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Blu-ray and High-Def Audio
by Armchair Commentary at 3:10 PM PDT, August 29, 2008
As an act of total misguided insubordination, I am going to be writing to you today about something a little different than what you may be used to here at Armchair: High Definition Audio. Amazon is leaving the door wide open on this one. Or maybe that's what they want. >:) So, what is high-def audio? To put it plainly - superior audio content on a Blu-ray Disc, or other high-def mediums. Codecs are used as a way of compressing audio, which then is read, or decoded, by a Blu-ray player or a reciever.--Don't get squeamish! It is important to know a little bit about the technology if you want a complete high-def experience.-- A rundown of high-def audio codecs on Blu-ray. (taken from Blu-ray.com specs): Studios can choose to include these High-Def audio encodings on a Blu-ray disc, depending on the title. So how do know if you're getting the best sound quality possible? Check the specs on your Blu-ray player. Does it support internal decoding for these codecs? If so, then all you need is an HDMI1.1+ receiver to output the high-def audio. Depending on the specs of your receiver, you can also choose to decode audio through the receiver itself by bitstreaming from your player. You'll have to see what your receiver can then decode internally. Also, HDMI1.3a is a good bet if you choose this path. Dolby True HD is supported on the PS3, the system widely considered to be the best bang for your buck. Though, if you really want to get serious, check out the Blu-ray.com player comparisons. Here are some Blu-ray titles that take advantage of high-def audio: More HD goodness coming in the following weeks, --Rich How to Be A Rock Star
by Armchair Commentary at 9:40 AM PDT, August 19, 2008
How would you build a Blu-ray collection?
by Armchair Commentary at 7:04 AM PDT, August 8, 2008
And even though they don't come out till later this year, I suspect The Godfather Collection, The Ultimate Matrix Collection, and Band of Brothers may also work themselves onto this list. --David
In topics: Action, Animation, Drama, Editors' Picks, Family Room, High Definition, List Fever, Science Fiction
The Name Is Blu. Blu-ray. James Bond Arrives in High Definition.
by Armchair Commentary at 9:47 PM PDT, July 21, 2008
We're shaken and stirred by the impending release of 006 James Bond movies on Blu-ray, 003 starring Sean Connery, 002 with Roger Moore, and 001 with Pierce Brosnan. We don't have all the details yet, but they're available for pre-order now (either individually or in a couple of three-packs). And for all you who may not be hardcore Bond-ologists, we've grabbed some choice quotes from the movies to help you remember just a few of the lovely ladies Bond met along the way. --David
Honey Ryder (Ursula Andress): Are you looking for shells too? James Bond (Sean Connery): No, I'm just looking.
Tatiana (Daniela Bianchi): The mechanism is... Oh James, James... Will you make love to me all the time in England? James Bond (Connery): Day and night. Go on about the mechanism.
James Bond (Connery): My dear, uncooperative Domino. Domino (Claudine Auger): How do you know that? How do you know my friends call me Domino? James Bond: It's on the bracelet on your ankle. Domino: So... what sharp little eyes you've got. James Bond: Wait 'til you get to my teeth.
Solitaire (Jane Seymour): [after she has beaten Bond at Gin Rummy] James, what are you doing? James Bond (Roger Moore): Just testing an old adage: "Unlucky at cards..."
James Bond (Moore): What did Columbo whisper to you at the restaurant? Countess (Cassandra Harris): That you were a spy, and to find out more about you. James Bond: And have you? Countess: Have I ever.
James Bond (Pierce Brosnan): Do you believe in bad luck? Jinx (Halle Berry): Let's just say my relationships don't seem to last. James Bond: I know the feeling.
Behind the Scenes of "Step Up 2 - The Streets"
by Armchair Commentary at 1:49 AM PDT, July 15, 2008
Even though this movie might dial up the the cheese-factor a bit there are some very talented dancers and choreography that make Step Up 2 - The Streets definitely worth the watch. Check out the behind the scenes footage and exclusive clips below. Both the DVD and Blu-ray version release today -- Angela Browncoats go Blu: "Firefly" is pre-orderable on high-definition Blu-ray
by Armchair Commentary at 2:04 PM PDT, May 2, 2008
A few weeks ago, I posted about the speculation that a certain Whedonesque, prematurely canceled, sci-fi/Western/action/comedy series was going to be released on high-definition Blu-ray disc. Well, speculate no more, Browncoats, because you can now pre-order Firefly on Blu-ray! We don't know exactly what day you'll have it semi-permanently lodged in your Blu-ray player, and we're still waiting to hear about the bonus features. (And yeah, it's a bummer if you bought in to HD DVD just for Serenity, but enough of that...) But heck, the important thing is that Firefly is going to be on Blu-ray and you can buy it now! --David "Firefly" coming to Blu-ray?
by Armchair Commentary at 9:55 AM PDT, April 8, 2008
 There's been some buzz surrounding a YouTube video of Jewel Staite, in which she tells a Melbourne audience that she's been asked to record commentary for a rerelease of Firefly (Staite played Kaylee in the series and still looks adorable). Following that, tvshowsondvd.com reports that Fox told them that Firefly is coming to Blu-ray. There's no details or even a ballpark date yet, but you can sign up to be notified when it's available to buy. The follow-up feature film Serenity was released on the no-longer-competing HD DVD format, of course, but Firefly the series (which has been broadcast in HD) is owned by Fox, which has always been in the Blu-ray camp (raising fears that the series and the movie would have been released in competing high-definition formats--as if Browncoats haven't already suffered enough!). As the proud (?) owner of three different versions of Serenity (DVD, HD DVD, collector's edition DVD), I'd be totally in for Firefly on Blu-ray, especially if it has some new bonus features. You can watch the Staite comments below (audio is hard to hear though). --DavidI'm Enchanted by "The D-Files"
by Armchair Commentary at 5:40 PM PDT, March 29, 2008
 I really enjoyed Enchanted's parody/homage approach to classic Disney movies, so I was eager to try "The D-Files," a special feature on the Blu-ray disc. It's a game that gives you pop-up questions about which movie is being referred in a certain scene. For example, when Giselle and Robert are out for pizza: which Disney classic also has an Italian-restaurant scene? Or which song is "Happy Working Song" based most closely on? If you pick the correct multiple-choice answer, you jump to an interview with director Kevin Lima or with songwriters Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz, or to a side-by-side comparison with the classic scene. It can be a little frustrating if time expires or if you pick the wrong answer (you can chapter-skip back for another try, but then you don't get to watch the video), and a normal commentary or pop-up-trivia track probably would have been more informative (for example, they point out the cameo by Paige O'Hara, who sang the part of Belle, but not the one by Judy Kuhn, who sang in Pocahontas, and Giselle running through the grass field with her arms outstretched doesn't merit a question--presumably because that's not from a Disney film). But it's a fun feature that kids can participate in, and the classic clips appear to be remastered for high definition. If that's what a Beauty and the Beast Blu-ray is going to look like... well, I can't wait to see it! --David
Directions in DVD: Will turns Blu
by Armchair Commentary at 11:21 AM PDT, March 23, 2008
 Last week's top releases were no surprise: I Am Legend, Enchanted, and Battlestar Galactica season 3. What was the surprise was that the #1-ranked seller was the I Am Legend Blu-ray, not the two-disc special edition DVD (ranked in the top 10, which is good but still below the Blu-ray). There could be a number of factors: a movie that appeals directly to the tech-savvy audience, a big-screen blockbuster that looks great in high definition, a competitive price, and the recent settling of matters on the high-definition-format front. (Will the combo HD DVD, which is also selling well, become the Last HD DVD on Earth?) I'm not ready to jump to any conclusions on how people buy high definition vs. standard definition, but I do notice the sales rankings of the new Rambo movie: Blu-ray #482, Blu-ray three-pack #403, two-disc DVD #1711. --David
Exclusive Deleted Scene and microsite from Walk Hard
by Armchair Commentary at 5:08 PM PDT, March 20, 2008
Watch an Amazon.com exclusive deleted scene from Walk Hard - The Dewey Cox Story. You can also watch clips and exclusive character interviews, get free downloads, listen to sound bites and more on the Walk Hard microsite.
Brooke
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