Blu-ray Review: Three Musketeers

The Three Musketeers (Special Edition) [Blu-ray]

Studio: Summit Entertainment
List Price: $30.49
Street Price: $18.99
Amazon.com: $19.98
Release Date: Mar 13, 2012
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Running Time: 110 minutes

4.8 Stars (out of 5) - Rated

Synopsis

The original three musketeers are past their prime and working menial jobs in Paris when their friend D'Artagnan rallies them to defend the nation. To do so, they must undermine Cardinal Richelieu's plot to have himself crowned France's next king.

Starring:

Juno Temple, Logan Lerman, Milla Jovovich, Orlando Bloom, Ray Stevenson, Christoph Waltz, Luke Evans, Matthew Macfadyen, Mads Mikkelsen, Til Schweiger

Director:

Paul W.S. Anderson

Blu-ray Release Date:

March 13, 2012

Subtitles:

English SDH, Spanish

Rating

Overall rating weighted as follows:

Audio 40%, Video 40%, Special Features 20%, Movie - its just our opinion so take it with a grain of salt

Audio 5.0 Stars (out of 5)

Dolby and DTS Demo Discs used as basis for comparison

? Subwoofer – 5.0 Stars

? Dialog – 5.0 Stars

? Surround Effects – 5.0 Stars

? Dynamic Range – 5.0 Stars

English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1

I didn’t expect a movie about fancy dressed sword fighters to sound so good. Three Musketeers has an amazing DTS-HD presentation. Surround effects are constantly filling the room with ricocheting bullets, sharp sounding clanging swords, creaking boats, high speed wind, and cannonballs that sound like they fly past your head. Dialog doesn’t lost in the action, the clarity of the mix is outstanding. Low end sounds are never forgotten thanks to a musical score filled with heavy rumbles and sounds of black powder gunshots, crashing boats, thuds of action, and tight sounding explosions. The subwoofer is so active that at times it almost seams like it’s overused, but it’s hard for me to complain about it because it sounds so good.

Video 5.0 Stars (out of 5)

Spears & Munsil Benchmark Blu-ray Edition used as basis for comparison

? Color Accuracy - 5.0 Stars

? Shadow detail – 5.0 Stars

? Clarity – 5.0 Stars

? Skin tones – 5.0 Stars

? Compression – 5.0 Stars

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC, Resolution: 1080p, Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1, Original Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1

Vibrant colors and a clean presentation give this film a great look and make it one of the best video presentations I’ve seen in a while. All scenes have warm and vivid colors and still remain to look natural. The bright red robes of the cardinal, the green lawn on the palace, and the rich colors of the king’s various outfits keep your eyes busy with lush colors. Skin tones are natural and dark scenes never loose details, or show any signs of compression. Clarity is crisp and clean and bring out the fine points of the intricate stitching on clothing, details of amazing building architecture, cobblestone roads, and even individual strands of hair.

Bonus Features 4.0 Stars (out of 5)

? Audio Commentary: Director/Producer Paul W.S. Anderson and Producers Jeremy Bolt and Robert Kulzer.

? Access: Three Musketeers: This picture-in-picture feature delivers "access to cast and crew stories, insider information about the making of the film, and more."

? Paul W.S. Anderson's Musketeers (1080p, 2:29): Cast and crew discuss updating the story for a new generation.

? Orlando Bloom Takes on the Duke (1080p, 1:59): A look at Bloom's role in the film.

? 17th Century Air Travel (1080p, 2:20): The director discusses creating the scenes featuring aerial warships.

? Uncovering France in Germany (1080p, 2:14): A short feature about shooting in Bavaria.

? Deleted & Extended Scenes (1080p, 14:18): Over 6 deleted scenes are included.

Movie – 2.5 Stars (out of 5)

Review

The Three Musketeers has been adapted into movies over 20 times. This version swings for the fence by making it an action heavy film and by adding elements of flight. Unfortunately the talented cast cannot save this film from its ridiculous script and substandard direction. It seems like the script was written to be funny, but it comes off as silly and rarely earns a giggle. Paul W.S. Anderson does a great job directing action, but seems to have problems with comedy and elements of drama. The action in this film is over the top but fun. It reminded me of watching a Pirates of Caribbean movie. The movie also suffers from lacking emotional appeal, it seemed like they just moved the story along enough to get to the next action set-piece. This made me uninterested in the characters and the story in general. Even though I didn’t enjoy the film as much as I wanted to, I might find myself watching it with the kids or using it to show off my home theater system to friends because the audio and video presentation is top notch.

Posted by The HT Guys, March 23, 2012 9:15 PM

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Blu-ray Review: Drive

Drive (+ UltraViolet Digital Copy) [Blu-ray]

Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
List Price: $30.99
Street Price: $19.99
Amazon.com: $14.89
Release Date: Jan 31, 2012
Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1
Running Time: 100 minutes

4.0 Stars (out of 5)

Synopsis

A Hollywood stuntman who moonlights as a getaway driver is lured from his isolated life by a lovely neighbor and her young son. His newfound peace is shattered, however, when her violent husband is released from prison.

Starring:

Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, Bryan Cranston, Albert Brooks, Oscar Isaac, Christina Hendricks, Ron Perlman

Director:

Nicolas Winding Refn

Blu-ray Release Date:

January 31, 2011

Subtitles:

English, English SDH, Spanish

Rating

Overall rating weighted as follows:

Audio 40%, Video 40%, Special Features 20%, Movie - its just our opinion so take it with a grain of salt

Audio 4.0 Stars (out of 5)

Dolby and DTS Demo Discs used as basis for comparison

? Subwoofer – 4.0 Stars

? Dialog – 4.5 Stars

? Surround Effects – 3.5 Stars

? Dynamic Range – 4.0 Stars

English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1

Drive is mostly a quite movie, but when action elements kick in, it really packs a punch. The subwoofer is not used as often as I would like, but when gunshots, car crashes, and engines rev up the low end has a lot of weight to it. The rear speakers get some action every once in a while to open the room up during the car chases and when a helicopter passes over head. Dialog performance was good, but a few whispered words where lost in the mix.

Video 4.5 Stars (out of 5)

Spears & Munsil Benchmark Blu-ray Edition used as basis for comparison

? Color Accuracy - 4.5 Stars

? Shadow detail – 4.0 Stars

? Clarity – 4.5 Stars

? Skin tones – 5.0 Stars

? Compression – 4.5 Stars

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC

Resolution: 1080p

Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1

Original Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1

Drive has a unique look. The colors are a tad warm and dark colors drip like ink. At times dark shadows crush details and tend to add a dreary mood to the film’s style.. Skin looks great and never looks too red or pale. Only one or too scenes showed signs of compression problems. Clarity performs well and brings out the fine details in clothing, beard stubble, leather grain, blood spatter, and stitching on the driver’s scorpion jacket (which is can be bought online if you look for it.)

Bonus Features 3.0 Stars (out of 5)

? I Drive (1080p, 5:26): Discusses the story and the characters.

? Under the Hood (1080p 11:50): Gives more details on the characters and the cast.

? Driver and Irene (1080p, 6:14): A look that the relationship between Driver and Irene.

? Drive Without a Driver: Entretien Avec Nicolas Winding Refn (1080p, 25:41): A long sit-down interview with the director.

? Cut to the Chase (1080p, 4:35): Goes over some of the driving sequences in the film.

? Previews: Additional Sony titles.

? BD-Live.

? UV Copy.

Movie – 3.5 Stars (out of 5)

Review

Drive is an interesting film, the story is simplistic, the dialog is minimal, and the pace is slow. In most movies, these would be all bad things, but somehow the director and Ryan Gosling’s performance add more to the film than its script and mood. Everything said or done is deliberate and calculated. Nothing is done or said unless it has to be. It should be noted that we learn almost nothing about the main character; we don’t even get to know his name. It reminds me of The Man with No Name western trilogy, you never learn the hero’s name and he didn’t speak much, but Clint Eastwood’s performance made it iconic.

Don’t watch this movie expecting to see lots of action. This is not an action film, its crime drama. Yes there are a few action sequences, but they are mostly clever and not meant to be a spectacle. If you like movies that are beautifully shot, enjoy watching great performances, and have a slow burn, Drive might be the type of movie you’re looking for.

Posted by The HT Guys, March 9, 2012 7:33 AM

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Blu-ray Review: Dolphin Tale

Dolphin Tale (Blu-ray 3D / Blu-ray / DVD / UltraViolet Digital Copy)

Studio: Warner Home Video
List Price: $44.95
Street Price: $17.99
Amazon.com: $30.99
Release Date: Dec 20, 2011
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Running Time: 0 minutes

4.1 Stars (out of 5)

Synopsis

A badly maimed juvenile dolphin is given a new tail, and a new life, through the efforts of the humans who save it in this true-life adventure saga. After losing its tail to a crab trap, the dolphin is doomed until a young boy spots its plight.

Starring:

Nathan Gamble, Harry Connick Jr., Morgan Freeman, Ashley Judd, Kris Kristofferson, Austin Stowell, Austin Highsmith, Kurt Yaeger, Cozi Zuehlsdorff, Ray McKinnon, Frances Sternhagen, Rus Blackwell, Marc Macaulay, Richard Libertini

Director:

Charles Martin Smith

Blu-ray Release Date:

December 20, 2011

Subtitles:

English SDH, French, Spanish, Portuguese

Rating

Overall rating weighted as follows:

Audio 40%, Video 40%, Special Features 20%, Movie - its just our opinion so take it with a grain of salt

Audio 4.0 Stars (out of 5)

Dolby and DTS Demo Discs used as basis for comparison

? Subwoofer – 2.0 Stars

? Dialog – 5.0 Stars

? Surround Effects – 4.0 Stars

? Dynamic Range – 5.0 Stars

English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, French: Dolby Digital 5.1, Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1,

Portuguese: Dolby Digital 5.1

For a family drama, Dolphin Tale has a decent audio presentation. Rear channels are active in several scenes. The room is filled with sounds of chirping birds, crashing waves, splashing water, bubbles, heavy winds, and of course high pitched dolphin squeals. The subwoofer doesn’t get much action, but it can be heard in the musical score and thunder during a hurricane. The film is very dialog heavy, and not one line is lost to any splashing water or dolphin clicks. It’s interesting to note that the beginning of this film sounds better than its ending. The first half of the movie is more dynamic and open, and the second half seems to play it safe.

Video 4.8 Stars (out of 5)

Spears & Munsil Benchmark Blu-ray Edition used as basis for comparison

? Color Accuracy - 5.0 Stars

? Shadow detail – 4.5 Stars

? Clarity – 5.0 Stars

? Skin tones – 4.5 Stars

? Compression – 5.0 Stars

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC, Resolution: 1080p, Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1, Original Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1

With its warm colors and great clarity this Blu-ray will look great in anyone’s living room. Colors are lush and vivid and help bring life to sparkling blue water, deep green grass, and shinny gray dolphin skin. Overall the film is a little on the dark side, and it tends to loose details in the shadows. It has crystal clarity and is able to bring out the fine points of wood textures, freckles, clothing stitching, and Morgan Freeman’s wild bristly white beard hairs. Skin tones were true, however in a few scenes the warm colors gave skin a reddish tint.

Bonus Features 3.0 Stars (out of 5)

? The Hutash Rainbow Bridge (HD, 2 minutes): An animated short.

? At Home with Winter (HD, 13 minutes): Behind-the-scenes with the cast and crew.

? Spotlight on a Scene (HD, 7 minutes): Director Charles Martin Smith and producer Andrew Kosove discuss the opening scene of the movie.

? Winter's Inspiration (HD, 18 minutes): The true story of Winter the dolphin that inspired this movie.

? Ormie and the Cookie Jar (HD, 4 minutes): Another animated short, this one has nothing to do with dolphins or the movie.

? Winter Meets Panama (HD, 2 minutes): A deleted scene.

? Gag Reel (HD, 3 minutes)

Movie – 3.0 Stars (out of 5)

Review

Dolphin Tale is a solid family film that doesn’t get too sappy or try to hit you over the head with its message. When if first heard about this film, I thought it was going to be about protecting the dolphins and saving the ocean. Those issues are discussed, but I’m glad to say it’s not what the entire movie’s about. The film focuses on never giving up and the willingness to except your fate. The tone is lighthearted, and even though the story is touching, it doesn’t try extra hard to squeeze a few tears out of you.

This movie was released in 3D, and it’s easy to tell. There were a few scenes that didn’t belong in the film except to feature 3D effects. Unfortunately, this added several unwanted minutes and made the pace drag in the middle. It’s strange to think that this film was based on a true story. There were a few coincidences that seemed too perfect to be real. When the movie was over actual footage of the dolphin Winter was shown, and I was pleasantly surprised to see the coincidences were based on reality.

Posted by The HT Guys, March 8, 2012 7:31 AM

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Blu-ray Review: True Grit (1969)

True Grit [Blu-ray]

Studio: Paramount
List Price: $24.99
Street Price:
Amazon.com: $10.99
Release Date: Dec 14, 2010
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Running Time: 127 minutes

3.7 Stars (out of 5)

Synopsis

John Wayne landed one of his last great screen roles as crusty lawman Reuben J. "Rooster" Cogburn, who reluctantly helps teenager Mattie Ross (Kim Darby) pursue her father's killer. True Grit is more a character study than many of Wayne's formulaic Westerns. The rousing final showdown between Wayne and the villains adds to the Duke's long list of outstanding movie moments.

Starring:

John Wayne, Glen Campbell, Kim Darby, Jeremy Slate, Robert Duvall, Dennis Hopper, Alfred Ryder, Strother Martin

Director:

Henry Hathaway

Blu-ray Release Date:

December 14, 2010

Subtitles:

English, English SDH, French, Spanish, Portuguese

Rating

Overall rating weighted as follows:

Audio 40%, Video 40%, Special Features 20%, Movie - its just our opinion so take it with a grain of salt

Audio 3.0 Stars (out of 5)

Dolby and DTS Demo Discs used as basis for comparison

? Subwoofer – 1.5 Stars

? Dialog – 5.0 Stars

? Surround Effects – 1.5 Stars

? Dynamic Range – 4.0 Stars

English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, English: Dolby Digital Mono (Original), French: Dolby Digital Mono, Spanish: Dolby Digital Mono, Portuguese: Dolby Digital Mono

The original audio was mono upgrading it to DTS-HD Master Audio was probably a difficult task. However, this mix is not the best example of upgrading old school audio to a new format. Listening to this movie made me realize how much of a subwoofer junkie I am. I was expecting to hear booming gunfire and the hefty thuds of galloping horses, but instead the closest thing I to bass I heard was John Wayne’s voice. Surround effects were also almost non-existant. I put my ears to the rear speakers and heard a little music and even wind at times. So there was some sound coming out of the rear speakers, but it wasn’t enough to add to the film. However, the dialog was handled superbly, and every unique sounding line the Duke delivered were heard without a hitch.

Video 4.7 Stars (out of 5)

Spears & Munsil Benchmark Blu-ray Edition used as basis for comparison

? Color Accuracy - 5.0 Stars

? Shadow detail – 4.5 Stars

? Clarity – 4.5 Stars

? Skin tones – 5.0 Stars

? Compression – 4.5 Stars

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC, Resolution: 1080p, Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1, Original Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1

Paramount did a decent job converting this classic to Blu-ray. However, every once in a while a scratch or dot can be seen showing the true age of the movie. Film grain is surprisingly low, and colors are natural and help feature lush Colorado landscapes of snowcapped mountains, golden fields, blue skies, and deep green trees. Clarity gets a little fuzzy at times but it good enough to bring out fine details of fancy corduroy vests, clothing textures, lose hairs, bricks, and rugged looking beard stubble. Dark colors are handled fairly well, and only lose details in a few scenes.

Bonus Features 3.0 Stars (out of 5)

? Audio Commentary: Western historians Jeb Rosebrook, Bob Boze Bell, and J. Stuart Rosebrook speak on the differences between the novel and the movie, charaters, and more.

? True Writing (480p, 4:27): A short video that discusses the original Charles Protis novel.

? Working With the Duke (480p, 10:14): Cast and crew reflect on what it was like to work with the ledged John Wayne.

? Aspen Gold: The Locations of True Grit (480p, 10:18): A quick look at the film's shooting locations.

? The Law and the Lawless (480p, 5:45): A small video about the outlaws and the laws of the old west.

? True Grit Theatrical Trailer (1080p, 3:40).

Movie – 3.5 Stars (out of 5)

Review

The first westerns I fell in love with were Sergio Leone’s gritty spaghetti westerns, and I stood clear of anything starring John Wayne fearing they would be too corny. I wish I would have given these types of westerns a chance. They aren’t as realistic or as dark as the westerns of today, but they are charming and fun. This movie in particular is directed as a lighthearted adventure that seams to mask its dark story. Its amazing that a movie that shows so many violent deaths and even a public hanging is rated G. This film earned John Wayne his only Oscar. Some tend to think it’s because he rarely talked in his prior films, but in this one he does most of the talking.

The tone of this film is a little strange to me. Everyone smiles way too much. Aren’t they aware that a drunk gunslinger is bringing a child into the wilderness to fight dangerous outlaws? It almost seams like they tried to make this film safe for families to watch. Even when there is violence, it’s never more than red paint on clothing. Even thought it looks fake, it somehow added to the endearing old school charm and made me like the movie even more.

Posted by The HT Guys, March 5, 2012 7:11 AM

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Blu-ray Review: Hugo

Hugo (Three-disc Combo: Blu-ray 3D / Blu-ray / DVD / Digital Copy)

Studio: Paramount Studios
List Price: $54.99
Street Price: $23.99
Amazon.com: $28.00
Release Date: Feb 28, 2012
Aspect Ratio:
Running Time: 0 minutes

4.5 Stars (out of 5) - Rated

Synopsis

When his father dies, 12-year-old orphan Hugo takes up residence behind the walls of a Parisian train station. There, he meets Isabelle, the daughter of filmmaker Georges Méliès, who holds the key to Hugo's destiny.

Starring:

Asa Butterfield, Chloe Moretz, Ben Kingsley, Sacha Baron Cohen, Ray Winstone, Emily Mortimer, Jude Law, Christopher Lee, Helen McCrory, Michael Stuhlbarg

Director:

Martin Scorsese

Blu-ray Release Date:

February 28, 2012

Subtitles:

English, English SDH, French, Spanish, Portuguese

Rating

Overall rating weighted as follows:

Audio 40%, Video 40%, Special Features 20%, Movie - its just our opinion so take it with a grain of salt

Audio 4.5 Stars (out of 5)

Dolby and DTS Demo Discs used as basis for comparison

? Subwoofer – 3.0 Stars

? Dialog – 5.0 Stars

? Surround Effects – 5.0 Stars

? Dynamic Range – 5.0 Stars

English: DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1, French: Dolby Digital 5.1, Portuguese: Dolby Digital 5.1, Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1

Hugo is not an action film, so don’t expect a forceful performance. With that said, I was amazed at the amount of activity in the rear speakers. Train engines, ticking clocks, barking dogs, crowds of people, and squeaking hinges fill the room with ambiance and help draw you into the film. Dialog is handled well, but the subwoofer doesn’t get much action. Some bass is present in the musical score and when trains rumble by, heavy clock engines run, and when fireworks explode. It has a solid audio performance, but I expect more from a movie that beat out Transformers – Dark of the Moon for the Oscar in sound mixing and again in sound editing.

Video 5.0 Stars (out of 5)

Spears & Munsil Benchmark Blu-ray Edition used as basis for comparison

? Color Accuracy - 5.0 Stars

? Shadow detail – 5.0 Stars

? Clarity – 5.0 Stars

? Skin tones – 5.0 Stars

? Compression – 5.0 Stars

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC, Resolution: 1080p, Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1, Original Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1

Hugo’s color temperatures change depending on the scene’s emotional content. It can be cold and dark, or bright with slight golden tint. No matter what the tone the colors are, skin tones look natural. There is minimal film grain, and it seems like lots of time was spent making sure the video was presented as sharp as possible. Fine stitching on clothing is clearly visible, every long thick mustache hair begs for your attention, gears in clocks and machines leave you marveling at human ingenuity, and I’ve never been so interested in seeing the fine details of smoke and steam. Dark scenes are handled so well it’s amazing to see blacks so dark and inky without compromising details.

Bonus Features 3.5 Stars (out of 5)

? Shoot the Moon (The Making of Hugo) (1080p, 19:48): An insightful behind the scenes feature, complete with interviews with cast and crew.

? The Cinemagician, Georges Méliès (1080p, 15:41): A look at the life and works of the influential filmmaker.

? The Mechanical Man at the Heart of Hugo (1080p, 12:45): A short that discusses the history of automata.

? Big Effects, Small Scale (1080p, 5:55): A brief look at the special effects of the movie.

? Sacha Baron Cohen: Role of a Lifetime (1080p 3:33): Humorous interviews that discuss the actor's unconventional approach to his role.

? UV Copy.

? Digital Copy.

Movie – 4.0 Stars (out of 5)

Review

Hugo is a well made and thoughtful film that touches on several themes that can stick with you long after the film is over. It’s universally known that Martin Scorsese is one of the best directors in film history, and he shows that he can make a compelling story without having gangsters, violence, or Robert Deniro in it. His direction is not the only good ingredient in the film either, the screenplay (based on a book) is top notch, and every actor involved gives a gripping performance.

The trailers for this film are misleading. This movie has no science fiction elements, and I would not consider this a family film. It is a drama families can watch together, but I think most children might be bored watching this movie. Hugo cleverly poses thoughtful ideas of the human spirit and the magic of human ingenuity without being too artsy. It also reminds us that sometimes things that are broken can be fixed, weather it’s a machine or a man. Hugo is loosely based on the true story of trailblazing filmmaker George Méliès. I consider this film to be a Scorsese’s love letter to the magic of movies. After watching this, it’s hard to look at any well made film without noticing the magic and art of film making itself. If you love movies, this movie is a must see.

Posted by The HT Guys, March 6, 2012 7:12 AM

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Blu-ray Review: Tower Heist

Tower Heist (2 Disc Blu-ray Combo + DVD + Digital Copy)

Studio: Universal Pictures
List Price: $34.98
Street Price: $19.99
Amazon.com: $13.54
Release Date: Feb 21, 2012
Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1
Running Time: 104 minutes

4.2 Stars (out of 5) – Rated PG-13

Synopsis

When a group of workers at a ritzy Manhattan condo realize their boss has swindled them out of their pensions, they vow to reap their own justice. With the cooperation of the building manager, the group devises an ingenious plot to recover the funds.

Starring:

Ben Stiller, Eddie Murphy, Matthew Broderick, Casey Affleck, Michael Peña, Téa Leoni, Gabourey Sidibe, Alan Alda, Judd Hirsch, Nina Arianda

Director:

Brett Ratner

Blu-ray Release Date:

February, 21, 2012

Subtitles:

English SDH, French, Spanish

Rating

Overall rating weighted as follows:

Audio 40%, Video 40%, Special Features 20%, Movie - its just our opinion so take it with a grain of salt

Audio 3.9 Stars (out of 5)

Dolby and DTS Demo Discs used as basis for comparison

? Subwoofer – 3.0 Stars

? Dialog – 5.0 Stars

? Surround Effects – 3.0 Stars

? Dynamic Range – 4.5 Stars

English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, French: DTS 5.1, Spanish: DTS 5.1

Tower Heist’s audio mix really doesn’t steal the show. It’s not a bad DTS-HD presentation, it’s just not exciting. Dialog sounds great, and the witty banter ever misses your ears. It’s also very crisp sounding with creaking cables, blowing wind, and random background ambiance. However, this film is front heavy, and doesn’t have much action for surround speakers. They can be heard during a couple of car chases, elevator doors, and car horns. If it weren’t for the decent musical score the low end of the mix may have been ignored completely.

Video 4.7 Stars (out of 5)

Spears & Munsil Benchmark Blu-ray Edition used as basis for comparison

? Color Accuracy - 4.5 Stars

? Shadow detail – 4.5 Stars

? Clarity – 5.0 Stars

? Skin tones – 4.5 Stars

? Compression – 5.0 Stars

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC, Resolution: 1080p, Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1, Original Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1

Warm colors and crisp detail make this film look great. The clarity is so clean that every grey hair on Broderick’s and Stiller’s head could be counted if you paused the movie. Tiny pinstripes on expensive suits, small freckles and wrinkles on faces also show great detail. Colors are warm and are sometimes a little hot. It makes colors on car paint, buildings, and the Thanksgiving Day parade look great, but it sometimes makes skin tones look a little too red or orange. Dark scenes look decent and loose very little details to the darkness.

Bonus Features 4.0 Stars (out of 5)

? Audio Commentary: Director Brett Ratner, editor Mark Helfrich and co-writers Ted Griffin and Jeff Nathanson

? U-Control Experience (HD): Two U-Control tracks give a Picture-in-Picture experience and a "Music of Tower Heist

? Second Screen Interactive Experience (HD): Download the "pocket Blu" app from iTunes, the Android marketplace or pocketBLU.com, sync your tablet, PC or Mac with the film, and enjoy yet another interactive experience.

? Brett Ratner's Video Diary (HD, 23 minutes): A behind-the-scenes look at the production of the film.

? Plotting Tower Heist (HD, 45 minutes): More behind the scenes videos broken up into 6 segments.

? "The Ratner/Grazer Connection - Parts One, Two and Three”

? "The Conspirators"

? "Set Pieces"

? "The Car"

? Alternate Endings (HD, 3 minutes): Two different alternate endings which are really deleted scenes: "15 Months Later" and "Lester's Bar".

? Deleted/Alternate Scenes (HD, 6 minutes): Nine scenes -- "Dead Fish Toto," "Charlie Arrives Late," "Charlie Invites Josh to Baby's 1st Circus," "Queens Girl," "Fitzhugh Matlock," "Blue Black," "Charlie's Speech," "Happy Thanksgiving Mr. Attal" and "Last Half Plea Bargain"

? Gag Reel (HD, 4 minutes)

? BD-Live Functionality and News Ticker

? My Scenes Bookmarking

Movie – 3.5 Stars (out of 5)

Review

Tower Heist is an entertaining unique film that might get better with multiple viewings. The beginning of this movie is a little sad but picks up when Eddie Murphy’s character is injected into the storyline. Even though Murphy doesn’t have much screen time, his charismatic performance reminded me why he was such a huge star in the 1980s. The entire cast did a great job bringing life to the ragtag team of inexperienced thieves trying to stick it to the man. This movie is funny, but it’s mostly a subtle humor that doesn’t go for cheep laughs. It was interesting to see veteran

Alan Alda play a cold and calculating Bernie Madoff type and come across so heartless.

I have to say, that this is the most original heist film I have ever seen. The people committing the heist aren’t really bad guys, they aren’t just doing it for the money, and things don’t go very smoothly. Even though there were a few plot holes in the story, it was enjoyable to watch mainly because of the talented cast and the fresh take on a heist film.

Posted by The HT Guys, March 7, 2012 7:14 AM

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Blu-ray Review: Puss in Boots

Puss in Boots (Two-disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo + Digital Copy)

Studio: DreamWorks
List Price: $39.99
Street Price: $22.99
Amazon.com: $15.59
Release Date: Feb 24, 2012
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Running Time: 90 minutes

4.8 Stars (out of 5) - Rated

Synopsis

The dauntless feline of legend goes on an animated adventure to purloin a priceless golden-egg-laying goose. To help him on his mission, Puss brings along his friends Humpty Dumpty and the super-stealthy Kitty Softpaws.

Starring:

Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, Zach Galifianakis, Amy Sedaris, Billy Bob Thornton

Director:

Chris Miller

Blu-ray Release Date:

February 24, 2012

Subtitles:

English, English SDH, French, Spanish

Rating

Overall rating weighted as follows:

Audio 40%, Video 40%, Special Features 20%, Movie - its just our opinion so take it with a grain of salt

Audio 4.5 Stars (out of 5)

Dolby and DTS Demo Discs used as basis for comparison

? Subwoofer – 4.0 Stars

? Dialog – 5.0 Stars

? Surround Effects – 4.5 Stars

? Dynamic Range – 4.5 Stars

English: Dolby TrueHD 7.1, French: Dolby Digital 5.1, Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1

Puss in Boots comes with a rare Dolby True HD 7.1 mix, and it takes advantage of it too. The subwoofer gets more action than most family films do. Firing canons, giant goose footsteps, and explosions all deliver tight low level rumbles. Rear channels come to life with sounds of wind, clanging swords, flapping wings, and of course meowing cats. No lines of dialog are lost to any of the Zorro like action. Even though this is a great sounding Blu-ray, it does not sound as bombastic as Kung Fu Panda 2 did. However, this presentation is strong enough to help keep the interest of any home theater enthusiast.

Video 5.0 Stars (out of 5)

Spears & Munsil Benchmark Blu-ray Edition used as basis for comparison

? Color Accuracy - 5.0 Stars

? Shadow detail – 5.0 Stars

? Clarity – 5.0 Stars

? Skin tones – 5.0 Stars

? Compression – 5.0 Stars

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC, Resolution: 1080p, Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1, Original Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1

Dreamworks spent millions of dollars making sure this movie looked amazing, and it shows. It’s almost unfair to grade a film on its looks when it’s created digitally. They never have to worry about lighting problems, bad makeup, or finding the best locations to film. They just need enough time to bring the characters to life, and they did a tremendous job. Every hair in the fine textured fur is easily seen due to the high quality clarity. Clothing textures, grains of sand, and even fine textures on eggs all take advantage of the clean sharpness of this Blu-ray. Colors are rich and vivid and don’t loose detail in the dark scenes. Sunsets look spectacular, rocky canyons are filled with rich orange colors, and blue cloud filled skies look real.

Bonus Features 5.0 Stars (out of 5)

There are hours of extra features for this Blu-ray, so many in fact I can’t think of what they could have added. Several games, short animated films, and lots of interviews are included.

? Puss in Boots: The Three Diablo’s

? The Cat’s Meow:

? Kitten to Cat

? Glitter Box Dance Off!

? Klepto Kitty

? Kitty Keyboard

? Fairytale Pop-Up

? Kitty Strikes Again

? World of Dreamworks Animation

? Purr-fect Pairings: The Voices Behind The Legends

? Deleted Scenes: Humpty Plots With Jack & Jill, Humpty Repays His Accomplices & Puss In Boots

? Blu-ray Exclusives

? A DreamWorks Fairytale

? Puss’ Paw Pouncing Challenge

? The Animators’ Corner

? Trivia Track

Movie – 3.0 Stars (out of 5)

Review

Puss in Boots is an entertaining family film, and it’s better than I thought a spinoff of Shrek would be. It basically has the plot of a heist movie and is very predictable. It’s a harmless kid friendly film, that doesn’t have as many crass jokes like some other family films do. I didn’t find it as funny as the Shrek films, but there are a few chuckles here and there. My kids enjoyed watching this movie but I have the feeling that this film won’t become part of their movie rotation.

Posted by The HT Guys, March 2, 2012 7:07 AM

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Only One Name Defines the Ultimate Hero ... Only One Format Delivers the Ultimate Experience ... Indiana Jones Blu-ray Collection

Only One Name Defines the Ultimate Hero ... Only One Format Delivers the Ultimate Experience ... Indiana Jones Blu-ray Collection

For The First Time Ever, The Complete Indiana Jones Film Collection Comes To Blu-ray!

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The man with the hat is back – and looking better than ever! The world's favorite globe-trotting archaeologist is, at long last, embarking on his greatest adventure – when The Complete Indiana Jones Blu-ray Collection comes to Blu-ray Disc from Lucasfilm Ltd. and Paramount Home Media Distribution. The Complete Indiana Jones Blu-ray Collection will be excavated in the fall of 2012 and will include all four of Indy's thrilling adventures, using the highest possible high definition picture and audio presentation – along with a "best of" collection of documentaries, interviews, featurettes and a few new surprises.

About Paramount Home Media Distribution

Paramount Home Media Distribution (PHMD) is part of Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment. PPC is a unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), a leading content company with prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands. The PHMD division oversees PPC's home entertainment, digital and television distribution activities worldwide. The division is responsible for the sales, marketing and distribution of home entertainment content on behalf of Paramount Pictures, Paramount Animation, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, Insurge Pictures, MTV, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, CBS and PBS and for providing home entertainment fulfillment services for DreamWorks Animation Home Entertainment. PHMD additionally manages global licensing of studio content and distribution across worldwide digital and television distribution platforms including online, mobile and portable devices and emerging technologies.

Lucasfilm, Indiana Jones™ and related properties are trademarks and/or copyrights, in the United States and other countries, of Lucasfilm Ltd. and/or its affiliates. TM & © Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved. All other trademarks and trade names are properties of their respective owners.

SOURCE Paramount Home Media Distribution

Posted by Shane Sturgeon, February 29, 2012 9:06 PM

Shane Sturgeon is the Co-Publisher and Chief Technologist of HDTV Magazine, an industry publication with HDTV roots going back to 1984, when Dale Cripps founded The HDTV Newsletter. Today, HDTV Magazine is a leading online resource for HDTV news and information and captures the eyes and imaginations of over 3 million visitors annually. Mr. Sturgeon has a background in information technology and has served in various consulting capacities for Fortune 500 companies such as J.P. Morgan Chase, Verizon Communications, Proctor & Gamble and Nationwide Insurance. He has a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Wright State University.

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.