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BATMAN LANDS IN STORES…
…AS LANCASTER BOMBS INTO CHARTS
THINGS: BIGGER THAN IT USED TO BE
MUMS GET IN THE CLUB
CARTER SOON AVAILABLE TO GET
ELIZABETH HELPS SIGNATURE REIGN…
…AS COMPANY REVEALS Q3 SLATE…
…WITH A BIG FALL ON THE WAY
BUSTER HEADS EUREKA’S AUGUST…
…AS WHIRLWIND BRINGS MORE
A MONSTROUS RELEASE
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
AT THE MOVIES
TWEET OF THE WEEK
TRAILERS OF THE WEEK
The Batman lands in stores today (Monday June 13 as the latest thrust in a campaign that has seen the Dark Knight become one of the year’s biggest films and is now helping it turn into a huge home entertainment hit. The film arrives within the usual PR activity and comes on the back of a digital performance that has already seen it hit the top slot in the Official Film Chart (although it only spent a week at number one before Top Gun ousted it once again – although this week’s physical bow will help it return to the top as the musical chairs between the latest in a long-running franchise and the original in another play musical chairs. The release kicks off a busy week for Warner, what with the Warner-distributed Pathé release The Duke as well as the likes of The Nam Movie ensuring a diverse and hefty slate from the major. Meanwhile, The Batman is earning plaudits for the quality of the disc and its numerous extras. As techie website The Digital Bits noted: “Simply put, this is a gorgeous and beautifully-textured presentation, delivered in reference-quality 4K.
What impresses here is the sheer variety of sonic environments, not to mention the near-constant overhead channel activity, and the subtle sound cues that can be heard even in the film’s quietest moments.”
Highest new entry in the Official Film Chart comes from Altitude with its Lancaster documentary, in at number six on the back of its carefully panned release and the company’s Adam Eldrett told The Raygun: “It's been fantastic to be working with the same team who made Spitfire, we have again brought an outstanding documentary to the big screen and released simultaneously across Home Entertainment. Our pre-release for the DVD and Blu Ray started several months ago and we saw a huge drive in sales as our campaign truly kicked in ahead of release, for a while last week Lancaster and Top Gun were having their own dog fight in the physical charts and we have been delighted with the performance so far across physical and digital where we also saw the film fly high up the EST charts.
Industry-backed film and TV listings site FindAnyFilm, which aims to help direct consumers into where to find films legally, has teamed up with parent website MumsNet to help families find the best films to watch rather than endlessly scrolling. The What To Watch Club will offer complimentary review copies to MumsNetters, as well as competitions and plentiful reviews recommending what to watch. Regularly updated with new home entertainment releases, it will build into a comprehensive guide as to recommended viewing and tie in with the industy’s quarterly What To Watch trailers. The first batch of titles to be included takes in Cinderella, Death On The Nile, Downton Abbey: A New Era, Lancaster, Mobius, The Lost City, Turning Red, Gentleman Jack and more. Gemma from MumsNet said: “Mumsnet is incredibly excited to be partnering with FindAnyFilm to launch our very own What to Watch Club. Mumsnet users are avid TV and film enthusiasts, and they love to talk about it, with our TV and film boards receiving 12 million page views in this year alone! Creating a What to Watch Club will allow our users to engage with one another through their shared love of film and TV, whilst building and generating huge excitement and buzz around the newest films and shows to own and rent at home, for the perfect family night in.”
To the BFI Southbank to see a screening of the recently restored British crime classic Get Carter, the 1971 film that's being given a new lease of life by the BFI. The screening saw legendary post-punk and beyond bass player Jah Wobble, formerly of Public Image Ltd, talking about his love of the film and its Roy Budd score with the BFI's Jason Wood, who is among those working on the Blu-ray due out in July. Wobble is among the contributors to the disc, talking about the score and he told the packed audience; "I sent mental for it, who else was using tablas at the time? Only Miles Davis on On The Corner and Roy Budd." Wobble and his Invaders of the Heart group have recently covered the main theme to Get Carter and hearing him recite lines and impersonating the bass ("it's that bassline, it's jazz," he noted). He also discussed his time flogging dodgy pirated copies of A Clockwork Orange many, many years ago and how he instigated band screenings of films to inspire, with Get Carter featuring heavily. "This really is one of the most special films ever, one of the greatest British films of all-time." Get Carter is out in its all-singing, all-dancing restored Blu-ray version on July 25. 
our releases are really speaking for themselves this year. We’re being more pro-active in the theatrical space too, and we’ve got more on the production side as well/ There’s lots and lots happening over here.” The quarter kicks off with World War II action – a genre that Signature has excelled in – in the shape of Operation Wolf Hound (July 4 EST and VOD, July 25 DVD), which boasts strong action sequences and VFX. “It’s an amazing looking thriller, it boasts some great dogfights,” said Signature’s Emilie Barra, noting its impressive aerial shots were co-ordinated by experts who’d worked on the likes of Dunkirk and further features original WWII planes. It’s followed by Rubikon (EST, VOD and DVD, July 11) which follows a group of astronauts looking down on a world in peril and facing a moral dilemma as well as some equally impressive special effects, making for a weightier than average sci-fi thriller. Bruce Willis has long been a Signature stalwart and he appears for what could be one of his final outings following the announcement that he’s stepping back from acting in Fortress sequel subtitled Sniper’s Eye alongside younger action starts Jesse Metcalfe and Chad Michael Murray (July 11 EST and TVOD, July 18 DVD). July 18 also sees an EST and VOD release for Executive Order, a dystopian thriller from Brazil which highlights the current political climate in the country and will also benefit from the controversy surrounding the film being banned in its native country by the repressive regime. “It’s more relevant than ever,” said Barra.
A week later sees an EST and VOD for the latest children’s animated outing from Signature, another area it has excelled in, with Rabbit Academy. It plays younger than many of the family films currently appearing at cinemas and has performed admirably at the box office – it is the biggest independent family film at UK screens this year and played at more than 300 screens. On the same date comes the more grown-up “high impact, adrenaline-fuelled explosive action film” Special Delivery, a Korean Fast and Furious-style film starring So-Dam Park from Parasite. The Reef franchise continues with The Reef: Stalked, another shark attack thriller, a perennially popular genre for Signature and the wider industry. Due on EST on July 29 and VOD and DVD on August 8, it sees a party on a kayaking holiday coming up against one of man’s greatest foes.
Continuing with Signature’s Q4 and on August 1 on EST and DVD comes Scandi-drama The Emigrants, another genre proving increasingly fruitful for Signature (witness the recent success of The Innocents and the accompanying PR coverage), which follows a family heading to the US and stars another Skarsgard family member in the shape of Gustav. Meanwhile Mel Gibson returns to the action fray with bomb disposal thriller Hot Seat due on August 5 on EST and 10 days later on VOD and DVD. Alongside Gibson, this Die Hard 3-esque actioner also features Sam Asghari, the new Mr Britney Spears. Also on August 15 on EST and VOD is The Hating Game – as Emilie Barra said: “It’s a great twist on the romcom genre. Lucy Hale is a great selling point and she has a huge following on socials especially for young millennials and Gen Z fans. She’s already supported the title on social media and she will again.” The biggest Q3 release for Signature is Fall, due at cinemas on August 19. Its commercial potential is highlighted by the fact it’s from the producers of 47 Meters Down. It follows two intrepid adrenaline junkies who decide to climb up an abandoned radio tower. Barra said: “As you can imagine, things don’t go according to plan. We all have various tastes in the marketing team, but we were all raving about this the next day. It’s really high concept, really clever and keeps you on your toes all the way through. The VFX really bring the film to life, you really believe it and they make it a really cinematic proposition.”
And in to September with Signature’s Q3 and just in time for the 25th anniversary of its launch, Kick Out The Jams: The Story of XFM (September 2 EST and September 19 VOD), a documentary about the legendary station. Barra said: “It’s a definitive look at all the people involved since its inception and looks at the huge cultural impact it had in the UK and beyond. It features all the main people as talking heads, including the likes of Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant and loads of unseen footage of bands from the Britpop era. We’re looking to do a VIP preview screening with all the main people involved
Also revealing forthcoming titles has been Eureka, outlining its plans for August. As ever, the company’s Marcus Garwood said: “There's plenty for film collector fans to get excited about this August as we take a sweep across several genres and several big names. Comedy first as our Masters Of Cinema imprint brings Buster Keaton's first feature film appearance to Blu-ray as a UK debut. Directed by Herbert Blaché back in 1920, The Saphead is based on a popular stage play and sees Bertie Van Alstyne (played by Keaton) wander through a variety of misadventures, including an attempt at courtship, a trip to an illegal gambling den, and a tumble onto the floor of the Stock Exchange, all the while being oblivious to the obstacles that stand before him. The role became hugely important in shaping Buster Keaton's on-screen persona: the lonely, stone-faced man thwarted by circumstance, inept at the art of romance, yet undaunted in his struggle for love within a chaotic world. A must have for any Comedy / Buster Keaton fan.
Continuing with Eureka’s August slate, the company’s Marcus Garwood said: “Action genre next with a double bill set of martial arts films, both starring the incredible Angela Mao. Often cited as a female equivalent to Bruce Lee, the two films contained in this set (Hapkido and Lady Whirlwind) certainly prove that point with incredible fight sequences involving neck breaks, throws, plus head and groin kicks (ouch!). Both films make their debuts on Blu-ray from brand new 2K restorations and it's the first time Lady Whirlwind has ever been available in the UK. The set is encased in a limited edition O-card slipcase featuring new artwork by Darren Wheeling and contained inside is a stunning limited edition reversible poster featuring original theatrical poster artwork. Disc extras are plentiful, including several new feature length audio commentaries available for each film. The set is rounded off with a limited edition collector’s booklet featuring new writing by James Oliver. This one is sure to move as fast as one of Angela Mao’s round kicks, so best get your pre order in early. The third genre we are visiting this month is Western as we proudly present 1955's Man Without A Star. Directed by multi Oscar-nominated King Vidor (The Champ, War and Peace, Hallelujah) and starring multi award-winning actor Kirk Douglas (Spartacus, Ace In The Hole, The Vikings) the film is a classic action-packed Western as a wandering cowboy (played by Douglas) becomes embroiled in a bloody dispute between rival ranchers. The release appears on our Masters Of Cinema imprint as a UK debut on Blu-ray and contains a collector’s booklet featuring a new essay on the film by film writer Rich Johnson, and a new piece by critic Richard Combs about the Western films of King Vidor."
Just announced from Koch Films, an arm of the games giant that has long dabbled in the film world, is a July 11 release for Christina Ricci horror outing Monstrous, in which a mum and her son aim to get away from an abusive ex to a remote lakeside, only to find something monstrous lurking in the water. It’ll be available via Sky Store, Virgin, Apple, Amazon, Google Play and more and as director Chris Sivertson commented: “Monstrous is a mashup - supernatural horror, 50’s period piece, family drama, creature feature, psychological thriller - but above all it’s a character study”. He adds: “It’s impossible to talk about Monstrous without talking about the sublime Christina Ricci. A phenomenal performer, she carries the movie on her shoulders every step of the way. She evokes deep empathy for a single mother who’s trying to keep her world from crumbling to pieces”.
QUOTES OF THE WEEK
“This result clearly shows that supplying illegal streams is a criminal offence leading to prison sentences and significant financial consequences. We are pleased the courts have recognised the seriousness of piracy-related crimes and the Premier League has requested all money recovered goes back to public bodies, including law enforcement agencies, to help them continue the fantastic work they do in helping bring people like this to justice.
“The vast majority of our fans watch Premier League action via authorised sources but for those who don’t, they must be aware this is not only an illegal activity that can lead to custodial sentences but they also risk becoming victims of hacking and fraud. We will continue to work with law enforcement to tackle piracy of our content and to educate fans on the dangers of watching Premier League matches via unauthorised streams.”
Premier League General Counsel Kevin Plumb
"This is a warning to anyone selling subscriptions or devices that allow access to content without remunerating the legitimate provider – you risk time in jail and the loss of your properties, cars and other proceeds of crime. FACT will continue to work with the Premier League and other rights holders to crack down on illegal streaming and to hold those behind it accountable for their actions."
FACT CEO Kieron Sharp
The pair were speaking after illegal streaming mastermind Steven King, who ran the Dreambox operation providing illegal streaming devices to homes and pubs and clubs, was ordered to pay back almost £1 million to the public purse. He has three months to pay or will have a further six years added to the serve year four-month sentence he was given back in 2019.
AT THE MOVIES
The third series of Prime Video’s blockbuster comic book adaptation The Boys, one of the mainstays of the streaming service, has only just started airing on the Amazon-owned platform, but it has now been renewed for a fourth season. The news come as weekly episodes are added to the first three which made their debut last week. The series, based Jon the Mark Millar comics, has already got an animated spin-off with another live action offshoot also currently in production. Vernon Sanders, head of global television, Amazon Studios said “From our first conversation with Eric Kripke and the creative team about Season Three of The Boys, we knew the show was continuing to get even bolder—an impressive feat considering the wild success of the Emmy-nominated second season. The Boys continues to push boundaries in storytelling while also being relentlessly entertaining and threading the needle on social satire that feels all too real. This stylized world of the series has incredible global reach and the viewership for opening weekend is proof of that. We are immensely proud of the cast and crew that has spawned a franchise for Prime Video, and we look forward to bringing more of The Boys to our customers.” The Boys showrunnger Eric Kri[ke said: “Speaking for the cast and crew, we’re so grateful to Sony, Amazon, and most of all the fans for embracing the show and allowing us to make more. We’re thrilled to continue Butcher and the Boys’ fight against Homelander and the Seven, as well as comment on the insane world we’re living in. Also, this is the first time in history that exploding genitalia has led to further success.” The Boys producers and cast have proven year after year that there is no bar they can’t jump over," Jeff Frost, President, Sony Pictures Television and Jason Clodfelter, co-President, Sony Pictures Television added: ”We are incredibly proud of this brilliant and subversive genre bending series. Our relationship with Prime Video is much more than a partnership, it's more like extended family. Everyone here at Sony Pictures Television is thankful to join Prime Video and Eric Kripke for another successful season.”
Meanwhile, the Annecy International Animation Film Festival has seen Netflix announce a major slate of animated titles, taking in both feature films and series too. These include Spanish movie Ember, an adventure tale from Klaus director Serio Pablos; a new take on A Christmas Carol from the UK’s Timeless Film; a first animated feature from Richard Curtis in the shape of That Christmas and a new film from Wallace & Gromit Curse Of The Were Rabbit helmer Steve Box. Series include British outings Bad Dinosaurs and Wereworlds as well as series from Italy in Mermaid Magic and France (The Seven Bears).
TWEET OF THE WEEK
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Due from Vertigo…
This looks serious…
Yes
Black Bird trailer flies in…
Krige at war…
https://youtu.be/GG6fp2hHjV0
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