2012 was a great year for Blu-ray Disc, not only for some first rate new release titles, but also for the release of some of my most wanted catalog titles in all their high definition glory. There are a lot to choose from for a "Top 5" list this year, but here are my top five Blu-rays for 2012, in no particular order:
The Dark Knight Trilogy [Warner Bros.]
If ever a series needed a reboot, "Batman" was it. From the campy original TV series through multiple less-than-satisfying theatrical incarnations of the caped crusader (Michael Keaton, George Clooney and Val Kilmer), the franchise was ripe for change. And change was exactly what it got when director Christopher Nolan took the helm. Nolan brought the "Dark" back to the Dark Knight, with an ambiguous moral compass, unbridled fury and a deep-seated need for revenge.
Featuring a powerful performance from Christian Bale as the titular character, and excellent supporting performances from Michael Caine (Alfred), Morgan Freeman (Lucius Fox), Gary Oldman (Detective/Commissioner Gordon), Heath Ledger (The Joker) and Anne Hathaway (Selina Kyle/Catwoman), the Dark Knight series redefined what a superhero movie could and should be.
And the Blu-ray set from Warner Bros features a stunning audio and video transfer of the films as well as loads of goodies: UltraViolet digital copies of all three films, a 64-page excerpt from "The Art and Making of The Dark Knight Trilogy," as well as all of the extras from the individual three films on Blu-ray Disc. Buy it for yourself, or as a gift. You won't be disappointed.
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Indiana Jones: The Complete Adventures [Paramount]
While the first film in the series may be the best, each of its sequels offers an enjoyable couple of hours of grade A action-packed entertainment. And for the Blu-ray release, Paramount has gone back to the source, remastering the sound and picture of the original three films to take full advantage of the high definition video and lossless audio capabilities of Blu-ray. The remastering process was overseen by Spielberg himself and by sound designer Ben Burtt. The fourth film, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is also included in the Blu-ray boxed set, being the only Indiana Jones film previously released on Blu-ray Disc.
In the trilogy, the films are all available in the ultra wide CinemaScope aspect ratio (2.35:1) with remastered lossless 5.1-channel DTS-HD Master Audio surround sound. In addition to the films, there is a dedicated additional Blu-ray Disc chock full of extra features including two new documentaries, and several old and new featurettes covering all four films. All told, there are over seven hours of supplemental material in the set, sure to satisfy even die-hard Indy fans.
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Jaws [Universal]
I remember seeing it during the summer of its release, and going to a beach in Massacusetts (not so far from where the movie was filmed) the very next day. I may have gone in the water that day but I've never looked at the ocean, deep lakes or even some hotel swimming pools the same way after seing that film. The deep-rooted archetypal menace of the beast is evoked in this film quite effectively thanks to judicious use of the mechnical marvel and an undercurrent of danger defined by John Williams' powerful yet simplistic score. Superb acting performances by Roy Scheider (Chief Martin Brody), Richard Dreyfuss (shark expert Matt Hooper), and Robert Shaw (eccentric shark hunter Quint) seal the deal.
And worthy of a film of this significance, Jaws underwent extensive restoration and audio and video remastering for its Blu-ray debut. Some of the original negative did not hold up well so there is some evidence of noise reduction in places. But without question this is the best this film has ever looked and sounded. The original mono mix was redone in 7.1 channel surround from the original elements, but purists will find a cleaned up version of the mono mix here as well. Top it off with over 4 hours of documentaries and other extras, and you get yourself a keeper.
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Bond 50 [MGM]
Well, OK, with Skyfall still in theaters, you can't really call this set "complete," but this 22-film Blu-ray boxed sets includes the full canon of James Bond films from Dr. No to Quantum of Solace. The original unsanctioned "spoof" version of Casino Royale is not here but the modern version with Daniel Craig's debut as Bond is.
As with the Indiana Jones films and Jaws, the earliest films in the Bond series have undergone extensive restoration, with many benefitting from Lowry Images' full 4K sampling and remastering a few years back. Watching "Dr. No" on Blu-ray is like seeing it for the first time with fine grains of sand and fine lines - even pores - on the faces of the actors standing out in equisite detail. In fact, this one may actually look and sound better than it did back in 1962 when it first debuted.
On the sound front, the films now feature a lossless 5.1 channel DTS-HD Master Audio surround track, which offers a nice upgrade from the original mono sound. Top it off with over 100 hours of extras and you have yourself a must-have Blu-ray set for your library or an excellent gift for a Bond fanatic.
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The Avengers (4 Disc Combo) [Marvel Studios/Disney]
In fact, The Avengers was probably my favorite superhero film of 2012. Dark Knight Rises was impressive, but I was quite pleased to see Robert Downey, Jr.'s Iron Man make a complete comeback from the disappointing Iron Man 2. He doesn't quite steal the show in The Avengers, but his one-liners are certainly the most memorable. Joining the repulsor-powered armor-suited playboy are
Captain America (Chris Rogers), Bruce Banner/The Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) and Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner). All are given fair screen time and each provides an essential cog in the machinations of the story. But that's not all. Also appearing in prominent roles are Tom Hiddleston as Loki, Clark Gregg as Agent Phil Coulson, Stellen Skarsgard as Selvig, Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury and Gwynneth Paltrow as Pepper Potts. Phew! That's a lot of acting talent - and a lot of different personalities - for one movie.
But the film works, not in spite of, but because of this diverse cast. Whedon expertly plays one off the other with just the right amount of tension and cameraderie. He weaves a compelling tale of pride and peril, hopelessness and heroism. It's packed with action, for sure, but also full of good humor. A few scenes in particular had me laughing out loud (one involving HULK and a "puny god"). Avengers 2 anyone? I sure hope so.
From an audio/visual perspective, The Avengers also stands out on Blu-ray. The 3D version may be "upconverted" 3D, but the visual effects (of which there are many) are all rendered in 3D which makes the battle scenes quite immersive. Colors are rich and saturated with excellent black levels. Shadow details stand out better in the 2D version than 3D, though both are excellent transfers. The 7.1 channel DTS-HD Master Audio sound is wide and expansive with plenty of punch.
As for extras, the 4-Disc combo pack is chock full. In addition to the 2D and 3D versions of the film on Blu-ray, you get a DVD of the film and a digital copy. You also get a diital copy of a soundtrack album: "Avengers Assemble: Music From and Inspired by The Motion Picture" - 13 songs in full MP3 versions. You can send away for a free poster (currently on my son's wall) and a free digital comic book as well. The 3D pack also carries over the extras from the standard 2D set, including featurettes, a great commentary track, deleted and extended scenes, a gag reel, a couple of featurettes. The additional bonus disc of Marvel's Cinematic Universe was only available on the (now unavailable) Target-exclusive version. But even without that, this set is fully loaded.
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