MGM to Launch Hi-Def Movie Channel

Grrrr.... F*&^&^% DirectTV!

Cable people! C-A-B-L-E!

I have my own horror story with DirectTV and even with some signal problems, Time Warner Cable is still better. It does point out that MGM will market the channel to cable. If they are going to re-strike some of the vintage MGM musicals in new 35mm prints and make them available in hi-def, what a treat!

Yeah, I saw teh mention about them talking to cable companies. I just don't want to wait. *kick dirt* It could be another year or two before Comcast finally works something out.

The girl has DirectTV but no HDTV. I have HDTV but no DirectTV. Frustrating...

Unfortunately Time Warner (at least in the NYC area) has limited channels in HD. It has the major networks, SHO, HBO, MAX, STARZ, ESPN and other "important " sports channels and miscellaneous others, but no Sundance, IMC or many others that I frequently watch.

Sundance and IMC are not in hi-def but they letterbox wide screen films -- just use the zoom on the pic ratio. You can tell when there are two black letterbox bars on the top and two grey bars on either side. It gives you about a 420p picture, or as good as DVD. I pay $ 5.00 per month for the premium hi-def channels, HDNet, HDMovies, MOJO and two more I'm not sure of as far as basic service. HDMovies is worth the $ 5.00 as I can find at least five or more movies a month to watch, it's as cheap as renting without having to drive to the DVD rental store or wait for NetFlix in the mail. They re-strike in 35mm and they are basically restored recent and vintage classic. If they are broadcasting a Panavision or other process that is wider than 16:9, it is letterboxed which loses some resolution, but it's not noticed unless you have a larger than 70" Plasma, LCD, or rear projection and probably not then if it's 1080p.

L.W., thanks for the info on the picture settings. I've only had my HD sets for ten days and am still getting accustomed to using them. I also get HDNet, HDMovies and MOJO, but I have never watched them. I am not paying for them and it might be Time warner's error. Shhh!!!

Plasma, LCD or rear projection LED, DLP? When you first sign up or upgrade to the hi-def receiver with Time Warner, those extra channels are free for, I think, 90 days. In case you haven't located it, here's the E mail HDMovies sends out:

Here's the HDNet Movies schedule for the next three days:
(All times Eastern/Pacific. All schedules subject to change)

***********************************************
TODAY'S HDNet MOVIES HIGHLIGHTS
***********************************************
Thu., Sep 20 - 5:45 PM ET / 2:45 PM PT * Spotlight Feature *
THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER
1990 - PG - (cc)
CIA agent Jack Ryan must travel aboard a submarine with a bitter Russian commander in order to ensure that rumors of the commander's plans to attack the U.S. do not come true.

Thu., Sep 20 - 8:00 PM ET / 5:00 PM PT * Spotlight Feature *
LAST MAN STANDING
1996 - R - (cc)
A gun-for-hire arrives in a town whose only remaining inhabitants are part of two warring gangs, and seeing an opportunity to make money, he hires himself out to both factions, playing both sides against each other.

Thu., Sep 20 - 9:45 PM ET / 6:45 PM PT
LAYER CAKE
2004 - R - (cc)
A drug dealer must accomplish two things before he is able to abscond with his monetary accumulation and escape the underworld of drugs, but it would seem that "getting in" is much easier than "getting out".

Thu., Sep 20 - 11:30 PM ET / 8:30 PM PT * Spotlight Feature *
LAST MAN STANDING
1996 - R - (cc)
A gun-for-hire arrives in a town whose only remaining inhabitants are part of two warring gangs, and seeing an opportunity to make money, he hires himself out to both factions, playing both sides against each other.

***********************************************
Thu., Sep 20 - 6:45 AM ET / 3:45 AM PT
1941
1979 - PG - 1:58 - (cc)
Cast: Dan Aykroyd, Ned Beatty, John Belushi, Director: Steven Spielberg
Panic-stricken from the attack on Pearl Harbor, a group of military defenders over-zealously and hilariously prepare L.A. for an attack.

Thu., Sep 20 - 8:45 AM ET / 5:45 AM PT
WHO'S HARRY CRUMB?
1989 - PG-13 - 1:29
Cast: John Candy, Jeffrey Jones, Annie Potts, Director: Paul Flaherty
Bumbling detective Harry Crumb is called upon to investigate a kidnapping.

Thu., Sep 20 - 10:15 AM ET / 7:15 AM PT
BEST FRIENDS
1982 - PG - 1:48 - (cc)
Cast: Burt Reynolds, Goldie Hawn, Jessica Tandy, Director: Norman Jewison
Two best friends discover that, despite years of supportive and harmonious friendship, no amount of time could prepare them for the change their relationship undergoes after marriage.

Thu., Sep 20 - 12:05 PM ET / 9:05 AM PT
CAN'T BUY ME LOVE
1987 - PG-13 - 1:34 - (cc)
Cast: Patrick Dempsey, Amanda Peterson, Courtney Gains, Director: Steve Rash
The class nerd makes a deal with the most popular girl in school, hoping to gain popularity by having her pretend to be his girlfriend.

Thu., Sep 20 - 1:45 PM ET / 10:45 AM PT
MEMPHIS BELLE
1990 - PG-13 - 1:47 - (cc)
Cast: Matthew Modine, Eric Stoltz, Tate Donovan, Director: Michael Caton-Jones
Based on true events about a highly decorated group of WWII bomber pilots who, after being given their last mission, struggle with the weight of knowing that their actions will inevitably cause a large amount of casualties.

Thu., Sep 20 - 3:45 PM ET / 12:45 PM PT
NEXT OF KIN
1989 - R - 1:48 - (cc)
Cast: Patrick Swayze, Liam Neeson, Adam Baldwin, Director: John Irvin
Two brothers - one a law-abiding cop, the other a rugged outdoorsman with less concern for the law - take it into their own hands to find justice for the murder of their brother.

Thu., Sep 20 - 5:45 PM ET / 2:45 PM PT
THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER
1990 - PG - 2:15 - (cc)
Cast: Sean Connery, Alec Baldwin, Scott Glenn, Director: John McTiernan
CIA agent Jack Ryan must travel aboard a submarine with a bitter Russian commander in order to ensure that rumors of the commander's plans to attack the U.S. do not come true.

Thu., Sep 20 - 8:00 PM ET / 5:00 PM PT
LAST MAN STANDING
1996 - R - 1:40 - (cc)
Cast: Bruce Willis, Bruce Dern, Christopher Walken, Director: Walter Hill
A gun-for-hire arrives in a town whose only remaining inhabitants are part of two warring gangs, and seeing an opportunity to make money, he hires himself out to both factions, playing both sides against each other.

Thu., Sep 20 - 9:45 PM ET / 6:45 PM PT
LAYER CAKE
2004 - R - 1:45 - (cc)
Cast: Daniel Craig, Colm Meaney, Tom Hardy, Director: Matthew Vaughn
A drug dealer must accomplish two things before he is able to abscond with his monetary accumulation and escape the underworld of drugs, but it would seem that "getting in" is much easier than "getting out".

Thu., Sep 20 - 11:30 PM ET / 8:30 PM PT
LAST MAN STANDING
1996 - R - 1:40 - (cc)
Cast: Bruce Willis, Bruce Dern, Christopher Walken, Director: Walter Hill
A gun-for-hire arrives in a town whose only remaining inhabitants are part of two warring gangs, and seeing an opportunity to make money, he hires himself out to both factions, playing both sides against each other.

Fri., Sep 21 - 1:15 AM ET / Thu., Sep 20 - 10:15 PM PT
LAYER CAKE
2004 - R - 1:45 - (cc)
Cast: Daniel Craig, Colm Meaney, Tom Hardy, Director: Matthew Vaughn
A drug dealer must accomplish two things before he is able to abscond with his monetary accumulation and escape the underworld of drugs, but it would seem that "getting in" is much easier than "getting out".

Fri., Sep 21 - 3:05 AM ET / 12:05 AM PT
IN THE COMPANY OF MEN
1997 - R - 1:37 - (cc)
Cast: Aaron Eckhart, Stacy Edwards, Matt Malloy, Director: Neil LaBute
A self-professed misogynist and his spineless friend, both unlucky with women, take it upon themselves to exact revenge on the opposite sex by preying on an innocent deaf girl with the intention of trying to hurt her as much as possible.

Fri., Sep 21 - 4:45 AM ET / 1:45 AM PT
SNATCH
2000 - R - 1:42 - (cc)
Cast: Brad Pitt, Jason Statham, Benicio Del Toro, Director: Guy Ritchie
An intricate web of characters are all linked through a diamond heist, a high-stakes bet, a bare-knuckle boxing match, and an unintelligible gypsy with his own agenda.

Fri., Sep 21 - 6:30 AM ET / 3:30 AM PT
SUNSET PARK
1996 - R - 1:38 - (cc)
Cast: Carol Kane, Rhea Perlman, Fredo Starr, Director: Steve Gomer
An inexperienced white woman takes a job that no one else wants - the coaching position at a dangerous, all-black high school.

Fri., Sep 21 - 8:10 AM ET / 5:10 AM PT
MEMPHIS BELLE
1990 - PG-13 - 1:47 - (cc)
Cast: Matthew Modine, Eric Stoltz, Tate Donovan, Director: Michael Caton-Jones
Based on true events about a highly decorated group of WWII bomber pilots who, after being given their last mission, struggle with the weight of knowing that their actions will inevitably cause a large amount of casualties.

Fri., Sep 21 - 10:00 AM ET / 7:00 AM PT
THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER
1990 - PG - 2:15 - (cc)
Cast: Sean Connery, Alec Baldwin, Scott Glenn, Director: John McTiernan
CIA agent Jack Ryan must travel aboard a submarine with a bitter Russian commander in order to ensure that rumors of the commander's plans to attack the U.S. do not come true.

Fri., Sep 21 - 12:15 PM ET / 9:15 AM PT
STARMAN
1984 - PG - 1:55 - (cc)
Cast: Jeff Bridges, Karen Allen, Charles Martin Smith, Director: John Carpenter
On a mission to observe human nature, an alien learns more than he expected in just a few days when he arrives on earth having taken the form of a woman's dead husband.

Fri., Sep 21 - 2:15 PM ET / 11:15 AM PT
LOSING ISAIAH
1995 - R - 1:46 - (cc)
Cast: Jessica Lange, Halle Berry, David Strathairn, Director: Stephen Gyllenhaal
A crack-addicted mother seeks help after she returns to the dumpster where she temporarily left her baby and finds that her child is gone. Years later, she discovers that her child was adopted by a social worker and wants to get him back.

Fri., Sep 21 - 4:10 PM ET / 1:10 PM PT
BOILER ROOM
2000 - R - 1:59 - (cc)
Cast: Giovanni Ribisi, Vin Diesel, Nia Long, Director: Ben Younger
A college dropout turned stockbroker finds himself involved with a shady brokerage firm and ultimately becomes the victim of his own ambition.

Fri., Sep 21 - 6:15 PM ET / 3:15 PM PT
BEYOND RANGOON
1995 - R - 1:39 - (cc)
Cast: Patricia Arquette, Frances McDormand, Spalding Gray, Director: John Boorman
While on vacation in Burma, a woman finds herself trapped in a country falling into tyranny and revolution. Unable to leave the country on her own, she joins a group of rebels on a trek to the Thai boarder.

Fri., Sep 21 - 8:00 PM ET / 5:00 PM PT
THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS
1991 - R - 1:58 - (cc)
Cast: Jodie Foster, Anthony Hopkins, Scott Glenn, Director: Jonathan Demme
With a serial killer on the loose, FBI agent Clarice Starling is assigned to collect a psychological profile from another serial killer--Dr. Hannibal Lecter. His clues lead her in pursuit of the killer and force her to face her traumatic childhood.

Fri., Sep 21 - 10:05 PM ET / 7:05 PM PT
SPECIES
1995 - R - 1:48
Cast: Ben Kingsley, Natasha Henstridge, Michael Madsen, Director: Roger Donaldson
A genetic experiment results in a sexy half-alien female killing machine who escapes the lab in search of victims.

Sat., Sep 22 - 12:00 AM ET / Fri., Sep 21 - 9:00 PM PT
THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS
1991 - R - 1:58 - (cc)
Cast: Jodie Foster, Anthony Hopkins, Scott Glenn, Director: Jonathan Demme
With a serial killer on the loose, FBI agent Clarice Starling is assigned to collect a psychological profile from another serial killer--Dr. Hannibal Lecter. His clues lead her in pursuit of the killer and force her to face her traumatic childhood.

Sat., Sep 22 - 2:05 AM ET / Fri., Sep 21 - 11:05 PM PT
SPECIES
1995 - R - 1:48
Cast: Ben Kingsley, Natasha Henstridge, Michael Madsen, Director: Roger Donaldson
A genetic experiment results in a sexy half-alien female killing machine who escapes the lab in search of victims.

Sat., Sep 22 - 4:00 AM ET / 1:00 AM PT
ALTERED STATES
1980 - R - 1:42 - (cc)
Cast: William Hurt, Blair Brown, Bob Balaban, Director: Ken Russell
A scientist's obsession with his experiments leads to extreme genetic changes that cause him to physically regress to an ape-state.

Sat., Sep 22 - 5:45 AM ET / 2:45 AM PT
BOILER ROOM
2000 - R - 1:59 - (cc)
Cast: Giovanni Ribisi, Vin Diesel, Nia Long, Director: Ben Younger
A college dropout turned stockbroker finds himself involved with a shady brokerage firm and ultimately becomes the victim of his own ambition.

Sat., Sep 22 - 7:45 AM ET / 4:45 AM PT
STEP INTO LIQUID
2003 - PG - 1:27 - (cc)
Cast: Rochelle Ballard, Laird Hamilton, Chris Malloy, Director: Dana Brown
The legacy and tradition of The Endless Summer continues as director Dana Brown documents the passion of surfing from around the world.

Sat., Sep 22 - 9:15 AM ET / 6:15 AM PT
LE MANS
1971 - NR - 1:48 - (cc)
Cast: Steve McQueen, Siegfried Rauch, Elga Anderson, Director: Lee H. Katzin
After nearly dying in an accident the year before, an American racecar driver returns to Le Mans, the world's most famous and dangerous race, ready to put his Porsche against his rival, the Ferrari.

Sat., Sep 22 - 11:05 AM ET / 8:05 AM PT
THE CUP
1999 - G - 1:34
Cast: Orgyen Tobgyal, Neten Chokling, Jamyang Lodro, Director: Khyentse Norbu
A Buddhist monastery takes in refugee boys, but the monks soon discover that competing with the World Cup for the boys' attention is especially difficult in a modern world of distraction and soccer.

Sat., Sep 22 - 12:45 PM ET / 9:45 AM PT
CADDYSHACK II
1988 - PG - 1:37 - (cc)
Cast: Chevy Chase, Dan Aykroyd, Randy Quaid, Director: Allan Arkush
Seeking revenge on the club that rejected his membership application, a rich tycoon buys the country club and turns it into an amusement park.

Sat., Sep 22 - 2:30 PM ET / 11:30 AM PT
ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK
1981 - R - 1:38 - (cc)
Cast: Kurt Russell, Lee Van Cleef, Ernest Borgnine, Director: John Carpenter
Post-apocalyptic story where the island of Manhattan has been turned into the world's largest maximum security prison. When Air Force One crashes on the island and the President is taken hostage, it is up to condemned criminal and former war hero, Snake Plisskin, to rescue him.

Sat., Sep 22 - 4:15 PM ET / 1:15 PM PT
CLIFFHANGER
1993 - R - 1:52 - (cc)
Cast: Sylvester Stallone, John Lithgow, Michael Rooker, Director: Renny Harlin
A group of estranged mountain-climbing friends are asked to return to the mountain where tragedy tore them apart. Once there, they discover that the group of "stranded" people they were sent out to rescue are actually a group of thieves needing experienced guides.

Sat., Sep 22 - 6:15 PM ET / 3:15 PM PT
SWIMMING WITH SHARKS
1994 - R - 1:38 - (cc)
Cast: Kevin Spacey, Frank Whaley, Michelle Forbes, Director: George Huang
An angry and vengeful assistant kidnaps his cruel and abusive boss to get justice for all the wrong that was done to him.

Sat., Sep 22 - 8:05 PM ET / 5:05 PM PT
O BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU?
2000 - PG-13 - 1:47 - (cc)
Cast: George Clooney, John Turturro, Tim Blake Nelson, Director: Joel Coen
A modern-day adaptation of The Odyssey about three prison-escapees whose journey home is riddled with bizarre obstacles and ridiculous characters.

Sat., Sep 22 - 10:00 PM ET / 7:00 PM PT
BLAZING SADDLES
1974 - R - 1:32 - (cc)
Cast: Cleavon Little, Gene Wilder, Slim Pickens, Director: Mel Brooks
Classic spoof on Western films about the first black sheriff of Rock Ridge who, with the help of the town drunk, Waco Kid, takes on a racist and corrupt town.

Sat., Sep 22 - 11:35 PM ET / 8:35 PM PT
O BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU?
2000 - PG-13 - 1:47 - (cc)
Cast: George Clooney, John Turturro, Tim Blake Nelson, Director: Joel Coen
A modern-day adaptation of The Odyssey about three prison-escapees whose journey home is riddled with bizarre obstacles and ridiculous characters.

Sun., Sep 23 - 1:30 AM ET / Sat., Sep 22 - 10:30 PM PT
BLAZING SADDLES
1974 - R - 1:32 - (cc)
Cast: Cleavon Little, Gene Wilder, Slim Pickens, Director: Mel Brooks
Classic spoof on Western films about the first black sheriff of Rock Ridge who, with the help of the town drunk, Waco Kid, takes on a racist and corrupt town.

Sun., Sep 23 - 3:05 AM ET / 12:05 AM PT
TAXI DRIVER
1976 - R - 1:53 - (cc)
Cast: Robert DeNiro, Cybill Shepherd, Peter Boyle, Director: Martin Scorsese
A psychotic and lonely New York City cab driver decends into violent paranoia when his hatred of street people becomes overwhelming.

Sun., Sep 23 - 5:00 AM ET / 2:00 AM PT
FREEWAY
1995 - R - 1:41
Cast: Keifer Sutherland, Reese Witherspoon, Wolfgang Bodison, Director: Matthew Bright
After her mom and step-dad are arrested, a 15-year-old girl decides to escape foster care and hitches a ride with a serial killer on her way to find the grandmother she's never met.

Thanks for the schedule, L.W. I see so many films in theaters (4-5 a week on average) that I don't watch many on the 4 pay channels that I subscribe to. I watch more Sundance and IFC which shows films I might have missed or not had an opportunity to see.

I pay $ 5.00 a month for that movie tier which includes Encore but there's nothing in hi-def. I actually watch TCM for vintage movies and they often have independent, foreign films and silent films. They just screened "Sunrise," which is one of the top ten critic's choice of best films of all time. Haven't seen it for years, but did record it on DVR.