Immersed in Blu-ray/DVD

Posted on May 19, 2013 by Bill Desowitz in Blu-ray, Home Entertainment | Leave a comment

The Great Escape, Richard III, Badlands, Sansho the Bailiff, and the original Fast and Furious are the latest home entertainment releases I’ve enjoyed. Read more

The Rise of Triggerfish Animation

Posted on May 7, 2013 by Bill Desowitz in 3-D, Animation, Below the Line, Blu-ray, Festivals, Home Entertainment, Movies, Tech, Trailers, VFX | Leave a comment

South-Africa-based Triggerfish Animation has come of age with its first two features, Adventures in Zambezia, about a lavish city of birds, currently available on Blu-ray and DVD (Sony Home Ent.), and Khumba, a zebra in search of its identity, which premieres at Cannes this month. Triggerfish CEO Stuart Forrest discusses the emergence of his studio as a regional force. Read more

Designer Becker Talks Silver Linings Playbook

Posted on May 5, 2013 by Bill Desowitz in Below the Line, Blu-ray, Clips, Home Entertainment, Oscar, Production Design, Tech | Leave a comment

David O. Russell’s Oscar-winning Silver Linings Playbook arrived on Blu-ray this week from Anchor Bay looking its blue collar best and containing an intriguing alternate ending. Production designer Judy Becker discusses collaborating with Russell in creating the Italian-American Philly atmosphere. It’s Good Fellas meets It’s a Wonderful Life. Read more

Bergeron Talks A Monster in Paris

Posted on April 16, 2013 by Bill Desowitz in 3-D, Animation, Blu-ray, Clips, Home Entertainment, Movies, Tech, Trailers | Leave a comment

A Monster in Paris comes to Blu-ray and DVD this week from Shout Factory, a gorgeous ode to early 20th century cabaret music and The Phantom of the Opera. I interviewed director Bibo Bergeron (Shark Tale) about returning to Paris after DreamWorks to make this labor of love. Read more

Roger Rabbit Turns 25

Posted on April 6, 2013 by Bill Desowitz in Animation, Below the Line, Blu-ray, Clips, Home Entertainment, Tech, Trailers, VFX | Leave a comment

After 25 years, Who Framed Roger Rabbit still remains one of the boldest and most exciting achievements in animation history. It paved the way for the second Disney renaissance, launched a year later with The Little Mermaid, proving that ‘toons could be hip again theatrically, that they weren’t just for kids, and that hand-drawn 2D could hold its own dramatically — and culturally — with live-action. Read more

Warner Archive Instant Service Launched

Posted on April 6, 2013 by Bill Desowitz in Home Entertainment, Movies | Leave a comment

We all know the future of viewing will be digital streaming, so it’s no surprise that Warner Bros. has launched Warner Archive Instant Service, a new streaming serving that brings hundreds of rare and hard-to-find titles instantly to your MAc, PC, or Roku-connected monitor for a monthly subscription. Read more

Immersed in Blu-ray: Lincoln

Posted on March 26, 2013 by Bill Desowitz in Below the Line, Blu-ray, Cinematography, Clips, Home Entertainment, Movies, Oscar, Production Design, Tech, Trailers, VFX | Leave a comment

Lincoln was my favorite movie of last year. It fulfilled all of my expectations and then some as a psychological study and political procedural. I would argue that Steven Spielberg came of age with Schindler’s List but achieved a new profundity with Lincoln about the fight to save the soul of this country. The Blu-ray is out this week from Fox Home Ent., which provides an opportunity to revisit this magnificent movie. It looks and sounds as rich and beautiful as it first appeared theatrically, only now you’ll be able to hear every hushed line of dialogue by screenwriter Tony Kushner and even better appreciate Daniel Day-Lewis’ commanding, Oscar-winning performance. Read more

Immersed in Blu-ray: Life of Pi

Posted on March 16, 2013 by Bill Desowitz in 3-D, Animation, Below the Line, Blu-ray, Cinematography, Clips, Home Entertainment, Movies, Music, Oscar, previs, Tech, VFX, Virtual Production | Leave a comment

Ang Lee’s multiple Oscar-winning Life of Pi goes Blu (Fox Home Ent.) and looks spectacular. Even viewed flat, I’m still entranced by the spirituality of the storytelling and the seduction of the imagery. And the 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio offers a thrilling soundscape. It truly is the 2001 of our time. Read more

Immersed in Blu-ray: Cabaret

Posted on March 2, 2013 by Bill Desowitz in Blu-ray, Cinematography, Clips, Home Entertainment, Movies, Music, Oscar, Tech | Leave a comment

Before Les Mis, there was Cabaret (1972), which redefined the musical and is now available on Blu-ray from Warner Home Video. There is no existing negative, so Warner MPI did the best it could with an IP, even repairing a vertical scratch that extends for a reel. The result is dazzling. It’s dark and dense yet warm in keeping with Geoffrey Unsworth’s alluring look and the original Technicolor dye transfer finish. The 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio will have you believing you’re in the Kit Kat Klub. Read more

Immersed in Blu-ray: The Insider

Posted on March 1, 2013 by Bill Desowitz in Below the Line, Blu-ray, Cinematography, Editing, Home Entertainment, Movies, Production Design, Tech | Leave a comment

Back in 2000, many of us thought The Insider should’ve won best picture. It was an incisive and oppressive fact-based thriller that recalled the best of the ’70s. Now an indispensable Blu-ray is out from Touchstone Ent. looking darker and richer than ever before, and, if anything, Michael Mann’s movie seems even more brilliant. Read more

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