Quick HD DVD Review Round-Up

Casino

Casino is the first of our Bobby D films as Universal makes available the Vegas classic in which Joe Pesci steals the show. This HD DVD not only includes high-definition video and Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 audio it includes everything the 10th Anniversary DVD included such as four behind-the-scenes featurettes, a Moments with Martin Scorsese, Sharon Stone, Nicholas Pileggi and more… feature, deleted scenes and more. As far as quality of film this is definitely a good one to add to the collection, but if you bought the 10th Anniversary DVD you may want to hold off. [BUY NOW]

The Deer Hunter

Our second De Niro feature is the classic The Deer Hunter as it replicates the Legacy Series Edition DVD with a new audio commentary by Cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond and Film Journalist Bob Fisher, Deleted and Extended Scenes and the theatrical trailer. The film was cleaned up for the Legacy Edition and this transfer does look good but I am not positive it is worth an upgrade if you have the Legacy Edition. However, if you only have the early DVD this is definitely the edition you want considering the first DVD edition was HORRIBLE. [BUY NOW]

The Breakfast Club

The '80s classic comes to HD DVD with an HD DVD/DVD combo disc. I took a stop over at Amazon.com to see what some people had to say about this release and one person loved it saying, "I heard items out of the left and right speakers that I had never heard before, and I've seen this picture at least 100 times on regular DVD." Considering I didn't actually watch this one I will take his word for it as the other reviewer seemed to be a bit confused. The disc comes equipped with a newly remastered soundtrack and video. [BUY NOW]

Forbidden Planet

Back in November Warner Home Video released the special edition of the 1956 classic Forbidden Planet starring Leslie Nielsen and Walter Pidgeon. This is a very fun film and a fantastic HD DVD. Not only does it have a terrific picture and soundtrack it comes packed with so many special features it will fill an entire Sunday. You get the film, deleted scenes, Robby the Robot in The Invisible Man and an episode of him in The Thin Man, featurettes and more. This really is a sci-fi classic and one you shouldn't overlook if old school science fiction is right up your alley. [BUY NOW]

Mutiny on the Bounty

Here is a film I was not at all impressed with, the 1962 Marlon Brando feature Mutiny on the Bounty. This is Warner Home Video's special edition version telling the sea-faring story. I have not read any reviews in which they laud this version over the 1935 Oscar-winning original starring Charles Laughton and directed by Frank Lloyd. If you are a fan I will say the film does look and sound great and there are plenty of featurettes, but I can't recommend you buy this movie so none of that really matters. [BUY NOW]

You, Me and Dupree

I tried about 10 times to watch this and couldn't so I can't tell you if it is good or not. I can tell you this is an HD DVD/DVD combo disc and it does have the cool Universal U-Control feature which offers picture-in-picture commentary and featurettes while watching the film along with production photos. The U-Control feature is a cool one, but just as on The Break-Up I can't see how it really can be all that interesting on a simple comedy as opposed to how good it was on Miami Vice even though I didn't even like that movie. [BUY NOW]

An American Werewolf in London

This classic horror also comes as an HD DVD/DVD combo disc offering both standard and high definition versions of the film as well as a feature commentary, plenty of featurettes and much more. Since I didn't have a chance to preview this one I can't tell you much about it. [BUY NOW]

V for Vendetta

Here we have my second favorite movie of the year and if you ask me tomorrow it just might be my favorite, and in HD it is absolutely stunning as it offers a little more than the 2-Disc Special Edition DVD. Outside of the featurettes, which are the same, you also get Natalie Portman's SNL Digital Short, but more importantly you get the Warner In-Movie Experience featuring a lot of chatter from director James McTeigue which we did not get any of on the DVD edition. The audio is stellar and on a video level just wait till you see the deep richness of the red rose against the film's dark palette, it really is spectacular. Out of this round-up this is certainly the one title I definitely urge you to pick up. [BUY NOW]

Accepted

Another title here that I didn't have the time or desire to watch. I think I read somewhere that someone called this the "Animal House" of a new generation, or something to that effect. Looking at the rating of the film and seeing a PG-13 I will immediately call bullshit on that quote whore. As for this HD DVD it is also a combo disc and carries the U-Control feature I mentioned earlier and in the same capacity it has picture-in-picture and production photos. Other than that you get a feature comedy with the cast and director, some featurettes, a gag reel, deleted scenes and a little more. [BUY NOW]

Field of Dreams

My second recommendation as a must buy would be Field of Dreams, without a doubt. I was shocked at how much this film chokes me up and at some of the simplest scenes, "There's a man on your lawn," says Ray Kinsella's daughter. Why does that hit me so hard? Whatever the reason this is a fantastic film and on HD DVD it looks and sounds amazing. Special feature wise it has a few good ones, but my favorite was certainly "Your Father to Son: Passing Along the Pastime." This feature is almost as touching as the film itself. [BUY NOW]