When George Lucas announced that he would be directing three
new Star Wars films, fans young and old built
a level of anticipation not seen since the original trilogy first graced theater
screens - at least until they met Jar Jar. So when Paramount announced
they would revisit Star Trek with Lost co-creator J. J. Abrams at the helm,
no one could blame Trekkies for being a tad apprehensive about what
direction he would take with their beloved space-based series. The results,
however, not only met fan's lofty expectations, but also those of film critics
and general moviegoers alike. Thanks to Abram's efforts, '
Star
Trek' was both a critical and commercial success and - with today's
Blu-ray release - is expected to be a home video success as well.
"With an impeccable cast; wonderful special effects; a dramatic, far-
reaching, and emotional story that doesn't rely on action but rather
integrates it perfectly into the film; infectious humor; and spot-on odes to
the original stories and characters that define the "Star Trek" universe,
2009's Star Trek is a passionate rebirth, a resurrection for the ages, and it
boldly and confidently goes where "Star Trek" must to endure,"
commented staff reviewer Martin Liebman in his review of the title. He
continues, "Featuring impeccable picture and sound quality, not to mention
a complete, thoroughly informative, and consistently entertaining
supplemental package, Star Trek receives my highest recommendation."
After '
Fight Club' was released, the immense popularity of the
film amongst teenagers (all at least 17 years of age or accompanied by an
adult, I'm sure) saw an alarming number of youths participating in their
own homegrown fight clubs. It is not a rare occurrence for viewers to be
deeply affected by a film - even today people are stockpiling rifles and
rations in response the release of '2012' - but these fight clubs are
still popping up today, 10
years after the film's initial release. 'Fight Club' is not just a great film with
superb acting from stars Edward Norton and Brad Pitt, it is testament to
man's desire for freedom and individuality - in essence, a modern retelling
of the birth of America! That may be a tad audacious, but the popularity of
the film is no mistake. It is a must own Blu-ray title for any person who
refuses to be defined by their khakis.
As staff reviewer Casey Broadwater stated in his review, "Fans who like to
see a director's intentions honored will be knocked silly by this fantastic
1080p/AVC-encoded transfer, which proves to be an appreciable upgrade
from prior DVD releases, especially when it comes to overall clarity and
color depth." He continues, "Rounding out the A/V package is an absolutely
pulverizing DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track that will kick your
home theater's ass and take its name... Highly recommended."
Celebrating the 70th anniversary of its initial release, Warner brings Blu-
ray fans '
Gone with the Wind: Ultimate Collector's Edition' today.
If the $45 price tag for the UCE is out of your range, you can find a
slimmed down version of the release at Target. Either way, you can't go
wrong by picking up this classic release.
Luc Besson is probably best known for '
The Fifth Element',
but arguably his best accomplishment is '
Leon: The
Professional', which gets released today on Blu-ray. The relationship
between Jean Reno and Natalie Portman is genuine, and Gary Oldman is
the ultimate bad guy. If the idea of a 12 year-old girl hitting on an older
man makes you cringe, be sure to stick with the US theatrical presentation
which was toned down for American audiences. The Blu-ray presentation
of this film is simply astounding. The picture is sharp and highly detailed,
and the soundtrack is sure to shake your system during the intense action
sequences. There are few things more exciting than watching Jean Reno
tear apart his enemies with a surgical-like skill in high definition. A must
own Blu-ray.
Sasha Cohen has successfully used his characters to comically explore the
insecurities and prejudices of the general public. When the olive-skinned
Cohen dressed and spoke like a stereotypical black man, he used people's
fear of racism and prejudice to exploit them for comedy's sake. I laughed.
When he grew out his mustache and pretended to be a reporter for a
foreign land, he again used people's insecurities against them. I laughed
even harder. When he strapped on a skin-tight pair of lederhosen and
acted obnoxious to the dismay of his victims, I didn't laugh so much. It
wasn't that I had some moral objection to what he was doing - far from it -
but it felt way too similar to Borat, a character that was so well developed
that anything short - such as Bruno - would be a disappointment. For the
Blu-ray release of '
Bruno', it once again feels a bit underdeveloped. I
understand the source is limited, but video and audio both feel a bit
restricted beyond what could have been present. Proceed with caution on
this release.
I am a huge fan of Kevin Smith. I love that his films are a series of
elongated conversations which lack the cuts typically used to combine
several takes. I love the relationships he creates in his films that show
deeper connection than what an actual couple could convey. And yes, I will
laugh at every fart joke that he writes, because they are genius. Today,
Disney brings us, what I believe to be, his best film '
Chasing Amy' along with the film that started it all '
Clerks'.
Both these low-budget films are presented beautifully in high definition
and audio, especially on 'Amy', is extremely detailed. My only reservation is
that the heavy grain on 'Clerks' may scare some people away, which is a
shame, because years of VHS and DVD viewing has skewed the preceived
look of the film into a softened mess. The only film now missing from the
collection is 'Mallrats' (true fans choose to ignore the existence of 'Jersey
Girl'), a film that Universal will hopefully soon release. In the mean time,
you can pick up 'Clerks: 15th Anniversary Edition' and 'Chasing Amy' today
on Blu-ray, or as a
three-pack with the previously released '
Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back'.
Finally today, HBO is releasing '
Rome: The
Complete Series' on Blu-ray. The 10-disc set features all 22 episodes
of the show in stunning high definition that easily bests their original HD
broadcasts. The series itself is an epic retelling of a pivotal time in the
Roman Empire, with an abundance of sex, drama, and battles to keep
viewers' interests secured to the screen. Indeed, the wife and I found
ourselves watching five episodes straight this past weekend, only
stopping to sooth the rumbling of our stomachs. It is disappointing that
the series did not continue through the reign of Augustus, but to have the
entire series on Blu-ray for the first time today is a treat we shall not soon
forget.
For a complete listing of all the Blu-ray titles released today,
click here.