DISQUS

Davebaxter1989 · 5 months ago

Glad to see it back Neil I just wish it didn't make me think
'hey Dr Strangelove Blu-Ray! I'll buy that because I have all Kubrick's Blu-Rays!'
'But wait I Can't because it's not been released here in the UK!'
Damn.

Kangaroo Be Stoned · 5 months ago

You should have skipped Gran Torino and Revolutionary Road.

Neil Miller · 5 months ago

I can see wanting to skip Revolutionary Road, but what do you have against Gran Torino...?

Kangaroo Be Stoned · 5 months ago

The entire plot is a cliche, the acting by the younger cast is horrible, thus showing us that the direction is shit, the cliche Jesus archetype at the end. I think it's one of Eastwood's worst films.

Neil Miller · 5 months ago

I see.

It didn't feel too cliche to me, and I found the younger actors -- the family at least -- to be authentic and endearing. So I guess we stand on opposite sides of this one. Oh well...

Davebaxter1989 · 5 months ago

I've got to disagree there I feel that Gran Torino is one of Eastwood's most watchable films and that the younger cast to a very good job at being natural and real so never feel out of place in that world. I also wouldn't go as far as to say its a cliche, I mean they say every film has been done but this felt fresh. As for the Jesus archetype at the end it wasn't my favourite allusion but I thought the self sacrifice was a fantastic way to end.

Kangaroo Be Stoned · 5 months ago

The thing is that the worst bit of acting comes from Thao when Walt locks him up before going on his mission.

Davebaxter1989 · 5 months ago

Hes emotional! His sisters been attacked and he wants vengeance! You can't imagine the pain he'd be going through hence his display of anger and helplessness after Walt absolves him of the responsibility. Its a powerful scene that is obviously a stretch for an actor but I think he handles it dutifully.

Kangaroo Be Stoned · 5 months ago

The actor couldn't sell the scene for me, I'm sorry. I cringed then laughed at the scene because it was so bad.

Davebaxter1989 · 5 months ago

I can accept that but you are in the minority there. I just think you've been overly harsh on the actors when there are so many other great parts in this film.

Kangaroo Be Stoned · 5 months ago

How is it relevant that I am in the minority? Does that mean my criticisms are invalid because the majority like it? It's a horrible film with an unlikable main character, with a cliche plot, with horrible direction, and horrible acting. I will say that I like what happened to Walt in the end, though. Besides that, what are the good parts in the film? You mean the scenes where Walt continues to spout racial slurs, even to the kid he is bonding with? A lot of people I have talked to say that he was redeemed with what he did in the end but I would disagree. Sacrificing yourself for a dozen or so people does not make up for decades of racial prejudice in my book.

Davebaxter1989 · 5 months ago

Of course it's relevant that most people disagree with you and it doesn't make your criticisms invalid it just means that the majority don't agree. I can accept that you don't like it but you must accept that I think you have bad taste :)

Kangaroo Be Stoned · 5 months ago

Spare me your pretentious bullshit. ZOMG HE NO LIKEY A MOVIE MOST PEOPLE LIKE HE HAS BAD TASTE!11.

Davebaxter1989 · 5 months ago

I. Was. Joking.

Of course your allowed your little say but from where I sit you hate Pixar and hate Gran Torino so we're clearly on a different page. As such your taste and mine don't align. Well apart from The Inbetweeners.

Steven Carpenter · 5 months ago

Hey Neil, are there any feature commentaries for Friday the 13th 2009, like one with Derek Mears or at least one with the director or any other cast and crew members?

So it seems like the release of Friday 13th Parts 2 and 3 Blu-ray are just a total cash grab to coincide with the release of the 09 version, why the hell do the studios pull that kind of shit?

I'm a huge fan of the Friday series, and it really deserve a quality Blu-ray release.

So Neil, since Friday Parts 2 and 3 Blu-ray don't have anything new, should I at least pick up the deluxe editions of parts 2 and 3 on dvd if I already own the entire Friday the 13th box set?

RobertFure · 5 months ago

F13 2009 has some cool stuff on it. It has the 7 best kills of the movie and it shows you how they filmed them. It also has a PiP "trivia track" that is like a commentary. There are also two featurettes, one about the franchise and one about Jason specifically.

The F13 parts 2 and 3 aren't necessarily a cash grab - its the first time they're available on Blu-ray and they are the same as the deluxe editions that came out on DVD in February. The discs just werent ready to release then. If you want the deluxe editions, get them on Blu-ray instead of DVD. They have all the same features (each disc has a few features and commentaries) but you get Blu-ray picture and sound. If you want to update from the box set, it doesnt make sense to go to DVD again, but to Blu-ray I say go for it.

I'll be posting up a review of F13 2 and 3 on Blu-ray soon, by the way.

kheas · 5 months ago

I work in an Entertainment store that sells Blu Rays among other things (video games, books etc) and I have had a conversation with the Video manager that I'd like to share.

What is the point of a boring, or even a non-action drama, on Blu Ray? Blu Ray's point to exist is for the high definition quality picture. So, when you watch an explosion in Transformers, you see every bit of twisted metal that flies by, you see the details in the massacred soldiers in Band of Brothers, bottom line, you experience the movie in a much more vivid form.
So why put Revolutionary Road, or Madea goes to Jail on blu ray? Do you really want to see the sweat on D'caprios brow, or the wig hairs on Tyler Perry's head? Then there are the B-movies. These movies (like the Terminators , the transmogrifiers, etc) If Blu-Ray shows every detail and these are low budget films, wouldn't the High Def technology point out every flaw and mishap. So they would have to make the quality of the B-movie better thus counteracting the whole B-movie concept.

So my question is, what movies will make it on Blu-Ray and which won't? Blu-Ray sales as a whole seem to be down and DVD is selling much faster. Will Blu-Ray survive when there is not enough reason to buy them? I dont know, but I kind of wonder about its future...

RobertFure · 5 months ago

Blu-ray will eventually take the place of DVD completely once prices go down. People had similar arguments against DVD when VHS was still around. Who wanted to pay $250 for a DVD player and $30 for a disc when you still had VHS? Now, VHS isn't even sold in most stores. When prices come down, Blu-ray will outsell DVD.

Davebaxter1989 · 5 months ago

Personally if a film is on blu ray then I'll buy it on that format rather than DVD. I think the point is moot though as some do want to see the 'sweat on Di Caprio's brow' much like me. This is because the jump is not just picture but audio. As a whole package therefore Blu Ray wins out for me and I feel it will grow to become even better.

kheas · 5 months ago

I'm not saying that Blu Ray is not superior, but will it last? Blu Ray seems wasted on something that is not visually and aurally impressive. Not only that but the companies that make Blu Ray movies are not even using the technology to half of its potential. When I find a 7-10 disc box set of the entire Star Trek TNG series, or a two disc set of the Star Wars Saga, then I'll be sold on the format. You have to remember that Beta was superior to VHS and Beta lost that one. I think DVD will hold on a lot longer than everyone thinks, especially if this economic crunch lasts any longer. Blu Rays will need to drop in price much faster if they want to make the grade.

Davebaxter1989 · 5 months ago

Yes but this isn't Blu-Ray V DVD it's Blu-Ray AND DVD. They are compatible so it's at the moment a niche market but there's no reason it won't grow. The advancements you talk of will come in time as more adopt. We'll eventually reach a point that whole series will be on one disc. Also EVERY film is better on Blu-Ray if the transfer is done correctly and it's hardly the formats fault if some rush half hearted jobs.