Posted Wed Dec 15, 2010 at 05:15 PM PST by Dick Ward
For a certain kind of fan, and many of us here at High-Def Digest are among them, just owning the Blu-ray of a treasured movie isn't enough. We need posters, memorabilia and more. "Beyond the Blu" is designed to help you out with the desire for acquisition for yourself, or even as a last minute Christmas gift for a loved one.
Alice in Wonderland
Tim Burton's take on the classic story of 'Alice in Wonderland' is a very different tale than Lewis Carroll's, but many of the characters from the books make an appearance in the new story. The Mad Hatter is there of course, as are the White Rabbit, Tweedledum and Tweedledee. The chessboard theme reappears too, which lets you go one of two ways. For those with the more direct approach in mind, you can pick up an incredibly well made 'Alice in Wonderland' chess set. If a more creative approach is your preference, you can grab a giant chess board and recreate 'Alice' in your own backyard.
Avatar 3D
'Avatar' is the highest grossing film in the history of the medium, and it spurred on a revolution of 3D. Sure, you can watch all the behind the scenes features on the Blu-ray, but what if you want more? Instead of stalking James Cameron or painting yourself blue, take the next logical and socially acceptable step. Get yourself a plane or bus ticket to Seattle and check out the sure to be fascinating 'Avatar' exhibition that's opening at the Science Fiction Museum on June 4th of 2011. You've got plenty of time to plan.
Battlestar Galactica: Razor
The best kind of movie memorabilia is the kind that only fans will really pick up on. A big poster with the 'Battlestar Galactica' logo works fine if you're in a dorm room, but if you're keeping a little classy, you'll want to stick with something more subtle. Something like these absolutely stunning 'Battlestar Galactica' propaganda posters. They're stylish, they're subtle and at $50 for the set of five, they're none too expensive.
Futurama: Volume 5
'Futurama' is a show that's about a lot of things - killer space bees, robot devils, planets of Amazonian women lead by a femputer - but at the heart is the acknowledgement that work sucks. Whatever your job, you can spruce it up with some great Futurama tin signs and posters. The best among these are a poster that declares "You're not paid to think," and a sign that supports your right to "Choose your own dead-end job."
Inception
Any fan can pick up the collector's edition 'Inception' Blu-ray, but if you really want to get deep into the subject matter explored in Christopher Nolan's movie you're going to have to read. The Steven LaBerge book "Exploring the World of Lucid Dreaming" is part explanation of the phenomenon and part guide to creating the experience for yourself. Best of all, you won't have to put up with any new-age mumbo jumbo. LaBerge, a psychophysiologist, was the first to publish a peer-reviewed article on the subject and approaches the subject from a purely scientific perspective.
Resident Evil: Afterlife
Say what you will about 'Resident Evil: Afterlife,' there's one thing that can't be understated. Albert Wesker is the coolest villain ever. What makes him so cool? Well it's not his awful moral code - that's what makes him a villain. The thing that makes him cool is undoubtedly his completely bitchin' set of shades. Sadly, the sunglasses worn in the movies were custom made for the film, but nine out of ten cosplayers agree that the square version of the Oakley Whisper is as close as you're going to get.
The Twilight Saga: Eclipse
It's hard to be a 'Twilight' fan, especially if you're past the age that a Team Edward shirt with sparkly hearts on it is appealing. Most 'Twilight' related gear is incredibly tacky, but we found something that's actually pretty cool. It's not an exact replica, but this Cullen baseball jersey just might be the coolest piece of 'Twilight' swag out there. It's subtle, it's something you can wear outside of the house and it's something only true fans will get. It's the kind of thing we dig.
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