To Buy or Not to Buy? A Blu-ray Question

[Ari]

And knowing is half the battle.

[Spiderine]

Hah, yeah. I figure I can get a decent set for like $1200 or so.

[ScooterLaBeef]

Hah, yeah. I figure I can get a decent set for like $1200 or so.

I dont know man, is that in canadian or US?

[Abraham Smashington]

shit, my plasma was only 1100 and it's 1080p and works like a charm

[nerdious dorkus]

but it's a plasma. screen retention and possible burn ins, no thanks!

[Abraham Smashington]

Meh, it's not that bad anymore. No burn in and the retention goes away after a few mins.

[Spiderine]

Yeah, I want an LCD. Preferrably like a 42-inch.

[nerdious dorkus]

want to know the specs on a blu-ray title? check out blu-ray statistics. it collects imdb rating, codec used, audio, best price and others.

[Abraham Smashington]

That means nothing to me. What's the best codec? I only wonder because after watching Starship Troopers it's like only half the movie was remastered. It was fucking wierd.

[nerdious dorkus]

the vc-1 codec is standard industry for hddvd, blu-ray and wmv9. it's the one you want to go with when choosing better video.

[Ari]

Ok, I missed a few weeks, time to play some catch up!

FOR 7/22/08

21
Special Features:
-Audio Commentary with director Robert Luketic and co-producers Michael de Luca & Dana Brunetti
-Featurette: "Basic Strategy: A Complete Film Journal" (HD, 25 minutes)
-Featurette: "Money Plays: A Tour of the Good Life"(HD, 7 minutes)
-Featurette: "21: The Advantage Player" (HD, 5 minutes)
-Theatrical Trailersfor other movies(HD)

Blu-Ray Special Features:
-Interactive Game: "Virtual Blackjack"

Note: All special features from the dvd are on the Blu-ray.

The Exorcism of Emily Rose
Special Features:
-Audio Commentary with director Scott Derrickson
-Genesis of the Story (SD, 20 minutes)
-Casting the Film (SD, 12 minutes)
-Visual Design (SD, 19 minutes)
-Deleted Scene (SD, 3 minutes)
-Trailers for other films(HD, 6 minutes)

Blu-Ray Special Features:
None

Note: All of the special features that appeared on the Unrated DVD from 2005 are on the Blu-ray.

I Know What You Did Last Summer
Special Features:
-Audio Commentary with director Jim Gillespie and editor Steve Mirkovich (SD, 18 minutes)
-Featurette: "Now I Know What You Did Last Summer" (SD, 27 minutes)
-Short Film(SD) "Joyride"
-Music Video(SD)
-Theatrical Trailer for other films(SD)

Blu-Ray Special Features:
-BD-Live-enabled

Note: All of the special features from the past releases are included on the Blu-ray.

The Mummy (1999)
Special Features:
-Audio Commentary with director Stephen Sommers and editor Bob Ducsay
-Audio Commentary with Brendan Fraser
-Audio Commentary Oded Fehr, Kevin J. O'Connor and Arnold Vosloo
-Documentary: "Building a Better Mummy"(SD, 50 minutes)
-Visual and Special Effects Formulations (SD)
-Storyboard-to-Screen Comparisons (SD)
-Deleted Scenes(SD, 2 minutes)
-Photograph Montage (SD, 5 minutes)

Blu-Ray Special Features:
-Picture-in-Picture
-'The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor" Sneak Preview (SD)

Note: This is not a remaster, but a transfer from the HD-DVD. All special features from the past releases look to have been included on the Blu-ray.

The Mummy Returns
Special Features:
-Audio Commentary with director Stephen Sommers and editor Bob Ducsay
-Featurette: "Spotlight on Location"(SD, 20 minutes)
-"Visual and Special Effects Formation" Vignettes(SD, 20 minutes)
-Outtake Reel(SD, 5 minutes)
-Music Video (SD)

Blu-Ray Special Features:
-Picture-in-Picture
-'The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor" Sneak Preview (SD)

Note: This is a transfer from the HD-DVD. All previous special features are on the Blu-ray.

The Scorpion King
Special Features:
-Audio Commentary with director Chuck Russell.
-Audio Commentary with director Dwayne Johnson.
-Outtakes
-Featurette: Alternate Versions of Key Scenes
-Featurette: Making of The Scorpion King
-Featurette: Working with Animals
-Featurette: The Special Effects
-Featurette: The Scorpion King - Man or Myth
-Featurette: The Rock and Michael Clarke Duncan
-Mini Doc:Ancient World Production Design
-Mini Doc: Preparing the Fight

Blu-Ray Special Features:
- Picture-in-Picture

Note: Transfer is form HD-DVD release. All special features are on the Blu-ray.

The Perfect Storm
Special Features:
-Audio Commentary with director Wolfgang Petersen
-Audio Commentary with author Sebastian Junger
-Audio Commentary with visual effects supervisor Steen Fangmeier and visual effects producer Helen Ostenberg Elswit
-Featurette: " "HBO First Look: The Perfect Storm" (SD, 23 minutes)
-Featurette: "Witness to the Storm" (SD, 4 minutes)
-Featurette: "James Horner at Work"(SD, 4 minutes)
-Still Gallery (SD)
-Theatrical Trailer (SD)

Blu-Ray Special Features:
-None

Note: This is the transfer from the HD-DVD. All special features from the past release are on the Blu-ray.

Urban Legend
Special Features:
-Audio Commentarywith director Jamie Blanks
-"Making Of" Featurette"(SD, 10 minutes)
-Theatrical Trailers for other films (HD)

Blu-Ray Special Features:
-BD-Live-enabled

Note: All special features from the SD dvd are included on the Blu-ray.

[Ari]

FOR 7/29/08

Beowulf
Special Features:
-A Hero's Journey: The Making of Beowulf (HD, 24 minutes)
-Deleted Scenes (HD, 12 minutes)
-Beasts of Burden: Designing the Creatures of Beowulf (HD, 7 minutes)
-The Origins of Beowulf (HD, 5 minutes)
-Creating the Ultimate Beowulf (HD, 2 minutes)
-The Art of Beowulf (HD, 5 minutes)
-Theatrical Trailer (HD, 2 minutes)

Blu-Ray Special Features:
-Beowulf In the Volume (PiP)
-A Hero's Journey: Interactive Version (HD, 44 minutes)
-The Journey Continues (HD, 20 minutes)
-A Conversation with Robert Zemeckis (HD, 10 minutes)

Note: All of the special features that appeared on the HD DVD and standard DVD releases are on the Blu-ray.

Clear and Present Danger
Special Features:
-Theatrical trailer (HD, 2 minutes)
-“Behind the Danger” (SD, 26 minutes)

Blu-Ray Special Features:
None

Note: All special features from the standard dvd are on the Blu-ray

The Hunt for Red October
Special Features:
-Director’s Commentary with John McTiernan
-Beneath the Surface (SD, 28 minutes)
-Theatrical Trailer (HD, 2 minutes)

Blu-Ray Special Features:
-None

Note: All special features from the standard dvd are on the Blu-ray

Patriot Games
Special Features:
-Cast and crew interviews (SD, 24 minutes)
-Theatrical trailer (HD, 2 minutes)

Blu-Ray Special Features:
-None

Note: All special features from the standard dvd are on the Blu-ray

The Sum of All Fears
Special Features:
-Director and Cinematographer Commentary with director Phil Alden Robinson and cinematographer John Lindley
-Director and Author Commentary with Phil Alden Robinson and Tom Clancy
-The Making of Sum of All Fears (SD, 30 minutes)
-Creating Reality (SD, 28 minutes)
-Theatrical Trailer (HD, 2 minutes)

Blu-Ray Special Features:
-None

Note: All special features from the standard dvd are on the Blu-ray

Dark City
Special Features:
-Director’s Cut Expanded Commentary with Alex Proyas
-Director’s Cut Expanded Commentary with writers Lem Dobbs and David S. Goyer
-Director’s Cut Expanded Commentary with Roger Ebert
-Filmmakers’ Commentary with director Alex Proyas, writers Lem Dobbs and David S.Goyer, DoP Dariusz Wolski, and production designer Patrick Tatopoulos
-Guest Critic Commentary with Roger Ebert
-Introduction by Alex Proyas and Roger Ebert (SD, 5 minutes)
-Memories of Shell Beach (SD, 43 minutes)
-Architecture of Dreams (SD, 34 minutes)
-Text Features
-Production Gallery
-Theatrical Trailer (SD, 2 minutes)

Blu-Ray Special Features:
-Pop-up fact track
-Digital Copy of the film (not compatible with Apple products)

Note: All special features from the standard dvd (both the old one and the new one)are on the Blu-ray

Doomsday
Special Features:
-Commentary with writer/director Neil Marshall and actors Darren Morfitt, Rick Warden, Sean Pertwee, and Les Simpson

Blu-Ray Special Features:
-U-Control track comprised of behind-the-scenes footage, cast and crew interviews, design and effects mini-docs, and pre-production materials

Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle
No info. at this time

Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay
Special Features:
-"Dude, Change the Movie!" interactive storyline function
-Audio Commentary with writer-directors Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg and actors Kal Penn and John Cho
-Audio Commentary with writer-directors Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg and actors James Adomian and Harold Lee
-Featurette: "Inside the World of Harold and Kumar" (HD, 22 minutes)
-Deleted Scenes/Extras(HD, 26 minutes)
-Digital Copy(SD)

Blu-Ray Special Features:
-None

The Lost Boys
-Audio Commentarywith director Joel Schumacher
-Featurette: "Lost Boys: A Retrospective" (SD, 24 minutes)
-4 Additional Featurettes (SD)
-"Haimster & Feldog/Multi-Angle Featurette" (SD, 23 minutes)
-Deleted Scenes(SD, 12 minutes)
-Vampires Photo Gallery(SD, 10 minutes)
-Music Video(SD)
-Theatrical Trailer(HD)

Blu-Ray Special Features:
-None

Note:All special features from the standard dvd are on the Blu-ray

Lost Boys: The Tribe
ASS!

Never Back Down
Come on, no one wants this shit, right?

Top Gun
Special Features:
-Audio Commentarywith director Tony Scott, producer Jerry Bruckheimer, co-screenwriter Jack Epps, Jr., and technical advisors Captain Mike Galpin, Pete Pettigrew and Vice Admiral Mike McCabe
-Documentary: "The Making of 'Top Gun"(SD, 147 minutes)
-Multi-Angle Storyboards(SD)
-Vintage Gallery(SD)

Blu-Ray Special Features:
-Featurette: "Best of the Best - Inside the Real Top Gun"(SD, 28 minutes)

Note: All special features from the standard dvd (which were missing from the HD-DVD) are on the Blu-ray. The film is a transfer from the HD-DVD.

[Abraham Smashington]

Dark City is a must fucking buy. I can't recommend that disc enough.

[Ari]

I'm dying, dude. Sarah is trying to get it straight from WB, but they are constantly sold out. I haven't really been looking in stores for it, but the places I have casually looked never have it. And I bought the PS3 BECAUSE of this damn Blu-ray!

[Abraham Smashington]

Shit, just order it off Amazon.