Home Media Magazine - October 19-25, 2008 - (Page 22) NEWS www.homemediamagazine.com Borgnine Happy Films Immortalized on Disc By Craig Modderno ith his new book Ernie earning excellent reviews, and three films forthcoming, Ernest Borgnine is experiencing a career revival. Part of that is because some of his classic films such as Marty TALENT (which won him a best TALK actor Oscar), From Here to Eternity, The Poseidon Adventure, The Wild Bunch and his Golden Globe nominated performance in Hallmark’s A Grandpa for Christmas are now available on DVD. When the robust, barrel-chested 92-year-old thespian, who looks as if he could physically ride with The Wild Bunch again on the silver screen, is asked why he still enjoys making movies, the affable Borgnine replies with a hearty laugh: “They pick you up to take you to work, feed you whenever you want and pay you enough money that you can survive a couple of divorces like I have!” Apple: No BD Continued from page 1 marketplace,” Jobs told attendees Oct. 14 during a presentation at Apple’s Cupertino, Calif.-based headquarters. The executive did call licensing aspects of Blu-ray “a bag of hurt” without providing more details. Apple is a founding board member of the Blu-ray Disc Association, which perhaps gives it first-hand exposure to a licensing process that mandates encryption and related digital rights management safeguards. “It is not only not cheap, but a pain in the butt,” said technology analyst Rob Enderle. Steve Baker, VP of industry analysis for The NPD Group, believes the number of companies with a hand in the licensing process dissuaded Apple. “[Apple is] not trying to be everything to everyone like Netflix or Blockbuster,” Baker said. “They’re going to keep trying to deliver economy around digital downloads.” Enderle said putting Blu-ray in a Mac laptop would be counter-strategic as Apple is aggressively pursuing downloads and eliminated optical drives in some products. Apple iTunes reports selling more than 200 million TV episodes, including more than 1 million HD episodes since the launch of HD programming last month. W nated for a Golden Globe award at age 92. What intrigued you about A Grandpa for Christmas? Borgnine: When I read the script I found it hit pretty close to home. I remember going to pick up my kids, who were living with my fourth wife, whom I had separated from, and my little, young daughter said, “Daddy, we don’t ever want to see you anymore!” I just left the house and didn’t see them for years. Back in 1972 I was giving their mom $2,000 a month for the support of my two kids, and one day I got a call saying the kids were starving, and despite a court order my ex-wife was taking them out of the county. So I could relate to a man who was cut off from his family despite loving them, and that loneliness was more pronounced during the holiday season. What’s special about this movie, and why I believe it will play around the world, is people will feel a conI HM: I don’t think anyone’s been nomi- nection in the scenes where we put up a tree, visit someone in the hospital or feel loneliness at the loss or separation of family. The gamut of emotions one can experience are more visible on a worldwide basis during Christmas than at any other time during the year. I HM: How has DVD affected your career? Borgnine: It’s exposed my body of work to several new generations, but I’m still most recognized for my role in the TV show “McHale’s Navy.” Sometimes I have people tell me they liked me in a movie that they saw on DVD that I don’t even remember making. I must admit I’m a huge fan of The Wild Bunch, so seeing the special edition of the DVD have the Academy Awardnominated documentary An Album in Montage on it makes me happy that the movie is finally getting the attention it deserves. Borgnine: The critics and the studios hated it. The director’s cut, which I’m happy to say is now on DVD, was pulled from theaters in its first week because of the response to the violence. But before it was pulled, William Holden, my co-star and good friend, took me to a showing in Hollywood, and the audience loved it. They got that Sam (Peckinpah, the director) had a unique vision about the morals of the Old West and the war we were fighting in Vietnam. Watch the film today, and remember that with all its action and minus today’s special effects, nobody got hurt on the film. I HM: With more than 100 TV and films to your credit, what’s your philosophy in approaching your roles? Borgnine: I always try to bring as much as I can to a director even if it’s something crazy off the top of my I HM: What can you say about The Wild head. Then it’s up to the director to Bunch that is not generally known? smooth out the parts. JUST ANNOUNCED A Weekly Product Update* Pixar Event Touts BD Live Continued from page 1 He showed off the playlist feature on Fox’s Shine a Light Blu-ray: Choose the Rolling Stones songs you really want, e-mail the list to yourself, and an iTunes playlist for purchase is ready and waiting for you. Ole Lütjens, co-owner and creative director of MX, which specializes in Blu-ray production, showed off perhaps the most interesting BD Live features of the evening, for a “Neil Young Archives” set, a 10-disc release still in the works. “[Young] wanted the quality and interactivity that wasn’t available before [on DVD],” Lütjens said. So much information — from music and video clips to posters and other archived material — is available that not all of it will fit on the set. Any time Young wants to add more bonus content for the set, BD Live allows users to download them. “If we ever do get to the point where Neil adds 60 million songs, you can manage and delete content,” Lütjens said. “It’s brand new, it’s wide open and it is such a great time to dig into this medium and see what it can do,” said Zane Vella, CEO of Related Content Database, which offers software and services for network-connected Blu- ray Discs and players. “We saw this coming a long time ago — you can never fit everything on the disc.” Bill Sheppard, chief digital media officer for Sun Microsystem’s Java Software Group, said the BD-Java platform for Blu-ray eventually will allow studios to offer bonus features via video-on-demand and other electronic delivery outlets. “When you think about the content available on Blu-ray Disc, increasingly the studios are going to [experiment more],” he said. David Jessen, VP of Blu-ray and DVD creative production for Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, said they have just scratched the surface. “The future is so Blu,” he said. He threw the Sleeping Beauty Bluray “living menu” on the screen, which automatically shows the local time and weather, and can show the conditions of other cities worldwide. The panelists said user-generated content would play a big part in BD Live down the line, and expressed excitement over the rumor that Universal Studios Home Entertainment’s Dec. 16 Mamma Mia! release would allow for Web-cam reviews while the movie is playing. “User-generated content and putting yourself in the movie,” Davison said. “That’s what we’re working on.” Wanted STREET DATE Tropic Thunder BOX OFFICE (MILLIONS) The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon … TITLE PREBOOK GENRE PRICE Wanted 12/2 Now $134.3 Action DVD $29.98, BD $39.98 Universal. 2008. James McAvoy, Morgan Freeman, Angelina Jolie. A seemingly average guy discovers he is the son of a professional assassin, and he possesses the same skills as his father. Also available as a two-disc special edition ($34.98) and as a collectible gift set (DVD $64.98, BD $69.98). Tropic Thunder 11/18 Now $109.8 Comedy DVD $19.99, BD $29.99 Paramount. 2008. Ben Stiller, Robert Downey Jr., Jack Black, Danny McBride. A group of actors making a movie about the Vietnam War find themselves in real danger and must fight to survive. Also available as a two-DVD unrated director’s cut at $24.99. The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor 12/16 11/4 $102.3 Adventure DVD $29.98, BD $39.98 Universal. 2008. Brendan Fraser, Jet Li, Michelle Yeoh, Maria Bello, John Hannah, Luke Ford. In the third film of the franchise, the group battles the mummy of a Chinese emperor. Also available as a two-DVD deluxe edition ($34.98) and in The Mummy Trilogy (DVD $59.98, BD $94.98). Tyler Perry’s The Family That Preys 1/13/09 12/17 $36.6 Drama DVD $29.95 Lionsgate. 2008. Kathy Bates, Alfre Woodard, Sanaa Lathan, Rockmond Dunbar. A wealthy socialite and her working-class friend take a crosscountry road trip to escape (and possibly solve) their family dramas. My Best Friend’s Girl 1/13/09 12/17 $18.9 Comedy DVD $29.95, BD $39.99 Lionsgate. 2008. Kate Hudson, Alec Baldwin, Dane Cook, Jason Biggs. A guy hires his best friend to take his ex-girlfriend on a terrible date to inspire her to reunite with him, but the plan backfires when the best friend falls for the girl. Also available in an unrated version ($29.95). Swing Vote 1/13/09 12/2 $16.3 Comedy DVD $29.99, BD $34.99 Disney. 2008. Kevin Costner, Madeline Carroll, Kelsey Grammer, Dennis Hopper, Nathan Lane, Stanley Tucci, George Lopez. In an unusual turn of events, one man gets to choose the next president of the United States. * In order of box office, then prebook date Home Media Magazine October 19–25, 2008 http://www.homemediamagazine.com
Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Home Media Magazine - October 19-25, 2008 Home Media Magazine - October 19-25, 2008 Contents News Reviews Pipeline Research Top 20 DVD Sellers Top 20 Rentals and Top 10 Charts Just Announced Home Media Magazine - October 19-25, 2008 Home Media Magazine - October 19-25, 2008 - Home Media Magazine - October 19-25, 2008 (Page Cover1) Home Media Magazine - October 19-25, 2008 - Home Media Magazine - October 19-25, 2008 (Page Cover2) Home Media Magazine - October 19-25, 2008 - Home Media Magazine - October 19-25, 2008 (Page 1) Home Media Magazine - October 19-25, 2008 - Home Media Magazine - October 19-25, 2008 (Page 2) Home Media Magazine - October 19-25, 2008 - Contents (Page 3) Home Media Magazine - October 19-25, 2008 - News (Page 4) Home Media Magazine - October 19-25, 2008 - News (Page 5) Home Media Magazine - October 19-25, 2008 - News (Page 6) Home Media Magazine - October 19-25, 2008 - News (Page 7) Home Media Magazine - October 19-25, 2008 - News (Page 8) Home Media Magazine - October 19-25, 2008 - News (Page 9) Home Media Magazine - October 19-25, 2008 - Reviews (Page 10) Home Media Magazine - October 19-25, 2008 - Reviews (Page 11) Home Media Magazine - October 19-25, 2008 - Reviews (Page 12) Home Media Magazine - October 19-25, 2008 - Reviews (Page 13) Home Media Magazine - October 19-25, 2008 - Reviews (Page 14) Home Media Magazine - October 19-25, 2008 - Pipeline (Page 15) Home Media Magazine - October 19-25, 2008 - Pipeline (Page 16) Home Media Magazine - October 19-25, 2008 - Pipeline (Page 17) Home Media Magazine - October 19-25, 2008 - Top 20 DVD Sellers (Page 18) Home Media Magazine - October 19-25, 2008 - Top 20 Rentals and Top 10 Charts (Page 19) Home Media Magazine - October 19-25, 2008 - Top 20 Rentals and Top 10 Charts (Page 20) Home Media Magazine - October 19-25, 2008 - Top 20 Rentals and Top 10 Charts (Page 21) Home Media Magazine - October 19-25, 2008 - Just Announced (Page 22) Home Media Magazine - October 19-25, 2008 - Just Announced (Page 23) Home Media Magazine - October 19-25, 2008 - Just Announced (Page 24) Home Media Magazine - October 19-25, 2008 - Just Announced (Page Cover3) Home Media Magazine - October 19-25, 2008 - Just Announced (Page Cover4)
For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.