Blogs
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Mike’s Picks: ‘I, Jane Doe’ and ‘Black Peter’
I, Jane Doe Kino Lorber, Drama, $19.95 DVD, $24.95 Blu-ray, NR. Stars Ruth Hussey, John Carroll, Vera Ralston, John How. 1948. Even by the standards of shaky ‘A’-picture melodramas, Republic Pictures’ I, Jane Doe is a whopper packed with wall-to-wall coincidences and improbabilities right up to its final courtroom histrionics. Read the Full Review Black … Continue reading “Mike’s Picks: ‘I, Jane Doe’ and ‘Black Peter’”
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Black Friday: MoviePass Parent Market Value Dips Below $100K
A company’s future as a publicly traded stock is undeniably bleak when Wall Street values it less than $100,000. That’s the reality Helios and Matheson Analytics, parent of MoviePass, found itself Aug. 10 when shares fell to 5.5 cents per share in midday trading, leaving HMNY with a market valuation of just $96, 200. By … Continue reading “Black Friday: MoviePass Parent Market Value Dips Below $100K”
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The Nine Lives of Packaged Media
It’s been said a cat has nine lives. Apparently, so does packaged media. Make no mistake, streaming video represents the present and future of home entertainment. The fact that the Walt Disney Co. is making branded over-the-top video a primary focus is no outlier. It’s a strategic move emulated throughout the media landscape. “The launch … Continue reading “The Nine Lives of Packaged Media”
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Freedom of Speech or Peddling Hate in an OTT World?
In the current politically toxic culture where “fake news” allegations and “enemies of the people” campaign rally cries by the POTUS against the media (except Fox News) continue to divide the country, bigotry and hate are now rationalized by many as differences of opinion between “good people on both sides.” While the First Amendment prohibits … Continue reading “Freedom of Speech or Peddling Hate in an OTT World?”
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Mike’s Picks: ‘I, Jane Doe’ and ‘Black Peter’
I, Jane Doe Kino Lorber, Drama, $19.95 DVD, $24.95 Blu-ray, NR. Stars Ruth Hussey, John Carroll, Vera Ralston, John How. 1948. Even by the standards of shaky ‘A’-picture melodramas, Republic Pictures’ I, Jane Doe is a whopper packed with wall-to-wall coincidences and improbabilities right up to its final courtroom histrionics. Read the Full Review Black … Continue reading “Mike’s Picks: ‘I, Jane Doe’ and ‘Black Peter’”
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Black Friday: MoviePass Parent Market Value Dips Below $100K
A company’s future as a publicly traded stock is undeniably bleak when Wall Street values it less than $100,000. That’s the reality Helios and Matheson Analytics, parent of MoviePass, found itself Aug. 10 when shares fell to 5.5 cents per share in midday trading, leaving HMNY with a market valuation of just $96, 200. By … Continue reading “Black Friday: MoviePass Parent Market Value Dips Below $100K”
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The Nine Lives of Packaged Media
It’s been said a cat has nine lives. Apparently, so does packaged media. Make no mistake, streaming video represents the present and future of home entertainment. The fact that the Walt Disney Co. is making branded over-the-top video a primary focus is no outlier. It’s a strategic move emulated throughout the media landscape. “The launch … Continue reading “The Nine Lives of Packaged Media”
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Freedom of Speech or Peddling Hate in an OTT World?
In the current politically toxic culture where “fake news” allegations and “enemies of the people” campaign rally cries by the POTUS against the media (except Fox News) continue to divide the country, bigotry and hate are now rationalized by many as differences of opinion between “good people on both sides.” While the First Amendment prohibits … Continue reading “Freedom of Speech or Peddling Hate in an OTT World?”
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MoviePass Missteps No Laughing Matter
Fiscally challenged MoviePass caught a break when it ditched a planned price hike and instituted a limit on the number of theatrical movies subscribers could see in a month. The new rule limiting the service’s 3 million subs to three screenings (instead of daily access) should go far staunching the reported $45 million monthly cash … Continue reading “MoviePass Missteps No Laughing Matter”
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MoviePass: We’re Still Standing
The PR blitz to try and save a flawed business model continues. MoviePass parent Helios and Matheson Analytics Aug. 2 issued a presser that essentially repeated claims from an Aug. 1 presser suggesting the ticket subscription service is responsible for a rise in moviegoers. HMNY has to say that. Its stock is currently trading around … Continue reading “MoviePass: We’re Still Standing”
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Mission Impossible: Saving MoviePass
Helios and Matheson Analytics, parent of fiscally-challenged theatrical subscription ticket service MoviePass, saw its stock close July 30 at 80 cents per share – less than a week after issuing a reverse-stock split aimed at buttressing the stock above the Nasdaq $1 minimum. The stock finished down 60% from its opening of $2 per share … Continue reading “Mission Impossible: Saving MoviePass”
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Mike’s Picks: ‘A Matter of Life and Death’ and ‘The Adventures of Tom Sawyer’
A Matter of Life and Death Criterion, Fantasy, $29.95 DVD, $39.95 Blu-ray, NR. Stars David Niven, Kim Hunter, Roger Livesey, Raymond Massey. 1946. You can watch Matter multiple times and always see something new or be affected by a shot or minor detail that didn’t make a direct hit previously. Extras: In addition to Stephanie … Continue reading “Mike’s Picks: ‘A Matter of Life and Death’ and ‘The Adventures of Tom Sawyer’”
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MoviePass Owner Plans 1-for-250 Reverse Stock Split, ‘Rotten Tomatoes’-Like Rating System, Among Other Bravado
Early in the United States’ ill-advised war on Iraq, Mohammed Saeed al-Sahhaf, former Iraqi information minister (a.k.a. “Baghdad Bob” or “Comical Ali”), was known for his propaganda and colorful speech intended to boost the morale of Iraqi troops. Fifteen years later at Media & Entertainment Service Alliances’ Smart Content Summit in New York, Ted Farnsworth, … Continue reading “MoviePass Owner Plans 1-for-250 Reverse Stock Split, ‘Rotten Tomatoes’-Like Rating System, Among Other Bravado”
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Mike’s Picks: ‘I Walk Alone’ and ‘If I Had a Million’
I Walk Alone Street 7/24/18 Kino Lorber, Drama, $19.95 DVD, $24.95 Blu-ray, NR. Stars Burt Lancaster, Kirk Douglas, Lizabeth Scott, Wendell Corey. 1947. The first Burt Lancaster-Kirk Douglas teaming, I Walk Alone captures a special moment in marquee-name time and is thus worth a look by those for whom modest fun is enough. Extras: Includes … Continue reading “Mike’s Picks: ‘I Walk Alone’ and ‘If I Had a Million’”