This week on Blu-ray, we're all about quality over quantity!
It's been a bit of a wait, but Django Unchained is finally riding into homes this week, and stealing our spotlight in the process. It seems like it took Anchor Bay some extra time to bring this one to Blu-ray, especially when compared to the release dates on this year's other Oscar nominees. Also, we're just really impatient! However, Quentin Tarantino's latest bloody tale was certainly worth the wait.
If you're looking or something slightly less violent, we've got a cult classic for the adults and pair of family-friendly releases, including one for you 3D lovers out there. This is a really nice, well-rounded week overall.
Did we miss one of your favorites for the week? Have something to say about one of this week's new releases? Sound off in the comments below. Otherwise, all of these titles are out as of April 16, 2013, except where noted. Enjoy!
Django Unchained
Leave it to Quentin Tarantino to inject tons of violence and profanity into a western that's set two years before the Civil War. Jamie Foxx stars as the title character, a freed slave bent on getting his wife (Kerry Washington) back from the slimey clutches of plantation owner Calvin Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio). Given the time period, this doesn't sound like such an easy task. Luckily, Django has dentist/bounty hunter Dr. King Schultz (Christoph Waltz) to serve as his sidekick. Samuel L. Jackson, Don Johnson, James Remar, Bruce Dern, Jonah Hill, and countless others also appear in the Oscar-winning film.
Anchor Bay is giving this stylish blockbuster a deserving 2.40:1 image and DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. The extras are on the short side, with just a pair of promos and a trio of shorts on the costumes, the genre, and the late J. Michael Riva, a production designer who worked on the film. It would have been nice to have a Tarantino commentary or something about the time period and/or the lengthy, recognizable cast. Otherwise, this 2-disc set comes packing a standard-def DVD, a Digital Copy and the UltraViolet Digital Copy of the movie. [Anchor Bay]
Repo Man: Criterion Edition
You'll be thinking about a Blu-ray for Repo Man, and all of a sudden someone will say Blu-ray, or Repo Man, or Repo Man Blu-ray. Thankfully, you can stop thinking and start buying. Criterion has finally given this cult classic a long overdue release. Alex Cox's film has a very young Emilio Estevez as a punk looking to repossess a few cars and find a few aliens. Major bonus points go to this film for casting Harry Dean Stanton and having a soundtrack that includes Black Flag, Suicidal Tendencies, The Circle Jerks and Fear.
Criterion has certainly packed a lot into this single-disc release, including a 1.78:1 aspect ratio and an LPCM Mono track. There's also a lot going on in the extras, including deleted scenes, trailers, a new interview with Iggy Pop, a piece about Stanton, several additional interviews, and a 1999 commentary track. Also worth noting is the Criterion's signature booklet, as well as the TV version of the movie, which has redubs and alternate scenes. [Criterion]
A Monster in Paris
Disney, DreamWorks and Fox aren't the only ones making super-cool animated movies. Shout Factory has this fun adventure for the whole family, from writer/director Bibo Bergeron (Shark Tale). Expect pretty Parisian cityscapes, songs, scientific experiments, and at least one monster -- an oversized flea named Franc. The film also has a stellar voice cast, including Vanessa Paradis, Sean Lennon, Catherine O'Hara, Adam Goldberg, Bob Balaban, and more.
Shout Factory has given this film a 1.78:1 aspect ratio and a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. Available exclusively in a Blu-ray 3D combo pack, the 2-disc set has 3D and 2D Blu-ray versions of the film on one disc, as well as a DVD and Digital Copy. Otherwise, the lone extra is the film's theatrical trailer. [Shout Factory]
Disneynature: Wings of Life
Disneynature springs into the season with its latest nature doc. This latest glimpse into the great outdoors has the multi-talented Meryl Streep narrating an up-close peek at the world of butterflies, hummingbirds, bees and bats, and how they all relate to flowers.
The 2-disc set includes a stunning 1.85:1 aspect ratio, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, a standard-def DVD, and a peek at Disneynature's next film, Bears. [Disney]
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