Tech Blog

Last week, Jennifer Lawrence woke up bright and early to help announce the nominations for the 2012 Academy Awards, which will be hosted by Billy Crystal and air live from Hollywood on February 26. 

The $18 million pilot of HBO's Boardwalk Empire sure set the tone for what has become a must-see TV series about gangsters in the Prohibition era.  Season One has just arrived on Blu-ray and DVD and to help me understand what it means to become a made man, I sat down with Vincent Piazza who plays the up-and-coming gangster Lucky Luciano.

The anticipation for the third installment of The Dark Knight film series continues to rise with the release last week of new trailer giving us a sneak peak at the pivotal final chapter.

Ah death, you always come at the most inopportune time.  Just when I think we've successfully cheated you for the whole year, on December 27th you arrive on 3D Blu-ray, Blu-ray, and DVD to torment another coterie of twenty-something unsuspecting souls with your sinister agenda.  But hey, at least you were gracious enough to allow us to enjoy Christmas before swooping in to reclaim the lives you rightfully feel are yours.

Man, I was really looking for a good pun to header this article with. Something to do with "Hobbitses," maybe (you know, the way Gollum says "Hobbits") Maybe "Hobbitses Trailer" ("Hobbit sees Trailer") but that doesn't work at all. AT ALL. I'm the worst at quick punnery, guys.

Anyway, enough of that. There's a The Hobbit trailer out and you can watch it after the jump.

Mission: Impossible 4 hits screens this week and while the stunts are jaw dropping, the gadgets Ethan Hunt uses in the film are equally impressive.  And available.

What started off as an emotional rescue mission for a newborn dolphin caught in a crab trap off the coast of Florida has turned into one of the most inspirational stories of the past decade.  Winter, the two-month old bottlenose dolphin who survived the rescue, has changed the lives of thousands of children and adults around the world with her story of hope for those suffering from debilitating injuries.  The rope which trapped her, cut off the circulation to her tail, requiring amputation in order to save her.  With an unwavering devotion to live, Winter learned how to swim using back-and-forth motions like a snake, but veterinarians feared this motion would damage her spine.  Through the use of a special gel-sleeve and a prosthetic plastic tail, Winter learned how to swim like a natural dolphin and has made a remarkable recovery and rehabilitation.

I had the privileged opportunity to speak with David Yates, the CEO of Clearwater Marine Aquarium and the Co-Producer of Dolphin Tale, the heart-warming family film that was inspired by Winter's amazing story of survival.  The film, which is being distributed by Warner Home Entertainment Group, is arriving on Blu-Ray 3D Combo Pack, Blu-Ray Combo Pack, DVD and Digital Download on December 20^th.

You can keep your Oscars, Emmys, Junos and Geminis. I'll sette for the iTunes' Best Of The Year.

It's been 34 years since Star Wars was first on screen and the appeal of the movies has spanned generations.  

From 5 - 50, every Star Wars fan can be satisfied with something:

Just when I thought we were lucky enough to receive one exclusive Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 video, along comes a second video given exclusively to Future Shop.

The 2011 epic fantasy film Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 made its much-anticipated home video debut on November 11, taking the top spot on the home entertainment sales charts for the week ending November 13, despite releasing on a Friday instead of the traditional Tuesday and only being on sale for three days.  It's been Potter-Mania ever since, as fans have been snatching up copies of the eighth and final instalment of the Harry Potter film series on DVD, Blu-ray and 3D Blu-ray.

Call it magic (or perhaps in this case, wizardry), as we've been lucky enough here at the Future Shop Tech Blog to receive an exclusive online clip showing never-before-seen production footage with commentary from director David Yates.  If you're a Harry Potter fan, and there are millions of you out there, you won't want to miss viewing this incredible behind-the-scenes footage.

It's been 40 years since Gene Wilder last doned his flamboyant purple velvet jacket and pronounced gold bowtie as Willy Wonka, the eccentric chocolate factory owner he so cleverly protrays in 1971's Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory. This perennial family classic returns this holiday season with a brand new 40th Anniversary Ultimate Collector's Edition from Warner Home Video.

The folks at Sling Media have been fairly busy in the last few weeks, what with SlingPlayer software apps being released for Android, Facebook and now the Boxee Box. I’ll be writing a post on the Android experience in a few days, but since the Boxee Box app just came out, I played with it for a few hours and found it to be a great debut.

Today marks the release of Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory 40^thAnniversary Ultimate Collector's Edition, a new box set to celebrate one of the most popular family films of all time.  Starring Gene Wilder in one of his most memorable performances, the story of Willy Wonka is a timeless classic that has an enduring legacy some four decades later.  I had the rare opportunity recently to sit down and discuss this new anniversary collection with the film's renowned Director, Mel Stuart.  It was a mesmerizing experience for me having grown up with this movie, so to have a chance to speak to the legend behind the film was as surreal as Wonka's chocolate factory itself.  Here's what we had to discuss...

A new era in television begins this holiday, opening up new exciting possibilities for Microsoft's Xbox 360. Microsoft has officially announced nearly 40 TV and entertainment providers that are coming to Xbox Live in North America and abroad. Through this partnership, millions of 360 users will see first-hand just how personal, effortless and social TV entertainment can be.