Blu-Ray Movies

[dukeforester]

Got Mrs. Df a Blu Ray player for Christmas and now looking for movies that really take advantage of the whole home theatre experience. She likes chick flicks and some action movies. She is also likes children's movies for the grandson. To date I have bought Wall E (a great movie), Sleeping Beauty and Michael Crichton (came with the Blu-Ray). Was thinking about an Indiana Jones for the visual and sound effects. Any other suggestions from our DBR videophiles.

[Cavlaw]

I'm thinking you mean Michael Clayton?

Indiana Jones was just so terrible... you may want to reconsider. Think about Pan's Labrynth, Narnia, The Dark Knight, Harry potter, etc.

My top pick would be Planet Earth, however. It's just stunning in HD.

[dukeforester]

That's it, Michael Clayton.

[dukeforester]

I'm thinking you mean Michael Clayton?

Indiana Jones was just so terrible... you may want to reconsider. Think about Pan's Labrynth, Narnia, The Dark Knight, Harry potter, etc.

My top pick would be Planet Earth, however. It's just stunning in HD.

I had not heard of the series. So, based on your recommendation, I read some reviews at Amazon and purchased it. I hope it is as impressive as it sounds and everybody says. BTW, I bought the David Attenborough's narration version.

Thanks.

[Cavlaw]

I had not heard of the series. So, based on your recommendation, I read some reviews at Amazon and purchased it. I hope it is as impressive as it sounds and everybody says. BTW, I bought the David Attenborough's narration version.

Thanks.
Attenborough's is better than Weaver's, but hers isn't bad by any means.

[bjornolf]

For the first SEVERAL months of Blu-Ray, Jumper was THE most purchased Blu-Ray. I borrowed my friend's copy, and it is VERY impressive in Blu-Ray. It has Samuel L. Jackson, Hayden Christensen, Rachel Bilson, and Diane Lane, among others. Definite popcorn film, but fun. Good effects. I've heard that Borne Ultimatum is pretty good in Blu-Ray. Most special effect heavy or visual movies will be good.

[rthomas]

The best Blu-Ray for both visual and surround sound that I have seen is The Replacement Killers (Chow Yun-Fat, Mira Sorvino). Plus, it's a great movie without Blu-Ray.

http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi737739033/

[Tommac]

A Blue Ray disk that is visually stunning is The Fifth Element with Bruce Willis. I'm not sure it's a great movie, but the video is terrific.

[Lavabe]

Got Mrs. Df a Blu Ray player for Christmas and now looking for movies that really take advantage of the whole home theatre experience. She likes chick flicks and some action movies. She is also likes children's movies for the grandson. To date I have bought Wall E (a great movie), Sleeping Beauty and Michael Crichton (came with the Blu-Ray). Was thinking about an Indiana Jones for the visual and sound effects. Any other suggestions from our DBR videophiles.

We had a thread on this a few months ago. The suggestion to us was to get Planet Earth. Nature video ... fantastic.

Any word on the Bond Blu-Ray videos?

[riverside6]

I can only image that Dark Knight will be pretty impressive on Blu-Ray. That is likely going to be my first Blu-Ray purchase.

How "graphic" (kills, mating, etc) does Planet Earth get? I'm curious if my 3 year old or 9 year old would be able to watch it.

[dukeforester]

I can only image that Dark Knight will be pretty impressive on Blu-Ray. That is likely going to be my first Blu-Ray purchase.

How "graphic" (kills, mating, etc) does Planet Earth get? I'm curious if my 3 year old or 9 year old would be able to watch it.

According to some reviewers at Amazon, PE gets pretty graphic about all aspects of nature, including death. Some stated that they were so appalled that they would not let their younger children watch. But others did not make a mention. IMO, it's all in your perspective. Not sure if I would let a 3 yo watch, but I personally would not have a problem with a 9 yo. It's real world.

[Lavabe]

According to some reviewers at Amazon, PE gets pretty graphic about all aspects of nature, including death. Some stated that they were so appalled that they would not let their younger children watch. But others did not make a mention. IMO, it's all in your perspective. Not sure if I would let a 3 yo watch, but I personally would not have a problem with a 9 yo. It's real world.

I agree completely with your comments. I'd probably wait until 10 years.

On the other hand, the panoramas and landscapes seem tailor-made for Blu-Ray.

Perhaps March of the Penguins?

Any thoughts on Blue Planet IMAX/Blu-Ray?

[riverside6]

I agree completely with your comments. I'd probably wait until 10 years.

On the other hand, the panoramas and landscapes seem tailor-made for Blu-Ray.

Perhaps March of the Penguins?

Any thoughts on Blue Planet IMAX/Blu-Ray?

Lavabe and DukeForester, thanks for the feedback, this is exactly what I was looking for!

[bjornolf]

I didn't think it was that much more graphic than the old Disney nature shows that showed the snakes eating the mice and stuff, but I'm older now. I wouldn't show it to the 3 y.o., but I'd think it would be okay for the 9 y.o., DEPENDING on the 9 y.o. A 9 y.o. that has no problem with the tamer PG-13 movies would probably be fine. A 9 y.o. that still cringes at the more hard-core PG movies probably should wait. IMHO.

As for Dark Knight, I can tell you after tomorrow. I'm seeing it on my friend's 120 inch 1080-P projection screen with Dolby Gold tomorrow night. ;)

[Lavabe]

As for Dark Knight, I can tell you after tomorrow. I'm seeing it on my friend's 120 inch 1080-P projection screen with Dolby Gold tomorrow night. ;)

120 inch?!?!

Do you need special radiation shields to operate it?;)

Cheers,
Lavabe

P.S. The "radiation shield" was a shout-out to Bond devotees... "Diamonds are Forever."

[DukeDude]

Any word on the Bond Blu-Ray videos?

Mine are in the mail. I used the "buy 6, save $50" sale at amazon to pick up 6 of the older films for $55. They since jacked up the prices, so it would cost $70 today (http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?ie=UTF8&ref%5F=amb%5Flink%5F82797351%5F1&docId=1000300361)

The geeks at the avsforum gave them a good technical review. (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1078689)

[bjornolf]

120 inch?!?!

Do you need special radiation shields to operate it?;)

Cheers,
Lavabe

P.S. The "radiation shield" was a shout-out to Bond devotees... "Diamonds are Forever."

I prefer Star Wars: "But with the blast shield down, I can't see anything. How am I supposed to fight?" ;)

It is actually very awesome. Much better than going to a theater. The picture is smaller, but I'm only 20 feet away, so to your perception, it doesn't make much difference. The picture is BETTER. The sound is BETTER (he has REALLY good speakers). The popcorn is even better (his wife makes this amazing asian stuff that she cooks on the stove in olive oil). And, of course, these days, it's a HECK of a lot cheaper. You can barely get the tickets for a family of four for what the Blu-Ray costs, forget food and drink.

We have a movie night once a month or so in his windowless basement. He's got a 25' x 12' media room. It's pretty amazing. The first Blu-Ray I saw on there was Iron Man. It was unbelievable. DVDs look amazing on there too, of course, but Blu-Rays are incredible.

We also like to play Wii and PS3 on there. You wouldn't BELIEVE Madden or MGS4 on that thing.

[IamMatt'sUserName]

If you're purely interested in picture quality (PQ), then I'd recommend several of the computer animated films currently available (e.g., Kung Fu Panda, Ratatouille, Cars, Wall-E, etc.). Also the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy is thought to have a very high PQ.

Several people have mentioned Planet Earth, Blue Planet, etc. While these documentaries capture amazing things on film, they don't necessarily have great or even above average PQ (i.e., they may not be the best Blu-ray demonstration material).

A Blue-ray PQ tier thread is maintained here:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=858316

Lastly, Warner Brothers gets a poor grade for the PQ of their Dark Knight Blu-ray release, which is plagued with unsightly edge enhancement resulting from over-sharpening during the encode process.

That hasn't stopped me from purchasing it, though. :D

Whether you enjoy the film or not should always be the first consideration.

[sue71, esq]

At the risk of hijacking this thread, I have a blu-ray question.

I do not own a dvd player. I own about 3 dvd's. If I want to watch, I usually grab the computer.

IF I were to buy a dvd player, is it worth it to get a blu-ray machine? The prices have really come down. I'm just not sure it's worth it for me right now.

[Tommac]

At the risk of hijacking this thread, I have a blu-ray question.

I do not own a dvd player. I own about 3 dvd's. If I want to watch, I usually grab the computer.

IF I were to buy a dvd player, is it worth it to get a blu-ray machine? The prices have really come down. I'm just not sure it's worth it for me right now.

If you do not own an HD tv, then you would be wasting your money on a blue ray player and blue ray disks. I own a 46" Sony LCD 1080p tv and sit about 14 feet away from the screen. At that distance, I really can't tell much difference between a blue ray or an upconverted DVD. There definitely is a big difference between stendard def tv broadcast and 1080i HD tv broadcast.

[sue71, esq]

If you do not own an HD tv, then you would be wasting your money on a blue ray player and blue ray disks. I own a 46" Sony LCD 1080p tv and sit about 14 feet away from the screen. At that distance, I really can't tell much difference between a blue ray or an upconverted DVD. There definitely is a big difference between stendard def tv broadcast and 1080i HD tv broadcast.

Probably should've included that... 42" Samsung Plasma HD.

[DukeUsul]

I have a bunch of HD-DVD discs I'd be happy to sell you. :D

[bjornolf]

My TV at home isn't TOO bad. It's older, but it's a 61-inch Toshiba 1080i rear-projection set. I have Dolby 5.1 surround. I sit about 15 feet away. I'd probably think it was the greatest in the world if it wasn't for my friend's "movie theater" with its leather couches and 120" screen. Playing games on mine is pretty sweet though. ;)

[dukeforester]

We have a theatre room also. Basement room w/no windows and a 6.5 foot ceiling (reason: underneath the sunken living room), 51" Samsung HDTV, Onkyo 7.1 surround sound and Direct TV HD DVR. The only thing we were missing was the Blu-Ray and Mrs. Df is getting that for Christmas as I said at the start of the thread. Highly recommend th Onkyo surround sound system. It really rocks when you crank it up. Mrs. Df has this collection of Beatles plates on the rear wall and I like to hear them rattle. So far, thank God, none has fallen off or I would really be in deep kimchee.

[bjornolf]

My parents have an Onkyo. They love it.

[FireOgilvie]

The Dark Knight in Blu-Ray is fantastic.

Planet Earth is mind-blowing.

Also, if you like Casino Royale, I highly recommend the Blu-Ray version.

[YmoBeThere]

I have a bunch of HD-DVD discs I'd be happy to sell you. :D

I might be interested. I'm trying to round out my collection. Seriously.

[BlueDevilJay]

The Dark Knight in Blu-Ray is fantastic.

Planet Earth is mind-blowing.

Also, if you like Casino Royale, I highly recommend the Blu-Ray version.

I wanted to know this about Dark Knight. I haven't seen the movie yet at all, and was debating on picking it up for BluRay today. I have a 52 inch Toshiba DLP HDTV, but my house is so small I can't sit very far from it, maybe 10 feet or so. I love the PS3 games on it though, COD4 and WAW, Metal Gear 4 was great on it, and now Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 looks great on it as well. I'm gonna go purchase Dark Knight today before the price jump, since WalMart always sells it for cheap the first week.

[bjornolf]

I've heard that "Wanted" is pretty awesome on blu-ray, if you're into that kind of movie.