Written and compiled by The Film Nest guest contributor “FightinIrish” (peep him in the Comments section)
Did Christmas already come and go? No holiday titles this week and almost no titles at all. Small week for new BD releases, however, we are given the new Michael Mann and the new Harry Potter. Perhaps all other studios felt threatened by the Blu-ray box office potential of Harry Potter. WB even threw two reissues of the first two films in the series. There’s a hidden gem in this slate, starring Robin Williams, you’d be happy to seek out.
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Michael Mann’s latest. I missed this in theaters but the use of digital cameras, gives the film a look that I don’t think goes with the setting and mood of the film. If you’re making a period piece, a gritty gangster-type film, give me traditional film stock with film grain. The digital cameras, especially the way Mann’s used them, looks too out of the place, almost like cell phone video or something. The aspect seems off, the gun fights look like behind-the-scenes documentary pieces. It doesn’t have that “finished touch” look that one comes to expect. With Collateral and Miami Vice, this was easy to look past, but with this film, it just doesn’t feel right. Now what do we think of the film itself, here’s the review to remind you.
Supplements: Larger than Life: Adversaries, Michael Mann: Making Public Enemies, Last of the Legendary Outlaws, On Dillinger’s Trail: The Real Locations, Criminal Technology, Feature Commentary with Director Michael Mann, U Control – Interactive Timeline, U Control – Picture in Picture, Gangster Movie Challenge, My Chat, My Movie Commentary, My Scenes Sharing, IPhone APP, BD-Live
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
It seems that the fantasy genre has died down over the last few years, what with the end of the Rings trilogy and the demise of the Narnia “franchise,” but Harry Potter is still kicking strong and making huge money. I’ll pick this up because I’ve gotten the rest of the series on disc.. The question for fans is, do you buy these individually or wait for the ultimate box set containing all the films and a locker full of useless swag? Here’s our review and our thoughts of the film with respect to its use of D-Box technology.
Supplements: Additional scenes, Close-up with the cast and crew, J.K. Rowling: A Year in the Life, One-minute drills, What’s on your mind, Universal’s “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” sneak peek, WB Maximum Movie Mode, BD-Live, My commentary, Live Community Screening, Introduction to the Harry Potter Ultimate Editions by Daniel Radcliffe, Facebook Connect
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone Ultimate Edition
The first film gets a double dip on Blu, this time with a box full of that useless swag I mentioned earlier. This film, and the one that follows, really were the young kid versions of the series and who better to have directed them than Chris Columbus? This guy knows how to make family friendly/kids films. An enjoyable film and a good way to start off the film franchise.
Supplements: Creating the World of Harry Potter, Part 1: The Magic Begins, Featurettes, Galleries, Deleted scenes, Trailers, More!, In-Movie Experience with Chris Columbus, WB Maximum Movie Mode, BD-Live, Theatrical & Extended, Digital Copy (Theatrical), 48-page photo booklet
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Ultimate Edition
The second film in the series, considered by most to be the least favorite. One can definitely see the growth the actors took and it was obvious after this film that the series needed some growth in the direction and to take a new approach. A set, like the first, that will be loaded with collectibles and have the best-looking and sounding version of this film to date, as well as including the extended cuts.
Supplements: Creating the World of Harry Potter, Part 2: Characters, Screen tests, Featurettes, Deleted scenes, Galleries, Trailers, WB Maximum Movie Mode, In-Movie Experience with Chris Columbus, BD-Live, Theatrical & Extended, Digital Copy, 48-page photo booklet.
No film year would be complete without some sort of a biopic, or someone portraying another famous individual, and with this film we get a look into the beginnings of Julia Child and her impact on an everyday person. Will Streep get a Oscar nomination for playing someone famous, just as countless others have in the past? Seems odd that the majority of the special features are actually old shows of Child’s, showing how to prepare various meals. Oh well.
Supplements: Commentary with Writer/Director Nora Ephron, Family & Friends Remember Julia Child, Julia’s Kitchen, Secret Ingredients: Creating Julie & Julia, Poaching Eggs with Julia Child & Jacques Pépin, Making Hollandaise Sauce with Julia Child & Jacques Pépin, Mark Peel prepares Scrambled Eggs, Suzanne Goin prepares Braised Beef Short Ribs, Steven Lewandowski & Drew Nieporent Prepare Butter Poached Maine Lobster, movieIQ
Is this Robin Williams best film he’s made in a long while? We’ll have to watch to find out. Bobcat Goldthwait directs, never figured him for behind the lens, but you have to do something now that they aren’t making Police Academy 14. Read our in-depth review.
Supplements: Audio commentary, Deleted scenes, Outtakes, Behind the scenes, HDNet: A Look at ‘World’s Greatest Dad’, Music video
UFC : Ulitmate 100 Greatest Fights
Spike TV ran a marathon of sorts of their countdown of the 100 greatest UFC fights leading up to UFC 100 (really, why are they still counting?). That series was just the “I Love the 80’s” style countdown, highlight and clips of the fights with comments from various fighters and Dana White. This set, however, is each and every one of those fights in their entirety, which I must say is huge. I cant think of a fight in the UFC that wasn’t on the list, so basically get this and you get pretty much every fight you’d need to see in the UFC. The #1 fight though is a bit of a headscratcher for me. I know why they chose it, as I could think of at least 15 fights that were better. #1 though did have a huge impact on the future of the organization, no doubt.
Supplements: Yet to be announced.
