LATEST ADDITIONS

Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Fantasia/Fantasia 2000—Walt Disney Pictures (Blu-ray)
Kris Deering  |  Nov 26, 2010  |  0 comments
Video: 4.5/5
Audio: 4.5/5
Extras: 4/5
Walt Disney's animated musical masterpiece is an extravaganza of sight and sound - now brilliantly restored for the first time ever in high definition! Blu-ray technology finally allows you to experience "Fantasia" - and "Fantasia 2000", the triumphant classic it inspired - the way Walt envisioned! Plus, for the first time ever on Blu-ray, experience the 2003 Academy Award nominated animated short "Destino" the extraordinary collaboration between Walt Disney and legendary artist Salvador Dali! Revealing new bonus features and commentary bring the "Fantasia" experience to life, allowing generations of moviegoers all over the world to enjoy this timeless classic like never before. See the music come to life, hear the pictures burst into song and experience the excitement that is "Fantasia" over and over again.
Continue Reading »
Blu-ray Movie Reviews
The Sorcerer’s Apprentice—Walt Disney Pictures (Blu-ray)
Kris Deering  |  Nov 26, 2010  |  0 comments
Video: 4.5/5
Audio: 5/5
Extras: 3.5/5
Balthazar Blake is a modern-day sorcerer with his hands full defending Manhattan against dark forces. When a seemingly average kid shows hidden potential, Balthazar takes his reluctant recruit on a crash course in the art and science of magic to become the ultimate sorcerer's apprentice. Experience more extraordinary thrills, heart-stopping action and spectacular special effects than you can imagine as these unlikely partners show us that the real world is far more magical than we ever knew.
Continue Reading »
Blu-ray Movie Reviews
The Disappearance of Alice Creed—Anchor Bay (Blu-ray)
Kris Deering  |  Nov 26, 2010  |  0 comments
Video: 4.5/5
Audio: 4/5
Extras: 2/5
The kidnappers are Danny and Vic, two ex-cons planning to make a mint on the ransom for a young woman. The younger, nervier of the two, Danny defers to the more experienced Vic, who acts with a steely conviction. Their hostage is Alice Creed, daughter of a rich businessman, chosen by Vic and Danny as their passport to a better life. Terrified and immobile at first, it soon becomes clear that Alice isn't about to let her captors use her as capital without a fight. As determined to escape as Vic and Danny are to succeed, Alice enters into a battle of wills which strains the already fractious relationship between the two men. As the deadline for the exchange draws nearer, all three are brought close to a breaking point, with Vic and Danny's foolproof plan descending into a desperate struggle for survival.
Continue Reading »
Blu-ray Movie Reviews
The Search for Santa Paws—Walt Disney Pictures (Blu-ray)
David Vaughn  |  Nov 26, 2010  |  0 comments
Video: 4.5/5
Audio: 4.5/5
Extras: 2/5
When Santa and his new best friend, Paws, discover that the boys and girls of the world have lost the spirit of the season, they take a trip to New York City. But after Santa loses his memory, it's up to Paws, a faithful orphan named Quinn, her new friend Will and a wonderful group of magical talking dogs to save St. Nick and show the world what Christmas is really about.
Continue Reading »
Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Going the Distance—New Line Cinema (Blu-ray)
Kris Deering  |  Nov 26, 2010  |  0 comments
Video: 4.5/5
Audio: 4/5
Extras: 3.5/5
Erin's wry wit and unfiltered frankness charm newly single Garrett over beer, bar trivia and breakfast the next morning. Their chemistry sparks a full-fledged summer fling, but neither expects it to last once Erin heads home to San Francisco and Garrett stays behind for his job in New York City. But when six weeks of romping through the city inadvertently become meaningful, neither is sure they want it to end. And while Garret's friends, Box and Dan, joke about his pre-flight calorie-cutting and his full-time relationship with his cell phone, they don't like losing their best drinking buddy to yet another rocky romance. At the same time, Erin's high-strung, overprotective married sister, Corrine, wants to keep Erin from heading down an all-too-familiar road. But despite the opposite coasts, the nay-saying friends and family, and a few unexpected temptations, the couple just might have found something like love, and with the help of a lot of texting, sexting and late-night phone calls, they might actually go the distance.
Continue Reading »
Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Mutiny on the Bounty (Blu-ray)
David Vaughn  |  Nov 26, 2010  |  0 comments
The HMS Bounty sails its way to Tahiti with the tyrannical Captain Bligh (Charles Laughton) leading the way with first mate Fletcher Christian (Clark Gable) and midshipman Roger Byam (Ranchot Tone) on board. After witnessing the captain's brutal treatment of the crew, Christian leads a mutiny on the homeward voyage and returns to the tropical paradise of Tahiti. Although Byam takes no part in the mutiny, he's forced to defend himself against the charges when the captain makes a surprising return.

Based upon the true story of the HMS Bounty, the film went on to win Best Picture in 1935 and solidified Clark Gable as Hollywood's #1 male star. The performances are outstanding and the Academy agreed; for the only time in movie history were three stars from the same film were nominated for Best Actor!

Continue Reading »
Home Theater Geeks Podcast
Podcast 43: Tom Norton
Scott Wilkinson  |  Nov 25, 2010  |  2 comments
Home Theater and UAV senior editor Tom Norton and I share setup tips for your home theater, including speaker and subwoofer placement, seating distance vs. screen size, video and audio connections, picture mode and basic picture settings, and answers to chat-room questions.

Run Time: 1:00:27

Continue Reading »
Ask S&V
HDMI Cables, Speaker Impedance, HDMI Splitters
Scott Wilkinson  |  Nov 24, 2010  |  8 comments
What's in a Number?
Will Blu-ray play through an HDMI 1.3 cable? I replaced a standard DVD player with a BD player and 
lost the sound. The cable is 1.3. Does that make a difference?
 


Bruce K. Dormanen

Continue Reading »
Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Flipped (Blu-ray)
David Vaughn  |  Nov 24, 2010  |  0 comments
When Bryce (Callan McAuliffe) moved in across the street in the second grade, July (Madeline Carroll) knew he would be her first kiss. Over the next six years her infatuation grows but he doesn't seem to notice her. One day something changes and Bryce takes notice of the young lady, but did he wait too long?

Based on the book by Wendelin Van Draanen, Flipped is a charming picture of two kids discovering that beauty is more than skin deep. Rob Reiner coaxes great performances out of the young leads and this is one of the best live-action family films I've seen in years.

Continue Reading »
Audio Video News
Panasonic, Sony Add Streaming Options
Mark Fleischmann  |  Nov 24, 2010  |  0 comments
The array of streaming options built into a/v products continues to grow with the announcements that Vudu will become available in Panasonic Blu-ray players and Hulu Plus in Sony products.
Continue Reading »

Pages

X