Blu-Ray Best Of The Best - for discussing releases only

[Soundwave]

Not sure if anyone is aware but Akira has finally been dated for the UK - 27th June is the day at last.

There's a nice looking steelbook on the way:

http://www.play.com/DVD/Blu-ray/4-/19095324/Akira-Collector-Edition-Steel-Book/Product.html?searchtype=BLU&searchsource=0&searchs tring=akira&urlrefer=search&strefer=BLU&searchfilt ers=s{akira}%2bc{57}%2bae28{Blu-ray}%2b

Popped my order in because the artwork looks better than my US edition

Neil

[teddymeow]

Not sure if anyone is aware but Akira has finally been dated for the UK - 27th June is the day at last.

Got my copy on order along with Evangelion 2.22 Special Edition which is due out toward the end of May.

In other, absolutely fantabulous, anime related Blu-ray news; Cowboy Bebop finally getting a US launch on June 28th.

[Soundwave]

Got my copy on order along with Evangelion 2.22 Special Edition which is due out toward the end of May.

In other, absolutely fantabulous, anime related Blu-ray news; Cowboy Bebop finally getting a US launch on June 28th.

Just finally got on the Evangelion bandwagon with a sub ?9 copy of 1.11
Never really got into it to begin with so looking forward to giving it a try now.

Good news on Bebop.

I've been tempted to pick up the Gun buster & Die Buster movie pack but not sure if they are good or not as I've never seen them before.

Neil

[englishbob]

Watched Summer Wars last night. Fantastic film, looks great on Blu.

Wow, like the look of those. Will they play on a Region A player?

[Btang84]

The boxes to both say region 2 (region B) but I'll check once I'm home tonight for you mate.

[NeoStuey]

Not sure if anyone is aware but Akira has finally been dated for the UK - 27th June is the day at last.

There's a nice looking steelbook on the way:

http://www.play.com/DVD/Blu-ray/4-/19095324/Akira-Collector-Edition-Steel-Book/Product.html?searchtype=BLU&searchsource=0&searchs tring=akira&urlrefer=search&strefer=BLU&searchfilt ers=s{akira}%2bc{57}%2bae28{Blu-ray}%2b

Popped my order in because the artwork looks better than my US edition

Neil

For anyone buying this version I hope they keep that truly fantastic Japanese Dolby True HD 5.1 192kb 24bit track as that is outstanding. I won't be double dipping and isn't that cover not as clean looking as the US one? I don't like that black area.

[NeoStuey]

Watched this at the cinema on it's UK opening day last Friday and bought the Blu-ray today from Amazon.fr.

AKA



Official Trailer

[JP]

Well after complaining about Arrow Films messing up films it seems they've partly redeemed themselves with their release of Rififi.

I believe the restoration is the Gaumont restoration taken from the original (camera?) negative so they're starting off with something that's as honest as we're ever likely to get but as their previous releases show, staring off with something close to perfect doesn't necessarily mean you end up with something close to that level.

A selection of screen captures can be seen here and here courtesy of HD Sensei/DVD beaver.

If you're a fan of film noir this is a film you really need to see. The most famous scene is of course the heist itself which is nearly 30 minutes long, contains no music or speech and yet I can't think of any other scene in any film that's able to envelope people as much as that scene does.

It's released here on the 9th of May and I really can't wait to get my copy.



EDIT:
There's a decent review with some more screen captures on BluBrew (A good review site for anybody who isn't already aware of it) which confirms that this release is taken from the Gaumont restoration, they also mention a few minor issues with the blu-ray which shouldn't really get in the way of the film when watching it.

There is always the option of waiting to see if Criterion manage to better this presentation but that could possibly be years away and not necessarily be any better.

[JP]

Following on from Lucas Arts' wonderfully titled "May The Fourth" site (Well, I liked it) which has been available for some time the site launched today with the first details of September's blu-ray releases.

The want people to visit the site and advertise it on social sites like YouTube and Facebook and they'll add information as this happens.

"Bring home the adventure and share Star Wars? with your whole family ? when STAR WARS: THE COMPLETE SAGA comes to Blu-ray Disc from Lucasfilm Ltd. and Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment! To be released beginning on September 12 internationally and on September 16 in North America, the nine-disc collection brings the wonder of the entire Saga direct to your living room, where you can revisit all of your favorite Star Wars moments ? in gorgeous high definition and with pristine, 6.1 DTS Surround Sound. Dive deeper into the universe with an unprecedented 40+ hours of special features, highlighted by never-before-seen content sourced from the Lucasfilm archives.

Special Features:

STAR WARS: THE COMPLETE SAGA ON BLU-RAY is presented in widescreen with 6.1 DTS Surround Sound. Special features include:

DISC ONE ? STAR WARS: EPISODE I THE PHANTOM MENACE

• Audio Commentary with George Lucas, Rick McCallum, Ben Burtt, Rob Coleman, John Knoll, Dennis Muren and Scott Squires
• Audio Commentary from Archival Interviews with Cast and Crew

DISC TWO ? STAR WARS: EPISODE II ATTACK OF THE CLONES

• Audio Commentary with George Lucas, Rick McCallum, Ben Burtt, Rob Coleman, Pablo Helman, John Knoll and Ben Snow
• Audio Commentary from Archival Interviews with Cast and Crew

DISC THREE ? STAR WARS: EPISODE III REVENGE OF THE SITH

• Audio Commentary with George Lucas, Rick McCallum, Rob Coleman, John Knoll and Roger Guyett
• Audio Commentary from Archival Interviews with Cast and Crew

DISC FOUR ? STAR WARS: EPISODE IV A NEW HOPE

• Audio Commentary with George Lucas, Carrie Fisher, Ben Burtt and Dennis Muren
• Audio Commentary from Archival Interviews with Cast and Crew

DISC FIVE ? STAR WARS: EPISODE V THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK

• Audio Commentary with George Lucas, Irvin Kershner, Carrie Fisher, Ben Burtt and Dennis Muren
• Audio Commentary from Archival Interviews with Cast and Crew

DISC SIX ? STAR WARS: EPISODE VI RETURN OF THE JEDI

• Audio Commentary with George Lucas, Carrie Fisher, Ben Burtt and Dennis Muren
• Audio Commentary from Archival Interviews with Cast and Crew

DISC SEVEN ? NEW! STAR WARS ARCHIVES: EPISODES I-III

• Including: deleted, extended and alternate scenes; prop, maquette and costume turnarounds; matte paintings and concept art; supplementary interviews with cast and crew; a flythrough of the Lucasfilm Archives and more

DISC EIGHT ? NEW! STAR WARS ARCHIVES: EPISODES IV-VI

• Including: deleted, extended and alternate scenes; prop, maquette and costume turnarounds; matte paintings and concept art; supplementary interviews with cast and crew; and more

DISC NINE ? THE STAR WARS DOCUMENTARIES

• NEW! Star Warriors (2007, Color, Apx. 84 Minutes) ? Some Star Wars fans want to collect action figures... these fans want to be action figures! A tribute to the 501st Legion, a global organization of Star Wars costume enthusiasts, this insightful documentary shows how the super-fan club promotes interest in the films through charity and volunteer work at fundraisers and high-profile special events around the world.
  
  
• NEW! A Conversation with the Masters: The Empire Strikes Back 30 Years Later (2010, Color, Apx. 25 Minutes) ? George Lucas, Irvin Kershner, Lawrence Kasdan and John Williams look back on the making of The Empire Strikes Back in this in-depth retrospective from Lucasfilm created to help commemorate the 30th anniversary of the movie. The masters discuss and reminisce about one of the most beloved films of all time.
  
  
• NEW! Star Wars Spoofs (2011, Color, Apx. 91 Minutes) ? The farce is strong with this one! Enjoy a hilarious collection of Star Wars spoofs and parodies that have been created over the years, including outrageous clips from Family Guy, The Simpsons, How I Met Your Mother and more ? and don't miss "Weird Al" Yankovic's one-of-a-kind music video tribute to The Phantom Menace!
• The Making of Star Wars (1977, Color, Apx. 49 Minutes) ? Learn the incredible behind-the-scenes story of how the original Star Wars movie was brought to the big screen in this fascinating documentary hosted by C-3PO and R2-D2. Includes interviews with George Lucas and appearances by Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher.
  
  
• The Empire Strikes Back: SPFX (1980, Color, Apx. 48 Minutes) ? Learn the secrets of making movies in a galaxy far, far away. Hosted by Mark Hamill, this revealing documentary offers behind-the-scenes glimpses into the amazing special effects that transformed George Lucas' vision for Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back into reality!
• Classic Creatures: Return of the Jedi (1983, Color, Apx. 48 Minutes) ? Go behind the scenes ? and into the costumes ? as production footage from Return of the Jedi is interspersed with vintage monster movie clips in this in-depth exploration of the painstaking techniques utilized by George Lucas to create the classic creatures and characters seen in the film. Hosted and narrated by Carrie Fisher and Billie Dee Williams.
• Anatomy of a Dewback (1997, Color, Apx. 26 Minutes) ? See how some of the special effects in Star Wars became even more special two decades later! George Lucas explains and demonstrates how his team transformed the original dewback creatures from immovable rubber puppets (in the original 1977 release) to seemingly living, breathing creatures for the Star Wars 1997 Special Edition update.
• Star Wars Tech (2007, Color, Apx. 46 Minutes) ? Exploring the technical aspects of Star Wars vehicles, weapons and gadgetry, Star Wars Tech consults leading scientists in the fields of physics, prosthetics, lasers, engineering and astronomy to examine the plausibility of Star Wars technology based on science as we know it today."
  
  Feel The Force of the Star Wars Infinite Saga Site!
  
  This September, the Star Wars Saga comes to Blu-ray for the very first time. Now you can be part of this groundbreaking release, through the magic of "infinite zoom" technology.
  
  When you share this site with your friends, exclusive imagery from the release will be revealed. And the more the site is shared around the world, the more the world will see.
  
  So spread the word today and "zoom" into the the ultimate insider's view of Star Wars on Blu-ray!

[Number45]

Nine discs!

I'm going to send my kids to their grandparents for the weekend (and possibly Mrs 45 as well) so that I can play them all without having to worry about anyone else's feelings/ears.

[JP]

Can't handle nine?

You don't have to go for all the extras though as they're also releasing the Original Trilogy and Prequel Trilogy as separate box sets which are three blu-rays each. If you are after all six films it's probably not worth buying them separately as they're going for just under ?35:00 each and the The Complete Saga is available for a touch less than ?70:00.


You could just wait for the 3D blu-ray set as Episode I is getting a 3D cinema run next year on the 25th anniversary of the original film.

[Number45]

I'm not an extras guy, and those boxes are awesome - so individual sets it is!

[SkilloChris]

That is some damn fine box art. I was 90% sure I was going to get the complete saga before, but this seals it!

[cutmymilk]

Thats pretty awesome. Dont think I'll be buying these on release but will eventually no doubt!!!

[JP]

Lionsgate have announced that they now are licensed to distribute all 550+ catalogue titles in the Miramax library.

The catalog titles does also include loads of other titles including Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair & Princess Mononoke which I imagine will be popular.

There's a few titles like Am?lie and The Diving Bell and The Butterfly which I've had to import from Australia but I'd kill for quality blu-ray editions of Cinema Paradiso and The Three Colours Trilogy.

Following on from this, Lionsgate have announced blu-ray releases for Am?lie, Bridget Jones Diary and Chocolat from Miramax on July the 19th in the USA.

I know a few people have mentioned wanting Am?lie but not wanting to mess around with the bloody expensive Australian release, the USA release is available to order here for ?11:45 (+?1:26 P&P).

You may be able to find it cheaper but I've not had a proper look around.

At the moment I don't know what the quality is like in the US release but as I mentioned here there was some serious issues with the original Canadian release.

I ended up importing both the Australian and French editions of the film and the quality was fantastic in both of them so it is possible to get an honest reproduction at the moment.