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Blu-ray Holiday Gift Guide 2011

Brenden — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 15:19:17 +0000

It’s that time of year again! Whether you’re taking advantage of holiday Blu-ray deals for yourself or adding to the collections of friends and family, you can’t avoid picking up a few new discs this month. If you’re having trouble finding the perfect gift or just looking for a list of the best new discs that were released this year, you’ll find it all below.

There are links within each section which will take you over to Amazon.com, where you can learn more about the titles we’re excited about. And don’t forget that you can help support our work here at The Blu-ray Blog by making your purchases through those Amazon links (just click the images!). Thank you so much for reading and have a happy holiday season!

GIFT & BOXED SETS

Three Colors Trilogy, Ben-Hur, Star Wars: The Complete Saga, Citizen Kane, Harry Potter: Complete 8-Film Collection, Jurssic Park: Ultimate Trilogy, The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy Extended Edition and many, many more!

TV ON BLU

Band of Brothers/The Pacific, The Clone Wars, Justified, The Walking Dead, Louie, Dexter, Robin of Sherwood, The Simpsons, Futurama, Fringe, Treme, Spartacus: Gods of the Arena, True Blood and many, many more!!

CLASSICS ON BLU

Taxi Driver, Once Upon a Time in the West, Straw Dogs, Blue Velvet, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Barry Lyndon, The Ten Commandments, All The President’s Men, Das Boot, The Conversation and many, many more!!

ANIMATION ON BLU

Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, Dumbo, Bambi, Alice in Wonderland, The Lion King, Looney Tunes Platinum Collection, Tom & Jerry Golden Collection, Neon Genesis Evangelion 2.22, Rio, All Star Superman and many, many more!!

Black Friday Blu-ray Guide 2011

Brenden — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 20:38:32 +0000

Black Friday week is upon us! And when I say “us” I mean those of you in the USA and those of us in other countries willing to shop online and take advantage of your super Thanksgiving Week bargains! Once again, Blu-ray movies and players are the hot items at most retail outlets. It’s going to be impossible for us to keep on top of every deal being offered this week, but I’ll keep this post on the main page and update regularly with sale information as it comes in.

HAPPY SHOPPING!

AMAZON

BLU-RAY LIGHTNING DEALS

Monday, Nov. 28

4:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. PST

Evangelion: 1.11 You Are Not Alone – $8.49
FLCL: The Complete Series – $12.99

8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. PST

Hurt Locker – $7.99
Seven Samurai (The Criterion Collection) – $22.99
The Warriors: Director’s Cut – $7.99
The African Queen – $7.99

12:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. PST

Sons of Anarchy: Season One – $18.99
Sons of Anarchy: Season Two – $18.99
Sons of Anarchy: Season Three – $18.99

4:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. PST

Quantum of Solace – $4.99
Tron: Legacy / Tron: The Original Classic -$31.49
~~Stardust – $5.99~~
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street – $7.99
The Ten Commandments (Two-Disc Special Edition) – $7.99

8:30 p.m. – 12:30 a.m. PST

Source Code – $8.99
Red (Movie-Only Edition) – $8.99
Let Me In – $7.99
Shooter – $7.99
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy – $7.99
Galaxy Quest – $7.99

Top 10 New Blu-ray Discs for Halloween 2011

Brenden — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 19:03:24 +0000

I hate to start this annual Halloween disc roundup off on a sour note but I’m getting really and truly frustrated with the studios. Here we are, a whole year later, and very little headway has been made in bringing classic horror to Blu-ray. High-def horror is in such a sorry state, I can actually cut-and-paste my rant from last year’s column, word-for-word, and it still applies. Y’know what, that’s exactly what I’ll do:

I have to express my disappointment, however, that the studios have yet to dig deep into their catalogue releases to afford us nice, new high-def transfers of horror classics like the iconic black-and-white Universal monster films of the thirties and forties, or those fantastic, blood-red Eastman-color Hammer spectacles from the fifties and sixties. It’s a shame that such important classics perpetually get treated like second-class citizens by the major studios. I mean, even the DVD releases of groundbreaking Hammer releases The Curse of Frankenstein and The Horror of Dracula have only been offered in bare-bones, albeit relatively handsomely-transferred DVD editions. Why not assemble a new special feature packed collector’s edition Blu-ray, while some stars of the films are still willing and able to participate? And though Universal’s classic monster DVD editions are wonderful to behold, brimming with documentaries and commentary tracks, they could really use a high-def face lift, if you ask me.

Yep. We’re exactly where we were a year ago. Thank goodness for studios like Criterion, who go to bat to rescue and release vintage classics and for folks like David Shepard who try, despite the many obstacles in their paths, to restore and release the best possible versions of the films in their care. Now, if only Universal and Warner would bite the silver bullet and dive into their horror catalogues to give these films the treatment they deserve sooner, rather than later, it might just be possible to involve a few of the original stars or members of the crew. But I’m afraid they might lose that chance. Last year alone we lost Hammer Films writer extraordinaire Jimmy Sangster, Hammer regular (and Alfred the Butler to the ’80s and ’90s Batmen) Michael Gough, Old Dark House and Invisible Man actress Gloria Stuart and Countess Dracula herself, Ingrid Pitt, among others. How much longer should we have to wait for the classics to be updated? If I was the petition-writing type, you can bet I’d be hard at work trying to whip something up as opposed to just ranting in a blog post, but alas, this is my chosen outlet. And I guess, if I’m not really willing to take action myself, I should just move on and enjoy the Halloween treats that have been gifted us this year.

As usual, this year’s crop of titles is a mixed bag with some phenomenal catalogue releases and very few decent recent films. Maybe it’s just me but horror movies were just so much better back in the day, weren’t they?

10. THE HOWLING REBORN

Not the strongest film of the year – in fact, far from it – but the kind of reboot or re-imagining or sequel that just might give this long-running franchise the kick in the ass it needs to build something new and worthwhile. I didn’t love The Howling Reborn but it’s got a specific something going for it – it plays to the sort of younger audience that might just appreciate it’s Twilight-werewolves-by-way-of-Scream setup. I hate to say that the film lacks teeth (groan) but it’s way too predictable for most experienced horror fans. It might, however, prove to be a worthy beginning to a new chapter of werewolf films.

AMAZON: $16.99

9. THE HOUSE BY THE CEMETERY

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. It sports a brilliant, bright transfer, clean and clear audio and a pretty decent collection of special features, most of which just happen to be interviews with cast and crew.

AMAZON: $14.99

8. A HORRIBLE WAY TO DIE

It’s always surprising, even in this day and age, to find quality low-budget horror films like A Horrible Way to Die. This little gem from Anchor Bay sports one of the most intense endings of the films on the list but takes a little bit of patience from the viewer to reach that pay-off. The source material here doesn’t do the Blu-ray any favours, so, needless to say, this is pretty far from the best looking disc you’ll find to watch this Halloween. But that appears to be part of the point of the whole thing. Creepy, dreary and atmospheric, A Horrible Way to Die is one to watch for scares, not to demo your new HD setup.

AMAZON: $16.49

7. ZOMBIE

Lucio Fulci‘s Zombie is a classic. And if any other studio were handling its transition to Blu-ray, I might be concerned with how such a no-budget, Italian horror from so many decades ago would be handled. But in the hands of Blue Underground, I feel certain that this is going to be one of the must-own horror releases of the season. Extras on this two-disc set include a commentary with star Ian McCulloch and Diabolik Magazine Editor Jason J. Slater, a ton of interviews with cast and crew, trailers, poster & still gallery and a special introduction to the film and interview with über-fan Guillermo del Toro.

AMAZON: $18.99

6. MIMIC

Speaking of Guillermo del Toro, his first moderate-budget Hollywood film, Mimic is now available on Blu-ray for the first time. Del Toro, with the help of the studio, has been able to revisit the film and re-cut it to closer suit his original vision. This “Director’s Cut” is the version presented on the Blu-ray. The real gold here, however, is the candid, unguarded way he talks about the experience of making the film and its initial result in the exceptional special features on the disc. This is one of those Blu-rays that’s worth grabbing up for the extras even if you’re not so into the film itself.

AMAZON: $11.99

5. THE WALKING DEAD

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.

AMAZON: $29.99

4. THE COMPLETE SCREAM COLLECTION

More often than not, we Canadians get the shaft when it comes to home media and worthwhile exclusives. But sometimes things actually work out in our favour. Like in the case of The Complete Scream Collection Blu-ray Disc set, which includes all four feature films along with an extra disc containing two feature-length docs. With the films split between US distributors down south, this is a package that can only happen way up here in the great white north! Bonus: it also includes a Ghostface mask. Nice!

AMAZON.CA: CDN$ 57.74

3. THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA

The Phantom of the Opera makes it’s Blu-ray debut in a most unfortunate manner. Disc producer David Shepard has been very vocal about the fact that this initial pressing of the disc is fraught with errors, though we can only speculate what they might be beyond his confirmation of a stereo score being wrongly presented in mono. I haven’t watched it all the way through yet but from what I’ve seen, there’s an absolutely breathtaking 1080p restoration here that’s just waiting to blow some minds! If Image can sort out the rest of its issues (and the terrible, frustrating menu structure that locks you into your film selection) this – the very first of my beloved Universal Monsters to make it to Blu-ray – just might prove to be a must-buy disc! The initial pressing will be available on November 1st. No word yet on how the studio plans to handle replacements or when the next pressing will hit.

AMAZON: $23.99

2. KURONEKO

Kaneto Shindo’s Kuroneko is one of the better, spookier releases of the season. Fans of Criterion‘s 2004 DVD release of Shindo’s Onibaba, something of a sister film to this creepier, quirkier effort, have been waiting for this film to join the collection for some time. And let me tell you, the results are worth the wait. The disc is isn’t on par with Criterion’s absolute best – the print shows signs of wear and special features, while exceptional, are a little on the light side – but this is, without question, the finest way to experience this wonderful film.

AMAZON: $26.99

1. ISLAND OF LOST SOULS

As one of the great early monster movies yet to receive a modern home video release, Island of Lost Souls is among the more important Blu-ray releases of the year. Criterion have assembled the best transfer possible from several print sources and combined that with a host of truly great special features. If you love classic horror you owe it to yourself to get this one!

AMAZON: $24.99

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

Star Wars Blu-ray Round-up

Brenden — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 22:57:07 +0000

The entire Star Wars saga is now on Blu-ray and we’ve got a round-up of all the disc details, news and videos related this landmark home video release.

Star Wars Blu-ray controversy/screencaps/unboxing
It’s only a handful of days now until the Star Wars Blu-ray discs hit shops here in North America. You lucky folks in the UK get yours scant few hours from now. Over the past week or so, as the discs have moved through distribution channels, both media and a variety of ne’re-do-wells have been leaking information and a plethora of audio and video clips to forums and blogs. I’m sure you’ve seen by now, as I have, the many digital alterations and “touch-ups” that have been performed on the updated transfers of the films (and if, by chance, you’ve been living in a cave on Tatooine and missed them all, check out the video embed below.) There’s been a ton of fan outcry and a ton of media coverage of both the changes and the fan reaction. I’m sure I don’t need to pick over them again for you as, by now, they’ve been analyzed to death. But, as a number of you have asked for my thoughts on the matter, I thought I’d chime in. …Continued…

Star Wars Blu-ray first impressions and list of deleted scenes
I guess it’s kind of a big day for Star Wars Blu-ray discussion. I woke up to Bill Hunt‘s (of The Digital Bits‘ Bill Hunts) impressions of the upcoming 9-disc Complete Saga boxed set, from a tour of the product at Skywalker Ranch, given exclusively to a handful of journalists. It sounds like he was impressed, which just makes me want to have it in my hands that much more. …Continued…

[VIDEO] Another Star Wars: The Complete Saga Blu-ray trailer
Okay. One more trailer pimping the Star Wars: The Complete Saga Blu-ray set before it hits US and Canadian shops on September 16th. …Continued…

Star Wars: The Complete Saga Blu-ray preview with Holiday Special easter egg
In less than a month and a half, this will all be over. We’ll all have our copies of the Star Wars: The Complete Saga Blu-ray sets and our collective journey to the dark side of disc collecting will be complete. All speculation about the quality of the transfers and exactly what extras are included will be put to rest like a 900-year old Jedi becoming one with the force. But until September 16th, we’ll continue to wonder just what these discs are going to look and sound like, just what deleted scenes will be included, and what fresh digital alterations Lord Lucas has had imposed on his poor, unsuspecting films. Well, thanks to Fox we now have our first look at the packaging of the 9-disc set, awful cover painting and all, with its book-style disc trays splayed open for all to see. …Continued…

[VIDEO] Star Wars Blu-ray Deleted Scenes preview
You know, I’m not too sad I’m missing Comic Con this year, when there are so many amazing films to be seen at Fantasia, here in Montreal. But I do really feel the burn of missing out on all the Blu-ray previews and breaking news. Thankfully, we’ve got a lot of pals gathering pics, news and preview videos from the halls of the con. Just like the one you’ll find above, uploaded by our buddy Justin over at High Def Disc News. The video, screened earlier today at the San Diego Con, previews a ton of deleted scenes from the original Star Wars trilogy that will be featured in the upcoming Blu-ray set. …Continued…

Final Star Wars Blu-ray package art is the worst thing ever
I’m at a loss for words. I mean, i know it’s just package art and the only thing that really matters with these Blu-ray releases of the Star Wars films is the quality of the films themselves. Oh, and the awesomeness of the bonus stuff, of course. But I can’t help but feel grossed out by the cover art for the three Blu-ray boxed sets. It’s really not good. At all. In fact, I find it off-putting. …Continued…

Star Wars Blu-ray details revealed
Finally, the details of the Star Wars: The Complete Saga 9-Disc Blu-ray set are revealed. And they’re…interesting? …Continued…

[VIDEO] Star Wars: The Complete Saga Blu-ray Trailer
… and here’s the official Star Wars Blu-ray trailer from Fox that I was just telling you about, touting the upcoming September 2011 release of the Complete Saga in a 9-disc set! …Continued…

9-Disc Star Wars: The Complete Saga Blu-ray box coming in September
The news is coming in fast and furious now about the upcoming 9-Disc Star Wars: The Complete Saga Blu-ray box due to hit stores this coming September! …Continued…

FANTASIA FESTIVAL 2011

Brenden — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 17:43:34 +0000

A rundown of the various films I’ve been able to take in over the course of this year’s Fantasia Festival, here in Montreal. I’ll keep this updated, as the Fest winds down over the next few days.

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA

Foxy Festival
Beyond the Black Rainbow
Little Deaths
Rabies

Clown
The Silence
True Legend

Petty Romance
The Corridor
Love & Loathing & Lulu & Ayano

Father’s Day Gift Guide 2011

Brenden — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 21:56:22 +0000

I’ve got two questions for you – what are you getting your dad for father’s day, and does he like movies? If you answered “I don’t know” and “yes, he does” to those questions, The Blu-ray Blog has got just the thing to help you make your old man’s special day a little more… Blu.

GEEK DAD

With Green Lantern hitting the big screen this weekend nerd-dads will be in utter bliss. Why not continue feeding their superhero cravings with Warner‘s latest super-boxed set, the fantastic, 8-disc Superman: The Motion Picture Anthology. Packed with 5 classic films (2 versions each of the first, and best, two), 17 cartoons and hours upon hours of docs and commentary tracks, this is unquestionable the finest high-def superhero gift set available.

AMAZON: $89.99

If your dad is a proper nerd, his fascination with fantasy doesn’t end with guys in capes and warp-drive powered starships. He probably loves himself some good old sword and sorcery too! With that in mind, why not hook him up with the first season of the classic, British Robin of Sherwood series, now on Blu-ray and looking better than ever? This ‘modern’, young take on the story of the bandits of Sherwood forest is far more gripping and real than any version before or since, despite the odd episode that relies too deeply on paganism and magic. The 4-disc set carries over all the special features of the DVDs and is worth every penny.

AMAZON: $59.99

CAR NUT

Last weekend was crazy here, in Montreal, what with all the F1 cars buzzing around downtown. We live far out of the core, in the east end of the city and the roar of the cars could be heard clearly, even at that distance. I couldn’t help but think of both Grand Prix and Le Mans, both of which I had just watched on newly released Blu-ray discs from Warner and Paramount, respectively. Both discs sport excellent, vivid transfers and would no doubt be a treat for any car enthusiast.

AMAZON: $17.99, $14.99

GAMBLING MAN

Does the old man like fliks about cool dudes being cool? Well, it doesn’t get much cooler than Steve McQueen and Paul Newman. Pick them up in these fine, new Blu-ray editions of The Cincinnati Kid and The Hustler. Both feature handsome, new HD transfers and a ton of extras. The Hustler goes one better though, packaged in a sweet, hardcover digi-book, packed with photos and film trivia! How do you like that?!

AMAZON: $13.99, $22.99

WEEKEND WARRIOR

Fox/MGM recently released a couple of very fine Blu-ray discs of very fine war films. Both Platoon and Tigerland look and sound better than ever on Blu-ray disc and feature all the extras from previously available DVD editions of the films. Neither presentation is slick or new enough to properly show off dad’s expensive home theatre gear but if he’s the kind of guy who likes a war film, he’ll appreciate these discs.

AMAZON: $15.49, $20.99

SIX SHOOTER

I love a western as much as the next guy. Maybe not as much as my dad does but probably as much as the next guy, anyway. But I seriously don’t get why and how the studios have unleashed so many western catalogue films onto Blu-ray over the last month. I mean, I’m not complaining here. This is some great stuff! But all at once?! It’s western mayhem!!

I have a feeling the onslaught is due to the timing of the release of the Coen brother‘s True Grit remake, which hit shelves last week. It’s a stellar disc of a pretty stellar film. You can’t go wrong with it. Fox’s digibook release of The Comancheros is also pretty sweet. Though Paramount’s Once Upon a Time in the West doesn’t sport any nifty packaging of the sort, it’s a must-own for any fan of the genre, as the classic film has received a gorgeous upgrade to high-def.

AMAZON: Various (Click Blu-ray covers for details)

ULTIMATE FILM FAN

Maybe your dad just loves movies. If he’s like me, he’s not particularly concerned with genre, he just wants to watch a damn fine film. And really, there’s no better films than those of Stanley Kubrick. For the true film fan, this new Kubrick boxed set from Warner is pure bliss.

This 9-film, 10-disc collection includes the director’s entire oeuvre, short of his pre-1960 works (Fear and Desire, still unavailable on home video, Killer’s Kiss and The Killing coming to Criterion Blu-ray in August and Paths of Glory which you can grab on an awesome Criterion Blu right now.) The tenth disc in the set features a couple of docs – one on Kubrick, the other on A Clockwork Orange star Malcolm McDowell. The entire thing is packaged in a gorgeous, thick, hardcover digibook that makes this feel like the most substantial gift a film fan could ever have on their shelves. If you dad is a movie nut, he’s going to love this!

AMAZON: $104.99

The 83rd Oscar Winners on Blu-ray

Brenden — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 04:57:18 +0000

I can’t believe I actually sat through the entire Oscar ceremony this year. Urgh. So awkward. So time consuming. I could’ve spent those wasted hours calibrating my projector, or working on that screenplay I’m always going on about or brushing my teeth or something. Anyway, it wasn’t actually all that painful as, at its core, it’s a celebration of the movies. And we all love the movies, right? More importantly, we all love watching said movies, looking and sounding great on Blu-ray in the comfort of our own homes. Thankfully, most of the winning films are already available on Blu and those that aren’t show signs of turning up in stores soon.

What do you think of the winners? Are you more apt to pick up any of the following titles, now that they are Academy Award winners?

ALICE IN WONDERLAND – Art Direction (Robert Stromberg, Karen O’hara), Best Costume Design (Colleen Atwood)

Alice in Wonderland is available on Blu-ray disc from Walt Disney Home Entertainment.

INCEPTION – Cinematography (Wally Pfister), Sound Mixing (Lora Hirschberg, Gary Rizzo, Ed Novick), Best Sound Editing (Richard King), Visual Effects (Paul Franklin, Chris Corbould, Andrew Lockley and Peter Bebb)

Inception is available on Blu-ray disc from Warner Home Video

THE FIGHTER – Best Supporting Actress (Melissa Leo), Best Supporting Actor (Christian Bale)

The Fighter will be available on Blu-ray disc on March 15th from Paramount Home Entertainment.

TOY STORY 3 - Best Animated Feature Film, Best Original Song (Randy Newman)

Toy Story 3 is available on Blu-ray disc from Walt Disney Home Entertainment

THE SOCIAL NETWORK – Best Adapted Screenplay (Aaron Sorkin), Best Original Score (Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross), Best Film Editing (Angus Wall, Kirk Baxter)

The Social Network is available on Blu-ray disc from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

THE KING’S SPEECH – Best Original Screenplay (David Seidler), Best Direction (Tom Hooper), Best Actor (Colin Firth), Best Picture

The King’s Speech will be available on Blu-ray disc on April 19th from The Weinstein Company/Anchor Bay Entertainment.

THE WOLFMAN – Best Makeup (Rick Baker, Dave Elsey)

The Wolfman is available on Blu-ray from Universal Studios Home Entertainment.

IN A BETTER WORLD – Best Foreign Language Film

In a Better World has yet to be announced for release on Blu-ray in North America by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment but is available in Scandinavian countries under its original title Hævnen

INSIDE JOB - Best Documentary (Charles Ferguson)

Inside Job will be available on Blu-ray disc on March 15th from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.

BLACK SWAN - Best Actress (Natalie Portman)

Black Swan will be released on Blu-ray on March 29th from 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment.

Top 10 New Blu-ray Discs for Valentine’s Day 2011

Brenden — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 18:01:38 +0000

Someone, somewhere, at some point must have said that there’s a Blu-ray to fit every occasion. No? Ah, well, take it from me, if there’s a holiday, a special day or date, the big studios have got stuff-on-disc related to it to sell you. And this Valentine’s Day is no exception. There are a host of new titles that have hit the shelves in the last couple of weeks, along with a few releasing a day late, to celebrate the day usually reserved for dozens of roses and boxes of chocolates. Take a gander below at the ten new Blu-ray titles (plus two exemplary additions from last year) we’re recommending for this years’ Valentine viewing!

10. BEAUTY AND THE BRIEFCASE

“Hilary Duff (A Cinderella Story) shines in this sparkling romantic comedy based on the book Diary of a Working Girl by Daniella Brodsky. Lane, a fashion journalist, gets the assignment of a lifetime when Cosmopolitan magazine hires her to write a story about finding love in the workplace. Posing as a corporate assistant, Lane finds herself torn between the office’s eligible men in suits and a dashing stranger (Chris Marmack, The O.C.) who sweeps her off her feet. Will she find the “magic man” who fulfills her fantasy checklist, or will her story have an ending as unexpected as love itself? ”

AMAZON: $17.49

9. LIFE AS WE KNOW IT

“After a disastrous first date for caterer Holly (Katherine Heigl) and network sports director Messer (Josh Duhamel), all they have is common is a dislike for each other and their love for their goddaughter Sophie. But when they suddenly become all Sophie has in this world, Holly and Messer must set their differences aside. Juggling careers and social calendars, they’ll have to find common ground while living under the same roof. Josh Lucas, Christina Hendricks, Hayes MacArthur and Jean Smart co-star in this tart and tender romantic comedy directed by Greg Berlanti (Brothers & Sisters, Everwood). ”

AMAZON: $19.99

8. YOU’VE GOT MAIL

“When Kathleen Kelly (Meg Ryan) and Joe Fox (Tom Hanks) first meet online, they find much in common and begin a tender relationship. Unfortunately, unlike their virtual relationship, in reality the two can’t stand each other. Joe is a megalithic book chain owner who threatens to gobble up Kathleen’s little children’s bookstore. You’ve Got Mail is based on the classic film The Shop Around the Corner, updated for the Internet age by Sleepless in Seattle writer-director Nora Ephron. As usual, Ryan and Hanks’ on-screen chemistry makes their romance jump off the screen and melt your heart.”

AMAZON: $15.99

7. LAST TANGO IN PARIS

“Penetrate the moody, sensual world of Last Tango in Paris, and prepare yourself for “the most controversial film of its era” (Leonard Maltin). Nominated* for two Academy Awards(r)Director (Bernardo Bertolucci) and Actor (Marlon Brando)and exuding a sexual energy unlike any film before or after, this is the scintillating classic that shocked a nation…and “altered the face of an art form” (Pauline Kael). He (Brando) is a 45-year old American living in Paris, haunted by his wife’s suicide. She (Maria Schneider, Jane Eyre) is a 20-year-old Parisian beauty engaged to a young filmmaker. Though nameless to each other, these tortured souls come together to satisfy their sexual cravings in an apartment as bare as their dark, tragic lives. Caught up in the frenzied beat of a carnal dance they cannot seem to stop, these unlikely lovers take their passion to erotic heightsand depthsbeyond anything they could ever have imagined. ”

AMAZON: $14.99

6. TAMARA DREWE

“When journalist Tamara Drewe returns to her parents’ house with a new assignment – and a new nose – she sets the surrounding countryside’s male hearts aflame, breaking the picturesque tranquility and transforming the village of her youth into a swirling maelstrom of temptation, seduction, and tawdry gossip. But when a bit of silly mischief puts lives and loves at risk, Tamara Drewe must choose between getting it all and getting the one. In this fun, witty romance, director Stephen Frears (“The Queen,” “Dangerous Liaisons”) perfectly captures the spirit of the beloved graphic novel. ”

AMAZON: $25.99

5. KITES

“Hot, sexy, exotic, and wild are the only words to describe this “lovers-on-the-lam blast of pure pulp escapism.” (The New York Times) Indian superstar Hrithic Roshan stars as J, a Las Vegas hustler engaged to the daughter of the city’s most powerful and dangerous casino owner. But all bets are off when he falls in love with the ravishing Natasha (Barbara Mori), an illegal immigrant engaged to J’s jealous and violent future brother-in-law. When their illicit romance is discovered, J and Natasha flee for the border with the police and relentless hired killers on their trail. Pulse-pounding action and sensational musical numbers propel this passionate love story to its stunning conclusion. ”

AMAZON: $19.99

4. YOU WILL MEET A TALL DARK STRANGER

“Two couples discover the grass may not always be greener on the other side in Woody Allen’s breezy comedy on wry, You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger. Hoping to relive the pleasures of youth, Alfie Shepridge (Anthony Hopkins) dumps his wife of 40 years (Gemma Jones) and pursues a young call girl (Lucy Punch). So when daughter Sally (Naomi Watts) develops a crush on her boss (Antonio Banderas) and husband Roy (Josh Brolin) becomes obsessed with the beauty (Freida Pinto) who lives across the way, the entire clan’s fantasies take on reality as their passions not only drive them out of their marriages, but out of their minds as well.”

AMAZON: $25.99

3. MOONSTRUCK

“Fall under the delightful spell of Moonstruck, the mesmerizing romantic comedy from director Norman Jewison (Fiddler on the Roof) and OscarÂ(r) winner* John Patrick Shanley. Academy AwardÂ(r) winners** Cher, Nicolas Cage and Olympia Dukakis excel in this explosively funny tale which also features flawless performances by Danny Aiello, Vincent Gardenia and Frasier’s John Mahoney. Cher is “devastatingly funny, sinuous and beautiful” (Pauline Kael) as Loretta, an unlucky in love Italian widow who finds romance through the intervention of the Manhattan moon. With her wedding to a close friend just weeks away, she meets and falls hopelessly in love with his younger brother (Cage)! Her dilemma and her equally passionate and hilariously eccentric family make for an unforgettable film you’ll find “beguiling” (Time), “enchanting” (Newsweek) and “irresistible” (“Today Show”). ”

AMAZON: $14.99

2. AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER

“In this poignant and humorous love story nominated for four Academy Awards, Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr meet on an ocean liner and fall deeply in love. Though each is engaged to someone else, they agree to meet six months later at the Empire State Building if they still feel the same way about each other. But a tragic accident prevents their rendezvous and the lover’s future takes an emotional and uncertain turn. ”

AMAZON: $23.99

1. NEVER LET ME GO

“Academy Award® Nominees Carey Mulligan and Keira Knightley, co-star with talented newcomer Andrew Garfield (The Social Network) in this poignant and powerful film. Kathy (Mulligan), Ruth (Knightley) and Tommy (Garfield) are best friends who grow up together at an English boarding school with a chilling secret. When they learn the shocking truth–that they are genetically engineered clones raised to be organ donors–they embrace their fleeting chance to live and love. Based on the acclaimed novel by Kazuo Ishiguro (The Remains of the Day), Never Let Me Go is an intriguing exploration of hope and humanity. ”

AMAZON: $19.99

And just in case the new titles above don’t excite you, be sure to check out these two excellent Blu-ray discs, mastered by Fox to meet the exacting standards of director Baz Luhrmann. Both are crammed with tons of special features and look and sound incredible on Blu. Highly recommended for Valentine’s viewing!

MOULIN ROUGE and ROMEO + JULIET

The Top 10 Best and Worst Blu-ray Discs of 2010

Brenden — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 06:09:16 +0000

2010 was a banner year for our favourite home video format. There are a lot of critics saying that it’s the year that Blu-ray really came into its own, with more new titles and overwhelming catalogue support from the majors as well as killer releases from smaller studios. And I tend to agree.

When looking over the best discs of the last twelve months, I had a hell of time singling out a mere ten titles as “The Best” of the year. I could have easily propagated the list with titles from The Criterion Collection, whose commitment to Blu-ray shone through this past year with a host of discs that may go on to define the format for years to come. It would have been equally as simple to pick ten restored classic films from the various studios, as their best work on the best-of-the-best from their film libraries quite often speaks to the benefits of the format. Or ten sparkling, brand-new releases, in all their perfect, demo-disc glory. But I’ve attempted to find a balance in my list of the best Blu-ray discs of the year – new films, classic films, Criterion releases, boxed sets, TV shows, etc. I don’t feel this is by any means definitive. But it’s a fair look back at the best year of Blu-ray releases yet.

2011 certainly has a lot to live up to!

NOTE: This list reflects only the titles released in North America – Region A.

1. AMERICA LOST AND FOUND: THE BBS STORY

As I noted above, I could have easily filled this list with selections from The Criterion Collection. The studio’s output this year has been phenomenal, releasing such must-have Blu-ray discs as Lola Montes, Paths of Glory, The Red Shoes, The Thin Red Line and Night of the Hunter in incredible new, fully restored, feature rich high-def editions. Each one of those title, and many others from Criterion, would be worthy of the top slot on this list but for my money, their America Lost and Found: The BBS Story takes the cake this year!

This is a pretty perfect boxed set. I really couldn’t ask for more – 7 great films on 6 Blu-ray discs in one well-designed box with one 112-page book! It’s not just the sheer amount of films that Criterion delivers for your buck here but the complete nature of the collection (the entire BBS oeuvre, rare films and all), the quality of the discs and the bonus content on them. Out of all the films, we had only seen Easy Rider on Blu thus far and as much as its a treat to finally see some of my favourite films in high-def (The Last Picture Show, Five Easy Pieces, The King of Marvin Gardens) its equally as thrilling to experience their rarely seen sister films (Head, A Safe Place and Drive, He Said) in such a perfect collection, looking and sounding better than ever.

I can’t recommend this boxed set highly enough. I think it’s the Blu-ray release of the year!

AMAZON: $89.99

2. THE ALIEN ANTHOLOGY

The Alien Anthology Blu-ray set is such a beautiful thing. Nevermind that it includes all four of the original films, two of which (the two that really matter) look mind-blowingly good, but the set also includes more special features than you’ll probably ever be able watch and listen to unless you’re as obsessive-compulsive about the films you love as I am. After spending time with this 6-disc set (one for each film and two for extras) I almost feel like each individual component is worth the price of the box on its own. I’m particularly knocked out by the extremely candid and thorough documentaries included in the set. The Alien 3 piece is such a revelation it might just boot you onto your ass. All six discs are housed in a hardcover book (the discs are slipped within very firm pages with nested trays) which slips into a shiny, creepy Alien box package.

Highest possible recommendation!!

AMAZON: $69.99

3. APOCALYPSE NOW: FULL DISCLOSURE EDITION

I honestly believe that unless Francis Ford Coppola has something else up his sleeve, this new 3-disc Apocalypse Now: Full Disclosure Edition Blu-ray set is the final home-video word on the film. Not only is the transfer reference quality with a killer DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, but the added features alone – both cuts of the film, commentary tracks, behind the scenes footage and featurettes, Eleanor Coppola‘s groundbreaking feature-length doc, Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker’s Apocalypse and so much more – make this set worth the purchase! It’s a must-own for all Blu-ray fans!

AMAZON: $37.99

4. THE SOUND OF MUSIC

I’ve got two admissions to make here. The first is that I’ve never cared for The Sound of Music. The second is that this new Blu-ray edition of the film blew my mind and made me a fan. It’s true! Swear to God. The Sound of Music is, hands down, the best looking restoration of the year (okay, maybe it’s tied with Criterion’s The Red Shoes Blu-ray disc.) Want to impress your friends with your home video setup? Got a couple of jerks in your circle of pals who insist that there’s no point in buying older films on Blu? Pop in The Sound of Music and make their eyes jump out of their heads. The disc is fantastic, technically amazing and packed with extras. Another must-have for film fans.

AMAZON: $19.99

5. AVATAR EXTENDED COLLECTOR’S EDITION

It’s tough to beat the heavyweight champ. The biggest film of the past year or possibly even of all time. James Cameron’s Avatar makes its triumphant return to Blu-ray in a 3-disc set that is, without question, the finest new-release Blu-ray of the past year.

Not only is this Extended Collector’s Edition packed to the gills with the deleted scenes and extras you’ve been waiting the year to see but it also features three cuts of the award winning film, all demo-disc worthy. With the technical quality of the video and audio presentation off the charts (and surprisingly equal to the stand alone disc available earlier this year) this Blu-ray set is easily the best, most complete new-release of the year!!

AMAZON: $23.99

6. THE COMPLETE METROPOLIS

The Complete Metropolis is unquestionably one of the finest and most important Blu-ray releases of the year. This restoration, incorporating 25-minutes of newly discovered footage back into the 1927 film for the first time in decades, is absolutely stunning in high-def and is necessary viewing for every film fan. The unfortunate ommision of the U.K. commentary track keeps this disc from the number one slot but don’t let that keep you from owning a copy. If you’re a fan of film, you owe it to yourself to grab this up.

AMAZON: $29.49

7. DEADWOOD: THE COMPLETE SERIES

I hope you’ve been working out because HBO’s 13-disc Deadwood: The Complete Series Blu-ray boxed set is a seriously weighty affair. This is one solid brick of high-def western goodness! The discs, which feature all 36-episodes from the series’ three seasons as well as gobs of special features, are housed within the pages of a gorgeous, solid hardcover book – much the same as last years’ Rome: The Complete Series set. The packaging is honestly a beautiful thing to behold, providing a slipcase for the book and all of the discs to rest in. Along with stunning video transfers, DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 tracks that border on perfection and all of the special features from the previously issued DVD sets (17 audio commentaries and over 6-hours of HD docs and featurettes), you’ll be hard pressed to find anything to dislike about this amazing Blu-ray boxed set. Unless, of course, you have an aversion to foul-mouthed (VERY foul) cowboys.

AMAZON: $124.99

8. INCEPTION

Christopher Nolan‘s Inception might just have been my favourite Hollywood film of 2010. I’m fully aware of all the character deficiencies and possible plot holes in the script but I don’t care. The film managed an incredible feat, as far as I’m concerned and spent the first three-quarters of the narrative setting it up – a storytelling gag wherein a group of characters live and interact at different speeds within different dream states. It’s a fantastic narrative gymnastic feat that has never been attempted before and I think it succeeds in a marvelous way. Also, I can’t stop listening to Hans Zimmer‘s incredible score for the film. Seriously. Every time I put my iPod on it’s Inception. I think it might be bordering on unhealthy. Great film presented on a slick looking, ear pounding, feature rich Blu-ray disc.

AMAZON: $17.99

9. THE GHOST WRITER

Roman Polanski‘s The Ghost Writer is one of the best films I’ve seen all year and one of the director’s absolute best in decades. It’s got a great script by Robert Harris (adapting his novel of the same name) with some incredible performances by some of my favourite actors (I’ll watch pretty much anything starring Ewan McGregor.) The Blu-ray is demo-disc worthy with a sparkling clean transfer and rich DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless soundtrack but less remarkable in the special feature department than other discs released this year. I include it here, in the number nine slot by virtue of the quality of the film and its technical presentation itself. Highly Recommended.

AMAZON: $23.99

10. A PROPHET

Combine the HBO prison drama OZ with a touch of the Godfather and you’ve got a glimpse of where Jacques Audiard‘s A Prophet will lead you. It feels epic at its monster 149-minute run-time but honestly doesn’t waste a minute of screen time. This is two-and-a-half very tense hours that will fly right by. One of the best films of 2009 and highly recommended on this stunning yet feature-lite Blu-ray!

AMAZON: $28.99

There were so many more excellent Blu-ray discs released this past year, there’s no way I can touch on them all but the meager selection of covers below will give you a taste of what I was most passionate about in 2010:

CLICK FOR THE TOP 10 WORST BLU-RAY DISCS OF 2010

Blu-ray Holiday Gift Guide

Brenden — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 00:33:03 +0000

GIFT & BOXED SETS

America Lost and Found: The BBS Story, The Alien Anthology, The Sound of Music, One Flew over the Cukoo’s Nest, Harry Potter Ultimate Editions, Back to the Future: 25th Anniversary, Shrek: The Whole Story and many, many more!

TV ON BLU

Deadwood: The Complete Series, The Pacific, Lost: The Complete Series, Star Wars: The Clone Wars – The Complete Season Two, The Pillars of the Earth, Peanuts holiday specials and many, many more!!

ANIMATION

Miyazaki’s Ponyo, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Evangelion: 1.11 You Are Not Alone, The Secret of Kells, Beauty and the Beast, How to Train Your Dragon, DC Comics’ animated heroes, FUNimation anime and many, many more!

CLASSICS

Classics from The Criterion Collection, The Complete Metropolis, The Bridge on the River Kwai, Doctor Zhivago, King Kong, Jason and the Argonauts, A Star is Born, Mutiny on the Bounty and many, many more!!

THE BEST OF THE YEAR

Avatar: Extended Collector’s Edition, The Karate Kid, Sherlock Holmes, Inception, The Ghost Writer, Cemetery Junction, An Education, Moon, Micmacs, Red Cliff and many, many more!!

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