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'xXx: Return of Xander Cage' Announced for Blu-ray and Ultra HD Blu-ray[teaser]Vin Diesel returns as the titular action hero on both formats this May. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Paramount has revealed 'xXx: Return of Xander Cage' will be available on Blu-ray and Ultra HD Blu-ray on May 16. The third explosive chapter of the blockbuster franchise that redefined the spy thriller finds extreme athlete turned government operative Xander Cage (Vin Diesel) coming out of self-imposed exile and on a collision course with deadly alpha warrior Xiang and his team in a race to recover a sinister and seemingly unstoppable weapon known as Pandora's Box. Recruiting an all-new group of thrill-seeking cohorts, Xander finds himself enmeshed in a deadly conspiracy that points to collusion at the highest levels of world governments. Packed with the series' signature deadpan wit and bad-ass attitude, "xXx:RETURN OF XANDER CAGE" will raise the bar on extreme action with some of the most mind-blowing stunts to ever be caught on film. Each release will feature a Dolby Atmos soundtrack and supplements include: Third Time's the Charm: Xander Returns; Rebels, Tyrants & Ghosts: The Cast; Opening Pandora's Box: On Location; I Live for This Sh#t!: Stunts; and Gag Reel. You can find the latest specs for 'xXx: Return of Xander Cage' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under May 16. Order the Blu-ray Order the 4K Blu-rayPosted Wed Mar 22, 2017 at 09:54 AM PDT by: -
Paul W.S. Anderson's 'Resident Evil: The Final Chapter' Dated for Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray[teaser]Alice returns to kick more undead ass on both formats this May. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Sony has revealed 'Resident Evil: The Final Chapter' will be available on Blu-ray and Ultra HD Blu-ray on May 16. Picking up after Resident Evil: Retribution, Alice (Milla Jovovich) is the only survivor of what was meant to be humanity's final stand against the undead. Now, she must return to where the nightmare began – The Hive in Raccoon City, where the Umbrella Corporation is gathering its forces for a final strike against the only remaining survivors of the apocalypse. Specs have yet to be revealed, but supplements include: "Explore the Hive" Featurette; "The Badass Trinity & The Women of Resident Evil" Featurette; "Stunts & Weaponry" Featurette; Retaliation Mode; and Sneak Peek: Resident Evil: Vendetta. You can find the latest specs for 'Resident Evil: The Final Chapter' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under May 16.Posted Tue Mar 21, 2017 at 10:06 AM PDT by: -
'Fifty Shades Darker' Announced and Detailed for Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray[teaser]The steamy sequel starring Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson is headed for home video in May. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Universal Studios is working on 'Fifty Shades Darker' for Blu-ray and Ultra HD Blu-ray on May 9. When a wounded Christian Grey (Jamie Dornan, "The Fall," Anthropoid) tries to entice a cautious Anastasia Steele (Dakota Johnson, How to Be Single, Black Mass) back into his life, she demands a new arrangement before she will give him another chance. As the two begin to build trust and find stability, shadowy figures from Christian's past start to circle the couple. Jack Hyde (Eric Johnson, "The Knick," "Smallville") and Elena Lincoln (Kim Basinger, L.A. Confidential, 9 ½ Weeks) intensify the story, determined to destroy the couple's hopes for a future together. Each release will include both the theatrical and unrated cuts of the film with DT S:X audio and supplements include: A Darker Direction – Director James Foley explains how his vision had to meet with fans' expectations; New Threats – An introduction to some new, dark and threatening characters, including Jack Hyde, Leila and, of course, Elena Lincoln – aka Mrs. Robinson!; The Masquerade – This featurette about one of the film's most iconic scenes — the masquerade benefit event at Grey Mansion — explores the production design and costumes and goes behind-the-scenes with the filmmakers and main cast members; Intimate With Darker – An intense look and discussion about the intimate, sensual and provocative world of Fifty Shades Darker, including a visit to the Red Room and, of course, the new "toys!"; Deleted Scenes; A Tease to Fifty Shades Freed – A tease to the next Fifty Shades film; Writing Darker – Author E.L. James and screenwriter Niall Leonard trace back the history of the book and introduce viewers to the much darker story and its adaptation to the big screen; and Dark Reunion – The filmmakers and cast members discuss being reunited for this second film, and where we find Ana, Christian and their friends. You can find the latest specs for 'Fifty Shades Darker' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under May 9. Order the Blu-ray Order the 4K Blu-rayPosted Tue Mar 21, 2017 at 09:28 AM PDT by: -
'Planet Earth II' Dated & Detailed for Blu-ray & Ultra HD Blu-ray[teaser]The documentary series is heading to Blu-ray and Ultra HD Blu-ray later this month.[/teaser] As previously reported, BBC is preparing 'Planet Earth II' for Blu-ray and Ultra HD Blu-ray, and now the release date has been set for March 28. Travelling through jungles, deserts, mountains, islands, grasslands and cities, Planet Earth II explores the unique characteristics of Earth's most iconic habitats and the extraordinary ways animals survive within them. New technology has allowed individual stories to be captured in an unparalleled level of detail and for the first time viewers will be immersed in incredible landscapes and share the most dramatic moments in the lives of animals. From spellbinding wildlife spectacle to intimate encounters, Planet Earth II will take you closer than ever before. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video while the Ultra HD Blu-ray will feature 2160p video. Both releases will feature DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtracks, and supplements will include Planet Earth Diaries. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $44.95. Suggested list price for the Ultra HD Blu-ray is 59.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Planet Earth II' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule and our Ultra HD Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under March 28. Order the Ultra HD Blu-ray Order the Blu-rayPosted Fri Mar 17, 2017 at 08:00 AM PDT by: -
Damien Chazelle's 'La La Land' Dated & Detailed for Blu-ray & Ultra HD Blu-ray[teaser]The musical starring Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling is dancing toward Blu-ray and Ultra HD Blu-ray in April.[/teaser] As previously reported, Lionsgate is preparing 'La La Land' for Blu-ray and Ultra HD Blu-ray, and the release date has now been announced as April 25. Written and directed by Academy Award (R) nominee Damien Chazelle, LA LA LAND tells the story of Mia [Emma Stone], an aspiring actress, and Sebastian [Ryan Gosling], a dedicated jazz musician, who are struggling to make ends meet in a city known for crushing hopes and breaking hearts. Set in modern day Los Angeles, this original musical about everyday life explores the joy and pain of pursuing your dreams. The Ultra HD Blu-ray and Blu-ray will both feature Dolby Atmos soundtracks, and supplements will include: - Audio Commentary with writer/director Damien Chazelle and composer Justin Hurwitz- 10 Featurettes- Damien & Justin Sing: The Demos- Song Selection Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $24.99. Suggested list price for the Ultra HD Blu-ray is $42.99. You can find the latest specs for 'La La Land' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule and our Ultra HD Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under April 25. Order the Ultra HD Blu-ray Order the Blu-rayPosted Wed Mar 15, 2017 at 12:00 PM PDT by: -
Clint Eastwood's 'Unforgiven' Headed for Ultra HD Blu-ray[teaser]The Best Picture Oscar-winner is coming to the 4K format in May. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Warner Brothers says 'Unforgiven - Ultra HD Blu-ray' will be available on May 23. The passage of time continues to confirm the landmark achievement of Unforgiven, quite possibly a great director's finest film. Winner of 4 Academy Awards including Best Picture, Director (Clint Eastwood), Supporting Actor (Gene Hackman) and Editing (Joel Cox), Unforgiven stars Eastwood and Morgan Freeman as retired outlaws who pick up their gun one last time to collect a bounty. Richard Harris is an ill-fated killer-for-hire, Hackman is a sly lawman of chilling brutality, and "Unforgiven is a classic Western for the ages" (Todd McCarthy, Variety). The release will feature 2160p video, and supplements include: Audio Commentary by Clint Eastwood biographer Richard Schickel; Four Documentaries; Classic Maverick Episode - Duel at Sundown; and Original Theatrical Trailer. You can find the latest specs for 'Unforgiven - Ultra HD Blu-ray' linked from our UHD Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under May 23. Order the Blu-rayPosted Fri Mar 10, 2017 at 01:00 PM PST by: -
High-Def Digest Essentials: February 2017Every month, dozens of Blu-rays hit shelves, littering stores with High-Def temptation. New releases, catalog titles, complete TV seasons, and elaborate box-sets all vie for attention, and with so many worthy releases targeting our wallets, choosing which discs to spend our hard earned cash on can be rather tricky. To make things a little easier, we here at High-Def Digest thought it might be helpful to bring you our top three must own recommendations for the month. From important classics to contemporary blockbusters, these are the discs that we consider to be the absolute cream of the crop. High quality releases with great video, audio, and supplements, these are the Blu-rays that are truly worth every penny. Last month we spotlighted a quintessential screwball comedy, a harrowing disaster film, and a delicate animated adventure. Be sure to check out the Essential Picks for November 2012, December 2012, January 2013,February 2013, March 2013, April 2013, May 2013, June 2013, July 2013, August 2013, September 2013, October 2013, November 2013, December 2013, January 2014, February 2014, March 2014, April 2014, May 2014, June 2014, July 2014, August 2014, September 2014, October 2014, November 2014,December 2014, January 2015, February 2015, March 2015, April 2015, May 2015, June 2015, July 2015, August 2015, September 2015, October 2015, November 2015, December 2015, January 2016, February 2016, March 2016, April 2016, May 2016, June 2016, July 2016, August 2016, September 2016, October 2016, November 2016, December 2016, and January 2017. [teaser]For February, we're covering a romantic trilogy, a sci-fi drama, and a super hero adventure.[/teaser] Please be aware, that if you haven't already seen them, there are some SPOILERS for the discs listed. If you only buy three titles that hit Blu-ray in February, here's what we suggest you pick up, starting with the most essential... 'The Before Trilogy' - Love is an ongoing conversation. It can be exciting and awkward and scary to start. And it requires work and effort and active participation from all parties to keep going and growing and evolving. Fully examining this notion in ways both figurative and quite literal, Richard Linklater's 'Before Trilogy' captures one couple's romance through three distinct yet irrevocably connected phases -- creating one unified cinematic conversation about love, change, and human connection. Blending a dialogue heavy presentation with a loose narrative construction and understated visuals, Linklater essentially crafts three movies that more or less follow one couple, Jesse and Celine (Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy), as they walk and talk their way through Vienna, Paris, and Greece. All the while, they discuss the general mysteries of existence while they fall in love, part ways, reconnect, get together, and ultimately face the mounting flaws in their once idyllic romance. Shifting nine years with each new installment, the trilogy sees the characters and cast age from their twenties to their thirties to their forties, weaving in real life inspirations from the cast and filmmaker's own experiences in love, marriage, and parenthood. A perfect encapsulation of the director's unassuming, everyday approach to arthouse cinema, the trilogy ultimately paints a deceptively striking and realistic picture of relationships through an affecting tug of war between romanticism and cynicism. With 'The Before Trilogy,' Linklater, Hawke, and Delpy form one of contemporary film's most rewarding collaborations, resulting in a perfectly complementary fusing of their individual artistic gifts and perspectives, elevating the material in ways that would simply be impossible if one link were removed. Collected in a comprehensive boxset complete with a wealth of interesting supplements and an authentic technical presentation, these three films have been given the special treatment that they deserve, giving viewers the opportunity to revisit Jesse and Celine's ongoing conversation whenever they want. Buy the Blu-ray 'Arrival' - Within a linear interpretation of time, the concept of cause and effect couldn't be any simpler. Make one action first, and another incident will occur as a direct consequence. But what if this chain of events was far less rigid and concrete? What if choices and their results existed as sustainable paradoxes, with the response coming at the same time or even before the question? If you already knew the answer would you still ask it? If you already knew the destination and its cost, would you still embark on the journey? Fueled by an emotionally charged examination of memory and communication, Denis Villeneuve's 'Arrival' probes deep into these heady ideas, fully exposing the power of cinematic language and its unique ability to reshape time. Placing a more intimate spin on typical big-screen first contact scenarios, the movie uses its high-concept premise to weave a fundamentally human tale, using the heptapods' arrival and their unique perception to comment directly on our own species' larger struggles to communicate and on one woman's deeply personal journey. As Louise (Amy Adams) gradually unravel the aliens' unconventional language, she begins to experience their nonlinear relationship with time, shifting and rearranging the nature of her choices, allowing Villeneuve to cut in and out of the present and future while simultaneously revealing new meaning within the movie's own structure. As the film's delicately emotional climax unfolds, cause and effect are shed in a new light, forcing us to weigh one tragic result against the immeasurable value of all that leads us there in the first place -- fusing grief and joy into one inseparable amalgam of the human condition. Through memories of the future, 'Arrival' creates an absorbing and emotionally affecting twist, balancing an intimate portrait of love and loss with a larger commentary on the potentially world-saving effects of proper communication. In other words, this is sci-fi at its best. Thankfully, whether viewed on Blu-ray or Ultra HD Blu-ray, this release features solid video, demo-worthy audio, and a great selection of supplements -- making this disc an essential new arrival to any film fan's shelf. Buy the Blu-ray Buy the Ultra HD Blu-ray 'Doctor Strange' - Over the last nine years, Marvel has brought various aliens, gods, monsters, superheroes, and talking raccoons to the silver screen -- but with Doctor Strange, the studio finally opens the door to the world of magic and mysticism. Bringing the legendary Sorcerer Supreme into their cinematic universe, the studio has once again presented an engaging origin story. And though certain elements of the narrative formula are growing stale, the movie features some of Marvel's most striking and engaging visuals yet -- filling the frame with enough mind-bending imagery to put a smile on even the most skeptical Steve Ditko fan's face. Yes, the character's overall arc is undeniably familiar -- turning an arrogant selfish man into an honorable selfless hero -- but that doesn't make the journey any less thrilling and entertaining, especially when a perfectly cast Benedict Cumberbatch serves as its star. And with a generous helping of imaginative effects, the runtime does a great job of introducing audiences to the mystical side of Marvel's world. To be honest, when I first saw the trailers, I thought the flick's visuals made it look like a generic 'Inception' rip-off, but in the practice, the city-folding imagery leads to some very creative set pieces, adding a welcomed sense of scope and scale to the production. Likewise, the filmmakers aren't afraid to embrace the source material's appropriately "strange" elements, leading to one particularly trippy voyage through the multiverse that is sure to leave audiences breathless… and questioning what's in their popcorn. Ending with a rather clever spin on the usual "let's destroy an entire city" superhero finale, the movie leaves us with an unconventional, timey-wimey solution to defeating the big bad -- fully cementing Cumberbatch's take on Doctor Strange as a force to be reckoned with. Likewise, with a great technical presentation (especially in 3D) and a nice assortment of special features, this disc itself is quite a force to be reckoned with as well. Now, let's hurry up and get Strange on screen with the rest of The Avengers. I'm sure I'm not the only one who can't wait to see Cumberbatch and Downey Jr. finally meet goatee to goatee. Buy the Blu-ray Buy the Blu-ray 3D So, there you have it. While there were many titles worth picking up this February, those are our top three must own recommendations. We'll be back next month with three more essential picks, but for now, what do you think of our selection? What are your choices for February's must own titles?Posted Thu Mar 2, 2017 at 10:00 AM PST by: -
Original Theatrical Edition 'Star Wars' Trilogy Blu-ray Rumors Debunked[teaser]A 4K scan of the latest special edition exists, but rumors of restored theatrical cuts of the original trilogy are sadly false.[/teaser] According to a report from The Digital Bits, there are still currently no plans to release the theatrical versions of the original 'Star Wars' trilogy on Blu-ray, digital HD, 4K Ultra HD, or any other formats. Rumors about a possible 40th Anniversary release of the unaltered trilogy originated last week via a story from the website Making Star Wars but, for now, it appears as if those rumblings were false. After some digging, The Digital Bits has discovered that Disney's current 4K scan of 'Star Wars' consists of the latest special edition version -- not the 1977 theatrical edit. In fact, during a recent special event at Ohio State University’s Wexner Center for the Art, Disney’s director of Library Restoration and Preservation, Theo Gluck, stated that the actual studio negative for 'Star Wars' currently exists only as the Special Edition cut. With that said, 20th Century Fox’s Senior Vice President of Library and Technical Services, Shawn Belston, added that the "trims" removed from the original negative during the 90s still exist -- meaning, that if the studio did eventually want to release a restored HD or 4K version of the original trilogy edits, they could technically still piece them together. But, it appears that such a reconstruction is not currently in the works, so the rumored 2017 40th Anniversary release of the theatrical 'Star Wars' trilogy has sadly been debunked. In other words, those still waiting for Han to shoot first again, will have to keep waiting... for now. Meanwhile, the most recent special edition versions of Episodes IV - VI are currently available on Blu-ray, with or without the prequels. Order the Blu-ray Order the Blu-ray Source: The Digital BitsPosted Thu Mar 2, 2017 at 09:00 AM PST by: -
'Sing' Blu-ray, Blu-ray 3D & Ultra HD Blu-rays Detailed[teaser]The animated film is heading to Blu-ray and Ultra HD Blu-ray next month.[/teaser] As previously reported, Universal is preparing 'Sing' for Blu-ray, Blu-ray 3D, and Ultra HD Blu-ray, and now the date has been set for March 21. In addition, a Best Buy Exclusive Ultra HD Blu-ray Steelbook will also be available. Set in a world like ours but entirely inhabited by animals, Illumination Entertainment's Sing stars Buster Moon (Academy Award winner Matthew McConaughey), a dapper koala who presides over a once-grand theater that has fallen on hard times. Buster is an eternal—some might even say delusional—optimist who loves his theater above all and will do anything to preserve it. Now faced with the crumbling of his life's ambition, he has one final chance to restore his fading jewel to its former glory by producing the world's greatest singing competition. The releases will feature Dolby Atmos soundtracks and supplements include: Mini-Movies (Gunter Babysits - Gunter offers to watch all of Rosita's 25 piglets for the night, trying to prove he's the best babysitter ever; Love At First Sight - During a piano lesson with Johnny, Miss Crawly becomes nostalgic about the dancing and romancing of her youth. Johnny convinces her that it's not too late to find someone and helps her setup a profile on a dating website; and Eddie's Life Coach - Eddie's mom signs her slacker son up for a digital training seminar to get his life back on track.); "Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing" Music Video - A cool and unique music video starring Tori Kelly. Making a Music Video with Tori Kelly - A behind the scenes look at the making of Tori's music video with exclusive insights provided by Tori herself; "Faith" Music Video; "Set It All Free" Lyric Video; The Making of SING - We take you through the animation studios of Illumination with interviews from Chris Meledandri, producer Janet Healy, the various animation teams and the voice talent of SING; Finding the Rhythm: Editing SING - Illumination editor Greg Perler, takes us inside the edit bay and reveals the secrets behind cutting an animated film. We'll plunge into his world in this fun and eye-opening peek inside the room where the magic gets put together; Character Profiles - Profiles on the incredible cast, all lending their voices to bring these animated characters to life; SING & Dance! - "Faith" - Celebrity choreographer Aakomon Jones takes us through a dance routine inspired by SING and the song, "Faith."; The SING Network - The SING Network brings you the latest news and highlights the business endeavors of your favorite SING stars; The Best Of Gunter - A rapid-fire, fun mash-up of all the best Gunter one-liners; and The Making Of The Mini-Movies - We'll explore the themes of each of the mini-movies through the eyes of the artists who made them. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $34.98. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray 3D is $44.98. Suggested list price for the Ultra HD Blu-ray is $44.98. You can find the latest specs for 'Sing' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule and our Ultra HD Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under March 21. Order the Ultra HD Blu-ray Order the Blu-ray Order the Blu-ray 3DPosted Fri Feb 17, 2017 at 01:00 PM PST by: -
Sony Launches Pre-Orders for UBP-X800 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Player, Price Set for $300[teaser]Pricing and availability for the company's first consumer model Ultra HD Blu-ray player have been revealed.[/teaser] Sony has launched pre-orders for its UBP-X800 Ultra HD Blu-ray player. The device will start shipping in March for a suggested retail price of $300. And, as an added bonus, buyers of the UBP-X800 now through June 30, 2017 are eligible to receive two 4K Ultra HD discs from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. Check out www.sony.com/4kdiscbundle for more details. The UBP-X800 offers Ultra HD Blu-ray disc, DVD Video, DVD Audio, CD, Super Audio CD, Blu-ray 3D, and BD-ROM media playback through its Sony developed Precision HD drive, along with support for 4K streaming and almost any format available via USB. In addition, the device is capable of High Dynamic Range (HDR) playback and wide color space BT.2020 support. Likewise, the player includes Dolby Atmos and DTS:X object-based surround sound compatibility, and Hi-Res Audio playback at up to 192kHz/24-bit and DSD 11.2MHz. 4K upscaling and Bluetooth connectivity are included as well. In addition to the new consumer Ultra HD Blu-ray player, Sony also has the ES Series UBP-X1000E Ultra HD Blu-ray player designed for the custom installation market. Meanwhile, the company also just announced pricing and availability for its new 2017 Ultra HD TV lineup. Outside of Sony, Panasonic is prepping three new 2017 Ultra HD Blu-ray players, the DMP-UB400, UB310 and UB300. Likewise, Samsung revealed its M9500 second gen Ultra HD Blu-ray player as well, and Oppo is set to release its UDP-205 later this year. Of the models announced so far, only the upcoming LG UP970, Philips BDP7502, and the recently released Oppo UDP-203 have confirmed plans for Dolby Vision support. Source: SonyPosted Fri Feb 10, 2017 at 06:45 AM PST by:
