Archive for June, 2009
The Da Vinci Code [German SteelBook] & other stuff
Finally got the MediaMarkt Exclusive The Da Vinci Code SteelBook from DTM.at today. It took its time but arrived in perfect condition.
Technically, we have a two-disc Region Free SteelBook including solely the Extended cut of the movie clocking at 174 minutes.
The SteelBook comes with a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 English track (which lacks on the French Digibook) and an image of an aspect ratio of 2.40:1.
A typical and yet once excellent SONY Pictures release.
I also took the occasion of going out to acquire Yann Arthus-Bertrand’s famous Home documentary which came out on Blu-ray exclusively to FNAC stores. Snatched the last copy in stores, and for only 9.99€, it’s quite a bargain.
After that, there was a sale going on in a Virgin Megastore, so I jumped on the occasion to acquire the Taken Blu-ray, which I’ve been wanting to get for a couple of months. Came with a slipcover, so I’m pleased. ^^
Also grabbed the first two Ice Age movies, I love Scratch, going to love him even more in HD.
Add to that the fantastic Twister, movie which I could watch over and over.
Finally, an amazing French thriller called Ne le dis à personne which tells the story of a man whose wife was murdered, but after receiving an odd email, might still be alive…
Gladiator SteelBook
Posted by admin in Blu-ray, SteelBooks on June 22nd, 2009
Format diversity today
No, it’s not a Blu-ray/HD-DVD day (although I’ve just ordered the HD-DVD of Mallrats on eBay), but more a diversity within the Blu-ray branch.
Take a look:
Defiance / Sin City (2-Disc Ultimate Edition) / Terminator 2: Judgment Day (Skynet Edition)
Starts off with Defiance, a movie about how a group of Eastern European Jews, under Nazi reign in 1941, battle against their exterminators. It sounds like a cool flick with Daniel Craig and Liev Schreiber. It’s got a 1.85:1 aspect ratio and a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 English track. Sounds promising.
I’ve updated my previously Dutch Terminator 2 SteelBook by trading my disc for a UK one. Received it today with the Skynet Edition slipcover as well. It’s got the same specs as the Dutch disc: DTS-HD Master Audio 6.1 English audio, the three versions of the movie, same bonus content…
Last but not least, the Sin City 2-Blu-ray Ultimate Edition. It includes both the theatrical cut with a massive DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 English track whilst the second disc includes the Director’s Recut with the four individual stories set apart with extended scenes.
Push SteelBook
Posted by admin in SteelBooks on June 18th, 2009
The Digibook Parade continues
I just thought I’d update the Digibook page with the two new ones I’ve received today through a trade. It’s good when those turn out good. 
Amadeus: Director’s Cut / Falling Down
The first Digibook comes with two Blu-ray discs, a bonus CD compilation and a digital copy of the movie. It’s labelled Director’s Cut because it includes 20 minutes of footage not seen in theatres; since I’ve never seen any version of this movie before, I’m sure I’ll enjoy it as it is. It comes in a typical Warner VC-1 encode framed at 2.40:1 with the usual Dolby TrueHD 5.1 English track. We’ll see how that turns out.
Then comes Falling Down with its VC-1 encode, except that this time around, there’s only a Dolby TrueHD 2.0 English track present, which is quite odd given the other audio presentations we’ve been shown in other Warner releases. My guess is that they didn’t treat it like a major release and thought they’d allude us by using a Digibook packaging. Who am I to complain? I don’t even own a digital audio system yet.
LG BH200
I forgot to post an update on this yesterday morning, but I guess I was too excited by what had come through the front door that day: my own LG BH200 Blu-ray/HD-DVD combo player.
I bought it off a German guy on eBay and got it a week later.
There are two reasons for which I got this player, well actually three. First of all, my PS3 died a couple of days ago and is now under repairs (if they’ve even sent it there yet). Secondly, I took it because it is in fact Region Free, of course you have to do a little manipulation on the remote through the hexadecimal EEMP thingymabob; and it plays Blu-rays as well as HD-DVDs, which is a plus considering how the latter are dirt cheap nowadays, ti’s a good occasion to get some of those movies that aren’t out on BD or simply aren’t worth the price. And finally, it’s because I’ve wanted a standalone player for a while, just so I could watch some movies and just that.
Anyway, here’s a picture of the beauty (and the three HD-DVDs the seller kindly sent me extra):
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon [UK SteelBook] / Casino SteelBook?
Posted by admin in Blu-ray, SteelBooks on June 11th, 2009
Just wanted to inform you of a soon-to-be-released SteelBook on July 6th of the movie Wo Hu Cang Long, commonly known as Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. I’ve never seen this movie, but its 234th position on IMDb’s Top 250 Movies of all time list does make me want to get it. And for £13.99, what’s there to lose?
You can pre-order it now on Play.com.
EDIT: It seems that it will be a Play.com Exclusive after all.
Also wanted to point out this oddity I’ve stumbled upon:
If anyone has any idea what it is or where it comes from, then please let me know! ^^
Watchmen [FutureShop Exclusive - Canada]
Posted by admin in SteelBooks on June 10th, 2009
Thought I’d make a little post regarding the announcement of the Watchmen SteelBook exclusive to FutureShop stores in Canada set to be released on July 21st.
First off, here’s the artwork
Here’s what the FutureShop website announced as far as bonus features go:
Blu-ray Disc Features:
Number of Discs/Layers: 2-Disc Set
Encoding: Region [unknown]
Additional Release Material:
Mechanics: Technologies of a Fantastic World
Music Video: My Chemical Romance Desolation Row
Featurette:
1. Warner Bros. Maximum Movie Mode
2. Watchmen: Focus Points (over 30 minutes)
3. The Phenomenon: The Comic that Changed Comics
4. Real Super Heroes, Real Vigilantes
Interactive Features:
BD Live
Additional Products:
Digital Copy - Theatrical version
Distributor: Warner Home Video
Release Format: Blu-ray Disc
DVD Release Date: 2009-07-21
Original Release Year: 2009
UPC: 883929086856
SKU: 2167715
Language:
Closed Captioned: No
Recording Mode: (unknown)
Extra info: Canadian Director's Cut; 2-Disc
Color: Color
Rating: R (MPAA)
Rating Reason: for strong graphic violence, sexuality, nudity and language
Unedited Version: N
Collector's Edition: N
Director's Cut: N
EDIT: If you preorder it now, you get a free Watchmen Journal for free:
Fanboys [Canadian Import]
Just a little post to talk about the newest Blu-ray I’ve imported of a movie called Fanboys.
This Canadian Import is the only Blu-ray version of this movie available on the market at this point in time. The US had it announced but never released it there. It’s a fun comedy with loads of references to pop culture surrounding Star Wars and other movies involving George Lucas.
It comes in a 1.78:1 1080p presentation (which diverts from its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, which means some of the side has been cropped to fill a 16:9 screen) and includes an English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio track. I’ll give this a watch as soon as I have a Blu-ray player that works. 
Here’s a little snapshot:
JCVD & TDVC
Posted by admin in Blu-ray, SteelBooks on June 8th, 2009
I remember when I saw JVCD in cinemas back in June last year, the movie felt so real, it felt so true. I can honestly say it’s Jean-Claude Van Damme’s best work yet. The autocaricature along with that long monologue where he stares deep into your eyes and pours his heart out… just beautiful.
This French Blu-ray edition is the best available on the market. Boasting an intentional almost colourless MPEG-4 AVC video encode, along with a perfect DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 French track, it’s a must, technically.
Gaumont have released this movie in a good looking cardboard flip-page thingy. It looks nice, but I’m afraid of breaking it. Will put it in a bag to avoid any scuffs.
I’ve also ordered the German SteelBook of The Da Vinci Code from an Austrian website. Should be receiving it in a couple of days.
I was just about to get the French Digibook release, which you can see on the right, which looks really cool and is quite thick. The only downside is that the French audio is the only track that has a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 encode, whereas the German SteelBook has an English track with that audio, hence why I went for it. Might get the Digibook if it drops in price.
