Blu-ray

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Anton van Beek  |  Jul 26, 2013  |  0 comments

Based on the true story of an off-the-books police squad set up in 1940s L.A. to bring down boxer-turned-gang boss Meyer 'Micky' Cohen, Gangster Squad has the kind of setup that most crime writers could only wish they'd dreamt up. Add to that some serious star power, including Josh Brolin, Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone and Sean Penn, and you'd expect this to be the sort of modern classic that could rival L.A. Confidential or Chinatown.

Anton van Beek  |  Jul 21, 2013  |  0 comments

A group of tsunami survivors find they've more to worry about than just keeping dry in this high-concept 3D b-movie; trapped inside a submerged supermarket, they also have to contend with a killer shark swimming up and down the aisles. Much better than the lamentable Shark Night 3D, this Australian flick is a fun watch and boasts some effective stereoscopy thanks to the Blu-ray's crisply-rendered MVC 1.78:1 picture. The DTS-HD MA 5.1 mix also has real bite, with strong dynamics and good bass presence. Extras take the form of a 44-minute Making of… and the trailer.

Anton van Beek  |  Jul 20, 2013  |  0 comments

If ever you needed more proof of how far off the mark Hollywood's live-action Street Fighter adaptation was, all you need to do is take a look at this Japanese animated film. It may not add up to much more than a series of fight scenes, but somehow it still manages to boast more plot and characterisation than the Jean-Claude Van Damme version. This Full HD release is utterly devoid of bonus features, but fans can take heart that the AVC 1.85:1 encode is the best the film has looked on any home entertainment medium, and the LPCM 2.0 audio (in both Japanese and English incarnations) is suitably punchy.

Anton van Beek  |  Jul 19, 2013  |  0 comments

While not as well known as the Hammer films of the same era, this period shocker about a Satanic cult that takes hold of the children in a 17th Century village is one of the better British genre films of the 1970s. Stunningly directed by Piers Haggard, this literate and chilling film also benefits from a superb central performance from Linda Hayden as nubile cult leader Angel. This Blu-ray release delivers a beautifully restored AVC 1.85:1 1080p encode alongside a fabulous LPCM mono mix that gets the best out of the film's haunting score. Extras include a 20-minute Making of… and a pair of chat-tracks.

Anton van Beek  |  Jul 18, 2013  |  0 comments

There's no denying that Games Workshop's Warhammer 40,000 role-playing game has plenty of scope for spin-off movies. This makes it all the more surprising and disappointing that this CG animation is the first attempt at bringing the game's rich universe to the screen. Sure, Ultramarines may get the small details right, but the characters are mere cyphers, the pacing is dreadful and the plot is as predictable as they come. The Blu-ray's AVC 1.78:1 visuals look oddly washed-out and lack texture, while the Dolby TrueHD 5.1 mix goes for volume rather than quality. A missed opportunity.

Anton van Beek  |  Jul 18, 2013  |  0 comments

From Rashamon to The Usual Suspects, the untrustworthy narrator has been a recurring figure throughout the history of movies.

Anton van Beek  |  Jul 17, 2013  |  0 comments

With plans for a big-budget Halo movie still trapped in development hell, it appears that fans will have to make do with this re-edited web series for the time being. What they'll make of the decision to sideline Master Chief until the final act is another thing – but the good news is that once he and the Covenant finally turn up …Forward Unto Dawn delivers on the promise of its source material. As well as a strong AVC 2.40:1 1080p encode and dynamic DTS-HD MA 5.1 mix, this disc also delivers plenty of extras, including 10 behind-the-scenes featurettes.

Anton van Beek  |  Jul 17, 2013  |  0 comments

Frank Langella stars in this heartwarming sci-fi buddy story that manages to deal with some pretty heavy issues with the lightest of touches.

Anton van Beek  |  Jul 16, 2013  |  0 comments

Walter Hill's superb retelling of the Jesse James story receives a long-overdue UK Blu-ray release courtesy of Second Sight. The good news is that it's a damn sight more impressive HD package than MGM's lacklustre 2011 US release. The AVC-encoded 1.85:1 1080p picture is fairly inconsistent, but it's clear that Second Sight put effort into cleaning up MGM's old HD master. Elsewhere the LPCM 2.0 mix works wonders with Ry Cooder's score. Newly-created extras include an hour-long documentary, an 'anatomy of a scene' featurette and Hill talking about Sam Peckinpah.

Anton van Beek  |  Jul 15, 2013  |  0 comments

This final season finds the stakes raised higher than ever as Spartacus' slave army wages full-scale war with the might of Rome. It's epic stuff, regularly delivering the kind of blood and thunder fans have come to expect from the show, while also taking the time to explore its characters. As with the earlier seasons, the AVC 1.78:1 1080p imagery and DTS-HD MA 5.1 sonics are first-rate. However, in order to get it on shelves so quickly Anchor Bay has had to forgo any bonus material – a blow given the copious extras accompanying the previous Blu-ray boxsets.

Anton van Beek  |  Jul 14, 2013  |  0 comments

These two mid-'60s Doctor Who flicks scrub up very well indeed in high-definition. Meticulously restored from 35mm interpositives, the AVC 2.40:1 1080p encodes are awash with vibrant colours and heavy grain that showcase their Techniscope origins. The LPCM 2.0 mono soundtracks have had similar work done on them, resulting in crisp and clear presentations that are extremely sympathetic to the source material.

Anton van Beek  |  Jul 13, 2013  |  0 comments

All good things must come to an end – and so it is that fans must now bid farewell to this superior sci-fi series. At least we can all take comfort in the fact that the show was allowed to run to a natural conclusion – even if this fifth season's dystopian future time-line isn't one that we necessarily saw coming.

Anton van Beek  |  Jul 12, 2013  |  0 comments

Paul Walker takes a break from driving custom cars in the Fast & Furious franchise to drive a rental car with an unexpected passenger in the boot in this South African thriller. While the plot doesn't offer too many surprises (or make much sense) and Walker's ex-con isn't the most charismatic of protagonists, some skillful editing and the Johnannesburg location give the film a unique feel. The disc's AVC 2.40:1 1080p encode makes the most of the sunburnt palette and gritty cinematography. A 13-minute Making of… and a theatrical trailer are the only extras on offer.

Anton van Beek  |  Jul 12, 2013  |  0 comments

Michael 'The Miz' Mizanin follows fellow grapplers John Cena and Ted DiBiase Jr. in this third instalment of the undemanding DTV franchise – although taken on its own terms, The Marine 3 isn't a bad little action film and while he's no Dwayne Johnson, 'The Miz' manages to give a good performance even when not hitting people. The film's AVC 1.78:1 108p encode is pretty solid, although artefacts do creep into a couple of the action scenes. Curiously, given all of the violence, the film's DTS-HD MA 5.1 mix feels oddly constrained.

Anton van Beek  |  Jul 12, 2013  |  0 comments

While out recording ambient effects one night, sound technician Jack Terry (John Travolta) becomes convinced that he's accidentally recorded a political assassination. In a desperate attempt to uncover the truth he enlists the help of the only survivor of the 'accident' (Nancy Allen), unaware that he is putting both their lives in even greater danger.

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