I don’t know how I feel about my favourite boutique label releasing a 3D Blu-ray disc. I guess if it were for anything less than a Wim Wenders film I’d be up in arms. Dial M for Murder and Creature from the Black Lagoon would be all right too. January 2013 will mark Criterion’s 3D debut in Wenders’ Pina, arriving in their very first combo pack release. It’s tough to match up to the thrill of the new, but the the rest of the month’s slate is fairly muscular, to be certain, featuring nothing less than classic films by the likes of Hitchcock, Monte Hellman, Volker Schlöndorff and Andrei Tarkovsky. Not too shabby, huh?
Read More
Time to make some changes around here. I’ve started up a Blu-ray Blog tumblr (which you should definitely follow!) where I’ll be posting bits and bobs from around the internet – cover art, trailers, some release news and more. I’m toying with the idea of moving the whole blog over there but at this rate, it’ll be a somewhat slow process. What do you think? Are you on tumblr? Is it a strong enough platform to move an entire blog over to?
Follow The Blu-ray Blog on:
TUMBLR
FACEBOOK
TWITTER
PINTEREST
Are we talking about June titles already?! My god, the summer really is almost upon us, both in home video offerings and local temperatures (it’s 23˚ Celsius/73˚ Fahrenheit here in Montreal already!) Though June title announcements are only just beginning to trickle out of the other studios, Criterion has hit us with a collection of six new Blu-ray releases for the month (two upgrades from DVD) and one holdover from April.
Old news first. The much-anticipated Harold and Maude Blu-ray has been unceremoniously yanked from the April schedule and plopped into the second week of June (to be released on the 12th, to be exact.) Read more about the disc here. Joining it on store shelves that day are Charlie Chaplin‘s The Gold Rush, presented here in both original silent and re-released sound versions (Oh, Criterion, sigh. You know the way to my heart!) and Danny Boyle‘s (Trainspotting, Slumdog Millionaire) debut feature, Shallow Grave featuring young and awesome Christopher Eccleston and Ewan McGregor! The 19th sees the Blu-ray debut of Steven Soderbergh‘s duo of Spalding Gray film’s, the 1997 document of the Gray’s Anatomy one man show and And Everything Is Going Fine, the director’s 2010 eulogy of the late monologuist and playright who apparently took his own life in 2004. The month wraps up with two high-def upgrades – Hitchcock‘s The 39 Steps (the last of the Master’s films still in the collection and yet to hit Blu) and the much-in-need-of-a-remaster Samurai Trilogy (note the temp package art below.)
Wow! That’s half-a-year’s worth of Criterion Blu-ray releases already?! Time sure flies when you’ve got amazing movies to watch…
THE GOLD RUSH
(June 12, 2012 – MSRP $39.95)
Video: 1.33:1 1080p
Audio: uncompressed monaural / 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio
Special Features:
- New high-definition digital restoration of the 1942 sound version, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack
- New 2K digital transfer of the reconstructed original 1925 silent film, restored in collaboration with the Cineteca di Bologna, with a newly recorded version of director Charlie Chaplin’s score, presented in 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio on the Blu-ray edition
- New audio commentary for the 1925 version by Chaplin biographer and archivist Jeffrey Vance
- Three new programs: Presenting “The Gold Rush,” which traces the film’s history from original release to rerelease to 2003 reconstruction and features film historian Kevin Brownlow and Vance; Music by Charles Chaplin, featuring conductor and composer Timothy Brock; and Visual Effects in “The Gold Rush,” featuring effects specialist Craig Barron and Chaplin cinematographer Roland Totheroh
- Chaplin Today: “The Gold Rush” (2002), a short documentary featuring filmmaker Idrissa Ouedraogo
- Four theatrical trailers
- PLUS: A booklet featuring an essay by film critic Luc Sante and James Agee’s review of the 1942 version
SHALLOW GRAVE
(June 12, 2012 – MSRP $39.95)
Video: 1.85:1 1080p
Audio: 2.0 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack
Special Features:
- New, restored digital transfer, supervised by director of photography Brian Tufano, with 2.0 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack
- Two audio commentaries: one by director Danny Boyle and the other by screenwriter John Hodge and producer Andrew Macdonald
- New interviews with stars Christopher Eccleston, Kerry Fox, and Ewan McGregor
- Digging Your Own Grave, a 1993 documentary by Kevin Macdonald on the making of the film
- Andrew Macdonald and Kevin Macdonald’s video diary from the 1992 Edinburgh Film Festival, where they shopped around the script for Shallow Grave
- Shallow Grave trailer and Trainspotting teaser trailer
- PLUS: A booklet featuring an essay by critic Philip Kemp
AND EVERYTHING IS GOING FINE
(June 19, 2012 – MSRP $39.95)
Video: 1.33:1 1080p
Audio: uncompressed monaural
Special Features:
- New high-definition digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack
- Making of “And Everything Is Going Fine,” featuring director Steven Soderbergh, producer Kathie Russo, and editor Susan Littenberg
- Sex and Death to the Age 14, Spalding Gray’s first monologue, created in 1979 and filmed in 1982
- Trailer
- PLUS: A booklet featuring an essay by writer Nell Casey, editor of The Journals of Spalding Gray
GRAY’S ANATOMY
(June 19, 2012 – MSRP $39.95)
Video: 1.85:1 1080p
Audio: uncompressed monaural
Special Features:
- New high definition digital transfer, supervised by director Steven Soderbergh, with 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack
- New interviews with Soderbergh and cowriter Renée Shafransky
- A Personal History of the American Theater, a monologue by Spalding Gray, filmed in 1982
- Theatrical trailer
- PLUS: A booklet featuring an essay by film critic Amy Taubin
THE 39 STEPS
(June 26, 2012 – MSRP $39.95)
Video: 1.33:1 1080p
Audio: uncompressed monaural
Special Features:
- New high-definition digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack
- Audio commentary by Alfred Hitchcock scholar Marian Keane
- Hitchcock: The Early Years (2000), a British documentary covering Hitchcock’s prewar career
- Original footage from British broadcaster Mike Scott’s 1966 television interview with Hitchcock
- Complete broadcast of the 1937 Lux Radio Theatre adaptation, performed by Ida Lupino and Robert Montgomery
- Visual essay by Hitchcock scholar Leonard Leff
- Excerpts from François Truffaut’s 1962 audio interview with Hitchcock
- Original production design drawings
- PLUS: A booklet featuring an essay by film critic David Cairns
THE SAMURAI TRILOGY
(June 26, 2012 – MSRP $69.95)
Video: 1.33:1 1080p
Audio: uncompressed monaural
Special Features:
- New high-definition digital restorations of all three films, with uncompressed monaural soundtracks
- New interviews with translator and historian William Scott Wilson about the real-life Musashi Miyamoto, the inspiration for the hero of the films
- Trailers
- New English subtitle translations
- PLUS: A booklet featuring essays by film historian Stephen Prince and Wilson
Read More
There’s a lot of nice looking stuff that didn’t make it into my picks this week. Scroll all the way down to check out some additional great Blu-ray releases like Tarsem Singh‘s The Immortals, classic ’70s film The Deer Hunter, the new remaster of Out of Africa and teen romance flick Like Crazy.
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: GAME OF THRONES: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON
What more is there to say about Game of Thrones that hasn’t already been obsessively written? HBO crafted the cable television hit of 2011 with their 10-episode adaptation of the first volume in George R.R. Martin‘s epic series of books and since drawing to a close last spring, tv and genre fans alike have been begging for more. This Blu-ray collection might not provide the fresh hit that the April 1st debut of the series’ second season will bring, but watching the episodes over again in high-bandwidth 1080p will certainly invoke a great clamour of glee from many a devotee. The series looks better than you can possibly imagine on Blu-ray. HBO hasn’t let us down yet when it comes to its high-def presentations but their new Game of Thrones boxed set establishes a new high water mark that’s going to be tough to beat. This is great looking demo-disc material through and through. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 is equally as awe inspiring, easily as immersive and dynamic as the best that Hollywood delivers on the big screen. HBO has done themselves proud with this presentation. If you’re a fan of the show, you’re going to want to experience just how much better it can look and sound on these discs. As much of a selling point as the exceptionally great presentation of the episodes is for me, I have a feeling that the bevy of bonus goodies on this 5-disc set are going to prove the most compelling feature for most. While not a replacement for the new second season episodes they’re desperate to watch, fans are going to absolutely lap up the Blu-ray exclusives like the Histories of the Seven Kingdoms and the Maximum-Movie-Mode-style in-episode experience on episode six, “A Golden Crown”. The highlight for the most hardcore, however, will no doubt be the George R.R. Martin commentary track on episode 8, “The Pointy End“. There’s so much to explore here, it really is the most ideal package for fans both casual and hardcore. Highly recommended. EXCLUSIVE BLU-RAY FEATURES:
ALSO INCLUDED:
I challenge you to watch Hitchcock’s classic To Catch a Thief and not fall in love with it. Perhaps you’ll see through the now transparent “twists” in the plot and perhaps you’ll find the efforts of police characters to catch the titular thief to be perplexing and fickle. But the dialogue, the chemistry between the ravishing Kelly and debonaire Grant, the gorgeous south-of-France locations, combined with the playful wink-and-nudge tone that the Master so effortlessly delivers are the very things that make films great. I don’t really hesitate to say that to not find something to love here is to not love the medium. Translated: You suck if you hate To Catch a Thief. It’s not a perfect film but it’s one of Hitchcock’s absolute best. If I had to speculate, I’d say that the transfer on this disc isn’t a brand new one. Luckily for us, though, it’s pretty great to look at! There doesn’t seem to be as much grain as you’d expect from a film of this vintage and perhaps some of the colours are just a bit off but I can easily say that To Catch a Thief has never looked better on home video. Wait’ll you see the detail in this presentation of the film. Fans familiar with its every nook and cranny, every detail and nuance are going to be over the moon with what Paramount has delivered here. Audio is presented in a wide Dolby TrueHD 2.0 and the original mono flavour, also in Dolby TrueHD. Outside of the exceptional film itself, fans will be most delighted to dive into the treasure trove of special features on the disc, all of which have been ported over from the 2009 Centennial Collection release. The only lengthy extra is the feature length commentary by Hitchcock Film Historian Drew Casper, who makes good on his promise to feed your brain with more factoids and anecdotes that you’ll ever be able to recall but, sadly, does so in the driest of manners. Somebody get that man a coffee! The bulk of the remaining goodies are short featurettes (listed below), galleries (also listed below) and the film’s trailer. Very highly recommended! Special Features:
If it’s Almodovar, I’ll watch it. Hell, I’ll blind buy it! And that’s my plan with The Skin I Live In Blu-ray disc. Simply can’t wait to watch it! I don’t need to have seen this one to know how incredible it is. I didn’t receive a screener but it’s from Sony, so you’ve got a guarantee of exceptional visuals and audio. This is at the top of my list of currently available Blu-ray discs that I need to purchase. MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL I don’t think I’ve been shocked or taken aback by Monty Python and the Holy Grail for about 30-years now. I’ve seen the film so many times that I’m almost immune to all the gags. It doesn’t mean I like them less. I just see them coming a mile away. Yes, I’m one of those guys who can endlessly quote the film (though, I choose not to, for the sake of the sanity of my friends and family.) I think I know every frame of that film as well as I possibly could, without having authored it. Until this week I was certain that there was nothing more to be taken from a viewing of the film. That all changed when I popped in the new Blu-ray. Ho-lee-crap. This is stunning work. Grover Crisp‘s team of capturing, authoring and encoding geniuses over at Sony have worked magic on this tired, old, low-budget film and turned out a Blu-ray that will exceed every fan expectation of what Monty Python and the Holy Grail can look and sound like on home video. This is absolutely stunning work. No, the film doesn’t look glossy or Hollywood-perfect now but the presentation on this disc looks as much like the film as I’m certain any home video format can. I’m in awe of the detail and depth that Sony were able to wring from the original elements they used for this transfer. If you had any doubts about upgrading your old DVD, allow this review to allay them. This is a worthy upgrade, if ever I’ve seen one. The lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track is nearly as impressive but, again, won’t offer anywhere near as immersive or dynamic an experience as modern work will. Still, fans will notice the upgrade to lossless. Not satisfied with providing an absolutely stellar transfer for the film, Sony also crams the Blu-ray disc full of special features, most of which are carried over from their previously released DVD, including the Criterion-Laserdisc-sourced Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones director’s commentary as well as a second commentary with Eric Idle, John Cleese and Michael Palin. The new exclusive features include 18-minutes of must-see deleted scenes and outtakes, almost 13-minutes of “lost” animation by Gilliam and the ability to sync up to the Second Screen app on the iPad. Unlike Disney‘s free-to-download Second Screen experience, you’ve got to plunk down $4.99 to check out the Holy Grail on your mobile device. I bit the bullet and can tell you that the app syncs easily to the Blu-ray, allowing full control of the disc from your iPad. It’s a pretty great experience but ultimately seems to be simply repurposing and reorganizing the same special features on the disc or presenting the extras from the DVD that weren’t carried over to the new Blu. It’s well done and offers a new way to experiece the film and for that reason I’d recommend it. But only for hardcore fans or for those who haven’t just shelled out for the disc. If the app ever drops in price, or hits the zero-dollar price point, I’d say jump on it. Blu-ray Exclusive:
Blu-ray Features:
TRANSFORMERS PRIME: SEASON ONE Toymaker Hasbro and their animation partners re-imagine their iconic robotic universe yet again in the new all CGI-animated series Transformers Prime. The complete first season is now collected in a 4-disc Blu-ray set from Shout! Factory. READ MORE: Transformers Prime: Season One Blu-ray Disc Review It’s not that I’m a big Kevin Bacon or Lori Singer fan or anything but I think the only reason I didn’t love this new version of Footloose was because I just couldn’t get into the two young leads, Kenny Wormald and Dancing With The Stars alum, Julianne Hough. There’s a charm to Bacon and Singer’s performances in the original film that, for me, is just missing here. Both Wormald and Hough seem too world weary and grown up to be naive school kids and that removes a lot of the magic in the storytelling. On the other hand, the supporting cast is exceptional, the photography makes the original look as if it was shot by students and the dance numbers, while clearly inspired by the original, are visceral and exciting. This is more or less a note-for-note remake of Footloose. If you haven’t seen the original, this will no doubt prove a fun evening’s entertainment. But if you’ve got a special place in your heart for the original, you’re likely to find the flat lead performances distracting enough to eclipse the value of this mostly-able remake. On the other hand, this Blu-ray disc is a technical powerhouse! Paramount has pulled out all the stops for this bright, vivid, detailed transfer and encode. The new version of Footloose looks stunning in 1080p. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track is equally as impressive, as it should be with the iconic soundtrack an integral part of the package. Fans won’t be disappointed. I encourage you to crank this one up. It sounds great! There are a decent amount of special features here but I think my lack of interest in the film is colouring my take on them. I think I would be a lot more enthusiastic about this package if I had loved the movie. As it stands, I can’t really get into listening to all of director Craig Bower commentary track. It seems off the top to be relatively passionate and informative. I just have trouble caring enough. The roughly 45-minutes minutes worth of featurettes provide a deeper look into the making of the film, focusing on its re-imagining, its stars and its many dance numbers. The disc is rounded out with 7-minutes worth of deleted scenes, music videos, a Footloose rap, and a DVD and Digital Copy of the film. Only in Canada: REYKJAVIK TO ROTTERDAM Once again, we here in Canada have rolled the dice and come up lucky. Very lucky indeed. For eOne has done us the gracious favour of making the 2008 Icelandic hit Reykjavik to Rotterdam available on Blu-ray. The timing is near perfect for this release as the American remake, entitled Contraband and directed by the star of the orginal, Kormákur, is due to hit Blu in just over a month’s time from Universal. Though I didn’t see the remake, I understand it didn’t fair too well with critics, the terms “mediocre” and “cliche” coming up a lot in reviews of the film. I took a look at the plot breakdown and it seems, for all intents and purposes to be the same as Reykjavik to Rotterdam. Now, I don’t know if I would love Contraband, despite the consensus of feeling toward it, but I thought Reykjavik to Rotterdam was an exceptional, cracking good thriller. Clearly, Iceland feels the same way about the film as it was that country’s official submission for the 82nd Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film. It wasn’t nominated, and I’m not sure it deserves to be, but it’s certainly a taught, well crafted 88-minutes of drug-and-booze-smuggling thriller. The performances are top notch and combine with a great score by Barði Jóhannsson and Icelandic and Netherlands location photography by Bergsteinn Björgúlfsson to elevate the narrative beyond the tired gangs and smuggling tropes prevalent in North American films. My guess is that talent, a little style and European locations go a long way to making any film compelling. Reykjavik to Rotterdam looks all right on Blu-ray. It didn’t blow me away but the mostly dark and colour-drained 35mm images appear film-like throughout this single-layer presentation. It’s solid enough and, I imagine, fairly faithful to the source but can’t stand against the brightest Hollywood fare. The Icelandic-language DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, on the other hand, is dynamic, immersive and engaging from beginning to end. There’s also a French language dub of the film, presented in DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. Subs are available in English and English SDH only. Sadly, the there are no special features on the Reykjavik to Rotterdam Blu-ray disc. AMAZON: CDN$ 33.49 ALSO AVAILABLE ON BLU-RAY THIS WEEK![Game of Thrones: The Complete First Season [Blu-ray] (2011)](http://www.theblurayblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/gameofthrones.jpg "Game of Thrones: The Complete First Season [Blu-ray] (2011)")
“Summers span decades. Winters can last a lifetime. And the struggle for the Iron Throne has begun. It will stretch from the south, where heat breeds plots, lusts and intrigues; to the vast and savage eastern lands; and all the way to the frozen north, where an 800-foot wall of ice protects the kingdom from the dark forces that lie beyond. Kings and queens, knights and renegades, liars, lords, and honest men…all will play the Game of Thrones. “
![To Catch a Thief [Blu-ray] (1955)](http://www.theblurayblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/51HJVTvPZSL._SL500_AA300_-150x150.jpg "To Catch a Thief [Blu-ray] (1955)")
“The French Riviera…two luminous stars (Grace Kelly, Cary Grant)… and the Master of Suspense, Alfred Hitchcock, behind the camera. They all add up to one romantic, dazzling screen thriller in this first time on Blu-ray edition. Grant plays John Robie, a retired jewel thief once known as “The Cat,” who catches the eye of Frances Stevens (Kelly), a pampered, vacationing heiress. But when a new rash of gem thefts occurs amongst the luxury hotels of the spectacular French playground, it appears that “The Cat” is on the prowl once again. Is Robie truly reformed? Or is he deviously using Frances to gain access to the tempting collection of fabulous jewelry belonging to her mother (Jessie Royce Landis)? Romantic sparks fly as the suspense builds in this glittering Hitchcock classic that nabbed an Oscar for Best Cinematography. “
“Dr. Robert Ledgard (Antonio Banderas) is a driven plastic surgeon haunted by personal tragedies. After many years of trial and error, he finally perfects a new skin – a shield which could have prevented the death of his wife in an accident years earlier. His latest “guinea pig” is a mysterious captive whose true identity masks a shocking mystery. The Skin I Live In is a masterful tale of secrets, obsession and revenge from Oscar-winning (Best Writing, Original Screenplay, Talk to Her, 2002) writer/director Pedro Almodovar. “
![Monty Python and the Holy Grail [Blu-ray] (1975)](http://www.theblurayblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/51fglp3SdZL._SL500_AA300_-150x150.jpg "Monty Python and the Holy Grail [Blu-ray] (1975)")
“The Monty Python team are at it again in their second movie. This time we follow King Arthur and his knights in their search for the Holy Grail. This isn’t your average medieval knights and horses story – for a start, due to a shortage in the kingdom, all the horses have been replaced by servants clopping coconuts together! “
![Transformers Prime: Season One (Limited Edition) [Blu-ray]](http://www.theblurayblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/51aTj36UTNL._SL500_AA300_-150x150.jpg "Transformers Prime: Season One (Limited Edition) [Blu-ray]")
““Transformers Prime” deepens the epic mythology of both the Autobots and Decepticons, while starting fresh for a new generation of fans. Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Arcee, Ratchet, Bulkhead, and many others are back to “roll out” against Megatron’s latest attempt to conquer Earth. And Megatron proves to be more powerful than ever, having acquired a rare element that allows him mastery over life itself. “Team Prime” may be few against the Decepticon hordes, but they find increased strength via bonds forged with three human teenagers. Make no mistake, “Transformers Prime” delivers heavy metal action, and nail-biting suspense – but it also takes the human drama to levels as yet unseen by the franchise.“
“The 1984 classic is now the modern hit that will make you stand up and cheer! Big city teen Ren McCormack (Kenny Wormald) moves to a quiet little town and discovers that the hard-line minister has outlawed loud music and dancing. But everything changes when Ren decides to challenge the ban, revitalizing the town and falling in love with the minister’s rebellious daughter Ariel (Julianne Hough). Critics and audiences agree “‘Footloose‘ has an infectious spirit” (Alynda Wheat, People) so get ready to cut loose.“
![Reykjavik-Rotterdam [Blu-ray]](http://www.theblurayblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/ACH003078912.1329945695.320x320.jpg "Reykjavik-Rotterdam [Blu-ray]")
“Christopher (Baltasar Kormákur) is like fish on dry land after being fired from a freight liner. He doesn’t stand much chance of being rehired, having been caught in the act of illegal alcohol trafficking. Because of the high price of alcohol in Iceland, Christopher and his mates simply couldn’t resist earning an extra buck by smuggling some vodka each time they sailed in. Faced with serious money problems, Christopher manages with the help of a friend (Ingvar Sigurdsson), to get his old job back. He is tempted to do one last gig, determined to get all his problems behind him, once and for all.“
Clicking an image will take you to Amazon.com where you can learn more about and purchase the Blu-ray disc:![Immortals [Blu-ray] (2011)](http://www.theblurayblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/51B5qLRhqVL._SL500_AA300_-150x150.jpg "Immortals [Blu-ray] (2011)")
![The Deer Hunter [Blu-ray + DVD] (Universal's 100th Anniversary) (1978)](http://www.theblurayblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/51CbAjk12hL._SL500_AA300_-150x150.jpg "The Deer Hunter [Blu-ray + DVD] (Universal's 100th Anniversary) (1978)")
![Reindeer Games (The Director's Cut) [Blu-ray] (2000)](http://www.theblurayblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/51XTlevWSaL._SL500_AA300_-150x150.jpg "Reindeer Games (The Director's Cut) [Blu-ray] (2000)")
![54. [Blu-ray] (1998)](http://www.theblurayblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/51UgMpSFrrL._SL500_AA300_-150x150.jpg "54. [Blu-ray] (1998)")
![The Blues Brothers [Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy] (Universal's 100th Anniversary) (1980)](http://www.theblurayblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/51o-20nzpML._SL500_AA300_-150x150.jpg "The Blues Brothers [Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy] (Universal's 100th Anniversary) (1980)")
![Parenthood [Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy] (Universal's 100th Anniversary) (1989)](http://www.theblurayblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/51xBIHzLPcL._SL500_AA300_-150x150.jpg "Parenthood [Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy] (Universal's 100th Anniversary) (1989)")
![The Nutty Professor [Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy] (Universal's 100th Anniversary) (1996)](http://www.theblurayblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/51L2irHiSSL._SL500_AA300_-150x150.jpg "The Nutty Professor [Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy] (Universal's 100th Anniversary) (1996)")
![Like Crazy [Blu-ray] (2011)](http://www.theblurayblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/51yjBZYib0L._SL500_AA300_-150x150.jpg "Like Crazy [Blu-ray] (2011)")
![9 1/2 Weeks [Blu-ray] (1986)](http://www.theblurayblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/51AFns-YZWL._SL500_AA300_-150x150.jpg "9 1/2 Weeks [Blu-ray] (1986)")
![Plan 9 From Outer Space [Blu-ray] (1959)](http://www.theblurayblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/51FahPh0bxL._SL500_AA300_-150x150.jpg "Plan 9 From Outer Space [Blu-ray] (1959)")
![Out of Africa Collector's Series [Blu-ray Book + DVD + Digital Copy] (Universal's 100th Anniversary) (1985)](http://www.theblurayblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/51fiuuzN3qL._SL500_AA300_-150x150.jpg "Out of Africa Collector's Series [Blu-ray Book + DVD + Digital Copy] (Universal's 100th Anniversary) (1985)")
![Disclosure [Blu-ray] (1994)](http://www.theblurayblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/51QYfQIEx1L._SL500_AA300_-150x150.jpg "Disclosure [Blu-ray] (1994)")
![Striptease [Blu-ray] (2012)](http://www.theblurayblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/51-Ii1ySSKL._SL500_AA300_-150x150.jpg "Striptease [Blu-ray] (2012)")
![Tooth Fairy 2 [Blu-ray] (2012)](http://www.theblurayblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/51CK6sURERL._SL500_AA300_-150x150.jpg "Tooth Fairy 2 [Blu-ray] (2012)")
![Recoil [Blu-ray] (2011)](http://www.theblurayblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/51gIsFR8BiL._SL500_AA300_-150x150.jpg "Recoil [Blu-ray] (2011)")
![The Little Shop Of Horrors [Blu-ray] (1960)](http://www.theblurayblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/51CUxvpxoqL._SL500_AA300_-150x150.jpg "The Little Shop Of Horrors [Blu-ray] (1960)")
![Agatha Christie's Poirot, Series 3 [Blu-ray]](http://www.theblurayblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/51ei2iGaaHL._SL500_AA300_-150x150.jpg "Agatha Christie's Poirot, Series 3 [Blu-ray]")
![Columbus Circle [Blu-ray]](http://www.theblurayblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/51QZ3gSmMtL._SL500_AA300_-150x150.jpg "Columbus Circle [Blu-ray]")
![Benji [Blu-ray] (1974)](http://www.theblurayblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/51D9-8yuwcL._SL500_AA300_-150x150.jpg "Benji [Blu-ray] (1974)")
![Meet the Parents [Blu-ray + DVD] (Universal's 100th Anniversary) (2000)](http://www.theblurayblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/51pO1Veu4DL._SL500_AA300_-150x150.jpg "Meet the Parents [Blu-ray + DVD] (Universal's 100th Anniversary) (2000)")
![The Search for One-Eye Jimmy [Blu-ray] (1996)](http://www.theblurayblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/51xsrwLgvAL._SL500_AA300_-150x150.jpg "The Search for One-Eye Jimmy [Blu-ray] (1996)")
![Despicable Me [Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy] (Universal's 100th Anniversary)](http://www.theblurayblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/51Opl6rVnUL._SL500_AA300_-150x150.jpg "Despicable Me [Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy] (Universal's 100th Anniversary)")
![Forest Warrior [Blu-ray] (1996)](http://www.theblurayblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/51JYx2WXvIL._SL500_AA300_-150x150.jpg "Forest Warrior [Blu-ray] (1996)")
![Dead in the Water [Blu-ray] (1991)](http://www.theblurayblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/51AbpFgnNVL._SL500_AA300_-150x150.jpg "Dead in the Water [Blu-ray] (1991)")
![Dinosaurs: Inside and Out - As seen on Discovery Channel [Blu-ray]](http://www.theblurayblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/51zMiX9Pk-L._SL500_AA300_-150x150.jpg "Dinosaurs: Inside and Out - As seen on Discovery Channel [Blu-ray]")
![High Road [Blu-ray] (2011)](http://www.theblurayblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/51jj0kz+9LL._SL500_AA300_-150x150.jpg "High Road [Blu-ray] (2011)")
![Meeting Spencer [Blu-ray] (2011)](http://www.theblurayblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/51HTxHRlfuL._SL500_AA300_-150x150.jpg "Meeting Spencer [Blu-ray] (2011)")
Read More
Yargh! I actually had this post ready to go this week, when MGM dropped six new titles in my lap (see below), pushing my ability to get it out to you back by several days. But it’s well worth it. Their latest batch of catalogue titles are all must-buys, all essential cinema on Blu at a very affordable price.
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: GODZILLA
- “Ishiro Honda’s Godzilla is the roaring granddaddy of all monster movies. It’s also a remarkably humane and melancholy drama made in Japan at a time when the country was still reeling from nuclear attack and H-bomb testing. Its rampaging radioactive beast, the poignant embodiment of an entire population’s fears, became a beloved international icon of destruction, spawning more than twenty sequels and spinoffs. This first thrilling, tactile spectacle continues to be a cult phenomenon; here, we present the original, 1954 Japanese version, along with Godzilla: King of the Monsters!, the 1956 American reworking starring Raymond Burr (Rear Window). “
Criterion fans have been waiting an age to see this day come to pass. The hint of Gojira joining “The Collection” has been lingering like a stolen promise for more than a decade now. But here we are finally, arriving at the day of days, when the original giant lizard film is finally awarded the home video treatment it has long deserved. That’s right, Godzilla is on Blu-ray! I mean, Godzilla has actually been on Blu before but sporting a pretty sucky transfer. So really, we can consider this new Criterion release the only release moving forward. Sadly, demand was apparently quite great for screening copies of the film and yours truly didn’t make the cut. But from reading reviews of the disc from those fortunate enough to get it early, the transfers of both the original Japanese version of the film and the US cut starring Raymond Burr are astounding. I can’t wait to check this one out firsthand!
Special Features:
- New high-definition digital restoration with uncompressed monaural soundtrack
- Audio commentary by David Kalat (A Critical History and Filmography of Toho’s Godzilla Series)
- New high-definition digital restoration of Godzilla, King of the Monsters, Terry Morse’s 1956 reworking of the original, starring Raymond Burr
- Audio commentary for Godzilla, King of the Monsters by Kalat
- New interviews with actor Akira Takarada (Hideto Ogata), Godzilla performer Haruo Nakajima, and effects technicians Yoshio Irie and Eizo Kaimai
- Interview with legendary Godzilla score composer Akira Ifukube
- Featurette detailing Godzilla’s photographic effects
- New interview with Japanese-film critic Tadao Sato
- The Unluckiest Dragon, an illustrated audio essay featuring historian Greg Pflugfelder describing the tragic fate of the fishing vessel Daigo fukuryu maru, a real-life event that inspired Godzilla
- Theatrical trailers
- New and improved English subtitle translation
- PLUS: A booklet featuring an essay by critic J. Hoberman
![The Moment of Truth (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray] (1964)](http://www.theblurayblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/51mP3wqFXYL._SL500_AA300_-150x150.jpg "The Moment of Truth (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray] (1964)")
- “The Moment of Truth, from director Francesco Rosi (Salvatore Giuliano) is a visceral plunge into the life of a famous torero—played by real-life bullfighting legend Miguel Mateo, known as Miguelin. Charting his rise and fall with a single-minded focus on the bloody business at hand, the film is at once gritty and operatic, placing the viewer right in the thick of the ring’s action, as close to death as possible. Like all of the great Italian truth seeker’s films, this is a not just an electrifying drama but also a profound and moving inquiry into a violent world—and perhaps the greatest bullfighting movie ever made. “
We didn’t receive a copy of Criterion’s Godzilla Blu-ray but the studio was able to get The Blu-ray Blog an early screener of The Moment of Truth, also available in stores today. This isn’t a film for the queasy of stomach. It’s bullfighting. Footage of real, honest to goodness bulls being taunted and gored. And it’s tough to watch. I’ll admit, I turned away at times, unable to bear witnessing the torture of an animal onscreen. But the film has value and shouldn’t be ignored just because it features footage that’s uncomfortable to watch. Rosi fashions a narrative here, beginning with real-life footage and spinning it into a familiar, comfortable story of a talented, driven athlete whose star is on the rise. It’s easy to connect with and moves along at a good clip, despite occasionally pulling away to reveal a more documentarian look at the Spanish way of life. As magnetic as Mateo is in and out of the ring however, the real star of the film is the photography. Images here are gritty yet fluid and almost always breathtaking.
And speaking of those images, the footage in The Moment of Truth looks spectacular on Blu-ray. As per Criterion’s standard, you won’t find any untoward digital manipulation here (some sharpening is present, handled with great restraint) but those who dislike film grain will want to run for the hills. This is one handsome transfer, thick with rich, film-like grain. Colours pop and blacks are deep. Great work, as usual, from Criterion. The lossless Italian language track is bold and quite clear, with a hint of ever-present hiss in the background. The final music cue distorts in a strange way right before the film ends but I assume that’s due to damage in the source.
Sadly, there isn’t much on this disc in the way of special features. The only bonus goodie you get is a 14-minute interview with director Rosi, recorded in 2004. It’s a candid and very informative chat that you’ll want to check out if you’ve watched the film but I can only imagine how much more might’ve been discussed during a feature length commentary track. Ah well. Missed opportunities. The Blu-ray disc is packaged along with an illustrated booklet which features an essay by critic Peter Matthews.
![50/50 [Blu-ray] (2011)](http://www.theblurayblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/51tzbc2LUPL._SL500_AA300_-150x150.jpg "50/50 [Blu-ray] (2011)")
- “Inspired by a true story, “50/50” is an original story about friendship, love, survival and finding humor in unlikely places. Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Seth Rogen star as best friends whose lives are changed by a cancer diagnosis in this new comedy directed by Jonathan Levine from a script by Will Reiser.“
I’m not going to mince words here, I initially avoided watching 50/50 because I thought it looked like crap. I didn’t care for the poster art or the trailers and I wasn’t sold on the notion of a comedy about cancer. Also, I felt like I could use a break from both Seth Rogen and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, the stars of the film. Boy, was I wrong about this film. 50/50 is not only funny and moving but all-around one of the best films I’ve seen this year. Rogen and Gordon-Levitt come off more genuine and genuinely funny here than in their recent work. Perhaps because they’re riffing on a script by their pal Will Reiser that the writer based on his own real-life struggle with cancer. Reiser is a wise man and never allows things to get too heavy handed and ultimately clarifies that the tale is more about friendship than it is about the disease. I don’t want to paint the picture of this film as light and cheery. It does deal with the issues facing Gordon-Levitt’s character and all that his myriad struggles entail, but it’s all very human and without a touch of melodrama. What a refreshing change!
The Blu-ray presentation of 50/50 is also a breath of fresh air. Detailed, balanced and completely film-like in every way, the film is a joy to watch in 1080p. Likewise, the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track is all-around fantastic. Fans of the film will want to listen to the group commentary track, even if they usually avoid such things. This one is a fun, often funny gathering of pals Rogen, Reiser, producers Ben Karlin and Evan Goldberg, and director Jonathan Levine. The disc also contains an 8-minute ‘making of’ featurette, five deleted scenes with optional commentary, an additional 10-minutes of behind-the-scenes discussion of specific scenes and a couple minutes of Rogen and Gordon-Levitt destroying a painting.
Recommended!
![Whistleblower [Blu-ray] (2010)](http://www.theblurayblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/51-HtSg0M3L._SL500_AA300_-150x150.jpg "Whistleblower [Blu-ray] (2010)")
- “Academy Award Winners Rachel Weisz and Vanessa Redgrave head a powerful cast that includes Oscar Nominee David Strathairn in writer-director Larysa Kondracki‘s harrowing dramatic thriller. When Nebraska cop Kathryn Bolkovac (Weisz) accepts a U.N. peacekeeper position in post-war Bosnia, she discovers a deadly sex trafficking ring. Risking her own life to save the lives of others, she uncovers an international conspiracy that is determined to stop her, no matter the cost. With masterful acting and a heart-racing plot, “The Whistleblower” is an acclaimed film inspired by actual events.“
Okay, I love Rachel Weisz. Let’s just get that out of the way first. I’ll watch just about anything she’s in. And even when she’s starring in a film I find less-than-stellar, I usually enjoy watching her all the same (sigh… Is that creepy?) But it honestly took me a little while to acclimate to her performance style in The Whistleblower. She plays a Nebraska cop and plays her, well, very American. That’s okay, of course, but when she’s putting on the accent and playing tough it’s a lot more challenging to buy her in the role. Through a good part of the first act of the film, she’s just not very convincing. But as the very-tense plot heats up, and Bolkovac is pitted up against sex traffickers, any awkwardness in Weisz’ performance fades away, and the compelling real-life narrative overtakes any and all potential weaknesses. By the end of the film, I was literally at the edge of my seat. It’s tough to sit idly by in the audience, when watching such heinous atrocities unfold onscreen, knowing that they’re based on things that really happened. The Whistleblower is intense and infuriating and definitely worth watching.
You’ll be impressed with the look of The Whistleblower on Blu-ray. Often dark (some detail is lost in the blackest of shadows), sometimes soft, but always film-like with plenty of grain and detail on display, this is a great looking disc with a modern transfer. LIkewise, the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 is right on the money. It’s not going to ‘wow’ you with Hollywood-style sonic gymnastics and bombast but it’s dynamic, clean and clear.
Sadly, there’s only a single special feature on the Blu-ray disc – a 5-and-a-half-minute long featurette called ‘Kathy Bolkovac: The Real Whistleblower‘. It’s certainly worth a look, if you enjoyed the film, as it gives a rare look at the real people who inspired the work.
![Wings [Blu-ray] (1927)](http://www.theblurayblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/51gsiLo4PJL._SL500_AA300_-150x150.jpg "Wings [Blu-ray] (1927)")
- “The first film ever to win an Academy Award for Best Picture is finally available on DVD and Blu-ray Disc, “Wings” starring Clara Bow, Charles Rogers, Richard Arlen and Gary Cooper. “Wings” is the story of two men who have gone to war and the girl they both leave behind. Director William A. Wellman makes one of his most humanistic statements as he explores the devastating results of war.“
Film fans and fans of home video restorations will want to sit up and take note of Paramount‘s work on Wings – this is stunning stuff. Touted as the first Best Picture Oscar winner (in fact, it won the award for “Outstanding Picture, Production” while Murnau‘s Sunrise won the award for “Unique and Artistic Production” – both could equally be considered “Best Picture” by today’s standards), most folks alive today have never seen a decent looking print of William A. Wellman’s landmark film. It’s really what makes this Blu-ray release all the more special. It seems the studio has gone to great lengths to gather the finest surviving elements of the silent classic, give them the best possible scan and assemble and massage them into a reasonably clean and very watchable modern restoration. The results are simply stunning and need to be seen to be believed. In fact, though we’re only in the first month of 2012, this very well might be a contender for Blu-ray release of the year! The care given this film’s journey to Blu and the fact that it’s the first in a line of Anniverary releases for the studio gives me great hope for the follow-up titles like Chinatown and To Catch a Thief. It’s going to be a good year.
As you’d suspect from my praise of the work done to restore Wings and bring it to Blu-ray, the film sports a spectacular transfer that bests any visual reproduction in living memory. This is a completely film-like presentation that’s cleaner and more detailed than it has any right to be. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 is even more surprising in what it brings to the package. The track features a radiant “re-recorded score composed by J.S. Zamecnik (orchestrated and arranged by Dominik Hauser; featured pianist — Frederick Hodges) with sound effects by Ben Burtt“!! As brilliant and effective as the score is, it’s Burtt’s sound effects that are the true surprise and delight of the track. Purists offended by the sonic revisionism of sound effects in a silent film might want to stick with the Gaylord Carter organ track, rendered not quite as fully as its lossless counterpart here, in Dolby Digital 2.0.
There’s nearly an hour’s worth of bonus content on the Blu-ray in the form of three featurettes. ‘Wings: Grandeur in the Sky‘ runs over 25-minutes and acts as a brief but fairly comprehensive look at the making of the film and its place in cinema history. ‘Restoring the Power and Beauty of Wings‘ provides the behind-the-scenes information that restoration and preservation enthusiasts clamor for on discs like these while ‘Dogfight!‘ looks at aerial combat and the evolution of fighting aircraft.
Highly recommended!
- “A gritty, white-knuckle, action ride set in the near-future where the sport of boxing has gone high-tech, “Real Steel” stars Hugh Jackman as Charlie Kentonm, a washed-up fighter who lost his chance at a title when 2000-pound, 8-foot-tall steel robots took over the ring. Now nothing but a small-time promoter, Charlie earns just enough money piecing together low-end bots from scrap metal to get from one underground boxing venue to the next. When Charlie hits rock bottom, he reluctantly teams up with his estranged son Max (Dakota Goyo) to build and train a championship contender. As the stakes in the brutal, no-holds-barred arena are raised, Charlie and Max, against all odds, get one last shot at a comeback.“
And now a word from our reviewer in the field, Chris Tucker:
- I’m not a boxing fan, I’m a robot fan, so booting up DreamWorks Sudio‘s Real Steel I had at least a fighting chance of being entertained. The odds would have been upped if I were a fan of cheese. The film stars Hugh Jackman as a down-and-out ex-boxer, now as a has-been controller of giant fighting robots. Jackman gains custody of his heretofore unknown son, some cute kid, that he initially just takes advantage of until he grows to love him while battling at his side in dusty cow-pens, abandoned zoos and futuristic sporting arenas. Evangeline Lily also makes an appearance to smile tenderly upon father and son. If you have ever watched another movie you can write the rest of the script by yourself.
There, I got my shots out of the way so now I can tell you how great the disc looks. Its beautifully shot with some really nicely lit scenes and sweet color throughout. The 1080p transfer is very crisps and the special effects are pretty outstanding. The whole reason for this film, the special effect robots, look and move quite well (though they leave much to be desired in terms of character design and fight orchestration). Technically, the fight scenes are so well done that you don’t spend any time scrutinizing them, which is a shame since you’re permitted the time to see what Jackman is doing and saying. The story might take a few punches but the transfer can stand up to any fight.
The film features a DTS-HD MA 7.1 lossless soundtrack and there was no need to ride the remote for this one. I’ve got no complaints on the sound for either music or dialogue here.
There are heaps of extra features:
-Second Screen with director Shawn Levy (Night at the Museum, Date Night).
-making of the robots (really interesting how they mix real robots with CGI but this segment at under 5 minutes was way too short)
-Deleted and Extended scenes (not much here)
-Sugar Ray Leonard: Cornerman’s champ ( not interested in watching this part, sorry)
-fake 10 minute ESPN-type biography on Jackman’s character
-making of metal valley (15 minutes behind the scenes of a pretty mundane 30 seconds of screen time)
Ultimately the film dies because, just like robots, it has no heart. In place of its soul is just regurgitated Hollywood cheese.
Thanks, Chris!
MGM CLASSICS ON BLU-RAY
![Notorious [Blu-ray] (1946)](http://www.theblurayblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/51entNkBefL._SL500_AA300_-150x150.jpg "Notorious [Blu-ray] (1946)")
![Rebecca [Blu-ray] (1940)](http://www.theblurayblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/51eaGkc-ACL._SL500_AA300_-150x150.jpg "Rebecca [Blu-ray] (1940)")
![Spellbound [Blu-ray]](http://www.theblurayblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/51cCjKs+RvL._SL500_AA300_-150x150.jpg "Spellbound [Blu-ray]")
![The Apartment [Blu-ray] (1960)](http://www.theblurayblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/1-150x150.jpg "The Apartment [Blu-ray] (1960)")
![Annie Hall [Blu-ray] (1977)](http://www.theblurayblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/41XRF4LRfeL._SL500_AA300_-150x150.jpg "Annie Hall [Blu-ray] (1977)")
![Manhattan [Blu-ray] (1979)](http://www.theblurayblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/51yAiUbn2+L._SL500_AA300_-150x150.jpg "Manhattan [Blu-ray] (1979)")
Just as I was getting ready to publish this post earlier in the week, this package of six outstanding films arrived – three Hitchcock classics, two from Woody Allen and a Billy Wilder! It’s like manna from film-buff heaven. You might look at these and think “Holy crap, that’s great! If only these were Criterion releases…” and I guess you’d be right on some level. The package design leaves something to be desired on most of the six releases (what were they thinking with the Hitchcock designs?!) and the Annie Hall and Manhattan could use some love in the Special Features-department. I’m not certain what Criterion could add to the Allen films (he’s notorious for resiting the addition of extras to disc releases of his films) but I will say that the studio probably couldn’t offer up transfers of these films that are any better than what MGM and Fox have made available here. These discs look fantastic!!
If you were to compare the six discs, you’ll clearly find some more visually impressive than others – The Apartment, Manhattan and Rebecca are absolutely breathtaking, while Annie Hall, Spellbound and Notorious sport softer, less immediately awe-inspiring presentations. All six, however, appear to have avoided any untoward digital manipulation and seem to be be completely faithful, film-like representations of their celluloid origins. I’m taken aback by how all-around great this batch of releases looks. All the films feature mono DTS-HD Master Audio tracks with the exception of The Apartment, which has been remixed and expanded into a subtle and inoffensive 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio track. Note that the audio track on the Annie Hall disc appears to be slightly out of sync (I’m not the only one experiencing this). The studio has been contacted and I’m certain that a fix will be imminent. I’ll let you know if/when I hear anything more on the subject.
UPDATE: Pausing and un-pausing the Annie Hall disc appears to remedy the audio sync issues. Whew!
Aside from the Allen films, which only feature their respective theatrical trailers, these releases are fairly robust with extras, all of which are carried over from the most recent DVD releases from MGM. The Hitchcock films in particular sport a great deal of bonus goodies. Those who own the Criterion DVD versions of those films will want to hold onto them for the exclusive extras that don’t show up here. The only crossover material of note are the radio plays, isolated scores and some interviews. The bulk of the Criterion material -including their commentary tracks by film scholars Marian Keane (Spellbound and Notorious) and Leonard J. Leff (Rebecca) and historian Rudy Behlmer (Notorious) – remains exclusive to those now out-of-print DVDs.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
REBECCA
- Commentary by Richard Schickel
- Isolated Music and Effects Track
- The Making of Rebecca
- The Gothic World of Daphne DuMaurier
- Screen Tests
- Radio Plays
- Hitchcock Audio Interviews
- Theatrical Trailer
NOTORIOUS
- Commentary with Film Professor Rick Jewell
- Isolated Music and Effects Track
- The Ultimate Romance: The Making of Notorious
- The American Film Institute Award: The Key to Hitchcock
- 1948 Radio Play starring Joseph Cotton and Ingrid Bergman
- Hitchcock Audio Interviews
- Restoration Comparison
- Theatrical Trailer
SPELLBOUND
- Commentary with Film Historians Thomas Schatz and Charles Ramirez Berg
- Running With Scissors: Hitchcock, Surrealism and Salvador Dali
- Guilt By Association: Psychoanalyzing Spellbound
- A Cinderella Story: Rhonda Fleming
- 1948 Radio Version of Spellbound Directed by Alfred Hitchcock
- Hitchcock Audio Interview
- Original Theatrical Trailer
THE APARTMENT
- Commentary with Film Historian Bruce Block
- Inside The Apartment
- Magic Time – The Art of Jack Lemmon
- Theatrical Trailer
AMAZON: $16.99 each
JEAN ROLLIN VAMPIRE FILMS FROM REDEMPTION
![Fascination [Blu-ray] (1979)](http://www.theblurayblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/51cjaKvLhCL._SL500_AA300_-150x150.jpg "Fascination [Blu-ray] (1979)")
![Shiver of the Vampires [Blu-ray] (1971)](http://www.theblurayblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/51KRCuD1iGL._SL500_AA300_-150x150.jpg "Shiver of the Vampires [Blu-ray] (1971)")
![The Iron Rose [Blu-ray] (1973)](http://www.theblurayblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/51auHCbwtSL._SL500_AA300_-150x150.jpg "The Iron Rose [Blu-ray] (1973)")
![Lips of Blood [Blu-ray] (1975)](http://www.theblurayblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/51lUuqziXZL._SL500_AA300_-150x150.jpg "Lips of Blood [Blu-ray] (1975)")
![The Nude Vampire [Blu-ray] (1970)](http://www.theblurayblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/51PG279pAOL._SL500_AA300_-150x150.jpg "The Nude Vampire [Blu-ray] (1970)")
I’ve never seen any of these five Jean Rollin vampire films, released this week by Kino via their newly acquired ‘Redemption’ label, but I’m dying to get my hands on them to see what the fuss us all about. They look like a ton of euro-trash fun.
AMAZON: $18.99-$22.49
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:
![Stripes (Extended Cut) [Blu-ray] (1981)](http://www.theblurayblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/4197db0in6L._SL500_AA300_-150x150.jpg "Stripes (Extended Cut) [Blu-ray] (1981)")
![Stir Crazy [Blu-ray] (1980)](http://www.theblurayblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/51tTqDoxHgL._SL500_AA300_-150x150.jpg "Stir Crazy [Blu-ray] (1980)")
![World God Only Knows: Complete Collection [Blu-ray] (2012)](http://www.theblurayblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/51NgRADIoML._SL500_AA300_-150x150.jpg "World God Only Knows: Complete Collection [Blu-ray] (2012)")
![See No Evil, Hear No Evil [Blu-ray] (1989)](http://www.theblurayblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/51oRxkcc3FL._SL500_AA300_-150x150.jpg "See No Evil, Hear No Evil [Blu-ray] (1989)")
![Woman [Blu-Ray] (2011)](http://www.theblurayblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/51YfvVEe4dL._SL500_AA300_-150x150.jpg "Woman [Blu-Ray] (2011)")
![The Toy [Blu-ray] (1982)](http://www.theblurayblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/51SCC9Mnn7L._SL500_AA300_-150x150.jpg "The Toy [Blu-ray] (1982)")
![Hell and Back Again [Blu-ray] (2011)](http://www.theblurayblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/51ycQBdVkSL._SL500_AA300_-150x150.jpg "Hell and Back Again [Blu-ray] (2011)")
![Flash Point [Blu-ray/DVD Combo] (2007)](http://www.theblurayblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/51Y7cY28M0L._SL500_AA300_-150x150.jpg "Flash Point [Blu-ray/DVD Combo] (2007)")
![Happy, Happy [Blu-ray] (2011)](http://www.theblurayblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/518tWedAwWL._SL500_AA300_-150x150.jpg "Happy, Happy [Blu-ray] (2011)")
Read More
