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Snatch Blu-ray Disc Review

Stone — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 05:08:32 +0000

SNATCH (2000, Blu-ray released December 2nd, 2009 – MSRP $28.95)

I feel like I’ve been watching a lot of visually dark movies the last little while. And maybe not enough movies with that serious sense of Blu ray “awesome” to them. That dazzle of visual pop the format does best. And it seems that Snatch, despite its better qualities follows that trend.

Don’t get me wrong, Snatch, written and directed by Guy Ritchie is an awesome crime movie with fast dialogue, violence and comedy in equal measure and a f*ck load of swearing. Seriously, they swear a lot. But it’s a film with a very particular visual style, shot dirty and gritty about dirty, gritty people in a …well, you get the point. I found that while watching Snatch, it was so grim in tone and image that I was really yearning for some bright, crisp, high-def detail. The kind that Blu does best, you know? I felt like the style of the film was actually getting in the way of the story to some extent! Nevertheless, the movie flows pretty damn well and it really is top of the heap when it comes to crime/drama/comedies. Oh, I should mention that if you live on the more western side of the Atlantic, you may find some of the dialogue slightly cryptic with its broadly spoken, London-underground vernacular. Just think of it as extra salt and vinegar on your chips!

Despite all my poo pooing, I really enjoyed watching this movie again. It looked technically quite good (despite the dark grit of the source material), it sounded good, it ran along at a brisk pace and is well written for all it’s faults. I should add that the cast is quite spectacular, featuring an all star line-up of both US and UK performers: Brad Pitt, Denis Farina, Jason Statham, Benicio del Toro, Vinne Jones just to name a few. While I was watching it with all of these elements considered I just couldn’t help myself from thinking, “This is one of those movies that could have been great… but it’s really just good.” I feel like it fell just a little short of its potential.

In terms of the video quality, the discs 1080p, 1.85:1-framed transfer has only one issue; it’s a dark, gritty film. I really have to stop watching all these dark, moody films; it’s killing my excitement for Blu ray! The transfer is fine, no problems really at all. The team at Sony manages to handles all that Snatch throws at them, delivering a final product with deep blacks, film-accurate colour and great shadow detail. In fact, if you are really paying attention you can see some surprising detail in things like faces and dirty buildings and all the things you don’t normally pay attention to. The transfer has really been done well, it’s just that there really isn’t a lot in the movie to showcase how good it is.

The audio in the movie is delivered in DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and even though the movie wasn’t intended to be an aural-spectacular the sound is surprisingly good at times. It stays crisp and quite dynamic throughout (particularly where the music is concerned) and every once and awhile you get a nice little surprise from a .50 caliber handgun or some immersive ambient noise.

We also get a fairly dry director’s commentary and a “making-of” featurette, deleted scenes, some story boards and stills (ho hum). But in keeping with the value added features of Blu ray, Sony has added some Movie IQ content using the BD Live function. The highlight of the special features, however is the innovative “The ‘Snatch’ Cutting Room” which allows you to to interact directly with the contents of the disc, assembling your own edit of scenes, customizing it with music and titles and sharing the finished product with friends via BD-Live.

Kevin Smith 3-Movie Collection (Clerks | Chasing Amy | Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back) Blu-ray Disc Review

Stone — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 23:51:31 +0000

KEVIN SMITH 3-MOVIE COLLECTION (Clerks | Chasing Amy | Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back) (Blu-ray released November 17, 2009 – MSRP $89.99)

I’m not even supposed to be here today.

I have been salivating over this disc set and dreaming about its review for awhile. I really like Kevin Smith movies and here’s why; he knows exactly what he has to offer. And he gives it all to us. Yes, there is crass humor that sometimes borders on stupidity, but have you looked around lately? There’s more than a grain of truth in what Smith offers in his movies. I’ve always enjoyed his pacing and his simple sense of visual storytelling – clear and concise without reliance on complicated tricks. He’s there to tell a story, whichever one that might be, and isn’t worried about impressing us with how pretty he can make it.

But being put on Blu-ray has somewhat taken care of the lack of visual pizzaz we’ve been used to in our old DVD versions of the films! These 1080p transfers of the films bring out the best of the source material. And while it would have been nice to see this collector’s set include EVERYTHING worth collecting (add in Clerks II, Mallrats, Jersey Girl and Dogma and you have a complete SET!) this big box of Blu-ray does just about everything you can ask for from these three titles, with one notable exception. I’ll get to that in a moment.

The other thing I really love about Kevin Smith is how much he seems to have to say, be it in the movies or in the commentary, interviews, conventions and documentaries that enhance them on the discs. And this set gives it all up. These Blu-ray discs are packed to overflowing with content, and lots of it is new!

What’s new you ask? Check it out!

On the Clerks disc:

An introduction By Kevin Smith
“Oh, What a Lovely Tea Party: The Making of Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back”

Plus:

Theatrical Version of the Film
Classic Commentary (1995)
Enhanced Playback Track – synchronized trivia and cast & crew quotes
“The First Cut” Version
Kevin Smith Intro (2004)
“The First Cut” Audio Commentary (with New Authoring / 3 viewing modes)
Clerks: The Lost Scene – Animated Short
“The Flying Car”
Clerks Restoration
Original Auditions
“Snowball Effect: The Story of Clerks”
Outtakes From “Snowball Effect”
“Mae Day: The Crumbling Of A Documentary” With Intro By Kevin Smith And Scott Mosier
10th Anniversary Q & A
MTV Spots With Jay & Silent Bob
Soul Asylum “Can’t Even Tell” Music Video
Theatrical Trailer

And on the Chasing Amy Disc;

“Tracing Amy: The Chasing Amy Doc”
“Was It Something I Said?” – A Conversation With Kevin & Joey
10 Years Later Q & A – With Kevin Smith And The Cast
Audio Commentary with Writer/Director/Actor Kevin Smith and Producer Scott Mosier

Plus:

Deleted Scenes
Outtakes
Trailer

The Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back disc has sadly not been upgraded at all. It’s simply the same plain vanilla Blu-ray release as before, but really, there is so much extra content on the other discs in this set it’s hard to complain. But it would have been nice to have seen the inclusion of all the bonus content from the previously available 2-Disc DVD set.

I’m not going to dwell on the technical merits of the Blu-ray presentation of these films. The fact is that Smith’s movies are shot raw, and while the transfers are accurate to the source material, they simply can’t compare to the best looking discs on the market. Don’t get me wrong, this is as good as these movies have looked, but remember that Clerks was shot long ago on 16mm for not much money. These are not movies that are meant to showcase the super powers of Blu-ray.

The real deal with this set is the comprehensive collection of bonus material on the Clerks and Chasing Amy discs. All sorts of really good stuff has been collected into one set, a very thorough set with hours and hours of extras about the movies that you love. Some call them modern classics, some people call them modern fluff. I call them one man’s love letters to film, comic books and his home town of New Jersey. Love letters that he invited his friends and family to help him write.

Over the years Smith has grown. Some might rebut that comment heavily. But if you’re a fan (and you probably are if you are reading this review and thinking about picking up this set) you probably agree. For over a decade of movie making he has worked tirelessly to populate a world with characters who we have watched change and move forward through their lives. Even as they are making fart jokes 10 years later. He gave us Death Star politics, confused lesbians, The Time, corpse sex, gay black pride, beating up your internet critics one by one, and more fast paced, quick wittedly offensive dialogue than you can shake a porch monkey at.

He’s given us memorable movies, memorable characters and memorable moments. These are things all film makers try to achieve. And in this Blu-ray boxed set he gives you a closer look at how he did it, through discussions and behind the scenes featurettes and an openness that allows you to see who he and his friends and crew truly are. There’s an honesty there. Whether he’s “speaking” the truth as he sees it or “speaking” from the pants, Smith’s movies have as big a heart as “Fat boy” Silent Bob.

And as an added bonus, this shit is really funny.

The reasons you should grab a copy of this set are twofold. First, you’ve probably forgotten half of the awesomeness that is in these movies. You owe it to yourself to revisit the films. They still work after all this time. The second reason is the ridiculously bountiful supply of bonus features. They provide a candid look at how one guy put everything he had into making a movie, that managed to spawn more movies that have afforded him the opportunity to interact with hundreds, if not thousands of fans in a personal way. That may not be every artist’s desire, but it’s sure as hell what I consider being a good film maker.

Snooch To The Nooch!!!

Godzilla Blu-ray Disc Review

Stone — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 03:09:19 +0000

GODZILLA (1998, Blu-ray released November 10, 2009 – MSRP $24.95)

I didn’t think I could run that fast anymore. I actually hung up my cell phone like it was a land line so I could get out the door faster to get over to The Blu-ray Blog’s HQ to pick up my copy of Roland Emmerich’s super monster movie Godzilla.

I think it’s well established at this point that I like cheesy movies, and while there is the softest of soft spots in my heart for the classic “man in a rubber suit” I do love loud and crazy. And this movie has heaps of both, especially the loud! The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 audio track on the Blu-ray disc is exactly as it should be; window rattling! There aren’t many movies that make me crank up the subwoofer, living in an apartment and not wanting to anger the neighbors. But today I did not care. Stomping, roaring, shooting, crashing! Love it!

Emmerich and producer Dean Devlin‘s infamous take on the Japanese classic might be a super exciting affair, yes. But it misses the mark where it counts. It rushes out of the gate strong, feeling like a perfect westernization of the Japanese Gojira concept. But quickly degenerates into a Hollywood mash-up, leaning more toward Jurassic Park than the source material, leaving the core character and and all the quirk and quality of the original behind. But nevermind. On its own insane, popcorn-movie merits, Godzilla is city-stomping fun. Light on story but heavy on explosions. You’ll have a great time watching this, as long as you can leave any connection to the old man-in-suit originals at the door.

The transfer is over all a pretty good quality affair. It’s unfortunate however that any sharpness or detail to be gained from Sony’s excellent work bringing the film to Blu-ray is swallowed by the dark, wet fog of the photography. It’s a great looking image, don’t get me wrong, but perhaps not the bright, crisp variety you hope for from a high-def source. You might feel like there isn’t much to “see” on the Blu-ray disc but rest assured, there is little doubt that this is the best Godzilla has ever looked on home video.

On another front though, they have made great use of the Blu-ray format with a cool intro menu and lots of extras – a very technical commentary track with visual effects supervisor Volker Engel and associate visual effects supervisor Karen Goulekas, “Behind the Scenes of ‘Godzilla’ With Charles Caiman“, “Heroes” music video by The Wallflowers. All are standard fare. But add in a digital copy of the film for your PSP (thanks Sony) and the awesome nostalgia piece “All Time Best of ‘Godzilla’ Fight Scenes” and now you’re speaking my language. And as a final bonus, they have a MovieIQ feature that lets you test your knowledge in a multi player way. A great way to spice up a movie you and your pals have seen a few too many times. There’s also some BD live content that links you to previews for Labyrinth and The Dark Crystal.

For about $20 or less, this movie can be added to your collection, guilt free. Just remember, it’s Godzilla – big bowl of popcorn and big sound!

[VIDEO] Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths Trailer

Stone — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:34:09 +0000

We previously brought you a preview of Warner Home Video and DC Comics next direct to video, animated extravaganza – Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths. Now we’ve got a look at the official trailer! Looks like a lot of fun. What do you think?

More details here: Justice League: Crisis On Two Earths first look, story breakdown

The Tournament Blu-ray Disc Review

Stone — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 19:46:14 +0000

THE TOURNAMENT (2009, Blu-ray released October 20, 2009 – MSRP $61.98)

I had a very odd experience last night. I popped in a copy of Scott Mann’s first feature directorial offering, The Tournament and got a very peculiar result. No menu. At all. Just a little message about what button to push for options (limited to Audio) and then right on into the film.

Hmmm.

It turns out this film is somewhat of an indie and what looks to be (other than the festival circuit) a direct to video offering. With a cast of Hollywood screen veterans (Ving Rhames, Robert Carlyle, Kelly Hu), the quality of special effects and a well structured and paced story, I found this to be a surprise. While the script is far from original and the acting is what you would expect from “30 of the world’s deadliest assassins”, this movie still has high production values and a certain quality that is often lacking in independent films. It’s full of tits, guns, explosions and blood. And let me tell you, the gore in this movie is realistic, abundant and looks a lot better without the usual low-budget CGI treatment, the sort that can end up looking really bad on Blu ray. By the end, I had REALLY enjoyed this movie. Bravo Scott Mann, Bravo.

So, what do I think about no menu, no extras, no chapter select, no etc etc? I think that the director and the distributor have really missed the boat. Where’s the link to Scott Mann’s website? Any outtakes, any commentary. You would think when you get full creative control, you would take advantage of the things offered to you by the medium. While it may not have been in the budget, or the timeline I still feel like there was an opportunity missed here. On the flip side, while I was disquieted by the lack of Blu-ray bells and whistles, I was overjoyed to not have to sit though commercials and trailers and all the usual. Take note big studios, we don’t always want to sit through your ads and promos. At least let us skip past them.

Lastly, on a sad note, you will probably not buy this Blu ray disc. Why? Because Best Buy has it for $26.99, Future Shop (that bunch of liars) has it posted incorrectly 3 times, from $19.99 to $29.99 and Amazon has the audacity to list it at $35.99 (down from a list price of $64?!?). With bumbled retail positioning like this, Scott Mann should be doing direct sales.

[Video] Wish List – Reboot on Blu-ray

Stone — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 02:27:41 +0000

There were a lot of misstep’s in the early days of the TV to DVD goldrush. The Muppet Show got a bizarre series of “best of’s”, due to both rights issues and the tentative nature of DVD offerings at that time. Farscape was another prime example (funny that they both involve the Henson Co.?) , where semi season’s were offered in odd spurts at inflated prices. Some things have been re-issued; proper, fuzzy covered full season’s of The Muppet Show, and now Farscape as a complete boxed series comes out Nov 19th (sadly not on Blu-ray).

So here’s my wish-list offering this month. REBOOT!

I loved this show! Being a Canadian, I may have a special point of pride with this Canadian made show. It has pop culture references galore, all sorts of computer jokes, it’s action packed AND smart and the evolution of it’s animation quality is fun to watch. To slip in a geek moment, the best part of this show is that it is “self-aware”. While it draws on pop culture and classic story telling styles, it is very self contained and really draws you in because of that. It may be one of the few times I really felt like I was watching a NEW world, not just a slightly different version of ours or a variation on one of the classic archtype worlds. And for the god’s sake, the finale was a recap musical stage play.

Yes, it was heavy handed in it’s plots and groan worthy at times, but these are the things that made it great; it was such an amalgam of ideas that it just ran riot with it’s storytelling. It is packed, jam packed with things every minute of every episode and oscillates between fart jokes and existential themes with ease and variety.
The VHS and DVD releases of this show have been sporadic and unsatisfying at best, with a series of oddball distributions in the US and overseas which may have kept it from ever really hitting it big, despite being the first fully computer animated series.

But with continued fan interest, a webcomic and plans to make three features, you would think someone might want to generate some extra attention and profit at this point. And a company that has been so “plugged in” as Mainframe Entertainment/Rainmaker Animation, the opportunities to use Blu-ray’s online interaction capabilities seems like a no brainer, let alone the possibility of how good this all-CGI series could be made to look if it were re-rendered in HD.

Rainmaker is aware of how much fans want a boxed set, but it can’t hurt to remind them and maybe tell them what you think of Blu-Ray.

Dead Snow Blu-ray Disc Review

Stone — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:24:51 +0000

DEAD SNOW (2009, Blu-ray released October 20, 2009 – MSRP $42.99 CAN)

I’ve been lamenting lately the lack of “good ole” zombie movies. It seems everything in the last decade has been about stronger, faster, smarter and angrier zombies and , while I enjoy the hell out of most of them, it feels like a slow degradation of the genre, not an evolution.

Co-writer/director Tommy Wirkola‘s Norwegian zombie extravaganza, Dead Snow (aka Død Snø) seems to be following this trend. Nazis driven out of a small mountain village at the end of the war have, for no appreciable reason, turned into zombies that want to kill more than eat and, in the end, really just want to protect their stolen Nazi gold… sort of. Look out vacationing teens (*snort* these are teens like 90210 had teens), the zombies are gonna get you!

But there is praise to be given here. There is a lot of fun, some sassy nordic women and some solid carnage and plot tension. I’d like to specifically address the cinematography and some of the special make-up effects. Really good stuff! The blood and gore by Lene Bruksås and her effects team, may not be as real as some people would like, but it always suits the mood of the scene. And D.O.P. Matthew Weston has done some really great things with the night scenes, worked really hard to get great shots in snow storms and overall kept the lighting in a really, really believable space, which I know can get really tough in some of the scenarios they shot. Especially when shooting video, as Weston has in this case. A couple big scares are thrown in for good measure and some surprisingly good acting when the moment calls for it.

There are some cute homages to other zombie/undead movies and for a low budget movie I think it really pulls together well on the special effects and makeup front. Even when it’s bad it’s good. In the end, if you like zombie flicks, you WILL like this one, even if you are an undead purist like me.

Much like The Brothers Bloom Blu-ray disc, Dead Snow is available from E1 in Canada right now, months before release in the USA. American fans anxious to get their hands on the Norwegian Nazi-zombie fest can feel safe in the knowledge that they can order from Canadian retailers and e-tailers like Amazon.ca, who currently list the Blu-ray disc for $29.99 CAN.

Considering its low-budget origins, Dead Snow looks surprisingly good on Blu-ray. Sporting a relatively high-bitrate AVC encode in the original 1.85:1 aspect ratio, the transfer accurately represents the work, but clearly reveals the limitations of the source material. While bright scenes won’t disappoint, the darker moments of the film come off relatively grainy and soft. You’ll want to listen to the Norwegian DTS-HD Master Audio track (the English dub is a simple 2.0 track) to experience chainsaws and rock music as they were meant to be heard.

The disc offers a number of special features including trailers, a couple of make-up and special-effects specific featurettes and a look at the cast and crew at the Sundance Film Fest. But the near-50 minute “Ein! Zwei! Die! – The Making of Dead Snow” doc really takes the cake. It’s great to see the cast and crew having so much fun while working on what is clearly a geeky labour of love.

The Dead Snow Blu-ray disc from E1 is one of our Top 10 New Blu-ray Discs for Halloween 2009.

Previously on The Blu-ray Blog: EINS! ZWEI! DIE! Zombie Film Fest Darling ‘Dead Snow’ comes to Blu-ray in the UK

Stargate Atlantis: Fan's Choice Blu-ray Disc Review

Stone — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 14:10:20 +0000

STARGATE ATLANTIS: FAN’S CHOICE (2009, Blu-ray released August 4, 2009 – MSRP $29.98)

REVIEW BY EMPEROR STONE:

There’s lot’s to like about TV shows like Stargate Atlantis being collected onto Blu-ray disc so that you can enjoy your favourite shows over and over in a really high quality way. Which is one of the things that makes this disc release so baffling. I’ll talk about the issue at the end, after I cover what’s on the disc.

The Stargate Atlantis: Fan’s Choice Blu-ray disc offers you two episodes: the feature length pilot, Rising and the extended version of Enemy at the Gate, the series finale, which, according to the packaging were voted as the two fan favs (also, with “packaging designed by you”, more on that later). We get a nicely made menu screen and a solid, rich transfer with strong, vivid and fairly accurate colours. I was never that much a fan of the Stargate series’, so it’s hard for me to comment on the content. I will say, though that the pilot episode manages to successfully carry on the spirit of the previous series, Stargate SG1 and offers up just enough explanation that anyone can follow along with out having seen much of the SG1 series. With the finale episode, Enemy at the Gates you get what you paid for. The series and actors have found their stride and really give themselves over to the powerful conclusion. Nothing to complain about here in the actual content of the disc… except no commentary, no behind the scenes, no interviews, no booklet/leaflet insert. No bonus features to speak of whatsoever.

Here’s where my real issues with the disc begin. Before being able to access the film, my Playstation seemed to struggle with the encoding of the disc, jumping back and forth from 1080i to 480p through the trailers for other Stargate releases. Artifacting and other standard definition horridness ran rampant across my screen while I sat waiting to experience awesome modern special effects in 1080p. Not a good selling point to make me want to buy more of your discs FOX.

They have also made a modification to the Blu-ray case that, while I loudly applaud the environmental concern shown by using an “ECO BOX™” that uses less plastic, seems to make this product feel cheaper on the whole (the ECO BOX™ has a recycling logo cut out of the face behind the cover insert and a generic wheel pattern cut out from the part underneath where the disc is seated. This probably cuts the plastic used to form the box in half).

Stargate Atlantis: Fan’s Choice is a real misstep for the studio and will most likely not appeal to many people and I’ll tell you why. Devoted fans of the show will no doubt hold out on this purchase in anticipation of the eventual Complete Series Box Set releases. No fan would ever be satisfied with only a couple of episodes when they know there are hundreds more out there, just waiting to be given the high-def treatment. And those new to the Stargate universe will no doubt be disappointed to discover that they’re being offered the end of the epic sci-fi saga right after their introduction to it. You know, it still upsets me when studios do odd things like offer “Fan Choices” or “Classic Episodes” or “Best Of’s” for television shows that are very, very linear. Why would you release a disc that gives you the pilot and the finale and nothing else? Stargate Atlantis: Fan’s Choice is a disc they put out to trick your Grandmother into buying for you.

Cool series. Fun episodes. Wrong way to package them.

Friday the 13th Part 3 3-D Blu-ray Disc Review

Stone — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 23:28:50 +0000

FRIDAY THE 13TH: PART 3 3-D (1982, Blu-ray released June 16, 2009 – MSRP $34.98)

“An idyllic summer turns into a nightmare of unspeakable terror for yet another group of naive counselors. Ignoring Camp Crystal Lake’s bloody legacy, one by one they fall victim to the maniacal Jason who stalks them at every turn… Friday the 13th, Part 3 will have you frozen with fear, as Jason finds his way into your living room!”

Iconic. This is the movie where the Friday the 13th series leaps from being a couple of mediocre slasher flicks into a whole new category. This is where Jason becomes JASON.

Sadly, it’s a 3D movie and this makes for some technical complications. Paramount offers you both viewing formats (2D and 3D), which is brilliant if you have 5 friends over and not everyone remembered to bring their own 3D glasses (the disc comes with two hockey-mask themed, blood-splattered pairs). But sadly, I don’t think much, if any, effort went into cleaning up and enhancing the movie, and I think it’s due to the fact that it’s a 3D flick. And, oddly, the flashback footage from Friday the 13th Part 2 at the beginning of the film looks worse than on the Part 2 disc (read my review here.) All told, whether cleaning up the transfer couldn’t or just wasn’t done, the high-def picture on the Blu-ray still looks better than I remember it ever looking on TV or *gulp* VHS. Better than the DVD release? I’d have to see them side by side.

What you don’t get on the Blu-ray are bonus features with any depth, like the excellent cast commentary track from the 2004 DVD box-set. However, Paramount does offer up about thirty minutes worth of featurettes, a continuation of a Fan Fic story-line and some interesting trivia/trivial interviews. The interviews are definitely worth watching if you are at all a fan of the slasher XII-ology or horror in general but honestly, I was looking for more.

For better or worse, Friday the 13th Part 3 3D is the birth of a horror legend. Even the awkward cinematic moments that are only there to serve the 3D “scares” can’t dampen the entertaining quality of the film. The unfortunate part is that the quality of the transfer seems to have been sacrificed for eye-ball dangling, pitchfork thrusting, machete swinging action.

A fair trade in my eyes.

Friday the 13th Part 2 Blu-ray Disc Review

Stone — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 00:22:52 +0000

FRIDAY THE 13TH: PART 2 (1981, Blu-ray to be released June 16, 2009 – MSRP $34.98)

“Just when you thought it was safe to go back to camp…here’s even more heart pounding terror. Five years after the horrible bloodbath at Camp Crystal lake, all that remains is the legend of Jason Voorhees and his demented mother, who had murdered seven camp counselors. At a nearby summer camp, the new counselors are unconcerned about the warnings to stay away from the infamous site. Carefree, the young people roam the area, not sensing the ominous lurking presence. One by one, they are attacked and brutally slaughtered. Suspense and screams abound in this compelling chiller.”

I got lucky. The original Friday the 13th was on TV about a week ago and I decided to give it a go. Nostalgia often takes a heavy hand with me. But watching a TV version of the original shortly before getting to see a high-res Blu-ray transfer of the sequel, Friday the 13th Part 2, really helps to pinpoint where the differences are. The Blu-ray looks good. Not great, but good. A consistently clean, bright image with good contrast and only the occasional, obvious touch-up on certain scenes to give them a little extra “pop”, usually in the close ups. And I have to say, for a film that I thought would suffer from an abundance of softness brought about in the attempt to “clean up” film grain, it stood up well. Kudos to Paramount for an accurate transfer and for not killing small object detail and sharpness with unnecessary use of Digital Noise Reduction. On another positive not, the disc reacted quickly in my PS3, where, with some other Blu-ray titles, there seems to be some lag from time to time when you ask it to do something.

Now the sad part. While Paramount Home Video has been good enough to encode 4 of the 5 extras in HD, the bonus features on the disc are really nothing to get excited about. An awkward interview, some fan fic, convention footage and the original trailer (with a standard-def panel discussion) all look fine, but there’s not much meat on these bones. Notably lacking are the rumoured “Unrated Cut” of the film and any participation from the cast and crew, outside of convention appearances. Whether or not the studio has more to offer or not is unknown to me, as I am not much of a horror fan, but I feel like they could have put in a tiny bit more effort. I seriously doubt they have a “Super Slasher Extreme 16 disc Ultimate Blu-ray box set” in the works, so, as this will no doubt be the last release of Friday the 13th Part 2 for a while, I think it would have been nice to see more original content included

I’ll say that most of all I am looking forward to watching Friday the 13th Part 3, 3-D tomorrow! Having suffered through some other bad 3-D in the last few months, I have high expectations for this next chapter and to see how well 3-D and Blu-ray go together.

The Blu-ray Blog » Stone

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