HK and Cult Film News's Fan Box

Thursday, December 29, 2016

"IN A VALLEY OF VIOLENCE" on Blu-Ray and DVD -- Available NOW



JOHN TRAVOLTA AND ETHAN HAWKE STAR IN THE GRITTY ACTION WESTERN

"IN A VALLEY OF VIOLENCE"

AVAILABLE NOW ON DIGITAL HD
ON BLU-RAY™ AND DVD TODAY, DECEMBER 27 FROM UNIVERSAL PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMENT


A mysterious drifter enters a forgotten town in the edgy action film, In a Valley of Violence, available now on Digital HD and on Blu-ray™ and DVD from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. From acclaimed director, Ti West (The Sacrament, The Innkeepers), and famed producer Jason Blum (Insidious, The Visit), the film stars Academy Award® nominees; John Travolta (The People v. O.J. Simpson, Criminal Activities) and Ethan Hawke (Sinister 2, Maggie’s Plan). The In a Valley of Violence Blu-ray™ and DVD include bonus content that takes viewers on a wild ride behind the scenes with an exciting inside look at the making of the film. 

Ethan Hawke stars as Paul, a lone drifter who wanders into the forgotten town of Denton, Texas – dubbed by locals as the “valley of violence”. There, he picks a fight with the wrong man, Gilly (James Ransone), the troublemaking son of the town’s unforgiving Marshal (John Travolta).  As tensions arise between Paul and Gilly, an inevitable act of violence starts a disastrous chain reaction that quickly drags the whole town into the bloody crosshairs of revenge.  Only the world-weary Marshal struggles to stop the violent hysteria, but after a gruesome discovery about Paul’s past…there’s no stopping the escalation.

The film is available on Blu-ray™ and Digital HD with UltraViolet™ and DVD.

    BLU-RAY™ unleashes the power of your HDTV and is the best way to watch movies at home, featuring 6x the picture resolution of DVD, exclusive extras and theater-quality surround sound.
    DVD offers the flexibility and convenience of playing movies in more places, both at home and away.
    DIGITAL HD with UltraViolet™ lets you watch movies anywhere, on any device. Users can instantly stream or download movies to watch on iPad®, iPhone®, Android™, smart TVs, connected Blu-ray™ players, game consoles and more.

                                              Watch the Trailer



BONUS FEATURES ON BLU-RAYTM, DVD AND DIGITAL HD

    Behind the Scene of In a Valley of Violence – Star Ethan Hawke explains how In a Valley of Violence is not your typical Western movie.

Website: http://uni.pictures/IAVOV
Trailer: http://uni.pictures/IAVOVTrailer
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/FocusWorldFilms
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Focus_World_
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/focus_world
Hashtag: #ValleyofViolence

FILMMAKERS:
Cast: Ethan Hawke, Taissa Farmiga, James Ransone, Karen Gillan, John Travolta
Casting By: Terri Taylor
Directed By: Ti West                          
Written By: Ti West
Executive Producers: Alix Taylor, Ti West, David Schiff, Jeanette Volturno-Brill
Co-Executive Producers: Linda Favila, Anson Downes
Produced By: Jason Blum, p.g.a., Jacob Jaffke, p.g.a., Peter Phok , p.g.a.
Line Producer: John N. Ward
Casting By: Terri Taylor, CSA
Director of Photography: Eric Robbins
Production Designer: Jade Healy
Edited By: Ti West
Sound Designer: Graham Reznick
Music By: Jeff Grace
Costume Designer: Malgosia Turzanska

TECHNICAL INFORMATION BLU-RAY™:
Street Date: December 27, 2016
Copyright: 2016 Universal Pictures Home Entertainment
Selection Number: 62182325 (US)/ 62180115 (CND)
Layers: BD-50
Aspect Ratio: Widescreen 2.4:1
Rating: R for Violence and Language
Languages/Subtitles: English SDH, French, German, Spanish
Sound: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1/Dolby Digital 2.0
Run Time: 1 hour and 44 minutes

TECHNICAL INFORMATION DVD:
Street Date: December 27, 2016
Copyright: 2016 Universal Pictures Home Entertainment
Selection Number: 61165804 (US)/ 62180113 (CDN)
Layers: Dual Layer
Aspect Ratio: Anamorphic Widescreen 2.40:1
Rating: R for Violence and Language
Languages/Subtitles: English SDH, Japanese, Thai, Korean, Brazilian, Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin
Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1
Run Time: 1 hour and 44 minutes

About Universal Pictures Home Entertainment
Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (UPHE – www.uphe.com ) is a unit of Universal Pictures, a division of Universal Studios. Universal Studios is a part of NBCUniversal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. NBCUniversal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment television networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, world-renowned theme parks, and a suite of leading Internet-based businesses. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.

Buy it at Amazon.com:
Blu-ray
DVD




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"PARASITES" Sparks a Fight for Survival on Digital HD January 24th



Chad Ferrin's Parasites Debuts on VOD from 108 Media
Indie Nightmare Follows a Murderous Band Through DTLA
Rent or Own the Festival Hit on Digital HD January 24th
                                                       
"Perfectly captures the vibe of early John Carpenter and George Romero"
--Fangoria

"Intense from the first shot to its harrowing curtain call"
--Bloody Disgusting

   
Los Angeles, CA - Chad Ferrin's harrowing festival favorite Parasites will be available to rent or own in the US and Canada starting January 24th on iTunes, Amazon Instant, Google Play, Vudu and Xbox from 108 Media.  Veteran genre director Ferrin (Someone's Knocking at the Door, Horse) presents one long night on Skid Row as a sadistic reimagining on the true story of John Colter and his flight from the Blackfoot Indians. 

Since the world premiere at the Fantasia International Film Festival, Parasites has made audiences and critics scream, earning rave reviews for being both terrifying and thought-provoking.  Dread Central hailed the film at Fantasia, praising the "white-knuckled tension and action that holds its ground."  Parasites has gone on to screen at a number of festivals, including HorrorHound, Shriekfest, STUFF MX, the New York City Horror Film Festival, Zinema Zombie Fest and more.


Genre vet Robert Miano (Donnie Brasco) headlines as Wilco, the leader of a band of bloodthirsty vagrants who rule the underpasses and alleyways of downtown LA.  When he and his men come across a trio of lost college boys (centered around newcomer Sean Samuels), all hell breaks loose.

Watch the Official Trailer

The industrial barbarianism of downtown Los Angeles is equal parts player and punisher in this survive-at-all-costs tale of a group of friends who get lost in the seedy streets where they encounter a crazed gang of homeless derelicts that captures and maims them one-by-one.  One lucky man escapes on foot, naked and unarmed, with a pack of depraved transients in pursuit, staying only seconds ahead. Clinging to sanity and reduced to helpless prey, with only instinct to guide him, can he survive this coliseum of horror?


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Schwarzenegger Heads "The New Celebrity Apprentice" Premiere Jan. 2



SCHWARZENEGGER IN
THE NEW CELEBRITY APPRENTICE

Premieres January 2nd


Sixteen celebrities are set to compete for their favorite charities when "The Celebrity Apprentice" shifts to Los Angeles for its eighth season where twice-elected California governor and international movie superstar Arnold Schwarzenegger reigns over the boardroom.

Advising the new head of the boardroom this season will be world-class business minds, including investment guru Warren Buffett, one of the most successful businessmen in the world; former Microsoft CEO and Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer; Tyra Banks, a supermodel, TV host, producer, accomplished businesswoman and CEO of the Tyra Banks Company and cosmetics brand, TYRA Beauty; actress, author and entrepreneur Jessica Alba, the founder and chief creative officer of the Honest Company and Honest Beauty; and Schwarzenegger's trusted confidante and nephew, prominent entertainment attorney Patrick Knapp Schwarzenegger.

Additional boardroom advisors this season are healthy lifestyle crusader and James Beard award-winning chef Rocco DiSpirito, TV/film producer and "Extra" co-host Tracey Edmonds, digital influencer Justine 'iJustine' Ezarik, Emmy Award-winning TV host and previous winner of "The Celebrity Apprentice" Leeza Gibbons, Gemma Godfrey, the U.K.'s leading FinTech influencer and founder/CEO of online personal finance firm Moola, and Bob Harper, health and fitness expert, television star and three-time New York Times bestselling author.

                         Watch the Trailer


The celebrity lineup is as follows:

Laila Ali - the retired four-time boxing world champion and two-time hall of famer, TV host, author, health and wellness expert and daughter of boxing legend Muhammad Ali

Brooke Burke-Charvet - actress, host, entrepreneur, fitness expert and CEO of ModernMom.com

Eric Dickerson - Pro Football Hall of Fame running back who played for the Los Angeles Rams, Indianapolis Colts, Los Angeles Raiders and Atlanta Falcons

Boy George - Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, lead vocalist for the pop band Culture Club, international DJ and a coach on the U.K. version of "The Voice," as well as a top fashion designer and photographer

Matt Iseman - "American Ninja Warrior" host, comedian, actor and licensed physician

Carrie Keagan - Actress, producer, writer, entrepreneur and the former host of VH1's Emmy Award-winning live morning talk show "Big Morning Buzz Live with Carrie Keagan"

Carson Kressley - Emmy Award-winning television star, celebrity stylist, author and fashion designer, as well as a successful horse show exhibitor who owns saddlebred horses

Lisa Leslie - Naismith Hall of Famer, four-time Olympic gold medalist and WNBA champion who earned an MBA

Jon Lovitz - comedian, film and television star and former "Saturday Night Live" cast member

Vince Neil - lead vocalist for the heavy metal band Mötley Crüe as well as eclectic businessman with interests in liquor, bars, restaurants, tattoo parlors along with clothing and retail

Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi - Reality television star and New York Times bestselling author

Kyle Richards - actress and star of 'The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" is a philanthropist who owns an innovative boutique concept in Beverly Hills

Chael Sonnen - former UFC standout and mixed martial artist

Porsha Williams - Co-host of nationally syndicated Dish Nation, star of 'The Real Housewives of Atlanta,' entrepreneur.

Ricky Williams - Heisman Trophy winner for the University of Texas, 2015 College Football Hall of Fame inductee and ESPN sports analyst who was a running back for the Miami Dolphins, New Orleans Saints and Baltimore Ravens

Carnie Wilson - singer, television host and member of the pop music group Wilson Phillips.

New state-of-the-art headquarters in Silicon Beach - Southern California's ever-growing technology hub - will house Schwarzenegger's boardroom and the center of operations for the exciting and diverse line-up of business-savvy celebrities. Contestants will compete in challenging, business-driven tasks more focused than ever on technology and innovation, testing their ability to work together as a team while raising money and awareness for their favorite causes.

Each episode will conclude with a compelling boardroom showdown, as Schwarzenegger evaluates the performances of all of the players before deciding which team wins the challenge and who will be sent home.

Over the course of the series, "The Celebrity Apprentice" has raised more than $15 million for charity. This season's winner will gain the coveted title of the Celebrity Apprentice and a $250,000 check to give to their designated charity.

"The New Celebrity Apprentice" is produced by MGM Television and internationally distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM).


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Wednesday, December 28, 2016

"BATTLE FOR INCHEON: OPERATION CHROMITE" Hits DVD & Blu-ray Jan. 24



CJ ENTERTAINMENT
Proudly Presents

"Battle for Incheon: Operation Chromite"

The Odds Were 5000 to 1 … One was all They Needed.

Starring Liam Neeson, Lee Jung-jae and Lee Bum-soo & Directed by John H. Lee

Based on the Heart-Stopping, True Story of the Korean War’s Unsung Heroes Releases Digitally Jan. 10th and on DVD/Blu-ray Jan. 24th



LOS ANGELES — Jan. 1, 2017 — For Immediate Release — The adrenaline-fueled, true story of a squad of unsung heroes sacrificed to turn the tide of the Korean War during its darkest days, the epic war drama Battle for Incheon: Operation Chromite explodes on digital download Jan. 10 and DVD/Blu-ray Jan. 24 from CJ Entertainment.

One of South Korea’s largest summer blockbusters with over 7 million admissions, this inspiring and heart-warming, action film was also released in theaters across the U.S. with more than $1 million in domestic box office sales.

Battle for Incheon: Operation Chromite will release on iTunes, Sony PlayStation, Amazon Digital and GooglePlay Jan. 10 and DVD/Blu-ray Jan. 24 at all major retailers, including Walmart and Best Buy.



                          Watch the Trailer


About Battle for Incheon: Operation Chromite …

In this suspenseful, action-packed, military adventure based on death-defying, real-life events, U.S. Army General Douglas MacArthur (Liam Neeson, the Taken trilogy, The Dark Knight Rises, Star Wars: Episode I, Batman Begins, Schindler’s List) is appointed head of the United Nations Command at the height of the Korean War.

As the conflict’s darkest days drag on and beleaguered U.S. and South Korean forces become disheartened, MacArthur dispatches eight elite, South Korean military men on a suicide mission code-named Operation Chromite, a covert operation to infiltrate North Korean headquarters far behind enemy lines.

Led by Navy Lieutenant Jang Hak-soo (Lee Jung-jae, Assassination, New World, The Thieves, The Housemaid), the courageous “X-Ray” intelligence unit finds themselves pitted against not only ruthless North Korean commander Lim Gye-jin (Lee Bum-soo, The Divine Move, IRIS: New Generation, The City of Violence) and his men, but the Russian and Chinese troops supporting them.

Now they must stay alive long enough to achieve the impossible … Sabotage the North to clear the way for the naval incursion which finally turns the tide—MacArthur’s daring, surprise attack by sea, the decisive, 1950 Invasion of Incheon by 75,000 U.N. troops and 261 warships.

Also starring Jin Se-Yun as Han Chae-sun (Enemies In-Law, Doctor Stranger), Battle for Incheon: Operation Chromite is directed by John H. Lee (The Third Way of Love, The Last Stand, Into the Fire, Sayonara Itsuka, A Moment to Remember) and produced by Chung Tae-Won (the upcoming Mulgae, The Triangle, 71: Into the Fire, IRIS).



About CJ Entertainment:
Launched in 1995, Korea’s #1 film studio, CJ Entertainment, is the film division of CJ Entertainment and Media (CJ E&M) which produces award winning content across an array of genres for theatrical and non-theatrical distribution, television broadcasts, digital download, and interactive gaming portals. To grow its presence in the film industry, CJ Entertainment has aggressively invested, developed, and distributed motion pictures both domestically and abroad. To date, CJ Entertainment has released over 505 titles and three of those titles, The Admiral (2014), Ode to My Father (2014), and Veteran (2015), respectively, have gone on to become the top- three, highest-grossing films in Korean history. Moving into the future, CJ Entertainment seeks to create and popularize original, award-winning, Korean content across the globe. To that end it has created successful global productions including, 2013’s A Wedding Invitation in China; Bong Joon-ho’s Snowpiercer (2013), starring Chris Evans and Tilda Swinton; and 2014’s Let Hoi Decide, which became Vietnam’s highest grossing film of all time. Visit us online at:  http://www.cj-entertainment.com/

Battle for Incheon: Operation Chromite
CJ Entertainment
Genre:  Action
Language:  Korean (5.1) With English Dub/Subtitles
Rated: R
Format:  DVD/Blu-ray/VOD
Feature Running Time:  Approx. 123 Minutes
Suggested Retail Price:  DVD: $17.99 / Blu-ray: $19.99
Digital Street Date:  January 10, 2017
DVD & Blu-ray Street Date:  January 24, 2017
Presented In: 16x9 widescreen format
Catalog #:  DVD: 457CJ / Blu-ray: 458CJ
UPC Code:  DVD: 851339004579 / Blu-ray: 851339004586


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Saturday, December 24, 2016

"ALIEN: COVENANT" First Redband Trailer Released! Plus New Pics



Witness the Creation of Fear

ALIEN: COVENANT  Hits Theaters Everywhere on May 19, 2017

Directed by: Ridley Scott


20th Century Fox has released the first trailer for ALIEN: COVENANT! Ridley Scott returns to the universe he created, with ALIEN: COVENANT, a new chapter in his groundbreaking ALIEN franchise.

The crew of the colony ship Covenant discovers what they think is an uncharted paradise, but is actually a dark, dangerous world. Check out the trailer and film stills below!
 
        Watch the NEW REDBAND TRAILER


Cast: Michael Fassbender, Katherine Waterston, Billy Crudup, Danny McBride, Demián Bichir, Carmen Ejogo, Amy Seimetz, Jussie Smollett, Callie Hernandez, Nathaniel Dean, Alexander England, Benjamin Rigby

Ridley Scott returns to the universe he created, with ALIEN: COVENANT, a new chapter in his groundbreaking ALIEN franchise.  The crew of the colony ship Covenant, bound for a remote planet on the far side of the galaxy, discovers what they think is an uncharted paradise, but is actually a dark, dangerous world.  When they uncover a threat beyond their imagination, they must attempt a harrowing escape.  

ALIEN: COVENANT Official Channels
SITE:
AlienCovenant.com
FACEBOOK:
https://www.facebook.com/AlienAnthology/
TWITTER:
https://twitter.com/AlienAnthology
INSTAGRAM:
https://www.instagram.com/AlienAnthology/

#AlienCovenant




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Friday, December 23, 2016

Alex Grossman's SXSW Hit "HICKEY" Gets Jan. LA Theatrical Release, DVD/TVOD Follow Jan. 10



ALEX GROSSMAN’S SXSW HIT ‘HICKEY’ GETS JANUARY LOS ANGELES THEATRICAL RELEASE

DVD/TVOD FOLLOWS ON JANUARY 10 FROM GRAVITAS VENTURES


Los Angeles, CA, December 5, 2016— Maxine Street LLC will release Alex Grossman’s teen workplace comedy HICKEY for an LA theatrical run on January 6th followed by a North American DVD/TVOD release from Gravitas Ventures on January 10th.

HICKEY is Grossman’s first feature film and stars Troy Doherty, Flavia Watson, Raychel Diane Weiner (TV’s FLESH AND BONE, BOSCH), Zedrick Restauro, and Tommy ‘Tiny’ Lister Jr. (THE FIFTH ELEMENT). Grossman wrote and directed and Lije Sarki produced.

“Making this film and premiering it at SXSW made 2016 a great year for us.” said Grossman, “I’m excited to bring my first feature film to audiences across North America.”


                Flavia Watson and Troy Doherty in HICKEY

HICKEY is a day in the life of math whiz and recent high school graduate Ryan Chess (Doherty) who has spent the entire summer dithering over his choice of colleges. On the one hand, he has a full ride to his dream school, MIT but he’s also hopelessly in love with co-worker Carly (Watson), whom he has never asked out. Staying home and attending UCLA would mean he gets to stay close to Carly, but if they’re not even a couple, is it worth it?

To add insult to injury, Cy’s regional manager (and all-around jerk) Brady Krane (Alex Ashbaugh) has ordered the branch to be closed immediately, giving the staff just one day to try and meet their monthly sales quota, setting off a barrage of last-ditch efforts by the colorful crew of Cy’s to save their jobs.

Will they make it? Will Ryan get the girl? “To get the girl he loves, he must save the store he hates.”


Zedrick Restauro, Raychel Diane Weiner, Troy Doherty and Flavia Watson in HICKEY

HICKEY
Cast: Troy Doherty, Flavia Watson, Raychel Diane Weiner
Zedrick Restauro and “Tiny” Lister

Director: Alex Grossman
Written by: Alex Grossman
Producer: Lije Sarki
Executive Producers: Michael Mackey, Chris Sacca and Josh Woods

                         Watch the Trailer


Genre: Comedy
Running Time: 82 MINS
Rating: Unrated
Language: English
Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1
DVD SRP: $16.99; BD SRP: $19.99 DVD
UPC: 191091195727; BD UPC: 191091229194
Pre-order:
iTunes: https://itun.es/us/lPhAgb
Amazon DVD: http://amzn.to/2gFnNmp Amazon BD: http://amzn.to/2gS6gqu

SOCIAL SITES:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hickeythemovie/
Twitter: hickeythemovie
Instagram: hickeythemovie


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Thursday, December 22, 2016

Horror/Thriller "THE BYE BYE MAN" -- New Pics and Trailer!



"THE BYE BYE MAN"

IN THEATRES JANUARY 13, 2017


People commit unthinkable acts every day. Time and again, we grapple to understand what drives a person to do such terrible things. But what if all of the questions we're asking are wrong? What if the cause of all evil is not a matter of what...but who?

From the producer of Oculus and The Strangers comes The Bye Bye Man, a chilling horror-thriller that exposes the evil behind the most unspeakable acts committed by man.

When three college friends stumble upon the horrific origins of the Bye Bye Man, they discover that there is only one way to avoid his curse: don't think it, don't say it. But once the Bye Bye Man gets inside your head, he takes control. Is there a way to survive his possession?

Debuting on Friday, January 13th, this film redefines the horror that iconic date represents—stretching our comprehension of the terror this day holds beyond our wildest nightmares.

                           Watch the Trailer


#TheByeByeMan
Facebook: Facebook.com/thebyebyeman
 Twitter: @thebyebyeman
Instagram: @thebyebyeman

Starring:
Douglas Smith
Lucien Laviscount
Cressida Bonas
Douglas Jones
Carrie-Anne Moss
Faye Dunaway



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Wednesday, December 21, 2016

THE HARROW -- DVD Review by Porfle



A troubled loner living in an abandoned slaughterhouse in Alabama, haunted by memories of his murdered lover years ago, and possibly going slowly out of his mind among the meathooks and sharp tools...sounds like the makings of a horror flick, but THE HARROW (Breaking Glass Pictures, 2016) just avoids being one and scores instead as a dark, tragic character study with a thriller finish.

From the first moments, we know that writer/director Kevin Stocklin's feature film debut is a sure-handed effort that's going to look great, giving even the potential squalor of the story's settings a picturesque quality.  The cast are up to the job for the most part, with the main leads being especially good.

Tom McKay (WRONG TURN 3: LEFT FOR DEAD) is Miller, a drifter doing temp work on a tobacco farm run by volatile, bullying Uriah (Lars Gerhard) and his beautiful young wife Gale (Maggie Geha, "Gotham").  Miller sees signs that Uriah abuses Gale, with whom he has fallen in love (naturally), and, in trying to help her, gets in way over his head.


Years later, Gale's daughter Ruth (Sonya Harum) shows up at Miller's rustic slaughterhouse abode searching for information about why her mother was brutally murdered by Uriah one fateful night and just how deeply Miller was involved.  This leads to much soul-searching and a painful dredging up of the past that both find shattering in their own way.

Stocklin's script is lean and to the point while allowing plenty of room for the story to unfold in a leisurely and deftly pictorial fashion.  Miller's voiceover about time being a never-ending "now" allows much overlapping of the two timelines, with the past events leading up to Gale's affair with Miller and subsequent murder often merging with his present relationship with Ruth, while we wonder how far and to what degree the latter will eventually go.

Miller repays his landlord by renovating the old building as a historical site and refinishing antique furniture for him. This parallels his thoughts about whether or not a man can make himself over from bad to good and somehow repair the evil he has done.


Eventually, the fact that the much of what happens takes place in a slaughterhouse will contribute to the increasingly morbid tone of the story until we begin to sense a supernatural presence stalking those eerie shadows. 

This comes just as past revelations grow more disturbing and what began as a melancholy character study, as well as a bittersweet, tragic romance tale, starts to chill the spine and cause us to inch ever so slowly toward the edge of our seats. 

The somewhat twisty ending finally skirts the boundaries of horror-thriller territory, but only just enough to add a suitably suspenseful finish and leave us breathless.


The DVD from Breaking Glass Pictures is in 2.35:1 widescreen with stereo sound and closed captions.  Extras include a festival Q & A, a director's commentary, and two short films from Stocklin as well.

Ultimately, THE HARROW is hardly the splatterfest hinted at by the gore-stained meathook on the poster, but it doesn't have to be.  Well-rendered and effective, it's well worth watching simply as the dark, melancholy, atmospheric thriller that it is.

Buy it at Amazon.com
More info on THE HARROW
Street date: January 10, 2017


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"Deepwater Horizon" Now on Digital HD -- Download the VR App Today



One of the most important films of the year
– ABC TV, Mark Allen

BASED ON A TRUE STORY OF REAL LIFE HEROES

Mark Wahlberg Stars in the Tense, Action-Packed Drama
Arriving on Digital HD December 20th and on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-rayTM Combo Pack and DVD January 10th


SANTA MONICA, CA (November 15, 2016) – Academy Award® nominee Mark Wahlberg* re-teams with director Peter Berg (Lone Survivor) in the tense, moving action drama Deepwater Horizon, arriving on Digital HD December 20th from Summit Entertainment, a LIONSGATE Company. Filled with powerful performances and “white-knuckle tension” (USA Today) Deepwater Horizon will be available on 4K Blu-ray Combo Pack (plus Blu-ray and Digital HD), Blu-ray Combo Pack (plus DVD and Digital HD), DVD and On Demand January 10. Rotten Tomatoes Certified Fresh, Deepwater Horizon honors the brave men and women whose heroism would save many on board, and change all of their lives forever. This epic story of survival also stars Kurt Russell (The Hateful Eight), Academy Award® nominee John Malkovich (Best Supporting Actor, In the Line of Fire, 1993), Gina Rodriguez (TV’s “Jane the Virgin”), Dylan O’Brien (The Maze Runner franchise), and Academy Award® nominee Kate Hudson (Best Supporting Actress, Almost Famous, 2000).

Mark Wahlberg leads an all-star cast in this unforgettably powerful film inspired by a thrilling story of real-life heroes. For the one hundred and twenty-six people aboard the Deepwater Horizon offshore oil rig, April 20, 2010, began like any normal day. Before day’s end, the world would bear witness to one of the greatest man-made disasters in U.S. history. Deepwater Horizon reveals the brave acts of the men and women who rose to the challenge—and risked everything to lead others to safety.

The Deepwater Horizon 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and Digital HD releases have over two hours of special features including an hour-long five-part series “Beyond the Horizon,” - in which Mark Wahlberg and the cast meet the real-life heroes and discuss their experiences from Deepwater Horizon -  three all-new featurettes looking at Peter Berg’s directing of the film and the incredible work involved in bringing the Deepwater Horizon rig and explosive stunts to life, and behind-the-scenes footage of how some of the most difficult scenes were shot. These releases also include tributes to America’s blue-collar workers in “Work Like an American,” featuring profiles of a real-life Deepwater Horizon firefighter, an ironworker, a longshoreman and many more hardworking Americans.  The Blu-ray of Deepwater Horizon will feature a Dolby Atmos soundtrack remixed specifically for the home theater environment to place and move audio anywhere in the room, including overhead.

The Deepwater Horizon DVD release includes two featurettes looking behind the scenes of the film and the “Work Like an American” tributes. Deepwater Horizon will be available on 4K Blu-ray Combo Pack, Blu-ray Combo Pack and DVD for the suggested retail price of $42.99, $39.99 and $29.95, respectively.

Deepwater Horizon’s screen story by Matthew Sand with screenplay by Matthew Michael Carnahan and Matthew Sand.

4K ULTRA HD/BLU-RAY/DIGITAL HD SPECIAL FEATURES
⦁    “Beyond the Horizon” Hour-Long Five-Part Series
⦁    “Captain of the Rig: Peter Berg” Featurette
⦁    “The Fury of the Rig” Featurette
⦁    “Deepwater Surveillance” Featurette
⦁    “Work Like An American” Tributes

DVD SPECIAL FEATURES
⦁    “The Fury of the Rig” Featurette
⦁    “Deepwater Surveillance” Featurette
⦁    “Work Like an American” Tributes

* Best Supporting Actor, The Departed, 2006

                             Watch the Trailer


Website: owndeepwaterhorizon.com
Facebook: facebook.com/deepwaterhorizonmovie
Instagram: @DeewaterHorizonMovie
Twitter: @DWHmovie
#DeepwaterHorizonMovie

PROGRAM INFORMATION

Year of Production:  2016
Title Copyright: © 2016 Summit Entertainment, LLC and Participant Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Type: Theatrical Release
Rating: R for Prolonged Intense Disaster Sequences and Related Disturbing Images, and Brief Strong Language
Genre: Action, Drama, Thriller
Closed-Captioned: No
Subtitles: English, Spanish and English SDH
Feature Run Time: 107 minutes
4K Ultra HD Format: 2160p High Definition 16x9 Widescreen (2.40:1)
Blu-ray Format: 1080P High Definition 16x9 Widescreen (2.40:1)
DVD Format: 16x9 Widescreen (2.40:1)
4K Ultra HD Audio: English Dolby Atmos (Dolby TrueHD compatible), Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital, English 2.0 Optimized for Late-Night Listening
Blu-ray Audio: English Dolby Atmos (Dolby TrueHD compatible), Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital, English 2.0 Dolby Digital Audio Optimized for Late-Night Listening, English Descriptive Audio
DVD Audio: English 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio, English Descriptive Audio

To celebrate the Digital HD release of Deepwater Horizon Lionsgate is taking film commentary to the next level with the new Deepwater Horizon VR app, now available on iOS and Android mobile platforms. Using the new immersive Deepwater Horizon VR, fans will experience, for the first time ever, the thrill of being in the same room with director Peter Berg (Lone Survivor, Patriots Day) as he dives into the critically acclaimed film Deepwater Horizon with exclusive commentary alongside editor Colby Parker Jr (Lone Survivor, Patriots Day). 

ABOUT DOLBY ATMOS

Dolby Atmos delivers moving audio—sound that can be precisely placed and moved anywhere in three-dimensional space, including overhead. It brings entertainment alive all around the audience in a powerfully immersive and emotive experience. To learn more about Dolby Atmos, visit dolby.com/Atmos.

ABOUT LIONSGATE

Lionsgate is a premier next generation global content leader with a diversified presence in motion picture production and distribution, television programming and syndication, home entertainment, international distribution and sales, branded channel platforms, interactive ventures and games, and location-based entertainment.  The Company has nearly 80 television shows on 40 different networks spanning its primetime production, distribution and syndication businesses.  These include the ground-breaking hit series Orange is the New Black, the fan favorite drama series Nashville, the syndication success The Wendy Williams Show, the hit drama series The Royals, the Golden Globe-nominated dramedy Casual and the breakout success Greenleaf.

The Company’s feature film business spans eight labels and includes the blockbuster Hunger Games franchise, the Now You See Me and John Wick series, Tyler Perry’s Boo! A Madea Halloween, Nerve, CBS Films/Lionsgate’s Hell or High Water, Sicario, Roadside Attractions' Love & Mercy and Mr. Holmes, Codeblack Films’ Addicted and breakout concert film Kevin Hart: Let Me Explain and Pantelion Films’ Instructions Not Included, the highest-grossing Spanish-language film ever released in the U.S.

Lionsgate's home entertainment business is an industry leader in box office-to-DVD and box office-to-VOD revenue conversion rates.  Lionsgate handles a prestigious and prolific library of approximately 16,000 motion picture and television titles that is an important source of recurring revenue and serves as a foundation for the growth of the Company's core businesses. The Lionsgate and Summit brands remain synonymous with original, daring, quality entertainment in markets around the world. www.lionsgate.com


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Tuesday, December 20, 2016

"DOOBIOUS SOURCES" Sparks Up on Cable VOD and Digital HD January 17th



Clif Lord's Doobious Sources Debuts on VOD and Digital HD
Cinema Verite Stoner Comedy Available January 17th
Festival Favorite Skewers the Spread of Fake News

   
Los Angeles, CA - Doobious Sources, LLC and Gravitas Ventures have announced the Cable VOD and Digital HD release of Clif Lord's Doobious Sources.

Following screenings at the Cannabis Film Festival, the Denver Film Society's 4-20 Special Selection and taking home the Golden Leaf at the Maine Cannabis Film Festival, Doobious Sources will be available to rent or own starting January 17th.  The film will debut on Dish Network, Cox, Charter, Verizon Fios, iTunes, Amazon Instant, Google Play, Vudu and more.

Doobious Sources stars Jeff Lorch and Jason Weissbrod as renegade investigative journalists in a new satire on the modern spread of fake news as entertainment. Half art film, half stoner comedy, Doobious Sources is constructed from footage shot by the two perpetually high protagonists whose mutual distrust and paranoia has compelled them to record each other constantly so neither can turn on the other.

Rent or Buy Doobious Sources on iTunes US
Rent or Buy Doobious Sources on iTunes Canada


 SYNOPSIS: Zorn and The Reg are amoral, weed-loving, freelance video journalists with no regard for journalistic ethics. They become unwitting dupes of a local reporter who hires them to work on an undercover report about corruption at City Hall. Already targeted for revenge by a mogul they slandered in a sordid sex scandal, the perpetually blazed best friends find themselves dragged into an escalating web of illegal activities that requires their full arsenal of lechery and dirty tricks if they want to make it out alive.

             Doobious Sources (Official Trailer)


Doobious Sources:  98 minutes / 16:9 / USA


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"A CURE FOR WELLNESS" -- Amazing New Trailer! Hits Theaters Feb. 17




A CURE FOR WELLNESS
Hits Theaters Everywhere on February 17, 2017

Accept the diagnosis. Take the Cure.


Directed by: Gore Verbinski
Screenplay by: Justin Haythe; Story by Justin Haythe & Gore Verbinski
Producers: Arnon Milchan, p.g.a.; Gore Verbinski, p.g.a; David Crocket, p.g.a.

Cast: Dane DeHaan, Jason Isaacs, Mia Goth


 SYNOPSIS
An ambitious young executive is sent to retrieve his company's CEO from an idyllic but mysterious "wellness center" at a remote location in the Swiss Alps.  He soon suspects that the spa's miraculous treatments are not what they seem.  When he begins to unravel its terrifying secrets, his sanity is tested, as he finds himself diagnosed with the same curious illness that keeps all the guests here longing for the cure.  From Gore Verbinski, the visionary director of THE RING, comes the new psychological thriller, A CURE FOR WELLNESS.  

A CURE FOR WELLNESS Official Channels
WEBSITE:  www.acureforwellness.com
FACEBOOK:  Facebook.com/cureforwellness
TWITTER: Twitter.com/cureforwellness
INSTAGRAM: Instagram.com/cureforwellness
#CureForWellness


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Monday, December 19, 2016

"The Disappointments Room" With Kate Beckinsale - Now Available on Digital HD and DVD



SOME MYSTERIES SHOULD NOT BE UNLOCKED

BASED ON TRUE EVENTS, KATE BECKINSALE STARS IN THE TERRIFYING HORROR MYSTERY
"THE DISAPPOINTMENTS ROOM"

ARRIVING ON DIGITAL HD DECEMBER 13 AND ON DVD DECEMBER 20


The door to heart-pounding terror swings wide open in this gripping psychological thriller based on true events! Looking for a fresh start, Dana (Kate Beckinsale), David (Mel Raido) and their five-year-old son move from the big city to a rural Southern mansion in need of restoration.

But the young family’s dream home quickly becomes a chilling nightmare when Dana discovers a hidden room in the attic, unleashing unexplainable events that test her sanity and slowly reveal shocking secrets from the past.



 DVD Special Features Include:
⦁    Unwanted: Inside The Disappointments Room

DVD Specifications
Street Date:                     December 20, 2016
Prebook Date:                November 16, 2016   
Screen Format:               Widescreen 16:9 (2.39:1)
Audio:                         English Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles:                        English / Spanish
Total Run Time:     Approximately 85 minutes
U.S. Rating         R
Closed Captioned:      Yes

ABOUT TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENTERTAINMENT
Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, LLC (TCFHE) is a recognized global industry leader and a subsidiary of Twentieth Century Fox Film. TCFHE is the worldwide marketing, sales and distribution company for all Fox film and television programming, acquisitions and original productions as well as all third party distribution partners on DVD, Blu-ray™, 4K Ultra HD, Digital HD, and VOD (video-on-demand). Each year TCFHE introduces hundreds of new and newly enhanced products, which it services to retail outlets and digital stores throughout the world.


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"BLADE RUNNER 2049" Announcement Piece/ Preview Trailer -- Watch It Now!



Blade Runner 2049(Warner Bros. Pictures)
Release: 10/06/2017
Sci Fi Thriller


Thirty years after the events of the first film, a new blade runner, LAPD Officer K (Ryan Gosling), unearths a long-buried secret that has the potential to plunge what’s left of society into chaos. K’s discovery leads him on a quest to find Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford), a former LAPD blade runner who has been missing for 30 years.

             Watch the Announcement/ Trailer


Cast:
Ryan Gosling, Harrison Ford, Ana de Armas, Sylvia Hoeks, Robin Wright, Mackenzie Davis, Carla Juri, Lennie James, with Dave Bautista and Jared Leto

Director:
Denis Villeneuve

Writer:
Based on characters from the novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick, Story by Hampton Fancher, Screenplay by Hampton Fancher and Michael Green

Producers:
Andrew A. Kosove, Broderick Johnson, Bud Yorkin, Cynthia Yorkin

Executive Producers:
Ridley Scott, Tim Gamble, Frank Giustra, Yale Badick, Val Hill, Bill Carraro


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Friday, December 16, 2016

Sci-Fi Thriller "LIFE" -- New One Sheet, Photos, Trailer



LIFE
Sci-Fi Thriller
March 24, 2017


Life tells the story of the six-member crew of the International Space Station that is on the cutting edge of one of the most important discoveries in human history: the first evidence of extraterrestrial life on Mars. As the crew begins to conduct research and their methods end up having unintended consequences, the life form proves more intelligent than anyone ever expected.

                    Watch the Official trailer


Directed by:                      Daniel Espinosa

Written by:                    Rhett Reese & Paul Wernick

Produced by:                    David Ellison
Dana Goldberg
Bonnie Curtis
Julie Lynn

Executive Producers:             Don Granger
                        Vicki Dee Rock

Cast:                        Jake Gyllenhaal
Rebecca Ferguson
Ryan Reynolds
Hiroyuki Sanada
Ariyon Bakare
Olga Dihovichnaya


This film is not yet rated by the Motion Picture Association of America.  For future rating information, please visit www.filmratings.com.  Credits not final



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Apocalyptic Fantasy "WE ARE THE FLESH" Opens in Los Angeles January 13th



Emiliano Rocha Minter's Nightmare Fantasy "We Are the Flesh" Begins US Theatrical Rollout in January 2017
Premieres in Los Angeles at Ahrya Fine Arts January 13th

"Visually Spellbinding" -- Fangoria

"Joyously demented portrait of humanity"-- Variety

"The most disturbing horror debut since Hellraiser" -- SFX

   
Los Angeles, CA - Arrow Films has announced the January 2017 theatrical rollout of Emiliano Rocha Minter's We Are the Flesh. After a thought-provoking and acclaimed year on the festival circuit, the film will screen in over ten cities across the United States.  Visionary, unrelenting, and not for the faint-hearted, Rocha Minter's provocative and explicit creation is an erotic inferno of the senses that manages to pack all manner of delirium into its short running time.  We Are the Flesh will premiere in Los Angeles on January 13, 2017 at Laemmle's Ahrya Fine Arts Theatre.

Hailed by Oscar-winning Mexican directors Alfonso Cuaron (Gravity) and Alejandro Gonzalez Iñarritu (The Revenant), We Are the Flesh stars Noé Hernández as a post-apocalyptic hermit eager to transform the ashes of the world and María Evoli and Diego Gamaliel as the starving siblings under his thrall.  

Rocha Minter's debut feature stunned audiences following the world premiere at the Locarno International Film Festival.  We Are the Flesh has since screened at festivals around the world, including Sitges, Fantastic Fest, Telluride, the Vancouver International Film Festival and more, picking up the Séquences Award for Best Film at Fantasia and nominations for Best First Film and the FIPRESCI Prize at the Rotterdam International Film Festival. 

              We Are the Flesh (Official Trailer)


Los Angeles Theatrical Release:
Friday, January 13, 2017
Laemmle's Ahrya Fine Arts Theatre
8556 Wilshire Blvd
Beverly Hills, CA 90211

After the end of the world, a young brother and sister roam an apocalyptic city looking for food and shelter. They take refuge in the dilapidated lair of a strange hermit who makes them a dangerous offer to survive. He puts them to work building a bizarre cavernous structure, where he acts out his insane and depraved fantasies. Trapped in a maddening womb-like world under his malign influence, they find themselves sinking into the realms of dark and forbidden behavior.



We Are the Flesh: Spanish w/ English subtitles / 80 minutes / 1.85:1


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Thursday, December 15, 2016

"Kojack: Season One" Coming to DVD in February



KOJAK: SEASON ONE
Product Source: Television (Series)
Release Date: 2/14/2017


Synopsis: Emmy® and Golden Globe® winner Telly Savalas is back as Lieutenant Theo Kojak, television's greatest detective, in the unforgettable homicide series Kojak. He's got style, street smarts and a penchant for lollipops, and he's hitting the gritty streets of New York City in pursuit of some of television's toughest criminals. Relive all his smart, edgy adventures in all 22 Season One episodes!

DVD Full Frame TV Set(61183743) : Disc 1 (Side A): Kojak: Season One
 Format:      DVD      UPC:      0-2519-23913-5-4
 Unit Type:      TV Set      Number of Media:      1
 Street Date:      2/14/2017      PreOrder Date:     
 Run Time (HH:MM):      3 Hours 23 Minutes          
 Language:      English      Disc Type:      DVD-9 (Single Sided)
 Packaging:      Snap Case      Layers:      Single
 Audio:     English Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
       Subtitles:      English SDH
French
Spanish

 Edition:      -      Picture:      Full Frame
 Version:      -      Color/B&W     COLOR
 Rating:      Not Rated

DVD Full Frame TV Set(61183743) : Disc 2 (Side A): Kojak: Season One

 Format:      DVD      UPC:      0-2519-23913-5-4
 Unit Type:      TV Set      Number of Media:      1
 Street Date:      2/14/2017      PreOrder Date:     
 Run Time (HH:MM):      3 Hours 24 Minutes          
 Language:      English      Disc Type:      DVD-9 (Single Sided)
 Packaging:      Snap Case      Layers:      Single
 Audio:     English Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
       Subtitles:      English SDH
French
Spanish

 Edition:      -      Picture:      Full Frame
 Version:      -      Color/B&W     COLOR
 Rating:      Not Rated

DVD Full Frame TV Set(61183743) : Disc 3 (Side A): Kojak: Season One
 Format:      DVD      UPC:      0-2519-23913-5-4
 Unit Type:      TV Set      Number of Media:      1
 Street Date:      2/14/2017      PreOrder Date:     
 Run Time (HH:MM):      3 Hours 24 Minutes          
 Language:      English      Disc Type:      DVD-9 (Single Sided)
 Packaging:      Snap Case      Layers:      Single
 Audio:     English Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
       Subtitles:      English SDH
French
Spanish

 Edition:      -      Picture:      Full Frame
 Version:      -      Color/B&W     COLOR
 Rating:      Not Rated

DVD Full Frame TV Set(61183743) : Disc 4 (Side A): Kojak: Season One

 Format:      DVD      UPC:      0-2519-23913-5-4
 Unit Type:      TV Set      Number of Media:      1
 Street Date:      2/14/2017      PreOrder Date:     
 Run Time (HH:MM):      3 Hours 24 Minutes          
 Language:      English      Disc Type:      DVD-9 (Single Sided)
 Packaging:      Snap Case      Layers:      Single
 Audio:     English Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
       Subtitles:      English SDH
French
Spanish

 Edition:      -      Picture:      Full Frame
 Version:      -      Color/B&W     COLOR
 Rating:      Not Rated    

DVD Full Frame TV Set(61183743) : Disc 5 (Side A): Kojak: Season One
 Format:      DVD      UPC:      0-2519-23913-5-4
 Unit Type:      TV Set      Number of Media:      1
 Street Date:      2/14/2017      PreOrder Date:     
 Run Time (HH:MM):      3 Hours 24 Minutes          
 Language:      English      Disc Type:      DVD-9 (Single Sided)
 Packaging:      Snap Case      Layers:      Single
 Audio:     English Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
       Subtitles:      English SDH
French
Spanish

 Edition:      -      Picture:      Full Frame
 Version:      -      Color/B&W     COLOR
 Rating:      Not Rated

DVD Full Frame TV Set(61183743) : Disc 6 (Side A): Kojak: Season One
 Format:      DVD      UPC:      0-2519-23913-5-4
 Unit Type:      TV Set      Number of Media:      1
 Street Date:      2/14/2017      PreOrder Date:     
 Run Time (HH:MM):      1 Hour 42 Minutes          
 Language:      English      Disc Type:      DVD-9 (Single Sided)
 Packaging:      Snap Case      Layers:      Single
 Audio:     English Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
       Subtitles:      English SDH
French
Spanish

 Edition:      -      Picture:      Full Frame
 Version:      -      Color/B&W     COLOR
 Rating:      Not Rated

Pre-order it at Amazon.com


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Tuesday, December 13, 2016

BEN-HUR -- Blu-ray/DVD Review by Porfle



First things first--there's this Best Picture-winning classic from 1959 called BEN-HUR, and any remake of it is likely to suffer in comparison.  As will anyone else who plays the title role besides the great Charlton Heston, or anyone else who plays Judah Ben-Hur's adoptive brother Messala besides Stephen Boyd, or any other spectacular climactic chariot race that isn't the original spectacular climactic chariot race.

If, however, you can manage to get past all that (which I myself eventually managed to do to one degree or another), while remembering that the 1959 version is itself a remake of the equally spectacular silent version with Ramon Navarro and Francis X. Bushman, then the 2016 remake of BEN-HUR (Paramount Home Media Distribution) can be a rewarding as well as delightfully entertaining experience.

Based on General Lew Wallace's wildly-successful 1880 novel "Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ", the story takes place in A.D.33 Jerusalem and is all about the loving yet highly competitive relationship between Judah Ben-Hur (Jack Huston, SHROOMS), a Jew, and his adoptive brother Messala (Toby Kebbell, WILDERNESS), a Roman, during a time when the Roman occupation is becoming ever more oppressive.


Complications ensue when Judah and his family are blamed for an attempt on the life of Pontius Pilate (Pilou Asbæk, LUCY), and Messala, now an officer in the Roman army, is forced to take sides against them.  With the brothers now mortal enemies, Judah's family disappears into captivity while he himself begins the drudgery-filled dead-end life of a galley slave. 

But a twist of fate allows Judah to escape during a sea battle against the Greeks, whereupon he is taken in by African entrepreneur Ilderim (Morgan Freeman, THE DARK KNIGHT, THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION) and allowed to enter the man's chariot in a thrilling race which will pit him against his brother Messala, the Roman champion. 

If that chariot race is the main thing you're curious about, you're not the only one.  I was chomping at the bit throughout the entire film leading up to it, and when it finally got under way, it proved to be exceptionally well-done and exciting.


The oval track itself was built on the Cinecittà Studios lot in Rome (much of the rest of the film was done at Cinecittà as well) and filled in with CGI to create a suitably majestic backdrop for this breathtaking sequence.  Jerusalem itself is an actual city in Italy that serves as a stunning representation of the ancient setting.

As always, the use of digital effects detracts from the kind of real-world splendor and excitement we got in the pre-CGI days, but here, the effects are integrated well enough into the live footage to augment it very well. 

As for the stunts, the sequence is loaded with visceral thrills that make it, if not superior to previous versions, at least worthy to stand alongside them. Younger viewers unfamiliar with the story will no doubt see here the inspiration for the podrace sequence in THE PHANTOM MENACE.


The film boasts other notable action scenes as well.  Earlier in the story, we see glimpses of furious battles during which Messala rises within the ranks of the Roman military.  Later comes the spectacular sea battle, most of which we see from Judah's limited point of view as the galley slaves, toiling at the oars, experience a grueling ordeal of terror and death while unseen carnage rages around them.  Again, the CGI in this sequence is superb. 

There's a modicum of romance, mainly between Judah and his great love Esther (Nazanin Boniadi, IRON MAN), the daughter of a slave.  Most of the film's true sentiment, however, is focused upon the relationship between the two brothers, Judah's attempts to locate his missing mother and sister, and, most importantly, his spiritual awakening. 

Here, his life intersects poignantly at key points with that of a humble, peace-loving carpenter named Jesus Christ, whose eventual crucifixion as an enemy of Rome gives the film one of its most heartrending sequences.


As Judah, Huston is no Heston, but for this more modest version of BEN-HUR--relatively speaking--it makes sense to have more of a smaller-than-life hero.  Morgan Freeman plays his usual "sage old mentor" character while looking a bit like a cross between Whoopi Goldberg and the alien from PREDATOR.  The rest of the cast perform adequately. 

Direction by Timur Bekmambetov (ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER) is good although I would've preferred less "jittery-cam" and more traditional camerawork.  As mentioned before, the Italian locations are stunning, and well-served by their digital augmentations.  There are some amusing anachronisms in the dialogue, as when Judah cries out during some early horseplay, "ARE WE HAVING FUN NOW, BROTHER?" and later when a dazzled Messala exclaims "Wow!"

The Blu-ray/DVD combo pack from Paramount Home Media Distribution contains a Blu-ray disc with special features, a DVD disc with the film by itself, and access to a Digital HD version of the film.  The Blu-ray is presented in 1080p high definition with English 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, French 5.1 Dolby Digital, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital, Portuguese 5.1 Dolby Digital and English Audio Description and English, English SDH, French, Spanish and Portuguese subtitles.  The DVD in the combo pack is presented in widescreen enhanced for 16:9 TVs with English 5.1 Dolby Digital, French 5.1 Dolby Digital, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital and English Audio Description and English, French, Spanish and Portuguese subtitles.

Extras consist of the featurettes "Ben-Hur: The Legacy", "The Epic Cast", "A Tale for Our Times", and "The Chariot Race", along with deleted & extended scenes and related music videos.

While seldom on the same epic scale as its predecessors, this latest retelling of BEN-HUR does benefit from an earnest sincerity in its dramatic scenes, even when they don't quite move us to the degree intended.  And--most importantly, of course--the action scenes deliver exactly what we're looking for when we watch a movie like this, and plenty of it.

Buy it at Amazon.com:
Blu-ray/DVD Combo
DVD



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"WAR FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES" Trailer & First Look Images Now Available



WAR FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES
Action/Drama
Release: July 14, 2017


Director: Matt Reeves
Written by: Mark Bomback & Matt Reeves
Producers: Peter Chernin, Dylan Clark, Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver
Cast: Andy Serkis, Woody Harrelson, Steve Zahn, Amiah Miller, Karin Konoval & Terry Notary

                    WATCH THE TRAILER:


SYNOPSIS
In War for the Planet of the Apes, the third chapter of the critically acclaimed blockbuster franchise, Caesar and his apes are forced into a deadly conflict with an army of humans led by a ruthless Colonel.  After the apes suffer unimaginable losses, Caesar wrestles with his darker instincts and begins his own mythic quest to avenge his kind.  As the journey finally brings them face to face, Caesar and the Colonel are pitted against each other in an epic battle that will determine the fate of both their species and the future of the planet.



 WAR FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES Official Channels
WEBSITE:
WarForThePlanet.com
FACEBOOK:
https://www.facebook.com/ApesMovies
TWITTER:
https://twitter.com/ApesMovies
INSTAGRAM:
https://www.instagram.com/ApesMovies/
#WarForThePlanet


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