Oh geez. I’m all confused here. There are just too many titles hitting shelves again this week but no obvious “must-buy” disc, as far as I’m concerned. The new Hollywood blockbuster remakes all stumble in the storytelling department, the catalogue titles feature far-from-perfect presentations and there are just no damn Criterion titles as far as the eye can see! But don’t fear, if none of the brand spanking new titles do it for you this week, I’m sure you can find something in the massive batch of Eastwood newly released or re-released, as the case may be, on Blu-ray! Seriously, how many movies did has that guy made?!
1. THE WOLFMAN
Yeah. Crucify me. Shoot me with a silver bullet. This movie doesn’t work where it should – some would even go so far as to say it sucks – but I’m a die-hard Universal Monsters fan and, like it or not, this is the title that I’m most excited about this week. I wasn’t sent a review copy of this Blu-ray (c’mon Universal, what have I ever done to you!) so I can’t tell you for certain whether it’s worth your dime or not, but I’ll be the first in line to pick up The Wolfman today. I’m really hoping that the extended “Director’s Cut” will help the film out but I fear the worst.
The biggest disappointment with this Blu-ray, however, has nothing to do with the new 2010 remake but the 1941 original Lon Chaney Jr. film – while the original film is included in the package, it’s only available as a stream and not on the disc. I’d gladly be bitten by a whole pack of werewolves if Universal would put the original black-and-white films on Blu!
So, here’s the second of two big-budget Hollywood remakes new on Blu-ray this week, both with big problems in the story department. But you already knew that, didn’t you? You’ve either already seen Tim Burton‘s Alice in Wonderland and were dissapointed by its outcome or you found the overuse of CGI too offensive to even get you as far as buying a ticket to see the film. Look, here’s the thing. It’s Tim Burton. The CGI is just another tool in his garish visual arsenal. Story will always take a back seat in a Burton film (unless you’re talking the brilliant, nearly-perfect Ed Wood or strikingly original Pee Wee’s Big Adventure) as design takes control of the ride. Luckily, that makes this Blu-ray as sweet as candy for the eyeballs! It looks and sounds great. Too bad about that script…
Full review coming this week!
Amazon: $19.99
3. LIFE
Did you love the BBC series Planet Earth? Do you use the Blu-ray discs on a regular basis to show off your HD system? Well, you’re in luck! The BBC and noted naturalist and broadcaster Sir David Attenborough are bringing us a brand new look at life on our planet, aptly titled Life! Sadly, Warner is making you choose between a couple of slightly different versions of this new Blu-ray set – one narrated by the man himself, Sir David, or the other, the version that aired on the Discovery network in the US narrated by Oprah Winfrey. Both feature the exact same footage in the exact same show. Only difference here is the voice that tells you whats what. Me? I’ll stick with the original, Sir David track. But seriously, you’re not going to pick this up for the audio. Life is another visual treat that you’ll be happy to enjoy in any language, or with the sound turned right down.
Here’s big-budget remake number three this week. And man, is War of the Worlds a disappointment. Perhaps even more so than Wolfman or Alice, simply because it just starts out so damn strong! This film tricked me into believing it would deliver the goods Close Encounters-style until around the halfway mark when it just completely goes off the rails with ridiculous character choices and over-the-top silly CGI nonsense. I realize that Spielberg is trying to offer a sort of homage to the old b-movies during the second and third acts but it just misses the mark. And it’s really a shame because the Blu-ray edition of the film completely shines in every other department! It looks amazing, damn-near perfect I’d say, sounds incredible and is packed with enough special features to keep this reviewer happy. I just wish the last half of the film was as well put together and thought out as the Blu-ray itself.
5. THE MAN WITH NO NAME TRILOGY
I haven’t had a chance to get a look at this set of films on Blu-ray yet but I doubt that I’ll be terribly dissapointed in any new editions of these three brilliant Sergio Leone films. Of the three “spaghetti western” films in the box, all starring Clint Eastwood at his most brilliant, only The Good, The Bad and The Ugly has been previously available on Blu in a much maligned edition with an uneven, sometimes DNR scrubbed image. But you know what, it’s still the best the film has ever looked. And if A Fistful of Dollars and For a Few Dollars More look anywhere near as decent as the third part of the trilogy of films, I’ll be more than happy with this new Blu-ray set.
MORE CLINT ON BLU THIS WEEK:
Just in case the Man With No Name Trilogy Blu-ray set doesn’t offer you enough high-def Eastwood this week, Warner has got your back with a couple of new boxed sets, single and double-feature releases and re-releases on Blu. Check it out:
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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Adapted freely from the Philip K. Dick short story of the same name, Minority Report is a murder mystery with a sci-fi twist. In this slick, plastic future John Anderton (Tom Cruise) works for the police department in the pre-crime unit – a specialized squad of officers who arrest citizens accused of committing murder in the future, crimes foretold by a triumvirate of telepathic teens called “pre-cogs”. Just as Federal officer Danny Witwer (Colin Farrell) turns up to prove that pre-crime can be inaccurate, the pre-cogs accuse Anderton of murder, setting Witwer and the entire department after him, destroying what remains of his fractured life.
I recall enjoying the world of Minority Report well enough upon my initial viewing. But something was missing. It was the murder mystery that kind of got my goat. It felt far too thin for my liking. But as years have passed and I’ve had the chance to sit with the film several more times, I have to admit that the plot holes and the reveal of the all-too-obvious villain just don’t bother me as they used to. It’s such a great yarn, filled to the brim with futurism the likes of which we hadn’t seen since Blade Runner and haven’t seen since. Minority Report might ultimately be remembered for it’s forward thinking use of gesture based user interfaces (who will ever forget the first time they saw Cruise standing before that glass screen manipulating the computer projections by swiping his hands around upon it?) but there’s a lot more to love here, if you’re willing to overlook a couple of story stumbles.
And the thing I love most about Minority Report, now and from the moment I first laid eyes on it, is the brilliant photography by Janusz Kaminski. It’s a thing of wonder that Paramount was able to render it so perfectly on this new Blu-ray edition of the film, what with the challenging colour pallets and complex grain structure employed in bringing this futuristic world to life. The Minority Report transfer is demo material to be sure, sporting astonishing amounts of detail and deep, dark blacks. It’s the kind of Blu-ray image that sells the format, and will convince those on the fence about the film to give it another shot. Likewise, the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack is a stunner — perfectly balanced, dynamic across the board with deep lows and crisp highs. This is the disc you’ll want to use to show off your sound system!
I find the organization of the special features on the Minority Report Blu-ray disc to be far too confusing for the average consumer to navigate and feel as if everything on offer has been experienced. There are far too many featurettes within featurettes – opportunities to pop-out into additional content while watching a 5-minute documentary piece – that it’s easy to get lost. And the re-use of said content across different features can give one a distinct feeling of deja vu, as you’ll end up seeing the same interview pieces and slices of footage over and over again. Don’t get me wrong, there’s a cornucopia of goodies to dive into here – the supplemental package is extremely impressive and more than generous, boasting hours of documentaries, storyboards and what have you – but I would much rather experience it all in a single, well organized documentary or through the use of a “Play-All” button that will lead me from one piece to the next, assuring me that I haven’t missed a single moment and not forcing me to ride the remote, as this interface does.
Special Features:
- The Future According to Steven Spielberg (in HD)
- Inside The World of Precrime (in HD)
- Phillip K. Dick, Steven Spielberg and Minority Report (in HD)
- Minority Report: Future Realized (in HD)
- Minority Report: Props of the Future (in HD)
- Highlights from Minority Report: From the Set
- Minority Report: Commercials of the Future (in HD)
- Previz Sequences
- From Story to Screen
- Deconstructing Minority Report
- The Stunts of Minority Report
- ILM and Minority Report
- Final Report
- Production Concepts
- Storyboard Sequences
- Trailers
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]]>Remember how I had trouble getting inspired to pick up one of last weeks new Blu-ray releases? Well, let me tell you, that’s so far from being an issue this week. There’s actually just way, way too many quality discs coming out over the next few days, from a couple of new Criterion releases, an Oscar winner and the biggest box office blockbuster of 2009. This is a going to hurt my wallet something fierce.
1. AVATAR
Yes, ladies and gentlemen, the King of the Box-office world has another hit on his hands and its this weeks number one Blu-ray! But before you get too excited and rush out to your local video shop to grab up a copy of Avatar on Blu today, remember that its release date is actually a couple of days from now, Earth Day, April 22. The disc itself is a bare-bones affair, sporting only the film in 1080p on the Blu-ray and standard-def on DVD, with nary an extra in sight. You’ll have to wait until November for the full featured, multi-disc, bonus feature-replete edition of the film, if that’s the kind of thing you prefer. Still, though this isn’t a perfect release, the amount of heat surrounding it assures it the number one slot this week.
2. Two From Criterion: VIVRE SA VIE, SUMMER HOURS
The only reason that these two new releases from Criterion aren’t in the number one slot is because Avatar looks to be the biggest film of all time. But rest assured, both easily trump the 3D other-world epic in terms of over-all quality. The two films have little in common, aside from country of origin. Both are French films, but Vivre sa Vie is a classic Godard film from 1962 while Summer Hours is a contemporary effort from director Olivier Assayas, released in 2008. Buy the Godard for the incredible visual design and the lovely Anna Karina. Buy Summer Hours for its honest, naturalistic style and the wonderful, beautiful Juliette Binoche.
3. CRAZY HEART
I still haven’t seen Crazy Heart but god damn do I love me some Jeff Bridges. He won the ‘Best Actor’ Oscar for his performance here. The film also won ‘Best Original Song’ for ‘The Weary Kind’. Those seem like two pretty good reasons to give this disc a shot.
At one point dubbed ‘The Greatest Film of All Time’, Battleship Potemkin is a silent gem, crafted by genius filmmaker Sergei Eisenstein. While its been in the public domain for quite some time, this Blu-ray release comes to us from Kino International, who have already delivered an exemplary example of what Blu-ray can do for films that are nearing the century mark (Keaton‘s The General) and will continue to do so when they release a Blu-ray edition of the new restoration of Fritz Lang‘s Metropolis later on this year.
I wasn’t a huge fan of Steven Spielberg‘s Minority Report when I saw it in theatres, lo, those many years ago. But you know what? This new Blu-ray has made a convert out of me. I’m not sure if its the film itself or absolutely pitch-perfect transfer and encode that made me really enjoy it this time around but I found that I was eating up every moment of the film. The production design, music, photography – everything here is so wonderful and well thought out. And looks as good as it ever will on this incredible Blu-ray. On any other week, this release would probably have garnered the number one slot. Highly recommended!
Worth a look: THE YOUNG VICTORIA
Worth a look: THE LOVELY BONES
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 would say this is an “underwhelming” week but that I truly love the top two films on my list. It’s just that beyond that, the pickin’s get a little slim, unless you’re into b-grade horror, kids fliks or anime. There aren’t really any surprises hidden here, so if you don’t see anything you like after a quick perusal, I’d recommend hitting up the Amazon sale lists.
I skipped this one in the theatres. I love, love, love Sherlock Holmes stories and had no desire to see Guy Richie butcher the character with his ‘enslickened‘ boy-with-guns style, so I just avoided the film all together. I honestly couldn’t have been more wrong about it. It’s so good, from top to bottom! I hate to say it but it works on almost every level – it’s well designed, well performed and, as much as it pains me to admit, it was quite well directed. And the Blu-ray disc is spectacular to boot, replete with a killer transfer and some incredible special features.
2. AN EDUCATION
An Education is so good it nearly nosed its way into the number one spot this week. The coming of age story, young girl being wooed by older man, is fairly well worn but the wonderful performances here in this film really make it shine. Carey Mulligan emerges as the breakout star, practically painting herself as this generation’s Audrey Hepburn. Great film. Great Blu-ray disc.
3. COLLATERAL
You can’t really go wrong with a Michael Mann film and though I wouldn’t count Collateral amongst his finest, it’s certainly worth watching. One of the director’s earliest digital-video efforts, the striking visuals really look great on Blu.
Read more: Collateral Blu-ray Disc Review
4. THE BAADER MEINHOFF COMPLEX
Based on the 1985 German best selling non-fiction book of the same name by Stefan Aust, The Baader Meinhoff Complex is a compelling film covering the early years of the West German militant group, the Red Army Faction. It was Germany’s submission for the 81st Academy Awards and worth a look on Blu-ray this week.
5. VAMPYRES
The number five slot was down to either I Sell the Dead or this film. I ultimately had to give it to Vampyres because as much as I wanted to love I Sell the Dead, a 2008 indie film that’s essentially an homage to old EC horror comics and Hammer films, it just didn’t do much for me. Vampyres, however, is true, vintage b-movie horror. The transfer on the Blu-ray isn’t going to win any awards here but remains faithful to the source. If you’re a fan of lesbian-vampire films from the 70s, you won’t go wrong here.
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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The Mann behind Heat, Ali and The Insider, Michael Mann, has always looked to change things up a bit. In the 80s, he was at the forefront of regular television shows being broadcast in Stereo. Yes, stereo…no Surround at that point. It started with Miami Vice and then Stereo programming caught on. Similarly moving things forward, Collateral was one of the first Hollywood studio films to be shot almost entirely in digital video. As a result, the image was a little jarring. Camera movements seemed shakier. This is no longer an issue. While we as an audience have become more accustomed to seeing digital video, with this transfer, the film seems more at home on Blu-ray than it did on DVD.
It’s great to revisit this film. The on-screen chemistry between Cruise and Foxx, the L.A. locations, Mann’s choice of music (I’m still a sucker for the mini musical montages) and the build-ups to sudden and explosive action were all welcomed reminders of Mann’s skill as a filmmaker. Navigating the disc is breeze. The pop-up menus are easy to read and don’t require the loading of addition pages. The one sequence/loop in the background simply repeats as you make your choices.
The transfer is beautifully sharp and clear; however, the 2-disc DVD release was too. The film looked grainier in theaters, but on both the DVD and the Blu-ray, the image is clean. However, what the Blu-ray has over the DVD is both an obviously improved clarity and more importantly, greater image stability. Motion blur is reduced and Mann’s dynamic, in your face camera placement flows better without losing any of its edge. For a film that takes place mostly at night, there isn’t as much ‘black’ as one would expect. The blacks are often imbued with other colors. This is on purpose. The L.A. nighttime glow that Mann captured is an eerie presence and truly affects the varying moods of the film. The contrasts come from the lights penetrating the darkness in the cityscapes.
The DTS-HD MA audio track is sweet. The channel separation is well balanced and the dialogue is almost always clear and intelligible…Cruise mumbles a few lines, but everyone else comes through nicely. James Newton Howard’s soundtrack is without fault.
In the extra features department there aren’t many additions from the 2-disc DVD set of 2004. What has been added is a neat little bookmark tool, allowing you to select favorite moments (to the second) that can be quickly accessed from a separate menu. Also included are HD versions of the teaser and theatrical trailers, but other than that, all commentary, making-of and behind the scenes material are the same, right down to the Easter eggs (look for “waiting for the ‘thumbs up’ from Mann” sequence). As is often the case with re-releases, the extras were of the same quality as the previous release–often looking better on the DVD version, with fewer aliasing problems on the standard video portions. The only things not present are the production notes and cast and crew bios included on the DVD. It’s a bit of a shame, because although some information was repeated in the featurette, the production notes gave additional insight on the extensive prep work done by the actors and director alike.
Collateral is a good film that was meant for Blu-ray–This release looks so slick that it can be the deciding factor if you haven’t already invested in the technology. Oh, and before I forget…who remembered that Javier Bardem had a cameo in this film…?
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]]>Steven Spielberg‘s adaptation of H.G. Wells‘ War of the Worlds started out pretty great, if you ask me. It felt like it was going to be a ramped up version of Close Encounters, which is pretty far from a bad thing. However, after a solid half-hour or so of teasing with well structured scenes, with well written, well performed characters, the film seemed to me to devolve into cheap, modern action fare. I really wanted to love it but ultimately felt a bit let down by the film. That was a lot of years ago now. And I think I’m finally willing to give it a second chance. War of the Worlds comes to Blu-ray on June 1st! Details below:
WAR OF THE WORLDS
(June 1, 2010 – MSRP $39.99)
Video: 1.85:1 1080p
Audio: 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio
Special Features:
- · Revisiting the Invasion
· The H.G. Wells Legacy
· Steven Spielberg and the Original War of the Worlds
· Characters: The Family Unit
· Previsualization
· Production Diaries
- o East Coast—Beginning
o East Coast—Exile
o West Coast—Destruction
o West Coast—War
· Designing the Enemy: Tripods and Aliens
· Scoring War Of The Worlds
· We Are Not Alone
· Galleries
- o Sketches by Costume Designer Joanna Johnston
o Production Stills
o Behind the Scenes
o Production Sketches
· Theatrical Teaser Trailer (HD)
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]]>I remember not being the biggest fan of Minority Report when it was originally released. But it seems it’s one of those films that kind of gets better with age. While the mystery at the heart of the film is predictable and the structure a bit pedestrian, the look and the tech of it continue to fascinate. I can’t speak for you but I know I’m looking forward to the day when I can interface with my computer via a giant translucent piece of plastic, with but a swipe of my hand, the way Tom Cruise does in the film (perhaps Apple‘s rumoured iSlate/iPad tablet will make my dreams come true!) Until then, here’s hoping that LaserPacific’s new 4K encode of the film doesn’t dissapoint when it arrives on Blu-ray April 20th!
MINORITY REPORT
(April 20, 2010 – MSRP $29.99)
Video: 2.39:1 1080p
Audio: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Special Features:
- * The Future According to Steven Spielberg (in HD)
* Inside The World of Precrime (in HD)
* Phillip K. Dick, Steven Spielberg and Minority Report (in HD)
* Minority Report: Future Realized (in HD)
* Minority Report: Props of the Future (in HD)
* Highlights from Minority Report: From the Set
* Minority Report: Commercials of the Future (in HD)
* Previz Sequences
* From Story to Screen
* Deconstructing Minority Report
* The Stunts of Minority Report
* ILM and Minority Report
* Final Report
* Production Concepts
* Storyboard Sequences
* Trailers
Via: Blu-ray.com
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]]>I love P.T. Anderson‘s films. I agree that, yes, he could probably use a stronger hand in the editing suite but the man always delivers. And Magnolia was no exception. Maybe I love this movie more because I’ve been an Aimee Mann fan since Much Music came to Canadian cable. I remember loving Mann’s band, ‘Til Tuesday. Particularly the song Voices Carry. And I think that love of her music influenced my affection for Magnolia, which is steeped in it. Nevertheless…great movie, great songs. That’s why I’m excited that Warner plans to release the film on Blu-ray.
Magnolia comes to Blu-ray on January 19th, 2010. Anderson’s previous film and great success, Boogie Nights is set to follow later in the year. Magnolia details:
MAGNOLIA
(January 19, 2010)
(German Temp art shown)
Video: 2.39:1
Audio: Dolby TrueHD 5.1
Special Features:
- Magnolia video diary
- Frank T.J. Mackey Seminar
- Seduce and Destroy infomercial
- Aimee Mann music videos: “One” and “Save Me”
- Theatrical trailers and TV spots
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Valkyrie (2008, Blu-ray released May 19, 2009 – MSRP $39.99)
I think I’ve got a lot of Tom Cruise baggage. That must be it. I’m not sure if it’s the scientology, the Nicole Kidman-break-up or the uber-fake, aggressively-jolly persona he puts on for the media but damage has been done to my perception of the man. And that damage, of course, carries over to my desire to see him in films.
So, there I am, holding the Valkyrie Blu-ray in my hand, considering whether it might not be better to pass the disc off to someone else for review, when my roommate storms in, “Is that Valkyrie? Oh, sweeeet! Put it on!” And just like that, it was out of my hands.
Clearly I can’t be left to make these movie-watching decisions for myself. Valkyrie is phenomenal and I’m glad I had the chance to see it. Let me be more specific – the Valkyrie Blu-ray presentation is phenomenal. The film itself is quite wonderful, able to wring suspense from a plot whose ultimate conclusion we’re intimately familiar with (The story is based on real events and follows a conspiracy by officers of the SS to kill Hitler. Do they succeed? Uhhh…) What I found striking about the experience was how it was able to completely win me over and make me forget about my preconceptions of film and star. I’m not just talking about the filmmaking chops of director Bryan Singer and his accomplished cast and crew here but raving about the overall quality of the disc. It looks vivid, colourful and full of detail, sounds clean, punchy, dynamic and really assists in bringing the film to life for home video. I’m finding more and more that when a Blu-ray disc is well produced, transfered with care and given the sparkle of something freshly minted I become more immersed in the experience. In fact, I’m finding more often than not that my home video experience is superior to that of my theatrical. And in this case, it was enough to make me forget that I was watching Tom Cruise.
Valkyrie is a strong film on it’s own, despite the awesomeness of the disc. Cruise does a remarkable job, disappearing into the injured soldier turned conspirator role (portraying a man he bears a striking resemblance to) and holds his own against powerhouse performances by the likes of Bill Nighy, Kenneth Branagh, Tom Wilkinson, Terence Stamp, Eddie Izzard and more. Equally remarkable are the commentary tracks, one of which sees director Singer and Cruise entertaining the notion of changing up the United Artists logo, a company now owned by Cruise. The package of extras on the disc is simply outstanding: The aforementioned commentary tracks, a handful of featurettes and sit-down interviews capped off by a brilliant two-hour History Channel-style look at the history of the nazi party and the officer’s conspiracy to remove Hitler from power and save Germany, Europe and the world from his tyranny.