The Last of the Mohicans Blu in October

Source: HighDef Disc News

The 75th year of Fox Studios keeps pumping out amazing movies from their catalog for Blu-ray releases. This time Michael Mann's 1992 Oscar winning historical epic The Last of the Mohicans.

Starring Daniel Day Lewis as Hawkeye, one of three trappers that take it upon themselves to escort two daughters of a British Officer to a frontier fort after an ambush completely destroys their Redcoat escort, Mohicans drops you right in Colonial America during the tumultuous 1750's French and Indian War. In short; scalps are taken, tea is drank and cannons will go *BOOM*!

The word "epic" gets thrown around a lot like the word "literally". That said I literally can't describe how epic this movie really is, and I think a fair amount of that epicness is due to the amazing score by Trevor Jones.

And it sure as hell doesn't hurt that this Blu-ray release, due out October 5th, has been dubbed The Last of the Mohicans: The Director's Definitive Cut, so I would expect some goodies in store! But no details on bonus features info has been released yet, but when we know so will you!

Halo:Reach Combat Trailer

Source: Kotaku

Just a few hours ago a new trailer for the final Bungie Studios created Halo game got a new single-player campaign trailer.

Here is that trailer:

I have to say, while it is short and sweet, it looks pretty damn awesome. I completely forgot that you were going to be able to have starfighter battles! There is just so much going on in that 1-Minute trailer that it will take me a while to process it.

And just because I am a swell guy here are some screens for Halo: Reach:

For all of you who have loyally remained Space Marines, get ready to get some Halo dust on your G.I. space combat boots September 14th!

Robin Hood (2010) in September

Source: HighDef Disc News

Ridley Scott's interpretation of the Robin Hood folklore hits DVD and Blu-ray shelves on September 21st. The film stars Russel Crowe as the titular archer from the hood, Cate Blanchet as Maid Marion and Mark Strong (Sherlock Holmes) as the corrupt sheriff of Nottingham.

Robin Hood will be released as a "flipper-disc" Blu-ray, which means one side will be a DVD while the other a Blu-ray format, as well as a 2-Disc DVD release. Both the theatrical version of the movie as well as 15-Minute longer unrated director's cut will be included. There are a slew of bonus materials, some of which will be exclusive to the Blu-ray release.

Robin Hood Extras Include:

• Deleted Scenes with introductions and commentary by Director Ridley Scott and Editor Pietro Scalia
• Rise and Rise Again: The making of Ridley Scott's Robin Hood
• Ballad, Legend & Myth: An intimate look at the preparation of the filmmakers and actors tackled the challenge of breathing new life into the longest surviving character in the English language.
• The More The Merrier: The filming of Robin Hood.
• No Quarter Given: A post-production featurette showing how Ridley Scott and editor Pietro Scalia work with the post-production team.
• Digital Copy of Unrated Director's Cut

Blu-ray Exclusive Extras Include:

• Director's Notebook: A seamless multimedia experience focusing on the director’s vision gives viewers a peek inside Ridley Scott’s unique filmmaking process. Incorporating behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with Scott and his trusted inner circle of collaborators, this feature launches at critical moments throughout the film to illuminate the task of mounting a vast production like Robin Hood.
• The Art of Nottingham: A special look at the portfolio of designs generated for the film. Including galleries of concept art, costume designs, storyboards and other imagery are featured.

Dead Space 2 in January

Source: Kotaku

Did you experience the first Dead Space game?

I did, and I can vividly recount my first experience with the SciFi horror/first person shooter. It was well past midnight, it was a Tuesday so the dorms were pretty dead but the Dead Space Dismemberment Demo had just finished d-loading to my PS3. What would follow was two hours of screaming like a little girl while repeatedly playing the 10 minute demo.

Well I may get to re-experience that magic when Dead Space 2 hits shelves January 25th next year.

The sequel, that is still in production, is looking pretty damn awesome. For fans of the first game these pictures will raise all sorts of questions, but we will have to wait a while before these queries will be answered.

Hurry up January! I got me some alien monsters to decapitate!

JoBlogathon: Equilibrium

How can I attempt to describe the 2002 dystopian SciFi action/thriller film Equilibrium, one word: Gunkata!

Before I get into this review I had a one major initial beef with this film. For the first 10 minutes of the movie I couldn't see past the emotionless acting. It felt stale, deadpan and in general I just couldn't connect to any of the characters. But then it hit me that is EXACTLY what this film was going for.

Synopsis:

You see Equilibrium is a portrayal of a not to distant future where man, in an effort to be more humane to their fellow man, have forsaken all feeling. People walk around alive, but they don't truely live. With an emotion sedating substance known as Prozium fascist leaders, known as Tetragrammaton Council, control the populace. Where the drugs fail to control special soldiers known as Clerics completely destroy all resistance using superior fighting skills with extreme efficiency.

The Tetragrammaton Councils top Cleric John Preston (Christian Bale) has always done his job unrepentingly until he accidentally misses one dose and begins to feel. These feelings will turn his world upside down, and in the process maybe humanity will be human again.

My Take:

I loved Equilbrium, and have now watched it twice. The action scenes are amazing well done, and have a very similar feel to watching The Matrix, but without CGI as a crutch. Everything is done practically; shootouts, swordplay and fisticuffs all happen in a rapid flurry of camera pans and hard cuts that allow you to experience them instead of just admiring them. And the aforementioned Gunkata wasn't a joke! The martial art of firearms has never looked so damn good, and is just exhilarating to watch!

The acting is a little trickier to rate, as the majority of the characters are meant to be emotionless, and in that respect they do an adequate job. But the ones that do feel such as Preston, Cleric Partridge (Sean Bean) and Emotional Content violators (Such as Emily Watson) are a sharp contrast to the sedated majority. It is in Christian Bale's performance that we see true acting chops as he slowly transforms from apathetic drone into a real person who feels, loves, hates and questions his own existence.

Equilibrium has something for everyone in it. Intense action (I feel is superior to The Matrix) that is just fun to watch. Social commentary on what it means to truely be human and the importance of emotions. Hell, there is even some heavy hitting drama, especially revolving around Preston's relationship with his young son. Oh, and there is a cute puppy ... you know, if you are into that thing.

Do yourself a favor, and check out Equilibrium today! And just in case you don't want to take my word on it here is the trailer:

You can check out all of the upcoming JoBlogathon Participants over at 24FPS. Or check out these blogs for the entries already completed:

• Sam Inglis of 24FPS reviews 11:14 (Spoiler, he didn't like it!)
• Marcy over at SuperMarcy.com attempts to review Dogtooth
• Aaron Elliot weighs in on Dahmer at his blog Islanded in a Stream of Stars
• I'll post more as they become available!

The Peacemaker Blu in September

Source: HighDef Disc News

Anybody has the potential to be a nuclear terrorist, even a piano teacher!

The 1997 action/thriller The Peacemaker is getting a Blu-ray release. The film stars Nicole Kidman as a nuclear weapons specialist and George Clooney as an special forces officer who have been tasked with finding missing Russian nuke (It is not in a vending machine, that is soooo Sum of all Fears.) before it falls into the hands of terrorists. But when they fail to get the warhead first they have a nearly impossible challenge; stop a terrorist who has absolutely no demands and intends on detonating the nuclear device somewhere in New York.

Extras Include:

• Stunt Footage
• Deleted Scenes
• Theatrical Trailer

Caught in the Crossfire in July

Source: Beyond Hollywood

No it isn't a bio-pic about the late but great Stevie Ray Vaughan but it still might be worth your time.

There is something to be said for direct to DVD action movies. Some men, like Steven Seagal, just make it worth your time. And then there is something to be said about rappers turned action stars, sometimes it works but only if Seagal is also in the flick (See Exit Wounds).

Well all of that is null and void because Curtis "50 Cent' Jackson is teaming up with the multi-talented Chris Klein in the direct to DVD release of Caught in the Crossfire. This "hardcore urban gangster flick" follows a street hardened dick (Detective! It means detective!) played by Klein who is trying to wade through all of the lies and corruption of his own police department while investigating some gang slayings. 50 Cent is also there to represent the aforementioned "hardcore" element.

Get Caught in the Crossfire on DVD and Blu-ray July 13th. So far the announced extras only include outtakes; which is kind of slim, but with Klein providing the material I bet they are gold!

For your viewing pleasure I present to you the trailer for Caught in the Crossfire if you are still so inKleined:

Human Target in September

Source: Blu-ray.com

I am going to be completely honest, when I saw the previews of the Fox show Human Target I was very skeptical (in my defense they were doing a barrel roll in a 747). Turns out my skepticism was unfounded because when I decided to give it a try I loved the hell out of it!

The first season of Human Target is getting a DVD and Blu-ray release September 21st. For those of you that may have missed the first season the show is based off of the DC comic by the same name and is about a badass dude that goes by the name Christopher Chance, played perfectly by Mark Valley (The 4400).

Chance will put himself in harms way to protect his clients and explosions and gunplay often ensue. He doesn't go it alone though as he has a surly ex-cop partner named Laverne, but don't you dare make fun of his name. Chance also has loyal friend, played Jackie Earle Haley, who finishes off the team as a sarcastic hacker that won't think twice about shooting you in the back.

Just good television, and contrary to Fox's usual M.O. the series has actually been renewed for a second season.

Extras Include:

• Two Featurettes: Confidential Informant and Movie-sized Action on Television
• Pilot Commentary
• Deleted Scenes
• Gag Reel