This is an initial set of observations and a consumer product review of the SONY Blu-ray Disc Player, model BDP-S480.
This is not a technical review. This is a regular Joe kind of review. So keep that in mind as you read this product review.
The Sony BDP-S480 is a 3D Blu-ray Disc Player. I did not get it for the 3D feature. I am not a fan of most 3D movies so I’m not sure what I’d get out of it on a tinier screen, but the player fell within my price-range. And since 3D seems to be getting shoved down the consumer’s throat, well, I’m sure sooner or later I might be tinkering with the tech.
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As anyone who knows me can attest to, I do my research. I hate buying blind. Plus I’m finally considering a BD player because studios are adding more features to the Blu-ray format products than the DVD version of their products.
With that said, I was on the hunt for my first Blu-ray player.
Initially I queried some peers who have BD players and the one thing I took away from my conversations is to visit the stores and check out the remotes. Apparently remotes can be bulky, non-intuitive or are just annoying.
Then I checked out some consumer review websites and got a feel for brand/models I was looking for and had narrowed the field down. One of the first things I noticed was that the store I hit up did not have remotes out with the shelf models. After looking at what was for sale, there were a couple of recommendations left for my choosing.
The Sound of Music is a classic that will stand the test of time through the ages. It’s a great movie for everyone and can lead to hours of fun family sing-a-longs… well, unless, like me, ya just can’t sing that well. But regardless, for today only, Amazon has slapped The Sound of Music Blu-ray / DVD combo pack into their ‘Gold Box’ Deal of the Day for today (3/10) only.
This 1965 classic cast is lead by Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer and the special today is the The Sound of Music (Limited Edition Collector’s Set) [Blu-ray/DVD Combo] (1965), boxed set. It’s not just the movie, check out the package deal:
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
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, including a parody with Carol Burnett and Julie Andrews, and an interview with the real Maria von Trapp on The Julie Andrews Hour
Rodgers & Hammerstein: The Sound of American Music, hosted by Mary Martin
Screen tests, rare treasures, interviews, photo galleries and more
BD-LIVE: Live Lookup Powered by IMDb
It’s truly an awesome catch of a package if you’re interested, in the ‘Gold Box’ today on Amazon!
Amazon is having a huge end-of-year sale where many titles in the TV and movie world are up to 60% off. One of those titles, you’ve heard me go on and on about is Spartacus: Blood and Sand. If you’re a regular here, you know how I’ve mentioned how wonderful the story actually is… it transcends the era it takes place in and the story pulls you right along.
Spartacus: Blood and Sand stars Andy Whitfield, John Hannah, Manu Bennett, Lucy Lawless (Like you’ve never seen her before) & many more in this epic mini-series from Starz that’s created and written by Steven S. DeKnight & produced by Sam Raimi, amongst others.
If you had an inkling of a curiosity for owning the explicit series on Blu-ray or DVD, now may very well be the time.
The new DVD & Blu-ray titles coming out for the week of November 30th number just over 100. That’s a very short list indeed considering that the lists usually count around 200 to 300 titles each week!
This week the more popular New DVD & Blu-ray releases coming out include Fantasia, Knight and Day & The Sorcerer’s Apprentice.
Here are some of the more popular titles that consumers are snatching off the digital shelves, plus to make it a bit more affordable, I’m releasing this list early in case you want to take advantage of Cyber Monday on Amazon…
Looking over the new DVD & Blu-ray releases for November 23rd, 2010, there are over 250 new titles. This week surprises me, being that the last few weeks have had some great titles. This week it seems rather dull in the excitement category, but it could just be me.
This week is led by the Beauty and the Beast Two Disc Diamond Edition re-release of the classic animated story from Disney. We also have The Expendables with Sylvester Stallone, and Eat Pray Love with Julia Roberts.
That’s really it for big titles but I’ll dig a bit deeper and see what other new DVD & Blu-ray releases might be coming along with these other titles.
In the upcoming weeks we have some great titles coming out… see below for those!
This week we have over 250 new DVD & Blu-ray releases hitting the shelves on November 16th, 2010. As Christmas approaches, distributors have been saving some of their better titles for now. The titles range from highly anticipated, holiday movies, elemental bending kids to new packaging of highly marketed movies… for the umpteenth time!
Titles include Avatar (again) in a new extended format, A Christmas Carol from Disney, The Last Airbender, Christmas season Celtic Thunder & Michael Jackson. TV titles include Glee, Perry Mason, The Twilight Zone & Wycliffe. Other new DVD & Blu-ray releases are IMAX releases, Cats & Dogs, The Polar Express & many more titles that if you’re of the mind, you can peruse the larger list at the bottom of this article.
The big release that seems to be a best-seller on Amazon is the newest version/release of the three-disc Collector’s Edition of Avatar. (Below this press release description is my usual list of titles, broken into their usual categories here on Brusimm.
AVATAR Extended Collection’s Edition: 3-Disc Collector’s Edition Blu-ray
Disc One
· Original Theatrical Version
· Special Edition Re-Release
· Collector’s Extended Cut
· – - -16 more minutes and exclusive alternate opening
Family Audio Track (All Objectionable Language Removed)
· Original Theatrical Release
· Special Edition Re-release
Disc Two
· “Capturing Avatar“ An in-depth feature length documentary with James Cameron, Jon Landau and cast and crew
· Deleted Scenes – including over 45 minutes of new never-before-seen deleted scenes
· Production Materials
Disc Three
· Open “Pandora’s Box” and go deeper into the filmmaker process
· Interactive Scene Deconstruction: Explore the various stages of production through 3 different viewing modes
· Production Shorts: 17 featurettes covering performance capture, scoring the film, 3D fusion camera, stunts and much more
· Avatar Archives including original scriptment, 300 page screenplay and the extensive Pandorapedia
· BD-live Portal with additional bonus materials
AVATAR Collector’s Edition: 3-Disc Special Edition DVD
Disc One
· Original Theatrical Version
· Special Edition Re-release
· Collector’s Extended Cut
o 16 more minutes and exclusive alternate opening
Disc Two
· Original Theatrical Version
· Special Edition Re-release
· Collector’s Extended Cut
Disc Three
· “Capturing Avatar“ An in-depth feature length documentary with James Cameron, Jon Landau and cast and crew
· Deleted Scenes – including over 45 minutes of new never-before-seen deleted scenes
Aside from that, below are the usual title lists where I’ve pulled out the more popular sellers in the different categories and below that, a more comprehensive listing of many more titles…
Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore (Three Disc: Blu-ray 3D / Blu-ray / DVD / Digital Copy)
Clash of the Titans (Three Disc: Blu-ray 3D / Blu-ray / DVD / Digital Copy)
Disney’s A Christmas Carol Starring Jim Carrey, Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, and Steve Valentine
The Complete Metropolis Starring Alfred Abel, Brigitte Helm, Gustav Frohlich
The Kids Are All Right Starring Julianne Moore and Annette Bening
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The Last Airbender Starring Dev Patel and Noah Ringer
Special Features
– Origins of the Avatar
– Deleted Scenes
1. “Talk to the Dead”
2. “Water Teaches Us Emotion”
3. “Water Tribe Battle”
4. “Field Ablaze”
– Gag Reel
The Night of the Hunter (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray] Starring Robert Mitchum, Shelley Winters, and Lillian Gish
The Shawshank Redemption [Blu-ray] Starring Morgan Freeman, Tim Robbins, Bob Gunton, and Clancy Brown
This week with over 250 new titles, we have quite the variety of new DVD and Blu-ray releases coming out. New titles include the surprise hit (for me) of Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, the first season of the TV series Sherlock. We also finally get a chance to snatch up the fifth series of Doctor Who, starring Matt Smith.
Other titles include Grown Ups with Adam Sandler, Charlie St. Cloud with Zac Efron and an animated DC Showcase of Superman/Shazam: The Return of Black Adam.
Surprise releases that caught my eye was a Cary Grant movie called Arsenic & Old Lace & a classic of a different nature, Westworld! Plus Mystery Science Theater 3000: Vol. XIX is coming out this week!
Movies on DVD
A Christmas Carol starring George C. Scott, Frank Finlay, Edward Woodward
Arsenic & Old Lace starring Cary Grant and Raymond Massey (Love this film… great classic!)
Charlie St. Cloud starring Zac Efron and Kim Basinger
Demolition Man starring Sylvester Stallone, Wesley Snipes, Nigel Hawthorne (You might want to check out the under $6 price, at the time of this article.)
Executive Decision starring Kurt Russell and Ray Liotta (Another sub $7 movie)
Grown Ups starring Adam Sandler and Maria Bello
Hunt To Kill starring Steve Austin, Eric Roberts, and Gary Daniels and Emilie Ullerup
Ramona & Beezus starring Selena Gomez and Joey King
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World starring Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Kieran Culkin
Tremors [Blu-ray] starring Kevin Bacon and Fred Ward
Westworld starring Yul Brynner, Richard Benjamin, James Brolin
This week there are 250+titles coming out new on DVD & Blu-ray disk for November 2nd, 2010. I like the mix of titles and genres that have come out this week and if this keeps up, then we know that we are very well on our way to prepping our Christmas stockings with all kinds of goodies and the holiday shopping mode is starting to build up momentum!
This week, ABC’s V, the complete first season is hitting shelves. Starring Morena Baccarin and Elizabeth Mitchell. It’s a box set with 3 discs with all 12 episodes and special features that include
The Actor’s Journey from Human to V featurette: Featuring the principal cast of V discussing the techniques, challenges and rewards they faced in terms of bringing V alive for a new generation.
An Alien in Human Skin: The Makeup FX of V featurette: Contemporary techniques of special effects makeup application and execution are revealed
Breaking Story: The World of V featurette: An in-depth look into how the producers were able to create a fresh perspective on the V mythology
The Visual FX of V featurette: A primer on the visual effects used to help enhance V, featuring a guided tour through ZOIC studios, the visual FX powerhouse responsible for the amazing CGI
Commentary by executive producers Scott Rosenbaum and Steve Pearlman
Bloopers & Deleted scenes
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This week in Family titles, Hannah Montana: Who is Hannah Montana is the single episode where Hannah takes the wig off and shows the world who she really is. For some, this is the big episode but the consumer advocate in me might suggest being patient and waiting for a whole season package release, if that will ever happen! This one is up to you!
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Toy Story 3
I think the huge hit of new releases this week is going to be Toy Story 3! Toy Story 3 is the box office animated record breaker from Disney. This movie helped boost sales for Mattel by a whopping 23%. (Toy Story 3 and World Wrestling Entertainment toys pulled this off together) TS3 starred the usual voice cast of Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Ned Beatty, Don Rickles, Michael Keaton and many more.
Worldwide, the movie has brought in just over $1 billion at the box office and now it is leading the pre-order charts on Amazon. No surprise there. Check out the extras you’ll have when you snatch up the movie:
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TOY STORY 3 – Bonus Features:
DVD :
Day & Night – The innovative and entertaining short from the imagination of Pixar artist and Director Teddy Newton.
Toys! – A closer look at all of Toy Story 3’s beloved toys from updating the classic characters to the creation of the Sunnyside Daycare and Bonnie’s Room toys.
Buzz Lightyear Mission Logs: The Science of Adventure – Produced in conjunction with NASA, this hybrid animation documentary of Buzz’s visit to the International Space Station focuses on research in zero gravity and Buzz’s triumphant return to Earth.
Paths to Pixar: Editorial – Pixar editors, past and future share anecdotes about their careers.
The Gang’s All Here – A touching look at the returning voice talent for Toy Story 3 and an introduction to the voices of the new characters.
A Toy’s Eye View: Creating A Whole New Land – A sneak peek at the new Toy Story-themed playland at Hong Kong Disneyland.
Studio Stories – A series of amusing animated anecdotes about life at Pixar.
“Where’s Gordon?” – An animator finds a hidden room at Pixar.
“Cereal Bar” – The majestic and expansive Pixar cereal bar is explored.
“Clean Start” – The Toy Story 3 animators shave their heads to mark the start of the film.
Blu-ray Combo Pack: Everything on the DVD plus…
Toy Story Trivia Dash – This cool game challenges you to sprint to the finish with Woody, Buzz, Jessie and Rex as you quickly answer questions about all three Toy Story movies.
Cine-Explore – Commentary by Director Lee Unkrich and Producer Darla K. Anderson.
Beyond the Toybox: An Alternative Commentary Track Featuring Leads from Story, Tech, Art and Animation – Commentary by Story Supervisor Jason Katz, Supervising Technical Director Guido Quaroni, Production Designer Bob Pauley and Supervising Animators Bobby Podesta and Michael Venturini.
Beginnings: Setting A Story In Motion – Screenwriter Michael Arndt analyzes successful opening scenes from Toy Story, Finding Nemo and The Incredibles.
Bonnie’s Playtime: A Story Roundtable – A roundtable discussion with Director Lee Unkrich and the story artists who brought the “Bonnie’s Playtime” scene to life.
Roundin’ Up A Western Opening – The development of the movie’s exciting opening scene.
Life Of A Shot – Toy Story 3 artists and technicians describe their contributions to a few of the shots in the film’s “Western Opening.”
Goodbye Andy – An exploration of character design, acting and animation in the scene “Andy’s Goodbye.”
Accidental Toymakers – By creating the Toy Story characters, the Pixar filmmakers found themselves in the unlikely role of toy designers. Meet the toy company that took a chance on manufacturing the now iconic toys and learn of their incredible success that began with a modest number of Woody and Buzz Lightyear toys 15 years ago.
Making of Day & Night – The story behind the unique 2D/3D blended short.
For more than over a year, I’ve been reporting various news updates about the Starz TV series Spartacus: Blood and Sand from Starz Entertainment. I’ve also reported the sad news about Andy Whitfield’s medical challenges. But up until recently, I’ve never had the opportunity to catch the series.
After watching the first season of Spartacus: Blood and Sand, created by the Joss Whedon alum, Steven S. DeKnight, all I have to say is wow. By Jupiters *, just wow, what a riveting presentation with an incredible amount of quality drama interlaced with a love story as a motivation that later turns to retribution, and peppered with just the right amount of violent gladiator action that doesn’t over-do it.
What sets this show apart from many others is the style of photography, using high speed cameras to capture some of the action, while other scenes fade into other scenes in a wonderfully artistic method. The intimate conversations & coloration of the scenes are fresh.
Andy Whitfield as Spartacus
Andy Whitfield stars as Spartacus while John Hannah (The Mummy, TV: New Street Law) delivers a wonderfully insidious character in Spartacus’ dominus, Batiatus. Manu Bennett (30 Days of Night) delivers one hell of a visual presentation as Crixus, the plaything of Lucretia (Lucy Lawless [Bitch Slap, Euro Trip; TV: Battlestar Galactica]) and the gladiator champion of the stable of Batiatus… well, for a while that is. Peter Mensah (Avatar, 300) plays Doctore and whom I think was the most insidious character in the entire ensemble was Ilithyia, played by Viva Bianca.
This week’s new DVD & Blu-ray releases number close to 250 titles! Amongst those titles are Predators, Apocalypse Now, Psycho Blu-ray & the 35th Anniversary Edition of The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
We’re also starting to see holiday titles peppered within the list at the bottom of this article! Let’s see what new DVD/Blu-ray titles we have coming out on October 19th, 2010:
Movies on DVD/BD
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Agora Starring Rachel Weisz and Max Minghella
Apocalypse Now [Blu-ray] Starring Martin Sheen and Marlon Brando
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Ultimate Edition) Starring Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Ultimate Edition) Starring Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson
Mirrors 2 Starring Nick Stahl, Emmanuelle Vaugier, Evan Jones, et al.
Moulin Rouge! [Blu-ray] Starring Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor
Night of the Demons Starring Edward Furlong, Shannon Elizabeth, Monica Keena, et al.
Commentary by Robert Rodriguez and director, Nimród Antal
De-cloaking the Invisible: Alien Terrain
Motion Comics:
–Moments of Extraction: Robert Rodriguez presents exclusive prequel vignettes voiced by the cast of PREDATORS. Witness the secret adventures that turned two of our world’s most ruthless killers into the ultimate Predator prey
—-Isabelle
—-Mombasa
—Crucified
Predators Blu-ray Special Features
Disc 1: Blu-ray Theatrical Feature
Commentary by Robert Rodriguez and Nimród Antal
Motion Comics
Fox Movie Channel presents Making a Scene
Deleted and Extended Scenes
Theatrical Trailer
Disc 2: Digital Copy
Psycho (50th Anniversary Edition) [Blu-ray] Starring Anthony Perkins, Vera Miles, John Gavin, and Janet Leigh
Psycho Blu-ray Special Features
The Making of Psycho
Psycho Sound
In The Master’s Shadow: Hitchcock’s Legacy
Hitchcock / Truffaut Interview Excerpts
Newsreel Footage: The Release of Psycho
The Shower Scene: With and Without Music
The Shower Scene: Storyboards by Saul Bass
The Psycho Archives
Lobby Cards
Behind-the-Scenes Photographs
Production Photographs
Theatrical Trailer
Re-release Trailers
My Scenes
Feature Commentary with Stephen Rebello (author of “Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho”)
BD Live
Romeo + Juliet [Blu-ray] Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, John Leguizamo, Harold Perrineau, et al.
Seven Samurai (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray] Starring Toshirô Mifune, Takashi Shimura, Keiko Tsushima, et al.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show (35th Anniversary Edition) [Blu-ray] Starring Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, and Barry Bostwick
Restored Picture – Brand New 4K/2K Master From The Original Camera Negatives
The Midnight Experience: The Late Night, Double Feature, Picture-in-Picture Show, Vintage Callback Track (Unrated), Prop Box, Trivia Track
BD-LIVE: Live Lookup, Powered by IMDb
Rocky-oke: Sing It!
Don’t Dream It, Be It: The Search for the 35th Anniversary Shadowcast, Part I
An-tic-i-pation: The Search for the 35th Anniversary Shadowcast, Part II
This is not a technical review. This is a regular Joe kind of review. So keep that in mind as you read this product review.
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