Official HD Review News

HD Online: Public Enemies

Tom Hopkins — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 09:13:07 +0000

Check out the HD trailer for Michael Mann’s new period crime flick Public Enemies starring the dream pairing of Johnny Depp and Christian Bale. Look for it at cinemas from 03 July.

BD Catalogue Frenzy

Tom Hopkins — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 09:40:56 +0000

Studios Paramount and Sony have announced plans to bring a host of catalogue titles to Blu-ray in the US and UK. Paramount will bring Deep Impact, K19: The Widowmaker, The Score, The Firm and Varsity Blues to the high definition format in North America, while Sony has confirmed Westerns The Quick and the Dead and Silverado, as well as Paul Thomas Anderson’s Punch Drunk Love for BD in the UK. The studio has also announced Steven Soderbergh’s debut feature Sex, Lies and Videotape for Blu-ray in the US, where it will become available in late August.

Transformers BD Gets New Live Content

Tom Hopkins — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 11:34:58 +0000

Now this is what BD-Live should be all about: Paramount has announced new content for owners of the Transformers Blu-ray disc that will take them inside the imminent sequel, as well as new content releated to the original film. Launching tomorrow, the reportedly exclusive online material will include Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen clips, on set footage, and skits. The original film is set to be bolstered by new deleted scenes, featurettes on filming at the Pentagon, SFX, stunts, weapons voice-overs and more.

High Five:Channel 5 set for HD licence

Keith Hennessey — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 09:28:57 +0000

With the BBC, ITV and Channel Four all broadcasting in high definition it now seems that Channel 5 is preparing to enter the HD fray as today independent TV regulator, Ofcom announced that it has made a provisional decision to reserve capacity in principal to the broadcaster, to provide new HD services on digital terrestrial television (DTT) from 2010. Ofcom’s decision to award a HD licence to Channel 5 is subject to it resolving certain key criteria related to its application, which must be resolved by the end of the year, however if all goes well we could seeing programs such as The Gadget Show, UEFA Europa League and CSI in HD very soon.
The initial first three HD services are expected to begin with the Granada region from late 2009, the rest of the UK will follow as each region switches to digital with nationwide coverage by 2012. Commenting of the decision Philip Graf, Chairman of Ofcom’s Content Board said: “This give Channel 5 the opportunity to join the other public service broadcasters in providing new services for viewers. It means more choice for TV viewers who will be able to watch in high definition popular programming, free to air through their television aerials.”
Ofcom is also talking to the BBC with a view to allowing HD services to be launched in other parts of the UK in advance of this timetable by the use of temporary frequency assignments at a number of main transmission sites. To access these new HD services on DTT, viewers will need a HD ready TV set and HD ready set-top box. The addition of Channel 5 to the HD line-up should help swell the already impressive high-def TV audience which (by the end of the first quarter of 2009) rose to an all time high, with over 1.8 million in total.

Iron Man 2 Pics!

Tom Hopkins — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 09:14:23 +0000

Jon Favreau hasn’t been too worried about releasing details surrounding the follow-up to one of the biggest blockbusters of last year - the director has been tweeting consistently from the set of Iron Man 2, and has now released the first image of Mickey Rourke in costume as baddie Whiplash (above) to go with an earlier, albeit more generic pic of Robert Downey Jr. (below). Iron Man was one of 2008’s biggest selling Blu-rays, helping to push the format last Autumn with it’s crisp action and colourful special effects. Can the sequel do likewise following it’s theatrical run next May?

Tennis Kicks Off On BBC HD

Tom Hopkins — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 09:57:10 +0000

The annual warm-up to Wimbledon - the Aegon championships at London’s Queen’s Club - started yesterday, with BBC providing coverage of the action on BBC HD. Britain’s great white hope Andy Murray is top seed in the competition following the withdrawal of world number one Rafa Nadal, so all eyes will be on him ahead of Wimbledon. The world’s greatest Tennis tournament is also set for the HD treatment courtesy of the Beeb - check it out when it starts on June 22.

Criterion Announces Next Title

Tom Hopkins — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 10:48:47 +0000

Following a poll on Amazon.com, Criterion has announced that it’s next Blu-ray release in the US will be the much-loved Howards End. The Academy Award-winning Merchant Ivory classic is an adaptation of E.M. Forster’s 1910 novel, and stars Helena Bonham Carter, Emma Thompson, Anthony Hopkins and Vanessa Redgrave. No word on whether we’ll get to see any of the other titles up for consideration, or even a release date for the winner, but if you want an idea of the sort of extras Criterion might include check out the specs for the DVD edition.

Paramount BDs Rumoured

Tom Hopkins — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 10:12:29 +0000

Home entertainment whistle blower The Digital Bits has posted a rumoured Paramount/DreamWorks Blu-ray release slate for later in the year. Citing industry sources, the site stresses that the mooted US discs listed are still unconfirmed - some have been mentioned before however, and we’d be surprised if at least a couple failed to make it to retail be fore the end of the year.

01/09/09: Braveheart
15/09/09: Deep Impact, Escape from L.A., 48 Hours
22/09/09: Star Trek: The Original Series - Season 2, Gladiator: Extended Edition, Galaxy Quest
03/09/09: Forrest Gump, It’s a Wonderful Life

Star Trek: The Next Generation - Original Motion Picture Collection is set to coincide with the as-yet-undated Blu-ray release of J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek.

High Definition Review Issue 20 on sale now

Keith Hennessey — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 09:58:07 +0000

The latest edition of High Definition Review is here with plenty to keep your hunger for HD at bay.

This issue we talk to Benjamin Button director David Fincher about his love for Blu-ray.

Take at look at the huge franchises set to break into high definition.

Open the doors to Samsung’s house of tomorrow.

Review every new Blu-ray release including: Ghostbusters, Frost/Nixon and Valkyrie.

We also examine the new generation of internet-enabled HDTVs

On sale now from newsagents and at the Imagine Publishing eShop: www.imagineshop.co.uk.

HD Online: Toy Story 3

Tom Hopkins — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 09:47:38 +0000

Check out the teaser trailer for Disney/Pixar’s 2010 3D movie Toy Story 3 in HD courtesy of Apple via Traileraddict.com!