I didn’t get the chance to see Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time in the theatres (no surprise there, right?) but, despite the mixed reviews the film garnered upon initial release, I’m kind of excited to check it out on Blu-ray. I love this type of fantasy film – that mythic brand of storytelling made popular on the cinematic landscape by the animation genius of Ray Harryhausen. I’m sure POP won’t have the old-school, stop motion charm of his Jason and the Argonauts or Clash of the Titans but, as critical as I’m certain I’ll be of the writing, the directing and the performances in the film, I have no doubt that it’ll be a silly-good time. That and Gemma Arterton is pretty easy on the eyes…
PRINCE OF PERSIA: THE SANDS OF TIME
(September 14, 2010 – MSRP $39.99 [1-Disc Blu-ray Disc], $44.99 [3-Disc BD Combo Pack])
Video: 2.39:1 1080p
Audio: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Special Features:
-
Single-disc edition
- An Unseen World: Making Prince of Persia
- Deleted Scene (BD-exclusive)
- CineExplore: The Sands of Time – Take control of the dagger and use it to unlock secrets behind your favorite scenes! Turn back time and uncover over 40 spellbinding segments – including “Walking Up Walls”, “Filming in Morocco”, and “Ostrich Jockey Tryouts” – with this exclusive interactive feature. Blu-ray puts you in control!
Three-Disc Combo Pack
All of the above plus:
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]]>Not a bad week on Blu, if I do say so myself, despite the fact that there are far fewer discs shipping this week than last. The top pick is an obvious one here but maybe not the most exciting high-def release today. For some reason I always seem to find myself having greater anticipation for obscure catalogue titles than the shiny new blockbusters. Perhaps it’s because newer work is almost always guaranteed to look and sound brilliant on Blu-ray, whereas it’s always a thrill to re-experience an old favourite well mastered in 1080p!
I really, really wish that I loved Shutter Island a lot more than I did. I mean, it’s a great looking film with some amazing performances and a killer vibe but ultimately it just plays its hand way too early and too fiercely to be as effective as I would like it to be. Nevertheless, even the worst Martin Scorsese film is a work of genius and worthy of checking out. And this is far from the worst Scorsese film.
The Blu-ray from Paramount looks and sounds like a million bucks. Sadly, it’s damn light on special features. But if this is a flik you love and you’re not bothered by the lack of extras you could find a brand new demo disc with this one!
I’m a big Wong Kar-Wai fan and am super excited about getting my hands on Kino‘s new Blu-ray edition of Happy Together. They’ve been doing great work on their high-def transfers lately and when combined with the gorgeous visual style of Wong Kar-wai (and, in this case, the eye of talented cinematographer Christopher Doyle) this disc could be a real stunner. This hypnotic story of a relationship in its final days might not be for everyone but I personally can’t wait to add it to my Blu-ray collection!
3. CADDYSHACK
Ahhhh, Caddyshack! What can I possibly say about this classic 80s comedy that hasn’t been said a million times over already. To me, this is a work of genius. I understand, however, that my feelings on the matter are dictated by the place this film occupied in my childhood. It was one of those comedies my family would always return to, like the Vacation films or Summer Rental – ridiculous comedies that just happened to strike the right chord with, what I can only imagine, is a genetic predisposition to enjoy a good fart joke. From all appearances, we weren’t alone on this one. Caddyshack is beloved by a lot of people my age. And while the Blu-ray disc might not be the shiny picture of high-def perfection that our number one pick is this week, it’s certainly the finest this film has ever looked. Fans will be more than pleased.
4. MONTY PYTHON: NOT THE MESSIAH
Not the Messiah sits at the number four slot this week based upon its pedigree alone. I love Monty Python. The films, the television series, the albums. Everything. Now, I haven’t seen this film yet but I’ve got to tell you, it puts the fear in me. It looks to be a music hall re-imagining of the comedy troupe’s finest melodic works. A Python-opera, if you will. And I’m not sure if I even care to see such a thing. But seeing as how it’s written by Python Eric Idle and gets the nod from the rest of the gang, how can I not give it a shot?
Being a Canadian (and living public-transit distance from the National Film Board headquarters) I was very fortunate to get my hands on Animation Express back in October of last year, when it was released in our country. This appears to be the same great disc in new clothing. If you’re a fan of animation, you’ll want to grab this up as soon as you can. The encode is a steady lower bitrate but it never seems to compromise the visuals. The 39 animated shorts on the disc are fantastic (13 are exclusive to the Blu-ray!) and they really look better than ever. Recommended for all animation fans!
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:
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]]>I really wanted to love Shutter Island. The performances are fantastic, the production design and photography are pitch perfect and the music is wonderful. It’s got all the right ingredients to be a spooky thriller but in the end, it just doesn’t manage to add up to the film I want to see from Martin Scorsese. And I think it’s because the “dream” sequences are too plentiful and too “on-the-nose” for my tastes. The story might have been better adapted by someone like David Lynch, who seems to be able construct creepy scenes from the most mundane of moments. Despite my disappointment with the film, I’m looking forward to giving Shutter Island another shot when it hits Blu on June 8th.
SHUTTER ISLAND
(July 8, 2010 – MSRP $39.99)
Video: 2.39:1 1080p AVC
Audio: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Special Features:
- Behind the Shutters: follows the film from its inception as an acclaimed novel through the production process and to the big screen. Includes interviews with cast and crew.
- Into the Lighthouse: discusses the historical landscape of psychiatric therapies during the 1950s through interviews with cast and crew.