The Blu-ray Blog » John Carpenter

The Blu-ray Blog » John Carpenter http://www.theblurayblog.com Blu-ray disc news, reviews, releases, movies, films on PS3, Playstation, players, drives, Apple, Mac, OSX, HD, HDTVThu, 06 Jan 2011 21:19:54 +0000enhourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4Top 5 New Blu-ray releases for the Week of August 3 http://www.theblurayblog.com/2010/08/top-5-new-blu-ray-releases-for-the-week-of-august-3/ http://www.theblurayblog.com/2010/08/top-5-new-blu-ray-releases-for-the-week-of-august-3/#commentsWed, 04 Aug 2010 15:35:09 +0000Brendenhttp://www.theblurayblog.com/?p=11091

I’m out of town for the week, on vacation and visiting my folks in the country where internet access is as rare a thing as social interaction. As I’m a day late getting you this Top 5 New Release list and my time online is sadly quite brief, let’s just bust into it. It’s an exciting week on Blu, with a lot of kick-ass catalogue titles being released alongside Kick-Ass the movie…Sorry. Bad pun.

1. THE GHOST WRITER

Roman Polanski‘s The Ghost Writer is one of the best films I’ve seen all year. It might not be the most high-profile Blu-ray release of the week, but as far as I’m concerned, it’s the best thing going. It’s a great script by Robert Harris (adapting his novel of the same name) with some incredible performances by some of my favourite actors (I’ll watch pretty much anything starring Ewan McGregor.) Highly Recommended.

From the Blu-ray:

When a gifted ghostwriter (Ewan McGregor) is hired to write the memoirs of former British Prime Minister Adam Lang (Pierce Brosnan), he quickly finds himself trapped in a web of political and sexual intrigue. Lang is implicated in a scandal over his administration’s harsh tactics, and as the ghostwriter digs into the politician’s past, he discovers secrets that threaten to jeopardize international relations forever. Co-starring Olivia Williams and Kim Cattrall, it is a taut and shocking thriller from acclaimed director Roman Polanski (The Pianist).

Special Features:

An Interview with Roman Polanski
The Ghost Writer: Fiction or Reality?
The Cast of The Ghost Writer

Amazon: $26.99

2. KICK-ASS

I enjoyed Kick-Ass well enough when I saw it in the theatre but thought it well beneath the hype that was surrounding it. I could happily go without seeing the film again but I’m curious to see how the image turned out in the Blu-ray disc transfer seeing as how the visuals were notoriously drenched in DNR from the get-go – a stylistic choice by DOP Ben Davis and director Matthew Vaughn. Kick-Ass grabs the number two position this week by heat-factor alone. It’s the disc that most people want to get their hands on right now (it’s still the #1 Blu-ray on Amazon as I type this!)

Amazon: $22.99

3. ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK

Escape from New York on Blu-ray. ‘Nuff said. If you’re not down with classic John Carpenter and classic Kurt Russell I’m not sure there’s any hope for you. This is one of their finest collaborations ever – the first and best outing of the tough-as-nails, gruff Snake Plissken character. I pray that this new Blu-ray edition lives up to the quality of the film itself but I fear the original elements might not have given MGM much to work with.

Amazon: $18.49

4. JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH

Henry Selick hasn’t really been grinding out a million films since his big breakout animated extravaganza The Nightmare Before Christmas. But the few movies he has managed to produce in that time are true gems. James and Giant Peach might not be a picture perfect Blu-ray disc but it’s a welcome addition to my animation collection. Full review coming this week.

Amazon: $24.99

5. A PROPHET

Combine the HBO prison drama OZ with a touch of the Godfather and you’ve got a glimpse of where Jacques Audiard‘s A Prophet will lead you. It feels epic at its monster 149-minute run-time but honestly doesn’t waste a minute of screen time. This is two-and-a-half very tense hours that will fly right by. One of the best films of 2009 and highly recommended on Blu-ray!

Amazon: $28.99

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:

]]>http://www.theblurayblog.com/2010/08/top-5-new-blu-ray-releases-for-the-week-of-august-3/feed/1MGM bringing Escape from New York to Blu-ray in August http://www.theblurayblog.com/2010/05/mgm-bringing-escape-from-new-york-to-blu-ray-in-august/ http://www.theblurayblog.com/2010/05/mgm-bringing-escape-from-new-york-to-blu-ray-in-august/#commentsThu, 27 May 2010 20:08:48 +0000Brendenhttp://www.theblurayblog.com/?p=9909

I think I just crapped my pants. John Carpenter’s Escape from New York is finally coming out on Blu-ray! This is classic Carpenter at his best, made in the early 80s with one of his best synth-guitar soundtracks and his finest leading man, Kurt Russell tearing up the screen for the first and best time as the deadly Snake Plissken! God, I love this film! Sadly, MGM hasn’t published all the disc details yet but I’ve got my fingers crossed that we’ll finally see a nice, detailed remaster here.

ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK
(August 3, 2010 – MSRP $24.99)
Video: 1080
Audio: TBA

Special Features:

TO BE ANNOUNCED

]]>http://www.theblurayblog.com/2010/05/mgm-bringing-escape-from-new-york-to-blu-ray-in-august/feed/2Top 5 New Blu-ray releases for the Week of May 4 http://www.theblurayblog.com/2010/05/top-5-new-blu-ray-releases-for-the-week-of-may-4/ http://www.theblurayblog.com/2010/05/top-5-new-blu-ray-releases-for-the-week-of-may-4/#commentsTue, 04 May 2010 22:28:16 +0000Brendenhttp://www.theblurayblog.com/?p=9596

This might not be the biggest, most overwhelming release week of the year but there are a couple Blu-ray discs here that any serious collection simply can’t be without. And everything else this week somehow seems lesser as a result. That’s not to say the other films aren’t worth watching but when you’ve got two behemoths of cinema vying for your attention as these discs are, it’s tough to validate giving their competitors even the slightest regard. But then again, there’s Snake Plissken on Blu-ray. What’s a nerd to do?

1. SAVING PRIVATE RYAN

Saving Private Ryan was sitting in my number two slot in this list for the longest time. And that’s where I would rate it in terms of necessary purchases this week. In terms of the importance of the films as cinema classics. But, I changed my mind at the last minute to better reflect the real world demand for the titles. This is the one most people want. And with good reason. This is a killer Blu-ray disc with a nearly perfect transfer. It could be the new go-to demo disc!

Read more about the Blu-ray disc here: Paramount brings Saving Private Ryan to Blu-ray

Amazon: $22.99

2. DOCTOR ZHIVAGO

Ahhh. David Lean. This is my personal top pick for the week – the disc I’m most desperate to get my dirty little mitts on. Everything Lean touched just screams cinema and “big screen”. The perfect content to bring to Blu! If I’m going to be brutally honest here, I would, of course, rather have Lawrence of Arabia or Bridge on the River Kwai in high-def but watching Doctor Zhivago, in all its restored, 1080p splendour is like the ultimate warm up for those, arguably Lean’s finest and most epic films.

Amazon: $28.99

3. TETRO

You know it’s an imperfect Top 5 list when a new Coppola flik pulls in at number 3! But bear with me and with Tetro. It’s an imperfect film from a filmmaker who seems to be slowly but ever so surely crawling out of his two decade long rut. Tetro is no Godfather or The Conversation but it is a thoughtful effort full of ideas. And hey, who doesn’t love Vincent Gallo?!

Amazon: $29.99

4. HAMLET

This one is for all you Doctor Who and Star Trek fans out there. Oh yeah, and anyone who just can’t get enough of the old bard. This is Hamlet re-imagined as a modern psychological thriller, starring David Tennant as the tortured Danish prince and Captain Jean-Luc Picard as his treacherous uncle. The language might be old school but everything else about this production is contemporary and quite riveting! A stellar take on an old favourite with a stellar cast!

Amazon: $16.99

5. DIRTY DANCING: LIMITED KEEPSAKE EDITION

Word on the street is that this bulked up Dirty Dancing Blu-ray package contains an all new transfer of the film, which easily bests the garbage that Lionsgate foisted on its audience in the earlier 2007 edition of the film. I can’t speak from first-hand experience about the quality of the Blu-ray presentation (still can’t get Lionsgate to acknowledge my existence and send out some screeners!) but I can say that it comes with a 52-page book and a featurette tribute to my boy, Jerry Orbach. Nobody puts Lenny Briscoe in a corner!

Amazon: $23.99

ANIME OF THE WEEK: Tsubasa RESERVoir CHRoNiCLE: Collected Memories Box Set

Tsubasa might not be exactly to my tastes but then again, I’m a couple of decades out from the age of its target audience. This is the stuff that my nephew would totally eat up! And this amazing, comprehensive collection from FUNimation really delivers for fans. You get every single episode of the show as well as the “film”, The Princess in the Birdcage (also available this week on the Clamp Double Feature: Tsubasa RESERVoir CHRoNiCLE and xxxHOLiC Blu-ray disc) along with a bunch of decent extras. Be warned, however, that you won’t want to pick this up if you already own the season 1 set as you get both season 1 and 2 in this box. If that’s you then just gran the stand-alone season 2 set. Fans with a keen eye will be happy to learn that transfer quality improves slightly into the second season.

Amazon: $91.99

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:

]]>http://www.theblurayblog.com/2010/05/top-5-new-blu-ray-releases-for-the-week-of-may-4/feed/0UPDATED: Paramount brings Saving Private Ryan, Escape from L.A. and K-19: The Widowmaker to Blu-ray http://www.theblurayblog.com/2010/02/paramount-brings-saving-private-ryan-escape-from-la-and-k-19-the-widowmaker-to-blu-ray/ http://www.theblurayblog.com/2010/02/paramount-brings-saving-private-ryan-escape-from-la-and-k-19-the-widowmaker-to-blu-ray/#commentsWed, 10 Feb 2010 16:32:56 +0000Brendenhttp://www.theblurayblog.com/?p=7850

Saving Private Ryan and Band of Brothers have become a single entity in my mind. I have a hard time recalling what events, what story-points are covered in which film/show. Both the film and the series have the same creative teams at their core and feel very similar, from the way they were shot to the music behind them. That being said, I’m a big fan of both. And very excited to tell you about Paramount‘s upcoming Sapphire Series release of Saving Private Ryan, timed to be released just days before V-E day.

The timing of the release is also advantageous in that it can ride the wave of hype surrounding HBO‘s upcoming Band of Brothers “sequel”, The Pacific (premiering March 14th).

Kathryn Bigelow‘s (The Hurt Locker) K-19: The Widowmaker and John Carpenter‘s Escape From L.A. will also make their Blu-ray debut on the same day. I’ve got to say, I’m a bit sad that we’re getting the Snake Plissken sequel on Blu before a domestic release of Carpenter’s far superior Escape From New York. I’m not going to hold my breath for EFNY though, what with the rights being owned by MGM and that studio being currently mired in financial trouble. If I’m feeling desperate, I can always import Optimum‘s Blu-ray release of the film from the UK, which I understand is a mild upgrade from the DVD.

UPDATE: Saving Private Ryan details added!

SAVING PRIVATE RYAN: SAPPHIRE SERIES EDITION

(May 4, 2010 – MSRP $39.99)
Video: 1.85:1 1080p
Audio: 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio

Special Features:

An Introduction—Director Steven Spielberg discusses his interest in WWII and how it led him to make the film.
Looking Into the Past—Steven Spielberg explains the research done for the film, the evolution of the screenplay and his intentions.
Miller and his Platoon—Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks and other cast members introduce the different characters and how the actors worked together.
Boot Camp—Memories from the cast about the intense boot camp they went through with Captain Dale Dye.
Making Saving Private Ryan—Steven Spielberg and his collaborators discuss the look of the film, the production design, the costumes and the photography.
Re-creating Omaha Beach—A look at how the filmmakers re-created this historical event.
Music and Sound—Discussion with the team that edited, scored and brought sound to the film.
Parting Thoughts—Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks share their final thoughts on the experience of making the film.
Into the Breach: Saving Private Ryan—A 25-minute documentary with the cast and crew.
Shooting War—Tom Hanks hosts and narrates this documentary on WWII combat photographers in Europe and the Pacific theater of war.
Theatrical Trailer (HD)
Re-Release Trailer (HD)

K-19: THE WIDOWMAKER

(May 4, 2010 – MSRP $29.99)
Video: 2.39:1 1080p
Audio: Dolby TrueHD 5.1

Special Features:

Theatrical trailer (in HD)

ESCAPE FROM L.A.
(May 4, 2010 – MSRP $29.99)
Video: 2.39:1 1080p
Audio: Dolby TrueHD 5.1

Special Features:

Commentary by director Kathryn Bigelow and cinematographer Jeff Cronenweth
Featurettes:
- The Making of K-19: The Widowmaker
- Exploring the Craft: Make-Up Techniques
- Breaching the Hull
- It’s in the Details
Theatrical trailer (in HD)

]]>http://www.theblurayblog.com/2010/02/paramount-brings-saving-private-ryan-escape-from-la-and-k-19-the-widowmaker-to-blu-ray/feed/0Starman Blu-ray Disc Review http://www.theblurayblog.com/2009/08/starman-blu-ray-disc-review/ http://www.theblurayblog.com/2009/08/starman-blu-ray-disc-review/#commentsMon, 10 Aug 2009 14:36:36 +0000Brendenhttp://www.theblurayblog.com/?p=4254STARMAN (1984, Blu-ray released August 11, 2009 – MSRP $28.95)

I hadn’t seen Starman since I was very, very young. I had made a recording of a cable broadcast of the film onto a Betamax tape back then, in another lifetime. I’m pretty sure it wasn’t one of those tapes I played over and over again but Starman was certainly a film I recall enjoying. And, I’ve got to say, watching it again on Blu-ray, it doesn’t disappoint.

John Carpenter really had a good run of films from the mid-70s to the late 80s: Halloween, Escape from New York, The Thing, Big Trouble in Little China and many, many more. The man should really be considered a genre-genius! For years, it seemed that no matter the subject matter, no matter the style, Carpenter could make the film sing. In Starman, he tackles the popular alien-romance-roadtrip-action-adventure genre with aplomb. Jeff Bridges, in a role that earned him an Oscar nomination, plays an alien come to Earth, who has adopted the form of Karen Allen‘s recently departed husband. His mission was one of peaceful contact with our planet but, not surprisingly, his arrival is met with fear and violence, sending him on a road-trip across America to rendezvous with his mothership before his human body dies. Along the way, Allen’s response to him turns from suspicion to sympathy and finally to love. The film has the sentimentality of E.T. tempered with Carpenter’s usual adventure flair.

Starman holds up exceptionally well, outside of the slightly cheezy synth score, which, I was shocked to learn, was not written by Carpenter himself, as he is wont to do (Check out his iconic themes in Halloween and Escape from New York). Still, even with the thin, plastic 80s music, Starman feels very genuine and plays quite well to a modern audience.

The Blu-ray disc looks exceptional! I’ve got to say, I’m actually in shock. I can’t believe what an incredible job Sony has done with the transfer here. It’s superbly detailed and film like. Colour fidelity seems spot-on with an overall bright and realistic tone. Some might feel that the contrast has been ramped up beyond a comfortable point but personally, I found the image overall spectacular. And hey, the sound isn’t too bad either! Great job on this front, Sony.

How about the bonus materials, you ask? There are none. Nothing. Nada. Zip. Ziltch. Zero. What a disappointment. Not even a commentary track. Not even a trailer. This is a massive oversight. But one I can almost forgive for such a stunning presentation.

]]>http://www.theblurayblog.com/2009/08/starman-blu-ray-disc-review/feed/2Big Trouble in Little China Blu-ray Detailed, Extended Cut, Extras Revealed http://www.theblurayblog.com/2009/05/big-trouble-in-little-china-blu-ray-detailed-extended-cut-extras/ http://www.theblurayblog.com/2009/05/big-trouble-in-little-china-blu-ray-detailed-extended-cut-extras/#commentsWed, 13 May 2009 11:58:35 +0000Brendenhttp://www.theblurayblog.com/?p=1759Man, I was excited about Big Trouble in Little China before. I’m CRAZY excited about it now! It looks like Fox has decided to answer our (read: MY) prayers and include all of the DVD extras in the new Blu-ray package! This, to me, should be the way EVERY catalogue release is handled. Why is it so rare to find a Blu-ray disc like Big Trouble in Little China that ports over all the features from the previously available DVD? Why do the studios so rarely give us what we want? WHY? WHY?

Sigh.

That’s enough morning drama. I’m going to sooth my senses by drinking in Fox’s reverent Big Trouble mock-Struzan package art:

BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA
(August 4, MSRP $29.99)
Theatrical and Extended Cuts
Video: 1080p AVC
Audio: 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio

Special Features Include:

• Commentary by director John Carpenter and actor Kurt Russell
• Nine deleted scenes
• Extended ending
• Vintage featurette
• Music video
• Richard Edlund interview
• Two trailers
• Six TV spots
• Behind-the-scenes gallery

Amazon.com Link: BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA – $20.99

Previously on The Blu-ray Blog: Upcoming From Fox…

]]>http://www.theblurayblog.com/2009/05/big-trouble-in-little-china-blu-ray-detailed-extended-cut-extras/feed/1Upcoming from Fox: Big Trouble in Little China, Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li – Unleashed and Unrated, More http://www.theblurayblog.com/2009/05/upcoming-from-fox-big-trouble-in-little-china-street-fighter-the-legend-of-chun-li-unleashed-and-unrated-more/ http://www.theblurayblog.com/2009/05/upcoming-from-fox-big-trouble-in-little-china-street-fighter-the-legend-of-chun-li-unleashed-and-unrated-more/#commentsThu, 07 May 2009 16:31:48 +0000Brendenhttp://www.theblurayblog.com/?p=1552

Lo Pan wants a word with old Jack Burton

Fox has has announced a number of titles set to street throughout the summer months. Chief among them, at least to this reporter’s sensibilities is the high-def debut of a John Carpenter/Kurt Russell classic: Big Trouble in Little China. Fox released a nice, two-disc special edition of the film produced by David Prior (the genius behind Fox’s excellent Fight Club and The Rocky Horror Picture Show DVDs) back in 2001, complete with a Carpenter/Russell commentary, tons of extras and a gorgeous standard definition transfer.

The announcement of the impending Blu-ray release doesn’t include any details about the disc itself which leads me to fear that the studio may give it their Robocop/Predator treatment – taking fantastic, genre films from the 80s, successful on 2 Disc, Special Edition DVD and serving up a bare-bones Blu-ray counterpart for +$30. This practice by the studio is being met with ill-favour from Blu-ray fans who would be willing to replace their DVDs with a high-def upgrade if all the special features remain intact. All we can do at this point is cross our fingers and hope that Fox delivers the Big Trouble Blu-ray we know they can!

FOX BLU-RAY ANNOUNCEMENTS BY DATE:

June 30th: Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li – Unleashed and Unrated, 12 Rounds: Extreme Cut
July 21st: Prison Break: The Final Break
August 4th: Big Trouble in Little China, My Cousin Vinny
August 18th: Sons of Anarchy: Season One

Package art for the June 30th releases:

.
And in case you happen to be on the fence about picking up Big Trouble, give this trailer a gander:

]]>http://www.theblurayblog.com/2009/05/upcoming-from-fox-big-trouble-in-little-china-street-fighter-the-legend-of-chun-li-unleashed-and-unrated-more/feed/2Sony announces the sci-fi thrillers “The One” and “Ghosts of Mars” are heading to Blu-ray Disc in March http://www.theblurayblog.com/2009/01/sony-announces-the-sci-fi-thrillers-the-one-and-ghosts-of-mars-blu-ray-disc/ http://www.theblurayblog.com/2009/01/sony-announces-the-sci-fi-thrillers-the-one-and-ghosts-of-mars-blu-ray-disc/#commentsTue, 20 Jan 2009 04:44:19 +0000Brendenhttp://www.theblurayblog.com/2009/01/sony-announces-the-sci-fi-thri/Sony announces the sci-fi thrillers “The One” and “Ghosts of Mars” are heading to Blu-ray Disc in March … http://snurl.com/ae1tc

]]>http://www.theblurayblog.com/2009/01/sony-announces-the-sci-fi-thrillers-the-one-and-ghosts-of-mars-blu-ray-disc/feed/0

Related posts

Related posts

Related posts

Related posts

Related posts

Related posts

Related posts

Related posts