I stand before you this night to issue a dire warning about the future of our planet. Recent events have occurred that fundamentally alters the fabric of the universe. I say these things to prepare you and guide you so you might be stable enough to weather the storm that is to come. The events of the past two days have significantly escalated the time table for these momentous phenomenon to take place. As it stands now we are wholly unprepared to face the coming tide. I pray that you will hear these words and they will motivate you into swift action. It is coming and it cannot be stopped, but it can be defeated...
"Save us all, the world is coming to an end. Hide yo wife, hide yo kids, hide yo strippers, cause we all dying up in here!!!"-Antoine Dodson (of the near future)
Wait... What? You thought I was talking about the end of the world. No, no I was talking about the total reduction in funds that is going to occur between the months of September and December. Literally, I and many other will have to sell our kidneys in order to afford the new Blu-ray sets that they have scheduled this fall. The dire catastrophe that will occur, will only happen in our wallets and bank accounts as yet another poor, retched studio executive, living off his meager sum of 35million a year, needs to pass the plate around to all us generous, caring consumers, so that his children do not have to suffer the pain and anguish of having to go to private school without the latest custom fitted Nike Air Kobe Edition sneakers or the latest Dolce & Gabbana fashions adorned on their malnourished (read: crash diet) and sickly (read: coked up) frames. Yes, I too have thought that an infomercial about the plight of the lowly Hollywood exec. would bring in many donations to help end executive abuse. We need to quit being part of the problem and start being part of the solution. Give today!
That brings me to the reason that we, the consumer, will gladly throw money to these people, because they are throwing product right back at us. So, prepare to be broke.
Today, Lucasfilm and Paramount Home Media Distribution have announced the release date for the Blu-ray box set of the Indiana Jones Moves in High definition. They also added some specific detail about what the set will include and about the care being given to the films themselves, in order to provide the highest quality possible (I just let out a tiny "yipee" there, won't happen again). Behind the Star Wars Blu-rays (which we have), this is one of the holy grails of the home video market. Here's the box art released for the set and the official announcement from Lucasfilm's Marketing Department:
In June of 1981 director Steven Spielberg and executive producer George Lucas introduced the world to Indiana Jones when the unforgettable Raiders of the Lost Ark debuted in theaters. Exploding to instant acclaim, the film has now been carefully restored, alongside remastered versions of the archaeologist’s other thrilling adventures—Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Prepare for excitement, adventure and snakes—why did it have to be snakes?—all with pristine picture and sound when INDIANA JONES: The Complete Adventures debuts on Blu-ray September 18, 2012 from Lucasfilm Ltd. and Paramount Home Media Distribution.
Supervised by director Steven Spielberg and renowned sound designer Ben Burtt, Raiders of the Lost Ark has been meticulously restored with careful attention to preserving the original look, sound and feel of the iconic film. The original negative was first scanned at 4K and then examined frame-by-frame so that any damage could be repaired.
The sound design was similarly preserved using Burtt’s original master mix, which had been archived and unused since 1981. New stereo surrounds were created using the original music tracks and original effects recorded in stereo but used previously only in mono. In addition, the sub bass was redone entirely up to modern specifications and care was taken to improve dialogue and correct small technical flaws to create the most complete and highest quality version of the sound possible while retaining the director’s vision. The result is an impeccable digital restoration that celebrates the film and its place in cinematic history.
The installments in the franchise have won a combined seven Academy Awards®. Relive every heart-pounding thrill like never before as all four films arrive together, for the first time presented in 1080p high definition with English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio accompanied by a collection of documentaries, interviews, featurettes and new bonus features.
Yes, please sir, may I have another (SMACK!!!).
I am going all in on this one. That set will be in my list later on today. I will gladly step up behind the rest of the sheep and drink the Kool-Aid, Mr. Spielberg and Mr. Lucas (I already own copies of these movies on VHS, DVD twice, and now, I'll pony up the dough for a forth go around. Yeah, I know what I am, you don't have to say it). Please, take my money, I'm giving it to you, please!!!
In all seriousness (wow, I didn't know you could do that), this set looks like it's shaping up to be a great thing. With Spielberg's current turn towards the original intent of the filmmaker as opposed to making changes that seem frivolous in hindsight (Guns to Walkie Talkies, that's worse than Lucas. That's for all you prequel haters out there, go run off and see The Hunger Games, you blight on the face of genre fans everywhere you.). So, it sounds as though Spielberg wants to preserve the film as close to the original intent as possible. I'll be looking for the piece of glass visible between Harrison Ford and the Asp when he falls into The Well of Souls just like everyone else. Can't wait.
The second big Blu-ray set announced this week comes from Universal in the form of a classic movie collection. When I say classic, these movies epitomize the word. This set takes you into the tales of one of greatest filmmakers the world has ever seen (oh, yeah, I'm a fan). If there is one artist that I would aspire to be if I were a young director, this would be the man. His films should be a requirement in college courses. He was cool before directors were cool. Every great filmmaker working today will say, if asked, that this man was a huge influence in their careers as artists (Get to it already! Shut up, I am.).
Universal is releasing for a limited time only, Alfred Hitchcock: The Masterpiece Collection 15-film box set on Blu-ray Disc on 9/25. They had released this same set on DVD a few years ago and I didn't "pull the trigger", as some might say. By the time I was ready, Blu-ray was the big thing and I thought, "Why not wait and see if they ever release these movies on Blu?" My instincts proved correct and now the great king Hitchcock will reward me with a gift (that I have to buy with my own money, I don't think I like this kingdom). Nevertheless, this is great news for all the hitch-aphiles out there (glad I didn't say cock-aphiles, oops). Remember to support your local movie watching community and give them the gift of coc... Hitch for their viewing pleasure. Here's the specs and pictures:
Saboteur (1942) - Supplements will include Saboteur: A Closer Look behind-the-scenes featurette; Storyboards for the "Statue of Liberty" setpiece; Alfred Hitchcock's sketches; Production photographs; and Theatrical trailer.
Shadow of a Doubt (1943) - w/Beyond Doubt: The Making of Hitchcock's Favorite Film behind-the-scenes featurette; Production drawings by art director Robert Boyle; Production photographs; and Theatrical trailer.
Rope (1948) - w/Rope Unleashed behind-the-scenes featurette; Production photographs; and Theatrical trailer.
Rear Window (1954) - w/Commentary with Hitchcock's Rear Window: The Well-Made Film author John Fawell; 5 Behind-the-scenes featurettes; Hitchcock-Truffaut interview excerpts; Production photographs; Theatrical trailers; and Re-release trailer narrated by James Stewart.
The Trouble with Harry (1955) - w/The Trouble with Harry Isn't Over behind-the-scenes featurette; Production photographs; and Theatrical trailers.
The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956) - w/The Making of The Man Who Knew Too Much behind-the-scenes featurette; Production photographs; and Trailers.
Vertigo (1958) - w/Two audio commentaries (Associate producer Herbert Coleman, restoration team Robert A. Harris and James C. Katz, and other Vertigo participants, and Filmmaker William Friedkin); Obsessed with Vertigo: New Life for Hitchcock's Masterpiece; Partners in Crime: Hitchcock's Collaborators; The Vertigo Archives; Hitchcock-Truffaut interview excerpts; Foreign censorship Ending; 100 Years of Universal featurette: The Lew Wasserman Era; Theatrical trailer; and restoration theatrical trailer.
North by Northwest (1959) - w/Commentary by screenwriter Ernest Lehman; 4 behind-the-scenes featurettes; Music-only audio track; Stills gallery; and Theatrical trailers and TV spot.
Psycho (1960) - w/Commentary with Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho author Stephen Rebello; 3 Behind-the-scenes featurettes; Breakdowns of the "Shower Scene" setpiece; The Psycho Archives; Vintage newsreel: The Release of Psycho; Hitchcock-Truffaut interview excerpts; Posters and Psycho ads; Lobby cards; Behind-the-scenes photographs; Production photographs; Theatrical trailer; and re-release trailers.
The Birds (1963) - w/All About The Birds; Vintage Universal International newsreels; The Birds Is Coming; Suspense Story: National Press Club Hears Hitchcock; Tippi Hedren's screen test; Hitchcock-Truffaut interview excerpts; Deleted scene; Original ending; Storyboards; Production photographs; 100 Years of Universal featurettes; Theatrical trailer; and Blu-ray exclusive The Birds: Hitchcock's Monster Movie.
Marnie (1964) - w/The Trouble with Marnie behind-the-scenes featurette; The Marnie Archives feature; and Theatrical trailer.
Torn Curtain (1966) - w/Torn Curtain Rising behind-the-scenes featurette; Selected scenes scored by Bernard Herrmann; Production photographs; and Theatrical trailer.
Topaz (1969) - w/Alternate endings; Topaz: An Appreciation with film historian and critic Leonard Maltin; Storyboards for "The Mendozas" setpiece; Production photographs; and Theatrical trailer.
Frenzy (1972) - w/The Story of Frenzy behind-the-scenes featurette; Production photographs; Theatrical trailer.
Family Plot (1976) - w/Plotting Family Plot behind-the-scenes featurette; Storyboards for the chase scene; Production photographs; and Theatrical trailer.
The boxed set will also include a 50-page book featuring storyboards, costume sketches, correspondence, and rare photographs.
Peace Out!!
Todd "mother" B.
[Comingsoon.net and High-Def Digest]
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