Posted in: Dare to Play the Game, News and Opinions by Michael Durr on March 7th, 2007
More 360 memory, Less Taunting in Lost Planet and sitting in Time Pilot - Welcome to the column that is listed as Elite but reads like a bad issue of Mad Magazine known as Dare to Play the Game.
Posted in: Highly Defined, News and Opinions by Archive Authors on March 5th, 2007
When last I left you, the viewer, I was in the midst of frantically typing “Yo” so that I could be a participant of the chat with Warner Brothers Home Video, to ask about any coming next-gen titles from the studio. What we found out was fairly illuminating. The Warner hits L.A. Confidential, Poltergeist, Deliverance and the Kenneth Branagh version of Hamlet will all appear on HD-DVD and Blu-ray this year, with Heat and The Music Man to come out in 2008. They also reconfirmed ...hat other Stanley Kubrick films, along with Blade Runner, should be on their way out as well.
In other, perhaps tastier Blu-Ray news, Bill Hunt managed to get a quick look at a large though not complete look at the Universal titles on HD-DVD for most of the coming year. Titles include Midnight Run, The Big Lebowski, Lost in Translation, Mallrats, Being John Malkovich, Born on the Fourth of July and The Bourne Identity. How much of a dent Universal makes remains to be seen, but at least they finally may have some activity worth talking about.
Posted in: Brain Blasters, News and Opinions by David Annandale on March 2nd, 2007
I always have the distinct feeling, when writing this column, of shipping coals to Newcastle, but I haven’t let that stop me yet, so onward. Today, boys and girls, a few reading recommendations. I trust that most of you are capable of using Google and tracking down your favourite cult movie sites, so I thought I’d point, instead, to a few magazines. Print ones. The kind you hold in your hand. Gasp.
Let’s get the conflict of interest portion over with first. Don’t let the fact that I also write for The Ph...ntom of the Movies’ VideoScope let you see too much bias here. I was a reader for much longer than I’ve been a contributor. The mag has become much slicker since its semi-newssheet incarnation in the early 90s. Each issue is packed with reviews of the latest genre/cult DVD releases, with specialized columns focusing on TV, anime, foreign, and so on. There will also be at least a couple of interviews with creators/actors/directors/etc. Generally speaking, the target audience is fan of varied tastes, and the focus of the reviews is primarily on whether the movie in question is worth watching or not, rather than detailed examinations of the DVDs and their features. If you can’t find something here that speaks directly to you, then I give up. The magazine has also spawned a couple of excellent books.
Posted in: Dare to Play the Game, News and Opinions by Michael Durr on February 28th, 2007
PS3 is backwards, Conan moving forward, and a 360 schedule out of this world - Welcome to the column that is going nowhere fast but doing it with a big bang known as Dare to Play the Game.
Posted in: Highly Defined, News and Opinions by Archive Authors on February 26th, 2007
Well, the news late today about Sony deciding to come into the affordably priced standalone market by introducing a Blu-Ray player of their own that will come out in the spring/early summer. The BDP-S300 will retail for $600 and unlike the first gen that’s $300 more, will actually include CD playback. So now that they’re making their strides towards affordable hardware (stop with the PS3 argument) with more price drops to come, it’ll be interesting to see when, how much and how often the cheaper HD-DVD equipment does...
In terms of disc releases this week, both camps share the Steve McQueen films Bullitt and The Getaway, and the Nine Inch Nails film Beside You in Time, while the Blu-Ray gang gets Stranger Than Fiction as an exclusive.
Posted in: Brain Blasters, News and Opinions by David Annandale on February 23rd, 2007
The cult film collector will often have a rather divided personality when it comes to DVD editions of desired movies. On the one hand, perfection is ardently sought – no better example of this can be seen than the down-to-the-very-last-frame detail of the reviews in Video Watchdog. In a perfect world, all movies would be released by Criterion.
On the other hand, down that road lies both madness and bankruptcy. And the fact of the matter is that many films, particularly of the B-level (or lower) from ...he 50's and 60's, will never look amazing, no matter how much care is given to the transfer. The source material will remain firmly and wonderfully in the realm of the sow’s ear.
Posted in: Dare to Play the Game, News and Opinions by Michael Durr on February 21st, 2007
Mario Kart of old, Halo 3 Beta of new, & Sonic, well he’s blue - Welcome to the column that so borrowed that this writer will end up in a clearance sale @ the Salvation Army store known as Dare to Play the Game.
Posted in: Highly Defined, News and Opinions by Archive Authors on February 19th, 2007
Welcome one and all to the circus that is the format war. Well, let’s skip past the part where Sony will be putting copies of Casino Royale into their PS3s for the European launch, along with Fox’s announcement of Eragon on Blu-Ray for 3/20, along with rumors of Jaws on HD-DVD not dying anytime soon and Disney’s rumored releases of the two Pirates of the Caribbean and Sin City movies, and tackle a shot fired across the bow in the online community.
I like Bill Hunt and read...his work at The Digital bits from time to time. And I’m sure the guy knows what he’s talking about. He’s got studio ties (which I don), and he’s put out a book (which I haven’t), so bully to him for it. But, from the perspective of someone who a) doesn’t post in AVS Forums and b) is an enthusiast without being an extremist about DVD, home theater and film, allow me to throw whatever cred I’ve got into this discussion, without too much perspective or insight.
Posted in: Brain Blasters, News and Opinions by David Annandale on February 16th, 2007
As the reality TV phenomenon continues to evolve in much the same way as irradiated insects, it is perhaps time to go back and remember Series 7: The Contenders, a film that has lost none of its relevance since its release in 2001.
The film deals with a reality TV show called “The Contenders,” now in its seventh season. Contestants are selected in a lottery, and participation in the show is compulsory. The rules are simple: kill the other contestants. The winner is the last one standing, but that sim...ly means that person is off to the next season. Ultimately, the only way out of the show is feet-first.
Posted in: Dare to Play the Game, News and Opinions by Michael Durr on February 14th, 2007
Mute the Halo Ahole, Kissing the Chulip, and Paperboy delivered - Welcome to the column that is definitely not the father of Anna Nicole’s kid known as Dare to Play the Game.
