Avatar 3D planned for November 2010 Blu-Ray launch

James Cameron has confirmed that his hugely profitable 3D flick Avatar will be coming to home cinema users with all three dimensions intact, but you will have to wait until November this year until it finally arrives.

Some had hoped that Avatar would be one of the first movies to arrive on Blu-Ray when the 3D revolution kicks off in the summer of this year, but the film’s landmark technical achievements will not be completely available to consumers until the winter.

In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Mr Cameron said that standard definition DVD and high definition Blu-Ray versions of Avatar would be released in April for US customers. However, by the time the 3D version arrives later in 2010, titles such as Cloudy, With A Chance of Meatballs will already have made their debut in 3D.

Some observers have expressed their annoyance at the decision, as it means that many consumers will pick up Avatar in 2D when it first makes an appearance and will then have to buy it again a few months later when the 3D version is released. Creating special collectors’ editions of movies is not particularly unusual, especially since the dawn of the DVD and the arrival of multiple endings, special features and director’s cuts.

However, Avatar will still be one of the first 3D Blu-Ray releases. It should be able to really show off the capabilities of the technology and hopefully generate enough interest to finally give Blu-Ray its killer app.

Blu Rays February 2010

Award season is fast approaching and you can check out some of the winners, nominees and no-shows in the latest slew of high definition releases on Blu Ray.

Stardust: Special Edition
This fantasy-epic was a surprise hit, not only because critics were won over by its charms along with the viewing public. Fairies, magic, fallen stars and Robert De Niro as a flying pirate must surely add up to make fun and entertainment for all the family. More February blu rays

Blu Rays Released January 2010

If you have been gifted with a Blu-Ray player this Christmas then you might want to buy some top-notch releases to enjoy in high definition. These are some of the films that are heading to the format in January 2010.

The Taking of Pelham 123
This is a breathless thriller which is rarely seen in today’s fantasy-obsessed movie market. Remade from a classic, this sees Tony Scott behind the camera and the anti very much upped. John Travolta plays a ruthless villain who hijacks a New York subway train and Denzel Washington is the average-Joe announcer who ends up negotiating the release of the hostages. Despite its generic scripting and predictable plot, the action set pieces are executed with confidence and speed. More January release blu ray

Blu-Rays Of The Month December 2009

December is often the month when the summer’s big blockbusters finally come to the small screen and what better way to enjoy the cinematic delights they hold than in high definition on the Blu-Ray format? Here are the best films getting released before Christmas 2009.

Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen
It is arguable that unless you are going to see this film in high definition you probably should not bother getting it at all. This is largely because most of the action is so frenetic that it is impossible to work out just what is going on without having the crisp picture and high refresh rate afforded by the Blu-Ray version. In terms of plot, this is a bit of a mess, but if you are looking for a good amount of action and drama for your money then you will be hard pressed to find something more suitable.

  More December Blu rays

Blu rays of the month November 2009

It’s winter, it’s cold and we all want to be tucked up in bed rather that outside in the grim weather, preferably with some of the hottest Blu ray releases (and some warm buttered popcorn!) Luckily, there are some absolute scorchers due for release on Blu ray this November, so you’ll have plenty of excuses to curl up in front of the telly.

Wallace & Gromit: The Complete Collection
Due for release: 2nd November
Everyone loves Wallace and Gromit, with this Blu ray offering all of their family-friendly favourites on the one disc. Follow nutty inventor Wallace along with his ever faithful hound, Gromit in a complete selection of all of their Oscar winning adventures, including Grand Day Out, The Wrong Trousers, A Close Shave and A Matter of Loaf and Death.

November blu rays

Blu Ray of the Month October 2009

Another month, another selection of fantastic new movies, as well as the added bonus of loads of old classics becoming available in high definition on Blu Ray!

Observe and Report
This is a black comedy at its most subtle, released in stark contrast to Paul Blart: Mall Cop, the family friendly slap stick block buster which also follows the life of a Mall Security Guard in suburban America. Observe and Report, starring Seth Rogan of Knocked Up fame, is a very different film all together. Rogan plays a Mall cop who is delusional, depressive, schizophrenic and terminally naive. It’s got some laughs and comes close to being a great film, but some may find its subject matter and characters a little too disquieting for their tastes.

October Blu Rays

Blu rays of the month September 2009

With top notch new Blu-Ray releases hitting the shelves almost every day it’s hard to keep track, but here are the top high def movies to come out in September 2009. Better start saving those pennies.

This Is Spinal Tap 25th Anniversary Edition
The original rockumentary makes a return to the spotlight after a quarter of a century. Still considered by many music fans as the best biography of a band that never existed, its influence is still felt today in shows like The Office and Curb Your Enthusiasm. The special edition even comes with a mini Marshal amplifier which doubled up as iPod speakers. Turn your HD TV to 11 and enjoy!

The Quick and the Dead
In the 90s the best western in town wasn’t Unforgiven, but this offering from Spiderman director Sam Raimi. Packed with shoot-outs and starring Sharon Stone and a fresh-faced Russell Crowe it’s an action packed epic that doesn’t take itself too seriously.

Crank 2: High Voltage
Quite simply the most bizarre, indulgent, excessive and crude action film ever made, topping the insanity of the first outing in many ways. Jason Statham takes to the streets as Chev Chelios, a virtually invincible hitman who’s had his heart stolen by the Chinese mafia and replaced by an electric substitute. How does he keep his new ticker beating? With constant electric shocks. Mad genius at work.

Fast and Furious
The fourth film in the famous franchise saw a return to form earlier this year with fast cars, hot chicks and manly super studs all wrestling for superiority in the California deserts it’s got everything that a blockbuster could need. Also out this month is a box set containing all four of the films in the series in high definition, a must for all petrol-heads.

The Deer Hunter
Another classic from Robert DeNiro’s golden days, the Deer Hunter examines masculinity and relationships against the backdrop of Vietnam. It’s a true classic that rivals anything made by Scorsese or Coppola during the same period and will make a triumphant return in high definition.

State of Play
Arguably the most intelligent blockbuster released this year, it follows Russell Crowe’s investigative journalist from the oldschool and his young, female, blogging sidekick as they attempt to uncover government conspiracy. In many ways it’s an old fashioned thriller filmed in a modern way, but if you want to have your head and heart satisfied this is a good buy.

Snakes on a Plane
The film that proved the true power of the internet to influence the movies, it sees Samuel L. Jackson fending off attacks from pesky snakes whilst flying at 10,000 feet. Very silly stuff but endearing because of it. It shows that the 80s cheesyness hasn’t been completely washed away in a post-Bourne world.

Gladiator
Russell Crowe seems to be all over the September Blu-Ray release schedule and this is perhaps his most important entry onto this list. This movie won multiple Oscars and reminded the world that Ridley Scott was a great director. Ancient Rome has never been recreated with such atmosphere and authenticity and the gladiatorial fight scenes make Spartacus look like…well, Snakes on a Plane.

Fame
Just in time for the revamped remake, the classic 80s musical gets another going over for the high definition generation. The story of performing arts students trying to make it in the cutthroat world of show business isn’t tarnished by time and the delicious sense of place is a rare thing to find in any movie. If you’re a fan of Fame then you’re probably already rushing to pre-order it now.

Leon: Director’s Cut
Luc Besson’s entire back catalogue is making its way to Blu-Ray this month and Leon is the best of the bunch. Jean Reno stars as a hit man with a heart of gold, who takes a young Natalie Portman into his care and imparts some of his deadly knowledge to her in the process. Americans thought this was typically French, whilst French viewers though Besson had gone all American. Have a look and decide for yourself.

Dead Man’s Shoes
Before Shane Meadows took the world by storm with This Is England, he made Dead Man’s Shoes, a tragic and funny story following an ex-soldier seeking revenge on the local men who tormented his disabled brother whilst he was serving abroad. Typically English in its execution, it’s an involving and stylish film that invites close attention.

Freddy Vs Jason
Whilst both of these classic horror franchises went off the rails decades ago, this movie saw the rebirth of two cult horror stars, competing for the spotlight and fighting to rack up the highest body counts.

Get Your Blu Ray Fix For August

Plenty of great new blu-ray releases to pick from this month. First up is Fighting, the tale of a bare-knuckle boxer’s streetfighting career in New York. Written and directed by the excellent Dito Montiel, the man responsible for A Guide To Recognizing Your Saints, Fighting is everything you’d expect and want it to be; gritty, brutal and somehow romantic all at once.

Adventureland gets its eagerly anticipated outing on blu-ray this month too. Whilst it seemed that the film was going to struggle with critics and cinema-goers alike just for being what the guy wrote Superbad did next, Adventureland never struggled to get out of its shadow. It is a hilarious tale of a young student forced to take up a job in a decaying old amusement park – played by the believable Jesse Eisenberg. The story is a sweet tale, but it is the script that excels here, await Greg Motola’s next work keenly!

 

 

I Love You Man appeared from trailers to be a simple rehash of You, Me and Dupree. Fortunately it isn’t and when I’ve coaxed you back out from hiding behind the sofa in fear that it might be another turgid Owen Wilson flop, you’ll be relieved to hear that the film is a rather raucous comedy that will appeal to both men and women alike and is thus a fantastic choice for a night in with your significant other. As is Duplicity, a comedy stroke espionage thriller stroke romance, with Julia Roberts and Clive Owen. Although it is a bit more polished and a bit more sanitised, it is still great middle of the road viewing.

A quick mention should also be made to 17 Again – the new film starring the ridiculously popular Zac Efron. Honestly you’ll be hard pushed to find a critic speaking warmly of this film, but that won’t stop it selling like tamiflu at the moment!

Of course with blu-ray being a brand-new format, older films are being remastered and re-released all the time. Here are some of the highlights out this month. The Andy Kaufman biopic, starring Jim Carrey – ‘Man on the Moon – gets released on blu-ray for its 40th Anniversary Edition. Carrey’s detractors are certainly a numerous crowd, commonly criticising his over-the-top style and his perceived inability to play the more serious roles. However his convincing portrayal of the troubled and unusual comedian, or rather ’song and dance man’ in Kaufman’s own typically perverse words, is an absolute tour-de-force and earned Carrey a Golden Globe, as well as considerable critical acclaim. Completely overshadowing what are, in their own right, great performances from Danny De Vito, Courtney Love and Paul Giamatti. Darkly funny rather than traditionally hilarious and touchingly tragic in other places, the film is a fitting tribute to a comedian renowned for his dislike of telling jokes and his open admittance that he did not know how to entertain his audience.

Another actor who inspires a similar mix of adulation and antipathy, Adam Sandler, has his film The Waterboy re-released in high definition this August. Unlike Carrey, Sandler seldom tries to reprise his roles as gawping, idiotic, childish, mouth-breathing morons with anything altogether more respectful. However if all you want after a hard day is some easy laughs at a gawping, idiotic, childish, mouth-breathing moron, Sandler has very much cornered the market. The Waterboy is capable of raising a chuckle from even the most curmudgeonly of viewers with its likeable blend of slapstick humour and well, barefaced asininity.

 

Classic 80s horror film Children of The Corn also gets the blu-ray treatment this month. For the uninitiated, it is based on a characteristically dark Steven King short story and tells the tale of a small rural community where the adults are all dead and the children worship a malevolent force lurking in the corn fields surrounding the town. If some slasher action with creepy children is what you’re after for some strange reason, forget going to see Orphan in the cinema and book yourself a night on the sofa with Children of The Corn.

 

 

Big Trouble In Little China, the cult classic Kurt Russell film, also from the 80s is re-released too. It flopped in the cinemas, but made a killing on home video sales thanks to its humorous all-action plot, that in the day caused to Time magazine to gush: “Little China offers dollops of entertainment, but it is so stocked with canny references to other pictures that it suggests a master’s thesis that moves.” It still as good as it ever was.

Blu Rays Of The Month June 2009

So you’ve got your new HD TV, a Blu-Ray disc player or a PlayStation 3 and you’re looking for the best new titles to enjoy? You’ve come to the right place, let’s run down the top Blu-Ray releases that are coming your way in June 2009.

Defiance
Daniel Craig and Jamie Bell take on the Nazis by going back to nature in this period war piece. Whilst their portrayal of characters is based on real life events and has had some critics complaining that the characters lack historical accuracy and humanity, this is certainly an interesting film. At times it can be hard going for the viewer as the terrible suffering which the Jewish outcasts endured during the war is depicted without shying away from the gory details. There’s a lot to like if you can get past the slightly hammy accents that some cast members put on.

 

 

Revolutionary Road
This is a brilliant adaptation by director Sam Mendes and features the powerful onscreen pairing of Leo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet. This social drama set in the 1950s looks at relationships, marriage, infidelity and abortion and the period is flawlessly recreated. An immersive and impressive film.

 

 

 

Bruce Almighty
This 2003 hit comedy gets a Blu-Ray release in early June, and Jim Carey is back in his face pulling element as a deified Morgan Freman endows him with the powers of God himself. It’s family fun in the same vein as Bewitched although people who’ve disliked Carey’s other exploits won’t find much to enjoy here.

 

 

 

Ghostbusters
A comedy classic from the 80s gets an HD makeover with full 1080p resolution supported. Hopefully you won’t notice the slightly dodgy special effects which by today’s standards are underwhelming, but silly enough to keep you watching. It’s also very well written with some good gags, and noticing how often every character lights up a cigarette in what is ostensibly a kids’ movie is a sign of how quickly times change.

 

 

Falling Down
This is an early 90s action classic with a political heart. Featuring Michael Douglas as a disgruntled defence worker who snaps in LA morning traffic and goes on a vengeful rampage through the sweltering heat of a dying society. Though the film tries to be poignant and has Robert Duval as a soon to be retired cop chasing Douglas, much of the impact feels dated by today’s standards, and the incredibly rude populace of LA that he encounters are both frightening and funny.

 

 

Punisher: War Zone
This is a brilliantly over the top action flick which shouldn’t be missed by fans of the comic or of cinematic ridiculousness in general. Featuring Dominic West as a facially mutilated villain, you can really see him enjoying the chance to let his hair down and clown about on camera, and The Punisher is also played by an Englishman, perpetuating the British invasion of the Hollywood mainstream.

 

 

Gran Torino
This film was a critical and commercial success earlier in the year and puts Clint Eastwood back at the top of his game. Eastwood plays a Korean War veteran living in a growing ethnic neighbourhood who manages to put his prejudices aside and stand up for his foreign neighbours. This movie packs more laughs than the average comedy as well as commenting thoughtfully on the state of modern American society, and the Blu-Ray release is simply a must-buy.

 

 

Vicky Christina Barcelona
Like Clint Eastwood, Woody Allen has made an awesome directorial comeback with this sexy, Mediterranean infused film. The film takes an irreverent look at two travelling Americans who fall for the same troubled artist, who himself has an insane, suicidal ex-wife played by Oscar winner Penelope Cruz. As long as you are aware of Allen’s narratorial style and see his tongue in his cheek as he mocks the faux-intellectualism displayed by the characters then you’ll have a great time, and maybe even a few laughs.

 

Milk
Sean Penn got an Oscar for his portrayal of the first openly gay man to win public office in America, and the film is touching and powerful in equal measure, though the politics and methods of Milk himself are blurred slightly by his martyred status. Josh Brolin provides support in another great role for this late blooming star, and the San Francisco of the 1970s that director Gus Van Sant recreates is compellingly real.

 

 

Slumdog Millionaire
This is the true success story of 2009, clearing up at the Oscars and putting India and British film back on the radar. Though the main character, Jamal, has an intricate and unique story to tell, this is an ensemble piece that relies on the slums of Deli as much as on the actors themselves to get the message across.

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