inside LOVEFiLM

Friday is here – pretty much the perfect time to get your game-face on. So here, on the brink of the weekend, are ten of the latest games available to rent from LOVEFiLM. From little sack people to deep space terror, there’s plenty to choose from:

  1. Buzz! Ultimate Music Quiz (PSP) – Handheld fun in the PSP Music quiz.
  2. Dead Space 2 (Xbox360 & PS3) – Isaac Clarke returns for more thrills and terrified screaming as he battles the Necromorphs one more time.
  3. Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective (DS) – Get your thinking caps on for this story-driven puzzle game and help the recently deceased Sissel remember who he is. And who murdered him.
  4. Kingdom Hearts: Recoded (DS) – Return to the land of Kingdom Hearts to team up with your favourite Disney characters and solve a mystery discovered by Jiminy Cricket.
  5. LittleBigPlanet 2 (PS3) – Sackboy is back and this time you can create levels and even whole games. If you can imagine it, you can make it.
  6. Mass Effect 2 (PS3) – The mega-hit of the Xbox 360 finally comes to PS3. Take on the role of Shepard as he sets out to save the universe once more – against massive odds.
  7. Mindjack (Xbox360 & PS3) – Hack in and choose to help or hinder another player, or just try to defend your own game against the interference of others.
  8. Tangled (Wii & DS) – Become the characters from the film in the movie tie-in for Tangled.
  9. Winter Sports 2011: Go for Gold (PS3) – Featuring nine different winter sports disciplines, take to the slopes and become the champion.
  10. Yogi Bear (Wii & DS) – Help Yogi Bear save Jellystone Park from closure (and maybe raid a few picnic baskets along the way).

Alexa Muir, Merchandising Manager

Looking for something to watch? Look no further with our handy list of the latest films available now to rent on DVD and Blu-ray.

Latest DVDs

  1. Black Dynamite – Paying homage to the 1970’s blaxploitation movies, Michael Jai White stars as the eponymous hero out to kung-fu kick his way to vengeance and justice.
  2. Dinner for Schmucks – Paul Rudd brings Steve Carrell along to impress his boss – but has no idea what he’s let himself in for.
  3. Grown Ups – They were best friends 30 years ago, now they’re reuniting and they’re all grown up… or are they?
  4. Jonah Hex – Megan Fox of Transformers fame stars in this comic book inspired action movie.
  5. Mary and Max – A delightful animated tale of two of the unlikeliest pen pals; Mary, a lonely eight-year-old living in Melbourne, and Max, a forty-four-year-old obese man living in New York.
  6. The Certified Copy – Acclaimed director Abbis Kiarostami gives us the love story of a couple’s chance meeting in Tuscany.
  7. The Hole – Two brothers discover a bottomless pit in the celler – as you do. Let the chills and thrills commence.
  8. The Other Guys – Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg are a pair of detectives out to prove themselves, with unexpected, and comedic, results.
  9. The Switch – Jennifer Aniston stars in this very modern rom-com about the perils of turkey basters.
  10. Why Did I Get Married Too? – Tyler Perry’s sequel to the 2007 film sees our four couples reunite for their annual vacation. But an ex-husband is determined to crash the party.

Latest Blu-rays

  1. Grown Ups – Blu-ray – Adam Sandler, Rob Schneider and Chris Rock team up in this comedy where no matter how old you are, you never really grow up.
  2. Jonah Hex – Blu-ray – The graphic novel is brought to life in this live action version, starring Josh Brolin as our titular hero.
  3. The Hole – Blu-ray – What do you do when you find a big pit in your basement? A big pit with monsters in it? Get scared out of your wits, that’s what.
  4. The Other Guys – Blu-ray – This police comedy stars Will Ferrell as one half of the detective duo out to get the recognition they deserve; no matter the consequences.
  5. The Switch – Blu-ray – Jennifer Aniston and Jason Bateman find out that modern romance isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

Alexa Muir, Merchandising Manager

There was – to put it mildly – a fair bit of coverage last week about the announcement that Amazon is acquiring LOVEFiLM. Among the highlights was this interview with our CEO, Simon Calver by Jeff Randall on Sky News.

Simon Calver on Sky

You can also see our Chief Marketing Officer, Simon Morris, interviewed on BBC News.

As you might have heard, Amazon has decided to fully acquire LOVEFiLM, because of the great potential they see in our service, and how it might develop in the future.

Here’s the official press release and information on what it means for our customers.

The Christmas tree has come down, the crackers have been thrown out and the dim recollections of that New Year’s Eve party are fading fast. If all this seems a bit too depressing why not take a look at some of the latest films available on DVD and Blu-ray to lighten your spirits, all available to rent right now.

New DVDs

  1. Baaria – Visually arresting tale from writer/director Giuseppe Tornatore about his native Sicily, as seen through the eyes of three generations.
  2. brilliantlove – When a shy taxidermist and a photographer meet a hot summer romance commences in this sexually provocative film from Ashley Horner.
  3. Gainsbourg – Known best this side of the Channel for the notorious song “Je T’Aime… Moi Non Plus”, Serge Gainsbourg’s life is brought to the screen in this musical biopic.
  4. Knight and Day – Tom Cruise and Cameron Dias are once again united in an action packed race across the globe.
  5. I’m Still Here – Remember Joaquin Phoenix? He’s still around and this is the film of what he’s been up to – breaking into the hip-hop scene and all.
  6. Please Give – Stresses of family life (as well as between neighbours – especially when you own their apartment) are brought to the fore in this comedy drama.
  7. Resident Evil – Afterlife – Milla Jovovich is joined by Ali Harter (“Heroes”) in this latest instalment to stop the zombie horde.
  8. The Girl Who Played with Fire – Second film in the Millennium Trilogy, following the escapades of Lisbeth Salander, on the run for murder.
  9. The Secret in their Eyes – A tense thriller and winner of the 2010 Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film.
  10. Ticking Clock – Cuba Gooding Jr. tackles a serial killer after discovering the murderer’s journal.

New Blu-rays

  1. F – Blu-ray – Another tale of youths gone bad, when a gang of “hoodies” attack their school instead of doing their homework.
  2. Gainsbourg – Blu-ray – French music master Serge Gainsbourg’s life in high definition.
  3. I’m Still Here – Blu-ray – Follow Joaquin Phoenix as he questions the definitions of fame and celebrity.
  4. Resident Evil – Afterlife – Blu-ray – More zombie terror as Milla Jovovich fights them once again.
  5. The Girl Who Played with Fire – Blu-ray – Lisbeth Salander’s life is revealed in more detail when she is accused of three murders and must go on the run.

Alexa Muir, Merchandising Manager

2011 is upon us, and while we’re looking ahead at the great films coming our way this year (see our 2011 Film Calendar for an up-to-date guide), it’s a great time to look back at the films our members loved in 2010.

As always, it was a truly diverse range of films and demonstrates just how eclectic tastes can be. While it’s perhaps unsurprising to see the likes of Inception, Sherlock Holmes and Shutter Island featuring heavily in these lists, it’s the smaller, more independent films – the likes of Lebanon and Fish Tank – that are such a welcome inclusion.

Take a look below and let us know what you think. I’m sure you’ll agree it’s a fascinating insight into what LOVEFiLM members are interested in.

Top 10 most read reviews on LOVEFiLM

1                    The Road

2                    Shutter Island

3                    Precious

4                    Inception

5                    The Ghost

6                    Lebanon

7                    An Education

8                    Fish Tank

9                    The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

10                 Extract

Top 10 most viewed film pages

1                  The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

2                  Let the Right One In

3                  Sherlock Holmes

4                  The Blind Side

5                  The Lovely Bones

6                  Shutter Island

7                  The Book of Eli

8                  A Prophet

9                 The Twilight Saga – Eclipse

10               The Road

Top 10 most viewed interviews

1                 Robert Pattinson

2                 Kristen Stewart

3                 Inception World Premiere

4                 Vanessa Paradis

5                 World Premiere Prince of Persia

6                 Hugh Grant

7                The Expendables UK Premiere

8                Jackie Chan & Jaden Smith

9                 Andy Serkis

10              World Premiere of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1

Helen Cowley, Head of Editorial

Yesterday, we announced an exclusive distribution deal with Icon Film Distribution, one of the UK’s leading suppliers of theatrical feature films. [Here's the press release: LOVEFiLM boosts streaming content]

It means we’ll be offering Icon films to LOVEFiLM members on the PC (via the LOVEFiLM Player), through an internet-connected Sony or Samsung TV, and on the PS3™.

Precious, A Single Man, Edge of Darkness and The Road are just some of the films that are included in the agreement. Dozens of titles from Icon’s fantastic back catalogue will also be available.

Here’s just some of the coverage of the announcement:

Variety Icon, LOVEFiLM sign UK pact

Screen Daily LOVEFiLM adds Icon titles to streaming service [subs required]

New Media Age LOVEFiLM signs exclusive deal for Icon FiLM releases

Digital Spy LOVEFiLM signs Icon distribution deal

Broadband TV news LOVEFiLM secures Icon streaming exclusivity

Digital TV Group LOVEFiLM boosts streaming content

The Drum LOVEFiLM agrees online distribution deal with Icon Film distribution

Simon Waldman, Group Product Director