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Ten Commandments (Blu-ray Review)

admin — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 02:26:43 +0000

A good companion film to the superior 1956 masterpiece sports a decent Blu-ray release from Echo Bridge.

I'm not a king. I'm a shepherd.

A good story is worth telling more than once. A great story is worth telling with regularity. A timeless story lives in perpetuity in many forms. One
such timeless tale is the Bible's Old Testament story of Moses, which includes the freeing of slaves from Egypt following 400 years of bondage and God's
delivery of the stone tablets containing the Ten Commandments to Moses. The story has been told in its written form through the ages, and...

Video

The Ten Commandments features a fair but generally underwhelming Blu-ray presentation. The 1080p/1.78:1-framed transfer nearly dazzles
in spots, disappoints in others, and proves serviceably good in most instances. The picture can be either razor-sharp or modestly soft. Generally, it falls
into a middle ground where fine detailing is adequate. Facial textures fare well enough and clothing -- both the slaves' tattered garb and the Egyptians'
cleaner, more regal costumes -- usuall

Audio

The Ten Commandments arrives on Blu-ray with a myriad of soundtracks, none of which are fantastic, none of which are awful. There seems to
be no rhyme or reason why Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS 5.1, Dolby Digital 2.0, and LPCM 2.0 presentations had to all be included. One might reasonably
think that the LPCM and a pick
'em between the 5.1 offerings would have sufficed. Nevertheless, a sampling of all four throughout the movie yielded little perceptible difference outside
of surround

Supplements

The Ten Commandments contains two extras. The Making of 'The Ten Commandments' (1080p, 22:50) features narrator Omar Sharif
guiding viewers throughout he making of the film. Included is behind the scenes footage, clips from the film, and cast and crew interviews which cover
the film's story, its themes, the making of the movie, comparisons to DeMille's film, historical influences, digital effects, set design, costumes, and more.
Also included is The Ten
Commandments

Final Words

The Ten Commandments is a decent enough movie considering it's something of a faux-epic, a made-for-television "spectacular" that certainly
fares better than many of its TV contemporaries in terms of sheer quality and story. Still, it pales next to the DeMille/Heston classic, no surprise, but this
Ten Commandments is a
watchable movie in its own right, even through uneven acting, modest and relatively phony digital effects, and a lesser pace and technical prowess. It
goes...

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Ten Commandments (Blu-ray Review)

Queen: Days of Our Lives (Blu-ray Review)

admin — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 01:22:48 +0000

They were the champions.

The seventies are often thought of, rightly or wrongly, as being a cultural wasteland in terms of rock and pop music,
especially after the halcyon days of the sixties, which saw an incredible variety of artists manage to claw and scratch
their way into the mainstream. In fact the sheer volume of iconic acts which debuted in the sixties probably meant that
any comparison with the following decade was almost sure to leave that decade suffering by comparison no matter how
great its music m...

Video

Queen: Days of Our Lives is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Eagle Vision Entertainment with an AVC encoded 720p transfer in 1.78:1.
Because this documentary relies so heavily on archival footage, the video quality here is understandably less than spectacular a lot of the time.
Some of this footage has never been previously seen, and its obviously culled from old 16mm (and apparently even 8mm in a few instances)
source elements. The results are ragged, grainy, extremely fuzzy a

Audio

Queen: Days of Our Lives features a lossless LPCM 2.0 audio track that suffices extremely well for both the musical elements as well as
the spoken confessionals. The documentary itself is rather briskly edited, so no really full performance segments are included. There are tons of
great little snippets of the band in concert and in some nascent music videos, but only the supplemental material (which also includes a lossless
LPCM 2.0 audio track) provide unedited musical performan

Supplements

Additional Videos include:
Seven Seas of Rhye (720p; 2:28)
Killer Queen (720p; 2:45)
Somebody to Love (720p;4:56)
We Are the Champions (720p; 3:13)
Crazy Little Thing Called Love (720p; 2:45)
Under Pressure (720p; 3:43)
Radio Ga Ga (720p; 4:48)

Additional Scenes (720p; 59:08) contains a glut of extra material covering all different phases of the band.
Archival and contempora

Final Words

Queen: Days of Our Lives is a great time capsule assortment of archival video interspersed with contemporary interview segments. The
band made the big time right at the cusp of the music video age and a lot of their nascent music videos, as well as some of their actual
music videos, are included here, not to mention some fantastic and rare concert footage and archival interview footage. Dramatically, this piece
isnt quite the revelation it wants to be, only because the ba...

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Queen: Days of Our Lives (Blu-ray Review)

Big Year (Blu-ray Review)

admin — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 18:19:37 +0000

One for the birds.

The allure of birding--I learned today that "birdwatching" apparently has negative connotations--isn't hard to grasp. You're outdoors with a
purpose. You're communing with nature, appreciating the beauty and variety of birds. There's also a "collect-them-all" element involved, a thrill in
tracking down elusive species and crossing them off a birding bucket list. It's a hobby for some, a way of life for others, and--for the record--I have a
real respect for dedicated birders. I say t...

Video

The Big Year flaps onto Blu-ray with a 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer that's always better than merely acceptable, but rarely--if ever--stunning.
The movie was shot on 35mm and has a rather heavy grain structure, which is mostly untouched here, although some scenes look to have been given a
light DNR dousing. There are times when the picture takes on a slightly filtered look, and the occasional halo-ish borders on certain hard
outlines--like branches in the woods--suggest that a

Audio

In four words: good, but not great. But you could've guessed as much. Family comedies aren't exactly known for ear-assaulting, room-shaking sound
design. 20th Century Fox has given The Big Year the usual lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track, and the mix does what it needs to
do with little flourish. What matters most here is that dialogue is clean, perfectly balanced, and easily understandable at all times. And it is. Everything
else is just a bonus. The mix is rooted up

Supplements

The Big Migration (1080p, 18:28): The only feature of substance on the disc is this making-of special, which follows the crew as they
trek across North America.

Deleted Scenes (1080p, 17:37)

Gag Reel (1080p, 5:58)

Theatrical Trailer (1080p, 1:47)

Sneak Peak (1080p, 4:50): Trailers for In Time and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.

Final Words

So, The Big Year was big flop at the box office, and I'm guessing it'll suffer a similar fate on Blu-ray. A comedy about birdwatching isn't the most
exciting premise, so the film would be a hard sell even if it were good. And it's not. It isn't bad bad, but there's little to recommend
here; it's not funny, the story is uninteresting on screen, and at every turn the filmmakers have played it safe. Birders, especially, will be disappointed
that the joys of their hobby ar...

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Big Year (Blu-ray Review)

Big Year (Blu-ray Review)

admin — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 18:19:37 +0000

One for the birds.

The allure of birding--I learned today that "birdwatching" apparently has negative connotations--isn't hard to grasp. You're outdoors with a
purpose. You're communing with nature, appreciating the beauty and variety of birds. There's also a "collect-them-all" element involved, a thrill in
tracking down elusive species and crossing them off a birding bucket list. It's a hobby for some, a way of life for others, and--for the record--I have a
real respect for dedicated birders. I say t...

Video

The Big Year flaps onto Blu-ray with a 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer that's always better than merely acceptable, but rarely--if ever--stunning.
The movie was shot on 35mm and has a rather heavy grain structure, which is mostly untouched here, although some scenes look to have been given a
light DNR dousing. There are times when the picture takes on a slightly filtered look, and the occasional halo-ish borders on certain hard
outlines--like branches in the woods--suggest that a

Audio

In four words: good, but not great. But you could've guessed as much. Family comedies aren't exactly known for ear-assaulting, room-shaking sound
design. 20th Century Fox has given The Big Year the usual lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track, and the mix does what it needs to
do with little flourish. What matters most here is that dialogue is clean, perfectly balanced, and easily understandable at all times. And it is. Everything
else is just a bonus. The mix is rooted up

Supplements

The Big Migration (1080p, 18:28): The only feature of substance on the disc is this making-of special, which follows the crew as they
trek across North America.

Deleted Scenes (1080p, 17:37)

Gag Reel (1080p, 5:58)

Theatrical Trailer (1080p, 1:47)

Sneak Peak (1080p, 4:50): Trailers for In Time and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.

Final Words

So, The Big Year was big flop at the box office, and I'm guessing it'll suffer a similar fate on Blu-ray. A comedy about birdwatching isn't the most
exciting premise, so the film would be a hard sell even if it were good. And it's not. It isn't bad bad, but there's little to recommend
here; it's not funny, the story is uninteresting on screen, and at every turn the filmmakers have played it safe. Birders, especially, will be disappointed
that the joys of their hobby ar...

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Big Year (Blu-ray Review)

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Grave Danger (Blu-ray Review)

admin — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 17:55:52 +0000

Who are you? If You're a 'CSI' fan you're someone who will want to check out this release.

In TV parlance, "Grave Danger" might be described as an "event." Here's a season finale episode (season five, to be exact), a two-parter, even, of a
smash hit TV show directed by none other than Quentin Tarantino, the Writer/Director behind several films perhaps a few may recognize, for instance
Pulp Fiction, Reservoir Dogs, and href="http://www....

Video

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Grave Danger's 1080p, 1.78:1-framed transfer isn't an absolute show-stopper, but it's a solid, nice-looking
presentation.
The episode was shoot on film; grain retention is evident throughout, and even the episode's predominately dark backdrops play with a pleasing filmic
texture. Speaking of, black crush is sometimes cause for concern, but never do blacks go in the opposite direction, artificially brightening to a shade of
gray. Fine detail is go

Audio

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Grave Danger features a good and involved DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless soundtrack. The presentation features
strong ambience, whether the light background din of the city at night at the first crime scene or the general sounds of the CSI offices. Music delivery is
smooth, playing with good clarity, fine spacing, a noticeable surround element, and a positive, balanced low end. The Who's theme song sounds even
better; it's lively, completely surrounds the

Supplements

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Grave Danger contains only one supplement, CSI: Tarantino Style (1080p, 17:36). This quality extra
features cast and crew recounting Tarantino's work, while the famed director discusses brining his unique style to the episode. It also looks at shooting
in and around the tomb, offers up some raw on-set footage, examines the need to spread the episode into a two-parter, and more. A DVD copy of the
episode is also
included.

Final Words

It's difficult to judge an episode like this in a vacuum, released as it has been separate from the whole, attempting to see it from two sides of the coin, on
one side the veteran fans and the other newcomers. "CSI" certainly has its following, but the name plastered on the Blu-ray
box is going to draw in a lot more fans who have next to no knowledge of "CSI" outside of whatever commercials they've seen during breaks in football
games on CBS. CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Grave Dang...

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Proof (Blu-ray Review)

admin — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 17:14:10 +0000

Excellent performances shape a fine film.

Am I crazy?

It proved tempting through the early moments of watching Proof to begin the review with a cheap series of puns, something along the lines
of
"Proof's proof of excellence lies in how well it either proves, disproves, or never truly proves authorship of the story's central proof, a proof
that may
not
be provable either by the
sane or the insane, a proof that provably exists in a composition book, but that is not a proof in the pu...

Video

Proof may represent the best video transfer from Echo Bridge yet. The studio's 1080p Blu-ray release is largely satisfying with nary a blemish to
be seen. There are a few random spots and a slight softness to select shots, but this is otherwise a top-grade presentation. Grain retention yields a
quality film-like texture and helps accentuate fine details. Facial textures are fine, clothing textures naturally intricate, and leaves, grasses, concrete,
and odds and ends around the h

Audio

Proof might appear to be a talk-heavy Drama, and it is, yet the soundtrack still manages to offer something beyond straight dialogue and
accentuating music. Echo Bridge's DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless soundtrack offers a balanced and clear experience. Though falling rain at the beginning
seems to live primarily in the front speakers, there are many surround elements to be heard. Music has a wonderfully airy, clear, and light feel to it; it
seems to hover through the soundstage to great

Supplements

Proof contains no supplements.

Final Words

Proof is a beautiful film about the complex universal language of mathematics and the equally complex workings of the human mind. The film
says much on human relationships, sanity, and family. It's beautifully staged, evenly executed, and brilliantly performed. It's one of the best amongst
the somewhat under-the-radar pictures of the 2000s, and it's rather shocking that Paltrow didn't receive a Best Actress nomination for her work.
Though it is again free of extras, this might b...

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The Son of No One Blu-ray

admin — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:45:40 +0000

This month, Anchor Bay Home Entertainment will bring The Son of No One to Blu-ray. Written and directed Dito Montiel (Fighting), the crime-drama stars Channing Tatum (G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra) as a young police officer struggling with past sins. The Son of No One streets on February 21st....

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The Son of No One Blu-ray

Young Adult Blu-ray

admin — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:28:47 +0000

Paramount Pictures Home Entertainment will bring Young Adult to Blu-ray in March. Directed by Academy Award-nominee Jason Reitman (Up in the Air), this dark comedy stars Charlize Theron (Monster) as Mavis Gary, an author of young adult fiction who returns to her hometown in order to romantically reconnect with her high-school sweetheart (Patrick Wilson, Watchmen). Young Adult is expected to street on March 13th....

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Young Adult Blu-ray

Disney Teases 2012 Blu-ray Slate

admin — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:19:30 +0000

On February 7th, Walt Disney Studios will street the new Lady and the Tramp Diamond Edition Blu-ray, which contains an insert teasing the distributor's 2012 Blu-ray slate. Titles include Pocahontas and its sequel, both Rescuers films, and a Diamond Edition Blu-ray of Cinderella. In addition, the insert also lists the Disney Vault date for both Bambi and Beauty and the Beast....

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Disney Teases 2012 Blu-ray Slate

Café de Flore Blu-ray

admin — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 11:08:17 +0000

Canadian distributors Alliance Films will release on Blu-ray Jean-Marc Vallée's (C.R.A.Z.Y., The Young Victoria) latest film Café de Flore (2011), starring Vanessa Paradis (The Girl on the Bridge, My Angel) and Kevin Parent. Street date is February 21....

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Café de Flore Blu-ray