Blu-ray players are becoming more popular every day. If you are a consumer looking to buy your first Blu-ray player, there are a lot of different features and functions that you will need to consider before making your purchase.

Blu-ray players are great for anyone that owns an HDTV because most standard players will make movies look dull less sharp than what Blu-ray can look like. Since thousands of movies are available on Blu-ray, you should not have to sacrifice good entertainment to make the transition.

If you already own a home theater system, you will want Read the rest of this entry »

Shopping for a DVD or Blu-Ray player can be a rather overwhelming experience. Although you might think that making this purchase should be relatively easy, you might be surprised by just how tricky it can be to make the right decision. There are countless makes and models out there, and you can spend pretty much as little or as much as you like on one of these systems. Since you obviously want to make sure that you purchase the right DVD or Blu-Ray player Read the rest of this entry »

Each year there are several films which are hits at the box office. Many times these movies are forgotten about soon after the release of another big hit. Some movies though are always remembered as being great movies and are watched, even decades after their original release. These movies have the ability to capture the attention of the audience and pull them in to the storyline. They are considered classics that everyone must watch at Read the rest of this entry »

If you’re looking to rent DVD or Blu-Ray movies, there are many companies to choose from. Between online and traditional brick-and-mortar stores, finding the movie you are looking for is easier today than ever.

Most towns have independent video rental stores. If you live in a rural area, this might be your only option. They don’t always have the latest DVDs and not all stores have Blu-Ray discs. To their advantage, the prices are usually very reasonable.

Blockbuster is a nationwide Read the rest of this entry »

With so many great movies it can be hard to decide which are worth owning as both a DVD and as a Blu-Ray. Here are my five top chick flicks that anyone will love.

“Hitch” A self-appointed love coach, Hitch claims he can help any man get the girl of his dreams. He however, is a complete mess when it comes to his own heart.

“50 First Dates” Getting a girl who won’t remember you in the morning to fall in love with you over and over isn’t easy but that’s what Read the rest of this entry »

Many of my friends have been asking whether or not I think that Blu-ray will overtake the DVD for home theaters. My reputation as an AV geek precedes me I suppose. It is an interesting question, and one that I think has multiple answers.The short answer to this question is that yes Blue-ray discs will eventually be substantially more popular than DVD is now. Blu-ray discs have so many advantages over regular DVD’s,http://www.gizmocafe.com/tv-video/guide-blu-ray-pros.aspx. The adoption rate of HDTV’s is sending people to Blu-ray looking to get a better picture quality on their new televisions. The longer answer to the question is that Blu-ray’s probably won’t be around as long as DVD’s were. And the reason is digital distribution. Many people are now getting their movies from Netflix on Demand, or are getting them from things like iTunes or Amazon. Downloading movies legally is a great way to get content and get it faster than you have ever been able too. It seems like a strange assertion, that eventually we won’t be buying any discs at all. But I think that we are just a few short years away from something like that. I could be wrong though. Blu-Ray discs could go all the way.

Direct TV (www.direct.tv) is all you’ll need for watching your favorite shows, but savvy moviegoers know that for their favorite movies, getting the DVD or Blu-ray is a must. That’s the only way to get behind-the-scenes special features, commentaries, and other goodies that help to extend the movie-going experience even longer.Christopher Nolan’s 2010 blockbuster hit Inception didn’t leave the national consciousness since its release, with millions of people weighing in with their thoughts on just what that ending meant. The director has refused to provide a definitive answer, but in the home media releases on December 3, 2010 did provide other fascinating glimpses into the film.The DVD release is actually somewhat sparse. One can only imagine that a more extensive edition is coming in the future to supplement this single-disc release. Amazon.com lists only four special featuresor “focus points”that delve into some of the stunts, imagery, and concepts for the film. There’s “The Inception of Inception,” where Nolan reveals the genesis of some of his ideas; “The Japanese Castle: The Dream is Collapsing,” where the “how” behind the building up and tearing down of the castle set is explored; “Constructing Paradoxical Architecture,” where you learn just how they got designed that infamous “staircase to nowhere,” and “The Freight Train,” which shows how the crew sent the train careening across a city street in one dreamscape.It’s the Blu-ray release, though, that really does the film justice, and may be the tipping point for those who have been wondering whether to upgrade. First, there are two Blu-ray discs. The first contains the movie and an “Extraction Mode,” which lets viewers delve into similar behind-the-scenes footage at certain moments. On the second disc, you’ll find plenty more to explore. Conceptual art and trailer galleries are just the tip of the iceberg. There’s also “Dreams: Cinema of the Subconscious,” which delves into modern-day dream research to find just where the “science/fiction” divide in the film lies, and a special fully-animated comic prologue, “The Cobol Job.” This story provides important information leading up to the events of the movie. Finally, there’s a series of features that reveal more information about the technology used in the film.Inception is a film that you’ll want to watch over and over again. With the DVD and Blu-ray releases, now you can. Will it help you figure out the ending? You’ll have to discover that for yourself.

It’s that time againanother look at just a few of the classic, obscure, and experimental films getting the gorgeous Criterion treatment. Bet you can’t watch just one!Paths of Glory (dir. Stanley Kubrick, 1957)Oct. 26: Kubrick’s fourth film is a war-film with a twist: the soldiers refuse to carry out orders, and the major conflicts take place in a courtroom. Starring Kirk Douglas and Ralph Meeker. Special features: commentary by critic Gary Giddins, 1966 interview with Kubrick, 1979 interview with Douglas, and more.House (dir. Nobuhiko Obayashi, 1977) Oct. 26: No connection to the American cult horror/comedy, this strange slice of Japanese experimental horror features 7 students who visit one girl’s aunt. Trouble arises when it turns out that the aunt is an evil spirit who preys on young girls: the type who have just walked in the door. Special features: a 1966 film by the director, new interviews with the director, screenwriter, and plot creator, and more. Read the rest of this entry »

Since 1984, the Criterion Collection has been releasing acclaimed films, often from foreign or independent directors, in beautiful gift sets. The company began publishing in the DVD format in 1998, although they also offer titles now in Blu-ray and video-on-demand. The company has a number of important films coming out in the next few months.The Red Shoes (1948) is being released on July 20^th. The film is directed by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger. Moira Shearer stars as a ballerina who becomes involved in a triangle between a composer and a ballet impresario. The Red Shoes is the central ballet which proves to be the young ballerina’s downfall. For those worried this is too sentimental, gritty director Martin Scorsese has called it one of his favorite films. Read the rest of this entry »

DVD seems to be made for television fans. Rather than waiting a week or more between episodes, it gives you the option of watching entire seasons in a matter of days (if you’ve got the time and energy). The upcoming months will see more releases than ever, both in new series and new seasons of old favorites.One set that will please fans of ’90s cartoons is the just-announced Dexter’s Laboratory: Season One. This will be the first time that a full set of episodes has been available, although individual ones have showed up on other Cartoon Network releases. The new release is part of a Cartoon Network “Hall of Fame” series and contains episodes from 1996-1997. Read the rest of this entry »