Every month, DVDFuture will highlight a few shows, TV specials, movies and documentaries on DVD and Blu-ray that are well worth checking out. We will be updating this article weekly to include as many selections as possible.
DVDFuture's 'Film and TV Highlights' -- April 2009
DVDFuture's 'Film and TV Highlights' -- March 2009
Every month, DVDFuture will highlight a few shows, TV specials, movies or documentaries on DVD and Blu-ray that are well worth checking out. We’ll try and update this article weekly to include as many titles as possible.
Movies:
TOP PICK:
Slumdog Millionaire (on Blu-ray and DVD)
Click on the image above to see a full-res 1900x1080 Blu-ray screengrab!
While the hype machine is starting to turn on "Slumdog Millionaire," (typical with Best Picture winners) the picture worthy of the recognition it received. Danny Boyle completes his spiritual trilogy (which also includes "Millions" and "Sunshine") and provides fans with an amazing film that plays reality-TV conventions against the formula to paint a remarkable experience in romance and fate.
This Blu-ray release is packed onto a dual-layer BD50 disc boasting a pristine transfer with breathtaking visuals, an explosively vibrant palette spot-on shadows and depth with crisp textures and details. The DTS-HD 5.1 track is also quite wonderful, rich with mood-setting music, wonderful discrete elements and a truly three-dimensional sound field.
This could have been a phoned-in barebones release, but it’s not. Fox provides a decent special edition – a genuine surprise considering the film is still in theaters as this disc arrives on home video. Both commentaries provided here are incredibly lively. Boyle is his usual energetic self, particularly here because he’s paired with actor Dev Patel, who’s a rather engaging individual. They discuss the film’s shooting process as well as the acting process. If you’re looking for story info, check out the second track which discusses the genesis of the story from novel to screen and the rough process to bring the film to life. Incidentally, the film almost saw a straight-to-video premiere until Fox picked it up. The rest is history. Of the two tracks, I’d give a slight edge to the second track. It’s a bit more informative and focused.
Next up is a rather meaty featurette that explores the film’s low-key, but massive production, shot mostly on-location in and around India. There’s plenty of behind-the-scenes footage to keep fans happy. The cast and crew also chime in with solid interviews. The next featurette is pretty useless. It’s basically a spliced up, sliced up version of the film set to the song, “Jai Ho.”
The final supplement is rather extraordinary. There are 12 deleted scenes running roughly 33 minutes. There’s little here I found worthless – typical with many Danny Boyle films (even his deleted scenes are cool). These scenes certainly would have killed the film’s tight pace, but they’re incredibly fascinating, occasionally adding to the narrative and filling in a few minor plot holes. Give them a look. A Digital Copy is also provided for potable media players.
If you don't own this film already, head out to your local retailer and pick this disc up. It's well worth your time and money.
Australia (on Blu-ray and DVD)
Click on the image above to see a full-res 1900x1080 Blu-ray screengrab!
Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman headline this alluring romance/adventure, set to the stark, visually tempting outback of Australia. Despite being advertising as though the film were a glitzy musical, "Australia" is anything but, though the film does have a unique dated touch, as though the picture were shot in the 40s or 50s -- riddled with green screen shots, stagy direction and faux backgrounds. The story has a few ambitious dashes of originality, but it’s mostly a retread of ideas and themes we’ve seen before. Still, if you’re one who falls in love with Baz Luhrmann’s enchanting style of storytelling, "Australia" will more than suit your fancy. But to be honest, I kind of wish the film was a musical, particularly considering the musically inclined cast.
The Blu-ray has been mastered in 1080p AVC video on dual-layer BD. This is a visually dazzling transfer loaded with stark imagery, bright colors and vivid details. It’s not quite a flawless print, a few minor encode glitches pop up every now and then, but this is certainly A-grade material. So is the DTS-HD Master Audio mix, which provides a vast canvas for this story riddled with immersive surround elements, clean dialogue and thumping LFE.
The special features are a bit light, but worth your while. There’s a collection of deleted scenes worth taking a look at. Also on the disc is an explorative historical featurette and eight featurettes that pretty much cover the entire production. Diehard fans will want to give each of these a spin.
...speaking of musicals...
Classic Musicals:
Gigi (on Blu-ray and DVD)
Click on the image above to see a full-res 1900x1080 Blu-ray screengrab!
The original variation on the "Pretty Woman" story comes to life on Blu-ray like never before! This transfer has been cleaned and digitally remasterd -- restored to it’s theatrical glory. Warner has been kind enough to provide a crystal clear, impressive Dolby TrueHD 5.1 track for fans to enjoy. The VC-1 1080p encode is also quite glorious, rich with vivid colors and striking details.
Special features aren’t lacking, either. The film comes with a fascinating commentary from historian Jeanine Basinger and Leslie Caron, an explorative documentary about the making of the film, a short film and an animated cartoon. Also, as a wonderful added bonus, the original French version of "Gigi" is presented here. Sadly, it’s a pretty nasty print (see the image below), riddled with scratches and burned-in English subtitles. Also, Warner didn’t remaster it in 1080, so fans can only enjoy this film in standard definition. Still, it’s a wonderful addition for any fan of this remarkable musical.
Click on the image above to see a full-res screengrab from the French version of "Gigi!"
An American in Paris (on Blu-ray and DVD)
Click on the image above to see a full-res 1900x1080 Blu-ray screengrab!
The classic Gene Kelly, George Gershwin musical finally arrives on Blu-ray in a beautifully restored hi-def presentation loaded with extras and a fine, lush VC-1 full frame 1080p encode. The film still boasts a few dust specks and some scratches, but this is an extraordinary presentation, besting any previously available version of the film. Oddly, Warner only provides a Dolby 1.0 Mono track for fans to enjoy. Perhaps the original audio master no longer exists.
Like "Gigi," this disc is loaded with an impressive batch of extras including a commentary hosted by Patricia Ward Kelly featuring numerous archival interviews with the cast and crew as well as fresh interviews with film historians. The disc also sports a impressive documentary, a profile of Gene Kelly, a short film, a classic cartoon and a few audio-only features including song outtakes. It’s wonderful that Warner has taken the time to restore this wonderful musical -- this is one disc that’s truly worth your while.
TV and Short Films:
Africa’s Elephant Kingdom (new to Blu-ray)
Click on the image above to see a full-res 1900x1080 Blu-ray screengrab!
This fascinating documentary was originally shot for IMAX theaters, and with such an expansive canvas, this documentary comes to life. The film follows an elephant family as it struggles to survive, searching for food, combating other herds and fending off predators. There’s rarely a moment here that doesn’t somehow engage the viewer. If you’re an elephant-lover, this is one documentary you shouldn’t miss.
The Blu-ray has been mastered in 1080i AVC video on a single-layer BD. The film’s full frame IMAX format does provide for some striking visuals, but unfortunately, the film is bogged down by it’s often fuzzy wide angle cinematography, which doesn’t really look all that great on home viewing screens. There are very few close-up shots, but when they do appear, they’re incredibly dazzling. I wish this disc would have gone through the same 8K ultra-hires restoration that "Baraka" did just a few months ago. A Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0 track are also provided. The 5.1 mix is fairly engaged, besting the stereo surround mix.
The Beauty of Snakes (new to Blu-ray)
Click on the image above to see a full-res 1900x1080 Blu-ray screengrab!
This gorgeous documentary details the vast culture of snakes -- showing us their natural beauty, their slick evolved habits and their cunning sense of smell. Shot using hi-def cameras, this documentary rarely shies away from colorful visuals. The narrative itself leaves much to be desired -- this documentary doesn’t really explore much that we don’t already know. But the visuals are absolutely stunning. You could almost watch this one with no sound and still come away with a profound experience.
The Blu-ray has been mastered in 1080i AVC video on a single-layer BD. As stated above, the imagery of the film is rather gorgeous, but some motion blur is detectable which some might find a bit distracting. A Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0 track are also provided. The 5.1 mix is pretty lively, besting the stereo surround mix.
The World’s Biggest and Baddest Bugs (new to Blu-ray)
Click on the image above to see a full-res 1900x1080 Blu-ray screengrab!
Entomologist Ruud Kleinpaste gleefully explores some of the world’s most dangerous bugs, from the scorpion to the centipede to killer bees and Australia’s nasty Funnel-Web Spider (the most dangerous creature on the planet). If you get the willies watching shows about creepy-crawlers, I’d opt against watching this one. However, if you love indulging in some of the world’s nastiest, yet oddly beautiful creatures, this documentary should suit your fancy.
The Blu-ray has been mastered in 1080i AVC video on a single-layer BD. This is probably the least impressive of the three documentaries arriving from Discovery and Animal Planet. It looks like a video, complete with digital frame skips, distortions and motion blur. It works best when the cinematography shifts from covering Kleinpaste to covering his deadly subjects. A Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0 track are provided. The 5.1 is fuller, but there really isn’t much of a difference between the two.
Max Fleischer’s Superman: Classic Shorts (on DVD only)
Click on the image above to see a full-res DVD screengrab!
In truth, Max and Dave Fleischer were geniuses. Their cartoon shorts are among some of the most visually stirring epics ever placed on celluloid. They’re loaded with dazzling dreamscape imagery and equally dreamy rules, physics and logic. All environments are fair game for free movement and change. Nothing is ever what it seems. Their collaborative creativity outlasts and outwits even the most creative of minds today. Filmmakers like Tim Burton and Guillermo del Toro would be nowhere if it weren’t for the minds of the Fleischer’s and their crack-shot team of animators and writers.
It’s no wonder Fleischer Studios was chosen to create the original Superman cartoon serials. The Man of Steel was not bound by rules of logic, and his days of saving damsels in distress, mostly intrepid reporter Lois Lane, was just at it’s beginning. But paper was limited. You couldn’t see Superman fly around. You couldn’t hear the crash of a locomotive as it smashed into the Man of Steel. You couldn’t fully experience what Superman was capable of.
With animation, however, the sky was the limit. Superman could do just about anything. He could fight off monsters, tilt falling builds, realign bridges and thwart lasers with his bare hands -- it didn’t matter. And there’s been almost nothing quite like Fleischer’s original 17 shorts since. This is Superman fully realized.
The 17 shorts are presented in full frame. When last we saw these shorts, they were looking fairly drab and scratchy in the "Superman Ultimate Collector’s Edition" DVD set, barely stacking up against the vastly superior Looney Tunes restorations. Thankfully, it appears as though Warner has once again gone back to their vaults and restored these 17 classic animated shorts. Gone are the intrusive digital artifacts and compression grain found on the last release. Some of the dust specks and scratches also appear to have been polished and cleaned. Colors are bolder. Textures are sharper and details are much stronger than the last release.
The disc also sports a scratchy, but well-meaning mono mix and two featurettes that explore Superman and his mythos. I wish this two-disc set boasting more features -- perhaps a commentary or digital copy. But, until we get a Deluxe Ultimate Edition, or a Blu-ray release, this is probably as good as this series is going to get!
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