Catching up on what I missed
This year there were a wide variety of movies and TV shows that made their way to Blu-ray in all their high definition audio and video glory. Interestingly enough, only one 2012 film made my top five, but two of my picks were Blu-rays of current TV series.
My must-have list goes from some old black and white classics to newer tales. One of my picks spans 50 years of movies in and of itself. And two of my faves allowed me to catch up on my favorite television shows without having to fast forward through the commercials or suffer with the picture and sound quality losses that are a byproduct of cable and satellite TV's bandwidth-limited transmission.
So, without further ado, here are my top five Blu-rays for 2012 in no particular order:
Bond 50 - 22 James Bond 007 Blu-ray Collection (MGM Home Entertainment)
The years of waiting for TNT/Spike to air every Bond movie - with commercials - ended when this complete box set came out with all the movies from the beginning. Looking back on Dr. No, From Russia with Love and Goldfinger, all the way up to the current Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace make this box set one to put on any Christmas list.
The Blu-ray edition ups the quality on the series. The previous "Ultimate Edition" contained digitally restored work, but in 480p. The digitally remastered edition is packed with even more extras. The only pitfall of the James Bond 007 Blu-ray Collection is that there are more movies coming. But that just means the set on my shelves will have company.
Modern Family: The Complete Third Season Blu-Ray
I must admit, I didn't really start watching Modern Family until this past summer. I got hooked while watching a re-run when nothing else was on. The problem was that the series wasn't available on demand, so the best way to catch up was to pick up each season on Blu-ray, and enjoy the story of the often-disfunctional family from the beginning. Not only did I get an immersive session in the world of the Pritchett and Dunphy families, but the Blu-ray was packed with extras including a gag reel and a day on the set with Ty. Now that I'm caught up, I can keep up with the current season, which I'll be sure to pick up as well on Blu-ray.
Casablanca 70th Anniversary Edition Blu-Ray (Warner Home Videao)
In high school I had a job at Aeropostale. Back in the early days of the Macy's-owned store, there was a TV set in the floor, and the store played old movies. Casablanca was on heavy rotation, so I could practically recite the film. The funny thing was that since I was busy folding sweaters and helping customers, I never actually saw Casablanca.
Years later the Blu-ray brings the classic to the big screen in my living room. I get to sit back and really enjoy the love triangle on the silver screen. The extras add more to the movie, and provide background on the filming and story. The 4K restoration goes a bit beyond what most Blu-rays have to offer, and really gives electricity to the black and white film. Here's looking at you... (you know the rest).
Sherlock: Season Two (BBC Warner)
The game wasn't just afoot in Sherlock: Season Two, it was downright addicting but not in the seven percent solution sort of way. This modern take on Sherlock Holmes is far more faithful to Arthur Conan Doyle's master of deduction than even the Guy Ritchie period version, and so much more British than Elementary. Not that either of those are bad, but Benedict Cumberbatch just is Holmes and Martin Freeman is John Watson to a tee. With more mind play with Moriarty and the introduction of Irene Adler it is a class closed that this is the real Sherlock Holmes.
Anonymous (Sony Pictures)
Just as there are many versions of Sherlock Holmes there are many versions about the life of William Shakespeare and more yet about Queen Elizabeth I, so it remains hard to find the truth in the fiction. Shakespeare was known for one to take many "liberties" with the truth, so what if his own truth is a tale told by an idiot, or at least the film maker responsible for the film 2012? That's sort of what Anonymous presents as it isn't Shakespeare who pens the plays but a noble born suitor of the Queen! That could have been worthy of a Shakespearean tragedy in its own right, but this Blu-ray is so much better as it shows how this film - shot primarily on blue screen - is itself a trick. The Bard would be proud.
Honorable Mentions:
