The Box on Blu-ray and DVD, Plus More

THE BOX on Blu-ray and DVD, CIRQUE DU FREAK: VAMPIRE'S ASSISTANT on Blu-ray and DVD, JUSTICE LEAGUE: CRISIS ON TWO EARTHS on Blu-ray and DVD, SUPERJAIL COMPLETE SEASON 1 on DVD, TOWER OF DRUAGA 2: SWORD OF URUK on DVD.

THE BOX on Blu-ray and DVD

Editor's note: Read our feature article on the film and our article featuring Thomas Tannenberger, overall visual effects supervisor, and co-founder of Gradient Effects with Olcun Tan. He says the greatest challenge was digitally reconstructing the half of Langella's face.

"We used an on-set motion capture process based on witness cameras," Tannenberger explains about the work done two years ago. "We had at the very least four cameras trained on him that were set up in a semi-circle or, depending on his movements, to any given thing. And essentially what this does -- and we used available software [Moviemento] as well as our own in-house software [at Gradient Effects with Tan serving as digital supervisor] -- is triangulating his position in the space in front of camera. From this, we subtracted his head movements and from that, in turn, we subtracted his facial movements, which would give us the camera position, his head position in space and drive the rig that we built for his face and the missing parts. And for the more subtle movements, we built our own tools to give us more detail and extract more animation out of the face."

Synopsis

Push a red button on a little black box, get a million bucks cash. Just like that, all of Norma (Diaz) and Arthur Lewis’s (Marsden) financial problems will be over. But there’s a catch, according to the strange visitor (Lagella) who placed the box on the couple’s doorstep. Someone, somewhere – someone they don’t know – will die. Cameron Diaz and James Marsden play a couple confronted by agonizing temptation yet unaware they’re already part of an orchestrated an – for them and us – mind-blowing chain of events.

Director: Richard Kelly

Cast: Cameron Diaz, Frank Langella, Holmes Osborne, James Marsden, James Rebhorn

Studio: Warner Bros.

Darko Entertainment

Special Features:

Richard Mattheson: In His Own Words

Packaging Type: Eco Amaray Case

Genre: Horror

CIRQUE DU FREAK: VAMPIRE'S ASSISTANT on Blu-ray and DVD

Editor's note: Read our feature article on the film. Todd Shifflett (ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS, CHARLOTTE'S WEB) of Rhythm & Hues supervised the vfx (with Matt Logue serving as animation director), and he discussed the challenges and working with director Paul Weitz: "It's interesting in that it's a vampire movie without blood," states Shifflett. "So it was an opportunity to do convey a quirky, creepy, light-hearted feeling."

Not surprisingly, given R&H's strong character strength, they were responsible for a set of characters, each with its own quirk. This included Rhamus Twobellies, who eats different pieces of metal and puts them back together, twists them in his stomach and turns them into a bicycle; and Mr. Tiny and his team of little people, including Harkat Mulds, who is entirely CG; Octa, a very vibrant and animated female spider.

Plot Summary: "Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant," based on the popular series of books by Darren Shan, is a fantasy-adventure about a teenager who unknowingly breaks a 200-year-old truce between two warring factions of vampires. Pulled into a fantastic life of misunderstood sideshow freaks and grotesque creatures of the night, one teen will vanish from the safety of a boring existence and fulfill his destiny in a place drawn from nightmares.

16-year-old Darren (Chris Massoglia) was like most kids in his suburban neighborhood. He hung out with his best friend Steve (Josh Hutcherson), got decent grades and usually stayed out of trouble. But when he and his buddy stumble upon a traveling freak show, things begin to change inside Darren. That's the exact moment when a vampire named Larten Crepsley (John C. Reilly) turns him into something, well, bloodthirsty.

Newly undead, he joins the Cirque Du Freak, a touring sideshow filled with monstrous creatures from a snakeboy and a wolfman to a bearded lady (Salma Hayek) and a gigantic barker (Ken Watanabe). As Darren flexes his newfound powers in this dark world, he becomes a treasured pawn between the vampires and their deadlier counterparts. And while trying to survive, one boy will struggle to keep their brewing war from devouring what's left of his humanity. (From COMINGSOON.NET)

Universal Studios Home Entertainment

Audience Rating PG-13

Theatrical Release Oct 23, 2009

Cast: Chris Massoglia, John C. Reilly, Ken Watanabe, Salma Hayek, Willem Dafoe, Patrick Fugit, Orlando Jones, Jane Krakowski, Josh Hutcherson, Ray Stevenson, Michael Cerveris, Frankie Faison, Kristen Schaal

Director: Paul Weitz

Cinematographer: J. Michael Muro

Editor: Leslie Jones

Video 1080p 2.35:1

Audio DTS-HD MA 5.1

Disc BD50

BD Live

Release Date Feb 23, 2010

List Price $36.98

Rating PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)

JUSTICE LEAGUE: CRISIS ON TWO EARTHS on Blu-ray and DVD

Press Release from DC Universe

BURBANK, CA – To save our world and all those like it, SUPERMAN, BATMAN and their caped colleagues must go toe-to-toe with their evil mirror images in Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths, the seventh entry in the successful ongoing series of DC UNIVERSE Animated Original PG-13 Movies coming February 23, 2010 from Warner Premiere, DC Comics and Warner Bros. Animation. The full-length animated film will be distributed by Warner Home Video as a Special Edition 2-disc version on DVD and Blu-Ray Hi-Def for $24.98 (SRP) and $29.99 (SRP), respectively, as well as single disc DVD for $19.98 (SRP). The film will also be available On Demand and Download.

Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths is an original story from award-winning animation/comics writer Dwayne McDuffie (Justice League) rooted in DC Comics’ popular canon of “Crisis” stories depicting parallel worlds with uniquely similar heroes and villains. Bruce Timm (Superman Doomsday) is executive producer. Lauren Montgomery (Wonder Woman, Green Lantern: First Flight) and Sam Liu (Superman/Batman: Public Enemies) are co-directors.

In Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths, a “good” LEX LUTHOR arrives from an alternate universe to recruit the JUSTICE LEAGUE to help save his Earth from the Crime Syndicate, a gang of villainous characters with virtually identical super powers to the JUSTICE LEAGUE. What ensues is the ultimate battle of good versus evil in a war that threatens both planets and, through a diabolical plan launched by OWLMAN, puts the balance of all existence in peril.

The movie features an all-star voice cast led by Mark Harmon (NCIS) as SUPERMAN, James Woods (Ghosts of Mississippi) as OWLMAN, Chris Noth (Sex and the City, Law & Order) as LEX LUTHOR, William Baldwin (Dirty Sexy Money) as BATMAN, Gina Torres (Serenity, Firefly) as SUPERWOMAN and Bruce Davison (X-Men) as the President.

Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths - 2 Disc Special Edition version will have more than two hours of incredible bonus features, including:

* DC Showcase - The Spectre: The first animated short in the all-new DC Showcase series focuses on a detective story with an ethereal twist, featuring the otherworldly character originally introduced by DC Comics in 1940. The short is written by Steve Niles (30 Days of Night), and the voice cast includes Gary Cole (Entourage) and Alyssa Milano (Charmed).

* Featurette – “The New World”: From Identity Crisis forward, DC Comics raised the stakes with talent writers, editors and artists pushing the boundaries of what it means to be a modern day Super Hero. This documentary covers the riveting and often harrowing tale of New York Times bestselling author Brad Meltzer’s “Identity Crisis,” and why this story struck the right chord with the comic book audience. The story is a personal one for the creator, as well as the DC Comics executives’ fortunate enough to have been a part of this mature comic book publication. While revealing the strategy and sentiments behind this comic book, the documentary film goes a step further to explore the continuing and recent publications of “Infinite Crisis” and “Final Crisis,” while crafted with the narration of “The Dark Knight” Executive Producer Michael Uslan. The tension is high, the story is personal, and the stakes have been raised!

* Extended Sneak Peek at the next DC UNIVERSE Animated Original PG-13 Movie.

* Digital Copy Download

* Widescreen (1.78:1)

* Two Episodes of Justice League Unlimited hand-picked by animation legend Bruce Timm

Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths Blu-Ray versions will have more than three hours of bonus materials, including all the great extras from the 2-disc Special Edition and two additional episodes from Justice League Unlimited, both personally selected by fan-favorite Bruce Timm, plus television pilot episodes from the DC live-action shows: Wonder Woman, and Aquaman.

“Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths is an outstanding representation of the DC Universe series of groundbreaking animated films coming from creative forces within DC Comics, Warner Premiere, Warner Bros. Animation and Warner Home Video,” said Matt Bierman, Senior Vice President Production, Warner Premiere. “It is a testament to the team effort between those four divisions that brings forth a feature-length animated original PG-13 film bursting with great storytelling, memorable characters and impressive animation. This is truly a blockbuster animated film.”

“We’re very excited to present an original story from renowned writer Dwayne McDuffie that takes the JUSTICE LEAGUE mythology and spins it on its ear with parallel worlds echoed in so many classic DC ‘Crisis’ tales,” said Gregory Noveck, Senior VP Creative Affairs, DC Comics. “This is a thinking man’s hero movie with a set of villains determined to succeed and one focused on complete intergalactic annihilation – so just as the stakes are that much higher, so is the intensity of the action with these legendary characters.”

"DC UNIVERSE films continue to stretch the creative boundaries of comics-to-film presentations, and Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths offers fans another vision of these iconic characters brought forth by outstanding animation talent – led by executive producer Bruce Timm – and an inspired voice cast featuring the stellar talents of Mark Harmon, Chris Noth, William Baldwin, Gina Torres and James Woods,” said Amit Desai, WHV Vice President of Family, Animation & Partner Brand Marketing.

“The co-direction of Lauren Montgomery and Sam Liu merges the best of the last three DC UNIVERSE films with a fine balance of intelligence, emotion and more action than even two Earths can handle,” said Sam Register, Executive Vice President, Warner Bros. Animation.

About Warner Premiere:

Warner Premiere is Warner Bros. Entertainment’s direct-to-consumer production company focused on the development, production and marketing of feature-length content, as well as short form digital content for the growing home entertainment market. Warner Premiere is committed to being at the creative forefront in the evolution of quality product in the direct-to-DVD business and the digital space, creating material that exemplifies the commitment to story, production and brand equity for which Warner Bros. is known.

About Warner Home Video

With operations in 90 international territories, Warner Home Video, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, a division of the Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group, commands the largest distribution infrastructure in the global video marketplace. Warner Home Video's film library is the largest of any studio, offering top quality new and vintage titles from the repertoires of Warner Bros. Pictures, Turner Entertainment, Castle Rock Entertainment, HBO Video and New Line Home Entertainment.

About Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group brings together Warner Bros. Entertainment's home video, digital distribution, interactive entertainment/videogames, direct-to-DVD production, technical operations and anti-piracy businesses in order to maximize current and next-generation distribution scenarios. WBHEG is responsible for the global distribution of content through DVD, electronic sell-through and VOD, and delivery of theatrical content to wireless and online channels, and is also a significant worldwide publisher for both internal and third party videogame titles.

About DC Comics:

DC Comics, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, is the largest English-language publisher of comics in the world and home to such iconic characters as Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and the Sandman. These DC Super Heroes and others have starred in comic books, movies, television series (both animated and live-action) and cyberspace, thrilling audiences of all ages for generations. DC Comics’ Web site is located at www.dccomics.com.

DC SUPER HEROES and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and DC Comics.

About Warner Bros. Animation:

Warner Bros. Animation (WBA) has been producing award-winning original animation since 1930, when it released its first cartoon, “Sinkin' in the Bathtub.” Since then, WBA’s characters have set the standard for innovative, quality animation. Producing for network and cable television, online, home entertainment and feature films both domestically and internationally, WBA is highly respected for its creative and technical excellence, as well as for maintaining the studio’s rich cartoon heritage. WBA also oversees the creative use and production of animated programming based on classic cartoon characters from the Hanna-Barbera and DC Comics libraries. WBA is one of the most-honored animation studios in history, garnering a grand total of six Academy Awards, 35 Emmy Awards, the George Foster Peabody Award, the HUMANITAS prize, two Prism Awards and 20 Annie Awards.

SUPERJAIL COMPLETE SEASON 1 on DVD

Synopsis

Discover why serving hard time in the world's most extreme prison is brutally funny when Adult Swim and Warner Home Video introduce Superjail! Season 1 to DVD. Built in an active volcano, Superjail! population is made up of dangerous criminals, fantastic creatures, and a prison warden who has gone bonkers. The infamous complex routinely has riots and murders, and while the criminals of Superjail! may escape time to time, their horrible crimes eventually bring them back. Featuring all episodes from the show's first season, Superjail! Season 1 is also loaded with bonus features including the pilot episode, "Bunny Love," the "Comin' Home" music video by Cheeseburger and animatics.

Format: Color, DVD, Animated, Subtitled, NTSC

Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo)

Subtitles: English

Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)

Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1

Number of discs: 1

Studio: Warner Home Video

Adult Swim

DVD Release Date: February 23, 2010

Run Time: 111 minutes