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 The High Definition DVD Studio Support Petition Campaign |
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HD DVD Spotlight - Titles Everyone Should Consider Some HD DVD releases that no library should be without - Great Films & Class-Leading Transfers Yesterday marked the start of another "buy week" supported by HD DVD owners celebrating the success of the HD DVD format. A new study published on Monday by the "Screen Digest" group has confirmed what we all knew all along: HD DVD is here to stay. Most companies involved are now realizing that HD DVD has reached critical mass and is not going away. Paramount and Dreamworks' decisions last month to support only HD DVD exclusively has helped bring this reality home. And the availability of more and more HD DVD players from 7 more brands before the holidays has reinforced this. Yes, it seems like we're always "celebrating", and who could blame us, with so many great titles available in the best, and most consumer-friendly Hi Def format around. So I've decided to create this new section on the website, to focus on different films each month, that are some of my favourites, and that I think you might absolutely love! Some for every taste! These releases are not only GREAT films that are highly enjoyable, but also extremely good HD DVD transfers - truly some of the best available. And I've included some for both adults and kids! I wish there was space to put ALL my favourites, but I thought I would start with the following titles - and I have placed excerpts from their sterling reviews below for you to scan. In order of listing below, they are: -- Grand Prix -- Letters From Iwo Jima -- Planet Earth -- Lucky Number Slevin -- '300' -- Elizabeth -- TMNT -- March Of The Penguins -- Constantine -- A Scanner Darkly -- Charlie and the Chocolate Factory -- Training Day -- The Departed -- Syriana -- Casablanca -- Happy Feet -- The Road Warrior -- The Italian Job -- Mission Impossible III -- Dreamgirls -- Sahara -- Blades of Glory -- Black Rain -- Dawn of the Dead -- Blood Diamond -- What Dreams May Come -- Seabiscuit -- The Hurricane -- Hot Fuzz -- Shaun of the Dead -- Meet Joe Black -- FATF Tokyo Drift -- Grand Prix " 'Grand Prix' is, for me, a real find... quite arguably the best film ever made about the sport of auto racing... an engaging drama and an Oscar-winning technical achievement to boot, so I give a very enthusiastic thumbs up. As for this HD DVD, it is also excellent, with a stellar remastered transfer and soundtrack and a nice batch of retrospective featurettes... definitely give this one a spin... Minted from the film's original 65mm Super Panavision 70 negative and painstakingly restored, this 2.20:1 and 1080p/VC-1 transfer is one of the best I've seen on the format, regardless of age... the smoothness of this image is astounding. Even colors, which often waver with old effects films like these, are rock solid. Hues are also vibrant and pure, with no chroma noise or bleeding. Even film grain... is almost non-existent. The depth and dimensionality here is pretty gorgeous... Dynamic range has been fattened up fairly well, with the mix boasting healthy enough mid-range and high-end...."- Peter M. Bracke, HighDefDigest.com Letters from Iwo Jima "The HD DVD release of 'Letters from Iwo Jima' is an experience and everyone should give this... a shot... almost consistent praise from critics... Not only is the acting superb, the script is both heartbreaking and inspiring at the same time. Watanabe is at his best, turning in a quiet and reflective performance that exudes honor and respectability... The cinematography is gorgeous as well... Presented in 1080p using the VC-1 codec, 'Letters from Iwo Jima' is simply stunning... this transfer is overflowing with crisp edges, deep black levels, and great shadow delineation... But perhaps best of all, 'Letters from Iwo Jima' boasts reference level fine object detail. Dust settles on war-weary arms, bullets splinter on stone, and explosions send tiny flecks of debris through the air -- it's truly a feast for the eyes... The smallest details in the sound design are present and there is a nice realism to it, especially in moments of pure chaos." Planet Earth - BBC Edition "'Planet Earth' is a staggering documentary, one ambitious in scope and filled with lovely, often breathtaking imagery. Likewise, this HD DVD release is sure to be instant demo material, as the video is just about perfection... simply put, this disc delivers the kind of breathless demo material that early adopters have been craving. Far superior to the broadcast version... Colors are vivid and pure, from brilliant blue skies to lush green foliage to the variety of animal tones and shadings. Hues remain rock solid and stable, with no noise. Detail can be tremendous... 'Planet Earth' is the 'Citizen Kane' of shot-on-HD nature documentaries." Lucky Number Slevin "One of the best films of 2006 is Lucky Number Slevin... jam packed with bankable names. Bruce Willis. Morgan Freeman. Sir Ben Kingsley. Josh Hartnett. Lucy Liu... with the acting talent attached and a very good story, "Lucky Number Slevin" was one of the best films of its genre that I have seen since "The Usual Suspects." ...When one plot twist was revealed, there was another waiting in the wings. The story kept you guessing... and it kept you interested... Colors are vivid and cover the full spectrum of the rainbow. Contrast is spot on... when the screen does darken, shadow detail and black levels are solid... when gunfire erupts or an explosion or two, the sound is deep and explosive. The rear surrounds come alive and the .1 LFE rumbles strongly... all six channels sound superb. The sound, as was the case with the picture quality, is very clean and does more than justice for this little film." "an amusing, witty, and complex noir homage with superb performances that captured both my attention and my imagination... Each part is written so perfectly for its performer... Twist and turns abound, with most bringing a smile to my face as my brain worked back through all of the earlier clues I missed... On this HD DVD transfer, layers upon layers of textures retain their depth and dimension as far as the eye can follow into the background of each shot... Most impressive of all, the contrast pops primary colors away from extreme whites and blacks, molding a beautiful world that I felt I could reach out and touch... Dolby Digital-Plus surround mix that clocks in with an audio bitrate of 1.5 mpbs which provides 'Lucky Number Slevin' with deep, natural voice tones in a largely dialogue driven experience... Even when the channels are nearly silent, they consistently work together to create an immersive ambience that's ignored in a lot of modern sound design... " '300' "'300' turned into the sleeper blockbuster of 2007... It also doesn't get much better than this HD DVD. The video is solid, the audio is simply kick ass, and there are so many extras (both standard and exclusive) that this one truly earns the label "cutting edge." If only to see what the HD DVD format is capable of, '300' is a must-buy... there is also an undeniable beauty to the rough grandeur of '300's visuals... I have absolutely no reservations about the audio on this disc. '300' is a real high-resolution scorcher... such barn-stormin' sound design... Dolby TrueHD 5.1 surround... Dynamics are incredibly aggressive, with heart-stopping low bass that gave my subwoofer as good a workout as any next-gen disc I've ever heard... the cleanliness and clarity of the entire frequency range is startlingly lifelike and real. The "wall of sound" effect is in full force, with discrete effects in the rears wonderfully immersive and sustained. Imaging between channels is seamless, so crank up the volume..." "A sales record breaker, "300" is an amazing special effects film that is wowing high definition owners around the country... They manipulate so much in this film, you simply have to see it in high definition, it is the window into all of the gritty imperfections these filmmakers created to bring this graphic novel to the screen. This is an outstanding disc visually; one of the best in that it truly represents the filmmakers intention so well, it blurs the line between reality and fantasy... you will be so taken aback by the imagery... This film looks great on HD DVD... In fact we have a Dolby True HD track that will simply astound you. All six of your speakers will remain constantly active and the subwoofer response is very pronounced. The directional effects are also dead on, and the voices come through very clearly. This sonic experience is so utterly detailed and complete that you have got to hear it... because this is easily one of, if not the best, sounding films I have ever screened in my living room." Elizabeth "A cinematic tour de force, 'Elizabeth' is an exquisitely dense and convincing exploration of the early rule of one of history's most influential women... Widely praised by critics and audiences alike, 'Elizabeth' is probably best known for its performances -- and not without good reason. Blanchett, Rush, and Fiennes all craft engrossingly complex renditions of their characters worthy of their numerous nominations and awards... A cinematic tour de force that combines sublime acting with flawless art direction and a great script, 'Elizabeth' deserves every ounce of critical acclaim it has amassed over the years... Featuring an often striking 1080p/VC-1 transfer, this HD DVD edition of 'Elizabeth' certainly delivers... Among the transfer's many positives is a lush palette that's home to a full spectrum of gorgeous colors... Deep blacks help imbue the image with an impressive level of depth and exterior scenes have a discrete pop, and detail also doesn't disappoint, with intricate textures and backgrounds that remain crisp regardless of the camera's focus. Finally, a clean source that doesn't exhibit artifacting or crushing of any kind... the Dolby TrueHD 5.1 surround track (48kHz/16-Bit/18 Mbps) on this HD DVD handles what it's given with great ease... Just listen to the echoes and surround effects in the variety of cathedrals and castle halls that populate the film -- the notably accurate positioning and wonderfully natural pans are just terrific, helping this track do a great job of replicating the immersive soundfield of the original theatrical experience." TMNT (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) "As far as testing the limits of HD-DVD, this one certainly does, and it passes with flying colors. The detail is exquisite and very sharp, all of the background of their messy New York City abode jumps out with a staggering clarity, every tiny detail of the skylines and battle scenes shines quite clearly, this release is a winner in the picture department... all of the black levels take on an integrity all their own and many times it is quite three dimensional.... We are actually treated to a Dolby True HD track and let's just say I was utterly impressed. This is one of the better tracks on the market, because all of the battle scenes sound simply amazing. When Michelangelo skates through the sewers to the Turtles secret pad, we can easily differentiate the different textures of metal and stone the wheels of his skateboard glide upon, this track brings out clarity like you simply wouldn't believe..." "...this HD DVD release is a technical wonder with an excellent video transfer and an impressive Dolby TrueHD audio mix... From the very beginning, a lush color palette and an exquisite level of detail are on full display. I wasn't expecting the animators to pack so many textures onto the screen, but this transfer renders them perfectly. The turtles' skin, Splinter's fur, and even the cracks in their shells are crisp and sharp... Want your jaw to drop? Skip to the scene where Leo fights Raph atop a neon-lit building in the rain -- note the droplets of water as they splash on the turtles and cascade to the ground. Even better, black levels and contrast are dead on (as they are throughout the film) and the flicker of the lights make this one of the most impressive high-def scenes I've had the pleasure of watching... a rich Dolby TrueHD 5.1 audio mix that pushes most scenes to their limit. The track's dynamics are the first thing I noticed and it's clear that the sound designers have produced a mix with unwavering highs and rumbling lows... The mystical elements in the film are accompanied by an immersive hum in the soundfield that gives the villains a hefty presence... demonstrates the power of a TrueHD track that's backed up by proper sound design..." March Of the Penguins ""March of the Penguins" is the kind of film that I'd guess almost anyone would enjoy. Whether it's for the spectacular scenery, the amazing dedication and perseverance of the animals themselves, the biological information to be found, or just the beauty of the HD-DVD reproduction, there is a little something in the movie for everybody. Personally, I just like listening to Morgan Freeman talk... The film is filled with one extraordinary sight after another... it's here that the HD-DVD contrasts are most evident, the black levels being quite intense and showing off the whites and the few other hues brilliantly... the gorgeous cinematography never goes to waste... The DD+ does its job improving upon regular Dolby Digital in terms of cleanness and clarity, with a sharp, quick transient response and a taut bass. Although the audio is nothing like a sonic spectacular in any way, we do hear the sounds of storms realistically swirling in the rear speakers." "'March of the Penguins' is really a lovely little adventure, and one that far outclasses its dreaded "natural documentary" label. It can be as thrilling as any big-budget Hollywood spectacle, and twice as moving. Warner has produced another fine HD DVD release, with strong video and audio, and a slim but compelling set of supplements... Even for a top-notch nature documentary, 'March of the Penguins' is extraordinarily photographed. Shot on film (not HD video), grain is quite visible (particularly in the opening passages) but the source is pristine... Close-ups in particular shine, with a very clean, defined picture that reveals the finest textures of our penguin friends... Overall, a very excellent picture... The score by Alex Wurman nicely fills up the front soundstage, with a bit of rear reinforcement to add impact. Morgan Freeman's classy narration is rock solid in the center channel, and always clearly recorded and reproduced. The location sound is above-average for a documentary..." Constantine "Presented in 2.35:1 widescreen and encoded at 1080p, 'Constantine' ranks up there with the best-looking HD DVD releases I've seen so far... This is an excellent presentation, with the kind of striking picture that easily makes it top demo material for any home theater... I can only hurl superlatives at 'Constantine.' The print appears as perfect as is possible, with not a defect or blemish to be found. Blacks are also rock solid, contrast excellent and detail superb even in the darkest scenes... I was also impressed with the level of three-dimensionality to the image... like you can reach out and touch the screen at times... expertly reproduces the most difficult hues, especially deep reds, which are free of noise and smearing... the rear channels are almost constantly engaged with both pronounced and subtle effects bouncing around all over the place. I thought imaging was almost totally transparent on the Dolby Digital-Plus track, but it is even better on the TrueHD mix... Dynamic range also excels... Chalk up another winner for TrueHD." A Scanner Darkly "'A Scanner Darkly' is a fascinating, often wondrous visual achievement... this HD DVD looks fantastic -- this one is an absolute five-star presentation... easy recommend for fans... the late author Philip K. Dick, The sci-fi legend, who penned such seminal epics as 'Blade Runner,' 'Total Recall,' 'Minority Report,' 'Paycheck' and 'Screamers,' was obsessed with the merging of the existential, the technological and the human throughout his career... he almost single-handedly created a new subgenre of science fiction, "tech noir." ...it's a style that remains hugely influential today... this HD DVD looks absolutely stunning. It's bold, colorful, solid as a rock and always eye-popping. I rarely give out five star video ratings, but this is one of those times... 1080p/VC-1 encode... Blacks and contrast are also perfect -- the image is never too dark nor too light, and whites are spot-on without any blooming. Colors are magnificent, with clean hues... The film also has great detail and depth... makes the three-dimensionality of the image more impressive. This one really pops off the screen, and I loved the sheer act of looking at this movie." Charlie and the Chocolate Factory "''Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' is a big-budget, effects-laden retelling of Roald Dahl's beloved classic... This HD DVD release offers a very nice upgrade over the previous standard DVD release, with an improved transfer and soundtrack... this 1.85:1 widescreen, 1080p/VC-1 transfer doesn't even break a sweat trying, with a very attractive presentation... hues are both more vibrant yet smoother... detail is superior... the kind of three-dimensional image expected for such a recent film... All aspects of the mix are strong. Surrounds kick in often, with a full range of discrete effects popping around all four main channels, from various moving machinery to the gurgling chocolate to the pitter-patter of little Oompa Loompa feet. Dialogue is also firmly rooted..." Training Day "'Training Day' is probably the most successful example of the Big Bad Dirty Cop movie from the past couple of decades.... riveting cop drama, directed with a healthy dose of style and very well acted... the transfer is one of the best I've yet seen on the format, and Warner has also graciously included a TrueHD Dolby soundtrack that is a real stunner... 'Training Day' boasts one of the best-looking presentations I've yet seen on an HD DVD release... All the elements that make for a great demo disc are well in evidence here: a great print free of any defects or artifacts, rock-solid blacks, excellent contrast, pitch-perfect sharpness, great colors, and no film grain or noisiness even in the darkest-lit scenes... Dolby TrueHD delivered such a significant upgrade that I can't imagine choosing any other option if a Dolby TrueHD track was included on a disc... effects like the sound of ricocheting bullets bouncing across all five speakers benefited from better imaging in TrueHD, with pans of sounds between channels more seamless than I've ever heard before on a home video soundtrack... In all honesty, there are moments that really are jaw-drop worthy, and approach some of the better theatrical presentations I've heard." The Departed "After a career of mob movies, Martin Scorsese has delivered a career-best triple-whammy, with 'The Departed' a huge critical favorite, an Oscar shoo-in, and his biggest box office hit ever. It's a highly-entertaining genre picture... and it's got a fantastic cast... This HD DVD release delivers in spades, too... 'The Departed' easily ranks among best transfers I've seen on either format, hands down... Detail is impressive, with excellent depth throughout and shadow delineation superior. Even the darkest scenes reveal fine texture in the backgrounds, and close-ups can be tremendous... Particularly noteworthy is color reproduction... 'The Departed' on HD DVD includes a Dolby TrueHD lossless 5.1 surround track... The film is often punctuated by low tones, which have a powerful tightness rare even in the best modern surround tracks. Dialogue reproduction is also first-rate, with every word crystal clear..." Syriana "'Syriana' is a tough, challenging film, the kind of political thriller they just don't make anymore... perhaps the first mainstream-geared, major studio-distributed political thriller since the genre's heyday in the '70s that demands your constant attention and intellectual engagement. Every character, every line of dialogue, even moment of every scene is the purposeful building block of a larger foundation... I'm glad these kinds of films are starting to be made again... for a film this jumpy and cutty, I remain impressed at the lack of any apparent pixelization or macroblocking artifacts. This transfer is rock solid, so kudos to Warner's production team for making 'Syriana' look about as good as it ever could.... wide dynamic range, with a spacious sense of depth across the complete frequency spectrum -- low-end to high." Casablanca " 'Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine.' ...its cast superb, its atmosphere and ambiance extraordinary, its romance mesmerizing. The combination is irresistible, and the film is perfect... The American Film Institute voted "Casablanca" the second-best American film ever made. "Entertainment Weekly" gave it their number-three spot among "100 Greatest Movies." User ratings at the Internet Movie Database rank it number six in their "Top 250 Movies of All-Time." What more can a person say about a movie that defines the word "classic"? Certainly, "Casablanca" is worthy of this new Warner Brothers HD-DVD edition... Black-and-white contrasts are more vividly pointed up, delineation is sharper, and there are zero age marks or grain. Indeed, the only visible lines occur during some WWII newsreel footage. In short, the HD picture quality is exemplary... Dynamics are marginally improved in DD+, too, and there is practically no background noise unless one turns the volume up to the threshold of pain." Happy Feet ""Happy Feet" was one of the more deserving films of the year, and it has a wide set of moral values going for it... The picture is not just detailed, it's almost photorealistic... The video quality on this HD-DVD is, in a word, perfect... It is brilliant, minutely detailed, glistening, sparkling, radiant, and superclean. You'll find every color vividly contrasted, every line sharply etched. You can walk forward and view the screen from one or two feet away, and the image is still as clear and distinct as it is from six or eight feet away... Furthermore, the TrueHD and DD+ tracks produce slightly stronger dynamics, slightly greater depth of field, and the appearance of a slightly wider stereo spread. (These effects are especially noticeable on the TrueHD track...)" The Road Warrior "Few action flicks move as fast or as relentlessly as "The Road Warrior." It's fairly compact at ninety-five minutes, and there is never a dull moment. In high definition picture and sound, it's better than ever for home viewing... The print shows no signs of age despite its quarter-century vintage, free of fade, lines, scratches, or flecks. It's also free of grain except that which is inherent to the original film stock.
As we might expect, definition is sharp, and colors are natural and realistic, especially facial tones... I love high-definition audio almost as much as high-def video... There's a terrific front-channel stereo spread, the sounds of thundering cars and booming winds echoing palpably across the front sound stage.. Dynamics are clean, with plenty of impact, and bass is deep and taut." "'The Road Warrior' remains such incredible fun because it is so crazy... 'The Road Warrior' holds up smashingly well as a great car crash action movie, but it also maintains surprising relevance as a look at a post-apocalyptic future... This first-ever high-def release of the film is a godsend -- the transfer has finally been remastered, and we even get an HD exclusive audio commentary... and this is one of the best upgrades I've ever seen of a catalog title. Quite simply, it blows away the old DVD, and even improves upon a couple of theatrical screenings I've seen over the past few years... I was amazed at how clean and smooth the image now looks, while still remaining natural and film-like... the blue Australian skies are vivid and free of noise, while splashes of bright yellow and red make for nice accents." The Italian Job "This is a very good film that pulls off the rare task in outperforming its original... This is an entertaining picture that awes its audience with great stunts and a good ensemble cast... The red, white and blue Mini Cooper S coupes look incredible in the 2.35:1 1080p HD-DVD transfer... The image is sharp and very colorful, whereas the colors are perfectly saturated and nicely contrasted. Never does the picture quality not appear sharp and highly detailed... The big chase seen with the trio of Mini Coopers is the best audible moments in the film and has the most aggressive usage of the surround mix in the film... " Mission Impossible III "'Mission Impossible III' features a 1080p / VC-1 encoded 2.35:1 transfer that looks spectacular. Featuring a very high level of detail, clean transfer and bright and vivid colors, "Mission Impossible III" rivals most titles released on the format thus far and also marks the first time that much of the film's supplements have also been provided in High Definition... highly detailed picture. The bricks around the Vatican walls are so detailed, it looks as if you could feel the texture... Contrast is perfect. Black levels are very deep and nicely done. The opening sequence takes place under night skies and even in the darkest moments, picture quality and colors hold up nicely... the Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 multi-channel soundtrack is very impressive... a very enveloping and aggressive soundtrack that engages the audience throughout the film's 125 minute running time. Gunfire, explosions, theme songs and the musical score all sound brilliant and powerful. The level of detail in the soundtrack is so deep, that each keystroke by Luther Stickell is easily noticeable." Dreamgirls "This is one of the finest HD-DVD releases currently available and if you love music, as I do, then there is absolutely no reason to not rush out and buy a copy of "Dreamgirls." ...With incredible visuals and sound to bring the film´s concert performances to life, "Dreamgirls" is showcase material for HD-DVD. This two disc set features hours of bonus materials and one of the best making-of documentaries you will ever find... a stunning looking film. The 2.35:1 picture is mastered on HD-DVD with VC-1 compression technology and features an amazing array of color and three dimensional depth... "Dreamgirls" is about as near as you can get to perfection of color reproduction. Detail is also incredibly strong as every detail of the actors faces stands out, as well as the fabrics worn during the film... among the better sounding HD-DVD releases to date and perhaps the best sounding Paramount title yet released... Sound is incredibly detailed. The gentle and persistent tapping of percussion instruments such as cymbals comes across very precisely. Horns sound as if they are coming from within the room... The front speakers are effectively used to recreate the soundstage of a concert performance and rear surrounds are used throughout the film to bring to life the ambient sounds of crowds or crowded night clubs. Bass is effectively used and the .1 LFE channel booms when necessary to drive home the Jazzy and funky beats that accompany the film´s vocals." "This debut high-def release from DreamWorks certainly does the film justice -- it looks smashing, and the extras are superior... a superlative release, and an excellent first effort from DreamWorks... 'Dreamgirls' is presented in 1080p/VC-1 on HD DVD... This is a glorious, colorful image, and despite the lack of a single explosion or car chase, still makes for great demo material. The source is flawless, blacks are rock solid, and contrast is excellent. The image has sensational depth and clarity, with the photo-real, three-dimensional quality that we all hope for when we pop in a new HD DVD release. The transfer is also as sharp as a tack, with even the darkest sections of the image boasting excellent shadow detail... dynamics are excellent, from perfectly tight bass to expansive midrange. Vocal timbre is fantastic, too, with a richness and natural quality that simply cranks at high volume -- one listen to Jennifer Hudson belting out "And I'm Telling You I Am Not Going" will give you goosebumps. And, of course, the mix is perfectly balanced -- not a single word is lost to the music, or effects. Surround use, meanwhile, is surprisingly active, with punchy discrete effects that underscore the endless music montages like piercing flashbulbs..." "Bill Condon's "Dreamgirls" was certainly a remarkable film that made quite a splash during the awards season earlier this year and not surprisingly, it not only garnered accolades but also some trophies to show for... Now that it's available on home video I am sure even more people will revisit, discover and enjoy this film and its incredible music... Hands down, this film has the best music I have heard in a movie in a long time... Offering up a pristine 1080p high definition transfer that is VC-1 encoded, the image on display here is simply gorgeous. Free of any defects or blemishes, the picture is rich in detail and manages to capture even the most subtle nuances in the film's great photography. Colors are rich and striking adding to the overall appeal of the film... Every little texture, every little gradient in the picture is flawlessly reproduced with incredible detail and sharp edges... incredible depth that catapults this transfer into the echelon of the best there are. The same goes for its audio presentation... With remarkable clarity and a wide frequency response the track perfectly complements the images on the screen." Sahara "The film was a pleasure sight for the eyes and truly showcased the new HD-DVD format... The greatest strength of "Sahara" is its cast... Another strength of "Sahara" is its wonderful visuals... "Sahara" is a visually stunning film that has plenty of good action scenes to populate its scenery and deliver an entertaining film... a treat to watch... In fact, it is one of the best transfers I have yet to see... Colors jump out of the screen with this incredible transfer and combined with the fine level of detail, "Sahara" feels almost like you could touch it. This is a beautifully shot film and it is brought to life wonderfully by a beautiful VC-1 encoded HD-DVD transfer... a film that perfectly balances scenes where environmental sounds bring out the beauty of the African landscape and scenes where a very aggressive soundtrack takes hold of the audience´s ear canals with a full-on assault of the senses. During the noisy action sequences, "Sahara" fully utilizes all six channels... The audio portion of this film perfectly matches the strong visuals to deliver a home theater tour-de-force." "'Light in tone and filled with 'Indiana Jones'-esque derring do... Nicely blending humor, adventure, romance and derring-do and fueled by the charisma of its stars, 'Sahara' is the kind of movie movie-people say they don't make anymore.... 'Sahara' is like stepping out into a bright desert oasis -- lush, vibrant and as shiny as a new penny... just about every aspect of this presentation is quite excellent. The source material is pristine, with not a speckle of dirt or other blemishes noticeable, and the kind of smooth, grain-free look that looks more like a digital photo than film. Color reproduction is also impressive -- hues are rich, vivid and free of chroma noise and smearing... the kind of three-dimensional appearance that really shows off the high-resolution capabilities of the format... As befitting an action film with a big budget, 'Sahara' boasts terrific sound design. All channels are active, with noticeable uses of discrete pans across the entire soundfield. Imaging is very good, with near-seamless transitions and excellent fidelity. Dynamic range also earns a solid "A," with a very full presence from lows to highs." Blades of Glory "This fantastically silly, utterly preposterous comedy was the sleeper hit of early 2007, grossing over $100 million and for once delivering all the laughs its trailers promised... this 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 is encode certainly a good-looking, attractive presentation... the print is pristine with nary a speckle or blemish to be found... this disc's Dolby Digital-Plus 5.1 Surround track (1.5mbps) ended up being a nice surprise, as the the film's sound design is actually quite lively, with lots of highs and lows that really light up the soundstage... The surrounds come alive with directed discrete effects and strong atmosphere." "Dreamworks Home Entertainment is delivering "Blades Of Glory" in high definition in a sparkling transfer on this HD-DVD version... beautiful to look at with a transfer that is absolutely clean and clear. With an incredible level of detail the most striking thing about the presentation are the film's colors. This transfer revels in even the most subtle hues and shades... Black levels are also stunning and give the image formidable visual depth with shadows the never break up and add impressive sharpness and detail to the picture at all times. Clearly, this is a wonderful high definition transfer to behold... The 5.1 channel Dolby Digital Plus audio track is also doing the best to make the film a lively and exciting experience... Good dynamic range and a wide frequency response put the audio presentation in the same league as the video presentation" Black Rain "This has been one of the more overlooked Ridley Scott films and it is nice to see the film is finally starting to get some love... "Black Rain" is presented in 2.35:1 widescreen with VC-1/1080p mastering. Simply put, "Black Rain" looks incredible and considering much of the film´s draw is its change of scenery of Japan, this is greatly appreciated...very high levels of detail and brightly rendered colors.... At this point, "Black Rain" is one of the better catalog titles released by the studio; or any other studio for that matter... " "I was truly blown away -- this new print of 'Black Rain' is just about spotless. The 2.40:1 widescreen, 1080p/VC-1 image is clean, smooth and shockingly free of grain and dirt. Colors, though not as over-the-top as those on most modern movies, are excellent. Stability and consistency are first-rate, with nice bold reds and blues particularly impressive; fleshtones, too, are pitch perfect... and dimensionality are also clearly superior to just about any remaster I've seen for a film of this vintage... And in a rarity for a next-gen release (at least so far), a DTS-ES Matrixed 6.1 Surround option is also included." Dawn of the Dead "Dawn of the Dead may be one of the finest remakes ever... This was a highly entertaining picture that was far better than I had expected and a load of fun. The HD-DVD was surprising in having a very strong set of visuals and one of the best sounding soundtracks yet to appear on HD-DVD. Hopefully, more films reach the level of quality in TrueHD sound as this film did... The HD-DVD release is a fine addition to mine, or anybody else´s high definition library... a wonderfully solid looking 2.35:1 widescreen transfer. Mastered with the VC-1 codec... Detail is incredibly strong and every single detail can easily be picked out... Joy to the world! English Dolby TrueHD 5.1 is one of the supported soundtracks for "Day of the Dead." Every little detail can be heard in this soundtrack... "Dawn of the Dead" is an action packed film and the soundtrack thrives under the sound design provided by the film. Each gunshot was deep in presence and magnified by the .1 LFE channel... This soundtrack simply sounds amazing... The film´s imaging is strong across all channels and every speaker gets a workout during TrueHD playback. Dialogue is equally strong and never drowned out by the wondrous sound effects." Blood Diamond "'Blood Diamond' first hit theaters last Christmas... as much an intense (and unremittingly violent) thriller as it is a political polemic... 'Blood Diamond's 2.40:1 transfer is presented in 1080p/VC-1 video... wonderfully vivid and lush in the film's many bright exteriors. Detail and sharpness are also clearly superior in outdoor scenes... this HD DVD boasts a ... Dolby TrueHD track (48kHz/16-bit)... the film's loud, bustling sound design delivering an impeccable display of sonic fireworks... Low bass is terrific, with a deep and powerful but at the same time tight quality that excels at high volumes. Dynamic range is also very expansive, with a realism that's truly palpable. Dialogue is expertly recorded and perfectly balanced -- I was able to crank 'Blood Diamond' throughout without ever having to reach for the volume knob... Surrounds, too, are very active. The wall of sound effect from the rears during action scenes is up there with the best soundtracks currently on high-def disc." What Dreams May Come "What Dreams May Come' on HD DVD is the rare high-def presentation that wows with its richness rather than its technical bells and whistles. This 1080p/VC-1 transfer has a lovely filmic quality that keeps the image from feeling over-produced or reliant on its CG effects.. The color palette of the film's Heaven is such a revelation that were times where I actually caught myself slightly squinting... The image constantly pops off the screen and appears three dimensional. Detail is also impressive... " Seabiscuit "'Seabiscuit' is an absolutely gorgeous film and a true gem of an HD-DVD... With a great cast and great performances, Universal has picked a winner from its catalog and delivered one of the better overall titles yet to be released on HD-DVD... The film is stunning in its visual splendor. With many great outdoor vistas and lovely period sets, the film about Depression Era America is, in a word, beautiful... I can guarantee that a horse has never looked as good on home video. The old Buick race cars and their brightly painted bodies exhibit each rivet and seam of their classic build... The 2.35:1 image is presented in a VC-1 encoded, 1080p transfer... The film contains vibrant colors that cross the entire color spectrum. They are perfectly recreated here and are nicely saturated. Detail is incredibly strong and among the best detailed titles yet released... If you´ve ever wondered what it sounds like to be on a horse and to be directly between two other horses as you round the corner before the home stretch, "Seabiscuit" on HD-DVD will give you that sonic experience. During these scenes, the rear surrounds and subwoofer are heavily used and all six channels nicely spring to life... " "'Seabiscuit' is a real surprise for me. It is a film that I thought I would hate about a subject I could care less about, yet still I was won over. Equally as hypnotic is this HD DVD, which is another standout from Universal. A terrific HD transfer, excellent soundtrack and supplement package worthy of the Kentucky Derby make this one a no-brainer, even if you already own the standard-def release... Presented in 1080p/VC-1 video, 'Seabiscuit' looks exquisite. The source material is pristine, with perfect blacks and excellent contrast that is consistent across the entire grayscale. Color reproduction is also wonderful, and even more vibrant... 'Seabiscuit' is just about damn flawless... Surround use is aggressive during these sequences, with expertly-crafted sound effects that never feel less than authentic. Crowd noise and stampeding hooves in the rears merge to create a very effective 360-degree soundfield, and imaging is just about transparent..." The Hurricane "primaries are vibrant and the picture features a pleasing level of contrast. Detail is impressive as well (especially in interior scenes) -- living room trinkets, background objects, and on-screen textual elements are suitably sharp. Textures and skin details give the image a convincing earthiness that isn't hindered by the film's miniscule grain field... the Dolby Digital-Plus 5.1 surround mix (1.5 Mbps) on this one handles what it's given with ease and power. Dialogue is full and well prioritized, jazz music swells in all of the channels, and ambiance is present throughout the film, regardless of the complexity of a scene..." "The images do appear to pop off the screen... As for the audio, the Dolby Digital Plus track truly shines and the surrounds are very active. The wonderful soundtrack, filled with gems from Ray Charles to Bob Dylan to the wonderful score by Christopher Young, comes through very well. I simply love this soundtrack. "Denzel Washington is an awesome actor and his performance in "The Hurricane" makes for a film that can be pretty awesome itself.Denzel Washington is an awesome actor and his performance in "The Hurricane" makes for a film that can be pretty awesome itself... The film´s black and white sequences nicely contrast the more colorful moments to create a visually stunning movie that is done justice on HD-DVD. Colors are nicely saturated and bring a natural film look to "The Hurricane." " Hot Fuzz "Our site has never reviewed a release that's scored 5 stars overall -- in fact, this entire disc seems too good to be true. Not only is the movie entertaining and satisfying, but the video transfer is gorgeous, the audio packs significant punch, and there are approximately eighteen hours of entertaining supplemental materials... This 1080p/VC-1 transfer made me sit up from the moment Nicholas Angel flashes across the screen. This is easily one of the finest high-def presentations I've seen on high-def disc... vibrant colors and inky blacks that bring a convincing level of depth to the picture... Detail is astounding and there isn't a hint of grain -- every background and foreground edge is sharp and clear... The audio package is nearly as impressive as the video... impressively proficient in everything it does. Rich dynamics immediately make their presence known with boomy bass and crisp treble ranges... Channel movement occurs frequently and startlingly fast -- but the Digital-Plus mix offers subtle pans and smooth transitions that add a level of authenticity to the soundfield." "'Hot Fuzz' is truly hot stuff. It is one of the funniest films of recent memory and it truly conjures up memories of the glorious Monty Python films like 'Life Of Brian.'... image is meticulously clean and without a hint of grain or other blemishes. But more importantly, the image has a razor sharp definition with incredible detail... the movie is remarkable with its ability to reproduce the movie with incredible richness and detail. Textures are finely reproduced and colors are rich in their hues, bringing out the best of the lush English countryside... "Hot Fuzz" goes all out and delivers some real action and with its Dolby Digital EX Plus audio track you couldn't ask for more. The dynamic range of the track is impressively reproducing quiet moments every bit as well as the most action packed roaring scenes. With a deep bass extension and clear high ends the frequency response is also without flaws..." ""Hot Fuzz" is intelligent, witty and captivating. Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright have a gift in their writing and their love of cinema is apparent as they are able to masterfully craft a comedy of this caliber that has been almost universally well received by critics... the high definition transfer of the film is spot-on and masterfully delivers this comedic picture to next generation home theater systems... a pristine and highly detailed 2.35:1 transfer that is mastered in typical fashion by Universal with the VC-1 codec... The level of detail of "Hot Fuzz" is rich and deep... scenes throughout "Hot Fuzz" are quite bombastic and mix deep and potent bass with an enveloping array of sounds providing ambient noise, sound effects and solid and clear dialogue... Gunshots echo from every direction and show off the transfers solid imaging and movement across channels... it is a technically sound and very strong mix... It would take nearly twenty hours to enjoy all of the supplements contained as commentaries, pop-up trivia tracks or stand alone supplements in their entirety. They packed an entire forty minute film on the disc as an extra and over four hours of other bonus materials. Stunning." Shaun of the Dead "'Shaun of the Dead' is both hilarious and tense -- sometimes both within a single scene -- and it holds a special place in my top ten comedies. This HD DVD release boasts an impressive transfer, a booming Digital-Plus track, and all of the supplements from its US-released DVD counterpart... Presented in 1080p using the VC-1 codec, 'Shaun of the Dead' looks very impressive considering its limited budget. Detail is one of the most notable assets of the transfer and remains strong throughout the film... 'Shaun of the Dead' features a Dolby Digital-Plus 5.1 surround track (1.5 Mbps) that's technically proficient and has a startling heft to its presence. Dialogue and effects are crisp, stable, and well prioritized within the soundscape and make it easy to immerse yourself in Shaun's quest..." "I love "Shaun of the Dead" and it was easily my favorite film a couple years ago. I´ve preached to many people that this is a must-see film and a number of people have listened... This is a very funny film and has a little of something for everybody. It has comedy. It has romance. It has action. And it has the filmmaking trio of Simon Pegg, Edgar Wright and Nick Frost. Brilliant. ...the 2.35:1 framed picture features very strong levels of detail and wonderfully vivid colours... The level of detail is what surprised me the most... Audio was another surprisingly good element of the HD-DVD transfer of "Shaun of the Dead." The Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 soundtrack is clean, powerful and nicely accentuates the action on-screen. Throughout the entire film, sound effects filled the speakers... the Queen song played during a fight sequence at the Winchester sounds stunning." Meet Joe Black "I've always had a sweet spot for the film, and I think fans of films like 'The Good Shepherd' or 'A New World' might feel the same way... In the case of 'Meet Joe Black' in particular, the performances are so rich and convincing that I was happy to follow the characters through the ups and downs of their lives... Now this is what I expect from a high definition catalogue title... It's a night and day difference. Presented in 1080p using the VC-1 codec, 'Meet Joe Black' looks great and if I didn't know better, I would think it was a newer film.. the move to high-def has upped the impact of this print to new heights. Colors are lush and gorgeous, blacks are deep and stable, and fine object detail is extremely well rendered for a film that's nearly ten years old. Textures, skin, and hair pop off the screen and shadow delineation is excellent. Even better, sharp edges and a vivid contrast give the picture a welcome depth and dimension... where the mix needs to spring to life, it does -- listen to the moments when Pitt is hit by a car, scenes with the helicopter, and the argument between the Parrishes at dinner. Even better, jump to the end of the film and listen to the fireworks and the mingling crowd. In each of these cases, the soundscape is well prioritized, each of the channels receive a solid workout, and the ambiance is both authentic and immersive." "At a decade in age, "Meet Joe Black" is a superb looking catalog title. The 1.85:1 transfer is nicely encoded with the VC-1 codec and features deep details, perfectly realized colors and pristine source materials... The complete film has a three dimensional appeal from the high level of detail. This is a sharply detailed picture and matched by the vivid colors of the film... Black levels are also exquisite and the film´s emotional climax under the fireworks looks stunning... I had forgotten about the sonic capability of the gorgeous fireworks scene and the sound quality of the Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 soundtrack easily matches the visuals when the fireworks light the night sky. The .1 LFE channel booms heavily and mightily and matches the best action film soundtracks in bass response. It truly is as deep and clean as bass can get." The Fast and the Furious; Tokyo Drift "This may be the most technically impressive HD-DVD to date... I enjoyed "The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift" far more than I had expected... The first two films in the "Fast and the Furious" franchise looked great in their high definition skins. "The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift" is no exception and looks very good with its VC-1/1080p 2.35:1 image. This is another very bright and colorful film that ranks with the best of them in color reproduction... Japanese street racing takes place entirely at night and the majority of time spent in Japan happens at night. Detail is again superb and for the third time – you guessed it; I was wondering if I could see my reflection in the cars´ paintjobs... about as good as it gets in high definition... This is another very aggressive soundtrack that completely envelopes you with its usage of all six channels. The .1 LFE track rumbles deeply when the cars are tearing through the garages and streets of Tokyo. The higher pitched sounds are very impressive and tire squeals and high-revving engines sound wonderful. I´m a huge fan of high performance machines and these films are music to my ears."
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