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Top Ten <em>INCREDIBLE</em> Computer Animated Blu-raysby Michael S. Palmer I love the smell of new Blu-rays on a Tuesday morning. And this week is better than most, thanks to our friends at Disney who are finally (finally!) releasing Pixar's 'The Incredibles' on a 4-disc Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy combo pack. At the present, it also includes information on obtaining one free admission to 'Cars 2' from Disney Movie Rewards. Seeing this movie in high definition for the first time is an experience only rivaled by the original theatrical experience. The colors are bold, the textures are lush, and the sound is unbelievably dynamic. One can only hope director Brad Bird ('The Iron Giant') will bring as much energy, heart, and enthusiasm to the 'Mission Impossible' franchise as he has to his animated oeuvre. [teaser]Re-watching 'The Incredibles' over the weekend got me thinking about my love for animated films. Or more specifically, how a perfect Blu-ray is for this era for computer generated (CG) animation. For most CG animated films, we're getting direct digital outputs that have never seen a lazy projectionist, or been stored in the real world where artifacts and dust can build up or chemical dyes can fade. Sure, zeroes and ones have their own storage complications, but for now, these films are as perfect as they can possibly be. Which I think speaks to why so many of them are Reference or Demo Blu-rays. [/teaser] Obviously, much of this has to do with the hand-crafted multi-channel soundtracks and the bright, shiny kid-attention-grabbing colors. But the Pixar revolution, starting with 'Toy Story', has lead to a world where the CG animated flicks are routinely the best of every year, outpacing most live action films in terms of drama, comedy, heart, suspense, and action. With all of that in mind, here are my top ten favorite, incredible CG animated demo discs. Be sure to hit up the forums to add your own lists, or favorite must-watch CG animated Blu-rays. 10) 'Ratatouille' ' Another Brad Bird film, but this one about the potentially stomach-turning tale of a rat who wants to be a gourmet chef, so he cooks food (he touches food!) in a kitchen. And yet, this a charming story featuring luscious production design, great characters, and some well choreographed action. On a personal note, this is also one of my fav's because it's the first Pixar film I ever watched with my wife (please feel free to make a "recipe for love" pun). 9) 'Surf's Up' Here's a sad example of what happens when you're the last out of the gate. Sure, 'Armageddon' may have done better than 'Deep Impact', but by the time 'Surf's Up' hit cinemas in 2007, the world was over cute penguin pictures. But, if you haven't seen this flick, please go out and give it another try. Speaking as a guy who surfs, this is one of the few movies that captures the wondrous elation of gliding across a curling wave. Speaking of which, the waves and the colors in the movie are simply breathtaking and often realistic. And my final two words of praise are this (because nothing is funnier than): Chicken Joe. 8) 'Horton Hears A Who!' Dr. Seuss has had a rough time being adapted into feature films, but 'Horton Hears A Who!' is the exception. It features a wonderful Seussian tone that is somehow reverential to the material as well as modern. It also marked a symbolic return to physical comedy for Jim Carrey who, along with Steve Carrel, delivers a top notch vocal performance. 'Horton Hears A Who!' is a delight from beginning to end, and also features some great messages for kids about bullying and over-conforming. 7) 'Kung Fu Panda' For many years, I held a teeny-tiny grudge against DreamWorks for 'Shrek' winning the first Animation Oscar over 'Monsters, Inc.', almost dismissing the studio because of its need for post-modern pop culture references and a production quality which lagged behind Disney/Pixar releases. 'Kung Fu Panda' is what forever changed my mind. It's a hilarious, warm-hearted adventure about, well, about a panda who wants to learn Kung Fu. Audiences are then exposed to exotic locations, grand action set pieces, and a truly terrifying villain. This may be Jack Black's best role. I can't wait for number two. Also, we have since met the guy who did the top-notch soundtrack so it's great to support him and his team. 6) 'Monster House' 'Monster House' is about three young kids who battle their block's haunted house to prevent it from eating all the children on Halloween. To think this is Gil Kenan's directorial debut is nothing short of astonishing. This is a young filmmaker who is really on top of his game. 'Monster House' is a nostalgic callback to the Steven Spielberg / Amblin era of early 1980s films, but one that is made with a very modern combination of computer animation and motion-capture performance. 'Avatar' aside, 'Monster House' may be the best use of motion capture because we get the realism of the human performances without the uncanny valley. 5) 'How To Train Your Dragon' I'm a sucker for movies where a kid gets onto a mythological beast and gets to fly, so I couldn't wait to see 'How To Train Your Dragon'. What really impresses me here are all the character dynamics. Despite all the silliness and elevated nature of the world, the way people interacted felt real to me. Also, I think it's really clever that the filmmakers were able to humanize the dragons, making them more than ravaging beasts. Also, the action-packed climax is literally as explosive as they come. 4) 'Wall-E' I've put 'Wall-E' on a number of lists, but I can't help myself. It should go on pretty much all lists. It speaks about love and what it means to be human, all while wrapping itself in a virtually silent film that is as funny as it is heart-warming. 3) 'Monsters, Inc.' What should have won the first ever Academy Award for Animation, 'Monsters, Inc.' is an ingenious reverse-engineered fairy tale about the world where monsters come from before hiding inside your closet. Every single frame of this movie is so well designed, simultaneously speaking to story, mythology, and theme. It's one of the smartest movies ever made, and at the time, was a huge leap forward in technology (being one of the first animated films to feature a fully rendered furry character). This quite literally is the 'China Town' of animated films. 2) 'The Incredibles'Posted Tue Apr 12, 2011 at 12:25 PM PDT by: -
High-Def Digest Ranks the Harry Potter Movies From Worst to Firstby Aaron Peck [teaser]I can hear it now. The gasps of 'Potter' fans worldwide as they read through this list and find out that it's not exactly the list they would have made. Ranking your favorite 'Harry Potter' films in order from worst to best is a completely personal experience.[/teaser] Everyone has their own likes and dislikes about each one of the movies that have been released. People who have read the books feel differently about some movies leaving out key details of the story, while others who haven't read the books may judge the movies purely on which one was more entertaining. Personally, I'm only halfway through the books (somewhere in the middle of the fourth book). I've never been in a big hurry to get through them, and have watched every movie before I read the book. So, take that for what it's worth. 7) 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix' I remember walking out of 'Order of the Phoenix' thinking, did anything happen in that movie, at all? My wife assured me that the formation of Dumbledore's Army made a bit more sense in the books, but in the movie it seemed utterly useless, especially since it hasn't been talked about since. Sure, Sirius dies, but other than that, 'Order of the Phoenix' accomplished next to nothing in actually moving the plot along. By far this is the most frustrating of the movies if you haven't read the books. 6) 'Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone' Some people really enjoy Chris Columbus' first films in the series. They enjoy the sense of whimsy and wonder, but to me they're far too kid-tastic for their own good. 'Sorcerer's Stone' was hampered by the fact that Columbus and crew seemed more invested in showing how cool Quidditch could look on the big screen rather than in creating the magical story that the first book contained. 5) 'Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets' This one suffers from the same problems as the first movie. Too much time spent on the things that are oh-so-cool about the wizarding world, like talking paintings and owls that bring parcels. You can't really fault the movie for following the book, but the ending of the 'Chamber of Secrets' is perhaps the worst case of Deus ex Machina in the entire series. 4) 'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince' The more I think about 'Half-Blood Prince' the more it falls down the ladder of 'Potter' films. Why? Because the movie is far too obsessed with portraying the lovey-dovey relationships going on in Hogwarts, and misses out on some high-flying action which is in the book. 'Half-Blood Prince' is also a movie for that takes that you've read the books for granted. I found myself lost more times in 'Half-Blood Prince' than any other movie. Watching 'Half-Blood Prince' is almost like watching a '90210' episode, but with wands. This movie also misses out on the fundamental ideas about Voldemort, horcruxes, and just about everything else that makes the last entries worth reading. There's so much more backstory to Tom Riddle that really should have been covered here, and would have more entertaining than watching the fully-formed libidos of the Hogwarts crew run rampant. 3) 'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire' I know a lot of people dislike 'Goblet of Fire', but from someone who hasn't read the books, this was one of the movies that I found the most enjoyable. I was able to follow what was happening with the characters, and there weren't too many times when a random item or character appears that has never been explained before. It had a nice energy to it, and action scenes that, up until now, the 'Potter' series hadn't seen. 2) 'Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban' The third movie in the franchise kicked off Chris Columbus' kid-tastic fluff and delved into the darker aspects of the 'Potter' franchise. They were no longer "kid movies," and that's what really intrigues me about this film. Alfonso Cuarón's bleak landscape and direction finally added a bit of foreboding atmosphere to the series. The movies felt like they were growing up a bit. 1) 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1' For me, nothing tops the latest installment. The newest 'Potter' film is exciting, fun, and delves into the characters like never before. Truthfully, the camping scenes were handled very well. We were able to get more of an insight into Harry's relationship with Hermione. 'Deathly Hallows' does fall into the same plight of earlier films, as it takes for granted that you actually read the books. As Harry stares into a piece of broken glass, a person like me sits there wondering, "Why is that important?" People who have read the books know the importance of such an item, while I'm completely clueless. Still, 'Deathly Hallows' is the most engaging of all the films in my opinion. Its action and suspense don't quit. It's just a fun ride. I know that you're dying to tell me how wrong I could possibly be, and how 'Deathly Hallows' is actually the worst film in the entire series. I would like to hear what you guys think so make full use of the forums. With any luck we'll start an all out war. Then again we're only Muggles so what do we know?Posted Tue Apr 12, 2011 at 12:20 PM PDT by: -
'Entourage: The Complete Seventh Season' Blu-ray Announced[teaser]The seventh season of the comedy series is getting the high-definition treatment in July. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, HBO is preparing 'Entourage: The Complete Seventh Season' for Blu-ray release on July 12. The Blu-ray edition will feature 1080p (1.78:1) video, an English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements will include audio commentaries, interviews and featurettes. Suggested list price for this set will be $49.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Entourage: The Complete Seventh Season' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under July 12.Posted Tue Apr 12, 2011 at 12:10 PM PDT by: -
'Death at a Funeral' Announced for Blu-ray[teaser]Frank Oz's 2007 British comedy will mourn on Blu-ray in June. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, MGM/UA will be bringing 'Death at a Funeral' starring Matthew MacFadyen, Andy Nyman, and Ewen Bremner to Blu-ray on June 7. The film was remade stateside in 2010. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements include: Commentary with Director Frank Oz, Commentary with Writer Dean Craig and Actors Alan Tudyk and Andy Nyman, and a Gag Reel. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $19.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Death at a Funeral' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under June 7.Posted Tue Apr 12, 2011 at 12:00 PM PDT by: -
'Belly of the Beast' Blu-ray Dated[teaser]Steven Seagal's belly returns to Blu-ray this July. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Image Entertainment says 'Belly of the Beast' is headed for Blu-ray on July 19. Seagal stars as Jake Hopper, an ex-CIA agent who goes on a tirade after his daughter is kidnapped by Islamic fundamentalists in Thailand. Specs and supplements have yet to be announced, but suggested list price for the Blu-ray set is $17.97. You can find the latest specs for 'Belly of the Beast' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under July 19.Posted Tue Apr 12, 2011 at 11:00 AM PDT by: -
'Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives' Announced for Blu-ray[teaser]The winner of the Palme d'Or at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival is bound for Blu-ray this July. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Strand Releasing will release the Thai fantasy 'Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives' directed by Apichatpong Weerasethakul on Blu-ray on July 12. Suffering from acute kidney failure, Uncle Boonmee has chosen to spend his final days surrounded by his loved ones in the countryside. Surprisingly, the ghost of his deceased wife appears to care for him, and his long lost son returns home in a non-human form. Contemplating the reasons for his illness, Boonmee treks through the jungle with his family to a mysterious hilltop cave – the birthplace of his first life… Specs and supplements have yet to be revealed, but suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $34.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under July 12.Posted Tue Apr 12, 2011 at 10:00 AM PDT by: -
'Justice League: Season 2' Blu-ray Dated & Detailed[teaser]The second season of the DC Comics animated series is going high-def in July. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Warner Brothers says 'Justice League: Season 2' is headed to Blu-ray on July 26. The two-disc set will present all 26 episodes in 1080p video, a Dolby Digital 2.0 soundtrack, and supplements include: Audio Commentaries on 3 select episodes with the creators and directors of the series; Justice League Declassified - Phil LaMarr (The Voice of Green Lantern) Takes You Behind the Scenes with the Show's Creative Team; and Easter Egg Not to Savage, A Never Seen Before Deleted Scene with an Introduction by Producer Bruce Timm. Header Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $39.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Justice League: Season 2' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under July 26.Posted Tue Apr 12, 2011 at 08:00 AM PDT by: -
LG Shows New Prototypes Including "Tweet TV" and Glasses-Free 3D[teaser]Tweet TV relies on an Android smartphone with a digital TV receiver. [/teaser] LG has come up with some interesting new mobile television prototypes that they hope will help to pave the way for more mobile sets. Perhaps the most interesting is the first mobile TV that displays 3D images broadcast on the ATSC Mobile DTV standard. The exciting bit, of course, is that it gives you 3D without the need for 3D glasses - an essential for a small device like this. The second offering doesn't generate quite the same feeling of excitement. It's called Tweet-TV and it's an application that allows users to both read and write Twitter messages while they're watching a show. Tweets will be displayed in a transparent panel over part of the screen. LG sees this as an opportunity to get people involved in shows and share their thoughts with other fans. Source: PR NewswirePosted Tue Apr 12, 2011 at 07:00 AM PDT by: -
Enter the blog, er, grid, and win TRON and TRON LEGACY 5-disc set on Blu-ray![teaser]Did you like the 'Black Swan' contest The Bonus View had recently? Then just wait till you hear what they're giving away this week! The complete 5-disc 'Tron' and 'Tron: Legacy' 2-Movie Collection on Blu-ray (which includes both 2D and 3D copies of the second film). [/teaser] That’s right, The Bonus View is going all the way here. The prize is the 'Tron' and 'Tron: Legacy' 5-disc Blu-ray package that includes all of the following, packaged in a slipcover with sweet lenticular 3D artwork. 'Tron: The Original Classic' (Blu-ray) 'Tron: Legacy' (Blu-ray) 'Tron: Legacy' (Blu-ray 3D) 'Tron: Legacy' (DVD) 'Tron: Legacy' (Digital Copy) You've probably had enough caption contests recently, so they're throwing a little culture into the mix. This one is a haiku contest. To win the prize, you must come up with a creative 'Tron'-themed haiku in the standard 5-7-5 format. That means 5 syllables in the first line, 7 syllables in the second line, and another 5 syllables in the third line. Check out The Bonus View for examples and further details The winner will be selected based on our own subjective discretion. We have one copy of the prize to give away, so there can only be one winner. Entries are limited to 10 per person. That should give you plenty of opportunities to craft a good submission, but will also help us to avoid any potential appearance of awarding prizes based on volume rather than quality. The deadline for entry is this Friday, April 15th. The winner will be announced next week. Good luck, everyone! Go to The Bonus View for details and to submit your Haiku masterpieces!Posted Tue Apr 12, 2011 at 06:35 AM PDT by: -
'Torso' Blu-ray Announced and Detailed[teaser] The 1978 Eurotrash horror flick will be slicing and dicing Blu-ray this July. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Blue Underground is planning to release 'Torso' on Blu-ray on July 26. Directed by Sergio Martino ('Mountain of the Cannibal God') and starring Suzy Kendall ('The Bird with the Crystal Plumage') and Tina Aumont ('Salon Kitty'), this Euro Horror chiller was originally released in America with much of its controversial violence removed by censors. Now freshly transferred in thrilling High Definition from the original negative, TORSO is presented in both its Uncensored English Version and Full-Length Italian Director's Cut for the first time ever! The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, DTS-HD Mono soundtracks, and supplements include Murders in Perugia - Interview with Co-Writer/Director Sergio Martino, U.S. Opening Credits, U.S. and International Trailers, Radio and TV Spots, and Poster & Still Gallery. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $29.98. You can find the latest specs for 'Torso' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under July 26.Posted Tue Apr 12, 2011 at 06:00 AM PDT by:
