Another killer week here, with way too many cool new Blu-ray releases to cover in the post. Be certain to scroll all the way down to the bottom of the article and click on some of the other worthwhile titles new to the format this week, like Fast Five, the newest flick in the Fast and Furious franchise, Peter Jackson‘s Dead Alive, more Miramax films new to Blu in Cinema Paradiso, Life is Beautiful and The Cider House Rules as well as Tim Buton classics Pee Wee’s Big Adventure and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

As always, clicking the Blu-ray package art will zip you over to Amazon where every purchase you make through our links helps the site stay on its feet. We appreciate every single click and thank you again for continuing to read The Blu-ray Blog.

Blu-ray disc of the week: THE LION KING

“The wait is over. For the first time ever, experience the majesty of Disney’s epic animated masterpiece as it roars off the screen and into your living room on Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D. With a spectacular digital picture, spine-tingling high definition sound and immersive bonus features—you will feel the love for this critically acclaimed and universally beloved classic like never before.

Embark on an extraordinary coming-of-age adventure as Simba, a lion cub who cannot wait to be king, searches for his destiny in the great “Circle of Life.” You will be thrilled by the breathtaking animation, unforgettable Academy Award®–winning music (1994: Best Original Score; Best Song, “Can You Feel The Love Tonight”) and timeless story. The king of all animated films reigns on Disney Blu-ray 3D—magic in a new dimension.

“

You know, I don’t think I’ve ever really given The Lion King it’s due. This is such a well crafted film, from the script to the music to every single visual, static and in motion, up there on the screen. It’s a true work of art that, for me, has been sullied with hype and the incessant overplaying of every Elton John ditty in the piece. Honestly, if I never hear ‘Can You Feel The Love Tonight’ again in my life, I’ll be alright.

You can imagine the effort involved to block the effect those songs have on me, as I watch the film again, attempting to appreciate it anew, fresh and sullied. And I think I managed it. I focused on the tight script and the pitch-perfect characters, performed with such razor precision by the likes of James Earl Jones, Rowan Atkinson and Jeremy Irons that the voice-work elevates the material to a new place of awesome. I focused on the ground-breaking animation, combining CGI with traditional cel-painted frames in ways never-before attempted. I focused on the score by the always-wonderful Hans Zimmer who, at his best here, makes me forget that his awe-inspiring cues will often lead into trite pop songs that more-or-less strip the film of its potential to feel timeless and iconic. I guess I don’t need to tell you where my issues lie with The Lion King.

But the songs are an integral part of the film. And they, like everything else here, are well done, for what they are. I just don’t like them. That’s a personal-taste-thing. They take me out of the action, as singing characters often do in film and theatre. But, I understand, that’s the nature of the beast here. And this beast is unquestionably King for a reason, still the highest grossing animated film to date. It’s a classic that every animation and film fan should have in their Blu-ray library.

You’ll also want to add The Lion King Blu-ray to your collection to show off your Audio/Visual gear as it’s one of the most technically incredible releases of the year. Disney offer up another transfer of one of its classic animated films that borders on perfection. Detail is out of this world, blacks are deep and colours are vivid and pounce right off the screen! Amazing. Equally as powerful is the DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 track that rumbles deep and stampedes around your surround system with the best of them. This is your new demo disc!

There are a nice collection of newly created special features on the disc including a couple of docs – Pride of the Lion King and The Lion King: A Memoir- Don Hahn – that are definitely worth your time. Both are presented in HD and look fantastic, aside from the SD archival material used within. All the new animated and still content is also presented in HD but is only worth watching for those who need to dig deep. I don’t think the casual viewer will want to sit through failed gags in storyboard form. Once again, Disney really kills it with their Second Screen feature for iPad and PC, which allows you to view additional content on your device while watching the film on your big screen. Most of the extras from the previously available DVD sets are still available here, but only through the BD-Live portal, which, to me, is a pain in the ass. I would’ve much rather had them on a second disc, instead of the included DVD copy of the film that’s in the package.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

• 4 Never-Before-Seen Deleted Scenes
• Deleted Song
• The Morning Report: Extended scene
• Never-Before-Seen Bloopers
• Disney Second Screen*
• Pride of The Lion King
• The Lion King: A Memoir- Don Hahn
• Disney Sing Along Mode
• Interactive Gallery
• Audio Commentary
• Disney’s Virtual Vault: Classic DVD Features Powered by BD-Live*

AMAZON: $21.99
or in a 3D combo pack: $29.99

Also available: THE LION KING TRILOGY

AMAZON: $74.99

Canadian versions: PULP FICTION and JACKIE BROWN

I was very fortunate to be able to review the Canadian editions of the Pulp Fiction and Jackie Brown Blu-ray releases from Alliance. Aside from slight differences in packaging and branding on the discs, these releases are identical to their US counterparts.

It’s been years since I’ve had to opportunity to sit down with either film but I’m happy to report that, for the most part, they hold up! Jackie Brown in particular has aged well, perhaps because it’s the product of a Quentin Tarantino who was a more mature filmmaker or perhaps it’s simply because the film has been spared the fate of the icon of ’90s cinema that is Pulp Fiction.

Fiction‘s mix-and-match structure and hipster-style never fail to impress, even after all these years and after so many poor imitations. It’s such a well assembled film with an endless number of iconic shots, songs and performances. But I have to admit I find a lot of the dialogue to be masturbatory – if I never have to hear another Tarantino character repeatedly asking a question (“What does Marsellus Wallace look like?”) only so they might deliver a lame punchline it’ll be too soon. Jackie Brown doesn’t feel like it’s there to show off at all. It’s a far more settled and self-contained narrative with characters who live and breathe with their own sense of purpose and desire, which tends not to serve their puppet-master’s ego. That said, I truly love both films and am pleased to report that each is extremely well handled in their Blu-ray debuts.

The Pulp Fiction Blu-ray disc sports a sticker with Tarantino’s signature and is meant to communicate his stamp of approval. I’m not sure why Jackie Brown didn’t receive the same treatment because both discs appear to have similar transfers (and, I’m led to understand that the filmmaker personally approved the latter film’s transfer to Blu as well.) They both look really great with a few notable oddities. Colour and contrast appear to have been boosted in both cases, causing some black crush and white blow-outs but allowing a considerable bump in temperature and tone. Both discs also receive demo-class DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtracks, with Fiction‘s perhaps a touch more dynamic and playful through the sound-space.

Most, if not all, special features have been carried over from previous DVD editions of the films, with little new added to the mix here. Both discs feature a “critic’s roundtable” of sorts, where Elvis Mitchell, Scott Foundas, Stephanie Zacharek, Tim Lucas and Andy Klein chat about the films, their merits, failings and lasting impact on cinema. The Pulp Fiction clocks in at about 20-minutes while the Jackie Brown conversation is nearly three-quarters-of-an-hour long. “Not the Usual Mindless Boring Getting to Know You Chit Chat” is the only other new feature – a 43-minute retrospective on Pulp Fiction, featuring interviews with cast and crew all presented in HD! Fantastic.

Pulp Fiction Special Features:

• Retrospective Cast Interviews (New)
• Critics Corner: Then and Now (New)
• Pulp Fiction: The Facts featurette
• Deleted Scenes
• Behind the Scenes Montages
• Production Design featurette
• Siskel and Ebert “At the Movies” – The Tarantino Generation
• Independent Spirit Awards
• Cannes Film Festival – Palm d’Or Acceptance Speech
• Charlie Rose Show – Interview with Quentin Tarantino
• Theatrical Trailers and TV Spots
• Stills Gallery

Jackie Brown Special Features:

• Critic’s Corner: Then and Now – (New)
• Jackie Brown: How It Went Down featurette
• “A Look Back at Jackie Brown” – Interview with Quentin Tarantino
• Chicks With Guns Video
• Siskel & Ebert “At the Movies”- Jackie Brown review
• Jackie Brown on MTV
• Theatrical Trailer and TV Spots
• Stills Gallery

AMAZON: CDN$ 15.00 and CDN$ 24.99

US versions also available: PULP FICTION and JACKIE BROWN

READ MORE: Pulp Fiction and Jackie Brown heading to Blu-ray

AMAZON: $15.99 and $10.49

SUBMARINE

“Young Oliver Tate’s coming of age is coming even sooner than expected. Prone to daydreaming, listening to French crooners and indulging other self-absorbed fantasies, Oliver (Craig Roberts) suddenly finds himself submerged in real-life, dual challenges — plotting to lose his virginity with a quirky new girlfriend (Yasmin Paige), while also struggling to reconcile his parent’s (Golden Globe® winner Sally Hawkins and Noah Taylor) marriage, even though his mom seems smitten with the self-help guru next door (Paddy Considine). This charmingly original comedy from executive producer Ben Stiller and writer/director Richard Ayoade, has been pronounced by Vogue magazine ”a charming mix of quirk and cool.” “

I’m so angry that Richard Ayoade’s Submarine isn’t receiving a Blu-ray release here in Canada. This is one of the coolest films of 2011 and Alliance is only delivering it to home video on DVD. Blech. I guess I’ll be importing the Anchor Bay Blu-ray from down south. DVD Beaver calls the transfer “surprisingly adept” while DVD Verdict claims the disc sports a “very close approximation to the theater presentation”, which is all I need to know before adding it to my Amazon cart.

AMAZON: $25.99

AMER

“An eroticized homage to 1970s Italian giallo horror films… Hélène Cattet and Bruno Forzani’s pastiche tour-de-force plays out a delirious, enigmatic, almost wordless death-dance of fear and desire. Its three movements, each in a different style, correspond to the childhood, adolescence, and adulthood of its female protagonist. Drawing its stylized, hyperbolic gestures from the playbooks of Bava, Leone, Argento and De Palma and taking them into a realm of near-abstraction. Amer has genre in the blood. Its bold widescreen composition, super-focused sound and emphatic music (lifted from original giallo soundtracks), and razor-sharp cuts make for an outrageous and intoxicating cinematic head-trip. Featuring music from composers Stelvio Cipriani, Bruno Nicolai and the legendary Ennio Morricone.“

Amer is another film I’ve been following online through reviews/articles/interviews/etc. but have yet to actually see. But, in truth, this is probably the Blu-ray release I’m most excited about this week. But only because of the pent up anticipation for a viewing of this modern Giallo horror. Blu-ray.com gives the disc high marks, with a source-accurate transfer of this “ravishingly beautiful film”. Extras include five short films by the filmmakers and some trailers.

AMAZON: $31.49

SCREAM 4

“In Scream 4, Sidney Prescott, now the author of a self-help book, returns home to Woodsboro on the last stop of her book tour. There she reconnects with Sheriff Dewey and Gale, who are now married, as well as her cousin Jill (played by Emma Roberts) and her Aunt Kate (Mary McDonnell). Unfortunately Sidney’s appearance also brings about the return of Ghost Face, putting Sidney, Gale, and Dewey, along with Jill, her friends, and the whole town of Woodsboro in danger. “

I can’t speak to the actual Scream 4 Blu-ray disc from Anchor Bay but I reviewed the Canadian release from Alliance that’s part of The Complete Scream Collection and it’s fantastic. It replicates the US disc in every way (aside from Alliance branding and trailers) and is well worth a look. For more on the disc and the film, see my review of the Complete Collection, linked to below:

READ MORE: The Complete Scream Collection Blu-ray Disc Review

AMAZON: $22.99

Available exclusively in Canada: THE COMPLETE SCREAM COLLECTION

AMAZON.CA: CDN$ 49.99

HARAKIRI and SALO

Both of Criterion‘s Blu-ray new releases are re-issues, which is to say that neither is the most exciting title hitting shops this week but are both worth a look anyway. I mean, come on, they’re Criterion discs, right?! For those mature viewers with the ability to handle disturbing imagery, the studio takes another stab at releasing Piere Paolo Pasolini‘s Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom on home video. This is a stronger presentation than the BFI Blu-ray disc and, packed with bonus goodies, is worth the upgrade for fans. Harakiri is also a worthy upgrade, presenting a far more solid and balanced transfer than the previously released DVD, that’s every bit as good, if not better than the Eureka Entertainment BD from the UK. A strong supplemental package makes this release a winner! Both discs are, of course, highly recommended.

READ MORE: Criterion October Blu-ray titles

AMAZON: $27.99 and $34.99

THE WALKING DEAD: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON – 3-DISC SPECIAL EDITION

“After waking from a coma in an abandoned hospital, police officer Rick Grimes finds the world he knew gone – ravaged by a zombie epidemic of apocalyptic proportions. Nearby, on the outskirts of Atlanta, a small encampment struggles to survive as ‘the dead’ stalk them at every turn. Can Rick and the others hold onto their humanity as they fight to live in this terrifying new world? And, amidst dire conditions and personal rivalries, will they ultimately survive one another? AMC‘s The Walking Dead is an epic, survival adventure series from the director of The Shawshank Redemption and the producer of The Terminator and Aliens. “

This is a fantastic package. It’s just really unfortunate that this isn’t what the studio released back in March, instead of the two-disc, feature-lite set that most fans picked up. I think they’re going to have a lot of irate customers on their hands – folks who wish they would’ve held off grabbing the first set in favour of waiting for this, more feature-rich release. If you didn’t buy the previous set, this is your huckleberry. If you did and you dig extras, better start looking for a painless way to trade up.

READ MORE: The Walking Dead: The Complete First Season – 3-Disc Special Edition Blu-ray Disc Review

AMAZON: $34.99

Now available in Canada: ONG BAK: THE THAI WARRIOR

“Thai stuntman Tony Jaa makes his starring debut in this martial arts action film directed by Prachya Pinkaew. Ja plays Ting, who was discovered as an infant in a village in rural Thailand and raised by monks who taught him the Thai martial art of muay thai. Ting is sent to Bangkok when the head of the town’s statue of the Buddha, to which they pray to bring the annual rains to their drought-stricken region, is stolen. The country boy is plunged into the big city’s seething criminal underworld, and forced to use his fighting skills to dispatch a parade of thugs in an underground fight club on his way to finding the criminal mastermind who stole the Buddha head so he can return it before drought and starvation bring his hometown to ruin.“

Tony Jaa is God here. I’m not sure he’s ever been better than in the original 2003 Ong Bak. This is Jaa just getting started in his career, before he got lost in his head and wandered off the set of Ong Bak 2 to become a monk (well, that’s the legend anyway.) Here, he’s just Ting, a young man from a small farming village on a journey to recover a stolen artifact, who just happens to find more trouble than he bargained for. There’s no pretense. No grand spiritual journey or commentary about life. Just an honest-to-goodness quest with some honest-to-goodness muay thai fighting that’ll blow your mind.

Jaa is unreal. He’s so fast that many of his moves here are shown in slow motion and from several angles, played out over and over again so you can see that this is the man accomplishing these feats himself, without special effects or wires. He’s an acrobat, a gymnast and an unbelievable martial arts talent who could damn-near become the next Bruce Lee if he’d just get his head out of his ass and embrace his place in cinema. Watch Ong Bak and marvel at the man and his moves and pray he returns to form, creating something of this ilk sooner rather than later.

Alliance is releasing Ong Bak on Blu-ray in Canada today, in an exact duplicate of the disc from Fox, released in the US last year. As was reported at the time, this is something of a baffling transfer. There’s a note about it, right there in the extras for all to see, stating that this Blu-ray presentation is the result of a new scan from an “original 35 mm internegative of the film” with additional “color correction, image stabilization and digital cleaning”. But, man, you’d never know it. The film looks soft, often muddy, with colours bopping around like jazz from scene to scene. Admittedly, this is a marked improvement over the DVD transfer but, I guess as a fan, I was just praying for better. This was a super-low budget film and it’s very possible that this is best it can look but don’t go into watching this disc expecting anything revelatory. The Thai 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio track doesn’t fare much better, sounding thin and unremarkable most of the time.

There are a good many bonus features provided on the disc but, sadly, they’re all quite brief and all in standard-def. You should check them out, though, as any footage of Jaa working his craft is worth a few moments of your time. The B-roll footage is the best thing going here, proving the only look at the behind-the-scenes work that went into making the picture.

Special features include:

• Tony Jaa and stuntman performance at French screening
• The 8 Movements of Muay Thai
• French rap music video with Tony Jaa
• Making of the music video
• B-Roll (behind the scenes):
  • Taxi stunts
  • Legs-ablaze fight sequence
  • Arena fight sequence

AMAZON: CDN$ 18.19

ALSO AVAILABLE ON BLU-RAY THIS WEEK
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