LATEST ADDITIONS

Anton van Beek  |  Jan 29, 2013  |  0 comments

90210's AnnaLynne McCord ditches her usual vampish look to play a frumpy social outcast with some serious psychological issues and a love of surgery in this brilliantly odd horror film. First-time director Richard Bates, Jr. mixes elements of Cronenbergian body horror and Lynchian suburban nightmares as he cooks up an extraordinary shocker, and packs it full of arresting imagery that is capably recreated by the Blu-ray's sublime AVC 2.40:1 1080p encode. The DTS-HD MA 5.1 audio isn't the most expansive you'll hear, but still proves atmospheric. Extras consist of a very interesting commentary by the director and leading lady, plus the trailer.

Anton van Beek  |  Jan 29, 2013  |  0 comments

The brainchild of Frank Spotnitz (The X-Files) and produced by the team behind the hit BBC show Spooks, there were high expectations for this new series.  Unfortunately, despite a great central performance from Melissa George, the storyline gets so wrapped up in knots that it rapidly leaves believability far behind.

Anton van Beek  |  Jan 29, 2013  |  0 comments

Ill Manors finds Ben 'Plan B' Drew making the shift from best-selling musician to promising filmmaker (he's certainly a better director than he is actor). While the film's multi-narrative approach isn't particularly original, Drew makes good use of it to tell his various stories and keep us guessing how they all tie together - there's also a smart use of music to reveal backstories for many of his key characters.

Anton van Beek  |  Jan 29, 2013  |  0 comments

Fantastically sleazy and nightmarishly depraved, William 'The Exorcist' Friedkin's blackly comic slice of Southern Gothic is so utterly over-the-top it will leave your jaw on the floor at the same time as making you feel sick to your stomach. And kudos to the team behind this BD's AVC 1.85:1 1080p encode for perfectly replicating even the gaudiest elements of the film's visual style. The DTS-HD MA 5.1 mix is even better - every bit as controlled yet aggressive as the film's titular hit man. Only the meagre extras (six interviews) disappoint, especially as Lionsgate's subsequent US release added a director's commentary and From Stage to Screen documentary.

Anton van Beek  |  Jan 29, 2013  |  0 comments

'Extraordinarily expensive and ambitious' is executive producer Tim Haines' summation of Sky TV's new take on the story of Sinbad. And while it's not without a few hiccups along the way, the series is a glossy and fun fantasy romp packed with all the derring-do, monsters and magic that audiences could hope for. The three-disc BD boxset's lavish AVC 1.78:1 1080i encodes help showcase the sun-drenched Maltese locations and are ably supported by some adventurous and powerful DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtracks. A trio of featurettes look at the VFX, locations and costumes.

Anton van Beek  |  Jan 29, 2013  |  0 comments

One of the extras on this Blu-ray release finds Martin Scorsese waxing lyrical about the film's digital restoration and thanking those involved (both technically and financially). The plaudits are entirely deserved. Powell and Pressburger's classic military satire looks sensational on this new Blu-ray platter, with the AVC 1.37:1 1080p encode breathing new life into the Technicolor imagery. This limited edition steelbook also includes a 24-minute featurette, photo gallery and bonus DVD copy.

Anton van Beek  |  Jan 29, 2013  |  0 comments

Back in 2010, Avatar was the hottest film around and home cinema enthusiasts couldn't wait to get their hands on a copy of the film in its native 3D.

Ed Selley  |  Jan 28, 2013  |  0 comments

Ever since the arrival of the original KEF eggs nearly a decade ago, sub/sat packages have come in some interesting shapes and sizes. Spherical satellite speakers have been released before but few of them have the pedigree behind the baubles you see here. 
As one of the oldest French electronics brands, Elipson has 
been making spherical speakers for longer than many of its competitors have existed. 

Mark Craven  |  Jan 28, 2013  |  0 comments
Looper 

(Entertainment One, Region B Blu-ray)

Starring Bruce Willis and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, this time-travel hitman sci-fi was one of the most enjoyable flicks of 2012, and Entertainment One's Blu-ray packs an immersive DTS-HD MA mix and some fascinating extras.

Anton van Beek  |  Jan 28, 2013  |  0 comments

More laboured and parochial than either funny or scary, Cockneys vs Zombies is less a film than a collection of punchlines desperately searching for a narrative to hang on to. While this Blu-ray release's AVC 2.40:1 1080p imagery is sharp, it can't do anything to compensate for the film's rather drab colour palette. Slightly more worthwhile is the DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack, which has plenty of fun with all of the gunshots – although even this feels rather limited in scope at times. Seven short behind-the-scenes featurettes, an instructional video and trailer make up the lacklustre extras.

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