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* 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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• Universal bringing bare-bones edition of Gilliam’s Brazil to Blu-ray (0)

We, the ticket and Blu-ray buying audience, always appreciate seeing that the studios understand how we feel about their films. With that in mind, it’s nice to see this new video from Lionsgate, which accurately sums up our feelings about the obscenely long wait for Quentin Tarantino‘s Pulp Fiction to finally make its Blu-ray debut (in stores October 4th.) Check it out!

PULP FICTION
(October 4, 2011 – MSRP $19.99)
Video: 2.39:1 1080p
Audio: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1

Special Features:

• Retrospective Cast Interviews (New)
• Critics Corner: Then and Now (New)
• Pulp Fiction: The Facts featurette
• Deleted Scenes
• Behind the Scenes Montages
• Production Design featurette
• Siskel and Ebert “At the Movies” – The Tarantino Generation
• Independent Spirit Awards
• Cannes Film Festival – Palm d’Or Acceptance Speech
• Charlie Rose Show – Interview with Quentin Tarantino
• Theatrical Trailers and TV Spots
• Stills Gallery

Related posts

• Pulp Fiction and Jackie Brown heading to Blu-ray (1)
• [VIDEO] Jackie Brown Blu-ray trailer (0)
• Top New Blu-ray releases for the Week of October 4 (1)
• Top New Blu-ray releases for the Week of July 19 (0)
• Top 5 New Blu-ray releases for the Week of October 5 (0)

It’s happening. It’s really happening. The two Quentin Tarantino films you never thought you’d see on a domestically released Blu-ray (well, not anytime soon that is) will finally be arriving in stores this coming October. Jackie Brown and Pulp Fiction will make their high-def debuts sporting newly remastered transfers complete with lossless audio (format yet to be revealed) and most, if not all, of the previously available special features. Sounds pretty great!

PULP FICTION
(October 4, 2011 – MSRP $19.99)
Video: 2.39:1 1080p
Audio: TBA

Special Features:

• Retrospective Cast Interviews (New)
• Critics Corner: Then and Now (New)
• Pulp Fiction: The Facts featurette
• Deleted Scenes
• Behind the Scenes Montages
• Production Design featurette
• Siskel and Ebert “At the Movies” – The Tarantino Generation
• Independent Spirit Awards
• Cannes Film Festival – Palm d’Or Acceptance Speech
• Charlie Rose Show – Interview with Quentin Tarantino
• Theatrical Trailers and TV Spots
• Stills Gallery

JACKIE BROWN
(October 4, 2011 – MSRP $19.99)
Video: 1.85:1 1080p
Audio: TBA

Special Features:

• Critic’s Corner: Then and Now – (New)
• Jackie Brown: How It Went Down featurette
• “A Look Back at Jackie Brown” – Interview with Quentin Tarantino
• Chicks With Guns Video
• Siskel & Ebert “At the Movies”- Jackie Brown review
• Jackie Brown on MTV
• Theatrical Trailer and TV Spots
• Stills Gallery

Related posts

• [VIDEO] Funny Pulp Fiction Blu-ray trailer (1)
• [VIDEO] Jackie Brown Blu-ray trailer (0)
• Top New Blu-ray releases for the Week of October 4 (1)
• Top New Blu-ray releases for the Week of July 19 (0)
• Top 5 New Blu-ray releases for the Week of October 5 (0)

Not a real whopper of a week on the new Blu-ray front this week but some really nice titles available, including one of the best films of last year, a collection of classic shorts and one of the best features films ever made. I guess it’s not such a bad week after all…

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. NAKED

“The brilliant and controversial Naked, from director Mike Leigh, stars David Thewlis as Johnny, a charming and eloquent but relentlessly vicious drifter. Rejecting anyone who might care for him, the volcanic Johnny hurls himself around London on a nocturnal odyssey, colliding with a succession of other desperate and dispossessed people and scorching everyone in his path. With a virtuoso script and raw performances from Thewlis and costars Katrin Cartlidge and Lesley Sharp, Leigh’s depiction of England’s underbelly is an amalgam of black comedy and doomsday prophecy that took the best director and best actor prizes at the 1993 Cannes Film Festival.“

I don’t think I was ready for Naked back in the early ’90s, only just turned twenty, in my first years of University, still fresh from childhood. I know I certainly wasn’t ready for David Thewlis, whose unlikable character in the film would keep me from enjoying his work elsewhere until he later appeared in Harry Potter as lycanthropic Professor Remus Lupin. But this landmark film by Mike Leigh and the bravura, career-making performance by Thewlis stuck with me, and through more world-weary eyes, struck home. Naked is one of the most muscular, honest films ever made and a must-own Blu-ray. Especially in this fine new high-def edition from Criterion.

This is Naked as you’ve never seen it before (unless, of course, you were one of the lucky few to screen a fresh print back in 1993), with colours more vibrant (yes, you heard me, vibrant!), vastly improved detail and image clarity and a nice sheen of grain throughout. This is a beautiful, film-like presentation. The DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 is clear and clean, Andrew Dickson‘s atmospheric score now afforded the greater dynamic range it deserves. Special features mirror the previously available DVD edition of the film and are excellent all around.

Special Features:

• Restored high-definition digital transfer, supervised and approved by director Mike Leigh, with DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack
• Audio commentary by Leigh and actors David Thewlis and Katrin Cartlidge
• Exclusive video interview with director Neil LaBute
• An episode of the BBC program The Art Zone in which author Will Self interviews Leigh
• The Short and Curlies, a short comedy from 1982 directed by Leigh and starring Thewlis, with audio commentary by Leigh
• Original theatrical trailer
• PLUS: A booklet featuring essays by film critics Derek Malcolm and Amy Taubin

AMAZON: $27.99

2. UNCLE BOONMEE WHO CAN RECALL HIS PAST LIVES

“Winner of the top prize at the Cannes Film Festival, Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives is a unique tale of a man embracing life’s greatest mystery. Choosing to spend his final days surrounded by his loved ones in the countryside, Boonmee is visited by his dead wife (a ghost) and his lost son (an strange hairy beast with red glowing eyes) who come to guide him to his final resting place, a cave where his first soul began. With a wry sense of humor and a humanist spirit, Uncle Boonmee, one of the most critically acclaimed films of the year, is a magical tale of reincarnation, karma and nature. “

Look, I simply had to make Naked my number 1 film on the list this week. It’s a classic, in a a great new Blu-ray edition. But if I were listing these discs by sheer anticipation alone, I would have to place Apichatpong Weerasethakul‘s remarkable Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives at the top. This is, without question, one of the best films of the last year. Admittedly, it’s not the kind of movie for everyone, but this atmospheric Thai film deserves a look by even the most casual film fan. It sits at number 2 this week because I haven’t screened the new Strand Releasing disc and can’t speak to its quality. If it measures up to the UK Blu-ray from New Wave Films, released this past March, this disc will be a blind buy.

AMAZON: $20.99

3. THE LINCOLN LAWYER (CDN ED.)

“In the gripping thriller The Lincoln Lawyer, Matthew McConaughey stars as Michael ‘Mick’ Haller, a slick, charismatic Los Angeles criminal defense attorney who operates out of the back of his Lincoln Continental sedan. Having spent most of his career defending petty, gutter-variety criminals, Mick unexpectedly lands the case of a lifetime: defending a rich Beverly Hills playboy (Ryan Phillippe) who is accused of attempted murder. However, what initially appears to be a straightforward case with a big money pay-off swiftly develops into a deadly match between two masters of manipulation and a crisis of conscience for Haller.“

After a screening of The Lincoln Lawyer Blu-ray last week, my girlfriend made the claim that it’s the film of the year (she asks me to remind you that it’s only July.) While I might not go so far as to say that, I will say that I’m shocked at how thoroughly enjoyable it is. I wasn’t expecting a simple police and lawyer procedural to be so damned good!

Right out of the gate, you’ll either love or hate McConaughey’s cocky Haller. Yes, he’s a sleazeball, but a very charismatic and sympathetic one, with, of course, a heart of gold. His ex-wife (Marisa Tomei), with whom he still maintains a very close and cordial friendship, is also a prosecutor. They butt heads but always end up back in each others’ arms. Awwww. I know. Sappy. But it works and never feels forced. Also, they have a daughter together, which makes the whole thing feel more genuine. The plot, however, is nothing special. It’s got a couple of nice twists but ultimately plays like a pumped-up episode of Law and Order. Which is far from a bad thing if that’s your cup of tea. Luckily, it’s mine. And I had a blast with the film.

And you’ll have a blast watching the Blu-ray. The Lincoln Lawyer looks like a million bucks in high-def. What a stellar disc! This is a sharp, detailed, colourful presentation that perfectly represents the film. The DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 soundtrack is also pretty killer, with the pumping hip-hop beats giving the most bang for your sonic buck.

There are a number of decent special features on the Blu-ray disc but none will bowl you over. There’s a 13-minute “making of” that’s certainly worth a watch, along with a decent, if not brief, sit-down with McConaughey and author of the original novel from which the film was adapted, Michael Connelly. One of the most entertaining features is a 10-minute guided tour around Los Angeles by Connelly, giving insight into the book and into the author’s history with the city itself. The disc is rounded out by a few deleted scenes and trailers.

AMAZON: $22.99CDN

ALSO AVAILABLE: THE LINCOLN LAWYER (US ED.)

AMAZON: $17.99

4. BUSTER KEATON – SHORT FILMS COLLECTION 1920 – 1923

“Authorized by the Buster Keaton estate and mastered in HD from 35mm archival film elements, The Short Films Collection gathers all of Keaton’s solo silent comedies in one monumental three-disc set. Widely considered to be among Keaton’s finest work, the nineteen two-reel shorts are loaded with laughs, punctuated by breath-taking stunts, and bursting with raw creativity. Over the course of this three-year period, Keaton evolved from a successful slapstick comedian into one of cinema’s most inventive visual stylists, and became an enduring icon of American popular culture.“

Oh my god. Buster Keaton fans will blow a gasket over this new 3-disc set from Kino. I haven’t seen it with my own, tired eyes yet but when you combine the sheer wealth of films here, with the stack of bonus goodies the studio is adding, you’ve got one of the can’t miss Blu-ray sets of the year. If there’s any doubt left, if you’re at all afraid to pick up a copy of this disc set, worried that the quality of the presentations won’t measure up, simply take a gander at any of the previous Keaton Blu-ray releases from Kino. They’ve all been stellar thus far. Can’t imagine this one will be a stinker!!

READ MORE: Buster Keaton: The Short Films Collection (1920-1923) Blu-ray details and trailer

AMAZON: $28.99

5. RANGO

“From the director of “The Pirates of the Caribbean” comes “Rango“, featuring Johnny Depp in an original animated comedy-adventure that takes moviegoers for a hilarious and heartfelt walk in the Wild West. The story follows the comical, transformative journey of Rango (Depp), a sheltered chameleon living as an ordinary family pet, while facing a major identity crisis. After all, how high can you aim when your whole purpose in life is to blend in? When Rango accidentally winds up in the gritty, gun-slinging town of Dirt – a lawless outpost populated by the desert’s most wily and whimsical creatures – the less-than-courageous lizard suddenly finds he stands out. Welcomed as the last hope the town has been waiting for, new Sheriff Rango is forced to play his new role to the hilt… until, in a blaze of action-packed situations and encounters with outrageous characters, Rango starts to become the hero he once only pretended to be. With a cast that includes Depp, Isla Fisher, Abigail Breslin, Alfred Molina, Bill Nighy, Harry Dean Stanton, Ray Winstone and Timothy Olyphant as the Spirit of the West, “Rango” is an exciting new twist on the classic Western legend of the outsider who saves a town – and himself in the process.“

I had no expectations of Rango. Okay, strike that. I thought Rango was going to be just another CGI animated kids cartoon, starring whacky animal characters. Holy crap, was I wrong. Rango is not for kids! I mean, I’m pretty sure kids can watch it without issue. There’s no foul language or nudity or anything a child might need to be shielded from. But I can’t imagine anyone under twenty really “getting” Rango. The story is simple enough – lost lizard finds himself in a town without water and takes on the quest to rehydrate his new-found friends – but it takes a real roundabout way of telling it, with cameos by the likes of Hunter S. Thompson and Clint Eastwood, and enough tripped out, peyote-inspired hallucinogenic imagery to confuse even the most acid-minded hippy. Even without the aid of phamaceuticals of any sort, I loved every minute of it. (No, I’m not a hippy)

Rango is a sheer joy to watch. It’s weird as all get-out, but the tripped out story, animation and design-work, along with brilliant performances by Depp and crew, really make this thing come alive. It’s surprising to learn that this is actually ILM’s very first feature length animated film, but, with George Lucas’ digital special effects studio’s long history of movie-magic-awesomeness, it won’t surprise you to hear how stunning it looks.

And those good looks carry over to the brilliant Blu-ray disc. It’s perfect. That’s right. You heard me. Perfect. Colours pop, detail is striking and plentiful and blacks are deep and inky. I didn’t notice a hint of digital imperfection on this thing. I can’t imagine a 1080p image looking any better, to be honest. The DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack is very nearly the equal of the discs visual perfection. As you’d expect from a film as recent as this, dialogue is clean and clear, there’s a ton of ambient activity in the surrounds and the low end metes out a sonic kick to the behind. Like I said, perfect.

Extras are plentiful on the Rango Blu-ray and include two different cuts of the film – the theatrical (107-minutes) and extended (111-minutes) versions. The extended version features a commentary track with writer/director/producer Gore Verbinski (yes, the Gore Verbinski who previously brought us the Pirates of the Caribbean films) and his crew while the theatrical cut offers a picture-in-picture storyboard track. The nearly hour-long “Breaking the Rules: Making Animation History” offers an informative look behind the scenes of the production that will prove of interest to adult film fans, while the 22-minute “Real Creatures of Dirt“, a look at the native fauna of Rango‘s desert locations, will appeal to the younger set. The disc is rounded out with deleted scenes, an interactive “Field Trip to Dirt“, the theatrical trailer and a DVD and Digital Copy of the film.

AMAZON: $19.99

6. BRAZIL

“Jonathan Pryce (Pirates of the Caribbean) Robert De Niro (The Godfather) and Michael Palin (Monty Python and the Holy Grail) star in this landmark cult classic that dazzles and thrills with its Academy Award® nominated groundbreaking art direction and sharply satirical original screenplay. In a future world a government clerk finds his life destroyed when he tries to correct an administrative error that caused a massive chain reaction of mistaken identity. Despite his efforts he finds himself an enemy of the state. Hailed as a modern masterpiece visionary director Terry Gilliam’s (Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas) pitch-black comedy takes a highly imaginative and chilling look at a “perfect” future where technology reigns supreme and bureaucracy overrules love for the sake of efficiency. “

Brazil is one of my all time favourite films. I’m happy to see it making its way to Blu today but sad that it’s only in the form of this bare-bones, theatrical cut edition from Universal. I haven’t seen it for myself but early reviews speak highly of the transfer here. Those of us who are true fans, however, are no doubt awaiting the eventual multi-disc Criterion boxed set of Brazil – a Blu-ray upgrade from the studio’s incredible Laserdisc/DVD sets from over a decade ago. My advice is to buy this disc if either a) you can’t wait for the Criterion set (I’m putting my money on a holiday season 2012 release) or b) you want to own every version of the film in high-def. This theatrical cut most likely won’t appear in Criterion’s box, as they’ve traditionally only made available Terry Gilliam’s longer Director’s Cut and the truncated, studio version of the film.

AMAZON: $18.99

7. ENTOURAGE: THE COMPLETE SEVENTH SEASON

“For Vince, Eric, Drama and Turtle, life in Hollywood’s fast lane can be an intoxicating ride. This season, after an accident during the filming of his latest action flick, Vince develops a new lease on life that makes him even more difficult to manage, while each of the guys must decide which steps to take to map out their own futures, both personally and professionally.“

Entourage continues to be a guilty pleasure for me, into its seventh season. It’s a meal-eating show for me – I love putting it on while I chow down on lunch or dinner, when the girl is out of the house or busy working in her studio. This season was far from the strongest, if I recall from my viewing of it last year, feeling to me like a unfortunate extension of what would have been a perfect series ending (Season Six ended on a high note.) I don’t care for the darker path they’ve sent the characters here, leading into the show’s final season, and only hope that it was all a set-up to bring it back to life before it goes off the air for good.

I haven’t received my screener copy of the Blu-ray discs of this season yet but recommend it on the basis of the usual brilliant work that HBO does on their home video products.

AMAZON: $26.99

8. BATTLE BEYOND THE STARS

“Produced by Roger Corman and scripted by John Sayles, “Battle Beyond the Stars” is a cheerfully blatant imitation of “The Seven Samurai” (or at least the American remake “The Magnificent Seven”). A peaceloving planet is attacked by malevolent aliens. The powers-that-be hire a group of mercenaries, headed by George Peppard, to protect the planet from harm. Peppard’s contingent includes squeaky-clean Richard Thomas Jr. and statuesque Sybil Danning. John Saxon goes through his usual paces as the villain, while the supporting players include such dependables as Sam Jaffe, Jeff Corey, and, from “Magnificent Seven” itself, Robert Vaughn. Keep an eye out for Julia Duffy as “Mol”. A deft blend of standard sci-fi action and knowing “inside” humor, “Battle Beyond the Stars” was one of Corman’s biggest hits of the 1980s – not to mention an endless supply of stock footage for future New World Productions.“

Here’s another disc I didn’t screen this week. I just thought I should tack this one on for all you old-school fanboys who fell in love with this stinker back in the ’80s. Corman and crew tried their damnedest to echo Star Wars on a shoestring budget and failed on most levels. But still, there’s a lot of affection for the film. I’m sure Shout Factory has done their usual bang-up job on the Blu-ray, making this a must-have for old-school nerds.

AMAZON: $19.99

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

• [VIDEO] Battle Beyond The Stars Blu-ray Trailer (1)
• Top 5 New Blu-ray releases for the Week of June 22 (5)
• Universal bringing bare-bones edition of Gilliam’s Brazil to Blu-ray (0)
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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:

Related posts

• [UPDATED] Taxi Driver Blu-ray announced, includes Criterion commentary track (1)
• Taxi Driver 4K Restoration on Blu-ray in April (3)
• [VIDEO] Tron: Legacy Blu-ray with Disney Second Screen (1)
• Tron: Legacy/Tron: The Original Classic Blu-ray Disc Combo Pack Review (0)
• Tron: Legacy and Tron: The Original Classic Blu-ray discs Available for Pre-order (3)

Universal will be bringing Terry Gilliam‘s brilliant, surrealist social commentary Brazil to Blu-ray this coming July 12th. That’s right. Universal, not Criterion. Need I say more? Sigh.

If you’re at all like me, a rabid fan of the 1985 film, you probably already own Criterion’s definitive 3-DVD set (and, if you’re the frothing-at-the-mouth kind of rabid that I am, the five-platter Laserdisc set from the ’90s as well!) and have been long awaiting its Blu-ray upgrade (Brazil was #1 on my list of Top 10 Criterion DVDs that deserve a Blu-ray upgrade). Seeing as how Universal has decided to release its own bare-bones edition of Brazil on Blu we certainly can’t expect a deluxe Criterion set to turn up any time soon. Or can we?

Well, there’s a slim chance it could happen. There is precedent for it, you know. If Universal and Criterion follow the Blu-ray release pattern of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, a Terry Gilliam film released on Blu-ray by Universal in February of last year only to see a Criterion version hit shops this month, just over a year later, it is possible that Brazil might find its way back into the Collection in 2012. I know it’s a long shot but it’s the hope I’m holding on to. As much as I love this film, I’ll be skipping the Universal disc in hopes that they license the home video rights back to Criterion after they’ve had their bite at the apple. And while they’re at it, why not give the Collection another crack at Spartacus, right? Who’s with me?

BRAZIL
(July 12, 2011 – MSRP $34.95)
Video: 1.85:1 1080p
Audio: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1

Special Features:

• My Scenes
• Pocket BLU
• BD-Live

Related posts

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[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)
• Top 5 New Blu-ray releases for the Week of November 23 (1)
• Top 5 New Blu-ray releases for the Week of January 11 (3)

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!

Related posts

• [UPDATED] Taxi Driver Blu-ray announced, includes Criterion commentary track (1)
• Top 5 New Blu-ray releases for the Week of April 5 (0)
• Universal bringing bare-bones edition of Gilliam’s Brazil to Blu-ray (0)
• Top 5 New Blu-ray releases for the Week of November 23 (1)
• Top 5 New Blu-ray releases for the Week of June 8 (1)

It’s not a particularly overwhelming week in terms of sheer numbers of discs hitting the shops but damn, are there ever some amazing new titles coming out today, including a Blu-ray that could potentially be one of the best releases of the year! You read that right, it’s only the second week of 2011 and we may already have one of the best Blu-ray discs of the year on our hands. And it’s not even from Criterion!!

1. THE SOCIAL NETWORK

I can’t really even put into words what a classy affair Sony‘s The Social Network Blu-ray release is. Do you see that package art above? Yeah, that’s not even the actual sleeve. It’s a little bit of paper folded over the package, detailing its contents. When you buy The Social Network Blu-ray disc, unwrap the plastic and peel back the paper slip-cover, what’s revealed is a gorgeous, waxy, jet-black paper sleeve, with the film’s tagline embossed into it. Nothing else. Just classy and simple. And gorgeous in every way. The two Blu-ray discs themselves are within and just as nice to behold.

And then there’s the movie itself. Without question, one of the finest of 2010. It tells the tale of the men (the boys) who built Facebook, sharply written and smartly directed by the superstar creative team of Aaron Sorkin and David Fincher, respectively. The Social Network Blu-ray is beyond reproach, arriving in a 2-disc set that allows the encode of the film to breathe, alone but for a couple of commentary tracks on a dual-layer disc. It looks and sounds fantastic! The second disc is crammed full of wonderful bonus content including a very watchable and informative feature length doc.

Highly recommended!

SPECIAL FEATURES:

• Two audio commentaries:
• David Fincher
• Writer Aaron Sorkin and cast
• How Did They Ever Make a Movie of Facebook?: a feature-length documentary in four parts
• David Fincher and Jeff Cronenweth on the Visuals
• Angus Wall, Kirk Baxter and Ren Klyce on Post
• Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross and David Fincher on the Score
• Ruby Skye VIP Room: Multi-Angle Scene Breakdown
• In the Hall of the Mountain King: Reznor’s First Draft
• Swarmatron

READ MORE: The Social Network coming to Blu-ray

AMAZON: $34.95

2. ARMY OF SHADOWS and ROBINSON CRUSOE ON MARS

It’s another one of those killer double-Criterion days, where our favourite boutique home video studio releases more than one new Blu-ray disc at a time, squeezing another couple of twenty-dollar bills from our already hemorrhaging wallets! The first Criterion discs of 2011 make an odd couple indeed – a gripping film about the French resistance in their battle against the Nazis and a somewhat psychedelic, colourful ’60s adventure of an astronaut stranded on Mars. It goes without saying that both discs, upgrades from previously issued DVDs, look and sound much better than ever before, in their stunning, high-def debuts. Army of Shadows benefits from a somewhat famous 2006 restoration (the 1969 Jean-Pierre Melville film had gone unseen on this side of the Atlantic before then) while Robinson Crusoe on Mars‘s move to 1080p reveals the limitations of old-school optical effects.

Both discs come highly recommended!

Army of Shadows Special Features:

• High-definition digital transfer of the 2004 restoration, supervised by director of photography Pierre Lhomme with uncompressed monaural soundtrack
• Optional DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack
• Audio commentary featuring film historian Ginette Vincendeau
• Interviews with Lhomme and editor Françoise Bonnot
• On-set footage and excerpts from archival interviews with director Jean-Pierre Melville, cast members, writer Joseph Kessel, and real-life Resistance fighters
• Jean-Pierre Melville et “L’armée des ombres” (2002), a short program on the director and his film
• Le journal de la Résistance (1944), a rare short documentary shot on the front lines during the final days of German-occupied France
• Film restoration demonstration by Lhomme
• Theatrical trailers
• PLUS: A booklet featuring essays by critic Amy Taubin and historian Robert O. Paxton, as well as excerpts from Rui Nogueira’s Melville on Melville

Robinson Crusoe on Mars Special Features:

• Restored high-definition digital transfer with uncompressed monaural soundtrack
• Audio commentary featuring screenwriter Ib Melchior, actors Paul Mantee and Victor Lundin, production designer Al Nozaki, Oscar-winning special effects designer and Robinson Crusoe on Mars historian Robert Skotak, and excerpts from a 1979 audio interview with director Byron Haskin
• Destination Mars, a video featurette by filmmaker and space historian Michael Lennick detailing the science behind the film
• Music video for Lundin’s song “Robinson Crusoe on Mars”
• Stills gallery
• Theatrical trailer
• PLUS: A booklet featuring an essay by Lennick as well as Melchior’s “Brief Yargorian Vocabulary” (a glossary of original alien dialect) and a list of facts about Mars, both from his original screenplay

READ MORE: Criterion January Blu-ray titles: Army of Shadows, Robinson Crusoe on Mars, Broadcast News

AMAZON: $39.95 each

3. DANCES WITH WOLVES

I’ve been waiting years to finally see Dances With Wolves and now, with this new Blu-ray release I might finally get my chance. I haven’t gotten my hands on a review copy yet but I understand that despite the films extended 4-hour run-time, it looks incredible on Blu-ray. By all accounts, Fox/MGM have delivered another winner here, in a 2-disc set that carries over most, if not all of the special features from the previously available DVD edition of the film, while adding a couple of new, Blu-ray exclusive interactive extras and a featurette.

READ MORE: Dances with Wolves coming to Blu-ray

AMAZON: $29.99

4. RAGING BULL

If you missed out on the 2009 release of Raging Bull on Blu-ray, this new 30th Anniversary Edition presents the perfect opportunity to grab up this amazing Martin Scorsese/Robert DeNiro classic in gorgeous 1080p. It includes over 50-minutes of brand new special features along with the same acclaimed high-def transfer afforded the film in its previous edition.

AMAZON: $29.99

5. ONCE UPON A TIME IN AMERICA

Another DeNiro classic! Sergio Leone‘s complex, flawed gangster epic, Once Upon a Time in America makes its Blu-ray debut today, presented in an edit closer resembling the director’s vision, shifting through time via flashbacks (as opposed to the US distributor’s chronological cut). Sadly, the nearly 4-hour film is crammed onto a single disc and, encoded at a fairly low bitrate, looks all the lesser for it. The Blu-ray is still a clear improvement over the previously issued DVD, and carries over most of its special features.

AMAZON: $24.98

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

• Criterion January Blu-ray titles: Army of Shadows, Robinson Crusoe on Mars, Broadcast News (3)
• The Criterion Collection: Army of Shadows Blu-ray Disc Review (0)
• The Social Network coming to Blu-ray (1)
• The Criterion Collection: Robinson Crusoe on Mars Blu-ray Disc Review (0)
• Dances with Wolves: 20th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray Disc Review (1)

DECEMBER 28

1. THE AMERICAN

Even if you don’t care for the film itself, there’s no denying that director Anton Corbijn has delivered an uber-stylish, gorgeous film here. One certainly worthy of a look. Especially on this stunning Blu-ray!

“Academy Award® winner George Clooney is The American in this sexy suspense thriller from director Anton Corbijn. After a job ends more violently than expected, Jack (Clooney) retreats to the Italian countryside and accepts one last assignment to construct a deadly weapon for a mysterious contact. But when he pursues a relationship with a beautiful local woman, he may be tempting fate by stepping out of the shadows. Jack soon finds himself in an escalating battle to escape from his secretive past, in the film critics are calling “4 Stars! Riveting and irresistible!” (Joe Neumaier, NY Daily News) ”

SPECIAL FEATURES:

• Feature commentary with director Anton Corbijn
• Journey to Redemption: the making of ‘The American’
• Deleted scenes
• BD-Live
• pocket BLU
  • Advanced Remote Control
  • Video Timeline
  • Mobile-To-Go
  • Browse Titles
  • Keyboard
• My Scenes
• uHEAR

AMAZON: $23.99

2. MERANTAU

Engaging and original martial arts action!

“Leaving the simple life of a young man in rural Sumatra, Yuda must undergo merantau, a traditional rite of passage in which a young man must leave his family’s home to make it on his own. After heading to the big city of Jakarta, Yuda begins his trial of merantau. He quickly learns that living in the big city is very different from all he has ever known. After a young boy tries to steal his wallet, he is plunged into a violent world of human trafficking where his martial arts skills are tested in a rapidly escalating spiral of violence.”

AMAZON: $17.99

3. RESIDENT EVIL: AFTERLIFE

Stupid zombie-killing fun in your choice of 2D or 3D Blu-ray. The 3D was silly but engaging in theatres. The film itself is a mild improvement over the previous installment in the popular video-game based franchise.

“The fourth installment of the hugely successful Resident Evil franchise, Resident Evil: Afterlife is again based on the wildly popular video game series, and will this time be presented in 3-D. In a world ravaged by a virus infection, turning its victims into the Undead, Alice (Milla Jovovich), continues on her journey to find survivors and lead them to safety. Her deadly battle with the Umbrella Corporation reaches new heights, but Alice gets some unexpected help from an old friend. A new lead that promises a safe haven from the Undead takes them to Los Angeles, but when they arrive the city is overrun by thousands of Undead – and Alice and her comrades are about to step into a deadly trap.”

AMAZON: $19.99

ALSO AVAILABLE IN 3D: $26.99

4. KAMUI GAIDEN

A faithful adaptation of the classic manga, Kamui is an excellent, if not workmanlike, ninja fable. Try to keep from being distracted by the awkward CGI and focus on the film’s well-executed fight scenes.

“The timeless legend of the lone, outcast ninja is brought to life in Kamui Gaiden, a vibrant film directed by acclaimed Japanese Academy Award winner Yoichi Sai. Kamui trusts no one. He was cruelly shunned by his people as a child. Now a solitary warrior, he wanders Japan, surviving on lethal skill and instinct to evade countless violent attacks from the ninja clan he left behind. A turn of luck brings a band of fugitive ninjas who offer Kamui a new life amongst them as a pirate, killing sharks for suffering fishing villages. While the tempting promise of respect and protection leaves him conflicted, the merciless members of his former clan are closing in, and his deadliest foe is poised to strike. The battle is never over for Kamui, the ninja who stands alone.”

AMAZON: $24.99

5. FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST: BROTHERHOOD – PART 3

“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. “

AMAZON: $34.49

JANUARY 5

1. MACHETE

Robert Rodriguez is back with Machete, fulfilling the promise he made in his Grindhouse trailer. The Blu-ray is painfully lite on special features but technically well executed, looking and sounding like a million bucks.

“From director Robert Rodriguez (Grindhouse, Sin City) comes an action-packed, cutting-edge serving of carnage asada…with killer deleted scenes that deliver more guns, more girls and more Machete action! Set up, double-crossed and left for dead, Machete (Danny Trejo) is an ass-kicking ex-Federale who lays waste to anything that gets in his path. As he takes on hitmen, vigilantes and a ruthless drug cartel, bullets fly, blades clash and the body count rises. Any way you slice it, vengeance has a new name–Machete. ”

SPECIAL FEATURES:
Disc 1:

• Widescreen Theatrical Version Audience Reaction Track
• Deleted Scenes

Disc 2:

• Digital Copy

AMAZON: $19.99

2. EL MARIACHI/DESPERADO, ONCE UPON A TIME IN MEXICO

You probably already own these on DVD but Sony has done a nice job on the new HD transfers here. I find it strange that the three films aren’t being packaged together now. But I suspect we’ll see a discounted Amazon bundle in the near future.

“El Mariachi – All he wants is to be a mariachi, like his father, his grandfather and his great grandfather before him. But the town he thinks will bring him luck brings only a curse of deadly mistaken identity. Forced to trade his guitar for a gun, the mariachi is playing for his life in this critically acclaimed film debut from writer/director Robert Rodriguez, now remastered in high definition for Blu-ray™.

Once Upon A Time in Mexico – Leaping back into action, gun-slinging, guitar-toting hero “El Mariachi” is back in town in Once Upon A Time in Mexico, as director Robert Rodriguez delivers the epic final chapter of his pulp Western trilogy. Starring Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, Johnny Depp, Mickey Rourke, Eva Mendes, Enrique Iglesias and Willem Dafoe. Once Upon A Time in Mexico is a full-frontal assault. ”

AMAZON: $13.99, $14.99

3. CATFISH

Highly acclaimed, potentially-fake documentary from Universal. Underwhelming technical outing on Blu-ray but considering the film’s budget, this is probably as good as it gets.

“In late 2007, filmmakers Ariel Schulman and Henry Joost sensed a story unfolding as they began to film the life of Ariel’s brother, Nev. They had no idea that their project would lead to the most exhilarating and unsettling months of their lives. A reality thriller that is a shocking product of today’s times, Catfish is a riveting story of love and deception within a labyrinth of online intrigue.”

AMAZON: $27.99

4. HOWL

“James Franco stars as counter-culture revolutionary Allen Ginsberg, who recounts the road trips, love affairs and search for personal liberation that led to the most electrifying work of his career: the poem Howl. Meanwhile, in a San Francisco courtroom, Howl is on trial as prosecutor Ralph McIntosh (David Strathairn), defense attorney Jake Ehrlich (Jon Hamm), and a host of witnesses (Jeff Daniels, Mary-Louise Parker) debate the artistic merits of Ginsberg’s controversial work, and whether or not it should be banned from publication. ”

AMAZON: $22.49

5. BACKDRAFT

I haven’t laid eyes on this Blu-ray but hope that Universal haven’t short-changed this action classic from Ron Howard, as they have many of their recent catalogue releases.

“Ron Howard directs an all-star cast in this exciting action-thriller that shows you the mystery, drama and devastation of fire as you’ve never soon it before! Kurt Russell and William Baldwin star as two feuding siblings carrying on an heroic family tradition as Chicago firefighters. But when a puzzling series of arson attacks are reported, they are forced to set aside their differences to solve the mystery surrounding these explosive crimes. Scott Glenn, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Rebecca DeMornay, Donald Sutherland and Robert DeNiro also star in this acclaimed suspense story filled with some of the most awe-inspiring fire sequences ever filmed.”

AMAZON: $14.99

ALSO NEW ON BLU-RAY
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