Tag Archives: Spirited Away

Fathom Brings Studio Ghibli Classics Back to the Big Screen

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GKIDS Studio Ghibli Fathom Events Marathon

‘Spirited Away,’ ‘Howl’s Moving Castle,’ and more Studio Ghibli classics will be returning to the big screen for a summer movie fest hosted by GKIDS and Fathom Events. Continue reading →

Now Available to Own: The Man from U.N.C.L.E., Hayao Miyazaki Collection, and Battle of the Five Armies Extended Edition

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Brace your bank accounts, it’s time to see what’s Now Available to Own for the week of November 17, 2015. Every Tuesday we run down new movie and television releases that you can enjoy in the comfort of your own home, as well as some slick deals that can help save you some coin. New on shelves this week are The Man from U.N.C.L.E., The Collected Works of Hayao Miyazaki, and The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies Extended Edition, and more.

Five Armies Extended Edition

Source: Tumblr

Movies on Blu-ray

The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (Guy Ritchie) Rated PG-13 [116 min] – In the early 1960s, CIA agent Napoleon Solo and KGB operative Illya Kuryakin participate in a joint mission against a mysterious criminal organization, which is working to proliferate nuclear weapons. Starring Henry Cavill, Armie Hammer, Alicia Vikander, and Elizabeth Debicki

In its attempt to bring back the sexy spy genre, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. succeeds to some degree thanks to Guy Ritchie’s filmmaking style. The cast is beautiful and the locations are extravagant, but the characterization and the plot are lukewarm. The Blu-ray is host to a decent amount of special features that if you liked this movie you’d be enamored not to fall in love with the behind the scenes process.

Special features include:

  • Spy Vision: Recreating ’60s Cool
  • A Higher Class Of Hero
  • Metisse Motorcycles: Proper-And Very British
  • The Guys from U.N.C.L.E.
  • A Man of Extraordinary Talents
  • U.N.C.L.E: On-Set Spy

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies [Extended Edition] (Peter Jackson) Rated PG-13 [144 min] – The Company of Thorin has reached Smaug’s lair; but can Bilbo and the Dwarves reclaim Erebor and the treasure? And, if so, can they hold on to it? Starring Martin Freeman, Lee Pace, Benedict Cumberbatch, Richard Armitage, and Evangeline Lilly

I’m sure most who love everything Middleearth know by now to wait for the Extended Editions. They never lack in awesome special features and the additional scenes always prove to add more value in the story. However, including additional scenes to the already bloated Hobbit franchise enacts the opposite effect. The additional scenes bring hardly anything we couldn’t have already gained through the story itself and makes the experience even worse since the film itself is quite terrible. My glimmer of hope that the extra scenes may improve the story, but sadly they did not. If you do want this film, the special features are abundantly thorough and give good insights into the chaos of The Battle of the Five Armies.

Special features include:

  • Commentary with director/producer/writer Peter Jackson and co-producer/writer Philippa Boyens
  • The Appendices – The Appendices Parts XI and XII showcase a chronological history of the filming of The Battle of the Five Armies, documenting the work done on set chronologically through the three shooting blocks and in the world of its digital effects.
  • New Zealand: Home of Middle-earth – Part 3
The Collected Works Of Hayao Miyazaki – Disney presents, for the first time, all 11 of Miyazaki’s feature-length masterpieces in one spectacular 12-disc collection available on Blu-ray Exclusively via Amazon.com. Experience the majestic works of one of the most celebrated filmmakers in the history of animated cinema. Hayao Miyazaki weaves his unique style of artistry and epic adventure into astonishing tales of triumph, bursting with imagination and wonder.
Unfortunately I was not able to get my paws on this to review, but I think it’s still worth mentioning if you are a fan of Studio Ghibli like me. I think the price point, $215 on sale, is wildly too high compared to many box sets I’ve seen. Not including the collectible booklet or the packaging, if you’re putting a value on the set based on the movies alone they’re almost $20 per movie, which is what each Ghibli film typically sells for on sale. I’d wait until it price drops down to a more reasonable level.

Content and special features include:

  • Lupin the Third: The Castle of Cagliostro (1979)
  • Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984)
  • Castle in the Sky (1986)
  • My Neighbor Totoro (1988)
  • Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989)
  • Porco Rosso (1992)
  • Princess Mononoke (1997)
  • Spirited Away (2001)
  • Howl’s Moving Castle (2004)
  • Ponyo (2008/2009)
  • The Wind Rises (2013)
  • Yuki no Taiyo ( Yuki’s Sun) – A 1972 TV pilot based on an original manga by Tetsuya Chiba, directed by Hayao Miyazaki who was also in charge of storyboards and key animation.
  • Akado Suzunosuke ( Little Samurai) – Three episodes (Episode 26, 27 & 41) of the hit 1972 anime series with storyboarding and more by Hayao Miyazaki.
  • Director Hayao Miyazaki Retirement Press Conference, Uncut Version

Blu-Ray Deals and Steals

  • John Wick – $8
  • Men In Black Trilogy – $15
  • The Hunger Games: Catching Fire – $8
  • Divergent – $8
  • Orphan Black (Season 1) – $14.99
  • A Most Violent Year – $8
  • Paddington – $9.99
  • The: The Complete Series – $89.99
  • Maleficent – $14.99
  • Christmas Vacation – $7.99
  • Elf – $7.99
  • Blue Jasmine – $6.99
  • Batman: The Motion Picture Anthology – $24.99

All prices from Amazon.com. Best Buy, Frys, and Target all price match online prices.

What will you be taking home this week? Tell us in the comments section below!

new movie tv video game releases on dvd and-blu-ray

All plot synopses come courtesy of IMDb.com

Image source: flickeringmyth

Coming Soon to Blu-Ray and DVD: The Collected Works of Hayao Miyazaki and More

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While we provide you with a list of available new releases Now Available to Own every Tuesday, Coming Soon to Blu-ray and DVD looks at all of the recent home video announcements. For the week of August 1, 2015 we have The Collected Works of Hayao Miyazaki, Results, Little House on the Prairier, and more. Find out when they’ll be out and what special features movie fans can expect below.

Studio Ghibli The Collected Works of Hayao Miyazaki Blu-Ray Set

Available on Blu-ray November 17

Disney presents for the first time The Collected Works Of Hayao Miyazaki, including all 11 of Miyazaki’s feature-length masterpieces in one spectacular 12-disc collection available on Blu-ray Exclusively via Amazon.com. Experience the majestic works of one of the most celebrated filmmakers in the history of animated cinema. Hayao Miyazaki weaves his unique style of artistry and epic adventure into astonishing tales of triumph, bursting with imagination and wonder.

Content and special features include:

  • Lupin the Third: The Castle of Cagliostro (1979)
  • Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984)
  • Castle in the Sky (1986)
  • My Neighbor Totoro (1988)
  • Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989)
  • Porco Rosso (1992)
  • Princess Mononoke (1997)
  • Spirited Away (2001)
  • Howl’s Moving Castle (2004)
  • Ponyo (2008/2009)
  • The Wind Rises (2013)
  • Yuki no Taiyo ( Yuki’s Sun) – A 1972 TV pilot based on an original manga by Tetsuya Chiba, directed by Hayao Miyazaki who was also in charge of storyboards and key animation.
  • Akado Suzunosuke ( Little Samurai) – Three episodes (Episode 26, 27 & 41) of the hit 1972 anime series with storyboarding and more by Hayao Miyazaki.
  • Director Hayao Miyazaki Retirement Press Conference, Uncut Version

Results Movie 2015 Title Logo

Available on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital HD September 22

Results (Andrew Bujalski) Rated R [105 min] – Two mismatched personal trainers’ lives are upended by the actions of a new, wealthy client. Starring Guy Pearce, Cobie Smulders, Kevin Corrigan, and Giovanni Ribisi

No special features listed at this time

Little House on the Prairie Complete Series House DVD Box Cover Art

Available on DVD October 6

Little House on the Prairie: The Complete Series (Blanche Hanalis) Rated TV-PG [60 min] – The life and adventures of the Ingalls family in the 19th century American West. Starring Melissa Gilbert, Michael Landon, Lindsay Greenbush, Sidney Greebush, Karen Grassle, and Melissa Sue Anderson

Special features include:

  • Pilot Movie
  • Original Screen Test featuring Michael Landon and Melissa Gilbert
  • Six-Part “The ‘Little House’ Phenomenon” Documentary
  • “The ‘Little House’ Phenomenon: Part One – A Place in Television History”
  • “The ‘Little House’ Phenomenon: Part Two – In the Beginning…”
    • “The ‘Little House’ Phenomenon: Part Three – Casting Walnut Grove”
    • “The ‘Little House’ Phenomenon: Part Four – A Day in the Life of ‘Little House'”
    • “The ‘Little House’ Phenomenon: Part Five – Stories to Remember”
    • “The ‘Little House’ Phenomenon: Part Six – A Lasting Legacy”
  • “Look Back to Yesterday” Movie Special
  • “Bless All the Dear Children” Movie Special
  • “The Last Farewell” Movie Special

American Heist Blu-ray Box Cover Art

Available on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital HD September 8

American Heist (Sarik Andreasyan) Rated R [94 min] – James owes his life to his older brother, Frankie after taking the rap for a crime they committed together. While Frankie served time, James worked to turn his life around, got a steady job and began courting his former girlfriend Emily. Now, Frankie is released and back on the streets with no money and no place to go. Starring Hayden Christensen, Adrien Brody, and Jordana Brewster

Special features include:

  • “Creating a Complex Caper: Pulling off American Heist” featurette

What We Did on Our Holiday DVD Box Cover Art

Available on DVD and Digital HD October 6

What We Did on Our Holiday (Andy Hamilton and Guy Jenkin) Rated PG-13 [95 min] – Doug and Abi take their kids on a family vacation. Surrounded by relatives, the kids innocently reveal the ins and outs of their family life and many intimate details about their parents. It’s soon clear that when it comes to keeping a big secret under wraps from the rest of the family, their children are their biggest liability. Starring Rosamund Pike, David Tennant, and Billy Connolly

Special features include:

  • Audio Commentary with Directors Andy Hamilton and Guy Jenkin
  • “Creating Dysfunction: Making What We Did on Our Holiday” featurette
  • Deleted Scenes

Ducky Dynasty Season 8 DVD Box Cover Art

Available on DVD and Digital HD October 6

The Target (Chang) Rated R [98 min] – An ER doctor teams up with an assassination target to rescue his wife, held hostage by corrupt criminals and, in the process, uncovers a conspiracy. Starring Seung-ryong Ryu, Joon-sang Yoo, and Jin-wook Lee

No special features listed at this time

Ducky Dynasty Season 8 DVD Box Cover Art

Available on DVD October 6

Ducky Dynasty: The Complete Eighth Season (Deirdre Gurney) Rated TV-PG [60 min] – Follows a wealthy Louisiana family known for their successful duck-hunting business. Starring Willie Robertson, Jase Robertson, and Si Robertson

Special features include:

  • Never-Before-Seen-on-TV Bonus Features

Blood and Glory The Civil War in Color Blu-ray Box Cover Art

Available on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital HD October 6

Blood and Glory: The Civil War in Color (History Channel Miniseries) Unrated [84 min] – Blood and Glory commemorates one of the most defining moments in American history, one which tore the nation apart, pitting North against South and brother vs. brother. Over the course of four years, more than 750,000 military and civilian lives were sacrificed to make the United States a more perfect union. Using state-of-the-art technology to colorize 500 rare black-and-white photographs, and unprecedented access to government and private archives, Blood and Glory: The Civil War in Color brings the emotional stories of these brave men vibrantly to life. Narrated by Robert Clotworthy

Special features include:

  • “Davis is Chosen to Lead” featurette
  • “A Call to Arms” featurette
  • “Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation” featurette
  • “The H.L. Hunley Death Trap” featurette
  • “Sherman’s March to Savannah” featurette
  • “Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address” featurette
  • “Lee’s Reluctant Surrender” featurette
  • “African Americans After the War” featurette

And that’s it for this week. What are you looking forward to picking up when they release?

Stay tuned for more Blu-Ray and DVD announcements every Saturday.

All plot synopses courtesy of IMDb.com

Coming Soon to Blu-ray and DVD

Click here for more home video announcements

 

Friday Comic-Con 2015 Cosplay Photo Gallery

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Let’s continue, shall we? When we last met, I shared with you all the incredible cosplayers from Preview Night and Thursday of Comic-Con 2015. We had to combine the day and a half excursion due to thinly spread costumed fans. Luckily, we didn’t have to search far on Friday to catch the many attendees dressed – or some undressed – to the nines in their favorite cosplay attire.

Disney Princesses, X-Men, DC villains, The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones, Studio Ghibli, and The Legend of Korra fans flocked to the San Diego Convention Center to strut their stuff. And for those looking beyond the usual, there were plenty of characters that reach all fandoms. With the budding success of Mad Max: Fury Road, I was happy to see more cosplayers taking on characters from the incredible film – my review.

Day reflections:

  • The folks from Nerd Chat Cosplay rocked it again
  • There was a spot on Agent Coulson cosplayer
  • Despite being an abundance of Harley Quinns everywhere you look, they’re always so creative
  • I will never look at the Droogs from A Clockwork Orange the same again
  • Mixing bodypaint and fandom to promote your mobile app is pretty smart if used correctly, as seen below
  • It’s incredible how some people can make human versions of Pokémon cute
  • The Samus Aran I met was very well done
  • I’m shocked by the lack of Kill la Kill and Attack on Titan
  • Spider-Gwen was also a huge hit at WonderCon. They’re pretty absent at SDCC
  • It’s my Dick in a Box!

[Note: If you see yourself and would like a hi-res version of the photo, please e-mail me at tyler@turntherightcorner.com]

[Note 2: If you do take an image from this site, please provide photo credit via my Instagram or Twitter @TyRawrrnosaurus; TTRC’s Facebook page; or this website, TurnTheRightCorner.com. Thanks!]

Check out the Friday Comic-Con 2015 cosplay photo gallery below:

(Click on any image below to enlarge; cosplay credits below the gallery)

Cosplay Credits (if I didn’t list you and you want credit for your cosplay let me know!):

Check out previous cosplay galleries from:

Comic-Con 2015

Complete Comic-Con 2015 Movie Panels Schedule

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Although Marvel Studios will not be attending Comic-Con 2015 this year because most of the cinematic universe cast is off shooting Captain America: Civil War, there is a good handful of high quality panels for all movie lovers to enjoy this year. Some of the heavy hitters includes Jennifer Lawrence making an appearance to promote The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2; the cast of Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice will be on site for Warner Bros.; and Lucasfilm returns for the MUCH anticipated Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens panel with the cast and filmmakers. Check out the full list of Comic-Con 2015 movie panels below:

Day 1: Thursday Comic-Con 2015 Movie Panels

10:00am – 11:00am Comic-Con Film School 101: Preproduction and Screenwriting – Comic-Con Film School is back for another four-day, nuts and bolts class on how to make a movie for very little money using available video technology and desktop postproduction software. Whether you’re shooting your first Doctor Who fan film or that story about the leather-clad girl who hunts vampire-werewolf hybrids, this course will take you from script to final product so that you too can enter your own movie into the CCI-IFF. This first class covers the specifics of preproduction on the cheap, including screenwriting, scheduling, location scouting, crewing-up, and getting equipment for nothing. Panelists include Valerie Perez (producer/star of the Paula Peril series), Jack Conway (producer of Machinima ETC), Vera Vanguard (producer of The Building of Good and Evil), Nick Murphy (writer/director of Pizza and Bullets), Josh Perilo (writer of Wedlock), and Sean Rourke (writer of Ballistica). Grand Ballroom D, Manchester Grand Hyatt

10:15am – 11:15am Studio Production Chiefs Speak – Fans love to debate and dissect exactly what Hollywood is doing right and wrong. Now, for the first time at Comic-Con, top production executives from major Hollywood studios will reveal the frank realities of their jobs and why they make the decisions they do. 20th Century Fox senior vice president Daria Cercek (X-Men, Spy), Warner Bros. senior vice president Drew Crevello (Dungeons & Dragons, Akira), and Lionsgate executive vice president Jim Miller (The Hunger Games, Power Rangers) will discuss the development process, how they choose intellectual property to adapt, how movies get green lit, how filmmakers and actors are selected, what mistakes can lead to bad movies, how they balance originality vs. faithfulness to source material, and how much they care about the opinions of fans. Rather than merely previewing upcoming releases, you will get insights into how Hollywood really works on this panel moderated by Wall Street Journal film industry reporter Ben Fritz. Room 6DE

10:30am – 11:30am Open Road – TBA Hall H

11:00am – 12:00pm The Crowd: How Creatives Are Using New Means to Connect with Their Audience – Hugh Howey (author of the self-published Silo trilogy), Gary Whitta (author of the debut novel Abomination, crowdfunded through Inkshares, co-writer of Star Wars: Rogue One), and Lora Innes (author of The Dreamer, crowdfunded through Patreon, co-host of the Paper Wings Show) discuss crowdfunding and crowdsourcing models that allow creatives to connect directly with their audience to produce their work. Gary and Lora will participate in a Q&A session moderated by Veronica Belmont (host of The Sword & Laser, crowdfunded through Patreon, and Dear Veronica for Engadget). Room 7AB

11:00am – 12:00pm The Super Story Behind the Pixar Short Sanjay’s Super Team – Director Sanjay Patel and producer Nicole Grindle present a peek behind the curtains at Pixar Animation Studio’s latest short, Sanjay’s Super Team. The filmmakers will discuss the production process as well as the unique inspiration for this incredibly personal film that features superheroes like you’ve never seen them before. Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront

11:00am – 2:00pm Thursday Playback Room Block #1 – The Playback Room will be showing the following panel presentations from either or both Hall H and Ballroom 20: Open Road, The Autobiography of James T. Kirk, and The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 and The Last Witch Hunter. (Please note: these playbacks will include only the panel discussions. None of the film clips or footage shown at the live events will be shown here.) The Playback Room, Omni Hotel, 4th Floor Ballroom

12:00pm – 1:00pm Voice Over Celebration with Beloved Cartoon, Video Game, and Film VO Actors – From zero to sixty, a voice actor must convey a plethora of emotions, often impromptu. You will get an in-depth look into how voice actors approach the art, beauty, and challenges of performing on the spot. Susan Eisenberg, Rob Paulsen, Caitlin Glass, Anthony Bowling, Tara Platt, and Yuri Lowenthal from beloved titles including Wonder Woman, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Diablo, Pinky and the Brain, League of Legends, Full Metal Alchemist, Call of Duty, Samurai 7, Attack on Titan, The Devil is a Part Timer, Final Fantasy, and Resident Evil discuss this pivotal topic, led by Genese Davis (The Holder’s Dominion, MMORPG). Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront

The Hunger Games Mockingjay Part 2 Comic-Con 2015 Movie Panel

12:00pm – 1:15pm The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 – Lionsgate presents an exclusive first look at one of the studio’s highly anticipated films coming to theaters this fall. Get a sneak peek into the powerful final chapter of the epic The Hunger Games film franchise. Attendees will be shown exclusive, never-before-seen footage from Mockingjay: Part 2 and treated to a cast and filmmaker Q&A session revealing details on the big-screen finale. Hall H

12:30pm – 1:30pm Roddenberry Entertainment Presents – Eugene Roddenberry (CEO Roddenberry Entertainment, son of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry), Trevor Roth (COO/head of development, Roddenberry Entertainment) and Tory Mell (producer, Roddenberry Entertainment) discuss the groundbreaking new app for their film White Room: 02B3. They will also be talking about the 50th Anniversary of Star Trek and premiering their new short film Instant, along with special guests Tony Janning (actor, White Room: 02B3, Instant, Legend of Neil) and Alex Albrecht (director, Instant). A surprise guest will be giving away a traditional iPad. Room 24ABC

1:00pm – 2:00pm Digital Bits Blu-ray Sneak Peek: Star Trek: Axanar – Digital Bits editor Bill Hunt, veteran Blu-ray/DVD producers Charles de Lauzirika (Twin Peaks, The Martian),Cliff Stephenson (Hannibal, The Hunger Games), and Robert Meyer Burnett (Free Enterprise, Star Trek: The Next Generation Blu-rays), and executive producer Alec Peters (Star Trek: Axanar) discuss major upcoming Blu-ray titles and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray developments. They will explain the groundbreaking process of creating studio-quality independent Blu-ray releases, including the new Prelude to Axanar: Special Edition. There will be an audience Q&A and lots of great giveaways. Room 23ABC

1:00pm – 2:00pm Science Channel: Raiders, Raptors, and Rebels: Behind the Magic of ILM – Fans will get to see exclusive clips and receive unprecedented access behind the scenes at Industrial Light and Magic, as science and creativity give birth to some of today’s top films. The secrets behind Avengers: Age of Ultron, Star Wars, Jurassic Park, and many more will be revealed during this once-in-a-lifetime panel. Join Science Channel as they celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Industrial Light and Magic at this year’s Comic-Con like no one else can. Surprise guests and exclusive footage along with a very special prize will be given away at this VIP experience where the science behind the movies is unveiled for the first time ever. Room 25ABC

1:30pm – 2:00pm  Trailer Park – See the latest and greatest trailers with all of your pop culture-loving friends here on the big screen at Comic-Con. Hall H

2:00pm – 3:00pm Class of 1985: The Greatest Geek Movies of: Don’t Forget About Us – Moderator Mark A. Altman ( Free Enterprise, Agent X) and panelists discuss the great geek year of 1985, as they go back to the future with such films as, well, Back to the Future, Lifeforce, The Breakfast Club, The Goonies, Clue, Legend, Rocky IV, Brazil, Commando, Weird Science, Silverado, Fletch, A View to a Kill, Cocoon, Witness, Return to Oz, Re-Animator, The Purple Rose of Cairo, Fright Night, Real Genius, Subway, After Hours, Ladyhawke, Enemy Mine and, yes, Robert Burnett, just for you: To Live & Die In L.A. And for good measure, they’ll discover a new type of martial arts,Gymkata, and prove to Virginia there really is a Santa Claus: The Movie. Enrolling in this brunch club are Scott Mantz (Access Hollywood), Robert Meyer Burnett (Free Enterprise), Steve Melching (Star Wars Rebels), Ashley E. Miller (Thor, X: Men: First Class), gymkataspert Steve Kriozere (NCIS, Agent X), Charles de Lauzirkia (Crave, Alien Anthology), and David E. Williams ( Femme Fatales, Lifeforce: The Space Vampires). Charge it to the Underhills! Room 5AB

2:00pm – 3:00pm Greenlight Your Passion Project! – Project creators, actors, producers, and crowdfunding professionals discuss the power of crowdfunding as it pertains to greenlighting your own project! This panel of pros has successfully raised millions of dollars for feature film, short-films, documentaries, and web-series. Join an informative and uplifting discussion on the power of crowdfunding your dreams, featuring Ericka Anderson (Seed & Spark director of crowdfunding), Mark Gantt (The Bannen Way, The Night Visitor), Etta Devine (The Selling, Diani & Devine Meet the Apocalypse), Mark Netter (Nightmare Code, Dark Matter Productions), Jodie Bentley (COO Reinventing Films), and moderator Leah Cevoli (film producer and crowdfunding professional). Room 7AB

3:00pm – 4:00pm 3rd Annual Musical Anatomy of a Superhero – From the ominous horns of Jaws, to the inspiring theme for Star Wars, music has always been an important supporting character in movies. For the superhero genre, the music reflects these emotions and more. This panel offers a behind the scenes look at the music of today’s biggest superhero film and TV projects with unreleased film clips and never before heard music. Participating composers include Junkie XL (Mad Max: Fury Road, Batman v. Superman), Christophe Beck (Ant-Man), Marco Beltrami (Fantastic Four), Brian Tyler (Avengers: Age of Ultron), Lorne Balfe (Terminator: Genisys), and Blake Neely (Super Girl, Arrow, Flash). Produced by Costa Communications. Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront

3:00pm – 4:00pm The Might and Magic of Legacy Effects – Legacy Effects is one of the leading practical effects companies in the motion picture industry. Their work is featured in films including Pacific Rim, Avengers: Age Of Ultron, Jurassic World and Terminator: Genisys. Meet the studio founders and get a firsthand look into the making of these blockbuster films. You may even get a sneak peek at some of the actual props from the films. Engage in an exciting presentation, Q&A, and maybe even a couple of giveaways. Room 32AB

3:30pm – 4:30pm Animated Effects in Live Action – When the word animation is used, we think of cartoons. However, the line between live action and animation is becoming blurred due to technological advances. Industry professionals who create some of the most memorable animated visual effects will have a lively discussion on how they blend animation with live action seamlessly. They include David Derks (ASIFA Hollywood), and Adam Howard (Birdman, Pee Wee’s Big Holiday). Room 26AB

4:15pm – 5:15pm Hollywood Location Scouts – Working closely with the director and production designer, location scouts are the artists who translate the script into reality by exploring the world to figure out exactly where the movies and TV shows should be made. Six location scouts will discuss the creative and logistical aspects of their jobs, relate some exciting anecdotes, and answer audience questions. ModeratorScott Trimble (Terminator: Genisys, Jurassic World) joins panelists Nick Carr (Spider-Man 3, Enchanted), Stephenson Crossley (Fear the Walking Dead, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen), Stacey McGillis (Guardians of the Galaxy, The Infiltrator), Kei Rowan-Young (Django Unchained, Chef), and Steve Woroniecki (Tomorrowland, X-Men: First Class). Grand Ballroom D, Manchester Grand Hyatt

4:30pm – 6:20pm Thursday Playback Room Block #3 – The Playback Room will be showing the following panel presentations from either or both Hall H and Ballroom 20: Doctor Who: BBC America Official Panel, Sherlock, Con Man: The Fan Revolt 13 Years in the Making, and MTV’s Teen Wolf. (Please note: these playbacks will include only the panel discussions. None of the film clips or footage shown at the live events will be shown here.) The Playback Room, Omni Hotel, 4th Floor Ballroom

5:00pm – 6:00pm How to Make A Movie with a Camera Phone – Mobile Film Festivals are becoming the next big thing. Cell phone cameras now have the capability of shooting 4k – which makes cell phone filmmaking now a possibility to be taken seriously. San Diego Independent Filmmaker Paul Giret (Film For Food) will explain the process of how to use your everyday mobile device as a movie making tool. Giret recently was one of the 15 participants in the Qualcomm 4K Challenge in which contestants were given a 4K Motorola Droid to produce a short film that will also play at the San Diego Film Festival this year. He will be joined by his cast member Carol Morrow (Supergirl Unburdened) from his mobile film “Pitch and Hitch” and Mike Egbert who will elaborate on the production process. Topics will cover on what filmmaking tools, Dolly, Jib, Slider, Car Mount to use, how to properly attach the camera to these tools, what apps work best to control your exposure, what is the workflow and how to handle footage during post-production (editing) process. Join this panel along with Ty Mabrety (Bang Zoom Pow) and Crysstal Hubbard (Supergirl Unburdened) who helped make Cell Phone Films from script to screen. With special guest moderator Machelle Noel (GeekRockTV & Faith Hollywood TV). Room 5AB

5:30pm – 6:30pm Fright Night: 30 Years of Screams – Horror screenwriter Greg Beville (Blackstar Canyon) details the special effects and making of Fright Night 1985 and how the film’s practical effects compare to horror films today. Moderated by Now Streaming’s Andrew Furtado (Nightbreed: The Director’s Cut). Room 6A

6:00pm – 7:00pm NASA: Journey to Mars – America’s space agency is leading the world on a journey to the Red Planet. From the current orbiters and rovers that are making historic scientific discoveries, to the development of the largest and most powerful rocket ever conceived by human, NASA is pushing the final frontier to the planet that has been the subject of conjecture and the focus of the search for life beyond our home planet. We plan an enlightening discussion moderated by Aditya Sood (executive producer, The Martian). Also some of NASA’s best and brightest; Jim Green (director of planetary sciences, NASA Headquarters), Todd May (manager, NASA Space Launch System Program, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center) and Victor Glover (astronaut, NASA Johnson Space Center). As well as author Andy Weir (The Martian) especially in light of NASA’s involvement in the upcoming Ridley Scott motion picture The Martian. Room 6BCF

6:00pm – 8:00pm World Premiere of Scooby-Doo! and KISS: Rock and Roll Mystery! – Starchild, Demon, Catman and Spaceman join everyone’s favorite teen sleuths in an explosive, new, must-see musical adventure no KISS Army member will want to miss! In Scooby-Doo! And KISS: Rock and Roll Mystery, the Mystery Inc. gang travels to KISS World, an amusement park dedicated to the band, for a special Halloween concert headlined by the legendary rock group. Six KISS songs are featured alongside an original new song performed by the band written just for the film. Be part of the first audience to see this landmark merging of pop culture icons, then stay for a panel featuring the legendary band KISS – Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer; NCIS star Pauley Perrette and longtime “Shaggy” and “Daphne” voices Matthew Lillard (The Bridge) and Grey Griffin (Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated), director Tony Cervone (Tom and Jerry: The Lost Dragon) and writer Kevin Shinick (Mad, Robot Chicken). The panel will be moderated by director/actor/writer Kevin Smith, who also has a role in the film along with Jason Mewes. Scooby-Doo and KISS: Rock and Roll Mystery! will be released via Warner Bros. Home Entertainment on Digital HD July 10 and on Blu-ray Combo Pack & DVD July 21. Hall H

7:00pm – 8:00pm Nick Carter Goes West: From Boy Band to Zombie Western – Nick Carter of the Backstreet Boys discusses his first foray into film production with the studio behind Sharknado and Z-Nation. Fellow Backstreet Boys Howie Dorough, A.J. McLean, and The Asylum producers join the panel conversation. Room 5AB

7:30pm – 8:30pm Robotech: The Next 30 Years – Kevin McKeever (VP of marketing at Harmony Gold) showcases all the latest merchandise, along with the latest updates on the live-action Robotech film. Room 24ABC

7:30pm – 8:30pm Tattooine Law: Legal Lessons from Star Wars – Federal Magistrate JudgePaul Grewal, Gerry O’Brien (NY political consultant and novelist), Jessica Mederson, Esq. (The Legal Geeks), and Joshua Gilliland, Esq. (The Legal Geeks) explore the legal system from a galaxy far, far away. The panel will jump to light speed to explore the many legal lessons on Tatooine, including the intricacies of property ownership of R2-D2 and C-3PO; employee and independent contractor safety issues in Jabba’s Palace; and Han’s legal justification to shoot first. Room 26AB

8:00pm – 9:00pm Son of Name That Movie – Returning for a third record-breaking year is the combination game show and visual/audio event known as Son of Name That Movie. Inkpot Award-winning host and creator John Field presents the fu- filled program shown to a packed house of film fans the last two years running. In this all-new version, 50 clips from 50 different sci-fi, horror, and fantasy films are presented. Place your ticket in the Magic Film Can. If picked from among audience members, you get to play the game by simply naming as many of the clips as possible. There will be first- through fourth-place prizes. And, if someone on the panel cannot name the clip and an audience member can, that person will get a bonus prize as well. Room 9

8:00pm – 10:30pm 18th Annual Superhero Kung Fu Extravaganza – Ric Meyers (Inside Kung Fu, Films of Fury: The Kung Fu Movie Movie [& Book]) has got a whole new bunch of eye-bulging, jaw-dropping, breath-taking, goose-bumping, funny-bone-cracking fight scenes from the best, worst, and weirdest films in the whole world. With his co-hosts Graham Eldwood and Chris J. Mancini (Comedy Film Nerds, Ear Buds) back in action; a report direct from Beijing by the king of YouTube kung-fu Eric Jacobus (as well as the Comic-Con premiere of his amazing new Rope-A-Dope 2); and their standard operating surprises, it’s not just awe-some, it’s awe-all. Be there or be in Tiananmen Square! Room 6A

9:00pm – 10:30pm Floyd Norman Documentary – Filmmakers Michael Fiore (producer of the upcoming feature Home Invasion) and Erik Sharkey (director of Drew: The Man Behind the Poster) will show clips from their original feature-length documentary and reunite Floyd Norman (legendary Disney and Hanna Barbera animator and story artist) with many animators and artists that he influenced and worked with over his 60-year career. Panelists will include notables featured in the documentary includingPaul Dini (animation writer/producer), Gary Trousdale (co-director of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast), Scott Shaw! (cartoonist, humorist, historian), Leo Sullivan (animator, producer, publisher), Ken Mitchroney (writer, director, story artist), Adrienne Nichelle Brown-Norman (illustrator, Disney Publishing), and Tom Sito (animator, professor of animation, USC). The documentary also features interviews with such notables as actress Whoopi Goldberg, cartoonist Sergio Aragonés, Disney music composer Richard Sherman, producer Don Hahn, Maleficent), Ralph Guggenheim (former Pixar VP of animation), and film critic/historian Leonard Maltin. The documentary is supported by a musical score composed by Ryan Shore (composer, Disney’s Penn Zero and WB’s Scooby-Doo!). The filmmakers will moderate a Q&A session and celebrate Mr. Norman’s 80th birthday. Room 9

Spirited Away Comic-Con 2015 Movie

9:00pm – 11:30pm Spirited Away Screening – Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away has captured the hearts of viewers all over the world. Join Her Universe and Hot Topic for Studio Ghibli trivia, prizes and a special screening of the beloved film, hosted by Her Universe founder Ashley Eckstein. Horton Grand Theatre

Continue reading for Friday’s Comic-Con 2015 Movie Panels Schedule–>

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Now Available to Own: Spirited Away, Chappie, Run All Night, and More

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Brace your bank accounts, it’s time to see what’s Now Available to Own for the week of June 16, 2015. Every Tuesday we run down new movie, television, and video game releases that you can enjoy in the comfort of your own home, as well as some slick deals that can save you some coin. New on shelves this week are Spirited Away, Chappie, Run All Night, and more.

Spirited Away Blu-Ray

Movies on Blu-ray

Spirited Away (Hayao Miyazaki) Rated PG [125 mins] – Spirited Away is a wondrous fantasy about a young girl, Chihiro, trapped in a strange new world of spirits. When her parents undergo a mysterious transformation, she must call on the courage she never knew she had to free herself and return her family to the outside world. Starring Daveigh Chase, Suzanne Pleshette, Jason Marsden, Susan Egan, David Ogden Stiers, Lauren Holly, Michael Chiklis, John Ratzenberger, Tara Strong, and Bob Bergen

My thoughts: This movie is everything. I believe Spirited Away is my first, and definitely my favorite of his catalog. Your first Ghibli movie is typically always the one that sticks with you. BUY THIS NOW!

Special features include:

  • Introduction by John Lasseter
  • The Art of Spirited Away
  • Behind The Microphone
  • Original Japanese Storyboards
  • Nippon Television Special
  • Original Japanese Trailers
  • TV Spots

Chappie (Neill Blomkamp) Rated R [120 min] – In the near future, crime is patrolled by an oppressive mechanized police force. When one police droid, Chappie, is stolen and given new programming, he becomes the first robot with the ability to think and feel for himself. Starring Sharlto Copley, Dev Patel, Hugh Jackman, Sigourney Weaver, Ninja and Yolandi Vi$$er

My thoughts: I liked Chappie a lot more than the hive mind. From what was attempted, I got a lot more out of what they were trying to do and really appreciated the story they wanted to tell. Sure there are things they could have improved upon, but I thought it was a very unique film. RENT IT!

Special features include:

  • Alternate Ending
  • Extended Scene: “A Very Bad Man
  • Eight Featurettes
  • We Are Tetravaal” featurette (Blu-ray and DVD exclusive featurette)

Run All Night (Jaume Collet-Serra) Rated R [114 min] – Mobster and hit man Jimmy Conlon has one night to figure out where his loyalties lie: with his estranged son, Mike, whose life is in danger, or his longtime best friend, mob boss Shawn Maguire, who wants Mike to pay for the death of his own son. Starring Liam Neeson, Ed Harris, Joel Kinnaman, and Vincent D’Onofrio

My thoughts: I was pleasantly surprised from what looked like your traditional Liam Neeson action flick. The plot is pretty standard, but the pacing is quick and the action is raw. The ending definitely is very detached and feels like they were out of ideas in how to tie it all up, but Run All Night exceeds my expectations. RENT IT!

Special features include:

  • Shoot All Night – Go behind the scenes with Collet-Serra as his team creates a white-knuckle ride through New York’s underbelly. (Blu-ray only)
  • Action All Night – The film’s cast and crew discuss that special something that has made Neeson a staple of grit and vulnerability on the screen. (Blu-ray only)
  • Deleted Scenes

The Cat Returns (Hiroyuki Morita) Rated G [75 mins] – Haru, a schoolgirl bored by her ordinary routine, saves the life of an unusual cat, and suddenly her world is transformed beyond anything she ever imagined. To change her fate, she’ll need to learn to believe in herself and, in the process, she will learn to appreciate her everyday life. Starring Anne Hathaway, Cary Elwes, Peter Boyle, Elliott Gould, Andy Richter, Rene Auberjonois, Tim Curry, Judy Greer, Andrew Bevis, and Kristen Bell

My thoughts: It’s been a really long time since I’ve seen The Cat Returns. In fact I’ve only seen it once. There’s a very simple story told here and the characters are not very memorable. Not one of my favorite Studio Ghibli movies, but still a nice kids film. RENT IT!

Special features:

  • Original Japanese Storyboards
  • Original Japanese Trailers
  • TV Spots
  • The Making of The Cat Returns
  • Behind The Microphone

Unfinished Business (Ken Scott) Rated R [91 min] – A hard-working small business owner and his two associates travel to Europe to close the most important deal of their lives. But what began as a routine business trip goes off the rails in every way imaginable – and unimaginable – way, including unplanned stops at a massive sex fetish event and a global economic summit. Starring Vince Vaughn, Dave Franco, Tom Wilkinson, Sienna Miller, and James Marsden

My thoughts: This movie tries really hard to excel past the typical Vince Vaughn formula, and it does to some extent. Unfinished Business is a very odd movie. The supporting characters are very odd and the film feels very morally ambiguous. In the end it has a good heart, but there isn’t really much of a story to grasp hold of and resonate with. There’s a handful of good laughs at least to enjoy. RENT IT! 

Special features include:

  • Deleted and Alternate Scenes (Blu-ray and Digital HD): Caution: Not safe for work! Keep the party going with 30 minutes of outrageous additional footage you couldn’t see in theaters
  • Show Me Your Business: Vince Vaughn, Dave Franco, Tom Wilkinson, James Marsden, Sienna Miller, and Nick Frost share their wildest, craziest and most memorable experiences on set
  • Gallery: Hilarious stock photo images of Vince Vaughn, Dave Franco, and Tom Wilkinson posing in office settings

The Lazarus Effect (David Gelb) Rated PG-13 [83 min] – A group of medical students discover a way to bring dead patients back to life. Starring Olivia Wilde, Mark Duplass, Evan Peters, and Sarah Bolger

My thoughts: This Pet Sematary knock off is pretty horrendous. Its low budget shows its true colors with subpar special effects and one main set. It comes across as a bottle episode of TV where all the characters are trapped in a single location for the entire run time. Even with the great actors involved, The Lazarus Effect’s terrible script is too much for them to carry the heavy burden. SKIP IT!

Special features include:

  • Creating Fear: The Making of The Lazarus Effect
  • Playing God: The Moral Dilemma (Blu-ray only)
  • Deleted/Extended Scenes (Blu-ray only)
  • Includes Digital HD (Blu-ray only)

The Wrecking Crew (Denny Tedesco) Rated PG [101 min] – A celebration of the musical work of a group of session musicians known as “The Wrecking Crew”, a band that provided back-up instrumentals to such legendary recording artists as Frank Sinatra, The Beach Boys and Bing Crosby. Starring Lou Adler, Herb Alpert, and The Association

My thoughts: I grew up listening to oldies. Don’t ask me why, it’s just one of those things that kind of happens. And i don’t regret it at all. If you love the classics, The Wrecking Crew is a really hands-on look into the music industry of the era. It’s a straight-forward documentary with great perspective. BUY OR RENT OR STREAM!

Special features include:

  • Deleted Scenes:
    • Musicians
    • Engineers
    • Artists
    • Producers/Arrangers
    • Songs
    • Themes
    • Musician Jokes

Wild Tales (Damián Szifrón) Rated R [122 min] – A story about love deception, the return of the past, a tragedy, or even the violence contained in an everyday detail, appear themselves to push them towards the abyss, into the undeniable pleasure of losing control. Starring Liliana Ackerman, Luis Manuel Altamirano García, Alejandro Angelini, and Damián Benítez

My thoughts: I unfortunately have not seen this film, but it looked good and the reviews are good. RENT IT!

Special features include:

  • New video interview with director Damián Szifron
  • Making of featurette
  • Original Trailer

Beyond the Reach (Jean-Baptiste Léonetti) Rated R [95 min] – A high-rolling corporate shark and his impoverished young guide play the most dangerous game during a hunting trip in the Mojave Desert. Starring Michael Douglas, Jeremy Irvine, and Martin Palmer

My thoughts: With Arnold, Sean Penn, Stallone, Travolta, and many other aging actors getting back into action these days, Beyond the Reach doesn’t feel as tired as you’d expect with Michael Douglas in the forefront. There’s enough tension to keep your interest in the so so story. RENT IT!

Special features include:

  • The Making of Beyond the Reach
  • Six Wheeling: Inside and Outside the Ultimate Ride

Time Lapse (Bradley King) Not Yet Rated [104 min] – Three friends discover a mysterious machine that takes pictures 24hrs into the future and conspire to use it for personal gain, until disturbing and dangerous images begin to develop. Starring Danielle Panabaker, Matt O’Leary, and George Finn

My thoughts: I saw Time Lapse last year during the San Diego Film Festival. With high-expectations based on positive word-of-mouth, I was let down because I don’t think that the end of the film brings the story to a good conclusion. Time travel movies are hard, but I can’t give it a pass purely on the ambition of the filmmaker. It’s definitely refreshing and tries something new though. WAIT FOR IT ON NETFLIX!

  • An in-depth look behind the scenes of creating Time Lapse
  • Two filmmaker commentaries
  • Deleted Scene with commentaries

the newsroom seaosn 3 jeff daniels

Television Releases

The Newsroom: The Complete Third Season (Aaron Sorkin) Rated TV-MA [55 min] – A news anchor’s life is stirred up when he’s forced to work with a new team of colleagues. Starring Jeff Daniels, Margaret Judson, and Emily Mortimer

My thoughts: I sadly have not seen an episode of this show, but now that it’s over I will have to sit down and binge.

No special features listed

Two and a Half Men: The Complete Final Season (Lee Aronsohn and Chuck Lorre) [22 min] – A hedonistic jingle writer’s free-wheeling life comes to an abrupt halt when his brother and 10-year-old nephew move into his beach-front house. Starring Jon Cryer, Ashton Kutcher, and Angus T. Jones

My thoughts: I’ve never really liked Two and a Half Men, I particularly hate the theme song. I thought I’d give this season a try just to check it out in a post-Charlie Sheen world. Ashton Kutcher really doesn’t bring any substance to the sitcom and provides a very weird vibe. I would honestly prefer Charlie Sheen because at least it felt more honest. This is just a stretch that I’m sure many fans are glad to see is now over. SKIP IT!

Special features included:

  • Gag Reel

Blu-Ray Deals and Steals

  • American Sniper – $12.49
  • Interstellar – $12.99
  • Kingsman: The Secret Service – $12.49
  • Birdman – $10
  • The Wire: The Complete Series – $85.99
  • Gone Girl – $12.99
  • Snowpiercer – $8
  • Draft Day – $7.99
  • Nightcrawler – $13.99
  • Castle in the Sky – $17.99
  • Silver Linings Playbook – $8
  • Workaholics (Season 5) – $12.99
  • Everly – $9.99
  • The Descendants – $4.99
  • Big Eyes – $13
  • The Sandlot – $4.99
  • West Side Story – $5

All prices from Amazon.com. Best Buy, Frys, and Target all price match online prices.

What will you be taking home this week? Tell us in the comments section below!

All plot synopses come courtesy of IMDb.com

new movie tv video game releases on dvd and-blu-ray

Coming Soon to Blu-Ray and DVD: Spirited Away, Fifty Shades of Grey, Black or White, and More

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Coming Soon to Blu-Ray and DVD Spirited Away, Fifty Shades of Grey, Black or White, and More

While we provide you with a list of available new releases Now Available to Own every Tuesday, Coming Soon to Blu-ray and DVD looks at all of the recent home video announcements. For the week of March 28, 2015 we have Spirited Away, Fifty Shades of Grey, Black or White, and more. Find out when they’ll be out and what special features movie fans can expect from them after the break. Continue reading →

Studio Ghibli 14-Film Retrospective Hits Los Angeles

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Studio Ghibli 14 Film Retrospective

If you are a film geek like myself then you have probably partaken in the viewing of at least one Hayao Miyazaki film or any of the wonderful features that Studio Ghibli has to offer. Due to the popular success in New York, children’s entertainment distributor, GKIDS, is proud to bring Los Angeles an 18-year retrospective of 14-classic Studio Ghibli films from 1984-2002. Some of these hits include: Howl’s Moving Castle, Princess Mononoke and the Academy Award winning best animated feature Spirited Away. Did I mention it starts Today! Continue reading →