By all indications, '
The Da Vinci Code' was a box office smash. While top critics almost universally panned the film, the controversy surrounding the film's fictitious subject matter (and its subsequent validation through opposition) helped generate over $750M in worldwide box office revenue. After such amazing commercial success, a sequel was inevitable, and both director Ron Howard and actor Tom Hanks returned for '
Angels & Demons', which is being released on Blu-ray today.
Staff reviewer Martin Liebman commented in the
Angels & Demons Blu-ray review, "Superior to The Da Vinci Code in every regard, Angels & Demons still isn't great cinema, but it does make for passable entertainment that has on its side a decent if not predictable story, a good performance from a legendary actor, and strong technical elements that accentuate the film's gorgeous locations and sets." He continued, "Boasting a strong 1080p transfer, a fabulous lossless soundtrack, and a plethora of extra content spread over three discs, fans of the film or author Dan Brown's story should have absolutely no qualms about making this title a permanent member of the Blu-ray collection."
After their plans to escape to sunny Fiji are snowed-in, Brad (Vince Vaughn) and Kate (Reese Witherspoon) are forced to do the unthinkable - spend the holiday season with their families. With both sets of parents now divorced, they will have to celebrate '
Four Christmases' in one day. Packed with talent galore, including roles by Robert Duvall, Jon Favreau, and Jon Voight, the film does more to stomp violently on the holiday than the title suggests.
In the
Blu-ray review of 'Four Christmases', staff reviewer Ken Brown found similar problems with the film's end product. "What Four Christmases lacks in holiday spirit, it more than makes up for with mean-spirited characters, lame dialogue, and contrived gags." He continues, "Warner's Blu-ray release fares better -- its video transfer and TrueHD audio track, though flawed, help justify the cost of a rental -- but its hollow collection of special features are a waste of time."
For his latest effort, Judd Apatow decided to tackle a much darker theme that his previous films. In '
Funny People', Apatow somewhat distances himself from the sex, drugs, and fart-joke humor he has been known for to focus on something on a more personal level. Audiences seemed confused by what they saw, and the filmed failed at the box office. But as Ken Brown states in his
Blu-ray review of 'Funny People', the film "is a fantastic film whose only misstep involves a disconnected, somewhat anticlimactic endgame. Still, regardless of its closing woes, I can't help but recommend it to any Apatow, Sandler, or Rogen fan." With regards to the quality of the Blu-ray presention, he continues, "It offers a faithful video transfer, a convincing DTS-HD Master Audio track, and a massive collection of supplemental content."
While anime maintains a dedicated underground in the US, there are still a vast majority who has yet to experience what these films can uniquely provide. One of the two films recommended to those new to the genre (the other being '
Akira') has recently been reproduced using more modern techniques to bring us '
Ghost in the Shell 2.0', which is out on Blu-ray today. Not to be confused with the sequel '
Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence', the film has been updated, in a sense, to reflect a more modern look and feel. As staff reviewer Martin Liebman comments in his
Blu-ray review of 'Ghost in the Shell 2.0', "A release by Starz subsidiary Manga Home Entertainment, this Blu-ray version of Ghost in the Shell should thrill established fans of the film, newcomers, and home theater buffs alike. Featuring a wonderful 1080p picture, a reference-quality lossless soundtrack, and a decent array of extras, Ghost in the Shell 2.0 comes highly recommended."
HBO today releases '
The Sopranos: The Complete First Season' on Blu-ray, while Criterion gives fans '
Gomorrah'. And if you happen to have any little ones running around, be sure to pick up a copy of '
Santa Buddies'. Everyone loves to see little talking puppies running around in Santa hats.
For a complete listing of all the Blu-ray titles released today,
click here.