The Mix : What are people talking about today?

The Law Is A Ass #445: The Justices Tell Daredevil SCOTUS Hell

I trust none of you doubted me.

I told you last column that the Supreme Court of the United States https://www.supremecourt.gov would accept jurisdiction over Matt (Daredevil) Murdock’s appeal in the case of New York v Slugansky. And in Daredevil Vol 5 #25, there he was before the Supreme Court arguing that the New York Court of Appeals was wrong when it reversed a lower court’s ruling that masked super heroes should be allowed to testify without revealing their real identities and that the Supreme Court should reverse the New York Court of Appeals and reinstate both Slugansky’s conviction and the lower court’s ruling permitting masked super heroes to testify anonymously.

Of course, I had a slight advantage. I read Daredevil #25 months ago. I wrote that last column with it’s will he or won’t he get to the Supreme Court line this month. So I sorta, kinda, already knew what the Supreme Court did before I wrote that cryptic closing.

Before Matt actually set foot in the Supreme Court building, he made a stunning confession to his friend and former law partner Franklin (Foggy) Nelson. Matt admitted he took a dive. He lost the appeal in the New York Court of Appeals on purpose just so he could argue the case before the US Supreme Court and create precedent that would cover not just New York but the entire country.

Which, as professional ethics go, is only slightly better than pushing your client under an oncoming steam roller after having picked his pocket. Better, but still messier.

(more…)

Young Sheldon S2 Brings it Home in Sept.

BURBANK, CA (June 26, 2019) – In its second season, Young Sheldon garnered an average of 15 million Total Viewers per episode, making the show a top-rated broadcast hit and the number two series on CBS, second only to its predecessor, The Big Bang Theory*. Fans can relive the laughs and catch up on all 22 episodes when Warner Bros. Home Entertainment releases Young Sheldon: The Complete Second Season on DVD September 3, 2019 for $39.99 SRP.  The second season of Young Sheldon is also currently available to own via purchase from digital retailers. 

*Source: Nielsen National TV View, 2018-19 broadcast season to date (09/24/2018 – 05/19/2019), Live + 7 Day ratings; excluding repeats, specials, movies, sports, less than 3 telecasts

Young Sheldon: The Complete Second Season will also be available on Blu-rayTM courtesy of Warner Archive Collection. The Blu-rayTM release is also arriving September 3, 2019. Warner Archive Blu-ray releases are found at wb.com/warnerarchive and your favorite online retailer.

For 10-year-old Sheldon Cooper, it isn’t easy growing up in East Texas.  Being a once-in-a-generation mind capable of advanced mathematics and science isn’t always helpful in a land where church and football are king.  And while the vulnerable, gifted and somewhat naïve Sheldon deals with the world, his very normal family must find a way to deal with him.

Created and executive produced by The Big Bang Theory’s Chuck Lorre and Steven Molaro, Young Sheldon is also executive produced and narrated by Jim Parsons who plays Sheldon Cooper on The Big Bang Theory. The star cast features Iain Armitage (Big Little Lies), Zoe Perry (The Family, Private Practice), Lance Barber (The Comeback), Annie Potts (Designing Women), Montana Jordan (The Legacy of a Whitetail Deer Hunter) and Raegan Revord (Modern Family).

“Fans have grown to love the genius Sheldon Cooper as an adult and now they are still along for the ride, watching him navigate life as a kid,” said Rosemary Markson, WBHE Senior Vice President, Television Marketing. “We are excited to release Young Sheldon: The Complete Second Season to continue the heartfelt laughs for fans old and new.”

Young Sheldon: The Complete Second Season includes 22 half-hour episodes:

  1. A High-Pitched Buzz and Training Wheels
  2. A Rival Prodigy and Sir Isaac Neutron
  3. A Crisis of Faith and Octopus Aliens
  4. A Financial Secret and Fish Sauce
  5. A Research Study and Czechoslovakian Wedding Pastries
  6. Seven Deadly Sins and a Small Carl Sagan
  7. Carbon Dating and a Stuffed Raccoon
  8. An 8-Bit Princess and a Flat Tire Genius
  9. Family Dynamics and a Red Fiero
  10. A Stunted Childhood and a Can of Fancy Mixed Nuts
  11. A Race of Superhumans and a Letter to Alf
  12. A Tummy Ache and a Whale of a Metaphor
  13. A Nuclear Reactor and a Boy Called Lovey
  14. David, Goliath and a Yoo-hoo from the Back
  15. A Math Emergency and Perky Palms
  16. A Loaf of Bread and a Grand Old Flag
  17. Albert Einstein and the Story of Another Mary
  18. A Perfect Score and a Bunsen Burner Marshmallow
  19. A Political Campaign and a Candyland Cheater
  20. A Proposal and a Popsicle Stick Cross
  21. A Broken Heart and a Crock Monster
  22. A Swedish Science Thing and the Equation for Toast

Digital

The second season of Young Sheldon is also currently available to own on Digital. Digital allows consumers to instantly stream and download all episodes to watch anywhere and anytime on their favorite devices.  Digital retailers include: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, Vudu, Xbox and others.

BASICS

Street Date: September 3, 2019

SRP: $39.99

Catalog: 1000729972

UPC: 883929656110

Running Time: Feature: Approx. 440 min

Configuration: 2 DVD-9s

Aspect Ratio: 16×9 widescreen

Audio: English (5.1)

Subtitles: ESDH

Legends of Tomorrow S4 Heads for Home in Sept.

BURBANK, CA (June 26, 2019) –The world’s most epic race against time continues as Warner Bros. Home Entertainment releases DC’s Legends of Tomorrow: The Complete Fourth Season on Blu-ray and DVD on September 24, 2019. Fans can get up to speed with all 16 captivating episodes from the fourth season, plus those that purchase a Blu-ray copy can enjoy timeless special features including an epic storytelling featurette, deleted scenes and a gag-reel. DC’s Legends of Tomorrow is The CW’s #3 show among Total Viewers, with over 1.8 million viewers tuning in weekly. ⃰ DC’s Legends of Tomorrow: The Complete Fourth Season is priced to own at $24.98 SRP for the DVD ($30.99 in Canada) and $29.98 SRP for the Blu-ray ($39.99 in Canada), which includes a Digital Copy (Available in the U.S.). DC’s Legends of Tomorrow: The Complete Fourth Season is also available to own on Digital via purchase from digital retailers.

*Source: Nielsen National TV View, 2018-19 broadcast season to date (09/24/2018 – 03/17/2019), Live + 7 Day ratings; excluding repeats, specials, movies, sports, less than 3 telecasts

After defeating the demon Mallus by cuddling him to death last season, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow join John Constantine and Ava Sharpe’s Time Bureau to save their world – and their legacy – from magical creatures from myths, fairytales and legends who have escaped and infected history. As the Legends time-travel across historical events and encounter famous figures, they now have to contend with an added shot of magical craziness!

“Over the past four seasons, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow has captivated audiences through its incredible action and impressive special effects,” said Rosemary Markson, WBHE Senior Vice President, Television Marketing. “We’re excited to release the Blu-ray – the only format with in-depth bonus content in addition to the 16 action-packed episodes from season four for the DC Fanboys and loyal series fanbase.”

With Blu-ray’s unsurpassed picture and sound, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow: The Complete Fourth Season Blu-ray release will include 1080p Full HD Video with DTS-HD Master Audio for English 5.1. The 3-disc Blu-ray will feature a high-definition Blu-ray and a Digital Copy of all 16 episodes from season four (Available in the U.S.).

DC’s Legends of Tomorrow stars Brandon Routh (Arrow, Superman Returns), Caity Lotz (Arrow, Mad Men), Maisie Richardson-Sellers (The Originals), Tala Ashe (The Flash, The Carrie Diaries), Jes Macallan (Mistresses, Shameless), Courtney Ford (Dexter, Supernatural, True Blood), and Ramona Young (Blockers Santa Clarita Diet), with Nick Zano (The Final Destination) and Dominic Purcell (Prison Break, The Flash), with a special appearance by Matt Ryan (Constantine) reprising his popular role as John Constantine. Based on the DC characters, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow is produced by Berlanti Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television, with executive producers Greg Berlanti (Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl, Blindspot, Black Lightning, Riverdale), Phil Klemmer (Chuck, Political Animals), Keto Shimizu (Arrow), Grainne Godfree (The Flash, Arrow) and Sarah Schechter (Arrow, The Flash, Blindspot, Supergirl, Black Lightning, Riverdale).

BLU-RAY EXTRA CONTENT

  • DC’s Legends of Tomorrow: Legendary Storytelling
  • Post Production Theater
  • Gag Reel
  • Deleted Scenes

16 ONE-HOUR EPISODES

1.The Virgin Gary
2.Witch Hunt
3.Dancing Queen
4.Wet Hot American Bummer
5.Tagumo Attacks!!!
6.Tender is the Nate
7.Hell No, Dolly
8.Legends of To-Meow-Meow 
9.Lucha de Apuestas       
10.The Getaway
11.Séance & Sensibility
12.The Eggplant, the Witch & the Wardrobe
13.Egg MacGuffin
14.Nip/Stuck
15.Terms of Service
16.Hey, World!

DIGITAL

The fourth season of DC’s Legends of Tomorrow is also currently available to own on Digital. Digital allows consumers to instantly stream and download all episodes to watch anywhere and anytime on their favorite devices.  Digital is available from various retailers including iTunes, Amazon Video, PlayStation, Vudu, Xbox and others. A Digital Copy is also included with the purchase of specially marked Blu-ray discs for redemption and cloud storage (Available in the U.S.).

BASICS

Street Date: September 24, 2019

Order Due Date: August 20, 2019

BD and DVD Presented in 16×9 widescreen format

Running Time: Feature: Approx 768 min

Enhanced Content: Approx 25 min (Blu-ray only)

DVD
Price: $24.98 SRP
4 DVD-9s
Audio – English (5.1)
Subtitles – ESDH

BLU-RAY

Price: $29.98 SRP

3 BD-50s

Audio –DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 – English

Subtitles – ESDH

CANADA

DVD
Price: $30.99 SRP
4 DVD-9s
Audio – English (5.1)
Subtitles – ESDH

BLU-RAY

Price: $39.99 SRP
3 BD-50s
Audio –DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 – English
Subtitles – ESDH

Underrated Tolkien Hits Streaming July 23, Home Video Aug. 6

Tolkien
From legendary halls of Oxford to the grim and bloody trenches of World War I, this enthralling biopic explores the early years of J.R.R Tolkien (Nicholas Hoult) and the relationships that defined the legendary author he would become. Chronicling his romance with Edith Brant (Lily Collins), as well as the various members of the Tea Club, Barrovian Society, Tolkien slowly grows from a shy and bookish young man into one of history’s most beloved writers – seasoned by life, and everything that comes with it.
 
Tolkien Special Features

  • Deleted Scenes with optional commentary by Director, Dome Karukoski
  • First Look
  • Gallery
  • Audio Commentary by Director, Dome Karukoski

Tolkien Blu-ray Specifications
Street Date: August 6, 2019
Screen Format: Widescreen 16:9
Audio: English 5.1 DTS-HD-MA, English Descriptive Audio 5.1, Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1, French Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish, French
Total Run Time: 111 minutes
U.S. Rating: PG-13 for some sequences of war violence.
 
Tolkien DVD Specifications
Street Date: August 6, 2019
Screen Format: Widescreen 16:9
Audio: English Dolby Digital 5.1, English Descriptive Audio 5.1, Spanish Dolby Digital 2.0 French Dolby Digital 2.0
Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish, French
Total Run Time:  111 minutes
U.S. Rating:  PG-13 for some sequences of war violence.

Game of Thrones S8 & Complete Series Details Unveiled

New York, N.Y., June 26, 2019 – Rally the realm on December 3rd as HBO is releasing all eight epic seasons of one of the most talked about programs in TV history with Game of Thrones®: The Complete Collection, an ultra-premium, limited-edition Blu-ray™ set. This must-have collectible exclusively features Game of Thrones: Reunion Special, a two-part reunion show with cast members from the final season including Kit Harington, Emilia Clarke, Sophie Turner and more, as well as previously departed fan-favorites like Sean Bean, Jason Momoa, Mark Addy and others. Hosted by Emmy®-award winning host Conan O’Brien, the reunion was shot in front of a live audience in Belfast and includes segments of footage from both the show and behind-the-scenes, highlighting a variety of topics that are sure to captivate fans.

Additional bonus content includes all-new deleted and extended scenes, animated histories and lore pieces, fascinating behind-the-scene featurettes, audio commentaries and the documentary featured on DVD in two parts, Game of Thrones: The Last Watch, by filmmaker Jeanie Finlay. 

Game of Thrones®: The Complete Collection is packaged in a visually stunning wooden shadow box case, featuring beautiful, multi-layered panel designs by Robert Ball (the artist behind the “Beautiful Death” series) that summarize the Game of Thrones story. Each season is represented by a different layer, showcasing iconic characters and memorable moments from the show, all clambering toward the Iron Throne. The set also contains a “Hand of the King” pin clasp, which holds all nine custom plated disc sleeves. 

Based on the best-selling novel series by George R.R. Martin, Game of Thrones holds the record as the most awarded series in television history, earning a total of 132 Emmy® nominations and 47 wins to date. The megahit drama also stands as HBO’s most-viewed program ever, with the final season averaging a record-setting 44 million viewers in the U.S. 

The ensemble cast includes Emmy® and Golden Globe® winner Peter Dinklage (Tyrion Lannister), Lena Headey (Cersei Lannister), Emilia Clarke (Daenerys Targaryen), Kit Harington (Jon Snow), Sophie Turner (Sansa Stark), Maisie Williams (Arya Stark), Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Jaime Lannister) and Iain Glen (Jorah Mormont). 

HBO will also release Game of Thrones: Season 8 in a stunning 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray™ Steelbook, and the single season DVD/Blu-ray™. Additionally, Game of Thrones: The Complete Series will also be available on DVD/Blu-ray™ without the collectible packaging. These sets are loaded with extra content and will also be available to own on December 3rd. 

Game of Thrones®: The Complete Collection and Game of Thrones: The Complete Series on Blu-rayTM Bonus Features Include: 

  • Game of Thrones: Reunion Special: A reunion show shot live in Belfast with the cast, both past and present, hosted by Conan O’Brien and available exclusively on these complete series collections. The reunion special is assembled in segments focused on Houses Lannister, Stark, & Targaryen and concludes with the key players all onstage for their final reflections on the years they shared in Westeros and Essos.
  • Bonus content and retail exclusive videos from previously released individual season box sets, totaling more than 15 hours of extra materials for fans to explore when they’ve finished watching the series.  

Complete Series and Season 8 formats also exclusively feature:

  • Game of Thrones: The Last Watch: A documentary featured on DVD in two parts by filmmaker Jeanie Finlay chronicling the making of the final season.
  • When Winter Falls: Exclusive 30-minute featurette with showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, along with major stars and behind-the-scenes players, breaking down all that went into the colossal filming of the “Battle of Winterfell” in Season 8, Episode 3.
  • Duty is the Death of Love: A compelling look at how the team behind Game of Thrones and its major stars, including Kit Harington, Peter Dinklage and Emilia Clarke, brought the show to its conclusion in the series finale, “The Iron Throne.”
  • Audio Commentaries: 10 Audio Commentaries with cast and crew, including the show’s creators, Benioff and Weiss, on the final season.
  • Deleted and Extended Scenes: 5 never-before-seen deleted or extended scenes from season 8.
  • Histories and Lore: New animated pieces giving the history and background of notable season 8 locations and storylines.

Avengers: Endgame Assembles Home Video Details

Just prior to Avengers: Endgmae being rereleased this weekend with new post-credits footage, Disney has announced the home video details.

BURBANK, Calif. (June 26, 2019) — Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Endgame, the climactic conclusion to an unprecedented, 11-year cinematic journey in which the Avengers take one final stand against Thanos, delivered the biggest opening weekend in history and is currently one of the highest-grossing films of all time. On July 30, Avengers fans around the world are invited to assemble once more for the in-home release of Avengers: Endgame on Digital in HD, 4K Ultra HD™ and Movies Anywhere, followed by a physical release on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray™, DVD and On-Demand beginning Aug. 13. 

Fans who bring home Avengers: Endgame will gain hours of additional screen time with their favorite cast members and filmmakers who have shaped the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Bonus features include a tribute to the great Stan Lee; the tale of Robert Downey Jr.’s casting as Iron Man; the evolution of Captain America; Black Widow’s dramatic story arc; directors Anthony and Joe Russo’s experience at the helm of both Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame; the making of an epic battle scene with the women of the MCU; the creation of Bro Thor; deleted scenes; a gag reel and more.
 
The must-own, final chapter of the 22-film MCU series, Avengers: Endgame, will be packaged several ways to ensure fans get the most out of their in-home entertainment experience. Viewers can bring home the film two weeks early on Digital 4K Ultra HD, HD and SD and gain access to an exclusive extra highlighting the love story of Steve Rogers (Captain America) and Peggy Carter. A physical copy of Avengers: Endgame is available as a 4K Cinematic Universe Edition (4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and Digital Code), a Multi-Screen Edition (Blu-ray and Digital Code) and a single DVD. Fans who wish to revisit all four films in the Avengers franchise may opt for a Digital bundle, which includes Marvel’s The Avengers, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame.

BONUS MATERIAL (may vary by retailer):
Digital Exclusive:

  • Steve and Peggy: One Last Dance – Explore Captain America and Peggy Carter’s bond, forged in moments from previous films that lead to a momentous choice in “Avengers: Endgame.”

Blu-ray & Digital:

  • Remembering Stan Lee – Filmmakers and cast honor the great Stan Lee in a fond look back at his MCU movie cameos.
  • Setting The Tone: Casting Robert Downey Jr. – Hear the tale of how Robert Downey Jr. was cast as Tony Stark in the original Iron Man — and launched the MCU.
  • A Man Out of Time: Creating Captain America – Trace the evolution of Captain America with those who helped shape the look, feel and character of this compelling hero.
  • Black Widow: Whatever It Takes – Follow Black Widow’s journey both within and outside the Avengers, including the challenges she faced and overcame along the way.
  • The Russo Brothers: Journey to Endgame – See how Anthony and Joe Russo met the challenge of helming two of the biggest films in cinematic history … back-to-back!
  • The Women of the MCU – MCU women share what it was like to join forces for the first time in an epic battle scene — and be part of such a historic ensemble.
  • Bro Thor – His appearance has changed but his heroism remains! Go behind the scenes to see how Bro Thor was created.
  • Six Deleted Scenes – “Goji Berries,” “Bombs on Board,” “Suckiest Army in the Galaxy,” “You Used to Frickin’ Live Here,” “Tony and Howard” and “Avengers Take a Knee.”
  • Gag Reel – Laugh along with the cast in this epic collection of flubs, goofs and gaffes from set.
  • Visionary Intro – Intro by directors Joe and Anthony Russo.
  • Audio Commentary – Audio commentary by directors Anthony and Joe Russo, and writers Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely.


DISC SPECIFICATIONS (applies to film content only):

Product SKUs:  
Cinematic Universe Edition (4K Ultra HD+Blu-ray+Digital Code)
Multi-Screen Edition (Blu-ray+Digital Code)
Digital 4K Ultra HD (select retailers include Dolby Vision), HD, SD, DVD and On-Demand
Run Time: Approximately 181 minutes
Rating: PG-13
Audio: 
4K UHD BD: English Dolby Atmos; Latin Spanish 7.1 Dolby Digital Plus; French Canadian 5.1 Dolby Digital; English Descriptive Audio 2.0 Dolby Digital
Blu-ray: English 7.1 DTS-HDMA, Latin Spanish & French Canadian 5.1 Dolby Digital, English Descriptive Audio 2.0 Dolby Digital
DVD: English & Latin Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital, English Descriptive Audio 2.0 Dolby Digital
4K UHD Digital: English Dolby Atmos (some platforms), English 7.1 Dolby Digital Plus (some platforms), English 5.1 & 2.0 Dolby Digital, Latin Spanish 5.1 & 2.0 Dolby Digital, French 5.1 & 2.0 Dolby Digital, English Descriptive Audio 2.0 Dolby Digital
HD Digital: English 7.1 Dolby Digital Plus (some platforms), English 5.1 & 2.0 Dolby Digital, Latin Spanish 5.1 & 2.0 Dolby Digital, French 5.1 & 2.0 Dolby Digital, English Descriptive Audio 2.0 Dolby Digital
SD Digital:  English 5.1 & 2.0 Dolby Digital, Latin Spanish 5.1 & 2.0 Dolby Digital, French 5.1 & 2.0 Dolby Digital, English Descriptive Audio 2.0 Dolby Digital
Subtitles:         
UHD: English SDH, Latin Spanish, French Canadian 
BD: English SDH, French Canadian, Latin Spanish
DVD: English SDH, Latin Spanish
Digital: English SDH, French Canadian, Latin Spanish
Captions: English (on Digital and DVD SKUs)
 
Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Endgame stars Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man, Chris Evans as Captain America, Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow, Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye, Brie Larson as Captain Marvel, Paul Rudd as Ant-Man, Don Cheadle as War Machine, Karen Gillan as Nebula, Danai Gurira as Okoye and Bradley Cooper as Rocket with Gwyneth Paltrow as Pepper Potts, Jon Favreau as Happy Hogan, Benedict Wong as Wong and Tessa Thompson as Valkyrie. Josh Brolin returns as the film’s infamous villain, Thanos.
 
Marvel Cinematic Universe characters restored to the universe in Avengers: Endgame include Benedict Cumberbatch as Doctor Strange, Chadwick Boseman as Black Panther, Tom Holland as Spider-Man, Zoe Saldana as Gamora, Evangeline Lilly as The Wasp, Elizabeth Olsen as Scarlet Witch, Anthony Mackie as Falcon, Sebastian Stan as Winter Soldier, Tom Hiddleston as Loki, Pom Klementieff as Mantis, Dave Bautista as Drax, Letitia Wright as Shuri, Angela Bassett as Ramonda, Michael Douglas as Hank Pym, Michelle Pfeiffer as Janet Van Dyne, Cobie Smulders as Maria Hill, Winston Duke as M’Baku, Linda Cardellini as Laura Barton, and Vin Diesel as Groot with Chris Pratt as Star-Lord and Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury. Reprising their roles, Rene Russo returns as Frigga, John Slattery as Howard Stark, Tilda Swinton as The Ancient One, Hayley Atwell as Peggy Carter, Natalie Portman as Jane Foster, Marisa Tomei as Aunt May, Taika Waititi as Korg, William Hurt as Secretary of State Thaddeus Ross and Robert Redford as Alexander Pierce.
 
Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Endgame is directed by Emmy Award®–winning directors Anthony and Joe Russo from an original screenplay by Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely. Kevin Feige produced the film, with Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Michael Grillo, Trinh Tran, Jon Favreau, James Gunn and Stan Lee serving as executive producers.
 
Directors Anthony and Joe Russo’s creative team also includes director of photography Trent Opaloch (Avengers: Infinity War, Captain America: Civil War); production designer Charles Wood (Avengers: Infinity War, Matrix); editors Jeffrey Ford, ACE (Avengers: Infinity War, Captain America: Civil War), and Matthew Schmidt (Avengers: Infinity War, Captain America: The Winter Soldier); three-time Oscar®–nominated costume designer Judianna Makovsky (Avengers: Infinity War, Captain America: Civil War); Oscar-nominated visual effects supervisor Dan DeLeeuw (Avengers: Infinity War, Captain America: Civil War); six-time Oscar nominee, special effects supervisor Dan Sudick (Avengers: Infinity War, Black Panther); and stunt coordinator Monique Ganderton (Avengers: Infinity War, Atomic Blonde).

The Law Is A Ass #444: So, Is Daredevil Appealing?

The Law Is A Ass #444: So, Is Daredevil Appealing?

The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. Sometimes. And sometimes it’s a bunch of old people in robes.

Matt Murdock won a big victory in the New York Supreme Court. He convinced the judge presiding over the trial of Simon Slugansky to allow Daredevil to testify while still masked and without revealing his secret identity. He won a second big victory in the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, when it upheld Slugansky’s conviction. Then he lost it all when the Court of Appeals, the highest court in New York, reversed Slugansky’s conviction 4-3. We didn’t see the actual ruling in the story, but I’ll assume it ruled masked super-heroes could not testify without revealing their masked identities.

Now you may be wondering how could that happen? No, not how could Matt have lost in the Court of Appeals. I spent the last two columns telling you why Matt should never have won in the Supreme Court, let alone prevailing in a court of appeals. You’re wondering how the Court of Appeals could be the highest court in New York and the Supreme Court could be the lowest.

The answer is simple. That’s how New York chose to name its courts. The Supreme Court is the trial court in the superior courts, the Appellate Division is the first level of appellate court, and the Court of Appeals is the highest court.

Yes, I know it goes against common sense. After all, according to Dictionary.com supreme means “highest in rank or authority.” That would mean that the supreme court should be the highest court. And for most of us the Supreme court is the highest court in our states or, in the case of the federal Supreme Court, the highest court in the land. Just as God, the supreme being, should be the highest personage in the heavens.

Except those of us who are married know that God isn’t the highest. That would be Mrs. God. So, if the supreme being isn’t the highest being, maybe a supreme court doesn’t have to be the highest court. New York took advantage of that little loophole and decided to give its appellate courts skewed appellations.

Is this the end of Matt’s plan to allow masked super heroes to testify while masked? If I were to tell you that Daredevil vol 5 #24 was only the fourth part of the “Supreme” storyline and that a five-part story would fill out a nice trade paperback collection much better than a four-part story would, would that answer your question?

Of course it’s not the end.

Matt decided to appeal the Court of Appeals opinion to the United States Supreme Court by filing a petition for a writ of certiorari. A writ of Certs and Dory? What’s that?

A petition for a writ of certiorari is a legal pleading filed with the United States Supreme Court which asks the court grant certiorari over the case so it can accept jurisdiction and rule on its merits. It’s how most case are appealed to the US Supreme Court.

There was just one little hitch in Matt’s plan; his boss. Manhattan District Attorney Ben Hochberg had all the backbone of cream of mushroom soup without the mushrooms and was reluctant to appeal.

According to Hochberg, the case was a, “spectacle” that would “reflect[] on [his] office. If Matt were to lose in the Supreme Court, “you’ll look like a maniac, tilting at windmills. It’ll end your career.”

Losing a high-profile case in the Supreme Court would end your career? That must have been news to Henry Wade, the district attorney for Dallas, Texas. He lost the high-profile case of Roe v. Wade in the Supreme Court in 1973 and continued to serve as Dallas DA until 1987.

Ben, old boy, lots of people lose in the Supreme Court. Statistically speaking about fifty percent of all litigants lost in the Supreme Court. And it didn’t end their careers. In fact, arguing a case in the Supreme Court – win or lose – is considered a rarefied honor in the legal profession; one which usually opens more doors than it closes. So stop acting like Zachary Smith’s even more-cowardly brother and let Matt do his frikkin’ job already.

To his credit, Ben did let Matt appeal. Reluctantly, and with some crippling restrictions. “I won’t stop you – it’s still your case – but you’re on your own. D.A. resources and personnel are off-limits.” Which, of course, they can’t be.

Ben was wrong when he said it’s Matt’s case. It isn’t. It’s Ben’s case. Matt isn’t a party to the case. The parties are Simon Slugansky as defendant and the state of New York as the Plaintiff. As New York isn’t an actual person, it can’t actually appear in court. Yes, most courtroom doors are double wide, but you still can’t get an entire state through them.

New York has legal representatives who appear in its stead. In criminal cases, said legal representatives are the districts attorneys. As the District Attorney for Manhattan, Ben Hochberg’s the legal stand-in for New York in the case. It’s his name which appears on all the pleadings. Matt can sign the pleadings and argue the case, but only as the duly authorized representative of District Attorney Ben Hochberg.

So Ben literally can’t forbid Matt from using the office resources. Yes, he can say Matt can’t use the officer personnel to help him, can’t use the office computers, can’t use the office Lexis or Westlaw accounts to research the case, can’t even use the office staplers to hold the briefs together better than Ben’s reasoning holds together. But at the end of the day, or the beginning of the day or the middle of the day, or whatever part of the day Matt finishes up his writ and is getting ready to send it off to the Supreme Court; Ben can’t deny Matt all of the resources of the office of the District Attorney for Manhattan. When it comes time to sign the writ, Matt still has to sign it as a representative of Ben Hochberg.

Win or lose, Ben, your name still has to be on that writ somewhere. So, Ben, don’t you think in the long run it would be better for your name and your office to give Matt all the resources he needs to win the case considering your name and your office will be part of the case no matter what you do.

The issue ends with Matt Murdoch persuading his former law partner, Foggy Nelson, to help him prepare the writ, but without any mention of whether they actually get the case before the Supreme Court. What do you think, will they get there?

Before you answer, remember this: earlier I said this was only part four of the “Supreme” storyline and that trade paperbacks work much better with five- or six-part stories. That means it’s very likely that Daredevil vol 5. #26 will be “Supreme” part five, and if Matt and Foggy don’t get their case in front of the Supreme Court, what are they going to fill the issue with? The Three Stooges’ “Disorder in the Court?”

The Big Bang Theory Season 12 and Complete Series Details Announced

BURBANK, CA (June 19, 2019) – In its twelfth and final season, The Big Bang Theory garnered an average audience of nearly 18 million weekly viewers, cementing its status as the number one broadcast sitcom across all demographics* and the number one series on CBS among Total Viewers. Now fans can relive all of the hilarious and heartfelt memories as Warner Bros. Home Entertainment gets set to release The Big Bang Theory: The Twelfth and Final Season on Blu-rayTM ($49.99 SRP ) and DVD ($44.98 SRP) November 12, 2019. The release will feature brand-new bonus content, including a featurette on the final episode with behind-the-scenes and cast interviews, the CBS special “Unraveling the Mystery: A Big Bang Farewell,” the 2018 Comic-Con Panel, a hilarious gag reel and much more!

The Big Bang Theory: The Complete Series, including all 279 original episodes from 12 seasons of the top-rated sitcom, will also be available for fans to own on DVD ($179.99) and a premium Limited Edition Blu-ray ($249.99 SRP). The complete set will feature nearly 12 hours of extras along with an additional disc including three exclusive and never-before-seen featurettes! The special Limited Edition Blu-ray Boxset comes in a beautiful lay-flat book with a fun pop-up and includes a digital copy. Order due date for both releases is October 8, 2019.

*Source: Nielsen National TV View, 2018-19 broadcast season to date (09/24/2018 – 03/17/2019), Live + 7 Day ratings; excluding repeats, specials, movies, sports, less than 3 telecasts. Demos pulled: Households, Total Viewers (P2+); Adults, Men, and Women: 18-34, 18-49, 25-54, 50+

For years, fans have been delighted watching their favorite physicists Leonard (Johnny Galecki) and Sheldon (Jim Parsons) navigate the universe and everyday life along with Penny (Kaley Cuoco), and fellow scientists Howard (Simon Helberg), Raj (Kunal Nayyar), Amy (Mayim Bialik) and Bernadette (Melissa Rauch), as well as other beloved characters. Now that Sheldon has married neurobiologist Amy Farrah Fowler, he’ll have to make some serious adjustments to their “Relationship Agreement” in Season 12. Will their equation for marital bliss alter the chemistry between these two beautiful minds? Perhaps Leonard and Penny will provide the data as they experiment with variable in their own marriage.  Meanwhile, Howard and Bernadette explore the principles of parenthood, and Raj considers a traditional arranged marriage. Quantum comedy converges in the twelfth dimension for the final season!

“Warner Bros. Home Entertainment is thrilled to release the final season of the global blockbuster series The Big Bang Theory,” said Rosemary Markson, WBHE Senior Vice President, Television Marketing. “In addition to the release of The Big Bang Theory: The Twelfth and Final Season, we’re proud to offer fans and collectors The Big Bang Theory: The Complete Series Limited Edition Blu-ray featuring highly collectable packaging, a digital copy of every episode and all-new, never-before-seen special features.”

With Blu-Ray’s unsurpassed picture and sound, The Big Bang Theory: The Twelfth and Final Season, as well as The Big Bang Theory: The Complete Series,  Blu-Ray releases will include 1080p Full HD Video with DTS-HD Master Audio for English 5.1. These Blu-Rays also come with a digital copy of all the episodes included in each release.

SPECIAL FEATURES

The Big Bang Theory: The Twelfth and Final Season

  • Unraveling the Mystery: A Big Bang Farewell Special
  • The Last Days of The Big Bang Theory
  • The Big Bang Theory’s Impact
  • The Sweet Spot
  • The Big Bang Theory Cast Visits Ellen
  • The Big Bang Theory: 2018 Comic-Con Panel
  • Gag Reel

The Big Bang Theory: The Complete Series

Includes nearly 12 hours of previously released bonus content from Seasons 1 through 12, plus the following exclusive special features:

  • The Big Bang Theory: A Retrospective
  • BBT’s Greatest Hits: 12 Years of Comedy in 24 Minutes
  • All The Stars in the BBT Universe

The Big Bang Theory: The Twelfth and Final Season on Blu-Ray and DVD includes 24 half-hour episodes:

  1. The Conjugal Configuration
  2. The Wedding Gift Wormhole
  3. The Procreation Calculation
  4. The Tam Turbulence
  5. The Planetarium Collision 
  6. The Imitation Perturbation 
  7. The Grant Allocation Derivation
  8. The Consummation Deviation
  9. The Citation Negation
  10. The VCR Illumination
  11. The Paintball Scattering
  12. The Propagation Proposition
  13. The Confirmation Polarization
  14. The Meteorite Manifestation
  15. The Donation Oscillation
  16. The D & D Vortex
  17. The Conference Valuation
  18. The Laureate Accumulation
  19. The Inspiration Deprivation
  20. The Decision Reverberation
  21. The Plagiarism Schism
  22. The Maternal Conclusion
  23. The Change Constant
  24. The Stockholm Syndrome 
     

DVD Standard Features: *

  • 3 DVD-9s
  • DVD Audio – English (5.1)
  • DVD Subtitles – ESDH, Latin Spanish, French
  • Presented in 16×9 widescreen format

Blu-Ray Features: *

  • 2 BD-50s
  • BD Audio:  DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 – English
  • BD Subtitles – ESDH, French, Latin Spanish
  • BD Presented in 16×9 widescreen format

BASICS

Street Date: November 12, 2019

Order Date: October 8, 2019

Running Time: Approx. 480 minutes / Enhanced Content: 75 minutes

Presented in 16×9 widescreen format

BD

Price: $49.99 SRP

2 BDs

BD Audio: English (5.1)

BD Subtitles: ESDH, Spanish, French

DVD

Price: $44.98 SRP

3 DVD-9s

DVD Audio: English (5.1)

DVD Subtitles: ESDH, Spanish, French

The Big Bang Theory: The Complete Series

Limited Edition Blu-ray

Price: $249.99

24 BDs + 1 Bonus Disc

BD Audio: English (5.1)

BD Subtitles: ESDH, Spanish, French

DVD

Price: $179.99 SRP

36 DVD-9s + 1 Bonus Disc

DVD Audio: English (5.1)

DVD Subtitles: ESDH, Spanish, French

Attention Nostalgia Fans: The Banana Splits Movie is coming in Aug.

BURBANK, CA (June 18, 2019) – One banana, two banana, three banana, GORE! The cult-favorite animal rock-band from Hanna-Barbera’s 1968 The Banana Splits Adventure Hour variety program is back with a blood-spattered vengeance!  Warner Bros. Home Entertainment brings you The Banana Splits Movie, an original feature-length film on Digital on August 13, and on Blu-ray Combo Pack and DVD on August 27, 2019.  The movie is priced to own at $19.99 SRP for Digital, $24.98 SRP for Blu-ray Combo Pack ($34.97 in Canada), $19.98 SRP for the DVD ($24.99 in Canada).

The Banana Splits Movie will offer a new take on the classic characters. The film follows a boy named Harley and his family as they go to a taping of The Banana Splits TV show, which is supposed to be a fun-filled birthday for young Harley. But things take an unexpected turn — and the body count quickly rises. Can Harley, his mom and their new pals safely escape?

“Get nostalgic and horrified all at the same time while watching the trippy 60’s characters in this all-new tale about fear, power, and an oversized puppet rock-band,” said Mary Ellen Thomas, WBHE, Vice President, TV Marketing, Family & Animation. The Banana Splits Movie is a throwback to a fanatical children’s series with a horror-genre twist — and we can’t wait for the band to get back together for a new generation of fans!”

The Banana Splits Movie stars Dani Kind (Wyonna Earp) as Beth, Finlay Wojtak-Hissong (The Kindness of Strangers) as Harley, Romeo Carere as Austin, Steve Lund (Street Legal, Schitt’s Creek) as Mitch, and Sara Canning (The Vampire Diaries, A Series of Unfortunate Events, War for the Planet of the Apes) as Rebecca. The beloved Bingo, Fleegle, Snorky and Drooper are voiced by Eric Bauza (Looney Tunes Cartoons, Woody Woodpecker, UniKitty!). The film is written by Jed Elinoff & Scott Thomas (Raven’s Home, My Super Psycho Sweet 16) and directed by Danishka Esterhazy (Level 16) with music by Patrick Stumph (Fall Out Boy, Gnome Alone). The movie is produced by Blue Ribbon Content in association with Warner Bros. Home Entertainment and SYFY. The Banana Splits Movie will make its broadcast debut on SYFY later this year.

DVD SPECIAL FEATURES

  • Banana Splits: Behind the Horror

DIGITAL AND BLU-RAY COMBO PACK SPECIAL FEATURES

  • Banana Splits: Behind the Horror
  • Terror on Set
  • Breaking News! The Banana Splits Massacre 

DIGITAL

The Banana Splits Movie will be available to own on Digital. Digital purchase allows consumers to instantly stream and download all episodes to watch anywhere and anytime on their favorite devices. Digital movies and TV shows are available from various digital retailers including Amazon Video, iTunes, Google Play, Vudu and others. A Digital Copy is also included with the purchase of specially marked Blu-ray discs for redemption and cloud storage.

BASICS

Digital Release: August 13, 2019

Blu-ray/DVD Release: August 27, 2019

Order Due Date: July 23, 2019

Blu-ray and DVD Presented in 16×9 widescreen format

Running Time: Feature: Approx. 86 min

Enhanced Content: Approx. 15 min

UNITED STATES

DVD

Price: $19.98 SRP

1 DVD-9s

Audio – English (5.1)

BLU-RAY

Price: $24.98 SRP

1 Blu-ray + 1 DVD + Digital Copy

BD Audio –DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 – English

CANADA

DVD

Price: $24.99 SRP

1 DVD-9s

Audio – English (5.1)

Subtitles – English

BLU-RAY

Price: $34.97 SRP

1 Blu-ray + 1 DVD

BD Audio –DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 – English

Subtitles – English

REVIEW: Us

I was captivated by Jordan Peele’s directorial debut, Get Out, until it devolved into over-the-top horror film fare, spoiling the social commentary. Apparently, I was not alone in this and Peele decided his sophomore outing would be a straight on horror film, Us. When it opened, my students flocked to see it, many enjoying it, and several saying they needed to see it twice to fully appreciate it.

The film, from Universal Home Entertainment, is out on home video tomorrow, and I have to say, I don’t get the fuss. Once again, Peele layers in social commentary mixed with his horror tropes (a modern-day Body Snatchers?), but I was fairly bored for the majority of the film.

In short, your perfect nuclear family, headed by Lupita Nyong’o (in a part Peele wrote just for her) and Winston Duke, has their lives turned upside down when their home is invaded by red-tracksuited doppelgangers. We eventually learn that they are not alone and the local town is overrun with these silent, deadly clones.

It becomes a race for survival although there appears to be something personal between Nyong’o and her double, who she first saw in 1986. She (Madison Curry) was so traumatized, she fell silent for years, and today is uncomfortable in crowds and easily spooked. There’s also some odd connection between her son Jason (Evan Alex) and his double.

As in all good horror films, people make stupid decisions so at various points when the family could escape to safety, they chose the less obvious path, extending the threat.

As we learn, these are imperfect clones, dubbed the tethered, developed and raised by the government in some harebrained scheme to control the masses. Why they were allowed to remain alive is never addressed. Nor is there a hint of government response to any of this. Similarly, and in keeping in the horror tradition, our heroes appear to be the only ones to have survived their deadly encounter. In fact, there are lot so internal logic questions left dangling.

The cast is appealing as Duke and Nyong’o play parents nicely and it’s good to see Elizabeth Moss in something other than a red robe but I wonder why she took the role since there’s absolutely nothing to work with. She’s just the highest profile cannon fodder in the cast.

Apparently, people smarter than me have plumbed the film’s deeper meanings and what Peele is trying to say about ourselves, our psychological states, but nothing about why a republican wants to control its citizens. I think people want to see more in this movie than is really there. And then Peele pulls the rug out from under us with a reveal at the end that raises plenty of unanswered questions, but by then, I was done.

The movie is out in the usual assortment of formats including the $K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and Digital HD combo pack. The film works very well in 4K as the 2160p digital transfer allows the deep shadows and figures running in the dark to look clear. The Dolby Vision color palette lets the limited color palette work just fine. Coupled with a fine Dolby Atmos sound track, the film will play nicely at home, spooking its audience.

The Blu-ray, by the way, is nearly as good so if you just get that, you’re fine.

The Special Features included don’t reveal as much as one would have hoped and are a fairly average assortment. We begin with The Monsters Within Us (4:45), examining the main family; Tethered Together: Making Us Twice (7:29, which touches on how the cast played two versions of themselves, aided by the crew; Redefining a Genre: Jordan Peele’s Brand of Horror (5:31), although I question if anything actually got redefined; The Duality of Us ( 9:56), with Peele admitting he’s scared of his own double; Becoming Red (4:09), shows Nyong’o getting into character; Scene Explorations – Seven Second Massacre (2:41), It’s a Trap (2:02), and I Just Want My Little Girl Back (2:53); Deleted Scenes (6:28); We’re All Dying (6:22), an extended beach scene; and, As Above, So Below: Grand Pas De Deux (5:02): Zora dances.