Dark City (Director's Cut) [Blu-ray]
Directed by Alex Proyas

If you're a fan of brooding comic-book antiheroes, got a nihilistic jolt from The Crow (1994), and share director Alex Proyas's highly developed preoccupation for style over substance, you might be tempted to call Dark City an instant classic of visual imagination. It's one of those films that exists in a world purely of its own making, setting its own rules and playing by them fairly, so that even its derivative elements (and there are quite a few) acquire their own specific uniqueness. Before long, however, the film becomes interesting only as a triumph of production design. And while that's certainly enough to grab your attention (Blade Runner is considered a classic, after all), it's painfully clear that Dark City has precious little heart and soul. One-dimensional characters are no match for the film's abundance of retro-futuristic style, so it's best to admire the latter on its own splendidly cinematic terms. Trivia buffs will be interested to know that the film's 50-plus sets (partially inspired by German expressionism) were built at the Fox Film Studios in Sydney, Australia, home base of director Alex Proyas and producer Andrew Mason. The underground world depicted in the film required the largest indoor set ever built in Australia. --Jeff Shannon

The critically-acclaimed triumph from visionary director Alex Proyas (I Robot The Crow) is back with a brand new directors cut featuring enhanced picture and sound never-before-seen footage and three commentary tracks that take you deeper than ever before into the world of one of sci-fis most exciting and revered tales. When John Murdoch (Rufus Sewell) wakes with no memory at the scene of a grisly murder he soon finds himself hunted by the police a woman claiming to be his wife and a mysterious group of pale men who seem to control everything and everyone in the city.Starring Rufus Sewell (The Illusionist) Jennifer Connelly (A Beautiful Mind) William Hurt (A History of Violence) and Kiefer Sutherland (TVs 24).System Requirements:Running Time: 111 minutesFormat: BLU-RAY DISC Genre: SCI-FI/FANTASY/FANTASY Rating: NR UPC: 794043122927 Manufacturer No: 1000040376

Amazing Film
Imagine if you settled down for a nice warm bath and it was so relaxing that you fell asleep. You startle awake and look around the bathroom. Something feels wrong. You can't remember how you got there and you don't know who you are anymore. There's a strange looking syringe on the ground, so maybe this is drug related. That doesn't really explain the amnesia logically though. This all sounds unbelievable doesn't it? Impossible even. However, this is precisely what happened to John Murdoch (played by Rufus Sewell) and that's how "Dark City" opens.

Part of me doesn't want to say anymore about this film and the other part wants to tell you all about it. This movie truly is a psychological thriller with a sci-fi horror twist. (If you understand the relation of that line to Aqua Teen Hunger Force, you will be amused.) I actually can't think of a better way to lay it out. The viewer is essentially brought into a very strange world, but it looks very close to, say, a 1920's setting. Something feels very amiss throughout the whole movie and the viewer is left to unravel the mysteries with John. In this guise the movie is very expertly written because we never learn something too soon. All we know is that something feels off in this world and when everything is revealed it's quite shocking.

The film concept doesn't end there. It's actually a very deep film and if you pay attention to what's going on it asks very human philosophical questions. Such as if faced with extinction what would humanity do? What kind of atrocities could be committed in order to save our race? While the film doesn't precisely answer these questions it does help us understand the antagonists called The Strangers.

Despite the strong performances from Rufus Sewell and Jennifer Connely (John's love interest), I think that Keifer Sutherland's performance was the most impressive. He played sort of the mad scientist kind of role. I realize this film came out in 1998, long before Keifer was the surefooted star of 24, but to view this in retrospect shows how strong of an actor he really is. Not only does he play the role of mad scientist kind of character, but he's also overly nervous and exhibits a limp. I just felt this was kind of out of the norm for Keifer and was impressed that he pulled this off so convincingly. It's also strange that I mention this because he was not the main star of the film, which was Rufus Sewell.

Unfortunately the film doesn't answer all the mysterious questions that came to my mind, but that's okay. You don't need all questions answered in a story all the time. The film is so strong and so well written that these details can easily be overlooked as well. If you like delving into bizarre worlds with a science fiction element then this is definitely a movie to watch. I picked this up on a whim because it had an interesting cast and an intriguing synopsis. I was blown away, probably by the sheer fact I had no idea what to expect from this film. Amidst all this complexity it maintains a very strong and dark 1920's mystery feel as well. It's a very bizarre film, but also very well done in my opinion. If you are summarily intrigued by this then I do recommend you give this a viewing.

Dark City, Blu-ray, Alex Proyas

Iron Man Ultimate 2-Disc Edition Blu-ray

Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Formats: AC-3, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, Subtitled, Widescreen
Original language: English, Persian
Number of discs: 2
Running time: 125 minutes

You know you're going to get a different kind of superhero when you cast Robert Downey Jr. in the lead role. And Iron Man is different, in welcome ways. Cleverly updated from Marvel Comics' longstanding series, Iron Man puts billionaire industrialist Tony Stark (that's Downey) in the path of some Middle Eastern terrorists; in a brilliantly paced section, Stark invents an indestructible suit that allows him to escape. If the rest of the movie never quit hits that precise rhythm again, it nevertheless offers plenty of pleasure, as the renewed Stark swears off his past as a weapons manufacturer, develops his new Iron Man suit, and puzzles both his business partner (Jeff Bridges in great form) and executive assistant (Gwyneth Paltrow). Director Jon Favreau geeks out in fun ways with the hardware, but never lets it overpower the movie, and there's always a goofy one-liner or a slapstick pratfall around to break the tension. As for Downey, he doesn't get to jitterbug around too much in his improv way, but he brings enough of his unpredictable personality to keep the thing fresh. And listen up, hardcore Marvel mavens: even if you know the Stan Lee cameo is coming, you won't be able to guess it until it's on the screen. It all builds to a splendid final scene, with a concluding line delivery by Downey that just feels absolutely right. --Robert Horton

Reviews

Flawless
Absolutely flawless until the final 8 minutes where the CGI action was a tad too rushed, over-the-top, and phony-looking. But given it WAS the final 8 minutes and given the genius of the rest of the movie (look quickly and you'll see Captain America's shield in Stark's workshop about 2/3rds through the movie! What a little surprise among many!), the final 8 minutes are fuly forgivable and can be considered just enough to allow a sequel (and/or The Avengers movie) to be even better.

For those who salivate over The Dark Knight, it was a great crime movie, but a mediocre superhero movie. Iron Man was a GREAT superhero movie. #1 on many people's all-time lists.

I, as many other reviewers I've read, despise Robert Downey, Jr., and Gwenyth anti-USA Paltrow in real life but they nailed the parts well, and like most of Angelina Jolie movies, they're better people in their movies than in real life.

Just flawless really and we don't hesitate to forgive the final 8 mins of stilted CGI action!!!

Ref:  Iron Man (Ultimate 2-Disc Edition) [Blu-ray]

Sony BDP-S350 1080p Blu-Ray Disc Player
From Sony

plays Blu-ray high-definition discs (selectable output resolution: 1080p signals available through HDMI output only; 720p/1080i signals available through HDMI or component video) * built-in audio decoding to PCM for Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, and DTS * bitstream audio output for Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, DTS, DTS-HD, and DTS-HD Master Audio * BD-Java interactive capability * BRAVIA Sync for control of compatible Sony TVs and components via HDMI *

Manufacturer's Description

Revel in astounding HD clarity with the BDP-S350 Blu-ray Disc player. The most noticeable additions to this year's model are the Ethernet port that lets you download firmware updates directly to the player, and -- with one of those firmware updates -- access web contetent encoded to Blu-ray discs via BD-Live, compatibility with the Bonus View feature of select Blu-ray movies, and a USB port that allows you to add more storage to access the growing number of special features that will be available given the immense storage capacity of Blu-ray discs themeselves. This player also outputs a Full 1080/24p True Cinema picture, and upscales your existing DVD collection to 1080p when using an HDMI connection. Dolby TrueHD capability delivers lossless sound that is true to the original studio master. Bringing it all together is the new icon based Xcross Media Bar, which provides simple navigation of the player's menu system.

Learn More

More Picture

See Everything Your HDTV Can Show You with Full HD.

6 Times the Picture Data on DVDs
See everything your HDTV can show you. Blu-ray Disc's Full HD 1080p resolution produces over 2 million pixels per frame to produce a razor-sharp picture with unmatched depth and clarity that takes full advantage of the capabilities of today's 1080p HDTVs. That's six times the picture data contained on DVDs, which are encoded at only 480p.

24p True Cinema Video Output
Most of all Hollywood movies are shot at 24 frames per second, and Blu-ray Disc movies are mastered at 24 frame per second, so it is only fitting that the Sony Blu-ray Disc Players can output your films at 1080/24p for a true film-like experience at home. Of course, Sony Blu-ray Disc Players can also output at 1080/60p for more traditional HDTV sets on the market. Either way Sony has you covered for the best picture possible in Full 1080p.

Backwards compatible and Upscaling
All existing Blu-ray Disc players will play your standard DVD collection without a problem. And with built-in 1080p video upscaling, they'll look even better.

Key Features

• True 1080p Output (Learn more)
• Dolby TrueHD compatible (Learn more)
• Ethernet connection for BD-Live Compatibility and firmware updates (Learn more)
• USB Port Allows More Storage for Access to More Special Features, Like Bonus View (Learn More)
• Higher Bit Rates mean less video compression (Learn more)
• Emmy-Award Winning Xross Media Bar Interface (Learn More)
• Bravia Sync for Easy Connectivity (Learn More)

In the digital world, picture quality is not just about resolution, but also about bit rates. The higher the bit rate, the more data that is processed, typically resulting in higher video quality. DVDs have a maximum video bit rate of about 10 megabits per second (Mbps). In comparison, Blu-ray Disc is capable of video bitrates up to an incredible 40 Mbps. The bottom line, higher bit rates allow for the least amount of data compression for HD video that looks closest to the original video source.

More SoundThe BDP-S350 is compatible with Dolby TrueHD, Dolby's next-generation lossless technology developed for high-definition disc-based media. Dolby TrueHD delivers tantalizing sound that is bit-for-bit identical to the studio master, unlocking the true high-definition entertainment experience on next-generation discs. When coupled with high-definition video, Dolby TrueHD offers an unprecedented home theater experience that lets you enjoy sound as stunning as the high-definition picture.

• Delivers enthralling studio-master-quality sound that unlocks the true high-definition entertainment experience on next-generation discs.

• Offers more discrete channels than ever before for impeccable surround sound.
• Compatible with the A/V receivers and home-theaters-in-a-box (HTIBs) of today and tomorrow.
• Dialogue normalization maintains the same volume level when you change to other Dolby Digital and Dolby TrueHD programming.
• Dynamic range control (Night mode) enables you to customize audio playback to reduce peak volume levels (no loud surprises) while experiencing all the details in the soundtrack, enabling late-night viewing of high-energy surround sound without disturbing others.

Xross Media Bar

Xross (pronounced Cross) is Sony's Technical-Emmy award-winning graphic user interface for Sony WEGA and BRAVIA televisions and PS3 and PSX game systems. The interface features category icons spread horizontally across the screen that organize the viewing options (TV, Music, Internet, Tools, etc...). When a category icon is selected on the horizontal bar, a vertical bar appears showing the viewing options within that category. Using the directional pad on your remote, you can easily maneuver horizontally from category to category, then scroll vertically through individual viewing options to easily navigate through the wide range of programming available on today's televisions.

Ref & Read more...Sony BDP-S350 1080p Blu-Ray Disc Player

Acclaimed screenwriters including David Goyer (Batman Begins) Josh Olson (A History of Violence) and Alan Burnett (Batman The Animated Series) join forces with revered animation filmmakers on six spellbinding chapters chronicling Batman s transition from novice crimefighter to Dark Knight. These globe-spanning adventures pit Batman against the fearsome Scarecrow the freakish Killer Croc and the unerring marksman Deadshot. Using an arsenal of high-tech gadgetry from Wayne Industries Batman s ethical boundaries exist only where he chooses to place them leaving some fearful of his power. The sharp storytelling complemented by stylish art from some of the world s most visionary animators masterfully depicts the blurred lines of Batman as man myth and legend.Format: BLU-RAY DISC Genre: CHILDREN/FAMILY Rating: PG-13 UPC: 085391179511 Manufacturer No: 117951

Batman Gotham Knight - Details
Brand: Warner Brothers
Released on: 2008-07-08
Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Formats: Animated, Color, Widescreen
Original language: English, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish, Thai
Number of discs: 1
Dimensions: 1.00 pounds
Running time: 76 minutes

Customer Reviews

I only wish there was a ZERO star option...
Horrible, horrible, horrible. I was so dissapointed with this project its not even funny. Do not waste your money on this, if you want good Batman animation go and get one of the Batman Animated Series sets. [Read on...]

 

Dragon's Lair (Blu-ray)
From Warner Bros

Buying Offer listing

Average customer review:

Dragon's Lair HD delivers the fun, tongue-in-cheek medieval adventure that made the original arcade games a hit. The Dragon's Lair games were the first fully-animated arcade games, and were favorites in the 1980s. Now the funny, fast action gaming experience is available on your Playstation 3, with the added bonus of HD technology. Sharper images, DVD-style bonuses and no more annoying pauses at decision points - all making a classic game even better. Comes with full-length visual commentary on the game All special features presented in 1080p

Features

• Become Dirk The Daring, a brave but bumbling knight is out to save Princess Daphne - again
• Control Dirk as he fights through Mordroc's castle and its many dangers
• New characters combine with advanced cel-shaded graphics for a bigger, better adventure
• Digitally restored and enhanced with 5.1 Surround Sound
• Features interviews with original creator Don Bluth, Gary Goldman and Rick Dyer

 

Reviews

Best Version I've played to date outside of the Arcade
I'm using a PS3 to play this classic game and I must say it is just great to play this once again. I can't wait until Dragon's Lair II comes out it will be a day 1 purchase for me.
The extra features on this are a must for true Don Bluth fans. It is great to see the creators of the game get some time to talk about it.
The game itself has an Easy and a Hard setting, as well as a Home and Arcade mode. I beat the game on Easy just to play through it, and it was just as good as I remember it to be. I don't have a 5.1 stereo system hooked up so I can't judge the audio but I'm sure it helps add to the game.
Back to the features, I really enjoyed the comparison to the versions that have been available through the years and how they showed them all side by side so you can see just how much better the Blu-ray version is compared to even the DVD or Lazerdisc versions.
I was playing this game while my niece (11) and nephew (9) watched and they loved it. I explained to them it was from the same people that made "The American Tail" and the first "Land Before Time."
At any rate I'm glad that I decided to pick this one up.

Ref: Dragon's Lair (Blu-ray)

More.. Buying Offer listing

Blu-ray Video Games, Blu-ray

Sony BDP-S300 1080p Blu-ray Disc Player
From Sony

Features

• Full HD 1080/60p and 24p True Cinema Video Output
• DVD Upscaling to 1080p via HDMI
• BRAVIA Theatre Sync (HDMI-CEC)
• BD/DVD/CD playback(4) and AVC-HD with x.v.Color output
• Multi-channel Linear PCM & Dolby Digital Plus Decoding

Manufacturer
See and hear a whole new world of high definition with the incredible BDP-S300 Blu-ray Disc Player. The crystalline clarity of 1080p Blu-ray Disc movies1 and DVD upscaling2 has to be seen to be believed. Amazing 24p True Cinema3 2 output and cinema-tuned picture presets allow you to see movies exactly how the director intended. And with BRAVIA Theatre Sync, you can now you can control your compatible BRAVIA TV and AV systems3 from just one remote.

x.v.Color
Thanks to the adoption of a newly approved international color standard called xvYCC (an option in the HDMI v1.3 spec and which Sony participated in helping to create), the color space has been greatly expanded. 1.8 times as many natural colors as existing HDTV signals will now be faithfully reproduced. (x.v.Color capability is available on select BRAVIA televisions, Blu-ray Disc players and the PlayStation3 computer entertainment system.)

24p True Cinema Video Output
Many movies are filmed at 24 frames per second (fps) and prime time TV programs are videotaped at 24p. Seizing an opportunity, some studios are taking a purist approach and encoding high definition video content such as Blu-ray Disc in 24p. The BDP-S300 wisely takes advantage of this by including 24p output capability. The benefits are smoother and more natural-looking images that make watching television an experience to remember. (24p video input capability is available on select BRAVIA televisions.)

BRAVIA Theater Sync
Go beyond simple audio and video transmission with the "one-touch play" remote control feature that allows you to easily manage select BRAVIA televisions and Sony HDMI audio and video components with a single remote. (Available on select BRAVIA theater home A/V systems and components.)

Blu-ray'sHD resolution offers a vastly better picture than SD resolution availabel from regular DVD

More About Blu-ray
The format provides five times larger capacity than today's DVDs, with unprecedented storage capacity of 25 GB (single-layer) and 50 GB (dual-layer). Blu-ray Disc players will be fully backward compatible with current DVD formats, delivering entertainment content in full high-definition (HD) quality, under a secure environment made possible through the most advanced copyright protection technology.

Blu-ray Disc provides picture quality beyond anything available, with full capability 1080p/24 resolution in Blu-ray and Up to 40Mbps bit encoding - 5X current DVD. The theater quality "uncompressed" audio supports 8 channels of Liner PCM, Up to 32 streams of audio, interactive capability, seamless menus, integrated games, hi-def bonus and educational features. Java will allow for more dynamic, more sophisticated interactivity.

Expand your workd with Sony products using Blu-ray Disc technology. It;s the heart of an outstanding line of Sony products with Blu-ray Disc technology that extends beyond the boundaries of high-definition and opens the new vistas for creativity, enjoyment, and interaction.

Discover unsurpassed picture quality and uncompressed audio on supporting media that goes beyond any other format you've seen. Immerse yourself in the unrivaled detail that lets you experiencemore in every movie, every game.

Movies

Find a huge selection of great movies available now on Blu-ray Disc

The best names in entertainment suppor Blu-ray Disc technology. Seven of Hollywood's major studios -- with 90% of home entertainment sales -- ensure the most extensive library of high definition titles, with hits from SOny pictures, Walt Disney, MGM, 20th Century Fox, Warner Brothers, Paramount, and Lions Gate. You'll find more titles coming every month.

Blu-ray Disc was created to match the accelerating growth in digital consumer electronics and computer technology. The platform supports the convergence of film, music, gaming and other computer entertainment in a single standard. Sony Computer Entertainment's adoption of Blu-ray Disc ROM technology in the next-generation PlayStation 3 system was announced at the 2005 Electronic Entertainment Expo.

Capacity Without Compromise
Everything that DVD can do, Blu-ray Disc does and more. Blue laser technology enables up to 50 GB of storage -- five times the capacity of DVD. That's room for nine hours of HD. Or 23 hours of SD. Or tens of thousands of songs. Unbelievable data storage.

Versatiltiy Beyond the Ordinary
From movies to music to games to PC software and file backup, Blu-ray Disc is your solution! The system embraces pre-recorded titles (BD-ROM), discs that you can record yourself (BD-R) and discs you can re-record over and over again (BD-RE). So we can anticipate not only BD players for your living room, but also BD recorders, BD-based game consoles, BD drives for your personal computer and even BD camcorders using compact 8 cm (3") discs!

Manufacturer's Description -- July 2, 2008
Revel in astounding HD clarity with the BDP-S350 Blu-ray Disc player. The most noticeable additions to this year's model are the Ethernet port that lets you download firmware updates directly to the player, and -- with one of those firmware updates -- access web contetent encoded to Blu-ray discs via BD-Live, compatibility with the Bonus View feature of select Blu-ray movies, and a USB port that allows you to add more storage to access the growing number of special features that will be available given the immense storage capacity of Blu-ray discs themeselves. This player also outputs a Full 1080/24p True Cinema picture, and upscales your existing DVD collection to 1080p when using an HDMI connection. Dolby TrueHD capability delivers lossless sound that is true to the original studio master. Bringing it all together is the new icon based Xcross Media Bar, which provides simple navigation of the player's menu system.

Read on...

 

Blu-ray Disc player

Cloverfield [Blu-ray] (2008)

Actors: Mike Vogel, T.J. Miller, Lizzy Caplan, Jessica Lucas, Odette Yustman
Directors: Matt Reeves
Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, Subtitled, Widescreen
Language: English, French, Spanish
Subtitles: English, French, Portuguese, Spanish
Region: All Regions
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Number of discs: 1
Rating:  PG-13
Studio: Paramount
DVD Release Date: June 3, 2008
Run Time: 84 minutes

Five young New Yorkers throw their friend a going-away party the night that a monster the size of a skyscraper descends upon the city. Told from the point of view of their video camera the film is a document of their attempt to survive the most surreal horrifying event of their livesSystem Requirements:Running Time: 84 minutesFormat: BLU-RAY DISC Genre: SCI-FI/FANTASY/MONSTERS & MUTANTS Rating: PG-13 UPC: 097361328546 Manufacturer No: 132854

One of the first things a viewer notices about Cloverfield is that it doesn't play by ordinary storytelling rules, making this intriguing horror film as much a novelty as an event. Told from the vertiginous point-of-view of a camcorder-wielding group of friends, Cloverfield begins like a primetime television soap opera about young Manhattanites coping with changes in their personal lives. Rob (Michael Stahl-David) is leaving New York to take an executive job at a company in Japan. At his goodbye party in a crowded loft, Rob's brother Jason (Mike Vogel) hands a camcorder to best friend Hud (T.J. Miller), who proceeds to tape the proceedings over old footage of Rob's ex-girlfriend, Beth (Odette Yustman)--images shot during happy times in that now-defunct relationship. Naturally, Beth shows up at the party with a new beau, bumming Rob out completely. Just before one's eyes glaze over from all this heartbreaking stuff (captured by Hud, who's something of a doofus, in laughably shaky camerawork), the unexpected happens: New York is suddenly under attack from a Godzilla-like monster stomping through midtown and destroying everything and everybody in sight. Rob and company hit the streets, but rather than run with other evacuees, they head toward the center of the storm so that Rob can rescue an injured Beth. There are casualties along the way, but the journey into fear is fascinating and immediate if emotionally remote--a consequence of seeing these proceedings through the singular, subjective perspective of a camcorder and of a story that intentionally leaves major questions unanswered: Who or what is this monster? Where did it come from? The lack of a backstory, and spare views of the marauding creature, are clever ways by producer J.J. Abrams and director Matt Reeves to keep an audience focused exclusively on what's on the screen. But it also makes Cloverfield curiously uninvolving. Ultimately, Cloverfield, with its spectacular effects brilliantly woven into a home-video look, is a celebration of infinite possibilities in this age of accessible, digital media. --Tom Keogh

 

Buying and Ref: Amazon.com: Cloverfield [Blu-ray]: Mike Vogel, T.J. Miller, Lizzy Caplan, Jessica Lucas, Odette Yustman, Michael Stahl-David, Matt Reeves: Movies & TV

Cloverfield, Blu-ray

 Blu-ray Disc Enabled Laptops and Desktops

Video Playback Beyond High Definition

Watch movies in high-definition picture quality available right on your computer. Whether you’re watching a Hollywood title in HD or enjoying crystal clear video captured from your compatible HDV Camcorder, Blu-ray enabled laptops are capable of playing high-definition Blu-ray disc movies in stunning clarity and incredible 1080 HD resolution. And since the Blu-ray disc system is backwards-compatible with the format of your CDs and DVD collection, you’ll rest assured knowing you can still enjoy your existing entertainment library.

Hi-def Video Capturing, Editing and Burning with Blu-ray Disc

Desktops and laptops with Blu-ray disc capabilities offers end-to-end support for High-Def (1080i) compatible HDV camcorders with a suite of video applications that let you capture, edit and burn to Blu-ray disc high definition content in full 1080i resolution without downgrading video quality and integrity.

Until you experience movies and other media on Blu-ray disc, you don't know just how good HD can be on your PC.

Thank Ref: Blu-ray Computers

Shop Blu-ray Laptops

 

Blu-ray Laptops, Blu-ray Disc, Blu-ray

What devices can play Blu-ray Discs? There are many standalone Blu-ray Disc players to choose from, manufactured by Sony, Samsung, Phillips, Panasonic, Pioneer, LG, and Sharp. The Sony PlayStation 3 includes a fully functional built-in Blu-ray Disc player. A range of laptop computer models also have built-in Blu-ray Disc players while add-on Blu-ray Disc drives are available for desktop computers. Some of these also function as Blu-ray recorders. What’s the difference between Blu-ray and DVD? Crystal Clear Picture Blu-ray Discs have up to 6x better picture resolution than DVD. Resolution refers to the number of number of horizontal lines there are to fill the screen--the higher the number, the better the picture quality. Blu-ray Discs and players display at 1080p resolution, which is the highest standard today. Superior Sound Blu-ray provides up to 7.1 channels of high definition surround sound, for a more realistic and immersive listening experience. DVD uses 5.1 channels, which lose some of the sound quality from the original source. Advanced Interactivity Seamless menus allow you to navigate the disc without ever leaving the movie. In the future, internet connectivity will deliver new content to enhance your film experience. Unrivaled Storage Capacity Blu-ray discs can store up to 50 GB of information—5x more capacity than DVD. This enables the best picture and sound, more bonus features and content, and greater file storage (for recordable Blu-ray Discs). Exceptional Durability Blu-ray utilizes a hard-coat protective layer that resists scratches, dust, and fingerprints that cause discs to skip, freeze, or simply not play. With all these reasons to switch from DVD to Blu-ray, you can still continue to enjoy your DVD library since all Blu-ray players can play standard DVDs. In addition, Blu-ray players “upconvert” or “upscale” DVDs to a higher resolution so that they look even better than before. Thank Ref: Blu-ray Disc Players

 

Blu-ray Disc Players, Blu-ray

Frequently Asked Questions Why is the format called Blu-ray Disc? The name comes from the fact that the laser beam which reads the data from the discs is blue instead of red, which is used for current DVDs and CDs. What do I need to watch Blu-ray Disc high definition movies? • HDTV (preferably 1080p resolution) • HDMI cables (for the best picture quality) • Blu-ray Disc player or PlayStation 3 (Blu-ray Discs will not play on DVD players) • Blu-ray movies • Surround sound speaker system (5.1 or 7.1 channel) • High-quality analog cables or digital optical cables Can I play DVDs on a Blu-ray Disc player? Yes, your DVDs will play on all existing Blu-ray Disc players. What does "region code" mean for Blu-ray Discs and players? Blu-ray Discs are digitally encoded with a "region code" (A, B, or C, sometimes referred to as 1, 2, or 3), which allows the disc to play only in a Blu-ray player with the same region code. This system is similar to that for DVDs and was developed to enable studios to control various aspects of a title’s release (content, date, price, etc.) according to region. A "region-free" disc is one that can play in all players around the world. Will the Playstation 3 play Blu-ray movies? Yes, the Playstation 3 includes a built-in Blu-ray drive that plays Blu-ray Discs. Additionally, a standard remote control similar to a DVD remote can be purchased separately. Can I play a Blu-ray Disc on a DVD player? No. Blu-ray Discs play on Blu-ray players, Playstation 3, or Blu-ray drives for computers and will not play on DVD players. What if I already own an HDTV that's 720p? Do I need to buy a 1080p HDTV if I want to watch Blu-ray? No. While your 720p won't maximize the native 1080p picture of your Blu-ray discs, the high definition picture produced by your HDTV and Blu-ray player will still look very good—significantly better than whatever you were used to watching. Do I need an internet connection to watch Blu-ray? No. An internet connection is not needed to watch Blu-ray. Are Blu-ray movies available in full frame? Blu-ray movies are delivered in the original theatrical aspect ratio, which is widescreen (also known as 16:9 aspect ratio). Since all HDTVs are also widescreen format, generally your movies will fill up the screen. However, depending on the film, sometimes you will see small black bars on the top and bottom of your screen, but significantly smaller than you would see when watching a widescreen movie on a standard definition TV. If I play a DVD on an HDTV, will the picture be HD? No. Playing a DVD on an HDTV will still produce a standard definition picture, since DVDs are standard definition. You need a Blu-ray player, HDMI or DVI cable from your player to your HDTV, and high definition content from a high definition disc such as Blu-ray in order to see a high definition picture. I have a DVD player that upscales to 1080p; does it look as good as a Blu-ray Disc? No. An upscaling DVD simulates a 1080p picture by doubling the number of lines displayed on your HDTV. Since the content on the DVD is not high definition, it will not match the picture quality or clarity of true 1080p source content on a Blu-ray Disc. What is the Digital TV transition I've heard about? On February 17, 2009, television stations will stop all analog broadcasts and only broadcast digitally. Older analog TVs receiving over-the-air programming will still work after that date, but owners of these TVs will need to buy converter boxes to watch television. Households that subscribe to cable or satellite service will not be affected by this transition. Thank Ref:Frequently Asked Questions Blu-ray Disc

What’s so Great About Blu-ray and Why Do I need It?

Crystal Clear Picture Blu-ray Discs have up to six times the picture resolution of DVD. Resolution refers to the number of horizontal lines there are to fill the screen--the higher the number, the better the picture quality. Blu-ray discs and players display at 1080p resolution, which is the highest standard today. Superior Sound Blu-ray provides up to 7.1 channels of high-definition surround sound, for a more realistic and immersive listening experience. DVD uses 5.1 channels, which lose some of the sound quality from the original source. Backwards Compatible All Blu-ray players can play DVDs. In addition, Blu-ray players "upconvert" or upscale DVDs to a higher resolution so that they look even better than before. Excellent Movie Selection Disney, Fox, MGM, Sony, Warner Bros., and Lionsgate all produce movies on Blu-ray discs. This means Blu-ray has some of the most exciting bestselling movies including Spider-Man, Harry Potter, 300, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Planet Earth. Many Blu-ray Players to Choose From Blu-ray players are manufactured by Sony, Samsung, Philips, Panasonic, Pioneer, LG, and Sharp. The Sony PlayStation 3 includes a built-in Blu-ray Disc player. A range of laptop computer models also have built-in Blu-ray Disc players while add-on Blu-ray Disc drives are available for desktop computers. Advanced Interactivity Seamless menus allow you to navigate the disc without ever leaving the movie. In the future, internet connectivity will deliver new content to enhance your film experience. Unrivaled Storage Capacity Blu-ray discs can store up to 50 GB of information--5x more capacity than DVD. This enables the best picture and sound, as well as bonus features and content. Exceptional Durability Blu-ray utilizes a hard-coat protective layer that resists scratches, dust, and fingerprints that cause discs to skip, freeze, or simply not play. Thank Ref: Amazon.com: What is Blu-ray?