Armchair Commentary

Blu-ray in 2009

So it has come time to watch what comes out of CES again. What is there to expect for Blu-ray in 2009? So far there's the world's thinnest Blu-ray player, a ton of new movies on the format, and a whole lot of programming consolidation.

Not that anyone really needs a super thin Blu-ray player, but it may come in handy if a robber is stealing your HDTV. Just throw that sleek machine like a stingray and you've got an unconscious robber, a broken HDTV and Blu-ray player.

Movies coming to Blu-ray in 2009 include some great ones: King Kong (Jan 20), Groundhog Day (Jan 27), Ronin (Feb 24), Pinnochio (Mar 10), and The Wedding Singer (Apr 7). Nice.

Netflix is joining forces with even more Blu-ray players to create an awesome home entertainment experience. Some players that already support this gooieness include the LG BD300 and Samsung BD-P2500.

Other high-def noteworthiness at CES includes:
-a new HDMI spec that consolidates network, audio, and video
-tons of new Blu-ray players
-Profile 3.0 (audio only)
-and 3D HDTVs!

--Rich

"Death Race": May the Best Commentator Win

Death Race on Blu-ray gives you the opportunity to record your own webcam commentary during the "Stage 3" race from your computer. Your unique commentary will be judged by the film's director Paul W.S. Anderson.

I'm not sure I understand why the contest winner would receive a 52 inch-HDTV as most Blu-ray owners probably own, well, Blu-ray players and with that HDTVs. But, an extra 52 inch in your garage, next to your Corvette couldn't hurt. The HDTV is the first place prize. Second and third place receive a PlayStation 3. Fourth and fifth place get five Universal Blu-ray titles. Register at UniversalHiDef.com/deathrace and record your commentary to share with other BD-Live-ists. Contest ends 1/11/09.

--Rich

Blu-ray at Odds with HD Streaming?

So, inevitably, there is some tension between HD Streaming and Blu-ray, since you are smacked with thequality versus immediate selection. I know Netflix offers a great HD streaming service, but falls short on selection (compared to the Netflix DVD library, the “Watch Instantly” selection is pale). However, newer titles seem to be coming faster and faster to the digital realm. For instance, on my Xbox 360, I’ve noticed Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is now available for HD download.

But here are the problems I’ve had with HD streaming—

• Many older titles have yet to be digitized for HD streaming
• Both video and audio are downgraded to lesser quality to allow for fast streaming of data (720p for video, standard Dolby Digital for audio)
• If you have a meager internet connection, there is usually interruption to your content

This is not to say that Blu-ray players don’t have problems of their own (confusing Profile selections, obscure audio decoding information). But these problems are in the choosing stage. Once your player has safely been assimilated into your home theater system, those problems are dust.

I have to say that above uncompromised audio and video, there is a solid selection of Blu-ray discs. The selection so far at Amazon is getting closer to 2000 every Tuesday, and though a Blu-ray disc is not immediately at your door, the difference between streaming content and 1080p video/TrueHD surround sound is obvious when you sit down and start watching.

Further, combo Blu-ray and streaming players like the Samsung BD-P2500 that are dropping below $300 mean a lot for consumers looking to get the most bang for their buck.

--Rich

Nolan to Chat With BD-Live Dark Knighters

I have been doing a lot of drooling for the release of The Dark Knight on Blu-ray, directed by Christopher Nolan. His work on the Batman franchise has been nothing short of brilliant as it dives deeply into human fear and motivation. If you like a good movie, or you just really like Batman, you have the chance to chat with Mr. Nolan through BD-Live December 18th about The Dark Knight.

To be part of this community event, you must
1. Own a BD-Live capable Blu-ray player or PlayStation 3 and The Dark Knight [Blu-ray]
2. Have access to the internet
3. Register at warnerblu.warnerbros.com/
4. Check your email 11:59pm PST December 10th for an invitation (the first 100,000 members to accept)
5. Login to The Dark Knight BD-Live from the main menu on December 18th (6pm PST start time)

Technology is another big concern for Nolan's Batman. I would ask him how it affects this great super hero, and if Batman will be watching Blu-ray in the next installment.

Check out The Dark Knight on Blu-ray.

--Rich

Blu-ray Player Round-up

If you were sitting on the fence between standard definition DVD and High-Definition Blu-ray there are finally some decently priced Blu-ray players out there this holiday season.

Check out the Samsung BD-P1500. This player delivers solid 1080p picture and can bit-stream DTS Master Audio through HDMI 1.3. The player is now Profile 2.0 with firmware updates from Samsung, allowing for one of the biggest reasons to own a Blu-ray player—BD-Live. For jumping in on Blu-ray and BD-Live, 212.74 (as of this writing) is not bad at all.

The Panasonic DMP-BD35K is a step up from the Samsung but for just over 200 you get a lot more. This player decodes all major audio codecs on-board, so if you don’t want to spend a lot of money on a receiver to decode bit-streamed audio, this would be the right player to get. Also, the BD35 is a Profile 2.0, BD-Live ready player.

The BDP-350 Blu-ray player is BD-Live capable and can read just about any format, whether it is BD-RE, or CD-RW. Some people might really enjoy the easy to use Sony interface from the PS3. The player does not decode DTS-HD Master Audio internally, so you will need a receiver for that. Otherwise this is a pretty solid player that doesn't require a whole lot of fuss.

Last and not least, the PlayStation 3 is still the best Blu-ray player for what you get: BD-Live, DTS-HD Master Audio, Dolby TrueHD, an HD gaming system, firmware updates that stay current with the industry, et cetera. Though the system hasn’t decreased in price for this holiday season, you can still find a good bundle deal over at the High-Def Deals Store.



Now remember, all Blu-ray players can play standard def DVDs. Also, if you want to know more about the high-def world, go to High-Def Headquarters.

Have a safe holiday season,
--Rich

Guillermo del Toro Hellboy II BD-Live Chat

The power of BD-Live is starting to be harnessed in some cool ways--Guillermo del Toro will be having a live chat via BD-Live for the recently released Hellboy II: The Golden Army on Blu-ray, today, November 23rd 6pm Pacific.

To participate in this event, this is what you must do:

1. Have Hellboy II: The Golden Army on Blu-ray
2. Go to www.UniversalHiDef.com and login or register
3. Click 'Director's Chat' under 'My Account' and submit up to three questions early
4. Connect to BD-Live through either your enabled Blu-ray player or PlayStation 3
5. Chat

Here are my three questions for you Guillermo:
Where does your fascination for hellish things come from?
What hellish rock and roll music are you listening to?
How's The Hobbit coming along?

--Rich

Band of Brothers Lands on Blu-ray

It is obvious that this is a fine series, watched many times over by movie lovers, because of its great characters such as Major Winters, or the dialogue-sparse Captain Speirs. Now that it is on Blu-ray, a couple of additions put Band of Brothers [Blu-ray] over the top in my view: 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio and Picture-in-Picture commentary from the real men of Easy Company.

One particular episode comes to mind and that is “The Breaking Point” taking place at the town of Foy, where true heroism appears from Captain Speirs, in the midst of cowardess--culminating in my favorite few moments of the entire series. --Rich

Top 5 Blu Not Yet Blu

There are a few things I'd like to experience before I die--the view from atop Kilimanjaro, a cat riding a dog, snakes on a plane, and these 5 movies in 1080p, TrueHD 7.1 surround-sound glory on Blu-ray:

Aliens
Catching glimpses of Xenomorphs in high-definition as they scream past you to swallow colonial marines seems like a pretty great time. "Game over man!"

The Dark Knight
Undeniably the most ultimate super-hero of all time, The Dark Knight has real explosions that will feel real on a high-def setup. This one is actually coming to Blu-ray December 9th.

Jurassic Park
The T-Rex scene. That's all I have to say about that.

Contact
This film is brilliantly shot and has some great landscape segments that incorporate CG. The sound near the end of the film is worth having a 7.1 setup.

Vertical Limit (Correction - Vertical Limit is already available on Blu-ray!)
Honestly, I like this movie and there are some great cave and mountain-range shots that could have some well mixed sound, to put you as close to the action as possible, without actually being there.

*EDIT* -- So to make it 5, I'm going to suggest Time Bandits. Time portals and suspended cages above an abyss at the end of the universe would look and feel much closer in high-def, I think. Tell me you wouldn't want to see the most fabulous object in the world, in 1080p.

Sign up with First to Know to find out when your favorite movies will be available on Blu-ray.

--Rich

IRON MAN --> BLU-RAY

Cold. Cold. Warm. WARM. Cold. WARM. HOT. VERY, HOT. STINGING ACID BURNING PLASMA IN YOUR EYE HOT--Iron Man has made it to Blu-ray, streeting September 30th.

What do you get? Well, the movie. TrueHD surround sound. And with BDLive you can quiz other people watching the film. Other coolness allows you to test out three different Iron Man suits. No, you don't actually wear them.

As you may have heard, there was a recall on the first Blu-ray print of this release by Paramount, causing me "The High-def guy" some annoyance, updating otherwise perfectly placed campaigns on the Amazon Blu-ray site.

But Paramount, you know what? You've eased my open metaphoric wounds with the salve of your iron reluctance to let a mishap like this destroy your biggest release of the year, by burning some new and working Blu-ray discs. Lots of them. So yo, you got the green light from Amazon.

And this song is still awesome.

--Rich

Getting into the HD Game: PS3

Hey, you gotta start somewhere with high-def. And that starting point my dear reader is in the PS3 lane on the high-def runway. Think of the destinations: BDLive, "The Force Unleashed", TrueHD,"The Dark Knight"on Blu-ray. Fine things are these.

For most people, me included, the only thing stopping us from joining the HD club is the costly entry fee. And let's face it, the HDTV, HD Programming, and other goodies ARE pricey.

The PS3 by itself can start you off pretty well. It plays DVDs, CDs, and Blu-ray. You can play PS3 games. Connect to your media server and stream content with 3rd party software, some of the options being TVersity(PC) or EyeConnect(Mac). The PS3 will even download firmware updates that keep up with the industry.

The really important thing, I think, is the number of formats supported. People want to keep their DVD and CD collections, but still dip their toes into Blu-ray and HD -- when the time is right, of course, to start your high-def home.

--Rich