Wednesday, February 24, 2016

"We Come as Friends" Arrives on March 8 from BBC Home Entertainment

We Come As Friends is a modern odyssey ; a dizzying, almost science fiction-like journey into the
heart of Africa. At the moment when the Sudan, the continent’s biggest country, is being divided into two nations, an old “civilizing” ideology re-emerges – one of colonialism and  a clash of empires, with new episodes of bloody (and holy) wars over land and resources.

The Los Angeles Times says, “Filmmaker Hubert Sauper goes where other people don’t go, sees what the crowd doesn’t see and creates unsettling, provocative political documentaries that are unlike anyone else’s.”

Sauper takes us on a voyage in his tiny, self-made aircraft constructed from tin and canvas, leading us into the most improbable locations and into people’s thoughts and dreams in both stunning and heartbreaking ways. Chinese oil workers, UN peacekeepers, Sudanese warlords, and American evangelists ironically weave common ground in this documentary.

We Come As Friends made its theatrical premiere in August, 2015 and releases on DVD March 8, via BBC Home Entertainment.

Ride Along 2 Pulls in on DVD/BD on May 24

Fasten your seatbelts and brace yourselves for another wild ride when Kevin Hart (Get Hard, The Wedding Ringer) and Ice Cube (22 Jump Street, Barbershop) return in Ride Along 2, the hilarious, action-packed comedy coming to Blu-ray and DVD on May 24, 2016, from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. The Blu-ray, DVD and Digital HD feature even more of the duo's hysterical banter and explosive fun with deleted scenes, gag reel, never-before-seen bonus material, including a hilarious new recruitment video "Ride Along With Us" and "The Ride Diaries" with Kevin Hart and Ice Cube!

Ride Along 2 reunites the partners and brothers-in-law-to-be as they take on new crime in Miami. The absurdity quickly unfolds while tough cop and all-around cool guy James (Ice Cube) works to solve a major case with the mouthy wannabe Ben (Kevin Hart). In the riotous sequel to the action-comedy hit that first brought together the hilarious mismatched cops, "Ice Cube and Kevin Hart are the comedy duo of the year!" according to Dave Morales, KRIV-TV (Fox).

Directed by Tim Story (Ride Along, Think Like a Man), Ride Along 2 also stars Ken Jeong (The Hangover, "Dr. Ken"), Olivia Munn ("The Newsroom," X-Men: Apocalypse), Benjamin Bratt (Despicable Me 2, "Law & Order"), Sherri Shepherd ("The View," "30 Rock") and Tyrese Gibson (Furious 7, Transformers).

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment to Distribute Genius Brands Kids Titles

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (SPHE) and kidvid producer Genius Brands International Inc. announced a multiyear agreement for SPHE to provide marketing and distribution of GBI’s "Kid Genius" and "Baby Genius" brands throughout North America.  Also, the deal allows SPHE and GBI to co-develop, distribute and globally merchandise future animated or live-action properties derived from their respective programming libraries.

“SPHE will work with the GBI team to deliver enriching learning experiences and inspiring entertainment content to families and children across North America,” said Ben Means, SVP of third-party strategic partnerships for SPHE. “This partnership underscores our longterm commitment to provide consumers with quality product for children and families.”

This transformative, long-term commitment between our companies allows Genius Brands International to focus on what we do best; creating, producing, merchandising and acquiring commercial content for both kids and families, and enables us to expand and accelerate our growth and shareholder value,” said Andy Heyward, GBI Chairman and CEO. “SPHE’s substantial, marketing, promotion, and retail and digital distribution resources will be instrumental in the continued expansion of our brands.”

Among the brands SPHE will distribute will be "SpacePOP," an all-new music and fashion-driven brand for tween girls debuting in Fall 2016; a new original "Baby Genius" series to coincide with the brand’s expanded launch in 2016; Warren Buffett’s "Secret Millionaires Club," an animated series accessible on-air, online and at retail; and Stan Lee's "Mighty 7 (SLAM 7)." Additionally, the agreement covers catalog titles and three new as-yet unannounced properties being developed by GBI.

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

KRAMPUS Arrives to Terrify on DVD/BD in May

An ancient demonic avenger lays siege to an unsuspecting family in Krampus, a truly terrifying,
darkly comedic tale coming on May 24, 2016, to Blu-ray Combo Pack and DVD from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (delayed due to Uni's holdback policy to rentailers and public libraries).  From Michael Dougherty (writer and director of cult horror favorite Trick 'r Treat, writer of X-Men: Apocalypse), Krampus is "a must see film" (We Got This Covered) that delivers inventively nasty laughs as it plunges viewers into a nightmarish world ruled by a legendary monster bent on total destruction, punishing those who have lost faith. Krampus on Blu-ray and DVD also comes with exclusive bonus features including an alternate ending, deleted scenes, gag reel and extended scenes.

When his dysfunctional family clashes over the holidays, young Max (Emjay Anthony) is disillusioned and turns his back on Christmas. Little does he know, this lack of festive spirit has unleashed the wrath of Krampus: a demonic force of ancient evil intent on punishing non-believers. All hell breaks loose as beloved holiday icons take on a monstrous life of their own, laying siege to the fractured family's home and forcing them to fight for each other if they hope to survive.

Adam Scott ("Parks and Recreation," Black Mass), Toni Collette (Little Miss Sunshine, The Sixth Sense), David Koechner (Anchorman Series) and Allison Tolman (TV's "Fargo") star in this gleefully gory horror thriller that delivers the kind of deep, dark laughs and hair-raising scares that make for a delightfully twisted holiday classic.

Monday, February 22, 2016

Norm of the North Slides in on DVD/BD on April 19


This winter’s coolest family comedy, Norm of the North, slides onto Blu-ray Combo Pack (plus
DVD and Digital HD) and DVD (plus Digital) April 19 from Lionsgate. Telling the ultimate tale of a loveable underdog who proves anything is possible with determination and a posse of loyal lemmings, Norm of the North features the voices of Rob Schneider (Grown Ups), Heather Graham (The Hangover franchise), Ken Jeong (The Hangover franchise), Colm Meaney (Con Air), Loretta Devine (TV’s “Grey’s Anatomy”), Gabriel Iglesias (Magic Mike), Michael McElhatton (HBO’s “Game of Thrones”) and Bill Nighy (Love Actually).

Life can be a real bear—just ask Norm, a polar bear with unusual talents and a heart as big as the great outdoors. When he hears that human homes are going to be built in his Arctic backyard, Norm comes to the rescue. With a team of ragtag lemmings at his side, Norm heads to the concrete jungle of New York City on a freewheeling, fun-filled mission to stop the madness and save the Arctic.

Experience even more exhilarating adventure with special features including deleted scenes, outtakes, “The Arctic Shake” sing-along and a trivia challenge for the whole family to enjoy! The Norm of the North Blu-ray Combo Pack and DVD will be available for the suggested retail price of $34.99 and $29.95, respectively.

Michael Pollan's "In Defense of Food" on DVD/BD March 1




PBS Distribution announced today it is releasing “IN DEFENSE OF FOOD” on DVD and Blu-ray. Join New York Times best-selling author Michael Pollan on a fascinating journey to answer the question: What should I eat to be healthy? Busting myths and misconceptions, the program reveals how common sense and old-fashioned wisdom can help us rediscover the pleasures of eating and at the same time reduce our risks of falling victim to diet-related diseases.

Pollan’s journey of discovery takes him from the plains of Tanzania, where one of the world’s last remaining tribes of hunter-gatherers still eats the way our ancestors did, to Loma Linda, California, where vegetarian Seventh Day Adventists enjoy remarkable longevity, and eventually to Paris, where the French diet, rooted in culture and tradition, proves surprisingly healthy. Along the way, he shows how a combination of faulty nutrition science and deceptive marketing practices have encouraged us to replace real food with scientifically engineered “food-like substances.” And he explains why the solution to our dietary woes is in fact remarkably simple: Eat Food. Not Too Much. Mostly Plants. “IN DEFENSE OF FOOD,” features interviews with scientists, nutrition experts, physicians, food activists and more, and includes the stories of real families.

“IN DEFENSE OF FOOD” will be available on DVD and Blu-ray March 1, 2016. The run time of the program is approximately 120 minutes. The SRP for the DVD is $24.99 and $29.99 for Blu-ray. The program will also be available for digital download.

Almost every day there’s a new headline about food. Eat more fiber. Drink less milk. Eggs are bad. Eggs are good. No wonder people are confused. The program begins with an exploration of the kind of food most Americans eat today — known as the Western diet. It includes lots of meat, white flour, sugar and vegetable oils. It’s cheap, convenient and has been processed to taste really good. But the effects of the Western diet on health are not so tasty, including alarming increases in obesity and Type 2 diabetes.

Friday, February 19, 2016

The Hateful Eight Rides in on DVD/BD on March 29

Anchor Bay Entertainment and The Weinstein Company are proud to present the home entertainment release of the eighth film by two-time Academy Award winner Quentin Tarantino (Django Unchained, Pulp Fiction). Shot entirely on 70mm and featuring a Golden Globe and BAFTA award-winning score by Oscar winner Ennio Morricone (Bugsy, The Mission) THE HATEFUL EIGHT “absolutely delivers on the sheer moment-to-moment pleasures fans have come to expect -- from dynamite dialogue to powder-keg confrontations,” Peter Debruge, Variety.
 
An explosive frontier mystery about eight strangers with one deadly connection, THE HATEFUL EIGHT will be available on Blu-ray Combo Pack ($39.99 SRP) and DVD ($29.98 SRP) from Anchor Bay Entertainment March 29, 2016. Special features for THE HATEFUL EIGHT include two featurettes - “Beyond the Eight: A Behind-the-Scenes Look” and “Sam Jackson’s Guide to Glorious 70mm.” 

"If you’re going to shoot your movie and release it in 70mm,

it’s really the way to go: twenty-four frames a second flickering through a projector,

creating the illusion of movement.” - Quentin Tarantino