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Studios Working on Next-Gen Xbox Games for 2012 Console Release
Thu Nov 17, 2011 at 10:30 AM ETTags: Xbox 360, Xbox 720, EA, Ubisoft, Xbox Next (all tags)
It looks like Microsoft will have a head start on the console war again, but maybe not by much.
It's been quite a while since a new console launch was actually considered to be imminent but it looks like the new Xbox will be coming right around the corner.
According to Edge magazine, Ubisoft Montreal and certain EA studios are currently working on games for the next Xbox and are expecting a release date of late 2012. The companies are using computer parts that meet the specs of the hardware and dev kits are expected to be available by the end of this year.
It seems likely that the system will launch in the winter of 2012, which means we can expect an E3 unveiling next year. It's a quick distance between announcement and launch, which is almost certainly a relief for fans who will be eager to get a hold of the new console.
If rumors are to be believed, Sony is planning on bringing out the next PlayStation system at the beginning of 2013. That provides a small window for Microsoft to get ahead in sales, but not a full year like with the PS3 launch.
It's been a while since we've had a really big E3 but it seems we can expect a lot this year.
Source: GameSpot
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High-Def Digest-Digest: August 29, 2011
Mon Aug 29, 2011 at 04:00 PM ETTags: High-Def Digest-Digest, Dick Ward, Fun Stuff (all tags)
by Dick Ward
A lot can happen in a few weeks, and that's certainly been the case lately. New Christmas movies have been announced for Blu-ray, along with a few classics. New gear has been released, including a pair of flagship receivers. And the cast of one of the most beloved cult comedies of all time has reunited.
Christmas isn't too far away and that means it's time for holiday Blu-rays to start rolling out. First up is 'Scrooged,' my personal fourth favorite - 'Muppets Christmas Carol' will forever hold the number one position. It's a great flick and one of Bill Murray's most oft forgotten, but also one of his best. It hits shelves on November 1st.
'It's a Wonderful Life' Double Dip for Blu-ray
Is 'It's a Wonderful Life' already out on Blu-ray? Sure it is. Is it a good enough movie that you may as well own the limited edition gift set? That's your call, but I say yes. In addition to what was already included in the last release, you'll get a booklet, an ornament, and new packaging.
'The Goonies' Gets a Regular Blu-ray Release
'The Goonies' is a great flick, and the Goonies themselves are truly amazing. They never say "die" after all. Well, except when they're saying "Goonies Never Say Die." They say it then. Anyway, the Blu-ray of 'The Goonies' is finally available outside of the Ultimate Collector's Box packaging. It's coming as a single Blu-ray on October 18th.
'My Fair Lady' Dated for Blu-ray
Where does the rain in Spain fall? 'My Fair Lady' reveals the mystery. It's a dark and gripping film noir... what, it's a musical? Well that's cool too. It stars Rex Harrison and the incomparable Audrey Hepburn. You'll be able to get your hands on it November 15th.
Big Lebowki Cast Reunites for Blu-ray Release
People who don't care for 'Lebowski' aren't usually that excited about the movie one way or the other. People who love it though - they really love it. They go nuts for it. They hold conferences about a single movie, dress as the characters, and rehearse the lines. At this year's Lebowski fest they got a special treat - the cast reunited for an incredibly cool Q&A session. Even better, you can watch it now.
Gear and Industry News
Pioneer Intros its New Flagship Elite Receiver
Pioneer's new SC-55 and SC-57 are nice and fancy, just like a flagship to the Elite series should be. They boast a new D3 amplifier, AirPlay, Air Jam and the SC-57 is even THX Ultra 2 Plus certified. Both are available now from authorized dealers.
Yamaha's Top of the Line RX-V Receiver is Shipping Now
The final RX-V receiver was announced a while ago, but the series topping RX-V871 is shipping now, a few months after the others. It kicks out 100 watts per channel to 7.2 channels and gives you a total of eight HDMI inputs to play with. You can snag one now for $899.
Definitive Technology Launches New Sound Bars
The latest sound bars from Definitive technology are designed to ensure that you get the best audio quality possible out of the single speaker setup. The SSA3 gives you three channels - left, right and center - while the SSA5 offers five. Both sound bars are available now.
Startup Company Milleniata Boasts an Indestructible Disc
Here's a particularly interesting one, especially for anyone who's scratched a Blu-ray or DVD and rendered it unreadable. Milleniata's new discs, readable by both Blu-ray and DVD players and drives, are made of a stone-like substance and are said to last as long as 1,000 years. Not too shabby.
The Vudu Movie Rental Service Comes to the iPad
Vudu finally makes its way on over to the iPad, giving you the chance to enjoy your movie rentals on the small screen. Of course, you'll be watching SD movies on an SD screen, so it's not quite as exciting as you might think. After all, Vudu is all about the HD
HDD Study Hall: Paul Rudd
Thu Aug 25, 2011 at 08:00 PM ETTags: HDD Study Hall, Luke Hickman, Fun Stuff (all tags)
by Luke Hickman
This week we're taking a look back at the impressive and diverse career of Paul Rudd. He can currently be seen in 'Our Idiot Brother,' a hilarious, heart-felt, R-rated indie comedy that premiered at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival.
Rudd is one of those rare actors that cannot be pegged to just one genre. Sure, he's best known for his comedic roles – because he's just so good at them – but he's just as fantastic at dramatic and romantic roles as he is comedies. From performing Shakespeare in Baz Luhrmann's 'Romeo + Juliet' and horror in 'Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers' to character turns in films like 'Forgetting Sarah Marshall' and the romantic lead in 'How Do You Know,' Rudd has done it all.
In many ways, Rudd is like John Cusack (By the way, where has he be lately?): both are great at comedy, great at drama, play perfectly convincing leading men, and they're completely charming. Personally, when playing love-lorn leads in romantic roles, each portrays the type of guy I feel like deep down inside, making it very easy to connect with them. I know I'm not the only guy who feels this way.
Listed below are five of Paul Rudd's credits that exemplify why he's so lovable, and why we never want him to disappear.
'Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy'
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Playing field reported Brian Fantana, Rudd got everyone's attention with his sleazy mustached character. As a character actor, it feels like the role came naturally to Rudd as he grew out his chops, glued on the mustache, and donned the vintage suit and greasy long wig.
Perhaps his most notorious scene from 'Anchorman' is the one in which he convinces Ron that his Sex Panther cologne will win over new office hottie Veronica Corningstone. It's “illegal in nine countries,” is “made with bits of real panther,” and “60 percent of the time, works every time.” But let us not forget his fourth wall-breaking introduction, his tighty-whitey distraction dance, and his office freakout scenes.
Not only does Rudd take the cake for his character piece in 'Anchorman,' but also 'The 40-Year-Old Virgin,' 'Night at the Museum,' 'The Ex,' 'Walk Hard' and 'Forgetting Sarah Marshall.'
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'I Love You, Man' just might be Rudd's funniest film to date. Perhaps it's the way that the script is written like a standard male/female romantic comedy, yet filled with two completely heterosexual grown adult males. If you were loosely paying attention to the film, you'd believe that it was about two gay men.
Coming off the success of 'Forgetting Sarah Marshall,' you'd think that 'I Love You, Man' was another Jason Segel-penned screenplay. The comedy lies within the same vein, it's just as witty and non-stop hilarious. You'd never guess that it was written by two guys who also wrote terrible films 'Little Fockers,' 'Doctor Dolittle,' and 'Along Came Polly.'
For those lucky enough to catch a Rush show last summer, you got to see Rudd and Segel reprise their roles as Peter Klaven and Sydney Fife in an on-stage extra.
To this day my poor wife is driven crazy be me telling her all of her accents sound like leprechauns and that I like to “slappa da bass, mon.”
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At first glance, Rudd's character in 'Role Models' isn't all that different from the one in 'I Love You, Man,' but when you put a little more thought into it, they're quite a bit different. In 'I Love You, Man,' Rudd played a genuinely nice, somewhat effeminate guy looking to gain a male best friend. In 'Role Models' he's quite a selfish prick. But that's not the reason 'Role Models' makes this list.
'Role Models' is worth noting because this is the first screenplay that Rudd wrote (with friends). Not only is the comedy up to par with that of seasoned writers, but it lets the inner geek shine. Is it odd to anyone else that movie dives deeply into live action role playing – so much so that one would have to participate in it to write about it in such detail? If you've ever known anyone involved is such highly nerdy associations, you know that 'Role Models' nailed its portrayal of the geek culture.
One of the best payoffs and climaxes to a film, there aren't many other comedies that get you so ramped up and excited as when Rudd puts on the costume and make-up and dives into the live-action battle, completely playing along with the part. No wonder Elizabeth Banks' character changed her opinion of him – he's geektastically awesome by the end!
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While everyone is quick to jump on the hate train when it comes to 'How Do You Know,' I truly believe that most people are judging it without having seen it. Not being a big fan of James L. Brooks, 'How Do You Know' is actually my favorite of his films. If every romantic comedy was written with the style of humor, the genuine heart and characters of 'How Do You Know,' I'd be a huge fan of the genre. It steers clear of cliché and isn't predictable in the slightest. It never feels the need to rush, it takes its time, naturally building up to a believable finale.
In 'How Do You Know,' Rudd plays an average nice guy subpoenaed for corporate fraud. The problem is that he has no idea what he has done and how to correct it, but because of legal requirements, he's forced to leave his job – the one place that can offer answers. As his entire life crumbles around him, he meets a charming girl (Reese Witherspoon) whose life is also falling apart. The two would make a perfect couple, only she's already taken.
'How Do You Know' is the prefect film to exemplify my idea of Rudd playing a character that any guy can connect with. Watching films like this, it's easy to place one's self in his shoes, often rhetorically making the same decisions that he makes. Along with John Cusack, Joseph Gordon-Levitt has this same ability.
If you fall into the category of people who have not seen 'How Do You Know' (which, judging by box office numbers, is most of you), do yourself the favor of checking it out. It will pleasantly surprise you – especially as Rudd charms his way through another fantastic role.
'Our Idiot Brother'
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'Idiot Brother' director Jesse Peretz must enjoy working with Rudd, for this is their third time working together. The first was an indie flick called 'The Château' and the second was a cameo role in Zach Braff/Jason Bateman vehicle 'The Ex' as an uptight, greasy fine dining kitchen manager.
Watching the trailer, one could jump to the conclusion that Rudd simply plays a hippy version of dummy Brian Fantana – but one would be wrong to assume such a thing. Sure, he's kind of a dummy, but his 'Idiot' character Ned has nothing but great intentions. If you assume that the stupidity and naivete of Ned is nothing but a gag to create comedy, you're wrong. By the end of 'Our Idiot Brother,' Ned shows his true colors.
Again, Rudd is joined by a stellar supporting cast. With Elizabeth Banks, Zooey Deschanel, Emily Mortimer, Steve Coogan, Rashida Jones, Adam Scott, Kathryn Hahn and T.J. Miller supporting you, it would be hard to fail.
If you're as much of a Paul Rudd lover as I obviously am, go check out 'Our Idiot Brother' this weekend. I promise it will win you over from the very first scene. By the end, you'll be fairly surprised by how well-rounded an R-rated comedy it is.
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'The Entitled' Announced and Detailed for Blu-ray
Fri Aug 12, 2011 at 09:00 AM ETTags: Disc Announcements, Starz/Anchor Bay (all tags)
The psychological thriller hits Blu-ray in September.
In an early announcement to retailers, Starz/Anchor Bay will release 'The Entitled' on Blu-ray on September 6.
Like so many, Paul Dynan (Kevin Zegers, 'Frozen,' “Gossip Girl”) has become a casualty of today’s economic realities. Facing mounting debts, medical bills for his mother and foreclosure on their home, Paul can only wonder how some of his peers, born into wealth and privilege, don’t realize how good they have it. Until Paul decides that maybe there’s a way they can make him some money. And maybe teach them a lesson or two about how their lives can be taken away at any moment...
'The Entitled' stars Zegers, Victor Garber ('Titanic,' 'Milk,' “Alias”) Laura Vandervoort (“V,” “Smallville”), Dustin Milligan ('Slither,' 'Extract,' 'The Messengers'), Devon Bostick ('Diary of a Wimpy Kid,' 'Survival of the Dead'), Stephen McHattie ('300,' 'Watchmen,' 'A History of Violence') and Ray Liotta ('Goodfellas,' 'Hannibal,' 'Observe and Report').
The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements include filmmakers’ commentary, a behind-the-scenes featurette, an alternate ending and the theatrical trailer. .
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Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $29.99.
You can find the latest specs for 'The Entitled' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under September 6.
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- Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
- The Entitled (Blu-ray)
8 Comedies From The 80s That Are Better Than 'Take Me Home Tonight'
Mon Jul 18, 2011 at 04:20 PM ETTags: Aaron Peck, Fun Stuff (all tags)
by Aaron Peck
Topher Grace's ode to the 80s 'Take Me Home Tonight' hits Blu-ray this week. This got me thinking about teen comedies from the 80s and how there are so many movies from the "me decade" that you'd be better off watching this week.
The fact is, the Topher Grace vehicle just isn't that good. Rumor has it that it sat on the shelf for four years – filmed the same year as 'Superbad' – and was just never brought to the public's attention until now. Grace says tit's the movie's heavy cocaine use that got its release date pushed back, but methinks that the studio saw it and thought, "Gee, this film looks eerily similar to every other 80s teen comedy only it lacks any sort of charm or nostalgic value."
The 80s were a wonderful time for teen comedies. There are tons of classic teen movies from that time period that made us laugh and cringe at the same time. There were some that pushed the envelope and others that simply entertained. There are guilty pleasures along with bona fide classics. Check out the list below to see some of the movies you could watch besides sitting through 'Take Me Home Tonight'.
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It's true that this isn't a movie that you think about when you think of raucous teenage comedies from the 80s, but nothing says 80s comedy like taking a trip with Marty and the Doc. 'Back to the Future' is the perfect way to – ahem – travel back in time and remember what 80s movies were all about. Even though there's a whole time travel plot going on, 'Back to the Future' nails the high school experience and is a pure slice of 80s nostalgia.
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Ah, it's so nice that we're finally getting 'Better Off Dead' on Blu-ray in August. Just in time for you to push 'Take Me Home Tonight' aside for a John Cusack movie that will have you reminiscing about cheesy 80s movies that will have you laughing every time. That "2 Dollars!" kid gets me every single time. He's far more iconic that the Ball Scene in 'Take Me Home Tonight' could ever hope to be.
'Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure'
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Nothing screams 80s teen awesomeness like Bill and Ted embarking on an excellent adventure that takes them throughout the span of time as they collect historical figures for a school report. It's a movie that's infinitely watchable if only for the fact that it's the role Keanu Reeves was born to play. Now let's finally get a Blu-ray release for this movie, shall we?
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Our very own M. Enois Duarte gave 'The Breakfast Club' an outstanding four and a half out of five stars when he reviewed the Blu-ray not too long ago. It's true, 'The Breakfast Club' is the epitome of 80s teen comedy. What's so great about 'The Breakfast Club,' which Duarte points out in his review, is the fact that the teenage characters here aren't treated like idiotic adolescents. John Hughes pays them respect and treats them like grown ups with intelligence and insight.
'Fast Times at Ridgemont High'
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Another 80s classic that is coming to Blu-ray this August. 'Fast Times at Ridgemont High' was one of those sex comedies that really pushed the boundaries of what could be put on film. One of the most famous masturbation scenes comes from 'Fast Times'. It seems timid by comparison to some of the scenes that have found their ways into movies nowadays, but back then it was pretty edgy.
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Quite possibly the most influential and memorable teen comedy from the 80s. 'Ferris' became an instant classic. It's a film that has gone down through the decades, gathering new fans who weren't even born when it was made. Watching Ferris navigate his phony sick day is every bit as delightful the 73rd time around as it was the first time you watched it. It's a movie that will be loved for decades to come.
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Another 80s comedy reviewed here by M. Enois Duarte and another four and a half star release. That iconic scene with John Cusack hoisting the boombox above his head is every bit as memorable as Ferris serenading thousands of Chicagoans with his rendition of "Twist and Shout." One of the best romantic comedies of all time.
'Weird Science'
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I was torn over whether or not to put 'Sixteen Candles' in this slot, but I thought "What they heck! Let's go with a guilty pleasure." Two horny geeks create the perfect woman on their computer, and in perfect 80s goofiness, a lightning storm brings her to life. Now they have a sexy new friend named Lisa (Kelly LeBrock) to help them become men. Every horny adolescent's dream come true.
'Take Me Home Tonight' just wasn't the look back at the 80s that I was hoping it would be. It was forgettable at best. Just another movie that tried unsuccessfully to emulate what John Hughes did so masterfully. Do yourself a favor and dig up one of these genuine classics this week and watch something better and more nostalgic.
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Bonus View Digest - July 7, 2011
Fri Jul 08, 2011 at 05:00 PM ET
The weeks seem to just fly by here at The Bonus View. It's hard to believe that the Fourth of July has come and gone and now we're heading into the dead of summer. If the summer heat has got you down, we've got a whole load of posts on the official High-Def Digest Blog to cheer you up.
Blu-ray News
Not many posts in the way of actual Blu-ray news, but Josh did provide us with a list of titles hitting store shelves this week and his recommendations on what to buy. Even though it was a light week in terms of day-and-date releases, we recommend you pick up '13 Assassins'. It's well worth it.
We ran one of our many contests this week for a chance to win 'Sucker Punch' on Blu-ray. Congratulations to Bonus View reader James L. for writing the funniest caption. We're running contests all the time so keep an eye on the blog for your chance to win.
Theatrical News
Whew! We got ended up getting through one of the most controversial posts on the blog to date. This time we talked about Michael Bay reusing footage from 'The Island' in 'Transformers 3' and if it was a big deal or not. With 79 comments, the thread got a little heated as people fell on one side or the other. It's still open for debate so head on over and put in your two cents if you feel like you want to.
HDD reviewer M. Enois Duarte joined us at The Bonus View as a regular contributor. He'll be taking on the subject of movie trailers in his recurring feature Trailer Park. Check it out, and see what you think about the newest trailers for upcoming movies.
Finally, Luke Hickman provided us with theatrical reviews of 'Zookeeper,' and ''Horrible Bosses' while keeping us up-to-date with the happenings at the American box office. 'Transformers 3' destroyed Fourth of July records.
TV Recaps
As always we bring you a bevy of TV show recaps where we discuss the latest episode of popular TV shows airing new episodes this summer. We have recaps of 'True Blood,' 'Burn Notice,' 'Wilfred,' 'Suits,' 'Necessary Roughness, and 'Covert Affairs.
In the Mid-Week Poll Josh asked what TV shows are you watching this summer. Head on over to vote.
Special Features
The Weekend Roundtable us writers took on the task of discussing what our favorite gangster movies were, with the exception of 'The Godfather' or 'Goodfellas.' And M. Enois Duarte gave a heartfelt farewell to his well-used, but now defunct HD DVD player. Goodbye brave player. You will be missed.
To get your fill of all things high-def join us at The Bonus View where we talk about everything that goes on in the HD world. It's a place where you comments count, and we try and tailor our posts to our readers' needs. We hope to see you there.
Have a great weekend.
New Bonus View Contest: I’m Gonna Git You, ‘Sucker Punch!'
Tue Jun 28, 2011 at 04:30 PM ETTags: The Bonus View, Contests, Fun Stuff (all tags)
That's right! The Bonus View is running another contest already! Did you miss Zack Snyder’s hot-chicks-with-samurai-swords-and-machine-guns action flick 'Sucker Punch' when it played in theaters earlier this year? If you’d like to check it out now, perhaps we can provide you with a free Blu-ray copy!
We’re going to do this as another of our ever-popular photo caption contests. All you need to do is go to the contest announcement on The Bonus View come up with a funny or clever caption for the image we have posted over there, then post your caption in the comments.
The caption can either be a made-up line of dialogue or something that describes the image. The winner will be chosen at our own subjective discretion based on whichever response we enjoy the most. We have one copy of the Blu-ray to give away.
Entries are limited to 10 captions per person. That should give you plenty of opportunity to craft a good submission, but will also help us to avoid any potential appearance of awarding prizes based on volume rather than quality.
This contest is only open to entrants from the domestic United States. We will not ship internationally (whether you’re a U.S. citizen or not). Employees of High-Def Digest or Internet Brands and their families are not eligible. Standard contest rules and conditions apply. People who have won any of our previous contests within the past one year are also not eligible to win, but may get Honorable Mentions.
The deadline for entry is this Friday, July 1st. The winner will be announced next week. Good luck, everyone! Now go check out that image and post your entry for the caption contest!
5 Films You Might Not Realize Were Directed by Martin Campbell
Thu Jun 16, 2011 at 02:30 PM ETTags: Luke Hickman, Fun Stuff (all tags)
by Luke Hickman
New Zealand-born director Martin Campbell returns to theaters this week with the comic book adaptation of 'Green Lantern.' Starring Ryan Reynolds ('X-Men Origins: Wolverine') and Blake Lively ('The Town'), Campbell's latest film tells the story of a fighter pilot who is chosen by a supernatural force to be a protective guardian with unreal superpowers.
Just as we did last week with 'Super 8' director J.J. Abrams, this week we're going to highlight some of Campbell's past films that you may not realize are his.
While the majority of his work lies in television series - mostly on the BBC - Campbell has plenty of theatrically released credits under his belt, and the majority of them are pretty damn good.
'GoldenEye' (1995)
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Campbell's first whack at the James Bond series was awesome. I will never forget the opening base-jumping sequence off the face of a 720-foot dam. 'GoldenEye' was Pierce Brosnan's first 'Bond' film, and - if I may say so - his best 'Bond' film. This was also when Judi Dench took over the role of James Bond's boss, M.
'GoldenEye' was unique for the series because it was the first 'Bond' not based on an Ian Fleming novel or short story. The previous 16 'Bond' films were all based on his books. The modernized take on 'Bond' was well received by critics (it holds an 80 percent Rotten Tomatoes rating), and Campbell's later bout with 'Bond,' eleven years later, was rated even higher.
On a spin-off note, since I was a teenager when 'GoldenEye' opened, the only thing that held more esteem than the movie was its accompanying Nintendo 64 game. The game's multi-player mode struck video gaming gold. With over eight million copies sold, 'GoldenEye 007' held the record of highest selling game for over a decade until 'Halo 3' passed it in 2007.
'The Mask of Zorro' (1998)
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Say what you want - I've always considered 'The Mask of Zorro' a fine action flick. It capitalized on Antonia Banderas during his peak and Catherine Zeta-Jones pretty much owes her career to Campbell for casting her as Zorro's feisty romantic interest.
When Robert Rodriguez dropped out from directing 'Zorro,' Campbell turned down directing 'Tomorrow Never Dies' to take over the Steven Spielberg-produced production.
While 'The Mask of Zorro' went on to earn an 82 percent Rotten Tomatoes rating, it's a shame that Campbell felt the need to return to the franchise in 2005 with the family-friendly 'Legend of Zorro', which earned a rotten 26 percent. For his sub-par merits on 'The Legend of Zorro', Campbell very well could have been featured in our Bonus View Roundtable "Bad Movies From Good Directors."
'Vertical Limit' (2000)
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There's only one thing I remember from 'Vertical Limit' - the opening rock climbing family outing. While I recall thinking that intense scene was awesome and (obviously) unforgettable, the rest of the movie was forgettable. Even as I read the plot synopsis on IMDB, none of it is coming back to me.
Even though my memory has 'Vertical Limit' pegged as being a sub par film, it received a 48 percent Rotten Tomatoes rating, which isn't as terrible compared to 'The Legend of Zorro'.
An interesting note about 'Vertical Limit' is that portions of the movie were shot on location on K2, the Karakoram Mountain Range in Pakistan. All politics aside, can you image a Hollywood blockbuster being shot in Pakistan nowadays?
'Casino Royale' (2006)
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Returning to direct 'Bond 21,' Campbell earned his highest Rotten Tomatoes rating (94 percent) with 'Casino Royale'. Not only did Campbell direct Pierce Brosnan's first 'Bond' film, he also directed Daniel Craig's first.
Telling the early story of James Bond just after reaching double-'O' status and obtaining his "license to kill", it's easy to mistake 'Casino Royale' for prequel, when in reality it's essentially a reboot.
'Casino Royale' brought everything expected from a 'Bond' movie to the table - the "Bond girls," the action, the dry humor - but it upped the quality with heightened intensity, real danger, emotional connections and completely solid story telling. In fact, the plot of 'Casino Royale' was so strong that it warranted the first-ever true "sequel" to a Bond film. 2008's follow-up 'Quantum of Solace' continued the story begun in 'Casino Royale,' picking up less than one hour after the film's closing scene.
There have been plenty of great 'Bond' movies, but it's definitely not a coincidence that Campbell was at the helm for two of the greats.
'Edge of Darkness' (2010)
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I hate the term "celebrity," and the non-stop paparazzi coverage that the news media gives actors and musicians these days. When Mel Gibson's fights with his girlfriend are covered on the primetime evening "news," I get angry. But that's just my opinion. Many want to know every detail of this garbage and base their movie going and listening experiences on the talents' personal lives and not on the art at hand. Most people did not see 'Edge of Darkness' for this reason. I'm not saying it's a brilliant piece of art; it just deserves more love than it receives.
In 'Edge of Darkness', Gibson plays a single, almost-retired homicide detective, whose child is gunned down on his front porch and dies in his arms. Completely alone, he follows his only notable skill set - investigating homicides - and sets off to find his daughter's killer.
What most American's don't know is that 'Edge of Darkness' is a feature-length adaptation (courtesy of 'The Departed' screenwriter William Monahan) of a 1985 BBC mini-series that was also directed by Campbell. Watching Gibson's character obsess over finding his daughter's killer is mesmerizing, especially once he (spoiler alert) starts seeing and talking to her. No, he doesn't see her in a 'Sixth Sense' fashion - he merely goes down the 'Black Swan' bat-shit crazy route. And it's captivating.
If you haven't seen 'Edge of Darkness,' hide away those judgmental thoughts of Mel, replace them with positive ones - think back to 'Braveheart', 'The Passion of the Christ,' 'Signs', 'Payback' and 'Mad Max' - and see one of Campbell's most insanely great films to date.
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Win The Adjustment Bureau on Blu-ray!
Wed Jun 15, 2011 at 04:05 PM ETTags: The Bonus View, Contests, Fun Stuff (all tags)
Time for another contest over at High-Def Digest's The Bonus View! Thanks to the generosity of Universal Studios Home Entertainment, we have two Blu-ray copies of 'The Adjustment Bureau' to give away! How do you win? Read on to find out.
For this contest, two lucky winners will each receive one Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack copy of 'The Adjustment Bureau' starring Matt Damon and Emily Blunt.
The theme of this contest is adjustments. For your chance to win, we want you to post in the Comments section over on the blog, with your answer to this question: What one element or aspect of an existing movie do you wish you could adjust? Even the best of movies typically have something wrong with them. Maybe it’s a miscast actor, or a bad musical score, or shoddy visual effects, or just one bad scene that stands out and derails an otherwise good movie. If you had the power to go back in time and alter the course of one movie, what would you fix?
For example: If we had this power, we’d like to replace Keanu Reeeves in 'Bram Stoker's Dracula' with… anybody, really. Reeves is terribly miscast in that movie, and his wooden performance stands out badly among an otherwise stellar cast. How about we take Carey Elwes (who has another part in the movie) and put him in the Jonathan Harker role, and then grab Tim Roth and put him in the smaller role that Elwes plays? That would do. That’s what we would fix.
We're allowing up to three entries per person, but please keep them short. (Less than 200 words would be good.)
The two winners will be selected based on our own subjective discretion. This contest is only open to entrants from the domestic United States. We will not ship internationally (whether you’re a U.S. citizen or not). Employees of High-Def Digest or Internet Brands and their families are not eligible. Standard contest rules and conditions apply. People who have won any of our previous contests within the past one year are also not eligible to win, but may get Honorable Mentions.
The deadline for entry is this Friday, June 17th. The winner will be announced next week. Good luck, everyone!
Hurry over to The Bonus View's contest announcement to add your entries!
The Bonus View Digest - June 10, 2011
Fri Jun 10, 2011 at 02:30 PM ETTags: The Bonus View, The Bonus View Digest, Aaron Peck, Fun Stuff (all tags)
This was one of the most eventful weeks we've had on The Bonus View. We had numerous stories that featured double-digit comments from our wonderful movie loving community we have here. See what kind of camaraderie you're missing out on when you don't tune into The Bonus View?
Movie Madness
The Tournament O' Death has finally wound down, and we crowned a winner. Darth Vader took home the championship, but not before we had quite a few hotly contested matchups. To see how we go to the final match that saw a victorious Vader crushing the life out of a helpless Batman, check out the links below.
Movie Madness 2011: A Look Back
Fans of the Movie Madness tournament, don't fret. We've got some great things in the works, like a Tournament O' Death for some of our favorite TV characters. Keep updated on The Bonus View to find out when it's going to happen.
TV Recaps
As always The Bonus View tracks and blogs about your favorite shows. For many shows we do weekly recaps just in case you missed anything. It's a time to discuss the show with fellow fans and talk about where it's going. This week we had recaps for shows like 'Franklin & Bash', 'The Killing', 'Game of Thrones', and a special interview from the creator of 'Community'.
As the summer TV season heats up you better believe we'll be covering some of the hottest shows. You'll have to keep a lookout to see which shows we'll be covering.
Video Game News
Not only did our intrepid video game reporter, Dick Ward, keep up updated on the video game releases this week; he also brought it to our attention that we could get up to two free games from Sony Playstation Network. This was good news for a guy like me who rarely buys video games but loves to play them. Right after reading Dick's report I went onto PSN and downloaded Little Big Planet for free!
Theatrical News
This was a big week at the theater. Luke Hickman gave us some great Weekend Box Office Updates. He also provided us with an early review of 'Super 8', which seems to be the movie to see this summer. He also wrote a nice review for Woody Allen's new flick 'Midnight in Paris'.
Last, but definitely not least, Luke wrote up a controversial piece on theatrical 3D and if it was facing a downward slide in box office numbers. It sparked a great debate between the readers that's still raging on right now. Check it out and add your two cents.
Home Theater News
Our resident HD expert Josh Zyber is always tweaking his home theater setup. This week he gave us a glimpse of the new Vizio 3D TV he purchased to compliment his 3D projector he just installed a few weeks ago. He also gave us a heads up on a setback he had with his 3D setup, which is something all people who were wondering about installing a 3D home theater should read.
Special Features
This week we seemed to be brimming with all kinds of featured posts that garnered quite a lot of response from readers. Last week's Roundtable asked the writers which franchises were in need of a reboot. The Mid-Week Poll was a doozy, as we decided once and for all (kind of) who is the worst director out of Michael Bay and Stephen Sommers.
Posterizing is a new featured post we're doing where we take a look at recent movie posters, discuss them, and mainly just enjoy the artwork that goes along with movie marketing.
Finally we had a fun little post about the Alamo Drafthouse Theater and their policy on kicking texters out of movies. You just have to see the video that goes along with the post. It's hilarious.
Thanks again for another successful week on The Bonus View. If you haven't made your way over yet make sure you do. It's a place where you can casually chat with other movie fans, all the while reading great posts from our crack team of writers. Hope to see you here soon!
