I’m so, so, so late getting this column up this week so let’s just get to it – the cornucopia of new Blu-ray releases that hit shops a couple of days ago. So much gold in one week. My wallet is weak…

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Blu-ray disc of the week: CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER

“Captain America leads the fight for freedom in the action-packed blockbuster starring Chris Evans as the ultimate weapon against evil! When a terrifying force threatens everyone across the globe, the world’s greatest soldier wages war on the evil HYDRA organization, led by the villainous Red Skull (Hugo Weaving, The Matrix). Critics and audiences alike salute Captain America: The First Avenger as “pure excitement, pure action, and pure fun!” – Bryan Erdy CBS-TV “

Y’know, say what you will about director Joe Johnston, but he really turned out a fun summer action film in Captain America: The First Avenger. Sure, it’s not the best film to be released on Blu-ray this week but it’s pretty damn great on a lot of levels and is unquestionably the biggest, shiniest, most obviously hot release this week (if you don’t believe me, just take a gander at the list of Blu-ray bestsellers at Amazon!) That’s why I just had to make it the pick of the week.

Almost everything about Captain America: The First Avenger rings true, for a superhero film (special consideration must be afforded the genre, I feel.) The performances are particularly excellent from top to bottom, with Chris Evans’ earnest portrayal of the all American boy scout helping to sell even the most obvious of CG background. Stanley Tucci‘s brilliant turn as the fatherly, affable scientist Doctor Erskine also resonates through the film, even though his screen time is limited. Johnston and team wisely keep things light, for the most part, allowing the film to harken back to the spirit of the era in which it’s set. The only time the tone feels compromised at all is when the obvious Avengers tie-in moments rear their ugly heads. While the epilogue of the film excites the fanboy in me, I really would have preferred that the narrative wrap up just before it. That epilogue just screams post-credits sequence, if you ask me.

Cap looks great on Blu-ray. But this film isn’t as bright and detailed as its modern peers. The subdued palette and hazy visuals that give the film its retro vibe often cloak the vivid nature of the transfer. Believe me though, this is a solid, impressive presentation. The DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 track is even better, delivering thunderous explosions, immersive atmospheric effects and clear dialogue.

The special features on the Captain America: The First Avenger Blu-ray are informative and a lot of fun but there’s no real stand out here. You’ll enjoy watching the new Marvel short film starring Agent Coulson, ‘A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Thor’s Hammer‘ and there’s plenty of behind-the-scenes material on display through the collection of featurettes. A ‘Play All’ option would have made that material a lot easier to wade through. The deleted scenes are brief and not worth watching with the almost absentee filmmakers on their commentary track. Thank goodness the feature commentary is a bit more lively and informative. I was honestly hoping for a little more on the Avengers here but there’s nothing that hasn’t been on the internet for ages and well combed over by all the nerd sites.

Special Features:

• Commentary by Director Joe Johnston, Director of Photography Shelly Johnson and Editor Jeff Ford
• Marvel One Shot: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Thor’s Hammer
• Featurettes
  • Outfitting a Hero
  • The Assembly Begins
  • Howling Commandos
  • Heightened Technology
  • The Transformation
  • Behind the Skull
  • Captain America’s Origins
• Deleted Scenes
  • Attack in Norway
  • The Battle at Azzano
  • Steve Rogers Gets His Medal
  • Steve Rogers Meets Nick Fury
• Sega Game trailer
• The Avengers Animated Trailer

AMAZON: $21.99

Also available: CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER 3D COMBO PACK

AMAZON: $26.99

THE CONVERSATION

“Francis Ford Coppola‘s provoking mystery-thriller stars Gene Hackman as Harry Caul, an expert surveillance man. A routine wiretapping job turns into a nightmare when Harry hears something disturbing in his recording of a young couple in a park. His investigation of the tape and how it might be used sends Harry spiraling into a web of secrecy, murder and paranoia. Set against the backdrop of San Francisco, “The Conversation” is a harrowing psychological thriller that costars Cindy Williams, Frederic Forrest and Harrison Ford and symbolizes the uneasy line where technology and privacy cross.“

If The Conversation isn’t a perfect film I don’t know what is. As much as I recognize the brilliance and cinematic significance of the Godfather films and Apocalypse Now, this one is really the high point in Coppola’s career as a filmmaker, if you ask me. There’s an assured subtlety to the storytelling rarely seen in film, especially in work of this complexity. Most films wear their creators’ efforts on their sleeves, but The Conversation, while paranoid and specific, feels remarkably natural and organic in both structure and character. At no time do you feel the filmmaker’s hand manipulating you or manipulating the people on screen, even though Coppola’s style is evident in every frame. I can only credit the artistic triumph of his work here to its personal nature. Some criticize the film for being too slow and not engaging enough to hold one’s attention for the duration of its runtime (in fact, composer David Shire tells, in one of the extras, of an early screening where he, Coppola and others dozed off) and yes, I admit, as brilliant as it is, it isn’t for everyone. But this is incredible work, with great performances from Hackman and the legendary, late John Cazale (among others) and a truly wonderful piano score by Shire. I would have no trouble watching this film every day. For real.

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.

Special Features:

• Cindy Williams and Harrison Ford Screen Tests
• Close-Up on The Conversation vintage featurette
• “No Cigar” – 1956 student film by Coppola
• Harry Caul’s San Francisco—Then And Now
• Archival Gene Hackman Interview
• Script Dictations from Francis Ford Coppola
• David Shire Interviewed by Francis Ford Coppola
• Commentary tracks by Coppola and editor Walter Murch
• Theatrical Trailer

AMAZON: $17.99

JURASSIC PARK: ULTIMATE TRILOGY

“Experience one of the biggest movie trilogies of all time like never before with the Jurassic Park Ultimate Trilogy! “You won’t believe your eyes” (Rolling Stone) when dinosaurs once again roam the Earth in an amazing theme park on a remote island. From Academy Award®-winning directors Steven Spielberg (Jurassic Park, The Lost World: Jurassic Park) and Joe Johnston (Jurassic Park III), the action-packed adventures find man up against prehistoric predators in the ultimate battle for survival. Featuring visually stunning imagery and groundbreaking filmmaking that has been hailed as “a triumph of special effects artistry” (Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times), this epic trilogy is sheer movie-making magic that was 65 million years in the making. “Welcome to Jurassic Park.” “

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!

READ MORE: Jurassic Park Ultimate Trilogy Blu-ray set coming in October

AMAZON: $48.99

Also available: JURASSIC PARK: ULTIMATE TRILOGY GIFT SET

AMAZON: $79.99

ISLAND OF LOST SOULS, DAZED AND CONFUSED, IDENTIFICATION OF A WOMAN

This has been one of the best months of Criterion Blu-ray releases ever! And this week caps off the month with style and volume. I haven’t screened Antonioni‘s Identification of a Woman or the re-issue of Dazed and Confused on Blu but I can attest to the quality of the Island of Lost Souls disc. While all three are must-haves for film fans and Criterion collectors, Souls is a landmark release – the first time this classic 1932 horror has been issued on optical disc! And, I’ve got to say, it’s a thrill to watch it looking better than ever. And equally, it’s a thrill to watch all the fantastic extras on the disc. Read more raves in my full review, linked to below.

READ MORE: The Criterion Collection: Island of Lost Souls Blu-ray Disc Review

AMAZON: Various

ATTACK THE BLOCK

“From the producers of Shaun of the Dead, Attack the Block is a fast, funny, frightening action adventure movie that pits a teen street gang against an invasion of savage alien monsters. It turns a London housing project into a sci-fi battleground, the low-income apartment complex into a fortress under siege. And it turns a crazy mix of tough street kids into a team of kick ass heroes. It’s inner city versus outer space and it’s going to explode. “

I had the pleasure of seeing Attack the Block in the cinema. It’s like a harder edged, modern, British Goonies with aliens. Nothing wrong with that! I haven’t seen the Blu-ray yet but this is definitely one that’s on my radar to pick up soon. Bonus features include three audio commentaries, a one-hour behind-the-scenes doc and more! Sounds like a nice little package for a great little movie.

AMAZON: $22.99

TOM & JERRY GOLDEN COLLECTION: VOLUME ONE

“Celebrate the most enduring team in animation history with a collection fans will want to chase and catch! This highly anticipated release includes over 40 remastered shorts starting with “Puss Gets The Boot”! Enjoy these highly collectible set with Improved Picture and Audio for the first time ever! Also includes: “The Midnight Snack”, “The Night Before Chritmas”, “Fraidy Cat”, “Dog Trouble”, “Puss N’ Toots”, “The Bowling Alley Cat”, “Fine Feathered Friend”, “Sufferin’ Cats”, “The Lonesome Mouse”, “The Yankee Doodle Mouse”, “Baby Puss”, “The Zoot Cat”, “The Million Dollar Cat”, “The Bodyguard”, “Puttin on The Dog”, “Mouse Trouble”, “The Mouse Comes To Dinner”, “Mouse In Manhattan”, “Tee For Two”, “Flirty Birdy”, “Quiet Please!”, “Springtime For Thomas”, “The Milky Waif”, “Trap Happy”, “Solid Serenade”, “Cat Fishin’”, “Part Time Pal”, “The Cat Concerto”, “Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Mouse”, “Salt Water Tabby”, “A Mouse In The House”, “The Invisible Mouse”, “Kitty Foiled”, “The Truce Hurts”, “Old Rockin’ Chair Tom”, and “Professor Tom”.“

I’m absolutely blown away by how fantastic these cartoons look on Blu-ray. I wasn’t expecting any of the original 37 Tom and Jerry shorts to sport such vivid colours or to retain any of their vintage film-like qualities. But Warner has just knocked it out of the park here in this initial collection of the uncut, unedited versions of these films that date back as far as 1940. It’s tough to complain about any aspect of this 2-disc boxed set except, perhaps that the only audio option for the shorts is a compressed Dolby Digital mono mix. In this day and age, it’s nice to have lossless when possible, even when the source material is somewhat lacking.

Tom & Jerry Golden Collection: Volume One sports a fair number of special features, including 12 stellar commentary tracks from the likes of animator Mark Kausler, comedienne Nicole Parker, author Michael Mallory, historian Earl Kress, director Eric Goldberg and animation historian, author and ruler of the ever-awesome cartoonbrew.com, Jerry Beck. The brand new HD doc ‘Vaudeville, Slapstick and Tom and Jerry‘ is also outstanding, examining the roots of the films’ comedy. Four additional standard-def features culled from previous DVD releases are also included in the set, with the longest of them, the half-hour long ‘How Bill and Joe Met Tom and Jerry‘ the best of the bunch. ‘The Midnight Snack Pencil Test‘ runs around 9-minutes and is worth a look for any animation aficionado. ‘The Worry Song from Anchors Aweigh‘ is 8-minutes of little Jerry dancing with Gene Kelley. ‘The Comedy Styling of Tom and Jerry‘ is a featurette that’s 6-minutes of your life you’ll never get back. Don’t bother.

This boxed set is clearly marketed at adult animation fans as there are numerous warnings about the content and the complex, potentially offensive nature of it. In fact before each disc plays, Warner plays the following:

“Some of the cartoons you are about to see are a product of their time. They may depict some of the ethnic and racial prejudices that were commonplace in American society. These depictions were wrong then and are wrong today. While the following does not represent the Warner Bros.’ view of today’s society, some of these cartoons are being presented as they were originally created, because to do otherwise would be the same as claiming these prejudices never existed.“

Despite the controversial nature of the shorts, I’m certain that with proper guidance any child can enjoy them too, without suffering any adverse effects.

AMAZON: $23.99

RARE EXPORTS: A CHRISTMAS TALE

“It’s the eve of Christmas in northern Finland, and an ‘archeological’ dig has just unearthed the real Santa Claus. But this particular Santa isn’t the one you want coming to town. When the local children begin mysteriously disappearing, young Pietari and his father Rauno, a reindeer hunter by trade, capture the mythological being and attempt to sell Santa to the misguided leader of the multinational corporation sponsoring the dig. Santa’s elves, however, will stop at nothing to free their fearless leader from captivity. What ensues is a wildly humorous nightmare – a fantastically bizarre polemic on modern day morality. “Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale” is a re-imagining of the most classic of all childhood fantasies, and is a darkly comic gem soon to be required perennial holiday viewing.“

Oh my God. I have a new favourite Christmas movie.

It’s not often that I stumble across a seasonal gem like this – a film I just know I’ll return to year after year in some twisted, dark ritual of cinematic holiday celebration. I had never even heard of Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale until a few weeks ago but after watching what just might be the finest film to ever come out of Finland, I know I’ll never forget it. Writer/director Jalmari Helander has crafted a tight, little creature adventure that riffs on the Scandinavian myths of trolls and goblins, blended with the origins of the Santa Clause story. Brilliant! If you were the kind of kid who cried when placed on Santa’s lap at the mall, you might want to give this one a pass. It’ll bring all that scary shit from your childhood rushing back in a wave of Christmas-creature terror. Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale plays with frightening themes and images but never executes with a heavy hand, calling to mind the playfulness of better Joe Dante or Tim Burton efforts. If that’s a flavour you enjoy, this film is right up your street In fact, now come to think of it, this would play a pretty decent double-feature with Attack the Block! Nice!

Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale looks like a million bucks on Blu-ray. I don’t have a single criticism of this vivid, detailed, exceptional transfer. I wish slickly produced, bajillion dollar Hollywood fare looked this good in high-def! The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track is also a marvel, incredibly active and dynamic for a film of such limited on-screen action. The skilled, mad scientists at Oscilloscope Labs have delivered an incredible, reference quality presentation on this disc. Bravo!

The good folks from the Labs have also provided a bevy of bonus goodies on the Blu-ray disc, chief amongst which are the original shorts that inspired the film – ‘Rare Exports Inc.‘ from 2003 and ‘Rare Exports Inc. – The Official Safety Instructions‘ from 2005. Both are worth a look (after you’ve completed the feature, of course) and offer a compelling look at the growth of the filmmakers. ‘The Making of Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale‘ runs almost half-an-hour in length and covers the film from pre-production to its debut at the Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland. A good deal of the footage is from pocket cameras and the like, so the quality of this HD presentation is all over the map. But no matter. The quality of the content is top notch. For those who want to dig a little deeper there’s also a look at the concept art, animatics and computer effects, a photo gallery and a trailer. The Blu-ray also includes the almost unwatchable 1964 film Santa Claus Conquers the Martians in SD. It’s a good gag and a nice bonus exclusive but don’t even try to sit through that stinker while sober or on your own. Just don’t do it. A DVD of the feature film is included in the package (which is a handsome digipack made out of recycled paper and is gorgeous to look at, by the way.)

Super-highly-extra recommended!

AMAZON: $19.99

THE HOUSE BY THE CEMETERY and ZOMBIE

“Read The Fine Print… You May Have Just Mortgaged Your Life! A young family moves from their cramped New York City apartment to a spacious new home in New England. But this is no ordinary house in the country: the previous owner was the deranged Dr. Freudstein, whose monstrous human experiments have left a legacy of bloody mayhem. Now, someone – or something – is alive in the basement, and home sweet home is about to become a horrific hell on earth. Catriona MacColl (THE BEYOND), Paolo Malco (THE NEW YORK RIPPER), Ania Pieroni (TENEBRE), Carlo De Mejo (CITY OF THE LIVING DEAD), and Dagmar Lassander (HATCHET FOR THE HONEYMOON) star in this outrageous Italian shocker from ‘The Godfather of Gore,’ Lucio Fulci (ZOMBIE, CITY OF THE LIVING DEAD). Now Blue Underground proudly presents the definitive version of THE HOUSE BY THE CEMETERY: freshly transferred in blood-soaked High Definition from its original uncut and uncensored negative and loaded with exclusive new Extras!”

So, I was sure that both Zombie and The House by the Cemetery were released last week. Oops! My bad. Hope I didn’t have too many of you running around trying to hunt those bad boys down. Anyway, they’re both available now. And I’ve seen The House by the Cemetery for myself and I’ll tell you, Blue Underground have done it again!

Say what you want about the film itself (most say it’s a confusing mess with a boneheaded plot and an annoying child star but some of the best spooky haunted house scares ever…and I’d have to agree!) but this Blu-ray edition of The House by the Cemetery is the bees knees. Not only is the transfer out of this world but there’s a good number of extras to boot! The image here is bright and detailed, much more so than any previous home video edition of the film. It’s stable as a rock and exhibits excellent contrast and skin tones throughout. The English language DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 soundtrack gets the job done but won’t win any awards. It’s clean and clear throughout but the score betrays the source material’s limited dynamic range.

There are supplements aplenty, most in the way of interviews with cast and crew. ‘To Build a Better Death Trap‘ runs over 20-minutes and is the most extensive of the six included pieces, featuring interviews with actor Diovanni De Nava, cinematographer Sergio Salvati, make-up effects artist Maurizio Trani and special effects artist Gino De Rossi. There’s also a deleted scene, trailers and a poster and stills gallery.

AMAZON: $14.99

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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Heyyyyy. Remember how once upon a time we had all the details and art for the Captain America: The First Avenger Blu-ray releases and then BAM, they were gone? Yeah. Those are the pains of having early info but being friendly with the studio and the studio really not wanting that info to get out into the wild yet. So, I pulled the story. And every other site ran with it. Sigh… Well, now that the Blu-ray has officially been announced, I’ve brought the old story back (read it here) and I’m clear to post this trailer, which actually shows a decent amount of behind-the-scenes clips from Captain America as well as from the upcoming Joss Wedon film, The Avengers. The Captain America: The First Avenger Blu-ray hits shelves on October 25.

CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER
(October 25, 2011 – MSRP $42.99, 3D Combo Pack $54.99)
Video: 2.39:1 1080p
Audio: 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio

Special Features:

• Commentary by Director Joe Johnston, Director of Photography Shelly Johnson and Editor Jeff Ford
• Marvel One Shot: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Thor’s Hammer
• Featurettes
  • Outfitting a Hero
  • The Assembly Begins
  • Howling Commandos
  • Heightened Technology
  • The Transformation
  • Behind the Skull
  • Captain America’s Origins
• Deleted Scenes
  • Attack in Norway
  • The Battle at Azzano
  • Steve Rogers Gets His Medal
  • Steve Rogers Meets Nick Fury
• Sega Game trailer
• The Avengers Animated Trailer

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THOR (2011, Blu-ray released September 12, 2011 – MSRP $44.99)

MOVIE:	★★★½☆
VIDEO:	★★★★☆
AUDIO:	★★★★½
EXTRAS:	★★★½☆
BLU-RAY:	★★★★☆

I’m not saying that Marvel movies can do no wrong (hell, we all remember Daredevil and Elektra) but this run of films from Marvel Studios, beginning with Iron Man and leading to next summer’s The Avengers has proven a pretty exciting series of films. Thor sits firmly in the middle of the established timeline thus far and also sits firmly in the middle of the films in terms of quality. It’s nowhere near as solid as Iron Man but nowhere near as flawed as Iron Man 2.

“The world has many heroes… but only one is a god. When the arrogant warrior Thor (Chris Hemsworth, “Star Trek”) is banished to Earth from his homeworld of Asgard, he must fight to reclaim his lost powers. Pursued by an invasion force sent to destroy him, the fallen God of Thunder must rise to the battle and learn what it takes to become a true hero. Natalie Portman (“Black Swan”) and Anthony Hopkins (“Beowulf”) also star in the blockbuster adventure critics are calling “thrilling, entertaining and cool.” (Harry Knowles, Ain’t It Cool News).“

I could say that I was hoping for more from Thor but honestly, the film turned out almost exactly as I was expecting. It’s a whole lot of fun and a fairly accurate representation of the popular Stan Lee/Jack Kirby comic book thunder god. When the film was in pre-production, producer Kevin Feige spoke of it as a Shakespeare-inspired, Lord of the Rings-style fantasy epic. I’m pretty sure they hired director Kenneth Branagh on the basis of that take on the narrative, what with his background as one of the finest Shakespearean actors of our age. As production moved forward, tying the story into the worlds of fellow heroes Iron Man and Captain America became a necessity to lead in to The Avengers film, so it was determined that the narrative would need to bring Thor to Earth, just as his four-colour newsprint counterpart had done some fifty years before. And I think it’s there that the film’s weaknesses lie.

For as wonderful as all the lead performers are (and they are pretty wonderful, believe me) nothing can keep Thor from losing it’s epic feeling when it shifts the action from the cosmic wonderworld of Asgard to bland, dusty New Mexico and trades in powerful God-like Frost Giant antagonists for the wimpy men in black feds of S.H.I.E.L.D. Sure, the fish out of water stuff is fun and helps the audience relate more directly to Thor’s humanity, as he stumbles around the small, backwater town, seeking his lost super-powered war-hammer, being tasered by and drinking with the local mortals. But there’s very little weight given to all the story elements present there. Including his developing relationship with physicist Jane Foster (Portman.) It’s only upon Thor’s return to his home-world that things regain any sort of balance but by then the party’s over. And I’m left feeling like an opportunity to really deliver the goods is lost. Give me more Shakespearean family drama and epic battles with hordes of marauding Frost Giants and less of our titular hero serving scrambled eggs to Kat Dennings.

Paramount brings Thor to Blu-ray in a transfer that’s a fair representation of what I saw in the theatre. The disc isn’t demo material – soft shots abound and the image can be flat and very dark at times – but all around it looks great. Colours pop, detail is abundant, and blacks are deep. The DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 track is… well… THUNDEROUS! Seriously though, this is an immersive, booming audio track that will give your system a work out. Don’t worry about the dialogue getting lost in the storm. It’s clean and clear throughout.

There are quite a number of special features on the disc, with Branagh’s commentary track being the most informative and involved of the bunch. You can choose to hear his comments on all the deleted scenes as well, but he generally offers only a brief sentiment on each one, far less loquacious than in his commentary over the feature. The collection of featurettes on the disc would be a nice little 40-minute (or so) doc on the making of the film if the menu offered a “Play All” option (why do all the studios hate the “Play All”?) The Consultant short film is cute but is really just another showcase of Agent Phil Coulson’s (Clark Gregg) g-man cool. “The Road to the Avengers” is nothing more than a clip-show from the Iron Man films, Captain America: The First Avenger, The Incredible Hulk and Thor. Not much to see there. The disc is rounded out by trailers and a DVD and Digital Copy of the film.

Special Features:

• Commentary by director Kenneth Branagh
• Deleted Scenes with Optional Commentary by Director Kenneth Branagh
  • Thor and Loki Before the Coronation (02:48)
  • Warriors 3 and Sif Turn Over Their Weapons (1:13)
  • Thor and Frigga (0:34)
  • “Rah Rah” (Extended) (4:22)
  • Hospital (Extended) (2:02)
  • Frigga Confronts Odin (1:06)
  • Loki is Made King (3:23)
  • Selvig Sings with Thor (1:07)
  • Warriors 3 and Sif Arrive (Extended) (4:41)
  • Darcy’s Dog (0:23)
  • Selvig is Saved by Thor (1:32)
• From Asgard to Earth
• Our Fearless Leader
• Assembling the troupe
• Hammer Time
• Creating Laufey
• Music of the Gods
• A Conversation
• Marvel One-Shot: The Consultant (3:41)
• Road to The Avengers (2:24)

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From Amazon:

For a limited time only, save $10 when you purchase Thor and Iron Man or Iron Man 2 on Blu-ray. Simply use the code IRONMAN9 at checkout. Offer ends October 8, 2011. Applies only to products sold by Amazon.com. Does not apply to products sold by third-party merchants and other sellers through the Amazon.com site.

Via: Blu-ray.com

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I’m running a little short on time so I’ll just mention what a cool crop of films we’ve got being released on Blu this week! My list of picks is a little stranger than most this time, however, as I’ve barely seen a single review disc. So, what you’ll find below is mostly a collection of the Blu-ray discs I’m most excited to watch.

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: X-MEN: FIRST CLASS

““X-Men: First Class“ is the thrilling, eye-opening chapter you’ve been waiting for… Witness the beginning of the X-Men Universe. Before Charles Xavier and Erik Lensherr took the names Professor X and Magneto, they were two young men discovering their superhuman powers for the first time, working together in a desperate attempt to stop the Hellfire Club and a global nuclear war.“

X-Men: First Class isn’t without its flaws but it’s a damn fun superhero romp and one of the best action films of this past summer. Director Matthew Vaughn was wise to sit out the second sequel of the popular film franchise based on Marvel comics’ cabal of mutant warriors. He was on the hook to direct X-Men 3: The Last Stand back in 2006 but bailed when it became clear that the production wouldn’t come together in a manner he deemed acceptable. He stuck to comics though, tackling an adaptation of Neil Gaiman‘s Stardust and Mark Millar‘s Kick-Ass before chancing a return to the X-franchise. X-Men: First Class digs into the X-Men’s past in style, back to the ’60s in fact, and returns the series to the high water mark Bryan Singer established with his two X-films.

James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender rule this this somewhat mod-styled film in very different ways. McAvoy has a simple, boyish charm and a winning smile, making you quickly forget that his character will grow to lose his hair and the use of his legs, becoming the Professor X portrayed in such iconic fashion by Patrick Stewart in the original films. Fassbender cuts through the narrative almost literally, commanding or killing most every man and mutant around him in his hunt for vengeance against the man who ruined his life. He’s like Bond, if Bond just happened to be a master of magnetism! Some of the younger cast members can’t quite hold their own against these titans of cinema (Caleb Landry Jones as Banshee, in particular, really grates on me) but for the most part the entire cast is wonderful, with January Jones the notoriously notable exception. I don’t think it’s spoiling too much to say that I’m fairly certain we’ll see most everyone returning in the inevitable sequel film. Let’s hope Vaughn sticks with the franchise for at least a couple more entries, to bring the story up to the present day and incorporate our favourite mutants back into this new take on the popular mythology.

I can’t speak to the quality of the X-Men: First Class Blu-ray disc itself as Fox has yet to ship review copies in Canada but I’d be shocked if it looked and sounded less than stellar. Extras include over two hours worth of never-before-seen bonus content. I can’t wait to dig into this one!

One final note – X-Men: First Class doesn’t actually hit shops until Friday, September 9th. So, at this point, you’ve got a few more days to wait before getting your hands on it.

Special Features:

• 10 Marvel “X-Men” Digital Comics with exclusive “X-Men: First Class” Backstory Comic (Blu-ray exclusive)
• More than two hours of never-before-seen extras, including:
  • Cerebro Mutant Tracker: The complete interactive Mutant Database with interactive videos giving fans the ability to learn about their favourite mutants in the X-Men film franchise
  • Children of the Atom: An eight-part behind-the-scenes featurette, charting the film from pre-production through post-production, including visual effects techniques and cataloguing “X-Men” transformations through prosthetic make up and costume design
  • “X” Marks the Spot: An interactive feature allowing viewers the opportunity to learn more about specific scenes with talent interviews and behind-the-scenes footage
  • Extended and Deleted Scenes
  • BD-Live Portal with additional Cerebro Mutant Tracker profiles
  • Composer’s Isolated Score
  • Theatrical Trailer

AMAZON: $24.99

STRAW DOGS

“Brace yourself for the extended version of this daring and provocative drama from the director of “The Wild Bunch”. Starring Dustin Hoffman in a “superbly realized” (Time) performance, this “brilliant” (Cue), disturbing film charts one man’s brutally violent journey from cowardice to courage and “delivers one helluva jolt” (Playboy). To escape the Vietnam-era chaos in the U.S., American mathematician David Sumner (Hoffman) moves with his British wife Amy (Susan George) to an isolated English village. Their presence provokes antagonism among the village’s men. Escalating from routine bullying to the gang rape of his wife, David finds his pacifist self being backed into a corner and responds in the violent and gruesome manner he abhors.“

When most film nuts are asked to name their favourite Sam Peckinpah film, dollars to donuts the answer will be The Wild Bunch. But I’ve always been more of a Straw Dogs kind of guy, myself. There’s something about the quiet build of the film, the menace that’s lurking right under their noses, as Hoffman and his wife (Susan George) move to their new home in rural England. It might not be the most action packed Peckinpah film but I think it’s the most nuanced and well balanced of his oevre. It’s being released on Blu-ray this week in anticipation of the big screen debut of the remake, set to hit theatres next week. Again, in typical Fox/MGM fashion, I haven’t laid eyes on a review copy of the Blu-ray yet, so I can’t speak to the quality of the transfer. What I can tell you, however, is that the disc is fairly bare bones, featuring only the theatrical trailer and a bunch of TV spots, so fans of the film who already have the Criterion Collection DVD edition of Straw Dogs in their collection would do well to hang onto it for all its extras.

READ MORE: Straw Dogs Blu-ray announced and detailed

AMAZON: $16.99

DRESSED TO KILL

“Writer-director Brian De Palma “maintains a fever pitch from start to finish” (Leonard Maltin) with this “steamily libidinous and extremely bloody thriller” (Newsweek)! Starring Michael Caine, Angie Dickinson and Nancy Allen (in a Golden Globe®-nominated performance), this taut psycho-sexual chiller is a razor-sharp tale of passion, madness and murder that’s as “scary as the devil [with] suspense to spare” (Playboy)! Fashionable Manhattan therapist Dr. Robert Elliott (Caine) faces the most terrifying moment of his life, when a psychotic killer begins attacking the women (Dickinson and Allen) in his life— with a straight razor stolen from his office. Desperate to find the murderer before anyone else is hurt, Elliott is soon drawn into a dark and disturbing world of chilling desires. And as the doctor edges closer to the terrible truth, he finds himself lost in a provocative and deadly maze of obsession, deviance and deceit— where the most harmless erotic fantasies…can become the most deadly sexual nightmares! “

Dressed to Kill is another one of those Fox Blu-ray releases where the review copy will turn up after the release date, so it’s tough to actually recommend it based on the quality of the disc alone. But given the recent transfers of MGM films to Blu I expect this to be honest and film-like, but without much cleanup. It’s classic Brian De Palma at his best and most Hitchcockian, starring Michael Caine, Angie Dickinson and the former Mrs. De Palma, Nancy Allen. Unlike the Straw Dogs disc, also in shops today from MGM/Fox, this disc has a ton of extras on it, including a feature length “Making of” doc. I, personally, can’t wait to watch this one. I’ll report back as soon as I get my grubby hands on a copy.

READ MORE: Dressed to Kill Blu-ray announced and detailed

AMAZON: $15.99

Also available today: DRESSED TO KILL

“Starring Academy Award winner Al Pacino (The Godfather) in an unforgettable performance as one of the most ruthless gangsters ever depicted on film and co-starring Academy Award nominee Michelle Pfeiffer (The Fabulous Baker Boys), Scarface is the rags-to-riches story of Cuban immigrant Tony “Scarface” Montana, who finds wealth, power and passion beyond his wildest dreams…at a price he never imagined. From acclaimed director Brian De Palma (Carlito’s Way) and Oscar-winning writer Oliver Stone (Born on the Fourth of July), this action-packed Blu-ray features an all-new eye-popping remastered picture, explosive 7.1 audio track and never-before-seen bonus features. One of the most influential gangster epics of all time, the Scarface Limited Edition Blu-ray also includes collectible SteelBook packaging, a digital copy of the film, a DVD of the 1932 version of Scarface plus 10 original art cards for a limited time only.“

I don’t care much for Scarface. Never have. I think it’s cinematically strong work from De Palma but plays nowadays like something of a farce. Watch it and try not to laugh at nearly everything that comes out of Tony Montana’s mouth. This is a significant Blu-ray release but vastly less interesting than Dressed to Kill, if you ask me. Early reviews of the Scarface Blu-ray put it on par with most of Universal‘s catalogue releases, showing signs that they simply gussied up a dated DVD-era transfer for Blu. Though I’m not the biggest fan of the film I think it’s a shame that the studio didn’t afford one of their big-ticket fliks a better presentation. I’m concerned that when/if the time comes to release my beloved Universal Monster films in HD, that those transfers might be botched as well. C’mon, Universal! Get with the program!! New scans for all catalogue films! It’s what all the cool kids are doing these days.

READ MORE: Scarface coming to Blu-ray in September

AMAZON: $34.89

HANNA

“An action-packed suspense-thriller starring Academy Award nominee Saoirse Ronan (Atonement, The Lovely Bones) Hanna is “an exuberant chase thriller that pulses with energy!” (Justin Chang, Variety) Raised by her father (Eric Bana) an ex-CIA agent in the wilds of Finland Hanna’s upbringing and training have been one and the same all geared to making her the perfect assassin. The turning point in her adolescence is a sharp one. Sent into the world by her father on a mission Hanna journeys stealthily across Europe eluding agents dispatched after her by a ruthless intelligence operative with secrets of her own (Academy Award winner Cate Blanchett). As she nears her ultimate target Hanna faces startling revelations about her existence in a movie critics are calling “exhilarating audacious and boldly original!” (Karen Durbin Elle) “

Man, I really wanted to see Hanna in the theatre. It just looks amazing. But I totally missed out on this one. Luckily, my lovely girlfriend happened to catch it and reports that it’s a really fun action film. She says, “It looks great, with beautiful cinematography. A good mix of scenery and violence.” Hell, that’s enough for me! The Blu-ray includes a commentary track from director Joe Wright, deleted scenes, an alternate ending and a ton of featurettes.

AMAZON: $19.99

FRINGE: THE COMPLETE SEASON THREE

“Immersive. Compelling. Hypnotic. Brilliantly imaginative. Endlessly thrilling. Pick your term. The mystery of the universes deepens in the critically acclaimed 22-episode third season of television’s most exciting sci-fi. The “Fringe” team escapes from the parallel universe except for Olivia, trapped in the other world and replaced in ours by her double, who turns Peter and Olivia’s tentative relationship into a love affair. Then Olivia returns, bonds of trust fray, ever more bizarre and terrifying phenomena occur and secrets that stretch back to 1985 threaten to destroy our universe. Or theirs. “‘Fringe’ continues its hot streak known as Season 3. It’s been firing on all cylinders all season” (Andrew Hanson, LATimes.com).“

I might be totally off base here, recommending Fringe: The Complete Third Season on Blu-ray because I’m only doing so on the basis of the series’ previous two seasons. That’s right, this is another one I haven’t seen yet on Blu. Nor did I watch this year as Fringe was airing on TV. But I’ll give the show the benefit of the doubt, as I’ve loved nearly every episode leading into this boxed set. How far off the rails could it have possibly gone in only one season?

The big news about this boxed set is that Warner has finally seen fit to grace its TV-on-Blu releases with DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 tracks instead of the lossy mixes of the past. Fringe: The Complete Third Season is one the first titles to benefit and I expect great things. As usual, the discs are packed with extras including a few commentary tracks, featurettes, a gag reel and trailers. This 4-disc set also features the first ever (as far as I can tell) Maximum Episode Mode for “Os” (Episode 316), a feature that no doubt mimics Warner’s popular Maximum Movie Mode. Regular readers will know how much I love the MMM, so I’m sure you’re not surprised to hear that I can’t wait to sink my teeth into that one!

AMAZON: $42.99

Only in Canada: THE EXTRAORDINARY ADVENTURES OF ADELE BLANC-SEC

“An adventure set in the early part of the 20th century and focused on a popular novelist and her dealings with would-be suitors, the cops, monsters, and other distractions. “

The Extraordinary Adventures of Adèle Blanc-Sec is a Luc Besson film that’s actually directed by Luc Besson. You read that correctly. The director of such action-packed flights of fancy as The Fifth Element and La Femme Nikita and former Mister Milla Jovovich is back in the director’s chair for this lite, breezy romp through the comic book world of Jacques Tardi‘s popular “bande dessinee” series. Sure, he’s tackled those Arthur kids films and there was that movie Angel-A which never really got much play on these shores but it really seems of late that he’s been more interested in producing and writing and churning out an endless stream of Jason Statham-meets-parkour actioners than directing. Well, you’ll be happy to know that Adèle Blanc-Sec sees him returning in proper, silly form. From talking mummies to a pterodactyl loose over Paris, the film never takes itself too seriously. It’s a good old-fashioned science-fantasy yarn, with enough turn-of-the-century tomb raiding to bring everyone’s favourite archaeologist with a whip to mind.

But the real lure here, outside of the fun, the action, the stellar production design and the wonderful score by usual Besson collaborator Eric Serra, is the lovely Louise Bourgoin. I will watch this woman in anything. She not only lights up every frame of the film she’s in but she commands it. A film like this requires a spirited, charismatic lead and Bourgoin fills the role is absolutely every way. Yes, I have a crush on her. Sue me. She’s awesome.

The Extraordinary Adventures of Adèle Blanc-Sec arrives on Blu-ray from eOne looking and sounding spectacular. The presentation is a little slick for my tastes but I’m assuming that’s as a result of the all the digital processing and CGI necessary to build the world and the look of the film. I didn’t notice any untoward use of digital nonsense in the transfer. Audio is in French only but the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track is rich and dynamic, with clean and clear dialogue, plenty of ambient surround effects and a full-bodied presentation of the score. There are a handful of extras on the disc but they are all in French, sadly, with no English subs present to help us along. It’s unfortunate as the UK edition of the film from Optimum includes a nice selection of supplemental material in English, including interviews and a “Making of” doc. Sad that those of us in Canada who don’t speak our other official language will have to either import or wait until there’s a US release of the film to own a full featured release. A real missed opportunity from the studio, if you ask me.

AMAZON: CDN$ 23.09

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 watched the DVD screener of X-Men: First Class that Fox sent over the other night and, once again, enjoyed the heck out the film. In fact, I was trying to get work done while it was playing, which proved pointless, as I couldn’t take my eyes off the screen. This is one hell of a fun little film! I’m really looking forward to Friday, September the 9th, the grab this up on Blu-ray and check it out in high-def. I’m expecting great things from this one.

P.S. Fassbender rules!

X-MEN: FIRST CLASS
(September 9, 2011 – MSRP $39.99)
Video: 2.40:1 1080p
Audio: 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio

Special Features:

• 10 Marvel “X-Men” Digital Comics with exclusive “X-Men: First Class” Backstory Comic (Blu-ray exclusive)
• More than two hours of never-before-seen extras, including:
  • Cerebro Mutant Tracker: The complete interactive Mutant Database with interactive videos giving fans the ability to learn about their favourite mutants in the X-Men film franchise
  • Children of the Atom: An eight-part behind-the-scenes featurette, charting the film from
    pre-production through post-production, including visual effects techniques and cataloguing “X-Men” transformations through prosthetic make up and costume design
  • “X” Marks the Spot: An interactive feature allowing viewers the opportunity to learn more about specific scenes with talent interviews and behind-the-scenes footage
  • Extended and Deleted Scenes
  • BD-Live Portal with additional Cerebro Mutant Tracker profiles
  • Composer’s Isolated Score
  • Theatrical Trailer

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Hot damn, Cap‘s coming to Blu-ray sooner than I thought! Though Paramount have yet to officially announce it for release in North America, retail pre-orders are confirming that Captain America: The First Avenger will hit Blu-ray in a 2-disc combo pack on October 25th. I’m not seeing any evidence of a 3D version released domestically but this detail, of course, could change. In addition, the domestic package art has yet to be unveiled so the pic you’re looking at below is from the UK pre-order page on Amazon.co.uk (who appear to be showing a multi-disc option with 3D available!) Special features have been detailed and are listed below. No surprises there, unless you count the lack of live-action Avengers teaser trailer as a shock. But I’d put my money on that one showing up on the disc, despite being left off the list. I’ll update the post when there’s some official art to look at or further details revealed.

UPDATE: Aaaaaand we have 3D! Amazon has just hit us with their pre-order for the 3D version of Captain America: The First Avenger. No details have been posted on the page but I think it’s safe to assume that combo pack will include all the same features as the 2D pack, with the inclusion of a 3D Blu-ray disc. Package art has now also been updated to reflect the North American releases.

CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER
(October 25, 2011 – MSRP $42.99, 3D Combo Pack $54.99)
Video: 2.39:1 1080p
Audio: 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio

Special Features:

• Commentary by Director Joe Johnston, Director of Photography Shelly Johnson and Editor Jeff Ford
• Marvel One Shot: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Thor’s Hammer
• Featurettes
  • Outfitting a Hero
  • The Assembly Begins
  • Howling Commandos
  • Heightened Technology
  • The Transformation
  • Behind the Skull
  • Captain America’s Origins
• Deleted Scenes
  • Attack in Norway
  • The Battle at Azzano
  • Steve Rogers Gets His Medal
  • Steve Rogers Meets Nick Fury
• Sega Game trailer
• The Avengers Animated Trailer

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Here’s a short clip from the Marvel One-Shot: The Consultant short film that will be on the Thor Blu-ray, in stores September 13th. The film features Clark Gregg as Agent Phil Coulson of SHIELD, who you’ll remember from damn near every Marvel film produced in the last few years. Marvel is planning a series of these One Shot short films starring Gregg, with the next one being A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To Thor’s Hammer, due to turn up on the Captain America: The First Avenger Blu-ray later in the year.

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Aha!! That’s more like it! Details!!! A few weeks back we posted early info on the upcoming Thor Blu-ray releases but now Paramount has provided us with all the goods. In addition, we spied the trailer above on the Marvel YouTube account, which gives a fairly descriptive rundown of the disc and its special features. Check it out!

THOR
(September 13, 2011 – MSRP $44.99 and $54.99 for the 3D edition)
Video: 2.39:1 1080p
Audio: DTS HD Master Audio 7.1

Special Features:

• Commentary by director Kenneth Branagh
• Deleted Scenes with Optional Commentary by Director Kenneth Branagh
  • Thor and Loki Before the Coronation (02:48)
  • Warriors 3 and Sif Turn Over Their Weapons (1:13)
  • Thor and Frigga (0:34)
  • “Rah Rah” (Extended) (4:22)
  • Hospital (Extended) (2:02)
  • Frigga Confronts Odin (1:06)
  • Loki is Made King (3:23)
  • Selvig Sings with Thor (1:07)
  • Warriors 3 and Sif Arrive (Extended) (4:41)
  • Darcy’s Dog (0:23)
  • Selvig is Saved by Thor (1:32)
• From Asgard to Earth
• Our Fearless Leader
• Assembling the troupe
• Hammer Time
• Creating Laufey
• Music of the Gods
• A Conversation
• Marvel One-Shot: The Consultant (3:41)
• Road to The Avengers (2:24)

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I enjoyed the heck out of X-Men: First Class when I saw it in the cinema last month. It’s like a film where James Bond is teamed with heroic super-powered mutants fighting evil super-powered mutants during the cold war. If Bond happened to be played by the amazing Michael Fassbender and had the power of magnetism, that is! Awesome! I expect that the Blu-ray, just announced by Fox for a September 9th release (a Friday!) will be equally as awesome. But I’m not too keen on this whole double-cover nonsense. As you’ll see from the art below, you’ll be able to pick up the disc in a couple of package art variations – one featuring the “good” guys and the other, the baddies. Meh…

X-MEN: FIRST CLASS
(September 9, 2011 – MSRP $39.99)
Video: 2.40:1 1080p
Audio: 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio

Special Features:

• 10 Marvel “X-Men” Digital Comics with exclusive “X-Men: First Class” Backstory Comic (Blu-ray exclusive)
• More than two hours of never-before-seen extras, including:
  • Cerebro Mutant Tracker: The complete interactive Mutant Database with interactive videos giving fans the ability to learn about their favourite mutants in the X-Men film franchise
  • Children of the Atom: An eight-part behind-the-scenes featurette, charting the film from
    pre-production through post-production, including visual effects techniques and cataloguing “X-Men” transformations through prosthetic make up and costume design
  • “X” Marks the Spot: An interactive feature allowing viewers the opportunity to learn more about specific scenes with talent interviews and behind-the-scenes footage
  • Extended and Deleted Scenes
  • BD-Live Portal with additional Cerebro Mutant Tracker profiles
  • Composer’s Isolated Score
  • Theatrical Trailer

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