Movie fans who may have missed some blockbuster Warner Brothers titles when they first came to Blu-ray have a new opportunity to pay full price for them.
Yep, instead of poring through the bargain bin at your local video store, looking for the older Blu-ray versions of the movies, you can buy new, "SteelBook" editions that couple what's basically the same "old" disc into a tough new package the Warners folk tell me are really popular with collectors, and I can see why: they're very nice packages.
Warners was kind enough to send me three of their latest SteelBook Blu-rays to check out: "2001, a Space Odyssey," "The Matrix," and "Batman Begins", all of which are excellent titles that showcase the high definition Blu-ray technology well. They hit video stores March 29, 2011.
Of the three films, "2001: a Space Odyssey" is the one that has benefitted the most from the trip to high definition. This shouldn't be much of a surprise, since it's by far the oldest of the films. It has also been through many video incarnations, but this one is the best – by far.
The 1080p picture is presented at an aspect ratio of 2.2:1, and the video quality is such that I noticed things on the Blu-ray that I had never seen before – and I've seen the movie at least 100 times, beginning with 10 visits to the biggest screen in town when it first came out as well as sampling the numerous video versions since then, from VHS through laserdisc and DVD. The planets and space ship models have that great depth you can get from Blu-rays, making them look nearly three dimensional. My favorite part is the trip from the earth to the moon, a joyful ride into space – and on Blu-ray you can actually see movement inside the shuttle as it makes its way to the space station.
Be sure to choose the PCM 5.1 audio track instead of the Dolby Digital one, which is thin compared to the uncompressed PCM.
Extras on the 2001 SteelBook – as with the earlier Blu-ray release – are substantial and welcome, including a commentary with stars Keir Dullea and Gary Lockwood and a documentary "2001: The Making of a Myth." There are also four featurettes, an audio-only interview with Kubrick himself (from 1966), and much more.
"Batman Begins" was the best of all the Batman movies until its sequel "The Dark Knight" came out a couple of years ago. It's an entertaining and satisfying look at how the famous events at and below stately Wayne manor got their spark. Director Christopher Nolan cast Christian Bale (an excellent choice) as Bruce Wayne/Batman, a broken man who finds his destiny along a path that leads from petty crime to a far east prison and membership in a mysterious group called the League of Shadows.
The "Limited Edition SteelBook" version once again appears to be exactly the same one that was released in a limited edition gift set a couple of years ago. Fortunately, that means the 1080p picture quality is nothing short of spectacular, making it another reference-quality disc for your library. The picture practically leaps off the screen, which is exactly what you want with a Blu-ray, and the Dolby TrueHD 5.1 sound is also of reference quality and will give all of your home theater's audio channels a nice workout.
Extras on the disc include the Blu-ray exclusive Picture-in-Picture "In Movie Experience," which has director Nolan and a bunch of cast/crew offering insight into the movie. There's also a bunch of featurettes and a even a reasonably amusing Batman Begins spoof "Tankman Begins." There's also a gallery of stills and the theatrical teaser.
The SteelBook of "The Matrix" is at least the third Blu-ray incarnation, including a "Digibook" version and one release as part of an anthology of all the Matrix films. If you have to choose one from the series, this first movie – a sci-fi action/adventure film that's much more than skin deep – is your best choice. Starring Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving and Joe Pantoliano, "The Matrix" turns one's deepest held convictions about the earth and our life upon it upside down with its dark vision of a planet in which it turns out we are not who we think we are - or even when we think we are.
The Andy and Larry Wachowski movie was a huge hit when it came out. The Blu-ray appears identical to the Digibook release, with a 1080p picture and Dolby TrueHD 5.1 audio that are both excellent. Extras include an "In-Movie Experience," multiple commentaries, feature length documentary, innumerable featurettes and more.
SteelBooks or not, Warner Brothers is planing for 2010 to be a big year for Blu-ray releases of both new and classic material. I attended a promotional event while preparing this column and was very, very excited to learn that Ben-Hur – one of my personal desert island discs – is planned for release later this year, though they wouldn't give an actual date. Apparently, the film is being restored , however, and that's great news. If they do as good as job as Paramount did with "The Ten Commandments" we're in for a treat.
Other classic Warner titles scheduled for Blu-ray release in the not-too-distant future include the two "Arthur" films (okay, maybe "classic" doesn't apply here), John Frankenheimer's fantastic paean to 1960's Formula 1 racing "Grand Prix" (I can't wait for the driving scenes in 1080p and lossless audio!), and the entire Warner Brothers Stanley Kubrick library in a new, limited edition boxed set that also features the new, 40th anniversary Blu-ray of perhaps his greatest film, "A Clockwork Orange." Alas, the boxed set doesn't include "Paths of Glory" though, on the upside "Spartacus" is there as well as the new to Blu-ray, "Lolita" and "Barry Lyndon."
There's also an eight disc Blu-ray compilation of the "Superman" films coming, from the original Richard Donner classic (in two versions) to the more recent "Superman Returns" that tried but failed to recapture the Donner magic.
Of course the biggest Warners blockbuster Blu-ray of the year will surely be "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1," the Blu-ray combo pack of which also includes a look at the final film in the series. Warners is also releasing a gift set of all seven Potter films they say includes all the extras from the two disc collector's sets.
Looks like it's going to be a "Warnerful" year for Blu-rays.
Copyright 2011 Jim Bray
TechnoFile.comJim Bray, CFP Automotive Editor——
Bio and Archives
Jim publishes TechnoFile Magazine. Jim is an affiliate with the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada and his careers have included journalist, technology retailer, video store pioneer, and syndicated columnist; he does a biweekly column on CBC Radio One’s The Business Network.
Jim can be reached at: bray@technofile.com
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