‘The Dark Knight’ Shatters DVD And Blu-ray Sales Records

Get The Dark Knight: Limited Edition with Batpod (+Digital Copy and BD Live) [Blu-ray]

According to the statement released by Warner Bros., Blu-ray sales alone have topped 1.7 million units, and total DVD and Blu-ray sales have hit 13.5 million units worldwide (including consumer and rental sales). Again, given that the film has been available for just over a week — coupled with the fact that we’re in the thick of holiday shopping season — it’s clear that we are witnessing “The Dark Knight” setting the bar in terms of DVD and Blu-ray sales, as it has already become the best selling DVD of 2008 (not to mention on iTunes).



Get The Dark Knight (+ Digital Copy and BD Live) [Blu-ray]

In the statement released by the studio, which included all of the aforementioned sales figures, Warner Bros. also commented on the groundbreaking filming techniques used by director Christopher Nolan which gave fans a truly unique experience in terms of the transfer from IMAX to Blu-ray.

“‘The Dark Knight’ marks the first time that a major feature film has been shot in part using IMAX cameras, marking a revolutionary integration of film formats. ‘The Dark Knight’ Blu-ray disc takes advantage of the marriage of IMAX and 35mm formats by using the hybrid master to replicate the unique theatrical experience. The IMAX scenes are also included on the 2-disc Special Edition as bonus materials.”

Do you already have your copy of “The Dark Knight” on DVD or Blu-ray? Or are you hoping someone will hook you up with it for the holidays?
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Monsters vs. Aliens (2009) Trailer

Synopsis
When a meteorite from outer space hits a young California girl named Susan Murphy and turns her into a giant monster, she is taken to a secret government compound where she meets a ragtag group of monsters also rounded up over the years. As a last resort, under the guidance of General W.R. Monger, on a desperate order from The President, the motley crew of Monsters is called into action to combat the aliens and save the world from imminent destruction!
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'Avatar' to be released in Imax 3-D

The live-action 3-D sci-fi adventure from James Cameron will be released simultaneously in Imax 3-D when the film premieres next year in conventional 3-D theaters, Imax Corp. and 20th Century Fox announced Thursday.

Set for a Dec. 18, 2009 release, "Avatar" is Cameron's sci-fi epic, made in stereoscopic 3-D and combining live-action and computer animation using visionary new techniques.

The film will be digitally re-mastered for the Imax release.

"Our goal with Avatar is to revolutionize live-action 3-D movie-making, and I have no doubt that it will look and sound incredible in Imax 3-D," Cameron said. "The larger field of view and power surround sound of an Imax theater will completely immerse the audience in a way that cannot be experienced anywhere else."

Added Imax's Bruce Snyder, president of domestic distribution, "The Imax theater network is increasingly becoming an important part of our distribution strategy, as it continues to expand with its new digital projection system."

"Avatar" centers on an ex-Marine who finds himself in the middle of hostilities on an alien planet filled with exotic life forms.

As an Avatar -- a human mind in an alien body -- he finds himself torn between two worlds, fighting for his own survival and that of the indigenous people.

The film stars Sam Worthington, Giovanni Ribisi, Michelle Rodriguez, Zoe Saldana and Sigourney Weaver.
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Paramount Pictures' Star Trek to be Released as IMAX(R) Movie MAY 8, 2009

J.J. Abrams' Vision of the Greatest Space Adventure of All Time to Run in Select IMAX Theatres




Paramount Pictures and IMAX Corporation (NASDAQ: IMAX; TSX: IMX) today announced that Star Trek, directed by J.J. Abrams ("Mission: Impossible III", "Lost" and "Alias"), will be simultaneously released to both IMAX(R) and conventional theatres worldwide on May 8, 2009. Star Trek, which chronicles the early days of James T. Kirk and his fellow USS Enterprise crew members, will be digitally re-mastered into the unparalleled image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience(R) with proprietary IMAX DMR(R) (Digital Re-mastering) technology. Paramount Pictures will be the exclusive distributor of the film to IMAX theatres worldwide.

Star Trek is one of the world's most successful science fiction entertainment series and media franchises. Created by Gene Roddenberry, the Star Trek phenomenon has lead to six television series, ten feature films, dozens of computer and video games, hundreds of novels and fan stories, as well as a themed attraction in Las Vegas. Star Trek has also inspired a following of millions of "Trekkies" of all ages that span across the globe.

"We're excited to share the enhanced IMAX version of this film with the millions of dedicated fans who have been anticipating this release since production began," said Rob Moore, Vice Chairman, Paramount Pictures. "The IMAX Experience adds that extra level of excitement to an already action-packed film, giving moviegoers a premium 'event' at the multiplex."

Added J.J. Abrams, "I'm thrilled that audiences will be able to experience this new, epic world of Star Trek - with an incredible cast and mind-blowing visual effects - on what is, obviously, the most remarkable film format in the world."

"Star Trek combines top Hollywood story-telling talent with space exploration, and each is very conducive to The IMAX Experience," said IMAX Co-Chairmen and Co-CEOs Richard L. Gelfond and Bradley J. Wechsler. "Expanding our relationship with Paramount Pictures to include this film strengthens our 2009 slate, and with the continuing rollout of digital IMAX theatre systems, we will be able to offer the fan-base more locations to experience the epic first journey of the USS Enterprise in the most immersive way."

"Both Star Trek and IMAX have taken audiences to far away places they would normally not be able to go, and in this case, it's space - the final frontier," added Greg Foster, Chairman and President of IMAX Filmed Entertainment. "J.J. Abrams has created a powerful movie that has fans worldwide feverishly anticipating its release. We are thrilled to partner with Paramount Pictures to bring J.J.'s exciting vision of this incredible space adventure to IMAX screens."

From director J.J. Abrams and screenwriters Alex Kurtzman & Roberto Orci ("Transformers," "MI: III") comes a new vision of the greatest space adventure of all time, "Star Trek," featuring a young, new crew venturing boldly where no man has gone before. Star Trek explores the early Starfleet careers of future Enterprise officers Kirk (Chris Pine), Spock (Zachary Quinto), Scotty (Simon Pegg), Amanda Grayson (Winona Ryder), Uhura (Zoe Saldana), McCoy (Karl Urban), Sulu (John Cho), and Chekhov (Anton Yelchin). A Romulan, Nero (Eric Bana), and a much older Spock (Leonard Nimoy) are influences, as well as Captain Pike (Bruce Greenwood), the first captain of the USS Enterprise.
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Hoyts and Imax see the bigger picture

THE Hoyts cinema and global cinema group Imax have joined forces to open a series of large-format Imax screens in Hoyts locations.

Three new screens are being built at the Hoyts centres at Sydney's Moore Park, Maribyrnong in Melbourne and Cannington in Perth, with a fourth due to open in Melbourne next year.

The joint venture will officially launch on Boxing Day, when an iMax version of the remake of the 1951 science-fiction movie, The Day The Earth Stood Still, will open at all three locations.

The partnership is part of a global push for Imax, which is expanding in the US, Britain, Japan and Austria, as well as Australia, according to Larry O'Reilly, executive vice-president of theatre development for the New York and Toronto-based company.

Key to its immediate growth is a push to show more re-mastered Hollywood blockbusters in Imax and 3D formats, rather than the documentary-style films on which the business was built.

"We're moving to a new business model where we hope to have a major Hollywood blockbuster every four weeks," Mr O'Reilly said.

For Hoyts, the partnership represents a bid by private equity investor Pacific Equity Partners to increase the yield on the company's assets.

PEP bought Hoyts from West Australian Newspapers and James Packer's Publishing & Broadcasting Ltd a year ago for $440 million.

Hoyts chief executive Delfin Fernandez said the company was making a "considerable investment" to convert the theatres to Imax technology, including refurbishing the interiors.

Other Imax films Hoyts will screen this year include Monsters vs Aliens in 3D, Transformers 2 and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

"Hoyts has invested heavily in all areas of the business over the last 12 months," Mr Fernandez said. "We recently launched our new website. Likewise mobile ticketing is a first for both Hoyts and the industry, so our consumers can not only view session times through their mobile phones, but can actually purchase Hoyts tickets through their handsets," he said.

The company has also launched thehalfpipe, which it is billing as the world's first bean bag cinema.

In Australia, the box office is on track for another year of growth, with takings tracking 2 per cent ahead of 2007 for the year to October.

Advertising revenues rose 3.4 per cent in the six months to June.

But the industry's conversion to digital, which will reduce film print costs, is progressing slowly.

"Imax cinemas are all digital," Mr Fernandez said. "Hoyts have a number of digital projectors but the large majority are still 35 mm projectors."

The Hoyts partnership is expected to boost Imax's advertising revenues, helping it to move from a movie sponsorship arrangement to more traditional advertising.

The launch of 3D films has been a large part of Imax's growth since The Polar Express was released in 2004 in Imax 3D at the same time as the 2D version.

"3D is really big in Imax," Mr O'Reilly said.

"We have done equally well with major 2D titles because the filmmakers have worked with us to make the 2D version really special."

Source:The Australian
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The Day The Earth Stood Still IMAX result

LOS ANGELES, Dec 15, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ ----IMAX Corporation (NASDAQ: IMAX; TSX: IMX) and Twentieth Century Fox today announced that The Day The Earth Stood Still, which opened number one at the domestic box office, generated an estimated $31 million, with 123 IMAX theatres contributing approximately $3.7 million to http://ecmisapp:9090/editor/blockedit.HTM#the domestic total. From Friday, December 12, through Sunday December 14, the IMAX release generated an impressive per screen average of approximately $30,000. Included in the weekend's performance were 38 locations equipped with IMAX's new digital projection technology. The film also had a strong international opening, grossing $532,000 from 20 IMAX screens, and it will ultimately play on 26 international IMAX screens in the weeks to come.

"We're very happy with the film's overall performance for the weekend and, with 19 of the top 20 engagements having IMAX screens, its clear that more moviegoers are taking advantage of The IMAX Experience(R: 34.65, +1.96, +6.00%) to make the film an extra special event," said Bruce Snyder, President, Domestic Distribution, Twentieth Century Fox. "We look forward to its continued success in both conventional and IMAX theatres throughout the holiday season."

"This strong opening demonstrates that people are still going to the movies and are willing to pay a premium ticket price for The IMAX Experience, despite the economic downturn," said IMAX Co-Chairmen and Co-CEOs Richard L. Gelfond and Bradley J. Wechsler. "Twentieth Century Fox has once again delivered a box office winner during the holiday season, and we're very pleased with the initial results at IMAX theatres. We're particularly happy with the performance of our new joint venture digital locations, which are gaining a lot of traction, given the rapid pace of the rollout."

"The exciting action and stunning visual effects in The Day the Earth Stood Still are very conducive to The IMAX Experience and, as a result, Twentieth Century Fox has enabled the IMAX network to be part of another number-one debuting movie at the box office," said Greg Foster, Chairman and President of IMAX Filmed Entertainment. "The combination of the studio's well-executed marketing and distribution plan,, the film's appeal to the tech-savvy 15-30 year-old demographic and the larger footprint of IMAX theatres is proving to be an effective draw, which we believe bodes well for the IMAX network as we head into 2009."

In THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL, a contemporary reinvention of the 1951 science fiction classic, renowned scientist Dr. Helen Benson (Jennifer Connelly) finds herself face to face with an alien called Klaatu (Keanu Reeves), who travels across the universe to warn of an impending global crisis. When forces beyond Helen's control treat the extraterrestrial as a hostile and deny his request to address the world's leaders, she and her estranged stepson Jacob (Jaden Smith) quickly discover the deadly ramifications of Klaatu's claim that he is "a friend to the Earth." Now Helen must find a way to convince the entity who was sent to destroy us that mankind is worth saving - but it may be too late. The process has begun.
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