14 August 2010 - The details on the three older films that are now available on DVD, 'Battletruck', 'Off the Edge' and 'Saving Grace', have been uploaded and you can access trailers and soundtrack samples of all three. Two more films will be available on Blu-ray next month; 'The Strength of Water' (19 Sept.) and 'Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence' (28 Sept.). The Qantas Film and Television Award Nominees for 2010 were announced 12 August and 'Boy' received the highest number with 14, but 'Home By Christmas' picked up 10, 'Under the Mountain' - 7, 'The Vintner's Luck' - 6 and 'Russian Snark' - 6. The winners will be announced 18 September. For those of you who are interested in movie posters, I have been assisting a wonderful site, IMP Awards, to add as many miniature versions of New Zealand film posters as possible for your enjoyment. They have many that are not yet uploaded, so be patient as your favourite may be showing soon. But if you have one or two that are unusual, such as non-New Zealand (foreign language) versions, you might contact them about contributing to the gallery.
14 July 2010 - Two more older features are finding their way to DVD this month - 'Saving Grace' is available now, from New Zealand retailers and Michael Firth's 1977 Academy Award nominated skiing/hang-gliding adventure, 'Off the Edge', will be released the end of the month. North American fans of 'Battletruck', aka: 'Warlords of the 21st Century', will be happy to know that it will find its way to DVD starting August 3, 2010. The sneak peek page now has links to trailers for new features, 'Predicament', 'The Hopes and Dreams of Gazza Snell', 'Insatiable Moon' and 'Russian Snark'. If you have not yet discovered the NZ Box Office page, you might not know that Taika Waititi's new film, 'Boy' has taken down 'King Kong'. 'Boy' has, so far, pulled in over $9 million at New Zealand theatres and so, except for 'The Lord of the Rings' trilogy, it has become the #1 film in New Zealand. For those who are not able to get to a New Zealand theatre, 'Boy' is scheduled for DVD release 1 September 2010. Finally, something to tease you with. I have received word that a number of older films, that have never been on dvd, will be between now and the end of the year. The list includes:
'Flying Fox in a Freedom Tree', 'Mauri', 'Te Rua', 'Trial Run', 'Zilch' and 'Whole of the Moon'.
18 June 2010 - Two more features have been added: James Napier Robertson's 'I'm Not Harry Jenson' and Armagan Ballantyne's 'The Strength of Water'. Four older titles that have never previously been available on dvd are now available. They are the 1979 hit 'Middle Age Spread'; the biopic of Walter and Alfred Burton, 19th century photographers,'Pictures'; the eerie murder mystery, partially filmed in Fiordland, 'The Lost Tribe' and Dean O'Gorman's teen flick, 'Bonjour Timothy'. Aro Video in Wellington is selling all four for $15nz each.
In case you have not check out the soundtrack samples page lately, you will find there are now some 166 titles represented of which over 100 have never been available on CD. The latest is from 'The Strength of Water' and the massive hit, 'Boy'. Speaking of 'Boy', did you know that it has taken in over $8 Million at the New Zealand box office and is still going. It has topped all New Zealand films to date, if you do not consider King Kong or The Lord of the Rings. Check out the Sneak Peek Trailers page for a look at new NZ films at or coming soon to cinemas. One final note about 'Boy', I have a page up regarding its soundtrack and a download available at: Boy - The Soundtrack
07 May 2010 - Three more features have been added to the database - Peter Jackson's 'The Lovely Bones', Niki Caro's 'The Vintner's Luck' and Jonathan King's 'Under the Mountain'. You can find links to mp3 samples of the soundtracks to all three titles within the Soundtrack Samples page. Upgrades are continuing, such as still image replacements of many titles. DVDs of 'I'm Not Harry Jenson' and 'The Strength of Water' will be released by the end of this month - meanwhile check out the trailers.
18 March 2010 - I am pleased to announce that nzvideos.org has been honored to host
the official website for 'Jinx Sister'. With the cooperation of the director, Athina Tsoulis, and the technical assistance of Duncan Standley of Global Image Productions, you can now gain a bit more background into this great New Zealand film.
Over 10,000 Flicks visitors have voted and the results are now up. The Top 50 New Zealand Films list is now available for your viewing and comments.
08 March 2010 - The page containing info on 'Separation City' has been uploaded. Please let me know if you have any technical problems in accessing it.
Next month will be a fairly full one, when it comes to new NZ dvd and Blu-Ray releases: 'The Lord of the Rings - Trilogy' is being release to Blu-Ray on 6 April, 'The Vintner's Luck' dvd and Blu-Ray on 7 April as well as 'Under The Mountain' on 7 April, 'The Lovely Bones' dvd and Blu-Ray on 20 April, plus 'Home by Christmas' will be having its New Zealand theatrical premier on 29 April. Trailers for all of these films can be accessed by going to the Sneak Peek Trailer Page.
NZ On Screen now has available on-line a 3 minute clip of the very rare 'This is New Zealand'. This promo film used at Expo 70, Japan, was shot with three cameras and projects as three separate images, somewhat like Cinerama. It has been restored and digitised and there are plans to make it available on dvd, hopefully later this year. The nz on screen site has links to details regarding the film.
26 January 2010 - So far, I have found 16 New Zealand soundtrack CDs at iTunes. I have flagged the titles that are now linked with an iTunes icon within the CD Chrono and CD Alpha directories, to make it a bit easier to locate.
21 January 2010 - The soundtrack of Nate & Hayes, aka: Savage Island, is now available on CD. This Trevor Jones score has never before been available on vinyl or cd. A free treat for those in Auckland - between 10 February and 18 March, the Auckland City Council's Free Movies in Parks program will be offering New Zealand features on Wednesday and Thursday evenings, preceeded by live music, of: 'The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls', 'The World's Fastest Indian', 'Dean Spanley', 'The Price of Milk', 'Rain of the Children', 'River Queen', 'Goodbye Pork Pie', 'Siones Wedding', 'Forgotten Silver', 'State of Play', 'Show of Hands' and 'Separation City'. For venue directions and further details, go to the parks info page on the offerings.
09 January 2010 - The "Long List" nominations for the Orange British Academy Film Awards in 2010 has been released. This "first round"(15 in each catagory) will now be voted from by over 6000 members and the list of nominations (5 in each catagory) will be announced 21 January. The winning awards will be given at the Royal Opera House on 21 February. There are two New Zealand films within the "long list" nominations - 'District 9' and 'The Lovely Bones'. I might add that 'Avatar' is on the list, but for various reasons, I do not consider it a New Zealand produced feature, whereas I do 'District 9'.
'District 9' has nominations for: Best Film, Adapted Screenplay, Director, Make-up & Hair, Special Visual Effects, Sound, Editing, Costume Design, Production Design, Cinematography. 'The Lovely Bones' has nominations for: Adapted Screenplay, Special Visual Effects, Sound, Editing, Production Design, Cinematography, Music, Leading Actress - Saoirse Ronan, Supporting Actor - Stanley Tucci, Supporting Actress - Rachel Weisz and Susan Sarandon.
3 January 2010 - The Trailer for 'Boy', Taika Waititi's latest feature, is now available for viewing through the Sneak Peek Trailers page. It is having its
World Premiere this month at the Sundance Film Festival. It is scheduled to begin New Zealand theatrical showings in April. I have been able to confirm nine(9) features that are available on Blu-ray and a tenth that will be coming 6 April. Details and pricing can be accessed from the new HD/Blu-ray list page. A page has been added, although not finished, concerning the new soundtrack CD of the Trevor Jones score to the 1983 film, 'Nate and Hayes'. More details coming next week.
