Top 5 New Blu-ray releases for the Week of March 1

I’m still reeling from the Academy Award show I suffered through this past Sunday. What a train wreck. Thanks goodness we’ve got a whole new batch of incredible Blu-ray discs hitting the shops today to ease the pain. It’s not as overwhelming a week as in the recent past but there are some must-own titles out today. If you like animation or b-movie lesbian vampires this is the week for you!

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1. 127 HOURS

From Academy Award®-winning director Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire) comes the powerfully uplifting true story of one man’s struggle to survive against mountainous odds. Aron Ralston (James Franco) has a passion for all things outdoors. But when a falling boulder traps him in a remote Utah canyon, a thrill-seeker’s adventure becomes the challenge of a lifetime. Over the next five days, Ralston embarks on a remarkable personal journey in which he relies on the memories of family and friends–as well as his own courage and ingenuity–to turn adversity into triumph!

Despite Franco’s dreadful performance hosting the Academy Awards the other night, I think the guy is something of a genius. And no role has seen him stretch his skills more than that of Ralston in 127 Hours. Add to that the stunning photography by Enrique Chediak and Anthony Dod Mantle, killer montages edited by Jon Harris, an amazing score by A.R. Rahman and the overall brilliance of Boyle in the director’s chair and you’ve got one hell of a film. I haven’t laid eyes on the Blu-ray yet but all reports suggest that it’s an all around winner. Might even become your new demo disc, from what I understand!

I should also point out here that Fox is graciously including the film that won the Oscar for Best Live Action Short, God of Love, on this disc as a Blu-ray exclusive. How amazing is that?!

Special features:

Commentary with Danny Boyle, Christian Colson & Simon Beaufoy
Search & Rescue – The events that aided the search and rescue of Aron Ralston (BD-exclusive)
127 Hours: An Extraordinary View – A unique collaboration between the director and actor (BD-exclusive)
Deleted Scenes
God of Love: short film by Luke Matheny (BD-exclusive)

AMAZON: $19.99

2. BAMBI: DIAMOND EDITION

For the first time ever, the wonder, music and majesty of one of Walt Disney‘s greatest triumphs comes alive in glorious detail through the magic of Blu-ray high definition! Now Bambi, Walt Disney’s beloved coming-of-age story, will thrill a new generation of fans with its breathtakingly beautiful animation, soaring music and characters who will touch your heart-Bambi, the wide-eyed fawn, his playful pal Thumper, the loveable skunk Flower and wise Friend Owl. Plus, all-new immersive game and special features that reveal the extraordinary creative process behind the making of this timeless classic take you deeper into Bambi’s world than ever before.

I’m brave. I’m going to say it. Bambi is one of the best Blu-ray discs of the year thus far. I mean, I fully expect all of these Disney Diamond Edition restoration/re-imagining discs to look like a million bucks but the special features on this one in particular really go the extra mile, providing a revolutionary experience the likes of which I’ve never had before with Blu-ray. I’ll have a full run-down of the disc later on but for now allow me to recommend Bambi: Diamond Edition to all Disney and animation fans and to anyone who owns an iPad! Exciting stuff!!

AMAZON: $22.99

3. OUT OF SIGHT

Meet Jack Foley, the most successful bank robber in the country. On the day he busts out of jail, he finds himself stealing something far more precious than money.. Karen Sisco’s heart. She’s smart. She’s sexy, and unfortunately for Jack, she’s a Federal Marshal. Now, they’re willing to risk it all to fins out if there’s more between them.. than just the law. Out of Sight, Starring George Clooney as the smooth criminal who bends the law and is determined to make one last heist, and Jennifer Lopez who chooses all the right moves.. and all the wrong guys.

This is still one of my favourite Steven Soderbergh films. Back when Clooney was fresh off of E.R. and Jennifer Lopez looked to have a future as a respected actress. The Blu-ray disc looks great and carries over all the special features from the previously issued DVD. So, if you’re a fan of Soderbergh, Elmore Leonard (yup, another film adapted from his work), Clooney or J. Lo this upgrade is a no-brainer!

AMAZON: $19.99

4. DAUGHTERS OF DARKNESS

International screen icon Delphine Seyrig stars as Elizabeth Bathory, an ageless Countess with a beautiful young ‘companion’ (Goth goddess Andrea Rau) and a legendary legacy of perversion. But when the two women seduce a troubled newlywed couple (French beauty Danielle Ouimet and John Karlen), they unleash a frenzy of sudden violence and depraved desire that shocked both art house audiences and grindhouse crowds worldwide. Co-written and directed by Harry Kumel, DAUGHTERS OF DARKNESS remains one of the most exquisitely mesmerizing adult horror films ever made.

Oh, man. I was so tempted to list the Daughters of Darkness Blu-ray in the number-one slot this week. As much as I’m loving 127 Hours and Bambi on Blu, this is really the release of the week for me. Blue Underground are nothing short of heroes for bringing this to Blu-ray. The only thing that’s keeping it down in this list is the fact that it’s a film with limited cult appeal. By that I mean, it’s a mannered and precisely paced, early ’70s vampire film that won’t feel terribly horrific or titillating for most. But for fans like me who grew up on older, B-movie horrors this disc is an absolute treat. I don’t have a copy in my hands yet but early reviews peg the Blu-ray as a worthy upgrade from the DVD, carrying over all the supplemental material and improving on the look and sound of the feature.

AMAZON: $20.99

5. LOVE AND OTHER DRUGS

Academy Award® Nominees Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway co-star in “the smartest, sexiest and downright best screen-melting romance of the year” (Parade). Hathaway delivers an unforgettable performance as the free-spirited Maggie, who meets her match in a charming Viagra salesman named Jamie (Gyllenhaal). Maggie and Jamie leap into a no-strings-attached affair, but no matter how hard they try to keep things “casual,” they can’t help falling under the influence of the ultimate drug…love!

Yes, this is the naked Anne Hathaway movie. It’s also the naked Jake Gyllenhall movie but I suspect the film isn’t as well known for his butt as it is for his costar’s many nude scenes. Hathaway may have done well to adopt her Love and Other Drugs wardrobe in favour of her many gowns in her role as Oscar host this past Sunday. I have a feeling the critics might have been a tad more forgiving of her performance if she had.

AMAZON: $22.99

ALSO AVAILABLE ON BLU-RAY THIS WEEK
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