Zombieland Blu-Ray Disc Review

The Video: B+

The Audio: A-

The Extras: B

Zombieland came to theaters in September of 09 and was very well reviewed.  It received a 89% rating at Rottentomatoes.

The Video: B+

The original footage was shot digitally so this is what you saw in theaters, if not better depending on the theater you saw it in.  It was shot on Sony’s HDCAM SR format.  The camera used could shoot some several frames per second, which allowed for the opening slow motion images.

The Audio: A-

The audio here is presented in DTS-HD 5.1. The track is very clear and plays an important part of the movie.  The 3D rules of living in Zombieland use the track very effectively.  The atmosphere of the storyline uses the soundtrack effectively as well.  Overall is this a pleasing soundtrack.

Extras: B

The extras included are two feature length commentaries.  One is an audio commentary with the writer, director, and actors, and the second is a picture in picture track.  There are two quick featturettes, one that is a general behind the scenes making of and the second focuses on the production design of the movie.

The audio track is interesting, there is good interplay between the commentators, and you learn a lot of interesting tid bits.  I was most surprised to learn that the movie was originally written as a TV pilot.  Therefore the movie is inherently set-up to have sequels.  Admittedly I am intregiued to see this as a TV show.

BD Live 2.0 is also available on this disc as well.

Overall is this is a very enjoyable movie and a disc that teaches a lot about how the movie came to be.

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The Orphanage Blu-Ray Disc Review

Posted by Martin:

The Video: A

The Audio: A

The Extras: B

The Orphanage is well known for being produced by Guillermo Del Toro, it is directed by Juan Antonio Bayona.  The movie was very well received when it was released in the United States in early 2008.  Not bad for a horror movie.

The Video: A

The video here is excellent.  Transfferred in VC-1 codec, in 2.35:1 format, there are absolutely beautiful scenes to see.  Oscar Faura’s cinematography is excellent through out the film.  I saw no artifacts or unnecessary grain in any of the shots.  This is an attractive film to see, despite it’s disturbing content.  Blacks are a deep black as they need to be, and flesh colors are attractive and clean.  This is an attractive movie to see.

The Extras: B

You receive several behind scenes featurettes, all in Spanish.

When Laura Grew Up: Constructing the Orphanage (18 minutes) This is a fairly standard behind the scenes.  There is a lot of talk of Guillermo Del Toro and how he was so great to work for.  But as you watch it you really begin to realize that Del Toro is “executive” producer, and an absent one at that.  His name helped sell the movie.

Tomas’ Secret Room: The Filmmakers (10 minutes) This clip tells you more about the actual making of the movie, breaking it up into section on the director, the art crew, the music, the special effects, and the opening sequence.  This is the more informative behind the scenes piece.

Horror in the Unknown: The Make-Up Effects ( 9 minutes) — This takes a look at the work on Tomas the boy in the movie, plus a couple of other actors in the movie.  Not much additional information here.

Rehearsal Studio: Cast Auditions and Table Read (3 minutes) Behind the scene look at the auditions and the table read, some enjoy this other do not.  I don’t care that much for these.

Marketing Campaign (SD, 6 minutes) — Spanish and English trailers for the movie.

Still Gallery (HD) — Scores of photographs from the making of the movie.

Overall a very good disc.  Worth adding to your Netflix queue.

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