08 May 2013 - 'Boy' is finally coming to North America, in the form of R1 DVD and Region A Blu-ray, starting 09 July 2013. Pre-orders ($25-30us) are being taken by the usual suspects. The general theatrical release date for 'Mr. Pip' has been set for 03 October 2013, but I do not yet know if that is for all markets. I should point out that I have found a source for new DVD copies of 'Flight of the Albatross'. They are officially OOP, but the producer still has some copies, so those of you that have been looking, get them while you can.
27 April 2013 - Good news for those of you in the US and Canada - 'The Navigator' is again available on an R1 DVD, starting 30 April. It is presented 1.85:1, enhanced for 16x9 and has optional English subtitles. There is yet another Lord of the Rings offering being released 07 May; this time it is a Blu-ray disc in Steelbook packaging. It contains both the theatrical version and the extended version, all on one flipper disc. There is a second disc that contains a two hour documentary. As I understand it, the movie disc contains some code that allows for not duplicating the scenes common to both versions, thereby allowing for a more compact (re: cheaper) offering. The three titles are packaged separately with prices ranging from $20-25us for each title. Fresh Meat can now be viewed online at Amazon(US) for $3.99
16 April 2013 - As of today, a VOD of Danny Mulheron's horror comedy, 'Fresh Meat', should be available from Virgin Media's UK site. I would appreciate someone there emailing me to confirm that is so. I now have a page up for the film, since it is now available on DVD from New Zealand resellers. It is also scheduled to start a theatrical run in the US next week, but probably only in the major markets.
04 April 2013 - If you haven't visited the Sneak Peek Trailers Page recently, you might consider taking a look since, among other films, there is a link to a trailer for 'Mr. Pip'. No, I do not have a general release date yet for Mr. Pip, but I will post it here once I do. After a suprisingly long delay, 'Whale Rider' is finally going to be available on Blu-ray. Starting 24 April, you can purchase copies from Australian and New Zealand resellers.
23 March 2013 - The winner of the first "Make My Movie" project, 'How to meet girls from a Distance', is now included in this database. It was made in six months with only $100,000., plus a little additional financial assist for promotion. Since it is now available on disc in North America, information on 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' has been added with links and reviews. Additional details regarding disc versions available in other markets will be added as they become available. You might want to check the Sneak Peek Trailers Page as additional trailers have been added recently.
06 March 2013 - A summary of known DVD, Blu-ray and 3D Blu-ray released dates for 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey': 19 March - United States and Canada 22 March - Mexico 08 April - United Kingdom and Norway 09 April - Italy and Spain 11 April - Russia and Kazakhstan 17 April - Netherlands and Japan 19 April - Germany, France and Czech Republic 01 May - Australia and New Zealand.
04 March 2013 - Worldwide, 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' has reached the billion dollar mark and is still going well in some territories, although it has slowed down in New Zealand where it is now only available on 14 screens, but so far it has reached a total of $11,489,900 at New Zealand cinemas. 'Mt. Zion' is continuing to have a strong showing on 46 New Zealand screens with a total take of $1,105,200 after 3+ weeks; it starts its run in Australian cinemas 14 March. The next New Zealand produced film, 'The Red House', starts its general theatrical run also on 14 March.
01 March 2013 - IT'S OFFICIAL - The third Hobbit installment, 'The Hobbit: There and Back Again', has had its theatrical release date moved to 17 December 2014. Information and mp3 sample tracks are now available for the 'Mt. Zion' soundtrack. DVD releases are scheduled for 'How to meet girls from a Distance' (14 March), and 'Fresh Meat' (10 April). To 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' DVD, Blu-ray and 3D Blu-ray release dates listed below, you can add 01 May for Australia and New Zealand.
Although it is being released as a television mini-series and therefore I will not be adding it to this database, still I thought I should bring your attention to a first for Jane Campion. 'Top of the Lake' will start showing on the US Sundance Channel 18 March, on the UKTV Channel in Australia and New Zealand starting 24 March and BBC Two starting 22 April. It will be available for DVD purchase starting in late April. This fascinating crime drama features Holly Hunter, Elisabeth Moss, Sarah Valentine, Peter Mullan, Cohen Holloway and David Wenham and was shot in the Queenstown area.
11 February 2013 - It is official - The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey will be released in the U.S., and Canada, on Blu-ray, 3D Blu-ray and DVD 19 March 2013. It would appear that it will not be available in the UK until 8 April. It is scheduled for Blu-ray, 3D Blu-ray and DVD in Germany starting 19 April. As other territory dates are confirmed, the info will be posted here. Click on the preceeding link for further details, including info on the live "first look" of 'The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug', hosted by Peter Jackson.
09 January 2013 - 'The New Zealand People's Choice Movie Awards' have been announced and 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' has won the Best Movie of 2012 award, with Peter Jackson taking the Best Director award. The best New Zealand Movie award was given to 'Two Little Boys' (which will be released to DVD and Blu-ray 24 January. For further details and information about the other award winners, click on the following link to The Great Flicks NZ Website.
Having reached the NZ box office level of $9,572,800 in its first month, 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' is now the fourth highest grossing NZ feature film. So now the question is, will it overcome 'The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King'? Since it has at least three more months in which to accomplish that feat, I predict it will. The next question is, do we really have to wait nine months for it to come out on disc?
07 January 2013 - As 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' is about to approach the end of its first month in theatres, I think it is safe to say that it will be joining the worldwide billion dollar club as well as the New Zealand ten million dollar level and it has yet to be released into mainland Chinese theatres (15 February). To those who have been hesitant to see it due to so many lukewarm, even negative reviews, go and form your own opinion. If 3D and high frame rate issues are the reason, then go to a standard 2D showing, for I promise it is still worth experiencing that way. Congradulations to the talented, dedicated cast and crew that has made this unique cinematic experience possible for us all.
28 December 2012 - If you have not yet seen 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey', you have had a very full plate or you reside in China (Where, except for Hong Kong, it has not yet been released). As of today, it has taken in $562,783,000us worldwide since its opening two weeks ago and is still pulling in $30 million per day. Given that it is showing in some 20,000 theatres, it should be able to get to $1 Billion, even with the mixed reviews.
Details regarding the recently released dvd family film, 'Kiwi Flyer' is been added to the database, as well as the dvd of the 2009 comedy 'No Petrol, No Diesel'. Pages for the soundtracks of 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' and 'How to Meet Girls from a Distance' have also been added. The Sarkies brothers' bloody comedy, ' Two Little Boys', is being released in New Zealand on DVD and Blu-ray 24 January 2013.
22 November 2012 - Trailer links have been added at the Sneak Peek Trailers Page for the forthcoming films, 'The Fall Guys', 'Mt. Zion' and 'Eternity'. Links to newly available 10 minute flash video excerpts are now at the Trailers Page for some older titles, such as 'Pallet on the Floor', 'Pictures', 'Saving Grace' and 'Shaker Run'. Only three more weeks to the opening run for 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey', except for those attending the World Premiere in Wellington next Wednesday. Those in the United States who want to watch the activities before the Premiere, 'Now Live' will be offering a video feed, starting at 09:50pm EST November 27. Those of you in Germany can view the activities live from the Cinemaxx feed at 4:30 November 28. New Zealanders who cannot make it to Wellington can view the events live starting at 4:00PM NZDT November 28.
15 November 2012 - There are a couple of Hobbit related audio download links now at the Sneak Peek Trailers Page. One is Neil Finn's 'Song of the Lonely Mountain' and the other is the complete 105 minute Howard Shore audio score - Four More Weeks!
04 November 2012 - Two older films are now available for the first time on dvd, 'Send a Gorilla' and 'Zilch'. Coming to dvd on 21 November is the family feature, 'Kiwi Flyer', which is still showing in New Zealand cinemas. The new Independent feature, 'Eternity' will be starting its NZ theatrical showings 09 November. Information and samples about the New Zealand Post stamps commemorating 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' is now available in the Miscellaneous Section.
27 October 2012 - The combined efforts of NZOnscreen, the New Zealand Film Commission and DigitalNZ have resulted in an iphone app, they are calling Reel Choice, which will probably be welcomed by mobile device users looking for NZ film and television information. 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' books are starting to show up and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt is releasing a number of them next month. Enter the movie title to their search button to see the selection. Lastly, advance orders are now being taken at Amazon for two soundtrack CDs of 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' with delivery in December. Details to follow.
05 October 2012 - Additional trailers have been added at the Sneak Peek Trailers Page for 'The Cure', 'How To Meet Girls From A Distance' and a second trailer for 'Fresh Meat', plus mp4 versions for mobile devices. Although I should have added it many months ago, information regarding Doug Adams' book, 'The Music of The Lord of the Rings Films', is now available. Check out the links for details, including the compact disc of previously unavailable music that is including within this amazing book. New Zealand Post is now taking orders for "The Hobbit" commemorative stamps and coins. Those of you who placed orders for 'The Lord of the Rings' stamps, know that some items sell out early, so consider without too much delay.
19 September 2012 - The first full trailer for 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' is now available for your enjoyment at the Sneak Peek Trailer Page.
12 September 2012 - There will be a New Zealand Film Awards this year. It will be at the Auckland Civic Wintergarden on 04 December 2012 and will be streamed live from http://www.nzherald.co.nz. Entries for features, documentaries and short films are open to 30 September with the finalists being annouced on 05 November. Details can be found at 'The Sorta Unofficial New Zealand Film Awards'.
In case you might have been in some remote location the past week, 'The Hobbit' is going to be released as a trilogy with the first, ''The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey", starting 14 December 2012; the second, " The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug", starting 13 December 2013; and the third, "The Hobbit: There and Back Again", starting 18 July 2014. They will be released in High Frame-rate 3-D, standard 3D, IMAX and 2-D. Further details can be found at The Official Hobbit Blog where you can also find a link to the official iOS app which you can download free.
New Zealand Post is getting on The Hobbit bandwagon and will be releasing stamps and coins commemorating the films starting 01 November 2012 with pre-orders beginning 08 October. Details can be found at the NZPost Hobbit Website
Rugby fans will be happy to know that their hounding of the producer to make the 1991 comedy 'Old Scores' available for DVD purchase has produced results as you can now order copies directly from the producers website.
08 August 2012 - A teaser trailer is now available from the Sneak Peek Trailers Page for Danny Mulheron's forthcoming horror comedy, 'Fresh Meat'.
03 August 2012 - A special edition dvd of 'Hook, Line & Sinker' is available that has extras of interviews, deleted scenes, trailers and English subtitles. It also has a New Zealand first - audio-description for the visually impaired. If you have not caught this film, by the same folks who made 'Taking the Waewae Express', do try to see it. Both films are very low budget, so do not expect a flash Wingnut production, but they are much better than I had expected and well worth experiencing.
31 July 2012 - It is official - There Will Be Three Hobbit Movies. The news seems to be spilling out all over the net, but the basics can be found over at MTV's website.
Another bit of news that will make rugby fans happy - 'Old Scores' is coming to DVD. I do not yet have a release date, but soon. If you want to be alerted to the happy event, send me an email with the subject "Old Scores DVD".
04 July 2012 - Information is now available on The Most Fun You Can Have Dying plus it's original soundtrack. A page of info on Sione's 2: Unfinished Business has also been uploaded for your enjoyment. Due to visitor preference, the Divx trailers are being replaced with mp4 ones that should be more agreeable to mobile devices. You might want to check out some of them at the trailer page and let me know what you think.
