Order Dragon’s Lair from amazon.com

Popularity: 2% [?]

A lot of expectation is being built around the new Panasonic DMP-BD50. As one of the first players with profile 2.0 (BD-Live) its release is scheduled for May, 08. Currently the only player that has BD-Live capabilities is the Playstation3. The Panasonic DMP-BD50 will have an Ethernet port to be able to connect to the internet to download data such as images and subtitles, and to join in quizzes and multi-player interactive games that are linked to bonus movie content contained on Blu-ray discs. It will also come comes equipped with a slot for SD Memory Cards so you will be able to view HD photos and motion images your digital still camera or HD camcorder.

Video Features

• PHL Reference Chroma Processor
• P4HD (Pixel Precision Progressive Processing for HD)
  • Precise Pixel Generation
  • 16-Level Motion Detection with Pixel-Based Motion Adaptive
  • Diagonal Processing
  • Detection of 3:2/2:2 Pull-Down Progressive Processing
  • i/p Conversion for 1080p* Playback
  • Up-Conversion to 1080p* Playback
• 1080/24p Playback (Blu-ray disc)
• HDMI^TM V.1.3 with Deep Colour^TMand “x.v.Colour” *¹
• 148.5MHz/12bit Video D/A Converter
• Digital Noise Reduction (3D-NR/ Integrated NR)
• Picture Mode (Normal, Soft, Fine, Cinema, User)
• Picture Adjustment (Contrast, Brightness, Sharpness, Colour, Gamma Correction)

Audio Features

• Built-in Dolby^® TrueHD, Dolby^® Digital Plus and DTS^TM-HD*²Decoder
• High Quality 192kHz/24bit Audio D/A Converter
• Pure Audio Components
• High-Speed 50Mbps Optical Output
• Audio Re-Master for All Formats (BD, DVD, CD, MP3 and DviX^®*³)
• Advanced Surround (V.S.S.) Creates a Surround Effect for BD and DVD from Only Two Speakers (2 Modes)
• Dialogue Enhancer
• Dynamic Range Compression

Output

• HDMI AV Output
• Component Video Output
• S-Video Output
• Video Output
• 5.1ch Audio Output
• 2ch Audio Output
• Digital Audio Output (1 Optical, 1 Coaxial)

Convenience Features

• VIERA Link*⁴ for Panasonic Blu-ray Disc Product Line-up
• Movie (AVCHD) & JPEG View with SD Memory Card Slot
• JPEG Slide Show with Music
• Multi-Format Playback [BD-Video(BD-Live*⁵), DVD-Video, DVD-RAM, AVCHD (SD Memory Card/DVD), DVD-RW*⁶, DVD-R*⁶, DVD-R (Dual Layer)*⁶, +R*⁶, +R (Double Layer)*⁶, +RW*⁶, CD, CD-R/RW*⁷, MP3*⁸, JPEG, DivX^®*³]
• Super Hi-Speed Scan: 5 Speeds up to x200
• Easy Setting Guide
• Graphical User Interface
• Audio/JPEG Navigation Menu
• Remote Control

Notes

*1 x.v.Colour is a registered trademark.
*2 DTS-HD High Resolution Audio, DTS-HD Master Audio
*3 Official DivX^® Certified product. Plays all versions of DivX^® video (including DivX^®6) with standard playback of DivX^® media files. Certified to the DivX Home Theater Profile. GMC(Global Motion Compensation) is not supported. DivX^®, DivX^® Certified, and associated logos are trademarks of DivX^®, Inc. and are used under license.
Maximum number of folders recognizable: 300 folders. (including the root folder)
Maximum number of files recognizable: 200 files
*4 This function is available for Panasonic products that support VIERA Link (HDAVI Control 3 or above).
*5 BD-ROM Profile 2 (BD Live feature includes BONUSVIEW (Final Standard Profile) functions)
*6 Discs recorded and finalized on DVD video recorders/cameras.
*7 Playability may vary depending on the contents, discs and quality of the recording.
*8 For contents recorded on CD-R/RW for your personal use only.

Watch this video on the DMP-BD50 player

Popularity: 42% [?]

Coming out on Blu-ray this July, “Point Break” was not a huge success when it was first released but its popularity has been increasing ever since. Today, it is considered a cult film, which appeals to a lot of people because of the idea of lifestyle and freedom that we all would like to enjoy.

“Point Break” tells the story of the cop John Utah (Keanu Reaves) hunting a bunch of bank robbers camouflaged with masks of the former U.S. presidents. His investigations lead to a group of surfers and extreme sports worshipers, and the cop becomes fascinated by the lifestyle philosophies and adrenaline rushes of the gang around the charismatic leader Bodhi (Patrick Swayze). Their close friendship changes to a hard-fought rivalry at the end when cop and gangsters face point blank.

Kathryn Bigelow (Director) uses American surf beach settings for this unusual and very stylish action thriller with great stunts like parachuting scenes, bank robberies, a car chase, police raids, martial arts, breath-taking chases and brilliantly photographed surf sequences. Watch out for the Red Hot Chili Peppers as a gang of brutal surf Nazis beating up Keanu Reeves and being captured by him during a hard-fought police raid.

But “Point Break” is even more than that - it also shows the lifestyle of the nineties in many ways. Bodhi and his gang are a group of New Age-like grunge guys reaching out for the most extreme adrenaline experiences. They stand for the new style of extreme/fun sport worshipers, ravers and new spiritualists of the post-yuppie era in the nineties who don’t care about wealth and status symbols but for fun, action, breaking the limits and finding the sum of all senses. “Point Break” is not only a well-done example of modern action entertainment without computer-generated special effects but also a very philosophical and spiritual study of society in the nineties.

We do not have many details on the technical specs of this Blu-ray besides these:

Video Resolution/Codec

• 1080p/MPEG-4 AVC

Aspect Ratio(s)

• 2.35:1

Audio Formats

• English DTS-HD Lossless Master Audio 5.1 Surround
• English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
• English Dolby Digital 4.0 Surround
• French Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround
• Spanish Dolby Digital 1.0 Mono

Subtitles/Captions

• English SDH
• French Subtitles
• Spanish Subtitles

Extras

• 4 Featurettes
• 8 Deleted Scenes
• Still Gallery

Popularity: 14% [?]

Fox will release Mrs. Doubtfire-Blu-ray on May 13th, they obviously are not superstitious about the date and have no reasons to be as Mrs. Doubtfire was a great blockbuster and probably will sell very well. As the movie is a lot of fun.

I am sure most of you already know this classic but for those who don’t. Here a short synopsis:

Daniel Hillard (Robin Williams) is a struggling actor and no ordinary father, so when he learns his ex-wife (Sally Field) needs a housekeeper and he applies for the job. With the perfect wig, a little makeup and a dress for all occasions, he becomes Mrs. Doubtfire, a devoted British nanny who is hired on the spot. Free to be the “woman” he never knew he could be the disguised Daniel creates a whole new life with his entire family.

The Tech specs are:

• 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 video
• English DTS-HD Lossless Master Audio 5.1 Surround track (48kHz/16-bit)
• French and Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround dubs and subtitle options

The only disappointment on the Blu-ray is the lack of more HD content as the features will be practically the same as the DVD re-issue.

• Featurettes: “From Man to Mrs. The Evolution of Mrs. Doubtfire,” “Aging Gracefully: A Look Back at Mrs. Doubtfire,” “Meet Mrs. Doubtfire,” “Original 1993 Featurette”
• 18 Deleted Scenes/4 Alternate Scenes
• Still Galleries: “Behind the Scenes,” “Publicity,” Theatrical Posters” Animation Studio
• 3 Theatrical Trailers / 2 TV Spots

Popularity: 12% [?]

Dell just released probably the cheapest computer you will find with a blu-ray player. Granted, it’s definitely not the best you can find but for only $800 what did you expect?? The new Inspiron 1525 comes with a Blu-ray player (not Blu-ray burner! You can burn only DVDs and CDs) and will enable you to watch HD up to 720p. For those people who like to be different or unique they come in a variety of colors and just like any other Dell computer, you can customize your machine with better capabilities. Obviously that comes with some more “$$Franklins$$”. The $800 version also comes with a HDMI output so you can hook up to your big-screen TV and experience the real Blu-ray high definition.

According to Dell, the new Inspiron will start shipping on April 7^th. If your hands are itching for the new toy, hold your horses cowboy. I am sure prices will plummet very soon now that the format war is over more and more computers will be available with Blu-ray players and burners. The consequence? The prices will drop!

Popularity: 10% [?]

Get ready SOCOM fanatics, the new SOCOM U.S. Navy SEALs Confrontation will be released on September 16th, 2008. SOCOM has been a success since the first Playstation. The new version will have an enhanced online gaming features and HD graphics, which can almost guarantee to conquer new fans but also pleasing the old ones.

In a middle-eastern village, Navy SEALs work quickly and quietly through the streets, tracking their targets. Up in the balconies above, the terrorists begin opening fire upon the SEALs, who take cover and return with a flurry of their own bullets. The game will be available as both a download as well as an in-store purchase, but users will certainly test their broadband connections with content packs that will make their way online after release. These will contain the works - new modes, weapons, maps, characters, you name it. Amazon is already selling and you can pre order your game for $59.99.

KEY FEATURES

• Ultimate 32-player online combat experience featuring stunning high-definition visuals, advanced physics, ballistics, impact and destruction modeling

• Rich interactive and destructible environments supporting multiple game types

• Full support of the SIXAXIS™ wireless controller, offering greater control

• Choice of playing as various International Special Forces

• Advanced voice communication systems and immersive audio

• Comprehensive player customization including fully featured load out, encumbrance and unique uniforms

• Up to seven different game modes are available on each map

• Advanced player matching, players can form a team with their friends and easily join an online game

• Regional combat or challenge teams from around the world

• Additional themed downloadable content packs available post launch

Popularity: 13% [?]

BluFocus has released the first Online Reporting System (ORS) for Blu-ray. BluFocus is a company that provides quality control analysis to Blu-ray manufacturers and studios. This tool is a database-driven system that allows studios, authoring facilities, player manufacturers, quality assurance testers and others to enter, track and share production issues online in real time. This system has already been in use by BluFocus and its clients; however, now it will also be available to others in the Blu-ray Disc industry. “Because of Blu-ray’s enhanced interactive capabilities, the error-reporting methodologies currently in use for testing standard DVDs are not effective or efficient,” said Paulette E. Pantoja, founder and CEO of BluFocus. “ORS employs an approach more typical of the software industry, where large, complex programs require accurate, detailed and consistent issue reporting systems. The instantaneous data sharing provided by ORS allows problems to be resolved more quickly, which is essential in the deadline-driven environment of home entertainment disc authoring and manufacturing.”ORS is the first system specifically designed to assist in the testing and development of Blu-ray Discs. BluFocus has also plans to release a suite of quality assurance tools all to assist in the development of Blu-ray Discs. ORS will help ensure streamlined communication and processes in that development.BluFocus hopes ORS will develop into an industry-wide knowledge repository, joining production reporting and consumer data to advance the overall development of software, tools and QA processes for the Blu-ray industry. “As use of the database increases, we can begin to identify trends and anticipate concerns before they develop,” said Pantoja.

Popularity: 10% [?]

What if mankind had to leave Earth, and somebody forgot to turn the last robot off? Academy Award-winning writer-director Andrew Stanton (“Finding Nemo”) and the inventive storytellers and technical geniuses at Pixar Animation Studios (“The Incredibles,” “Cars,” “Ratatouille”) transport moviegoers to a galaxy not so very far away for a new computer-animated cosmic comedy about a determined robot named WALL*E. After hundreds of lonely years of doing what he was built for, WALL*E (short for Waste Allocation Load Lifter Earth-Class) discovers a new purpose in life (besides collecting knick-knacks) when he meets a sleek search robot named EVE. EVE comes to realize that WALL*E has inadvertently stumbled upon the key to the planet’s future, and races back to space to report her findings to the humans (who have been eagerly awaiting word that it is safe to return home). Meanwhile, WALL*E chases EVE across the galaxy and sets into motion one of the most exciting and imaginative comedy adventures ever brought to the big screen. Joining WALL*E on his fantastic journey across a universe of never-before-imagined visions of the future, is a hilarious cast of characters including a pet cockroach, and a heroic team of malfunctioning misfit robots.

Family
Rating: Not yet rated
In Blu-ray Format: Coming Soon

Popularity: 5% [?]

This June Blu-ray will get a great new release: The Recruit. The film stars Colin Farrell, Al Pacino and Bridget Moynahan. Its Video will be presented as 1080p AVC and sound as 5.1 PCM soundtrack. The Extras will be the same as the DVD release.

A story about a brilliant young man who is approached while working at a night club by Walter Burke (Al Pacino), a CIA recruiter. He is asked to join the elite branch of American intelligence but later discovers how complex and dangerous the job can be. James Clayton (Colin Farrell) who graduated at top of his class at MIT and is pondering his next move while he works as a bartender. Walter Burke (Al Pacino) describes himself as “a scary judge of talent” and believes Clayton is just the sort of man the CIA needs. Clayton accepts the offer as he also suspects his father (whom Burke claims to have known) worked for the Agency. Clayton is then sent CIA’s secret training camp and soon becomes obvious that Burke’s intuition has not failed him. While training in the secret camp, Clayton develops a special interest at one of his fellow students, Layla (Bridget Moynahan), a beautiful woman whose skills equal his own. In spite of the clear attraction Clayton tries to keep in mind Burke’s dictum that “nothing is as it seems,” especially when Clayton is given a special assignment — find the mole within the Agency’s training program who is actually feeding information to America’s enemies.

This is a great movie that catches your attention from beginning to end. It has a great plot and now we will see if the high definition will add even more to this successful movie.

Special Features
-”Spy School: Inside the CIA Training Program” — never-before-seen look inside the CIA
- Deleted scenes with optional commentary
- Feature commentary with director Roger Donaldson and Colin Farrell
- Director’s original 1.77:1 aspect ratio shows more of the film than was presented to theaters
- Widescreen enhanced for 16 x 9 televisions
- DTS 5.1 Digital Surround Sound
- Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound
- THX-certified
- French-language track
- Spanish subtitles

Popularity: 14% [?]

Read ‘I Am Legend’ Review

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Order I Am Legend [Blu-ray] Here!

Popularity: 12% [?]