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Top 5 New on Blu

Top New Blu-ray releases for the Week of August 9

This is kind of a crazy week. There’s a whole bunch of recent-release films hitting Blu-ray today but I wasn’t sent screeners for any of them, nor did I check them out in theatres when they were there. So, honestly, I have no idea what they’re like. And maybe they deserve to be in my list of top picks for the week. But those films really look like stinkers to me. I mean, I like director Greg Motolla‘s Superbad and Adventureland a lot and I love Simon Pegg as much as the next nerd but Paul just looks like a cheap and not-funny mess. Also in the not-very-entertaining-looking category, if we’re judging films solely on their promotional materials, is the Danny McBride vehicle Your Highness, which appears to possess the singular selling point of a half-naked Natalie Portman jumping in a lake. And then there’s Mars Needs Moms. Yup. Worst title for a film this year.

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1. THE BATTLE OF ALGIERS

The Battle of Algiers  (1966) - The Criterion Collection


    One of the most influential political films in history, The Battle of Algiers, by Gillo Pontecorvo, vividly re-creates a key year in the tumultuous Algerian struggle for independence from the occupying French in the 1950s. As violence escalates on both sides, children shoot soldiers at point-blank range, women plant bombs in cafés, and French soldiers resort to torture to break the will of the insurgents. Shot on the streets of Algiers in documentary style, the film is a case study in modern warfare, with its terrorist attacks and the brutal techniques used to combat them. Pontecorvo’s tour de force has astonishing relevance today.

I think all the hooligans rioting and looting the bones from the UK should be forced to watch The Battle of Algiers and learn a little about what it means to fight for something. This is anarchy with purpose. After 130 years of French occupation, Algerian rebels rise up and fight back, liberating their country in one of the most potent struggles of the last hundred years. Pontecorvo’s vérité style here, shot by master cameraman Marcello Gatti, along with a cast of predominantly non-actors (with the exception of the commanding Jean Martin as Colonel Mathieu), gives the film a documentary feeling. It’s a true cinema classic and one of the must-own titles on Criterion‘s library of releases.

The Battle of Algiers has been on Criterion DVD since 2004 but those who own it might want to trade up to the Blu-ray. It’s a strong, far more film-like transfer than its SD counterpart, with greatly improved contrast and more detail in every frame. The lossless mono audio track is also an improvement but is still fairly flat compared to modern audio. The impressive collection of bonus features on this 2-disc set really stand it apart from other releases this week. Criterion provide a veritable wealth of documentaries, featurettes and interviews, nearly all of which are worth your time.

Highly recommended!!

Special Features:

  • High-definition digital transfer, supervised by director of photography Marcello Gatti with uncompressed monaural soundtrack
  • Gillo Pontecorvo: The Dictatorship of Truth, a documentary narrated by literary critic Edward Said
  • Marxist Poetry: The Making of “The Battle of Algiers,” a documentary featuring interviews with Pontecorvo, Gatti, composer Ennio Morricone, and others
  • Interviews with Spike Lee, Mira Nair, Julian Schnabel, Steven Soderbergh, and Oliver Stone on the film’s influence, style, and importance
  • Remembering History, a documentary reconstructing the Algerian experience of the battle for independence
  • “États d’armes,” a documentary excerpt featuring senior French military officers recalling the use of torture and execution to combat the Algerian rebellion
  • “The Battle of Algiers”: A Case Study, a video piece featuring U.S. counterterrorism experts
  • Gillo Pontecorvo’s Return to Algiers, a documentary in which the filmmaker revisits the country after three decades of independence
  • Production gallery
  • Theatrical and rerelease trailers
  • PLUS: A booklet featuring an essay by film scholar Peter Matthews, excerpts from Algeria’s National Liberation Front leader Saadi Yacef’s original account of his arrest, excerpts from the film’s screenplay, a reprinted interview with cowriter Franco Solinas, and biographical sketches of key figures in the French-Algerian War

AMAZON: $39.99


2. CAMERAMAN: THE LIFE & WORK OF JACK CARDIFF

Cameraman: The Life & Work of Jack Cardiff [Blu-ray] (2011)

    A star studded documentary about one of the greatest Oscar® winning cinematographers to capture the beauty of such stars as Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn and Sophia Loren in such memorable classics as The African Queen, The Red Shoes, Barefoot Contessa and Black Narcissus. With a career spanning more than 80 years, this passionate documentary reveals the craft of one of cinema’s most indelible image-makers, Jack Cardiff.

Whenever I go off about how amazing those Powell and Pressburger films look, how gorgeous The Red Shoes and Black Narcissus are in their Criterion Blu-ray editions, it’s really the photography of Jack Cardiff that I’m raving about. His name in the credits is a guarantee of a certain kind of quality in a film. Or, at least, a certain kind of quality in the look of a film. And this documentary, filmed before he passed in 2009, is a wonderful ode by director Craig McCall to one of the best cameramen to ever shoot film. I haven’t seen the Blu-ray disc from Strand Releasing but I’m hoping it accurately represents not only the footage that McCall shot, but Cardiff’s images as well, in crisp, detailed, 1080p. Special features include an interview with Craig McCall by Ian Christie, Jack’s actress portraits, Jack’s behind-the-scenes movies, Cinematographer and Director relationship featurette, Working with three-strip Technicolor, Photo Galleries, Original Theatrical Trailer and other Strand Releasing trailers.

AMAZON: $21.99


3. FAST TIMES AT RIDGEMONT HIGH

Fast Times at Ridgemont High [Blu-ray] (1982)

    Academy Award® winner Sean Penn stars as the unforgettable Jeff Spicoli in the film that defined the outrageous and bold teen comedy genre Fast Times at Ridgemont High. Follow a group of Southern California high school students as they explore their most important subjects: sex drugs and rock ‘n’ roll. Directed by Amy Heckerling (Clueless) and written by Cameron Crowe (Almost Famous) this hilarious portrait of 1980s American teen life features film debuts of future stars Nicolas Cage and Forest Whitaker plus decade-defining music from The Go-Go’s Oingo Boingo and The Cars.

Aw, geez. Who doesn’t love this movie. And what guy doesn’t love Phoebe Cates here, in the most famous scene of her career (sorry, Gremlins!) Amy Heckerling’s high-school comedy hasn’t aged quite as well as others of it’s ilk but with a cast like this and a collection of iconic scenes that will forever define a genre of film, you simply can’t ignore Fast Times at Ridgemont High. Sadly, the Blu-ray release of the film isn’t a great looking one, with plenty of noise and an overall soft look that won’t impress those seeking an impressive upgrade from DVD. I expect a lot of the blame can be placed squarely on the film’s low budget origins. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track fares better, sounding full and often quite modern. Special features are ported over from DVD and include “Reliving Our Fast Times at Ridgemont High“, commentary with director Amy Heckerling and screenwriter Cameron Crowe, the theatrical trailer and Universal’s U Control feature.

AMAZON: $14.99


4. DEAD MAN

Dead Man [Blu-ray]

    A young man in search of a fresh start, William Blake (Johnny Depp), embarks on an exciting journey to a new town…never realizing the danger that lies ahead. But when a heated love triangle ends in double murder, Blake finds himself a wanted man, running scared—until a mysterious loner teaches him to face the dangers that follow a “dead man.” With an outstanding supporting cast including Gabriel Byrne (TV’s In Treatment) and Robert Mitchum (Cape Fear), Dead Man is another motion picture triumph from filmmaker Jim Jarmusch.

It’s a shame but Dead Man is only the second Jim Jarmusch film to be released on Blu-ray in North America. Thank goodness for the stellar Criterion Collection edition of Jarmusch’s Mystery Train because you’re not going to find much to love about this bargain-bin edition of Dead Man aside from the price. It looks slightly better than the previously available Miramax DVD but suffers from a fair amount of noise and is quite soft (clearly a theme this week.) Audio is thankfully pretty decent, sporting an unlisted DTS-HD Master Audio track – a treat for music fans looking forward to hearing the stellar Neil Young soundtrack in a lossless format. Extras are identical to the previously released DVD and feature around 15-minutes of deleted scenes and a music video. A reasonable upgrade from DVD but far from great.

AMAZON: $7.99


5. THE FOX AND THE HOUND and THE FOX AND THE HOUND II

The Fox and the Hound / The Fox and the Hound Two (Three-Disc 30th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray / DVD Combo in Blu-ray Packaging) (1981)

    In celebration of “The Fox And The Hound‘s” 30th anniversary, Disney proudly presents a special 2-Movie Collection of “The Fox And The Hound” and “The Fox And The Hound II” – in dazzling Blu-ray(TM) High Definition for the first time ever! Experience these timeless tales of true friendship, set against a backdrop of comedy and music in perfect harmony. And now, both inspiring classics sparkle on Blu-ray with spectacular sound and unsurpassed picture quality. Featuring lovable characters, brilliant animation, stellar voice talent and unforgettable songs, “The Fox And The Hound 2-Movie Collection” includes two fun, heartwarming stories of loyalty and trust that your family will treasure for all time.

The Fox and The Hound isn’t nearly as entertaining as the more “classic” Disney films. I guess that’s why it didn’t merit a Diamond Edition Blu-ray release. In fact, I found it to be one of the more dated efforts, with very little for adults or children to latch on to and be entertained by. It’s a bit too grim for kids, with scant few moments of playful energy to keep the thing rolling along. And it’s a bit too tonally uneven for adults to truly enjoy, with comedic characters taking a dark turn when the plot requires. But that’s not to say that the work isn’t without value. This is brilliant Disney animation, after all, with all the style and flair that decades of experience bring the table. Designs are expressive and movement is fluid and grounded in a weighty, real world, against stunning painted backdrops. The Fox and The Hound is a work of art, but it’s one you won’t come back to very often.

The direct to video sequel The Fox and The Hound II is included on the Blu-ray disc but is barely worth a mention. In fact, you can almost consider the short film which clocks in at just over an hour in length, a snazzy extra on the disc. It’s a light piece of fluff, churned out of the Disney machine to cash in on characters that kids might recognize. Some of them might even like it. But you’re guaranteed to want that hour and change back.

The main feature looks pretty great on Blu-ray but can’t compare to Disney’s crown jewels. The studio clearly didn’t put as much time or effort into this one, affording it only the most cursory of clean-up jobs in a transfer that sees the film looking better than ever but far from perfect. Marks, dirt and print damage are evident throughout. Some shots even appear out-of-focus, which is odd considering the animation process. But all in all, this is a colourful, pleasing presentation. The sequel film looks much tighter (as it should, being only a few years old) and, despite a few compression artifacts popping up now and again, is a visual treat. Both films feature DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 tracks but sound completely different, with the original a front heavy, thinner presentation and the sequel, a more modern, enveloping, dynamic track.

Like I said, both films are on the same Blu-ray disc but the combo pack contains a couple of DVDs, one for each film. The special features, sadly, are spread over all three discs, with only a handful available on the Blu itself. The “Unlikely Friends” featurette is the only one in HD, aside from the teasers and trailers and is barely worth looking at if you’re over the age of ten. On the other hand, this quaint look at unusual pairings in the animal kingdom does provide your first HD preview of footage from the likes of Finding Nemo, The Little Mermaid and other films not yet scheduled for release on Blu. The 7-minute “Passing the Baton” featurette is the only real look at the making of the original film and is far too short at that. The sequel DVD features a 10-minute long “Backstage Disney: The Making of the Music” featurette that you won’t really care about, unless you loved the music in that film. The set is rounded out with a sing-along and a music video.

AMAZON: $22.99


ALSO AVAILABLE ON BLU-RAY THIS WEEK
Clicking an image will take you to Amazon.com where you can learn more about and purchase the Blu-ray disc:

Paul (Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo + Digital Copy) (2011)Super [Blu-ray] (2011)Your Highness [Blu-ray + Digital Copy] (2010)Mars Needs Moms (Two-Disc Blu-ray / DVD Combo) (2011)



Dazed and Confused [Blu-ray] (1993)Twin Dragons [Blu-ray]Top Gear: The Complete Season 16 [Blu-ray] (2010)The Lookout [Blu-ray]



Yu Yu Hakusho: Season Two (Classic) [Blu-ray] (2011)Soul Eater: The Weapon Collection [Blu-ray] (2011)Jumping the Broom [Blu-ray] (2011)Tactical Force [Blu-ray] (2011)



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