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Blu-ray Holiday Gift Guide 2011: Gift Sets

Brenden — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 05:28:34 +0000

Winter is upon us, the snow is falling and the holiday shopping season is well under way. Now, more than ever, we’re faced with such a vast selection of amazing Blu-ray discs packaged in special collector’s multi-disc sets that it can be tough to know just what to add to your wish list or what to buy for that special Blu-ray loving someone. Hopefully this list will provide you a nice place to start.

Up next: TV on Blu-ray!

This is the Criterion Blu-ray release I feel I’ve been waiting for all year. The culmination of everything the studio does well – grabbing up the rights to the best foreign and indie films, providing them the finest presentations possible and cramming the discs they’re on full of bonus goodies. And the Three Colors trilogy of films by Krzysztof Kieślowski are some of the most iconic foreign/indie films of the ’90s, easily deserving a place in the collection. In fact, many would argue that the inclusion of these films in the Criterion library is long overdue. The transfers of each of the three films are spectacular and the extensive collection of special features don’t disappoint. If you’ve got a true film fan to buy for this holiday season, this is definitely the Blu-ray boxed set to get them.

Highest possible recommendation!

AMAZON: $55.49

I might have spoken too soon when I proclaimed Taxi Driver to be the Blu-ray release of the year (I’m sorry, Taxi Driver. You are a truly glorious disc and I love you to bits but this is a whole new kind of awesome.) I had no idea at that time that Warner would knock it out of the park with their world-class restoration of Ben-Hur. This transfer looks so much better than any film of its age has any right to. According to the studio, the film has, “undergone a $1 million restoration — frame by frame from an 8k scan of the original 65 mm camera negative,” and it shows. You can see every single dollar up there on the screen. Watching Ben-Hur now, in my living room, is like watching a pristine, newly struck print of the film, with all the detail, the spot-on, rock-solid Technicolor hues popping through the frame. This is exactly what the format is all about. This is why I’m a Blu-ray enthusiast. When guests doubt what Blu-ray can do for older films (and they often do, when we discuss the merits of the format) I’ll now only have to show them a few minutes of Ben-Hur to prove why it’s the only way to truly experience movies in the home. This is one of the finest and most complete boxed sets made available this year.

Highest possible recommendation!

AMAZON: $47.99

This is it! Potentially the biggest Blu-ray release of the year, if not of all time. The Star Wars saga is finally on Blu-ray. It feels like we’ve been writing about these discs for years – speculating, reporting, commenting – and now they’re on store shelves and will be under many trees this holiday season. I’m sad to report that I still haven’t laid eyes on the set (there were precious few reviewers in Canada who were sent screeners and I’ve yet to pony up the dough to own it) but I would be remiss if I didn’t remind you that if your loved one is a fan and doesn’t have this in their collection yet (ahem!) you might want to seriously consider grabbing them up a copy.

READ MORE: Star Wars Blu-ray Round-up

AMAZON: $99.99

Speaking of “biggest Blu-ray releases of the year”, it would be criminal not to add Citizen Kane to that list. “The #1 greatest film of all time” deserves at least as much recognition as Lucas’ space opera epic does. The “Gift Set” version of the Blu-ray includes a ton of extra content including DVD editions of the films “The Battle Over Citizen Kane” and “RKO 281” and a 48-page hardcover book, among many other treats.

AMAZON: $47.49

This is the very first boxed set to contain every single Harry Potter film on Blu-ray. I suspect it’s going to be a pretty hot seller this holiday season. Especially at this price point (only $79.99 on Amazon), which nets you all the films for less than ten bucks a pop. The only real downside to this is that you’re only getting the feature film discs in this set. All of those bonus discs from the individual Blu-ray releases and all of the goodies on them are absent here, so this is far from the ultimate potential package for this series. I’m sure there will be a mega-set in a year’s time but for now, if you don’t own any of the films on Blu or are looking for a nice gift around the $100 price-point, this is a great package.

I haven’t laid eyes on this long awaited Blu-ray boxed set myself, but by all accounts Universal got Jurassic Park completely right. After the studio’s less-than-stellar track record bringing catalogue titles to the format, I was concerned that Steven Spielberg‘s dino epics would suffer at their hands. But I’m excited to see that early reviews are glowing. I’m betting that Spielberg had a hand in making sure these films looked their best and I’m also betting that Universal wouldn’t dare publish new high-def editions of his films that are less than stellar. I think this bodes well for their upcoming release of Jaws on Blu. Fingers crossed they get that one right too!

AMAZON: $80.49

This is one of the most comprehensive Blu-ray sets to be released this year – 15-discs, remastered extended editions of all 3 films in the Lord of the Rings series, all the special features from the “Extended Edition” DVDs, the three Costa Botes documentaries and digital copies of the films all in one big box. And the HD transfer this time around is the detailed, gorgeous one you were hoping for last year but didn’t receive from the lackluster “Theatrical Edition” Blu-ray release, so really, if you or a loved one are a fan of these films, there’s really no down side to picking up this set. Especially at the current Amazon price!

AMAZON: $49.99

The West Side Story Blu-ray is somewhat controversial (there seems to be a few technical errors with the transfer – read more about that here) but if you’ve got a Blu-ray collector who loves musicals on your shopping list you might want to check out this gift set from Fox. It’s pretty impressive, including 2 Blu-ray discs (one with the feature and the other with a ton of extras), a DVD edition of the film, a soundtrack CD, a hardcover book and a bunch of collectibles. And seriously, who’s really going to notice that pesky incorrect scene transition from the main titles anyway?

AMAZON: $44.99

This is damn near the Superman boxed set I’ve been waiting for all my Blu-ray loving life! All five films – two versions each of Superman and Superman II. All the deleted scenes. The commentary tracks. The documentaries. Everything – and I mean everything – has been carried over from the DVDs. There’s even some new stuff to be found here – some new documentary features and the original, never-before-seen opening of Superman Returns. And, for the most part, everything looks great in HD, with even the previously available original film receiving a brand spanking new transfer that provides it a slight visual uptick from the old disc.

My only real gripe with this whole, beautiful boxed set is that Warner didn’t take this opportunity to upgrade the classic Fleischer cartoons to HD. A criminal oversight, if you ask me. Nevertheless, despite my singular issue with the Blu-ray set (and the questionable quality of the third and fourth Christopher Reeve films included within – not the Blu-ray discs, mind you, which are quite handsome, but the nigh-unwatchable films themselves), this is a killer offering from Warner. And most definitely highly recommended.

FULL 8-DISC SET DETAILS: 8-Disc The Superman Motion Picture Anthology Blu-ray box set for June

AMAZON: $77.98

Does your loved one obsess over the Dragon Tattoo trilogy? Have they read all the books, seen all the films and do they own every bit of memorabilia available? Well, I guarantee they don’t have this brand-spanking-new 4-disc Blu-ray set that features all three original Swedish films in their extended made-for-TV formats along with a bunch of exclusive special features. It’s out in stores tomorrow (December 6th) and should be at the top of every Millennium fan’s Christmas list.

Canadian version pictured. Amazon.ca: $59.99

US Edition: $46.99

This is 8-discs of Lion King goodness, featuring all 3 feature films, the original film in 3D, DVDs and digital copies of the films and a ton of bonus content all packed in a box with the little African drum pictured in the image above.

AMAZON: $62.99

Much like the Lion King gift set, this is a Cars fan’s wet dream, featuring all the feature length and short films in the series in various incarnations (3D, 2D, Blu-ray, DVD, Digital Copy etc) housed in collectible packaging.

AMAZON: $69.99

Another Disney Gift Set package, this time packing all four Pirates films (15-discs, including all disc variations, features and extras) into a treasure chest.

AMAZON: $99.99

These are the same three Mission: Impossible discs that have been previously released, on shelves again in new packaging and at a lower, more affordable price, just in time to take advantage of the hype surrounding the new film, Ghost Protocol.

AMAZON: $27.99

Top New Blu-ray releases for the Week of September 13

Brenden — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 22:38:09 +0000

Who’s got a pile of cash burning a hole in their wallets? You do?! Would you like to buy me all these pretty Blu-ray discs please? I’ll be your best pal forever…

Urgh. What’s wrong with these studios? Why are they piling on the Blu-ray discs this week, when they all know damn well that this is Star Wars week? The public has blinders on, I tell you. All they want is lightsabers and gungans. Okay, maybe not gungans but you know what I mean. I’m really hoping some of these amazing discs don’t get lost in the shuffle. There are so many quality titles hitting today, I could only cover a handful of them. So, scour the listing images down below this week as you’re bound to find some gold in them thar hills (like Trainspotting, Hesher, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, O Brother, Where Art Thou, and so many more!)

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: STAR WARS: THE COMPLETE SAGA

Star Wars Complete Saga includes Episodes I-VI, Star Wars Documentaries, deleted extended and alternate scenes; prop, maquette and costume turnarounds; matte paintings and concept art; supplementary interviews with cast and crew; and more

This is it! Potentially the biggest Blu-ray release of the year, if not of all time. The Star Wars saga is finally on Blu-ray this week (Friday, September 16th, to be exact.) It feels like we’ve been writing about these discs for years – speculating, reporting, commenting – and now they’re nearly in our hands. I don’t have a review copy yet but plenty of folks around the internet do and are offering up reports on the transfers and special features. Some are disturbed that the presentation “isn’t the home run that it should be” (The Digital Fix) while others hale it as “wonderful” (Blu-ray.com). I’ll reserve judgement until I lay eyes on the films themselves. I’m hoping to get my hands on a copy before the end of the week. Despite my best efforts to temper my inner-nerd, I think I’m pretty excited to dive into this boxed set!

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…

Star Wars Blu-ray controversy/screencaps/unboxing

Brenden — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 22:28:52 +0000

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.

I’ve been a lifelong Star Wars fan and I can honestly say that these changes don’t have much effect on me at all. I’ll admit, I couldn’t help but groan in disappointment as I watched the leaked clips but I can’t say that any of the added cries, Ewok-blinking or enlarged, iron doors surprised me. And ultimately I can’t really say that I care. You see, to me, the “Special Edition” versions of the films that were introduced in ’97 (you know, the original “Greedo shoots first”/”Han steps on Jabba’s tail” Special Editions) are far enough away from the versions that I loved as a child that any additional changes built upon that base, including alterations made for the 2004 DVD releases as well as these most recent ones, are of little consequence. And frankly, I’m surprised that anyone is making noise about any of Lucas‘ revisions after all this time. What’s done is done. The “Special Editions” will never be what you want, no matter what is done to them at this point. If you ask me, the fan outcry should simply concern the lack of unaltered, original versions of the films on Blu-ray. That’s the holy grail. That’s what we all really want, right? And until we get those versions of the original Star Wars trilogy on Blu-ray, we’ll never truly be happy.

That said, early word on the Blu-ray discs is pegging the 9-disc set as a must-have for collectors and fans still on board with the franchise, with reference-quality transfers on all six films and a great collection of bonus goodies. I’ll reserve my judgement on this set until I get a chance to lay eyes on it myself but these screengrabs from the AVS Forum (courtesy of user “Dark_zero“) have got me thinking that the presentation of the films on Blu (potential teal-shift aside) might be thrilling enough to warrant the purchase for even the most jaded or lapsed fan. Check ‘em out!

Don’t forget to CLICK to ENLARGE!

And for those of you who can’t wait ’till Friday or just enjoy “Unboxing” videos, here’s a few minutes of some lucky geezer here in Quebec who got his hands on the 9-disc set early, showing you what the box, book-packaging and discs look like. How do I know he’s from Quebec? A combination of the little ratings sticker on the back of the disc set and his “outrageous French (Canadian) accent” gave away the game! Oh, and his Facebook page says he’s from Montreal. Ahem…

Star Wars Blu-ray first impressions and list of deleted scenes

Brenden — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 23:41:37 +0000

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. But aside from assurances that the A/V quality is up to snuff this time (I get the feeling this show-and-tell was Lucasfilm‘s way of assuaging those of us who felt the DVDs were rushed and cut massive corners) there aren’t any serious revelations to be had. Then again, it sounds as if he’s holding back some crucial new info, perhaps under NDA for a time, so expect the unexpected when the discs arrive (like maybe, just maybe, the inclusion of the Boba Fett cartoon from the Star Wars Holiday Special as a hidden Easter Egg!)

A few hours later I stumbled over to Movies.com, who have posted a list purporting to reveal the complete collection of deleted scenes that will be featured on the Blu-ray discs. It looks pretty solid but I wouldn’t be surprised to see it bloom a little beyond this size, whether officially or with the addition of Easter Egg content (cough…animated Boba Fett), by the time the September 16th release rolls around.

EPISODE I

Trash Talking Droids
The Battle Is Over
Anakin's Return
Battle On The Boarding Ramp
Extended Podrace Wager
Bail Organa of Alderaan

EPISODE II

Extended Speeder Chase
The Lost Twenty
Anakin's Nightmares
Anakin and Ruwee
Raid On The Droid Control Ship and Extended Arena Fight

EPISODE III

Elevator Antics
Escape The Hangar
Changes To The Constitution
Utapau Chase Animatics
Mustafar Duel Animatics
Mustafar Duel
Lava River Animatics
Kashyyyk Attack and Order 66 Animatic
Anakin kills Shaak Ti
Jedi Imposters at the Temple
Senate Duel Anamatic
Yoda Communes with Qui-Gon

EPISODE IV

Tosche Station
Old Woman on Tatooine
Aunt Beru's Blue Milk
The Search for R2-D2
Cantina Rough Cut
Stormtrooper Search
Darth Vader Widens the Search
Alternate Biggs and Luke Reunion

EPISODE V

Han and Leia: Extended Echo Base Argument
Luke's Recovery
Luke and Leia: Medical Center
Deleted Wampa Scenes
The Fate of General Veers
Yoda's Test
Hiding in the Asteroid
Alternate Han and Leia Kiss
Lobot's Capture
Leia Tends to Luke

EPISODE VI

Vader's Arrival and Reaching Out to Luke
Tatooine Sandstorm
Rebel Raid on the Bunker
Jerjerrod's Conflict
Battle of Endor: The Lost Rebels

[VIDEO] Another Star Wars: The Complete Saga Blu-ray trailer

Brenden — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 18:41:17 +0000

Okay. One more trailer pimping the Star Wars: The Complete Saga Blu-ray set before it hits US and Canadian shops on September 16th (a few days earlier in the UK, on the 12th.) There’s nothing really new here outside of a few more clips of rarely seen cut scenes. Looks pretty good but I’m getting tired of all the previews of these same old things. How about more hints at hidden easter-eggs on the discs? Or just shipping me a review copy super early, so that I can get all of this anticipation out of my system? Huh? What ‘dya say, Fox? Anybody out there?

Ahem. In somewhat exciting Star Wars pricing news, Amazon has dropped the pre-order prices of the individual trilogies to under $40 each, which is great for you Prequel haters out there. The real bummer of the deal is that if you don’t pony up for the complete 9-Disc package you’ll be missing out on a lot of those bonus features – a good part of the reason to re-buy these films on disc in the first place. But go ahead and do as you will. I’ve offered fair warning…

Star Wars: The Complete Saga Blu-ray preview with Holiday Special easter egg

Brenden — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 17:44:58 +0000

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.

In addition, James Finn over at Fox has revealed an additional look inside the packaging via his Twitter account, which features artwork by Ann Hanson – a piece called “On the Hunt” which appeared in the Star Wars Art: Visions book and is clearly inspired by the character’s animated debut in the much-derided Star Wars: Holiday Special. Is this page a hint at a hidden special feature? Will the Holiday Special or even just the short animated spot be an easter egg on the Blu-ray disc or appear as a “Deleted Scene”? We’ll know for sure on September 16th when Star Wars: The Complete Saga is released.

In the meantime, check out our pal Justin Sluss‘ look at the Star Wars Blu-ray: Early Access App in his video embedded below. Justin runs the site High Def Disc News and does a great job here, walking you through the iPad application, which allows you to preview a decent amount of special features from the upcoming boxed set. The Star Wars Blu-ray: Early Access App is available for free download at the iTunes store for all iOS devices.

LEGO Star Wars: The Padawan Menace animated special comes to Blu-ray

Brenden — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 00:42:06 +0000

Okay, I had no idea that LEGO was making TV specials now. This is kind of cool. My nephew plays the crap out of all of those LEGO video games on his XBOX 360. I’ve played a few myself and I’ve got to tell you, they’re way fun. Really well put together with a great sense of humour. From the look of the trailer above, the LEGO Star Wars special, The Padawan Menace, shows all the signs of capturing the kid-friendly mayhem of the games. Apparently, the show premiered on The Cartoon Network last week and has now been announced for release on Blu-ray this coming September 16th, the same day its big brothers, the actual real Star Wars films arrive on Blu. For the time being, though, the LEGO disc is a Walmart exclusive. We’ll see how long that lasts…

LEGO STAR WARS: THE PADAWAN MENACE
(September 16, 2011 – MSRP $19.99 )
Video: 1080p
Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1

Special Features:

Hunt for R2-D2
Bombad Bounty
Star Wars in Two Minutes (Part 1)
Star Wars in Two Minutes (Part 2)
Star Wars Clone Wars In Cinema
Exclusive Young Han Solo LEGO minifigure

[VIDEO] Star Wars Blu-ray Deleted Scenes preview

Brenden — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 06:33:39 +0000

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. There are a lot of snippets of great stuff here. Footage we’ve only been hearing about for years like the Echo Base wampa attack and the post-Sail-Barge-attack sandstorm sequence. This is the stuff of nerdy wet dreams! I’m now officially excited for September 16th, even with my package art issues.

Top 10 New Blu-ray releases for the Week of May 31

Brenden — Tue, 31 May 2011 22:33:25 +0000

This is Kubrick day. There’s no doubt about it. As much as I love a lot of these other releases hitting shops today, it’s all about the Kubrick. Check out the unboxing video above, made by the fine folks over at DVDTown to see for yourself what all the fuss is about. That’s a damn beautiful set!

1. STANLEY KUBRICK FILMS

9 Groundbreaking Movies. 10 Discs. One Visionary Moviemaker.
SPARTACUS (1960) The genre-defining epic tale of a bold gladiator (Kirk Douglas) who leads a triumphant Roman slave revolt.
LOLITA (1962) Academic Humbert Humbert (James Mason) is obsessed with a blithe teen (Sue Lyon) in a dark comedy from Vladimir Nabokov’s novel.
DR. STRANGELOVE (1964) “Accidental” nuclear apocalypse, anyone? Peter Sellers heads the cast of one of the most blazingly hilarious movies of all time.
2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY (1968) “The most awesome, beautiful and mentally stimulating science-fiction film of all time” (Danny Peary, Guide for the Film Fanatic).
A CLOCKWORK ORANGE: 40th Anniversary Edition (2-Discs) (1971) Future world neo-punk Malcolm McDowell becomes the guinea pig for a government cure of his tendency toward “the old ultraviolence.”
BARRY LYNDON (1975) The visually spellbinding tale of an 18th-century Irish rogue’s (Ryan O’Neal) climb to wealth and privilege.
THE SHINING (1980) In a macabre masterpiece adapted from Stephen King’s novel, Jack Nicholson falls prey to forces haunting a snowbound mountain resort.
FULL METAL JACKET (1987) Marine recruits endure basic training under a leather-lunged D.I., then plunge into the hell of Vietnam.
EYES WIDE SHUT (1999) A wife’s admission of unfulfilled longing plunges a Manhattan doctor into a bizarre erotic odyssey. Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman star.

Oy. Where do I start? This is one monster boxed set. One of the most significant Blu-ray collections that will be released all year. And for the most part, it’s a killer. A must-own. If you don’t have a bunch of the included discs in your collection already.

This 9-film, 10-disc collection of the works of director Stanley Kubrick includes his entire oeuvre, short of the pre-1960 works (Fear and Desire, still unavailable on home video, Killer’s Kiss and The Killing coming to Criterion Blu-ray on August and Paths of Glory which you can grab on an awesome Criterion Blu right now.) The films themselves are beyond reproach, say what you will about Eyes Wide Shut. Every title in the collection is a classic. Sadly, not every classic is treated equally in the boxed set.

As you’re no doubt aware by this point, most of the discs in the set have been appropriated from previously released editions, with Spartacus and Dr. Strangelove making appearances here in this Warner Home Video set thanks to their home studios, Universal and Sony, respectively. Sony’s disc is balls-out awesome, with a great transfer and tons of extras. Universal’s disc sucks, with a crappy looking picture and an anemic selection of bonus stuff (I’m still crossing my fingers that Criterion will win back the license to release the definitive Blu-ray edition of Spartacus, a high-def upgrade of their amazing DVD from 2001.) The rest of the films, the 7 titles under Warner’s control, never suffer as much on Blu as the waxy-looking Spartacus does, with most transfers appearing quite spectacular (I’m looking at you, you handsome, reference-quality 2001: A Space Odyssey Blu-ray!) Eyes Wide Shut is afflicted with a relatively noisy, inconsistent presentation and A Clockwork Orange, despite being available in a new 40th Anniversary Edition is still far from perfect (it’s the same VC-1 transfer from the previously available 2007 Blu-ray) but most everything here is roses. The old transfers for The Shining and Full Metal Jacket are all-around quite nice and the brand spanking new editions of Barry Lyndon and Lolita are gorgeous. Actually, I’d go so far as to say that they’re nearly perfect. While devoid of bonus features, these are the Blu-ray editions of the films that you’ve been hoping for.

If you already own a bunch of these discs separately, you’ll probably want to avoid picking up the Collection set, as it only offers you a couple of films new to Blu that you can now purchase in individual releases (Amazon exclusives, at the moment.) The tenth disc in the set features the docs Stanley Kubrick: A Life in Pictures (142 minutes but still in SD) and O Lucky Malcolm! (an 86 minute, HD feature about Malcolm McDowell) and is also available in the new A Clockwork Orange: 40th Anniversary set.

The book-like packaging of the entire Collection is handsome, however, and much nicer to have on your shelf than separately packaged discs. Have I mentioned how much I love this type of packaging? It’s the same sort of gorgeous hardcover, thick digi-book that Warner used for their fantastic Deadwood Blu-ray set. It’s so nice, it’s almost worth ditching your old discs for the upgrade.

Either way, if you’re a Kubrick fan or a film fan in general, you’ll want to pick up these films on Blu, whether all together in the set, or simply the stunning new editions of Lolita and Barry Lyndon on their own. You can’t go wrong.

AMAZON: $104.99

NEWLY AVAILABLE:

BARRY LYNDON

How does an Irish lad without prospects become part of 18th-century English nobility? For Barry Lyndon (Ryan O’Neal) the answer is: any way he can! His climb to wealth and privilege is the enthralling focus of this sumptuous Stanley Kubrick version of William Makepeace Thackeray’s novel. For this ravishing, slyly satiric winner of 4 Academy Awards, Kubrick found inspiration in the works of the era’s painters. Costumes and sets were crafted in the era’s designs and pioneering lenses were developed to shoot interiors and exteriors in natural light. The result is a cutting-edge movie bringing a historical period to vivid screen life like no other film before or since.

Like I said above, this is the Blu-ray edition of Barry Lyndon you’ve been waiting for. It’s stellar all around. The transfer is soft, as you’d expect from this candle-lit picture, but all-around stunning and accurate to the source. The mono audio source has been expanded to an impressive DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track, though remains quite front-heavy in execution. Sadly, the only special feature is the theatrical trailer.

AMAZON: $13.99

LOLITA

Newly arrived in Ramsdale, New Hampshire, European émigré Humbert Humbert is smitten. He plans to marry Charlotte Haze. That way he’ll always be close to his dear one – Charlotte’s precocious daughter! Filmmaker Stanley Kubrick explores the theme of sexual obsession (a subject he would revisit 37 years later in Eyes Wide Shut) with this darkly comic and deeply moving version of Vladimir Nabokov’s novel. James Mason plays devious, deluded Humbert: wedded to needy Charlotte (Shelley Winters); rivaled by the ubiquitous Clare Quilty (chameleonlike Peter Sellers); and enraptured to his gelatinous core by the blithe teen (Sue Lyon) with that “lovely, lyrical, lilting name” – Lolita.

Again, if you’ve been praying to the home-video Gods for a faithful, impressive release of Lolita on Blu, your wish has been granted. The image is everything you’ve been hoping for – a film-like presentation completely accurate to the source material. The DTS-HD Master Audio track doesn’t expand beyond the original audio this time and sounds great, for what it is. There are no extras of which to speak on this disc, beyond the standard-def trailer.

AMAZON: $14.99

A CLOCKWORK ORANGE: 40th Anniversary Edition

Stomping, whomping, stealing, singing, tap-dancing, violating. Hooligan Alex (Malcolm McDowell) has a good time – at the tragic expense of others. His journey from amoral punk to brainwashed proper citizen and back again forms the dynamic arc of Stanley Kubrick’s future-shock vision of Anthony Burgess’ novel. Controversial when first released, A Clockwork Orange won New York Film Critics Best Picture and Director Awards and earned four Oscar nominations, including Best Picture. Its power still entices, shocks and holds us in its grasp.

The individual release of the 40th Anniversary A Clockwork Orange Blu-ray is an upgrade from the 2007 edition in that it includes a couple of new HD bonus features, a second disc with excellent docs on Kubrick and lead actor Malcolm McDowell and a handsome digibook package. The only other difference from the old disc is that a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track takes the place of the earlier uncompressed LPCM mix. To my ear, however, they sound identical.

Special Features:

Commentary by Malcolm McDowell and historian Nick Redman
Malcolm McDowell Looks Back: Malcolm McDowell reflects on his experience working with legendary director Stanley Kubrick on one of the seminal films of the 1970s (new)
Turning like Clockwork: the film’s ultra-violence and its cultural impact (new)
Still Tickin’: The Return of Clockwork Orange
Great Bolshy Yarblockos!: Making A Clockwork Orange
Theatrical Trailer
Stanley Kubrick: A Life in Pictures: Kubrick’s career comes into sharp focus in this compelling documentary narrated by Tom Cruise. Fascinating footage glimpses Kubrick in his early years, at work on film sets and at home, augmented by candid commentary from collaborators, colleagues and family (new to Blu-ray)
O Lucky Malcolm!: Documentary about the life and career of actor Malcolm McDowell produced and directed by Jan Harlan

AMAZON: $25.99

2. ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST

Sergio Leone‘s monumental picture, here in its original form, ranks among his most admirable achievements. In the dying days of the Old West, a struggle to control water in a dusty desert town embroils three hard-bitten gunmen in a epic clash of greed, honor and revenge. Henry Fonda stars in his most sinister role as Frank, a hired killer who ruthlessly slays an entire family. Jason Robards plays Cheyenne, an infamous bandit framed for slaughter. And Charles Bronson is The Man, a mysterious loner determined to exact vengeance for a grudge he refuses to divulge. An influence on countless directors, Leone’s masterpiece is considered among the greatest Western’s ever made.

On any other week, Leone’s Once Upon a Time in the West would’ve been a shoe-in for the number one slot. This is a classic film, most would agree that it’s the director’s best, presented now in a gorgeous new Blu-ray edition from Paramount. Detail is astounding here, in a picture that offers greater depth than you’d expect from a film of its age. Colours are vivid and sun-ravaged and blacks imposing and deep. Slight print damage survives the digital restoration and some unobtrusive wobble is present but nothing that will distract from this otherwise excellent presentation. This is what a studio can do with a classic film when they really put their minds to it.

Paramount have included the original mono soundtrack for purists but you’ll want to check out the more dynamic, yet still tasteful, DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track. Subtle ambient effects inform the sonic environment without compromising the original sound design of the film. Excellent work.

Special features have been carried over from the previously available DVD edition of the film and are, for the most part, well worth a look. The most impressive feature of the disc, however, is the fact that the studio has included two different cuts of the film for your viewing pleasure – the original theatrical 165-minute version as well as the 166-minute restoration.

Highly recommended!!

Special Features:

Feature Film: Restored Version
Feature Film: Theatrical Version
Commentary with contributions by directors John Carpenter, John Milius and Alex Cox, film historians Sir Christopher Frayling and Dr. Sheldon Hall, cast and crew
An Opera of Violence
The Wages of Sin
Something to do with Death
Railroad: Revolutionizing the West
Locations Then & Now
Production Gallery
Theatrical Trailer

AMAZON: $15.99

3. TRUE BLOOD: THE COMPLETE THIRD SEASON

The Maenadian reign of terror may be over, but Sookie Stackhouse and the townspeople of Bon Temps face a new calamity that makes the bacchanalian evils of Maryanne Forrester seem tame by comparison. In Season 3, Sookie desperately tries to locate her fiancé, ending up in a netherworld of human and undead interlopers, among them the powerful Vampire King of Mississippi, Russell Edgington.

Oh my God, True Blood is addictive. I only just received the Complete Third Season boxed set the other day and have been blasting through its 12-episodes ever since. While I haven’t finished it yet, as of this writing, I have to say that I think it’s the most compelling season yet. But not always for the best reasons. Watching True Blood feels a lot like how I would imagine reading a dirty, yet well crafted romance novel would make one feel. I know I’ve been sucked into pulpy, low-class fare full of naked skin, spilled blood and creatures of the night but damn, I just can’t stop watching. And I don’t feel guilty about it, either. Much like the previous two seasons, the writing is strong and unpredictable, production design is pulpy, sweaty and dark and performances are solid across the board.

HBO and Warner deliver another fang-tastic Blu-ray transfer (sorry) with True Blood: The Complete Third Season. If you’ve seen the first two seasons on Blu, you know what I’m talking about. Blacks are deep and striking, colours are vivid and detail abounds. I did note some compression issues in the blacks but unless you’re watching an improperly calibrated LCD from off-centre, you’ll never notice. The sound track is beyond reproach, with every neck bite and howl to the moon perfectly reproduced in ambient, dynamic DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1.

This third season features the best collection of extras for the series to date, with every episode awarded its own picture-in-picture ‘Enhanced Viewing Experience‘ and short ‘Post Mortem‘ follow-up. There are 6 commentary tracks, an 11-minute “Anatomy of a Scene” breakdown, an interactive guide to the characters, previews, recaps and a music video.

AMAZON: $34.99

4. BIUTIFUL

Academy Award® nominee Javier Bardem is Uxbal, a man on the wrong side of the law who struggles to provide for his children on the dangerous streets of Barcelona. As fate encircles him, Uxbal learns to accept the realities of life, whether bright, bad — or biutiful — in this unforgettable Academy Award®-nominated film from director Alejandro González Iñárritu (Amores Perros, 21 Grams and Babel).

Finding this pre-summer weather a tad too cheery for your liking? Why not take it down a notch with the dour, depressing, yet quite outstanding Oscar nominated Biutiful? At over 2 1/2-hours long, this blow to your emotional core can be pretty tough to take but if you’re the type of film-goer who enjoys a challenge, and genuinely moving work from gifted filmmakers and performers, then this one might just win you over. The Blu-ray looks impressive, with beautiful photography captured in two different aspect ratios – 2.40:1 and 1.85:1, both exhibited on the Blu-ray. Deep blacks and lush colours are the highlights here. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 audio track is also impressive. There are over 20-minutes of the director’s video and audio “notes”, a 4-minute long look at the various talents of the crew and 8-minutes worth of interviews.

AMAZON: $22.99

5. AMERICAN GRAFFITI

From director George Lucas (“Star Wars”) and producer Francis Ford Coppola (“The Godfather”), “American Graffiti” is a classic coming-of-age story set against the 1960s backdrop of hot rods, drive-ins and rock n’ roll. Starring Ron Howard, Richard Dreyfuss, Harrison Ford, Cindy Williams, Mackenzie Phillips and Suzanne Somers in their breakout roles, this nostalgic look back follows a group of teenagers as they cruise the streets on their last summer night before college. Nominated for five Academy Awards(R), including Best Picture and Best Director, “American Graffiti” features the howling sounds of Wolfman Jack and an unforgettable soundtrack with songs by Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, The Beach Boys and Bill Haley & His Comets.

Ok, don’t kill me, but I still haven’t seen George Lucas’ American Graffiti. I know, I know. What business do I have including it in the Top 10 list then? Well, I thought it’s a significant enough release of an important film that it should live somewhere around the middle. Now, I was dying to get my hands on this bad boy until I read early reviews of the disc which claim it suffers from an awful lot of edge enhancement. Why Universal can’t do right by their catalogue releases is a mystery to me. Special features are carried over from the DVD. A George Lucas U-Control Video Commentary and The Music of American Graffiti are new picture-in-picture features, created especially for the Blu-ray.

AMAZON: $19.99

6. RIO LOBO

A classic action-filled John Wayne western is set into motion with a spectacular robbery of a Union pay train by Confederate guerrillas. The train’s colonel (Wayne) jails the enemy leaders but the three men later become friends when the war ends. Together they seek the Union traitors responsible for a string of Confederate train robberies, a mission that culminates in a rousing shoot-em up finale. “Rio Lobo” was the fifth collaboration over a 22-year period between John Wayne and the legendary director Howard Hawks.

I’m certain that Paramount is unleashing a host of westerns on Blu-ray in anticipation of their big True Grit remake release coming up next week. Rio Lobo doesn’t receive the same kind of love that Once Upon a Time in the West gets from the studio, nor does it particularly deserve to. By that I mean it’s just not as much of a classic. It’s another John Wayne/Howard Hawks film that milks the tried and true cowboy formula perfected in movies like Rio Bravo and El Dorado. But does so with considerably less vigor. That’s not to say that Rio Lobo isn’t a good film. It’s just not as extraordinary and fun as previous Wayne/Hawks dusters.

The Blu-ray disc looks fine but far from exemplary. There’s no untoward use of digital tools here, unlike previous catalogue westerns from the studio, so the results are far more film-like. However, this isn’t the most detailed Blu-ray disc you’ll ever see, looking overall like it was minted from an older high-def transfer. There’s nothing wrong with it, per se, it’s just not going to knock your socks off. Soundtracks are offered in both DTS-HD Master Audio stereo and 24-bit 5.1 surround and sound more impressive than they deserve to. There are no bonus features of any kind on the disc.

AMAZON: $15.99

7. LEGEND

“Legend”, from director Ridley Scott (“Blade Runner”, “Gladiator”), is a visually stunning fantasy-adventure in which pure good and evil battle to the death amidst spectacular surroundings. Set in a timeless mythical forest inhabited by fairies, goblins, unicorns and mortals, this fantastic story stars Tom Cruise as a mystical forest dweller, chosen by fate, to undertake a heroic quest. He must save the beautiful Princess Lily (Mia Sara) and defeat the demonic Lord of Darkness (Tim Curry) or the world will be plunged into a never-ending ice age.

Another Blu-ray disc I haven’t had the opportunity to screen this week but one I’m just itching to get my hands on. Despite its weaknesses, I’ve always been a big fan of Legend. I think it has a lot to do with a combination of the production design, Tim Curry’s badass portrayal of the villain, the Lord of Darkness and the impressionable age at which I first saw the film. Being from Canada, I grew up with the shorter cut of the film, with the Tangerine Dream synth score and only saw the longer “International Cut” with Jerry Goldsmith‘s music a few years ago on DVD. What a difference! Nevertheless, without the shorter cut and the rethink of the music, I never would have discovered Bryan Ferry (whose track ‘Is Your Love Strong Enough’ plays over the end credits in the US cut) and his band Roxy Music. For that, I’ll always be thankful.

AMAZON: $14.99

8. A MAN CALLED HORSE

Richard Harris stars in this carefully documented epic that attempted to realistically portray the life of the American Sioux in the early 19th century. When an English lord is captured by a Sioux Indian tribe, he is given to the chief’s aging mother as a servant. Gradually, he embraces the tribe’s way of life and falls in love with the Chief’s sister. But before he can be accepted with honor as an equal member of the tribe, he must endure the Sun Vow – a savage ritual far beyond the realm of anything dreamed of in the civilized world. To recreate authentic Indian costumes for the film’s accuracy, the production designer met with real American Indians only to discover their notion of Indian clothing was based on the costumes designed by Hollywood studios.

A Man Called Horse is surprisingly stunning on Blu-ray. I mean, the film – based on a story of the same name by Dorothy M. Johnson – is lovingly well-shot to begin with, sporting gorgeous colours and breathtaking vistas. The shock here is that without too much intrusion on Paramount’s part, the transfer to video has avoided being watered down in any way. It looks great! This is most likely not a brand new transfer but it certainly manages to remain eye-catching. The print is so clean here, you’d almost think this was the product of a costly restoration. Much like Rio Lobo, two audio tracks have been provided but you’ll want to try out the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 over the uncompressed stereo. It’s a bit more aggressive and fun to listen to. There are no bonus features on this disc.

AMAZON: $16.99

9. BIG JAKE

‘In this action-filled western, John Wayne stars as Big Jake McCandles, a husband who hasn’t seen his wife (Maureen O’Hara) in over 18 years. But he returns home after his grandson is kidnapped by a vicious outlaw gang. While the law gives chase in rickety automobiles, Jake saddles up with an Indian scout (Bruce Cabot) and a box of money – even though paying a ransom isn’t how Jake plans to exact good old frontier justice. Spiced with humor and first-class gunfights, this is a vivid depiction of the last days of the wild frontier. “Big Jake” was a family affair for John Wayne. His oldest son produced it and two other sons, Patrick and John Ethan, appear in it. The film also marks the second time Richard Boone and John Wayne worked together and the fifth time Wayne worked with Maureen O’Hara.”

Big Jake is a lesser version of The Searchers, produced fifteen years later by a far less celebrated director. Once again, the Duke finds himself on the trail of a kidnapped child but this time, the hunt takes only days instead of years, and the villains are thugs instead of a band of Comanche. On its own, the film is a fun ride and looks pretty decent on Blu but can’t hold a candle to its predecessor.

This appears to be another catalogue title from Paramount that hasn’t received any restoration but also hasn’t suffered the ugly hand of digital tampering. Luckily, the source appears in good health here, resulting in an image that’s colourful and rich, with a nice, overall film-like appearance. Again, Big Jake features a couple of solid audio tracks in the form of a DTS-HD Master 5.1 surround track and one in lossless stereo. There are no extras on the disc.

AMAZON: $15.99

10. THE CAT O’ NINE TAILS

“When a simple robbery at a research institute leads to a series of brutal murders, a blind puzzle maker (Academy Award(r) winner Karl Malden of A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE) and a tenacious reporter (James Franciscus of BENEATH THE PLANET OF THE APES) begin their own investigation of the crimes. With nine different clues to follow, they uncover a shocking web of twisted genetics and dark sexual secrets that will finally lead them to a shattering climax of violence and suspense.

Originally released in 1971, THE CAT O’NINE TAILS secured the international reputation of director Dario Argento as ‘The Italian Hitchcock.’ This is the definitive version of Argento’s masterful second film, presented completely uncut and uncensored in a brand-new High Definition transfer from its original camera negative!”

It’s another classic Argento on Blu from Blue Underground!! This time around, though, I’m a bit torn about the resulting quality of the new HD transfer. Taken on its own, it appears bright and film-like, with seemingly accurate colours and solid blacks. But the colour timing is vastly different from previous releases and, when viewed back to back, seems a bit blown out. There appears to be a loss of detail from cranked up whites, with colours maybe a bit hotter than they should be across the board. I’m no expert on this film and would love to hear from someone who has had more experience with it theatrically. But from what I can see, this transfer, while solid, appears to misrepresent Argento’s original intent where the photography is concerned.

The audio is DTS-HD Master 2.0 and is clean and clear throughout. BU also includes the original mono track in lossless audio. Special features include ‘Tales of the Cat‘ – 14-minutes worth of interviews with Argento, co-writer Dardano Sacchetti and composer Ennio Morricone, radio interviews, TV and radio spots and a couple of trailers.

AMAZON: $14.99

ALSO AVAILABLE ON BLU-RAY THIS WEEK
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