The Human Centipede 2 gets a UK certificate

Great news for horror film fans. The BBFC has just passed The Human Centipede II (Full Sequence). It did involve almost 3 minutes of cuts to get through but it made it after months of argument. Originally, the film was rejected by the censors. The cuts are why the film was rejected in the first place back in June.

Eureka Entertainment is pleased to announce the forthcoming release of the controversial horror film The Human Centipede II (Full Sequence).

Ian Sadler, Sales Director for Eureka Entertainment, Bounty Films’ UK distributor said: “We are really pleased that after nearly 4 months of detailed discussion and debate, we have been able to reach an agreement with the BBFC and to produce a very viable cut of the film which will both excite and challenge its fans. Naturally we have a slight disappointment that we have had to make cuts, but we feel that the storyline has not been compromised and the level of horror has been sustained.”

Further details of our plans for the UK theatrical and DVD release will be announced early next week.

Life imitates art

Optimum Releasing’s Anglo-Irish comedy-thriller THE GUARD, which opens in UK cinemas on August 19th, stars Brendan Gleeson as an unorthodox country policeman and Don Cheadle as a by-the-book FBI agent who team up, unassisted, to investigate the smuggling of half-a-billion dollars-worth of cocaine by boat into a remote area of the west of Ireland.

The story of the film, which has already proved itself a critical and audience success in the US and in Ireland, where it is breaking box-office records, closely parallels the methods of the smugglers who are currently under investigation by SOCA and the UK Border Agency, despite having been written more than two years ago. The quantity of cocaine is almost identical, as is its mode of transport – a luxury motor cruiser – the “Annabel Lee” in THE GUARD and the “Louise” as its real life counterpart.

Garda Sergeant Gerry Boyle (Gleeson) is a small-town cop with a confrontational personality, a subversive sense of humour, a dying mother, a fondness for prostitutes, and absolutely no interest whatsoever in the international cocaine-smuggling ring that has brought FBI agent Wendell Everett (Cheadle) to his door. However, despite the fact that Boyle seems more interested in mocking and undermining Everett than in actively working to solve the case, he finds that circumstances keep pulling him back into the thick of it.

First his tiresomely enthusiastic new partner disappears, then his favourite hooker attempts to blackmail him into turning a blind eye, and finally the drug-traffickers themselves try to buy him off as they have every other member of the local police force. These events unwittingly offend Boyle's murky moral code. He realises that he needs to take matters into his own hands, and the only person he can trust is Everett. And so the scene is set for an explosive finale.

Written and directed by John Michael McDonagh and starring Brendan Gleeson and Don Cheadle as the ill-matched pair of lawmen, THE GUARD also stars Mark Strong, Liam Cunningham and Fionnula Flanagan.

A Reprisal Films and Element Pictures production in association with Prescience, Aegis Film Fund, UK Film Council, Crescendo Productions and Eos Pictures LLP, with the participation of Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board, THE GUARD is released by Optimum Releasing in the United Kingdom.

THE GUARD hits UK cinemas August 19, 2011

The Hobbit starts filming

After a problematic start of it's life, The Hobbit has finally started shooting. You are probably aware of the issues that the film have had. These ranging from the Studio, almost, going bankrupt, changes in director and almost pulling out of New Zealand due to disputes over actor's pay.

Now comes the good news! The film has started principle photography and the below two images showing the hobbit hole set and the director, Peter Jackson.

The Hobbit follows the journey of title character Bilbo Baggins, who is swept into an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor, which was long ago conquered by the dragon Smaug. Approached out of the blue by the wizard Gandalf the Grey, Bilbo finds himself joining a company of thirteen dwarves led by the legendary warrior, Thorin Oakenshield. Their journey will take them into the Wild; through treacherous lands swarming with Goblins and Orcs, deadly Wargs and Giant Spiders, Shapeshifters and Sorcerers.

Although their goal lies to the East and the wastelands of Lonely Mountain first they must escape the goblin tunnels, where Bilbo meets the creature that will change his life forever... Gollum.

Here, alone with Gollum, on the shores of an underground lake, the unassuming Bilbo Baggins not only discovers depths of guile and courage that surprise even him, he also gains possession of Gollum’s ‘precious’ ring that holds unexpected and useful qualities…a simple, gold ring that is tied to the fate of all Middle-Earth in ways Bilbo cannot begin to know.

The Hobbit, Part One, will hit cinemas "Late 2012" (I would see it released in December as that was when The Lord Of The Rings films were releases)

Amazon acquires LoveFilm

As reported elsewhere the shock news today is that Amazon has just acquired LOVEFiLM. How much Amazon has paid hasn't been released but TechCruch has repored a figure of about $312 million. Amazon already owns 42% of the company.

The full press release says:

LUXEMBOURG CITY and LONDON, January 20, 2011 — Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) today announced that it has reached an agreement to acquire the remaining shares in LOVEFiLM International Limited (www.LOVEFiLM.com). LOVEFiLM is a leading European subscription entertainment service which combines the benefits of online DVD and games rental-by-post as well as streaming films and TV shows instantly over the internet to PCs, internet enabled TVs and Playstation(R)3. LOVEFiLM operates today in the UK, Germany, Sweden, Norway and Denmark. Amazon already has a significant minority shareholding in LOVEFiLM and does not itself operate any similar business in Europe.

“LOVEFiLM has been innovating on behalf of movie rental customers across Europe for many years and with the advent of the LOVEFiLM player, they are further delighting customers by streaming digital movies for their immediate enjoyment,” said Greg Greeley, Amazon’s Vice President of European Retail. “LOVEFiLM and Amazon have enjoyed a strong working relationship since LOVEFiLM acquired Amazon Europe’s DVD rental business in 2008, and we look forward to a productive and innovative future.”
“The deal is a winner for the members who love LOVEFiLM because of its value, choice, convenience and innovation in home entertainment,” said Simon Calver, Chief Executive of LOVEFiLM International. “With Amazon’s unequivocal support we can significantly enhance our members’ experience across Europe.”
The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals, and is expected to close in the first quarter of 2011.

About Amazon.com
Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), a Fortune 500 company based in Seattle, opened on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth’s Biggest Selection. Amazon.com, Inc. seeks to be Earth’s most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online, and endeavors to offer its customers the lowest possible prices. Amazon.com and other sellers offer millions of unique new, refurbished and used items in categories such as Books; Movies, Music & Games; Digital Downloads; Electronics & Computers; Home & Garden; Toys, Kids & Baby; Grocery; Apparel, Shoes & Jewelry; Health & Beauty; Sports & Outdoors; and Tools, Auto & Industrial. Amazon Web Services provides Amazon’s developer customers with access to in-the-cloud infrastructure services based on Amazon’s own back-end technology platform, which developers can use to enable virtually any type of business. Kindle, Kindle 3G and Kindle DX are the revolutionary portable readers that wirelessly download books, magazines, newspapers, blogs and personal documents to a crisp, high-resolution electronic ink display that looks and reads like real paper. Kindle 3G and Kindle DX utilize the same 3G wireless technology as advanced cell phones, so users never need to hunt for a Wi-Fi hotspot. Kindle is the #1 bestselling product across the millions of items sold on Amazon. Amazon and its affiliates operate websites, including www.amazon.com, www.amazon.co.uk, www.amazon.de, www.amazon.co.jp, www.amazon.fr, www.amazon.ca, www.amazon.cn, and www.amazon.it. As used herein, “Amazon.com,” “we,” “our” and similar terms include Amazon.com, Inc., and its subsidiaries, unless the context indicates otherwise.

Forward-Looking Statements
This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Actual results may differ significantly from management’s expectations. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, risks related to competition, management of growth, new products, services and technologies, potential fluctuations in operating results, international expansion, outcomes of legal proceedings and claims, fulfillment center optimization, seasonality, commercial agreements, acquisitions and strategic transactions, foreign exchange rates, system interruption, inventory, government regulation and taxation, payments and fraud. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com’s financial results is included in Amazon.com’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent filings.

About LOVEFiLM
History
LOVEFiLM International was formed from the merger of two leading VC backed DVD rental companies in Europe. The first, LOVEFiLM formed in early 2004 when Arts Alliance Media acquired and rebranded DVDs On Tap and later acquired Boxman.se and Digitarian.dk. The second, Video Island – originally formed in 2003 by Redbus Group – backed by Balderton, Index and DFJ Esprit merged with ScreenSelect Ltd (also founded in 2003), and acquired Brafilm.se and Brafilm.no. The 50/50 merger between the two companies in 2006 was followed in 2008 by LOVEFiLM International’s acquisition of Amazon’s UK and German online DVD rental customer base.

What we do
In a little over seven years, LOVEFiLM has become a leading European film subscription service, combining the benefits of DVD rental by post and, more recently, watching movies online via the LOVEFiLM Player (on the PC, the PlayStation(R)3 and streamed direct to TV). Customers choose from a selection of over 70,000 titles available across Blu-ray, DVDs, video games and digital streaming. LOVEFiLM currently has nearly 1.6 million members and operates in the UK, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, and Norway.
LOVEFiLM has been a pioneer in digital film delivery in the UK since launching the first download to own movie in April 2006. The LOVEFiLM Player launched in March 2010 and offers thousands of digital titles available for members to watch on their TV, PC or PlayStation(R)3. For those on an Unlimited or capped package the service comes at no extra cost. Premium titles are available to everyone on a pay-per-view basis, and a number of titles are available to all site visitors for free with advertising support.
LOVEFiLM is also available through a range of internet-enabled devices – including Sony, Samsung and PS3(TM) – taking LOVEFiLM directly into members’ living rooms through their TV sets.

LOVEFiLM customers have generated 80 million film ratings and written 843,000 member reviews – information which helps LOVEFiLM to promote the most relevant titles for its customers to choose from.

LOVEFiLM offers a range of rental options in each market with free postage and no late fees. In the UK these include GBP4.99 a month allowing members to have one DVD at a time (limit of two per month. Does not include online viewing), GBP5.99 a month for one DVD at a time (limit of three per month plus 2 hours online viewing ), GBP7.99 for two DVDs at a time (limit of four per month plus 4 hours online viewing), GBP9.99 a month for one DVD out at a time (Unlimited DVDs by post and online viewing), GBP12.99 for two at a time (Unlimited DVDs by post and online viewing) and GBP15.99 gives the option for three DVDs at a time (Unlimited DVDs by post and online viewing). Members on an Unlimited package have access to the LOVEFiLM Player at no extra cost.

LOVEFiLM also offers a range of video games rental options in the UK market to support gaming across XBox 360, Xbox, PS3, PS2, Wii and DS. These include GBP5.99 a month for one disc at a time (limit of three per month. Does not include online viewing), GBP9.99 a month for two discs at a time (limit of three per month plus 4 hours online viewing), GBP14.99 a month for two discs at a time (Unlimited discs by post and online viewing) and GBP18.99 for three discs at a time (Unlimited discs by post and online viewing), all with free postage and no late fees.