Greg Robinson's Top 5 Blu-rays of 2010: BigPictureBigSound

Published: 2010-12-03 - 17:05:37

Greg Robinson's Top 5 Blu-rays of 2010

By Greg Robinson

So many Blu-ray Discs and so little time.

2010 was an exceptional year for home entertainment. And no, I'm not talking about 3D - I'm perfectly happy living in my little 2D world, thank you very much. Before 3D became all that anyone cared to talk about, every major studio managed to turn out a few reference quality Blu-ray releases in 2010, a few of which are just hitting stores now as we enter the crazed holiday shopping season. Better still, numerous catalog classics received much-needed and glorious high definition overhauls this year. (Here's looking at you, Sound of Music.)

When the boss asked me to choose my five favorite Blu-ray Discs from this past year, I had to laugh. Just five? Seriously? That's like being asked to pick your favorite Victoria's Secret model. With so many lovely options, how do you choose? (Incidentally, the correct answer to the latter challenge: my wife. Please tell her I said so if you see her.)

These kinds of lists are always impossible to make and highly subjective, but to hell with it. After all, where would we be without lists? So let's get to it. Here are my Top Five Blu-ray Discs of 2010, presented in alphabetical order:

Alien Anthology (Fox)

After the superb job Fox did with its Alien Quadrilogy DVD box set a few years back, it was hard to imagine a more perfect assembly of Ridley Scott's iconic sci-fi masterpiece and its diverse handful of sequels. But as they say, records are made to be broken. From the innovative and intuitive menu design that weaves through every disc, to the stunning new high definition prints of Alien and James Cameron's Aliens, this feature-laden box set belongs on every movie lover's shelf.

Avatar: Extended Collector's Edition (Fox)

I know, I know. How cliché, right? Although you may be sick of hearing about the film, how many zillions of dollars it made, and you may even blame it for instigating the current 3D stampede, none of that changes the fact that Avatar was an exceptional film with a technical presentation that's second to none. And while the original movie-only theatrical edition Blu-ray does give you that superb picture and sound, the new 3-disc set (that we all knew was coming) is the one to write home about. From its dizzying array of bonus material to the fact that you get three unique cuts of the film, Avatar's Extended Collector's Edition gives a fittingly royal treatment to the most successful film of all time.

Beauty and the Beast: Diamond Edition (Disney)

Disney and Pixar had a big year on Blu-ray. I could have easily filled this entire Top Five list with Toy Story 1-3, The Princess and the Frog and Beauty and the Beast and had few regrets. But since I'm not on the Disney payroll and I prefer to spread the love, I'm simply going to single out Beauty. Hand-drawn animation has never looked so good, and Disney's take on the age-old story just gets better with every viewing. Disney pulled out all the stops with this Diamond Edition Blu-ray, but the picture and sound alone make this one a Must Own.

Deadwood: The Complete Series (HBO/Warner)

Like Disney, it's hard to point to an HBO Blu-ray release from 2010 that's NOT worth owning. "True Blood," "Bored to Death," "Hung," "The Pacific" - need I go on? You'd be hard pressed to find a network with a more consistent track record for excellence than HBO - and thankfully that reputation extends to their Blu-ray releases. My favorite of the year? "Deadwood." HBO gives all three seasons of the gritty and highly-entertaining western a fantastic box set with gorgeous visuals, plenty of extras and elegant packaging to boot.

Buy the Blu-ray of Deadwood on Amazon.com

Zombieland (Sony)

I could easily finish up by going the high-brow route and rattle off countless Criterion Collection titles and classics such as Bridge on the River Kwai that impressed me this year. But it's time to nut up or shut up. With the possible exception of Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, no Blu-ray generated more fun or anticipation for the next viewing than Sony's goofy and hugely entertaining Zombieland. Jesse Eisenberg may have made headlines this year for his Oscar-caliber work in The Social Network, but it'll be his comments on irritable bowel syndrome and the need to "limber up" that I'll remember most from 2010.

Honorable Mentions: