Blu-ray Movie Reviews

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Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Boardwalk Empire
David Vaughn  |  Jan 23, 2012  | 
HBO has quite a history of delivering fantastic Blu-ray presentations, and it continues the trend here. Be prepared for reference-quality video throughout all 12 season-one episodes in the clothing, sets, and flesh tones. The 1920s costume design is absolutely fantastic, and if you're a fan of period pieces, this is right up your alley. The DTS-HD MA 5.1 audio track is just as impressive and certainly holds its own with its rich atmosphere and crystal-clear dialog reproduction. While it took me a couple of episodes to get into the series, it ranks up there with some of the best I've seen from HBO and is definitely worth a look on Blu-ray.
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Music ReviewsBlu-ray Movie Reviews
This Week in Blu-rays and Music, January 17, 2012
Josef Krebs  |  Jan 17, 2012  | 

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Music ReviewsBlu-ray Movie Reviews
This Week in Blu-rays and Music, January 10, 2012
Ken Korman  |  Jan 10, 2012  | 

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Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Blu-ray Review: Ben-Hur
Marc Horowitz  |  Dec 29, 2011  | 

Like all seminal works, 1959’s Ben-Hur elicits some strong opinions. Is it one of the best films ever made? Or is it simply an overhyped sword-and-sandals flick? And how does it compare with the likes of Lawrence of Arabia, Quo Vadis, Spartacus, or even the Lord of the Rings trilogy?

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Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
David Vaughn  |  Dec 23, 2011  | 

WETA Digital, the effects house that gave us The Lord of the Rings, hits a homerun with its digital effects employed in this reboot of the popular 1960s franchise. Minute details in the chimp's faces look strikingly real and blow away the effects seen in any of the previous movies. They blend seamlessly into the live action shots and make you truly believe that the chimps are real creations and not CGI-based. Not to be overshadowed is the absolutely fantastic DTS-HD MA 5.1 audio track that's extremely aggressive on the low end and offers an immersive and engaging surround mix. This is one of the must-see discs of 2011.
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Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Audio Lover’s Guide to “Super 8”
Anna Behlmer  |  Dec 23, 2011  | 

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Blu-ray Movie Reviews
The Help
David Vaughn  |  Dec 21, 2011  | 

Dramas typically aren't demo-worthy showpieces, but this fabulous film features some stunning scenes with vivid color saturation and exceptional detail. The DTS-HD 5.1 audio track is no slouch, either, with spot-on dialog reproduction, but it certainly won't make your subwoofer break a sweat. The movie is set in the early 1960s at the height of the civil-rights movement in the South, and the costume and set design captures the era perfectly. Dreamworks/Touchstone delivers another demo-quality presentation.
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Blu-ray Movie ReviewsMusic Reviews
This Week in Blu-rays, December 20, 2011, and This Year in Christmas Music
Josef Krebs  |  Dec 20, 2011  | 

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Music ReviewsBlu-ray Movie Reviews
This Week in Blu-rays, Dec. 13, 2011, and This Year in Christmas Music
Ken Korman  |  Dec 13, 2011  | 

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Music ReviewsBlu-ray Movie Reviews
This Week in Blu-rays and Music, December 6, 2011
Josef Krebs  |  Dec 06, 2011  | 

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Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Cowboys and Aliens
David Vaughn  |  Dec 05, 2011  | 

This Blu-ray boasts a solid video transfer with rich colors, revealing skintones, and reference-quality contrast, but it's the audio track that steals the show. The enveloping DTS-HD 5.1 mix features chest-pounding LFE when aliens attack, horses gallop, or when a mysterious wrist-mounted energy weapon is unleashed. Unfortunately, the movie itself is a real stinker.
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Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Super 8
David Vaughn  |  Nov 23, 2011  | 

The video quality of this Blu-ray is impressive, as long as the overused lens flare—a hallmark of director J.J. Abrams—doesn't bother you. But the audio is the real highlight here, easily matching Abrams' outstanding previous hit, Star Trek. In fact, this disc has the best audio-demo scene of any 2011 release I've heard, and it's sure to knock your socks off, as well as those of anyone you play it for. If you want to show off what your surround-sound system can do, this soundtrack is second to none.
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Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Ultimate Demos' New Look
Scott Wilkinson  |  Nov 23, 2011  | 
If you have a home theater, you probably enjoy showing it off to your family and friends. But which Blu-ray titles are best for demonstrating the audio and video capabilities of your system? That's easy—they're listed in HT's exclusive blog called Ultimate Demos, which identifies Blu-rays of superior technical quality and calls out specific scenes, right down to the chapter and time-code second, that let your theater really shine.

And now, Ultimate Demos are new and improved, with icons that let you instantly see which titles have exemplary video, audio, or both. If the stylized eye is red, you know that disc provides exceptional visual imagery, while a red ear icon indicates outstanding sound. If either icon is orange, the corresponding content is very good, but not quite up to reference quality, while a gray icon means there's nothing special about that part of the presentation.

Keep in mind that Ultimate Demos are not movie reviews—they will always provide top-quality audio and/or video, even if the movie itself doesn't measure up to the disc's technical merits. So if you've been looking for Blu-rays that kick some serious home-theater butt, look no farther than HT's Ultimate Demos.

Blu-ray Movie Reviews
2011 Gift Guide to Box Sets
Ken Richardson  |  Nov 23, 2011  | 

2011 Gift Guide to Blu-ray Box Sets

Scarface or Superman? Jurassic Park or Planet Earth? Star Wars or Looney Tunes? Tom Cruise or Sophia Loren? (Hmmm.) The Lord of the Rings or Pirates of the Caribbean? Ben-Hur, Citizen Kane, Harry Potter, or Willy Wonka?! Check your list twice, or even thrice: There’s plenty to go around. (Note: Prices listed for these and all other boxes are suggested retail. Look for discounts!)

 

2011 Gift Guide to DVD Box Sets

Yes, only on DVD: 62 discs of Smallville and 104 discs of Law & Order. Plus, modest but no less enjoyable affairs for the likes of Laurel & Hardy, Tracy & Hepburn, and Rocky & Bullwinkle & Friends. And more.

 

 

 

2011 Gift Guide to CD Box Sets: Expanded Pop/Rock Albums

These days, the 1970s rule — judging from the number of that decade’s classic albums getting super-duper reissues, including Layla, Aqualung, What’s Going On, Europe ’72, Quadrophenia, Some Girls, and both The Dark Side of the Moon and Wish You Were Here. But there are many more opportunities for giving, from Nirvana to Pearl Jam, and from Ozzy Osbourne to George Michael to Alicia Keys. Meanwhile, in keeping with the retro outlook, some titles include a version of the album on vinyl LP.

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Music ReviewsBlu-ray Movie Reviews
This Week in Blu-rays and Music, November 22, 2011
Ken Korman  |  Nov 22, 2011  | 

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