Sign up for the FREE Tell Membership and receive benefits that include the digital edition of Tell Magazine sent straight to your inbox, product giveaways, coupons and much more!
Sign up for the FREE Tell Membership and receive benefits that include the digital edition of Tell Magazine sent straight to your inbox, product giveaways, coupons and much more!
Here’s a look at the latest DVD and Blu-ray Disc releases:
BLU-RAY DISC:
The 400 Blows (Criterion)
Big Stan (HBO)
The Fast and the Furious Trilogy (Universal)
Goldfinger (MGM)
James Bond Blu-ray Collection, Vol.3 (MGM)
The Kite Runner (Paramount)
The Last Metro (Criterion)
A Mighty Hearty (Paramount)
Moonraker (MGM)
Never Say Never Again (MGM)
Things We Lost in the Fire (Paramount)
Quantum of Solace (MGM)
The Venture Bros. Season 3 (Warner)
Watchmen: Tales of the Black Freighter (Warner)
The World is Not Enough (MGM)
DVD:
Big Stan (HBO)
Columbus Day (Anchor Bay/Starz)
Fling (Peace Arch)
Forbidden Hollywood, Vol.3 (Warner)
Happily N’Ever After 2 (Lionsgate)
The Last Metro (Criterion)
Lilo & Stitch: Big Wave Edition (Disney)
Never Say Never Again: Collector’s Edition (MGM)
New York City Serenade (Anchor Bay/Starz)
The Odd Couple (Paramount)
Quantum of Solace (MGM)
Secrets of the Furious Five (Paramount)
To catch a Thief (Paramount)
Watchmen: Tales of the Black Freighter (Warner)
TV-on-DVD:
Andy Richter Controls the Universe: Complete Series (Paramount)
In Treatment (HBO)
The Riches: Season 2 (Fox)
Runaway: The Complete Series (Sony)
Star Wars: The Clone Wars: A Galaxy Divided (Warner)
The Venture Bros. Season 3 (warner)
Voltron: Volume 7 (Media Blasters)
HIGHLIGHTS:
Bond, James Bond – MGM has put together another stirring (not shaken) collection of James Bond films on high definition Blu-ray. This time out we get The World is Not Enough (meh), Moonraker (meh) and, the real reason for wanting this set, Sean Connery’s Goldfinger. Completists will spring for the box set, but discerning Bond fans will be happy to know that all three titles are also available separately. In other words, you don’t have to buy Bond in space or Denise Richards as a nuclear scientist if you’re only interested in Auric Goldfinger, Oddjob and Pussy Galore. And I must say, Goldfinger looks spectactular on Blu-ray – a huge improvement over my aging DVD.
It should also be noted that MGM’s oddball Bond film, the aptly-named Never Say Never Again has also just received the Blu-ray treatment. This lawsuit-entrenched remake of the far-superior Thunderball doesn’t have a compelling raison d’etre, but it exists nonetheless. It too looks better than I’ve ever seen it looking, but it’s not quite as impressive as what you’ll see on Goldfinger.
Fast and the Furious – Who could have predicted the word "trilogy" would be used in conjunction with The Fast and the Furious? And even more amazing, the series isn’t done – a fourth (and final?) F&F hits theaters on April 3rd! In the mean time, Universal has packaged up the first three films in the series and given each a stunning 1080p transfer coupled with high rez audio. If you can enjoy these films for what they are – testosterone-fuled joy rides – this set is sure to impress. Check out the first drag race in The Fast and the Furious for an all-cylinders demonstration of why DTS-HD Master Audio kicks @ss!
TV-on-DVD – I’ve already covered Paramount’s excellent "Andy Richter" release and watch for my next TV-on-DVD Picks column coming soon, where I’ll have more to say about "Venture Bros." and "The Riches."
Watchmen – Kudos to Warner Bros. for putting so much effort into the wonderous world of the Watchmen. First with their Blu-ray release of the Full Motion Comic a few weeks back and now with The Tales of the Black Freighter, also on Blu-ray. Gerard Butler (300) narrates this grisly story-within-the-story and it’s definitely worth a spin for fans of Alan Moore’s superb graphic novel.
Greg’s Pick of the Week:
Quantum of Solace (Blu-ray)
MGM Home Entertainment | Rated PG-13 | 106 minutes | $39.99
I really wanted to love Quantum of Solace. As it turns out, I merely liked it a lot.
When I first learned that Daniel Craig had been cast as 007, I was thrilled. I knew he’d do justice to the role and I was right. Casino Royale was the best Bond film in decades and I absolutely loved how Martin Campbell handled the balance of action and drama. The film ended perfectly and I was chomping at the bit to see where the next film would take things.
Quantum of Solace, which picks up minutes after Casino Royale ends, starts with a bang, ends with a bang and has many bangs along the way. Unfortunately, there isn’t much in the way of a story stringing said bangs together. The film’s opening car chase is reason enough to see the film – it’s brilliant, edge-of-your-seat stuff. However, the rest of the film’s action has been shot Paul Greengrass-style and director Marc Forster mistakenly never lets the camera rest in one place for too long. The film is also at least twenty minutes too short and what’s missing is story and dialogue.
Despite my complaints, Quantum of Solace is still a rousing James Bond adventure and Daniel Craig continues to silence his would-be critics. And did I mention that car chase? It’s the reason this Blu-ray is my Pick of the Week. MGM’s Blu-ray looks and sounds ridiculously good and the film’s numerous action sequences make Quantum primo demo material when you want to show off your system.
EVALUATION SYSTEM:
Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 1080 projector
Carada Masquerade screen system (92")
Panasonic DMP-BD35 Blu-ray Disc player
Oppo DV-983H DVD player
Onkyo TX-SR805 A/V receiver
Definitive Technology ProCinema 1000 speakers
Datacolor SpyderTV PRO 2007 video calibration
Monster Power HTS5100 power center
BetterCables interconnects
UltraLink speaker wire
Related Posts