The Video

‘Harry Brown’ comes to Blu-ray with a 1080p AVC/MPEG-4 video presentation. The film looks very good in high-definition, it is a bit soft at times but still quite impressive.

The film has an intentionally dimmed dark and gritty look which translates well to Blu-ray. Detail levels vary from scene to scene, but are generally impressive. There are moments which I found visually stunning even.

The film has a bit of a grayer look; other colors tend to intentionally stand out as well. The presentation is without any technical flaws and appears to present the film accurately to the way it was intended. Overall I am very pleased and at times extremely impressed. 8/10.

The Audio

An English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio track is the audio option included. Optional subtitles include English and English SDH.

The audio quality on this release is unexpectedly immersive and amazingly clear. Dialogue is of main importance throughout most of the film and is presented without a hitch; it is pretty much perfect and always easy to understand.

The film’s mix is especially impressive when it comes to surround use however. The film can be quite quiet and it can also get loud and rough, the mix works with the material of each scene and provides clear and detail-filled surround experience.

The little details used within the surround speakers make for a very cool audio experience that I really didn’t expect at all. I expected the film to be very front heavy, and while it can be, it almost always has some light surround use from the neighborhood environment.

The mix won’t compare to that of an action-filled explosion-fest, but it is extremely impressive considering the material of the film. I am very impressed and fans and audiophiles will love this one as well. 10/10.

The Extras

MovieIQ
Connect to real-time information on the cast, music, trivia and more while watching the movie. You must have a BD-Live connected Blu-ray player to use MovieIQ.

Audio Commentary
With Director Daniel Barber, Producer Kris Thykier and Michael Caine.

Deleted Scenes (17:08) (HD)
Seven deleted scenes are included and are presented in high-definition, with a little over 17 minutes in length. Impressive.

Previews (HD)
HD previews are include for ‘The Experiment,’ ‘The Square,’ ‘The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day,’ ‘Game of Death,’ ‘A Single Man’ and ‘The Road.’

BD-Live Portal
Download the latest trailers for upcoming Sony Pictures theatrical and Blu-ray releases.

There are not very many extras to be found on this release, but both the audio commentary and deleted scenes are extremely solid. The audio commentary isn’t the most engaging, but it is informative and there is plenty of discussion throughout. 3/10.

The Movie

‘Harry Brown’ is a film I did not get a chance to see during its theatrical release, but it was certainly a film I had wanted to see. The film stars two-time Academy Award winner Michael Caine as the revenge seeking Harry Brown.

Harry Brown is a retired citizen who just wants to live peacefully, unfortunately that is not very easy to do in his area. The city is trashed and filled with crime and much more. He tolerates it until his friend is killed and finds that the criminals who did it cannot be convicted.

As mentioned, Harry Brown is a retired citizen, but he has skills which he acquired in his past service as a Royal Marine. If the law can’t take care of the criminals, he sure can and nothing will stop him from his desire of revenge.

Michael Caine is definitely getting old and I was worried that it would come off just a bit too unbelievable with him as the lead actor. He is a fantastic actor, but the body has its limits, I was just worried it would come across as too old. Surprisingly though, he plays the part well and keeps the film very enjoyable from beginning to end.

The revenge genre is always welcome with me and this one is definitely one of the more enjoyable revenge flicks I have seen in quite some time. The cast is fantastic and make this a film experience which is both easy to get into and believe.

The story isn’t entirely original, many moments and characters do feel very ‘been there done that’ but the aged character was a very entertaining take that compares to Clint Eastwood’s Gran Torino. I hope too many people don’t overlook this film as it is definitely worth watching at very least once. This is one well-made revenge thriller. 8/10.

The Blu-news Summary

Harry Brown is a great revenge thriller with a strong video and audio presentation. The extras are also enjoyable. Overall the Blu-ray release is easily ‘Recommended.’

Seeing as this is a re-release, Warner will likely do the right thing and include lossless audio on the first two films this time around…and hopefully fix the issues with both original releases. Included below are disc by disc details as well as a trailer which states that all four films are available for individual release, so individual releases will likely happen as well.

Thanks to our friend ‘DigitalFreakNYC’ for the details!

Disc 1:
Lethal Weapon (BD)
Commentary with Richard Donner
Breakfast (Extended)
Morning Ritual
At the Range
In the Line of Fire
Questioning Dixie (Extended)
Riggs Goes Home
Wanna Jump? (Extended)
Swimming Pool Shootout (Extended)
Home for Dinner (Extended)
Kiss Goodnight
Watch Television with Me
Caught in the Car (Extended)
Rianne is Kidnapped (Extended)
Busted (Extended)
Honeymoon Suite Lethal Weapon Music Video
Trailer

Disc 2:
Lethal Weapon 2:TH(BD)
Commentary by Richard Donner
Stunts & Action
Trish’s Car
By the Numbers
Theatrical Trailer
What’s the Water Like?

Disc 3:
Lethal Weapon 3:TH (BD)
Commentary by Richard Donner
Did you Forget Something?
Doggie Heaven
Interrogation
Sting and Eric Clapton – “It’s Probably Me”
Teaser Trailer
Theatrical Trailer

Disc 4:
Lethal Weapon 4 (BD)
Commentary by Richard Donner, J. Mills Goodloe, & Geoff Johns
Pure Lethal: New Angels, New Scenes, and Explosive Outtakes
Theatrical Trailer
Technical Details

Disc 5: Bonus Content
Psycho Pension: The Genesis of Lethal Weapon Lethal Weapon and the Hollywood Monster It Created
A Family Affair: Bringing Lethal Weapon to Life
Pulling the Trigger: Expanding the World of Lethal Weapon
Maximum Impact: The Legacy of Lethal Weapon

Lionsgate

Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Big Happy Family (The Play)
There’s nothing quite like a Madea family gathering. The matriarch once again puts a hilarious and inspirational twist on the family unit with the DVD, Blu-ray Disc, Digital Download and On Demand premiere of the newest stage sensation – Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Big Happy Family (The Play). Writer-producer-director Perry joins a cast of fan favorites including Cassi Davis (TV’s “House of Payne”), Palmer E. Williams Jr. (TV’s “House of Payne”), Chandra Currelley-Young (Diary of a Mad Black Woman), Cheryl Pepsii Riley (Madea Goes to Jail play) and more. Featuring nine original songs written by Tyler Perry and Elvin Ross, the DVD and Blu-ray Disc also contain special features including cast interviews and a featurette. The play, which toured the US this year, arrives on all formats, timed to the Blu-ray Disc debut of five of Tyler Perry’s theatrical films – Diary of a Mad Black Woman, The Family That Preys, Madea Goes to Jail, Madea’s Family Reunion and Why Did I Get Married?.

The next generation of Madea’s (Perry) family has a lot to learn, and the family matriarch is about to show them just how much. Shirley (Young) has important news to share with her five grown children, but getting everyone together is a challenge. Enter Madea to demonstrate how it’s done. There ain’t nothing like family as Madea puts it all in perspective with a hilarious twist on financial difficulties, illegal substances, and most importantly, family secrets.

Pricing: DVD $19.98
Pricing: Blu-ray Disc $24.98

Tyler Perry Theatrical Blu-ray Disc Premieres
It’s going to be a bright BLU holiday season for Tyler Perry fans! Prepare for hi-def hilarity as Lionsgate releases five of the writer-director’s theatrical favorites to Blu-ray Disc for the first time — Diary of a Mad Black Woman, The Family That Preys, Madea Goes to Jail, Madea’s Family Reunion and Why Did I Get Married?. The Blu-ray Discs hit shelves timed to the all-new DVD and Blu-ray Disc release of Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Big Happy Family (The Play). The titles will also be available for Digital Download and On Demand.

Pricing: Blu-ray Disc $19.99 each

Diary of a Mad Black Woman
Based on Perry’s accomplished play of the same name, Diary of a Mad Black Woman is the story of Charles and his devoted wife Helen, a couple who seems to have everything – money, a beautiful mansion – the American Dream. However, as Helen prepares to celebrate their 18th wedding anniversary, her life takes an unexpected twist. Helen is forced to reevaluate love, life and faith on her path to self-discovery. The Blu-ray Disc will include a new featurette plus audio commentaries, deleted scenes, outtakes, multiple featurettes and more!

The Family That Preys
Wealthy socialite Charlotte Cartwright (Kathy Bates) and her dear friend Alice Pratt (Alfre Woodard), a working class woman of high ideals, have enjoyed a lasting friendship throughout many years. Suddenly, their lives become mired in turmoil as their adult children’s extramarital affairs, unethical business practices and a dark paternity secret threaten to derail family fortunes and unravel the lives of all involved. Charlotte and Alice decide to take a breather from it all by making a cross-country road trip in which they rediscover themselves and possibly find a way to save their families from ruin. The Blu-ray Disc includes four featurettes and deleted scenes.

Madea Goes To Jail
After a high-speed freeway chase puts Madea in front of the judge, her reprieve is short-lived as anger management issues get the best of her and land her in jail. A gleeful Joe couldn’t be happier at Madea’s misfortune. But Madea’s eccentric family members, the Browns, rally behind her, lending their special “country” brand of support. Meanwhile, Assistant District Attorney Joshua Hardaway is on the fast track to career success. He lands a case too personal to handle, defending young prostitute and former drug addict Candace Washington, and asks his fiancée and fellow Assistant District Attorney Linda Holmes to fill in on his behalf. When Candace ends up in jail, Madea befriends the young woman, protecting her in a “motherly” way as only Madea can. The Blu-ray Disc includes six entertaining featurettes.

Madea’s Family Reunion
While planning her family reunion, a pistol-packing grandma (Tyler Perry) must contend with the other dramas on her plate, including the runaway who has been placed under her care, and her love-troubled nieces. The Blu-ray Disc contains new special features that include new featurettes deleted scenes and a photo gallery along with previously available audio commentary, featurettes and deleted scenes.

Why Did I Get Married?
A big-screen adaptation of Perry’s hit stage play of the same name, Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married? is an intimate story about the challenge of maintaining a solid love relationship in modern times. Written, produced and directed by Tyler Perry, this heartwarming and often hilarious story looks at eight married college friends who have gathered for their annual seven-day reunion. The cozy mood is shattered when the group comes face-to-face with one pair’s infidelity. As secrets are revealed, each couple begins questioning the validity of their own marriage. Over the course of the weekend, husbands and wives take a hard look at their lives, wrestling with issues of commitment, betrayal, redemption and the road to forgiveness. The Blu-ray Disc includes four new featurettes added to the three featurettes previously available.

BURBANK, Calif., September 2010

The Fantasia and Fantasia 2000: 2-Movie Collection Special Edition will be available in a 4-disc Blu-ray Combo Pack ($45.99 SRP) and a 2-Disc DVD ($39.99 SRP) for a very limited time only. The Blu-ray transformation of Fantasia and Fantasia 2000 will reveal the magic, music and majesty of both films as never before experienced, with state-of-the-art picture restoration of the original Fantasia and pristine 7.1 Digital Theater System Hi-Def Surround Sound. The Blu-ray combo pack is a tremendous value featuring, in addition to the two films in two different formats, a wealth of bonus features.

Among those Blu-ray special features is the highly requested Academy Award® nominated short Destino. Available for the first time ever on Blu-ray, the seven minute film is the result of a unique collaboration between Walt Disney and Salvador Dali begun in 1946, but put on hold due to studio financial concerns. In 2003, Roy E. Disney worked with a team of modern day animators to complete the film as a tribute to Walt’s pioneering artistic vision. Accompanying the highly anticipated short is an all-new feature length documentary entitled “Dali & Disney: A Date With Destino,” which explores the origins of the relationship between Disney and Dali, their collaboration on Destino, and ultimately how the film came to fruition so many years after its inception.

Fantasia, an unprecedented and magnificent feast of music and animated images, was initially released by the Studio in 1940 as a “road show” release. The following year, at the 14th Annual Academy Awards, Fantasia earned two Special Awards. The first was given to Walt Disney and associates for their outstanding contribution to the advancement of the use of sound in motion pictures, being the first commercial film released in multi-channel sound using a process called Fantasound, and the second to conductor Leopold Stokowski and his associates “for…unique achievement in the creation of a new form of visualized music…thereby widening the scope of the motion picture as entertainment and as an art form.”

Considered avant-garde during its time, Fantasia has gone on to become one of the most popular movies of all time and today is considered a classic. In 1990, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.” Featuring the Philadelphia Orchestra, conducted by Stokowski, this groundbreaking film, which consists of animation set to eight musical pieces, is narrated by Deems Taylor and includes an appearance by Mickey Mouse (voiced by Disney himself).

Equally impressive is Fantasia 2000, the awe-inspiring extravaganza of sight and sound, executive produced by the late Roy E. Disney. Featuring an array of celebrity hosts including Steve Martin, Bette Midler, James Earl Jones, Penn and Teller, Angela Lansbury, Itzhak Perlman and Quincy Jones, the film, like its predecessor, expertly visualizes classical music compositions with various forms of animation and live-action introductions. Fantasia 2000 is primarily performed by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and conducted by James Levine.

Synopsis: The dreams and visions of Walt Disney come to life in Fantasia, which blends music and film magic into an exhilarating movie-going experience. Unforgettable images are brought to life by some of the world’s best music, and highlighted by the comedy of Mickey Mouse as a troublemaking sorcerer’s apprentice, along with the beauty of winged fairies and cascading snowflakes, the majesty of Noah’s ark and even plump hippos performing ballet in tutus.

Motivated by his uncle’s foresight, Roy Disney continued the magic with Fantasia 2000 which begins where its predecessor left off. There are seven completely new segments, and viewers watch a bustling Depression-era metropolis in the style of Al Hirschfeld’s famous cartoons, a flock of flamingos with slapstick yo-yo talents, an ark full of animals gathered by Donald Duck as Noah’s first mate, and musical life breathed into a family of flying humpback whales.
Fantasia DVD Bonus Features:

• New Audio Commentary with Disney historian Brian Sibley
• Disney Family Museum (running time: approx. 5 minutes) – Walt’s daughter Diane Disney-Miller takes viewers on a tour of the new Disney Family Museum in San Francisco, California featuring a very large exhibit on Fantasia and most importantly, the Schultheis notebook with long lost Fantasia production notes found in more recent years in the walls of a convent.

Fantasia Blu-ray Bonus Features: Everything on the DVD plus:

• Disney View – This viewing mode maximizes the Blu-ray viewing experience with a 16 x 9 aspect ratio. Original artwork created by a Disney artist, in a style that complements the beauty of the film.
• The Shultheis Notebook: A Disney Treasure (running time: approx. 14 minutes) –An in depth look at the recently discovered Schultheis Notebook. The detailed log was created by Herman Schultheis, an effects man on Fantasia, and intricately breaks down the film from a technical view. Many of the special effects used in Fantasia were a mystery to modern day animators until this notebook was recovered.
• Interactive Art Gallery and Screensavers – Viewers can explore the artwork of Fantasia as never before, in HD resolution with unique Blu-ray interactivity and programming.
• Audio Commentaries from Fantasia Legacy Collection
• o With executive producer Roy E. Disney, conductor James Levine, animation historian John Canemaker, and Scott McQueen, manager of film restoration.
• o Audio commentary with interviews and story note recreations by Walt Disney, hosted by John Canemaker.

Fantasia 2000 DVD Bonus Features:

• Musicana – Walt’s Inspiration for a Sequel (running time: approx. 10 minutes) – This documentary reveals rarely-seen art created for Musicana, a late 1970’s project intended as a Fantasia sequel with a focus on exploring other cultures via their greatest musical compositions. Viewers are offered a look at the origins of pieces that were started by Walt, such as “The Emperor and the Nightingale” which was then taken over by a very young John Lasseter. Ultimately, Musicana was stopped to begin production on “Mickey’s Christmas Carol,” but the memories of this piece still live on with the animators who conceived it.

Fantasia 2000 Blu-ray Bonus Features: Everything on the DVD plus:

• Dali & Disney: A Date With Destino (running time: 82 minutes) – This feature length documentary explores the collaborative relationship between Walt Disney and Salvador Dali, revealing how and why the Destino short came to fruition under the lead of Roy E. Disney in 2003 so many years after its inception in 1946.
• Destino (running time: approx. 7 minutes) – The legacy of Walt Disney and Salvador Dali lives on in this highly anticipated short film.
• Disney’s Virtual Vault — BD-Live Feature
• o Original DVD Bonus Features from Legacy Collection
• Audio Commentaries from Fantasia Legacy Collection (total running time: 84 minutes)
• o With executive producer Roy E. Disney, conductor James Levine, and producer Don Ernst.
• o Audio commentary with the directors and art directors for each segment.

The Fantasia and Fantasia 2000: 2-Movie Collection Special Edition Blu-ray™ + DVD Combo Pack is priced at $45.99 SRP and the 2-Disc DVD set is priced at $39.99 SRP.

Cover Art:

Anchor Bay

We didn’t want to have all the fun though! So we teamed up with Anchor Bay to giveaway three Blu-ray copies to three lucky winners!

To enter simply e-mail contests@blu-news.com with subject title ‘Hatchet Giveaway’ Also, please remember to include your address in which the prize will be potentially shipped to. You can enter the contest once per day to increase your chances of winning! This contest is open to both U.S. and Canadian residents. Entry deadline is September 5th at 11:59 PM EST. Winners will be contacted the following day.

The unrated sequel Hatchet II will open in AMC Theatres across the U.S. on October 1st, 2010.

LOS ANGELES, CA. (Aug. 30, 2010)

Meticulously Restored and Re-mastered , The Sound Of Music 45th Anniversary Edition is presented with new 7.1 audio and offers BD-LIVE: Live Lookup Powered by IMDb®; Your Favorite Things: An Interactive Celebration featuring a Sing-A-Long, behind-the-scenes images, trivia and a location quiz; A City of Song with a virtual map of filming locations and interactive tour of the movie’s locale of Salzburg, Austria; vintage programs including a hilarious send-up of The Sound of Music from Carol Burnett and Julie Andrews herself; an enchanting interview with the real Maria von Trapp on The Julie Andrews Hour; and, for the very first time in home entertainment format, a spectacular full-length documentary, Rodgers & Hammerstein: The Sound of American Music, hosted by Mary Martin; and much more.

Perfect for at home or on the go, The Sound of Music is available in 3-Disc Blu-ray and DVD Combo Packs. For a limited time, The Sound of Music is also available in an individually numbered Limited Collector’s Set packaged in a keepsake box and featuring a 100-page “My Favorite Things” scrapbook, a 45th Anniversary Soundtrack, a reproduction of the original 1965 souvenir program, an exclusive hand-painted “My Favorite Things” music box and more.

A perfect holiday gift, the set is priced at $89.99 U.S./ $99.99 Canada. The Blu-ray/DVD combo packs are attractively priced at $34.99 U.S. / $37.99 Canada, allowing fans the best of both viewing and value added options.

The Sound of Music will also be made available day and date for digital download across several EST platforms. The Sound of Music is available on the iTunes Store (www.iTunes.com) as an iTunes Extras, which includes a sing-a-long version of the movie and more than 180 minutes of behind the scenes material.

Directed by Robert Wise and co-starring Christopher Plummer, the film garnered five Oscars including Best Picture and Best Director. A heartwarming story full of cherished songs such as “My Favorite Things,” “Sixteen Going On Seventeen,” “Edelweiss” and the title song, the film graces six different Top 100 lists by the American Film Institute including Musicals, Songs and Movies.

The Sound Of Music 45th Anniversary Limited Edition Collection is just one aspect of Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment’s yearlong campaign to honor the studio’s 75th birthday. This year the division will debut several select fan-favorites on Blu-ray for the first time ever including The Rocky Horror Picture Show, William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet, Moulin Rouge!, The Last of the Mohicans and the Alien Anthology.

Limited Edition Collector’s Set

• 2-Disc Blu-ray with all extras as detailed below
• Standard Definition DVD
• 45th Anniversary Soundtrack
• 100-Page “My Favorite Things” scrapbook
• Snapshots from Salzburg
• Reproduction of the original 1965 Souvenir program
• Exclusive “My Favorite Things” Music Box with letter of authenticity

Blu-ray Details: Blu-ray Disc 1:

• Feature Film Remastered in 1080p Hi-Def with 7.1 DTS-HD Sound
• Your Favorite Things: An Interactive Celebration — All-New Immersive Viewing Experience with Behind-the-Scenes Images, On-Screen Lyrics, Trivia Track and Location Quiz
• Music Machine Sing-Along
• Audio Commentaries with Julie Andrews, Christopher Plummer and Director Robert Wise
• BD-LIVE**: Live Lookup™ Powered by IMDb®

Blu-ray Disc 2:

• Musical Stages: Creating The Sound of Music — All-New Interactive “Backlot Tour” with In-Depth Featurettes on the Songs, the Stage Show & Movie, the Film and Sound Restoration and the Real-Life von Trapp Family
• A City of Song — Virtual Map of Filming Locations in Salzburg, Austria
• Vintage Rodgers & Hammerstein and The Sound of Music Programs
• Screen Tests, Rare Treasures, Interviews, Photo Galleries & More!

DVD Disc:

• Feature Film In Standard Definition
• Newly Remastered Picture and Sound
• Optional Sing-Along Track
• Music Machine Sing-Along
• The Sound of Music Tour – A Living Story

BD/DVD Combo Pack Specs

• BD features all the bonus materials listed above
• Standard DVD

The Video

‘A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving’ and ‘The Mayflower Voyagers’ come to Blu-ray with 1080p VC-1 video presentations. The high-def encodes are small, but they get the job done nicely, and without technical issues I might add.

‘A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving’ is first. The video presentation looks quite good, although quite dated as well. The film features plenty of grain (which is a good thing), but also plenty of dirt and specks which pop up from time to time.

‘Mayflower Voyagers’ came years later and of course looks years better. The print is much cleaner and the animation looks much more recent. The presentation does feature dirt and specks on occasion as well, but not nearly as much.

Colors on both films are very nice, but they do stand out much more in ‘Mayflower Voyagers.’ The character outlines also get a significant boost in high-definition and they look much more natural and sharp compared to the DVD.

Overall I think both provide excellent high-def presentations considering the material. These are made for television specials, not even ‘feature’ films so I actually think they look much better than they could have.

I do hope one day that Warner properly can remove the remaining dirt and specks present, but I am glad they left the grain intact. Both specials are noticeable improvements from their DVD counterparts and ultimately do look quite good considering age. 8.5/10.

The Audio

English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio is the lossless and only audio option included for both specials. Optional subtitles include English (SDH) and French.

I am so incredibly happy that Warner has included a lossless mix, a big improvement from Blu-ray releases last year and hopefully this is a trend that continues with all future releases, regardless of the type of the content on Blu-ray.

The audio does sound significantly better, particularly dialogue. Dialogue has a nice level of clarity which just isn’t there on the DVD versions. Dialogue does have a few small issues with ‘A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving’ in which it cracked a little. I did expect this so it wasn’t much of a surprise.

Both films are very front heavy, but expectantly so. There is some light surround use from time to time, notably from ‘Mayflower Voyagers’ but it is all very light and fitting, The music is also quite nice, although plays second to the dialogue/effects.

The mixes will sound very dated to those used to mainly new release animated films in which surround use is incredibly robust. Neither special stands out among lossless mixes whatsoever, but if you take age and source elements into consideration it is easier to appreciate them. I really don’t think they can get any better than they are now despite some disappointing aspects, the lossless tracks are an improvement. 7.5/10.

The Extras

Disc 1: (Blu-ray Disc)

Mayflower Voyagers (HD)
I did include the video/audio portions in my review, considering this release is basically a double feature. The second TV special is technically a ‘bonus’, although it is a respectable TV special.

Popcorn & Jellybeans: Making a Thanksgiving Classic (12:27) (SD)
I love this featurette. The voice cast and crew share their memories from working on the special as well as unique challenges that came with the production.

Disc 2: (DVD)

DVD copy of the film

The ‘Popcorn & Jellybeans’ feature is the only option under features on the Blu-ray disc, although technically ‘Mayflower Voyagers’ is a bonus as well included separately on the menu as well as in a play all option with ‘A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving.’

The addition of a DVD copy of the film is also a nice addition, making the price point a bit easier to accept. Like with the Blu-ray release of ‘It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown,’ my favorite extra is the inclusion of a second TV special. 5/10.

The Films (TV Specials)

Both ‘A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving’ and ‘The Mayflower Voyagers’ are included on this release. ‘A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving’ first aired as a television special on CBS in 1973. ‘The Mayflower Voyagers’ is the first part of an eight-part mini-series called ‘This is America, Charlie Brown,’ which aired between 1988 and 1989.

I am a BIG fan of ‘A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving.’ Growing up it is something I watched every year in elementary school before Thanksgiving break and then again on Thanksgiving Day. The story is cute and fun like previous holiday specials ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ and ‘It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.’

What I especially love about ‘A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving’ is how well it has stood the test of time. Plenty of animated classics just don’t appeal to children like they used to, but I find that Charlie Brown always captivates even the newest and youngest of audiences to this very day.

‘The Mayflower Voyagers’ may be just part of an eight-part mini-series, but can definitely be enjoyed on its own as each part was a different American adventure, from NASA to the Transcontinental Railroad. The story is a cute and harmless story in which the Pilgrims (Including Charlie Brown and crew) first meet the Indians and share their first Thanksgiving together.

‘The Mayflower Voyagers’ is far less memorable than ‘A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving,’ but I suppose that is why it is more of a bonus instead of a major selling point on the packaging. Like ‘It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown’ I am sure most of you have already seen ‘A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving.’ It is a classic and I love it. 10/10.

The Blu-news Summary

‘A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving’ is a classic TV special with a very good Blu-ray release. The video and audio presentations are true to the source, and while not perfect they do impress overall. The extras are lacking, but the second special and DVD copy are nice additions. Overall this Blu-ray release is easily ‘Recommended’ to all.

‘It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown’ and ‘It’s Magic, Charlie Brown’ come to Blu-ray with 1080p VC-1 video presentations. Each film runs just under 25 minutes so it there isn’t very much content, or very big encodes.

However, I found the high-def encodes for both films to be quite good actually. Those familiar with the Blu-ray release of ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ will know what to expect regarding the visual experience. The animation is definitely dated and it shows, but there is a high-def look present throughout that is hard to be disappointed by.

There are some who may wish the grain was scrubbed away as done with Disney classics on Blu-ray (which are done nicely by the way), but grain really isn’t so bad. I understand that grain can be more distracting in animated releases compared to live action films, but I would much rather have grain filled animated presentations than one altered by a negligent grain removal process.

Colors are extremely strong and look beautiful at all times. The character outlines as well as their surround environments are well outlined and look very natural in high-definition. Comparing the release to the included DVD was also very nice, the animation may be simple but you can still see a noticeable improvement between the two formats.

The films have aged, but overall I think the presentations are both extremely solid and even impressive at times. The Blu-ray release won’t necessarily amaze, but there is an improvement that cannot be denied. No, this does not compare to a new release animated title whatsoever, set your expectations accordingly (they aren’t exactly new productions) and you will be very pleased. 8.5/10.

The Audio

An English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio track is the lossless option for both films. A Spanish 1.0 Dolby Digital track is also included. Optional subtitles include English (SDH), French and Spanish.

The mixes are very front heavy, but expectedly so. The films are older and I expected to be less impressed, particularly for ‘It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.’ While the mix certainly sounds dated, the dialogue is given a significant boost and the clarity is nice.

The film’s music and effects do sound a bit less than desirable from time to time, with a bit of cracking and hissing that I noticed….however I actually expected more. The second special ‘it’s Magical Charlie Brown’ has a better audio mix, but being a later special it was no surprise.

Both mixes do the job nicely as a whole. The audio has its issues, but it can all be linked back to the source itself and not an issue with the mix. These animated specials don’t feature very much surround use, but I don’t think they were produced that way to begin with.

The audio experience is a good one and fans of the films will appreciate the upgrade that is had by the 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio mixes. Comparing this release to the readily available Blu-ray release of ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ with only 5.1 Dolby Digital audio was even more appealing, and more disappointing (they really need to re-release ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ with lossless audio).

I definitely think the audio mixes included are about as good as it will get, they are dated and not everything is in superb condition, you can’t just magically alter it to sound amazing. The dialogue clarity though is very nice to hear and fans of the specials will appreciate the difference. 7.5/10.

The Extras

Disc 1: (Blu-ray Disc)

‘It’s Magic, Charlie Brown’ TV Special
I did include the video/audio portions in my review, considering this release is basically a double feature. The second TV special is technically a ‘bonus’, although it is a respectable TV special.

We Need a Blockbuster, Charlie Brown (13:58) (SD)
This is a very entertaining and informative behind-the-scenes feature about the film. We hear great stories about the pressure put on the animators/writers in creating another blockbuster as well as changes and issues that happened during production.

Disc 2: (DVD)

DVD Copy of the film

The blockbuster feature is the only option under features on the Blu-ray disc, although technically ‘It’s Magic, Charlie Brown’ is a bonus as well included separately on the menu as well as in a play all option with ‘It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.’

The addition of a DVD copy of the film is also a nice addition, making the price point a bit easier to accept. I mostly enjoy the inclusion second TV special though. 5/10.

The Films (TV Specials)

Both ‘It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown’ and ‘It’s Magic, Charlie Brown’ are included. ‘It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown’ first aired in 1966, as a television special for CBS. ‘It’s Magic, Charlie Brown’ first aired on CBS in 1981, so there were definitely more than a few years between each production.

‘It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown’ is the the highlight of the disc and I don’t think anyone could deny that. The story was a follow-up holiday special to the now infamous ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ so there was definitely some pressure to live up to expectations.

‘It’s Magic, Charlie Brown’ isn’t a bad film whatsoever either, but it just doesn’t have the charm that The Great Pumpkin has. It is the better of two delicious meal options, sometimes you can have both. But if you have to choose, you take the one that is just a bit more appealing.

Both can be enjoyed by audiences all ages, but it is The Great Pumpkin which has stood the test of time, becoming a Halloween classic for audiences new and old. The story is short but cute and the characters are just as lovable as ever, including the man himself, Mr. Charlie Brown.

Let’s face it, there is likely a 99.9% chance that you have seen ‘It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.’ The special is extremely popular and airs on television on a yearly basis. Whether you have seen it on television, home video or even at a friend/family gathering, chances are good that you have seen it and made up your mind. You love it right? I certainly do! 10/10.

The Blu-news Summary

‘It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown’ and ‘It’s Magic, Charlie Brown’ are both very enjoyable specials which to this day appeal to both new and old audiences.

The Blu-ray release is good, featuring an accurate video presentation and dialogue clear audio mixes. The extras are lacking, but at least nothing is missing from a previous release. Overall the Blu-ray release is easily ‘Recommended’ to all.

The Video

Monster House 3D comes to Blu-ray 3D with a 1080p AVC/MPEG-4 video presentation, with both 2D and 3D viewing options.

Unfortunately at the time of review, I did not have a copy of the original Blu-ray release on hand to compare it to. However, I did find the 2D viewing mode to be very strong and likely the same viewing experience found on the original release.

The animation style looks good on Blu-ray, but the technology does seem fairly outdated in so little time. Regardless, the transfer was free of technical issues and presented everything accurately. I did have a DVD copy on hand to compare and the upgrade is incredibly clear.

The 3D viewing mode is fantastic and actually better than I anticipated. The film being older than other 3D titles on the format, I thought it would be far less impressive to be honest. However, this film is actually just as impressive as currently available releases.

Monster House’ is one of those films that were definitely made with 3D in mind and the made-for-3D moments are obvious regardless of viewing mode. From the opening title ‘Monster House’ to the house pulling in someone as they reach out towards the screen, it is all quite impressive.

The 3D effects are more in your face this time around, not like other films in which the 3D is more intended for a bit of added depth. Yes, there is added depth throughout this one as well, but those looking for things coming out at you will be very pleased by this release.

The only real issue I had with the release is that the film’s animation does look a bit outdated, making it look very cheap compared to animation today. The 3D pop is very strong and I found it much more impressive than Monsters vs. Aliens while comparing to Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (which ultimately has a better high-def presentation, 3D effects aside).

Overall, 3D viewers will love this presentation, but those viewing in 2D will find better animated demo material on Blu-ray. 8/10.

The Audio

English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, French 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio and Portuguese 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio are the lossless tracks included. Also included is a Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital audio track. Optional subtitles include English, English SDH, French, Spanish and Portuguese.

The film’s audio mix is fairly front heavy, but when a scene gets more exciting the mix gets more exciting. What I really liked about the DTS-HD Master Audio track is the impressive clarity and overall balance.

Dialogue is presented as crisp and clear as one could imagine and it truly sounds great. The film has plenty of audio effects throughout which also are surprisingly crisp and lifelike; the mix also has great direction.

The film’s music comes through clearly as well and balances nicely with the rest of the mix. Everything about the track impressed me. We definitely have heard better audio mixes on Blu-ray, but there is no denying that this is one impressive audio mix. Any viewer will be more than pleased by the high-def clarity. 8.5/10.

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 3D Sneak Peek (1:32) (HD)

Open Season 3D Sneak Peek (1:30) (HD)

Audio Commentary
By the filmmakers.

Inside Monster House (24:40) (SD)
Imaginary Heroes
Beginner’s Luck
The Best of Friends
Lots of Dots
Black Box Theater
Making It Real
Did You Hear That?

Evolution of a Scene: Eliza vs. Nebbercracker (20:01) (SD)
Featurette
Story Reel Animatic
Performance Capture
Layout Stage
Animation
Final Film
Composite

The Art of Monster House (Image galleries)
Conceptual Art
People
Places & Things

Bookmarks
Save your favorite scenes and return to them later via the bookmarks feature.

BD-Live Portal
Download the latest trailers for upcoming Sony Pictures theatrical and Blu-ray releases.

The extras on this release are all ported over from the previous Blu-ray release and DVD release. There are many featuretes, available as separate and play all options under their categories. The featurettes are interesting, particularly the motion capture footage.

The audio commentary was confusing as there was not one specific person(s) on the track, I later found out it is a bunch of different interviews, etc. put together to make an audio commentary track. Lame. Commentary subtitles include English, Spanish and Portuguese.

There are also 3D sneak peeks for Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 3D and Open Season 3D. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs is already on Blu-ray (3D Review), Open Season 3D is expected closer to the Open Season 3 theatrical release. 6/10.

The Movie

Monster House, the 2006 film which I still feel is quite overlooked and under-appreciated is back on Blu-ray with a 3D viewing mode. The film didn’t appeal to everyone upon its release, particularly due to its scary story and alienating younger viewers in the process. The film was nominated for an Oscar, so it isn’t to say that the film was completely unrecognized though.

The film is actually very smart and very entertaining, one which is actually a great family film. If you have younger viewers who scare easily, then this one probably won’t be the best idea quite yet, but anyone over eight should be fine and likely enjoy the film despite scarier moments.

The film is directed by Gil Kenan and includes a fairly impressive cast of voices. Mitchel Musso voices lead character DJ, with a supporting cast that includes Sam Lerner, Steve Buscemi, Nick Cannon, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Kevin James, Jason Lee, Katharine O’Hara, Kathleen Turner and Fred Willard.

The movie’s story is far from perfect, but I really enjoyed the characters and the story overall. The film is very much like ‘The Goonies’ and ‘The Monster Squad’, and while not necessarily as good it is still incredibly enjoyable. I loved the mystery and adventure in the film, which ultimately make the film very enjoyable for adults as well.

The film experience in 3D is actually very fun and adds to the movie experience as a whole. The Blu-ray video quality with the impressive audio track added to the mix makes this one incredibly immersive experience.

Monster House is just a fun little adventure which does have some notable storyline flaws, but I still find myself very impressed by this animated title. Fans of the film will likely want to experience the movie in 3D, recreating the theatrical experience. New viewers to the film will likely be equally enchanted and surprised by Monster House in 3D. 8/10.

The Blu-news Summary

Monster House 3D is fun movie which may be even more entertaining to the adults in the family then it is to the kids. The Blu-ray release features a good video presentation, an even better 3D experience, and an incredibly crisp audio mix.

The extras are all ported over from the previous Blu-ray and DVD release which is great. A DVD copy would have been a nice addition, but likely not an issue for those with 3D setups already/fans of the film. Overall the Blu-ray 3D release is ‘A Must Own’ for those with a 3D setup, ‘Highly Recommended’ to fans and easily ‘Recommended’ to everyone else.

Universal Studios Home Entertainment

The other audio option on the disc is a French 5.1 DTS surround sound track. Optional subtitles include English SDH, French and Spanish. The Wiz has never had many bonus features and the Blu-ray is the same way, including only a Wiz On Down The Road feature. Unfortunately this time around, the theatrical trailer is not included.

Special Feature:

• Wiz On Down The Road