Amazon Prime beefed up its streaming video offerings via a catalog deal with Universal Pictures (NBC Universal). The influx of movies means Amazon Prime has about 9,000 titles -- films and TV combined -- for unlimited streaming. Amazon Instant Video is "free" to customers who pay $79 a year for Prime two-day shipping. The Universal catalog … [Read more...]
Archives for July 2011
Fox hides behind wall
No more "Glee" the morning after. Unless you're a paying customer. Fox said that beginning in mid-August, fresh episodes of its shows will no longer be available for free online viewing the next day. That access will be limited to subscribers of cable and satellite distributors that partner with Fox. And the paid Hulu Plus service. "To watch … [Read more...]
Netflix: 75% of subs stream
About 75 percent of new subscribers to Netflix signed up for the streaming video plan, the media company said in its second-quarter earnings results. Investors, however, focused on upcoming Netflix subscriber losses due to its new pricing plans, which enraged alienated many subscribers. The changes will result in 60 percent increases for … [Read more...]
‘Donnie Darko’ doppelganger for year 10
"The dreams in which I'm dying are the best I've ever had," the man sings at the end of "Donnie Darko." It's an old Tears for Fears number, one of several major intersections of lyrics and storyline in the film -- guaranteed chills for admirers of this odd and addictive film. The 2001 movie bombed, but it wasn't long before a "Rocky … [Read more...]
‘High and Low’ and hard-boiled
Akira Kurosawa wasn't known for film noir or crime thrillers, but he did do a genre drive-by back in 1963. Of course, it's killer. The Criterion Collection has reissued to Blu-ray "High and Low," the Japanese master's tale of a hardworking factory chief whose life is ruined after his son is targeted by kidnappers. Toshiro Mifune plays shoe … [Read more...]