Blu-ray Movie Reviews

<IMG SRC="/images/archivesart/coraline.jpg" WIDTH=200 BORDER=0 ALIGN=RIGHT>From the director of <i>The Nightmare Before Christmas</i> comes another visually stunning, stop-motion animated feature&#151;the first to be shot using stereoscopic 3D. Although the 3D experience doesn't translate well to Blu-ray, the 2D feature is amazingly clear with inky blacks and phenomenal contrast. The detail on the miniature sets looks surprisingly lifelike, from the fabric used for curtains to the textures of the characters' clothing and even their expressions. The audio track doesn't take a back seat to the video, either, featuring demo-worthy surround imaging.

<IMG SRC="/images/archivesart/300.jpg" WIDTH=200 BORDER=0 ALIGN=RIGHT>Based on the graphic novel by Frank Miller, <i>300</i> recreates the Battle of Thermopylae in 280 BC, when Persia's King Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro) had his sights set on Greece as the next country to conquer. Xerxes brought his huge army to Thermopylae where he met King Leonidas (Gerard Butler) and his 300 Spartans, which held the much larger force at bay for three days.

<IMG SRC="/images/archivesart/knowing.jpg" WIDTH=200 BORDER=0 ALIGN=RIGHT>While <i>Knowing</i> won't go down as a classic sci-fi thriller, it may sell well on Blu-ray due to its first-rate AVC encode and impressive sound design. Sure, the screenplay is laughable at times, but the same can be said for a lot of movies these days. What really matters in our Ultimate Demos is how good a disc looks and sounds, and in these departments, <i>Knowing</i> delivers. (Warning: spoilers below.)

<IMG SRC="/images/archivesart/jonas.jpg" WIDTH=200 BORDER=0 ALIGN=RIGHT>Kevin, Joe, and Nick invite you inside their personal world for an all-inclusive look at the band with a 3D perspective. Follow the boys through a tour of New York radio stations as throngs of teenage girls burst into tears at the site of the budding rock stars, and get up-close and personal at one of their concerts from the safety of your own home.

<IMG SRC="/images/archivesart/spaceballs.jpg" WIDTH=200 BORDER=0 ALIGN=RIGHT><i>When the evil Dark Helmet (Rick Moranis) attempts to steal all the air from planet Druidia, a determined Druish Princess (Daphne Zuniga), a clueless rogue (Bill Pullman) and a half-man/half-dog creature (John Candy) who's his own best friend set out to stop him! But with the forces of darkness closing in on them at ludicrous speed, they'll need the help of a wise imp named Yogurt (Mel Brooks) and the mystical power of "The Schwartz" to bring peace and merchandising rights to the entire galaxy.</i>