We don't normally blog about a single new release, but  Battlestar Galactica: Season Three was by far our most requested DVD not yet released, so we figured it was newsworthy. It  has finally been announced, and even though it doesn't come out until March, you can pre-order your copy today.  So you BSG fans finally have another whole season to look forward to on DVD. Enjoy.  --Dan

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Not every new product shown at this week's Consumer Electronics Show is as spectacular as the
new 150-inch Panasonic plasma TV (or the hole you would need in the side of
your house to get it inside).  While I
doubt that any of us will contemplate purchasing such a set, plenty of other new
products announced at CES look to improve home theaters--and easily fit through the front door
to boot. I couldn’t help but point out two of my top picks from this year’s
showcase, which winds up today in Las Vegas.

One of my favorite new products is the Video Transfer by
Pinnacle. If you’ve ever wanted to backup your home videos onto a digital
format, you might have struggled with the conversion process—install a special
card to your computer, install software to process and decode the video, add a
larger hard drive to handle the data, etc. This one-inch-thick box, about the
size of a card deck, simplifies the process to a ridiculous degree: hook your
analog audio/video input into one end, then hook any USB storage device to the
other. The device processes the video, compresses it into the convenient MPEG-4
format, then spits it out via USB onto your computer, flash drive, or even iPod
and PSP. And, yes, that means you can avoid using your computer entirely to pull this off if you so choose. Though the device certainly makes sense with old VHS home movies, you
can use any standard-def video source, as long as it isn’t copy protected, and
transfer its content as well--should be interesting to see how this works with DVR
units. The Video Transfer is expected to be available on January 15th
with an MSRP of 9.

My other favorite was actually a reintroduction of something
cool from CES 2006: Mitsubishi’s Laser TV. Most rear-projection HDTVs (DLP,
LCOS, etc.) use light bulbs, which have issues like relatively short lives,
power consumption, start-up delays, and rare on-screen flashes of color. Mitsubishi’s
laser technology addresses all four of these flaws directly, which could help
rear-projection HDTVs gain traction in the coming year. I'm hopeful that the first laser-equipped
TVs will reach stores by this November, but don’t expect to find them on sale on Black Friday; they
will carry a premium over bulb sets. --Adam

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Atonement was one of the major movies of 2007 having its big North American premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival last September, and I was fortunate enough to be able to attend. After the film had its premiere showing at the Elgin theater,


a lavish affair was put on at the Rosewater Supper Club where the film's star, James McAvoy, circulated quickly around the room to heavy congratulations by just about everyone in the room. The poor guy couldn't talk to anyone for more than 5 seconds before someone else was in his face or whisking him away to talk to someone else. He was nice enough to give me a few seconds of his time where I asked him how many takes it took to get that incredible shot of the Dunkirk scene. "Three takes, one day," he said with animated gestures to make sure I heard him clearly above the din of the crowd (or maybe so that I didn't misunderstand his strong brogue). Then he turned around and went to chat with Harvey Weinstein (hey, no problem, I know where I rank in that pecking order).




To the left, James McAvoy, Keira Knightley, and Joe Wright at the Atonement Premiere in Toronto.



Also hanging out at the party were director Joe Wright, Jessica Alba, and Simon Pegg, fresh of off Hot Fuzz  fame, who was in Toronto to promote Run Fatboy Run, his new movie directed by David Schwimmer. I never did see Keira Knightley at the party.

As this was one of the most anticipated films showing at the festival this year, I asked most of the partygoers for their thoughts. Naturally those involved in the making of the film were very pleased with the results and the very positive reception it received. But the buzz around the room, and the next day around the city, was that the film was a huge success and the first reviews were very positive, and it wasn't too soon for the word "Oscar" to start getting thrown around. You can read my interview with Screenwriter Christopher Hampton here to learn more about the production and the effort he and director Joe Wright put into staying faithful to the novel.

Check out our Atonement page for more clips and exclusives from the film.
 --Dan

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We had the pleasure of talking with Jason Statham (The Transporter, Snatch, The Italian Job) about Revolver, his new film with director Guy Ritchie. Here’s a taste of what he had to say, and you can hear more in the February edition of the Amazon Wire Podcast.

Describe Revolver for people who have yet to see the film:

I would say it’s a movie that’s not to be confused with the likes of Lock Stock or Snatch if you have ever seen any of the previous Guy Ritchie movies, it’s not to be confused with that kind of a film. It’s a little bit more of a serious sort of psychological thriller… about being able to smash what controls you, but at the same time it’s all set within a world of ya know, violence, ya know that sexy shiny world that Guy Ritchie creates.

Do you see comparisons between Lock Stock, Snatch and this film as a good thing or a bad thing?

Well look, he’s made two terrific films, two great black comedies, do you want him to go and make another one as well? Sometimes you have to do something a little bit different… you can’t please everyone.

You’ve carried a lot of other movies, action movies, where there’s explosions and fast cars, but this film is really held together by your presence, and it’s a totally different mood. Did you you feel a lot of pressure on your performance as Jake to carry the picture?

Um, I mean, no, it’s best not to try and focus on that really. But obviously if you haven’t got your usual bells and whistles to rely upon, then you have to try and dig it out from somewhere else.

What did you draw from your own experiences in preparing for this movie?

You might know from reading other stuff that I used to work on street corners hustling, or conning people if you like, so I understood the psychology of that and what you need to do to make somebody sort of bend over and succumb to your will, it’s a very simple set of rules… there’s so many ways that you can be sort of lured down a certain road and it’s all about making decisions, and if you’re aware of what is leading you, you can make the right decision at the right time.

Revolver comes out on DVD March 18, you can pre-order your copy now.

--Rachel, Amazon Movies & TV

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We are now one step closer to wireless high-def television. The WirelessHD Consortium--composed of Sony, Samsung, Toshiba, LG, Panasonic, NEC, Intel, and chipmaker SiBeam--announced it has completed development of its specification for uncompressed high-definition video transmission without cables.




While this news might not sound earth-shattering to everyone, there are some really neat things that are going to come out of this. This protocol allows manufacturers to begin development of set-top boxes, DVRs, next-gen DVD players, game consoles and camcorders that can wirelessly stream true, uncompressed 1080p signals through the room. This will give much greater flexibility in where you place your components, plus you don't have to worry about stringing wires across your room or snaking them through your walls. It even provides a new standard for universal remotes that will be able to function with all your WirelessHD equipment right out of the box.




WirelessHD works by using the unlicensed 60Ghz band to broadcast 4Gbps of bandwidth up to 33 feet away. This bandwidth pipe is more than enough to accommodate an uncompressed 1080p signal, which only uses 3 gigabytes-per-second. It will also support two simultaneous 1080i signals or multiple 480p connections, along with multiple audio channels. You won't be able to watch your neighbor's DVDs though. Oxygen in the air and exterior building walls quickly reduce the power of the 60Ghz signal, limiting it to in-room use only.



It appears that WirelessHD will be a broadly adopted industry standard. Look for members of the consortium to demo this technology at next week's Consumer Electronics Show.



--Jon D.

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First impressions of upcoming movies, based on trailer (Click on the title to watch the trailer: You may need QuickTime for most). Release dates are subject to change.

27 Dresses (dir. Anne Fletcher) Katherine Heigl sure is riding high: A hit show (Grey's Anatomy), an Emmy, a hit movie, the love of a public who cheers her when she chides an announcer (live!) for mispronouncing her name. Now she primes herself as the next Julia in this romantic comedy about a perpetual bridesmaid who's stuck making other people happy, in particular her younger sister (Malin Ackerman) who's marrying the man Heigl loves (Edward Burns). Can Heigl's beautiful-AND-funny shtick carry the whole movie? With scene-stealer Judy Greer as her sidekick, anything's possible. (Jan. 11)






Cassandra's Dream (dir. Woody Allen) There's been very little written about Allen's latest, a thriller about two brothers (Ewan McGregor and Colin Farrell) who commit a crime at the behest of a family member (Tom Wilkinson, who's neck-and-neck with Bill Nighy for Most Employed Actor of 2007). Can Allen continue the comeback streak Match Point started? Looks promising. (Dec. 28)







Revolver (dir. Guy Ritchie) It's been seven years since Ritchie directed Snatch, and in between that little gangster flick and this similarly flashy crime thriller, he did (cough) Swept Away (cough). Luckily, the Madge is nowhere to be found here, just Ritchie staple Jason Statham--sporting some seriously greasy locks--as a recently sprung criminal who likes to hover over a chessboard and growl profound statements in his Cockney accent as, "It can only get smarter when you play a smarter opponent." There are guns, casinos, and a shouting Ray Liotta either locked in a freezer too long or attempting to turn into one of the X-Men. Beats us where this is all going. (Dec. 7)





There Will Be Blood (dir. Paul Thomas Anderson) Daniel Day-Lewis plays a miner with a young son who settles in a California town to strike oil during the petroleum boom. The trailer, which intercuts many shots of people covered in oil, scary cello music, and mustache-twirling monologue, doesn't say much about where the story goes from there. But two things pique our interest: Little Miss Sunshine's Paul Dano, anything but mute here as a charismatic preacher, and an ominous last line from Day-Lewis: "I can't keep doing this on my own.. with these... um, people." Cackle. Black screen with title. (Dec. 26)




Alvin and the Chipmunks (dir. Tim Hill) Chipmunks living in a guy's house was cuter when they were all animated. Now that the three are in "live" (well, CGI) form and eating through Jason Lee (as Dave)'s pantry, taking showers in his dishwasher, singing "Funkytown" and eating each other's poop, it's about as cute as, well, living with rodents. Gross. (Dec. 14) -- Ellen

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Into the Wild, which was largely ignored at the Golden Globe nominations, received the most nods from the Screen Actors Guild today, while Atonement was shut out.

The SAGs are often another leading indicator of how the Oscars go, because the winners are voted on entirely by actors, and actors make up the largest percentage of the film Academy. Here are the nominees:

FILM
Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
Into the Wild
3:10 to Yuma
American Gangster
No Country for Old Men
Hairspray

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
Emile Hirsch, Into the Wild
George Clooney, Michael Clayton
Daniel Day-Lewis, There Will Be Blood
Ryan Gosling, Lars and the Real Girl
Viggo Mortensen, Eastern Promises

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
Cate Blanchett, Elizabeth: The Golden Age
Julie Christie, Away From Her
Marion Cotillard, La Vie En Rose
Angelina Jolie, A Mighty Heart
Ellen Page, Juno

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
Casey Affleck, The Assassination of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford
Javier Bardem, No Country For Old Men
Hal Holbrook, Into The Wild
Tommy Lee Jones, No Country For Old Men
Tom Wilkinson, Michael Clayton

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
Cate Blanchett, I’m Not There
Ruby Dee, American Gangster
Catherine Keener, Into The Wild
Amy Ryan, Gone Baby Gone
Tilda Swinton, Michael Clayton

PRIMETIME TELEVISION
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
Michael Keaton, The Company
Kevin Kline, As You Like It
Oliver Platt, The Bronx is Burning
Sam Shepard, Ruffian
John Turturro, The Bronx is Burning

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
Ellen Burstyn, Mitch Albom’s For One More Day
Debra Messing, The Starter Wife
Anna Paquin, Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee
Queen Latifah, Life Support
Vanessa Redgrave, The Fever
Gena Rowlands, What If God Were the Sun?

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series
James Gandolfini, The Sopranos
Michael C. Hall, Dexter
Jon Hamm, Mad Men
Hugh Laurie, House
James Spader, Boston Legal

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series
Glenn Close, Damages
Edie Falco, The Sopranos
Sally Field, Brothers & Sisters
Holly Hunter, Saving Grace
Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
Steve Carell, The Office
Ricky Gervais, Extras
Jeremy Piven, Entourage
Tony Shalhoub, Monk

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series
Christina Applegate, Samantha Who?
America Ferrera, Ugly Betty
Tina Fey, 30 Rock
Mary-Louise Parker, Weeds
Vanessa Williams, Ugly Betty

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
Boston Legal
The Closer
Grey's Anatomy
The Sopranos

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
30 Rock
Desperate Housewives
Entourage
The Office
Ugly Betty

SAG HONORS FOR STUNT ENSEMBLES
Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture
300
The Bourne Ultimatum
I Am Legend
The Kingdom
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End

Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Television Series
24
Heroes
Lost
Rome
The Unit

Screen Actors Guild Awards 44th Annual Life Achievement Award
Charles Durning

-Ellen

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That mysterious J.J. Abrams trailer that premiered before Transformers this summer now has an official title: (Cloverfield), a full-length trailer, and an official plot synopsis:

Five young New Yorkers throw their friend a going-away party the night that a monster the size of a skyscraper descends upon the city. Told from the point of view of their video camera, the film is a document of their attempt to survive the most surreal, horrifying event of their lives.

Big-budget thrills with a single camera? Shaky shots of people running and screaming? If it's anything like The Blair Witch Project, bring your Dramamine. If it's anything like Godzilla (1998), say (to quote Whitney Houston) "hell to the no!" In any case, watch the trailer and judge for yourself. (Opening Jan. 18) -- Ellen



 

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Biggest Year of Their Careers (So Far)
Josh Brolin (No Country for Old Men, Grindhouse, In the Valley of Elah, American Gangster)
Shia LaBeouf (Disturbia, Transformers)

Best Two-Fers
Tommy Lee Jones (In the Valley of Elah, No Country for Old Men)
Casey Affleck (Gone Baby Gone, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford)
Denzel Washington (American Gangster, The Great Debaters)
Ryan Gosling (Fracture, Lars and the Real Girl)

Best Three-Fer
Philip Seymour Hoffman (Charlie Wilson's War, The Savages, Before the Devil Knows You're Dead)

Biggest Likely Oscar Winner No One's Heard Of
Amy Ryan, Gone Baby Gone

Biggest Quashing of A-List Potential
Jessica Alba (Awake, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, Good Luck Chuck)

Biggest Pillaging of Indie Cred
Paul Giamatti (The Nanny Diaries, Shoot 'Em Up, Fred Claus)

Most Common Movie Theme
War (Charlie Wilson's War, Lions for Lambs, The Kingdom, Redacted, Grace is Gone, Rescue Dawn)

Most Disappointing Showing for an Oscar Winner
Meryl Streep (Lions for Lambs, Evening)

Coolest Movie Title
Hot Fuzz

Most Surprisingly Lovable
James Marsden (Hairspray, Enchanted)

Wisest Film Choice for a TV Star
Patrick Dempsey, Enchanted
Katherine Heigl, Knocked Up

Unwisest Film Choice for a TV Star
Lauren Graham, Evan Almighty and Because I Said So

Coolest Show to Like
Pushing Daisies

Uncoolest Show to Like
Lost (save for the last few episodes)

You Told Everyone They Had to Watch It, Then It Started to Suck
Heroes
Friday Night Lights
24

Show I'm Completely Divorcing This Year Out of Outrage
Prison Break (It better be the final season, or I'm demanding alimony)

When Numbers Work in Movie Titles
300, 1408, 3:10 to Yuma

When Numbers Don't Work in Movie Titles
Thr3e, The Ten, Reno 911: Miami, 30 Days of Night, P2

Coolest Show on Non-Premium Cable
Mad Men

Coolest Addition to Grey's Anatomy Despite the Departure of Isaiah Washington and Kate Walsh
Brooke Smith (aka Silence of the Lambs victim who lived) as Erica Hahn

Best Title of a TV Show
Dirty Sexy Money (Go ahead, try it in a sentence: "Did you catch Dirty Sexy Money last week?")

Most Disappointing New Show Given Its Cast
Big Shots (Dylan McDermott, Michael Vartan, Christopher Titus, Josh Malina)

Most Disappointing Movie Given Its Cast
Evening (Meryl Streep, Vanessa Redgrave, Claire Danes, Toni Collette, Natasha Ricahrdson, Patrick Wilson, Glenn Close)

Most Un-Hyped Departures from a Series
Jorja Fox (CSI)
Stanley Tucci (ER -- Come to think of it, all ER departures these days have been eerily quiet)


Sequels That Hid Their Number So People Wouldn't Remember That They've Already Seen This Bad Movie
Resident Evil: Extinction, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, Alien vs. Predator: Requiem

Sequels That Didn't Care If People Remembered
Saw IV, Rush Hour 3, Spider-Man 3

Oscar Bait That Hasn't Hooked (So Far)
Things We Lost in the Fire, Reservation Road

Quantity Over Quality
Hilary Swank (Freedom Writers, The Reaping, P.S. I Love You)
Nicolas Cage (Ghost Rider, Next, National Treasure: Book of Secrets)

Most Employed Actor
Jason Bateman (The Ex, The Kingdom, Juno, Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium, Smokin' Aces)

Natalie Portman Worked in 2007 (Maybe You Missed 'Em)
Goya's Ghosts, Paris Je'Taime, The Darjeeling Limited (in the short film prior), and Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium)

And So Did Jennifer Lopez
El Cantante, Bordertown

And the Downward Spiral Continues...
Lindsay Lohan (Georgia Rule, I Know Who Killed Me)


Any you'd like to add?

--Ellen

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High-def fans had been expecting a mega-sized announcement
from Warner Bros. for next week's Consumer Electronics Show (CES), but it looks
like the company couldn't wait. Here's what the WB's official press release has
to say: 

(January 4, 2008 – Burbank, CA) – In response to consumer
demand, Warner Bros. Entertainment will release its high-definition DVD titles
exclusively in the Blu-ray disc format beginning later this year, it was
announced today by Barry Meyer, Chairman & CEO, Warner Bros. and Kevin
Tsujihara, President, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group... Warner Home
Video will continue to release its titles in standard DVD format and
Blu-ray.  After a short window following their standard DVD and Blu-ray
releases, all new titles will continue to be released in HD DVD until the end
of May 2008. (Read the full press release here.)

We'd hinted to this sort of announcement a few days ago in
our HD in '08
guess-a-rama, though we certainly didn't predict WB's choice. If you didn't
know, Warner Bros. Entertainment was the only major Hollywood studio releasing
films in both HD DVD and Blu-ray up until now, with some films (The Matrix
Trilogy, Batman Begins) being HD DVD-only. Granted, HD DVD fans have
a few more months to scoop up WB movies in their format, but this is a huge
coup for Blu-ray fans. Of course, the announcement may finally answer the
question that high-def fans have been asking for years: Where is the Lord of
the Rings Trilogy?

Follow me here: New Line Cinema released the LotR films, and
the company is closely linked to Warner Bros. Entertainment--they're both part
of the Time Warner umbrella, and WB distributes NLC films. In other words, it's
not a 100% guarantee yet, but you can safely bet that "the precious"
will soon go Blu (and if it does, we'll let you know).

While the Blu-ray camps cheer and celebrate over the news,
don't assume that HD DVD is taking the news lightly. Expect the format to make
its own waves at next week’s CES. --Sam

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Click here by December 27th to vote for your favorite design, which will be featured as the cover art for the new Special Edition of The Adventures of Baron Munchausen. This title is also now available for pre-order on DVD and Blu-ray. Don't miss this Amazon.com exclusive opportunity to choose the new cover of this classic film. Vote now!

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Spiderman. Spidey just wouldn’t have been as cool if that
were just his surname. “Hello, Jim Spiderman here.” So much of his coolness
rests on that hyphen separating “Spider” and “Man,” and the spider from the
man. Spider-Man. Coolness that transcends being a grown man in a full-body
leotard. Coolness that lets kids and adults alike suspend our disbelief to gleefully
take in the comics or the recent film franchise.

The appeal of Spidey is twofold. On the one hand, his powers
are pretty rad--slinging webs, acrobatically swinging from building to
building, engaging in upside-down kisses with the lovely Mary Jane. On the
other hand, Spidey, or Peter Parker, anyway, is the
 everyman of
superheroes. He comes from modest means, unlike, say, Bruce Wayne, who doesn’t
wonder where his next meal’s coming from. Parker values family and friendship
and is never quite sure about this whole hero thing, where he fits in. He’s the
eternal underdog, but when granted superhuman powers, he nobly steps up to the
plate.

 The final straw in our webslinging amigo’s appeal has got to
be his enemies. He’s gone up against some of the coolest, most mischievous
villains, many of whom are  counterparts to Spidey himself, products of science
experiments gone awry. Doctor Octopus, for example, is that most classic of bad
guys, the mad scientist. Then there’s the wealthy folks with too much time on their
hands, like the Green Goblin, aka Norman Osborn.
Yes, Spider-Man has been around for over four decades now,
keeping us safe from all manner of nut jobs bent on world domination, and GIT
Corp., Marvel’s digital publisher, has collected nearly all of it on this DVD. That’s over 575 comic books, including every article,
pinup, and even every advertisement. I wonder what year the first video game ad
made its way in there? Spider-Man and Pong?

For those with a
smaller Spider-appetite, there’s the Amazing Spider-Man: The Last 20 Years DVD as well. You’ll still
get the ever-popular Todd McFarlane-penned issues, and recent work by J.
Michael Straczynski. Enjoy it, but remember: with great power comes great
responsibility.

~Jason

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DXG, a company that most folks have never heard of, is making some waves with its announcement of a new HD video camcorder with up to 1280 x 720-pixel recording, 5-megapixel still image capability (rising to 8 megapixels with interpolation), SD memory card storage, and a 3-inch flip-out LCD. All for just 0.

The DXG-566V shoots at 30 frames per second (fps) at both of its resolutions settings: HD 1280 x 720 (16:9 aspect ratio) and standard definition 720 x 480 (4:3). Other features include a 2x digital zoom and USB 2.0 connectivity. DXG notes that the camcorder should be available shortly after CES.

~Agen G.N. Schmitz, Amazon Current

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With the introduction of Microsoft’s Xbox 360 in 2005, the
HD gaming era was born. The system was the first to come equipped with high-def
component cables and HD support for all of its titles, a move that made gamers shrug
at the time. Two years later, the high-def landscape has grown enough to make
high-def gaming a possibility for just about anyone, and every popular console has some level of compatibility with HDTVs—some even double as high-def
movie players. Since gaming is now a near-expected component of any home
theater, learn about each console’s high-def capabilities, along with tips to
get the most out of each.

Xbox 360: Newer
versions of the Xbox 360 come with HDMI output for the highest quality audio
and video possible. If you own an older Xbox 360 (or order a used one online), it
may not have HDMI output, so you’ll need to use the system’s default component
cable instead. All Xbox 360s sport optical audio output for surround sound.

Does your Xbox 360 support HDMI? The system on the left does not, while the system on the right does. Look for the small HDMI slot just beneath the normal A/V slot.

The 360 can natively play standard-def DVDs, though it does
not upsample them. The Xbox 360 HD DVD Player is sold separately and connects easily to the USB slot. Though the drive is an affordable option for those who already own a
360 (and supports standard DVD-upsampling via HDMI), audiophiles take heed: This drive’s surround-sound capabilities max out
with standard Dolby Digital. Your sound system may not know the difference, but
if you want to take advantage of Dolby Digital Plus or Dolby TrueHD movie
soundtracks, use a standalone HD DVD player instead. (And again, check
whether your 360 has an HDMI port or not, as HDMI output is key to the HD
DVD drive’s highest quality possible.)

Playstation 3:
Unlike the 360, the Playstation 3 comes equipped with a high-def movie player by
default. The PS3 sides with Blu-ray, and its price point currently isn’t much
higher than standalone Blu-ray players. Also, you won’t have to check whether
or not HDMI is there—the connection is a PS3 standard, as is optical audio. And
the PS3 is currently the only system which upsamples standard DVDs to 1080p without requiring an add-on.

Tips for both major HD systems:

More than movie formats. Each system has specific exclusive games, not to mention
different selections on their online download services. Unless you’re solely
interested in a high-def movie player, review each system’s game selection before making
the choice.


Connect them to the
Internet. In addition to online gaming, both systems receive numerous
firmware updates over the Internet that add to their multimedia capabilities.
The PS3 has recently been upgraded to the Blu-ray 1.1 standard, which will
allow features like picture-in-picture in future Blu-ray releases, while both
systems can now stream computer media files (MP3s, DivX video) to your living
room.


Check for remotes.
The Xbox 360 HD DVD drive comes with a remote control that can be programmed to
work with your TV and other hi-fi components. You can also purchase the Xbox
360 Universal Media Remote separately, or if you already own a universal
remote, try keying in any codes in your remote’s guide that are similar to “Media
Center PC.” The PS3’s remote, sold separately, will not work with most
televisions and receivers because it uses the Bluetooth standard. You can get
around this by purchasing a third-party PS3-compatible remote which adds a USB
dongle.

Nintendo Wii: If
the Wii’s blazing success can be blamed on anything, it’s not HD support. The
Nintendo Wii supports component cables for video (sold separately), but while
the system is widescreen-compatible, it maxes out at 480p—standard-def. Surround-sound
audio requires a Dolby Prologic II receiver, as the Wii only supports
analog/RCA cables. The Wii does not play any movies, but its
channel system includes a photo channel for displaying slideshows on your
living room screen, and its news and weather channels are robust
and convenient to browse through on the couch, provided they can connect through
the Wii’s default wireless card (an Ethernet adapter can be purchased
separately).

Sony Playstation 2:
The most successful system of the past generation is still affordable and
supported by new and old games alike. With an optional, add-on component cable,
the PS2 will output at 480p. A few games, like Gran Turismo 4 A-Spec, support 1080i resolution, but this is rare.
The system sports an optical audio output for surround sound and can play standard-def
DVDs (no upsampling), and while PS2 remotes are available, you can program a
universal remote with Sony remote codes to control most DVD playback functions.
--Adam and Sam

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If you're looking for a movie to see this weekend, I'd recommend Reservation Road, a taut new psychological thriller based on John Burnham Schwartz's book.

The film got wide critical buzz at this year's Toronto International Film Festival, not just for the strength of its cast--Joaquin Phoenix (impressively extending his dramatic range), Mark Ruffalo, Jennifer Connelly, and Mira Sorvino--all of whom turn in excellent performances, but also because the hook of the film is a "what would you do in that situation?" dilemma that got everyone talking. It's well served by the tight direction of Terry George, who proved that he can handle weighty subject matter with his previous film Hotel Rwanda.

You can see the trailer and some good clips from the film here:


You can also check out some great photos from the red carpet premiere in Toronto last month here.

And, of course,  find a showtime here.

--Dan

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First impressions of upcoming movies, based on trailer (Click on the title to watch the trailer: You may need QuickTime for most). Release dates are subject to change.

Iron Man (dir. Jon Favreau) Ok. So we all know that there have been some dumb superhero movies made over the last few years. There have also been some phenomenal ones. Judging from this wicked trailer and everything else I've heard so far, Iron Man looks very promising. Paramount sifted through many possible directors, including Quentin Tarantino and Tom Cruise (who would have also starred), before finally settling on Jon Favreau. Good movies start with a great cast: Robert Downey Jr. (apparently a huge fan of the "Iron Man" comics, and has struggled with addiction--just like his character) as Tony Stark / Iron Man, Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, (in the comics, the character Fury actually named Jackson as the only actor who could portray him in a movie), Gwyneth Paltrow, Hilary Swank, Jeff Bridges--this is a heck of a cast. Favreau plans Iron Man to be the first in a trilogy, with all the actors signed on. Check out Wikipedia for more info. (May 2)







Bee Movie (dir. Steve Hickner) It's Jerry Seinfeld's big comeback as he produces and stars in this computer-animated film about a honey bee who "thinks outside of the hive." Renée Zellweger co-stars as an insect-sympathizing florist in New York. The trailer alone has some laugh-out-loud moments with its Shrek-esque humor, and DreamWorks has a proven formula with successful films like Over the Hedge and the Shrek series. Also starring Matthew Broderick, John Goodman, and Chris Rock. (Nov. 2)

The Kite Runner (dir. Marc Forster) Based on the bestselling novel by Khaled Hosseini, this movie looks like a total heart-wrencher. Amir, an immigrant haunted by his past life, returns to his home country to help his long lost friend's son who has been taken by the Taliban. His story takes place amongst the violent past and present of Afghanistan--the fall of their monarchy, the Soviet invasion, the mass exodus of refugees to Pakistan and the United States, and the emergence of the Taliban regime. The cast is made up mostly of no-name and first-time actors. The Kite Runner film has been the subject of recent controversy, due to its unforgiving depiction the Taliban and Afghani ethnic tensions. Listen to this NPR article to find out more. (Nov. 2)

The Dark Knight (dir. Christopher Nolan) My first impulse after watching this trailer is to scream, "Thanks for nothing!" Watch it, and you'll see why. But here I am blogging about it with fervor, so I guess Warner Bros. has already proven their case. Personally, I'd like to forget about every Batman movie except Tim Burton's originals and Batman Begins (this new film's prequel). That's why I'm delighted to see Christian Bale return as Bruce Wayne / Batman, in what appears to be the second film in at least a trilogy. In what may be a brilliant bit of casting, Heath Ledger will play The Joker (pictured to the left)--and it's rumored that the villain will closely follow his bizarre and creepy depiction from the comic books. Katie Holmes will be replaced by an arguably better-fitted Maggie Gyllenhaal as Rachel Dawes (Batman's love interest). Also returning are Michael Caine as Alfred, Gary Oldman as the uncorrupted policeman, and Morgan Freeman as the CEO of Wayne Enterprises. (July 18)






Rendition (dir. Gavin Hood) Between The Kite Runner and this film, it's going to be a cheery autumn for the movies. Rendition is clearly drawing off the story of Maher Arar and the controversial practice of extraordinary rendition by the US government--and promises to raise some hot political issues regarding torture and "the war on terrorism." Reese Witherspoon plays Isabella El-Ibrahim, the desperate wife of an Egyptian-born immigrant who has been "kidnapped" by the CIA. He's been taken out of the country (and away from Constitutional protection) to be interrogated. Agent Douglas Freemann (played by Jake Gyllenhaal) is the lead liaison in the interrogation, and finds himself facing some serious moral dilemmas. Meryl Streep plays the CIA's unwavering head of anti-terrorism (she's so well suited for these roles), and Alan Arkin (fresh off his Oscar for Little Miss Sunshine) plays a Senator caught in the moral and political crossfire. (Oct. 16)

--Jordan Thompson

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First impressions of upcoming movies, based on trailer (Click on the title to watch the trailer: You may need QuickTime for most). Release dates are subject to change.

The Dark Knight (dir. Christopher Nolan) Heath Ledger, retaining his wavy blond rock-star hair, cackles, sneers, and does his best Jack Nicholson voice as the Joker in this sequel to Batman Begins. Will he be able to put his own spin on the pancake-makeup-smeared villain? Not sure, but I've not seen Ledger relax this much since singing to Julia Stiles from the bleachers in 10 Things I Hate About You. Oh, and Christian Bale's back as the titular hero, with Maggie Gyllenhaal replacing Katie Holmes as Rachel Dawes. (Jul. 18)






Sex & The City (dir. Michael Patrick King) Yes, someone thought it would be a good idea to reunite Carrie & Co. for the big screen. And it's all here: the dresses, the Manolos, the oft-grating voice-overs. But this 47-second teaser doesn't tell you anything about plot, just a lot of shots of our favorite fabulously dressed (and tressed) 40-somethings. And yes, Mr. Big (Chris Noth) is there too. (May 30)






Leatherheads (dir. George Clooney) Since he's already BMOC in Hollywood, it makes sense that George Clooney would make his next film about America's most popular sport (other than NASCAR). But it's about football in the 1920s. Plus, he plays a guy named Dodge who recruits a college sensation (The Office's John Krasinski). Plus, he incorporates romance with a journalist (Renee Zellweger). If that sounds at all offbeat to you, let us remind you that this is George Clooney we're talking about, he whose last directorial effort, Good Night and Good Luck, was a historical drama in black and white and got nominated for seven Oscars. No matter how this turns out, Hollywood will still revere him as their captain of the football team. (Apr. 4)



Speed Racer (dir. Andy & Larry Wachowski) The Matrix's directing team of Andy & Larry Wachowski are behind this big-screen adaptation of the '60s anime cartoon (also once the subject of a Geico commercial). The plot involves a young, talented racer (Emile Hirsch, Into the Wild) who must drive against the mysterious Racer X (Matthew Fox, seen very little in this trailer). Christina Ricci, with her perky girl-voice, is perfectly cast as Speed Racer's girlfriend Trixie. (May 9)

Mamma Mia! (dir. Phyllida Lloyd) Meryl Streep sure has good taste. She stars as a single mom whose bride-to-be daughter (Amanda Seyfried, Mean Girls) invites the three men who could be her father to her wedding. Those three men? Pierce Brosnan, Stellan Skarsgard, and Colin Firth (Way to go, Meryl). Set to ABBA tunes and taking place in Greece, this feel-good musical might just be the Hairspray of 2008. (Jul. 18) -- Ellen

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Everyone loves picking on the cable company, and today, I’m
finally provoked to join in. Over the years, service from my local cable
provider has been fine and complaint-free (other than a few random spikes in
price), but lately, I’ve noticed a lack of HD channels--or at least fewer than
some of my friends have.

My local cable company just added three more HD channels
last week, but it took them almost a year to add them. To be fair, my current
channel lineup is solid, from local channels to nationals like ESPN, TNT,
Universal HD, MOJO, A&E, History, USA, National Geographic, and a handful
of others. But watching HD just makes me want more HD content, and the two
satellite companies have almost 75 channels that I would be able to receive,
including personal faves like Sci-Fi, Discovery Channel, The Learning Channel,
CNN, FX, and on and on.

Why doesn’t the cable company just add these and other HD
channels, you might ask? The problem is their mode of delivery. Cable bandwidth
can’t add more stations without compressing old analog stations (converting
them to digital cable) or the new HD stations they are adding.  Worse, the more channels they try to squeeze
in, the more compression they have to use, and this affects the quality of the
picture and sound, sometimes even resulting in artifacting and other visual
defects.

But while satellite providers generally advertise more
channels in HD than cable, they too are susceptible to bandwidth issues. Currently,
neither format can deliver very many channels’ worth of full, uncompressed HD
video because of the tremendous leap in data from standard def. Your cable and
satellite HD channels are compressed out of sheer necessity, but neither side has come out and
declared exactly how much compression is going on—or whether satellite’s HD lead
trades quality for quantity.

All providers are scrambling to beef their channel selection
without sacrificing quality. Upgraded compression has been added to newer cable
and satellite boxes, ensuring that you probably won’t notice any defects—but you’ll
need to check with your provider for availability of improved boxes (and their
prices). As far as sure bets, though, HD addicts only have two. The first is Verizon’s
fiber-optic delivery system, FiOSTV, and while it’s not available throughout
the country just yet, it’s the only major source of uncompressed national HD
programming. The second, available in far more places, are your local
broadcasters’ over-the-air signals. With an HDTV antenna, you can be sure that
your major networks’ signals will be in full, untouched 1080i. For details on
what is available in your area and for antenna recommendations, check out http://www.antennaweb.org/.

What do you currently use to receive your HD signals and how
happy are you with your provider?  Are
you eyeing the competition?  Share your
HD cable/satellite experiences. —Adam

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It’s been an exciting
year for high-def fans.  More TV networks
are filming new programs in HD, and there are more HD channels to show them
on.  High-def hardware prices continued
dropping, making HDTV, HD DVD, Blu-ray, TiVo, game consoles, and other HD
devices more affordable than ever.   Both
optical HD formats released a lot of good titles, and thanks to sales and
promotions, movie prices came down faster than expected.

So what’s in store for HD in 2008? Here are two perspectives
on what we may expect from high-def in the next year.

Adam:  HDTV prices
will hold flat thanks to manufacturers tightening supply, combined with the
2009 transition to digital broadcasts, which will make current analog TV tuners
obsolete without a converter box.  HD DVD
and Blu-ray hardware prices will stabilize between 0 and 0 dollars for
most models.  On the programming front,
cable and satellite providers will continue to add additional HD channels as
their capacity allows. Studios will release fewer older, “catalog” titles on HD
DVD and Blu-ray this year until there are more players in homes, though we will
still see day-and-date new releases.

Starting January 7th, the Consumer Electronics
Show (CES) will be filled not only with new products but also big
announcements. HD DVD and Blu-ray will come out swinging—and one announcement
has already broken about smaller, laptop-sized Blu-ray drives that will fit in
more laptops. Warner Brothers, which currently releases movies on both formats,
may announce at CES that it has picked a side (I can only assume it will come
down to which side offers WB a bigger “incentive” package). At the pace the
format battle is going, though, don’t expect a side to emerge as a clear winner
just yet.

Sam: I see HDTV makers doing the exact opposite of what Adam
says—they’ll work their tails off to attract fence-sitting consumers. As the
2009 switch draws nearer, more TV watchers will learn that their current cable
and satellite programming will work fine without an upgrade, and there are a number
of consumers who are not only happy with their 10-year-old TV sets, they’re
also not interested in ponying up over 0 for a new one. Extreme price drops
on HDTVs—at least in the smaller-screen sector—might be the only way to sway that
significant number of non-enthusiasts.

Worse, the current writers' strike might have repercussions on TV programming for months to come if it keeps up; if network TV is inundated in repeats, reality shows and game shows all the way into Fall '08, HDTV sales could very well suffer as a result.

HD DVD and Blu-ray camps have the additional burden of format confusion in
attracting mainstream sales, so studios and hardware makers will
work hand-in-hand to keep prices reasonable and encourage as many new adopters as possible. I’m also looking forward to CES, but I think any announcement akin to a WB
side-choice will make a huge impact, especially if this past holiday season shows a significant gap
between installed bases of the formats. Software sales will be the deciding
factor, as Blu-ray’s installed base is inflated by Playstation 3 game system
owners, who may have no intention of purchasing movies in the Blu-ray format.

And while both programming formats will beef up their high-def offerings through 2008, satellite is going to pull ahead if cable doesn’t take drastic steps
to compete with satellite’s sizable lineup lead. It’s this sector that will
prove the most interesting and competitive of them all, and we’ll certainly
talk more about that battle in the months to come. --Sam and Adam

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On Saturday, after you've finally had enough turkey and stuffing and shopping and football to hold you over until Christmas, turn on the TV and tune to the Sci-Fi Channel, as Battlestar Galactica - Razor airs this Saturday. (UPDATE: the first few sources I read had Sunday as the air date, but scifi.com  confirms that it is indeed this Saturday at 9:00 pm/8:00 central). Get your popcorn ready, and enjoy. For more info, check out this review on Wired. It did show on some big screens in select cities, but this will be the first chance that most BSG hungry fans will have to see it.

We just got the trailer in. Check out it below, and pre-order your copy now, it'll be out December 4. And you can also sign up to get an email when Season 3 is ready to order. Enjoy. --Dan

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Old-timers (relatively speaking) might remember that Blade Runner was released very early in the DVD era, but only in a director's cut--if you wanted to see the version you saw in theaters you were out of luck. Now here comes Blade Runner: The Final Cut in one of the most ambitious--and confusing--DVD releases yet. First of all, the Final Cut is what director Ridley Scott says is his definitive version of the movie. But you have many choices in how much Blade Runner you want. You can find complete details in our guide, but here's a quick run-down:

• Two-Disc Special Edition: has the Final Cut plus a feature-length documentary called Dangerous Days
• Four-Disc Collector's Edition: same as above, plus a third disc with three additional cuts of the movie (including the theatrical cut with Harrison Ford's narration, the international cut, and the previously available director's cut) and a fourth disc of featurettes and promotional material.
• Five-Disc Ultimate Collector's Edition: same as above, plus a fifth disc with yet another version of the movie (a "workprint" version), all in a plastic Deckard-style limited-edition briefcase with miniature spinner car, origami unicorn, photos, and more.

But that's just for the standard-definition DVD. If you want a high-definition version, you have four more choices:

• Five-Disc Complete Collector's Edition [Blu-ray]: in Blu-ray, but otherwise the same as the Ultimate Edition above, but without the briefcase and other collectibles
• Five-Disc Ultimate Collector's Edition [Blu-ray]: in Blu-ray, but otherwise the same as the Ultimate Edition above including the briefcase and collectibles
• Five-Disc Complete Collector's Edition [HD DVD]: in HD DVD, but otherwise the same as the Ultimate Edition above, but without the briefcase and other collectibles
• Five-Disc Ultimate Collector's Edition [HD DVD]: in HD DVD, but otherwise the same as the Ultimate Edition above including the briefcase and collectibles

Well, that's a lot of choices. Yeah, some people may want still more choices, like the five-disc DVD without the briefcase or the Blu-ray and HD DVD versions without the additional cuts. But give Warner credit for offering this many options, pricing them reasonably (especially the versions without the briefcase), and continuing to straddle the fence on high-definition so both Blu-ray and HD DVD camps can enjoy this. Want more info? We talked to Ridley Scott and Sean Young about the movie and the Final Cut, and you can watch it here. --David

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First impressions of upcoming movies, based on trailer (Click on the title to watch the trailer: You may need QuickTime for most). Release dates are subject to change.

Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium (dir. Zach Helm) Just in time for the holidays: A fantasy about the world's coolest toy store (everything's alive!) , the wacky old man (Dustin Hoffman) and pixie-cut waif (Natalie Portman) who run it, and the stern accountant (Jason Bateman) who doesn't believe enough to see the store come to life (He thinks it's just another FAO Schwarz). (Nov. 16)






I'm Not There (dir. Todd Haynes) Also known as That Movie Where Cate Blanchett Plays Bob Dylan, but let's back up a minute. From the director of Velvet Goldmine and Far From Heaven comes a portrait of the rock icon, played by six different actors (young, old, white, black, male, female) portraying different stages in his life. Best is the title marquee: "Richard Gere... is Bob Dylan... Heath Ledger... is Bob Dylan... Christian Bale... is Bob Dylan..." (Nov. 21)

August Rush (dir. Kristen Sheridan) Jim Sheridan's daughter Kristen (a co-writer on In America) makes her major feature directing debut with this sentimental drama about an orphan (Finding Neverland's Freddie Highmore) who hopes his gift of music will help him find his parents, a guitarist and cellist who had a brief romance (Jonathan Rhys-Meyers and Keri Russell, respectively). Along the way, he meets a sideburned, pierced Robin Williams in a cowboy hat. Not sure what that has to do with anything, but the ethereal Russell (Felicity) makes a compelling leading lady (Nov. 21)





Juno (dir. Jason Reitman) And this year's Samuel L. Jackson Award for Most Movies in the Can goes to Jason Bateman, here playing an affluent husband (Jennifer Garner, his co-star from The Kingdom, is the wife) hoping to adopt a baby from teenager Juno (Ellen Page, Hard Candy, X-Men: The Last Stand). Juno's relationship with her parents (J.K. Simmons and Allison Janney) and the father of her fetus (Superbad's Michael Cera) are the heart of the story, which looks like a rather kooky coming-of-age comedy. (Dec. 14)






Charlie Wilson's War (dir. Mike Nichols) Moviegoer logic would tell you anything starring Tom Hanks is a must-see, and anything starring Julia Roberts is a pot o' gold. But is this story, based on Congressman Charlie Wilson's private battle to train Afghan resistance fighters against the Soviet Union in the '80s, too heavy for people to digest? Will we care about the umpeenth war movie to come out this year? Since Hanks made us weep over a little government policy that led him to save Private Ryan, we're thinking anything's possible. (Dec. 25)
--Ellen

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First impressions of upcoming movies, based on trailer (Click on the title to watch the trailer: You may need QuickTime for most). Release dates are subject to change.

The Dark Knight (dir. Christopher Nolan) Heath Ledger, retaining his wavy blond rock-star hair, cackles, sneers, and does his best Jack Nicholson voice as the Joker in this sequel to Batman Begins. Will he be able to put his own spin on the pancake-makeup-smeared villain? Not sure, but I've not seen Ledger relax this much since singing to Julia Stiles from the bleachers in 10 Things I Hate About You. Oh, and Christian Bale's back as the titular hero, with Maggie Gyllenhaal replacing Katie Holmes as Rachel Dawes. (Jul. 18)






Sex & The City (dir. Michael Patrick King) Yes, someone thought it would be a good idea to reunite Carrie & Co. for the big screen. And it's all here: the dresses, the Manolos, the oft-grating voice-overs. But this 47-second teaser doesn't tell you anything about plot, just a lot of shots of our favorite fabulously dressed (and tressed) 40-somethings. And yes, Mr. Big (Chris Noth) is there too. (May 30)






Leatherheads (dir. George Clooney) Since he's already BMOC in Hollywood, it makes sense that George Clooney would make his next film about America's most popular sport (other than NASCAR). But it's about football in the 1920s. Plus, he plays a guy named Dodge who recruits a college sensation (The Office's John Krasinski). Plus, he incorporates romance with a journalist (Renee Zellweger). If that sounds at all offbeat to you, let us remind you that this is George Clooney we're talking about, he whose last directorial effort, Good Night and Good Luck, was a historical drama in black and white and got nominated for seven Oscars. No matter how this turns out, Hollywood will still revere him as their captain of the football team. (Apr. 4)



Speed Racer (dir. Andy & Larry Wachowski) The Matrix's directing team of Andy & Larry Wachowski are behind this big-screen adaptation of the '60s anime cartoon (also once the subject of a Geico commercial). The plot involves a young, talented racer (Emile Hirsch, Into the Wild) who must drive against the mysterious Racer X (Matthew Fox, seen very little in this trailer). Christina Ricci, with her perky girl-voice, is perfectly cast as Speed Racer's girlfriend Trixie. (May 9)

Mamma Mia! (dir. Phyllida Lloyd) Meryl Streep sure has good taste. She stars as a single mom whose bride-to-be daughter (Amanda Seyfried, Mean Girls) invites the three men who could be her father to her wedding. Those three men? Pierce Brosnan, Stellan Skarsgard, and Colin Firth (Way to go, Meryl). Set to ABBA tunes and taking place in Greece, this feel-good musical might just be the Hairspray of 2008. (Jul. 18) -- Ellen

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