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[VIDEO] The Rocketeer Blu-ray clips

Brenden — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 02:49:23 +0000

The Rocketeer finally hits Blu-ray tomorrow! In honour of this, the film’s 20th Anniversary and it’s debut on the format, the studio has released a number of clips from the film. Now, I know you’re all geared up to get your hands on the disc but don’t think for a moment that what you’re seeing here is representative of the HD presentation on the Blu-ray. These compressed clips pale in comparison.

I’ll have a full review posted in our weekly New Release rundown tomorrow. Until then, enjoy the clips!

From the studio:

Celebrate the 20th anniversary of director Joe Johnston’s (Captain America: The First Avenger) action-filled, witty The Rocketeer. Now with state-of-the-art digital restoration and enhanced high definition sound, experience it as it jets off for the first time on Disney Blu-ray™.

The discovery of a top-secret jetpack hurls test pilot Cliff Secord into a daring adventure of mystery, suspense, and intrigue! Cliff encounters an assortment of ruthless villains, led by a Hollywood screen star who is a secret Nazi spy. With the help of his actress girlfriend, the young pilot battles enormous odds to defeat his foes who are anxious to use the device in an evil plan to rule the world. The dangerous mission transforms the ordinary young man into an extraordinary hero.

1985 and 2011 Fright Night Blu-ray discs coming in December

Brenden — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 15:28:38 +0000

I’m a big fan of the original but, sadly, I missed out on the recent remake of the ’80s vampire horror/comedy classic Fright Night when it was in theatres. My pals seemed to enjoy it quite a bit so, on their many enthusiastic recommendations, I’m looking forward to the December 13th Blu-ray release from Touchstone (Disney) and Dreamworks. Screen Archives’ Twilight Time label, who recently grabbed up a lot of titles from the Columbia catalogue, is also set to release the original 1985 version of the film on Blu-ray on the same day in a limited edition of only 3000. There’s no pre-order up on their site yet but we’ve been able to suss out the disc details for you, listed below.

FRIGHT NIGHT (2011)
(December 13, 2011 – MSRP $39.99, 3D COMBO $49.99)
Video: 1.78:1 1080p
Audio: 7.1 DTS-HD MA

Special Features:

Gag Reel
Kid Cudi Music Video (uncensored version) – “No One Believes Me”
“Squid Man” – Extended & Uncut
Peter Vincent: Swim Inside My Mind featurette
The Official “How to Make a Funny Vampire Movie” Guide featurette
Frightful Facts & Terrifying Trivia
5 Deleted Scenes with intros by Director Craig Gillepsie:

“Ride to School”
“Neighborly”
“Once A Freak, Always A Freak”
“Midori & Kerosene”
“Back at the Penthouse”

FRIGHT NIGHT (1985)
(December 13, 2011 – MSRP $29.95)
Video: 2.35:1 1080p
Audio: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1

Special Features:

Isolated Score Track
Original Theatrical Trailers

[VIDEO] Disney’s Cinderella: Diamond Edition Blu-ray trailer

Brenden — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 01:06:48 +0000

I can’t wait to see the new Gossip Girl version of Disney‘s Cinderella. If the trailer above is any indication, all the classic music in the film has now been replaced with the contemporary soundtrack of on-screen teen lust – all rebellious guitars and triumphant cymbal-crashes.

I kid, of course. If this upcoming Diamond Edition Blu-ray of the film is anything like it’s predecessors, Cinderella will look and sound as it always has, only better, brighter and cleaner. There’s no word yet on when the disc will be released but with the Lady and the Tramp: Diamond Edition coming up in the spring, it’s a safe bet the studio will save Cinderella for the fall of 2012. Consider this trailer a super sneak peek!

[VIDEO] Finding Nemo Blu-ray Trailer

Brenden — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 21:27:52 +0000

At long last, it looks like Finding Nemo is on it’s way to Blu-ray. It’s about time too, as it’s the last Pixar film to be released on the format. No release date or details yet but the trailer embedded above has made its way onto the internets, promising we’ll see some Andrew Stanton and Lee Unkrich fishies in HD sooner rather than later. The best guess, at the moment, is that the disc will hit around the time of the films big-screen 3D release, next September. Okay, I guess that’s kind of later than I’d like. But, you know, at least we’re not talking about 2013 here!

Top New Blu-ray releases for the Week of October 4

Brenden — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 15:17:39 +0000

Another killer week here, with way too many cool new Blu-ray releases to cover in the post. Be certain to scroll all the way down to the bottom of the article and click on some of the other worthwhile titles new to the format this week, like Fast Five, the newest flick in the Fast and Furious franchise, Peter Jackson‘s Dead Alive, more Miramax films new to Blu in Cinema Paradiso, Life is Beautiful and The Cider House Rules as well as Tim Buton classics Pee Wee’s Big Adventure and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

As always, clicking the Blu-ray package art will zip you over to Amazon where every purchase you make through our links helps the site stay on its feet. We appreciate every single click and thank you again for continuing to read The Blu-ray Blog.

Blu-ray disc of the week: THE LION KING

The wait is over. For the first time ever, experience the majesty of Disney’s epic animated masterpiece as it roars off the screen and into your living room on Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D. With a spectacular digital picture, spine-tingling high definition sound and immersive bonus features—you will feel the love for this critically acclaimed and universally beloved classic like never before.

Embark on an extraordinary coming-of-age adventure as Simba, a lion cub who cannot wait to be king, searches for his destiny in the great “Circle of Life.” You will be thrilled by the breathtaking animation, unforgettable Academy Award®–winning music (1994: Best Original Score; Best Song, “Can You Feel The Love Tonight”) and timeless story. The king of all animated films reigns on Disney Blu-ray 3D—magic in a new dimension.“

You know, I don’t think I’ve ever really given The Lion King it’s due. This is such a well crafted film, from the script to the music to every single visual, static and in motion, up there on the screen. It’s a true work of art that, for me, has been sullied with hype and the incessant overplaying of every Elton John ditty in the piece. Honestly, if I never hear ‘Can You Feel The Love Tonight’ again in my life, I’ll be alright.

You can imagine the effort involved to block the effect those songs have on me, as I watch the film again, attempting to appreciate it anew, fresh and sullied. And I think I managed it. I focused on the tight script and the pitch-perfect characters, performed with such razor precision by the likes of James Earl Jones, Rowan Atkinson and Jeremy Irons that the voice-work elevates the material to a new place of awesome. I focused on the ground-breaking animation, combining CGI with traditional cel-painted frames in ways never-before attempted. I focused on the score by the always-wonderful Hans Zimmer who, at his best here, makes me forget that his awe-inspiring cues will often lead into trite pop songs that more-or-less strip the film of its potential to feel timeless and iconic. I guess I don’t need to tell you where my issues lie with The Lion King.

But the songs are an integral part of the film. And they, like everything else here, are well done, for what they are. I just don’t like them. That’s a personal-taste-thing. They take me out of the action, as singing characters often do in film and theatre. But, I understand, that’s the nature of the beast here. And this beast is unquestionably King for a reason, still the highest grossing animated film to date. It’s a classic that every animation and film fan should have in their Blu-ray library.

You’ll also want to add The Lion King Blu-ray to your collection to show off your Audio/Visual gear as it’s one of the most technically incredible releases of the year. Disney offer up another transfer of one of its classic animated films that borders on perfection. Detail is out of this world, blacks are deep and colours are vivid and pounce right off the screen! Amazing. Equally as powerful is the DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 track that rumbles deep and stampedes around your surround system with the best of them. This is your new demo disc!

There are a nice collection of newly created special features on the disc including a couple of docs – Pride of the Lion King and The Lion King: A Memoir- Don Hahn – that are definitely worth your time. Both are presented in HD and look fantastic, aside from the SD archival material used within. All the new animated and still content is also presented in HD but is only worth watching for those who need to dig deep. I don’t think the casual viewer will want to sit through failed gags in storyboard form. Once again, Disney really kills it with their Second Screen feature for iPad and PC, which allows you to view additional content on your device while watching the film on your big screen. Most of the extras from the previously available DVD sets are still available here, but only through the BD-Live portal, which, to me, is a pain in the ass. I would’ve much rather had them on a second disc, instead of the included DVD copy of the film that’s in the package.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

4 Never-Before-Seen Deleted Scenes
Deleted Song
The Morning Report: Extended scene
Never-Before-Seen Bloopers
Disney Second Screen*
Pride of The Lion King
The Lion King: A Memoir- Don Hahn
Disney Sing Along Mode
Interactive Gallery
Audio Commentary
Disney’s Virtual Vault: Classic DVD Features Powered by BD-Live*

AMAZON: $21.99
or in a 3D combo pack: $29.99

Also available: THE LION KING TRILOGY

AMAZON: $74.99

Canadian versions: PULP FICTION and JACKIE BROWN

I was very fortunate to be able to review the Canadian editions of the Pulp Fiction and Jackie Brown Blu-ray releases from Alliance. Aside from slight differences in packaging and branding on the discs, these releases are identical to their US counterparts.

It’s been years since I’ve had to opportunity to sit down with either film 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.

Fiction‘s mix-and-match structure and hipster-style never fail to impress, even after all these years and after so many poor imitations. It’s such a well assembled film with an endless number of iconic shots, songs and performances. But I have to admit I find a lot of the dialogue to be masturbatory – if I never have to hear another Tarantino character repeatedly asking a question (“What does Marsellus Wallace look like?”) only so they might deliver a lame punchline it’ll be too soon. Jackie Brown doesn’t feel like it’s there to show off at all. It’s a far more settled and self-contained narrative with characters who live and breathe with their own sense of purpose and desire, which tends not to serve their puppet-master’s ego. That said, I truly love both films and am pleased to report that each is extremely well handled in their Blu-ray debuts.

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.

Most, if not all, special features have been carried over from previous DVD editions of the films, with little new added to the mix here. Both discs feature a “critic’s roundtable” of sorts, where Elvis Mitchell, Scott Foundas, Stephanie Zacharek, Tim Lucas and Andy Klein chat about the films, their merits, failings and lasting impact on cinema. The Pulp Fiction clocks in at about 20-minutes while the Jackie Brown conversation is nearly three-quarters-of-an-hour long. “Not the Usual Mindless Boring Getting to Know You Chit Chat” is the only other new feature – a 43-minute retrospective on Pulp Fiction, featuring interviews with cast and crew all presented in HD! Fantastic.

Pulp Fiction 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 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

AMAZON: CDN$ 15.00 and CDN$ 24.99

US versions also available: PULP FICTION and JACKIE BROWN

AMAZON: $15.99 and $10.49

SUBMARINE

Young Oliver Tate’s coming of age is coming even sooner than expected. Prone to daydreaming, listening to French crooners and indulging other self-absorbed fantasies, Oliver (Craig Roberts) suddenly finds himself submerged in real-life, dual challenges — plotting to lose his virginity with a quirky new girlfriend (Yasmin Paige), while also struggling to reconcile his parent’s (Golden Globe® winner Sally Hawkins and Noah Taylor) marriage, even though his mom seems smitten with the self-help guru next door (Paddy Considine). This charmingly original comedy from executive producer Ben Stiller and writer/director Richard Ayoade, has been pronounced by Vogue magazine ”a charming mix of quirk and cool.”

I’m so angry that Richard Ayoade’s Submarine isn’t receiving a Blu-ray release here in Canada. This is one of the coolest films of 2011 and Alliance is only delivering it to home video on DVD. Blech. I guess I’ll be importing the Anchor Bay Blu-ray from down south. DVD Beaver calls the transfer “surprisingly adept” while DVD Verdict claims the disc sports a “very close approximation to the theater presentation”, which is all I need to know before adding it to my Amazon cart.

AMAZON: $25.99

AMER

An eroticized homage to 1970s Italian giallo horror films… Hélène Cattet and Bruno Forzani’s pastiche tour-de-force plays out a delirious, enigmatic, almost wordless death-dance of fear and desire. Its three movements, each in a different style, correspond to the childhood, adolescence, and adulthood of its female protagonist. Drawing its stylized, hyperbolic gestures from the playbooks of Bava, Leone, Argento and De Palma and taking them into a realm of near-abstraction. Amer has genre in the blood. Its bold widescreen composition, super-focused sound and emphatic music (lifted from original giallo soundtracks), and razor-sharp cuts make for an outrageous and intoxicating cinematic head-trip. Featuring music from composers Stelvio Cipriani, Bruno Nicolai and the legendary Ennio Morricone.

Amer is another film I’ve been following online through reviews/articles/interviews/etc. but have yet to actually see. But, in truth, this is probably the Blu-ray release I’m most excited about this week. But only because of the pent up anticipation for a viewing of this modern Giallo horror. Blu-ray.com gives the disc high marks, with a source-accurate transfer of this “ravishingly beautiful film”. Extras include five short films by the filmmakers and some trailers.

AMAZON: $31.49

SCREAM 4

In Scream 4, Sidney Prescott, now the author of a self-help book, returns home to Woodsboro on the last stop of her book tour. There she reconnects with Sheriff Dewey and Gale, who are now married, as well as her cousin Jill (played by Emma Roberts) and her Aunt Kate (Mary McDonnell). Unfortunately Sidney’s appearance also brings about the return of Ghost Face, putting Sidney, Gale, and Dewey, along with Jill, her friends, and the whole town of Woodsboro in danger.

I can’t speak to the actual Scream 4 Blu-ray disc from Anchor Bay but I reviewed the Canadian release from Alliance that’s part of The Complete Scream Collection and it’s fantastic. It replicates the US disc in every way (aside from Alliance branding and trailers) and is well worth a look. For more on the disc and the film, see my review of the Complete Collection, linked to below:

AMAZON: $22.99

Available exclusively in Canada: THE COMPLETE SCREAM COLLECTION

AMAZON.CA: CDN$ 49.99

HARAKIRI and SALO

Both of Criterion‘s Blu-ray new releases are re-issues, which is to say that neither is the most exciting title hitting shops this week but are both worth a look anyway. I mean, come on, they’re Criterion discs, right?! For those mature viewers with the ability to handle disturbing imagery, the studio takes another stab at releasing Piere Paolo Pasolini‘s Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom on home video. This is a stronger presentation than the BFI Blu-ray disc and, packed with bonus goodies, is worth the upgrade for fans. Harakiri is also a worthy upgrade, presenting a far more solid and balanced transfer than the previously released DVD, that’s every bit as good, if not better than the Eureka Entertainment BD from the UK. A strong supplemental package makes this release a winner! Both discs are, of course, highly recommended.

AMAZON: $27.99 and $34.99

THE WALKING DEAD: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON – 3-DISC SPECIAL EDITION

After waking from a coma in an abandoned hospital, police officer Rick Grimes finds the world he knew gone – ravaged by a zombie epidemic of apocalyptic proportions. Nearby, on the outskirts of Atlanta, a small encampment struggles to survive as ‘the dead’ stalk them at every turn. Can Rick and the others hold onto their humanity as they fight to live in this terrifying new world? And, amidst dire conditions and personal rivalries, will they ultimately survive one another? AMC‘s The Walking Dead is an epic, survival adventure series from the director of The Shawshank Redemption and the producer of The Terminator and Aliens.

This is a fantastic package. It’s just really unfortunate that this isn’t what the studio released back in March, instead of the two-disc, feature-lite set that most fans picked up. I think they’re going to have a lot of irate customers on their hands – folks who wish they would’ve held off grabbing the first set in favour of waiting for this, more feature-rich release. If you didn’t buy the previous set, this is your huckleberry. If you did and you dig extras, better start looking for a painless way to trade up.

Now available in Canada: ONG BAK: THE THAI WARRIOR

Thai stuntman Tony Jaa makes his starring debut in this martial arts action film directed by Prachya Pinkaew. Ja plays Ting, who was discovered as an infant in a village in rural Thailand and raised by monks who taught him the Thai martial art of muay thai. Ting is sent to Bangkok when the head of the town’s statue of the Buddha, to which they pray to bring the annual rains to their drought-stricken region, is stolen. The country boy is plunged into the big city’s seething criminal underworld, and forced to use his fighting skills to dispatch a parade of thugs in an underground fight club on his way to finding the criminal mastermind who stole the Buddha head so he can return it before drought and starvation bring his hometown to ruin.

Tony Jaa is God here. I’m not sure he’s ever been better than in the original 2003 Ong Bak. This is Jaa just getting started in his career, before he got lost in his head and wandered off the set of Ong Bak 2 to become a monk (well, that’s the legend anyway.) Here, he’s just Ting, a young man from a small farming village on a journey to recover a stolen artifact, who just happens to find more trouble than he bargained for. There’s no pretense. No grand spiritual journey or commentary about life. Just an honest-to-goodness quest with some honest-to-goodness muay thai fighting that’ll blow your mind.

Jaa is unreal. He’s so fast that many of his moves here are shown in slow motion and from several angles, played out over and over again so you can see that this is the man accomplishing these feats himself, without special effects or wires. He’s an acrobat, a gymnast and an unbelievable martial arts talent who could damn-near become the next Bruce Lee if he’d just get his head out of his ass and embrace his place in cinema. Watch Ong Bak and marvel at the man and his moves and pray he returns to form, creating something of this ilk sooner rather than later.

Alliance is releasing Ong Bak on Blu-ray in Canada today, in an exact duplicate of the disc from Fox, released in the US last year. As was reported at the time, this is something of a baffling transfer. There’s a note about it, right there in the extras for all to see, stating that this Blu-ray presentation is the result of a new scan from an “original 35 mm internegative of the film” with additional “color correction, image stabilization and digital cleaning”. But, man, you’d never know it. The film looks soft, often muddy, with colours bopping around like jazz from scene to scene. Admittedly, this is a marked improvement over the DVD transfer but, I guess as a fan, I was just praying for better. This was a super-low budget film and it’s very possible that this is best it can look but don’t go into watching this disc expecting anything revelatory. The Thai 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio track doesn’t fare much better, sounding thin and unremarkable most of the time.

There are a good many bonus features provided on the disc but, sadly, they’re all quite brief and all in standard-def. You should check them out, though, as any footage of Jaa working his craft is worth a few moments of your time. The B-roll footage is the best thing going here, proving the only look at the behind-the-scenes work that went into making the picture.

Special features include:

Tony Jaa and stuntman performance at French screening
The 8 Movements of Muay Thai
French rap music video with Tony Jaa
Making of the music video
B-Roll (behind the scenes):
- Taxi stunts
- Legs-ablaze fight sequence
- Arena fight sequence

AMAZON: CDN$ 18.19

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:

Top New Blu-ray releases for the Week of September 20

Brenden — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 22:23:45 +0000

It’s not a really big week for Blu-ray releases but I guess, no matter how many new discs were unleashed today, nothing could live up to the epic nature of last week. Aside from the discs I highlight below, there are a handful of notable TV-on-Blu releases (the multi-Emmy winning Modern Family!), Alejandro Amenábar‘s The Others, Chromeskull 2, Vamp and many more. Be sure to scroll all the way to the bottom to check them out!

Blu-ray disc of the week: BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY’S

The names Audrey Hepburn and Holly Golightly have become synonymous since this dazzling romantic comedy was translated to the screen from Truman Capote‘s best-selling novella. Holly is a deliciously eccentric New York City playgirl determined to marry a Brazilian millionaire. George Peppard plays her next-door neighbor, a writer who is “sponsored” by a wealthy Patricia Neal. Guessing who’s the right man for Holly is easy. Seeing just how that romantic blossoms is one of the enduring delights of this gem-like treat set to Henry Mancini‘s Oscar(R)-winning score and the Oscar(R)-winning Mancini-Johnny Mercer song “Moon River”.

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. You’d think that this one would have been worthy of the Sapphire label, wouldn’t you? Leads one to believe we might have seen the last of that line of discs from the studio…

The transfer to Blu-ray of Breakfast at Tiffany‘s seems to have elicited something of a controversy online, in early reviews. There have been claims that the image is scrubbed to the bone by DNR, digital noise reduction, reducing detail to a minimum and skin to wax. I’m here to tell you that’s bunk. This is one hell of a great looking disc. Grain is there for the observant eye to see, not reduced but very fine in the image and always on the move. Colours pop as if the film was only lensed yesterday and detail is in crazy abundance. I can’t say enough about this presentation but that it needs to be seen to be believed. And if there’s been an overzealous use of DNR, then I’ll be a monkey’s uncle.

In addition to a fine restoration of the original mono track (sadly, only presented in compressed Dolby Digital), there’s a very respectful 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio track that adds just the right amount of surround flavour to the original mix, without spicing things up to the degree that a modern track would. You won’t hear any booming bass here but Mancini’s score sounds incredible and dialogue is clean and clear up the middle. Fantastic!

The special features on the disc are a mix of new HD content and featurettes previously available on DVD editions of the film. All are worth watching, though I will say that I found the 20-minute ‘A Golightly Gathering‘ tough to sit through, as members of the cast who appeared in the famous party scene gather together years later to reminisce about the film. ‘Henry Mancini: More than Music‘ is an excellent 20-minute look at the life and work of the famous composer. ‘Mr. Yunioshi: An Asian Perspective‘ also runs around 20-minutes and deals with the controversy of Mickey Rooney‘s infamous “yellowface” performance in the film, attempting to give some modern perspective to the only black-spot on the production. The galleries and trailers are also presented in HD. The bulk of the remainder of the extras are still in SD, culled from the DVD extras. They’re short and show their age but are worth a look. Producer Richard Shepherd‘s commentary track is a pretty decent listen as well, offering tons of anecdotes and information on the production.

All in all, this is a killer package. One of Paramount’s finest Blu-ray offerings of 2011. Super extra highly recommended!

SPECIAL FEATURES:

Commentary by producer Richard Shepherd
A Golightly Gathering
Henry Mancini: More Than Music
Mr. Yunioshi: An Asian Perspective
The Making of a Classic
It’s So Audrey: A Style Icon
Behind the Gates: The Tour
Brilliance in a Blue Box
Audrey’s Letter to Tiffany
Photo Galleries
- The Movie
- Production
- Publicity
Original Theatrical Trailer

AMAZON: $19.99

LE BEAU SERGE and LES COUSINS

Criterion is releasing the first two films by Claude Chabrol on Blu-ray today. I had a chance to screen Le Beau Serge, the film that kicked off the French New Wave movement, and the disc is phenomenal! I haven’t seen Les Cousins yet but there’s little doubt that it’ll sport a similarly excellent transfer. I’ll chime in on that one once I get my hands on it. In the meantime, check out my full review of Le Beau Serge!

AMAZON: $27.99 each

DUMBO

For the first time ever, in celebration of this landmark film’s 70th anniversary, experience the daring adventures of the world’s only flying elephant with a dazzling all-new digital restoration and brilliant Disney Enhanced High Definition Theater Mix Sound. The inspirational tale of Dumbo, the courageous baby elephant who uses his sensational ears to soar to fame with the help of his clever best friend Timothy Q. Mouse, will thrill and delight audiences of all ages. And now, the award-winning music and empowering messages about friendship and belief in yourself reach new heights in this must-have Blu-ray(TM) high definition presentation of Walt Disney’s animated classic, “Dumbo“.

This is another amazing restoration of a Disney classic, easily as stunning as the presentations on the Blu-ray disc releases of Bambi and Pinocchio. Animation collectors and film fans alike will want to pick up the Dumbo Blu-ray disc for its transfer and exceptional special features before the studio throws it back in “The Vault” for another few years! Read my full review linked to below.

Dumbo Blu-ray Disc Review

Brenden — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 14:09:46 +0000

DUMBO: 70TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION (1941, Blu-ray released September 20, 2011 – MSRP $39.99)

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

Along with Snow White, Pinochio, Fantasia and Bambi, Dumbo stands as one of the pioneering early works of Walt Disney‘s animation studio. And I doubt it has ever looked or sounded better than on this 70th Anniversary edition Blu-ray!

For the first time ever, in celebration of this landmark film’s 70th anniversary, experience the daring adventures of the world’s only flying elephant with a dazzling all-new digital restoration and brilliant Disney Enhanced High Definition Theater Mix Sound. The inspirational tale of Dumbo, the courageous baby elephant who uses his sensational ears to soar to fame with the help of his clever best friend Timothy Q. Mouse, will thrill and delight audiences of all ages. And now, the award-winning music and empowering messages about friendship and belief in yourself reach new heights in this must-have Blu-ray(TM) high definition presentation of Walt Disney’s animated classic, “Dumbo”.

Until I watched Disney’s new Blu-ray disc, I had totally forgotten that Dumbo never utters a word through the entire picture that bares his name. And that choice is only one of many reasons that the film is brilliant. The quaint, touching story of an elephant who uses the giant ears that others perceive to be a disability, to literally rise above it all is still effective after all these years (it just occurs to me now as I write this that with Dumbo’s genetic mutation he could have easily been one of the X-Men!) The narrative is noteworthy for using an economy of action to move from story point to point. It’s really incredible how much is accomplished in the very brief 64-minute runtime, only pausing every now and again for the odd song and dance routine. Though both films were produced around the same time, Dumbo‘s style is more along the simple, expressionistic lines of Walt’s Silly Symphonies than the lush, realistic images and animation of Bambi. But it’s striking how limitations of budget and time can force artistry to rise above compromise. Dumbo is a masterpiece and remains one of the timeless classics of the Disney oeuvre.

As such, the studio has afforded Dumbo a most brilliant and impressive restoration and transfer to Blu-ray. This thing sparkles! Colours pop, detail abounds and blacks are inky deep. Much like their previous Blu-ray releases of classic animated films, Disney have scrubbed every spot of grain from the image and boosted colours, so what you’re getting here isn’t exactly representative of the way Dumbo actually appeared on film but instead falls in line with the animator’s original intentions. It’s absolutely gorgeous and needs to be seen to be believed. Audio is available in either restored original mono or newly created DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 surround track. Both options are decent and provide similar dynamic range, though the 7.1 track opens the sound field a bit and throws a little rumble to your sub. This is a 70-year old soundtrack and though it’s clean and clear in both iterations, there’s only so much to be done.

Dumbo arrives on Blu-ray with a healthy collection of supplemental material including most everything from the previously available DVD and a bunch of pretty great, brand new HD features! The best, most informative and by far the most entertaining is the Cine-Explore picture-in-picture feature hosted by Pixar director Pete Docter, Disney historian Paula Sigman and Disney animator Andreas Deja. In this nearly perfect overview of the film, the trio touch on everything from the animation, the storytelling and the music to the overall success of the production and what it meant to the studio. If this feature was the only one on the disc, it would still be worth picking up. But there’s a bunch of other great stuff to check out as well. Like the new 28-minute long ‘Taking Flight: The Making of Dumbo‘ featurette and the two never before seen deleted scenes, both doc and scenes presented in HD. The 3-minute long HD featurette ‘The Magic of Dumbo: A Ride of Passage ‘ is also new to the supplemental section but only worth a look if you’re interested in the history of the rides at Disneyland. Other HD bonus goodies include a couple of Silly Symphony shorts, some Disney Family Play games for the kids, art galleries and trailers. There’s a ton more here, mostly culled from the DVD but almost all well worth your time.

Most highly recommended!

Special Features:

Deleted Scene – “The Mouse’s Tale”
Deleted Song – “Are You a Man or a Mouse?”
Taking Flight: The Making of Dumbo – A journey back to the origins of the film as everybody’s favorite baby elephant takes wing.
The Magic Of Dumbo: A Ride of Passage – Witness the excitement and magic of Disneyland’s most popular ride through the eyes of a child.
Audio Commentary with Pete Docter, Paula Sigman and Andreas Deja
Sound Design Excerpt from The Reluctant Dragon
Original Walt Disney Television Introduction
Cine-Explore
Disney View
“What Do You See?” Game
“What Do You Know?” Game
“Celebrating Dumbo” Featurette
Animated Short: “The Flying Mouse”
Animated Short: “Elmer Elephant”

Spooky Buddies Blu-ray discount and clips

2001_Kamikakushi_Miyazaki_10 — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 00:28:35 +0000

Our good pals over at Disney have been letting us know about their upcoming release of Spooky Buddies on Blu-ray, hitting shelves tomorrow. I don’t generally follow these sorts of films, but my little niece is a huge fan of this series. You might recall that she and her brother Max reviewed the first film, Santa Buddies way back in December of 2009. Pretty cute, no? So, in honour of her love of dressed up dogs we present the coupon below, good for $5 off the Blu-ray or DVD of Spooky Buddies. Just click on the image and follow the instructions. The offer is good until September 25, 2011 in the USA and Canada.

Disney’s irresistible talking puppies are back in an all-new movie that takes them far across town to a mysterious mansion where something very spooky is going on. With the help of some unexpected new friends including a friendly ghost this exciting adventure is howling-good Buddy fun.
In a race against a no good hound, the Buddies and their new friends, Pip, Zelda, Rodney, and Skip, must stop Warwick the Warlock and save the world from his dastardly deeds.
Overflowing with action, humor, and a bag full of bonus features, Spooky Buddies is a Spooktacular adventure that treats you to a celebration of friendship and teamwork your whole family will enjoy.

The Rocketeer coming to Blu-ray in December

Brenden — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 17:06:55 +0000

If you can’t count on the studios to fill you in on their upcoming releases, you can always look to Amazon to keep you apprised of what’s due to hit Blu-ray. And today my favourite e-tailer of all things high-def has posted a pre-order page for the Blu-ray edition of Joe Johnston’s The Rocketeer!! With Captain America: The First Avenger, his most recent WW II superhero adventure, a hit at the box office, it was only a matter of time before Disney saw fit to take advantage and get the director’s premiere 1991 Nazi-smashing cult hit out on Blu. There aren’t any details available on the page aside from the $26.50 MSRP and December 13th release date. More on this when we hear official word from the studio. In the meantime, check out the package art below:

Top New Blu-ray releases for the Week of August 9

Brenden — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 00:30:59 +0000

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

1. THE BATTLE OF ALGIERS

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

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

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

Highly recommended!!

Special Features:

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

AMAZON: $39.99

2. CAMERAMAN: THE LIFE & WORK OF JACK CARDIFF

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

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

AMAZON: $21.99

3. FAST TIMES AT RIDGEMONT HIGH

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

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

AMAZON: $14.99

4. DEAD MAN

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

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

AMAZON: $7.99

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

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

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

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

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

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

AMAZON: $22.99

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

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