AVSForum Blu-ray Disc Review Database - Page 4

I've always loved Contact since I saw it in the theater when it first came out - it's a meditation on the intertwined relationship between science and belief.

The obvious reversal of position on the validity of unprovable belief on the part of Ellie Arroway - the scientist protagonist - is foreshadowed by her embracing of a justification for believing that we're not alone - "If it's just us, it's an awful waste of space" - that puts a teleological thumb on the scales, since it implicitly assumes that there's someone who would have chosen how to use the space in the universe.

The Blu-ray's picture quality is very good - remember that this is a film that came out during the Clinton administration - but the most obvious upgrade between the DVD and the Blu-ray is in the lossless soundtrack.

The sonic rendition of the signal from outer space and of the machine that's built as a result (which looks like a giant gyroscope) sounds and feels like you're sitting on top of a gigantic out-of-balance clothes dryer. The subwoofer gets a real workout in this film. (Even the depiction of Earth's radiosphere during the opening flight away from Earth is clearer.)

Highly recommended.

Thanks for putting the work into doing this.

Mike K

Hey Ralph,

I just found out about Hostage with Bruce Willis on bd. This is the first I've heard of it, and I do not see it on your list. Any info on this movie? Folks on Amazon seem to rate it well for an action movie, but the bd has a scaled down ratio with no extras.

Went ahead and spent the $12.00 for this movie. It was not worthy of a Ralph Potts review, but I did enjoy it. As always, Bruce does not dissapoint as action central. My review: I give it a thumbs up if you are a Willis fan. I can honestly say I never looked at the clock, nor did I get up to get another beer, so it was a beerless movie that was worth the time and money. (ok, so I'm no Ralph, but it's the best I got).

Hi Ralph,

Any chance of a review of the re-release of Gettysburg and Gods and Generals on BD?

Thanks!

-Frank

Is there any chance Cronenberg's History of Violence and Eastern Promises getting reviewed here? I enjoyed both films when they first came out and am thinking of adding them to my collection. Thanks

I must say fantastic work! Just getting our first BD player and this thread/your reviews will be a great resource.

Hello,
I find myself very interested in purchasing the "complete" Harry Potter years 1-7 coming out on Bluray soon, I guess due to the marketing "ploy" that Warner's is using... pulling the titles after Dec 29 !!


Does anyone know which will be the "better" set ? The U.S. or the British.

Aside from price I've some people singing the praises of the British ??

Thanks,
Bob

I pre-ordered the UK version which includes set 1-8 (all the movies) for 30 pounds with free shipping to my US address. Looks to me like a much better deal. Supposed to come out Dec 20. Looks like the price went up a little since I pre-ordered but still a good deal.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Harry-Potter...55G3E5W4JG7265

On behalf of all of us.

THANK YOU!!!

Hi Ralph,

I was looking through the database and was surprised that the Matrix wasn't in there. I was wondering if you did a review for it and if not are you planning to.

Hi Lee & Ralph:

 

Any word on MARVELS The Avengers yet? 

I have the Blu box set of the Matrix trilogy, and can attest to the quality of the transfer. The green tinge to the light (GE Cool White flourescent lighting always did that to "daylight balanced" film) that signals that we're in The Matrix rather than the real world is there, and the Dolby TrueHD 5.1 soundtrack is strong (and warmer sounding than the compatibility track).

If you recall the end of the film, with Neo shot down in a tenement hallway, and Trinity bringing him back to life by telling his body on board the hovercraft that "You can't be dead, because I love you," when he stands up inside the Matrix and flexes his muscles, and the tenement hallway "bends" in response, the subwoofer bends your listening room.

If you enjoyed the film in the theater, you'll enjoy this disk.
Edited by Philnick - 8/11/12 at 3:06pm

I noticed that The Dark Knight Rises isn't in this list.  I have this page bookmarked for blu-ray disc reviews and probably would have missed it had I not had the insight to check the main forum page and scroll through.  

 

Aha!  Thank YOU Mr. Potts for a stellar review!  

Hi Lee and Ralph,

 

Have either of you received Dredd (2D or 3D) for review as of yet?  I saw this one theatrically (in 3D) and was pleasantly surprised.  Visually stunning - just WOW!

 

I hope you both receive it for review soon(er rather than later). 

 

Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year! 

 

Regards, 

Will you review 2001: A Space Odyssey?

I can say this about the Blu-ray of 2001: A Space Odessey: the image and sound quality of the Blu-ray is head and shoulders above even the best DVD version: the colors are much brighter. (They may have given it the same sort of treatment that was done with the original Star Trek TV series - and The Prisoner - for Blu-ray - frame-by-frame cleanup and color enhancement to make it look like a new film.)

Just be sure to use the uncompressed LPCM 5.1 soundtrack, or you'll be listening to DVD-style Dolby Digital.
Edited by Philnick - 12/30/12 at 4:09pm

 

Okay guys,

 

Sorry for my impatience but i believe it's been out since the 8th of Jan. http://dreddthemovie.com/index.html

 

Any word yet?

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Regards,

Thanks for the update!  No apologies necessary, it's not your fault anyway.  Darn suppliers!!

 

Appreciation!

 

Regards,