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  • Never say die (to the laserdisc)

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    Panasonic has finally announced that it will discontinue the production of its line of Laserdisc players. Laserdisc was a format created in the early 70s that failed to gain a following against the more popular and user friendly VHS format. It was technologically superior, but expensive and cumbersome, not to mention huge. The discs were almost a foot in diameter!

    The technology that was developed during the use of the laserdisc helped make what the CD, DVD and even the Blu-ray formats what they are today.

    I myself remember using laserdiscs in elementary school; there was a binder full of bar codes, and you would scan a picture or section from the book with the remote, and the laserdisc would pull up the information on the screen. I also remember a couple of instances where the discs were badly damaged after one short fall.

    While it’s sad to see a format go, it’s way overdue in the case of the Laserdisc. Thank you for DVDs and Digital Video!

    Sources:
    Wikipedia
    Engadget

    Do you have a Laserdisc player? Tell us below!

  • YouTube breaks radio’s heart

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    YouTube has recently enacted a new copyright policy that differs from their usual routine of deleting uploaded user videos. In fact, one might say it’s even worse: they are removing the audio of videos that included copyrighted  and commercial music. That comprises of a very LARGE amount of videos that face audio removal, from parodies to family videos!

    Once again the music industry is making matters worse for their consumers. The free publicity offered by all the fans using their favorite artists’ music in their own personal and expressive videos will soon be no longer.

    I understand that using a clip of a commercial song in a video without explicit permission is against copyright law, but why is the RIAA targeting Joe Schmoe and his family home videos? Come on.

    This could be bad news for YouTube reign on internet video uploading, and the consequences of this oppressive new copyright measure could very well spread to other video sharing sites. A great way to start off a new year on the Internet, that’s for sure.

    Source:
    http://mashable.com/2009/01/14/youtube-mutes-videos/

    Watch ‘em if you’ve got ‘em, folks. What do you think about the latest move from YouTube? Tell us below!

  • If movie posters told the truth…

    Wouldn’t it be great if you could see a movie poster and not be fooled by deceptive marketing? It comes as a great disappointment to most when they see a great looking movie poster or trailer, decide to watch said movie, and are sorry they did watch it afterwards.

    Well, fear not; holytaco.com has taken some of Hollywood’s biggest misleading movie posters, and performed some slight revisions to better display what the movies really are to prospective viewers.

    These graphics are great! See for yourself:
    http://www.holytaco.com/if-movie-posters-were-honest

    What do you think about misleading movie posters? Do you think that more resources should be spent on improving the movie rather than tricking people into watching it? Tell us below!

  • Lost Returns for Season 5

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    After the debacle caused by last year’s writer’s strike, ABC’s hit show Lost will commence its fifth season on January 21, 2009 with a three-hour premiere consisting of a clip-show and two back-to-back new episodes.

    The series was originally planned to end during the 2009-2010 season. Beginning with the 2007–2008 television season, the final 48 episodes would have been aired as three seasons with 16 episodes each, with Lost concluding in its sixth season. Due to the writers strike, the fourth season featured 14 episodes, and seasons five and six will have 17 episodes each.

    I have loosely followed the show since its start, and have enjoyed it. It seems to be pretty deep, and you have to watch an episode several times to get all the information in it. I know several people (especially my parents) who have eagerly awaited the new season. I have no doubt that the events in the next two seasons will be more entralling than the previous four seasons!

    Are you excited about the new season of Lost? Tell us below!

  • Bring It On

    This is the first review from SquidFlicks author Stephanie Sikes!

    Intro:

    A fierce competition between two high school cheer squads brings up another rivalry; one of race. Allegations of stolen routines and fights between the two schools leads to their face-off for the cheer championship. With only one chance to prove who’s the best once and for all, it’s time to bring it on!

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  • Blood Diner

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    This is a guest review from jdog, aka Jason Beckman. Thanks for the submission Jason!

    Director: Jackie Kong
    Writer: Micheal Sonye
    Starring:

    • Rick Burns
    • Carl Crew
    • Roger Dauer
    • Lanette Lafrance
    • Lias Guggenheim

    Release Date: July 1987 (USA)
    Run Time: 88 min
    Genre: Horror/Comedy
    Tag Line: First they greet you, then they eat you.

    Intro:

    Blood Diner is a weird horror/comedy that focuses on two brothers, Micheal Tutman (Rick Burns), George Tutman (Carl Crew), and their wacky, serial killer uncle, Anwar Tutman (Drew Goggars). (Who is, as I should also add, just a brain with eyes in a jar.)

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  • Basket Case

     

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    Intro:

    All of our families have secrets. Like a child with an illness or disorder. For some reason, one member is embarrassed of it, and doesn’t even want them in their sights. I find that pretty low, and lousy ya know? If my son ever had an illness or deformity I wouldn’t shun him away, I’d embrace him like the family he is to me, not like the dad did in the 1982 release of Frank Henenlotter’s “Basket Case.”

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  • Weekend Box Office: Dec. 26-28

    Here’s a late update for the last box office weekend in 2008! This weekend was great for debuts, with four of the five movies in the top five premiering during the previous week!

    Marley and Me debuted with a smashing $36.4 million, and Bedtime Stories, featuring Adam Sandler in his first Disney film, debuted in second place with a respectable $27.5 million.

    The Curious Case of Benjamin Button lands in third with $26.9 million in earnings, a very close finish to second place.

    Valkyrie, starring Tom Cruise debuts in fourth place at $21 million, while Jim Carrey’s performance in Yes Man earns $16.7 million and places fifth in its third week of screening.

    These big totals don’t seem to show a recession, do they? 😉

    Weekend Top 5:

    Statistics are provided by Box Office Mojo

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  • Commissioner Gordon of Batman Series dies

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    Pat Hingle, or better recognized as Commissioner Gordon of the popular Batman series, passed away Saturday, January 3rd around 10 p.m.  He died in his home of more than 15 years, which is located in Carolina Beach.

    He starred in many films over his career, but he is best known as Commissioner Gordon throughout Tim Burton’s Batman and Batman Returns, as well as Joel Schumacher’s Batman Forever and Batman and Robin.

    Already the new year has started with another loss to the acting community. Let’s hope that everyone stays healthy for the rest of the year!

    Source:

    http://www.moviehole.net/200917186-batman-star-dies

  • Bedtime Stories

     

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    Intro:

    Adam Sandler is funny. Granted, we all know this, and I’m sure most people have seen at least one of his movies. Bedtime Stories, however, is a bit different from his other films, in that it’s a children’s movie. It’s also Sandler’s first movie with Walt Disney Co.

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