Redbox Rents One Billionth Movie
September 6, 2010 by Doug
Filed under Movies, News/Events
Redbox reached a major movie milestone this weekend with the rental of its one billionth movie. “Clash of the Titans,” rented from a redbox location in Tampa, Florida, was the one billionth movie rented. The milestone occurs only six years after the popular red kiosks first debuted in Denver, Colo. Today, redbox has more than 24,000 convenient locations nationwide.
“One billion rentals is an incredible milestone as redbox has quickly become the local video store for millions of consumers nationwide,” said Mitch Lowe, president, redbox. “Our popularity is a testament to our consumers’ loyalty and our steadfast commitment to making movie rentals affordable and convenient for our consumers.”
Thanks a Billion Celebration
To celebrate its one billionth rental, redbox has launched the “Thanks a Billion” celebration. The nationwide event thanks redbox renters with a free one-night movie rental and chances to win premium prizes. Throughout the month of September, eligible redbox renters can enter the unique DVD code found on their redbox rental at redbox.com/thanks to receive a promotional code good for a free, one-night rental. Renters also will be entered to win the “Thanks a Billion” grand prize – a choice between a trip to the People’s Choice Awards or a Sony Home Entertainment Theatre System. The nationwide “Thanks a Billion” celebration runs from Sept. 1 to Sept. 30, 2010. Log on to redbox.com/thanks for complete rules and details*, as well as complete odds of winning and prize descriptions.
MovieTickets.com Will Provide Online Movie Ticketing in Spain
September 2, 2010 by Doug
Filed under Movies, News, News/Events
MovieTickets.com today announced it will provide online movie ticketing services for Spain’s Circuito I.N.D.I.E theater circuit (Vircas.es Group) and will provide showtimes and advance movie ticketing through the launch of the MovieTickets.com.es website. Circuito I.N.D.I.E currently operates 125 screens and has rapid expansion plans in place for the next three years.
To date, MovieTickets.com has steadily increased its global ticketing capabilities, strategically identifying key markets beyond the U.S. to offer online ticketing solutions. MovieTickets.com currently serves moviegoers in multiple countries and territories, offering advance movie ticketing for Canada at MovieTickets.ca; in the U.K. at MovieTickets.co.uk; in Ireland at MovieTickets.ie; at MovieTickets.com.ar in Argentina; and in Aruba, Bermuda and Curacao under the MovieTickets.com brand. The company has 10 different versions of the MovieTickets.com website, including Spanish and French language versions.
“MovieTickets.com is becoming the global online movie ticketing resource that we set out for it to be,” said Joel Cohen, CEO, MovieTickets.com. “We’ve identified Spain as another important market that fits well into our international development strategy. This partnership marks the first of many new markets that we’ll be expanding into, growing our solutions’ footprint and overall brand visibility.”
Resident Evil: Afterlife to Release with D-BOX Motion Effects
August 30, 2010 by Doug
Filed under Movies, News/Events
Welcome back to the 50’s kids. D-BOX Technologies announced today that it has reached agreement with Sony Pictures to feature D-BOX’s immersive MFX with Resident Evil: Afterlife in selected theatres on September 10.
Based on the popular video game series, Sony’s Resident Evil: Afterlife is the long-awaited fourth installment of the highly successful “Resident Evil” franchise and is the first to be shown in 3D at selected movie theatres.
“The consistent support of movie studio giants like Sony speaks volumes about industry and consumer confidence in our immersive motion technology,” said President and Chief Executive Officer of D-BOX Technologies, Claude Mc Master. “This is our second collaboration and we are pleased to add an exciting, action-packed sci-fi thriller to our growing catalogue of D-BOX Motion Code supported films.”
For a complete listing of theatres offering the D-BOX experience and a guide to new movies, visit http://www.d-box.com/
Disney Dishes on Fantasia/Fantasia 2000 4 Disc Set
August 29, 2010 by Doug
Filed under Movies, News, News/Events
The Vault is being opened and both Fantasia and Fantasia 2000 will be available for the fist time in High Definition. They are being released in a 4 Disc Blu-Ray + DVD set in store November 30th.
Both Fantasia and Fantasia 2000 on Blu-ray will be presented in digitally remastered 1080p video, in their original aspect ratios, and 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio on separate discs. The third and fourth discs in the set are DVD versions of the film and limited redundant bonus features.
Walt Disney’s experimental masterpiece Fantasia won two honorary Oscars for its innovative use of animation and music.
Fantasia 2000 begins where its predecessor, Fantasia, left off, with seven completely new segments and the return of the popular “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice”, featuring breathtaking images coupled with classical music favorites.
In conjunction with these releases, Destino, the unfinished animated feature film created by Walt Disney and famed surrealist painter Salvador Dali will release. Begun in 1946, it was rediscovered in 2003 and completed by Walt’s nephew, Roy E. Disney. The collaboration between these two legendary artists will be available to own for the first time along with an all-new feature-length documentary that examines the surprising partnership between Dali and Disney.
Disc One: Fantasia Blu-ray
- DisneyView
- Disney Family Museum
- The Schultheis Notebook - newly discovered document reveals movie secrets
- Interactive Art Gallery
- Audio commentaries
Disc Two: Fantasia 2000 Blu-ray
- Destino - 2003 animated short debuting on Blu-ray
- Dali and Disney - a date with Destino documentary
- Musicana - Walt’s inpiration for a sequel
- Disney’s Virtual Vault - BD-Live
- Audio commentaries
Disc Three: Fantasia DVD
- Audio commentary
- Disney Family Museum
Disc Four: Fantasia 2000 DVD
- Musicana - Walt’s inpiration for a sequel
Apocalypse Now Coming to Blu-ray for the First Time
August 26, 2010 by Doug
Filed under Movies, News, News/Events
The horror of of Blu-ray has been that many of the great films ever made have not been transferred to this great format. Well, now at least one horror is being addressed. Apocalypse Now is coming to Blu-ray for the first time with not just one, but two full box sets. Both versions contain Apocalypse Now and Apocalypse Now Redux with more than nine hours of bonus material including new interviews with on-screen and behind-the-scenes talent. The 3-Disc Full Disclosure Edition will include the acclaimed making-of feature documentary Hearts of Darkness. See below for details on both box sets.
Exploding onto shelves on October 19, 2010, the Apocalypse Now 3-Disc Full Disclosure Edition will be available for $59.99 and the Apocalypse Now 2-Film Set will retail for $39.99.
2-DISC SET SPECIAL FEATURES
- Apocalypse Now and Apocalypse Now Redux - presented in 1080P High Definition
Widescreen, in their original 2.35:1 theatrical aspect ratios and new 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio - NEW “A Conversation with Martin Sheen and Francis Ford Coppola”
- NEW “An Interview with John Milius” interview by Francis Ford Coppola
- NEW “Fred Roos: Casting Apocalypse” featurette
- NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN Complete Francis Ford Coppola interview with Roger Ebert at the 2001 Cannes Film Festival
- NEW TO THIS EDITION Original 1938 Mercury Theatre Radio Reading of “Heart of Darkness” featuring Orson Welles
- Monkey Sampan “lost scene”
- Additional Scenes
- ”Destruction of the Kurtz Compound” end credits with audio commentary by Francis Ford Coppola
- “The Hollow Men,” video of Marlon Brando reading T.S. Eliot’s poem
- ”The Birth of 5.1 Sound” featurette
- “Ghost Helicopter Flyover” sound effects demonstration
- ”A Million Feet of Film: The Editing of Apocalypse Now” featurette
- ”The Music of Apocalypse Now” featurette
- ”The Synthesizer Soundtrack” article by music synthesizer inventor Bob Moog
- ”Heard Any Good Movies Lately? The Sound Design of Apocalypse Now” featurette
- “The Final Mix” featurette
- “Apocalypse Then and Now” featurette
- “The Color Palette of Apocalypse Now” featurette
- “PBR Streetgang” featurette
- “The Color Palette of Apocalypse Now” featurette
3-DISC FULL DISCLOSURE EDITION BLU-RAY DISC SPECIAL FEATURES
- Apocalypse Now and Apocalypse Now Redux - presented in 1080P High Definition Widescreen, in their original 2.35:1 theatrical aspect ratios and new 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio
- INCLUDED ONLY ON THE FULL DISCLOSURE EDITION Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker’s Apocalypse, including optional audio commentary with Eleanor and Francis Ford Coppola - first time in 1080P High Definition
- EXCLUSIVE TO EDITION 48-page collectible printed booklet with special note from Francis Ford Coppola, never-before-seen archives from the set, behind the scenes photos and more!
- EXCLUSIVE TO EDITION John Milius Script Excerpt with Francis Ford Coppola Notes
- EXCLUSIVE TO EDITION Storyboard Gallery
- EXCLUSIVE TO EDITION Photo Gallery, including images from photographer Mary Ellen Mark
- EXCLUSIVE TO EDITION Marketing Archive
- NEW “A Conversation with Martin Sheen and Francis Ford Coppola”
- NEW “An Interview with John Milius” interview by Francis Ford Coppola
- NEW “Fred Roos: Casting Apocalypse” featurette
- NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN Complete Francis Ford Coppola interview with Roger Ebert at the 2001 Cannes Film Festival
- NEW TO THIS EDITION Original 1938 Mercury Theatre Radio Reading of “Heart of Darkness” featuring Orson Welles
- Monkey Sampan “lost scene”
- Additional Scenes
- ”Destruction of the Kurtz Compound” end credits with audio commentary by Francis Ford Coppola
- “The Hollow Men,” video of Marlon Brando reading T.S. Eliot’s poem
- “The Birth of 5.1 Sound” featurette
- “Ghost Helicopter Flyover” sound effects demonstration
- “A Million Feet of Film: The Editing of Apocalypse Now” featurette
- “The Music of Apocalypse Now” featurette
- “The Synthesizer Soundtrack” article by music synthesizer inventor Bob Moog
- “Heard Any Good Movies Lately? The Sound Design of Apocalypse Now” featurette
- “The Final Mix” featurette
- “Apocalypse Then and Now” featurette
- “The Color Palette of Apocalypse Now” featurette
- “PBR Streetgang” featurette
- “The Color Palette of Apocalypse Now” featurette
Interview with Hanelle Culpepper - Director of Within (W/Audio)
July 30, 2010 by Doug
Filed under Interviews, Movies, News/Events, Reviews/Demos
You can venture into the realms of the unseen by tuning in this Saturday evening, July 31st, at 9 PM EDT/PDT to watch “Within“ on the Liftime Network. A thriller like “Within” is not the type of film that Lifetime fans are used to seeing, but take a view of the trailer and you can see Lifetime is getting more edgy.
Within is a supernatural thriller set in an otherwise unsuspecting town, the story of Rachel, a young girl who realizes she can see evil spirits. Rachel becomes witness to the disturbing death of her mother and though she and her father retreat to small town USA for a fresh start, she is not able to escape the visions of that dreadful day.
In her new town, Rachel befriends classmate Michelle Lowe. When Michelle’s penchant for schoolyard pranks turns from goodnatured fun to potentially deadly, Rachel suspects that her friend may be less than friendly. Rachel’s visions could be the key to stopping a series of violent attacks against the town’s children and unlocking the puzzle behind a decade-old disappearance.
Hanelle Culpepper on the Set of Within
Within’s director Hanelle M. Culpepper is an award-winning writer/director based in Los Angeles. She is a graduate of Lake Forest College in suburban Chicago and earned a Master’s Degree at USC’s Annenberg School for Communication She began her film career in 1997 when her first script earned her entry into Bill and Camille Cosby’s prestigious screenwriting program for African-American writers.
Her directorial debut was The Wedding Dress, a romantic comedy short about a carefree bachelor who finds a wedding dress in his girlfriend’s closet. It premiered at the 2002 Pan American Film Festival and has won awards at multiple festivals. She directed the short film “Six and the City” in 2003 and the documentary “How to Stand In Line for Star Wars” in 2005. She has also directed episodic television with a one-hour episode of Discovery Channel’s scripted crime anthology series Guilty or Innocent in 2005.
ToT chatted with Ms. Culpepper about Within, making the film, what went on behind the scenes, why it is showing on Lifetime, her feelings about horror movies, her feelings about being a director, working as an African America in the Hollywood system, and why it was really okay to work with kids. Oh yes, you can find out if she is Mac or PC, Final Cut or Avid.
Click play to hear Hanelle Culpepper speaks with us about “Within” and next her next horror movie which will be in 3D.
Run Time 16:07
Download MP3
Within stars: Mia Ford, Sammi Hanratty, Lori Heuring, Sam Jaeger, Brent Sexton and Stacey Haiduk. “Within” debuts on Lifetime on Saturday, July 31 at 9 PM.
Atom.com Launches Third and Final Season of ‘Legend Of Neil’
July 26, 2010 by Doug
Filed under Movies, News/Events
Following a world premiere at San Diego Comic-Con 2010, the third and final season of Streamy-nominated “Legend Of Neil” launches today at Atom.com, the digital comedy network and COMEDY CENTRAL’s anchor brand for original digital content. With over 4.5 million plays, the hit Web series created by Sandeep Parikh and starring Tony Janning, Mike Rose, Scott Chernoff and Felicia Day (”Red,” “The Guild”) has built an enthusiastic fan base since its debut in 2008. After a screening to an audience of over 500 fans at Comic-Con on Saturday, season three of “Legend Of Neil” officially kicks off with Atom.com’s online release of episode 301 today at www.legendofneil.com.
“Legend Of Neil” follows Neil (Tony Janning) as he is sucked into the classic video game “Legend of Zelda™” after a heavy night of drinking and is forced to become the iconic elfin hero that is Link. The third season introduces several new friends and foes, revisits Neil’s relationship with Felicia Day’s tiny foul-mouthed Fairy and continues his journey through the game to save the princess (Angie Hill). Guest stars include the Sklar Brothers (”Cheap Seats,” “Back On Topps”), Alex Albrecht (”Totally Rad Show,” “Diggnation”), Jeff Lewis (”The Guild”), Robert Hoffman (”Step Up 2: The Streets”) and Fahim Anwar and David Harris (MTV’s ‘Disaster Date’). Featured musicians who have recorded theme music for the third season include Dragon Boy Suede (”Jimmy Kimmel Live!”), Internet stars Molly Lewis and Garfunkel and Oates, Paul and Storm (”The Bob & Tom Show”) and Jonathan Coulton (”Portal”).
“Tony and I have wanted this series to be a trilogy of seasons and we can’t thank the folks over at Atom enough for getting behind our vision and making the third and final season possible,” said creator Sandeep Parikh. “Without a doubt, season three will be our most epic, ridiculous, raunchy, absurd and nerdiest of them all. We’ve assembled an incredible cast and crew, which really enabled me to push the bounds of Web television.”
With the runaway success of “Legend Of Neil” and Parikh’s longstanding relationship with Atom.com, the creator has secured a blind script deal with the Atom.com’s on-air partner, Comedy Central. The deal commissions Parikh to develop and write for the network.
Seven new episodes will debut during season three of “Legend Of Neil,” with one new episode premiering every other Tuesday. The season will include bonus videos and behind-the-scenes material. Additionally, this fall Parikh will host an episode of “Atom TV,” Comedy Central’s half-hour, late-night series featuring original Web programming from Atom.com.
It’s A Trap! - Family Guy Skewers Star Wars for the Third Time
July 25, 2010 by Doug
Filed under Movies, News/Events
Family Guy fans received an early peak of the Griffins’ third take on Star Wars at San Diego Comic-Con as Seth MacFarlane previewed 10 minutes of “Family Guy: It’s A Trap!” during the “Family Guy” panel today.
In this final chapter of the Griffins in the Lucusverse, Luke Skywalker (Chris) and Princess Leia (Lois) must travel to Tatooine to free Han Solo (Peter) by infiltrating the wretched stronghold of Jabba the Hutt (Joe), the galaxy’s most loathsome and dreadful gangster. Once reunited, the Rebels team up with a tribe of Ewoks to combat the Imperial forces on the forest moon of Endor. Meanwhile the Emperor (Carter Pewterschmidt) and Darth Vader (Stewie) conspire to turn Luke to the dark side, and young Skywalker is determined to rekindle the spirit of the Jedi within his father.
There are cameo voice spots too! - including Patrick Stewart and Michael Dorn reprising their roles from “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” Adam West (“Batman”), Carrie Fisher (Star Wars Trilogy) and conservative talk radio juggernaut Rush Limbaugh as the voice of the large carnivorous reptomammal, the Rancor.
Family Guy: It’s A Trap! will be arriving exclusively on Blu-ray and DVD December 21 from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment.
As an added bonus, “Family Guy: It’s A Trap!” will also be available in Blu-ray and DVD triple-packs featuring all the “Family Guy” Star Wars spoofs (2005’s “Family Guy: Blue Harvest” and last year’s “Family Guy: Something, Something, Something Dark Side“).