What Blu-Ray did you watch last night?

[Graham Ritchie]

I asked Connor, right you pick one tonight? reply you can, so the challenge began I came up with this one and it certainly got his attention worked well. All about "Interstellar" next time, are you sure I said as its a long one, yep next time however not forgetting about film, at last both him and Steven want to watch ET tomorrow. Its been sitting on the platter for ages, as they both want to watch it, but finding the time to get everyone together at the same time has taken a while, anyway that's tomorrow afternoon all going well.

I must add, I have had great run out of the Epson VP so far, very happy with it

[Graham Ritchie]

School holidays at the moment so thought I would screen this one from our grandson. I remember screening the 35mm print way back in 2008. If you have never watched "The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas", give it a go I would recommend it.

[Graham Ritchie]

Last night being New Years eve I had to screen this one, actually done it a few times now on New Years eve, boy does the years pass quickly, birthday tomorrow 72 yikes them bones, might have to give them a squirt of WD40 .

Of to Muffin break caffeine might help

Past screen shot.

[Brian Fretwell]

That'll be the Day, 1973, David Essex, Robert Linsey, Debbie Watling, Rosalind Ayers. RIngo Starr (who doesn't play drums in it) and Keith Moon (who does). Was also released as a 4x400ft and 1x 400ft by Derann. Mainly filmed on the Isel of Wight though the static funfair was Billy Mannings by Clarence Pier in Southsea. One I went to in the early 1960's.

[Ed Gordon]

A look back at the 4K releases of 2023 in terms of the 4K discs I've purchased and viewed that were issued in this year. Also includes my ten favourite 4K discs of the year which is not necessarily down to image quality and sound but more the overall package and what I think is the most desirable as a collector.

-John Clancy

While reviewing his favorite 4K discs he also discusses 70mm blowup prints, Super 35mm, Super 8, Techniscope and the advantages of 4K discs with HDR. In his review of the 4K Rocky release he notes:

..a beautiful 4K that once again is just like having your own personal 35mm print.

[Graham Ritchie]

Last night it was the blu-ray of the 2006 film "United 93".

[Graham Ritchie]

Picked this one up yesterday from our local JB Hi Fi shop, and I must say the amount of new titles on the shelves is impressive. For only $29 dollars "The Fugitive" in both 4K and blu-ray is a real bargain, so although as yet don't have 4K video projection only the TV can do that at the moment still trying to get my accountant "the wife" to ok a 4K player for that one, with no success to that idea as yet.

Anyway folks after watching just the blu-ray on the Epson VP, I do feel that this blu-ray that came with it, is of much better quality than the earlier blu-ray release of this title that came out many moons ago. Both picture quality and sound is excellent, more so if you have 4K projection which also includes Dolby Amos on the 4K disc

With a running time of 2hours and 10 minutes, its full on action from start to finish. Even if you don't have 4K, this two disc is a must have to own. Warner Brothers have done a stunning transfer, so I will give it a 10 out 10, get it while you can, its well worth it.

[Ed Gordon]

Watching it the other night, reminded me of something my father said to me long long ago, that while he was in Burma during WW2, when the news came that the Americans had dropped the bomb, it meant they were going home. I am sure that thousands of others were thinking the same. He never talked much about his time there, and I never asked, but he did say that disease was killing more people than enemy action, but also added he was full of praise for the American pilots who kept them supplied.

The pros and cons of dropping the first atomic bomb is part of what makes Oppenheimer such a riveting film to watch. The quote, 'Now, I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.', sums up Oppenheimer's conflict.

In a spine-chilling recording, Oppenheimer himself famously cited an ancient myth in reference to the Trinity Test (the testing of the first atom bomb in Los Alamos, New Mexico), saying, "We knew the world would not be the same. A few people laughed, a few people cried, most people were silent." After this, he pensively goes all the way back to ancient Hindu mythology, saying, "I remembered the line from the Hindu scripture, the Bhagavad Gita. Vishnu is trying to persuade the Prince that he should do his duty and to impress him takes on his multi-armed form and says, 'Now, I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.' I suppose we all thought that one way or another."

In Christopher Nolan's "Oppenheimer," the same quote appears a couple of different times.

Read More: https://www.looper.com/1353848/oppen...-explained/

[Graham Ritchie]

Watching it the other night, reminded me of something my father said to me long long ago, that while he was in Burma during WW2, when the news came that the Americans had dropped the bomb, it meant they were going home. I am sure that thousands of others were thinking the same. He never talked much about his time there, and I never asked, but he did say that disease was killing more people than enemy action, but also added he was full of praise for the American pilots who kept them supplied.

Screen shot of the menu

[Graham Ritchie]

Tonight it was the turn of the blu-ray of "Oppenheimer" , I thought that as its a three hour movie, I would most likely watch the feature over two nights. Well I was wrong, I landed up watching it right through, not only that, but one of the special features "To End All War: Oppenheimer and the Atomic Bomb" which ran for 1hr and 25minutes as well.

So it was a long one tonight, with a total of almost 4hrs and 25min of viewing time all up. I don't usually last that long, but it was all very interesting, highly recommend this blu-ray.

[Graham Ritchie]

It was a couple of nights ago after picking up a copy of Jurassic Park "Dominion" this week that I thought I should give it another go watching this movie. The last time was at the cinema, and at the time I was not impressed with it. In fact I was glad to get to the end after getting my ears blasted for over two hours was really enough for me.

So this time round, and the fact I have control of the volume I managed to watch the whole thing, what did I think? well I still don't think to much of the movie. I still feel it really was a missed opportunity with having both the cast members of Jurassic Park and Jurassic World not to come up with I think a better script. As far as the blu-ray is concerned, both the picture and sound are really excellent, and its much more enjoyable to watch on the VP at home than the last time at the cinema. I am glad to have given "Dominion" another go, at the low price for under $20 the disc was worth it. I am looking forward to going through the special features sometime in the near future.

After watching the last two movies, I thought that tonight it was a time for a different direction, what better than just the "Bad News Bears", included here are a couple of screen shots from its last screening with the grandkids.

[Graham Ritchie]

Ed

I just picked up the blu-ray of "Oppenheimer" this week so hope to watch it very soon.

Last night Steven my son payed us a visit and I said I have just the movie for you? what is it? you will see he always does that and I never give away what it will be. I like to keep people in the dark

Well it was this one "Apollo 11" and I must say the 70mm footage is truly amazing to watch. Its a must have to own for any blu-ray collection, Steven was amazed not just of the film itself, but the quality of the image shown on the Epson VP, certainly recommend it.

[Ed Gordon]

Last night I watched the three hour epic Oppenheimer. I decided not to view it in my home cinema since I knew I would not sit still for 3 hours. I had read the reviews, and already knew that this would be a "talking heads" kind of movie, with occasional explosions. I also was well aware of the complaints about unintelligible dialog in Nolan films. I am glad to report my concerns had no merit.

The DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack is superb. Although many scenes have the background music competing with the dialogue, I had no problems understanding the dialogue. Everyone talks a lot in this film, and they often speak rapidly to get across their point.

It's wedded to virtually nonstop music by Ludwig Göransson that fuses with the equally relentless dialogue and monologues to create an odd but distinctive sort of scientifically expository aria that's probably what it would feel like to read American Prometheus while listening to a playlist of Philip Glass film scores.

Credit: Matt Zoller Seitz July 19, 2023, (https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/o...lm-review-2023)

The 4k image is excellent, but since the aspect ratio varies from IMAX flat to letterboxed scope, I preferred watching it 16:9 TV screen.

The 3 hour runtime is not a problem. I pressed play on the remote, and did not stir for and hour and 40 minutes. It turned out that at about the 1:37 the film has a perfect place for an intermission. I downloaded the subtitles file for the movie and found the exact spot to break for intermission:

1996
01:37:18,898 --> 01:37:20,733
What do we call the test?

1997
01:37:21,834 --> 01:37:25,605
"Batter my heart,
three-person'd god."

1998
01:37:25,638 --> 01:37:26,739
What?

1999
01:37:28,108 --> 01:37:29,508
Trinity.

Cillian Murphy does a great job carrying the film, and the supporting cast is solid. The film is good enough to merit more than a single viewing.

[Graham Ritchie]

Being Saturday night last night had me thinking should I watch a double feature? something nice and easy to watch mmmm...so I thought all about Liberad A Willy that's Spanish I think for Free Willy, this blu-ray came from Spain but it goes straight to English DTS 5:1 which is neat as its a title you cant get here. The Picture quality is really good as with the sound. A nice step back in time when we all went to the cinema to watch it. Second choice was going to be The Fog but decided on another blast from the past with the live action of 2003 release of Peter Pan that we ran the 35mm print at the cinema long ago.

By the way the Peter Pan 2003 Scope Super8 trailer is really good, With Free Willy I have the 35mm trailer on one of my mix it reels.

Anyway The Fog will be good on its own tonight

A couple of screen shots from last night.






Trailer also on 35mm but as flat not Scope like the Super8

For me the Super 8 feature release is one of the best color films released by Derann and simply magic to screen through the GS1200.

[Graham Ritchie]

Tonight it was this blu-ray, its not the first time I have watched "Non Stop" its full on suspense, with plenty of twists and turns, just the thing I like about a movie excellent picture as with sound, a good nights entertainment.