!

On March 20th, Anchor Bay Entertainment proudly brings the Battle Royale: The Complete Collection to Blu-ray™ and DVD for the first time in North America. Featuring state-of-the-art HD transfers, hi-res audio and a wealth of bonus features that delve deep into this truly international phenomenon – the three disc Blu-ray™ plus bonus DVD set has an SRP of $49.99 and an SRP $44.98 for the four disc DVD. Battle Royale will also be released separately on Blu-ray™ for an SRP of $29.99 and DVD for an SRP of $24.98. Battle Royale will be available digitally via select outlets including iTunes® and Xbox LIVE®.

Battle Royale: The Complete Collection’s four disc set Blu-ray set will include:

• Battle Royale Director’s Cut

  with Japanese Dolby TrueHD 7.1, English Dolby TrueHD 5.1, and English subtitles.

• Battle Royale Theatrical Cut

  with Japanese and English Dolby TrueHD 5.1, and English subtitles.

• Battle Royale II

  with Japanese Dolby TrueHD 5.1 and English subtitles.

• Battle Royale

  Bonus disc (DVD).

The bonus DVD will feature:

• The Making Of Battle Royale
• Battle Royale  Press Conference
• Instructional Video: Birthday Version
• Audition & Rehearsal Footage
• Special Effects Comparison Featurette
• Tokyo International Film Festival 2000
• Battle Royale Documentary
• Basketball Scene Rehearsals
• Behind-The-Scenes Featurette
• Filming On-Set
• Original Theatrical Trailer
• Special Edition TV Spot
• TV Spot: Tarantino Version

The Battle Royale  single disc Blu-ray release will only include Battle Royale: Director’s Cut  with Japanese Dolby TrueHD 7.1, English Dolby TrueHD 5.1, and English subtitles.

Below is the cover art for both editions:

Most fans of this film may have picked up the awesome Arrow Films Blu-Ray Limited Edition Box Set which blows this one out of the water. However, being the completest I am and the fact that I absolutely love this slice of violent melodrama, I might end up picking up this set as well. The only thing this set seems to have that the Arrow Films Limited Edition release, which is “out of print” (you can still find copies but it is more expensive than it was in December 2011), didn’t have was Battle Royale II. I know that Anchor Bay is trying to cash in on The Hunger Games, which they should. I just wish that Anchor Bay would be a bit more bold and give this film a limited theatrical release.

Amazon.com has the 3-Disc Blu-Ray for Pre-Order as well as the DVD version of the Complete Collection. The Single Disc is also available for Pre-Order on Blu-Ray & DVD.

One of the most talked about independent films that came out this year was a little paranoia driven film about the apocalypse.  It may not have the hype that some other films and actors have going into the awards season, but Take Shelter is being hailed as one that might surprise people when the nominees are announced.  Starring Michael Shannon and Jessica Chastain (What film was she not in this year?), Take Shelter follows a loving husband and father who suddenly becomes over-whelmed by horrific nightmares predicting the end of the world.  He in turn begins to build a storm shelter in his backyard.  Following its screening at Fantastic Fest this year – which Andy and I unfortunately missed – the film was immediately praised by some leaving the theater as the scariest film they had seen all year.  If you were unable to catch it on its limited theatrical run earlier this fall, you will be able to see what all the commotion is about when the film gets released on DVD on February 14.  The DVD will include a commentary with writer and director Jeff Nichols & Michael Shannon, 2 featurettes (“Behind the Scenes of Take Shelter”, “Better Safe Than Sorry”), and a Q&A with Michael Shannon & Shea Whigham. The official package artwork is attached below.

Source: DVDActive

For those excited about an in-depth look at one of the most talked about films of 2011, Drive, unfortunately you are going to have to settle for a more bare-bones release for now.  It was previously announced that the DVD and Blu-ray of the film will be available to own on January 31, 2012.  Now, that release does have a handful of featurettes (“I Drive”, “Under The Hood”, “Driver and Irene”, “Cut To The Chase”) and an interview with the director Nicolas Winding Refn in addition to the film.  However, Refn reveals in a new interview with Hollywood News that a second “more definite release” of the film is planned for next fall.  I hope you fans like to double-dip, cause your wallet is going to get a work-out if you want to own the ultimate Blu-ray of Drive.  Continue reading the below excerpt from the interview to read what I’m talking about.

HollywoodNews.com: Can we expect a commentary track on the Blu-ray or DVD?

Yes, and in fact, the edition that will be in stores in January doesn’t hold the secrets, nor the answers, so hopefully there will be a more definite release in the near future. That’s not to say that the one that is being released is bad, because it has the movie on it, which is the most important thing. But for people like myself, who have a huge interest in Blu-rays … I mean, I’m a Blu-ray fanatic. I think it is the world’s greatest invention since the wheel. The version that will answer more questions is in the process of being made.

HollywoodNews.com: When do you think we might see that version?

Hopefully in the fall.

HollywoodNews.com: Can you give me any specifics as to what some of those answers might be on this beefed-up Blu-ray release?

Now that is for me to know and you to find out. [Laughs] I will tell you later.

 

Why do studios have to do this? Oh . . . that’s right . . . GREED.  Take this info and do with it what you like.  I’m personally on the fence now knowing that a better version is around the corner.  What are your thoughts?

Below is the cover for the January Blu-ray of the film. For those thinking that there might be something off about that cover, you are correct.  No where in the film is the jacket shown to EVER have a smaller scorpion stitched on the front of the jacket in the top corner.  It is only on the back.  Yet, another reason to avoid this version.

Source: Hollywood News

A clever and catchy name can say it all.  In fact, if you have the right name on a film, that can be a more effective marketing device than even the most brilliant put-together trailer.  Aside from the “grindhouse” classics of yesteryear, like Faster Pussycat Kill! Kill!, I Spit on Your Grave, and Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers (just to name a few of the hundreds of eye-catching titles), there have been many films recently resorting to titles that say it all.  Snakes on A Plane, The Human Centipede, and Hobo With a Shotgun are some of the recent titles that need no introduction or no trailer. Just the name gives people all the info they need to know and will get people to come out and see the film regardless if it’s good or bad.  Thankfully the Soska Sisters have more than just a clever name (and some pretty faces) in front of their 2009 feature film debut.  Dead Hooker in a Trunk has such a perfect exploitation name that it might surprise you that no one thought to snatch it up before.  The film has received notoriety from fans and fellow filmmakers not for the name though, but for the quality of the film from these sick sisters.  Eli Roth is most known for commenting on the film.  He stated this about Dead Hooker: “They made it low-budget and it’s fucking awesome! The violence is incredible and the fight-scenes are fantastic!”

For the past two years, the film has popped up at different film festivals and special screenings across the US.  Dead Hooker in a Trunk can currently be seen on VOD.  For those wanting to experience more than just one night with this bloody hooker (yes . . . I went there), you will be able to own the DVD when it gets released on January 31, 2012. Under their IFC Midnight banner, IFC will be releasing the film to the many people (including myself) who have been longing to see this since the buzz began for this indie film.  No word as of yet regarding what special features might be found on the disc.  Jen and Sylvia Soska are currently working on a feature length follow-up, American Mary, starring the lovely Katharine Isabelle (Ginger Snaps).  For those unfamiliar with the Dead Hooker, you can get a peak at what’s in store for you come January with the synopsis, trailer, and DVD cover art seen below.  You can view the Soska sister’s website by clicking HERE.

Set in beautiful Vancouver, four friends set out on an everyday errand and end up in a fight for their lives when they discover the body of a dead hooker left in their trunk.

When the original The Human Centipede first launched, it was met with various reviews from “instant classic” to “worst movie ever.”  When you set the bar that vaguely across the board of course the only thing you can do is come out with a sequel.  Human Centipede 2 also known as the Full Sequence came with high expectations and the reviews were fairly similar because certain people who didn’t care for the first one wanted nothing to do with the second installment.

Personally, I’m not a fan of either but I can understand the fascination with these films in the gore driven era we live in today. Even though the film is available to watch almost anywhere online and on-demand, they have finally posted the release dates of the DVD and some very nice cover art comes along with it.

As for the movie itself, here is our review. As you can see we didn’t enjoy it to much, but of course we feel it’s our duty to be fair enough to announce when it will be hitting the stores in your neighborhood. IFC films will release the movie on February 14, 2012 (how’s that for a Valentine gift) and is set at the retail price of $24.98.  Some places are lowering the price to get a jump on the retail stores like Amazon.com which has the film listed at around $18.00. Not too much as been said on a Blu-Ray release and bonus features, but I’m sure the DVD will be full of them. If you have never seen the first film I will say watch that one before you rent or buy this one and check out the nice cover art below.

You can purchase the film through the link below.

Since the movie takes place in 1988 and is supposed to be shot on tape as opposed to digital . . . wouldn’t it be cool if Paranormal Activity 3 came out on VHS?!? Now, I know some of you would have to go to your local pawn shop to pick up a VCR.  Yet, I know for a fact that many of you still held on to your old one from the 80′s.  Even though it looks like Paramount will not be releasing it on the format, you can still check out the newest addition to the popular film series on DVD and Blu-ray January 24, 2012.   No details as to what special features the disc will boast has been released as of yet.  However, the cover does reveal a “theatrical” and “unrated” cut both on the disc.  So for the hundreds of people that were annoyed that all of those effective jump scares from the trailer were not included in the final cut, maybe now you’ll be able to see them in this new “unrated” cut.  I for one was extremely impressed with this creepy sequel and I only hope that the people involved in the inevitable fourth film will be able to approach the material in a fresh light as well.  The cover art can be found below.

Source: Blu-ray.com

Mostly overlooked when it was released earlier this year in theaters ( from what I hear rightfully so), the James Marsden and Kate Bosworth starring Straw Dogs remake will hit DVD shelves just in time for Christmas. Both versions deal with how a mainly quiet, subdued man has to confront his own personal demons when instigated by a group of hostile men.  As a result, ideas of masculinity and jealousy  are explored in rather violent ways. The remake of Sam Peckinpah’s controversial thriller is set to hit stores on December 20.  The special features and look at the front and back cover can be found below.  For a film that got mainly blasted by critics as being a weak and unnecessary remake, I am quite surprised with the amount of extra features they have pooled together for this release.

STRAW DOGS Special Features:
• Commentary with writer/director Rod Lurie
• Four behind-the-scenes featurettes:
- Courting Controversy: Remaking a Classic
- The Dynamics of Power: The Ensemble
- Inside the Siege: The Ultimate Showdown
- Creating the Sumner House: The Production Design

Source: Blu-ray.com

It seems that you have to wait less and less time for each subsequent film to get released on Blu-ray and DVD these days.  With the high cost of tickets, noisy patrons, and the advances of home theater technology, more companies are catering to the people who would rather enjoy a film from the comfort of their own couch than sit in a theater.  Granted, I like the sticky floors, but that’s just me.  Couch potatoes are seeing a massive amount of love from film companies. Video-on-Demand (VOD) is seeing a rise in popularity as many smaller companies (ex. Magnet) are choosing to release their films on the platform prior to a theatrical run.  The quick turn-around for films to be released on DVD and Blu-ray has also gained popularity.  Take for example the movie 11-11-11. The film has yet to even be released theatrically, and the release date for the home video has already been announced.  You can see Darren Lynn Bousman’s tale of religious terror in your living room on Feb. 14, 2012.  I can’t help but think that the announcement of the home video release is going to hurt it financially at the box-office. Yet, maybe I’m wrong.  Maybe this is going to be the expected turn-around time for now on.  Companies have already toyed with the idea of releasing a film simultaneously on VOD, DVD, and theatrically before.  At any rate . . . since I am such an avid horror fan, I still would like to see horror do well at the box-office.  So, as a result, I will most likely still see 11-11-11 in theaters next Friday.  Hopefully, you all will as well.

Let me ask you a question though. Knowing that the film will come out on Blu-ray in three months, are you less likely to see it in theaters? Leave your answers in the comments below.

Source: DVD Release Dates

One of, if not my favorite film of the year, has to be Nicolas Winding Refn‘s brilliant take on a Hollywood heist movie: Drive.  It is a perfect combination of cool music, fast cars, striking imagery, and precise acting that is a unique and truly Refn experience.  After years of making art-house films (Bronson, Valhalla Rising) that linger on the fringe of mainstream cinema, Refn has made a film that will with-a-doubt push him into wide recognition. You can read my review of the film HERE.

If you failed to catch the Ryan Gosling starring vehicle during its cinematic run, hopefully you’ll be able to catch it when it hits DVD and Blu-ray early next year.  Sony Pictures Home Entertainment will be releasing Drive on January 10th, 2012.   No cover art or details on the release has been unveiled as of yet.  I can promise you that we’ll keep you updated once we know more.

At least I have the theatrical trailer to obsess over until January.

Source: Blu-ray.com

There is a new clip out for you to see from the hillbilly mutant cannibals found in the ‘Wrong Turn’ franchise. ‘Wrong Turn 4’ is set to grace DVD and Blu-ray on the 25^th of October and looks to continue its tradition of overachieving sequels that keeps the series going. We here at DTB have grabbed the viral clip from the movie and although its not much it surely sets the tone of the film.

Here is the clip from ‘Wrong Turn 4’

The official Trailer:

Source: Twitch

And the synopsis of the film:

At an isolated hospital deep in the West Virginia wilderness, three hideously deformed mutants go on a merciless killing spree. Now, decades later, this family of blood-thirsty cannibals is stalking new prey: a group of young skiers trapped by a blizzard. The abandoned medical wards soon become killing fields as the panicked victims come face to face with a chilling choice — fight back or die. With bonus footage too graphic for theaters, WRONG TURN 4 takes you to the most terrifying place of all…the beginning.

The DVD and Blu-Ray will also include these extra feature items:

Unrated Feature

R-Rated Feature

Feature Commentary with Director Declan O’Brien

Director’s Die-ary’s

Making Another Wrong Turn

Lifestyles of the Sick and Infamous

Music Video

The link to purchase the film can be found below.

Tucker & Dale VS. Evil has had a long path to get to horror fans. Premiering at Sundance in January of 2010, it took over a year for a studio to pick it up for distribution in the States. Luckily, Magnet Releasing picked it up and have already released it on Video On Demand and in select theatres. Now, those hillbillies are coming home next month. Crack open a PBR and undo a button on your coveralls and sit down while we give you the gravy on this hilariously diabolical film.

From the Press Release:

Kick back, relax and enjoy a dose of evil when Tucker & Dale vs. Evil takes a hilarious turn for the worse on Blu-ray and DVD November 29 from Magnolia Home Entertainment under the Magnet Label. Making his directorial debut Eli Craig makes “an endearingly cheeky tribute to suspense and slasher classics” (Hollywood Reporter). A huge hit with horror fans the film stars cult-fan favorite Alan Tudyk (“Firefly,” “Suburgatory”), Tyler Labine (“Reaper,” Zack and Miri Make Porno) and recently named Esquire’s Sexiest Women Alive, Katrina Bowden (“30 Rock”).

Best friends Tucker and Dale are excited for relaxing weekend of fishing at their secluded cabin. Unfortunately for them, evil has different plans when a series of misunderstandings and tragic events start killing a group of preppy college students who believe they are backwoods hillbillies out to kill them. Tucker & Dale vs. Evil has been a hit on the festival circuit after its debut at Sundance. It won the Midnight Audience Award at SXSW, the Jury Prize for First Feature at Fantasia, the Best Director Award at The Fantaspoa Film Festival, and the Best Motion Picture Award at The Sitges Film Festival. The Tucker & Dale vs. Evil Blu-ray and DVD bonus features include the making of the film and hilarious commentary with Alan Tudyk, Tyler Labine and director Eli Craig. The Blu-ray and DVD will be available for the suggested retail prices of $29.98 and $26.98 respectively.

Synopsis

Tucker and Dale are two best friends on vacation who are mistaken for murderous backwoods hillbillies by a group of preppy college kids. When one of the kids gets separated from her friends, Tucker and Dale try to lend a hand, but as the misunderstanding grows, so does the body count.

Read our Review of the Workprint Chris saw at HORRORHOUND.

Now you can not only see a man in a giant rubber lizard suit in a new digital transfer, but you’ll be able to experience all of the unique special features that are usually accompanied with Criterion’s discs.  The original 1954 radiation fueled monster that attacked Japan, Godzilla, will terrorize Blu-ray on January 24, 2012.  Cirterion is known for releasing discs packed to the gills with interviews, featurettes, and booklets with excerpts from film historians.  Yet, for completists, this new package will not only have the original 1954 version but also the heavily edited 1956 version released in America.  America’s version of the film utilized original footage from the 1954 film, but forced in an unnecessary American reporter that covered the devastation of the giant monster.  Now, fans will have both versions in one complete package.  See the official synopsis from the Criterion Collection’s website below, along with the striking cover-art from the upcoming disc.

SYNOPSIS: Godzilla is the roaring granddaddy of all monster movies. It’s also a remarkably humane and melancholy drama made in Japan at a time when the country was still reeling from nuclear attack and H-bomb testing. Its rampaging radioactive beast, the poignant embodiment of an entire population’s fears, became a beloved international icon of destruction, spawning more than twenty sequels. This first thrilling, tactile spectacle continues to be a cult phenomenon; here, we present the original, 1954 Japanese version, along with Godzilla, King of the Monsters, the 1956 American reworking starring Raymond Burr.

The Godzilla DVD and Blu-ray Includes:

• New high-definition digital restoration (with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray edition)
• Audio commentary by David Kalat (A Critical History and Filmography of Toho’s Godzilla Series)
• New high-definition digital restoration of Godzilla: King of the Monsters!, Terry Morse’s 1956 reworking of the original, starring Raymond Burr
• Audio commentary for Godzilla: King of the Monsters! by Kalat
• New interviews with actor Akira Takarada (Hideto Ogata), Godzilla performer Haruo Nakajima, and effects technicians Yoshio Irie and Eizo Kaimai
• Interview with legendary Godzilla score composer Akira Ifukube
• Featurette detailing Godzilla’s photographic effects
• New interview with Japanese-film critic Tadao Sato
• The Unluckiest Dragon, an illustrated audio essay featuring historian Greg Pflugfelder describing the tragic fate of the fishing vessel Daigo fukuryu maru, a real-life event that inspired Godzilla
• Theatrical trailers
• New and improved English subtitle translation
• PLUS: A booklet featuring an essay by critic J. Hoberman

 

 

Source: Criterion

David Lynch is a director that’s not for everybody.  His films have been described as incoherent, shocking, surreal, and disturbing.  And yet, anyone who has seen one of his films can attest that there really isn’t anyone quite like David Lynch.  The first film I saw of his was Blue Velvet.  I was a freshmen in college and began an exploration of bizarre and weird films that I have continued on to this day.  From the opening ten minutes I was hooked.  Just as Kyle MacLachlan gets sucked down a rabbit hole of violence, sex, and voyeurism after finding a severed ear in an empty field, I too became entranced by this weird underbelly that lingered under this seemingly normal American town.  To this day, Dennis Hopper is one of my favorite movie villains of all time, and not just because we share a common love of Pabst Blue Ribbon.  As part of the 25th Anniversary of David Lynch’s 1986 masterpiece, MGM is releasing Blue Velvet on Blu-ray for the first time.  Keep reading to find out when this blu-ray will be released and what exciting features will be on this disc.  For fans of the film, you might need an oxygen tank for this announcement.

On November 8 David Lynch’s Blue Velvet will hit stores.  If that wasn’t enough, MGM has made a statement declaring that the transfer and color correction of the disc was supervised by David Lynch himself; giving fans the experience to see the film the way the director had intended.  Though the best part of this announcement is still yet to come.  The special features on the disc will include a “few outtakes” and  . . . what will surely please Lynch fans . . . “OVER 50 MINUTES OF NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN LOST FOOTAGE!”  The long rumored extra footage from the film has now been found.  Needless to say, I am completly ecstatic for this release and will be enjoying every demented second of this disc when it gets released on November 8th.

Check out the cover art below, and feel free to pre-order the blu-ray through the link we have embedded below.  Remember, you are helping us out every time your purchase something through the Amazon links we add. Thanks!

We are huge fans of Synapse Films at Destroy the Brain. Don May Jr. and his assorted bunch of film misfits really cater to genre fans with quality releases. For example, Synapse is putting the previously mistreated-on-DVD title The Exterminator next Tuesday, September 13th (Review coming soon). Synapse keeps the exploitation Blu-Ray train rolling with William Lustig’s Maniac Cop, which stars Bruce Campbell and Tom Atkins, and a revenge flick called South of Heaven which played at the now expired CineVegas Film Festival back in 2008. Click below for the details!

From the Press Release:

Innocent people are brutally killed on the streets of New York by a uniformed police officer. A young cop, Jack Forrest (Bruce Campbell, TV’s BURN NOTICE and THE EVIL DEAD Trilogy) finds himself marked as the chief suspect after his wife is murdered. As Lieutenant Frank McCrae (Tom Atkins, DRIVE ANGRY and LETHAL WEAPON) investigates, the death toll rises and he suspects a mysterious police cover-up. This “maniac” cop must be stopped, but it might not be so easy. He seems inhuman, and ready to take on the entire police force, hell-bent on revenge! Restored and remastered from original vault materials by Synapse Films,
MANIAC COP looks and sounds better than ever in this brand-new 2011 high-definition transfer, featuring newly remixed DTS-HD Master Audio surround sound! Long considered a classic of the horror genre, MANIAC COP was written and produced by Larry Cohen (IT’S ALIVE, PHONE BOOTH) and directed by William Lustig (MANIAC, VIGILANTE).

Special Features and Disc Info (MANIAC COP):

• Maniac Cop Memories – Interview with Robert Z’Dar
• Out the Window – Interview with Tom Atkins
• Three Minutes with Danny Hicks Featurette
• Motion Still Gallery
• Additional Scenes Filmed for Japanese TV
• Theatrical Trailer
• TV Spots
• Spanish Radio Spot

Director: William Lustig
Starring: Bruce Campbell and Tom Atkins
Run Time: 87 minutes
Release Date: October 11, 2011
Language: English (6.1 and 4.0 Surround)
Aspect Ratio: High-Definition 1080p Widescreen (1:85:1)
Format: Blu-ray
Price: $24.95

A bold anti-hero origin story steeped with atmosphere and ultraviolence! When
Roy Coop finished his stint in the Navy,
he only had two things on his mind: seeing his brother Dale, and writing the great American novel. What he gets, however, is the homecoming from Hell! A pair of violent vaudevillians (NAPOLEON DYNAMITE’s Jon Gries, and Thomas Jay Ryan) mistake him for his brother, looking to collect on a debt he didn’t know he owed. Eight fingers later, Roy is burnt to a crisp, forged by fire into a new man. Roy is dead. Nobody is born. Now it’s Nobody’s turn to have his wicked revenge, and to save his brother before it’s too late. Wrapped in bandages and ready for blood, Nobody is determined to kill those that gets in his way, even the murdering masochist named Mad Dog Mantee (Shea Whigham, MACHETE and HBO’s BOARDWALK EMPIRE).
Dodging bullets and dodging dames, Nobody meets the nasty ne’er-do-wells
Lily (Diora Baird, THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE: THE BEGINNING)
and Veronica (Elina Löwensohn, SCHINDLER’S LIST). In this wonderful neo-film-noir, violence and vengeance are destined to meet in a little town
they call… SOUTH OF HEAVEN.
Bonus Features include Three Audio Commentaries, Three Short Films from Director J.L. Vara

Special Features and Disc Info (SOUTH OF HEAVEN):

• Three Audio Commentaries featuring Cast Members, Filmmakers, and Critics
• Three Short Films by Director J.L. Vara

Director: J.L. Vara
Starring: Shea Whigham, Diora Baird, Elina Löwensohn
Run Time: 97 minutes
Release Date: October 11, 2011
Language: English (5.1 Surround)
Aspect Ratio: Anamorphic 1.78:1
Format: DVD
Price: $19.95

You can pre-order the titles via Amazon.com by clicking on the covers above or the links below:

Pre-Order Maniac Cop
Pre-Order South of Heaven

Volume 1 went pretty much unnoticed and you can see why after watching it. Here is hoping that volume 2 raises the bar. The three synopsis’ below don’t lead much to the imagination and the tales don’t seem all that inspired, but this direct to DVD anthology will at least get a once over by the true proud Romero fans that flock to anything with his name on it. Here they are.

THE GORGE: Three best friends go hiking on a fun morning expedition when a sudden avalanche leaves them trapped in a cave with no way out. Now imprisoned in a living nightmare, how long can the three survive before they begin to turn on each other?

ON SABBATH HILL: A chilling tale about a handsome playboy professor who is a stickler for student attendance. When his wandering affections cause a female admirer to commit suicide, his stern attendance rules come back to haunt him. Literally.

DUST: When a scientist at a high-tech space lab discovers dust from the planet Mars might have the ability to cure cancer, a security guard steals a sample for his terminally ill wife. What at first appears to be a miracle cure turns into an unimaginable horror.

Here is the trailer.

Thanks to the guys over at Bloody Disgusting for the trailer and here is the artwork.

Blu-ray.com got word about the upcoming release that is set to hit stores November 15th.

In regards to the video transfer, Red Shirt Pictures’ Michael Felsher told Fangoria Magazine that “Lionsgate is aware of how dissatisfied people were with the transfer on the previous Evil Dead II Blu-ray, and are taking steps to solve that issue for the new edition.”

What is great about this new Lionsgate release is the number of new features on the disc.  Evil Dead fans are known for collecting numerous versions of the films in order to assemble all of the interviews and commentaries they can get their hands on.  Listed below are the supplements found on this new version as well as the cover-art.  Hopefully this will be the final version that I will have to buy of this great film.  Yet, knowing Lionsgate and their toying with Evil Dead fans . . . I’m sure that this won’t be the final release.  Hopefully they will wait at least five years before a new edition.

• All-new audio commentary with cast/crew
• All-new Swallowed Souls: The Making of Evil Dead II documentary
• All-new Road to Wadesboro: The Location of Evil Dead II featurette
• All-new Cabin Fever: Behind the Scenes of Evil Dead II” featurette
• All-new Evil Dead II interactive archive, featuring production stills, marketing materials, production stills, and early effects tests
• Vintage featurettes and behind-the-scenes footage
• TV spots and trailers

Click the link below to pre-order the disc now on Amazon for only $10.50!

Speaking with New York Magazine Vulture, the director spoke about a lot of his current projects as well as the upcoming Mimic disc.  Here’s what he had to say about the 1997 film.

Yes. It (Mimic) taught me a very important thing, which I didn’t know before, and it’s the word no. I think I was able to say no very strongly and very purposefully to many of the worst attempts at conforming Mimic, but I lost a lot of battles in that movie and I don’t blame anybody but myself for that. Now we have restored the movie on Blu-ray and DVD to a form closer to what I thought it should be. It’s not exactly the movie I wanted to make, but it’s closer.

In a previous question, Toro addresses similar issues that came about with At The Mountains of Madness.

That was a very painful experience. The cancellation came at a point where we were ready to start production. We story-boarded the key sequences in the movie, we designed all the creatures, we started doing tests on the creatures. We had every indication that the movie was going to roll. And it was the fact that I wouldn’t do it without a contractual R rating that took it down. I think, ultimately, I could have said yes to a PG-13, but I didn’t want to. I didn’t want to on paper. I believe the movie would have been a graphically violent movie and we may have been ended with a PG-13. I didn’t want to compromise from the get-go, you know?

 

Clearly learning from past mistakes, the director seems to have now realized to not compromise his vision for future projects.  Speaking of future projects, to read what he has to say about the upcoming Pacific Rim and Beauty and The Beast, you can read the entire interview by clicking HERE.

If you are as excited as me about the upcoming Blu-ray of Mimic, you are about to get even more excited after hearing this news. Right now, Amazon has the pre-order of the disc for only . . . .  $9.99 !!!! I might be a little excited if it isn’t already evident.  Click the link below to guarantee that price went it hits your mailbox and store shelves on September 27.

Ah, the 80′s back when John Carpenter was making killer genre flicks, Coca-Cola was cheap and De Palma was being toted as the next Hitchcock.  You guys remember that?  I sure do.  De Palma has been one of my favorites, even when I was a young 7 years old, I saw The Untouchables and knew that the Racine apartment scene was something important on a technical level.  He was one of the first directors that I started researching his prior catalog.  Unfortunately, by the time I started getting into his work, his later films kind of fell apart.  I digress.  De Palma’s thriller Dressed to Kill is being released in an Unrated Blu-Ray via Twentieth Century Fox.  Read beyond the break for the skinny.

From the Press Release:

Relive every suspenseful, erotically-charged fantasy captured in the timeless MGM classic DRESSED TO KILL, making its Blu-ray debut September 6 from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment.  Written and directed by critically-acclaimed filmmaker Brian De Palma (Scarface, The Untouchables), DRESSED TO KILL is a dark, psychological crime thriller with twists and turns around every corner.

Kate Miller (Angie Dickinson, “Police Woman”) is a sexually-repressed housewife who seeks treatment from Dr. Robert Elliott (two-time Academy Award®-winner Michael Caine, Hannah and Her Sisters, The Cider House Rules).  While secretly leaving a hotel after a one-night affair, Kate is mysteriously murdered by a tall blonde woman wearing sunglasses.  The only witness is a high-priced call girl, Liz (Nancy Allen in a Golden Globe®-nominated performance), who becomes the killer’s next target.  With the help of Kate’s grown son, Peter (Keith Gordon, A Midnight Clear), Liz discovers that the murderer is connected to Dr. Elliott, and the pair come face-to-face with a shocking surprise.

DRESSED TO KILL will be available on single-disc Blu-ray and includes four behind-the-scenes featurettes and a photo gallery.  The ARP for Blu-ray is $16.99.

DRESSED TO KILL Special Features
·       Unrated Cut Blu-ray
•       “The Making of a Thriller” Full-Length Documentary including interviews with Brian De Palma, Angie Dickinson, Nancy Allen and Dennis Franz
•       “Slashing Dressed to Kill” Featurette
•       “Dressed to Kill: An Appreciation by Keith Gordon” Featurette
•       “Comparison of the Unrated, R-rated, and Network Versions” Featurette
•       Animated Photo Gallery

Sam Peckinpah’s Straw Dogs has to be one of my favorite films to discuss.  It one of few films that has such a strong, emotional scene – which I don’t want to give away.  I love Hoffman in this flick and I’m happy to announce that Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment is putting it out unrated on Blu-Ray just in time to check it out before Rod Lurie’s remake.  Read beyond the break for the full details!

From the Press Release:

How far will one man go to protect his wife and his home?  One of the grittiest and controversial thrillers of all-time and banned in the United Kingdom for over 18 years, STRAW DOGS debuts on Blu-ray Disc September 6 from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment.  Released in celebration of the film’s 40th Anniversary and in anticipation of the upcoming theatrical remake, this violent and suspenseful tale from legendary director Sam Peckinpah (The Wild Bunch, The Getaway) stars two-time Academy Award® winner Dustin Hoffman* (The Graduate, Little Fockers) and Susan George (Mandingo, The House Where Evil Dwells).
To escape the Vietnam-era chaos in the U.S., American mathematician David Sumner (Hoffman) moves with his British wife Amy (George) to an isolated English village.  Their presence provokes antagonism among the village’s men.  Escalating from routine bullying to the gang rape of his wife, David finds his pacifist self being backed into a corner and responds in the violent and gruesome manner he abhors.
The STRAW DOGS Blu-ray has been carefully restored and is presented with all-new 5.1 audio.

STRAW DOGS  Blu-ray Special Features

• Original Theatrical Trailer
• Three Original Television Spots

We can’t wait to bring you the review on this one as Twentieth Century Fox is putting it out Unrated.  However, I do wish that they ported over some of those special features on the Out of Print Criterion edition.