January 13, 2012

Frozen World: The Story of the Ice Age - DVD Review




***SYNOPSIS***


This special collection features four specials, each examining a different aspect of the Ice Age. It’s a remarkable journey from the primitive man who inhabited the planet to a volcanic eruption and its devastating impact, to a fascinating look at a changing world and the cost of survival, to an exploration into the possibilities of another Ice Age.

We start with Clash of the Cavemen, which compares the Neanderthals with the Cro-Magnons and follows them through a bone-chilling Ice Age winter, ending with the extinction of one species. Next, Volcanic Winter goes back 75,000 years to trace the impact of a volcanic eruption – how it may have pushed the planet into an ice age and how it could have brought humanity to the edge of extinction. Then, take a Journey to 10,000 BC for the real story of life on earth during that time to unravel the geologic mystery surrounding the first environmental crisis faced by man. And finally, Mega Freeze asks if an Ice Age could happen again and if, in fact, it may already be too late to prevent a global disaster.

DISC ONE Clash of the Cavemen / Volcanic Winter

DISC TWO Journey to 10,000 BC / Mega Freeze



***VIDEO QUALITY***


Frozen World arrives on DVD with a 480p transfer in the original aspect ratio of 1.33:1. The dramatization footage looks pretty good with natural color reproduction and skintones. Detail was above average with clothing textures and natural outdoor scenes coming across the best. A good presentation. 8/10




***AUDIO QUALITY***


Audio is provided by a Dolby Digital Stereo 2.0 track. A front heavy track with little in the way of stereo separation which is a disappointment but overall this is a wholly listenable, crisp and clean audio presentation 7/10

January 9, 2012

Battle Royale: The Complete Collection coming to Blu-ray first time ever on March 20th



Anchor Bay Entertainment has announced their plans to release the highly anticipated Battle Royale: The Complete Collection for the first time on Blu-ray in North America. The first Battle Royale and a highly collectible complete box set will arrive in stores on March 20, 2012. Below is the full official press release:



"ONE OF THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL FILMS IN HISTORY FINALLY ARRIVES!"



BATTLE ROYALE



Available for the first time in North America on Blu-ray™, DVD and digital download on March 20th from Anchor Bay Entertainment

A title that has shocked, thrilled and unnerved audiences. A film whose fiendishly simple premise has inspired many imitations, including the upcoming The Hunger Games motion picture. Based on the 1999 global best-seller by Koushun Takami, the futuristic tale first came to the screen in 2000, directed by the legendary Kinju Fukasaku. Authors, filmmakers and film fans the world over consider the film and its 2003 sequel Battle Royale II: Requiem sacred cinematic classics. And now, fans can own them on high-definition Blu-ray™ and DVD!



On March 20th, Anchor Bay Entertainment proudly brings the Battle Royale: The Complete Collection to Blu-ray™ and DVD for the first time in North America. Featuring state-of-the-art HD transfers, hi-res audio and a wealth of bonus features that delve deep into this truly international phenomenon - the three disc Blu-ray™ plus bonus DVD set has an SRP of $49.99 and an SRP $44.98 for the four disc DVD. Battle Royale will also be released separately on Blu-ray™ for an SRP of $29.99 and DVD for an SRP of $24.98. Battle Royale will be available digitally via select outlets including iTunes® and Xbox LIVE®.



42 students, Three days, One survivor – No Escape. Welcome to the world of Battle Royale!



Battle Royale

In the near future, the economy has collapsed, unemployment has soared and juvenile crime has exploded. Fearful of their nation’s youth, the Japanese government passes The BR Law: Each year, a 9th grade class is sent to a remote island where they will be locked into exploding neck collars, given a random weapon, and forced to hunt and kill each other until there is only one survivor left. Chiaki Kuriyama (Kill Bill) and screen legend Takeshi Kitano (Boiling Point, Brother) star in the movie that has been argued, acclaimed and banned around the world. More than a decade later, it remains one of the most savage, shocking and emotionally powerful films of all time. Now experience the complete Director’s Cut of Kinji Fukasaku’s uncompromising masterpiece – nominated for 10 Japanese Academy Awards® – available uncensored and unrated for the first time ever in America.



Battle Royale: The Complete Collection

In 2000, director Kinji Fukasaku unleashed Battle Royale, his violently poetic epic about an innocent group of Junior High students forced by the government to hunt and kill their classmates for sport. It was nominated for 10 Japanese Academy Awards®, launched a global phenomenon, and banned from screens by frightened civic groups and distributors across America. Three years later, the equally disturbing sequel – featuring a new class, new rules, and a brutal terrorist plot by the first film’s young survivors – triggered its own tragic firestorm around the world. Now for the first time ever, you can see it all: Experience the entire Battle Royale saga on 4 discs that forever blasts open one of the most potent, shocking and savagely influential sagas in motion picture history.



Battle Royale: The Complete Collection’s four disc set in collectible high-end packaging will include:

* Battle Royale Director’s Cut with both Japanese and English language tracks and English subtitles

* Battle Royale Theatrical Cut with both Japanese and English language tracks and English subtitles

* Battle Royale II with Japanese language and English subtitles

* Battle Royale Bonus Content with Japanese language and English subtitles



SPECIAL FEATURES:

* The Making Of BATTLE ROYALE

* BATTLE ROYALE Press Conference

* Instructional Video: Birthday Version

* Audition & Rehearsal Footage

* Special Effects Comparison Featurette

* Tokyo International Film Festival 2000

* Battle Royale Documentary

* Basketball Scene Rehearsals

* Behind-The-Scenes Featurette

* Filming On-Set

* Original Theatrical Trailer

* Special Edition TV Spot

* TV Spot: Tarantino Version



The Battle Royale single release will include:

* Director’s Cut with Japanese and English language and English subtitles




With impeccable direction by three-time ‘Director of the year’ Kinji Fukasaku, and featuring high-quality acting performances from every angle, Battle Royale: The Complete Collection is as cunning as it is ruthless, offering a unique and brutal depiction of what people are capable of when imminent death is everywhere you look.

Disc 1 – Battle Royale Director’s Cut:

Run Time: 122 minutes

Rating: Not Rated

Format: Anamorphic Widescreen (1.78:1)

Audio: Japanese Dolby TrueHD 7.1 and English Dolby TrueHD 5.1

Subtitles: English



Disc 2 – Battle Royale Theatrical Cut:

Run Time: 113 minutes

Rating: Not Rated

Format: Anamorphic Widescreen (1.78:1)

Audio: Japanese and English Dolby TrueHD 5.1

Subtitles: English



Disc 3 – Battle Royale II: Revenge Director’s Cut:

Run Time: 133 minutes

Rating: Not Rated

Format: Anamorphic Widescreen (1.85:1)

Audio: Japanese Dolby TrueHD 5.1

Subtitles: English



Disc 4 – Battle Royale Special Features DVD:

Run Time: 194 minutes

Rating: Not Rated

Format: Full-Frame (1.33:1)

Audio: Japanese Dolby Surround 2.0

Subtitles: English