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When a young girl catches her sister in a passionate embrace with a childhood friend, her jealousy drives her to tell a lie that will change the course of all their lives forever.< p>

This film was highly anticipated by both my wife and I and while we were impressed, it didn't live up to our expectations. The first act is rather slow, but the second and third acts are very satisfying, but I'm not sure that I would consider this one of the best films of 2007.

This one deserves the R rating due to violent war situations, language, and some sexuality.

REFERENCE = 92-100 / EXCELLENT = 83-91 / GOOD = 74-82 / AVERAGE = 65-73 / BELOW AVERAGE = under 65

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No real complaints in the audio department besides the lack of a lossless TrueHD mix. This has been one of my biggest pet peeves of the HD DVD format and one of the many reasons for its demise. The mix is generally good here but doesn't quite have the depth that I have heard from other TrueHD mixes, or for that matter, PCM presentations. The war scenario at the end of the movie packs some punch and the musical score is well integrated into the film.

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The video is presented in with VC-1 and looks quite good. Depth and detail is above average and the color reproduction is outstanding, especially the use of green in the English countryside. Black levels approach the inky level and shadow detail is well preserved.

The special features are a bit sparse and don't contain any earth-shattering details.

Audio Commentary with director Joe Wright

WRAP-UP:

This is the last release that Universal will have on HD DVD and fans of the film will be happy with the presentation. If you are a movie collector and are still willing to purchase HD DVD discs, I can't think of a reason to not add this to your collection. The story is well done and the acting is top notch.

By David Vaughn
DVD Editor



Reference System Used In Review

JVC RS-HD1 1080p Projector
Stewart Firehawk 88” fixed screen
Denon 4308CI Receiver (HDMI 1.3) – review unit
Toshiba HD-A35 HD DVD Player (HDMI)
Sony PS3 for BD playback (HDMI)
M&K S-150’s (Front Soundstage)
M&K SS-150’s (x 4 Rear Soundstage)
SVS PC-Ultra Subwoofer
PureAV PF60 Power Conditioner
PureLink HDC Series HDMI Fiber Optic Cable System 15-meter feeding the Projector ]]>Sun, 16 Mar 2008 17:29:34 GMThttp://www.hometheaterspot.com/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/140712/http://www.hometheaterspot.com/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/140712/Sat, 01 Mar 2008 22:52:12 GMThttp://www.hometheaterspot.com/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/140685/http://www.hometheaterspot.com/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/140685/ The Review at a Glance: (max score: 5 paws)

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Kate (Zeta-Jones) is a workaholic chef at an upscale neighborhood restaurant in Manhatten. She obsesses about her work and has the ultimate control over every aspect of her life. But when her sister dies in a tragic accident, the care for her orphaned niece is left in her hands and she quickly finds out that having a grade-schooler in the house has changed her life forever. But the fun doesn’t stop there when an unconventional sous chef is hired at the restaurant to further complicate her life.

This genre of film is generally a hit or miss proposition, and I am happy to report that this film hit the bulls-eye. The chemistry between the three main characters is genuine, but I have special praise for young Abibal Breslin, who plays the lovable orphan, Zoe, whose has some serious screen presence. This goes to show that her performance in Little Miss Sunshine was no fluke, this kid has some serious talent. /p
Parental Concerns:

There really isn’t anything in this film to discourage viewing by almost anyone. The subject matter may not appeal to younger audiences, but if they stray into the room while Mom and Dad enjoy the film, there will be no need to jump for the remote to stop the movie.

REFERENCE = 92-100 / EXCELLENT = 83-91 / GOOD = 74-82 / AVERAGE = 65-73 / BELOW AVERAGE = under 65

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My expectations for these genre of film generally aren’t really high, but I can’t say I was particularly impressed with either the audio or the video on this disc. The audio is a lowly 640 kbps Dolby Digital Plus mix, which is very front heavy and not even the excellent soundtrack opens up the soundstage to the level of what I expect from a HD disc.

The VC-1 encode isn’t particularly impressive either. There are some moments when you can certainly appreciate that you are watching a 1080p image, but there are way too many scenes that are very soft, especially on any of the longer shots. Flesh tones also don’t look particularly accurate, with the fine detail lacking in some close ups. Whether this is due to a low bitrate or some DNR being applied, I don’t know, but I can say that there was a lot of room for improvement in this area.

The bonus features are only presented in standard definition and in a pan and scan format to boot.

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Hank Deerfield (Jones) is a retired Sergeant from the US Army who was eagerly awaiting the return of his son from his tour of duty in Iran. When Mike goes AWOL upon his return, Hank and his wife are concerned because this is not like him to neglect his duty. Hank decides to travel to the Army base in New Mexico where Mike is stationed to start an investigation of his own. With the help of a local police detective, Emily Sanders (Theron), Hank attempts to follow the evidence despite the roadblocks being put up by the US Army.

Much like the mid to late 1970’s, this decade is starting to see movies depicting America’s involvement in an unpopular war. In the Valley of Elah doesn’t get into the political motivations for the war, but the effect that war has on the human spirit. It asks the question: What happens to human beings when they are put into inhumane conditions? Do they become inhuman as a result? But the way this film explores these questions is not an “in your face” portrayal. The viewer gets to peel back each layer one by one through the eyes of Tommy Lee Jones, a devoted father who just wants the truth about what happened to his son. This movie lives and dies by Tommy Lee Jones performance, and in the end, you see why he received an Oscar nomination for his role. His portrayal of Hank Deerfield is phenomenal.

R for some language, disturbing content, some brief nudity and some violent images.

REFERENCE = 92-100 / EXCELLENT = 83-91 / GOOD = 74-82 / AVERAGE = 65-73 / BELOW AVERAGE = under 65

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The movie is mostly a dialogue rich experience, but there are times when the dynamics are put to the test, specifically when Hank enters some “male entertainment establishments” where the music is pumped up pretty loud. The surrounds become active in these scenes as well, but for the most part, 95% of the movie is a front loaded presentation, but satisfying on the ears and in a TrueHD 5.1 mix to boot!

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On the video side of the equation, it looks pretty good, but there are some instances where a higher bitrate could have been used. Some longer shots are quite soft and I noticed some minor ringing as well in the VC-1 presentation. Black levels looked very good though and the daylight sequences really had a nice pop to them.

There are two feature specific bonus features that are provided in a VC-1 SD presentation, but at least they are in widescreen. There are also some additional deleted scenes that run about 7 minutes that focus on a character that was not included in the final cut of the film.

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Michael Clayton is known in the business as a “fixer”, the guy you call when you need to clean up a mess. While trained as an attorney, this niche better suits his skills for the powerful New York law firm that employs him. When a high profile $3-billion case gets off track due to the mental stability of the firm’s chief litigator, Michael is sent in to clean up the mess. He quickly discovers that there is more to the case than meets the eye and he has put his own life in harm’s way.

If I were to create a template for a male movie star, I think George Clooney would be the guy I would model my creation after. Dashing good looks, natural charm and the ability to carry a scene without ever speaking a word sums up the ability that this man carries on to a movie set. In Michael Clayton, Clooney truly struts his stuff as the complicated hero. Sure, his character isn’t your typical hero, in fact, some may consider him dirty. But there is a certain quality to his character that is begging to be unleashed throughout the film. We get glimpses of it in scenes with his son, at a family birthday party, and even upon the death of a close friend. But will circumstances present themselves to allow the good guy to be unleashed or will the troubles that seem to follow Michael through life get him in the end?

A rather tame rated R due to some language and some dialogue of a sexual nature.

REFERENCE = 92-100 / EXCELLENT = 83-91 / GOOD = 74-82 / AVERAGE = 65-73 / BELOW AVERAGE = under 65

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Presented with a 640 Kbps Dolby Digital Plus mix, it isn’t what I would call earth shattering, but it does convey the story. The mix is mostly front heavy, but there are some scenes where the blends between the front and rear speakers create a nice soundstage. The musical score by James Newton Howard opens up the dynamics a bit, but this isn’t the type of film that lends itself to a “blow you away” experience.

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The VC-1 presentation failed to impress me much here, but I think it is more given to the elements and post production than to the actual encode. Black levels are too dark throughout the production, which lends to some poor shadow detail. The foreground is viewable, but everything in the background is lost. I also noticed some ringing on occasion, but this was inconsistent in the film but may have been intentionally done. Either way though, this isn’t anything close to a “wow” experience.

The bonus features are pretty sparse with only a commentary by the Writer/Director Tony Gilroy and Editor john Gilroy and some additional scenes that were cut from the film.

There is a lot to like about this film, but I wouldn’t recommend watching at the end of a long day, which is sadly the way I viewed it. The first two acts are slowly paced, but they serve well in setting up and ending to the film that is quite tense and in the end rewarding. Clooney does a fantastic job in the leading role and the supporting players do their part to tell a compelling story. Recommended for fans of this genre.

By David Vaughn
DVD Editor



Reference System Used In Review

JVC RS-HD1 1080p Projector
Stewart Firehawk 88” fixed screen
Sony STR-DA4300ES (HDMI 1.3) – review unit
Toshiba HD-A35 HD DVD Player (HDMI)
Sony PS3 for BD playback (HDMI)
M&K S-150’s (Front Soundstage)
M&K SS-150’s (x 4 Rear Soundstage)
SVS PC-Ultra Subwoofer
PureAV PF60 Power Conditioner
PureLink HDC Series HDMI Fiber Optic Cable System 15-meter feeding the Projector ]]>Thu, 28 Feb 2008 00:02:20 GMThttp://www.hometheaterspot.com/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/140543/http://www.hometheaterspot.com/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/140543/The Review at a Glance: (max score: 5 paws)

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( Max score: 100 )

94

In the age of heroes comes the mightiest warrior of them all, Beowulf. After destroying the overpowering demon Grendel, he incurs the undying wrath of the beast’s ruthlessly seductive mother who will use any means possible to ensure revenge. The ensuing epic battle throughout the ages, immortalizing the name Beowulf. Academy Award® winner director Robert Zemeckis tells the oldest epic tale in the English language with the most modern technology, advancing the cinematic forum through the magic of digitally enhanced live action. A stellar cast is led by Ray Winstone (“The Departed,” “Sexy Beast”) in the title role. Joining him are Academy Award® winner Anthony Hopkins as the cursed King Hrothgar, John Malkovich, Robin Wright Penn, Brendan Gleeson, Crispin Glover, Alison Lohman and Oscar® Winner Angelina Jolie as Grendel’s mother.

I liked Beowulf. It didn‘t try to be overly complicated in it’s story telling which allowed me to sit back and enjoy the ride. There was plenty of action and the screenplay, while not perfect, moved along and covered the bases quite well. The digitally enhanced live action used to create the film’s characters through the actors portraying them came off very well. The animation itself does not have the same softer appeal of the Pixar Studio animation but never the less I thought it looked amazing. The ending was a bit open ended which was a nice touch. The entire cast did a great job in lending their voices (and faces !) to the film’s characters which helped all the more to make it that much more realistic.

There is nudity, gore, disturbing images, sexuality, and violence. Not one for younger viewers.

REFERENCE = 92-100 / EXCELLENT = 83-91 / GOOD = 74-82 / AVERAGE = 65-73 / BELOW AVERAGE = under 65

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The 5.1 channel Dolby Digital Plus encoded soundtrack was of reference quality. Bass lovers will be very pleased as bass extension is deep, powerful, room filling. I suspect that chapter 13 will make great demo material as the golden dragon exit’s the cave and attacks the bridge. From a dynamic stand point Beowulf delivered the goods and then some. The entire soundstage was put to use and offered seamless integration during pans from front to back and left to right. Subtle intrinsic details woven into the background during certain scenes were easily discernible. Surround envelopment was almost surreal during the battle sequences and the films last act. Angelina Jolie’s voice had an almost angelic quality as she spoke to Beowulf in the confines of her cave dwelling. I would like to have seen a Dolby TrueHD audio track associated with a film like this but I can assure you that you won’t walk away feeling disappointed with this one.

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The 1080p AVC encoding here is of reference quality and looked superb. The majority of the film’s sequences are either at night, in a dark castle, or within a cave. This was not detrimental though as images looked three dimensional, dynamic and crispy. Blacks were deep and shadow delineation was excellent. Colors were well balanced and natural in appearance with no over saturation. The palette was not extensive but made very good use of those used to drive each scene. Contrast during the exterior daylight scenes was excellent as subtle variations with the shades of gray used in the mountains and sky backgrounds was apparent. Detail was abundant and revealed plenty of texture and fine articulation within the clothing, faces, backgrounds and sets of the CGI world in Beowulf. There were no signs of video related artifacts or noise. The will look great any display and my guess you can take your pick of almost any scene to use to as demo material.

**My video ratings are based upon a comparative made against other high definition media/blu-ray disc.**

The bonus features offered on this two disc set are comprehensive and will allow you to delve as deep into the entire production as you would like. The most interesting is the Hero’s Journey feature which looks into the making of the film from soup to nuts. Director Robert Zemeckis documented the entire shooting process and offered a detailed look inside the production. I found this to be fascinating as it detailed the digitally enhanced live action sequencing. The actors are outfitted with facial prosthetics and body suits that contain dozens of small motion transmitters. Theses transmitters send signals to over 200 motion receptors which are located throughout the “volume” which is a large 25x25x16 foot space. The actors don’t just supple their voices to their characters but additionally physically act out their scenes. The data is recorded and later entered into a computer as the film is processed. This even applies to the props used within each scene. Every facial expression is captured and what you see onscreen is not a digital reproduction but an actual rendering of what was captured. The Journey continues piece is an extension of the Hero‘s feature and provides a deeper element into the processes used.

There is enough here to keep those interested busy for several hours. I assure you that the time spent won’t be wasted, especially during the Making of feature. The fact that the majority of them are offered in high definition is a bonus and hopefully will become the norm.

Beowulf will make a great addition to any collection. It offers a decent story, reference audio/video and a plethora of bonus features. If you are an action adventure film fan then this one is right up your alley. Highly Recommended.

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When the Space Shuttle “Patriot” mysteriously crashes upon reentry its debris is scattered over a section of the United States. Something alien was attached to the shuttle and those that come in contact with it are changing. This hits home with Washington, DC psychiatrist Carol Bennell (Kidman) and her good friend, Dr. Ben Discoll (Craig), when they learn the truth about the spreading “flu” epidemic. Once you are infected with the “flu”, the alien cells will attack you in your sleep and will transform you into an human being in shell only…the emotions that make human beings, well, human, all all subdued. The key to saving the human race rests with Carol’s son, who mysteriously is immune to the epidemic.

I went into this one with a little bit of reservation, considering how much I remember from the 1978 remake of the original 1950’s classic sci-fi tale. The movie is very political in nature, and really plays upon the politics of today to show an “easy” solution to all of our problems. The first act of the film does a good job of setting up the story, the second act has you on the edge of your seat with suspense, but the third act kind of fizzles a bit when the director decided to throw in some car chases, which really didn’t belong in the movie. Kidman does a good job in her role and looks fantastic in most of the movie…me thinks she may have gone under the knife for some augmentation recently, and for the record, my wife was the one who brought this up! Overall though, I was entertained by the film, which was a good thing because entertainment in movies has been a rare treat lately.

PG-13 for violence, terror and some disturbing images. If you don’t want the kids to sleep in your room for a few days, be sure to keep the younger ones away from this one.

REFERENCE = 92-100 / EXCELLENT = 83-91 / GOOD = 74-82 / AVERAGE = 65-73 / BELOW AVERAGE = under 65

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The TrueHD mix is very impressive and is nearly of reference quality. Dialogue was a little soft at times, which is reflected in the scoring and was one of the factors holding the title back. Surround usage is very good though and there are some scenes with some intense bass in them, so viewers should be pleased with this one.

The video is encoded in a VC-1 bitrate that is lower than what we should be seeing out of Warner come June of this year when they go Blu-ray exclusive. That’s not to say that it looks bad, because it doesn’t. There are a couple of scenes that are a little soft around the edges and some flesh tones look a little fake at times, but other than those two things, this is an excellent VC-1 transfer.

The features run in total of less than 30 minutes, but they are presented in HD with a 1080i VC-1 encode. The three “Making of” featurettes are a little bland, but the “We’ve Been Snatched Before” feature is quite interesting and runs about 19 minutes.

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Everyone knows who Jesse James was, but who was Robert Ford? The Assassination of Jessie James by the Coward Robert Ford recounts the last train heist by the ruthless Jesse James and how Robert Ford befriends the bandit who was wanted in 10 states. Robert Ford grew up idolizing the nation’s most notorious criminal and talked his way into his gang of thieves, but when the thought of fame overtakes his good judgment, young Robert Ford betrays his trust and shoots him in the back.

My only real complaint with this film is in the pacing of the story, but it is a minor complaint overall. The story is very gripping and the acting is phenomenal, especially by Casey Affleck, who has been nominated for an Oscar for his role in the film. The cinematography and musical score really add to the enjoyment of the film and it’s unique way of telling the story more than makes up for any of the pacing issues.

R for some serious violence, some graphic gunshot wounds and some sexual references.

REFERENCE = 92-100 / EXCELLENT = 83-91 / GOOD = 74-82 / AVERAGE = 65-73 / BELOW AVERAGE = under 65

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The audio on this disc was just begging for a lossless track and the 640 kbps Dolby Digital Plus mix left me wanting on many occasions. Imaging across the front soundstage was very good, but the rear effects were pretty silent through most of the picture other than for some minor ambiance. My biggest complaint was in the gunshots, which really lacked punch on several occasions.

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Presented on only a HD30 Combo Disc, you could see many instances of bit starvation in the presentations. The picture looked somewhat flat on occasion with very little depth, especially on medium and long shots with some halo’s making an appearance. Black levels were also a little dark on occasion leaving poor shadow detail. I’m sure the compressionist did the best job he could with the bit budget allocated to him, but if a disc begs for higher disc capacity, this one certainly deserved it.

There is only one featurette on the disc and it is presented in a 4x3 pillarboxed format.

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As host of a New York radio show, “Street Walk”, Erica Bain feels at home on the streets until a random act of violence leaves her brutally beaten and her fiancé murdered. A demon within her is awakened by this experience and she turns to vigilante justice.

With the star power of Jodie Foster and Terrance Howard I really expected more out of this film than it delivered. Their performances were excellent, especially Foster’s, but the script was a bit haphazard at times with some scenes that left me scratching my head.

This one deserves the R rating due to some pretty strong violence and language.

REFERENCE = 92-100 / EXCELLENT = 83-91 / GOOD = 74-82 / AVERAGE = 65-73 / BELOW AVERAGE = under 65

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The audio is presented with a Dolby TrueHD presentation, which is quite good considering the genre of the film, which leans pretty heavily towards drama. Dynamics are quite good and I was impressed with the use of the surround speakers for not only ambience, but for setting the mood with the musical score.

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While not the best HD presentation I have seen, the VC-1 encoding seems to do the best it can with the source print, which I surmise didn’t look all that great to begin with. The picture is a tad soft at times and somewhat dark, fitting the mood of the film.

Not much in the way of features, but at least the featurette is presented in HD.

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When Queen Elizabeth’s reign is threatened by a religious fanatic who just happens to rule Spain, the superpower of the 16th Century, she must defend her land and her people from the ruthless invaders who have called for a holy war. Clive Owen joins the cast starring as Sir Walter Raleigh, a seafaring dreamer who captures the Virgin Queens heart.

Last year, I reviewed the HD DVD of Elizabeth and I simply loved it. Unfortunately, the sequel pales in comparison. Although visually stunning with phenomenal sets and fabulous costume design (which has garnered an Oscar nominee this year), the overall film itself is somewhat of a bore. Cate Blanchett reprises her role as Queen Elizabeth (who has also been nominated for her role), and simply shines even though the story starts slow and goes virtually nowhere. In fact, after the movie was over, both my wife and I wondered, what was the point?

A strong PG-13 for some torture scenes specifically, as well as for some nudity and sensuality.

REFERENCE = 92-100 / EXCELLENT = 83-91 / GOOD = 74-82 / AVERAGE = 65-73 / BELOW AVERAGE = under 65

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While this doesn’t quite live up to the original, the audio and video on this film is of near reference quality. In fact, if it wasn’t for some minor issues of dialogue intelligibility, the audio would have fallen into the reference category for sure. The quiet scenes are whisper quiet and the climatic sea battle at the end of the movie shows off impressive dynamics.

The video quality is also near reference as well, but I noticed some occasions of banding, which is most likely due to VC-1’s Achilles Heel. I also noticed immediately that the black levels were somewhat elevated above calibrated levels and some blacks in the film were a little washed out and milky instead of inky black. Shadow details benefitted from this a bit though because anything in the dark backgrounds were clearly visible, which added to the depth of the image. Even with these shortcomings, the picture boasts excellent quality, especially in the detail and the exterior shots, which are truly reference.

Day and Date with the DVD release, you would expect Universal to go all out on this release in the bonus features department, but unfortunately, they dropped the ball severely with the only “up sell” on the HD DVD is making it a Combo Disc. The deleted scenes are presented in a 4x3 pillerboxed window in standard definition, and the rest of the features are SD as well, but are at least an anamorphic widescreen. It makes you wonder if Universal ever wanted to win the format war?

Audio Commentary with Director Shekhar Kapur

WRAP-UP:

All style and no substance in this one. It looks and sounds fantastic, the production value and acting are top notch, but the story left a lot to be desired. This is very unfortunate since both my wife and I were really looking forward to this film but left us both wishing we had just spent the night watching the far superior original from 1998.

By David Vaughn
DVD Editor



Reference System Used In Review

JVC RS-HD1 1080p Projector
Stewart Firehawk 88” fixed screen
Denon 4308CI Receiver (HDMI 1.3) – review unit
Toshiba HD-A35 HD DVD Player (HDMI)
Sony PS3 for BD playback (HDMI)
M&K S-150’s (Front Soundstage)
M&K SS-150’s (x 4 Rear Soundstage)
SVS PC-Ultra Subwoofer
PureAV PF60 Power Conditioner
PureLink HDC Series HDMI Fiber Optic Cable System 15-meter feeding the Projector ]]>Sat, 26 Jan 2008 03:21:46 GMThttp://www.hometheaterspot.com/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/140233/http://www.hometheaterspot.com/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/140233/ The Review at a Glance: (max score: 5 paws)

Film:

Mobsters traces the lives of four close friends in New York City, circa 1920, and their rise to power through criminal means. From their humble beginnings they form a friendship that will lead them to the top of the heap in organized crime circles.

After sitting through a film like this, you really have to question how much Universal really wanted to win the format war. With a huge catalog to draw upon, you choose this type of film that is so clichéd and has little to no appeal with today’s audiences?

Rated R for violence and language. Keep the kids away from this one.

REFERENCE = 92-100 / EXCELLENT = 83-91 / GOOD = 74-82 / AVERAGE = 65-73 / BELOW AVERAGE = under 65

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Well, this one included a TrueHD track, but with the sound elements being what they were, it really didn’t matter. The audio mix is pretty weak on this one. The good news though is that the video was at least watchable, but it falls on the lower end of the scale as far as HD goes.

NONE.

This is another stellar example of quantity over quality. Sure, Universal released four movies on HD DVD for the week of January 8th, but only one of the four was worth the investment of a purchase, and it certainly wasn’t Mobsters.

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After a near death experience, Abe Dale discovers that he has the ability to “see” who is about to die as well as hear voices from the dead through the static that is produced by electronic devices. But as Abe starts to use this new found power for good, he discovers that interfering with the natural order of life and death comes with a heavy price to pay.

After sitting through the first movie, I wasn’t that enthralled of sitting through the sequel. But, the good news is that this film is much better than its predecessor, but it is still very flawed. It’s biggest is that it strives to do “too much” and doesn’t concentrate on the main story set up in the first part of the movie. I enjoyed the performances by both Fillion and Sackhoff though, and just those two alone made the film worth watching.

This one could be considered a borderline R movie with the violence depicted. Somehow it managed the squeak by with a PG-13 rating though..

REFERENCE = 92-100 / EXCELLENT = 83-91 / GOOD = 74-82 / AVERAGE = 65-73 / BELOW AVERAGE = under 65

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A slightly above average presentation overall with the audio mix having some decent dynamics and the video looking pretty good for a direct to video film.

I was surprised to find the featurettes on the disc were actually presented in HD, with the exception of the deleted scenes, which I don’t understand why if they decided to run the featurettes in HD why not give us everything with a VC-1 HD encode?

Web-Enabled features that have nothing to do with the movie.

WRAP-UP:

While not a great film, this one actually was better than the film that it was following, the previous reviewed White Noise. The script was a bit overreaching and I really didn’t care for the violent scenes, but the story was interesting enough to warrant a rental. If you had to choose between this film or the first one, this one would be my pick for sure.

By David Vaughn
DVD Editor



Reference System Used In Review

JVC RS-HD1 1080p Projector
Stewart Firehawk 88” fixed screen
Denon 4308CI Receiver (HDMI 1.3) – review unit
Toshiba HD-A35 HD DVD Player (HDMI)
Sony PS3 for BD playback (HDMI)
M&K S-150’s (Front Soundstage)
M&K SS-150’s (x 4 Rear Soundstage)
SVS PC-Ultra Subwoofer
PureAV PF60 Power Conditioner
PureLink HDC Series HDMI Fiber Optic Cable System 15-meter feeding the Projector ]]>Fri, 18 Jan 2008 18:56:59 GMThttp://www.hometheaterspot.com/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/140226/http://www.hometheaterspot.com/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/140226/ The Review at a Glance: (max score: 5 paws)

Film:

Extras:

When Architect Jonathan Rivers loses his wife by a tragic accident; he turns to an unbelievable world of electronic voice phenomena to communicate with his wife from beyond the grave. Jonathan inadvertently opens Pandora’s Box though, because once a window is open to the other world, you may get more than you bargained for.

I guess Keaton had fallen on some hard times in the acting world after some pretty memorable films in the 80’s and 90’s to get caught up in this disaster of a film. Sure, there are some creepy moments here and there, but the writer insults the intelligence of the audience on way too many occasions to take the film with any seriousness what so ever. Oh well, I went in with low expectations and unfortunately they were met.

This one gets the PG-13 rating for some violence, language and some “disturbing images”.

REFERENCE = 92-100 / EXCELLENT = 83-91 / GOOD = 74-82 / AVERAGE = 65-73 / BELOW AVERAGE = under 65

(Each paw rating is worth 4 points with a max of 5 paws per category)

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While I was happy to see a Dolby TrueHD mix presented with the film, it didn’t aid the lackluster sound design employed in the film. Surround usage was sparse at best and the score left a lot to be desired.

The video was well above average though with a very solid presentation.

The bonus features are ported over from the DVD and aren’t anything to write home about. As is standard with Universal catalog titles, the features are presented in standard definition.

Deleted Scenes (13 minutes) with Directors Commentary

WRAP-UP:

Trying to capitalize on the day and date release of the sequel, Universal has packaged the original for a HD DVD release as well. The film wasn’t particularly that good, but at least the video presentation was something to be happy about. This one is a rental at best.

By David Vaughn
DVD Editor



Reference System Used In Review

JVC RS-HD1 1080p Projector
Stewart Firehawk 88” fixed screen
Denon 4308CI Receiver (HDMI 1.3) – review unit
Toshiba HD-A35 HD DVD Player (HDMI)
Sony PS3 for BD playback (HDMI)
M&K S-150’s (Front Soundstage)
M&K SS-150’s (x 4 Rear Soundstage)
SVS PC-Ultra Subwoofer
PureAV PF60 Power Conditioner
PureLink HDC Series HDMI Fiber Optic Cable System 15-meter feeding the Projector ]]>Fri, 18 Jan 2008 05:31:27 GMThttp://www.hometheaterspot.com/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/140124/http://www.hometheaterspot.com/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/140124/ The Review at a Glance: (max score: 5 paws)

Film:

Extras:

Better late than never! Earlier this week I finally received the HD DVD and BD copies from Warner of this disc set that was released almost 2 months ago. Out of respect for Warner, I decided to review them, even though I had already purchased the BD set back in November.

Anyway, the movies are very entertaining and deal with Danny Ocean and his crew. In 11, they set up to steal $150 million, in 12, they are out of money and have to steal some more and include the addition of the beautiful Catherine Zeta Jones. Finally, in 13, it is time for revenge with Al Pacino being the target in this final film.

As is usually the case, the first film is the best of the three and Ocean’s 12 was somewhat disappointing. The final film is decent enough but still doesn’t live up to the first film. Overall though it is a fun franchise, especially with all of the star power involved with Clooney, Pitt & Damon playing pivotal roles.

A soft PG-13 for a scene of sensuality. I wouldn’t have a problem with my kids watching this one, but they story would completely go over their head.

REFERENCE = 92-100 / EXCELLENT = 83-91 / GOOD = 74-82 / AVERAGE = 65-73 / BELOW AVERAGE = under 65

(Each paw rating is worth 4 points with a max of 5 paws per category)

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The audio is very similar on the three movies, but overall it was disappointing not to see any lossless mixes included with the movies. On the video side, Ocean’s 11 looks the best of the three, mostly for the lack of digital manipulation of the print in post processing. The encoding on the discs are solid though and fans of the movies won’t be disappointed. Ocean’s 13 isn’t that pretty to look at though, so be sure to not pull that one out as a demo!

Each of the discs sports their own bonus features.

Film:

Extras:

Adrien Brody stars in the true life story of pianist and composer Wladyslaw Szpilman, the most acclaimed young musician of his time until his promising career was interrupted by the onset of World War II. The film follows Szpilman on his journey that highlights the power of hope and the resiliency of the human spirit when the whole world is crumbling around you.

This is the second time I have seen this film, and I am just as impressed this time around as I was during the first go around. I still have a hard time believing that this film didn’t win best picture in 2002. It has all the elements…the epic story, the fabulous on-location shooting, and terrific acting. But when you are going up against the legs of Catherine Zeta-Jones, I guess that is one steep hill to climb!

Make no mistake about it, this is an adult film. Although through the first 30 minutes or so I really though that my daughter would enjoy the story, that quickly changed when the second act begun. There is a lot of brutal violence and some pretty scary material that younger eyes should be subjected to in this movie. This is definitely not a pre-teen movie.

REFERENCE = 92-100 / EXCELLENT = 83-91 / GOOD = 74-82 / AVERAGE = 65-73 / BELOW AVERAGE = under 65

(Each paw rating is worth 4 points with a max of 5 paws per category)

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This is a very solid presentation overall. The audio is very front loaded for the most part, but the surround speakers really come alive in the action sequences. The musical score is where the soundtrack really shines.

As for the video, it is of near reference quality. Colors are a bit muted to fit the period that the movie is set in, but reds really pop off of the screen. The print is in near perfect shape and I only noticed some very minimal edge enhancement in scenes with extremely bright backgrounds.

Ported over from the DVD release and preserved in standard definition is “A Story of Survival” featurette that delves into the story and making of the film with interviews of the cast and director. The total run time is a little over 30 minutes.

The Pianist is a very powerful film that should have won the best picture award in 2002. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed Chicago a lot, but 20 years from now I feel that this film will have a better following. The presentation is very good, but given that uncertainty surrounding the HD DVD format, I have a hard time recommending this title unless you are a big fan of the film.

By David Vaughn
DVD Editor



Reference System Used In Review

JVC RS-HD1 1080p Projector
Stewart Firehawk 88” fixed screen
Denon 4308CI Receiver (HDMI 1.3) – review unit
Toshiba HD-A35 HD DVD Player (HDMI)
Sony PS3 for BD playback (HDMI)
M&K S-150’s (Front Soundstage)
M&K SS-150’s (x 4 Rear Soundstage)
SVS PC-Ultra Subwoofer
PureAV PF60 Power Conditioner
PureLink HDC Series HDMI Fiber Optic Cable System 15-meter feeding the Projector ]]>Wed, 09 Jan 2008 23:03:20 GMThttp://www.hometheaterspot.com/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/140058/http://www.hometheaterspot.com/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/140058/ The Review at a Glance: (max score: 5 paws)

Film:

Extras:

In the late 1960’s and early 1970’s, the Zodiac Killer terrorized households in the San Francisco Bay Area. While there have been many serial killers throughout the history in the United States, the Zodiac was a different animal. In some ways, he was a bit sloppy in letting some of his victims live, but in others, he was a mastermind. First, he wrote cryptic messages to local newspapers, notably the San Francisco Chronicle. Paul Avery, the reported covering the Zodiac case, was even targeted by the Zodiac himself for his portrayal of the killer in the newspaper. Zodiac is not so much a story about the killings themselves, but it’s about the people who become so obsessed about finding the killer, they ruin their careers and families while on the quest. The film follows the life of paper cartoonist Robert Graysmith as he investigates and follows up on every lead that comes his way in trying to solve the mystery of the Zodiac.

David Fincher sure knows how to make a thriller! Whether it is Se7en or Panic Room, he has an ability to draw you into the story and you don’t want it to end. Zodiac is very much the same way. I have lived in and around the Bay Area my entire life and vaguely remember my parents talking about the Zodiac when I was a kid. While some may find the story a bit slow going, I was personally mesmerized by the movie and was thoroughly entertained.

This one deserves the R rating for some strong violence (it is about a serial killer!), language, some drug use and some sexual images. Keep the younger ones away from this one.

REFERENCE = 92-100 / EXCELLENT = 83-91 / GOOD = 74-82 / AVERAGE = 65-73 / BELOW AVERAGE = under 65

(Each paw rating is worth 4 points with a max of 5 paws per category)

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Overall, this one is an above average presentation on both the audio and video side. The audio is presented in a Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 mix at a full 1.5 Mbps (sorry, no lossless support), but there really isn’t anything to complain about in the mix. The movie is very dialogue driven and that comes through loud and clear. The musical score opens up the dynamics a bit and draws you into the action on the screen.

The video is very good as well and the minor issues I saw were more likely due to the actual filming on digital camera’s than to the encoding itself. There was some slight grain in the picture and some cases of some banding, but nothing too big to complain about. Colors were a bit muted to fit the mood and time period of the film and the detail was certainly worthy of HD.

This is one of those rare cases where the bonus features on the film are just as good, no, strike that, they were BETTER than the actual film. If you are at all interested about The Zodiac, be sure to catch the two documentaries relating to the killer on the second disc of the set. As for the rest of the other features, all are presented in HD with the exception of the “Previsualization” feature.

• Commentary by Director David Fincher
• Commentary by Jake Gyllenhaal, Robert Downey Jr., Brad Fischer, James Vanderbilt and James Ellroy

• The Film:
  • ZODIAC Deciphered
  • Blue Rock Springs
  • The San Francisco Chronicle
  • The Hall of Justice
  • Presidio Heights
  • Lake Berryessa
  • Obsession

• The Visual Effects of Zodiac
• Previsualization
  liBlue Rock Springs
  • Lake Berryessa
  • San Francisco

• The Facts: This is the Zodiac Speaking
  • Lake Herman Road
  • Blue Rock Springs
  • Lake Berryessa
  • San Francisco

• Prime Suspect
  • His Name Was Arthur Leigh Allen

• Theatrical Trailer
  
  WRAP-UP:

  Zodiac is a mesmerizing story about a serial killer. The subject matter isn’t uplifting, but the storytelling is fantastic. The film is based on the book by Robert Graysmith, one of the feature characters in the film, and I was so captivated by the story I plan on reading the book to find out how much was left out of the film. The A/V quality is solid and the bonus features are simply outstanding. Given Warner’s announcement on Friday about dropping support for HD DVD, I have a hard time recommending a purchase on this for that reason until I see the direction that Paramount is headed in. I still Highly Recommend the film though and if you use Netflix, be sure to request the second disc with the bonus features as well. It is worth the investment of time.

  
  
  By David Vaughn
  DVD Editor
  
  
  
  Reference System Used In Review
  
  JVC RS-HD1 1080p Projector
  Stewart Firehawk 88” fixed screen
  Denon 4308CI Receiver (HDMI 1.3) – review unit
  Toshiba HD-A35 HD DVD Player (HDMI)
  Sony PS3 for BD playback (HDMI)
  M&K S-150’s (Front Soundstage)
  M&K SS-150’s (x 4 Rear Soundstage)
  SVS PC-Ultra Subwoofer
  PureAV PF60 Power Conditioner
  PureLink HDC Series HDMI Fiber Optic Cable System 15-meter feeding the Projector ]]>Sun, 06 Jan 2008 16:27:25 GMThttp://www.hometheaterspot.com/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/140031/http://www.hometheaterspot.com/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/140031/ http://www.videobusiness.com/article/CA6517192.htm...
  Great! Thanks Warner for leaving all us HD DVD player owners in the lurch! I guess I won't be buying any Warner releases from now on! I also won't be buying a PS3 player, and Blu Ray players are too expensive. Thanks for the knife in the back! ]]>Sat, 05 Jan 2008 06:05:29 GMThttp://www.hometheaterspot.com/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/139956/http://www.hometheaterspot.com/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/139956/ The Review at a Glance: (max score: 5 paws)
  
• Film:
  
• Extras:
  

Audio/Video total rating:
(max score: 100)


74

Studio and Year: Warner 2007
MPAA Rating: G
Feature running time: Feature 1: 135 Minutes, Feature 2: 126 Minutes, Feature 3: 120 Minutes
Genre: Musical
Disc Format: HD30 x3
Encoding: VC-1
Video Aspect: Mixed 1.33:1, 1.85:1, 2.40:1 & 2.55:1
Resolution: 1080p
Audio Format(s):Dolby TrueHD English 5.1, Dolby Digital Plus English 5.1, French 2.0, Spanish 1.0
Subtitles and Captions: English, French, Spanish

Starring: Mickey Rooney, Frank Sinatra, Elizabeth Taylor, Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly and hundreds more.
Directed by: Feature 1: Jack Haley Jr., Feature 2: Gene Kelly, Feature 3: Bud Friedgen & Michael J. Sheridan

Written by: Feature 1: Jack Haley Jr., Feature 2: Leonard Gershe, Feature 3: Bud Friedgen & Michael J. Sheridan

Release Date: December 18, 2007














" More than a movie. It's a celebration."

MY TWO CENTS:

In 1974, MGM marked their 50th Anniversary with the release of That’s Entertainment!, to celebrate the golden era of movie making with some of the best musicals to hit the silver screen. It garnered a surprising $28 million at the box office and spurned two sequels, although almost 20 years between the 2nd and the 3rd. The first film interweaves some personal memories of 11 of the stars who were at MGM from 1929-1958, the likes of which include Mickey Rooney, Frank Sinatra, Elizabeth Taylor and many more. Of the three films, I enjoyed this one the most.

In 1976, That’s Entertainment, Part 2 continued on with the tradition and picked up where the first film left off. This round included stars that were involved with the musicals as well as the non-singers such as Greta Garbo, Clark Gable and the Marx Brothers. Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly narrate this film but also perform on screen together again for the first time since 1946. Kelly also directed.

Finally, in 1994 in celebration of MGM’s 70th Anniversary, That’s Entertainment! III hit the theaters. In the mold of the first two films, this one takes further look back at MGM’s history and focuses on nine entertainers who made it big with the studio. Gene Kelly opens and closes the picture and he is joined by the 9 stars that the film focuses on including Debbie Reynolds, Esther Williams & Howard Keel.

I have to say, that I am “Entertained Out” after watching these three films over three successive nights. While I really enjoyed the first one, I was quite fatigued by the end of the last show and found my interest waning. I did enjoy the singing and the dancing though and for anyone who is a fan of classic Hollywood musicals, you will love this collection.


Parental Concerns:

Suitable for all ages.



AUDIO/VIDEO - By The Numbers:

REFERENCE = 92-100 / EXCELLENT = 83-91 / GOOD = 74-82 / AVERAGE = 65-73 / BELOW AVERAGE = under 65




(Each paw rating is worth 4 points with a max of 5 paws per category)


Audio: 72


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Video: 76

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The audio and video were all over the map on this one, and considering the original prints that were included in the film, this is to be expected. Overall though, there really isn’t anything to complain about here. The audio is clear and understandable and the video is slightly above average and an improvement over what you will see on DVD.


SPECIAL FEATURES:

Film historian Robert Osborne provides a behind the scenes introduction to each of the three films in the set and each film also has their own set of bonus features (presented in Standard Definition) as well as each has their Theatrical Trailer.



FEATURES INCLUDE:

That’s Entertainment!

• Three Featurettes:
  • ”Just One More Time”
  • TV Special “That’s Entertainment: 50 Years of MGM
  • ”MGM’s 25th Anniversary Luncheon”


That’s Entertainment, Part II


• Featurette “The Lion Roars Again”
• Excerpts from “The Mike Douglas Show”
• ”The Masters Behind the Musicals” Documentary

• ”That’s Entertainment III: Behind the Screen” documentary
• ”Musical Outtake Jukebox” – deleted scenes from MGM Musicals

If I had to choose one of the three films to watch, it would most certainly be the first one. The last two seemed to be riding the coat tails of the first and weren’t as compelling. But if you are a fan of Hollywood musicals or of film history in general, then this set is made for you. Although this is a review of the HD DVD, you can expect that the Blu-ray version looks and sounds the same, but Warner only sent me the HD DVD to review. Recommend if you fit into the categories mentioned above. Everyone else may want to at least rent the first movie because it is a nice look back on Hollywood musicals.

By David Vaughn
DVD Editor



Reference System Used In Review

JVC RS-HD1 1080p Projector
Stewart Firehawk 88” fixed screen
Denon 4308CI Receiver (HDMI 1.3) – review unit
Toshiba HD-XA2 HD DVD Player (HDMI)
Sony PS3 for BD playback (HDMI)
M&K S-150’s (Front Soundstage)
M&K SS-150’s (x 4 Rear Soundstage)
SVS PC-Ultra Subwoofer
PureAV PF60 Power Conditioner
PureLink HDC Series HDMI Fiber Optic Cable System 15-meter feeding the Projector ]]>Mon, 31 Dec 2007 00:17:58 GMThttp://www.hometheaterspot.com/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/139894/http://www.hometheaterspot.com/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/139894/ The Review at a Glance: (max score: 5 paws)

Film:

Extras:

Viggo Mortensen stars as Nikolai, an expatriate Russian who is a chauffeur in London, although that isn’t his “true” profession. He is better known as “The Undertaker” who does the dirty work for a local mobster, Semyon and his son. Anna (Naomi Watts) and Nikolai’s lives cross when Anna comes into her possession a diary with a card to Semyon’s restaurant. Unbeknownst to Anna, her little visit to Semyon will put her into a world that she has no business being in.

I really wanted to make the rating on this movie better, but I have some major issues with it. First, the story itself is very well done, but I take exception to the senseless violence that is employed in the movie. From the very first scene where a man is killed in a barber’s chair, you get the impression that not only does director David Chonenberg want to tell you a story, he wants to shock you too the core. I guess he achieved what he was setting out to do, but he just takes it way too far, whether in this first scene or a later scene in the movie where Nikolai is forced to fight for his life completely in the buff. At the end of this movie I didn’t feel like I was entertained, I felt like I needed to take a shower to cleanse myself of the violence and gore that I had just watched.

This movie contains strong, brutal and bloody violence and be prepared to be shocked. This one is not for the faint at heart.

REFERENCE = 92-100 / EXCELLENT = 83-91 / GOOD = 74-82 / AVERAGE = 65-73 / BELOW AVERAGE = under 65

(Each paw rating is worth 4 points with a max of 5 paws per category)

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It’s nice to see that Universal has been showing a greater support for TrueHD soundtracks and the mix included in this film is very good. Dynamics are decent and I was impressed with the use of the surround channels to set the ambiance of the film. The video encode was also quite good with deep black levels and very good shadow detail. I noticed some slight banding in some night time sky’s, but other than that, there really wasn’t anything to complain about.

The film is presented on a combo format disc, but I’m not sure how much use this will get in the minivan with the kids! Along with the combo though, it was nice to see the bonus materials presented in HD as well as some Web-Enabled Features.

Film:

Extras:

Eddie Cantrow is a forty year old independent business man living in San Francisco. After goi