The Slammin’ Salmon Blu-ray Review
Unless you are a Broken Lizard fan, “The Slammin’ Salmon” is not worth your time. Continue reading
Fantastic Mr. Fox Blu-Ray
It’s been a while since anyone has made a stop motion animated picture from start to finish (other than Wallace and Gomit) so this release is refreshing to watch. Those of you who grew up with computer animated features will probably “not get” this film, as the method for moving the characters is not consistent (fur moves, jerky movements) but that is also part of the joy of this movie, as it allows a lot to be on the screen with vivid colors and textures, brought out further by the blu-ray disc’s high resolution. If you can get past the fact that this was done the “old fashioned way”, you will learn to appreciate the painstaking approach to this kind of animation and will find a great story for adults and kids.
George Clooney and Meryl Streep lend their voices to the main characters which involves a fox and his family life as he plots for one, last big heist against the farmers before settling down for good. Things don’t go as planned and the animals find themselves in a major conflict with humans. The satirical nature of the script will have adults laughing as hard as the kids but for different reasons. I think adults may like this film even better than kids. Wes Anderson directs this film of a Roald Dahl story. If you’ve seen or read any of Dahl’s works you can understand why this film has a lot of hidden meanings. Add to this Wes Anderson’s quirky nature that he has in a lot of his films(Rushmore and The Royal Tenenbaums) and you have a great combination.
The disc set features a digital copy, a dvd and blu-ray discs, with additional features, such as a “making of special”, a look at the puppet makers, and a feature on characters created by Roald Dahl, making this an excellent value. Please grab this disc set and prepare yourself for a great evening of entertainment.
Sherlock Holmes Blu-Ray
Ah, leave it to Hollywood to reinvent one of the most celebrated detectives in fiction, casting two of the most dynamic leading men for the roles, and have a major hit from it, which leads right into a sequel. Robert Downey Jr., already red hot with his “Ironman” franchise, plays Holmes as an eccentric social misfit who is brilliant in flashes but is inept in some everyday situations, as shown when he meets Watson’s fiancee(Kelly Reilly). Watson, played by Jude Law, helps to even out his chum, with unending patience and also with muscle, at times. This Holmes is as much the mental giant as portrayed by Basil Rathbone but with added action hero characteristics. Add to the mix a past love (Rachel McAdams) who works for a shady “professor” for romantic intrigue and some additional humor. Guy Ritchie directs the film with a lot of fast paced action throughout.
This Holmes is as fit as any action hero, and the film has many elements of an adventure/action thriller with elements of the supernatural thrown in. The villain is less than memorable, a British Lord who has risen from the dead to create chaos for the English government. Of course, Holmes, manages to explain everything logically in the end.
The blu-ray disc contains a typical amount of extras including a feature on the making of the film and by watching this you will see just how much CGI is relied on to make today’s films. The CGI is very good at displaying late 19th century London.
If you like action/adventure, quick witted dialog and eccentric Robert Downey Jr. characters, this film will not disappoint.
Blood Ties- The Complete Series Blu-ray Review
“Blood Ties” is as dead as a vampire. Continue reading
The Lord Of The Rings Blu-ray Review
“The Lord Of The Rings” is a flawed, but unique take on Tolkien’s classic tale. Continue reading
Ouran High School Host Club- The Complete Series DVD Review
“Ouran High School Host Club” delivers plenty of laughs. Continue reading
RiffTrax Live- Christmas Shorts-Stravaganza DVD Review
The RiffTrax gang spread holiday cheer early in the year with the “Christmas Shorts-Stravaganza” DVD release. Continue reading
Shaolin Hand Lock and The 14 Amazons DVD Reviews
“Shaolin Hand Lock” is a fun martial arts flick.
Despite some impressive battle scenes, “The 14 Amazons” isn’t very captivating. Continue reading
Lord Of The RIngs (Theatrical Version) Blu-Ray
Okay, I bought the first dvd set of these three films when they came out, and then waitied with most of the public for the extended versions to come out a year later. Now New Line is doing the same number on the public as before, releasing the theatrical versions of the films in one case, along with dvd extras on dvds (not blu-ray) and making us wait even longer for the films extended versions on blu-ray. It really sucks that New Line is doing this to fans of the films, who have been devoted and patient for their release on high definition.
This edition really shows that not much effort was put into its release; the films themselves look great but they are bare bone discs with no extras other than BD-Live. Even the menus are plain and ordinary, without even any animation. The package itself is also very plain, without an insert or any additional information.
These films, even if they are only the theatrical versions, deserve better than this package. I’m sure New Line will have the Extended Versions done in time for the holidays, bilking the public to buy the trilogy again, the way it should have been released in the first place. Rent this edition to enjoy the films; do not buy unless money is no object in your life.
Toy Story and Toy Story 2 Blu-Ray
These computer generated animations were real pioneers in the art form-“Toy Story” being the first full length CGI film and spawned an entire new industry in Hollywood with its success. The films have become classics of the genre, with “Toy Story 2” being just as successful as the original. Now the animation seems a bit dated , with the humans far from realistic and the lacking of some details that are part of the genre today with computer advancements.
Part of their success was the writing of the stories and the talented voice cast of Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, and other famous celebrities in the toy roles. Joan Cusack makes Jesse the Cowgirl a terrific new character in TS2. John Lasseter, than at Pixar, contributed to the high quality of the production in a number of ways, earning a special Oscar for his work.
These Blu-Ray discs (sold separately) come with a DVD copy but curiously do not come with a digital copy, as in other Disney Blu-Ray releases. Extras include features on the development of each story, interviews with cast members, Buzz Lightyear Mission Logs, and each release also contains a sneak preview of the upcoming Toy Story 3.
If you are a fan of Pixar, celebrate the release of these classics on Blu-Ray.
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