First there was Appleseed , a 1988 anime feature based on the futuristic post-war manga series by Masamune Shirow (Ghost in the Shell). Then in 2004 came a motion-capture CG remake. New for 2008 is Appleseed Ex Machina, which our Amazon reviewer describes as "the most elaborate, stylish, and violent of the three adaptations."  Below you can watch a clip with bits from the movie as well as some info on the history of the anime genre.  Appleseed Ex Machina was produced by action master John Woo, so I can't wait to see if the characters will be diving sideways with guns blazing. --David

Browse these movies and more at Movies Online. >>>

When the nominees are announced, you always wait for an upset... and this year's crop boasted a good number of them. You can see our complete list of nominations here and visit Oscar Central for past winners and features (video, actor essentials, etc.) on this year's honorees.

Among the highlights this morning:

-Michael Clayton makes a power showing, taking nominations in many of the top categories including picture, director (Tony Gilroy), screenplay (also Gilroy), actor (George Clooney), supporting actor (Tom Wilkinson) and supporting actress (Tilda Swinton).

-Sean Penn's Into the Wild, however, turns up with nothing but a nod for supporting actor Hal Holbrook and film editing. This is especially surprising considering it was on many critics' top 10 lists, made a strong showing at the Screen Actors Guild and that the Academy loves actors who direct.

-Atonement came into awards season as the movie to beat, but it mostly came away nods in the smaller categories as well as Best Picture, Adapted Screenplay and Supporting Actress (Saorise Ronan). Guess the Academy decided to favor dark and violent (There Will be Blood and No Country for Old Men led all films with eight noms apiece) over epic beauty. Joe Wright, along with Penn, also sees his Best Director slot go to Michael Clayton's Tony Gilroy and Juno's Jason Reitman.

-Everyone said he deserved it, but Tommy Lee Jones' performance in the little-seen In the Valley of Elah has been largely ignored until now. The actor who turned in two amazing performances (the other in No Country for Old Men) got his props in the Best Actor category.

-Cate Blanchett pulled a double nomination, for her portrayals of Bob Dylan (in I'm Not There) and Queen Elizabeth I (Elizabeth - The Golden Age). She's since been nominated five times; four of them in the last four years; she won in 2005 for The Aviator.

-Laura Linney, who was sorely missing from previous award shortlists, turned up a Best Actress nod for The Savages, her third nomination. Linney and Blanchett's showing meant nada for expected nominees Angelina Jolie (A Mighty Heart) and Keira Knightley (Atonement).

-Surf's Up instead of Beowulf or Bee Movie for Best Animated Film? Penguins still rule!

--Ellen

Browse these movies and more at Movies Online. >>>

So there will be an Oscar telecast. If Producers Guild, Director's Guild and Writers Guild awards are any indication, No Country for Old Men is poised to take it all. So there's nothing new to report there.

Instead, Entertainment Weekly is taking a look back at the 100 Worst Oscar Snubs Ever. (That's people who weren't nominated, but should have been) They've unveiled their 100-51 so far. See how many of these past performances you remember, decide if you agree, and stay tuned for their top 50. -- Ellen

<--100. MOLLY RINGWALD, Sixteen Candles (1984)

99. LAUREN BACALL, To Have and Have Not (1944)

98. CHRISTOPHER WALKEN, Pennies From Heaven (1981)

97. HARRY BELAFONTE, Kansas City (1996)

96. SEAN CONNERY , From Russia With Love (1963)

95. NICK NOLTE, North Dallas Forty (1979)

94. CATHERINE O'HARA, For Your Consideration (2006)

93. STEVE MARTIN, All of Me (1984)

92. RALPH FIENNES, Quiz Show (1994)

91. LAURENCE FISHBURNE, Boyz N the Hood (1991)

90. GILLIAN ANDERSON, The House of Mirth (2000) -->

89. MICHAEL CAINE, The Man Who Would Be King (1975)

88. MIEKO HARADA, Ran (1985)

87. ANGELA BASSETT, Waiting to Exhale (1995)

86. MATT DAMON, The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)

85. LIV ULLMANN, Scenes From a Marriage (1974)

84. LIONEL BARRYMORE, It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

83. ERIC ROBERTS, Star 80 (1983)

82. JOHN MALKOVICH, Being John Malkovich (1999)

81. FAYE DUNAWAY, Mommie Dearest (1981)

<-- 80. CHRISTINA RICCI, The Opposite of Sex (1998)

79. MAGGIE GYLLENHAAL, Sherrybaby (2006)

78. KATE WINSLET, Heavenly Creatures (1994)

77. JOANNE WOODWARD, The Glass Menagerie (1987)

76. JOSEPH COTTEN, Shadow of a Doubt (1943)

75. BILL MURRAY, Groundhog Day (1993)

74. MAUREEN O'HARA, The Quiet Man (1952)

73. ALFRE WOODARD, Crooklyn (1994)

72. NAOMI WATTS, Mulholland Drive (2001)

71. ROBERT WALKER, Strangers on a Train (1951)

70. VINCENT D'ONOFRIO, Full Metal Jacket (1987) -->

69. FALCONETTI, The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928)

68. RICHARD PRYOR, Blue Collar (1978)

67. BUSTER KEATON, The General (1927)

66. TONY CURTIS, Sweet Smell of Success (1957)

65. ALAN RICKMAN, Die Hard (1988)

64. JEAN-PIERRE LEAUD, The 400 Blows (1959)

63. ALEC GUINNESS, Kind Hearts and Coronets (1950)

62. JOHNNY DEPP, Ed Wood (1994)

61. EWAN McGREGOR, Moulin Rouge (2001)

<--60. SISSY SPACEK, Badlands (1973)

59. ROBERT MITCHUM, The Night of the Hunter (1955)

58. CHER, Mask (1985)

57. ERROL FLYNN, Gentleman Jim (1942)

56. MARLENE DIETRICH, Witness for the Prosecution (1957)

55. PETER SELLERS, The Pink Panther (1964)

54. BORIS KARLOFF, Frankenstein (1931)

53. GENE WILDER, Young Frankenstein (1974)

52. DYLAN BAKER, Happiness (1998)

51. ED HARRIS, The Right Stuff (1983)

Browse these movies and more at Movies Online. >>>

Justice League: The New Frontier is the second animated movie from the new DC Universe (following Superman: Doomsday), based on Darwyn Cooke's popular graphic novel that resets the Justice League during the cold war. (If you're interested in reading it, by the way, Cooke's retro style looks great in the Absolute Edition.) Here's a clip about one of the characters, Green Lantern, that also shows some bits from the movie. --David

Browse these movies and more at Movies Online. >>>

Having trouble with your high-def disc player? Will certain movies
just not play? Before you return the player to the store, you might
want to check its firmware. That’s the term for the software and
programming inside of your movie player, and all high-def disc players
(both Blu-ray and HD DVD) can receive updates to this firmware. Though
some past updates have added new software features, the usual reason
for a firmware update is to fix a technical problem.

Rest
assured, if your player works fine, you can safely choose not to update
its firmware--unless specified by the manufacturer, such updates do not
usually add bells and whistles to your player. However, once problems
start popping up (significant delays in playing titles, some not
playing at all), a firmware update will often do the trick. The process
is meant to be simple and do-it-yourself, and it will not void your
warranty, but be sure to follow every single instruction to the letter
to avoid harming your player; you may want to allow up to 30 minutes of
time to complete the update.

There are several ways to get updated firmware depending on your player manufacturer and model number.

Request a CD-ROM With New Firmware From the Manufacturer

Some
manufacturers supply a postcard with their players, allowing you to
sign up to receive new firmware update discs by mail. Others provide
them when you call their customer service centers to request one. The
upside about getting firmware updates this way is that it requires the
least amount of technical work on your part; simply put the
manufacturer’s disc in your player, and it should automate the process.
The downside is the delay in waiting for the disc in the mail.

Download a Firmware Update and Burn to Disc

Most
manufacturers do a good job of putting firmware updates on their web
site in a timely manner. In order to load this firmware into your
player, you will need to download it and burn it to a disc. Make sure
you follow the burning and installation instructions exactly, as there
are very specific steps that have to be done. The upside of getting
firmware this way is you don’t have to wait for a disc to arrive in the
mail; the downside is you need to make the disc yourself, which can
prove difficult if you do not have experience with burning discs on
your computer.

Download a Firmware Update Directly to Your Ethernet Equipped Player

If
your high-def disc player has an Ethernet port, connecting it directly
to the Internet is the most streamlined way to check for and install
updates--though this requires that you connect an Ethernet cable from
your Internet connection to your high-def movie player, which may prove
difficult depending on your setup. Since every player is different,
refer to your owners’ manual for instructions on how to connect your
player to the internet and how to update the firmware. With some
players, you may have to power cycle the player after changing network
settings before you can download firmware.

For your convenience, we have compiled an extensive list of links to manufacturers' sites with firmware information for most every Blu-ray and HD DVD player on the market. Click here for the list. --Adam

Browse these movies and more at Movies Online. >>>

There are a number of film titles that I store in the My Movies section of IMDB that have inexplicably not been published on DVD, and I use the list to periodically check to see if they've finally surfaced. And it looks like I've got an inkling of hope of marking some titles off of my list, thanks to movie studios looking to the long tail to counter falling DVD sales. This week, Sony (which owns such studios as Columbia, Tri-Star, and Screen Gems) announced that it would license older DVD titles not currently released for production and distribution through HP's manufactured-on-demand service. As Studio Briefing notes:

The deal will allow consumers to order movies that ordinarily would not be stocked by dealers because they are too obscure or too old. HP indicated that it expects to sign similar deals with other studios. "We're hoping this provides another option to make available products that wouldn't necessarily garner widespread retail shelf space," Jason Spivak, head of strategic development at Sony Home Entertainment, told the Times. Added Doug Warner, head of HP's digital content business, "If studios can sell more catalog than previously, they can generate more money."

Sadly, this won't help me with the lost movie that's at the top of my list--The Big Fix, which starred Richard Dreyfuss as a 1970s gumshoe--as Universal Studios owns that property (and it's been frustratingly available only on VHS for years... c'mon, it's Richard Dreyfuss!). But if this venture is successful, hopefully we'll see other studios move to production-on-demand.

In other optical disc news, it seems that Warner Bros. announcement that it was moving exclusively to the Blu-ray high-definition disc format is pretty much killing off the HD DVD format. Noting sales for the week after the announcement just before CES, Electronista writes that Home Media Magazine found that "83 percent of movie sales were for Blu-ray versions of movies, leaving the remaining 17 percent to HD DVD."

~Agen G.N. Schmitz

Browse these movies and more at Movies Online. >>>

Before you go Googling, take a guess. (Hint: It's an Oscar-winning actor, so, no, not Eddie Murphy.)  He's starring in a remake of the horror classic The Wolf Man, makeup courtesy of reigning prosthetics king Rick Baker. Click here to find out who it is, see more pictures, and read an interview with Baker on the upcoming film. -- Ellen

Browse these movies and more at Movies Online. >>>

Courtesy of MovieWeb, you can sample a three-minute segment of an upcoming-sometime-in-the-future animated series called Wolverine and the X-Men. Looks good, though we'll have to wait and see whether it's different and better than previous X-Men animated series like X-Men Evolution. --David

Browse these movies and more at Movies Online. >>>

You should ... My favorite fanboys and girls are practically hyperventilating over it, justifiably. And though some aren't sold on Shia LaBeouf, but I've been a fan of his since Holes. The only bummer about this preview? A blink-and-miss-it Marion!!! We've been waiting a long time to enjoy having Karen Allen back in the franchise, and I guess we'll have to wait a little longer. Find high-res versions of the Indy preview here. -- Stephanie Reid-Simons, Unbox TV Freak (and Indy fan)

Browse these movies and more at Movies Online. >>>

This week on Amazon Wire we're talking to Hollywood actor and action hero Jason Statham about his new movie Revolver.

Thanks for listening!

Podcast Listening Options
*Stream above with Flash player
* Download the podcast
* Explore more podcasts

Browse these movies and more at Movies Online. >>>

Last time I covered when and why to use HDMI and some issues
to be aware of. This final installment
will explain the different versions of HDMI, then cover some purchasing
considerations.

HDMI Versions

Much like USB connections on your computer, multiple
versions of HDMI have been rolled out over the years. And just like USB, they’re
all compatible with each other, reducing to the lowest version sensed on either
side, so for essential functionality, you shouldn’t run into trouble if
anything in your home theater system doesn’t “match up.”

Newer HDMI versions add additional, optional features, and
manufacturers actually are not required to incorporate any features in HDMI 1.1
or higher, even if they are ranked as newer. Just because your new source
device says it has HDMI 1.3 doesn’t mean that it supports any of the features
listed below for 1.3, so make sure its box confirms support for a specific
feature that you may be interested in. Also, some features (like lip sync)
require that multiple devices in the HDMI chain have the same chipset and
feature support to use them.

Here is a list of the different HDMI versions and the
optional features they can support:

HDMI 1.0 (December 2002) Initial standard supports 1080p
video and multichannel audio (up to 8 channels of 192kHz, 24-bit)


HDMI 1.1 (May 2004) Added support for DVD-Audio


HDMI 1.2 (August 2005) Added additional support for PC
applications and SACD


HDMI 1.2a (December 2005) Added support for Consumer
Electronic Control (CEC) which allows components to communicate; when you power
on your high-def disc player, the connected receiver and display power on and
change to the correct input.


HDMI 1.3 (June 2006) Added support for additional bandwidth
to support future applications including Deep Color, Broader color space
(x.v.Color), Lip Sync, and HD lossless audio bit stream support.

Purchasing Considerations

While each installation or system is different, there are
some basics to consider before you purchase HDMI components. Look for products that support the HDMI
options you need, and don’t worry about the ones that don’t. When it comes to purchasing cables, I
recommend buying ones that are HDMI-certified.
Any cable bearing the HDMI logo is supposed to have been tested and
certified. There are two certification
levels for cables: Standard and High Speed.
Cables tested and certified as Standard must perform at speeds of 75Mhz
(the equivalent of 1080i video). Cables
tested and certified as High Speed must perform at 340Mhz which is the highest
supported HDMI speed. High Speed cables
are designed for 1080p and beyond.
Before you go hunting for High Speed certified cables, be aware that
almost all Standard certified cables will work fine with 1080p signals when you
keep your cables under 10 feet, and some will go further, so feel free to use
standard cables to connect your gear. If
you are installing an HDMI cable in the wall that is longer than 10 feet, I
recommend that you get one certified for High Speed. Since HDMI is digital, it either works or it
doesn’t. If you see “sparkles”, blinking
lines or no picture, try using another cable.

Most importantly, do not equate cable certification with
cost. Despite what some manufacturers
and retailers claim, you do not need to spend a lot of money on HDMI
cables. Some premium cable manufacturers
use their own speed ratings and marketing terms to justify premium pricing, but
there is no need to spend more money for an expensive, name-brand HDMI cable
when any HDMI-certified cable will do. --Adam

Browse these movies and more at Movies Online. >>>

I was a fan of the Clone Wars animated series that aired on Cartoon Network and was released on DVD a few years ago. Today came the announcement that a new Clone Wars feature film will play in theaters beginning on August 15, 2008 and be followed by a TV series on Cartoon Network and TNT. George Lucas said, "I felt there were a lot more Star Wars stories left to tell. I was eager to start telling some of them through animation and, at the same time, push the art of animation forward." Go to starwars.com to watch an introduction to the series.  --David

Browse these movies and more at Movies Online. >>>

Toshiba has just announced that it will discontinue its HD DVD players and recorders, and expects to be out of the HD DVD business by the end of March 2008. Future availability of HD DVD discs is unknown, although this news follows the Warner Bros. decision in January to stop producing HD DVDs as of May 31, 2008. HD DVD players will continue to play HD DVD discs and upconvert standard DVD discs

On the subject of HD disk drives, the company
said it "plans to end volume production of HD DVD disk drives for such
applications as PCs and games in the same timeframe, yet will continue to make
efforts to meet customer requirements. The company will continue to assess the
position of notebook PCs with integrated HD DVD drives within the overall PC
business relative to future market demand."

The company also noted that it plans to continue to "provide full
product support and after-sales service for all owners of Toshiba HD DVD
products."

 
Blu-ray is now the remaining high-definition disc format,
and this change in the market means that those who've been waiting to jump into
high def have a clear path to follow. Over the next few days, we'll be updating
our High-Def 101 page with the latest information on the high definition player
landscape.  --The Amazon.com High-Def Team

 

Related News Links:

 

Toshiba investor relations

PC World

Engadget

Browse these movies and more at Movies Online. >>>

 Last week's top releases were no surprise: I Am Legend, Enchanted, and Battlestar Galactica season 3. What was the surprise was that the #1-ranked seller was the I Am Legend Blu-ray, not the two-disc special edition DVD (ranked in the top 10, which is good but still below the Blu-ray). There could be a number of factors: a movie that appeals directly to the tech-savvy audience, a big-screen blockbuster that looks great in high definition, a competitive price, and the recent settling of matters on the high-definition-format front. (Will the combo HD DVD, which is also selling well, become the Last HD DVD on Earth?)  I'm not ready to jump to any conclusions on how people buy high definition vs. standard definition, but I do notice the sales rankings of the new Rambo movie: Blu-ray #482, Blu-ray three-pack #403, two-disc DVD #1711. --David

Browse these movies and more at Movies Online. >>>

Our high-def team has prepped Amazon.com's High-Def 101 section with tips about setting up a home theater, but the one thing I believe is missing from every page in our guide is the following sentence in all-caps, bold, and italic text, repeated over and over: Make sure that your HDTV is receiving high-def content.

We don't do that, of course, as to not be rude, but it's still among the most common problems in HDTV setup. There are many reasons why people aren't actually watching their favorite shows and programs in high def, whether they've connected the wrong cables, forgotten to upgrade their set-top boxes, or merely chosen the wrong channel. Depending on what you watch, you might not even notice, especially if your favorite programs aren't on high-def-capable channels. But a resounding number of American households are in for a serious high-def test this weekend--this Sunday, come to think of it.

So whether you're a football fan who finally upgraded for Sunday's big game, or an HDTV pro who is watching the game on a buddy's brand-new 4,000-inch screen, chances are you might run into a set that isn't actually receiving the game (and its zillions of commercials) in high def. In either case, I recommend printing off this handy game-day high-def guide at Engadget HD, which will help you ensure that what you're watching, wherever you're watching it, looks as crisp and clear as possible come Sunday evening. And once the game's over, don't forget to fine-tune your entire home theater with the tips and guides at Amazon's High-Def 101--though, sadly, our guides won't help you figure out what to do with all of those uneaten game-day Funyuns. --Sam

Browse these movies and more at Movies Online. >>>

With the success of Transformers you can bet hyper directors started jumping through their toy bins to find the next '80s franchise to turn into a movie. Hence: G.I. Joe, the Movie.
Paramount is producing the flick, due summer 2009 and directed by The Mummy's Stephen Sommers. Ray Park, best known as Darth Maul in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace and Toad in X-Men, will play Snake Eyes (left, a sneak peek at his look).



Here's the rest of the cast:

Channing Tatum (Step Up) as Duke
Dennis Quaid as General Hawk
Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Brick) as Cobra Commander

Sienna Miller as the Baroness

Christopher Eccleston (Doctor Who, Heroes) as Destro

Rachel Nichols (Alias) as Scarlett

Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje (Lost) as Heavy Duty
Arnold Vosloo (The Mummy) as Zartan

Marlon Wayans as Ripcord

Saïd Taghmaoui (The Kite Runner) as Breaker

Karolina Kurkova (supermodel) as Cover Girl

What do you think of the casting? Is G.I. Joe a good idea for a movie? --Ellen

Browse these movies and more at Movies Online. >>>