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June 4, 2009Join the HD Revolution: The First Ten Blu-Rays You Should BuyPosted by Turk182 in Lists, FeaturesThe Blu-Ray revolution has been more of a slowly rising tide than a tidal wave of 1080P glory that we hoped it would be. With more and more alternative ways to watch films and TV shows, the Blu-Ray market hasn't taken off nearly as rapidly as previous technological advancements or as those of us already “upconverted” think it should. But once you do make that switch and jump into the Blu-Ray ocean, there will be no looking back. With incredible video and audio and revolutionary ways to present behind-the-scenes material, Blu-Ray is an amazing leap forward in entertainment technology.
But you probably already know that. This is far from the first site to preach the benefits of Blu-Ray, so we won't go there. Instead, we'll assume that you've become one of the converted yourself and now have a collection to build. Where do you start? What are the best Blu-Ray titles on the market? There are dozens of worthwhile film and TV releases, but what are the most essential Blu-Ray titles to date? Let us guide the way.
by Brian Tallerico
*****
10 Great Alternates: The Dark Knight, Iron Man, Lost (any season), The Matrix, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Pinocchio, Planet Earth: The Complete Series, T2: Judgment Day – Skynet Edition, WALL-E, and Zodiac: Director's Cut
(Note: These are the best “Blu-Rays,” not the best films. I’m not arguing that these are the ten best movies on Blu-Ray release, but judging the entirety of the release, including video/audio and special features.)
*****
10. Transformers
There are two things that visually shine above all else when it comes to 1080P – visual effects and animation. Naturally, CGI creations (and Megan Fox) look better in HD and Transformers includes one of the best transfers yet produced on the next-gen format. The 1080P video clarity is absolutely flawless. When the format war ended and the army that DreamWorks backed (HD-DVD) failed, the studio didn't just do a straight-up import. They went to the original 1080P master from the HD-DVD version and optimized the compression for Blu-Ray. I didn't have an HD-DVD player, but reports are that this version actually looks better. They also included a Dolby TrueHD audio track for the first time. It's ear-shattering and eye-popping. Just as Michael Bay intended. Special features include "Heads Up Display," which allows for scene-specific featurettes to play picture-in-picture, a commentary by Bay, and BD-Live functionality.
The director's cut of Dark City makes subtle-but-significant changes to Alex Proyas's excellent sci-fi flick, enough that I honestly think that this edition deserves to stand next to a title like Blade Runner in the "never watch the theatrical version again" department. This edition includes the theatrical and director's cut. The new version restores the more mysterious original opening, fine tunes some special effects, returns Jennifer Connelly's un-dubbed vocals, and adds minor details that make for major changes. "Director's Cut Fact Track" points out the differences. When it was released, the Blu-Ray edition of Dark City had the best video quality I had ever seen in HD. And the special features are truly remarkable. There's a feature-length documentary about the making of the film, a great piece called "Architecture of Dreams" and FIVE commentary tracks. Not enough? How about essays, interviews, and even a review of the film by Neil Gaiman? It's a must-own.
When the highest-selling title in the HD-DVD format made the jump across the battlefield of the just-ended format war, it came in a gorgeous gift set with some of the most expertly organized special features that I've ever seen. The Dark Knight is an undeniably better film overall, but when it comes to the Blu-Ray, Batman Begins actually gets the edge. The "In Movie Experience" allows dozens of special features to play in the location where they're relevant to the film picture-in-picture. For example, instead of bouncing back and forth between menu screens, featurettes, and the film itself, it all plays seamlessly and much more informatively. You wouldn't want to see a stand-alone featurette about the design of the opera sequence but watching it play picture-in-picture is the perfect way to enhance the final film. The gift set that was released just before The Dark Knight also included a 32 page booklet, 5 collectible postcards, movie money to see the new film, and even the first six minutes of TDK in Blu-Ray quality. It was the perfect Blu-Ray companion to one of the best films of 2008.
***** 7. Close Encounters of the Third Kind
I adore Close Encounters of the Third Kind. I've seen it multiple times and I think it's actually getting better as I get older. The 30th Anniversary Edition released on Blu-Ray in 2007 includes three versions of the film – the theatrical, special edition, and director's cut – that can be viewed and compared via branching and storyboard-to-scene comparison. The retrospective – "30 Years of Close Encounters" – is basically an interview with Spielberg where he discusses the film from inception to how it's survived over the years. The rest of the material had been available before but the great interview, availability of all three versions, and HD video and audio make this a must-own for Spielberg, sci-fi, or classic movie nuts. Yes, you probably own it already but movies this good are worth paying for again.
Here's another one that's probably a double dip for most of you but the standard edition of Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller's orgy of excess is one of the best DVDs out there, so the import should probably be recognized as well. The HD upgrade and addition of new special features certainly didn't HURT the total package. There's so much material in this two-disc set that you'll need to clear your schedule to get through all of it. The film itself looks better than ever in 1080P and the sound mix is absolutely perfect in 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio. The line definition on display is remarkable and, yes, I went back and compared it to the original version upconverted on the same Blu-Ray player. The actual Blu-Ray version is worth the upgrade. Sin City can be watched an amazing FIVE ways on just the first disc – theatrical, with commentary by Rodriguez & Tarantino that justifies the purchase price alone; with commentary by Miller & Rodriguez; with an audio recording of the first Austin audience to see the film; or using "Cine-Explore," which split-screens the film to show it to you at several stages including green screen and eve panels from the comic that inspired it. It's a stunning feature. And I haven't even mentioned the second disc with a new interactive comic book, hours of special features and a re-edited version of the film with 23 minutes not included in other versions. Oh, and you can watch each story individually and chronologically. Whew. I'm tired just thinking about. It's arguably the most exhaustive and complete Blu-Ray release to date.
***** 5. The Bourne Trilogy
For audio-philes, look no further than Universal's amazing box set for The Bourne Trilogy. With some of the best audio mixes yet produced on Blu-Ray, this is a stunning box set. The hours of special features, all presented through the best featurette-delivery system on the market, Universal's U-Control, doesn't hurt either. The three-disc set includes deleted scenes, interviews, behind-the-scenes featurettes, and exclusive interactive content. Viewers can access dossiers, download even more bonus content through BD-Live, share scenes with friends, and even play an exclusive strategy game. And hours of behind-the-scenes information is available while you watch the movie. The special features are overwhelming, but it's the video and audio transfers of the Bourne movies that are the real draw. They're flawless in every way.
The Blu-Ray release of 2007 was the ultimate edition of Blade Runner, a complete version of one of the most influential films of all time with an award-caliber documentary about the history of this beloved classic. The theatrical quality "Dangerous Days: Making of Blade Runner" may be the best DVD extra of all time. With new interviews, archival material, outtakes, more deleted scenes, and tons of production information, it's something even casual fans of Blade Runner could watch from front to back and never get bored – all 210 minutes of it. And the set includes four versions of the film including Scott's enhanced 2007 cut all presented in 1080P with a 5.1 audio track. Many, many cinephiles started their DVD collection with Blade Runner. Many should start their Blu-Ray collection with it as well.
***** 3. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button: Criterion Collection
If "Dangerous Days" is the best Blu-Ray special feature to date, the documentary "The Curious Birth of Benjamin Button" is a very close second. Running 175 minutes, the documentary chronicles the entire process but not in a cold, EPK way, but through the words of the people who made the movie. It's an oral history of a complex film from early drafts through post-production. If you've ever been interested in how a major movie like Button gets made, it's a must-see. But "Curious Birth" alone wouldn't make a Blu-Ray release the third most essential on the market. No, the reason Fincher's release swims with classics like Blade Runner, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and The Godfather is this simple – it’s the best 1080P picture released to date. It's jaw-droppingly perfect and the kind of video transfer that should be used to sell HD TVs at electronics stores around the world. Sales would immediately rise.
***** 2. Sleeping Beauty
Disney's first animated classic on Blu-Ray was a game-changer. It became the new standard for animation on the home market. Taking the 50th anniversary of one of their most beloved and influential films, Disney exploded the true potential of the format. Perfect picture and flawless audio had been done but Sleeping Beauty reconceived Blu-Ray as a completely immersive experience. The film was re-presented in a never-before-seen-expanded version that allowed for more animation to be seen. Imagine a full-frame picture that had been mildly cropped and now you're finally seeing what's on the side. And the video doesn't produce even the slightest hint of fade or loss of line detail. It looks like it could have been made last year. But the true game-changer with Sleeping Beauty is the recognition of the majesty of the film in the wonderful special features including a new commentary track by Pixar's John Lasseter, critic Leonard Maltin, and supervising animator at Disney, Andreas Deja. A book's worth of supplemental material including production photos, concept art, and old stills that can all be viewed picture-in-picture. The inclusion of the super-cool "Grand Canyon," a short film that played before Beauty in theaters, is something that will fascinate film historians. And then there's Disney's BD-Live which allows for friends to communicate, send video messages, and even share their favorite scenes. It's not just a Blu-Ray release. It's practically a theme park in HD.
***** 1. The Godfather Collection
When asked to show off the potential of Blu-Ray, I usually reach for The Godfather Collection. Three films with literally hours of special features in a nice, space-saving set. And it doesn't hurt that two of the films happen to be among the best ever made. Here's the highest praise I can pay The Godfather Collection or any other home release – I had seen The Godfather a dozen or so times and it felt completely new on Blu-Ray. Paramount took a masterpiece and made it feel new again with pristine but not overdone (some 1970s movies can be overly polished and look too plastic) video and audio. And the special features opened one of my personally beloved films in a completely new way. Isn't that what Blu-Ray should do? Take something you love and not just present it again or fill it with bonus features that are merely filler but enhance the experience you already adore. All of the Blu-Ray releases on this list do that and it's really just the tip of the HD iceberg. Stick with MovieRetriever.com as the Blu-Ray revolution continues. We'll guide the way.
*****
What do you think? Did we forget to include your favorite Blu-Ray disc? Are you shocked that there’s nothing by Pauly Shore on the list?
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Posted by Turk182 in Lists, Features - June 4, 2009 at 1:06 PM
johnclick2325 at Jul 21 2010 02:09:00I like Transformers film because this film begins with the reason for the alien robots' existence.http://www.flashpapers.com
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