I’m so, so, so late getting this column up this week so let’s just get to it – the cornucopia of new Blu-ray releases that hit shops a couple of days ago. So much gold in one week. My wallet is weak…

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Blu-ray disc of the week: CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER

“Captain America leads the fight for freedom in the action-packed blockbuster starring Chris Evans as the ultimate weapon against evil! When a terrifying force threatens everyone across the globe, the world’s greatest soldier wages war on the evil HYDRA organization, led by the villainous Red Skull (Hugo Weaving, The Matrix). Critics and audiences alike salute Captain America: The First Avenger as “pure excitement, pure action, and pure fun!” – Bryan Erdy CBS-TV “

Y’know, say what you will about director Joe Johnston, but he really turned out a fun summer action film in Captain America: The First Avenger. Sure, it’s not the best film to be released on Blu-ray this week but it’s pretty damn great on a lot of levels and is unquestionably the biggest, shiniest, most obviously hot release this week (if you don’t believe me, just take a gander at the list of Blu-ray bestsellers at Amazon!) That’s why I just had to make it the pick of the week.

Almost everything about Captain America: The First Avenger rings true, for a superhero film (special consideration must be afforded the genre, I feel.) The performances are particularly excellent from top to bottom, with Chris Evans’ earnest portrayal of the all American boy scout helping to sell even the most obvious of CG background. Stanley Tucci‘s brilliant turn as the fatherly, affable scientist Doctor Erskine also resonates through the film, even though his screen time is limited. Johnston and team wisely keep things light, for the most part, allowing the film to harken back to the spirit of the era in which it’s set. The only time the tone feels compromised at all is when the obvious Avengers tie-in moments rear their ugly heads. While the epilogue of the film excites the fanboy in me, I really would have preferred that the narrative wrap up just before it. That epilogue just screams post-credits sequence, if you ask me.

Cap looks great on Blu-ray. But this film isn’t as bright and detailed as its modern peers. The subdued palette and hazy visuals that give the film its retro vibe often cloak the vivid nature of the transfer. Believe me though, this is a solid, impressive presentation. The DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 track is even better, delivering thunderous explosions, immersive atmospheric effects and clear dialogue.

The special features on the Captain America: The First Avenger Blu-ray are informative and a lot of fun but there’s no real stand out here. You’ll enjoy watching the new Marvel short film starring Agent Coulson, ‘A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Thor’s Hammer‘ and there’s plenty of behind-the-scenes material on display through the collection of featurettes. A ‘Play All’ option would have made that material a lot easier to wade through. The deleted scenes are brief and not worth watching with the almost absentee filmmakers on their commentary track. Thank goodness the feature commentary is a bit more lively and informative. I was honestly hoping for a little more on the Avengers here but there’s nothing that hasn’t been on the internet for ages and well combed over by all the nerd sites.

Special Features:

• Commentary by Director Joe Johnston, Director of Photography Shelly Johnson and Editor Jeff Ford
• Marvel One Shot: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Thor’s Hammer
• Featurettes
  • Outfitting a Hero
  • The Assembly Begins
  • Howling Commandos
  • Heightened Technology
  • The Transformation
  • Behind the Skull
  • Captain America’s Origins
• Deleted Scenes
  • Attack in Norway
  • The Battle at Azzano
  • Steve Rogers Gets His Medal
  • Steve Rogers Meets Nick Fury
• Sega Game trailer
• The Avengers Animated Trailer

AMAZON: $21.99

Also available: CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER 3D COMBO PACK

AMAZON: $26.99

THE CONVERSATION

“Francis Ford Coppola‘s provoking mystery-thriller stars Gene Hackman as Harry Caul, an expert surveillance man. A routine wiretapping job turns into a nightmare when Harry hears something disturbing in his recording of a young couple in a park. His investigation of the tape and how it might be used sends Harry spiraling into a web of secrecy, murder and paranoia. Set against the backdrop of San Francisco, “The Conversation” is a harrowing psychological thriller that costars Cindy Williams, Frederic Forrest and Harrison Ford and symbolizes the uneasy line where technology and privacy cross.“

If The Conversation isn’t a perfect film I don’t know what is. As much as I recognize the brilliance and cinematic significance of the Godfather films and Apocalypse Now, this one is really the high point in Coppola’s career as a filmmaker, if you ask me. There’s an assured subtlety to the storytelling rarely seen in film, especially in work of this complexity. Most films wear their creators’ efforts on their sleeves, but The Conversation, while paranoid and specific, feels remarkably natural and organic in both structure and character. At no time do you feel the filmmaker’s hand manipulating you or manipulating the people on screen, even though Coppola’s style is evident in every frame. I can only credit the artistic triumph of his work here to its personal nature. Some criticize the film for being too slow and not engaging enough to hold one’s attention for the duration of its runtime (in fact, composer David Shire tells, in one of the extras, of an early screening where he, Coppola and others dozed off) and yes, I admit, as brilliant as it is, it isn’t for everyone. But this is incredible work, with great performances from Hackman and the legendary, late John Cazale (among others) and a truly wonderful piano score by Shire. I would have no trouble watching this film every day. For real.

Coppola and the team at Zoetrope have done it again! I had little doubt that they’d deliver the best possible presentation for this film after their stellar work on last year’s Apocalypse Now Blu-ray sets. And sure enough, The Conversation is a slam dunk. Keep in mind, this is a natural looking, early ’70s film and the high-def presentation echoes that on every level. It looks like film, with all its grain and vibrancy. It’s a rich, thick image that any fan of the film will be impressed with. I have a feeling, however, that those with an eye more attuned to modern high-def presentations might not find this disc quite as pleasing. Lossless audio is presented in both the original mono as well as a new, expanded DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track. The mono track is great for those who want to experience the film as it was initially released but the 5.1 track is worth a listen for its innovative sound design and the more dynamic treatment of Shire’s score. Fantastic!

The Conversation comes to Blu-ray with a nice selection of special features including one of the best director’s commentary tracks I’ve had the pleasure to listen to. Coppola always gives good commentary (check out his Godfather tracks or the original Criterion Bram Stoker’s Dracula Laserdisc commentary for some excellent examples) but this is one of his best, packed with tons of info on the production and the business in general. A great listen. Editor Walter Murch also provides a solid commentary track that isn’t quite as lively and well rounded as the director’s but a worthwhile listen all the same. David Shire’s interview features a handful of anecdotes and sees the composer revisiting his score on the piano as well as paying and singing with his former brother in law, Coppola.

Special Features:

• Cindy Williams and Harrison Ford Screen Tests
• Close-Up on The Conversation vintage featurette
• “No Cigar” – 1956 student film by Coppola
• Harry Caul’s San Francisco—Then And Now
• Archival Gene Hackman Interview
• Script Dictations from Francis Ford Coppola
• David Shire Interviewed by Francis Ford Coppola
• Commentary tracks by Coppola and editor Walter Murch
• Theatrical Trailer

AMAZON: $17.99

JURASSIC PARK: ULTIMATE TRILOGY

“Experience one of the biggest movie trilogies of all time like never before with the Jurassic Park Ultimate Trilogy! “You won’t believe your eyes” (Rolling Stone) when dinosaurs once again roam the Earth in an amazing theme park on a remote island. From Academy Award®-winning directors Steven Spielberg (Jurassic Park, The Lost World: Jurassic Park) and Joe Johnston (Jurassic Park III), the action-packed adventures find man up against prehistoric predators in the ultimate battle for survival. Featuring visually stunning imagery and groundbreaking filmmaking that has been hailed as “a triumph of special effects artistry” (Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times), this epic trilogy is sheer movie-making magic that was 65 million years in the making. “Welcome to Jurassic Park.” “

I haven’t laid eyes on this long awaited Blu-ray boxed set myself, but by all accounts Universal got Jurassic Park completely right. After the studio’s less-than-stellar track record bringing catalogue titles to the format, I was concerned that Steven Spielberg’s dino epics would suffer at their hands. But I’m excited to see that early reviews are glowing. I’m betting that Spielberg had a hand in making sure these films looked their best and I’m also betting that Universal wouldn’t dare publish new high-def editions of his films that are less than stellar. I think this bodes well for their upcoming release of Jaws on Blu. Fingers crossed they get that one right too!

READ MORE: Jurassic Park Ultimate Trilogy Blu-ray set coming in October

AMAZON: $48.99

Also available: JURASSIC PARK: ULTIMATE TRILOGY GIFT SET

AMAZON: $79.99

ISLAND OF LOST SOULS, DAZED AND CONFUSED, IDENTIFICATION OF A WOMAN

This has been one of the best months of Criterion Blu-ray releases ever! And this week caps off the month with style and volume. I haven’t screened Antonioni‘s Identification of a Woman or the re-issue of Dazed and Confused on Blu but I can attest to the quality of the Island of Lost Souls disc. While all three are must-haves for film fans and Criterion collectors, Souls is a landmark release – the first time this classic 1932 horror has been issued on optical disc! And, I’ve got to say, it’s a thrill to watch it looking better than ever. And equally, it’s a thrill to watch all the fantastic extras on the disc. Read more raves in my full review, linked to below.

READ MORE: The Criterion Collection: Island of Lost Souls Blu-ray Disc Review

AMAZON: Various

ATTACK THE BLOCK

“From the producers of Shaun of the Dead, Attack the Block is a fast, funny, frightening action adventure movie that pits a teen street gang against an invasion of savage alien monsters. It turns a London housing project into a sci-fi battleground, the low-income apartment complex into a fortress under siege. And it turns a crazy mix of tough street kids into a team of kick ass heroes. It’s inner city versus outer space and it’s going to explode. “

I had the pleasure of seeing Attack the Block in the cinema. It’s like a harder edged, modern, British Goonies with aliens. Nothing wrong with that! I haven’t seen the Blu-ray yet but this is definitely one that’s on my radar to pick up soon. Bonus features include three audio commentaries, a one-hour behind-the-scenes doc and more! Sounds like a nice little package for a great little movie.

AMAZON: $22.99

TOM & JERRY GOLDEN COLLECTION: VOLUME ONE

“Celebrate the most enduring team in animation history with a collection fans will want to chase and catch! This highly anticipated release includes over 40 remastered shorts starting with “Puss Gets The Boot”! Enjoy these highly collectible set with Improved Picture and Audio for the first time ever! Also includes: “The Midnight Snack”, “The Night Before Chritmas”, “Fraidy Cat”, “Dog Trouble”, “Puss N’ Toots”, “The Bowling Alley Cat”, “Fine Feathered Friend”, “Sufferin’ Cats”, “The Lonesome Mouse”, “The Yankee Doodle Mouse”, “Baby Puss”, “The Zoot Cat”, “The Million Dollar Cat”, “The Bodyguard”, “Puttin on The Dog”, “Mouse Trouble”, “The Mouse Comes To Dinner”, “Mouse In Manhattan”, “Tee For Two”, “Flirty Birdy”, “Quiet Please!”, “Springtime For Thomas”, “The Milky Waif”, “Trap Happy”, “Solid Serenade”, “Cat Fishin’”, “Part Time Pal”, “The Cat Concerto”, “Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Mouse”, “Salt Water Tabby”, “A Mouse In The House”, “The Invisible Mouse”, “Kitty Foiled”, “The Truce Hurts”, “Old Rockin’ Chair Tom”, and “Professor Tom”.“

I’m absolutely blown away by how fantastic these cartoons look on Blu-ray. I wasn’t expecting any of the original 37 Tom and Jerry shorts to sport such vivid colours or to retain any of their vintage film-like qualities. But Warner has just knocked it out of the park here in this initial collection of the uncut, unedited versions of these films that date back as far as 1940. It’s tough to complain about any aspect of this 2-disc boxed set except, perhaps that the only audio option for the shorts is a compressed Dolby Digital mono mix. In this day and age, it’s nice to have lossless when possible, even when the source material is somewhat lacking.

Tom & Jerry Golden Collection: Volume One sports a fair number of special features, including 12 stellar commentary tracks from the likes of animator Mark Kausler, comedienne Nicole Parker, author Michael Mallory, historian Earl Kress, director Eric Goldberg and animation historian, author and ruler of the ever-awesome cartoonbrew.com, Jerry Beck. The brand new HD doc ‘Vaudeville, Slapstick and Tom and Jerry‘ is also outstanding, examining the roots of the films’ comedy. Four additional standard-def features culled from previous DVD releases are also included in the set, with the longest of them, the half-hour long ‘How Bill and Joe Met Tom and Jerry‘ the best of the bunch. ‘The Midnight Snack Pencil Test‘ runs around 9-minutes and is worth a look for any animation aficionado. ‘The Worry Song from Anchors Aweigh‘ is 8-minutes of little Jerry dancing with Gene Kelley. ‘The Comedy Styling of Tom and Jerry‘ is a featurette that’s 6-minutes of your life you’ll never get back. Don’t bother.

This boxed set is clearly marketed at adult animation fans as there are numerous warnings about the content and the complex, potentially offensive nature of it. In fact before each disc plays, Warner plays the following:

“Some of the cartoons you are about to see are a product of their time. They may depict some of the ethnic and racial prejudices that were commonplace in American society. These depictions were wrong then and are wrong today. While the following does not represent the Warner Bros.’ view of today’s society, some of these cartoons are being presented as they were originally created, because to do otherwise would be the same as claiming these prejudices never existed.“

Despite the controversial nature of the shorts, I’m certain that with proper guidance any child can enjoy them too, without suffering any adverse effects.

AMAZON: $23.99

RARE EXPORTS: A CHRISTMAS TALE

“It’s the eve of Christmas in northern Finland, and an ‘archeological’ dig has just unearthed the real Santa Claus. But this particular Santa isn’t the one you want coming to town. When the local children begin mysteriously disappearing, young Pietari and his father Rauno, a reindeer hunter by trade, capture the mythological being and attempt to sell Santa to the misguided leader of the multinational corporation sponsoring the dig. Santa’s elves, however, will stop at nothing to free their fearless leader from captivity. What ensues is a wildly humorous nightmare – a fantastically bizarre polemic on modern day morality. “Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale” is a re-imagining of the most classic of all childhood fantasies, and is a darkly comic gem soon to be required perennial holiday viewing.“

Oh my God. I have a new favourite Christmas movie.

It’s not often that I stumble across a seasonal gem like this – a film I just know I’ll return to year after year in some twisted, dark ritual of cinematic holiday celebration. I had never even heard of Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale until a few weeks ago but after watching what just might be the finest film to ever come out of Finland, I know I’ll never forget it. Writer/director Jalmari Helander has crafted a tight, little creature adventure that riffs on the Scandinavian myths of trolls and goblins, blended with the origins of the Santa Clause story. Brilliant! If you were the kind of kid who cried when placed on Santa’s lap at the mall, you might want to give this one a pass. It’ll bring all that scary shit from your childhood rushing back in a wave of Christmas-creature terror. Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale plays with frightening themes and images but never executes with a heavy hand, calling to mind the playfulness of better Joe Dante or Tim Burton efforts. If that’s a flavour you enjoy, this film is right up your street In fact, now come to think of it, this would play a pretty decent double-feature with Attack the Block! Nice!

Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale looks like a million bucks on Blu-ray. I don’t have a single criticism of this vivid, detailed, exceptional transfer. I wish slickly produced, bajillion dollar Hollywood fare looked this good in high-def! The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track is also a marvel, incredibly active and dynamic for a film of such limited on-screen action. The skilled, mad scientists at Oscilloscope Labs have delivered an incredible, reference quality presentation on this disc. Bravo!

The good folks from the Labs have also provided a bevy of bonus goodies on the Blu-ray disc, chief amongst which are the original shorts that inspired the film – ‘Rare Exports Inc.‘ from 2003 and ‘Rare Exports Inc. – The Official Safety Instructions‘ from 2005. Both are worth a look (after you’ve completed the feature, of course) and offer a compelling look at the growth of the filmmakers. ‘The Making of Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale‘ runs almost half-an-hour in length and covers the film from pre-production to its debut at the Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland. A good deal of the footage is from pocket cameras and the like, so the quality of this HD presentation is all over the map. But no matter. The quality of the content is top notch. For those who want to dig a little deeper there’s also a look at the concept art, animatics and computer effects, a photo gallery and a trailer. The Blu-ray also includes the almost unwatchable 1964 film Santa Claus Conquers the Martians in SD. It’s a good gag and a nice bonus exclusive but don’t even try to sit through that stinker while sober or on your own. Just don’t do it. A DVD of the feature film is included in the package (which is a handsome digipack made out of recycled paper and is gorgeous to look at, by the way.)

Super-highly-extra recommended!

AMAZON: $19.99

THE HOUSE BY THE CEMETERY and ZOMBIE

“Read The Fine Print… You May Have Just Mortgaged Your Life! A young family moves from their cramped New York City apartment to a spacious new home in New England. But this is no ordinary house in the country: the previous owner was the deranged Dr. Freudstein, whose monstrous human experiments have left a legacy of bloody mayhem. Now, someone – or something – is alive in the basement, and home sweet home is about to become a horrific hell on earth. Catriona MacColl (THE BEYOND), Paolo Malco (THE NEW YORK RIPPER), Ania Pieroni (TENEBRE), Carlo De Mejo (CITY OF THE LIVING DEAD), and Dagmar Lassander (HATCHET FOR THE HONEYMOON) star in this outrageous Italian shocker from ‘The Godfather of Gore,’ Lucio Fulci (ZOMBIE, CITY OF THE LIVING DEAD). Now Blue Underground proudly presents the definitive version of THE HOUSE BY THE CEMETERY: freshly transferred in blood-soaked High Definition from its original uncut and uncensored negative and loaded with exclusive new Extras!”

So, I was sure that both Zombie and The House by the Cemetery were released last week. Oops! My bad. Hope I didn’t have too many of you running around trying to hunt those bad boys down. Anyway, they’re both available now. And I’ve seen The House by the Cemetery for myself and I’ll tell you, Blue Underground have done it again!

Say what you want about the film itself (most say it’s a confusing mess with a boneheaded plot and an annoying child star but some of the best spooky haunted house scares ever…and I’d have to agree!) but this Blu-ray edition of The House by the Cemetery is the bees knees. Not only is the transfer out of this world but there’s a good number of extras to boot! The image here is bright and detailed, much more so than any previous home video edition of the film. It’s stable as a rock and exhibits excellent contrast and skin tones throughout. The English language DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 soundtrack gets the job done but won’t win any awards. It’s clean and clear throughout but the score betrays the source material’s limited dynamic range.

There are supplements aplenty, most in the way of interviews with cast and crew. ‘To Build a Better Death Trap‘ runs over 20-minutes and is the most extensive of the six included pieces, featuring interviews with actor Diovanni De Nava, cinematographer Sergio Salvati, make-up effects artist Maurizio Trani and special effects artist Gino De Rossi. There’s also a deleted scene, trailers and a poster and stills gallery.

AMAZON: $14.99

ALSO AVAILABLE ON BLU-RAY THIS WEEK
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