Finally got a Blu Ray player!

[Your Mom]

Well technically it's not here yet. Amazon had a huge sale and it's was only $129. Anyway it has to be connected to the internet? Thats weird. Do these things have bugs? I read they get firmware every now and again. Will they work without it? Anyone have one? Or any good picks for stuff on Blu ray?

[Momo]

Well technically it's not here yet. Amazon had a huge sale and it's was only $129. Anyway it has to be connected to the internet? Thats weird. Do these things have bugs? I read they get firmware every now and again. Will they work without it? Anyone have one? Or any good picks for stuff on Blu ray?

It'll have to be connected to the internet for the firmware updates because bluray is still an evolving media. Certain bluray discs might have special features that are entirely new and therefore the disc mightn't play without the firmware update.

Some special features also connect to the internet. For example, the Iron Man bluray has downloadable quizzes on both the movie and the comics.

Batman Begins

The Dark Knight

Casino Royale

Quantum of Solace

Iron Man

Are pretty much the essentials. Some other movies that show up really well in HD are things like Sweeney Todd and Wall-E, though I suspect most Disney Bluray's will be fantastic both in video and audio quality.

[Your Mom]

I already have Iron Man and both Batmans. Is it worth the upgrade?

[Momo]

I already had Firefly and Serenity on DVD and upgraded them both to Bluray.

It all depends on your set up. If you've got at least 5.1 Ch Surround sound and a 42" TV, I'd go for it. Then again, I don't have to pay bills of any sort, and most weeks my money just goes to games, music and movies, so take that as an indicator as well.

[stokeriño]

I've always been curious about the older movies they've rereleased on Blu-Ray - like those as old as The Matrix, say. They surely will have only been filmed at X level of quality before HD and such came along, so can they really be any better on Blu-Ray?

As for ones to buy, I've only got Iron Man myself so can't say much. I have got Star Trek earmarked for a BD purchase when it comes out, and I'm also going to get the BD release of Advent Children Complete - not least because it contains something like half an hour of additional scenes.

Edited June 10, 2009 by stokeriño

[Momo]

Older films will still be of better quality than their DVD releases because bluray's are made from the original digital source files, which are of much better quality than what can fit on a DVD.

That said, while some scenes from the first Pirates movies are fantastic, I've noticed a light graininess on a couple of others. That may just be the lighting though.

And I'll definitely be getting both Star Trek and Advent Children Complete. I bought the Spirits Within on Bluray a couple of weeks ago and it is astounding. There are so many little details that I noticed that I didn't on the DVD version. It's purely fantastic.

[EddieRuckus]

In regards to The Matrix on Blu-Ray, I rented that from Netflix and all I have to say is...wow. The level of clarity in the film is amazing, really awesome for the lobby fight scene and the helicopter part.

[Herr Matzat]

I did some research on good qualety BluRays before i got my PS3 last week and here is what i learned.

Baraka is the current reference for Picture qualety. (they scanned everythink with twice as high resolution as ever been scanned before)

You can get it on Play.com for £13.99 - but maybe research it first, it´s like an art nature documentary, might not be everyones cup of tea.

The second movie would be The Dark Knight, but as for buying it dubble, i don´t know... if i am sitting far away on my couch the picture still is better, but it´s not like the jump from DVD is anywere near the jump from VHS was. I´ed prolly wait untill it gets very very cheap, or just rent it to compare what a good BluRay looks like compared to a good DVD.

The final movie everyone seemes to recomend is Ratatouille wich you already can get for at most £10.95 (at mymemory.co.uk)

Planet Earth at Play.com for £24.99, it gives you a good amount of BluRay Playtime for litte money. But the core BluRay nerds got something (stuff i don´t understand) to complain on them... so it´s not a reference on what your new pice of hardware is able to do.

Edited June 10, 2009 by Michael Matzat on a Plane

[AboveAverage]

As LGM alluded to, Sweeney Todd is excellent on Blu-Ray. Seeing Burton's cinematography, lighting, and makeup in BR is just awesome. He's really a master at using color and lighting to make his films intriguing visually and the format obviously brings that out. Can't recommend it enough.

[King Ellis]

I've always been curious about the older movies they've rereleased on Blu-Ray - like those as old as The Matrix, say. They surely will have only been filmed at X level of quality before HD and such came along, so can they really be any better on Blu-Ray?

I was of the impression that actual film is of much higher quality than digital filming. So if they can get their hands on the actual film reel and it's in good condition, then they can do a HD version.

[LL!]

As LGM alluded to, Sweeney Todd is excellent on Blu-Ray. Seeing Burton's cinematography, lighting, and makeup in BR is just awesome. He's really a master at using color and lighting to make his films intriguing visually and the format obviously brings that out. Can't recommend it enough.

None of that is Burton's... You can thank Dariusz Wolski for all that.

As far as Blu-Ray movie suggestions go, I'd say pick up the Criterion Benjamin Button. It looks phenomenal.

[AboveAverage]

Really? There are Burton trademarks in there, similar to what you see in Nightmare, Corpse Bride, Ed Scissorhands, etc. The white faces and the dark eyes, the white contrasting with black everywhere in the film, and whatnot. All things considered it looks incredibly similar to Batman Returns, its like they take place around the corner from each other.

Edited June 10, 2009 by AboveAverage

[LL!]

That's because Burton is a great director and knows how to translate his vision to his Director Of Photography and the DP's Cinematography is presented on screen. Contrary to popular belief, it isn't the Director's job to shoot a movie, it is his Cinematographer's.

[Herr Matzat]

Sorry, wrong topic, confused german.

Edited June 10, 2009 by Michael Matzat on a Plane

[Hellfire]

Planet Earth looks fantastic on blu-ray. Really anything with water effects or landscape looks incredible.

[ChrisSteeleAteMyHamster]

I only have a couple of Blu-Rays - Dark Knight and Casino Royale.

I can't see the point in paying all the extra money for Blu-Ray if you're buying a comedy or whatever. For me, while Blu-Ray is a sizeable chunk more expensive you want to buy action, movies with sweeping exteriors or movies with stylized or top notch cinematography.

Looking through my DVD collection the movies that would be worth upgrading as and when they make Blu-Ray:

300

Apocalypse Now

Children Of Men

Crank

Equilibrium

Fight Club

Gladiator

Hero

House Of Flying Daggers

Kingdom Of Heaven

Lord Of The Rings collection (surely that's coming soon)

Oldboy

Pitch Black (average film but WOW it looks stunning)

Sin City

Sunshine

Zatoichi

I would include Willy Wonka (original) and the Kurosawa movies but surely they're too old too really make the most of the bump up?

My next must-have Blu-Ray is Watchmen.

[EddieRuckus]

I have 300, Transformers, Kill Bill vol. 1, and Zack and Miri Make a Porno on Blu-Ray. I saw Zack and Miri for 17 bucks, so I decided to give that a try on Blu-Ray, and yeah, definitely not going to buy anymore comedies.

As for older films on Blu-Ray, they were able to restore Pinocchio and it looked pretty damn good when I saw it playing at Walmart the other day. Also, the complete trilogy for Lord of the Rings will be on Blu-Ray on December 31st of this year.

[Toe]

My little brother bought Speed on Blu-Ray, and while it does look a bit better then DVD, it is not a worthwhile upgrade.