What Blu-Ray did you watch last night?

[Melvin England]

No photographs, but over the last couple of months or so, my wife and myself have binge watched the complete "Downton Abbey" series on blu ray. All six series, plus the Christmas specials plus the finale and, the bit that qualifies this post on this thread, "Downton Abbey - The Movie" and "Downton Abbey - A New Era."

Watching the series as a 2nd time after their TV runs, it is wonderful to pick up on little bits that one missed the first time. Watching them all so close together also improves the flow. One can pick up a remark to a situation that took place a couple of episodes ago far more easier thus totally enhancing one's enjoyment of this superb series.

I wonder if there will be a third film ? "Downton Abbey - The National Trust Years." 😉

[Ed Gordon]

I recently watched the 2022 movie, Living, which is based on Akira Kurosawa's 1952 film Ikiru. Roger Ebert's review of the 1952 version summarizes the what the film is about:

I saw "Ikiru" first in 1960 or 1961. I went to the movie because it was playing in a campus film series and only cost a quarter. I sat enveloped in the story of Watanabe for 2 1/2 hours, and wrote about it in a class where the essay topic was Socrates' statement, "the unexamined life is not worth living."' Over the years I have seen "Ikiru" every five years or so, and each time it has moved me, and made me think. And the older I get, the less Watanabe seems like a pathetic old man, and the more he seems like every one of us.

-Roger Ebert

If you watch the trailer for Living, you are left with the impression that this is just another Bill Nighy film about charming old people out to have their last fling. The 4 minute interview video below is more informative:

LIVING – Behind The Scenes

The film starts slow as it pulls you into the dull life of the main character. The last half of the movie explains why this man sitting on a swing in the snow is so happy.

The Rowan Tree with British actor Bill Nighy in Living

[Graham Ritchie]

Over the last few weeks I try to watch a movie a night on the Epson VP, while Yvonne watches more of the CSI series on TV, One movie "US Marshals" I have and always liked this one, with full on action from start to finish, excellent transfer and sound Next "Ice Road" a good movie but nothing special, however its an easy nights entertainment. "Last Cab To Darwin" an excellent Australian film, stunning Aussie scenery captured brilliantly. Starring Michael Caton, who if anyone can remember was brilliant in "The Castle" also out on blu-ray. Last night it was back to James Bond, with "For Your Eyes Only" the highlight for me is Scottish girl not only singing the hit title, but the only one to also star in the opening credits of a Bond film. To be honest after Roger Moore left the roll as bond I lost interest in the James Bond thing. I liked the light hearted along with the stunts/ filming locations of his series of bond films, they were just fun to watch..

On that note, here is the lovely Sheena Easton

[Graham Ritchie]

Last night it was "R.V" on blu-ray starring Robin Williams, we ran the film print at the cinema and always enjoyed it.

Tonight blu-ray was "Downfall" its not the first time I have watched it, impressive acting by Bruno Ganz.

The Epson VP has certainly been getting a lot of use at the moment.

On a side note and I keep forgetting to mention it, is a DVD "Shackleton's Antarctic Adventure" its really well worth adding into any movie night, and cant recommend it enough. I got this DVD years ago, and never tire of watching it, if you have a VP, its even better.


Back to "Downfall".

[Graham Ritchie]

I must have watched this one a million times and never tire of it tonight being another I checked through our old cinema records, Jan 2005 when we screened the 35mm print, yikes that's 19 years ago, how time passes. A few weeks ago I did screen the 1964 original on blu-ray, that's another one I have watched a lot since I first saw it at the cinema back in the 60s.

PS. Both picture and sound on the 2004 remake is excellent

The 2004 re-make is very good in its own right and makes a good nights entertainment

[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.