Oh man, I can’t believe Scorsese‘s Hugo has already been announced for release on Blu-ray. Didn’t it just make its theatrical debut a few weeks ago? I’m going to be gutted if I don’t get a chance to see it in 3D in the cinema, as this one was shot in the format and, apparently, takes subtle advantage of it. These shorter release windows are killing me. In any case, check out the disc details below, as Hugo will be available in two flavours at two different prices – a 2-disc Blu-ray/DVD combo and a 3-disc set with the 3D version.

HUGO
(February 28, 2012 – MSRP $44.99 [2-disc], $54.99 [3-disc])
Video: 1.85:1 1080p
Audio: 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio

Special Features:

• Shoot the Moon (The Making of Hugo)
• The Cinemagician, Georges Méliès
• The Mechanical Man at the Heart of Hugo
• Big Effects, Small Scale
• Sacha Baron Cohen: Role of a Lifetime

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MORE GIFT IDEAS:

* GIFT & BOXED SETS
* TV ON BLU
* ANIMATION

AMAZON: Click for price list

There’s absolutely nothing to complain about here in the Blu-ray debut of Scorsese‘s Taxi Driver. Everything is perfect – the restoration is gorgeous, the transfer to Blu is flawless, the audio is rich and dynamic and special features are numerous and informative, including the classic Scorsese/Schrader Criterion Collection commentary track! To top it all off, the packaging – a digibook-style gatefold case which includes a reproduction of the original movie poster and photographs – is a final, perfect touch of class. There’s nothing to complain about here. This is everything we fans could hope for. Even the price is incredible (the disc has been $13 at Amazon since its pre-order debut). So what are you waiting for? Go out and grab a copy of Taxi Driver on Blu-ray. It’s one of the finest films ever made presented here in in the best possible Blu-ray package.

Highest possible recommendation!!

AMAZON: $12.99

The Ten Commandments is a classic. It’s long, clocking in at over three and a half hours, but races by in a heartbeat. This is timeless, compelling stuff, with iconic, scene-chewing performances from the likes of Heston and Brynner.

Given the length of the film, Paramount has wisely opted to spread it over two Blu-ray discs, breaking at the intermission point, allowing for an optimal bitrate for its high-def debut presentation. And let me tell you, this thing looks fantastic! The Ten Commandments is one of the finest looking restoration/transfers I’ve yet seen on the format. Colours absolutely sing, brought to vivid, new life on Blu-ray by Ron Smith and his team of film restoration experts, with shocking amounts of detail and rock-solid contrast. I can’t get over how perfect this transfer is! The DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack is also impressive, never able to achieve the full dynamic range of a modern soundtrack but always clean and clear, ably enhancing the source material with subtle, respectful use of multiple channels.

Paramount’s new Blu-ray release of The Ten Commandments receives out highest possible recommendation!

SPECIAL FEATURES:

• Commentary by Katherine Orrison, author of Written in Stone: Making Cecil B. DeMille’s Epic, The Ten Commandments
• Newsreel: The Ten Commandments – Premiere in New York HD
• Theatrical Trailers HD

AMAZON: $22.99

All the President’s Men is honestly one of the best films I’ve ever seen. In the top ten best ever, if you ask me. I can’t tell you how great it is to have it on Blu-ray, in this classy, hardcover digibook presentation from Warner Home Video. The transfer isn’t going to win any awards but retains a nice, solid film-like look throughout, with a much greater sense of depth than in the previous, flat DVD presentation. Colours seem acurate, grain is present and artifacts are nowhere to be found. This is the best the film has ever looked on home video.

AMAZON: $24.49

Coppola and the team at Zoetrope have done it again! I had little doubt that they’d deliver the best possible presentation for this film after their stellar work on last year’s Apocalypse Now Blu-ray sets. And sure enough, The Conversation is a slam dunk. Keep in mind, this is a natural looking, early ’70s film and the high-def presentation echoes that on every level. It looks like film, with all its grain and vibrancy. It’s a rich, thick image that any fan of the film will be impressed with. I have a feeling, however, that those with an eye more attuned to modern high-def presentations might not find this disc quite as pleasing. Lossless audio is presented in both the original mono as well as a new, expanded DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track. The mono track is great for those who want to experience the film as it was initially released but the 5.1 track is worth a listen for its innovative sound design and the more dynamic treatment of Shire’s score. Fantastic!

The Conversation comes to Blu-ray with a nice selection of special features including one of the best director’s commentary tracks I’ve had the pleasure to listen to. Coppola always gives good commentary (check out his Godfather tracks or the original Criterion Bram Stoker’s Dracula Laserdisc commentary for some excellent examples) but this is one of his best, packed with tons of info on the production and the business in general. A great listen. Editor Walter Murch also provides a solid commentary track that isn’t quite as lively and well rounded as the director’s but a worthwhile listen all the same. David Shire’s interview features a handful of anecdotes and sees the composer revisiting his score on the piano as well as paying and singing with his former brother in law, Coppola.

AMAZON: $17.99

When Paramount gets one of their classics in their sites and really puts their heads down and gets to work on it, they deliver one hell of a stunning Blu-ray release. Breakfast at Tiffany‘s has long been recognized as one of the more iconic Audrey Hepburn performances, if not the iconic performance (I’m personally more of a Roman Holiday kind of guy, myself), but it’s so much more than that. It features a terrific straight-man turn by George Peppard, inspired direction by Blake Edwards and one of the finest Henry Mancini scores ever. And don’t forget that this picture spawned the Johnny Mercer hit ‘Moon River’! An then there’s the script, based on Truman Capote’s book and the clothes by Hubert de Givenchy and the photography by Franz Planer and Philip H. Lathrop… And the list goes on. If any film in Paramount’s library is worthy of a special Anniversary release it’s Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

AMAZON: $19.99

Sony has got another winner on its hands, presenting Das Boot, in its Blu-ray debut, in both the original theatrical cut and the much longer, more involved Director’s Cut, each on its own disc. There’s no hint here of the longer, uncut version, released to German television with a lengthy 293-minute runtime in 1988 and on DVD in 2004 but you know, that’s all right with me. The film becomes ungainly with that much extra footage anyway. In every other way, though, this 2-disc set is complete. While the transfers won’t wow most viewers new to the film, this is clearly the best it’s ever looked on home video. The Director’s Cut maxes out its dual-layer platter, leaving room for little else on the disc. I noticed some artifacting (clearly, the film doesn’t compress easily to fit the 50-gig limit) but it’s slight and won’t offend. Both versions appear similar, otherwise, with inconsistent grain and black levels, less detail than you’d hope but stable, if appropriately dull colour throughout. The longer cut features a nice DTS-HD Master 5.1 track, while the Theatrical Cut sports a lossless 2.0 track (advertised as 5.1).

Special features are fantastic across the board, highlighted by the feature length commentary on the Director’s Cut (hosted by disc producer Ortwin Freyermuth and featuring Petersen and actor Jürgen Prochnow) and the 45-minute HD doc, “Wolfgang Petersen-Back To The Boat“. I also really enjoyed “The Perfect Boat” featurette, which looks at the creation of the Director’s Cut of the film, finding a cut of the film that could exist between the truncated Theatrical version and the Uncut version that aired on TV.

Highly Recommended!!

AMAZON: $19.49

MGM, fresh from settling their bankruptcy woes, have been releasing dozens of catalogue titles through the past year, with transfers that are pleasing, in that they look like raw, scanned-in film transferred to disc with little-to-no restoration work put into them. But, honestly, I’d rather have discs with this type of transfer than those poorly “enhanced” releases we often see from other studios, with boosted colours and ‘DNR’ed-to-death smoothness. The three titles above rank among the studios finest of this past year, all looking and sounding better than ever and all new to Blu-ray.

AMAZON: $16.99-$17.99

Detail is astounding here on the Once Upon a Time in the West Blu-ray disc, 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!!

AMAZON: $15.99

Most of Kubrick‘s Warner films have been available on Blu for quite some time but this year, as part of a massive multi-disc release, the studio made their final two films in the director’s catalogue available. Both Lolita and Barry Lyndon have now been released in a boxed set and individually. The discs are, sadly, rather bare-bones affairs both feature pretty decent looking transfers and are both must-owns for fans of the director.

AMAZON: $17.99

Fox has released a fair number of deluxe-Blu-ray-book packaged discs over the past year. The four above represent the best of them, in my experience – all sporting great HD transfers and packed with bonus goodies. This is the way all true film classics should be presented!

AMAZON: Various

It’s been years since I’ve had to opportunity to sit down with either Pulp Fiction or Jackie Brown but I’m happy to report that, for the most part, they hold up! Jackie Brown in particular has aged well, perhaps because it’s the product of a Quentin Tarantino who was a more mature filmmaker or perhaps it’s simply because the film has been spared the fate of the icon of ’90s cinema that is Pulp Fiction.

The Pulp Fiction Blu-ray disc sports a sticker with Tarantino’s signature and is meant to communicate his stamp of approval. I’m not sure why Jackie Brown didn’t receive the same treatment because both discs appear to have similar transfers (and, I’m led to understand that the filmmaker personally approved the latter film’s transfer to Blu as well.) They both look really great with a few notable oddities. Colour and contrast appear to have been boosted in both cases, causing some black crush and white blow-outs but allowing a considerable bump in temperature and tone. Both discs also receive demo-class DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtracks, with Fiction‘s perhaps a touch more dynamic and playful through the sound-space.

AMAZON: CDN$ 15.00 and CDN$ 24.99

A lot of people have been waiting a long time for a Blu-ray release of the Vincente Minnelli classic Meet Me in St. Louis, and now that day has finally arrived! As decent as the 2004 2-disc DVD release was, fans of the 1944 musical will be bowled over by the improvements here on Blu-ray. To begin with there’s slightly more picture in the frame and that image is now resplendent with fine grain. You can imagine, if grain is visible then there’s a ton of detail on display. But the improvements don’t end there. The early pallet of Technicolor tones is far more vibrant and stable than in the past, making this transfer easily the most film-like edition of Meet Me in St. Louis available to date. The original mono audio has been “upgraded” to a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track. Thankfully, it’s fairly respectful to the original intent and only seems to fill the sound field when the music kicks in. Though it’s not exactly representative of the tracks origins, the sound does benefit from the lossless audios added dynamic range and fidelity.

Along with this fantastic new Blu-ray presentation, the Meet Me in St. Louis disc ports over the entire bounty of special features from the previously released DVD Special Edition, including the exceptional commentary track by Judy Garland biographer John Fricke with Margaret O’Brien, screenwriter Irving Brecher, songwriter Hugh Martin and daughter of producer Arthur Freed, Barbara Freed-Saltzman. There’s a half-hour long “making of” doc, as well as a 45-minute long TCM special on Judy Garland called “Becoming Attractions” that are both very much worth watching. The 1972 “Hollywood: The Dream Factory” doc is narrated by Dick Cavett and runs 50-minutes but, as you can imagine, is quite a dated affair at this point. The disc is rounded out with some archival shorts, an “Audio Vault” with a music only track, outtakes and more, the theatrical trailer and an intro to the film by Garland’s daughter Liza Minnelli. The Blu-ray and a 4-track CD Sampler are packaged within a 42-page digi-book.

AMAZON: $25.99

While Fox is rather new to the Blu-ray-book game, Warner has been at it for quite some time. And this year, they unleashed a whole host of their finest titles in the format, including some films new to Blu! Feature sets and transfer qualities vary greatly but the four above are definitely worth a look for any film fan.

AMAZON: Various

CLASSICS ALSO AVAILABLE ON BLU-RAY
Clicking an image will take you to Amazon.com where you can learn more about and purchase the Blu-ray disc:

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It appears that March will prove to be a landmark month of Criterion Blu-ray releases for me for a couple of reasons – another stacked boxed set of classics making their Blu-ray debuts and one of my favourite films of all time finally receiving its high-def upgrade.

The David Lean directs Noël Coward boxed set includes 4 film collaborations between the director and writer, including the previously available Brief Encounter. The boxed set carries over the Bruce Eder commentary track from that old DVD while adding a ton of brand new bonus goodies. Martin Scorsese‘s The Last Temptation of Christ is one of the films on my list of Criterion DVDs in need of a Blu-ray Upgrade and as such, is probably the disc I’m most desperate to get my grubby paws on. It’s one of the finest gems in the director’s crown and one of the most often overlooked. Titanic disaster film A Night to Remember also receives an upgrade this month, arriving on Blu-ray with a few new special features and coincidentally timed to coincide with the re-release of James Cameron‘s Titanic film, presented in cinemas this time around with the magic of 3D! Speaking of perfect timing, D. A. Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus‘ election doc, The War Room comes to Blu just as another US election gets its pimp on. Last, but not least, is the Russian film Letter Never Sent, which I’ve never seen and hold no opinion of, outside of the fact that its Blu-ray release appears to contain nothing in the way of special features, aside from the standard Criterion booklet.

And that’s March…

DAVID LEAN DIRECTS NOËL COWARD
(March 27, 2012 – MSRP $99.95)
Video: 1.37:1 1080p
Audio: uncompressed monaural

Special Features:

• New high-definition digital transfers of the BFI National Archive’s 2008 restorations, with uncompressed monaural soundtracks
• Audio commentary on Brief Encounter by film historian Bruce Eder
• New interviews with Noël Coward scholar Barry Day on all of the films
• Interview with cinematographer-screenwriter-producer Ronald Neame from 2010
• Short documentaries from 2000 on the making of In Which We Serve and Brief Encounter
• David Lean: A Self Portrait, a 1971 television documentary on Lean’s career
• Episode of the British television series The Southbank Show from 1992 on the life and career of Coward
• Audio recording of a 1969 conversation between Richard Attenborough and Coward at London’s National Film Theatre
• Trailers
• PLUS: A booklet featuring essays by Ian Christie, Terrence Rafferty, Farran Smith Nehme, Geoffrey O’Brien, and Kevin Brownlow

THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST
(March 13, 2012 – MSRP $39.95)
Video: 1.85:1 1080p
Audio: 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio

Special Features:

• Restored high-definition digital transfer, supervised and approved by cinematographer Michael Ballhaus and editor Thelma Schoonmaker, with a 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack by supervising sound editor Skip Lievsay
• Audio commentary featuring director Martin Scorsese, actor Willem Dafoe, and writers Paul Schrader and Jay Cocks
• Galleries of production stills, research materials, and costume designs
• Location production footage shot by Scorsese
• Interview with composer Peter Gabriel, with a stills gallery of traditional instruments used in the score
• PLUS: An essay by film critic David Ehrenstein

LETTER NEVER SENT
(March 20, 2012 – MSRP $39.95)
Video: 1.33:1 1080p
Audio: uncompressed monaural

Special Features:

• New high-definition digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack
• New English subtitle translation
• PLUS: A booklet featuring an essay by film scholar Dina Iordanova

THE WAR ROOM
(March 20, 2012 – MSRP $29.95)
Video: 1.33:1 1080p
Audio: 2.0 surround DTS-HD Master Audio

Special Features:

• New, restored high-definition digital transfer, approved by directors D. A. Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus, with 2.0 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack
• Return of the War Room, a 2008 documentary in which advisers James Carville, George Stephanopoulos, and Paul Begala and others reflect on the effect the Clinton war room had on the way campaigns are run
• Making “The War Room,” a conversation between the filmmakers about the difficulties of shooting in the campaign’s fast-paced environment
• Panel discussion hosted by the William J. Clinton Foundation and featuring Carville, Clinton adviser Vernon Jordan, journalist Ron Brownstein, and surprise guest Bill Clinton
• Interview with strategist Stanley Greenberg on the increasing importance of polling
• PLUS: A booklet featuring an essay by writer Louis Menand

A NIGHT TO REMEMBER
(March 27, 2012 – MSRP $39.95)
Video: 1.66:1 1080p
Audio: uncompressed monaural

Special Features:

• New high-definition digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack
• Audio commentary by Don Lynch and Ken Marschall, author and illustrator of “Titanic:” An Illustrated History
• The Making of “A Night to Remember” (1993), a sixty-minute documentary featuring William MacQuitty’s rare behind-the-scenes footage
• Archival interview with Titanic survivor Eva Hart
• En natt att minas, a forty-five-minute Swedish documentary from 1962 featuring interviews with Titanic survivors
• Trailer
• PLUS: A booklet featuring an essay by film critic Michael Sragow

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This is kind of a crazy week. There’s a whole bunch of recent-release films hitting Blu-ray today but I wasn’t sent screeners for any of them, nor did I check them out in theatres when they were there. So, honestly, I have no idea what they’re like. And maybe they deserve to be in my list of top picks for the week. But those films really look like stinkers to me. I mean, I like director Greg Motolla‘s Superbad and Adventureland a lot and I love Simon Pegg as much as the next nerd but Paul just looks like a cheap and not-funny mess. Also in the not-very-entertaining-looking category, if we’re judging films solely on their promotional materials, is the Danny McBride vehicle Your Highness, which appears to possess the singular selling point of a half-naked Natalie Portman jumping in a lake. And then there’s Mars Needs Moms. Yup. Worst title for a film this year.

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.

1. THE BATTLE OF ALGIERS

“One of the most influential political films in history, The Battle of Algiers, by Gillo Pontecorvo, vividly re-creates a key year in the tumultuous Algerian struggle for independence from the occupying French in the 1950s. As violence escalates on both sides, children shoot soldiers at point-blank range, women plant bombs in cafés, and French soldiers resort to torture to break the will of the insurgents. Shot on the streets of Algiers in documentary style, the film is a case study in modern warfare, with its terrorist attacks and the brutal techniques used to combat them. Pontecorvo’s tour de force has astonishing relevance today.“

I think all the hooligans rioting and looting the bones from the UK should be forced to watch The Battle of Algiers and learn a little about what it means to fight for something. This is anarchy with purpose. After 130 years of French occupation, Algerian rebels rise up and fight back, liberating their country in one of the most potent struggles of the last hundred years. Pontecorvo’s vérité style here, shot by master cameraman Marcello Gatti, along with a cast of predominantly non-actors (with the exception of the commanding Jean Martin as Colonel Mathieu), gives the film a documentary feeling. It’s a true cinema classic and one of the must-own titles on Criterion‘s library of releases.

The Battle of Algiers has been on Criterion DVD since 2004 but those who own it might want to trade up to the Blu-ray. It’s a strong, far more film-like transfer than its SD counterpart, with greatly improved contrast and more detail in every frame. The lossless mono audio track is also an improvement but is still fairly flat compared to modern audio. The impressive collection of bonus features on this 2-disc set really stand it apart from other releases this week. Criterion provide a veritable wealth of documentaries, featurettes and interviews, nearly all of which are worth your time.

Highly recommended!!

Special Features:

• High-definition digital transfer, supervised by director of photography Marcello Gatti with uncompressed monaural soundtrack
• Gillo Pontecorvo: The Dictatorship of Truth, a documentary narrated by literary critic Edward Said
• Marxist Poetry: The Making of “The Battle of Algiers,” a documentary featuring interviews with Pontecorvo, Gatti, composer Ennio Morricone, and others
• Interviews with Spike Lee, Mira Nair, Julian Schnabel, Steven Soderbergh, and Oliver Stone on the film’s influence, style, and importance
• Remembering History, a documentary reconstructing the Algerian experience of the battle for independence
• “États d’armes,” a documentary excerpt featuring senior French military officers recalling the use of torture and execution to combat the Algerian rebellion
• “The Battle of Algiers”: A Case Study, a video piece featuring U.S. counterterrorism experts
• Gillo Pontecorvo’s Return to Algiers, a documentary in which the filmmaker revisits the country after three decades of independence
• Production gallery
• Theatrical and rerelease trailers
• PLUS: A booklet featuring an essay by film scholar Peter Matthews, excerpts from Algeria’s National Liberation Front leader Saadi Yacef’s original account of his arrest, excerpts from the film’s screenplay, a reprinted interview with cowriter Franco Solinas, and biographical sketches of key figures in the French-Algerian War

AMAZON: $39.99

2. CAMERAMAN: THE LIFE & WORK OF JACK CARDIFF

“A star studded documentary about one of the greatest Oscar® winning cinematographers to capture the beauty of such stars as Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn and Sophia Loren in such memorable classics as The African Queen, The Red Shoes, Barefoot Contessa and Black Narcissus. With a career spanning more than 80 years, this passionate documentary reveals the craft of one of cinema’s most indelible image-makers, Jack Cardiff. “

Whenever I go off about how amazing those Powell and Pressburger films look, how gorgeous The Red Shoes and Black Narcissus are in their Criterion Blu-ray editions, it’s really the photography of Jack Cardiff that I’m raving about. His name in the credits is a guarantee of a certain kind of quality in a film. Or, at least, a certain kind of quality in the look of a film. And this documentary, filmed before he passed in 2009, is a wonderful ode by director Craig McCall to one of the best cameramen to ever shoot film. I haven’t seen the Blu-ray disc from Strand Releasing but I’m hoping it accurately represents not only the footage that McCall shot, but Cardiff’s images as well, in crisp, detailed, 1080p. Special features include an interview with Craig McCall by Ian Christie, Jack’s actress portraits, Jack’s behind-the-scenes movies, Cinematographer and Director relationship featurette, Working with three-strip Technicolor, Photo Galleries, Original Theatrical Trailer and other Strand Releasing trailers.

AMAZON: $21.99

3. FAST TIMES AT RIDGEMONT HIGH

“Academy Award® winner Sean Penn stars as the unforgettable Jeff Spicoli in the film that defined the outrageous and bold teen comedy genre Fast Times at Ridgemont High. Follow a group of Southern California high school students as they explore their most important subjects: sex drugs and rock ‘n’ roll. Directed by Amy Heckerling (Clueless) and written by Cameron Crowe (Almost Famous) this hilarious portrait of 1980s American teen life features film debuts of future stars Nicolas Cage and Forest Whitaker plus decade-defining music from The Go-Go’s Oingo Boingo and The Cars. “

Aw, geez. Who doesn’t love this movie. And what guy doesn’t love Phoebe Cates here, in the most famous scene of her career (sorry, Gremlins!) Amy Heckerling’s high-school comedy hasn’t aged quite as well as others of it’s ilk but with a cast like this and a collection of iconic scenes that will forever define a genre of film, you simply can’t ignore Fast Times at Ridgemont High. Sadly, the Blu-ray release of the film isn’t a great looking one, with plenty of noise and an overall soft look that won’t impress those seeking an impressive upgrade from DVD. I expect a lot of the blame can be placed squarely on the film’s low budget origins. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track fares better, sounding full and often quite modern. Special features are ported over from DVD and include “Reliving Our Fast Times at Ridgemont High“, commentary with director Amy Heckerling and screenwriter Cameron Crowe, the theatrical trailer and Universal’s U Control feature.

AMAZON: $14.99

4. DEAD MAN

“A young man in search of a fresh start, William Blake (Johnny Depp), embarks on an exciting journey to a new town…never realizing the danger that lies ahead. But when a heated love triangle ends in double murder, Blake finds himself a wanted man, running scared—until a mysterious loner teaches him to face the dangers that follow a “dead man.” With an outstanding supporting cast including Gabriel Byrne (TV’s In Treatment) and Robert Mitchum (Cape Fear), Dead Man is another motion picture triumph from filmmaker Jim Jarmusch. “

It’s a shame but Dead Man is only the second Jim Jarmusch film to be released on Blu-ray in North America. Thank goodness for the stellar Criterion Collection edition of Jarmusch’s Mystery Train because you’re not going to find much to love about this bargain-bin edition of Dead Man aside from the price. It looks slightly better than the previously available Miramax DVD but suffers from a fair amount of noise and is quite soft (clearly a theme this week.) Audio is thankfully pretty decent, sporting an unlisted DTS-HD Master Audio track – a treat for music fans looking forward to hearing the stellar Neil Young soundtrack in a lossless format. Extras are identical to the previously released DVD and feature around 15-minutes of deleted scenes and a music video. A reasonable upgrade from DVD but far from great.

AMAZON: $7.99

5. THE FOX AND THE HOUND and THE FOX AND THE HOUND II

“In celebration of “The Fox And The Hound‘s” 30th anniversary, Disney proudly presents a special 2-Movie Collection of “The Fox And The Hound” and “The Fox And The Hound II” – in dazzling Blu-ray(TM) High Definition for the first time ever! Experience these timeless tales of true friendship, set against a backdrop of comedy and music in perfect harmony. And now, both inspiring classics sparkle on Blu-ray with spectacular sound and unsurpassed picture quality. Featuring lovable characters, brilliant animation, stellar voice talent and unforgettable songs, “The Fox And The Hound 2-Movie Collection” includes two fun, heartwarming stories of loyalty and trust that your family will treasure for all time.“

The Fox and The Hound isn’t nearly as entertaining as the more “classic” Disney films. I guess that’s why it didn’t merit a Diamond Edition Blu-ray release. In fact, I found it to be one of the more dated efforts, with very little for adults or children to latch on to and be entertained by. It’s a bit too grim for kids, with scant few moments of playful energy to keep the thing rolling along. And it’s a bit too tonally uneven for adults to truly enjoy, with comedic characters taking a dark turn when the plot requires. But that’s not to say that the work isn’t without value. This is brilliant Disney animation, after all, with all the style and flair that decades of experience bring the table. Designs are expressive and movement is fluid and grounded in a weighty, real world, against stunning painted backdrops. The Fox and The Hound is a work of art, but it’s one you won’t come back to very often.

The direct to video sequel The Fox and The Hound II is included on the Blu-ray disc but is barely worth a mention. In fact, you can almost consider the short film which clocks in at just over an hour in length, a snazzy extra on the disc. It’s a light piece of fluff, churned out of the Disney machine to cash in on characters that kids might recognize. Some of them might even like it. But you’re guaranteed to want that hour and change back.

The main feature looks pretty great on Blu-ray but can’t compare to Disney’s crown jewels. The studio clearly didn’t put as much time or effort into this one, affording it only the most cursory of clean-up jobs in a transfer that sees the film looking better than ever but far from perfect. Marks, dirt and print damage are evident throughout. Some shots even appear out-of-focus, which is odd considering the animation process. But all in all, this is a colourful, pleasing presentation. The sequel film looks much tighter (as it should, being only a few years old) and, despite a few compression artifacts popping up now and again, is a visual treat. Both films feature DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 tracks but sound completely different, with the original a front heavy, thinner presentation and the sequel, a more modern, enveloping, dynamic track.

Like I said, both films are on the same Blu-ray disc but the combo pack contains a couple of DVDs, one for each film. The special features, sadly, are spread over all three discs, with only a handful available on the Blu itself. The “Unlikely Friends” featurette is the only one in HD, aside from the teasers and trailers and is barely worth looking at if you’re over the age of ten. On the other hand, this quaint look at unusual pairings in the animal kingdom does provide your first HD preview of footage from the likes of Finding Nemo, The Little Mermaid and other films not yet scheduled for release on Blu. The 7-minute “Passing the Baton” featurette is the only real look at the making of the original film and is far too short at that. The sequel DVD features a 10-minute long “Backstage Disney: The Making of the Music” featurette that you won’t really care about, unless you loved the music in that film. The set is rounded out with a sing-along and a music video.

AMAZON: $22.99

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:

Related posts

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Another crazy day of Blu-ray releases is upon us, with one of the best, most important discs ever released leading the pack. I’m only highlighting my usual five top titles this week but there’s a lot of other good stuff hitting shelves, including Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor in I Love You Phillip Morris, Norman Jewison‘s …And Justice For All with Al Pacino and bunch of MGM catalogue titles including Lars and the Real Girl and Mystic Pizza.

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.

1. TAXI DRIVER

“At 26, Vietnam veteran Travis Bickle (Robert De Niro) is slipping slowly into isolation and violence on the streets of New York City. Trying to solve his insomnia by driving a yellow cab on the night shift, he grows increasingly disgusted by the people who hang out at night: “Someday a real rain will come and wash all the scum off the streets.” His touching attempts to woo Betsy (Cybill Shepherd), a Senator’s campaign worker, turn sour when he takes her to a porn movie on their first date. He even fails in his attempt to persuade child prostitute Iris (Jodie Foster) to desert her pimp, Sport (Harvey Keitel), and return to her parents and school. Driven to the edge by powerlessness, he buys four handguns and sets out to assassinate the Senator, heading for the infamy of a “lone crazed gunman.”“

I’m going to call this one early – Taxi Driver is the Blu-ray release of the year. There, how do you like them apples? Scorsese and Sony have gone back to the source and created a brand new, stunning 4K restoration of the film which has been expertly transferred to Blu by Grover Crisp and his team of geniuses.

There’s absolutely nothing to complain about here. Everything is perfect – the restoration is gorgeous, the transfer to Blu is flawless, the audio is rich and dynamic and special features are numerous and informative, including the classic Scorsese/Schrader Criterion Collection commentary track! To top it all off, the packaging – a digibook-style gatefold case which includes a reproduction of the original movie poster and photographs – is a final, perfect touch of class. There’s nothing to complain about here. This is everything we fans could hope for. Even the price is incredible (the disc has been $13 at Amazon since its pre-order debut). So what are you waiting for? Go out and grab a copy of Taxi Driver on Blu-ray. It’s one of the finest films ever made presented here in in the best possible Blu-ray package.

Highest possible recommendation!!

Special Features:

• Interactive “Script to Screen” feature, exclusive to Blu-ray. Explore the Taxi Driver script like never before in this interactive experience. The script will automatically scroll as the film plays so you can read along and discover the stage direction notes along with differences from the original script to the finished film.
• Original 1986 Commentary with Director Martin Scorsese and Writer Paul Schrader recored by The Criterion Collection
• “Martin Scorsese on Taxi Driver” featurette
• “Producing Taxi Driver,” a behind-the-scenes featurette
• “Influence and Appreciation” – Robert De Niro, Oliver Stone, Roger Corman and others pay tribute to Scorsese and the film in this video homage
• “God’s Lonely Man” – a documentary featuring screenwriter Paul Schrader and Professor Robert Kolker discussing the loneliness themes as seen in the film. Schrader also talks about what circumstances lead to writing the screenplay
• “Travis’ New York Locations” – a contemporary, video visit to the film’s famous locations in New York City, comparing them to the same locations used in 1975
• Video bonus: “Storyboard to Film Comparisons,” with a Martin Scorsese Introduction
• Commentaries by writer Paul Schrader and professor Robert Kolker, discussing the film scene-by-scene
• “Taxi Driver Stories” featurette—taxi tales as told by real life New York city cab drivers
• “Making Of Taxi Driver” Documentary
• Animated Photo Galleries that include photo montages featuring the film’s music score, location shots taken during filming and Martin Scorsese at work
• The Taxi Driver 35^th anniversary edition also features movieIQ+sync, which gives you the full movieIQ experience on your computer or iPhone by linking to your Blu-ray Disc. Once connected, movieIQ+sync will display all of the great information movieIQ offers on your computer screen or iPhone instead of onscreen, all while staying synchronized to the movie!
• Trailers

AMAZON: $12.99

2. TRON: LEGACY/TRON: THE ORIGINAL CLASSIC

“Immerse yourself in the digital world of TRON, as celebrated actor Jeff Bridges stars in a revolutionary visual effects adventure beyond imagination. When Flynn, the world’s greatest video game creator, sends out a secret signal from an amazing digital realm, his son discovers the clue and embarks on a personal journey to save his long-lost father. With the help of the fearless female warrior Quorra, father and son venture through an incredible cyber universe and wage the ultimate battle of good versus evil. “

It’s Tron day today! Both the new film, Tron: Legacy, which I liked a lot more than I expected to, and the original 1982 classic which is a far sight less watchable than I recall it being in my youth, hit Blu-ray today. Both films look and sound tremendous on Blu, with Legacy presented in a reference quality transfer and Tron impressive in a brand new high-def restoration. I was sent the above 5-disc combo pack to check out (look for a more detailed review coming up shortly) which includes a Blu-ray disc of Tron: The Original Classic and 4-disc versions of Legacy – a 3D Blu-ray, a 2D Blu-ray with special features, a DVD and a disc with a digital copy of the film. If you’re a fan of both films and you can find this set for a good price, it’s definitely the one to grab (even if you don’t have 3D in your home yet).

Both films are available on their own as well, with Legacy also on store shelves today in a 3D Combo Pack. In addition, devout fans of the franchise will no doubt be awed by the “Ultimate Tron Experience” set, which includes the same five discs as the combo pack in special “Identity Disc packaging” that only jumps the price up another $15 or so on Amazon.

READ MORE: Tron: Legacy and Tron: The Original Classic Blu-ray discs Available for Pre-order

AMAZON: $49.99

ALSO AVAILABLE:

3. A. I. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

“Director Steven Spielberg‘s A.I. propels you into a future of astounding technology and adventure beyond the human imagination in an extraordinary film the New York Observer hails as a “masterpiece” and Rolling Stone applauds as “unmistakably the work of a real filmmaker.” In a future world of runaway global warming and awe-inspiring scientific advances, humans share every aspect of their lives with sophisticated companion robots called Mechas. But when an advanced prototype robot child named David (Haley Joel Osment) is programmed to show unconditional love, his human family isn’t prepared for the consequences. Suddenly, David is on his own in a strange and dangerous world. Befriended by a streetwise Mecha (Jude Law), David embarks on a spectacular quest to discover the startling secret of his own identity. Celebrated as a film “filled with visual wonders and astonishing special effects…” (Roger Ebert & Roeper), A.I. Artificial Intelligence is a visionary motion picture triumph! “

Paramount is doing a great job bringing the Spielberg catalogue to Blu-ray. It seemed like we fans were waiting ages for anything by the director to debut in high-def but in the last twelve months or so, the studio has done him proud with reference-quality releases of Minority Report, War of the Worlds and Saving Private Ryan. A. I. Aritificial Intelligence officially joins the ranks of stunning Spielberg’s-on-Blu with the release of the film on high-def disc today. The image presented is source-accurate, sometimes dark and hazy in texture, but still detailed with colours that are spot-on, deep blacks and no artificial digital manipulation. The DTS-HD MA 6.1 sound track is less exciting but clean, clear and, once again, an accurate representation of the source. The disc is packed to the gills with bonus features but, like all Spielberg films, is sorely lacking a commentary track.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

• Creating A.I.
• Acting A.I.
• Designing A.I.
• Lighting A.I.
• A.I./FX
• The Robots of A.I.
• Special Visual Effects and Animation: ILM
• The Sound and Music of A.I.
• Closing: Steven Spielberg: Our Responsibility to Artificial Intelligence
• Two theatrical trailers (in HD)
• A.I. Archives

READ MORE: Spielberg’s A.I. announced and detailed for Blu-ray

AMAZON: $16.99

4. FIDDLER ON THE ROOF: 40TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION

““An outstanding accomplishment in every category” (Boxoffice), this lavishly produced and critically acclaimed screen adaptation of the international stage sensation tells the life-affirming story of Tevye (Topol), a poor milkman whose love, pride and faith help him face the oppression of turn-of-the century czarist Russia. Nominated for eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director, and featuring such classic songs as “If I Were A Rich Man,” “Matchmaker” and “Sunrise, Sunset,” Fiddler on the Roof is a universal story of hope, love and acceptance “stunning, joyful and jubilant” (New York Daily News) musical masterpiece. “

I haven’t seen this new Blu-ray disc presentation of Norman Jewison’s Fiddler on the Roof yet but if Fox‘s handling of the film is anything like their recent gorgeous restoration of The Sound of Music we’re in for a treat. I suspect it might be slightly more pedestrian though, as it’s an MGM film and not their own (MGM only distributes through Fox and has tended not to put a whole lot of work into their catalogue titles – on the plus side, they also don’t seem to plague their transfers with any kind of digital manipulation, so, at worse, this Blu-ray should be an honest representation of the source.) The disc includes a director’s commentary track (with lead actor, Topol in tow) along with a deleted song, featurettes and “Historical background”, whatever that might be.

AMAZON: $19.99

5. THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: VOYAGE OF THE DAWN TREADER

“Return to the magic and wonder of C. S. Lewis‘ epic world in this third installment of the beloved Chronicles of Narnia fantasy-adventure series. When Lucy and Edmund Pensive, along with their cousin Eustace, are swallowed into a painting and transported back to Narnia, they join King Caspian and a noble mouse named Reepicheep aboard the magnificent ship The Dawn Treader. The courageous voyagers travel to mysterious islands, confront mystical creatures, and reunite with the Great Lion Aslan and a mission that will determine the fate of Narnia itself! “

I’m so behind on my Narnia viewing. I still haven’t watched the last entry in the franchise, the Disney-produced Prince Caspian but really enjoyed the first film for what it was. The newest installment, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader has been picked up by Fox and graced with the deluxe treatment on Blu-ray, including a ton of special features and what appears to be a really classy digi-pack package. More on this when my copy arrives in the mail!

AMAZON: $22.99

Anime of the Week: FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST BROTHERHOOD PART 4

“Edward and Alphonse Elric’s reckless disregard for alchemy’s fundamental laws ripped half of Ed’s limbs from his body and left Al’s soul clinging to a cold suit of armor. To restore what was lost, the brothers scour a war-torn land for the Philosopher’s Stone, a fabled relic which grants the ability to perform alchemy in impossible ways.

The Elrics are not alone in their search; the corrupt State Military is eager to harness the artifact’s power. So too are the strange Homunculi and their shadowy creator. The mythical Stone lures exotic alchemists from distant kingdoms, scarring some deeply enough to inspire murder. As the Elrics find their course altered by these enemies and allies, their purpose remains unchanged – and their bond unbreakable. “

I’ve really been enjoying the Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood series from FUNimation. It’s been a quality re-working of the material that turns out to be far more engaging than the original animated series. I haven’t laid eyes on this newest volume of episodes but assuming it sticks to the quality of the previous three Blu-ray sets, it should present a fun story in a good looking, bombastic-sounding high-def package.

AMAZON: $31.99

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:

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• Tron: Legacy and Tron: The Original Classic Blu-ray discs Available for Pre-order (3)

[UPDATED with full special feature descriptions from Press Release]

It looks like my hope that the special Sony/Criterion relationship that allowed for the BSS Story boxed set to exist has indeed born fruit! Sony has announced today that it’s April 5th release of the Taxi Driver restoration on Blu-ray will actually include Criterion’s classic laserdisc commentary track by director Martin Scorsese and writer Paul Schrader!

This is huge news. I don’t mean to diminish the fact that Taxi Driver has been restored and will be making its Blu-ray debut, but the fact that Criterion has allowed one of their most prized possessions to be licensed by another studio is blowing me away! They are notoriously precious about their popular, custom-built/recorded assets and use their value to leverage licenses. That Criterion allowed this particular commentary track, one acclaimed for inspiring filmmakers, studios and home-video enthusiasts alike, to show up on a Sony disc speaks to a tight bond now forged between the studios. I hope this is a sign of more great crossover work to come in the future.

TAXI DRIVER
(April 5, 2011 – MSRP $24.95)
Video: 1.85:1 MPEG-4 AVC 1080p
Audio: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1

Special Features:

• Interactive “Script to Screen” feature, exclusive to Blu-ray. Explore the Taxi Driver script like never before in this interactive experience. The script will automatically scroll as the film plays so you can read along and discover the stage direction notes along with differences from the original script to the finished film.
• Original 1986 Commentary with Director Martin Scorsese and Writer Paul Schrader recored by The Criterion Collection
• “Martin Scorsese on Taxi Driver” featurette
• “Producing Taxi Driver,” a behind-the-scenes featurette
• “Influence and Appreciation” – Robert De Niro, Oliver Stone, Roger Corman and others pay tribute to Scorsese and the film in this video homage
• “God’s Lonely Man” – a documentary featuring screenwriter Paul Schrader and Professor Robert Kolker discussing the loneliness themes as seen in the film. Schrader also talks about what circumstances lead to writing the screenplay
• “Travis’ New York Locations” – a contemporary, video visit to the film’s famous locations in New York City, comparing them to the same locations used in 1975
• Video bonus: “Storyboard to Film Comparisons,” with a Martin Scorsese Introduction
• Commentaries by writer Paul Schrader and professor Robert Kolker, discussing the film scene-by-scene
• “Taxi Driver Stories” featurette—taxi tales as told by real life New York city cab drivers
• “Making Of Taxi Driver” Documentary
• Animated Photo Galleries that include photo montages featuring the film’s music score, location shots taken during filming and Martin Scorsese at work
• The Taxi Driver 35^th anniversary edition also features movieIQ+sync, which gives you the full movieIQ experience on your computer or iPhone by linking to your Blu-ray Disc. Once connected, movieIQ+sync will display all of the great information movieIQ offers on your computer screen or iPhone instead of onscreen, all while staying synchronized to the movie!
• Trailers

Related posts

• Top 5 New Blu-ray releases for the Week of April 5 (0)
• Taxi Driver 4K Restoration on Blu-ray in April (3)
• Universal bringing bare-bones edition of Gilliam’s Brazil to Blu-ray (0)
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There have been a fair number of classic and very important films announced for release on Blu-ray this year already, though we’re only twenty-eight days into 2011. And despite the fact that there has been no official announcement yet in North America it has become clear in the last couple of days that Martin Scorsese‘s Taxi Driver will, at long last, be making its way to Blu this coming April.

The film is confirmed for release on Blu-ray in Germany on April 7 and has been rumoured to hit the streets here, on this side of the Atlantic shortly thereafter, on April 21st for a MSRP of $28.95 (now confirmed for an April 5th release). There has yet to be any hint of what special features we might see on the release but I’m hoping and praying that the recent “special relationship” between Sony and The Criterion Collection that allowed for their BBS Story boxed set to exist (a good deal of the titles in the set were licensed from Sony/Columbia, with transfers/restoration handled by the studio) will allow for Criterion’s classic laserdisc commentary track by Scorsese and writer Paul Schrader to make an appearance.

What we do know for sure is that Taxi Driver has recently received a 4K restoration, so it should, by all rights, look like a million bucks on Blu-ray (and given the recent work by Grover Crisp and his crack team of digital artists at Sony, I’m expecting this one to be a home run)! The restoration will debut in a couple of week at the Berlin Film Festival, presented by Schrader and Crisp.

The Taxi Driver Blu-ray is available for pre-order from Amazon.com right now!

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• Top 5 New Blu-ray releases for the Week of April 5 (0)
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• Top 5 New Blu-ray releases for the Week of November 23 (1)
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Not a bad week on Blu, if I do say so myself, despite the fact that there are far fewer discs shipping this week than last. The top pick is an obvious one here but maybe not the most exciting high-def release today. For some reason I always seem to find myself having greater anticipation for obscure catalogue titles than the shiny new blockbusters. Perhaps it’s because newer work is almost always guaranteed to look and sound brilliant on Blu-ray, whereas it’s always a thrill to re-experience an old favourite well mastered in 1080p!

1. SHUTTER ISLAND

I really, really wish that I loved Shutter Island a lot more than I did. I mean, it’s a great looking film with some amazing performances and a killer vibe but ultimately it just plays its hand way too early and too fiercely to be as effective as I would like it to be. Nevertheless, even the worst Martin Scorsese film is a work of genius and worthy of checking out. And this is far from the worst Scorsese film.

The Blu-ray from Paramount looks and sounds like a million bucks. Sadly, it’s damn light on special features. But if this is a flik you love and you’re not bothered by the lack of extras you could find a brand new demo disc with this one!

Amazon: $24.99

2. HAPPY TOGETHER

I’m a big Wong Kar-Wai fan and am super excited about getting my hands on Kino‘s new Blu-ray edition of Happy Together. They’ve been doing great work on their high-def transfers lately and when combined with the gorgeous visual style of Wong Kar-wai (and, in this case, the eye of talented cinematographer Christopher Doyle) this disc could be a real stunner. This hypnotic story of a relationship in its final days might not be for everyone but I personally can’t wait to add it to my Blu-ray collection!

Amazon: $18.99

3. CADDYSHACK

Ahhhh, Caddyshack! What can I possibly say about this classic 80s comedy that hasn’t been said a million times over already. To me, this is a work of genius. I understand, however, that my feelings on the matter are dictated by the place this film occupied in my childhood. It was one of those comedies my family would always return to, like the Vacation films or Summer Rental – ridiculous comedies that just happened to strike the right chord with, what I can only imagine, is a genetic predisposition to enjoy a good fart joke. From all appearances, we weren’t alone on this one. Caddyshack is beloved by a lot of people my age. And while the Blu-ray disc might not be the shiny picture of high-def perfection that our number one pick is this week, it’s certainly the finest this film has ever looked. Fans will be more than pleased.

Amazon: $16.99

4. MONTY PYTHON: NOT THE MESSIAH

Not the Messiah sits at the number four slot this week based upon its pedigree alone. I love Monty Python. The films, the television series, the albums. Everything. Now, I haven’t seen this film yet but I’ve got to tell you, it puts the fear in me. It looks to be a music hall re-imagining of the comedy troupe’s finest melodic works. A Python-opera, if you will. And I’m not sure if I even care to see such a thing. But seeing as how it’s written by Python Eric Idle and gets the nod from the rest of the gang, how can I not give it a shot?

Amazon: $19.99

5. ANIMATION EXPRESS

Being a Canadian (and living public-transit distance from the National Film Board headquarters) I was very fortunate to get my hands on Animation Express back in October of last year, when it was released in our country. This appears to be the same great disc in new clothing. If you’re a fan of animation, you’ll want to grab this up as soon as you can. The encode is a steady lower bitrate but it never seems to compromise the visuals. The 39 animated shorts on the disc are fantastic (13 are exclusive to the Blu-ray!) and they really look better than ever. Recommended for all animation fans!

Amazon: $24.99

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:

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I really wanted to love Shutter Island. The performances are fantastic, the production design and photography are pitch perfect and the music is wonderful. It’s got all the right ingredients to be a spooky thriller but in the end, it just doesn’t manage to add up to the film I want to see from Martin Scorsese. And I think it’s because the “dream” sequences are too plentiful and too “on-the-nose” for my tastes. The story might have been better adapted by someone like David Lynch, who seems to be able construct creepy scenes from the most mundane of moments. Despite my disappointment with the film, I’m looking forward to giving Shutter Island another shot when it hits Blu on June 8th.

SHUTTER ISLAND
(July 8, 2010 – MSRP $39.99)
Video: 2.39:1 1080p AVC
Audio: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1

Special Features:

• Behind the Shutters: follows the film from its inception as an acclaimed novel through the production process and to the big screen. Includes interviews with cast and crew.
• Into the Lighthouse: discusses the historical landscape of psychiatric therapies during the 1950s through interviews with cast and crew.

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Goodfellas is twenty years old? Get the f*$& outta here! There’s no denying that this is one of the finest mob movies, if not one of the finest films that has ever been made. And the new Blu-ray from Warner, celebrates the anniversary with a new silk suit and haircut but, sadly the mobster inside remains the same. Um…by that, I mean that this is the same disc they released three years ago in a new package.

You don’t need me to tell you the story of Martin Scorsese‘s Goodfellas, do you? I mean, in the twenty years since its release it’s managed to become the ultimate depiction of the mob, inspiring damn near every subsequent mafia film that’s emerged in its wake. Not to slight the Godfather films in the least, but Goodfellas seems to have eclipsed the famous Francis Ford Coppola trilogy in the minds of younger generations. And that fame and level of import are only a few of the reasons that this 20th Anniversary Blu-ray release is a bit of a let-down.

This is the same Blu-ray disc that was released in 2007. The same transfer, the same extras. Same, same, same. If you already count Goodfellas among your Blu-ray disc collection, you won’t find anything new here. And that’s a disappointment. The quality of the transfer isn’t awful. But it’s not great either. It didn’t win any awards back in 2007 and it only looks that much worse now, when our expectations for what a good transfer can be have been raised so high. But a lot of the problem here isn’t necessarily the fault of the disc. The film could really use a restoration (for instance, there’s a moment about an hour into the film when a very distracting line runs down the entire screen) despite its relative youth. I’m sure, given the cost of such a job, we won’t be seeing an improvement here anytime soon. With that in mind, you can feel confident that this version of Goodfellas is best this film will look on home video into the immediate future. But enough about the problems of the disc set, let’s talk about what’s great here.

Lots. First of all, Goodfellas comes packaged in a beautiful hardcover book. I really love these things. Warner should reissue as many films as they can in nice “digibook” editions. I think it’s the classiest way to display a Blu-ray collection. Inside the little book, you’ll find two discs – the Goodfellas BD and Public Enemies: The Golden Age of the Gangster Film on DVD, a feature length documentary about mob movies that, until now was an exclusive addition to the Warner Gangsters Collection Vol. 4.

While they may not be exactly new, the special features on the Goodfellas Blu-ray disc are quite nice. Anytime you can get a Scorsese commentary track you know you’re in for a treat. And his commentary here is shared with author/screenwriter Nicolas Pileggi, producers Irwin Winkler and Barbara De Fina, cinematographer Michael Ballhaus, editor Thelma Schoonmaker, and cast members Ray Liotta, Lorraine Bracco, Paul Sorvino and Frank Vincent. As excellent and informative as this cast and crew track is, you may prefer to listen to the Cop and Crook Commentary, featuring the real Henry Hill (the man whose real-life story is told in the film) and FBI agent Edward McDonald. An awesome and truly inspired inclusion!

Rounding out the extras on the disc are a handful of fairly good featurettes – a standard, half-hour “making-of”, a 14-minute piece examining the legacy of the film, an 8-minute look at real-life mobsters and a storyboard comparison. In addition, the second disc (the gangster doc DVD) includes half an hour of gangster related Looney Tunes and Merrie Melody cartoons. All bonus features are in standard definition.

Previously on The Blu-ray Blog: Goodfellas 20th Anniversary Blu-ray coming in February

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