HK and Cult Film News's Fan Box

Thursday, July 2, 2015

"Game of Thrones" Construction Line from McFarlane Toys & HBO Global Licensing Coming Soon



McFarlane Toys to Reveal the Highly Collectible and Much Anticipated New Game of Thrones
Construction Sets at 2015 San Diego Comic-Con

Tempe, Ariz. - July 2,  2015  - McFarlane Toys, in partnership with HBO Global Licensing, announced today a new licensing agreement to bring the global television phenomenon Game of Thrones to the construction toy aisles this Fall 2015.

In 2014, Todd McFarlane's award-winning toy company, McFarlane Toys, revolutionized the construction brick aisle with its introduction of realistic and highly detailed construction sets. McFarlane Toys will add an artistic layer to each Game of Thrones brick piece, turning ordinary construction sets into realistic models of notable locations seen on the show. The new Game of Thrones construction sets extend McFarlane's high standards of artistic vision, realistic accuracy, and incredible detail the company is known for throughout the industry.

Todd McFarlane, CEO and founder of McFarlane Toys, said, "I'm very excited to work with HBO. They are a world-class network and Game of Thrones is one of the most visually compelling shows that I've ever seen."

"We're thrilled to have the opportunity to create high-quality collectible construction sets based on this fan-favorite property. Both collectors and fans of this epic series can build their favorite scenes with this new product line," McFarlane added.
 
Each Game of Thrones construction set will feature iconic environments with realistic sculpted pieces, along with multiple figures of fan-favorite characters.

McFarlane Toys will be unveiling the first look of this new product line, including the legendary Game of Thrones Iron Throne Room and Mother of Dragons construction sets, at International San Diego Comic-Con from July 8-12 at booth #2729.

The launch of Game of Thrones construction line will feature construction sets, expansion packs, and figure blind bags for fans ranging in price from $3.99 to $49.99 and will start hitting stores shelves in November 2015.

Construction Sets: MSRP $14.99-49.99 - Depicting the most outstanding moments from your Game of Thrones, including the Iron Throne Room, Mother of Dragons and Attack on the Wall, each set includes scene specific characters, stunning details and realistic accessories.

Construction Figure Packs: MSRP $9.99 - Starter packs featuring Houses Stark and Lannister with your favorite house armies, complete with house banner and sigil.

Construction Set Figures: MSRP $3.99 - Twelve buildable blind bag figures inspired by characters from Game of Thrones. Each 2-inch scale figure includes an environment base, and humans include articulated body parts.  Series 1: #1 Tyrion Lannister; #2 Jon Snow ; #3 Daenerys Targaryen; #4 Grey Worm; #5 Ghost; #6 Rhaegal; #7 Unsullied; #8 Crow; #9 Kingsguard; #10 Wildling (w/ Axe); #11 Wildling (w/ Spear) and  #12 Wight.

About HBO Global Licensing:

HBO Global Licensing officially licenses the HBO® brand for the development and merchandising of innovative product lines inspired by the network's award-winning programming. With products created around hit series like Game of Thrones®and True Blood® as well as classic series like The Sopranos®, Sex and the City®, and Entourage, items include fashion apparel, figures, jewelry, digital and CD soundtracks, prop and costume replicas, games, books, and beverages, as well as exclusive, premium collections in partnership with upscale, designer brands. Merchandise can be purchased in retail stores nationwide, at http://store.hbo.com, and at the groundbreaking HBO retail hub, the HBO Shop®, located at 42nd and 6th Avenue in New York City. HBO Global Licensing products are also sold internationally across Europe (www.hboshopeu.com), Asia and Australia.

ABOUT MCFARLANE TOYS:

Grammy-and Emmy-winning producer/director Todd McFarlane, creator of Spawn, is the creative force behind McFarlane Toys, one of America's top action figure manufacturers. McFarlane Toys has become an industry leader, redefining the standards within the action figure market. For complete information on this pop-culture powerhouse, visit http://www.mcfarlane.com http://www.facebook.com/mcfarlanetoys; http://www.twitter.com/Todd_McFarlane and http://www.instagram.com/mcfarlane_toys_official.

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"DARK STAR: H. R. GIGER'S WORLD"--Explore the World of the Alien Creature Creator, On VOD 8/18 & DVD 9/1



Coming to VOD on August 18 and DVD on September 1!
 

DARK STAR: H. R. GIGER'S WORLD

A film by Belinda Sallin
 

“And you thought the stuff in Alien was creepy!”
—The Hollywood Reporter
 

"Dark Star plunges into H. R. Giger’s hellscapes."
—The Village Voice


July 1, 2015: Following its successful nationwide theatrical release, Icarus Films and KimStim are proud to announce the release of DARK STAR: H. R. GIGER'S WORLD, exclusively on VOD from August 18, and then on DVD on September 1, 2015!

Surrealist artist H. R. Giger (1940–2014) terrified audiences with his Oscar-winning monsters in Ridley Scott's ALIEN. Sci-fi, horror, music, album covers, tattoos and fetish art have been influenced by his dark, intricate paintings and sculptures depicting birth, death and sex.

 Both a mesmerizing introduction to Giger's oeuvre and a must-see for Giger devotees, Belinda Sallin's definitive documentary DARK STAR: H. R. GIGER'S WORLD shares the intimate last years of the artist's life and reveals how deeply he resided within his own artistic visions.

Behind the shuttered windows and ivy-covered walls of his residence in Zurich, Switzerland, DARK STAR brings viewers into Giger's mysterious realm: from the first skull he was given by his father at the age of six, to macabre dinner parties with his close-knit team, to the grisly souvenirs from his time spent on the ALIEN set and reminiscences about model Li Tobler, Giger's one-time muse, whose suicide reverberates throughout his work.

"A glimpse inside his Freudian mind."
—Entertainment Weekly

"Goes into the weird, wonderful, and troubled mind of Giger ... a fascinating film."
—Dallas Observer

 The film also addresses Giger's complex relationship to the art world, where he defied traditional categories and embraced commercial projects for musicians including Debbie Harry, Korn, Emerson, Lake and Palmer and the Dead Kennedys. Fittingly enshrined in a museum dedicated to his work, Giger's output includes sculpture, painting, drawing, film and architecture, integrating meticulous technique with a instantly-recognizable sensibility that has inspired generations of nightmares.

DARK STAR had its major theatrical roll out this spring and has played in over 50 cities so far. The DVD and iTunes releases will feature a making-of documentary, and the DVD will also feature galleries of Giger's work and an essay by critic Bilge Ebiri. Director Belinda Sallin is available for interviews.

"A Halloween film for adults!"
—The Bay Area Reporter

"Fanboys and fangirls will surely go wild!"
—San Francisco Chronicle

"Quiet, pensive and not unlike a 90-minute stroll through a Giger gallery, Dark Star does a good job of presenting its subject’s oeuvre in the context of his life story."
—Toronto Star

Watch the Trailer
Film Website

DARK STAR: H. R. GIGER'S WORLD
 A film by Belinda Sallin
 DVD/95'/Color/16:9/2014
 UPC# 8-54565-00181-7
 SRP: $29.98
Pre-book date: 7/28/15
 VOD date: 8/18/15
 Street Date: 9/1/15


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Wednesday, July 1, 2015

"THE ANOMALY" Starring Ian Somerhalder -- Arriving October 6th on Blu-ray and DVD from Anchor Bay Entertainment



If you only had 9 minutes and 47 seconds,
what would you do?

 
IAN SOMERHALDER AND NOEL CLARKE REVEAL THE ANOMALY
FROM ANCHOR BAY ENTERTAINMENT
 
The Conspiracy Unfolds October 6th on Blu-ray™ and DVD

BEVERLY HILLS – Ryan Reeve has a problem. After successfully escaping from his kidnappers, he is trying to uncover why some people want him dead. The complication? He can’t spend more than 9 minutes and 47 seconds trying to solve this deadly puzzle. On October 6th, Anchor Bay Entertainment takes viewers into a future filled with technological wonders and shadowy figures with The Anomaly.

Starring “The Vampire Dairies” heartthrob Ian Somerhalder, Alexis Knapp (Pitch Perfect 1 and 2, Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief), Art Parkinson (San Andreas), Luke Hemsworth (Infini) and Brian Cox (X-Men 2, Troy), The Anomaly features cutting-edge visual effects and dazzling production design. Directed by genre favorite Noel Clarke (star of Star Trek Into Darkness, “Doctor Who”) and written by Simon Lewis. SRP is $26.98 for the Blu-ray™, with $22.98 SRP for the DVD. Pre-book is September 2nd.

Traumatized ex-soldier Reeve (Clarke) wakes up in the back of a moving van alongside a young boy (Parkinson) held prisoner. But after helping the boy escape, he comes to the terrifying conclusion that he’s the kidnapper. Even more startling, five years have passed since he was last awake. Ryan soon learns that he’s caught up in a futuristic conspiracy known as “Anomaly,” Ryan’s only connection with reality is the dogged pursuit of Ryan by the elegant but sinister Harkin Langham (Somerhalder), who –when he’s not trying to kill Ryan – explains how to survive his blackouts, lasting exactly 9 minutes and 47 seconds.

As he negotiates switching between parallel universes, Ryan teams up with the mysterious “Dana” (Knapp) to start unraveling the life-threatening mystery in which he’s the explosive center. With Harkin dogging and thwarting his every turn, Ryan must summon all his will to challenge his programmed destiny and regain his humanity.

The Anomaly is produced by UK indie powerhouse companies Unstoppable Entertainment and The Tea Shop and Film Company.

About Anchor Bay Entertainment:
Anchor Bay Entertainment is a leading independent home entertainment company celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2015. Anchor Bay acquires and releases a wide array of filmed entertainment in the theatrical and home entertainment markets, including STARZ Original series, children's entertainment, fitness (Anchor Bay Fitness), sports and specialty films on Blu-ray™ and DVD formats. The company has long-term distribution agreements in place for select programming with The Weinstein Company, AMC Networks and RADiUS, among others. Headquartered in Beverly Hills, CA, Anchor Bay Entertainment (www.anchorbayentertainment.com) is a full service distributor in the North American market. Anchor Bay Entertainment is a Starz (NASDAQ: STRZA, STRZB) business, www.starz.com.

https://www.facebook.com/AnchorBay
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THE ANOMALY Blu-ray™
Street Date:                 October 6, 2015
Pre-book:                     September 2, 2015
Cat. #:                         BD63508
UPC:                           0 1313 263508-8 8
Run Time:                   97 minutes
Rating:                        Not Rated
SRP:                            $26.99

THE ANOMALY DVD
Street Date:                 October 6, 2015
Pre-book:                     September 2, 2015
Cat. #:                         DV63507
UPC:                           0 1313 263507-1 8
Run Time:                   97 minutes
Rating:                        Not Rated
SRP:                            $22.98


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Anchor Bay Entertainment Presents "EARTHFALL" - Coming October 6th to DVD!



GET READY FOR WHAT COULD HAPPEN WHEN PLANETS ALMOST COLLIDE

"EARTHFALL" COMING OCTOBER 6TH TO DVD FROM ANCHOR BAY

On October 6th, Anchor Bay Entertainment releases the sci-fi thriller Earthfall on DVD. Here is the disaster movie that makes San Andreas look like a little shake and a tiny quake, with the outrageous tale of Earth being knocked off of its axis and sent recklessly speeding through space. Will anyone be able to stop all this madness?

Directed by Steven Daniels, Earthfall stars Pressly Coker (The Girl Is in Trouble), Joe Lando (“Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman”), Raffaello Degruttola (Saving Private Ryan) and Diana Hopper (The Wicked). The SRP is $19.98. The pre-book is September 2nd.

The gravity of a rogue planet screaming past Jupiter has flung the Earth from its orbit. Hurled through space, the earth has become a rogue planet itself, causing enormous devastation. The only way the survivors can have a chance is if the Sun can regain its grip on the Earth, and even if it does, the face of the planet will be forever changed. Earthfall asks the questions: If someone told you the world was ending tomorrow, would you believe them? Could you help stop it?

Earthfall is an utterly outlandish and over-the-top sci-fi story that has all the cool and campy ingredients that make for an epic end of world action flick, one that might not be believed…even after it’s seen.

Earthfall DVD
Street Date:                 October 6, 2015
Pre-Book:                    September 2, 2015
UPC #:                        0 1313 2628943
Item:                            DV62894
Audio:                         Dolby Digital 5.1
Format:                        1.78:1 / 16x9
Subtitles:                     English SDH, Spanish
Retail Price:                 $19.98
Genre:                         Sci-Fi
Rating:                        Not Rated
Run Time:                   89 Minutes
Year:                           2014


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HBO Announces New "Game of Thrones" Steelbook Collectors Sets



HBO Home Entertainment® to Release Game of Thrones®
in New SteelbookTM Collectors Sets

Bestselling Title to be the First TV Show on Blu-rayTM with Dolby Atmos® Moving Audio
 
Features Box Art Inspired by Emmy® Award-Winning Opening Credits
 
Seasons 1 & 2 Available November 3, 2015 in Time for Holiday Gifting Season

New York, N.Y., July 1, 2015 - The smash hit HBO series Game of Thrones has sat atop the Iron Throne of the home entertainment charts as the best-selling TV on Blu-ray/DVD title in each of the last four years. The box sets are popular among fans for their extensive bonus content that takes diehard viewers even further into the world of Westeros. Now a new Steelbook collectors release is bringing a whole new dimension to the series with the addition of a Dolby Atmos soundtrack and brand new box art designed by the team that created the series' Emmy® Award-winning title sequence. Seasons 1 and 2 will be available in the new Steelbook format for $79.98 each on November 3, 2015, just in time for holiday gifting season. Seasons 3 and 4 will release on the heels of the first two seasons, with release date details coming soon.

The Steelbook sets feature brand new box art designed by Elastic, the agency responsible for the series' Emmy® Award-winning opening credits. Each Steelbook showcases a specific location that is significant to that season and includes usable magnets on packaging featuring Game of Thrones sigils and symbols:

o  Season 1 packaging features Winterfell, where fans are introduced to the Stark family in the series premiere. The magnet for Season 1 is the direwolf sigil of House Stark.
o   In Season 2, the Lannisters' influence is keenly felt from the Iron Throne and their sigil is included on packaging set in King's Landing, where the season's pivotal Battle of the Blackwater occurs.
o   Season 3 features the magnet sigil of House Frey and their ancestral seat of the Twins-the location of this season's infamous Red Wedding.
o   Season 4 features the icy landscape of Castle Black and the Wall, where the brothers of the Night's Watch fend off an army of wildlings from the far north. The magnet for this season features a crow and Jon Snow's sword, Longclaw.

In addition to all of the bonus content from the previous Blu-ray sets, the Game of Thrones Steelbook is the first TV on Blu-ray title to be released with the revolutionary new audio technology Dolby Atmos. The Blu-ray features a newly remixed Dolby Atmos soundtrack, which places and moves sounds and music anywhere in the room, including overhead, creating a captivating experience that brings entertainment alive all around the audience. With the new Steelbook set, fans can hear Daenerys's dragons swoop past them and feel the soaring score rise and fall around them. To experience Dolby Atmos at home, Dolby Atmos-enabled AV receivers and additional speakers are required; however, Dolby Atmos soundtracks are fully backward compatible with traditional audio configurations and legacy home entertainment equipment and will automatically play in the best possible way.

About Game of Thrones®
Based on George R.R. Martin's fantasy book series A Song of Ice and Fire, the Emmy® Award-winning drama series Game of Thrones follows kings and queens, knights and renegades, liars and noblemen who are engaged in a deadly cat-and-mouse game for control of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros. The epic series' storylines of treachery and nobility, family and honor, ambition and love, and death and survival have captured the imagination of fans globally and made it one of the most popular shows on television. The series recently broke HBO ratings records, averaging more than 19 million viewers throughout season 4. In 2014, Game of Thrones was the most searched TV show on Google and the #1 most talked about show on Facebook.

About HBO Home Entertainment®  
HBO Home Entertainment develops, distributes and markets an extensive array of critically-acclaimed and groundbreaking programs in three formats-Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital HD-throughout the world.  Releases include the global hit Game of Thrones®, the #1 selling TV on DVD/Blu-ray title in major territories throughout the world over the past four years, in addition to current hits and classic favorites including True Detective®, Girls®, The Sopranos®, Sex and the City® True Blood®, The Wire® and Entourage®. The company's catalog contains hundreds of titles including multiple Emmy® Award-winning mini-series The Pacific® and Band of Brothers®, which holds the record through 2014 as the all-time best selling TV on DVD/Blu-ray title in the US;  the Peabody Award-winning children's program Classical Baby; provocative programs from HBO Documentary Films including The Jinx: The Life & Deaths of Robert Durst and The Case Against 8; innovative movies from HBO Films including Game Change and The Normal Heart; hit Cinemax® original series including BansheeSM and Strike Back®; and comedy specials featuring stand-up performers like Bill Maher and Billy Crystal.  Launched in 1984, HBO Home Entertainment has offices in New York, London and Toronto. The company's releases are sold in more than 70 territories around the world and are digitally distributed on a transactional basis across an expanding number of territories and platforms.


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Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Only Six Weeks Left! "The Knick: The Complete First Season" on Blu-ray and DVD August 11



"Fascinating!" - The New York Times

THE KNICK: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON

Season One of the Peabody Award-Winning Cinemax® Series
Available August 11, 2015 on Blu-ray™ and DVD

Early Digital HD Release Set for August 3, 2015

New York, N.Y., June 30, 2015 - Modern medicine had to start somewhere. In the hit Cinemax drama series The Knick, from executive producer Steven Soderbergh (who directed all ten episodes), brilliant surgeon John Thackery (Clive Owen in a Golden Globe-nominated performance) pushes the boundaries of medicine, morality and race relations in 1900 at a downtown NYC hospital known as The Knick. The "must watch" (Entertainment Weekly) and "beautifully crafted" (Los Angeles Times) series broke Cinemax viewing records, becoming the most watched first season of any Cinemax Original Series.

Now, fans will have the chance to take home all ten episodes of the debut season when The Knick: Complete First Season comes to Blu-ray with Digital HD ($39.98) and DVD ($29.98) on August 11, 2015. For even earlier access to The Knick, the season will also be released to Digital HD on August 3.

In The Knick, while Dr. Thackery searches to solve a plethora of medical mysteries and develops an unhealthy addiction to cocaine, which was legal at the time, the fate of The Knickerbocker Hospital hangs in the balance. Thanks to the influence of rich patrons like Cornelia Robertson (Juliet Rylance) Thackery is paired against his will with a young black doctor, Algernon Edwards (André Holland), whose intelligence and at-all-costs methods rivals Thackery's, and who is hired over Thackery's protégé, Dr. Everett Gallinger (Eric Johnson). 

Other supporters of Thackery at the hospital include Dr. "Bertie" Chickering Jr. (Michael Angarano), a young surgeon secretly in love with nurse Lucy Elkins (Eve Hewson), who is drawn to Thackery; Sister Harriet (Cara Seymour), who runs the foundling hospital and maternity ward; Herman Barrow (Jeremy Bobb), the Knick's crooked superintendent, awash in debt and willing to risk The Knick's future to pay it off; and Tom Cleary (Chris Sullivan), the ambulance driver who will stoop to the lowest depths to bring the right kind of patients to The Knick.

The Knick: The Complete First Season
Blu-ray with Digital HD, DVD, & Digital HD
Street Date:      August 11, 2015                       
Order Date:       July 7, 2015
Rating:               TV-MA
Runtime:           Approx. 600 minutes (excluding bonus features)
Price:                 $39.98 Blu-ray with Digital HD (4 discs)                
Price:                 $29.98 DVD (4 discs)                                                          
 
About HBO Home Entertainment®   
HBO Home Entertainment develops, distributes and markets an extensive array of critically-acclaimed and groundbreaking programs in three formats: Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital HD throughout the world.  Releases include the global hit Game of Thrones®, the #1 selling TV on DVD/Blu-ray title in major territories throughout the world over the past four years, in addition to current hits and classic favorites including True Detective®, Girls®, The Sopranos®, Sex and the City® True Blood®, The Wire® and Entourage®. The company's catalog contains hundreds of titles including multiple Emmy Award-winning mini-series The Pacific® and Band of Brothers®, which holds the record through 2014 as the all-time best selling TV on DVD/Blu-ray title in the US;  the Peabody Award-winning children's program Classical Baby; provocative programs from HBO Documentary Films including The Jinx: The Life & Deaths of Robert Durst and The Case Against 8; innovative movies from HBO Films including Game Change and The Normal Heart; hit Cinemax® original series including BansheeSM and Strike Back®; and comedy specials featuring stand-up performers like Bill Maher and Billy Crystal.  Launched in 1984, HBO Home Entertainment has offices in New York, London and Toronto and the company's releases are sold in more than 70 territories around the world and digitally distributes content on a transactional basis on 13 platforms across 8 territories including the major global platforms such as iTunes, Amazon Instant Video, Google Play, Xbox Video and PlayStation Video. 

Buy it at Amazon.com:
Blu-ray
DVD


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Monday, June 29, 2015

THE WALKING DEAD: THE COMPLETE FIFTH SEASON Arriving August 25th on Blu-ray + Digital HD and DVD from Anchor Bay Entertainment!



ANCHOR BAY ENTERTAINMENT
BRINGS HOME THE TERROR AGAIN WITH

AMC’S “THE WALKING DEAD:
THE COMPLETE FIFTH SEASON”
 
EXPERIENCE IT ON BLU-RAY™ + DIGITAL HD
AND DVD AUGUST 25, 2015

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – Five years ago, a man awoke from a coma in a hospital. For sheriff’s deputy Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln), what should have been a cause of celebration became the flash point for five years of unceasing horror, unrelenting personal sacrifice...and one of the most popular TV shows ever broadcast. On August 25th, Anchor Bay Entertainment gives home entertainment fans their annual Walker fix with THE WALKING DEAD: THE COMPLETE FIFTH SEASON Blu-ray™ + Digital HD and DVD releases.

Each 5-disc set presents all sixteen gripping episodes from the series that has single-handedly redefined the zombie genre. True to the tradition of the previously released seasons, THE WALKING DEAD: THE COMPLETE FIFTH SEASON arrives jam-packed with three hours of insightful and provocative bonus features that give viewers yet another inside glimpse into creating the fallen world of the Walkers and the souls brave – and crazy – enough to attempt survival. SRP is $79.99 for the Blu-ray™ + Digital HD, $69.98 for the DVD, with pre-book on July 22nd.

Fans can also look forward to THE WALKING DEAD: THE COMPLETE FIFTH SEASON Limited Edition. Once again, legendary collectibles creator McFarlane Toys has created another must-have unique package for the Blu-ray™ + Digital HD discs. Artwork and release date will be announced shortly.

Based on the comic book series written by Robert Kirkman and published by Image Comics, AMC’s “The Walking Dead” continues to grow in global popularity and audience viewership. The fifth season also saw the introduction of such notable characters from the graphic novel as Father Gabriel Stokes (Seth Gilliam) and the cannibalistic Hunters.

THE WALKING DEAD: THE COMPLETE FIFTH SEASON cast also includes Norman Reedus, Steven Yeun, Lauren Cohan, Danai Gurira, Chandler Riggs, Melissa McBride, Chad L. Coleman, Sonequa Martin-Green, Lawrence Gilliard, Jr., Michael Cudlitz, Emily Kinney, Alanna Masterson, Christian Serratos, Josh McDermitt and Andrew J. West.

“The Walking Dead” Season 6 premieres on AMC this October.

Bonus Features on the Blu-ray™ + Digital HD and DVD include:

•Audio commentaries featuring Showrunner/Executive Producer/Writer Scott M. Gimple, Executive Producer Gale Anne Hurd, Executive Producer Tom Luse, Executive Producer/Special Effects Make-Up Supervisor /Director Greg Nicotero, Director Julius Ramsay; Actors Lauren Cohan, Chad L. Coleman, Michael Cudlitz, Sonequa Martin-Green, Danai Gurira, Alana Masterson, Melissa McBride, Josh McDermitt, Norman Reedus, Christian Serratos and Steven Yuen.
•Deleted Scenes
•Inside “The Walking Dead” 
•The Making of “The Walking Dead” 
•The Making of Alexandria
•Beth’s Journey
•Bob’s Journey
•Noah’s Journey
•Tyreese’s Journey
•A Day in the Life of Michael Cudlitz
•A Day in the Life of Josh McDermitt
•Rotters in the Flesh

About AMC
Whether commemorating favorite films from every genre and decade, or creating acclaimed original programming, AMC brings to its audience something deeper, something richer, Something More. The network reigns as the only cable network in history ever to win the Emmy® Award for Outstanding Drama Series four years in a row with “Mad Men,” and six of the last seven with current back-to-back honoree, “Breaking Bad.” The network boasts the most-watched drama series in basic cable history and the number one show on television among adults 18-49 for the last three years with “The Walking Dead.” AMC’s original drama series include “Mad Men,” “The Walking Dead,” “Better Call Saul,” “Hell on Wheels,” “TURN: Washington’s Spies,” “Halt and Catch Fire,” and the forthcoming “Humans,” “The Making of The Mob: New York,” “Fear the Walking Dead,” “Into the Badlands” and “The Night Manager.” AMC also explores authentic worlds and discussion with original shows like “Talking Dead” and “Comic Book Men.” AMC is owned and operated by AMC Networks Inc. and its sister networks include IFC, SundanceTV, BBC America and WE tv. AMC is available across all platforms, including on-air, online, on demand and mobile. AMC: Something More.

About Anchor Bay Entertainment:
Anchor Bay Entertainment is a leading independent home entertainment company celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2015. Anchor Bay acquires and releases a wide array of filmed entertainment in the theatrical and home entertainment markets, including STARZ Original series, children's entertainment, fitness (Anchor Bay Fitness), sports and specialty films on Blu-ray™ and DVD formats. The company has long-term distribution agreements in place for select programming with The Weinstein Company, AMC Networks and RADiUS, among others. Headquartered in Beverly Hills, CA, Anchor Bay Entertainment (www.anchorbayentertainment.com>) is a full service distributor in the North American market. Anchor Bay Entertainment is a Starz (NASDAQ: STRZA, STRZB) business, www.starz.com>.

https://www.facebook.com/AnchorBay
https://twitter.com/Anchor_Bay
http://instagram.com/anchorbayent
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http://www.pinterest.com/anchorbayent/
http://anchorbay.tumblr.com/


“THE WALKING DEAD: THE COMPLETE FIFTH SEASON”
Blu-ray™ + Digital HD
Street Date:                 August 25, 2015        
Pre-book:                     July 22, 2015
Cat. #:                         BD62900
UPC:                           0-1313 26900-1
Run Time:                   710 minutes
Rating:                        Not Rated
SRP:                            $79.99
Format:                        Widescreen Presentation 1.78:1
Audio:                         English Dolby TrueHD 7.1 and French Dolby Surround 2.0
Subtitles:                     English SDH and Spanish

“THE WALKING DEAD: THE COMPLETE FIFTH SEASON” DVD
Street Date:                 August 25, 2015        
Pre-book:                     July 22, 2015
Cat. #:                         DV62899
UPC:                           0-1313 26899-8
Run Time:                   710 minutes
Rating:                        Not Rated
SRP:                            $69.98
Format:                        Anamorphic Widescreen (1.78:1)
Audio:                         English Dolby Digital 5.1 and French Dolby Surround 2.0
Subtitles:                     English SDH and Spanish



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Saturday, June 27, 2015

"HALLOWEEN COMPLETE COLLECTION" Shines at 2015 Saturn Awards



HALLOWEEN COMPLETE COLLECTION
WINS AT THIS YEAR’S
41ST ANNUAL SATURN AWARDS
 
Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films Recognizes
Anchor Bay Entertainment and Scream Factory™
For “Best DVD/BD Collection Release”
 
BEVERLY HILLS, CA – Four years after the Saturn Awards were born, an indie horror film was released that would transform the genre.  The 1978 John Carpenter terror classic, Halloween, was the beginning of one of the most durable, iconic and copiously studied horror franchises ever created.  Ten films and over three decades later, Anchor Bay Entertainment and Scream Factory released the entire collection on Blu-ray™.  Last evening, the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films awarded the Halloween Complete Collection with the Saturn Award for Best DVD/BD Collection release.   Malek Akkad, son of the original film’s producer Moustapha Akkad and producer of the next installment of Halloween, accepted the honor.  The event was held at the Castaway in Burbank, California and attended by an audience of over 600 attendees. 
 
The release was amidst a field of stellar releases including The Exorcist: The Complete Anthology, Stanley Kubrick: The Masterpiece Collection, Steven Spielberg Director's Collection, Toho Godzilla Collection and Universal Classic Monsters: Complete 30 Film Collection. The Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films was founded in 1972 by Dr. Donald A. Reed to recognize and honor excellence among filmmakers in the science fiction, fantasy, horror and action/adventure/thriller genres.
 
“A huge thank you to the Academy for this award,” commented Trancas International Films’ President Malek Akkad.  “It is quite symbolic and emotional on many levels.  I have to thank the teams at both Anchor Bay and Shout Factory for the tireless work they did on the collection.  It’s crazy to see all the experiences and fantastic memories condensed into one small box.  I also want to thank all the craftsman – actors, writers, directors and especially John Carpenter and Debra Hill for their work on this amazing franchise.  Most of all though, I want to thank my father, Moustapha Akkad, who produced the first eight films.  He loved the franchise, the fans and everything about it.  It is on his behalf that I’m accepting this Saturn.”

In a historic partnership with Scream Factory, the Halloween Complete Collection Blu-ray™ presents all the films in the iconic Halloween film franchise in a single package – all 10 films packaged together for the first time, including the newly restored Halloween 6 Curse of Michael Myers Producers Cut, the Halloween 35TH Anniversary Edition, the two Rob Zombie films, and hours of NEW bonus features that will thrill fans of the legendary franchise and fans of modern horror cinema.


About Trancas International Films
Trancas International Films is a motion picture production and distribution company based primarily in Los Angeles, California, but operating worldwide.  In addition to numerous other films in its library, Trancas, along with its subsidiary, Compass International Pictures, has been involved with each film in the Halloween franchise.  Trancas most recently completed production on the motion picture Free Fall starring D.B. Sweeney, Sarah Butler and Halloween Alum Malcolm McDowell.  The company is currently working on Halloween Returns with Dimension Films set for release in 2016. 
 
About Anchor Bay Entertainment
Anchor Bay Entertainment is a leading independent home entertainment company celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2015.  Anchor Bay acquires and releases a wide array of filmed entertainment in the theatrical and home entertainment markets, including STARZ Original series, children's entertainment, fitness (Anchor Bay Fitness), sports and specialty films on Blu-ray™ and DVD formats.  The company has long-term distribution agreements in place for select programming with The Weinstein Company, AMC Networks and RADiUS, among others.  Headquartered in Beverly Hills, CA, Anchor Bay Entertainment (www.anchorbayentertainment.com) is a full service distributor in the North American market.  Anchor Bay Entertainment is a Starz (NASDAQ: STRZA, STRZB) business, www.starz.com.
 
About Scream Factory and Shout! Factory
Shout! Factory, LLC is a diversified multi-platform entertainment company devoted to producing, uncovering, preserving and revitalizing the very best of pop culture. Founders Richard Foos, Bob Emmer and Garson Foos have spent their entire careers sharing their music, television and film favorites with discerning consumers the world over. Shout! Factory’s DVD and Blu-Ray™ offerings serve up feature films, classic and contemporary TV series, animation, live music and comedy specials in lavish packages crammed with extras.  Shout’s audio division boasts GRAMMY®-nominated box sets, new releases from storied artists, lovingly assembled album reissues and indispensable “best of” compilations.  In addition, Shout! Factory maintains a vast digital distribution network which delivers video and audio content to all the leading digital service providers in North America.  Shout! Factory also owns and operates Timeless Media Group, Biograph Records, Majordomo Records, HighTone Records and Video Time Machine. These riches are the result of a creative acquisition mandate that has established the company as a hotbed of cultural preservation and commercial reinvention.  Shout! Factory is based in Santa Monica, California. For more on Shout! Factory, visit shoutfactory.com

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Buy it at Amazon.com

Read our previous coverage of this set
HERE and HERE

Read our review of HALLOWEEN


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Wednesday, June 24, 2015

ARIZONA FLATS -- Movie Review by Porfle



One of those weepy ensemble pieces about a family on the fritz, writer-director Susan K. Brigham's ARIZONA FLATS, aka "Greasewood Flat" (2003), presses all the "feelgood" and "downer" buttons in turn while trying not to be one of the duller knives in the drama drawer.

Currently estranged from the rest of his clan, blues guitarist Johnny (Chip Adams) and his drummer/partner Fred (the ubiquitous Mark Boone Junior, who was "Stinky Man" in SE7EN and the motel clerk in MEMENTO) must retreat to the desert homeplace of Johnny's hard-luck family after failing as nightclub performers. 

Although Johnny's dying mom Janette (Virginia Hawkins) is thrilled to see him, former hostilities between him and headstrong sister Claire (Allison Stander-Marley) are reawakened while Claire's tweener daughter Sarah (Jamie Johnsen-Brigham) doesn't quite know what to think of these two guys.
 

Claire's about to lose the homeplace due to financial woes, which will include their outdoor restaurant and bar, Greasewood Flat, and their small horse ranch.  Restaurant employees include pretty waitress Abbey (Irene Bedard, the speaking voice of Disney's "Pocahontas"), who lives in an old Airstream trailer on the premises, and Henry the bartender (Kieran Mulroney, George's "double-dip" accuser on "Seinfeld"), who pines for Abbey although she sees him only as a friend.

While poor Janette's impending demise hangs over everyone like the sword of Damoclese, the various characters interact in ways that bring out the sappiness in them all.  Johnny is both rebellious and confused and just doesn't fit in, Claire resents him for running away and leaving her with all the family responsibities, Sarah can't quite find herself, and Abbey's driving poor Henry nuts even as she starts to fall for Johnny. 

All of this is conveyed not through scintillating dialogue (it never quite reaches that level) but by often mawkish exchanges filled with doe-eyed smiles, humid hugs, and voices softly cracking with emotion, periodically giving way to sudden outbreaks of forced, wildly emotional behavior such as Claire venting her spleen at Johnny and making him all hurt and pensive. 



Even more awkward is the scene in which Johnny and Abbey finally get together in her trailer, or try to anyway, during which Abbey freaks out for reasons unknown to Johnny and causes the encounter to turn creepy.  (The fact that Johnny has no natural charm whatsoever doesn't help.)

Claire finally blows up at him real good and he runs off to find himself through a series of aimless montages.  Meanwhile, Fred's animal-like, sweetly-stupid persona ingratiates him with the family and he finds his heart's desire living in their barn and helping with the chores. 

What the leisurely-paced movie takes its time leading up to is the big night in which Greasewood Flat gets a makeover as a fancy dance club with live music--that is, if Johnny can get his act together and play--and a $500 dance contest prize that will hopefully pack 'em in.  By this point, the movie has hit its modest stride and we can finally settle in and watch everything resolve itself, more or less.


(I viewed a barebones screener and thus can't comment on DVD details.)

Will the new, improved Greasewood Flat be a success?  Will Johnny and Fred slay 'em with their music?  Will Janette stay alive long enough to hear them?  Will Henry go postal over Abbey?  Will Claire keep it all together?  Will we care?  As for that last thing, I stuck with ARIZONA FLATS long enough to end up caring (sorta) about what happened to these people by the fadeout, although getting there was a chore even old Fred might find daunting. 

Buy it at Amazon.com
Official site

Tech Specs
Runtime: 88 minutes
Format: 1:85 Flat
Sound: Dolby SR
Country: USA
Language: English


 


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Sunday, June 21, 2015

LOLA'S LOVE SHACK -- DVD Review by Porfle

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.
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DAWN OF THE CRESCENT MOON -- Movie Review by Porfle




The opening teaser is the usual "teen couple killed by unseen menace" thing, followed by a very leisurely main titles sequence, and then we meet Barry Corbin as irascible old bartender Cyrus regaling some city folk who've wandered into his country tavern with stories of the local "Legend of Blood Lake."  

After that, DAWN OF THE CRESCENT MOON (2014) dissolves to a group of college kids coming to town to research the tale for their Myths and Legends class.  We expect the same old stereotypes from previous dead-teenager flicks, but this bunch isn't that bad--Lanie (Lauren Leal) is blonde but not that dumb, Nick (Edward Hong) is a brainy Asian kid but not all that nerdy, group leader Michael (Kurt Cole) is a straight-arrow type who isn't a stiff, and crude, fratboy-type Penn (Johnny Walter) is...well, okay, he's a crude fratboy-type.  But even he gets all emo during the "campfire confessions" scene.

In said scene, which takes place after the gang have set up camp out at Blood Lake for what definitely doesn't promise to be a fun-filled weekend, everyone opens up about their most intimate, soul-baring secrets.  Very little of interest has happened by this point in the film and the campfire scene, like most of the scenes before it, really starts to drag. Only the presence of gorgeous Dawn (Shiree Nelson), a town girl who's helping the kids out for some reason, kept me from dozing off.


Still, we learn some things that will be important later on, and we also find out that the final member of the group, disturbed Goth loner Mara (Brooke Coleman), sees dead people.  Mention a dead person you've known during your intimate confession, and chances are Mara can see that person standing right next to you.

As you might guess, these dead people start popping up all over the place and forcing our protagonists to face certain bad things that have happened to them in their lives, for better or worse.  It isn't very scary, and you might get the impression that you're watching a big outdoor group therapy session that mixes the paranormal with a Hallmark Channel original. 

The part that does try to give us the willies is how the massacre of a Comanche tribe by Texas Rangers back in the cowboy days has left a horde of very unquiet ghosts roaming around the lake and terrorizing anyone who tries to find the Comanche chief's gold which was given to him by the Great Spirit. 


If you're having trouble following any of that, rest assured that the details don't really matter.  The ghosts, dressed in hooded robes and appearing out of nowhere armed with big hooks like the spectral pirates in John Carpenter's THE FOG, aren't too scary at all and the film, while teasing us a couple of times, doesn't try to pull off a single gory kill. 

After a lot of running around in the woods with not that much entertainment value to show for it, we get a resolution of the main ghostly concerns on the part of both the Native Americans and the emotionally-wounded college kids.  I would've preferred a horrific free-for-all of stalking, slashing mayhem, but it turns out that this isn't really that kind of movie.  The only really "Night Gallery" type of thing that happens is when one of the kids turns out to be a really bad person and suffers a poetic-justice comeuppance. 

Performances are good, with familiar face Barry Corbin (WARGAMES, THE GRAND, THAT EVENING SUN) serving as a sort of master of ceremonies as he reels off these various stories and legends from behind his bar.  The film itself is very low-budget, although director Kirk Loudon does nice work and manages to keep things watchable enough. 


(I viewed a barebones screener of the film and thus cannot comment on tech specs or extra features.)

If you're looking for a bloody teen slasher flick or a supernatural thriller that'll have you jumping out of your seat, then DAWN OF THE CRESCENT MOON probably won't do it for you.  If you'll settle for a mildly spooky tale that's passably entertaining provided you don't expect too much, it might.

Buy it at Amazon.com
Official website
Street date: July 28, 2015

Runtime: 95 minutes
Format: 1:85 Flat
Sound: Dolby SR
Genre: Mystery/Horror
Country: USA
Language: English


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Thursday, June 18, 2015

FRIDAY THE 13TH's Adrienne King Makes a Rare Appearance in "ALL AMERICAN BULLY"



Friday the 13th Final Girl Adrienne King
Co-Stars in All American Bully
Available Nationwide On DVD and VOD June 23rd

New York, NY - Wild Eye Releasing has put a famous face to the ever-present topic of bullying in schools.  Adrienne King (Friday the 13th) makes a rare appearance on the screen as a tyrannical principal with a secret in All American Bully, coming to DVD and VOD June 23rd.

Three friends try to cope after one of them is victimized by a bully, and their lives are slowly torn apart as the they fall deeper into a twisted web of buried secrets, ignorance, and revenge.  Through it all, Principal Kane (King) rules her small town high school with an iron fist, teaching harsh lessons to students and faculty alike.  The vicious cycle leads to a disturbing and violent conclusion where it turns out no one is truly innocent.


All American Bully (Official Trailer)

The DVD release of All American Bully (SRP $14.95) will exclusively include behind the scenes interviews and and trailers. 

Order All American Bully on DVD
Reserve at Redbox



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Wednesday, June 17, 2015

"THE RED ROAD: THE COMPLETE SECOND SEASON" Coming September 22nd to DVD from Anchor Bay Entertainment



“Season 2 is even more intense than the first.”
-The Wrap
 
ANCHOR BAY ENTERTAINMENT
PROUDLY RELEASES
“THE RED ROAD:
THE COMPLETE SECOND SEASON”

The Stunning Next Chapter on DVD September 22, 2015

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – On September 22nd, Anchor Bay Entertainment releases the critically acclaimed SundanceTV series “The Red Road: The Complete Second Season” on DVD. Available as a 2-disc set, “The Red Road: The Complete Second Season” contains all 6 episodes of the surprising season of the series that has become required viewing for those who want the best in cutting-edge drama. The release also contains an in-depth bonus feature about the making of this powerful show, including behind-the-scenes footage and interviews that give you an insider’s view of this uncompromising series.

“The Red Road” is a gripping, dramatic thriller that centers around two clashing communities: a Native American tribe and the small town with which they are forced to coexist. The long-awaited federal recognition of the tribe has exacerbated decades-old tensions and history. The fates of Harold Jensen and Phillip Kopus are once again tied as the relationship between their communities becomes volatile.

“The Red Road: The Complete Second Season” picks up a year after season one with Phillip on parole and trying to stay out of trouble. But things have changed, Sheriff Harold Jensen has become a lieutenant and the tribe is now officially recognized by the government and in talks to build a casino. Values, allegiances and allies are now more in question than ever before.

Back for season two are Jason Momoa (“Game of Thrones,” Road to Paloma), Martin Henderson (Devil’s Knot, The Ring), Julianne Nicholson (“Masters of Sex,” August: Osage County), Tamara Tunie (“Law and Order: Special Victims Unit,” “The Good Wife”), Lisa Bonet (High Fidelity, “The Cosby Show”), Allie Gonino (“The Lying Game,” Hidden Away), Kiowa Gordon (The Twilight Saga, Wind Walkers) and Golden Globe® nominee Tom Sizemore (Saving Private Ryan, Black Hawk Down, Pearl Harbor, Heat), while Native American actor Wes Studi (Road to Paloma, “Hell on Wheels”) joins the exceptional cast as tribal chief Levi.

Here is the acclaimed and addictive “The Red Road: The Complete Second Season” in one package that’s ready for your binge watching pleasure! You’ll take an unforgettable journey into dark family secrets, battles of the conscience, lies of the heart…and the struggle to find a road to redemption.


About SundanceTV
SundanceTV is making and celebrating television as distinctive as the best independent films. Working with today’s most remarkable talent, SundanceTV is attracting viewer and critical acclaim for its original scripted and unscripted series. Launched in 1996 and owned and operated by AMC Networks Inc., SundanceTV delivers on the spirit of founder Robert Redford’s mission to celebrate creativity.  www.sundance.tv

About Anchor Bay Entertainment:
Anchor Bay Entertainment is a leading independent home entertainment company celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2015. Anchor Bay acquires and releases a wide array of filmed entertainment in the theatrical and home entertainment markets, including STARZ Original series, children's entertainment, fitness (Anchor Bay Fitness), sports and specialty films on Blu-ray™ and DVD formats. The company has long-term distribution agreements in place for select programming with The Weinstein Company, AMC Networks and RADiUS, among others. Headquartered in Beverly Hills, CA, Anchor Bay Entertainment (www.anchorbayentertainment.com) is a full service distributor in the North American market. Anchor Bay Entertainment is a Starz (NASDAQ: STRZA, STRZB) business, www.starz.com

“The Red Road: The Complete Second Season” DVD
Street Date:                  September 22, 2015          
Pre-book:                     August 19, 2015
Cat. #:                          DV63662
UPC:                            0 1313 2636627
Run Time:                    265 Minutes
Rating:                         Not Rated
SRP:                             $29.98
Format:                        1.78:1/16x9
Audio:                          Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles:                      English SDH and Spanish

Read our review of Season One


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Tuesday, June 16, 2015

Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection 'F' Hits U.S. Theaters August 2015



FUNIMATION ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCES WORLD DUB PREMIERE OF “DRAGON BALL Z: RESURRECTION ‘F’”

Premiere to be Held July 2 at Regal LA LIVE during Anime Expo 2015 in Los Angeles


FLOWER MOUND, TEXAS – June 16, 2015. FUNimation Entertainment announced today that the world premiere of the English dub of “Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection ‘F’” will be held on Thursday, July 2, 2015 at 8:00 p.m. at the Regal LA LIVE Stadium 14 in Los Angeles, Calif.  The premiere coincides with opening night of Anime Expo 2015 — the largest anime and manga convention in North America. FUNimation recently completed principal production of the English dub for the movie which was written by series creator Akira Toriyama and directed by Naoyoshi Yamamuro. 
 
Actors Seán Schemmel and Christopher R. Sabat, starring in the roles of Goku and Vegeta respectively, will be attending the premiere, which will also feature a red carpet event prior to the screening.  Schemmel and Sabat are reprising their roles from last year’s highly-successful “Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods.”

“We’re pleased to premiere the English dub of “Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection ‘F’” during Anime Expo 2015,” said Gen Fukunaga, CEO and founder of FUNimation. “Our cast and crew have done an amazing job with the dub. Fans will enjoy every minute of it — from the first scene through the ending credits.”

“Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection ‘F’” is the 20th film in the Dragon Ball franchise.  The story is the follow-up to “Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods” and showcases the return of Frieza — one of the greatest villains in all of anime. The new film will screen in theaters across the U.S. and Canada from August 4 - 12, 2015.  Fans are invited to sign up at www.dragonballz.com to be alerted when ticketing opens later this month.  Subscribers can also look forward to receiving exclusive offers, sneak peeks, and other news about the film.

A limited amount of tickets to the premiere will be made available to fans and the general public.
 
For more information on Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection ‘F’, please visit www.dragonballz.com.
Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/dragonballz  & www.facebook.com/funimation , and follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/funimation.
 
Watch the teaser trailer
 
About FUNimation® Entertainment
FUNimation® Entertainment is the leading anime company in North America. FUNimation has a proven formula for launching and advancing brands. They manage a full spectrum of rights for most of their brands including broadcasting, licensing, production, Internet, and home video sales and distribution. For more information about FUNimation Entertainment and its brands, visit www.funimation.com.



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Monday, June 15, 2015

"He's A Bully, Charlie Brown"--Enjoy the Peanuts Gang Again in This All New Compilation!



STORIES OF COURAGE AND HEART ARE FEATURED ON
HE’S A BULLY, CHARLIE BROWN

A NEW PEANUTS COMPILATION FROM
WARNER BROS. HOME ENTERTAINMENT
AVAILABLE OCTOBER 6, 2015
 
Release aligns with Anti-Bullying Month in Support of Educating and Raising Awareness of Bullying Prevention
 
BURBANK, CA (June 15, 2015) -- Important life lessons are learned by the Peanuts gang, on He’s a Bully, Charlie Brown available October 6, 2015 from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment (WBHE). This heartwarming collection brings together two Peanuts specials that are paired with an episode of The Charlie Brown & Snoopy Show, that have been brilliantly remastered in all-new 4K Ultra HD transfers to DVD. In this must-own compilation, Charlie Brown is called upon to stand up for one of his pals, who is taken advantage of by a bully at summer camp. This title will be released in time for National Bullying Prevention Month, which takes place in October. He’s a Bully, Charlie Brown will retail for $19.97 SRP.

With school out for summer, Charlie Brown and his pals set out for camp. Rerun van Pelt, Lucy’s youngest brother, brings his prized collection of marbles, which once belonged to his grandfather, Felix, an award-winning marbles champ. Rerun is determined to become a marble master just like his grandpa but first, he must find someone who will teach him how to play the game.

At camp, Rerun meets Joe Agate, a tough-talking and disrespectful older boy who takes advantage of Rerun’s naiveté and cons him out of all his grandpa Felix’s marbles. A devastated Rerun confides in Charlie Brown, who is so disgusted by Joe’s behavior that he decides to stand up to him, with the help of Snoopy as Joe Cool, of course. Will Charlie Brown summon the courage to face the awful Joe Agate and win back Rerun’s beloved marbles?


In It was a Short Summer, Charlie Brown, which is also featured on this release, it’s a hilarious battle of boys against girls, with Snoopy having to get in the middle of it all.  At summer camp, the Peanuts gang put up with poor food and the girls winning all the sports competitions. To get even, the boys challenge them to an arm-wrestling contest between Lucy and “The Masked Marvel” – aka Snoopy in disguise. Will the boys triumph or stay defeated?

He’s a Bully, Charlie Brown also features an episode of The Charlie Brown & Snoopy Show, which includes four delightful segments, including Shoveling, Rerun, Lost Blanket and The Manager.

“He’s a Bully, Charlie Brown, sends a powerful message. From time to time, we’re all faced with situations in which we have to be strong, courageous and stand up for what we believe is right,” said Mary Ellen Thomas, Vice President Family & Animation Marketing. She added, “We’re delighted to release this inspiring collection. If you love Peanuts, this is one title you won’t want to miss.”
  


The Credits

About Peanuts Worldwide
The PEANUTS characters and related intellectual property are owned by Peanuts Worldwide LLC, a joint venture owned 80% by Iconix Brand Group, Inc. About Iconix Brand Group, Inc. Iconix Brand Group, Inc. owns, licenses and markets a growing portfolio of consumer brands including: CANDIE'S (R), BONGO (R), BADGLEY MISCHKA (R), JOE BOXER (R), RAMPAGE (R), MUDD (R), MOSSIMO (R), LONDON FOG (R), OCEAN PACIFIC (R), DANSKIN (R), ROCAWEAR (R), CANNON (R), ROYAL VELVET (R), FIELDCREST (R), CHARISMA (R), STARTER (R), WAVERLY (R), ZOO YORK (R), SHARPER IMAGE (R), UMBRO (R), LEE COOPER (R), ECKO UNLTD. (R), MARC ECKO (R) and STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE (R). In addition, Iconix owns interests in the ARTFUL DODGER (R), MATERIAL GIRL (R), PEANUTS (R), ED HARDY (R), TRUTH OR DARE (R), BILLIONAIRE BOYS CLUB (R), ICE CREAM (R), MODERN AMUSEMENT (R), BUFFALO (R), NICK GRAHAM (R) and PONY (R) brands. The Company licenses its brands to a network of leading retailers and manufacturers that touch every major segment of retail distribution from the luxury market to the mass market in both the U.S. and worldwide. Through its in-house business development, merchandising, advertising and public relations departments, Iconix manages its brands to drive greater consumer awareness and equity.

About Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Inc.
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment (WBHE) brings together Warner Bros. Entertainment's home video, digital distribution and interactive entertainment businesses in order to maximize current and next-generation distribution scenarios. An industsary leader since its inception, WBHE oversees the global distribution of content through packaged goods (Blu-ray Disc™ and DVD) and digital media in the form of electronic sell-through and video-on-demand via cable, satellite, online and mobile channels, and is a significant developer and publisher for console and online video game titles worldwide. WBHE distributes its product through third party retail partners and licensees.

WBShop.com



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Saturday, June 13, 2015

PEARL -- Movie Review by Porfle



Way, way low-budget urban crime and violent-revenge thrills highlight the blood-splattered character study PEARL, aka "Pearl: The Assassin" (2013), directed by first-timer Guy Patton and starring his wife Dana in the title role. 

The story gets right into the swing of things with Pearl cleaning up after what must've been one heck of a pool hall melee by shooting one guy execution style and beating another to death with a pipe.  (Later she'll slit a pimp's throat with a straight-razor for good measure.)

After this cheerful opening we'll get intermittent flashbacks of whatever event it was that has driven her to get bloody revenge against dealers, pimps, and other lawbreakers, with much of it hinging on some drug-filled teddy bears.  This will bring her into direct conflict with the city's baddest drug lord, Tre (Justin Brown), and his big, scary henchman Swiss (Robert Pettiford), neither of whom you'd want to run afoul of.


Fortunately, the movie isn't all grim and ghoulish, since there's some amusing character interplay between grizzled old homicide detective Wyatt (George Morafetis) and an enthusiastic young CSI examiner named Trunks (Johnathan Fernandez) who thinks crime scenes are fun. 

As the hard-luck Erik, a brainy but flaky meth addict who makes the stuff for Tre in order to feed his habit, Scott Michael Morales also gives even the grittiest scenes a twinge of edgy comedy, particulary early on when Pearl keeps wrapping him in duct tape and threatening to dismember him if he doesn't cooperate with her. They eventually evolve into an entertainingly incompatible team, and we discover that even Erik has personal reasons for wanting to bring down Tre.

Pearl can't fight for beans, which is fitting since the director can't choreograph fight scenes for beans either.  But he does fairly well with the bang-bang stuff and other nasty violence, including shoot-outs, explosions, etc., with an economy that cleverly hints at more than is actually shown.  The script, which the Pattons collaborated on together, also generates enough tension to get us through the slower spots between the action. 


The rest of the supporting cast is good, including Jeff Kim as a benevolent young priest named Daniel who grew up with Pearl and grudgingly helps in her mission, to his eventual regret.  Justin Brown makes for a good bad guy as Tre, whose utter ruthlessness is shockingly captured in his first scene when we see how he deals with the happy news of his girlfriend's pregnancy.

Dana Patton is somewhat one-note in the title role, although to be fair the character is pretty much written that way.  At any rate she carries herself well as the sad-faced but unflinching avenger.  

(I reviewed a barebones screener for this Indican Pictures DVD release and thus can't comment on any tech specs or bonus features.)

Despite an abrupt ending and sparse production values that some viewers will find off-putting, PEARL is a fairly engaging showcase for a promising director working within a very limited budget.  Not a great film by any means, but an okay way to pass the time until a better one comes along. 
 
http://www.pearlfilm.com
http://www.indicanpictures.com/indicanpictures/pearl/


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