What Blu-Ray did you watch last night?

[Douglas Meltzer]

Graham,

I thoroughly enjoyed seeing Life of Pi in 3D in theatres. Suraj Sharma is excellent as the teenage Piscine (Pi) in the film. I'm sorry I missed the Broadway version of this (which originated in England). The reviews were excellent and the puppetry was supposed to have been amazing.

[Graham Ritchie]

Although I usually watch this one in 3D I did pick up another copy of it on 2D, during my rounds of my favorite store yesterday. The blu-ray cost be the grand total of $5 dollars at "Penny Lane" there average price of most second hand titles these days. The people there are brilliant, always time for a quick chat and time to look at there the vast selection of LP records including heaps of 45s. I did buy and it was expensive the new latest ""Abba" LP album, but that's another story.

Anyway back to ""Life Of P.I"" I first watched it at Reading cinemas on 3D and it looked stunning, this is where digital projection really comes into its own over 35mm film, both the "Life Of P.I", and "Hugo" being another outstanding 3D cinema visit are out on blu-ray 3D as well. Those two movies were made in 3D and the transfers to blu-ray are outstanding in picture quality. Back to last night I projected the $5 2D disc of Life Of P.I.

A couple of screen shots from last night. would highly recommend getting this one

[Graham Ritchie]

Its been an interesting week last night once again the blu-ray of "Jurassic Park" a DVD the night before which I must mention, and the night before that the blu-ray of "They Shall Not Grow Old" all projected using the Epson VP.

Now with this DVD thrown in the mix was a surprise as I had never heard of "Duma" before. I came across this disc in a second hand shop for a dollar. I had never come across a imported DVD disc, NTSC region one that came in a plastic sleeve with DTS at the top. so thought give it a go. Strange as it seems while looking at amps in another second hand shop they were also selling blu-ray and DVDs as well. Out of the blue there was a Region 4 again of this same title.

This is weird was my thinking coming across two in different places for a dollar each and not a mark on them. This started me thinking why had I never heard of this 2005 title. After a bit of research I found out the film had never come to NZ in fact it only had a limited world wide release, at one point Warner Bros were not going to release it in the US, but changed there minds and as such given a limited release.

The film was a failure at the box office, but those that went to watch it thought the film was good. So the other night lets give it a go, "Duma" was directed by Carroll Ballard, who if you remember did "The Black Stallion" and "Fly Away Home" both really good films in my book.

So how did "Duma" come across?, well to start with, the picture quality as with the sound on the Region 4 disc is excellent, filmed in South Africa "Carroll Ballard" did a outstanding job capturing some stunning South African scenery, as for the story and the actors I thought both were really good and enjoyed watching it, not only that, but the "cheetah" in fact six were used in the filming are real, no CGI like the Harrison Ford "Call Of The Wild" I watched a while ago, with this one "Duma" had real animals in it Its a movie I would highly recommend looking out for, full marks to Carroll Ballard, I think he did a wonderful job of directing this film.



The Region 4 Disc

Region 1 US release

A couple of screen shots from the other night.

[Ed Gordon]

.... We just watched the classic first two Sherlock Holmes films, "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes", and "The Hound of the Baskervilles ". Both looking quite nice. I know that the BBC Holmes series is the benchmark these days, but Basil Rathbone truly made this character his own.

The 1959 version with Peter Cushing is also very good. The 1988 Jeremy Brett version, is also excellent.

One of the best Hound adaptations

Though some may find Holmes's long stretches of absence disappointing in this adaptation of The Hound of the Baskervilles (the most celebrated of all Conan Doyle tales), it should be understood that these absences are in keeping with the original novel. Watson does much of the footwork here, and is separated from Holmes for most of the story. And since Watson was the man who penned the memoirs, he recorded his own experiences. When he was away from Holmes, he could not divine what Holmes was doing, and would only record Holmes's own account of his actions during their separation once they'd been reunited. So, in this respect, this version remains more faithful to the original story than any other. There is, after all, tremendous pressure to pack as much Sherlock Holmes as one can into what is ostensibly a Sherlock Holmes film. It takes guts to keep him out of the picture for as long as this adaptation does...but this adaptation shows its courage in staying true to the text, even if it means leaving Sherlock Holmes out of it, for the most part.

Really, this was the only one of the Granada feature films that could have been made at this time, as Jeremy Brett was (quite noticeably) ill and could not have taken part in a two hour film in which Holmes was on the main stage...the strain would have been too much. As always, Brett's Holmes (when he's around) is a remarkable performance, and Hardwicke's Watson proves yet again why he was a more-than-suitable replacement for David Burke. Overall, a fine adaptation of Sherlock Holmes's most famous adventure. This and, to a lesser extent, the 1983 television version with Ian Richardson are, to my mind, the definitive Hounds.

Source: IMDB

[Osi Osgood]

I was always find of "The Bad News Bears", which works on a number of levels. Mathau is brilliant, the kids wonderfully obnoxious, but it's the conflict of the parents living thru they're children that I remember most. We just watched the classic first two Sherlock Holmes films, "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes", and "The Hound of the Baskervilles ". Both looking quite nice. I know that the BBC Holmes series is the benchmark these days, but Basil Rathbone truly made this character his own. We just recently purchased on super 8 "The Scarlet Claw" as well!

[Graham Ritchie]

Hi Ed

I have never seen the other two, going of track a little bit is another film I think is even better than Koyaanisqatsi and that's Baraka its a blu-ray that is well worth getting, both picture quality and sound are excellent.

Getting a bit of a collection of Imprint releases these days, here they are below ,not shown are two others "The War Of The Worlds 1953" and "When Worlds Collide 1951".

The only title I have not as yet watched is The Music Of Chance.


Baraka...released by Beyond.

[Steve Carter]

Saw The Final Chapter 3D,
Jigsaw is at it again, a good twist at the end. The 3D picture is pin sharp on this blu ray, skin texture is very good, Jigsaw at the book signing, is a good example. The puzzles with keys are well thought out, look out for the fish hook. The 3D depth is very good with no crosstalk, some scenes make you jump, the odd thing coming at you, blood splatters from the screen. Jigsaw is not your usual serial killer, the fact is he doesn't really do the killing, it's the failure of the person not completing the set puzzle in the alloted time and the victim not being helpful, times up!. Would I watch it again....yes I think I would, don't take it too seriously, unless your Jigsaws next victim.

[Ed Gordon]

I upgraded my earlier blu-ray release with the Arrow release, you do notice an improvement in picture quality "Koyaanisquatsi" in certainly an impressive movie and well worth getting. Its a real thought provoking film, watched it two nights ago, highly recommend it.

Graham, have you seen any of the other two films in the Quatsi Trilogy? I have read negative reviews of the third film, Naqoyqatsi which used a lot of old footage that did not have the quality Koyaanisqatsi has.

[Graham Ritchie]

We have our granddaughter staying with us, down from the North Island, so the other day she wanted to watch "Super8 the movie" again, since the last time was a few years back. The next night "The Book Thief" a brilliant movie. Last night by myself this time, the directors cut "Das Boot" 3hours and 27minutes to be exact, and tonight on my own, Bill Nighy in "Living" I only have this one on DVD but would highly recommend watching this one as well.

A couple of past screen shots.





Here is a trailer on "Living"

[Graham Ritchie]

The Arrow release is region "B" so I had a look as to what is a available in the US. I only see The Criterion Collection once had it. This is the type of film that should get a 4K release but not sure that will ever happen.

Last night it was "Non-Stop" blu-ray, what a brilliant script, so many twists and turns, nothing is how it seems, Lian Neeson in the making of, talks about the director being a fan of Alfred Hitchcock. "Non- Stop" is really a brilliant who done it film, that will keep you guessing right to the end, highly recommend it.

[Ed Gordon]

I upgraded my earlier blu-ray release with the Arrow release, you do notice an improvement in picture quality "Koyaanisquatsi" in certainly an impressive movie and well worth getting. Its a real thought provoking film, watched it two nights ago, highly recommend it.

Graham, this one looks interesting. Thanks for the tip!

[Graham Ritchie]

I upgraded my earlier blu-ray release with the Arrow release, you do notice an improvement in picture quality "Koyaanisquatsi" in certainly an impressive movie and well worth getting. Its a real thought provoking film, watched it two nights ago, highly recommend it.

[Ed Gordon]

... I have converted all my optical media to digital files so I can save them on my Plex Media server and project them with my digital projector via wifi on Roku. My films and digital media all project from the same permanent location which makes it easy to switch from one to the other. The 16mm, 8mm, and digital projector all use the same sound system which I can easily alternate via a switcher.

I have done the same thing Janice. I use JRiver instead of Plex. Isn't it wonderful to have thousands of hours of curated media just one click away?

RE: Star Wars, the original trilogy has held up pretty well over the years. The prequel trilogy can easily be replaced by a good 30 minute digest. The ending trilogy was a nice funeral for SW fans, but like all funerals, once is enough.

[Janice Glesser]

Last night I had my oldest son and the three grandsons over for movie night. By popular demand we watched "The Empire Strikes Back." I have converted all my optical media to digital files so I can save them on my Plex Media server and project them with my digital projector via wifi on Roku. My films and digital media all project from the same permanent location which makes it easy to switch from one to the other. The 16mm, 8mm, and digital projector all use the same sound system which I can easily alternate via a switcher.

I realized that my oldest son was only 1-year-old when Empire came out in 1980 and my younger son was born later that year. Amazing how popular Star Wars still is today.

[Steve Carter]

Soldier Blue special collectors edition German Blu-ray.
I have a special place in my memory of this film it was a British X certificate, so we knocked off from school and got into see the matinee I was about 13 years old at the time I loved westerns, because of the scenery bluer than blue skies. Yes the film was shocking the slow motion gunshot scenes, the mutilation of the Native American Indians. What made it more easy on the eye was the lovely Candice Bergen.
The Blu-ray is better than the previous DVD release running at 115 mins, the British cinema release and DVD had a running time of 110 mins, the original uncut version ran for 135 mins, this version never went on release and cuts had to be made for it to get a certificate.The source material is better and at last the correct aspect ratio, detail is not too bad some long shots are a bit soft focus, colours are bright the final scenes of the attack on the Cheyenne village by the the US cavalry is the nearest uncut version we are likely to see, as a teenage boy watching it in the cinema I didn't really understand the history, now I'm watching it with older eyes, I can say nothing in our World has really changed regarding what humans are capable of doing to each other. The other stars in the picture are Peter Strauss (Rich Man, Poor Man) and Donald Pleasence as a gun runner, music score by Roy Budd and one of my favourite theme songs Soldier Blue by Buffy Sainte-Marie. There is a nice little booklet attached to the cardboard gatefold case, text in German but some very nice stills from the film.