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Tombstone Blu-ray Disc Review

Brenden — Sun, 02 May 2010 22:14:38 +0000

TOMBSTONE (1993, Blu-ray released April 27, 2010 – MSRP $29.99)

I recall Tombstone being the film that made me believe that I could enjoy a western. Before that time, I really went out of my way to avoid them, certain that I could never get into anything starring John Wayne or Clint Eastwood in a ten-gallon hat. Tombstone turned me around. And seeing it again, for the first time in years, this time on Disney‘s newly-minted Blu-ray disc, I can see how it won my young heart.

One of the most impressive things about this telling of the legend of Wyatt Earp, Doc Holiday and the infamous gunfight at the O.K. corral is the impressive collection of macho performers on hand, hailing from some of the finest action-adventure films of the 80s – Kurt Russell (Escape from New York, Big Trouble in Little China), Michael Biehn (Terminator, Aliens), Bill Paxton (Aliens, Near Dark), Val Kilmer (Top Gun, Willow), Powers Boothe (Red Dawn), Sam Elliot (Road House) – topped off by the king of gun-slinging testosterone himself, Charlton Heston! If you’re not sold on this film right there, with that cast, there’s nothing more I can do for you here. These guys really chew it up, over the 2-hour plus run time of the film, wringing every ounce of gravitas and melodrama that any given scene might offer. Kilmer, in particular, is outstanding here, delivering one of his signature performances as the perpetually intoxicated, tuberculosis-afflicted, former-dentist-turned-gunslinger, Holiday. It’s almost worth watching Tombstone for Kilmer alone.

That’s not to say that the film is perfect. It’s structurally unusual, which makes for some awkward moments in the narrative. The story seems like it should climax with the gunfight at the O.K. corral but continues on to outline the lives of the Earp brothers, following Wyatt’s crusade for vengeance against the “Cowboys” and its eventual fallout. Lives are lost, new relationships are forged. But while it all remains true to history, a lot of the story points end up feeling like footnotes to the main event. And, to be frank, I found some of the melodrama venturing into the territory of cheese this time around. While distracting, however, it didn’t ever manage to detract from my overall enjoyment. Make no mistake, Tombstone is incredible. I can’t wait to watch it again.

The new high-def transfer present on the Blu-ray disc has graced Tombstone with the finest visual presentation the film has seen since it was in theatres. It’s not going to make everyone happy though. Detail is great at times but overall inconsistent. Colour is vibrant and fairly accurate but contrast is sometimes high, with crushed blacks. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track is pretty great all around, dynamic and bold in all the right places, crisp and clear in all the other.

The special features have been ported over from the previously available Vista series DVD edition. Sadly, as that disc featured a longer cut of the film, the director’s commentary has been left behind. Also missing are an interactive timeline, and a historical account of the shootout at the O.K. Corral, which I would have loved to have seen present on the Blu-ray. The best part of what does remain is the 3-part, 27-minute “Making of Tombstone” documentary which manages to be quite thorough for such a short piece. The director’s “Original Storyboards“, a couple of trailers and some TV spots round out the disc.

Armageddon Blu-ray Disc Review

Brenden — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 18:48:05 +0000

ARMAGEDDON (1999, Blu-ray released April 27, 2010 – MSRP $29.99)

You probably won’t believe this but until a couple of nights ago I had never watched Armageddon. I had successfully managed to avoid Michael Bay‘s most famous ode to machismo and Americana for over a decade. It figures that it would take the new Blu-ray release of the film to finally break me down and force me into a screening. And after all was said and done, the film failed to leave me breathless…but it did render me speechless.

What a turd. Armageddon is not a good movie. I’ve been hearing and reading about the film for over a decade and, of course, had some expectations of it. The cheese, the plasticity, the…Bay-ness of it all. It’s all there in the relative abundance I expected it to be. But what I wasn’t anticipating was the generally engaging setup of the film that gives way to utter, unbelievably dated sci-fi comedy.

I was actually with Armageddon for the first half of the film. It almost had me. It’s got a pretty compelling opening act that trucks along at a good clip, trading character and plot in a fairly even-handed kind of way. But it lost me down the line. I had expected the ‘cheese’ – the trite contrivances abundant in any Bay film – to come solely from the script, from the melodrama in the story. And it does. It’s there. But when the mining team led by Bruce Willis arrives on the asteroid that’s rocketing toward Earth, threatening to obliterate all mankind, the film descends into a kind of science fiction-lite television production from the 60s! There wasn’t a single moment of the latter half of Armageddon where I found myself able to sufficiently suspend my disbelief to be able to accept what I was witnessing on screen. Marveling at the piss-poor stage set the actors were stuck upon, I almost expected to see William Shatner or Billy Mumy waltz around the corner to help save the day. What a letdown!

But don’t let my persnickety criticisms of the film rob you of any entertainment. I can see where most folks would enjoy Armageddon. It plays like a prequel to Bay’s Transformers films with lots of sweeping, well composed shots of military gear coupled with a tremendous amount of explosions. There is a child-like sense of wonder about it all but, unlike Transformers, it all ends up feeling a bit uneven to me, with a contrived yet down-to-earth beginning and very silly and silly-looking second half. But clearly I’m not the target audience. For those who are — those folks who enjoy the more melodramatic, ridiculous, chaotic and loud end of the cinematic spectrum — I imagine this film will most likely hit the mark.

The great news here is that Armageddon looks fantastic on Blu-ray! There’s a lot of detail on display in this new HD transfer, with deep, deep blacks and bold, yet accurate colours. Even if you don’t care for the film itself, I guarantee you’ll love the way it looks in 1080p. The DTS-HD Master Audio track may not rattle your bones to the extent that more modern films do, but it’s a solid effort that blows away the lossy track on the previously available DVD edition.

The special features come up a bit light on the Armageddon Blu-ray disc. This release of the film only includes a couple of trailers and the Aerosmith music video for their song “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing”, leaving behind the multitude of extras from the 2-disc Criterion Collection DVD. Fans of the film will definitely want to pick up the Blu-ray for the amazing upgrade in picture and sound. But don’t get rid of your DVDs if you care to listen to commentary or watch deleted scenes, interviews or featurettes.

Snow White "Magic Mirror" iPhone App Giveaway Contest (UPDATE – Winners Announced!)

Brenden — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:30:13 +0000

Did you get a chance to watch Disney‘s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs on Blu-ray yet? Isn’t it amazing? You might recall how I gushed about it in my review. Well, my feelings haven’t changed. I think it’s in the running for disc of the year. Great feature, great transfer, great extras. All available for a pretty great price (still only $19.99 at Amazon.com!) They’re practically giving the disc away over there!

And speaking of giveaways, I’ve got a nice little Halloween present to offer a couple of you Snow White fans with iPhones. Disney’s reps have been good enough to offer me a couple of codes for the “Magic Mirror” iPhone/iPod Touch application and I’ll be giving them away tomorrow! No trick necessary for this treat. Just leave a comment below before the Witching hour tomorrow night (uh…that’s 12 midnight, I think…and let’s say Pacific time, just for s#!&$ and giggles, ok?) and I’ll pick two winners at random, to be announced early Sunday morning. Here’s the catch – the codes expire on Monday, Nov. 2nd!!! So, winners, you’ve got to get on it quickly and redeem those bad boys in the iTunes app store ASAP once you claim your prize.

CONTEST RULES:

1. Leave comment below (say anything you like)
2. 2 winners will be chosen at random from comments below
3. Contest open to all
4. Prize codes will be awarded Sunday morning, Nov. 1st!
5. Prize codes expire on Monday, Nov. 2nd!

PLEASE NOTE: iPod Touch users will need external earphones and microphone for speaking your questions to the Magic Mirror.

Inspired by one of the most iconic scenes from Walt Disney’s Original Animated Classic SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS comes Disney’s Magic Mirror for the iPhone and iPod Touch. Receive advice and answers to your questions from the all-knowing Magic Mirror by speaking or typing into your device.

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• The Magic Mirror bestows sage advice with dispassionate truth and poetic rhymes!
• Ask any question, future or present — romance, friendship, school, or work!
• Dazzling animation — just like the film!
• Type or speak your questions (microphone required for iPod touch)

******************************************

This fun and entertaining application includes state-of-art animation, official character voice and answers to almost any question!

******************************************

UPDATE: AND THE WINNERS ARE…

Jack!

and

Lisa Morgan-Long!

You’ll both be contacted soon via email with your “Magic Mirror” code. Remember to redeem the codes quickly as they expire tomorrow!

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Blu-ray Disc Review

Brenden — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 15:23:20 +0000

SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS (1937, Blu-ray released October 6, 2009 – MSRP $39.99)

Stunning. Absolutely stunning. I wish I could turn back time to watch the gorgeous visual presentation of Disney‘s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Blu-ray disc for the first time, all over again. Experiencing this, the first Diamond Edition release from Walt Disney Home Entertainment‘s new line of classic films on Blu-ray, was akin to feeding my hungry eyes a platter of pure 2D animated magic.

I don’t think I really need to run down the story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs for you, do I? (Read the full original English text by the Brothers Grimm here, if you don’t know it yet.) Disney’s interpretation is pretty much a classic by now. And though it feels it’s being told in a style that’s far from contemporary, Snow White holds up. Enough about the the story, let’s get to the meat of my commentary. Let’s talk about the Blu-ray disc itself!

Robert A. Harris, the famous film historian and preservationist responsible for restoring innumerable films like Lawrence of Arabia (in 1989), Spartacus (1991), My Fair Lady (1994), Vertigo (1996) Rear Window (1998) and more recently the Godfather films, has stated the Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Blu-ray disc is “…essential to any serious collection.” I’d say that’s putting it lightly. This disc is as good as home video gets. Disney has given the film, which many consider to be one of the most important in cinema history, the royal treatment. It looks and sounds absolutely terrific! The studio could have scrubbed it to the bone, removed all grain, sacrificed detail, chopped it to fit your widescreen plasma display or performed any number of operations that would have “improved” the film for modern home video audiences. Instead, they’ve allowed Lowry Digital to carefully bring the 1937 animated film to life, scanning all elements at 4K and using the same proprietary technology that has taken care of classics from The Wizard of Oz to the Star Trek TV series. I can’t imagine Blu-ray getting any better than this.

That being said, this Blu-ray presentation won’t be for everyone. There will be a portion of the audience disappointed by the warts-and-all transfer presented on the disc. There are damaged or misplaced cells within the film which cause it to appear out of focus for a time. This is fine detail that even Walt Disney wouldn’t have noticed during the creation of the film because of the lack of resolution of the Technicolor process. The studio could have digitally “corrected” this effect but chose instead to leave the work as it was created. Brilliant! Again, this is what Blu-ray should be.

By the same token, the sound on the disc is fantastic! I’m sorry for all the unadulterated raving and praise I’m showering on this release but, man, they’ve really knocked it out of the park. The 7.1 DTS-Master Audio track could have been really insulting and over the top, translating the original mono elements into some surround-sound abomination. But again, Disney provides a truly dynamic presentation while remaining true to the spirit of the original work. And just to cover all of their bases, the studio has included the original mono track, for all you purists out there.

The bonus features on the Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Blu-ray disc are wonderful but problematic. Let’s start with the wonder. There is so much stuff packed on to two Blu-ray discs! I spent hours combing through every nook and cranny of this thing – a commentary track hosted by historian John Canemaker and featuring comments by Walt Disney himself, deleted scenes and storyboards, short documentaries and the Hyperion Studios tour which encompasses hours upon hours of shorts (Silly Symphonies in HD!), galleries, featurettes and audio snippets. And don’t even get me started about the creepy “Magic Mirror” which greets you every time you put the disc in. That thing will talk to you about the time of day, the weather outside, how many times you’ve watched the disc…Brrr…Creepy…

What I didn’t like about the extras was the Hyperion Studios tour navigation and the fact that Disney has failed to include all of the bonus features from the 2001 DVD release. In order to watch the features buried within the Hyperion tour (and they are multitudinous!) , the disc forces you to navigate your way through a maze of “rooms” within the studio. So, say for instance that I wanted to watch the “Steamboat Willy” short (Did I mention that all the Silly Symphonies are in HD! SILLY SYMPHONIES IN HD!!! “THE OLD MILL”, “FLOWERS AND TREES”, “GODDESS OF SPRING” AND MORE IN HD!!!! … You should really just stop reading now and run out and buy this disc.) I’d have to find my way over to the “Sound Stage” before selecting it. This is a drag. By the same token, I found it annoying that there wasn’t a “Play All” button that would have just taken me on the tour, allowing me to sit back and enjoy all the contents. I found myself having to press play on a new feature at least every few minutes. Hell, some of the little nuggets of information, like “Stories from the Camera Department” are less than 60 seconds long!

From what I can tell, this new Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Blu-ray is missing a few critical features from the 2001 DVD. Most critically a 40-minute documentary hosted by Angela Lansbury and more abandoned and deleted scenes. It’s a shame we’re all going to have to hold on to our old DVDs to have everything. I mean, the feature is the thing here and it is glorious. But this would have been a perfect disc for me, if Disney had made it a bit more comprehensive. Seriously, ditch the Tiffany Thorton music video (Who the hell is Tiffany Thorton anyway?) and give me more deleted scenes!

One final gripe – the packaging. I live for this stuff. I love Blu-ray and home video. And despite my familiarity with these sorts of things I found the dual package marketing strategy baffling. It took me ages to figure out that Disney was offering the same contents in two completely different packages, targeted at two different audiences. One release is in standard Blu-ray packaging, implying that the DVD included in the package is a bonus. The other release is in standard DVD packaging and strongly implies that the Blu-ray content is the bonus. ARGHH!! What a frustrating thing to do to your customers, Disney! I mean, I get it. I understand what the goal is but there’s got to be a better way. Just saying.

NOTE: The Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Blu-ray disc is only $9.99 at Amazon.com at the moment (Oct. 6, 2009.) Use the code “snowhite” to get $10 off their already amazingly low price!

14 Classic Disney Animated Titles in Upcoming Diamond Collection Blu-ray Releases

Brenden — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 13:18:11 +0000

We’re only a few weeks away from getting our hands on Disney‘s Snow White on Blu-ray. Based upon the studio’s work on their Sleeping Beauty and Pinocchio discs, we can expect great things. And now we have even more to look forward to. Disney has given us a look at what we can expect from their premium Diamond Collection line of Blu-ray discs all the way up to 2016!! 2010 will bring us Fantasia and Beauty and the Beast (as well as Fantasia 2000), continuing forward at a rate of two titles per year with The Lion King, Bambi, Cinderella, Lady and the Tramp, The Little Mermaid, Peter Pan, The Jungle Book, 101 Dalmatians and more. More details in the press release below:

ANAHEIM, Calif., Sept. 10

Beginning with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs on October 6, the Diamond Collection comprises an additional 13 of Disney’s most treasured titles, including: Beauty and the Beast; Fantasia and Fantasia 2000; The Lion King; Bambi; Cinderella; Lady and the Tramp; The Little Mermaid; Peter Pan; The Jungle Book; 101 Dalmatians; Sleeping Beauty; and Pinocchio.

“Walt Disney’s gift of telling captivating and engaging stories was matched only by his passion for presenting them in the most spectacular way,” commented The Walt Disney Studios Chairman Dick Cook. “We are proud to continue his pursuit of excellence with ‘The Diamond Collection,’ which brings the films that are the foundation of our Company to audiences of all ages across the globe.”

As part of the new Diamond Collection criteria, each film will be thoroughly restored to the highest level of picture and sound, feature groundbreaking, state-of-the-art immersive bonus content, and include unprecedented levels of interactivity, personalization and customization only made possible by Blu-ray technology. The Disney Diamond Collection will represent a major transformation of the home entertainment industry providing families with more engaging, entertaining experiences than any other format.

Bob Chapek, President of Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment adds, “Because today’s family rooms are more technologically-advanced and consumer expectations are higher than ever, we are excited to announce the launch of the Diamond Collection. We believe that the collection offers consumers the opportunity to enjoy these timeless classics like never before, and underlines Disney’s commitment to continue to bring the best quality product and immersive experiences in to the home.”

Kicking off the new worldwide collection in October will be Walt Disney’s first full-length animated feature film, the one that started it all, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Two titles will be selected each year, including Beauty and the Beast and Fantasia in 2010, as Blu-ray Diamond editions, each title will be released from the Disney vault for a limited time.

The new Diamond Collection takes full advantage of the newest breakthroughs in film restoration to exhibit these movies in Blu-ray Hi-Def, ensuring each film is digitally enhanced from their original negatives providing for the first time ever a pristine 1080p picture and Dolby Digital 7.1 surround sound.

WDSHE is updating each Diamond Collection disc to contain newly branded features that offer a more immersive, user-friendly experience that will keep families entertained for hours. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs ‘Diamond’ treatment includes:

Hyperion Studios, a ‘Backstage Disney’ feature, which allows audiences to be digitally transported to 1937 to discover first-hand the Hyperion Studios, the original studio Walt Disney himself built and where Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was conceived and developed. Viewers will virtually walk the halls of this historic landmark experiencing life at Hyperion Studios back in the 1930′s. This “Backstage Disney” feature contains newly dimensionalized archival photos, animator recordings, archival transcripts and rare footage of Walt himself revealing how Disney’s gifted filmmakers crafted the very first animated feature.

The Magic Mirror offers ‘Smart Navigation’, using the latest in Blu-ray technology, the iconic Magic Mirror guides the audience through the Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Diamond Edition features with ease serving as the “host” for an incredibly immersive experience. The Mirror will recognize viewing patterns, knows where the audience has left off and will even suggest where to navigate next. This marks the first use of artificial intelligence in a Disney Blu-ray release and provides viewers the control to personally create a customized Snow White experience.

Mirror, Mirror On The Wall is one of ‘Disney’s Family Play’ features, through BD-Live, this mirror can find the secret princess inside each viewer with a series of questions, then create for them a personal message from their favorite princess who will call them on the telephone. Additional Family Play features include, What Do You See? an interactive game, where players must untangle scrambled images and Jewel Jumble a game where jewels from the Dwarfs’ mine must be put in order to win the game.

About Disney’s New Blu-ray Diamond Collection:

The new Blu-ray Diamond Collection represents The Walt Disney Studio’s most prestigious animated classics. The Blu-ray Diamond Edition Discs will be comprised of 14 of Walt Disney’s most treasured animated classic titles to be released through 2016. These titles represent the highest level of picture and sound, feature groundbreaking, state-of-the-art immersive bonus content, and include unprecedented levels of interactivity, personalization and customization, only made possible by Blu-ray technology.

About Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment

Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, a recognized leader in the home entertainment industry, is the marketing, sales and distribution company for Walt Disney, Touchstone, Hollywood Pictures, Miramax and Buena Vista product which includes DVD, Blu-ray Disc, and electronic distribution. Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment is a division of The Walt Disney Studios.

[VIDEO] Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Blu-Ray Details and Trailer

Brenden — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 23:27:38 +0000

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is the third in Disney‘s line of amazing high definition releases of popular films from their library of animated classics. If this, their first animated feature, is given anywhere near the love and care that their previous Blu-ray releases received, it might just be considered definitive. I’m not sure how they could improve on what they accomplished with their Sleeping Beauty and Pinocchio discs. October 6th can’t come soon enough.

SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS
(October 6, 2009 – MSRP $39.99)
Video: Fullscreen (1.33:1)
Audio: 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio

Special Features:

Disney View
Snow White Returns Storyboards
Audio Commentary with Walt Disney
Princess and the Frog Sneak Peek
Mirror, Mirror on the Wall Game
What Do You See Game
Jewel Jumble Game
Scene Stealer Activity
Hyperion Studios
The One That Started It All- featurette (Walt’s Vision of a sequel)
All New Music Video, Someday My Prince Will Come by Sonny with a Chance Star Tiffany Thornton
Also includes bonus features from original DVD release

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