Hayao Miyazaki‘s first independently created film, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind was released on Blu-ray in Japan a couple of weeks ago, selling a record 20,000 units in the first week alone. The disc is feature packed, super-well designed and sports a gorgeous transfer sourced from a 6K scan of the original elements. I can’t wait to own this thing. But my impulse to import has been stayed with the confirmation that the film will be hitting Blu in both the U.K. and Australia sooner than I suspected! …Continued…
James and the Giant Peach quite often reminds me of the best intentioned but ultimately flawed Terry Gilliam films – films which craft beautiful, imaginative moments that hit all the right notes, only to shift tone at the drop of the hat, sacrificing pacing and an overall sense of cohesion. But like Gilliam’s work, the parts that really shine are like the finest diamonds. Or in this case, the ripest Peach. …Continued…
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… …Continued…
My schedule has been overwhelming lately. I’ve found it rather difficult to cram Blu-ray viewing sessions into my crowded, busy days. As such, it took me three sittings to make it through Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland, but the experience was surprisingly rewarding in the end. …Continued…
Oh geez. I’m all confused here. There are just too many titles hitting shelves again this week but no obvious “must-buy” disc, as far as I’m concerned. The new Hollywood blockbuster remakes all stumble in the storytelling department, the catalogue titles feature far-from-perfect presentations and there are just no damn Criterion titles as far as the eye can see! But don’t fear, if none of the brand spanking new titles do it for you this week, I’m sure you can find something in the massive batch of Eastwood newly released or re-released, as the case may be, on Blu-ray! Seriously, how many movies did has that guy made?! …Continued…
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. …Continued…
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. …Continued…
It’s only been a month and a bit since Tim Burton’s latest twisted nightmare-on-film, Alice in Wonderland, hit the cinemas and it’s already announced for release on Blu-ray! This is a highly controversial move, which pissed off a lot of exhibitors. But you know what? By the time this disc comes out in June, there will already have been so many massive summer blockbusters taking over the big screen (Iron Man 2, Robin Hood, Shrek Forever After, Sex and the City 2, etc.) that Alice would have clearly ended up being lost in the muddle anyway. Better to get in onto Blu as soon as possible before the marketing loses steam altogether, right? …Continued…
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It’s hard to believe it’s been fifteen years since the first Toy Story film was released! The quality of computer animation has come a long way since then but the writing, the craftsmanship on display in both the original film and its sequel are without equal. These are brilliant films, presented here in brilliant, near-perfect Blu-ray editions. …Continued…