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Toshiba Will Launch Their Glasses-Free 4K 3D TV in Japan on Saturday
Thu Dec 08, 2011 at 10:00 AM ETTags: glasses-free 3D, Toshiba, 3D TVs, 3D, Industry Trends, High-Def Retailing (all tags)
It's priced at 900,000 yen, or around $11,500. No U.S. release date yet.
Glasses-free 3D TV is hitting the market this Saturday in the form of Toshiba's 55X3. It's the first launch for this kind of technology on a TV sized screen and will certainly have a significant effect on the future of 3D.
The 55X3 is an autostereoscopic set, which means you won't have to deal with 3D glasses while you're watching. It also means that the resolution of the movie or show you're watching will scale down significantly. Toshiba packed their set with a 4K display to combat this. You won't get a 1080p 3D picture, but at 720p you'll still be getting HD.
Toshiba's new glasses-free set uses face tracking like that included in laptops and monitors to ensure that you get the best 3D effect it can give you.
The set is launching in Japan at 900,000 yen, or $11,500. There's no word on a launch in the U.S. at this time.
Source: Engadget
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High-Def Digest Holiday Gift Guide 2011: Our DEFINITIVE List for the Entire Family
Wed Nov 23, 2011 at 01:40 PM ETTags: HDD Holiday Gift Guide, Holiday Gift Guide 2011, High-Def Retailing, Aaron Peck, Fun Stuff, 3D (all tags)
by Aaron Peck
Here it comes! Black Friday. The day when rational, sensible people turn into groups of deranged lunatics frothing at the mouths. Trampling each other to get to the ten doorbuster deals that the store has out. Climbing over each other, trying to reach for that last copy of 'Lord of the Rings' at an insanely low price. It's mayhem out there.
I went shopping at the stroke of midnight on Black Friday last year to hopefully pick up a few cheap Blu-rays. Let me say right now that it wasn't worth it, not at all.
The scene played out like this: groups of deal-hungry consumers surged toward the cheaply priced movies like fire ants descending on a dropped fedora. People shoved, pulled, and pushed their way through the crowds hoping to grab $4.99 copies of 'The Scorpion King.' There were a few moments where I honestly feared real bodily injury. What a mess!
Why go through the pain and trouble of waking up at midnight and braving the madcap crowds, when you can do all your shopping from the comfort of your own home?
In an effort to make your holiday purchasing even more enjoyable please take a gander at our massive-oh-my-heavens-it's-so-big-holiday-gift-guide for all the movie lovers in your family. We hereby present our mega-mondo "DEFINITIVE List for the Entire Family."
Family-Friendly
Get some movies that your whole family will enjoy watching together. Movies that are timeless in nature, but appeal to each new generation as they grow up, and older generations who remember them fondly. Disney animated titles are perfect for this, but Disney isn't the only studio releasing fun family-friendly fare that can be enjoyed by everyone in the household.
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There have been a lot of family-friendly releases this year, but these are two of my favorites. 'Hook' is a family classic. Some people love it, some people really dislike it, and that's fine, but as far as movies for the whole family go, it's one of the best.
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'Rango' may be a tad too scary for younger viewers, but I watched my 2 year-old nephew light up when he watched it, so I could be wrong. 'Rango' isn't just one of the best animated movies to come out this year, it's one of the best movies period. You really can't go wrong with 'Rango.' Plus, the video presentation of the lush animation is stunningly brilliant. Some of the best CGI animation ever put on screen.
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Other releases you may want to check out are any of the Disney releases that found their way to stores this year. How could you go wrong with 'The Lion King,' 'Fox and the Hound,' 'Dumbo,' and 'Beauty and the Beast'? Not to mention the brand new 'Winnie the Pooh' film that came out this year which now sits atop my list of favorite animated films.
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'Star Wars' is always a great way to go too. Yes, there's quite a bit of violence, but it's much tamer than many of today's action movies. 'Star Wars' is a great way for fathers to bond with their young sons and in case the kids are looking for something extra kid-tastic they should definitely check out the surprisingly good 'LEGO Star Wars: The Padawan Menace,' a Wal-Mart exclusive.
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That's definitely not all of the family fun fare out there. Other movies your family can enjoy together include 'Rio,' 'Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules,' and the brand new 'Looney Tunes Platinum Collection: Volume 1.'
Just for the Kids
Sometimes parents need an electronic babysitter. That's just fine. Here you'll find movies that parents may get bored watching, but kids will happily replay again and again, so parents can do more important things like drink wassail and worry about how big a bite Christmas will take out of their wallets this year.
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These are all movies that came out this year on home video that may be too kiddie for parents to get involved in, but may provide that much needed 90 minutes of rest. 'Cars 2,' 'Gnomeo & Juliet,' 'Mars Needs Moms,' 'Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil,' 'Spy Kids Collection,' and 'The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl' are all choice that parents have. No, they aren't the best movies, but when you're dealing with kid-only movies, they rarely are. The good ones usually take a step up to the family-friendly department. These movies are designed to keep kids' attention with bright colors and middling stories. Get a couple and thank them for a few hours of peace and quiet from your rambunctious youngsters.
Film Lover
The film lover is a tough one to please. They're always on the lookout for lesser-known but great titles. They're not satisfied with the same old action movies from Hollywood. Their cinematic taste buds are much more refined. If a movie hasn't been to numerous film festivals then it isn't worthy.
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I saw 'Another Earth' and 'Win Win' at Sundance 2010 and loved them both. They've made the rounds on the film festival circuit and have now found their way to home video. These are movies that the staunch art house film lovers will no doubt enjoy.
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Other movies came out this year like 'Submarine,' 'Another Year,' 'Bellflower,' and 'Tree of Life,' which provide odd and inventive ways of storytelling. These aren't movies that the casual movie goer is going to love, but they're made for a different audience. A more discernible, thinking audience.
Also check out some oldies but goodies like 'Gone With the Wind,' 'Chocolat,' and all five seasons of the original 'Twilight Zone.'
3D Enthusiast
This year 3D home video has really taken off. Disney and the other studios have released dozens of titles for the 3D consumer. Many of the releases this year got top marks from our eagle-eyed reviewers. Take note of these and remember them when you're trying to buy for the 3D fanatic on your list.
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Brand new Disney 3D releases include: 'Bolt,' 'Chicken Little,' 'Meet the Robinsons,' 'The Nightmare Before Christmas,' 'Toy Story: 1, 2,& 3,' 'Tron: Legacy,' 'Cars 2' 'Beauty and the Beast,' 'The Lion King' and 'Tangled.' You're not really complaining about that release slate if you're a 3D TV owner. Right there is a top-notch bunch of movies that look stunning in 3D according to our resident reviewers.
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It isn't just Disney getting into the action either. Almost all of the huge summer blockbusters have come to Blu-ray with 3D releases. You can pick up 'The Green Lantern,' or 'Captain America: The First Avenger' for your 3D home entertainment system.
The best 3D I saw for a live-action movie this year in the theaters was 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2.' Good thing you can also get 'Part 1' in 3D. These two form a great one-two punch when it comes to a detailed, interactive 3D experience.
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Don't forget to check out the other 3D releases we've seen this year like 'Sea Rex: Journey to a Prehistoric World,' 'Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides ,' 'Megamind,' 'How to Train Your Dragon,' 'Monsters vs. Aliens,' and 'Thor.'
Action Junkie
Wham-bam! Shoot'em up, beat'em up. That's all this group of movie goer cares about. Plenty of action-packed movies were released in 201, so many, that you shouldn't be at a loss when your action-fueled father asks you to get him a good action movie for Christmas.
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You could argue that 'Super 8' really isn't an action movie. Although the train wreck scene alone was more action-packed than many action movies saw this year. Plus it makes for excellent demo material at home.
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Another surprise was a movie that easily squeezed into my top ten: 'Hanna.' The action is infrequent, but when it happens it's ferocious, and expertly choreographed. A great Blu-ray to bring home if you're a fan of deliberate, well-crafted action.
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Don't forget the big dumb fun of 'Fast Five' though. Who could forget the demo audio mix on that sucker as they dragged that giant vault through the streets of Rio?
We also finally got 'Jurassic Park' on Blu-ray, which was a long time coming. Now it's here and it's never sounded better. Turn the bass up loud on this one.
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Other action movies to keep an eye out for this holiday season include 'X-Men: First Class,' 'Sucker Punch,' 'The Green Hornet,' 'The Mechanic,' 'Drive Angry,' 'Battle: Los Angeles,' 'Rise of the Planet of the Apes,' and 'Conan the Barbarian.'
Any of these titles will have your sound system rocking and your sub-woofer pumping out the low-end rumblings that tend to shake pictures off of walls and get neighbors mad.
Have A Laugh
Comedies will always be a big reason why we all collectively love the movies. Great comedies, the ones that make us laugh during every scene, are fairly plentiful. There are a lot of terrible comedies out there, but with the list below you can't go wrong.
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My two favorite comedies this year couldn't be more opposite of each other. That's okay though since they're both hilarious. Coincidentally, they also happen to be two movies I saw at Sundance. 'Tucker and Dale vs. Evil' is a movie everyone should watch. Why it got such a terrible, lackluster release is a mystery. If marketed right this movie could've had the same comedic influence as 'Shaun of the Dead.'
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The other Sundance alum that you should look for on Blu-ray is 'Our Idiot Brother' starring Paul Rudd as the world's most optimistic and trusting man.
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There's some great comedic television on Blu-ray too. Fox is releasing another 'Simpsons' season, this time it's the 14th season. (Very) slowly, but surely we're starting to fill out our 'Simpsons' seasons on Blu-ray. 'Futurama: Volume 6' along with 'Archer: The Complete Season Two' will create a great line of comedic animated television for you to watch at your leisure.
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For football fans, don't forget to check out 'The League: The Complete Season Two.' Season one was okay, but season two really brought the show to new heights. Also, make sure you check out Showtime's 'Shameless' coming to Blu-ray in December. Funny and touching (and a whole lotta naked Emmy Rossum).
We saw a lot of raunchy R-rated comedies get released in 2011. So if the adults of the family are really jonesing for something funny to watch you should check out 'Horrible Bosses,' 'The Hangover: Part II,' 'Crazy Stupid Love,' 'Hall Pass,' 'Your Highness,' 'Bridesmaids,' 'Bad Teacher,' and 'Friends with Benefits.' For those of you that still love 80s screwball comedies 'Airplane!' and 'The Cannonball Run' are now both in high definition.
Documentaries
They seem to always get put on the back burner, but 2011 also saw some great documentaries come to home video. Make sure you pick these up if you're interested in finding out more about the world around you, whether that means an intimate discussion on the newspaper business, or an amazing look at how life flourishes on earth over the course of one day.
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I'm really contemplating putting 'Life in a Day' atop my list of best movies of 2011. Why? It's truly one of the most moving films I've ever seen. A simple subject, filming life all around the world in one day. Thousands of people took up the challenge and filmed their lives July 24, 2010. At Sundance, in 2011, we saw the finished product which was produced by Ridley Scott and directed by Kevin MacDonald. It's a beautiful, heart-wrenching study of how we as humans survive day to day. How we're all deeply connected without even knowing it. You owe it to yourself to see it.
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Other great documentaries to keep your eye out for are 'Page One: Inside the New York Times' for all those who would love to know how the world's most popular newspaper is run; Ken Burns' 'Prohibition;' Morgan Spurlock's look at product placement in movies and television with 'The Greatest Movie Ever Sold;' Music fans will love 'Beats, Rhymes, & Life: The Travels of a Tribe Called Quest;' and comedy fans will thoroughly enjoy 'Conan O'Brien Can't Stop.'
Collector's Editions
Ah, the special collectors' editions. Huge boxes, trinkets, special director's cuts, they have it all. This year was full of specially packaged editions that will enthrall Blu-ray collectors the world over.
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Every year we get new sets that we must display for everyone to see. Finally getting 'Citizen Kane' on Blu-ray was great, getting it in the packed 70th Anniversary release was fantastic.
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Collectors who love the look of these giant boxes displayed proudly atop their collections will want to get their hands on some of these. 'Ben-Hur: 50th Anniversary Ultimate Collector's Edition,' 'Gettysburg / Gods and Generals: Limited Collector's Edition,' 'Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory: 40th Anniversary Ultimate Collector's Edition,' 'Harry Potter: 5 & 6 Ultimate Editions,' 'It's a Wonderful Life: Collector's Edition Gift Set ,' and 'Band of Brothers / The Pacific: Special Edition Gift Set.'
The Christmas Spirit
No holiday shopping list is complete without pointing out the ever increasing plethora of holiday-themed movies that are widely available. Largely a list of perennial classics, Christmas movies will always hold a special place in our heart. They're the movies, no matter how old, that we revisit again and again. Year after year.
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There's nothing better for me than sitting down and watching 'A Christmas Story' at least five times before December 25th. It's just something I love to do, and if you still don't own this movie on Blu-ray there's just no excuse.
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One of the best catalog releases of the year came when we got Bill Murray's 'Scrooged' on Blu-ray. A Christmas movie for adults, but one of the funniest Christmas movies ever made.
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Other fun holiday traditions of mine include watching the 'Peanuts Holiday Collection,' 'Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas,' ''Twas the Night Before Christmas,' 'Frosty the Snowman,' 'National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation,' and 'Home Alone: 1 & 2.'
If for any reason you haven't found the gifts you're looking for here, please check out our 2011 Gift Guides for:
The Top 10 Classic Titles on Blu-ray
and
The Essential Holiday Blu-rays
We here at High-Def Digest would like to wish our readers a happy holiday season, and implore you to not get trampled during a Black Friday sale. If we can prevent even one holiday-related shopping injury, then we've done our job.
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High-Def Digest Holiday Gift Guide 2011: The Essential Holiday Blu-rays
Wed Nov 23, 2011 at 01:39 PM ETTags: HDD Holiday Gift Guide, Holiday Gift Guide 2011, High-Def Retailing, David Krauss, Fun Stuff (all tags)
"Just like every year, I'm Dreaming of a Blu Christmas yet again." by David Krauss
Though it seems like I just took the Christmas tree down last Tuesday, here we are again in late November, just a month or so before Santa will be making his annual globe-spanning trip. So while the white-bearded elf readies his reindeer and packs on a few extra pounds, it's time for movie-lovers everywhere to get into the seasonal spirit with some high-def Christmas classics (and not-so-classics) on Blu-ray. Whatever your taste, be it romantic or irreverent, there's a disc that will infuse you with that warm, fuzzy holiday feeling, and for the third year in a row, High-Def Digest will outline what's new, what's essential, and what to avoid when it comes to yuletide viewing. So mull that cider (or wine), cuddle up under your favorite Christmas blanket, and add some serious blu to the reds and greens that color your holiday!
New Releases: A number of notable films make their Blu-ray bow this year, with the 1970 musical 'Scrooge' leading the list. Starring the versatile and always impressive Albert Finney (who was just 34 years old when he tackled Dickens' iconic, miserly curmudgeon), this spritely film remains surprisingly faithful to the original novel, contains a host of memorable songs by Leslie Bricusse, and features a gallery of top British actors (Alec Guinness, Edith Evans, and Kenneth More among them) in key roles. The high quality video and audio transfers make this "spirited" film come alive even more, filling us with plenty of Christmas cheer. Of course, if you like your annual helping of 'A Christmas Carol' a little more on the comedic side, you'll be happy to know that Richard Donner's 'Scrooged,' featuring Bill Murray as the Ebenezer-esque Frank Cross, also makes its Blu-ray debut this fall. With an updated take on the classic yarn that strikes a more relatable chord, and fine supporting work from such stalwarts as John Forsythe, Robert Mitchum, Karen Allen, and Alfre Woodard, this light-hearted comedy merges laughs with wonderful warmth and a bit of edgy bite, and will ultimately charm even the crustiest Christmas killjoy. Upgraded video and audio make this one a keeper, too.
And speaking of keepers… Though only about a third of Vincente Minnelli's classic Americana musical, 'Meet Me in St. Louis,' takes place at Christmas, this year-in-the-life of a typical family circa 1904 remains one of the most beloved and endearing holiday movies of all time. (It covers Halloween, too!) First and foremost, it contains one of Judy Garland's finest performances, as well as a number of instantly recognizable tunes, including 'The Trolley Song,' 'The Boy Next Door,' and of course, 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,' which was written expressly for this film and performed with exceptional beauty and grace by Garland. This sumptuously colorful, impeccably produced motion picture won't be released on Blu-ray until December 13, so be sure to mark your calendar and pick up this new digibook edition this season.
And for fans of animated fare in general and Disney in particular, 'Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas' also hits store shelves this November. This direct-to-video companion to the acclaimed original takes place while Belle is still a prisoner in the Beast's castle, and finds the lovely heroine on a mission to celebrate Christmas with festive cheer, much to the chagrin of her hairy and humbug captor. Though a far cry from its parent film, both artistically and thematically, 'The Enchanted Christmas' may not be 100 percent enchanting, but it provides enough tuneful warmth to satisfy audiences of all ages. Another animated film debuting in high-def this season is 1974's ''Twas the Night Before Christmas,' one of the lesser titles in the Rankin/Bass holiday catalogue, which was inspired by Clement Moore's immortal poem and deals with the timeworn premise of doubting Santa's existence. Joel Grey, Tammy Grimes, and George Gobel are among the stars who lend their voices to this charming tale.
Romance lovers and those who like their Christmas movies filled with inspiring messages might want to check out some of the following titles, although, to be honest, we've had a hard time tracking them down after their initial announcements, so if you can find them, please give us the scoop on where they can be picked up. The first of these films is 'The Christmas Shoes' and its sequel, 'The Christmas Blessing,' two TV movies that emphasize the power of love, faith, and family in the face of disillusionment and despair. Rob Lowe and Kimberly Williams-Paisley star in the first film about a young boy determined to make his mother's final Christmas special, and Neil Patrick Harris plays the grown-up version of that boy in the sequel, grappling with issues from his past and strained familial relationships. 'The Most Wonderful Time of the Year' also falls into this category, with a more whimsical spin, as a harried single mother (Brooke Burns) and cynical son find the true meaning of the season, thanks to jovial Uncle Ralph (Henry Winkler) and the hunky stranger (Warren Christie) he brings home for the holidays.
Viewers with more offbeat taste may find these curios interesting, all of which are making their Blu-ray debut this season… 'Santa Claus' (we're looking for this one too!) is a 1959 Spanish language film from Mexico that checks in at #54 on IMDb's list of Bottom 100 Films (as rated by site users) and charts St. Nick's battle with the devil Pitch, who's determined to – you guessed it – ruin Christmas. Tyler Perry's indefatigable character Madea is also on a mission to save the holiday when family strife and secrets threaten to sabotage it in 'A Madea Christmas: The Play,' while a homosexual college student (Keith Jordan) crawls back into the closet to survive the holidays with his conservative parents (Derek Long and Kelly Keaton) until his boyfriend (Adamo Ruggiero) unexpectedly shows up in the warm-hearted comedy 'Make the Yuletide Gay.'
Double Dips: Three notable double dips are being hawked by various studios this Christmas – one is worthy of your money, one is a toss-up and depends on your frame of mind, and one should be avoided at all costs. The one that's worth an upgrade is VCI's 60th anniversary edition of the 1951 classic, 'A Christmas Carol,' starring arguably the cinema's finest Ebenezer Scrooge, Alastair Sim. This version is regarded by many as the most faithful adaptation of Charles Dickens' immortal tale, and Sim's portrayal – by turns sullen, dour, defiant, wounded, and joyously giddy – lends Scrooge more dimension than the role often receives. Though VCI initially put out 'A Christmas Carol' on Blu-ray a mere two years ago, this Diamond Edition substantially improves on that release with a slightly upgraded video transfer, lossless LPCM audio (the previous disc had a compressed track), and a slew of all-new supplements, including a fold-out, abridged reproduction of the film's American pressbook. (Note: The packaging and disc menu lists the audio as Dolby Digital 5.1, but it is indeed a lossless LPCM 5.1 track.) The second double dip, the cartoon favorite, 'Frosty the Snowman,' was released as a stand-alone title this fall (it was only previously available as part of a Rankin/Bass box set of animated classics [see below]). I don't know whether this edition boasts a new transfer or even includes the anemic sequel, 'Frosty Returns,' which appears on the disc in the box set (we never received a screener to review), but if you're a Frosty fanatic and don't care about 'Rudolph' or any of the other Rankin/Bass holiday specials, then you might want to pick up this release. On the other hand, for only a few bucks more at online retailers you can get the four-disc box set, so keep that in mind when shopping this season. The third double dip – that's right, the one to steer clear of – is, surprisingly enough, a "collector's" edition of the all-time classic yuletide tale, 'It's A Wonderful Life.' I know, I know…say it ain't so! Believe me, I'm as disappointed as you. I love this film; it's an undeniable treasure and worthy of all the praise and affection heaped upon it. But this new release is a travesty. The transfers (which are quite nice) and extras are exactly the same as the ones on the previously released edition, and the collector's extras – flimsy packaging, a chintzy commemorative Christmas ornament, and a generic booklet – are hardly worth the extra expense. Even if you've never purchased the movie before (and if you haven't, you need to!), go with the original Blu-ray, which takes up less shelf space and presents the emotionally affecting and inspirational (in the best sense of that word) story of George Bailey just as well as this unnecessary "upgrade."
All-Time Classics: We've already mentioned the 1951 version of 'A Christmas Carol' as well as 'It's A Wonderful Life,' both of which rank high on the list of all-time classics. (Other versions of 'A Christmas Carol' available on Blu-ray include Disney's 2009 blockbuster 3D interpretation starring chameleon Jim Carrey [available in both 3D and 2D versions] and an acclaimed 1984 television adaptation featuring the esteemed George C. Scott as the irascible Scrooge.) Not far behind them is the 1954 favorite, 'White Christmas,' a spritely Irving Berlin musical starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Vera-Ellen, and Rosemary Clooney. With high-spirited numbers galore, along with two renditions of the iconic title song, this breezy tale of romance and friendship ranks right up there with Hollywood's best holiday fare. And no discussion of classic Christmas tales would be complete without a nod to the original 'Miracle on 34th Street,' featuring an Oscar-winning performance from Edmund Gwenn as Kris Kringle. It's impossible not to believe in Santa Claus after watching this charming yet incisive comedy that gently reinforces the season's true meaning. Though the video quality isn't a huge upgrade from the DVD, it's good enough to stuff this little beauty in your holiday stocking. (The 1994 remake starring Richard Attenborough, Elizabeth Perkins, Dylan McDermott, and Mara Wilson, is also available on Blu-ray, but who would ever want to see that?)
Modern Classics: Sometimes age alone transforms a run-of-the-mill movie into a classic, and that seems to be the unfortunate fate that's befallen 1985's clunky, elephantine Kris Kringle biopic, 'Santa Claus: The Movie.' I remember loathing this bloated behemoth when it was first released, and I haven't mustered the courage to see it since. Fonder (or at least more realistic) Christmas memories are explored in the nostalgic 'A Christmas Story,' the darkly comic 1983 adaptation of humorist Jean Shepherd's fictional memoir. Who among us can't identify with nine-year-old Ralphie and his dogged pursuit of his dream toy? With both wide-eyed wonder and a mischievous twinkle, this fan favorite deliciously skewers the season. And if you can't identify with Ralphie, then surely you've fantasized at least fleetingly about making your parents and/or siblings disappear, like Kevin McCallister does in 'Home Alone.' C'mon, admit it. Cute-as-a-button Macaulay Culkin battles bungling house burglars Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern after his family leaves on a Parisian vacation without him, learning a lot about independence and the meaning of Christmas in the process. Deftly juggling uproarious slapstick with honest sentiment, this John Hughes production makes us laugh and cry and appreciate the simple pleasures that make this holiday special. And speaking of Christmas vacations – or should I say "stay-cations" - no yuletide celebration is as wacky or wacked out as the one Chevy Chase and family experience in 'National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.' Running a close second, though, would have to be Buddy the Elf's Big Apple odyssey in Jon Favreau's surprisingly sweet, festive, and hilarious Christmas comedy, 'Elf.' As the orphan child raised at the North Pole and now on a quest to find his real family, Will Ferrell captures the essence of wide-eyed innocence, while James Caan makes a fine foil as his crusty, Scrooge-like dad.
Romantic Comedies: Christmas is certainly one of the most romantic times of the year, and two films blanket us with that warm, fuzzy feeling only a good love story can provide. 'Love, Actually' takes a mosaic approach as it chronicles the exhilaration and heartache of several couples as they navigate love's treacherous minefield. The all-star cast includes Hugh Grant, Liam Neeson, Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, Bill Nighy, Colin Firth, and Keira Knightley, and though I'll never forgive Alan for what he does to Emma (and will never be able to listen to Joni Mitchell again without thinking about it), it's impossible not to embrace this well-crafted film. I also really like 'The Holiday' (sssshhh! Don't tell anyone!), Nancy Meyers' chick flick supreme about two lonely women (Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet) who trade houses at Christmas and find unexpected love with Jude Law and Jack Black. (I won't spoil who hooks up with whom.) It's a bit predictable and trite, but also strangely irresistible, especially if you've got the tree lit and a roaring fire in the fireplace. It's also one of the few movies in which I don't find Diaz to be annoying.
Animated Fare: When I was a kid, one of the few things that could help speed the interminable wait between Thanksgiving and Christmas was the steady stream of children's holiday specials that flooded the network airwaves, and as of this year, almost all my favorites are now available on Blu-ray! Leading the charge are such perennially delightful programs as 'A Charlie Brown Christmas' (let Linus tell your family "what Christmas is all about") and 'Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas,' as well as a must-have box set called 'The Original Christmas Classics.' And classics they are! 'Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer' (narrated by Burl Ives), 'Santa Claus Is Coming to Town' (narrated by Fred Astaire), and 'Frosty the Snowman' and 'Frosty Returns' are all included. Also high on the animated list is another top-notch entry, 'The Year Without a Santa Claus,' featuring the talents of Mickey Rooney and Shirley Booth as the beleaguered Mr. and Mrs. Claus. There's even a cartoon adaptation of Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol' starring the myopic Mr. Magoo – 'Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol.' For those who prefer more modern, innovative animated fare, check out Tim Burton's ghoulishly delightful 'The Nightmare Before Christmas' and Robert Zemeckis' magical 'The Polar Express,' which is available in both flat and 3D versions. Remember, it's never too early to get your kids addicted to high-def discs.
Turkeys: We all love turkey around the holidays, except when it comes to movies, and there are a couple of rancid offerings that will only serve to sour us on the season. Despite a strong cast that includes Oscar-winners Reese Witherspoon, Robert Duvall, Sissy Spacek, and Jon Voight, make sure you keep away from 'Four Christmases,' a tiresome slapstick comedy about a selfish couple (Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn) who visit a quartet of quirky, annoying, even frightening relatives when their balmy Christmas plans get canceled. Equally wretched is 'Deck the Halls,' a tiresome, completely unfunny chronicle of neighbors (Matthew Broderick and Danny DeVito) trying to outdo and ultimately sabotage the other's massive holiday light displays. Thankfully, 'Christmas with the Kranks' hasn't yet found a Blu-ray release, and if studio executives are smart, it never will.
Dozens of other holiday Blu-rays are available to brighten (or darken) this Christmas, from traditional Yule log presentations and concerts to irreverent black comedies ('Bad Santa') and, yes, even horror films ('Silent Night, Zombie Night'). But for those who desire a well-balanced, family-friendly selection that plays well from year to year, you can't go wrong with any of the above choices (well, maybe with the exception of 'Santa Claus: The Movie,' 'Four Christmases,' and 'Deck the Halls'). So plop a few marshmallows in your hot chocolate, grab a comfy blanket, light that fire, and let these movies infuse you with seasonal spirit. Happy Holidays!!
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High-Def Digest Holiday Gift Guide 2011: The Best Blu-rays of the Year
Wed Nov 23, 2011 at 01:38 PM ETTags: HDD Holiday Gift Guide, Holiday Gift Guide 2011, High-Def Retailing, Luke Hickman, Best of 2011 (all tags)
by Luke Hickman
Is it me or has this year flown by? For me, this was an exceptionally amazing year in high definition. First, I was brought on as a contributor to this fantastic site, then I finally upgraded my ancient entertainment system, making my home theater worthy of reviewing Blu-rays. I quit adding worthless DVDs to my collection over three years ago, but it wasn't until recently that I was able to fully enjoy everything I'd purchased since summer 2008 in all of its full 1080p glory with astonishing 7.1-channel audio. Now that I've gone full HD, I can never go back. I can't even watch DVDs anymore, they bother my eyes so much - and the same goes for the sound. Foolishly, I never knew that sound could make so much of a difference.
Revisiting older titles in my collection for the first time in true high-def has been amazing, but what really gets me excited is seeing how great the new titles look. The bar has been raised extremely high, causing collectors to demand the best possible quality from current releases as well as new catalog titles.
It's been an interesting year for Blu-ray. Especially in the last two months as we've seen a huge wave of 3D titles hit the shelves. As studios prepare the world for the DVD-free shift to Blu-ray, more new titles seem to include DVD versions of the films, even to the point that many titles are receiving a double dip with the only new addition being the DVD copy. Along with these combo packs, digital copies are almost unavoidable in new releases.
Keep in mind as you read through this list that I had to narrow the hundreds of candidates down to just ten (16 if you consider my format "cheating"). To avoid repetition, I've intentionally omitted titles that I've already expressed my love for in other recent posts ('Tangled,' 'Eternal Sunshine,' 'Source Code,' 'Hanna,' 'The Social Network,' ''Let Me In'). I can already hear the certain backlash for not including classics like 'Citizen Kane,' but these are my picks and I'm sticking with them.
Many more titles will hit the shelves over the next month a half, but the following are releases that have been reviewed that we can vouch for. 'Kung Fu Panda 2,' 'Rise of the Planet of the Apes,' 'Fright Night' and 'Midnight in Paris' are just a few of the late November/December releases that have yet to be reviewed. I present to you "The Best Blu-rays of the Year," a list of movies that you should be asking Santa for if you do not already own them.
'Super 8'
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J.J. Abrams, the filmmaker deemed "the new Steven Spielberg," teamed up with Spielberg to make this nostalgia-filled tribute to adventure films of the late '70s and early '80s. A group of kids whose banter resembles that of 'Stand By Me' and 'The Goonies' sneaks out late one night to film their zombie movie at the small town's empty old trainstation. As a speeding air force train passes, a local conspiracy theorist drives his truck onto the track and plays chicken. The resulting wreck is easily one of the loudest and most intense action sequences ever. The military soon takes over the town (a la 'E.T.') and the kids set off to rescue a friend taken by the monstrous secret that was let loose during the crash.
If you're a lover of Spielberg, Abrams, and the classic style of film they reincarnate with 'Super 8,' then you'll absolutely love every minute of this movie. Whisking you off to the long gone days of your youth is made possible through its use of a fun group of characters, a crew that will possess a familiar quality to those of you who grew up with it.
As we've come to expect from Abrams' film and series, 'Super 8' is shrouded in mystery, offering little clues here and there and only a few fleeting glimpses of the beast behind the mayhem. Abrams knows that less is more and creates an intense tone that never lets up. At the center of the film is a deeply emotional character story that's not only moving, but integral to story at hand. Much like 'Lost,' there's quite a bit going on, and it all serves a purpose.
The 'Super 8' Blu-ray is stuffed with fantastic special features, but could offer a little more insight into how they achieved the film's iconic train wreck. Even then, it's no disappointment.
'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows'
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You could take this recommendation a few different ways, as there have been several new 'Harry Potter' Blu-ray releases this year. Both parts one and two of 'The Deathly Hallows' made it to shelves, as well as a collection including including all eight films in one box set. The conclusion of the 'Harry Potter' series has been one for the books, rivaling the success of the 'Lord of the Rings' trilogy. Splitting the last book into two films initially seemed like a lame way for Warner Bros. to milk the 'Harry Potter' teat for all it was worth, but it proved to be the best way to wrap everything up. Sure, 'Part 1' feels like the set-up to a climax that's cut-off by closing credits and 'Part 2' feels like the climax to a movie you didn't just watch, but combined they make a perfect finale for one of the world's most popular book and movie series of all time.
'Part 1' begins by setting our central characters in the most grim setting. People - friends - are dying. Danger is finally 100 percent upon them, something most of the earlier films failed to convey. The darkness of 'Part 1' is bleak, offering no resolution and never letting up. Thankfully, now you can own 'Part 2' and watch them back-to-back, the way they're meant to be seen. When watched together, they fluidly form a single motion picture with a beginning, a middle, and an end, the ending of which is a spectacular climax that pits our hero against the ultimate evil.
David Yates directed the final few films in a way that only one other 'Potter' director was able to - he perfectly balanced the adolescent behavior with that of the magical teens and the ill-fated plot working against them. The heavy, dark moments were balanced by light, up-beat ones and the gravity of their dire situation became real.
With both 'Part 1' and 'Part 2' containing Warners' Maximum Movie Mode special feature, even the single-disc edition is worth owning. And as if that one lengthy feature wasn't enough, the two-disc set comes with more quality features than any 'Potter' fan could want.
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Love it or hate it, there's no denying that 'The Tree of Life' is a beautiful film. Sure, it's pretentious and the double-digit length of The Creation sequence is so over-endulgent that it's nauseating, but the tale is tells is so intimate and universal that every parent needs to experience it. 'The Tree of Life' completely falls apart in the final sequence, but you can't un-learn the lessons that come before it.
Terrance Malick has an unmatched eye for cinematography. The quality of his shots rival the best photographs ever taken. The way that they're compiled works harmoniously with the tone of the story being told. Many times, the pictures on screen tell the story stronger than the dialog, which is exactly why very little dialog is needed to carry this film.
Brad Pitt and Jessica Chastain will earn many awards nominations for their performances. Both have already made their acting chops known to the world, but it's in 'The Tree of Life' that they one-up any job prior and I'll go as far as to say that neither will ever give a stronger performance.
'Rango'
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All hail the best animated film of the year! Usually, Pixar dominates this category, but with the lame sauce that is 'Cars 2,' they don't even deserve the usual Best Animated Film nomination. 'Rango' stepped up, filling the vacant spot with an animated film made more for grown-ups than children.
'Rango' tells the story of a chameleon who is simply just trying to fit in. After a car accident ejects him from his comfortable aquarium life as a pet, Rango is forced into survival mode as he's stranded in the desert. All of the other desert critters that he comes in contact with are tough and tried, but despite being able to change colors, Rango just can't seem to fit in.
Through the course of the story, our animated reptilian hero has to find out just who he is and how he can save himself and his new friends while serving up justice to the antagonists. 'Rango' is a western, through and through. While kids (including my own) may find it boring and uninteresting, 'Rango' appeals to the long lost kid within the adults who take their kids to see it.
Finally, another studio brings to the big screen the same quality expected from Pixar's films - in both animation and content. Being filmed, animated, and voiced in a unique manner, 'Rango' features a few heart extras worthy of the film's Blu-ray.
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Disney's release of 'Tron: Legacy' is arguably one of the most demo-worthy titles of the year. The digital locations clearly and sharply transfer over to the small screen and the brilliant 7.1 audio track transports you to The Grid.
'Tron: Legacy' equally plays out just as much as a remake as it does a sequel. It initially establishes the world they live in, then our central character gets sucked into The Grid (the computer world) where he must participate in disc battles and light cycle games. After he escapes, he has to ride a ship down a beam of light to the transport home. The formula is the same, but the effects of 'Legacy' are top notch and super stylized.
One need not be a 'Tron' enthusiast in order to follow and enjoy 'Legacy' - but if you grew up watching the original, you'll enjoy 'Legacy' even more. They've slapped a couple million dollars more into the production budget and made an honest spectacle out of it. The original score by Daft Punk is amazing, above par for most contemporary films. The soundtrack is certain to be featured in movie trailers for years to come.
Not only is the main feature on 'Tron: Legacy' worth owning, it also comes with more than 45 minutes special features that will please all fans. Since I added 'Tron: Legacy' to my collection, it's become my number one demo disc. There's no reason why it won't be one of yours too.
'Memento: 10th Anniversary Edition'
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Christopher Nolan's breakthrough psychological thriller deserves the Blu-ray remastering it got this year. I don't know of many other directors who hit the ground running as well as Nolan did with 'Memento.' There are few things cooler and more reassuring than seeing the "director approved" sticker on a new Blu-ray transfer of a catalog title - and the 10th Anniversary Edition of 'Memento' dons it.
Guy Pierce stars in 'Memento' as Leonard, the husband of a murdered woman who hit his head in the altercation and now has no short term memory. About every five minutes, his mind resets and he cannot remember anything after the grizzly home invasion. Nolan's unique storytelling style is odd at first, but he makes it work better than anyone else could. Because of Leonard's condition, the movie plays out to the audience the exact same way it does for him - we only see things five (or so) minutes at a time. First, we see the last five minutes of the film, then the five minutes leading up to that, and so on, and so on. Between each chapter of memory, we see a few minutes of black & white footage that occurs in the beginning of this non-linear jumbled narrative. Trust me, it sounds more complicated than it is. Just go with it and you'll be sure to love it.
With a transfer far superior to the original Blu-ray release, the 10th Anniversary Edition is even more worthy of a double-dip considering the extras. A director's commentary is included, along with several interviews with Nolan, a fantastic 'Anatomy of a Scene' episode and the original short story 'Memento Mori' from Nolan's brother Jonathan. If you don't own it already, put this near the top of your Christmas list. If you've mistakenly purchased the original Blu-ray release, put it near the top anyway.
'Pulp Fiction' - 'Jackie Brown'
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For those Tarantino fanatics, like myself, who have been dying to own his cannon on Blu-ray, the final two (minus 'Four Rooms,' which he directed one segment of) to round out the set are here. And just like Nolan's 'Memento' reissue, they're "director approved."
I was 14 years old when 'Pulp Fiction' came out, meaning I shouldn't have been watching it. While my naive untrained mind wasn't able to pick up on all of the pulpy awesomeness from it, 'Pulp Fiction' still stood out as something unique. With age and education I learned just exactly what it was - it's a Quentin Tarantino flick! It's smart, gritty and - well - cool. Not a single character is safe, making it one unpredictable film. With a near-perfect video and audio transfer and a slew of special features, 'Pulp Fiction' is definitely wish list worthy.
'Jackie Brown' doesn't match the success of 'Pulp Fiction' in both film and Blu-ray quality, but it's still worth owning. Definitely my least favorite of Tarantino's flicks, 'Jackie Brown' is still a solid, well-made movie that's better than most of what's out there.
The titular character is a flight attendant who smuggles money into the country for an arms dealer. When she's busted by A.T.F., she must devise a plan that will distract all parties involved so that she can steal some of the cash and head off to paradise. The funny thing about 'Jackie Brown' is that it gets better with each viewing. It may be a title that you keep on the back burner, but once you throw it in again you'll be pleasantly surprised by home much better it keeps getting.
'Captain America' - 'Thor' - 'X-Men: First Class'
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Not only did this summer contain some of the very best comic book movies to date (excluding 'Green Lantern,' of course), but each of the big three received fantastic Blu-rays. Because the 'X-Men' property is still owned by Fox, not Marvel, they couldn't tie 'First Class' into S.H.I.E.L.D. nor the Avengers Initiative - like it's supposed to be. 'Thor' and 'Captain America,' on the other hand, are highly integrated, mixing themselves with 'Iron Man' and 'The Incredible Hulk' in preparation for next summer's 'The Avengers.'
'Thor' should have been the weakest movie leading up to 'The Avengers,' dealing with Nordic Gods and all, but it's actually one of the strongest. Via strong direction and an amazing screenplay, 'Thor' was made digestible for all audiences. We get to see the Nordic god of thunder kick ass on other worlds, get banished from his own and learn what it's like to live as a mortal human on Earth. Coming from Shakespearean expert Kenneth Branagh, 'Thor' is like the Shakespearean branch of the Marvel Universe. It's fun, funny, well-written, and contains plenty of the action expected from comic book movies these days.
'Captain America' takes superheros back to their roots in World War II. When a Nazi organization called Hydra splinters off and creates their own world-ending agenda, America mixes a genius doctor's formula for creating super soldiers with the technology of scientist Howard Stark (Iron Man Tony Stark's father). Only one super soldier was produced, but this one-man-army is more than enough to put a dent in Hydra's evil plans. Perhaps the most well-rounded of all the pre-'Avengers' Marvel movies, 'Captain America' not only contains all of the action you could possibly handle, but it has a great big heart and a timeless morals as well.
Far superior to the previous two 'X-Men' films, 'First Class' revived the dying franchise by focusing more in genuine characters than lame, pointless action. Its witty and smart script blends the 'X-Men' storyline with that of the historical events of the 1960s in Cuba. More than anything, the purpose of this prequel is to show how the superhero team came to be and how Magneto and Professor X became the men we know them as from previous films. As Erik/Magneto, Michael Fassbender delivers a phenomenal performance that grips you and makes you root for the guy that you know will soon be the "bad guy." Hats off to the cast, crew and director Matthew Vaughn for breathing life back into the X-Men.
'Jurassic Park' - 'Star Wars' - 'The Lord of the Rings: Extended Editions'
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There are certain sets that deserve to be in your collection, even if some of the titles are hit and miss. With the exception of the 'Lord of the Rings' trilogy, this sets contain a few not-so-great movies, but they're balanced by phenomenal and/or iconic titles that must be part of your collection.
'The Jurassic Park' series is definitely the least of the three, containing only one perfectly solid film - the first. The original 'Jurassic Park' was the first film to create fully CG animals - dinosaurs, to be specific - that interact with physical actors. Compared to the effects of today, it's average. But when the film was released in 1993, it was unprecedented. 'The Lost World' is a sore thumb on Spielberg's credits, but revisiting it now reveals a bunch of fun action sequences wrapped in ham and corn. But the worst of them all is the third, a mostly unwatchable lazy attempt at making even more money off the franchise. 'Jurassic Park III' is the final nail in a dinosaur-sized coffin.
For me, the 'Star Wars' saga bats .500. Two of the movies are fantastic, two are just okay and two are absolutely terrible. The original trilogy is an iconic classic. I'm not old enough to have seen them in theaters (if I did see them in theaters, I don't remember it), so I'm of the second generation era that grew up watching them on VHS and on television. Nonetheless, they are timeless films. The second trilogy, however, is mostly lame. The last film of the prequel trilogy is decent, mostly because it delves into the dark territory necessary to set up the original trilogy. The kids will love them despite being rubbish, so they're not the worst films you could have in your collection.
The biggest of these three is the 'Lord of the Rings' trilogy. Not a single of the three movies is bad. The theatrical Blu-ray trilogy had plenty of transfer flaws, but most have been corrected with the extended edition trilogy. If you're going to own this 17-time Academy Award winning series, it's the extended editions you want - not only for the better, elongated and expanded cuts, but for the much-improved Blu-ray quality also.
'The Walking Dead' - 'Breaking Bad'
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Even with a cloudy current season and an unknown future, the first season of the record-breaking 'The Walking Dead' series is a must-own for all zombie fans. Survival is the name of the game and true to form with Frank Darabont's last production, 'The Mist,' it's unclear who poses a bigger threat - the survivors with their back against the wall or the zombies themselves. The second season may end up failing miserably, but at least we'll always have season one.
'Breaking Bad' is an already hyped series, but it needs to be bigger. It's a classic anti-hero tale, telling the story of a good, honest man who has never been on top despite being a phenomenal chemist. Working as a high school chemistry teacher, he can hardly provide for his family. When he's diagnosed with stage three lung cancer, he falls off the deep end like Michael Douglas in 'Falling Down,' cooking and selling the most chemically sound meth with a drug-dealing former student. Imagine what it would be like if Tarantino wrote a series; that's what you get with 'Breaking Bad.' Season one and two were awesome, but three really delivers the goods.
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High-Def Digest Holiday Gift Guide 2011: HD Gear & Demo Material
Wed Nov 23, 2011 at 01:37 PM ETTags: HDD Holiday Gift Guide, Holiday Gift Guide 2011, High-Def Retailing, Michael S. Palmer (all tags)
We've researched and tested the top equipment available, watched all the latest Blu-rays on the market, and scoured the net for the very best deals, all to give you HDD's 2011 Gift Guide to HD Gear & Demo Material!
by Michael S. Palmer
Happy holidays, HDD Readers!
As it was last year (and two years ago), it's quickly becoming my favorite time of the year. In fact, my wife already made these awesome pumpkin deserts that weren't quite pie and not quite a muffin. Whatever they are, these sugary, waistband-busting delights fueled my search to bring you the heads up on some fun products worth wrapping up this year. I've tried to arrange everything within a three-tiered system of Bargain or Entry Level, Mid Range, and Flagship. In the case of speaker systems, the most expensive system I'm showing here is about $3,000, and in audiophile terms, that's still technically entry level so please excuse me there. I don't know many people in the market who spend $5,000 or more dollars on speakers. If you'd like to see automobile-priced speakers added to future reviews and list, please let me know in the forums.
DISPLAYS
The trend this year is rapidly dropping prices, Internet connectivity and, whether you care or not, 3D. Plasma is still the go-to flat panel display technology for a more accurate picture and colors, but LED LCD panels are incredibly bright (and super thin), so I've included one here. Keep in mind that the first two series mentions are terrific deals (for the huge sizes), but may have some image trade offs. The last two look amazing, but be prepared to pay for Quality.
Bargain 3D: Panasonic's ST30 Series.
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What's to Love: The 50-inch TC P50ST30 will set you back less than $900 and features an incredible 2D and 3D imagery. Have more money to spend? There are 55, 60, and 65-inch models as well, with the flagship in the series, the P65ST30 costing just over $2,000. Definitely a bargain for a picture that looks this good while playing 3D in full 1080p to each eye (using active shutter glasses).
Potential Tradeoffs: This plasma series may be too dark for bright rooms, and no 3D glasses are included with the purchase (they cost over $100 each), so the bargain price may disappear if you have to supply 3D eyewear for an entire family.
For the Bright Room: LG's LW5600 Series.
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What's to Love: The LW5600 series is affordable, light weight, thin, and blindingly bright. Seriously, straight out of the box, this is one of the brightest televisions I've ever seen. So much so that, without calibration, colors, details, and skin tones will be easily washed out. But, for a sunny room, it's perfect. The LW5600 series features Passive 3D technology, and ships with four pairs of glasses. Most likely, they're the very same ones you use (and usually toss out) at your local cinema. Once calibrated, 2D picture is crisp and vivid, and as an Internet capable TV, it has a host of apps and streaming services built in. The 47-inch model costs just over $1,000, and the 55-inch is a few greenbacks north of $1,300.
Potential Tradeoffs: Passive 3D technology may be a little easier on the eyes than Active Shutter glasses, but there's a trade off in resolution, which may be noticeable to some viewers. Also, I happen to be in the process of doing a full, extended review of the set and, in low light conditions, there is noticeable "blooming" or "light bleed" (light leaking out from behind the screen bezel) in all four corners. This might not bother all viewers, especially in well-lit conditions, but this could not be my reference TV. I would personally consider this series great for the bright family rooms, kids play rooms, or any type of secondary display. Picky viewers beware.
Perfect Colors: Samsung's PND800 Series.
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What's to Love: The PND800 series is Samsung's flagship line, boasting supremely accurate colors, built-in WiFi with more apps and streaming services than their competitors, incredible 2D and 3D imagery, and it even looks good in fully lit rooms. Samsung also includes a dual-sided Bluetooth full QWERTY keyboard remote. The 51-inch model will set you back a little more than $1,400 and the huge 64-incher just over $2,400.
Potential Tradeoffs: These televisions are not cheap and 1080/24p source material (Blu-ray movies) may lose some black level performance. Also, there's no Amazon Instant if that happens to be your streaming service of choice.
Deepest Black Levels: Panasonic VT30 Series.
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What's to Love: Panasonic's flagship VT30 series boasts the inkiest black levels of any plasma (and therefore, any flat panel) television available in 2011. It's still not quite KURO good, but it's damn close. For those not in the know, black levels are important because the closer the television can get to "true black" (aka the absence of light), colors look more accurate and depth and perceived-resolution improve. While last year's VT25 series suffered from a loss of black level capabilities over time, I've been following a fantastic article over at CNET where they kept track of how five high end plasma aged during their first year of use. The good news is that the VT30 series actually gets blacker (a good thing) as it ages. Pick up the 65-inch TC-P65VT30 for just under $3,000.
Potential Tradeoffs: The most expensive TV in the bunch. Also, the CNET article also said the VT30's color temperature can change over time, so you'll want to make sure to recalibrate your settings for this, or any other, TV as it ages -- every six months to a year. Good advice for any display, really.
BLU-RAY DISC PLAYERS
The truth about Blu-ray players is that most, if not all, deliver perfect picture and sound (well, depending on the source material and encode) during Blu-ray playback. HDMI-transmitted digital signals either arrive, or they don't. So, when picking out a Blu-ray player in 2011, the toughest decision about what to buy isn't really about image quality, but rather about budget and included features. How much do you have to spend, and what's really important to you -- things like streaming apps, games, disc loading speed?
Affordably Full Featured: Sony BDP-S580.
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What's to Love: You can pick up an S580 3D Blu-ray player for under $130, and it comes with WiFi (as well as an Ethernet port for a wired connection) and a host of great apps like Pandora, Netflix, Vudu, Amazon etc. There's also a free Media Remote app for your iOS and Android devices. The 3D works great, and it loads much quicker than most 2011 Blu-ray players. There's an equally impressive / more expensive model, the S780, but the main difference is built-in 2D-3D conversion which, in my humble opinion, is a waste of money.
Potential Tradeoffs: Not really much, especially at this price point (though, for about $10-20 dollars more, you can pick up the slightly faster Panasonic model below). Some people don't like Sony's XMB navigation interface, and I've heard Netflix streaming cover art can be a little small.
Speed Demon: Panasonic DMP-BDT210.
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What's to Love: A CNET Editor's Choice winner, the BDT210 is the fastest loading 3D Blu-ray player available today -- movies load in as little as 7 seconds (finally back at DVD speeds…that only took 5 years!), and as always, 3D and 2D imagery are perfect. The BDT210 is a steal at just under $140. It features a touch-free sensor for ejecting discs, Skype capabilities, and WiFI -- with most of the standard video and audio streaming services like Amazon Instant, which is not available on our next selection. Also, for about $35 more, you can pick up the Panasonic BDT310, which includes an extra HDMI output for those who do not have an AV Receiver with 1.4a / 3D passthrough. Lastly, if you buy either the BDT210 or BDT310, Panasonic will mail you a copy of 'Avatar 3D'.
Potential Tradeoffs: It's missing a few streaming service like Hulu Plus and, if you're a baseball fan, MLB.TV.
A Versatile All Star: Sony PS3.
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What's to Love: Sony's PlayStation 3 is the gift that keeps on giving. It plays Blu-ray movies in 2D and 3D (now with DTS-HD MA support), plays high definition video games, streams all sorts of content from your home network and/or the Internet, has access to MLB.TV and NFL Season Ticket in HD, remains most upgradeable player on the market, and it's available at three price points: 1) a $249.99 160GB system that includes one DualShock 3controller (and a $50 promotional gift card if you buy it on Amazon). 2) a $299.99 320GB PS3 Uncharted 3 Bundle (includes one system, one DualShock 3 controller, one copy of 'Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception') that saves you $10 on the cost of both the system and the game. And 3) a $299 320GB PS3 Move Bundle (includes one DualShock 3 controller, one PlayStation Move motion controller, one PlayStation Eye camera, 'Sport Champion's Blu-ray game, and a PlayStation Move game demos disc). Different systems for different levels of buyers, but sure to be an amazing present.
Potential Tradeoffs: As of today, the PS3 still does not support Dolby TrueHD while playing 3D Blu-rays. That means no 'Transformers: Dark of the Moon – 3D' or 'Megamind - 3D' or 'Kung Fu Panda 2 - 3D' until they get around to fixing this with another firmware update (we're currently at 3.73), which they most likely will do in the not too distant future. Until then, Dolby TrueHD soundtracks will play in Dolby Digital. Also, there is no included remote control, so there is the added expensive of buying Sony's Bluetooth remote or, if you're a Logitech Harmony remote user, the terrific Logitech Harmony PS3 Adapter. Lastly, as they age, some PS3's suffer from fan noise, and if the system overheats, they can fry the circuit board (see Yellow Light of Death). Personally, my fat PS3 (circa 2008) is quiet and works perfectly.
A/V RECEIVERS
The Entry Level Bargain: Onkyo TX-NR509.
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What's to Love: For less than $350, we have a networkable 5.1 AVR with 80w (x 5 channels) of power, 4 3D-ready HDMI inputs, iPod compatibility, Internet Streaming (vTuner, Mediafly, Pandora, Slacker, Rhapsody), and it decodes all the modern HD Audio codecs. If you have a few extra bucks and want 7.2 capabilities, check out the THX Select 2 Plus certified TX-NR609, which serves up 100w/channel and includes support for 4K upscaling.
Potential Tradeoffs: 5.1 channels and 4 HDMI inputs might not be enough for everyone. Especially when considering more and more theatrical movies are being mixed in 7.1.
The Mid-Level Performer: Denon AVR-2112ci.
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What's to love: For right around $600, this 7.1 receiver (90 watts per channel) features AirPlay, 6 3D-ready HDMI inputs, FLAC HD Decoding, streaming (Pandora, Flickr, Rhapsody), GUI overlay, and decodes all the modern codecs. Some will argue the AVR-1912 is the better deal, but for about $50 more, the 2112ci includes an extra year of warranty and Audyssey's MultEQ XT calibration software.
Potential Tradeoffs: The 2212ci is less powerful than -- and doesn't have as many digital or analog inputs, nor the fancy, newer GUI of -- the 2312ci (or 3312ci).
The Beast: Marantz SR7005.
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What's to Love: 125 watts times 7 channels with six 1.4a (3D capabile) HDMI inputs and 2 selectable HDMI outs, streaming on your home network or Internet, multiple room calibration software options, and some higher end connections for remote control systems. This AVR will blow the doors off all but the largest media rooms.
Potential Tradeoffs: Well, there's no built-in power for 9 or 11 channels of sound, nor built-in AirPlay.
SPEAKERS
Big Sound; Bargain Price: Pioneer SP-PK21BS.
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What's to Love: Simply put, there isn't a better sounding 5.1 speaker system available for under $400. Or if there is, I haven't heard it. These speakers can play loud without distorting and can compete with some systems costing double. I just called Pioneer to confirm they still have the package for sale (there is no Buy Now option on the above link, though all the speakers are available separately), and while the DB8 subwoofers are currently out of stock, they are anticipating shipping more the week of December 5th. If you have a few extra bucks, you want to consider upgrading the system's center channel (to this). To purchase, simply call Pioneer. They have free shipping (!), and actual human beings answer the phone.
Potential Tradeoffs: These speakers are bulky (an alternative is the 5.1 Energy Classic Theater System) so they might not be right for all living rooms.
Mid Level Monitors: The Boston Acoustics A 25 speaker System.
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What's to Love: This is a well rounded monitor-sized speaker system. The design is simple and appealing, and the sound is terrific. From blistering highs to rumbling bass with solid mid range as well. I've had nothing but a great experience with Boston Acoustics; as I write this, my 14-year-old desktop 2.1 system is going strong, and my first ever 5.1 system (circa 2000) still gets daily use over at a buddy's house.
Note: I couldn't find the "system" for purchase as a package, but it's not a big deal. Surf over to the Boston Acoustics A Series Loudspeaker page and combine four A25 Monitors ($149.99 each) for 5.1 (or six for 7.1), one A 225C Center Channel ($249.99 each), and one ASW 250 Subwoofer ($349.99 each). The result is a $1,200 5.1 system (or a $1,500 7.1 system). There are also smaller monitors, floorstanding models, and a larger subwoofer in this series for you to mix and match should you be so inclined. And Boston Acoustics offers free shipping. If you're looking to save a few dollars, you should also check out the Last Years / Refurbished Models page.
Potential Tradeoffs: Monitors can't deliver the power of full range floorstanding speakers.
Wireless and Well Reviewed: the Aperion Intimus 4T Summit Wireless 7.1 System (5.1 system pictured).
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What's to Love: $3,000 is all that stands between you and a wireless 7.1 system. What's amazing about this set is that each speaker has its own built-in amplifier, so its compact wireless transmitter can replace your AVR (it has three 3D-ready HDMI inputs). It decodes all the modern HD audio codecs with ease and set up is simple: plug in the speakers, press a few buttons, and the system calibrates itself. There's even a MyZone button on the remote that will recalibrate the system in six seconds to make wherever you're sitting the system's sweet spot.
Potential Tradeoffs: $3,000 is a lot of money for many buyers (and if you can afford to spend that money on speakers alone, running wire behind walls should be in the cards too). And, wireless speakers aren't technically wireless -- you still need to find power outlets for each speaker and subwoofer. If you've already invested in a pricy AVR, you may not wish to make it useless. 3 HDMI inputs is limiting in this day and age. And Audiophiles may bristle at 96khz/24bit audio resolution bandwidth cap.
ACCESSORIES
Bargain Cables: Monoprice & Amazon Basics.
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What's to Love: Monoprice is my go to supplier for all cables and connectors. They're cheap and well made. Relative newcomer Amazon Basics has some good prices as well (though not as much of a selection).
Potential Tradeoffs: None. I can't say it enough… you save boatloads NOT buying big box store wires and cabling for your system. Audiophile-super-cables? Please. Audiophiles have been tricked in listening tests over and over again, and most modern audio and video signals are digital, meaning it all arrives, or doesn't.
Universal Remotes: Logitech Harmony Link.
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What's to Love: I really enjoy my Harmony One and PS3 Adapter, but there's a new system I'm itching to try out in the very near future. The Logitech Harmony Link is a small networkable device / iOS app combination that controls your home cinema system (the device is an IR mini blaster). With so many TVs, BD players, and AVRs now have their own proprietary apps, the simplicity of the programmable remote seems to be in jeopardy. But for $100, anyone in the house with an iOS Device can control the home theatre. Seems like a great idea.
Potential Tradeoffs: I've read some reviews saying it's not quite ready yet. I suppose this happens with many first generation products. Research before you buy. I hope to report back soon with a review.
DEMOS
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Now that you've picked up some awesome, 3D capable gear, it's time to show it off and test it out. Here's a sampling of my favorite 2011 discs (thus far) in the audio and/or video departments:
HDD's Aaron Peck already covered classics, but the one title he's missed (because it's just coming out now) is 'Mutiny on the Bounty'. The 70mm epic (and long awaited HD-DVD holdout) starring Marlon Brando is another Blu-ray catalog stunner from Warner Bros. Keep your eyes peeled for more 2011 Holiday Gift Guides
In the 5.1 spectrum of things, 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2' is a must own audio and video release, an exciting action blockbuster, and a fitting finale to the epic series. There's also a 3D Best Buy exclusive available now as well as an 8 Film Collection, but the full mega-ultra-super edition won't be available until next year. Also, I want to give a shout out to the best found footage film of the year, 'Troll Hunter', a fun horror/action film from Norway about… well, hunting trolls. The audio and video are surprisingly good, and the monsters look great.
Next, let's talk about 7.1. Personally, I can't get enough of the format. Most likely this is because I'm getting use out of the money I invested in two extra speakers, but overall, I love hearing more detail in places I've never before. It's truly enveloping, and this year is filled with a number of great releases. 'The Art of Flight' is a fun action sports film with beautiful cinematography. We're currently giving away three copies on The Bonus View, so maybe you can win a free gift for someone you love! 'Transfomers: Dark of the Moon' is an assault on the senses (in both the good and bad way) with perhaps the best soundtrack I've heard on Blu-ray to date, but buyer beware, a 3D edition is in the works. 'Super 8', while imperfect, is another sonic thrill ride highlighted by wall shacking train crash. Lastly, while folks have been arguing about the 'Jurassic Park' transfers, the 7.1 Audio is the highlight of the set.
3D has been expanding this year with a number of excellent releases. 'Tron Legacy' was the year's first stunner (though it does feature some 2D-only scenes), followed by the 'Toy Story Trilogy', 'How to Train Your Dragon', 'Megamind', 'Cars 2', the severely underrated 'Rio', and 'Tangled'. While they all looked amazing in 3D, 'Dragon' is interesting because it's been remixed into 7.1 for the 3D Blu-ray. And 'Megamind', which I personally found hilarious despite a troublesome 2D transfer, looks even better in 3D. While most of the excellent 3D releases are of the CGI animated variety, I have to admit I was shocked by how well 'Lion King' and 'Beauty and the Beast' turned into three-dimensional experience. A lot of fun here, and two more kick ass 7.1 soundtracks.
Well, that's all we have, dear readers. What's your dream gear or demo disc for this holiday season? Hit up the forums to let us know! Now, I'm off to get more of those delicious pumpkin goodies...
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High-Def Digest Holiday Gift Guide 2011: The Top 10 Classic Titles on Blu-ray
Wed Nov 23, 2011 at 01:35 PM ETTags: HDD Holiday Gift Guide, Holiday Gift Guide 2011, High-Def Retailing, Aaron Peck (all tags)
by Aaron Peck
Last year's Top 10 Classic Titles On Blu-ray list didn't feature any films made past 1990 – and to be honest, the single 1990 release didn't even count since I'm referring to 'Godfather III' which was included in 'The Godfather Trilogy.' If you removed that film you have to go all the way back to '74 to find the most recently made film ('Godfather II'). This year's list features a few newer movies mixed in with older titles. It's possible to have modern day classics, and after seeing the list below I hope you'll agree with my choices.
10. 'Airplane!'
(Paramount, Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, and Jerry Zucker, 1980)
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Spoof movies nowadays…well, they stink. Remember the good old days of Leslie Nielsen? Remember when it was actually easy to laugh at a spoof movie? They were made by intelligent comics, instead of second-rate hacks (I'm looking at you Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer). 'Airplane!' is a classic comedy that has never lost its entertainment value over the thirty-odd years it's been around. Like the 'Monty Python' films, you can revisit 'Airplane!' again and again and come away laughing every single time.
9. 'Breakfast at Tiffany's'
(Paramount, Blake Edwards, 1961)
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Hepburn's classic film has finally found its way onto Blu-ray. It's one of the few truly classic films fans have been clamoring for. With its 50th Anniversary looming, Paramount released the long-awaited Blu-ray in September. HDD reviewer Nate Boss stated his love for the movie, but also said the video was a bit troubled. However, it's still recommended, because it's just such a great little film. Pick it up if you get a chance. You won't be sorry.
8. 'Ben Hur'
(Warner Home Video, William Wyler, 1959)
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The first of two Charlton Heston movies released this year, which in turn have both found their way onto this list. What a marvelous achievement this Blu-ray was. Reviewer David Krauss raved about the entire 50th Anniversary Set. From the audio to the video to the special features, five stars all around, capping off his review with "Must Own." Indeed. This is one of cinema's greatest movies of all-time. It's never looked and sounded better. If you have a love for the classics, you'll almost definitely have a love for this movie.
7. 'Stand By Me'
(Sony, Rob Reiner, 1986)
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This is one of the newer films on the list, but that doesn't make it any less classic. Celebrating its 25th year anniversary, 'Stand By Me' recounts a few summer days in the lives of Gordie (Wil Wheaton), Chris (River Phoenix), Teddy (Corey Feldman), and Vern (Jerry O'Connell). Ever since it was released in '86, 'Stand By Me' has stood as an unflinching testament to adolescence and real friendship. It became an instant classic in many people's minds, and remains so today. Not to mention 'Stand By Me' also has one of the most underrated villains ever with Ace Merill (Kiefer Sutherland). Now there was a kid you wouldn't want to mess with.
(Lionsgate, Quentin Tarantino, 1994)
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We'd already had a Danish import of the movie released a while back, but it was high time we got a domestic release of the movie. What was really important about this release – besides Blu-ray fans demanding its release for years – was the inclusion of the special features. While I personally would've loved to see a newly minted audio commentary, the new Blu-ray exclusives are a nice touch. This is one of those modern day classics that has stuck with the movie fanatics ever since its theatrical release. It found its way into the Top 100 Movies list from the American Film Institute (in)famously bumping off other well-known movies like 'Ben-Hur.' This new domestic release is simply a highly recommended item that any cinephile will love to have in their collection.
5. 'Twilight Zone: Season 4
& 5'(Image Entertainment, Various Directors, 1963 & 1964)
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I know it's becoming redundant. Every time I make a Best Of list somehow the 'Twilight Zone' seasons find their way onto it. Don't worry, this will be the last year for any of that, because Image Entertainment has finally gotten around to releasing the last two seasons, and they're just as glorious as the first three. Out of all the television that has been released on the format, the 'Twilight Zone' seasons are the pinnacle of perfection. When so many studios have a spotty record for releasing sporadic seasons of certain shows, Image showed resolve and took its time with each season. They didn't rush these out either; they packed them with new, worthwhile extras and audio commentaries. They remastered each episode so it looked absolutely marvelous. Some of the best looking video I've seen on any Blu-ray that's been released.
4. 'Star Wars'
(20th Century Fox, George Lucas, Irvin Kershner, and Richard Marquand, 1977, 1980, 1983)
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I can just hear the purists now. How can you call these classics if they aren't even the regular, unaltered versions? Well, as I stated in my review of the set, I'm not a purist so those things don't really bother me. I understand that they annoy other people, and that's completely fine. I on the other hand was extremely excited to finally get my hands on those movies. Especially 'The Empire Strikes Back,' which isn't just the best 'Star Wars' film, but simply one of the best films out there. Despite all the silly changes Lucas tacked onto these newer editions of the movie, they're still great fun and it was a treat to finally see them released in high definition.
Note: Even though the prequels are in the same set they are in no way considered classics, hence their complete banishment from this section.
3. 'The Ten Commandments'
(Paramount, Cecil B. DeMille, 1956)
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I was absolutely blown away by the quality of this set. From the video to the audio, 'The Ten Commandments' exceeded my expectations in every single way. Such an epic, sweeping film. With the high definition treatment, 'The Ten Commandments' stands as one of my favorite releases of this year. Yes, the anniversary set was a bit bulky with trinkets here and there that I'll probably never look at again, but the movie and its presentation were astounding.
2. Disney Animated Features:
'Dumbo,' 'Bambi,' 'The Fox and the Hound,' and 'The Lion King'
(Disney, Ben Sharpsteen, David Hand, Ted Berman, Richard Rich, Art Stevens, Roger Allers, and Rob Minkoff, 1941, 1942, 1981, 1994)
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Amidst the hub-bub about 'Star Wars' being released this year, Disney quietly had a very good year regarding their highly prized animated features. Sure, 'Lion King' was a pretty big deal. They even re-released it in theaters hoping to jar people's memories about how great it is. Turns out people didn't need to be reminded. The third highest grossing animated film of all time (behind 'Shrek 2' and 'Toy Story 3') touched people's hearts once again. As impressed as I was with Disney's release and treatment of 'Lion King' it was the other two well-known, but older Disney titles that really impressed me. 'Bambi' and 'Dumbo' were both splendid releases. Disney flubbed up a little bit with 'Bambi' and released it without a lossless track, but the 1942 animated film looked amazing. 'Dumbo,' done the year before (1941) looked and sounded great too. They may be taking their time releasing their animated titles, but every time they do, Disney seems to get it pretty close to perfect.
1. 'Citizen Kane'
(Warner Home Video, Orson Welles, 1941)
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It's widely regarded as the best film of all time. While some may not agree with its lofty stature amongst many critics and cinephiles, it's hard to disagree with the Must Own necessity of the 70th Anniversary Set that was released in September. It was simply one of the most anticipated catalog titles of the year, and would have been the most anticipated had it not been for 'Star Wars' being released the same day. What an achievement this release is. We finally get to see Welles' masterpiece in high definition. Reviewer Michael Palmer gave it four and a half stars out of five for the video score. It simply looks magnificent for a70 year-old film.
That's our list, as always let us know what you think in the forums. What classic movies did we miss that were released in 2011 that you think should've been included in this list? Please let us know by following the forum link below. Stay tuned for more 2011 HDD Holiday Gift Guides to come!
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Outdoor TV Specialist Pantel May be Going Under
Wed Nov 16, 2011 at 02:00 PM ETTags: Pantel, Outdoor TVs, High-Def Retailing (all tags)
Orders aren't being filled, calls aren't being answered, and inside sources say bankruptcy is on the way.
When we think of niche products, outdoor televisions immediately spring to mind. They're unnecessary for most and priced well above their indoor counterparts, but specializing in a niche market isn't a bad idea for a company.
Sadly though, it seems that things aren't working out well for Pantel. The company hasn't been responding to calls or emails since September and one dealer says that his distributor is unable to get TVs that he's ordered.
Company phones are disconnected and even the CEO's number results in a disconnect message. Pantel has not officially filed for bankruptcy as of yet, but these aren't good signs.
Source: CE Pro
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Sony Hoping to Revolutionize TV Before Apple Gets to it
Mon Nov 14, 2011 at 12:00 PM ETTags: Sony, Google TV, Internet TV, Apple TV, High-Def Retailing, Industry Trends (all tags)
They're working with the "four screens strategy" to make content work across all your Sony devices.
Sony CEO Howard Stringer is all about trying new things in an attempt to get the company's lagging TV business back up to profitability. He says, in fact, that he's been working for five years on something that will revolutionize the TV as we know it.
Just what this entails is a bit of a mystery, but he says that the plan is to unite game systems, smartphones, tablets, and TVs into one sort of universal platform for entertainment.
Stringer, in an event hosted by the Wall Street Journal, said that he planned to compete with Apple directly on the project. "I spent the last five years building a platform so I can compete against Steve Jobs," he said. "It's finished, and it's launching now."
Source= PC World
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Entertainment Spending Up Five Percent - Blu-ray Sales Soar
Tue Nov 01, 2011 at 02:00 PM ETTags: Blu-ray, Industry Trends, Sales Figures, High-Def Retailing (all tags)
DVD spending is down significantly, but Blu-ray helped pick up the industry as a whole - if that's not great news for the format, we don't know what is.
The Digital Entertainment Group's latest survey indicates that high definition packaged media is on the rise in a big way. And yes, when they say "high definition packaged media" they clearly mean Blu-ray. Unless there are still HD DVDs floating around out there, but we're just going to go ahead and make the assumption.
Blu-ray disc sales rose by 58 percent this year, with a 60 percent increase in catalog titles like 'Citizen Kane,' 'The Big Lebowski' and, of course, 'Star Wars.' That's great news, but giant sales numbers for titles like this doesn't necessarily mean that the format as a whole is on the rise. We need something more solid, and we got it.
Blu-ray player sales increased by 52 percent over last year. Certainly there are some upgrades in there, but the majority of that seems to be first-time Blu-ray owners, marking a huge shift in mainstream consumer adoption. The DEG puts the number of Blu-ray enabled homes at a whopping 33.5 million.
So how much did Blu-ray help the overall increase in entertainment spending? A lot. Blu-ray was up 58 percent, electronic sellthrough was up 13 percent and VOD increased by five percent. DVD sales are
way down again, rental revenue is down again and brick and mortar stores are hurting. Only one format is truly thriving, and that's Blu-ray.
Source: Home Media Magazine
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Dish and Blockbuster Take a Marketing Tip from Timeshares
Wed Oct 19, 2011 at 02:00 PM ETTags: Blockbuster, Free Stuff, High-Def Retailing (all tags)
Listen to the pitch, get free movies and games.
If you've been to any hot vacation destination, you've probably been approached to attend a timeshare meeting. They're slick deals if you don't mind blowing a little time and you have the force of will to resist a hard sell. In exchange for that time you'll get things ranging from show tickets to gift cards.
Blockbuster and Dish are rolling out a similar promotion. If you go into a Blockbuster store and listen to a Dish Network pitch then you'll get a free game or movie rental on the spot and a free subscription to Blockbuster by Mail for 30 days.
"You set up an appointment with one of our representatives and they give you the whole run down," explains one Blockbuster employee, stating that they will then "give you all the information and they can sign you up for a free membership."
This isn't running in all Blockbuster locations, but if you want a free rental and you don't mind sitting through a sales pitch to get it, this might not be a bad setup.
Source: Home Media Magazine
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MORE HIGH-DEF DISC NEWS TAGGED "HIGH-DEF RETAILING":
- 'Star Wars' and 'Thor' Mark a Dramatic Surge in Blu-ray Sales Oct 18, 2011
- Kids are Quick to Adopt Digital Media - Majority of Purchases are Still Physical Oct 05, 2011
- Sharp is Launching an 80 Inch TV in October Sep 30, 2011
- Blockbuster Canada is Closing its Doors Sep 12, 2011
- LG, Sharp, and Philips Working on a Smart TV App Standard Sep 08, 2011
- LG Drastically Cuts Spending for 2012 Aug 31, 2011
- LCD Shipments Stable Last Quarter - Big Companies Post Big Losses Aug 26, 2011
- Vudu Launches 99 Cent Movie of the Day - Walmart.com Adds Vudu Rental Jul 28, 2011
- F.Y.E Tests In-Store Movie Rental Kiosks Jul 27, 2011
- The Smaller, More Functional Roku 2 is Available Now Jul 20, 2011
- Blockbuster Offers Subscription Free Rent-By-Mail Jul 14, 2011
- Over 3.4 Million 3D Blu-rays Sold - Technically Jul 14, 2011
- HDD Learns About DVD and Blu-ray Liquidation: Physical Media Still Winning Jun 29, 2011
- Sub $1,000 47-inch 3DTV From Westinghouse Announced Jun 24, 2011
- VIZIO Outsells LCD HDTV Competition By 30 Percent Jun 23, 2011
- Don't Count Plasma Out Just Yet Jun 23, 2011
- Apple to Build HDTVs? Jun 23, 2011
- Latest PS3 model to be Slightly Lighter and Greener Jun 21, 2011
- LCD and Plasma Growth Takes a Dive Jun 08, 2011
- Sony Debuts Cheaper 3D Glasses and a New 24" 3D Gaming Display Jun 07, 2011
- Nintendo Announces Next HD Console: The Wii U Jun 07, 2011
- 3DTV Shipments are Up 352 Percent in First Quarter of 2011 Jun 07, 2011
- HBO is Thriving on DVD and Blu-ray While Others Fail Jun 06, 2011
- Mitsubishi's 2011 Line Includes a 92 Inch 3D DLP Jun 03, 2011
- TiVo Pricing Changes Today May 18, 2011
- Blockbuster Gift Cards No Longer Being Honored May 16, 2011
- Vizio Ramps Up Passive 3D Set Production May 12, 2011
- Best Buy Offering Blu-ray Discounts with DVD Trades May 10, 2011
- Nielsen Predicts a Decrease in TV Ownership for 2011 May 05, 2011
- Data Points to a Strong Year for Blu-ray May 03, 2011
- Buy Two Universal Blu-rays and Save $5 at Amazon Apr 25, 2011
- Netflix CEO Reed Hastings Makes the Time 100 Apr 25, 2011
- Sony's PlayStation 3 Hits 50 Million in Worldwide Sales Apr 20, 2011
- Sony Ships 37 New Models of 2011 Bravias Apr 19, 2011
- Sharp Launches a 70 Inch LCD Apr 15, 2011
- Onkyo Announces its First 3D Blu-ray Player Apr 14, 2011
- Samsung Drops Price on 3D Glasses - Includes More With TVs Apr 11, 2011
- Dish Network Wins Bid, Acquires Blockbuster Apr 06, 2011
- Vizio Prices Its Passive 3D TVs Mar 29, 2011
- Spot Kiosks Rent Blu-rays For 89 Cents a Night Mar 28, 2011
- Sharp's New Quattron LCDs are Shipping This Month Mar 25, 2011
- Samsung's Smart Blu-ray Players Now Available Mar 18, 2011
- Sharp's New 3D Blu-ray Players are Available Now Mar 16, 2011
- Disaster in Japan May Strongly Affect Consumer Electronics Industry Mar 16, 2011
- DVD Isn't Dead, Says Disney CEO Mar 09, 2011
- Vizio is Heading Up-Market Mar 08, 2011
- The Top Ten Blu-ray Deals Under Ten Bucks! Mar 02, 2011
- The iPad 2 Features HDMI Out, Coming March 11 Mar 02, 2011
- The Top 10 Animated Disney Films NOT On Blu-ray Mar 01, 2011
- A Third of Netflix Subscribers Would Switch to Prime if Comparable Mar 01, 2011
- Amazon, Best Buy, and Coinstar Are Potential Blockbuster Buyers Feb 28, 2011
- 1080p LCD Sets Dominate the Market Feb 15, 2011
- Best Buy's Buyback Program - Not Such a Good Buy Feb 09, 2011
- Sony Announces New Bravias for Japan Feb 09, 2011
- Prices Leak for Panasonics 2011 TVs Feb 08, 2011
- JVC Announces a 3D 1080p Consumer Camcorder Feb 08, 2011
- Best Buy Pushes Blu-ray Exclusives! Feb 02, 2011
- Do Studios Need to Cut Theatrical Window to Eight Weeks? Feb 02, 2011
- Rumor: The iPad 2 Getting 720p or Better Resolution Jan 19, 2011
- "High-Def Digest-Digest" - January 18, 2011 Jan 18, 2011
- Redbox Sales Tumble in Fourth Quarter - 28-day Delay To Blame? Jan 14, 2011
- The State of Blu-ray At CES 2011 Jan 12, 2011
- Audiovox Intros the First In-Dash Blu-ray Player Jan 12, 2011
- Goodbye Component - From Now On Only HDMI Will Do HD Jan 12, 2011
- Samsung and Silhouette Introduce World's Lightest 3D Glasses Jan 04, 2011
- Mitsubishi Brings a New 3D Projector to CES Jan 03, 2011
- LG Announces the Smart TV Updater Jan 03, 2011
- The Absolute Best of Blu-ray: High-Def Digest's Definitive Guide for HD Newbies and Fanatics Jan 02, 2011
- HD Penetration Reaches 60 Percent, but 3DTVs Still Lukewarm Dec 30, 2010
- The Oppo BDP-93 is Finally Here - Just in Time for Christmas Dec 20, 2010
- High-Def Digest's Nate Boss Shares His Blu-ray Predictions for 2011 Dec 10, 2010
- High-Def Digest Gear Review: Logitech Harmony One & PS3 Adapter Dec 10, 2010
- Bowers & Wilkins CM8 Loudspeaker Now Shipping Dec 08, 2010
- Online Shoppers Happier with Prices in 2010 Dec 08, 2010
- HDD Gift Guide: Wrapped Up in Blu - Holiday Blu-rays for December Dec 07, 2010
- Blockbuster On Demand is Live on Over 100 Devices Dec 02, 2010
- High-Def Digest Holiday Gift Guide 2010: The Essential Holiday Blu-rays Nov 24, 2010
- High-Def Digest Holiday Gift Guide 2010: Blu-rays for the Hard to Shop For Movie Fanatic (You Won't See Another Gift Guide Like This ANYWHERE!) Nov 24, 2010
- High-Def Digests Holiday Gift Guide 2010: HD Gear Nov 24, 2010
- High-Def Digest Holiday Gift Guide 2010: The Best Blu-rays of the Year Nov 24, 2010
- High-Def Digest Holiday Gift Guide 2010: The Top 10 Classic Titles on Blu-ray Nov 24, 2010
- IOGear Launches Two New HTPC Controllers Nov 16, 2010
- Plasma Sales Outgrow LCD Sales in 2010 Nov 16, 2010
- HDD Gift Guide: Blu-Harvest - Holiday Blu-rays for November Nov 10, 2010
- Samsung Planning to Produce 55 Inch OLEDs Nov 10, 2010
- Amazon Talks Blu-ray's Ups and Downs Nov 08, 2010
- High-Def Digest Attends Blu-Con 2010 Nov 04, 2010
- Sceptre Launches the Galaxy Series LCD Nov 04, 2010
- Consumer Reports Says Go Plasma if You Want Good 3D Nov 04, 2010
- InFocus Shows off New Large Venue Projectors Nov 01, 2010
- Bang & Olufsen Releases a 32 Inch Set Nov 01, 2010
- Xpand Universal 3D Glasses Available Now Oct 26, 2010
- Sharp Announces Two Blu-ray TV Combos for Japan Oct 04, 2010
- Epson Unveils Seven New HD Projectors Sep 28, 2010
- LG Announces World's Largest LED Backlit TV Sep 15, 2010
- Boxee Responds to the Apple TV Launch – Prices the Box Sep 03, 2010
- The Biggest Blu-ray Blunders, and Why They Have to Stop! Aug 27, 2010
- Sony Announces a Trio of Edge-Lit 3D Bravias Aug 27, 2010
- Two Edge Lit Razor TVs From Vizio Aug 24, 2010
- Vizio Launches Three New TruLED Sets Aug 24, 2010
- Samsung Releases the First 3D Capable Portable Blu-ray Player Aug 13, 2010
- The New Apple TV Goes 720p and Gets Renamed iTV Aug 13, 2010
- Samsung Intros a 65 Inch LED Backlit 3D Television Aug 13, 2010
- Sezmi is Expanding its Markets – It's Available in 15 New Cities Aug 02, 2010
- Onkyo Debuts the World's First THX Certified 3D Ready HTiB Jul 26, 2010
- Buy Two Blu-rays and Save $5 at Amazon Jul 13, 2010
- Onkyo Intros Two New Home Theater Systems Jul 09, 2010
- Sony's 3D Glasses Are Now Available for $150 Jul 02, 2010
- Monster Cables Announces the First Universal Active Shutter Glasses Jun 29, 2010
- 3D TV and 3D Blu-ray Player Sales Top $55 Million Jun 28, 2010
- Hulu Could Be Hitting the PS3 Jun 28, 2010
- Mitsubishi Releases a New 75 Inch LaserVue TV Jun 25, 2010
- Best Buy's Insignia Sets Come with TiVo Software Installed May 27, 2010
- Officially Licensed 'Super Street Fighter IV' TVs Exist May 25, 2010
- Samsung and Sony Meet to Discuss HDTVs and the 3D Future May 25, 2010
- StreamTV Fails to Appear May 11, 2010
- HD Price Drops Increase Consumer Spending by 12 Percent May 10, 2010
- So What Exactly is a THX Certified Display Anyway? May 07, 2010
- Movie Gallery/Hollywood Video Closing up Remaining Stores May 07, 2010
- Movie Gallery/Hollywood Video Closing up Remaining Stores May 07, 2010
- 3-D Glasses Incompatible? Wear Them Upside Down! May 06, 2010
- 3-D Glasses Incompatible? Wear Them Upside Down! May 06, 2010
- Polaroid Will Be Selling a 100-inch HDTV May 05, 2010
- Polaroid Will Be Selling a 100-inch HDTV May 05, 2010
- LG Announces Entry Level 3-D Sets May 04, 2010
- LG Announces Entry Level 3-D Sets May 04, 2010
- NuVision's UColor Collection Matches Your TV to Your Home Decor Apr 29, 2010
- Panasonic Reveals 3D Plasma Pricing and Release Dates Apr 27, 2010
- Optoma Releases Projectors for Gamers Apr 16, 2010
- LG’s 15 Inch OLED Released in UK Apr 15, 2010
- Viewsonic’s LED TV is Now Available Apr 15, 2010
- Viewsonic’s LED TV is Now Available Apr 15, 2010
- Sharp Creates RGBY 3D Sets Apr 14, 2010
- Silverlight is Coming to TVs, Blu-ray Players, and Set-tops Apr 13, 2010
- Samsung to Propose Clearer Data for Consumers Apr 13, 2010
- Mitsubishi’s Unisen Immersive Sound TVs Announced Apr 09, 2010
- AVRev Highlights 5 Ways the iPad will Change Consumer Electronics Apr 08, 2010
- StreamTV Might be the Future – Available for Pre-order Now Apr 08, 2010
- Blu-ray Sales Still Booming Apr 07, 2010
- People of Lava’s ‘Scandinavia’ HDTV Packs Android Apr 07, 2010
- Preorder Pricing on Sony’s 3D TVs Revealed Apr 06, 2010
- Preorder Pricing on Sony’s 3D TVs Revealed Apr 06, 2010
- Bang & Olufsen Announces 46” BeoVision 10 Mar 30, 2010
- Samsung’s 3D Glasses Are up for Pre-order Mar 29, 2010
- LG Launches Ultra-Slim 3D LED Backlit LX9500 Mar 26, 2010
- Are Circuit City Stores Coming Back? Mar 25, 2010
- 3D TVs Hitting Walmart This Year Mar 25, 2010
- Blockbuster Kiosks Get 28 Day Warner Brothers Delay Mar 25, 2010
- Toshiba Announces New LCDs for March Mar 25, 2010
- Bang & Olufson Takes the BeoVision 10 on Tour Mar 24, 2010
- TiVo Premiere Hits Best Buy on March 28th Mar 19, 2010
- Dell Takes Sharp, Hitachi and Toshiba to Court Mar 16, 2010
- Dell Takes Sharp, Hitachi and Toshiba to Court Mar 16, 2010
- Best Buy Scores Exclusive Panasonic 3D Plasma Home Theater System Mar 12, 2010
- Samsung Parties Hard With the Black Eyed Peas – Announces Exclusive 3D Content Mar 12, 2010
- Samsung Reveals New Home Theater Systems Mar 11, 2010
- Samsung Reveals New Home Theater Systems Mar 11, 2010
- Samsung’s 3D Starter Kit Free with 3D TV Purchase - Touch Screen Remotes $350 Each Mar 11, 2010
- Sony Japan Announces Release Dates and Pricing for 3D TVs Mar 10, 2010
- Samsung Announces Prices and Dates for 2010 HDTV Lineup Mar 10, 2010
- Marvel Licenses Comic Book Characters for Television Line Mar 03, 2010
- Samsung 7000 Series is Shipping Now Feb 25, 2010
- LG Accidentally Leaks HDTV Release Dates and Specs Feb 24, 2010
- Tributaries Releases Performance Value HDMI Cables Feb 24, 2010
- New Details on Walmart’s Vudu Purchase Feb 23, 2010
- Samsung’s C7000 Series TVs Coming in March Feb 17, 2010
- Man Smashes $22,000 Worth of TVs at Walmart Feb 16, 2010
- Our TVs are Inexpensive, Not Cheap says Vizio CEO Feb 04, 2010
- AVRev Publishes 'The Definitive 2010 HDTV Buyer's Guide' Feb 02, 2010
- Mitsubishi Showing 149” OLED Feb 01, 2010
- Samsung Blu-ray Player Prices Leaked Feb 01, 2010
- Sharp Debuts BD-MPC41 Blu-ray Home Theater in a Box Jan 18, 2010
- Lexicon Accused of Selling Repackaged Oppo BDP-83 at a $3000 Markup Jan 18, 2010
- Netflix / Warner: "Buy the disc or wait 28 days." Jan 07, 2010
- Wal-Mart Dedicated to the Blu-ray Experience Jan 04, 2010
- Oppo Announces New Lower Priced Blu-ray Player Dec 23, 2009
- Oppo Announces New Lower Priced Blu-ray Player Dec 23, 2009
- Consumer Electronic Sales Up in November Dec 21, 2009
- All New Warner Releases in 2010 to be DVD/Blu-ray Combo Packs Dec 17, 2009
- Amazon Includes Free Digital Rental With Physical Disc Purchases Dec 11, 2009
- Disney Announces Upgrade2Blu Program Dec 08, 2009
- High-Def Digest’s Holiday Gift Guide 2009: The Essential Holiday Blu-rays Dec 04, 2009
- Vizio Dominates Black Friday With 280,000 TVs Sold Dec 03, 2009
- Blu-ray Titles Outsell DVD Counterparts on Amazon Dec 02, 2009
- Blu-ray Titles Outsell DVD Counterparts on Amazon Dec 02, 2009
- High-Def Digest’s Holiday Gift Guide 2009: HD Gear Nov 30, 2009
- High-Def Digest’s Holiday Gift Guide 2009: Blu-rays for the Folks Who Have...Issues Nov 30, 2009
- HDMI Drops Version Numbers – Adds 1080i Only Cables Nov 23, 2009
- California Energy Commission Approves New HDTV Restrictions Nov 23, 2009
- Sharp Wins ITC Ruling – Recommended That Some Samsung LCDs Be Banned Nov 16, 2009
- 'Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs' Streams Free for New Sony Owners Nov 11, 2009
- Wal-Mart’s Pre Black-Friday Sale Offers Impressive HDTV Discounts Nov 06, 2009
- Best Buy to Embed CinemaNow on Most Connected Devices Nov 05, 2009
- Wal-Mart Offering Home Theater Installation Oct 27, 2009
- Sony May Be Looking To Hit Entry Level Pricing Oct 21, 2009
- Redbox Tests Disc Sales Through Kiosks Oct 20, 2009
- Anti-Kiosk Advertising Coming This Fall Oct 14, 2009
- Westinghouse Ships 42” 120Hz 1080p LCD for Only $750 Sep 30, 2009
- Westinghouse Ships 42” 120Hz 1080p LCD for Only $750 Sep 30, 2009
- Vizio’s VF551XVT Available Now at Just Under $2,000 Sep 30, 2009
- Vizio’s VF551XVT Available Now at Just Under $2,000 Sep 30, 2009
- Best Buy Details Insignia Blu-ray HDTV Combos Sep 25, 2009
- Sony Moves Cautiously Towards Video On Demand Same Day Releases Sep 24, 2009
- 57 Percent of Californians Against Big Screen Ban Sep 17, 2009
- Blockbuster Closing 960 Stores – Opening 9,500 Kiosks Sep 17, 2009
- Maryland Ban on MAP Pricing Hits Oct 1st Sep 17, 2009
- Maryland Ban on MAP Pricing Hits Oct 1st Sep 17, 2009
- Blu-ray Prices Dropping – Retailers Call For More Sep 01, 2009
- Paramount Launches Trial License Program for Redbox Aug 27, 2009
- 'Shaun of the Dead' and 'Hot Fuzz' Blu-rays a Month Early at Best Buy (UPDATED) Aug 25, 2009
- Vizio Tops LCD Sales Again Aug 24, 2009
- Sony’s Television Stimulus Plan – Cash for Junkers Aug 21, 2009
- Three Arrested in Multi Million Dollar Blu-ray Theft Ring Aug 07, 2009
- Warner Discs Not Destroyed, Warner Sues For Damages Aug 07, 2009
- Marantz’s UD9004 Blu-ray Player Shipping Now Aug 04, 2009
- Sony Slashing Prices On TVs, PS3 Says Samsung Jul 31, 2009
- Lexicon Launching THX Certified Blu-ray Player Jul 27, 2009
- Consumer Electronic Sales Down For First Time In 8 Years Jul 22, 2009
- OLED Production Pushed Back By LG Jul 20, 2009
- Blu-ray Sales Up 91 Percent in US – DVD Sales Slipping Jul 20, 2009
- Blu-ray Sales Up 91 Percent in US – DVD Sales Slipping Jul 20, 2009
- TiVo and Best Buy Hook Up – The DVR-TV combo is born Jul 10, 2009
- Shopping Via Blu-ray Coming Soon Thanks To Bright Stage Media Jul 10, 2009
- Shopping Via Blu-ray Coming Soon Thanks To Bright Stage Media Jul 10, 2009
- A Cost-Conscious Renters Guide For Building Your High-Def Home Theater Jun 30, 2009
- Sony CX7000ES 400-disc Blu-ray changer coming soon May 21, 2009
- Walmart Emphasizing 1080p and Blu-ray in Technology Focus Shift May 21, 2009
- Another 50 Percent Off Blu-ray Blitz at Amazon Apr 06, 2009
- Amazon Launches Massive Blu-ray Sale Mar 09, 2009
- Amazon Offers Eclectic Buy 2 Get 1 Free Sale Mar 05, 2009
- Amazon Offers Eclectic Buy 2 Get 1 Free Sale Mar 05, 2009
- Bundle Up For Some Winter Blu-ray Savings At Amazon Feb 19, 2009
- Latest Amazon Sale Wraps Up Friday Jan 13, 2009
- Amazon Deal of the Day: 'Die Hard' Quadrilogy Jan 02, 2009
- Frys and Blockbuster Offer HD DVD Bargains Dec 30, 2008
- Best Buy Offers $100 Blu-ray Player, But There's A Twist Oct 22, 2008
- Best Buy Offers $100 Blu-ray Player, But There's A Twist Oct 22, 2008
- Amazon Launches Latest Buy 2 Get 1 Free Sale Oct 21, 2008
- Amazon Offering Sony BDP-S300 for Under $200 Sep 22, 2008
- Memorex Announces Blu-ray Player For Less than $300 Sep 19, 2008
- Amazon Discounts Eight Warner Blu-ray Titles Aug 26, 2008
- Amazon Launches Latest Blu-ray Sale Aug 19, 2008
- Amazon says, "You know you want a Blu-ray player." Jul 09, 2008
- Best Buy Offers 2 for $25 Blu-ray Promotion Online Jun 16, 2008
- Costco Joins Recent Blu-ray Promo Blitz Jun 13, 2008
- Amazon Dishing Out Three Flavors Of Blu-ray Savings Jun 11, 2008
- Wal-Mart Offers $100 Gift Card With Blu-ray Players Jun 09, 2008
- Amazon Kicks Off 'High-Def Week' Gold Box Deals Jun 02, 2008
- Amazon Offers Blu-ray Bundles at 45 Percent Savings May 29, 2008
- Amazon Launches Summer Blu-ray Sale May 27, 2008
- Amazon Offers Buy 2 Get 1 Free Sale (Updated: Runs through May 14) May 07, 2008
- Amazon Offering $50 Gift Certificate to HD DVD Customers Apr 09, 2008
- Buy Two-Get-One Free Blu-ray Sale at Amazon (Update: Barnes & Noble Too) Apr 09, 2008
- Best Buy Offers $50 Gift Cards To HD DVD Buyers Mar 19, 2008
- Shhh! Circuit City Trading HD DVD Players for Blu-ray Mar 05, 2008
- Netflix To Expand Blu-ray Inventory Feb 28, 2008
- Amazon Names Blu-ray 'Digital Format of Choice' Feb 20, 2008
- Wal-Mart to Go Blu-ray Exclusive Feb 15, 2008
- $10 Rebate on Select Disney Blu-ray Discs Feb 14, 2008
- Amazon Offers New 3-For-2 Deal on Blu-ray, HD DVD Discs Feb 12, 2008
- 50 Percent Off Select Paramount Discs at Amazon Feb 08, 2008
- Microsoft Drops Price for Xbox 360 HD DVD Add-On (UPDATED) Feb 06, 2008
- Amazon Offers Select HD DVD Titles at 57 Percent Off List Feb 03, 2008
- New Amazon Sale on Warner Blu-ray, HD DVD Titles Jan 27, 2008
- New Amazon Sale on Warner Blu-ray, HD DVD Titles Jan 27, 2008
- NPD: Free Blu-ray Players Contributed to Weekly Hardware Lead Jan 25, 2008
- Blu-ray Commands 93 Percent of Weekly Hardware Sales Post-Warner Announcement Jan 23, 2008
- Retailers Make More Room For Blu-ray Jan 21, 2008
- Up to 53 Percent Off Blu-ray, HD DVD "Drama Hits" at Amazon Jan 20, 2008
- 50 Percent off Select Blu-ray, HD DVD Discs at Amazon Jan 13, 2008
- New Blu-ray BOGO Deal at Amazon Jan 01, 2008
- Amazon Offers 50 Percent Off Select Blu-ray Discs Dec 26, 2007
- Post-Christmas 2-For-1 HD DVD Sale at Amazon Dec 26, 2007
- New 3-For-2 Deal on HD DVDs at Best Buy Dec 23, 2007
- Bourne Trilogy Free With Xbox 360 HD DVD Player Dec 18, 2007
- Sony Blu-ray Player Dips Below $300 Mark (UPDATED) Dec 17, 2007
- 2-For-1 Fox Blu-ray Titles at Amazon Dec 16, 2007
- Best Buy Goes BOGO For HD DVD, Blu-ray Dec 16, 2007
- Samsung Blu-ray Player Hits New Low of $270 Dec 11, 2007
- New 2-For-1 HD DVD Sale at Amazon Dec 11, 2007
- Amazon Goes BOGO For Blu-ray Dec 10, 2007
- Best Buy Offers Three-Disc HD DVD "Starter Packs" Dec 10, 2007
- $299 Samsung Player Sets New Low Price Record For Blu-ray (UPDATED) Dec 09, 2007
- 12 Free Discs With Toshiba’s Third-Gen HD DVD Players at Amazon Dec 07, 2007
- New Wal-Mart "Secret Sale" Details Confirmed Dec 06, 2007
- New Wal-Mart "Secret Sale" Details Confirmed Dec 06, 2007
- New Two-For-One Blu-ray Disc Sale at Amazon Dec 04, 2007
- Amazon Offers New 3-For-2 Deal on Blu-ray, HD DVD Discs Nov 22, 2007
- Samsung Blu-ray Player Price Drops to Record Low $339 Nov 22, 2007
- Black Friday 2007: Best Blu-ray, HD DVD Player Deals So Far Nov 21, 2007
- 55 Percent Off Select Blu-rays For One Day Only at Amazon Nov 19, 2007
- 55 Percent Off Select Blu-rays For One Day Only at Amazon Nov 19, 2007
- Amazon Offers Select HD DVD Titles at 47 Percent Off List Nov 18, 2007
- New Two-For-One Blu-ray Deals at Amazon Nov 11, 2007
- Report: Weekend Toshiba HD DVD Player Sales Top 90,000 Nov 07, 2007
- Best Buy Drops Toshiba HD DVD Player to $99; Supplies Very Limited Nov 01, 2007
- Kmart Goes HD DVD; Toshiba Says Recent Price Cuts Retail-Driven Oct 31, 2007
- Report: Best Buy Sells Most Blu-ray, HD DVD Titles Oct 08, 2007
- Nine Free HD DVDs With Toshiba HD DVD Player at Best Buy Oct 02, 2007
- Target Doubles Shelf Space for Blu-ray; HD DVD Levels Unchanged Sep 14, 2007
- Amazon Targets HD DVD, Blu-ray Fans With Series of Next-Gen Sales Incentives (UPDATED) Aug 29, 2007
- Paramount: No Recall on Existing Blu-ray Titles, But Supplies Won't Be Replenished Aug 22, 2007
- Paramount Officially Cancels Blu-ray SKUs Aug 21, 2007
- Circuit City Mixes Up HD DVD and Blu-ray Aug 15, 2007
- Amazon Offers Select Disney Blu-ray Discs at 46 Percent Off List Jul 25, 2007
- Sony Blu-ray Player Hits Low of $449 at Circuit City Jul 20, 2007
- 'Departed,' 'Casino Royale' Nab Home Entertainment Award Honors Jul 18, 2007
- Sony Confirms Plans to Phase Out 60GB PS3 Jul 17, 2007
- Wal-Mart Offers New Blu-ray Player/Disc Bundle Jul 13, 2007
- Amazon Bundles $499 PS3 with Free Remote and 'Memento' Blu-ray Jul 11, 2007
- It's Official: Sony Confirms PS3 Price Drop; Announces New 80Gb Model Jul 09, 2007
- Rumor Patrol: Retailers Report PlayStation 3 Price Drop Imminent (UPDATED) Jul 06, 2007
- Toshiba Permanently Drops HD DVD Player Prices Jun 29, 2007
- Toshiba Permanently Drops HD DVD Player Prices Jun 29, 2007
- New Disc Bundle Offered For Xbox 360 HD DVD Add-On Jun 14, 2007
- Amazon Drops Prices on Select Blu-ray, HD DVD Discs to 42 Percent Off List Jun 12, 2007
- Toshiba Lowers 2007 HD DVD Player Sales Projections Jun 12, 2007
- HD DVD Camp Claims Victory in Stand-Alone Player Sales Jun 11, 2007
- Rumor Patrol: Sony "Won't Rule Out" PS3 Price Reduction Jun 06, 2007
- Sony Launches BDP-S300 Blu-ray Player, Drops Price to $499 Jun 04, 2007
- Toshiba Reports Strong Sales For HD DVD Player Promo May 30, 2007
- Toshiba Offers $100 Rebate on New HD DVD Players May 16, 2007
- $50 Wal-Mart HD DVD Player: Fact or Fiction? (UPDATED) Apr 20, 2007
- Retailers Report Missed Street Dates for HD DVD, Blu-ray Discs Apr 09, 2007
- Microsoft, Comedy Central Team Up for 'South Park' Xbox 360 HD DVD Exclusive Mar 06, 2007
- Samsung Drops Blu-ray Player Price Jan 02, 2007
- Target Hits High-Def Bulls-Eye Oct 23, 2006
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