With just 48 hours left, Paramount Pictures and Omaze have released one final video, featuring Simon Pegg, for their contest where the winner will have a walk-on role in Star Trek Beyond. The Justin Lin-directed 50th anniversary feature film has been shooting for several months now and has a July 16, 2016 release date.
As filmgoers go gaga over Guy Ritchie’s stylish and swinging origin story for “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.” with Henry Cavill and Armie Hammer, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment offers a chance to grove to the original U.N.C.L.E. team with Robert Vaughn and David McCallum as it’s neer been seen – in eye popping, crystal clear 1080p Digital HD!
Crafted from the original series’ frequent two-parters, these are more than mere patch-jobs, employing extra footage shot while filming the original episodes to expand the stories and including elements that would be deemed too racy or violent for American primetime television.
Notable guest stars in these films include Academy Award winner Jack Palance and Joan Crawford, Emmy Award winners Telly Savalas, Maurice Evans & Bradford Dillman, Oscar nominees Eleanor Parker, Rip Torn and Joan Blondell, as well as Vera Miles, Herbert Lom, Jill Ireland, Carol Lynley, Kim Darby, Terry-Thomas, Dorothy Provine, “Star Trek” star James Doohan and “James Bond” luminaries Curt Jurgens and Luciana Paluzzi. The late Yvonne Craig appears in two of the films.
These entertaining films are now available for download in Digital HD from Amazon and iTunes.
Here’s the list of the eight “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.” features — complete with one-line synopses, guest stars, a link to a trailer and a link to the actual film. And attached are a few of the film’s one-sheet posters (all of the posters are available upon request).
To Trap a Spy (1965)
Expanded version of the U.N.C.L.E. pilot (Napoleon Solo aka “The Vulcan Affair”), including the famous “too hot for TV” scenes shot with future Bond girl Luciana Paluzzi.
Film: http://bit.ly/SPYTRAPHD
Trailer: <a href=”
The Spy With My Face (1965)
Expanded version of “The Double Affair”, in which a fake Napoleon Solo wreaks havoc on an U.N.C.L.E. secret mission.
Film: http://bit.ly/SPYFACE
Trailer: <a href=”
One Spy Too Many (1966)
Expansion of season two’s “Alexander the Greater Affair”, in which an ambitious industrialist (Rip Torn) sets out to conquer the world. With the late, great Yvonne (Batgirl) Craig.
Film: http://bit.ly/TOOSPYHD
Trailer: <a href=”
The Spy in the Green Hat (1966)
“The Concrete Overcoat Affair” gets the feature treatment, in which Thrush agent Louis Strago (Jack Palance) attempts to unleash climate change upon the world.
Film: http://bit.ly/SPYGREENHD
Trailer: <a href=”
One of Our Spies is Missing (1967)
Vera Miles, Yvonne Craig and James Doohan guest as Napoleon Solo and Illya Kuryakin head to London and Paris to foil a plot hatched by the nefarious fashion industry.
Film: http://bit.ly/MISSSPYHD
Trailer: <a href=”
“The Karate Killers” (1967)
“The Five Daughters Affair” feature version, with heavyweight heavies Telly Savalas and Herbert Lom providing the menace while Joan Crawford, Jill Ireland and Kim Darby make up the distaff side.
Film: http://bit.ly/KARATEKILL
Trailer: <a href=”
The Helicopter Spies (1968)
Carol Lynley and Bradford Dillman lend their talent to the film version of “The Prince of Darkness Affair”.
Film: http://bit.ly/HELISPIES
Trailer: <a href=”
How to Steal the World (1968)
Leslie Nielsen joins Robert Vaughn and David McCallum for the film version of the U.N.C.L.E. series closer, “The Seven Wonders of the World Affair”.
Film: http://bit.ly/WORLDSTEAL
Trailer: <a href=”
While our love for Brad Bird’s work remains undiminished, his feature film adaptation of Disneyland’s Tomorrowland theme park disappointed at the box office. On the off-chance you missed seeing it in the theaters, the studio has announced the film’s arrival on disc October 13.
SYNOPSIS:
Dreamers Wanted…Disney invites you to an incredible world of epic imagination where anything is possible. Buckle your seat belt, as the director of The Incredibles takes your family on an action-packed thrill ride.
Join former boy genius Frank (George Clooney), optimistic, science-minded teen Casey (Britt Robertson), mysterious Athena (Raffey Cassidy) and the brilliant David Nix (Hugh Laurie) in a world of pure Disney imagination. Tomorrowland transports you on an inspiring and magical journey of wonder and adventure to a place where if you can dream it, you can do it.
CAST:
George Clooney as Frank Walker (Gravity, Up in the Air), Britt Robertson as Casey Newton (The First Time, The Longest Ride), Raffey Cassidy as Athena (Snow White and the Huntsman, Dark Shadows), Hugh Laurie as Nix (Monsters vs. Aliens, House M.D.), Tim McGraw as Eddie Newton (The Blind Side)
PRODUCERS:
Brad Bird (The Incredibles, Ratatouille), Jeffrey Chernov (Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, Star Trek Into Darkness), Damon Lindelof (Lost, Star Trek Into Darkness)
DIRECTOR: Brad Bird
WRITERS: Screenplay by Damon Lindelof and Brad Bird; Story by Damon Lindelof, Brad Bird & Jeff Jensen
RELEASE DATE: October 13, 2015
PRODUCTS: Digital HD/SD, Disney Movies Anywhere (DMA), Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD and On-Demand
BONUS: Digital HD/SD*, Blu-ray Combo Pack & Disney Movies Anywhere (DMA)
Discover everything there is to know about the making of Tomorrowland through Director Brad Bird’s perspective.
Join Brad Bird, Damon Lindelof, George Clooney, Hugh Laurie, Britt Robertson, and Raffey Cassidy as they discuss the making of Tomorrowland.
Famed composer Michael Giacchino invites Disney legend, Richard Sherman to join him in an informal visit to the Tomorrowland scoring stage, told through the personal lens of Michael’s brother, documentarian Anthony Giacchino.
Believe it or not but Nix used to host a children’s television program about science. Now watch the recently discover outtakes from the show.
An animated story of how Tomorrowland came to be.
Diary Entry #1 – “The First Day” (Blu-ray and DMA Exclusive)
Diary Entry #2 – “Tomorrowland vs. the Weather” (DMA Exclusive)
Diary Entry #3 – “NASA”
Go back in time and watch this original commercial for the Blast from the Past store.
Deleted Scene 1 – Joking on the Eiffel Tower
Deleted Scene 2 – Young Casey vs. The Volcano
Deleted Scene 3 – Doomsday Living Room
Deleted Scene 4 – As Originally Written Casey The Downer
Deleted Scene 5 – What Happened to Tomorrowland
Deleted Scene 6 – What is Tomorrowland
Deleted Scene 7 – Great Big Beautiful World World’s Fair (DMA Exclusive)
Deleted Scene 8 – Frank Walker age 10 (DMA Exclusive)
*Digital bonus offerings may vary by retailer
DVD:
Diary Entry #3 – “NASA”
Go back in time and watch this original commercial for the Blast from the Past store.
FEATURE RUN TIME: Approximately 130 min.
RATING: Feature Film: PG in U.S.; PG in CE; G in CF
ASPECT RATIO: Blu-ray Feature Film = 1080p High Definition / 2.20:1
DVD Feature Film = 2.20:1
AUDIO: Blu-ray = 7.1 DTS
DVD = 5.1 Dolby
LANGUAGES: English, French & Spanish
SUBTITLES: English SDH, French & Spanish
With Sanctum Books wrapping up production on reprinting every Doc Savage pulp with their 87th volume, the production schedule will see the addition of The Black Bat. The first volume will reprint “Brand of the Black Bat” and “Murder Calls the Black Bat”. According to the solicitation copy:
Sanctum Books presents the 1939 novels that introduced the caped crimebuster whose adventures paralleled Batman’s and inspired Two-Face’s origin, written by Norman A. Daniels as “G. Wayman Jones” for future BATMAN editors Mort Weisinger and Jack Schiff. First, doomed to darkness by a murderous acid attack, D.A. Tony Quinn makes darkness his weapon with “The Brand of the Black Bat.” Then, “Murder Calls the Black Bat” into a deadly war against corruption as Tony Quinn battles to prevent the biggest jewel heist of the century! GOLDEN AGE OF COMICS BONUS: the debut of The Mask from Nedor’s Exciting Comics #1. This instant collector’s item showcases the classic color pulp covers by Rudolph Belarski and Emery Clarke and the original interior illustrations by Harry Parkhurst, with historical commentary by Will Murray relating how a lawsuit with DC Comics was narrowly averted. (Sanctum Books) 978-1-60877-183-7 Softcover, 7×10, 128 pages, B&W, $14.95
The long-running publisher has cracked the 200 mark in their flagship reprint series of The Shadow.
Yvonne Craig, best known to comics fans as Batgirl in the 1966 Batman TV series, has died at the age of 78.
Yvonne Craig passed away at her home in Pacific Palisades, surrounded by her immediate family and comforted by Hospice yesterday night. She died from complications brought about from breast cancer that had metastasized to her liver. She is survived by her husband, Kenneth Aldrich, her sister Meridel Carson and nephews Christopher and Todd Carson. A private service is being planned with no date set at the present time. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to: The Angeles Clinic Foundation by mail at 2001 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90404 or by going into their website at www.theangelesclinicfoundation.org and following the “Donate” link.
Yvonne Craig began her theatrical career as the youngest member of The Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo and toured for three years when she was accidentally discovered by John Ford’s son Patrick and cast for the lead in the movie The Young Land.
This was quickly followed by many years of film and television including two movies with Elvis Presley (It Happened at the World’s Fair and Kissin Cousins). However, she is probably best known for originating the role as Batgirl in the 1966 TV series of Batman, or for her character “Marta” from the third season of Star Trek in the episode Whom God’s Destroy where she played the well remembered insane green Orion Slave Girl who wanted to kill Captain Kirk.
Via YvonneCraig.com.
Jon Sable Freelance creator Mike Grell sends his own reminiscence:
I can’t tell you how saddened I am to learn that Yvonne Craig, known to many as TV’s BATGIRL, has passed away. She was a great lady and a cherished friend whose warmth and wit made her a joy to be with.
I met Yvonne twenty-odd years ago and we struck up an instant friendship, partly based on a mutual love of Africa and partly because (she said) I had drawn her favorite comic: BATMAN FAMILY #1. She said it was because Batgirl finally got to kiss Robin.
A few years later we were guests at a comic convention and, when Yvonne saw me, she came running around her table to give me a hug. I put up my hand to stop her, turned to my friends across the room and said, “Hey, guys! Watch this!” Yvonne grinned and gave me what Batgirl gave Robin.
The last time I saw her, she had somehow managed not to have aged a day. She was as beautiful and vivacious as ever and gave no hint of the battle she was fighting. I wish I could say we were close, but our meetings were infrequent and too far between. Despite that, she always made me feel like a long-lost friend. Maybe a little more lost just now.
My prayers go out to her family and friends.
Off you go, girl. God speed.
Mike
Justin Lin’s Star Trek Beyond has been shooting for a while now, aiming for a July 2016 release as part of Paramount Pictures’ 50th Anniversary celebration. They have partnered with Omaze to offer a winning contestant a walk-on role in the feature film. Current Captain Kirk, Chris Pine, and film guest star Idris Elba made a video to discuss the contest.
Los Angeles, CA (August 5, 2015) – As the galaxy prepares for the next generation of Star Wars, the six epic films will each release as commemorative Blu-ray steelbooks on November 10th. These highly collectible films will be available for a limited time only and can be pre-ordered beginning August 7th. In addition, Star Wars: The Complete Saga will be released in newly repackaged artwork on October 13th. The announcements were made today by The Walt Disney Studios, Lucasfilm Ltd., and Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment.
Each film from the Saga is presented with new character packaging allowing fans to choose their favorite or collect all six for a limited time. Characters include: The Phantom Menace – Darth Maul; Attack of the Clones – Yoda; Revenge of the Sith – General Grievous; A New Hope – Darth Vader; The Empire Strikes Back – Imperial Stormtrooper; and Return of the Jedi – Emperor Palpatine.
In addition to the collectible steelbook packaging, each single disc Blu-ray includes existing audio commentary with George Lucas and the film crew as well as audio commentary from archival interviews with the cast and crew.
The newly repackaged Saga includes all six feature films on Blu-ray, along with three additional discs containing more than 40 hours of previously released extensive special features.
In an ever evolving world where the window between original release and home video ownership is increasingly shrinking, HBO announced this week that you can own the Digital HD version of Game of Thrones Season 5 nearly 6 months before you can own physical copies. Read the details:
New York, N.Y., July 30, 2015 – The “worldwide phenomenon” (USA Today) is back and this time fans will be able to download it on their favorite devices earlier than ever. Game of Thrones: The Complete Fifth Season will receive an early digital release on Monday, August 31, 2015 before its Blu-ray/DVD release on March 15, 2016. Fans can pre-order the season on Digital HD now through their favorite digital platforms. The release marks the first time a season of Game of Thrones is being released early on Digital HD. Season 5 of the hit HBO® show is the most-honored series for the 2015 Emmy Awards, with 24 nominations including Outstanding Drama Series, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (Peter Dinklage) and Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (Emilia Clarke & Lena Headey). A season pass purchase of Game of Thrones: The Complete Fifth at select retailers is also packed with bonus content that takes fans behind the scenes of Season 5, including two never-before-seen pieces* available exclusively with the Digital HD release. Full details for the Blu-ray and DVD release will be announced at a later date.
Digital HD bonus features include:
Suggested Retail Pricing:
Season 5 begins with a power vacuum that protagonists across Westeros and Essos look to fill. At Castle Black, Jon Snow struggles to balance the demands of the Night’s Watch with those of newly-arrived Stannis Baratheon, who styles himself the rightful king of Westeros. Meanwhile, Cersei scrabbles to hold on to power in King’s Landing amidst the Tyrells and the rise of a religious group led by the enigmatic High Sparrow, while Jaime embarks on a secret mission. Across the Narrow Sea, Arya seeks an old friend while a fugitive Tyrion finds a new cause. And as danger mounts in Meereen, Daenerys Targaryen finds that her tenuous hold on the city requires some hard sacrifices. This season features some of the most explosive scenes yet, as the promise that “winter is coming” becomes more ominous than ever before.
Marvel Studios reunites Earth’s Mightiest Heroes in the unprecedented movie event, Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron. Iconic heroes are forced to reassemble and face their most intimidating enemy yet – ULTRON. Pushed to the brink of their physical and emotional limits, the team must recruit both new heroes and familiar allies to face an escalating danger that threatens the entire planet.
SYNOPSIS: Marvel Studios unleashes the next global phenomenon in the Marvel Cinematic Universe: Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron. Good intentions wreak havoc when Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) unwittingly creates Ultron (James Spader), a terrifying A.I. monster who vows to achieve “world peace” via mass extinction. Now, Iron Man, Captain America (Chris Evans), Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and The Hulk (Mark Ruffalo)—alongside Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) and Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) —must reassemble to defeat Ultron and save mankind… if they can! This action-packed adventure is a must-own, mind-blowing blast!
CAST: Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark/Iron Man (Marvel’s The Avengers, Marvel’s Iron Man), Chris Hemsworth as Thor (Marvel’s Thor, Marvel’s The Avengers), Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner/Hulk (Marvel’s The Avengers, Shutter Island), Chris Evans as Steve Rogers/Captain America (Marvel’s The Avengers, Marvel’s Captain America: The First Avenger),Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow (Lost in Translation, Marvel’s The Avengers),
Jeremy Renner as Clint Barton/Hawkeye (The Hurt Locker, Marvel’s The Avengers), James Spader as Ultron (TV’s The Blacklist, Lincoln), Samuel L. Jackson (Pulp Fiction, Django Unchained) as Nick Fury
PRODUCER: Kevin Feige, p.g.a. (Marvel’s The Avengers, Marvel’s Iron Man)
WRITER / DIRECTOR: Joss Whedon (Marvel’s The Avengers, Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D)
COMPOSERS: Danny Elfman (The Simpsons, Corpse Bride), Brian Tyler (Marvel’s Iron Man 3, Marvel’s Thor: The Dark World)
RELEASE DATES: September 8, 2015 for Digital 3D and Digital HD
October 2, 2015 for Digital SD, 3D Blu-ray Combo Pack (3D Blu-ray+Single Disc Blu-ray+Digital Copy), Blu-ray, DVD and On-Demand
PRODUCTS: Digital HD/SD, Disney Movies Anywhere (DMA), 3D Blu-ray Combo Pack, Blu-ray, DVD and On-Demand
BONUS: Digital HD*, Disney Movies Anywhere (DMA), 3D Blu-ray Combo Pack, Blu-ray
*Digital bonus offerings may vary by retailer
DVD:
FEATURE RUN TIME: Approximately 141 min.
RATINGS: PG-13 in U.S.; PG in CE; G in CF
ASPECT RATIO: Blu-ray 3D, Blu-ray & DVD = 1080p High Definition / 2.40:1
AUDIO: Blu-ray 3D & Blu-ray 2D = English 7.1 DTS-HDMA, French-Canadian 5.1 Dolby Digital, Latin Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital, English DVS 2.0 Dolby Digital
DVD = English/Latin Spanish/French Canadian 5.1 Dolby Digital, English DVS 2.0 Dolby Digital
LANGUAGES: U.S.: English & Spanish
Canada: English, French
SUBTITLES: English, French & Spanish
New York, N.Y., July 23, 2015 – When it originally debuted in September of 1965, Get Smart, the multiple Emmy®winning classic spy-spoof comedy series from comic geniuses Mel Brooks and Buck Henry, generated countless catchphrases like “Would you believe?” and “Missed it by that much.” This fall, to mark the 50th anniversary of the legendary series, HBO Home Entertainment® is bringing those catchphrases to a new generation when all five seasons of Get Smart are made available for digital download for the very first time. With the digital release, longtime fans will have a chance to watch the series in an exciting new format, while new fans will be introduced to the antics of Maxwell Smart for the first time. Get Smart will be available as a digital download August 10, 2015 across all major retailers. Suggested retail price is $1.99 for each SD episode and $19.99 for each SD season.“You lucky dogs. You’re gonna get to see Don Adams talking on his shoe telephone and watch the unbelievable antics of Maxwell Smart and The Chief trying to hear each other under The Cone of Silence,” said Mel Brooks. “Can’t wait to see it myself!”
Full of bumbling spies, gadgets and gags, Get Smart features the beloved characters Maxwell Smart/Agent 86 (Don Adams), Agent 99 (Barbara Feldon), and the Chief (Edward Platt) – members of a top secret U.S. government agency called CONTROL, who battle the forces of their nemesis KAOS, an equally inept foreign spy agency. The series was ahead of its time in the way that it created a vast, complicated mythology and mastered the art of self-referential comedy to reward its loyal audience for tuning in week after week. The series originally debuted on NBC in 1965 and enjoyed popularity and a cult following before moving to CBS for its final season. Since ending, it has inspired numerous spinoffs, sequels and remakes, including a 2008 summer box office hit starring Steve Carell and Anne Hathaway.
Columns / Glenn Hauman / News
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