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L.A. Noire Character Dossier & New Screens: Detective Stefan Bekowsky

In L.A. Noire, the young and jocular Detective Stefan Bekowsky is highly regarded around the department for his sharp mind, reliability and dedication. Bekowsky proves to be a loyal friend and partner to Detective Cole Phelps as they pursue a string of intriguing cases on the Traffic Desk.

While he tends to be a jokester from time-to-time, Detective Bekowsky is always focused and cool under fire when a dangerous situation arises.

Setting up his mean right hook to take down an uncooperative suspect.

Bekowsky’s not buying this suspect’s story.

 
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MEDIA ALERT: Might & Magic Heroes VI – Collector’s Edition + Sanctuary faction revealed.

http://www.ebgames.com.au/pc-153448-The-Might–Magic-Heroes-VI-Collectors-edition-PC

 
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The Crysis 2 Experience – Part 3: “Gate Keepers”

The Crysis 2 Experience – Part 3: “Gate Keepers”

Watch as Alcatraz navigates the urban jungle and squares off against a squad of CELL troopers in the latest instalment of The Crysis 2 Experience: “Gate Keepers.” This final chapter of raw gameplay footage was captured on PC, and showcases the choreographed sandbox gameplay that Crysis is known for.

Developed for the PC, Xbox 360 and PS3, Crysis 2 will be released in Australia on the 24th March. (25th March in New Zealand)

Video can be viewed here – http://www.ea.com/au/crysis-2

 
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Madman Entertainment and SBS | Anzac Day Newsletter | March 2011

MARCH 2011

  
Hero Image

LEST WE FORGET

In recognition of ANZAC DAY – Madman and SBS present a compelling selection of films, documentaries and TV specials on DVD that span a century of war history from all corners of the globe.

To request preview, review or promotional samples for any of the below, please contact press@madman.com.au.
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CHARLES BEAN’S GREAT WAR

This dramatised documentary pays tribute to the great Australian war correspondent, Charles Bean, who played a major role in the shaping of our understanding of World War I. This is the story of a man and his mission to share the truth of war.

Bean was so inspired by the dignity and performance of Australian troops in Gallipoli that he made it his life’s work to tell their story to the Australian public. The result was the monumental twelve volume ‘Official History of Australia in the War of 1914 – 1918’, widely recognised as one of the best histories of the war ever written. Bean also went on to become the driving force behind the establishment of the Australian War Memorial.

Release Date: 4th May, 2011
RRP: $24.95 DVD Info      
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NOT FORGOTTEN

The stories of those who fought in the war to end all wars.

In NOT FORGOTTEN, presenter Mark Lee (best known as Archy Hamilton in GALLIPOLI) heads to the memorials as a starting point, researching individual stories to turn names and statistics into people with faces and personal histories. Tracking down their descendants, he unveils a series of moving portraits, exploring the scale of the loss, the experience of grief, and the motivations which took so many Australians to war on the other side of the world.

From a population of just over 4 million, 324,000 Australian men served overseas in WW1. Some 61,700 never came home. Australia suffered the highest casualty rate in the British Empire forces. And every single one of them was a volunteer. As WW1 fades into ancient history, this documentary turns the names frozen in time back into remembered lives. It helps us unlock the experience and the legacy of the Great War on a personal, family, community and national level, and ensuring that 90 years later, these names are not forgotten.

Release Date: Available Now
RRP: $24.95 DVD Info      
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PAPER DOLLS – AUSTRALIAN PINUPS OF WORLD WAR 2

Australia during the Second World War is usually pictured as austere, a time of rations and perseverance. Women from this time are often portrayed as domesticated or working for the war effort. Sexuality was dangerous and mentioned only in reference to the allure of the visiting American soldiers. Fashion was negated for the khaki greens and grays of uniforms.

In the dark of war, the pinup girls were pictures of hope, of a better time, of people’s longing for fun. Pinups came in different forms: girls in bathers, dancing girls, drawings of glamorous, idealized womanhood and soft focus girls gazing longingly out of their frame. For the women featured in the photos, their brief stardom was for some a liberating and exciting adveture, while for others it was a secret to be hidden from family and community.

This film charts the growth of the Australian pinup through the recollections of three former pinup girls (one amateur and two professional models) as well as a selection of World War 2 veterans who share how these pictures were morale boosters and uplifted their spirits during a frightening, desperate and lonely period of their lives.

Release Date: Available Now
RRP: $24.95 DVD Info      
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A VERY SHORT WAR

60 million people died during World War II. Cliff Carpenter, Australian airman, was one of them.

A VERY SHORT WAR revolves around the short life of Jack Clifford (Cliff) Carpenter, a pioneer Australian aviator – a man who designed and built his first aeroplane as a teenager and sadly lost his life at the age of 28 in the darkening skies over Norway on the day of the German invasion. He left behind a grieving mother and father, a brother, two sisters and an enduring family legacy.

Through his letters home we are exposed to a fascinating and intriguing insight into the spirit of the times as World War 2 beckoned. A Very Short War is not the story of a hero, yet it is truly heroic. It is a heartening story of great loss as it follows the quest by the nephew Cliff never knew to unravel the truth behind the ultimate sacrifice made in a lonely place far from home.

Release Date: 6th April, 2011
RRP: $24.95 DVD Info      
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BEAUFIGHTER SQUADRON WW2

This story exposes significant historical events that have been largely neglected or completely forgotten by today’s contemporary society. It tells the tale of the World War 2 Beaufighter Aircraft – known by the Japanese as Whispering Death, a fast heavily armed and almost indestructible aircraft, and its indefatigable Australian crews. Together they helped tip the balance against the invading Japanese during the dark days of 1942-43, once and for all ending the Japanese territorial ambitions toward New Guinea during the crucial Battle of the Bismarck Sea.

The pivotal role played by Australia’s (at the time) large and efficient aircraft industry is documented on archival film – along with the men of 30 and 31 Squadrons who flew the Beaufighters from bases in the Northern Territory, Port Moresby and the islands to the north – with whom we share the experiences as they fought, lived and flew sorties against the enemy.

Release Date: Available Now
RRP: $29.95 DVD Info      
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THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN

Ewan McGregor and his R.A.F. pilot brother, Colin, commemorate the 70th Anniversary of The Battle Of Britain.

To mark the 70th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain, arguably the most important event in modern British history, brothers Colin and Ewan McGregor present a ninety minute special leading us through the timeline of events during the height of the Battle.

Colin is an R.A.F veteran of twenty years’ service – Ewan a hero of the big screen and fledgling pilot himself. Together they take us on a journey to honour the heroes of 1940 both on the ground and in the air, bringing the story of the Battle of Britain to a new generation. They will take to the skies over Southern England as Spitfires and Hurricanes once again fly over the White Cliffs of Dover. They discover the legacy of the Battle and reveal the inspiring personal stories of the few who were there and those still with us today.

Release Date: 6th April, 2011
RRP: $24.95 DVD Info      
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FIRST LIGHT

Geoffrey Wellum was just 18 when he was thrown into combat as a fighter pilot at the beginning of the terrifying air war of the Battle of Britain. Now seventy years on and aged 89, he is still haunted by the conflict that almost destroyed him.

Based on Geoffrey’s personal and deeply moving memoirs, FIRST LIGHT is an intimate drama-documentary that delivers a compelling testimony of his wartime experiences, revisiting the stark emotions and fiery action that dazzled and terrified him as a young man and which changed his life forever. It is the story of a boy who went to war, and who came back a broken man.

Release Date: 6th April, 2011
RRP: $24.95 DVD Info      
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THE POLISH BATTLE OF BRITAIN

Largely based on the diary kept by pilots of the squadron, this dramatised documentary recounts how, during the most decisive phase of the Battle of Britain, a single squadron of 34 Polish fighter pilots wreaked havoc on the Luftwaffe, in the process helping to change the course of history and overturning RAF prejudices.

From 303 Squadron’s bitter struggle for acceptance when they first arrived in the UK, to the crucial part they played in averting the German invasion, and their ultimate betrayal by the Allies when their country was handed over to Stalin – this is the unknown story of one of the most extraordinary episodes of World War II.

Release Date: Available Now
RRP: $24.95 DVD Info      
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THE LANCASTER AT WAR

This documentary tells the story of the Avro Lancaster and its part in the bombing campaign of Germany. A campaign that remains highly controversial to this day. The Lancaster’s operational history ranges from the destruction of Hamburg to the massive food drops on Occupied Territory that would save the lives of thousands – it was the only aircraft capable of carrying the huge 22,000 lb ‘Tallboy’ bombs; it carried out the epic Dambusters Raid with the infamous ‘Bouncing Bomb’; it took part in precision raids against the launch sites of Hitler’s ‘V’ weapons, as well as dangerous low level raids many hundreds of miles inside Germany, striking at vital industrial and military targets.

However, THE LANCASTER AT WAR is more than the history of an aircraft, no matter how powerful and intense that story alone is. Featuring exclusive interviews with surviving Lancaster aircrew who flew and fought throughout the grim battle of aerial attrition, THE LANCASTER AT WAR brings home the reality of taking part, night after relentless night, in missions where the odds of survival were slim. These men tell of the fear, the pride and determination that played a significant part in the defeat of the Nazi regime and bringing the war to a swift and decisive end.

Release Date: Available Now
RRP: $24.95 DVD Info      
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FIGHTING THE RED BARON

At the outset of WW1 the aeroplane was seen as having little use other than to act as a spotter plane for the cavalry and artillery. But in the space of 6 months – the bloodiest of the war – a group of young pilots transformed the role of the aeroplane into a deadly killing machine that changed the nature of warfare forever. This is the story of those 6 months, centering around Bloody April during which the average life expectancy of a pilot was reduced to just 3 weeks.

The film is told though the first hand accounts of the actual pilots, painstakingly documented in Josh Levin’s book ‘On a Wing and a Prayer’ and archaeological digs.

Release Date: Available Now
RRP: $24.95 DVD Info      
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CONVOY

CONVOY is the story of the longest and bloodiest campaign of WW2. Over 4 years, 100,000 people died and 2,500 ships were sunk in the Battle of the Atlantic. It brought Britain to the brink of defeat. From the eastern seaboard of the U.S.A. to the west coast of Africa, those who died had no graves – only their names carved on memorials.

This four-part series is driven by compelling interviews with members of the Merchant Navy, U-boat crews and Royal Navy who fought in the battle. We speak to merchant seaman Albert Becker who survived 46 days at sea in a life raft; Richard Hardegan the commander of U-123 who sank 8 ships in a single night; and navy officers who were forced to steam past victims of the sinkings. And every crucial event is covered, from the opening salvo when a U-Boat snuck into Scapa Flow and sunk HMS Royal Oak, to the ‘Happy Time’ of German U-Boat dominance and the final months of the battle where the U-Boats were driven out of the Atlantic.

Release Date: Available Now
RRP: $29.95 DVD Info      
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LIVING WITH THE ENEMY

This is the story of the years between the end of World War II and the founding of the two German states: 1945 to 1949, which proved to be a decisive period for both Germany and the occupying forces. It was a period of reciprocal impressions and experience for both occupiers and occupied and a period that still fundamentally shapes personal fates, families, the economy, the arts and geopolitics.

This period was the beginning of the Cold War. It would influence global politics for decades to come. A new generation of historians with new findings, archives only now accessible, and the willingness of those involved to engage in an open dialogue make a new, remarkable in-depth view of these historical events possible.

Release Date: Available Now
RRP: $24.95 DVD Info      
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PARIS 1919

For six fateful months in 1919, Paris became the centre of the world. The last shots had been fired in the most devastating war of all time. Almost 10 million were dead. Two empires had collapsed. The old world order lay in tatters and a new one desperately needed to be created.

Driven by unprecedented urgency, delegations from over 30 nations descended upon Paris for the most ambitious peace talks in history. The French capital became the destination of emirs and presidents, newsmen and royalty, ambitious socialites and enterprising arms dealers.

At the helm of the conference were the Big Four – U.S. president Woodrow Wilson, French prime minister Georges Clemenceau, British prime minister David Lloyd George and Italian prime minister Vittorio Orlando – all of whom endeavoured to engineer a peace treaty “for all time”. And while the Big Four staggered under their mind-boggling agenda, separate committees assessed war reparations or realigned national borders, creating new entities like Iraq or Yugoslavia with little chance for reflection. Meanwhile, the streets were teeming with starving widows and war amputees – and all the while, Germany was rearming.

Paris 1919 takes us inside this singular event with vivid sense of character and narrative. In a finely crafted and thoughtful work of popular history, director Paul Cowan blends re-enactments with archival images to evoke the cut-and-thrust of diplomacy and a brief moment when the prospect of everlasting peace gave hope to a weary world. Bringing events into focus are astute observations from John Maynard Keynes and Harold Nicolson, members of the British delegation and players in a real-life cast that includes Lawrence of Arabia, Chaim Weizmann and a young Vietnamese kitchen hand named Ho Chi Minh.

Release Date: Available Now
RRP: $24.95 DVD Info      
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WORLD WAR 2 IN COLOUR

This two part series presents new, unseen colour material from World War 2 – including footage of King George VI and Queen Elisabeth visiting the 1939 World’s Trade Fair in New York; Pearl Harbour before and after the Japanese attack; good quality 35mm footage of a military wedding in Dresden two years before the 1945 bombing; celebrations of Hitler’s birthday in his home town of Linz in 1943; the capture of the U-boat U-505 by the US navy; US marines on Iowa Jima; and a kamikaze hit on the carrier USS Ticonderoga in 1945.

Also included in the series is documentary footage by Hollywood directors William Wyler, George Stevens and John Ford, including some of Ford’s Oscar-winning coverage of the Battle of Midway where he was wounded.

Release Date: Available Now
RRP: $24.95 DVD Info      

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT:
www.madman.com.au
 
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RETURNS FOR A SECOND SEASON ON THE NINE NETWORK, LAUNCHES THREE DVDS AND A MERCHANDISE RANGE

William & Sparkles’ Magical Tales returns to television on March 21 after a second season was commissioned by the Nine Network in association with production partner Ambience Entertainment.

Fans are also invited to relive the magic of the first season on April 13, when Warner Bros. Entertainment Australia debuts the first 3 volumes of Magical Tales on DVD. Each DVD will contain 5 episodes and a bonus song for $14.95RRP each. For those after even more song and dance, Target will offer an exclusive limited edition version of volume one that includes an additional musical CD for $19.95RRP. Two further product waves are planned for later in the year to complete the full first season release. Individual episodes are also available for download from iTunes. The DVDs will be rated G and the runtime will be approximately 150 minutes each.

The series which has grabbed the attention of children and adults alike with its stories, catchy pop songs, positive messages and colourful costumes has also partnered with Warner Bros. Consumer Products who will release a range of quality merchandise directly into Target stores in April 2011.

The second season of Magical Tales, which was filmed at Sydney’s Fox Studios earlier this year will feature nine brand new infectious songs.  The songs were again composed by Laura Murphy (Sparkles) and her award winning father Stephen “Spud” Murphy whose impressive musical theatre credits include Priscilla Queen of the Desert and Dusty in the role of Music Director.

Magical Tales is an engaging new Australian series, offering 46 x 30-minute episodes per season. The franchise is specifically designed in consultation with pre-primary school educators to captivate and entertain the minds of pre-school children through the use of narrative storytelling, colour, movement, music, delightful costumes and playful characters that combine to heighten the sensory experience.

In each episode the audience is invited into the enchanted world of Magical Tales with William the Wizard and Sparkles the Fairy, who both use their magical talents to solve problems, help their visiting friends and sometimes create mischief.

Inspired by classic fairytales, nursery rhymes and fables Magical Tales utilises characters, themes and traditional storytelling mixed with humour and funky music to give much loved characters and stories a contemporary twist.

“It’s fantastic to be able to deliver this truly unique Australian entertainment experience to families in Australia and New Zealand” stated Warner Bros. Entertainment Australia Managing Director, Roger Clarke. “The home entertainment release of volumes 1-3 of Magical Tales is sure to bring hours of enjoyment to pre-schoolers and their parents alike.”

Warner Bros. Consumer Products Managing Director, Preston Kevin Lewis commented  “The Magical Tales brand continues to grow and we are equally excited about season two with the launch of an exciting range of merchandise in Target stores from April.  This will include boys and girls clothing, colouring in and activity books.  A wider range of merchandise will be available later this year.”

The Nine Network’s Director of Commercial Development, Martin Hersov said “I am really pleased with the originality and quality of the first season of Magical Tales.  This coupled with the positive viewer’s reaction sets up a nice precedent for the second season. The brand has grown considerably over the past 18 months and the inclusion of Warner Bros. as a merchandising and Home Entertainment partner is very exciting indeed and we at Channel 9 look forward to future growth of the property.”

Ambience Entertainment series producer Monica O’Brien concluded “This is an extremely exciting stage for the Magical Tales brand. Since the first season hit screens we have been bombarded with requests from fans for merchandising and DVDs. To have the Nine Network commissioning a second season and Warner Bros. come on board as a merchandise and Home Entertainment partner really sets this property up for a great shot at breakthrough success.”

 
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MEDIA SPOKESPEOPLE AVAILABLE – INTERNET SECURITY

Pure Hacking is Australia’s leading dedicated, vendor-neutral ethical hacking company in Australia. Its sole focus is risk and security. Today it provides secure development services, secure code reviews, penetration testing and training modules to a range of clients throughout the Asia Pacific region.

Members of the Pure Hacking team regularly present at international seminars, contribute to professional papers on internet security and are highly active in the industry organisations that investigate risk and security across technology platforms.

Pure Hacking spokespeople are available for media commentary on the following internet security-related topics. Please note that these topics are very specific, however Pure Hacking is available for high level commentary on any security issue:

  • Software and Infrastructure security
  • Penetration Testing – addresses the security of corporate networks from an internal and external perspective
  • Web Application Penetration testing – discovering ways to break into various web applications, such as internet banking sites
  • Web Appliance Penetration Testing – evaluation of web application firewalls, web content/ URL/anti-malware/anti-spyware filters
  • Web Services Penetration Testing
  • Mobile Web Application Penetration Testing
  • How secure is code – identification of vulnerabilities in either web-based or software-based applications
  • Web Application Security Architecture – identifying weak spots in design, layout and security zones. Review web servers in Configuration Reviews to identify weaknesses that can be hardened to increase the security of the web application.
  • Binary Analysis – identify copy protection breaches and patent infringements
  • Malware Analysis – identification of malicious executable code and determine the actions that it performs on a system
  • Mobile Apps – identify the vulnerabilities and security weaknesses of mobile apps and devices
  • Cloud computing and Virtualisation – identify attacks on an administrator workstation and manipulation of the virtual infrastructure software weaknesses
  • Wireless Security vulnerabilities – identify a range of vulnerabilities including wireless LAN discovery, denial of service attack identification, signal leakage, encryption cracking and spoofing attacks etc.
  • VoIP Security – addresses security vulnerabilities within the VoIP environment from phone configuration, call eavesdropping, VoIP denial of service, default server/voicemail/phone passwords etc
  • Client-side Software attacks – this is where modern attacks are aimed at Internet Explorer, Adobe Reader, Microsoft Office. Phishing and external penetration tests reveal where compromises take place.
  • Rogue employee attacks – how employees or attackers with access to the internal network escalate privileges to control the SCADA environment. This is usually from weak password guessing and password cracking, sensitive information disclosure, Windows enumeration etc
  • Managed Virtual Web Application Firewalls/Managed Cloud Web Application Firewall
  • Digital forensics – how corporate networks are investigated, trends
  • Security Policy and Guidelines Review & Development issues in the Australian corporate sector
  • Threat and Risk assessments – what to look for this year
  • PCI Compliance

 

Our Spokespeople:

Robert McAdam, CEO

Robert McAdam began his security career in 1990 with the New South Wales Police Force. 

After eight years of active service, he moved to IBM Global Services Australia where he held the roles of Program Manager, Sydney Olympics and Program Manager for Penetration Testing, Managed Firewalls and Intrusion Detection Systems across Asia Pacific in IBM’s Security and Privacy Practice.

In 2002, Mr McAdam started Pure Hacking, which today works with companies both large and small, predominantly in data intensive industries including finance, business services, communications, education and health.

Ty Miller, CTO

Ty Miller is the Chief Technology Officer at Pure Hacking, and leads their specialist security team and strategy to ensure that Pure Hacking is at the forefront of specialist information security services. Ty specialises in all forms of penetration testing and secure infrastructure design. He runs various security courses for Pure Hacking in both web application and infrastructure security, and performs independent security research.

Ty has been in the IT security area for around ten years, is an experienced presenter at high profile security conferences and d is also a co-author of the book Hacking Exposed Linux.

 
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UNSTOPPABLE Thrill Ride Hitting Blu-ray & DVD June 8

1,000,000 TONS OF STEEL. 100,000 LIVES AT STAKE.

100 MINUTES TO IMPACT. 

Climb Aboard with Denzel Washington and Chris Pine on an UNSTOPPABLE Thrill Ride Hitting Blu-ray & DVD June 8

Sydney, Australia – With an unmanned, half-mile-long freight train barreling toward a city, all hope rides on the shoulders of two courageous men to prevent a major catastrophe. UNSTOPPABLE is a high-intensity, action-packed thrill ride coming to high-definition Blu-ray and DVD from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment on June 8, 2011.

Hang on for the ride of your life as Oscar winner Denzel Washington* and Chris Pine (Star Trek) team up for the year’s most electrifying action-adventure.  A runaway train, transporting deadly toxic chemicals, is barreling down on Scranton, Pennsylvania and only two men can stop it: a veteran engineer (Washington), and a young conductor (Pine).  Thousands of lives hang in the balance as these ordinary heroes attempt to chase down one million tons of hurtling steel and prevent an epic disaster. Helmed by visionary director Tony Scott (Man On Fire), this story inspired by actual events delivers excitement and suspense that are…UNSTOPPABLE!

UNSTOPPABLE also features performances by Ethan Suplee (Remember the Titans), Kevin Corrigan (The Departed), and Elizabeth Mathis (TRON: Legacy).

Continue this incredible heart stopping journey on Blu-ray with a look behind-the-scenes and discover how the intense action was brought to life.  UNSTOPPABLE Blu-ray special features extend the thrill ride with an insider’s look at the fast paced adrenaline rush that took place not only on-screen but during production as well. You will also receive an X-Men first class cinema ticket with every copy of Unstoppable Blu-ray.

UNSTOPPABLE Blu-ray Special Features 

  • Derailed: Anatomy of a Scene     
  • Hanging Off the Train: Stunt Work
  • On the Rails with the Director and Cast    
  • The Fastest Track: Unleashing Unstoppable           
  • Director Commentary Track        
  • Tracking the Story:  Unstoppable Script Development
 
formats

THE KING’S SPEECH

Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush & Helena Bonham Carter star as The King’s Speech comes to DVD and Blu-ray, April 30th.

The King’s Speech, winner of the Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor in a Leading Role and Best Original Screenplay, comes to DVD and Blu-ray for the first time on Saturday 30th of April, 2011.

Produced by British-Australian production company, See-Saw Films, with Bedlam Productions, The King’s Speech has been the very definition of a runaway success. It has grossed over $30m at the Australian box office and has garnered critical acclaim both here and around the world, cleaning up at every major awards ceremony and taking home four Academy Awards, five BAFTAs and seven Golden Globes as well as Screen Actors Guild, Producers Guild and Directors Guild Awards.

Set in 1937, The King’s Speech is based upon the true story of the coronation of Britain’s reluctant monarch, King George VI, and the relationship between him and his irreverent Australian speech therapist, Lionel Logue – the man who turned the stammering Prince Albert into King George VI, the leader of an Empire.

Prince Albert, “Bertie”, was the second son of King George V and so never destined to rule but after the passing of his father and the scandalous abdication of his brother, Edward VIII, just eleven months into his reign, Bertie finds himself facing accession to the crown and leadership of an Empire on the verge of war.

Bertie has forever been crippled by a debilitating speech impediment and in the age of radio, with his country in need of a leader for the war with Germany that is sure to come, Bertie’s wife Elizabeth realises her husband needs help. It is through her search that the Prince arrives at the office of Lionel Logue, an eccentric Australian speech therapist living in the poorer part of London, whose unorthodox techniques are a long way from the medical norm.

After a rough start, the King and the Speech Therapist delve into the treatment and so begins a most remarkable relationship between the two men, a relationship that transcends class and nationality, a relationship that will change the world, for with the support of Logue, and the support of his family, the new King will overcome his stammer, find his voice and deliver a radio address that will unite a nation.

In addition to winning four Academy Awards, The King’s Speech was also nominated in the categories of Art Direction, Cinematography, Costume Design, Film Editing, Original Score and Sound Mixing. Its success must also be attributed, in part, to the amazing performances of a stellar cast: Colin Firth as Prince Albert, Geoffrey Rush as Lionel Logue and Helena Bonham Carter as Elizabeth as well as Derek Jacobi, Michael Gambon, Guy Pearce and Timothy Spall all under the direction of Tom Hooper.

Heading the Australian element of the production team was Emile Sherman whose previous productions include: The Kings of Mykonos, Linear, Candy, Rabbit Proof Fence and $9.99.

DVD TECHNICAL DETAILS

Title THE KING’S SPEECH
Discs 1
RRP $39.95
Rating M
Technical Details Languages:                         English
Audio:                                  Dolby Digital 5.1, Stereo
Aspect Ratio:                       1.85:1
CC and AD:                         Yes
Running Time 114 Mins
Special Features Audio Commentary with Director Tom Hooper, Behind the Scenes of THE KING’S SPEECH, THE PERSONAL DIARIES: An Interview with Mark Logue (Lionel Logue’s Grandson and Co-Author (with Peter Conradi) of THE KING’S SPEECH: HOW ONE MAN SAVED THE BRITISH MONARCHY, KING GEORGE VI ARCHIVE: Pre- War Speech Radio Broadcast (Declaration of War – September 3, 1939) & Post- War Speech on Film:  V-E Day (Victory in Europe Day), BBC AMERICA SPECIAL:  Q&A with Tom Hooper (Director), Claire Bloom (Queen Mary), Guy Pearce (King Edward), Helena Bonham Carter (Queen Elizabeth) and Colin Firth (King George VI) and Production Sketches from Academy Award Nominated Production Designer Eve Stewart.

BLU-RAY TECHNICAL DETAILS

Title THE KING’S SPEECH
Discs 1
RRP $49.95
Rating M
Technical Details Languages:                         English
Audio:                                  5.1 DTS HD-MA
Aspect Ratio:                      1.85:1
CC and AD:                         Yes
Running Time 119Mins
Special Features Audio Commentary with Director Tom Hooper, Behind the Scenes of THE KING’S SPEECH, THE PERSONAL DIARIES: An Interview with Mark Logue (Lionel Logue’s Grandson and Co-Author (with Peter Conradi) of THE KING’S SPEECH: HOW ONE MAN SAVED THE BRITISH MONARCHY, KING GEORGE VI ARCHIVE: Pre- War Speech Radio Broadcast (Declaration of War – September 3, 1939) & Post- War Speech on Film:  V-E Day (Victory in Europe Day), BBC AMERICA SPECIAL:  Q&A with Tom Hooper (Director), Claire Bloom (Queen Mary), Guy Pearce (King Edward), Helena Bonham Carter (Queen Elizabeth) and Colin Firth (King George VI) and Production Sketches from Academy Award Nominated Production Designer Eve Stewart.
 
formats

THQ ANNOUNCE WWE ALL STARS FREE DEMO COMING MARCH 23 TO XBOX 360 & PS3

Free Demo Available Prior to Launch Featuring WWE Superstar Rey Mysterio and Legendary Competitor Ultimate Warrior

AGOURA HILLS, Calif. – March 18 2011 – THQ Inc. (NASDAQ: THQI) today announced a playable demo for WWE All Stars available from March 23. WWE All Stars can be best described as the love child of classic arcade NBA Jam and a fluid fighting game, with all the biggest names to feature in the WWE and all of its previous subsidiaries. WWE All Stars is a love letter to anyone who ever played a four-player fighting game with their mates, and especially to fans of THQ’s WCW/WWF Nintendo 64 games in the 1990s. The WWE All Stars demo will be available for download on Xbox LIVE as well as the PlayStation Network from March 23 – absolutely free.

Featuring WWE Superstar Rey Mysterio and legendary competitor Ultimate Warrior and in a classic Exhibition match in the All Stars Arena, players will experience the wide range of techniques, strengths and advantages represented by two of the four unique character classes available in WWE All Stars. Competing as a Brawler, Ultimate Warrior will be a master of striking and stringing together powerful combination sequences, including unblockable charged strikes that lead to grapples and juggling opportunities. As well, they will have an increased range on their strikes, making Brawlers the most balanced class to play in WWE All Stars. As an Acrobat, players competing as Rey Mysterio will experience lightning fast, high-flying action. Acrobats can spring off ring ropes to perform attacks, as well as run and jump on turnbuckles in a flash. They will also move faster than their opponents, and their aerial moves will connect with pinpoint accuracy.

“Our playable demo for WWE All Stars will give players a tremendous opportunity to experience an original style of WWE game play cantered around two incredible talent in Ultimate Warrior and Rey Mysterio,” said Danny Bilson, Executive Vice President, Core Games, THQ. “This videogame is fun, intuitive and very approachable, and we believe our core WWE SmackDown® vs. Raw® fans, WWE enthusiasts and casual followers alike will respond very favourably to this unique and fresh take on the virtual WWE experience.”

WWE All Stars is currently in development for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 system, PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system and Wii™, with a scheduled release date of March 29, 2001.

About WWE All Stars

The revolutionary new addition to THQ’s distinguished WWE videogame portfolio and debut release from THQ San Diego, WWE All Stars will bridge generations with a fun, fresh and fast-paced experience inside the virtual ring. Delivering one of the greatest rosters ever assembled in a WWE videogame, WWE All Stars will include current-day WWE Superstars and legendary talent such as John Cena, The Rock, Andre the Giant, Triple H, Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat, The Miz, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Rey Mysterio, and for the first time ever in a THQ-produced WWE videogame, “Macho Man” Randy Savage. Each roster member will boast a distinctive and highly stylized appearance, adding to the overall atmosphere and attitude exuding from the on-screen action.

WWE All Stars will encompass a fun, intuitive and approachable game play style, creating a highly competitive environment and an engaging spectacle. Packed with high-flying and hard-hitting action, players will explore a variety of responsive quick and strong grapples, standing and running attacks, as well as combination sequences. Everyone on the power-packed roster will be equipped with individual abilities, signature moves and renowned finishers to create the ultimate in-ring experience. In addition, offering four classes of competitor – Acrobat, Big Man, Brawler and Grappler – WWE All Stars will provide players with WWE Legends and WWE Superstars who have distinct advantages and techniques to which other classes do not have access, including specific combinations and unique abilities.

WWE All Stars will also set up the notion that the greatest matchups in WWE history may not have happened yet – until now. In Fantasy Warfare Mode, players will pick a side – WWE Legends or WWE Superstars – and compete in a series of fantasy matches that pit WWE talent with similar personal or in-ring attributes against one another to determine the greatest of all time. Informative and engaging video packages produced by WWE will set up each of the pairings and match objectives.

For more information on WWE All Stars, please visit http://www.wweallstars.com, facebook.com/WWEgames and twitter.com/WWEgames.

 
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2K Sports Announces Top Spin 4 Now Available

Most authentic tennis experience returns with deepest player roster; new, innovative controls; all-new, visually stunning presentation; unrivalled Career mode; and online tournaments

Sydney, Australia – March 18, 2011 – 2K Sports today announced that Top Spin 4, the latest edition in the popular Top Spin tennis simulation franchise, is available now on the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and the Wii™ system from Nintendo. Top Spin 4 redefines the way players experience the game of tennis with new, intuitive controls that make gameplay immediately accessible, while offering a deep and rewarding experience for serious gamers who want to plan their strategy, target opponents’ weaknesses and become an unstoppable force on the court.

Developed by 2K Czech, Top Spin 4 is the most feature-rich title in the history of the franchise. Placing players center court on the baseline of the professional tennis experience, Top Spin 4 includes:

  • Largest player roster ever, featuring pros like as Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Caroline Wozniacki and Serena Williams, and legends such as Andre Agassi, Patrick Rafter, Pete Sampras and Bjorn Borg;
  • More than 4,000 new 2K Signature Style animations;
  • Enhanced Player Creator with all-new Coaching and Development systems;
  • Incredibly immersive online and offline World Tour Career mode;
  • Authentic TV broadcast presentation elements;
  • Playable in stereoscopic 3D on both Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 system. (Top Spin 4 will play normally on any television set; however, a 3D HD television with compatible 3D glasses will be needed to enjoy the game in three dimensions.**)

 

“For Top Spin 4, we set out to deliver the authentic experience for tennis fans,” said Greg Thomas, president of product development for 2K Sports. “We licensed 25 of tennis’ top players, both current and legendary; added thousands of animations to capture and portray each pro’s unique playing style and attributes; recorded audio from dozens of real tennis crowds; and developed an unparalleled Career mode to guide gamers through every facet of a real pro tennis career.”

For more information, please visit www.2ksports.com/games/topspin4 and follow 2K Sports on Twitter at @2KSports and #TopSpin4.

Top Spin 4 is rated G by the Australian Classification Board and is available now in Australia and New Zealand on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Wii.

 

** PS3™ system software v3.30 (or later), 3D display with compatible 3D active glasses and high-speed HDMI cable (all sold separately) required for 3D features. Visit www.us.playstation.com/support/3D for details.

2K Sports is a division of 2K, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO).

 
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