April 2013 Archives   27 April 2013 Spartacus The Complete Collection Released 29 April 2013 Own all of the epic action with the Spartacus Complete Collection! Release Date: 29 April 2013 Where to buy? Region 2: OzGameShop (Aust) or Amazon.co.uk   The first three series plus the prequel spin-off of the US drama which follows life in and around the brutal environs of Ancient Rome's gladiatorial arenas. 'Spartacus - Blood and Sand' (2010) follows Spartacus (Andy Whitfield) as he is torn from his wife and thrust into the bloody and merciless world of the arena. 'Spartacus - Gods of the Arena' (2011) acts as the prequel to the first series and focuses on the gladiatorial hero who preceded Spartacus, Gannicus (Dustin Clare), and his ambitious owner, Batiatus (John Hannah). 'Spartacus - Vengeance' (2012) follows on from the events of the initial series and stars Liam McIntyre as Spartacus, who is now the leader of an armed slave rebellion that threatens the very fabric of the Roman Empire. 'Spartacus - War of the Damned' (2013) finds Spartacus (McIntyre) at the head of a rebel army comprised of thousands of freed slaves. With their very right to rule at stake, the Roman Senate assigns Marcus Crassus (Simon Merrells) and a promising young leader named Julius Caesar (Todd Lasance) the task of crushing Spartacus and his troops.           Blood and Sand Betrayed by his country. Beaten into slavery. Reborn as a warrior. Spartacus: Blood and Sand' is a graphic and visceral account of Rome's most famous gladiator. When he's separated from the love of his life, Spartacus is forced into the gruesome and bloodthirsty arena, where a grisly death is primetime entertainment. Gods of the Arena The House of Batiatus is on the rise, basking in the glow of its infamous champion Gannicus, whose skill with a sword is matched only by his thirst for wine and women. These are the times a young Batiatus has been waiting for. Poised to overthrow his father and take control, he'll freely betray anyone to ensure his gladiators are in the highest demand. And he'll have his loyal and calculating wife Lucretia by his side for every underhanded scheme. Vengeance On the heels of the bloody escape from the House of Batiatus that concluded 'Spartacus: Blood and Sand', the gladiator rebellion continues and begins to strike fear into the heart of the Roman Republic. Containing all of the blood-soaked action, exotic sexuality, villainy and heroism that has come to distinguish the series, the tale of Spartacus resumes in epic fashion. War of the Damned Gaius Claudius Glaber is dead. The rebellion has swelled to thousands of freed slaves, and Spartacus, alongside his generals Crixus, Gannicus and Agron, prepares for war with Rome. The epic conclusion of a legendary journey, "Spartacus: War of the Damned" unleashes a battle unlike anything ever seen before.     27 April 2013 Press Release: Spartacus: War of the Damned On DVD & Blu-Ray Monday 29th April 2013 “Spartacus has it all. A brilliantly told tale comes to a spectacular end.” Phelim O’Neill, The Guardian Guide On DVD & Blu-Ray 29th April 2013 Order via Amazon.com Fast sell: One of the all-time great TV epics of our lifetime comes to an end as Spartacus: War of the Damned comes to DVD and Blu-ray 29th April 2013. Also released the same day is The Spartacus Collection featuring all four epic series. This final season of the most ambitious historical drama series ever made thrills with an unequalled blend of action and lust wielded by awe-inspiring characters in such ruthless fashion as to leave one riddled with suspense and excitement building to a climax that only Spartacus would dare deliver. Key talent: Stars Liam McIntyre (The Pacific), Manu Bennett (The Hobbit; 30 Days of Night), Peter Mensah (True Blood; 300), Dustin Clare (Spartacus: Gods of the Arena) and Anna Hutchinson (The Cabin in the Woods). Synopsis: Gaius Claudius Glaber is dead. Many months have passed since his defeat, and the rebel army, led by Spartacus and his generals Crixus, Gannicus and Agron, continue to amass victories over Rome. With the rebel numbers swelling to thousands of freed slaves, Spartacus is more determined than ever to bring down the entire Roman Republic. Following Ashur’s death, Naevia and Crixus fight as one. Together, the rebels engage in one bloody skirmish after another and prepare for the inevitable: a full out war with Rome. The Roman Senate turns to Marcus Crassus, a wealthy, strategic politician, for aid. He respects his opponent and refuses to make the same mistakes Glaber and his predecessors have. With a young and fiercely competitive Julius Caesar as an ally, Crassus is determined to crush Spartacus and his rebellion. The epic conclusion of a legendary journey, Spartacus: War of the Damned will unleash a battle unlike anything ever seen before. We like it because: Widely celebrated as a groundbreaking television series alongside the likes of Breaking Bad, The Sopranos and The Wire, the ‘Spartacus’ franchise has become an essential addition to everyone’s perfect boxset collection. Not only does it excite with its endearing characters and arresting passion, Spartacus also has the most sublime story arc of any great television drama that is delivered perfectly by actors at the top of their game, relishing beautifully crafted scripts that are sharp with suspense, wit and sublime treachery. The quality of the performances and writing are further matched with impressive production values, stunning cinematography and jaw-droppingly impressive battle sequences that make this the most cinematic show on TV. Along with the previous seasons, Spartacus: War of the Damned is not only must-see but must-own television that rewards with repeated viewings. Editor's Notes: Spartacus: War of the Damned arrives on DVD (ABD1088, RRP £39.99) and Blu-ray (ABB8111, RRP £49.99) on 29th April 2013. The Spartacus Collection (Blood and Sand, Gods of the Arena, Vengeance and War of the Damned) also comes to DVD (ABD104, RRP £69.99) and Blu-ray (ABB8087, RRP £84.99) on the same day. War of the Damned concludes the story of Spartacus that began in 2009 with Blood and Sand and ran through two additional seasons, Gods of the Arena (a six episode prequel) and Vengeance. All told a run of four years and 39 hour long on-air episodes. Spartacus: War of the Damned is the conclusion of the Spartacus TV saga. With a visual style completely unique to television, the franchise has amassed both critical and popular acclaim. Globally, the series have aired in 150 countries in more than 15 languages. On this being the final season of this enormously popular franchise: “The fans have been tremendously supportive of our show,” says creator and executive producer, Steven S. DeKnight. “We did not come to this decision lightly. It was an extremely difficult and emotional decision for my partners and I. Yet, in the end, the story was best served by rolling all of the remaining action and drama of Spartacus' journey into one stunningly epic season that will be extremely satisfying for everyone who's been along for the ride." “Steven DeKnight, Rob Tapert, Josh Donen and Sam Raimi have made one of the most groundbreaking shows we have ever seen,” says Starz CEO Chris Albrecht. "’Spartacus’ is a landmark series for the network which has enthralled millions of viewers and fans around the world. We are in agreement with our partners in the decision to conclude the story after ‘War of the Damned,’ as we believe it is the best way to maintain the integrity of the series and secure its legacy. While everyone may know the fate of Spartacus, we believe this will be a spectacular season that will startle, amaze and honor the legions of fans.” Thom Leaman, Marketing Manager from Anchor Bay Entertainment said “We are delighted to be bringing the epic finale of Spartacus: War of the Damned to DVD and Blu-ray. Spartacus has continually rewritten the rule book as far as primetime TV goes - but I think it’s fair to say they’ve saved the best till last. Going out with a bang doesn’t even cut it! We’re incredibly proud to be part of this legacy of larger than life storytelling and we hope Spartacus fans will help us celebrate the breath-taking end to one of the most popular shows on the planet.” About Anchor Bay Entertainment Anchor Bay Entertainment is a leading home entertainment company. Anchor Bay acquires and distributes feature films, original television programming including STARZ Original series, children's entertainment, anime (Manga Entertainment), fitness (Anchor Bay Fitness), sports, and other filmed entertainment on DVD and Blu-ray™ formats. The company has long term distribution agreements in place for select programming with AMC Networks, RADiUS, and The Weinstein Company. Headquartered in Beverly Hills, CA, Anchor Bay Entertainment has offices in Troy, MI, as well as Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia. Anchor Bay Entertainment (www.anchorbayentertainment.com) is a Starz (NASDAQ: STRZA, STRZB) business, www.starz.com.     19 April 2013 Spartacus Vengeance Trading Card Binder and Exclusive Promo Card Here are the images for the Spartacus Vengeance Trading Cards binder. As a binder exclusive the promo card P2 was included, which featured a picture of the Romans on the front side, including Lucy. The back is the same as the P1 card. The Spartacus Vengeance Trading Cards were released on 6 March 2013 and covers Spartacus Vengeance as well as autograph cards from Blood and Sand. There will also be some interesting costume and prop cards. The set will be released in the premium pack format and will consist of; - Complete set of 30 Spartacus Vengeance Episode Synopses Base cards (3 per premium pack) - Complete set of 8 Die Cut Gold Plaque chase cards (1 per premium pack) Complete set of 14 autograph cards (2 per premium pack): Spartacus: Vengeance - Liam McIntyre (Spartacus) - Viva Bianca (Ilithyia) - Cynthia Addai-Robinson (Naevia) - Katrina Law (Mira) - Tom Hobbs (Seppius) - Kevin J. Wilson (Senator Albinius) - Brooke Williams (Aurelia) - Conan Stephens (Sedullus) Spartacus: Blood and Sand - Craig Parker (Claudius Glaber) - Peter Mensah (Doctore) - Craig Walsh Wrightson (Solonius) - Brooke Williams (Aurelia) - Dan Feuerriegel (Agron) - Kevin J. Wilson (Senator Albinius) Complete set of 9 Spartacus Vengeance Relic Cards (1 per premium pack) Costumes worn by - Lucy Lawless, - Viva Bianca - Craig Parker, - plus relics of maps, whips, letters, and more. - Spartacus: Vengeance Plastic Poster Card (Box Topper) - Spartacus Veneance Lucretia/Ilithyia Dual Relic Card 2-Box Incentive - Steven S. DeKnight (Series Creator) Autograph Card 4-Box Incentive - Official binder (with exclusive promo card)     15 April 2013 Amazing Tribute to Andy Whitfield in Ending Credits of Spartacus Finale This is such an amazing and touching tribute to Andy Whitfield in the series finale of Spartacus War of the Damned. This was Rob Tapert's idea and it's such a beautiful tribute to all the cast of all the Spartacus seasons but especially of our fallen champion, Andy Whitfield. BRAVO Rob. Brilliant idea.       12 April 2013 Andy Whitfield Petition For Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum Actor Andy Whitfield's extraordinary and intense portrayal of SPARTACUS, the ancient freedom fighter, Gladiator and former slave in the STARZ hit series 'Spartacus: "Blood and Sand" brought on a profound recognition to the series. With his stardom quickly on the rise, Mr Whitfield was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, an aggressive form of cancer. He was forced to step aside from his dream role in the TV series losing his own personal battle September 11, 2011. Andy Whitfield mesmerized the viewers with his exceptional performance as Spartacus. There was something he brought to the character that jumped off the screen and straight into the viewers heart. Andy Whitfield's enormous passion for the role and inspirational man he was, on and off the big screen, has inspired a worldwide fan base that believes he should be immortalized at the museum. Furthermore, his courageous real life inspirational battle touching the lives of so many to live in the moment with his core values of love, hard work, passion and following ones dreams both personally and professionally leaving a powerful legacy makes him the perfect candidate to be honored with a wax figure at Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum. With your help we can make this happen! Please join us in celebration and tribute to both Andy Whitfield and the historical great "Spartacus". SIGN THE PETITION     11 April 2013 Video: Rob Talks About Working in New Zealand with Film NZ Here's a great interview with Rob about working in New Zealand. Covers Xena, Spartacus and Evil Dead Rob Tapert on Working in New Zealand from Film New Zealand on Vimeo.     6 April 2013 Spartacus Bids Farewell EW Magazine 12 April 2013 EW asked Steven to pick the biggest, best and boldest moments from the show.     4 April 2013 Spartacus Vengeance Trading Cards - Additional Lucretia Scans The Spartacus Trading Cards have been released and four additional cards have Lucy / Lucretia mentions. Andrea scanned them:   That's in addition to the following cards: Continue reading Spartacus Vengeance Trading Cards - Additional Lucretia Scans.     3 April 2013 AUSXIP Charity Auction Update - Payments and Donations Received as of 3 April Starship has been inundated with money. This is a good thing! Let's give them some extra work especially after the Easter break. I'm sure Jenni at Starship will love that <g> Starship has sent the spreadsheet of payments received and it makes for some happy reading. If you have paid between 28 March to 3 April (morning), your payment has been received. I will process the spreadsheet and match it to our one and then shipping of the items will begin. The matchup should be completed by the end of the week. Special thanks to those who donated without winning. Much appreciated! If you won an item and have received an email (please check your spam folder) or contact me on feedback @ ausxip.com How to Pay For Your Auction Item | Donate Without Bidding     Read More Archives