Give a brutha some slack, OK?
So in between a busy daytime job that included being in the office for 19 hours of a 24 hour day and the holiday week, things have been a little busy at the casa de Keefer. Besides, everyone’s bracing themselves for the CES show next week and the fun stuff to come from it, right? So let’s take a look at those next-gen discs that have made this particular reviewer stand up and smile. Oh, and as far as the lack of Blu love here, if someone wants to spring for a player for me, fee… free to do so.
Batman Begins – Was the jumping off point for many HD-DVD fans, and the reason for the 2.0 firmware upgrade several months back. But it’s there for a reason – the picture quality is sharp, the TrueHD rocks, and it helps that the film is damn good to boot.
Corpse Bride – The first big animated (OK, stop motion) title to come to HD, the film looks absolutely phenomenal, and it’s a cute story. Not as many extras as other discs, but it’s a forgivable sin.
The Hulk – The film has gotten a bum rap since it came out, but hey, there’s a sequel coming, and the subtle psychological conflicts between hero and normal alter ego have been explained more in depth in subsequent films, so maybe this isn’t as bad as some would think. Oh, the picture is friggin’ phenomenal.
Mission Impossible III – The best Dolby Digital Plus soundtrack release out now, and a bevy of features, mostly shot in HD, for your viewing pleasure, not to mention a video commentary with Tom Cruise and director J.J. Abrams. Getting this title won’t make you an OT7 or whatever it’s called.
The Searchers – The John Ford/John Wayne film classic has never looked better, and there are some amazing interviews with contemporary stars that help you appreciate this classic all the more so.
Superman/Superman II: Richard Donner Cut/Superman Returns – The age of the first two films isn’t too noticeable, and the films themselves are as good now as when they first came out a quarter century ago. And the new one isn’t too bad either, what with a rocking TrueHD track and an awesome three hour documentary on how the film was made, shot in HD for your pleasure. Definite staples in your collection, regardless of what next-gen player you might have.
Regardless of what format does what next year (and early on, give that nod to the Blu-Ray camp, as far as releases go), here’s hoping this battle gets resolved ASAFP. So until next time high definers, keep the brightness to low and the resolution high!