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Top 5 New on Blu

Top New Blu-ray releases for the Week of March 27

Another big Blu-ray release week is upon us with a lot of amazing releases for you to sink your teeth into. I’ve included the two new Criterion releases in my recommendations, sight unseen, as a matter of course. I’m itching to get my hands on them and, if I do, I’ll report back on their quality but, come on, is there any doubt that they’ll be amazing? Scroll down to see a few more releases not covered like Oscar-nominee Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close and Whitney Houston‘s star-powered The Bodyguard.

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: A DANGEROUS METHOD (Canadian version)

A DANGEROUS METHOD (2011 - Canadian version)


THE FILM:Seduced by the challenge of an impossible case, the driven Dr. Jung (Michael Fassbender) takes the unbalanced yet beautiful Sabina Spielrein (Keira Knightley) as his patient in A DANGEROUS METHOD. Jung’s weapon is the method of his master, the renowned Sigmund Freud (Viggo Mortensen). Both men fall under Sabina’s spell.

WHO SHOULD BUY: This is a tricky one. I really enjoyed A Dangerous Method but my girlfriend barely made it past the ten-minute mark. And I’m hearing the same from a lot of my colleagues and friends. This film is even dividing the Cronenberg faithful! I have a feeling that a lot of what you get from it depends on your expectations going in. My girlfriend thought it was an action film (no, really) and, I understand, a lot of folks are expecting it be a typical Cronenberg flick, with demented sex and in your face gore. Well, there is sex and a lot of spanking but all in all, it’s pretty tame. Method was adapted from a stage play and betrays its origin in the very “talk-y” nature of the beast. It’s really great, compelling historical drama, with brilliant performances from all actors – and, holy shit, but what a cast – but if stagey, talkative films aren’t your thing, you should probably steer clear.

THE BLU-RAY DISC: No matter your taste in film, you won’t be disappointed with the technical presentation of the A Dangerous Method Blu-ray. The film has been afforded a pitch-perfect encode, exhibiting tons of detail and very natural colours. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track is also quite capable but with a great deal less to offer, in that its most often called upon to deliver dialogue. Howard Shore‘s excellent score sounds full and rich when present.

The Canadian edition of the Blu-ray from eOne only differs from the US release in its special features. I’m gutted that our version doesn’t contain the Cronenberg commentary or ‘Master Seminar’ interview with the director, but the 30-minutes worth of cast and crew interviews present are worthy and informative. The B-roll footage (which isn’t really “b-roll”, per se, but more like “behind-the-scenes” footage shot over the shoulders of the crew) provides a fascinating look into how David Cronenberg runs his shoots.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

  • Cast and crew interviews (30 minutes)
  • Film clips (7 minutes)
  • Production B-Roll (19 minutes)
  • Theatrical trailer

AMAZON: CDN$ 22.99

Also available: A DANGEROUS METHOD (US version)

A Dangerous Method [Blu-ray] (2011)


AMAZON: $19.99


CASABLANCA: 70TH ANNIVERSARY LIMITED COLLECTOR’S EDITION

Casablanca (70th Anniversary Limited Collector's Edition Blu-ray/DVD Combo)

THE FILM: Casablanca“: easy to enter, but much harder to leave, especially if you’re wanted by the Nazis. Such a man is Resistance leader Victor Laszlo (Paul Henreid), whose only hope is Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart), a cynical American who sticks his neck out for no one – especially Victor’s wife Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman), the ex-lover who broke his heart. Ilsa offers herself in exchange for Laszlo’s transport out of the country and bitter Rick must decide what counts more – personal happiness or countless lives hanging in the balance. Winner of three Academy Awards(R) including Best Picture, “Casablanca” marks its 70th anniversary as a beloved favorite with so many bonuses that no matter how often you’ve seen it, this beautiful 70th Anniversary (Limited and Numbered) Edition looks like yet another beginning of a beautiful friendship with an unforgettable classic.

READ MORE: Casablanca: 70th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray Disc Review

AMAZON: $44.99


A NIGHT TO REMEMBER

A Night to Remember (Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray] (1958)

THE FILM:On April 14, 1912, just before midnight, the unsinkable Titanic struck an iceberg. In less than three hours, it had plunged to the bottom of the sea, taking with it more than 1,500 of its 2,200 passengers. In his unforgettable rendering of Walter Lord’s book of the same name, A Night to Remember, the acclaimed British director Roy Ward Baker (Don’t Bother to Knock) depicts with sensitivity, awe, and a fine sense of tragedy the ship’s final hours. Featuring remarkably restrained performances, A Night to Remember is cinema’s subtlest, finest dramatization of this monumental twentieth-century catastrophe.

WHO SHOULD BUY: Me! I haven’t seen the film or this new Blu-ray disc from Criterion but you better believe this and the Lean box are at the top of my “must purchase” list this week.

READ MORE: Criterion March Blu-ray titles

AMAZON: $27.99


CONFUCIUS

Confucius (DVD/Blu-ray Combo) (2012)

THE FILM:Screen legend Chow Yun-fat stars as Confucius in the inspiring, action-packed saga of a leader whose wisdom and cunning were more powerful than any sword. In this sweeping battlefield epic, Confucius finds his lands threatened by the fires of war. After leading the nation’s most powerful army to victory against hordes of invaders, the new hero finds even greater danger in the jealous eyes of the aristocrats he fought to protect. From the Producer of John Woo’s Red Cliff and Jet Li’s Warlords, and captured on camera by Oscar-winning Director of Photography Peter Pau (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon), Chow Yun-fat delivers the award-nominated performance of a lifetime as a teacher, a military leader, and a legend in Confucius.

READ MORE: Confucius Blu-ray Disc Review

AMAZON: $10.49


CORMAN’S WORLD: EXPLOITS OF A HOLLYWOOD REBEL

Corman's World [Blu-ray] (2011)

THE FILM:CORMAN’S WORLD: EXPLOITS OF A HOLLYWOOD REBEL is a tantalizing and star-studded tribute to Roger Corman, Hollywood’s most prolific writer-director producer, and seminal influencing force in modern moviemaking over the last 60 years. Featuring interviews with Hollywood icons and cinematic luminaries, some who launched their careers within Corman’s unforgettable world of filmmaking, including, Paul W.S. Anderson, Peter Bogdanovich, Robert DeNiro, Peter Fonda, Pam Grier, Ron Howard, Eli Roth, Martin Scorcese, William Shatner and many others, this documentary chronicles how Corman created his cult film empire, one low-budget success at a time, capitalizing on undiscovered talent, and pushing the boundaries of independent filmmaking.

READ MORE: Corman’s World: Exploits of a Hollywood Rebel Blu-ray Disc Review

AMAZON: $20.99


DAVID LEAN DIRECTS NOEL COWARD

David Lean Directs Noel Coward (In Which We Serve, This Happy Breed, Blithe Spirit, Brief Encounter) (Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray] (1945)

THE FILMS:In the 1940s, the wit of playwright Noël Coward and the craft of filmmaker David Lean melded harmoniously in one of cinema’s greatest writer-director collaborations. With the wartime military drama sensation In Which We Serve, Coward and Lean (along with producing partners Ronald Neame and Anthony Havelock-Allan) embarked on a series of literate, socially engaged, and enormously entertaining pictures that ranged from domestic epic (This Happy Breed) to whimsical comedy (Blithe Spirit) to poignant romance (Brief Encounter). These films created a lasting testament to Coward’s artistic legacy and introduced Lean’s visionary talents to the world.

WHO SHOULD BUY: Me me me!!! I’m so excited to get my hands on this boxed set full of David Lean films. I’m bonkers for his epic films but have a great appreciation for this work as well, with great performances all around, in all four films and brilliant Noël Coward scripts. Drool…

READ MORE: Criterion March Blu-ray titles

AMAZON: $68.99


MONSTER BRAWL

Monster Brawl BD [Blu-ray]

THE FILM:It’s midnight at the Hillside Necropolis and the stage is set for the first ever Monster Brawl main event! Eight of the world’s most legendary monsters along with their diabolical managers compete in a wrestling tournament deathmatch to determine the most powerful champion of all time. Interviews, pre-fight breakdowns, trash talking, and monster origin segments round out this ultimate fight of the living dead. Monster Brawl is “the undisputed smackdown hit of this year’s bumper crop of comedy horror!” (Twitch Film). This award-winning monster mashup features an ensemble cast of comedy, horror and wrestling icons, including Dave Foley (Kids in the Hall), Art Hindle (The Brood), Lance Henriksen (Aliens), Robert Maillet (Sherlock Holmes), Kevin Nash (The Punisher), Herb Dean (UFC), and Jimmy Hart (WWE).

WHO SHOULD BUY: Monster fans who love wrestling and have always dreamed of seeing their favorite ghouls bash about in the ring will love Monster Brawl. Wrestling geeks looking for a little something different will most likely get a kick out of this graveyard send-up of popular WWE top-rope hijinks. But those expecting any semblance of traditional narrative filmmaking won’t make it past the first few minutes of this one. There’s no story here. Yes, each of the monsters has a backstory, explained in fun vignettes before each of their matches, but the there’s no overarching themes or plot points to glue everything together. But that won’t really matter for the target audience of this no-budget fight-fest. This is a love-it-or-leave-it affair that seems perfect for a drunken night with the boys and little else.

THE BLU-RAY DISC: Monster Brawl was shot digital on RED and has, for the most part, made the transition to Blu in as much style as a film of its barely-existent budget can hope for. Yes, a lot of the effects work looks fake and, I have a feeling, contributes to the moiré present in a few scenes of the disc. All in all, though, for what it is, it looks nice and detailed. Extras include a commentary by Cook, with producers Matt Wiele and John Geddes, a half-hour long “behind-the-scenes” featurette, “Tales from the Hart: Jimmy Hart Outtakes” and the trailer.

AMAZON: CDN$ 25.49


STRIP NUDE FOR YOUR KILLER

Strip Nude for Your Killer [Blu-ray] (1975)

THE FILM:The stunning Edwige Fenech (THE CASE OF THE BLOODY IRIS, THE STRANGE VICE OF MRS. WARDH) stars in this infamous shocker that packs more grisly violence and sexual depravity into each frame than most any other film in the entire giallo genre. There’s succulent flesh aplenty as a mysterious killer dressed in black leather and wearing a motorcycle helmet begins butchering beautiful young fashion models with no mercy and one deranged request: STRIP NUDE FOR YOUR KILLER! Nino Castelnuovo (THE UMBRELLAS OF CHERBOURG) and Femi Benussi (HATCHET FOR THE HONEYMOON) co-star in this sleazy 70s classic directed by Andrea Bianchi (BURIAL GROUND, MALABIMBA), now presented in a brand-new High Definition transfer from the original uncut and uncensored camera negative!

WHO SHOULD BUY: Well, I imagine that fans of Strip Nude for Your Killer will be pleased with this Blu-ray release, as, until now, it’s been tough to find on home video. But honestly, this one is a stinker. Probably the most haphazard, sloppiest filmmaking I’ve ever seen in a giallo horror to date – and that’s saying something!! The plot is ridiculous and poorly assembled, the characters illicit little sympathy and even the horror is barely horrific, bordering on the nauseatingly repetitive. The best part about the entire film is lead actress Edwige Fenech, who hardly figures into the story but manages to light up just about every dull scene she’s in. Oh yeah, and there’s a lot of nudity. So, the film lives up to its title. Which, ultimately, is the most positive thing I can say about it.

THE BLU-RAY DISC: Either Blue Underground is also ambivalent about this release or they had some pretty dull source material because Strip Nude for Your Killer is the least impressive Blu-ray I’ve seen from the label. The transfer is soft with poor contrast that rarely exhibits true-black and lacks the usual detail that BU is able to cull from the old, low budget b-movies they tend to put out. But, in this case, the cinematography is so poorly handled that it barely matters. On a positive note, colours seem stable and rather accurate. Italian and English audio is available in mono DTS-HD Master Audio tracks, both solid and clean affairs. There’s little in the way of extras here. Only a 12-minute long interview with actress Solvi Stubing and co-writer Massino Felisatti, a poster and stills gallery and the theatrical trailer.

AMAZON: $24.99


THE BBC HIGH DEFINITION NATURAL HISTORY COLLECTION FEATURING PLANET EARTH: SPECIAL EDITION

BBC Natural History Collection (Planet Earth: Special Edition / Galapagos / Ganges / Wild China) [Blu-ray] (2012)

THE SERIES:Experience the best the Earth has to offer in stunningly clear high definition. Witness rare action, impossible locations and intimate moments with our planet’s best-loved creatures with the critically acclaimed, Emmy-winning Planet Earth Special Edition, now packed with over seven hours of extras; travel the length and breadth of China and discover the fabulous diversity of its natural wonders in Wild China; visit the home of the most astonishing creatures found anywhere on Earth with Galápagos; and discover a kaleidoscope of color and energy as you explore the river that shaped the wildlife, culture and beliefs of India in Ganges. It’s your world as you’ve never seen it before in dazzling Blu-ray high definition!

WHO SHOULD BUY: I guess the real target for this umpteenth re-package/re-release of the popular and worthy BBC Planet Earth franchise Blu-ray collection is those few consumers yet to invest in the set. The High Definition Natural History collection packages together not only the mutli-disc, award-winning Planet Earth series but also includes the follow up releases Ganges, Galapagos and Wild China. This collection of series was originally made available in 2008 but since then, BBC and Warner have updated the Planet Earth set to the Special Edition category, affording it new transfers, much improved audio and hours upon hours worth of special features that make upgrading from the original 2007 release seem very tempting. Those who only own the old PE set and are interested in the other three series packaged into this set will certainly find it a worthwhile upgrade. Those who don’t own any of the discs will absolutely be blown away by both the quality and quantity of content here. If you already own the original Natural History collection, well, it’s up to you. If you really need those Special Edition features and the audio upgrade on Planet Earth, you should probably just pick up that 6-disc set on its own and give your old PE discs to a pal.

THE BLU-RAY DISCS: This is one hell of an amazing looking set of discs. That said, it’s not perfect. There’s a lot of content here and, it goes without saying, that if you look closely, you’re bound to see just about every encoding mishap pop up at some point across one of the many, many episodes and features on the 10-discs. But that occasional banding and noise is so rare, I can easily give it a pass. The new transfers of Planet Earth are 1080i this time around but I don’t see a difference. I don’t know why they’re not progressive but the results appear identical to the old 1080p transfers, so I’m not bothered. Audio is now presented in improved DTS-HD High Resolution 5.1 tracks (not lossless Master Audio tracks but still, a notable upgrade.) Extras are voluminous – over 13-hours worth on the PE discs alone and way too many to list here (sorry!) – and include commentaries, music-only viewing options, Diaries (short featurettes on the making of each episode), 7 docs that run nearly an hour in length each, deleted scenes, and various other “making of” docs and featurettes. It’s a crazy amount of content.

If you don’t already own these discs, this exceptional boxed set is SUPER-HIGHLY-EXTRA-RECOMMENDED!

AMAZON: $101.99


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:

Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked (Blu-ray/ DVD + Digital Copy) (2011)The Bodyguard [Blu-ray] (1992)Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (Blu-ray / DVD +UltraViolet Digital Copy Combo Pack) (2011)In the Land of Blood and Honey (Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo) (2011)



South Park: The Complete Fifteenth Season [Blu-ray]Dragonheart [Blu-ray] (1996)Who's Minding the Store [Blu-ray] (1963)Assault on a Queen [Blu-ray] (1966)



The Quest [Blu-ray] (1996)It's Only Money [Blu-ray] (1962)Who's Got the Action [Blu-ray] (1962)Come Blow Your Horn [Blu-ray] (1963)



Camel Spiders [Blu-ray] (2011)Dream Eater Merry: Complete Collection [Blu-ray] (2012)



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