Zombies are the speed bumps of the horror world. Inherently evil by design, they pose little more than an annoyance when only one is involved. But as they multiply, the danger increases exponentially (try managing a parking lot full of speed bumps without losing your sanity). The works of zombie guru George A. Romero are nothing short of legendary, but recent zombie spoofs, including today's Blu-ray release of
Zombieland have proven to be just as (if not more) entertaining.
It's quite easy to poke fun at zombies because they are a failed concept to begin with. As seen in other spoof films such as
Shaun of the Dead, their limited intelligence and mobility make them an easy target for comic relief. Even when they do manage (slowly) surround their victims in an inescapable circle of death, the many ways of which to dispose of a zombie can be just as humorous.
"Zombieland is a genre lover's dream come true, a movie that's put it all together, realized what the genre is all about," commented staff reviewer Martin Liebman in his
Blu-ray review of Zombieland. "Featuring a dazzling 1080p picture quality, an equally impressive lossless soundtrack, and plenty of ooey-gooey extras, Zombieland is a must-own disc that's deserving of a spot in every Blu-ray collection."
Warner's policy of releasing classic films as part of their “Ultimate Collector's Edition” series is somewhat understandable. Many titles require extensive restorations that cost much more than the studio could ever dream of getting back through individual disc sales. By releasing them in more expensive box sets, it not only gives collectors a reason to upgrade, but also helps pay for the higher than average production costs.
Fortunately, Warner has begun selling single disc Blu-ray versions of their UCE films, including today's release of the classic films
Casablanca and
Gone with the Wind. It's the same discs that can be found in the
Casablanca: Ultimate Collector's Edition and
Gone with the Wind: Ultimate Collector's Edition box sets, and both represent remarkable restoration efforts by the studio. The Blu-ray's video presentation is absolutely gorgeous, and if you for some reason haven't seen
Casablanca or
Gone With the Wind before, you are advised to do so, posthaste.
Actor Oscar Levant once said, “There is a fine line between genius and insanity. I have erased this line.” Since first watching
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas some years ago, I have always wondered in writer Hunter S. Thompson had based his life on just such a goal. The film, which is based off Thompson's book
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream, tells the story of Raoul Duke (Johnny Deep as Hunter S. Thompson) and his attorney Dr. Gonzo (Benicio del Toro as Oscar Zeta Acosta) as they search for the American dream in two depraved weekends of hallucinogenic excesses.
While the film features some of the most respected people in Hollywood, it has never been considered part of the mainstream. It was a box office bust, though it has earned a cult status over the years, likely due the directorial skills of Terry Gilliam. It was definitely made for a particular audience, so while I can't recommend this film enough, make sure you know what you are getting into before you sit down to watch it with your family and friends.
Unfortunately, the Universal Blu-ray release left me a somewhat disappointed. The video has many errors that, at least to me, should have been addressed before the film was remastered in high definition. I understand the idea of “Director's Intent”, but I doubt Gilliam intended a line to run down the entire length of the frame during a particular scene in the film. Luckily, the audio is strong, making this an easy upgrade for those who already own the film on DVD.
As you can tell from the
complete list, I was only able to talk about a relatively few titles that make their debut today on Blu-ray. There are a few gems being released today that I'm sure some people have been looking forward to for quite some time.