High Def Universe

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

An Interview With Chloe Moretz about Hugo

Q: I was looking at the schedule of films you have coming out and you are super busy.

A: Yes, it's true (laughs). I'm busy, but that's great, right?

Q: It is and talking about great … Hugo is such an amazing film. The sets looked amazing. Were they as amazing in real life as what they appeared to be for the audience watching the movie.

A: Definitely. The sets were huge. Absolutely gigantic. They are bigger than the Harry Potter sets. It was two stages and they built an entire train station on the two stages. I can't tell you how beautiful it was. There was just so much detail.

Q: As an audience member Hugo was a fun and magical movie to watch. What was it like to be the star because you were in almost every scene?

A: It was great, but it was also a lot of hard work. It was tiring. Long hours, but it was an amazing education for me. The backbone of the film is about old cinema and I didn't know a lot about it before we made the movie.

Q: So making Hugo was a bit like a film history class?

A: Yeah. The most amazing film class possible (laughs). When we began rehearsals I watched a lot of Georges Melies' films, but I didn't know who he was. But when we started shooting the film I looked into it further. I also looked at a lot of other great early filmmakers. I discovered so much.

An Interview With Sir Ben Kinglsey about Hugo

Q: Before you received the script for Hugo were you aware of the character you play, the trailblazing French filmmaker Georges Melies?

A: I knew a little bit because as a schoolboy I was lucky enough to have a film society at my school that explored the early days of cinema. We saw Sergei Eisenstein, Fritz Lang and other extraordinary filmmakers. We saw glimpses of Melies. I was convinced I saw A Trip to the Moon before I read the screenplay and the novel and walked on to the film set. So, a little bit I did know. I found it beautiful because he seems to have entered the psyche, all of us felt we recognized Georges Melies' work. There's an odd familiarity about his work so I think his presence was absolutely in my conscience before we started filming.

Army Wives: The Complete Fourth Season DVD Review

Reviewed by Jami Ferguson

The estrogen network, aka Lifetime, brings you the fourth season of Army Wives on a four disc DVD set. The show is based on the novel Under the Sabers: The Unwritten Code of Army Wives by Tanya Biank and it offers a look at a life in the military for the soldiers and how it affects their family. Like many TV shows, it’s preferable to start at season one. That way you fully understand the characters and where the story began. Quite often it is enough to start with the recap. I wait for the announcer to say “previously on…” and I am ready to jump ahead to the current season. With Army Wives, I do not recommend skipping ahead. The summary at the beginning of season four is not a suitable substitute for watching seasons one through three.

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Friday, February 24, 2012

The Little Angels - ABCs, 123s, and Animals DVD Reviews

Reviewed by Jami Ferguson

Little Angels is an animated DVD series and has been created for pre-school aged children to teach practical learning skills like ABCs and numbers. The series is presented in a captivating and entertaining format that will help parents to teach their little angels a big love of learning while also providing hours of fun to enjoy together with exciting DVD extras. Pre-school twins Alex and Zoe are blessed to have eight Little Angels watching over them – literally! These Little Angels live on the ceiling of their bedroom, painted there so they are the first things the kids see when they wake up in the morning and the last thing they see before they fall asleep at night. The angels come to life when the children need them most, helping guide them through the challenges of their young lives. Featuring a great deal of interactive DVD extras including charming music videos and downloadable activity sheets, plus a downloadable bonus digital copy of each lesson that will allow for learning on the go, the Little Angels ABC's, Little Angels Animals, and Little Angels 1, 2, 3's DVDs are a great value moms can feel good about sharing with their little angels.

Renowned director Martin Scorsese’s groundbreaking and original adventure Hugo makes its highly-anticipated debut on Blu-ray 3D, Blu-ray and DVD on February 28, 2012 from Paramount Home Media Distribution. Recipient of more Academy Award nominations than any other film, Hugo was honored with 11 total - including Best Picture and Best Director - and has already won Martin Scorsese the Golden Globe for Best Director, was named the best film of 2011 by the National Board of Review, and was cited by more than 150 critics as one of the top 10 films of the year. Hugo will be available in a three-disc Blu-ray 3D/Blu-ray/DVD combo pack, as well as a two-disc Blu-ray/DVD combo pack, each of which boast nearly an hour of behind-the-scenes special features including an illuminating making-of featurette, a retrospective on the extraordinary genius of filmmaker Georges Méliès, a look at the mechanical man at the heart of Hugo, plus interviews with the cast and crew and more. Read on for his thoughts about the movie, 3D and where he sees the future of film going.

Anthony Mackie (Finn) trained at the Juilliard School of Drama. After receiving rave reviews playing Tupac Shakur in the off-Broadway production “Up Against the Wind,” Mackie made his feature-film debut as Eminem’s nemesis, Papa Doc, in Curtis Hanson’s “8 Mile.” Spike Lee subsequently cast Mackie in the 2004 Toronto Film Festival Masters Program selection “Sucker Free City” and “She Hate Me.” He also appeared in Clint Eastwood’s Academy Award®-winning “Million Dollar Baby” and Jonathan Demme’s “The Manchurian Candidate.”

Ken Burns' The War Debuts on Blu-ray May 15

Six years in the making, the epic, seven-part film directed and produced by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick explores the history and horror of the Second World War from an American perspective through the personal accounts of men and women from four quintessentially American towns. Revealing the most intimate human dimensions of a worldwide catastrophe, the 15-hour documentary paints a vivid portrait of how the war touched the lives of every family on every street in every town in America. The War is narrated by Emmy Award-winner Keith David and includes voice-overs from acclaimed performers such as Tom Hanks, Samuel L. Jackson, Josh Lucas, Adam Arkin and Eli Wallach and features recordings by Norah Jones and Wynton Marsalis, as well as war-era favorites from Benny Goodman, Nat ‘King’ Cole and more.

Agatha Christie’s Poirot: Series 1 and 2 Blu-ray Review

Newly remastered and restored to their original U.K. broadcast order, Agatha Christie’s Poirot: Series 1 and 2 debuts on Blu-ray and arrives on DVD from Acorn Media on January 31, 2012. These 10 full-length mysteries per set star fan-favorite and BAFTA nominee David Suchet as the brilliant Belgian detective. Based on the novels by Agatha Christie, these lavish adaptations capture every splendid detail of the Art Deco era. ITV Studios’ Poirot has aired on ITV1 in the U.K. since 1989 and on PBS and A&E in the U.S. The 2-disc Blu-ray sets and the 3-vol. DVD sets include all 20 mysteries from the first two series, now with SDH subtitles.

Michael Jackson – The Life of an Icon Blu-ray Review

See Michael Jackson, one of the most recognizable and popular entertainers of all time, like never before in the feature-length tribute Michael Jackson: The Life of an Icon. Known to millions of fans worldwide for his record-breaking albums, groundbreaking music videos, mesmerizing dance moves and humanitarian efforts, his true story has never really been told…until now. This unprecedented look into the King of Pop’s fascinating life includes all-new interviews with his mother Katherine Jackson as well as siblings Tito and Rebbie Jackson, family, friends and music legends such as Smokey Robinson, Dionne Warwick and many more.

Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked Arrives on Blu-ray March 27

Everyone’s favorite chipmunks Alvin, Simon and Theodore, and their female companions, The Chipettes, have the time of their lives during a family vacation they’ll never forget in Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked, debuting on Blu-ray, DVD and digital download on March 27 from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. The Chipmunks, Chipettes and their caretaker Dave Seville (Jason Lee; “My Name is Earl”) embark on a trip of a lifetime aboard the Carnival Dream cruise ship. Seeking fun and excitement, the Chipmunks turn the luxury cruise liner into their own personal playground. But the ultimate vacation quickly becomes a disaster when the Chipmunks, Dave and Carnival cruise pelican mascot, who turns out to be the chipmunks’ old manager, Ian Hawke (David Cross; Megamind), accidentally fall overboard and find themselves ‘chipwrecked’ on a remote island. Stuck in an unfamiliar territory, the six furry castaways are separated from Dave and must figure out a way to survive on their own for the first time in their lives.

¡Three Amigos! 25th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray Review

¡Three Amigos! 25th Anniversary Edition features over 20 minutes of never-before-seen footage and a beautiful Blu-ray transfer overseen by director John Landis (Coming to America, Spies Like Us). Emmy Award winners Steve Martin (Roxanne), Chevy Chase (Fletch, Vacation) and Martin Short (Innerspace) star in Three Amigos, an uproarious comedy classic about three out of work silent movie actors who think they have stumbled upon the role of a lifetime. In 1916, the notorious bandit El Guapo and his gang are terrorizing a remote Mexican village. The daughter of the village leader, having seen a silent film featuring “The Three Amigos,” sends a telegram to the trio, believing them to be real heroes, asking them for help. Thinking they’re being offered a fortune for a personal appearance, the actors arrive in Mexico, only to discover they will be dodging real bullets!

On vacation in Los Angeles, Walter, the world’s biggest Muppet fan, his brother Gary (Jason Segel) and Gary’s girlfriend, Mary (Amy Adams), from Smalltown, USA, discover the nefarious plan of oilman Tex Richman (Chris Cooper) to raze Muppet Studios and drill for the oil recently discovered beneath the Muppets’ former stomping grounds. To stage a telethon and raise the $10 million needed to save the studio, Walter, Mary and Gary help Kermit reunite the Muppets, who have all gone their separate ways: Fozzie now performs with a Reno casino tribute band called the Moopets, Miss Piggy is a plus-size fashion editor at Vogue Paris, Animal is in a Santa Barbara clinic for anger management, and Gonzo is a high-powered plumbing magnate.

Tower Heist is Available to Pre-order and Arrives on Blu-ray Feb. 21st!

When the staff of New York City’s most expensive and luxurious condominium discovers that the billionaire investment advisor living in the penthouse has plundered their retirement fund, they take matters into their own hands. Convinced that light-fingered Wall Street Titan Arthur Shaw (Alan Alda) has stashed his ill-gotten millions in his apartment, building manager Josh Kovacs (Ben Stiller) rallies his troops and enlists the help of small-time thief Slide (Eddie Murphy) to make sure they get back what’s rightfully theirs. These rookie thieves—including high-strung concierge Charlie (Casey Affleck), broke ex-Wall Streeter Mr. Fitzhugh (Matthew Broderick), new bellhop Dev’Reaux (Michael Peña) and feisty maid Odessa (Gabourey Sidibe)—know the building better than anyone. It turns out they’ve been casing the place for years…they just didn’t know it.

Recipe for a Perfect Christmas DVD Review

Reviewed by Jami Ferguson

In the spirit of full disclosure, Recipe for a Perfect Christmas is 100% chick flick, brought to you by Lifetime. As I am, in fact a “chick” I may be genetically predisposed to liking such films. Those of you with overwhelming testosterone levels should know that there are no explosions, nudity, or gunfights. Just a lot of touchy-feely moments with obvious pauses that were set aside for commercial interruption for the leading moisturizers and PMS pills. Having said that it’s a very cute movie, one that could score you points with the ladies in your life if you rent it or stuff it under the Christmas tree. You have my permission to act like you thought of that yourself.

Game of Thrones: The Complete First Season Set's Blu-ray Details

Game of Thrones, one of the most elaborate and visually striking series on television, makes its highly-anticipated Blu-ray, DVD and digital download debut on March 6, 2012. Based on George R.R. Martin’s best-selling series A Song of Ice and Fire, the sweeping fantasy saga instantly became one of HBO’s biggest hits and won two 2011 Emmy awards including Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (Peter Dinklage). The drama follows kings and queens, knights and renegades, liars and noblemen as they vie for power in a land where summers span decades and winters can last a lifetime. Two powerful families are engaged in a deadly cat-and-mouse game for control of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros. As betrayal, lust, intrigue and supernatural forces shake the four corners of the Kingdoms, their bloody struggle for the Iron Throne will have unforeseen and far-reaching consequences.

Set against the backdrop of the Bosnian War that tore the Balkan region apart in the 1990s, In the Land of Blood and Honey tells the story of Danijel and Ajla, two people from different sides of a brutal ethnic conflict. Danijel, a soldier fighting for the Serbs, and Ajla, a Bosnian held captive in the camp he oversees, knew each other before the war, and could have found love with each other. But as the armed conflict takes hold of their lives, their relationship grows darker, their motives and connection to one another ambiguous, their allegiances uncertain.

Seduced by the challenge of an impossible case, the driven Dr. Carl Jung (Fassbender) takes the unbalanced yet beautiful Sabina Spielrein (Knightley) as his patient. Jung's weapon is the method of his master, the renowned Sigmund Freud (Mortensen). Both men fall under Sabina's spell and is based on a true story. This riveting, dark drama from director David Cronenberg brings together a prominent ensemble cast including Academy Awardnominee Keira Knightley (Lead Actress, Pride & Prejudice), Academy Awardnominee Viggo Mortensen (Lead Actor, Eastern Promises), Golden Globenominee Michael Fassbender (Best Actor, Shame) and Vincent Cassel (Black Swan).

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is the first of Columbia Pictures’ three-picture adaptation of Stieg Larsson’s literary blockbuster The Millennium Trilogy, which altogether has sold 50 million copies in 46 countries and has become a worldwide phenomenon. The first film begins with disgraced journalist, Mikael Blomkvist (Craig), having lost a libel suit and resigning as co-owner of his magazine, Millennium. In the interim, he takes on the investigation of a 40 year-old disappearance case on behalf of the wealthy Henrik Vanger (Plummer) of Vanger Industries. With the help of the pierced, tattooed and capable computer hacker, Lisbeth Salander (Mara), they uncover corruption that no one could have ever imagined.

WWII in HD Collector’s Edition Blu-ray Review

The only people to see the war like this were the ones who lived it. Until now. Seventy years in the making. Three thousand hours of color footage no one knew existed. The first documentary to show original color footage of World War II in immersive high definition, WWII in HD uses the journals and accounts of those who served in the war’s biggest battles to create a personal, introspective and detailed look at life on and off the front lines. Follow twelve unforgettable Americans, and experience the war through their eyes, in their own words, as it really looked and sounded. Culled from over 3,000 hours of rare color film found in a two-year worldwide search and converted to HD with meticulous technique, WWII in HD provides a picture of World War II as it has never been seen before. Also included in this ultimate edition is The Battle For Iwo Jima, an immersive look at the momentous battle using gloriously restored, full-color footage, some of which has never seen before and WWII in HD: The Air War, the untold story of the American 8th Air Force’s bloody battle to defeat the German Luftwaffe in the months leading up to D-Day.

Billy the Exterminator: Season One DVD Review

Reviewed by Jami Ferguson

A&E brings you Billy the Exterminator, my new favorite reality show. As the title suggests, Billy Bretherton is an exterminator. He runs the family business, Vex Con – a very busy company located in Lousiana. Billy and his team remove everything from cockroaches to alligators and it does not appear as though he ever turns down a job. Billy and his family are as white trash as they come, but somehow it’s part of their charm. Billy gets himself in some intense situations where pest removal could actually be life threatening. I’m ashamed to admit that I occasionally root for the animal when it appears Billy might get bitten, eaten, or stung.

Texas Killing Fields Blu-ray Review

Reviewed by Jami Ferguson

Inspired by true events, this tense and haunting thriller follows Detective Souder (Sam Worthington), a homicide detective in a small Texan town, and his partner, transplanted New York City cop Detective Heigh (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) as they track a sadistic serial killer dumping his victims’ mutilated bodies in a nearby marsh locals call “The Killing Fields.” Though the swampland crime scenes are outside their jurisdiction, Detective Heigh is unable to turn his back on solving the gruesome murders. Despite his partner’s warnings, he sets out to investigate the crimes. Before long, the killer changes the game and begins hunting the detectives, teasing them with possible clues at the crime scenes while always remaining one step ahead. When familiar local girl Anne (Chloë Grace Moretz) goes missing, the detectives find themselves racing against time to catch the killer and save the young girl’s life.

The Piano Blu-ray Review

Nominated for eight Academy Awards and collecting three in 1993 – Best Actress for Holly Hunter (TV’s “Saving Grace”), Best Supporting Actress for Anna Paquin (HBO’s “True Blood”) and Best Original Screenplay for Jane Campion - The Piano makes its debut on Blu-ray Disc. The film features a superior cast, led by Hunter, including Harvey Keitel (Reservoir Dogs) and Sam Neill (Jurassic Park). Called “one of the most enchanting, startling original love stories ever filmed” (Chicago Sun Times), the Blu-ray premiere will please film buffs everywhere. The Piano arouses passions and vengeful jealousies when Ada, a young mute woman (Hunter), is desired by two men – her husband by an arranged marriage (Neill) and the husband’s darkly intense neighbor (Keitel). Violent emotions erupt, but only one man understands that Ada’s heart can only be won through her beloved piano.

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment presents the story of a competitive trio who quickly turn a simple quest into the ultimate competition in The Big Year. Steve Martin, Jack Black and Owen Wilson portray three men from very different walks of life, facing a mid-life crisis, a work-life crisis and a no-life crisis. In the biggest competition of their lives, they undertake an unforgettable trek through North America, engaging in hilarious and bizarre adventures and forming friendships that will last a lifetime! Directed by David Frankel (The Devil Wears Prada, Marley & Me) and featuring outrageous supporting performances from Joel McHale (“Community”), Jim Parsons (“The Big Bang Theory”), Angelica Huston (50/50), Dianne Wiest (“In Treatment”), Brian Dennehy (The Next Three Days), Rashida Jones (“Parks and Recreation”), Kevin Pollak (Red State) and Anthony Anderson (Scream 4), The Big Year Blu-ray is loaded with special features including the theatrical and extended editions of the film, over 40 minutes of deleted scenes and the featurette “The Big Migration.”

Scrooged Blu-ray Review

Celebrate Christmas past, present and future with an uproarious and contemporary take on Charles Dickens’ classic tale when Scrooged made its Blu-ray debut on November 1, 2011 from Paramount Home Entertainment. Starring Bill Murray as a television executive with a heart of stone, the film takes viewers on a darkly comic adventure populated by an all-star cast including Karen Allen (Raiders Of The Lost Ark), John Forsythe (“Dynasty”), Bobcat Goldthwait (Shakes The Clown), Carol Kane (The Pacifier), Robert Mitchum (The Big Sleep), Alfre Woodard (“Desperate Housewives”) and Jamie Farr (“MAS*H”). A network TV president is perhaps the most cold-hearted man ever, but his holiday spirit is given a painful booster shot by three vengeful ghosts. In this comedic update of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”, Bill Murray portrays Frank Cross, an evil, crass executive who caters to the lowest-of-the-lowest common denominators while firing people at will for the flimsiest of reasons. To change his cruel and tasteless ways, Cross is taken on a trip through his past to his future so that he can achieve redemption.

Vampires Suck Blu-Ray Review

Reviewed by Jami Ferguson

The creators of Meet the Spartans and Disaster Movie bring you a spoof of the Twilight Saga. In order to appreciate most of the jokes, you should have already seen the Twilight movies. I think people like myself are the perfect audience for this spoof. I’ve seen the Twilight movies, enjoyed them, and remember enough of the details to get the jokes. I don’t read the books, have a team Jacob T shirt, and am not offended by laughs had at the expense of the Twilight movies and characters. Off hand, I can think of a few Twilight fans that would not be amused, but many more that would.

It Takes A Thief: The Complete Series DVD Review

Fusing the heist and espionage genres, It Takes a Thief was an action-adventure series that was inspired by Hitchcock’s 1955 Cary Grant film, To Catch a Thief, and was among the last of the 1960s spy television genre. Stealing to finance his life as a playboy and sophisticate, Alexander Mundy (Robert Wagner) was the world’s greatest cat burglar…until the day he got caught. But thievery skills are an asset in the world of espionage, so Mundy is pardoned when he agrees to use his wily ways to help steal for the SIA, an American espionage agency. Technically under house arrest, Mundy then travels the world over, performing daring acts of thievery in the name of Uncle Sam. He also works closely with SIA department head, Noah Bain (‘70s TV mainstay, Malachi Throne), his boss, aide, friend and watchdog.

The Disappearance of Alice Creed DVD Review

Reviewed by Jami Ferguson

On a suburban street, two masked men seize a young woman. They bind and gag her and take her to an abandoned, soundproofed apartment. She is Alice Creed (Gemma Arterton), daughter of a millionaire. Her kidnappers, the coldly efficient Vic (Eddie Marsan) and his younger accomplice Danny (Martin Compston), have worked out a meticulous plan. But Alice is not going to play the perfect victim – she isn’t about to let her captors use her as capital without a fight. Alice enters into a battle of wills which strains the already fractious relationship between the two men. As the deadline for the exchange draws nearer, all three are brought close to the breaking point, with Vic and Danny’s foolproof plan descending into a desperate struggle for survival. In a tense power-play of greed, duplicity, and survival we discover that sometimes disappearances can be deceptive, and even the most meticulous plans can go awry if you don’t choose your victim wisely.

Frida Blu-ray Review

Reviewed by Gerard Iribe

Garnering two Oscars in 2002 - Best Makeup and Best Music, Original Score - Frida tells the true story of artist Frida Kahlo, as portrayed by Academy Award nominee Salma Hayek (Best Actress, Frida, 2002). The biopic costars Alfred Molina (Spider-Man 2), Antonio Banderas (The Mask Of Zorro), Ashley Judd (Heat), Geoffrey Rush (The King's Speech) and Edward Norton (Fight Club). Directed by Julie Taymor (Across the Universe), the film was based on the novel by Hayden Herrera. Frida was a passion project for Salma Hayek and it took a long time for the project to finally come to fruition after many years of rejections. The long wait proved that just because you’re hot in this town, it doesn't mean you can always get what you want. Hayek had to pay her dues like everyone else and build herself up as an actress and producer first to get this done. It also helps that the script for Frida was that good.

Leapfrog Scout & Friend Numberland DVD Review

Reviewed by Jami Ferguson

Join Scout and his friends for another exciting learning adventure from the world of LeapFrog. When the pals long to learn about numbers, their magical car, Axle, whisks them away to Number Land. With the help of a new friend, Max, the pals meet all the numbers in the land and build early numeracy skills. Then it's time to help the residents of Number Land plan a surprise birthday party for Max. It all adds up to plenty of fun and adventure as kids sing and count their way through Number Land with Scout & Friends!

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Tuesday, February 28, 2012

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Friday, February 24, 2012

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Tuesday, February 21, 2012

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Thursday, February 16, 2012

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

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Thursday, February 9, 2012

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Monday, February 6, 2012

Saturday, February 4, 2012

Friday, February 3, 2012

Wednesday, February 1, 2012