Well, this is interesting - Neon and Criterion are teaming up for Bong Joon Ho's Parasite & Memories of Murder
No word on release dates, specs or any of that as this was just announced - but these would be great releases to get the Criterion treatment. Here's the full press release for additional information:
BONG JOON HO'S ACADEMY-AWARD WINNING PARASITE, MEMORIES OF MURDER TO JOIN THE CRITERION COLLECTION
JOINS PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE
New York, NY (February 13, 2020) – NEON and the Criterion Collection are excited to announce that Criterion will issue special editions of two Bong Joon Ho masterpieces, the four-time Academy Award-winning Parasite and the breathtaking crime drama Memories of Murder. Parasite just made history as the first foreign language film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture, and the first Korean film to win Best Director, Best International Film, and Best Original Screenplay. Parasite was also Nominated for Best Production Design and Best Editing, and previously won the Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film and Palme d'Or at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival.
Bong Joon Ho brings his singular mastery home to Korea in this pitch-black modern fairytale. The film is set amidst the two families, the Parks, the picture of aspirational wealth, and the Kims, rich in street smarts but not much else. Be it chance or fate, these two houses are brought together and the Kims sense a golden opportunity. Masterminded by college-aged Ki-woo, the Kim children expediently install themselves as tutor and art therapist, to the Parks. Soon, a symbiotic relationship forms between the two families. The Kims provide “indispensable” luxury services while the Parks obliviously bankroll their entire household. When a parasitic interloper threatens the Kims’ newfound comfort, a savage, underhanded battle for dominance breaks out, threatening to destroy the fragile ecosystem between the Kims and the Parks. By turns darkly hilarious and heart-wrenching, Parasite show
Memories of Murder was released in 2003 and marked the first of Bong Joon Ho and Song Kang Ho's collaborations, and has gone on to be considered one of the most thrilling and haunting crime dramas released this century. NEON recently acquired the rights to the film and will be re-releasing the film in theaters before its home video release.
Parasite debuted at Cannes where it became the first Korean film to win the coveted Palme d'Or and has since gone one to play at festivals across the country, including Telluride, Toronto, and New York Film Festival. Parasite is being hailed by critics as the best film to emerge this past fall, earning 99% on Rotten Tomatoes. NEON released the film in theaters on October 6, 2019 where it has gone on to gross over $35 million, becoming one of the Top 10 highest grossing foreign language films ever released in the US.
Parasite was written and directed by Bong Joon Ho and features a SAG Ensemble Award-winning cast including his long time collaborator Song Kang Ho, Choi Woo Shik, Park So Dam and Jang Hye Jin.
ABOUT NEON
A little less than 3 years since inception, NEON has garnered 10 Oscar nominations and already grossed over $150M at the Box Office. It continues to push boundaries and take creative risks on bold cinema such as Bong Joon Ho’s Parasite, which made history winning four Academy Awards®, becoming the first non-English-language film to claim Best Picture. The film, which also unanimously won the Palme d’Or at Cannes, has amassed over $38M at the domestic box office and broke multiple records including highest per screen average of the year and highest per screen average for a foreign language film of all time. Other noteworthy NEON releases include: Double Oscar nominee Honeyland; Todd Douglas Miller’s Apollo 11, 2019's highest grossing documentary with a worldwide gross of $16M; Tim Wardle's Three Identical Strangers, winner of the Sundance Special Jury Award for Storytelling which surpassed $13M at the box office; and Craig Gillespie’s I, Tonya, which garnered multiple Academy Award® nominations, one win for Allison Janney and amassed over $30M in domestic box office.
The company continues to be an impressive force at festivals, with recent Sundance acquisitions such as Max Barbakow’s sought after Palm Springs starring Andy Samberg, which NEON acquired with Hulu, and Josephine Decker’s Shirley starring Elisabeth Moss. Recent releases include: the critically acclaimed Cannes hit Portrait of a Lady on Fire, which was nominated for Best Foreign Film at the Golden Globes® and Independent Spirit Awards; Tamara Kotevska and Ljubo Stefanov’s award-winning and record-breaking Honeyland, which is the first non-fiction feature to land Academy Award® nominations for Best Documentary and Best International Feature Film in the same year; Alejandro Landes’ cinematic thrillerMonos (the Colombian selection for the Academy Awards®); Severin Fiala and Veronika Franz‘s horror film The Lodge starring Riley Keough; Julius Onah’s Luce starring Naomi Watts and Octavia Spencer; Tom Harper’s Wild Rose starring Jessie Buckley; John Chester’s The Biggest Little Farm; Chinonye Chukwu’s Clemency starring Academy Award® Nominee Alfre Woodard; and the electrifying documentary about Aretha Franklin, Amazing Grace.
After their successful collaboration on I, Tonya in January 2018, 30WEST (Dan Friedkin's and Micah Green's strategic venture) partnered with NEON's Tom Quinn (Founder & CEO) and Tim League (Co-Founder) to become majority investors in the company.
ABOUT THE CRITERION COLLECTION
Since 1984, the Criterion Collection has been dedicated to publishing important classic and contemporary films from around the world in editions that offer the highest technical quality and award-winning, original supplements. No matter the medium-from laserdisc to DVD and Blu-ray to streaming on the Criterion Channel-
UPDATE - As of 12:30PM EST Jan. 29th - this contest is now CLOSED - thank you for your participation! The Winner of the contest will be notified for next steps.
Thanks to the incredibly kind folks at Universal Pictures - we have ONE Blu-ray copy of Bong Joon Ho's incredible multi-oscar-nominated PARASITE to give away! CONTEST starts today Friday, January 24th and ends Wednesday, January 29th at 12:00 NOON EST.
Here's how you enter -
1. Share this article on your Facebook with the hashtag #GiveMeAParasite and include @highdefdigest (makes it easier to find you!)
2. In the Disqus comment section on this article include the name of your favorite Parasite - just really curious to see what entries we'll get. My personal favorite is the Botfly
Come 12 Noon January 29th EST - the contest will close, a winner will be selected at Random and will be notified. Winners will have 24 hours to respond from the time of notification to collect. If you miss that window, I'll have to move on to the next person. Again we only have ONE copy to give away!
By entering or participating in this giveaway, participants agree to be bound by High-Def Digest's Official Rules, which you can read in full HERE. The contest is open to residents within the United States. Sadly can't send to P.O. Boxes or outside of the U.S.
Good luck to you all!
In PARASITE, meet the Park family, the picture of aspirational wealth and the Kim family, rich in street smarts but not much else. Beit chance or fate, these two houses are brought together and the Kim’s sense a golden opportunity. Masterminded by college-aged Ki-woo, the Kim children expediently install themselves as tutor and art therapist to the Parks. Soon, a symbiotic relationship forms between the two families. The Kims provide “indispensable” luxury services while the Parks obliviously bankroll their entire household. When a parasitic interloper threatens the Kims’ newfound comfort, a savage, underhanded battle for dominance breaks out, threatening to destroy the fragile ecosystem between the Kims and the Parks. By turns darkly hilarious and heart-wrenching, PARASITE, “a thriller of extraordinary cunning and emotional force” (LA Times), showcases a modern master at the top of his game.
EDIT: As of Wednesday, Jan 22 at 9:10am this contest is now CLOSED! Thank you for participating, winners will be notified shortly.
Thanks to the incredibly kind folks at Paramount Pictures, we have THREE copies of the Beverly Hills Cop Trilogy Blu-ray and we have THREE copies of Gemini Man 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray to give away by 9AM (EST) Wednesday, Jan 22nd!
Paramount delivered one hell of a beautiful 4K UHD Blu-ray with Gemini Man presented in native 4K 60fps. On top of that, they delivered a full trilogy set of Eddy Murphy Beverly Hills Cop hilarity all wrapped up in one nice neat little package complete with recent remasters so the films look better than ever! You have a chance to take one of these bad boys home and add to your collection!
1) Like & Share this Post and Follow High-Def Digest on Facebook
2) POST this article to your Facebook with a gif of Will Smith or Eddy Murphy tagging High-Def Digest using hashtag #GeminiMan4KGiveaway or #BeverlyHillsCopGiveaway. You can create two different posts to be considered for both titles - but you can't win both. If you win one, you're no longer considered for the second title.
If Facebook won't let you include a gif with the link to this article - post the gif as a followup comment in your post.
3) Lastly - COMMENT below (on this page), with your favorite Eddy Murphy or Will Smith quote with the movie or show title so we know you're you!
At 5AM EST on Wednesday, Jan 22nd 2020!
Again, you CAN enter for a chance to win Gemini Man 4K or Beverly Hills Cop Trilogy Blu-ray, but you can only win one of them. The winners for each contest will be selected at RANDOM, notified in the comments below, and given 24 hours to message us directly on Facebook with their preferred shipping information. If we don't hear from you - after 24 hours, we'll move onto the next random winner, and so on until all copies are called for.
By entering or participating in this giveaway, participants agree to be bound by High-Def Digest's Official Rules, which you can read in full HERE. Contest is open to residents within the United States. Sadly can't send to P.O. Boxes or outside of the U.S.
Good luck to you all!
CECIL B. DEMILLE’S LEGENDARY EPIC ARRIVES IN A SPECTACULAR
BLU-RAY™ DIGIBOOK PERFECT FOR EASTER GIFT-GIVING
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
Debuting March 10, 2020, Special Collector’s Edition Includes Both the 1923 and 1956 Films, Plus a 16-Page Booklet with Rare Photos and Background About Both Movies
For sheer pageantry and spectacle, few motion pictures can claim to equal the splendor of renowned director Cecil B. DeMille’s 1956 epic THE TEN COMMANDMENTS. Arriving in time for Easter gift-giving, the beloved masterpiece will be presented in a new Blu-ray Digibook on March 10, 2020 from Paramount Home Entertainment.
This spectacular release features three Blu-ray Discs™ and includes not only the fully restored 1956 version of the film, but also DeMille’s original 1923 silent version, as well as a 16-page booklet featuring rare photos and historical facts about both productions. The set also includes an in-depth, 73-minute documentary entitled “The Ten Commandments: Making Miracles,” commentary on the 1956 film by Katherine Orrison, author of “Written in Stone: Making Cecil B. DeMille’s Epic, The Ten Commandments,” newsreel footage of the film’s New York premiere, theatrical trailers, hand-tinted footage of the Exodus and Parting of the Red Sea sequence from the 1923 version, a two-color Technicolor segment, and photo galleries.
DeMille’s last motion picture made Charlton Heston a superstar and remains a cinematic triumph and perennial fan-favorite. Filmed in Egypt and the Sinai with one of the biggest sets ever constructed for a motion picture, THE TEN COMMANDMENTS tells the story of the life of Moses (Heston). Once favored in the Pharaoh's (Yul Brynner) household, Moses turned his back on a privileged life to lead his people to freedom.
On January 15, 2020, MediaInVision / Surround Records International is releasing what they call 'Prototype 2020' - a new media experience that they are hoping will replace CD Audio discs. Where this goes in the future will depend a lot upon consumer adoption rates. MediaInVision's own product info is as follows:
"Have you heard about the new format that will replace the music CD and revolutionize the music industry as you know it? Let us introduce to you the new High Definition Music Card. If you love music, then you have a lot of sources to choose from today. But, if you REALLY love music, you re probably not satisfied with the sound quality of what you are listening to. You re frustration is comparable to a viewer watching a movie in IMAX and 3-D at the local theater, and then seeing the same recording on their Smartphone... wow, what a difference. See, the High Definition Music Card is based on an advanced technology that places each sound in a unique 3-D location in space. Well, now you can get that 3-D type of experience in music by using The High Definition Music Card. Developed by Alexander Goldberg Jero, winner of prestigious Surround Music Awards, The High Definition Music Card is a new USB format device for delivering music content that features the latest advances in surround sound reproduction that compares with no other format in the world. In addition to recording music, the High Definition Music Card can also include Hi-def photos, bios, release information, support software, and additional links for a complete 360 degree sensual experience. The High Definition Music Card is versatile and can be used in blu-ray players, laptops, home theater systems, stereos, headphones, and more. Whether you are a music distributor, artist, or just want the best sound quality, you need the High Definition Music Card. Alexander Golberg Jero, the brilliant mind behind many jaw-dropping compositions and the innovator of this extraordinary new product, reports the first steps of High Definition Music Card development. This card utilizes the USB technology that we use everyday as well as his in-depth knowledge of surround sound technology to transform how people listen to music wherever they are. The past 6 months have been busy for the development of this project. As a result of the support of Amazon, the High Definition Music Card had working prototypes up on their website. This allowed for the testing of this technology on the consumer market to help improve the product before bringing it to market. There was also a marketing campaign that was launched to create awareness for this product, informing them of the important features of this product. Because of these efforts, connections were established with key content providers including major record labels for the future releases of some of the top music artists. Due to these developments, shares of MediaInVision PLC were made available with a significant amount of interest established for the future investors. Future steps in place include creating a graphic user interface for Blu-ray players and further increasing the marketing efforts.
Plays on all USB capable playback devices including:
Blu-ray Players
DVD players
PC and Mac Computers (software included)
Car Audio (with USB port)
Prototype 2020 Release Featuring:
1. 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio 24bit 96khz Surround Mixes, 5.1 and Stereo Configuration Compatible
2. Stereo FLAC 24bit 192khz Resolution
3. Educational Videos
4. Inspirational Images
5. Playback Software for Surround Sound Files for Mac and PC.
6. Support Links and Services
7. Public Folder
Copyright © Surround Records International Patent No.US59723547B1"
Final Thoughts:
I believe that in the end street price will have a lot to do with adoption, and realistically the best approach to keep the unit cost as low as possible is to separate the two components of this product. The product as it appears to be is a memory device merged with a USB controller/adapter. Perhaps we will see a future release of the two components sold individually, so that one would only have to buy the controller once, and then buy the titles they want ala carte. As far as the future of physical media, the gap in the cost of a memory type device versus an optical disc could be a lot closer or eliminated completely. When you can buy a 64GB USB flash drive for less than $5, imagine what mass production, removal of the USB controller itself and possibly eliminating the ability to rewrite the storage chip (ie: a ROM) could give us. Because everything old is new again (ahem, vinyl) we might be viewing movies someday from sleek memory sticks, which in prior decades we referred to them as cartridges. We could eventually see video players where the optical drive is replaced with only a couple of slots, USB, Traditional Memory Cards and future versions of these devices, what ever they would call them.
Want to see and purchase launch titles? Yup, we've provided links to those below.
LOCKED AND LOADED WITH BONUS CONTENT INCLUDING NINE ALTERNATE & EXTENDED SCENES, A HILARIOUS BLOOPER REEL AND MORE!
Remember to limber up and beware of bathrooms, as Woody Harrelson (Venom), Jesse Eisenberg (The Social Network), Abigail Breslin (“Scream Queens”) and Emma Stone (La La Land) return to the United States of Zombieland ten years after their first undead adventure for Ruben Fleischer’s long-awaited ZOMBIELAND: DOUBLE TAP coming to Digital December 24 and 4K Ultra HDTM, Blu-rayTM and DVD January 21 from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.
Experience an all-new adventure with some of your favorite zombie apocalypse survivors, as well as newcomers Rosario Dawson (TV’s “The Defenders”), Zoey Deutch (TV’s “The Politician”), Luke Wilson (Old School), Avan Jogia (Shaft), and Thomas Middleditch (TV’s “Silicon Valley”).
Set one decade after the events of the first film, ZOMBIELAND: DOUBLE TAP finds Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson), Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg), Little Rock (Abigail Breslin), and Wichita (Emma Stone) working together as a well-oiled, zombie-killing machine with a new home in the now-vacant White House. These four slayers must face off against the many new kinds of zombies that have evolved since the first movie, as well as some new human survivors. But most of all, they have to face the growing pains of their own snarky, makeshift family.
In addition to the film’s on-screen reunion, ZOMBIELAND: DOUBLE TAP brings back several fan-favorites behind the camera as well. Director Ruben Fleischer returns to the Zombieland universe after the blockbuster debut of Venom in 2018, directing a script penned by original Zombieland screenwriters Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, in addition to Dave Callaham, solidifying ZOMBIELAND: DOUBLE TAP as an event ten years in the making.
The bonus materials for ZOMBIELAND: DOUBLE TAP include audio commentary by Ruben Fleischer, a hilarious blooper reel, nine alternate & extended scenes, and several behind-the-scenes featurettes diving into the making of the film and more!
ZOMBIELAND: DOUBLE TAP has a runtime of approximately 99 minutes and is rated R for bloody violence, language throughout, some drug and sexual content. The IMAX® Enhanced 4K Ultra HDTM edition features digitally remastered content presented with High Dynamic Range and DTS:X® audio for a more immersive at-home entertainment experience.
ZOMBIELAND: DOUBLE TAP BONUS MATERIALS
Extended Bloopers & Outtakes
Alternate & Extended Scenes
“The Beast is Gone”: Tragedy falls upon Tallahassee.
“Van Rides”: A vehicle says a lot about a person.
“Would of Never Met”: Wichita and Columbus discuss what their lives would have been like if not for the zombie apocalypse.
“In Bed”: Tallahassee’s still got it!
“Breakfast at Babylon”: Cruelty-free breakfast and conversation.
“Car Ride”: Road trips were made for family bonding.
“Melting Gun”: Tallahassee says goodbye to another friend.
“There’s a Party Tonight”: I don’t want to hang out with a bunch of hippies.
“Alternate Proposal”: Love is the perfect mix of cool and uncool.
“The Doppelgangers”: From stunts to special effects, this in-depth piece breaks down doppelgangers Flagstaff and Albuquerque and comes complete with interviews, demonstrations, and multiple cameras to snag all the action in their wild scenes.
“The Rides of Zombieland”: From the Beast to Big Fat Death (and a hated Pontiac Trans Sport in between) this short focuses on the rides that get our main characters around Z-land.
“Rules of Making a Zombie Film”: It takes a lot of rules and a lot of people to make a zombie film!
“Making Babylon”: Explore the climactic third act location in the film known in Zombieland as Babylon. Part fortress, part freshman dormitory, Babylon is the safe-place for a generation of misguided peace-loving retro-hippies.
“New Blood”: Rosario Dawson, Zoey Deutch, and Avan Jogia join our zombie-slaying cast.
“Single Take Doppelganger Fight”: Ruben Fleischer shares the camera monitor during the Doppelganger fight sequence.
Commentary with Director Ruben Fleischer
“Zombieland Ad Council”
CAST AND CREW
Cast: Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Abigail Breslin, Emma Stone, Rosario Dawson, Zoey Deutch, Luke Wilson, Avan Jogia, Thomas Middleditch
Executive Producers: Paul Wernick, Rhett Reese, Rebecca Rivo, Ruben Fleischer, David Bernad, Jack Heller, Doug Belgrad
Written By: Rhett Reese & Paul Wernick and Dave Callaham
Producer: Gavin Polone
Director: Ruben Fleischer
After its first week, Disney's Frozen II has already brought in nearly $500 Million worldwide. Coming six-years after the original Frozen, which remained in the top 10 at the box office for a whopping 17 weeks and ultimately took in $1.27 Billion. A speculative street date would not likely be any bit sooner than April 2020.
With several options available, particularly with retailer exclusives, it might be wise to secure your copy today if the retailer exclusive is your desire.
Order 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Today!
Order 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray (Best Buy Exclusive) Today!
Order 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray (Target Exclusive) Today!
What is sure to be a quick sellout, which means that then the only way to get this will via third-party marketplaces for five-times the selling price, it would be my suggestion to reserve your copy early.
Nickelodeon’s critically-acclaimed, Emmy® award-winning series receives the SteelBook® treatment as Avatar: The Last Airbender – The Complete Series Blu-ray 15th Anniversary Limited Edition Steelbook Collection arrives on February 18, 2020. The 3-book collection features stunning new artwork by artist Caleb Thomas, with each book featuring a different element (Water, Earth, and Fire) and the covers combining to form a beautiful triptych. Thomas was handpicked to design the collection’s covers after series co-creator Bryan Konietzko became a fan of Thomas’ art style on social media. The collection’s production run will be limited to 20,000 units.
Created by Konietzko and Michael Dante DiMartino, Avatar: The Last Airbender aired on Nickelodeon from February 2005 through July 2008, garnering both critical and audience acclaim while also winning Annie®, Genesis®, Primetime Emmy®, and Peabody® awards. The series features an iconic blend of anime and traditional animation, alongside a talented voice cast including Zach Tyler Eisen (The Ant Bully, TV’s “Little Bill”), Mae Whitman (Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, TV’s “Parenthood”, “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles”, “Family Guy”), Jack DeSena (TV’s “All That”, “Grounded for Life”), Dante Basco (Hook, TV’s “The Legend of Korra”), Dee Bradley Baker (TV’s “SpongeBob SquarePants”, “Gravity Falls”, “Star Wars: The Clone Wars”), and Mark Hamill (Star Wars franchise, TV’s “Batman: The Animated Series”). The fan-favorite series has spawned a beloved animated sequel series, The Legend of Korra, as well as an upcoming live-action remake (with its original creators) to be produced for Nickelodeon and Netflix. Avatar: The Last Airbender – The Complete Series 15th Anniversary Limited Edition Steelbook Collection will be available on February 18, 2020 from Paramount Home Entertainment and Nickelodeon Home Entertainment for $97.99.
Avatar: The Last Airbender – The Complete Series 15th Anniversary Limited Edition Steelbook Collection Details:
Synopsis:
Water, Earth, Fire, Air. Four nations. One war-torn world. Celebrate the 15th anniversary of the epic saga, Avatar: The Last Airbender, with this 3 SteelBook® collection, featuring all-new art for each book! Go back to the beginning to experience the animated series that quickly became a phenomenon with a huge fan base that spans the globe! This complete collector’s edition includes all three powerful books: Water, Earth, and Fire.
Seasons:
Bonus Content:
According to a recent ZDNet article, thousands of users have reported their accounts have been compromised - some have been locked out altogether. While after a week of notable glitches, this would sound like more bad news. However, if you dig into the story more and read past the sensational headlines that have been spreading around like wildfire in the last 24 hours, it reads more as if folks didn't create new unique passwords for their accounts and simply recycled one that was already compromised. In other cases, it sounds like key-stroke logging malware or info-stealing software could be the culprit rather than a true hack of Disney+.
As users accounts are apparently being sold on the dark web, Disney+ has a big customer service problem on their hands. Obviously people are upset so some tweets and Facebook posts are less than thrilled with Disney's customer service, but at the same time, it is troubling that there doesn't appear to be any contingency plan in place for an event such as this. While most folks' experience with the streaming platform has been relatively problem-free (I keep having to turn off subtitles but that's it), this simple case of people not taking their cybersecurity seriously is turning into more bad press for Disney+ after their slightly bumpy rollout and news that torrent sites already offer full rips of their content.
Create Unique Passwords
This is a bit of a no-brainer but it still needs to be said: create unique passwords for your accounts! While it's tempting to share accounts you also need to be careful who you share your login information with - that person's computer could be compromised and be the source of your troubles. As our viewing content moves towards streaming, it's going to be that much more important that we stay vigilant with our logins/passwords and our cybersecurity as a whole.
