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YouTube looking to enter rental movies on demand business, says WSJ

by Ross Miller posted Sep 2nd 2009 at 6:02PM

Sounds like Google has found the best way to monetize YouTube yet, and it puts itself in a pretty competitive spot versus the likes of Netflix, Amazon VOD, and Apple's iTunes movie store. According to Wall Street Journal, the company's currently in talks with Lions Gate, Sony, and Warner Bros. studios over putting their content on YouTube for a rental fee, likely $3.99 -- the same price as Apple's SD movie rentals. Even more interesting is talk of getting some titles online day and date with the DVD releases. Some options could still be free with advertising, but as for paid content, Google's enticing studios over to their way of thinking with a proposed minimum fee of "just under $3 per title viewed." A three-month beta testing is apparently scheduled to begin soon among 10,000 Google employees, and after that? Well, here's hoping the G-Man manages to sign on some more studios and offer us the films in streaming HD.

Watchmen Director's Cut movie / PlayStation 3 game Blu-ray combo now available

by Vladislav Savov posted Jul 21st 2009 at 8:24PM


If you have the dominant high-def optical storage format -- which can serve both movies and games with equal aplomb -- built right into your consoles, shouldn't you be leveraging that synergy? Well, the assimilation is now complete, as Watchmen Director's Cut launched today with The End is Night Parts 1 and 2 for PlayStation 3 in tow. The price of admission here is a penny under $50 before tax / shipping -- and considering both parts of the game cost $30 total on their lonesome, that's none too shabby of a deal. It'll be interesting to see what film and tie-in game make the merge next -- anyone up for a Charlie and the Chocolate Factory re-release?

Sonic brings 3D movies into the home via CinemaNow

by Darren Murph posted Jul 21st 2009 at 1:43PM


Like it or not, 3D movies are coming to your house. If you're looking to be one of the first on the block to stream the third-dimension onto your computer monitor or 3D-ready HDTV, Sonic Solutions is making sure you have that option. Announced today, the company is utilizing Roxio's CinemaNow platform to provide users access to 3D films, and all of those files are optimized for use with NVIDIA's GeForce GPUs and its 3D Vision / 3D Vision-ready displays. Frankly, we're shocked to see CinemaNow involved in all of this, but this just might be the offering that makes the service at least marginally relevant again. Sadly, there's no hard data surrounding pricing and release, but needless to say, you should probably go ahead and don those funky goggles just in case it goes down sooner rather than later.

Zip.ca and CinemaNow prepping Canada's first movie download service

by Richard Lawler posted Jul 1st 2009 at 9:31AM

Finally, Canada is getting a legit digital download option, now that Zip.ca and Sonic Solutions have announced plans to team up on a movie service. Though short on details (according to the PR it is still "exploring a number of models," including a la carte and subscription) CEO Curt Millar's stated goal to become consumer's destination for online movie access should be bolstered by using CinemaNow, since its service is already supported on hardware from TiVo to PC to LG Blu-ray players and more, it shouldn't be too difficult to work with hardware already in customers homes or coming out in the future. Millar told Joystiq his company "would love" to follow Netflix's lead to console access, but don't run to your Xbox 360, PS3 or Wii just yet, Canucks, there's no partnerships to announce yet.

[Via Joystiq]

Searching For Sonny: first feature film shot on a DSLR

by Darren Murph posted Mar 30th 2009 at 10:23AM


What's the world coming too, really? Not only did we see the first official presidential portrait shot with a DSLR this year, but we're also seeing the first feature film to be entirely shot on one as well. Searching For Sonny has grabbed the rights to that latter claim, a little ditty written and directed by one Andrew Disney. As expected, we have Canon's almighty EOS 5D Mark II to thank, though Nikon fanboys will surely love that their lenses were used. Head past the break for a sneak peek, and hit up the read link on April 15th for the full trailer. Indie filmmakers, this is the break you've been waiting for -- don't screw it up.

Continue reading Searching For Sonny: first feature film shot on a DSLR

Samsung launches its own movie download service for Europe

by Chris Ziegler posted Mar 19th 2009 at 11:39AM


For phone manufacturers, it seems like having a decent multimedia ecosystem tied to your devices is nearly as important to success these days as the platform you're running, and Samsung wants in on that action -- at least in Europe. The company will launch its Acetrax-powered Samsung Movies service in the UK and Germany first (it's already live in beta form) with more launches elsewhere in Europe down the road, offering 2,000 movies and TV shows from Warner Bros., Paramount, Universal and Momentum Pictures by mid-year starting at £2.49 ($3.60) for a 24-hour rental and £4.99 ($7.22) to buy the goods outright. Sammy is tying the service into its recent and forthcoming OLED launches, implying that the screen tech is the perfect way to enjoy movies on the road. Eventually, the company plans to expand the service to PMPs and connected TVs, but for now, you'll have to struggle along with your Omnia HD, you poor baby, you.

Blu-ray Discs sliding into public libraries -- has yours made the move?

by Darren Murph posted Mar 19th 2009 at 10:05AM


We figured it would happen sooner or later, but quite honestly, we never imagined we'd see a public library stocking Blu-ray Discs this soon. A vigilant tipster has pointed out that the Washington Centerville Public Library in Ohio now has BDs for patrons to check out, though his own observances have revealed that the general public is still having a hard time understanding that these discs cannot be played back on standard DVD players. And yes, that's despite the dozen signs informing them of that little fact. In order to make them easily identifiable, all BDs in the library are kept in their iconic blue cases, and as the collection grows, guests are allowed to check out a limit of two at a time. Has your library jumped on the Blu-ray bandwagon? Give it a call and find out.

[Thanks, Ryan]

Poll: Have you seen a movie in 3D?

by Darren Murph posted Mar 14th 2009 at 12:00PM


Considering that we just gave away 25 pairs of tickets to a 3D screening, we're expecting some serious responses to this one. With 3D doing its best to come storming back into relevancy, we've seen studio after studio commit to pumping out flicks in 3D. All the while, cinemas have been transitioning just as quickly, giving viewers the option to catch new films in 3D so long as they're kosher with rockin' the shades. So, have you checked out a theater screening in 3D? How was it? Do you plan to go again? Avoid 3D at all costs?

Have you seen a movie in 3D?

Discipline - The Hentai Academy: a first of its kind Blu-ray release

by Darren Murph posted Jan 19th 2009 at 8:31AM


There's anime on Blu-ray, there's adult films on Blu-ray -- in all honesty, this was just bound to happen. Japan's MediaBank has officially announced that Discipline - The Hentai Academy will become the first hentai release on the BD format when it's launched on January 30th. The single-disc package will include the compete six episode "renewal mosaic" version of the series, but the action won't come cheap. It's slated to hit shelves with a lofty ¥8,190 ($90) price tag attached, and while no worldwide release has been mentioned thus far, we've all ideas the import channels will be ready and willing to satisfy the desires of those outside of Japan. [Warning: links are mildly NSFW]

[Via Japanator]

My Bloody Valentine 3D director gets interviewed

by Darren Murph posted Jan 18th 2009 at 4:54PM


While My Bloody Valentine 3D is hardly the first film to hit the silver screen in 3D, it's one of the few thus far to be marketed first as a 3D experience. Every preview that we've seen goes out of its way to somehow tease the 3D aspect, and it'll be interesting to see how well / horrible it does in theaters. For those even remotely interested in checking it out, you should also head past the break for a two-part interview with the film's director. Patrick Lussier sat down with Hollywood In Hi-Def in order to discuss the specific 3D elements of the film and how he felt these aspects served to draw the audience in deeper and produce a more riveting product. There's even a mention of a 3D Blu-ray release, which we're sure Panasonic is just drooling over. We won't spoil anything for you here -- head on past the jump and mash play (twice) for yourself.

Continue reading My Bloody Valentine 3D director gets interviewed

VHS distribution grinds to a halt

by Darren Murph posted Dec 23rd 2008 at 2:10AM


We already gave VHS a proper burial after JVC became the last firm to shut the door on VHS player production, but there was still one nail in the coffin that wasn't quite hammered shut. Today, it all ends. The last notable distributor of VHS films -- Distribution Video Audio out of Palm Harbor, Florida -- has shipped its final truckload of tapes, probably to a small town library or a mom 'n pop shop in a place you'll never hear of. According to co-owner Ryan J. Kugler: "It's dead, this is it, this is the last Christmas, without a doubt." An unceremonious way to exit, sure, but we have a sneaking suspicion that it'll one day be able to say it made it longer than practically every other physical film format that succeeded it. Here's one last tear for the format that was -- now, time to plan a trip to the local flea market.

[Via CNET]

First Blu-ray Disc / DVD hybrid announced in Japan

by Darren Murph posted Dec 19th 2008 at 10:06PM


It sure took long enough to happen, but one of HD DVD's biggest benefits has finally made it over to the Blu-ray side. Yep, we're talking about a Blu-ray / DVD hybrid disc, with a single-layer of Blu on one side and a standard DVD on the very same side (as in, not a "flipper" disc). Not surprisingly, the action's going down first in Japan, with Code Blue emergency helicopter doctor Blu-ray BOX (yes, seriously) as the first hybrid title. There's no word on when (or if) this technology will make it to US soil, but the sooner the better -- nothing like a little inbuilt backwards compatibility to ease the mind.

[Via CDRInfo]

The Dark Knight director hungry for more IMAX

by Darren Murph posted Dec 13th 2008 at 2:29PM


IMAX has been around for years, while 3D is just now starting to really infiltrate the theater scene. Curiously, it looks as if 3D will have more of the alternate cinema market share than IMAX in no time flat, despite IMAX's tremendous advantage in launch time. Thanks to The Dark Knight, however, IMAX could receive that much-needed breath of life it has been waiting for. Director Christopher Nolan has reportedly stated that he'd like to shoot an entire film for IMAX, even though it would undoubtedly be down-converted for playback on traditional screens. He did admit that the noisiness of the camera could cause issues, but that's nothing a hard-working set pusher couldn't overcome. For those who viewed the latest installment of Batman in theaters, many were most captivated by the expansive IMAX sequences -- in fact, we'd be hard pressed to find someone who wouldn't want an entire film to look like that.

[Via FirstShowing]

The Dark Knight shatters sales record, moves 600,000 Blu-ray Discs on day one

by Darren Murph posted Dec 11th 2008 at 9:02AM


The numbers are in, and they're big. Just as predicted, Warner Brothers' The Dark Knight was a huge day-one success, with consumers in the US, Canada and UK snapping up three million copies during the first 24 hours (give or take a few) that it was on sale. More germane to our conversation, however, is this 600,000 figure, which tells exactly how many Blu-ray Discs were sold. We already know that around one-sixth of those were moved in the UK, leaving us to determine that North America did some serious shopping. The studio has now projected it to sell one million BDs by Saturday, and curiously enough, current sales have been "especially strong at grocery stores, indicating that the format is broadening beyond early adopters to more mainstream buyers, notably women." Needless to say, this title took down Iron Man's record of moving 250,000 BDs on day one, which just ratchets up the bar for the next big one to take down.

[Thanks, Geoff]

107,000 The Dark Knight Blu-ray Discs sold in UK on day one

by Darren Murph posted Dec 9th 2008 at 10:08AM


We'll warn you -- these numbers are likely very preliminary and subject to change, but Pocket-lint is reporting (via Official Charts Company data as revealed by the British Video Association) that some 513,000 copies of The Dark Knight were sold on day one in the UK (but isn't the day still ongoing?), 21% of which were Blu-ray. If our abacus is to be trusted, that's just north of 107,000 Blu-ray Discs, and it falls right in line with the apparent BD boom going on across the pond. Just for comparison, it took the white hot Casino Royale a full week in the UK to move just 10,000 BD units. Looks like the flick is off to a solid start -- we'll be keenly watching for US numbers as soon as they become available.




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