Sunday, April 28, 2019

My brief thoughts on season 3 episode 8 of Game of Thrones. (Spoilers)

Well I was underwhelmed by the demise of The Night King and wonder, what was the point? All this build up and he gets killed by a hobbit. 

Thursday, April 25, 2019

Fantastic New Releases Coming From PBS.

MASTERPIECE

Les Misérables

Macintosh HD:Users:jillgoldstein:Desktop:MAST_LesMis_ProgMain.jpgA blockbuster novel for over 150 years comes vividly to life in award-winning screenwriter Andrew Davies’s multi-layered retelling of Les Misérables by Victor Hugo. This enthralling six-episode adaptation (not a musical) stars Dominic West (The Affair, The Wire) as Jean Valjean, the most famous fugitive in literature, David Oyelowo (Selma, Queen of Katwe) stars as his relentless pursuer, Javert, and Lily Collins (Rules Don’t Apply; Love, Rosie) as the tragic seamstress, Fantine; Ellie Bamber (Nocturnal Animals) plays her adolescent daughter, Cosette; Academy Award winner, Olivia Colman (The Favourite) and Adeel Akhtar (Unforgotten) are Cosette’s cruel overseers, the Thénardiers; and Josh O'Connor (The Durrells in Corfu) is the student and reluctant revolutionary Marius, who falls in love with Cosette at first sight.

 

Joining the extensive cast are David Bradley (Game of Thrones, Harry Potter) as Marius’s formidable grandfather, Monsieur Gillenormand, and Derek Jacobi (Gladiator, Last Tango in Halifax) as the kindly Bishop of Digne, who rescues Valjean at his lowest ebb. The Guardian called it “A rich feast…c’est magnifique!”

 

-       Street Date: May 21, 2019

-       Run Time: DVD and Blu-ray: 371 minutes on 2 discs

-       SRP: DVD, $39.99, Blu-ray, $49.99

-       Format: DVD, Digital

-       Genre: British Drama

Unforgotten, Season 3

Macintosh HD:Users:jillgoldstein:Desktop:Unforgotten1_EP1_1.jpgWhen human remains are found by a motorway near London, the crime-solving duo, Cassie and Sunny are called to the scene. Dogged work leads the team to Hayley Reid, a 16-year-old girl who went missing on the eve of the millennium. The police’s failure to find out what happened to Hayley wrecked her family’s life. Cassie’s compassion makes her determined to correct the mistakes made by the original investigating team - whatever the cost is to herself. A close-knit group of old school friends hold the key to what happened - Doctor Tim Finch, television host James Hollis, failing salesman Pete Carr, and artist Chris Lowe. As the four suspects find themselves under the spotlight, their tight bond is put to the test. They all have secrets in their past – events that have pulled their lives apart. None of them are quite who they seem to be, but is one of them capable of murder?

 

-       Street Date: May 7, 2019

-       Run Time:  360 minutes on 2 discs

-       SRP: DVD, $34.99

-       Format: DVD, Digital

-       Genre: British, Mystery

 

 

 


NOVA

Rise of the Rockets

An explosion of private companies is sparking the development of new technologies and lowering costs to bring space closer than ever. And at the same time, NASA is returning to crewed spaceflight with gusto, building a rocket more powerful even than the storied Saturn V to take us far beyond Earth. Will today’s optimism prove prescient, or nothing more than hype and wishful thinking? As costs come down and rockets with new capabilities come online, a new generation is reaching for the cosmos, daring to dream big and yearning to go farther, in greater numbers than ever before.

 

-       Street Date: May 7, 2019

-       Run Time:  56 minutes on 1 disc

-       SRP: DVD, $24.99

-       Format: DVD, Digital

-       Genre: Science & Nature: Technology & Inventions

 

The Next Pompeii

In THE NEXT POMPEII, NOVA joins investigators as they hunt for clues hidden beneath the surface of Italy’s lesser-known volcano Campi Flegrei, and assesses the risk of a new and potentially devastating eruption. The program also follows historians and geologists as they discover the latest evidence of Pompeii’s fiery destruction, unpacking the chain of events that led to the ancient world’s most notorious disaster. What lessons does the tragedy of Pompeii hold for Naples’ citizens, who may face a mounting threat from the unseen forces beneath their feet?

 

-       Street Date: May 14, 2019

-       Run Time:  53 minutes

-       SRP: DVD, $24.99

-       Format: DVD, Digital

-       Genre: History: Ancient

 

 

 


FRONTLINE

The Trial of Ratko Mladic

In the aftermath of the brutal wars that decimated Yugoslavia in the early 1990’s, former Bosnian Serb General Ratko Mladic was accused of genocide and other war crimes – including the massacre of more than 7,000 Muslim men and boys in the town of Srebrenica in July 1995 – considered the worst crime perpetrated on European soil since World War II. After 16 years on the run, Mladic was apprehended and brought to The Hague to stand trial before the UN’s International Criminal Tribunal, the biggest and only truly international war crimes tribunal since Nuremburg. 

 

In the two-hour special FRONTLINE goes inside the historic five-year trial, with unprecedented, behind-the-scenes access to the prosecution and defense teams, as well as to witnesses from both sides who came to present evidence.

 

THE TRIAL OF RATKO MLADIC provides haunting insights into a war criminal’s motives, and the genocide he commanded his troops to carry out – as well as an intimate look at the victims left behind, who remain haunted by what their families endured. It tells an epic story of justice, accountability and a country trying to escape its bloody past. 

 

-       Street Date: May 28, 2019

-       Run Time:  115 minutes

-       SRP: DVD, $24.99

-       Format: DVD, Digital

-       Genre: Issues/Events: Society

 

 

 


SECRETS OF THE DEAD

The Nero Files

The Roman emperor Nero is considered one of history's greatest criminals - a cruel, insane, and brutal ruler. His name has become synonymous with evil, and he stands accused of killing his step-brother, his wife, and his mother, as well as burning Rome to the ground for his own artistic inspiration. But are these stories true? Can they be proven? Recent research, modern interpretations of historical sources, and new discoveries cast a different light on the accusations levelled at the Roman emperor. THE NERO FILES investigates Nero's reign with the help of criminal psychologist Thomas Müller, using "cold case" methodology. Did history get it wrong? Was Nero a far better ruler than he’s ever been given credit for?

 

-       Street Date: May 14, 2019

-       Run Time:  60 minutes

-       SRP: DVD, $24.99

-       Format: DVD, Digital

-       Genre: History: Ancient

 

 


Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Season 5

This season features an array of celebrated guests who are cultural trailblazers with fascinating family stories, including Academy Award winner Marisa Tomei; Emmy and Golden Globe Award winners Laura Linney and S. Epatha Merkerson; and actors Michael K. Williams, Chloë Sevigny and Kal Penn. Season Five also includes superstar author George R.R. Martin; acclaimed journalists Christiane Amanpour, Ann Curry, Joe Madison and Lisa Ling; bestselling author and Facebook executive Sheryl Sandberg; TV hosts Seth Meyers and Michael Strahan; artists Marina Abramović

 and Kehinde Wiley; politicians Marco Rubio, Tulsi Gabbard and Paul Ryan; Academy Award-winning filmmakers Alejandro G,Iñárritu and Michael Moore; and comedians Tig Notaro and Sarah Silverman.

 

The roots of these guests cover the globe — from Samoa, Nigeria, Taiwan and Sicily to Iran, Ireland, India and Cuba — and almost everywhere in between. Their family trees are filled with compelling characters — slaves and kings, artists and entrepreneurs, abandoned children and missing parents, revolutionaries, soldiers, and a constant flow of ordinary individuals who did remarkable things, laying the groundwork for their successful descendants. Each episode weaves together these stories, gleaned from cutting-edge DNA analysis and old school genealogical detective work, all hosted by executive producer and Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr.

 

-       Street Date: May 14, 2019

-       Run Time:  600 minutes on 3 discs

-       SRP: DVD, $39.99

-       Format: DVD, Digital

-       Genre: Issues/Events: Race & Ethnicity

 

 


Henry IX: The Lost King

This program takes viewers on a journey to investigate the mysterious disappearance from history of a forgotten Scottish prince - Henry Fredrick Stuart, the best king Britain never had. Not many of us know his name but Henry started the British Museum and the Royal Collection and was the first royal prince to back a permanent settlement on American soil in the early 17th century. In this immersive documentary, host Paul Murton brings this forgotten figure from the shadows of history into the light of the modern world. It’s a detective story which reveals the tragedy of Henry’s lost potential. During his investigating, Paul visits Henricus, the colony founded in Virginia under Henry’s patronage, 14 years before the Mayflower and the pilgrims set sail for Plymouth. How has the story of this renaissance man, who changed the course of Britain’s history, been largely lost until now? Whatever happened to the best king they never had?

 

-       Street Date: May 7, 2019

-       Run Time:  60 minutes

-       SRP: DVD, $24.99

-       Format: DVD, Digital

-       Genre: History: World

 

 


The Best of the World’s Greatest

The world is full of inspiring places just waiting to be discovered and explored. This new, epic six-part series goes on a timeless journey around the planet, revealing the world’s greatest ancient cities, natural wonders, extreme animal encounters, lost cities, journeys and adventures, monuments, and coral islands. Viewers get a chance to explore exciting cities such as Venice, Rio, and Cairo, the islands of Galapagos, Hawaii, and the Maldives, and others. Viewers also explore Stonehenge, Machu Picchu, Angkor Wat, the Taj Mahal, as well as Mt. Everest, the Great Barrier Reef, and the Grand Canyon. In addition viewers get up close and personal with killer whales, grizzlies, and silver-backed gorillas, among other animals in the wild. 

 

-       Street Date: May 7, 2019

-       Run Time:  312 minutes on 2 discs

-       SRP: DVD, $19.99

-       Format: DVD, Digital

-       Genre: Travel: Air & Ocean

 

 


Korea: The Never-Ending War

Written and produced by John Maggio and narrated by Korean-American actor John Cho, this documentary sheds new light on the global upheaval that led to the Korean War in 1950, a moment when the Cold War turned hot, and how today that war’s brutal legacy has forced the world into a deadly nuclear showdown. With testimony from the soldiers on the frontlines, civilians caught in the crossfire, political leaders from then and now, journalists and historians, the film is a comprehensive re-examination of a war that took the lives of tens of thousands of American GI’s and millions of Koreans. It is a war that has raged for generations. A war that most Americans don’t remember, and Koreans can never forget. The film documents how the conflict has continued post-1953; the events that triggered North Korea’s nuclear program; and South Korea’s economic expansion. The consequences of the war’s stalemate contribute to a dangerous stand-off between North and South Korea, and the United States and China. The 'end' of this conflict is still an open question.

 

-       Street Date: May 14, 2019

-       Run Time:  120 minutes

-       SRP: DVD, $24.99

-       Format: DVD, Digital

-       Genre: History: War & Military

 

 


Nicholas and Alexandra: The Letters

Ever since their brutal murders one hundred years ago, the world has been fascinated by Tsar Nicholas II and his wife, the Empress Alexandra. Through the couple’s politically damning, sexually intimate and personally revealing letters, this two-part docu-drama, explores Nicholas and Alexandra’s complex love story and the couple’s role in the lead up to the Russian Revolution of 1917 which led to their eventual brutal and tragic execution. Their thousands of love letters reveal the intimate details of their affection, sex life, delusions, and above all the road to revolution. From their total isolation to their political ineptitude and reliance on Rasputin, these letters chronicle their disastrous leadership in graphic detail. And as the Revolution took hold in the country, their position became increasingly precarious as widespread blame for Russia’s woes was aimed solely at the Royal couple.

 

-       Street Date: May 21, 2019

-       Run Time:  100 minutes on 1 discs

-       SRP: DVD, $24.99

-       Format: DVD, Digital

-       Genre: History: World

 

Wednesday, April 17, 2019

GLORY The Modern Classic Directed by Edward Zwick Starring Matthew Broderick, Denzel Washington, Cary Elwes & Morgan Freeman Celebrates its 30th Anniversary on 4K Ultra HD™ July 30

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

GLORY

 

The Modern Classic Directed by Edward Zwick 

Starring Matthew Broderick, Denzel Washington,

Cary Elwes & Morgan Freeman

Celebrates its 30th Anniversary on 4K Ultra HD July 30

 

Film Returns to Movie Theaters Nationwide July 21 and 24

 

 

CULVER CITY, Calif. (April 17, 2019) –Sony Pictures Home Entertainment celebrates the 30th Anniversary of the Academy Award®-winning classic directed by Edward Zwick, GLORY, debuting on 4K Ultra HD and in 4K with HDR via participating Digital platforms on July 30.  Matthew Broderick, Denzel Washington—in his first Oscar®-winning performance (Best Supporting Actor, 1989)—Cary Elwes and Morgan Freeman star in the compelling story behind the U.S. Civil War's first all-black volunteer company, where they fight prejudices from both the Union and the Confederate Armies.  Nominated for five Academy Awards and winning three,* the 4K Ultra HD release truly showcases both the film’s imagery and sound. Freddie Francis’ win for Cinematography is highlighted by the film’s 4K resolution scan from the original camera negative, with a resulting 4K HDR master approved by director Edward Zwick, while the all-new Dolby Atmos audio mix, as well as the original theatrical audio mix, spotlight the team who won the Best Sound Oscar (Donald O. Mitchell, Gregg Rudloff, Elliot Tyson, Russell Williams II).

 

To mark the 30th anniversary of this Civil War epic, Fathom Events, Turner Classic Movies and Sony Pictures will presentGlory as part of the yearlong TCM Big Screen Classics series. The film will play in more than 600 movie theaters nationwide for two days only: July 21 and 24. Tickets and more information are available atwww.FathomEvents.com

 

Synopsis:

Commemorate the 30th anniversary of Edward Zwick’s GLORY: the heart-stopping story of the first black regiment to fight for the North in the Civil War, starring Matthew Broderick, Denzel Washington, Cary Elwes and Morgan Freeman. Broderick and Elwes are the idealistic young Bostonians who lead the regiment; Freeman is the inspirational sergeant who unites the troops; and Denzel Washington, in an Academy Award®-winning performance (1989, Best Supporting Actor), is the runaway slave who embodies the indomitable spirit of the 54th Regiment of Massachusetts. Screenplay by Kevin Jarre.

 

Bonus Materials Include:

§  Director’s Commentary

§  Deleted Scenes with Commentary

§  Virtual Civil War Battlefield Interactive Map

§  “The True Story Continues” Documentary

§  “The Voices of Glory” Featurette

§  “The Making of Glory” Featurette

§  Visual Feature-Length Commentary (on the 4K Ultra HD disc)

§  Theatrical Trailer (on the 4K Ultra HD disc)

 

GLORY has a run time of approximately 122 minutes and is rated R. 

 

*In addition to its wins for Best Supporting Actor, Best Cinematography and Best Sound,GLORY was nominated for Academy Awards for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration (Norman Garwood, Garrett Lewis) and Best Film Editing (Steven Rosenblum).

 

Academy Award® and Oscar® are the registered trademarks and service marks of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

What No One Seems To Be Asking...

Microsoft announce the XBOX ONE S All Digital Edition, which effectively kills the 4K optical drive on the game system. You will still pay $250 dollars or so for it, but in a way you are getting less for your money.

I am sad to see the 4K optical drive go because I love physical media and miss being able to browse a store and buy a few discs of whatever the content I wanted. Of course I am in the minority on this so I don't expect my opinion to matter, but this has larger implications and personally, I don't see anyone addressing how this ties into the death of brick and mortar stores in general.

The move toward "shoe box" apartments and tiny homes where you will pay more for less now. You see the world seems to change fast, but if you look at history, the roots go back further. So who is profiting from this? Ask yourself why have people become increasingly isolated. Why is there a push to make everyone stream or download everything? It may be a good thing or it may not. Just think for yourself because ultimately the future depends solely on your actions now. Thank you.

Tuesday, April 16, 2019

Manifest: The Complete First Season Flight 828 Disappeared in 2013. Today, it Came Home. Brace Yourself. The DVD is Landing July 23rd

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
#1 Series On NBC

Manifest: The Complete First Season

Flight 828 Disappeared in 2013. Today, it Came Home.
 
Brace Yourself. The DVD is Landing July 23rd  
 
BURBANK, CA (April 16, 2019) – This is your calling. You are on the verge of discovering something new! From Oscar-winning filmmaker Robert Zemeckis (Forrest GumpCast Away) and executive producers Jeff Rake (The Mysteries of Laura), Jack Rapke (Flight, Cast Away), Jackie Levine (Allied, The Walk) and Len Goldstein (Hart of Dixie, Roadies), Warner Bros. Home Entertainment brings you NBC’s #1 hit series Manifest: The Complete First Season on DVD July 23, 2019. Fans can uncover the mystery from all 16 exhilarating episodes from season one for the suggested low retail price of $29.98 for the DVD ($34.99 in Canada). Manifest: The Complete First Season is also available to own on Digital via purchase from digital retailers.
 
A plane inexplicably disappears on a trans-oceanic flight and returns five years later after being presumed lost at sea. While no time has passed for those on the flight, years have gone by for their loved ones who have learned to live with their loss. In addition to the outward mystery of what happened on that flight, there’s also an inward mystery of what has happened to the passengers…and why. Nothing will ever be the same as you follow the unexpected journey full of hope, heart and destiny!
 
“With 16.4 million fans tuning-in weekly, Manifest is one of the most talked about series on television,” said Rosemary Markson, WBHE Senior Vice President, Television Marketing. "We are delighted to release the first installment of the series on DVD so fans can binge on each episode and relive their favorite moments again and again.”
 
Manifest stars Melissa Roxburgh (“Valor,” “Supernatural”), Josh Dallas (“Once Upon a Time”), Athena Karkanis (“House of Cards,” “Zoo”), J.R. Ramirez (“Power”), Luna Blaise (“Fresh Off the Boat”), Jack Messina (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”) and Parveen Kaur (“The Strain,” “Saving Hope”). The series is produced by Jeff Rake Productions and Compari Entertainment in association with Warner Bros. Television and Universal Television.
 
 
16 ONE-HOUR EPISODES 
  1. Pilot
  2. Reentry
  3. Turbulence
  4. Unclaimed Baggage
  5. Connecting Flights
  6. Off Radar
  7. S.N.A.F.U.
  8. Point of No Return
  9. Dead Reckoning
  10. Crosswinds
  11. Contrails
  12. Vanishing Point
  13. Cleared for Approach
  14. Upgrade
  15. Hard Landing
  16. Estimated Time of Departure

 
DIGITAL
The first season of Manifest is also currently available to own on Digital. Digital purchase allows consumers to instantly stream and download all episodes to watch anywhere and anytime on their favorite devices. Digital movies and TV shows are available from various digital retailers including Amazon Video, iTunes, Google Play, Vudu and others. 
 
BASICS
Street Date: July 23, 2019
Order Due Date: June 18, 2019
DVD Presented in 16x9 widescreen format
Running Time: Feature: Approx. 704 min
 
US 
Price: $29.98 SRP 
4 DVD-9s
Audio – English (5.1)
 
CANADA
Price: $34.99 SRP 
4 DVD-9s
Audio – English (5.

Monday, April 15, 2019

TBS PROGRAMMING ALERT WEEK OF MAY 5

TBS PROGRAMMING ALERT
WEEK OF MAY 5
American Dad!
 

"Rabbit Ears"
Monday May 6 at 10:00pm ET/PT

Stan gets obsessed with a 1960s television show after picking up a secondhand TV. Roger decides to live as a baby and the family cares for him.
CONAN
 

Monday May 6 through Thursday May 9 at 11:00pm ET/PT
The Last O.G.
 

"Keep Their Heads Ringing"
Tuesday May 7 at 10:00pm ET/PT

Tray takes Shahzad to a proper black barber shop for the first time. Shay takes Amira to the beauty shop after discovering a dick pic on her phone.
Full Frontal with Samantha Bee
 

Wednesday May 8 at 10:30pm ET/PT

Wednesday, April 10, 2019

ASIANCRUSH & MIDNIGHT PULP April Streaming Premieres: KARAOKE CRAZIES, MICROWAVE MASSACRE, a Romero Celebration with THE CRAZIES & SEASON OF THE WITCH + More!






PREMIERE
MICROWAVE MASSACRE
 
In this twisted '80s cult classic, a man kills his wife and disposes of the body as economically as possible--by heating her up in the microwave and enjoying her flesh as a TV dinner. But now he's acquired a taste for human flesh one serving can't satisfy. (1983, 76 minutes)


PREMIERES
THE CRAZIES + SEASON OF THE WITCH: 
A CELEBRATION OF GEORGE ROMERO                
 
When iconic Master or Horror George Romero passed away in 2017, the filmmaking community lost a legend. From introducing zombies to the silver screen with 1968's Night of the Living Deadand his popular undead sequels to his cult classics such as Knightriders and Creepshow, the Godfather of the Dead was revered for his fantastical, gruesome and satirical P.O.V. To commemorate Romero's groundbreaking and inimitable career, Midnight Pulp is proud to stream two of his early classics: SEASON OF THE WITCH and THE CRAZIES.


  
 
SEASON OF THE WITCH
 
In 1972, Romero followed up his undead masterpiece, with his most "unclassifiable" and "thought-provoking" following a upper-crust housewife who turns to the Dark Arts to shake up her suburban monotony. Remade in 2011 with Nicholas Cage, the original starred Jan White, Bill Thunhurst and  Romero regular Raymond Laine. (130 minutes)
 


THE CRAZIES
 
Romero combineed conspiracy theories with real-life horror in 1973's THE CRAZIES, wherein the government tries to contain a virus accidentally spread by the military in a small Pennsylvania--only to become victims of the victims themselves. TV Guide called it "a nightmarish expose of government omnipotence and paranoia... one of Romero's most underrated efforts". (103 minutes)




PREMIERE
DEATH WALKS AT MIDNIGHT

Luciano Giraldo's giallo masterpiece, second in the Death Walks series, tells the tale of a model who witnesses a brutal murder. When the police discount her story, she decides solve the crime herself.  Legendary director Sergio Corbucci (The Great Silence) was credited with the story. (1972, 102 minutes)




PREMIERE
THE SLAYER
                                    
For years slasher fans were desperate to get their hands on a copy of The Slayer, an elusive but beloved paragon of the genre. Now, this HD restoration of the tale of an island paradise-turned-bloody-nightmare is available to stream right here on Midnight Pulp. (1982, 80 minutes)