Blu-Ray Report Card: 2009
Over the many years that I've collected movies on VHS, Laserdisc, DVD, HD DVD and now Blu-Ray. I've discovered that movie studios alter the way they present their movies on home video about every 2 - 3 years. Weather it's cover art designs, supplement production, menu designs, audio codecs, etc, something dramatic changes about them quite often. I like to grade the studios on their improvements/screw-ups every year with an annual report card. Here is how the major movie studios fared for 2009.
20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (FOX, MGM, United Artists) Grade: B-
The studio got off to a good start this year but ended it with a hard thud on the ground. After acquiring the rights to MGM/UA's video library a couple of years ago, Fox finally started to release several of the roaring lions titles on Blu-Ray this year including THE SILENCE OF THE LAMB, MISERY, THE GRADUATE, FARGO, ROAD HOUSE and SPACEBALLS as well as the recent releases VALKYRIE and QUANTUM OF SOLACE. All of these titles received first-rate transfers. The same can be said for Fox's own collection of catalog titles (including THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST, DODGEBALL, NAPOLEON DYNAMITE, OFFICE SPACE, DONNIE DARKO and THE BOONDOCK SAINTS among many others). Fox also had began to take full advantage of Blu-Ray's interactive Picture-in-Picture capabilities and seemless branching technology on day-&-date new releases like MAX PAYNE and BABYLON A.D.
Sadly less than halfway into the year, Fox dropped the ball and began to offer less supplemental features on their new releases, especially recently TV season packages like 24, BURN NOTICE, HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER, LIE TO ME, and SONS OF ANARCHY. HD exclusives also quickly went by the wayside for the major new releases like WOLVERINE, ICE AGE 3 and NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM 2.
However, Fox has remained steadfast in it's commitment to DTS-HD Master Audio tracks and Capable video transfers (save for an occasional abomination like THE FRENCH CONNECTION which got ruined with an artificially blue-tinted image). Also Fox has made it easy for consumers to have more than one video format all in the same package by adding a Digital Copy (fully compatible with PC and Apple and with no expiration date) of the film in all their new releases as well as Standard-Def DVD copies on some titles as well.
High Points: MAX PAYNE, FIGHT CLUB, THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST, NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM: Battle of the Smithsonian, ICE AGE: Dawn of the Dinosaurs, VALKYRIE, QUANTUM OF SOLACE
Low Points: THE FRENCH CONNECTION, BURN NOTICE: Season 2, THE SIEGE
WALT DISNEY HOME ENTERTAINMENT (Walt Disney Pictures/Touchstone Pictures/Hollywood Pictures/Miramax Films) Grade: C
Disney probably offers the best video/audio transfers on every single Blu-Ray release they have done to date. Unfortunately, they haven't released many titles this year. Ever since Disney started to cut back on the number of movies it normally produces on a annual basis, the lack of titles is being felt all-around. It's bad enough that the new releases themselves aren't very good movies (G-FORCE, BEDTIME STORIES).
Since the fall of last year, Disney had finally adopted DTS-HD audio on all their new and subsequent releases and have blessedly continued to do so. Their Blu-Ray menus are easy to navigate, despite their lack of creative design. And the studios support for including fully compatible Digital Copies on their new releases is most welcome.
But, the lack of supplements (especially on any non-kids movie like THE PROPOSAL and CONFESSIONS OF A SHOPAHOLIC) make the hefty price tags for Disney Blu-Ray's hard to accept for purchasing. Only the Walt Disney/Pixar animated features are receiving the whole nine yards with interactive HD features and BD-Live connectivity.
High Points: SNOW WHITE, A BUG'S LIFE, DOUBT, SIN CITY
Low Points: High Retail Prices; bias treatment for non-family fare.
SONY PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMENT (Columbia Pictures, Tri-Star Pictures, Screen Gems) Grade: A-
The people behind the genesis of Blu-Ray have been surprisingly lacking in certain areas regarding the interactive capabilities of the format. That's not to say that they have not been improving on the matter.
First this fall, Sony finally started applying DTS-HD audio to their new and subsequent releases such as THE TAKING OF PELHAM 123, THE MASK OF ZORRO and ANGELS & DEMONS among others released since this past October. The studios number of catalog titles has gotten a tremendous boost this year as well with such releases as THE DA VINCI CODE, SILVERADO, THE DARK CRYSTAL, LABYRINTH, DR. STRANGELOVE, MIDNIGHT EXPRESS, EASY RIDER, THE QUICK & THE DEAD and GO to name a few.
New releases have often included fully compatible digital copies, seamless branching technology and BD-Live connectivity (though not a lot of exclusive features to be found there yet). PiP tracks are off-and-on for certain titles but are always well-produced for the ones which they are included on.
High Points: THE INTERNATIONAL, ANGELS & DEMONS, PINEAPPLE EXPRESS, THE TAKING OF PELHAM 1 2 3, DR. STANGELOVE, UNDERWORLD: Rise of the Lycans
Low Points: GHOSTBUSTERS, poor ease-of-use on many Blu-Ray menus.
LIONSGATE Grade: A
Lionsgate has almost always hit a bulls-eye with their Blu-Rays and on the few occasions where they have gotten it wrong, they have corrected the issue with new and improved re-releases such as recent special editions of TERMINATOR 2 and STARGATE. But their new releases have been given such loving treatment as well with crisp clean 1080p video and DTS-HD Master Audio (often upgraded to 7.1 channels, for full cinematic envelopment) Lionsgate's acquisition of Artisan Home Entertainment has offered the studio a large number of back catalog titles that include, AIR AMERICA, ANGEL HEART, and NEAR DARK (all of which have received loving transfers).
In addition to plenty of interactive Blu-Ray exclusives and fully-compatible digital copies Lionsgate is a studio that has offered high quality treatment for all of it's TV series on Blu-Ray to date, granted they only consist of two shows so far (MAD MEN and WEEDS), but what a great supplemental package they have given them. As a cherry on top, all of Lionsgate's Blu-Ray's are very affordable price-wise for the ever-discerning consumer unsure about upgrading their back catalog of DVDs.
High Points: THE HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT, MAD MEN: Season 2, NEW IN TOWN, THE SPIRIT, TERMINATOR 2 (SkyNet Edition), STARGATE (15th Anniv. Edition), BATTLE FOR TERRA and many others.
Low Points: MY BLOODY VALENTINE 3-D
UNIVERSAL HOME ENTERTAINMENT (Universal Pictures, Focus Features, Rouge Pictures) Grade: B+
Universal was the last of the major studios to adjust to the Blu-Ray bandwagon (after supporting Tohisba's strong but underutilized HD-DVD format). But when they got on, boy did they ever deliver. Especially with regards to kick-ass High-Def DTS-HD audio and interactive supplements. Universal's patented U-Control features are easy to use and very informative to boot and offer hours upon hours of additional behind the scenes material for the movie in question. Universal's Blu-Ray's out-trump their HD-DVD counterparts in every way (which is a lot considering that I was a strong supporter of the now extinct format).
While Universal's DTS audio is always a winner on their released (both new & old), their video transfers can be a bit in-flux. For every crisp clear transfer like FAST & FURIOUS the BOURNE trilogy, STATE OF PLAY and CORALINE, there is a muddy-looking transfer on such classics like FIELD OF DREAMS, THE LAST STARFIGHTER and AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON. Also many less popular new releases (box-office disappointments and particularity films released by Rouge Pictures) have been given shitty supplemental packages. Some examples include THE UNBORN, FIGHTING, and DUPLICITY among others.
BD-Live interactivity is starting to be utilized quite well on recent releases like PUBLIC ENEMIES and FAST & FURIOUS and many new releases have included Digital Copies and/or Standard-Def DVD copies as well. The back catalog of Universal titles is quite plentiful to boot. You can mow enjoy such hits like SEABISCUIT, LOVE ACTUALLY, THE RUNDOWN, SHAUN OF THE DEAD, CHILDREN OF MEN, CINDERELLA MAN, HOT FUZZ, and INSIDE MAN.
High Points: The FAST & FURIOUS Quadrilogy, The BOURNE Trilogy, CORALINE, STATE OF PLAY, HOT FUZZ, CHILDREN OF MEN, THE TALE OF DESPERAUX, FROST/NIXON,
Low Points: FIELD OF DREAMS, AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON, THE LAST STARFIGHTER, DUPLICITY, 8 MILE, FLETCH
PARAMOUNT/DREAMWORKS HOME ENTERTAINMENT Grade: B
Since DreamWorks' sorta-separation from Paramount earlier this year, both studios have not released a whole lot of catalog titles this year as before. However, the ones that have been released have almost all been given loving video transfers and supplemental packages. Credit Paramount's recent Sapphire Series for giving some of their Oscar-winning fare like FORREST GUMP, BRAVEHEART and GLADIATOR the Special Edition treatment as well as the onslaught of STAR TREK this year, not only with J.J. Abrahms' reboot, but also the previous 10 films in the series and the original 60's TV series remastered.
While Paramount has begun to include DTD-HD tracks on their Sapphire titles and a couple recent new releases. The overall quality of their audio codecs leave a lot to be desired when it come the that bombastic punch that Blu-Ray often provides. That and the studios lack of including Digital Copies and Blu-Ray exclusive supplements make for a less than enticing proposition to upgrade.
High Points: THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON, ZODIAC, FORREST GUMP, G.I. JOE: The Rise OF Cobra, JJ Abrahms' STAR TREK, STAR TREK II: The Wrath Of Kahn, The complete original STAR TREK TV series.
Low Points: GLADIATOR, STAR TREK III and IV (picture quality), Season 1-3 of DEXTER (no supplements)
WARNER BROS. HOME ENTERTAINMENT (Warner Bros. Pictures, New Line Cinema) Grade: B
The one studio that has achieved the biggest turnaround this year is without doubt Warner Bros. The last couple of year's the studio has failed to produce worthwhile and/or informative supplemental materials for their new releases. In addition they showed an unforgivable bias toward the audio/video treatment of certain types of genre fare (particularity comedies and family-fare) by giving them sub-par video and lossy, non-high-def audio transfers.
This year, Warner Bros. started to get things back on track by not only by including Dolby TrueHD (and in some cases DTS-HD) tracks on all their film releases (TV shows on Blu-Ray like CHUCK, THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES and SMALLVILLE are still being given the shaft) but WB also created what could very well be the next step in the many great interactive capabilities that Blu-Ray has to offer with "Maximum Movie Mode" which makes the regular PiP features on other Blu-Ray releases seem somewhat less intriguing compared to what this can achieve. So far only a couple of titles have been given the "MMM" treatment (WATCHMEN: Director's Cut, TERMINATOR SALVATION, "300" ULTIMATE EDITION) but man oh man are they ever fun to use. I wish I could say the same for the menu design for WB's Blu-rays which do not pop-up before the movie starts, making it a pain to access the features and change the audio after the movie has already begun and forcing you to have to start from the beginning, not cool.
Digital Copies have been included on the majority of titles this year (both new & old) but are sadly made available only for a limited time (approx. one year). The good news is that Warner Bros. is also utilizing the BD-Live capabilities of the format the most by including Live Communinty screenings with the stars and director's on such titles as WATCHMEN and HARRY POTTER & THE HALF-BLOOD PRNCE. On TERMINATOR SALVATION you can even access material that DVD consumers would have to pay extra for (such as the animated MACHINMA series that was released earlier this year. Very Nice. You've got a ways to go Warner, but your getting there fast.
High Points: WATCHMEN, TERMINATOR SALVATION, HARRY POTTER & THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE
Low Points, Limited-time Digital Copies, Menu design/ease-of-use
Horny
