HD HOME CINEMAS

Tropic Thunder (Blu-ray)
DreamWorks Home Entertainment / 2008 / 122 Minutes / Unrated
Street Date: November 18, 2008
List Price: $39.95 BUY NOW $26.99

Reviewed by Kenneth Brown
www.highdefdigest.com
Thursday, November 20, 2008

The Movie Itself: Our Reviewer's Take

Anyone who hasn’t seen a trailer for writer/director/actor Ben Stiller’s ‘Tropic Thunder’ has either been stranded on a mysterious island eluding smoke monsters or living in a high-altitude Tibetan monastery abstaining from technology altogether. Scratch that… even reclusive Tibetan monks have probably seen Robert Downey Jr. spout the words, “What do you mean, you people?” Unfortunately for some, watching the film’s trailer is akin to watching the entire film -- it gives away the best gags and outlines nearly every aspect of the plot. Fortunately for most, even when the best laughs have already been had and the story becomes distractingly predictable, ‘Tropic Thunder’ still has plenty to offer fans of comedy, satire, and war flicks in general.

Miraculously combining an outrageous farce, a Hollywood satire, and a genre spoof into one cohesive film, ‘Tropic Thunder’ tells the tongue-in-cheek tale of three arrogant and unbalanced actors – action superstar Tugg Speedman (Ben Stiller), low-brow funnyman Jeff Portnoy (Jack Black), and five-time Academy Award winner Kirk Lazarus (the similarly gifted Robert Downey Jr.) -- co-starring in a sprawling Vietnam War epic. Problem is, Speedman is a pompous failure trying to rejuvenate his career, Portnoy is a heroin-addicted attention junkie who has a hard time being taken seriously, and Lazarus is a mentally unstable method actor who undergoes a controversial pigmentation procedure to prepare for his role as an African American.

After the production begins to spiral out of control and a hip-hop lovin’ studio executive named Les Grossman (Tom Cruise) demands results, consultant John Tayback (Nick Nolte), a Vietnam veteran on whose memoirs the film is based, convinces squirrely first-time director Damien Cockburn (Steve Coogan) to take his cast into the jungle, set-up hidden cameras, and shoot the pampered Hollywood elites performing “in the shit.” However, when this guerilla-style shoot goes terribly wrong, the actors are left unsure of what’s real and what’s simply an illusion. Struggling with their identities, fighting to overcome their pasts, and working to make the best war film of all time, Speedman, Portnoy, and Lazarus have to choose between death and action.

For those of you hoping ’Tropic Thunder’ will be a laugh-out-loud juggernaut that will leave you in stitches, you may want to realign your expectations. Sure, there are plenty of gut-busters to be had, but the real source of the film’s comedy comes in the form of grin-inducing wit from the expressions, line delivery, and various interactions of the cast members. As it stands, even the story’s ever-shifting tone, pacing, and atmosphere helps Stiller keep things fresh and entertaining. While the writer/director pulls heavily from both his Zoolander and Focker personas to create Speedman, his actors are continually challenged to parody their own pursuits and respective talents. Black gets a chance to explore the depths of a sad-clown, Cruise (in one of the standout performance of the film) jumps into the shoes of the very executives who seem intent to crucify him in the real world, and Nolte plays the frazzled fraud some have painted him to be. Stiller even includes a hilarious series of industry-skewering cameos from the likes of Danny McBride, Matthew McConaughey, Jason Bateman, Sean Penn, and SNL’s Bill Hader (among many others).

But it’s Robert Downey Jr’s turn as a fumbling Oscar-winner lost in himself that proves the best addition to the film. While the rest of the cast keeps things light by turning a rather sharp spotlight on their own exploits and weaknesses, the would-be Iron Man earns the most laughs, the most sympathy, and takes the time to create the most believable loser of the bunch. From his early appearance in a mock-trailer with Tobey Maguire to his race-bending trifecta near the end of the film, Downey Jr. is in full control of his repertoire, crafting a unique character the likes of which has never been seen. Without him, the movie would be a mediocre heap of one-liners and slapstick action. With him, the film is transformed into a classic, layering truth on top of humor to produce a surreal and witty farce that boasts some truly memorable scenes.

Problems? Sure. The in-fighting amongst the actors wears out its welcome, Black’s role doesn’t effectively peel back the skin of similar comedians, Coogan is disappointingly underused, and a few cameos feel stilted and awkward (Tyra Banks and Lance Bass?). Still, each is a minor detriment that only prevents ‘Tropic Thunder’ from reaching the subtle heights of comedic satires like ‘Wag the Dog’ or ‘State and Main.’ Ultimately, ‘Tropic Thunder’ is a thoroughly entertaining, occasionally riotous comedy that accomplishes most of what it sets out to do.

The Video: Sizing Up the Picture

’Tropic Thunder’ arrives on Blu-ray in a gorgeous 1080p/AVC-encoded wonder that showcases the benefits of high definition from beginning to end. Colors are lush, vibrant, and stable contrast is bright and lively, black levels are incredibly deep, and skintones are convincing and natural. As it stands, comparisons to the film’s concurrently released standard DVD reveal a significant upgrade in image clarity and fine detail, resulting in a remarkably improved picture. Clothing and fabric textures are crisp, tiny smoke tendrils wisp toward the sky, and weathered patches of skin, hair, and wrinkles are flawless. Furthermore, the transfer doesn’t suffer from artifacting, banding, source noise, or edge enhancement. There is a light grain present overtop of the image, but it never becomes a distraction and only serves to increase the filmic qualities of the transfer.

If I have any gripe it’s that contrast comes on a bit strong, resulting in overblown whites, oppressive shadows, and somewhat limited delineation. I think it reflects Stiller’s directorial intention, but it seems to be more of an issue than I remember it being when I saw the film in theaters. Ah well, it’s a small nitpick. Paramount has really stepped up to the plate since they made the switch to Blu-ray earlier this year and ‘Tropic Thunder’ solidifies their reputation as one of the most reliable high-def studios in the industry.

The Audio: Rating the Sound

’Tropic Thunder’ definitely won’t win any points for subtlety, but its full-throttle Dolby TrueHD 5.1 surround track will certainly turn heads and wake up any unfortunate soul in your home who’s trying to sleep. Dialogue is clean and distinct, perfectly prioritized amidst the most frenzied firefights and explosions, and nicely distributed throughout the soundfield. Rear speaker support is impressive as well, hurling splintered wood, debris, and ricocheting bullets across the battlefield that quickly sets up shop in your home theater. Ambience is consistent and strong, immersion is a cinch, and most of the effects sound eerily realistic. Better still, the LFE channel makes its presence known, delivering earthy, resonant low-end pulses that add weight to the on-screen chaos, heft to the choppers and soldiers who populate Stiller’s opus, and life to the various songs and music that litter the film. It’s also worth noting that every element of the soundscape is clean, polished, and well defined. Pans are smooth and transparent, and directionality is extremely precise (particularly during the action that erupts in the third act).

Don’t get me wrong, ‘Tropic Thunder’s original sound design isn’t the sort of mix anyone will call a nuanced award winner, but this thoroughly amazing and arguably reference quality TrueHD track will thrill and wow fans of the film.

The Supplements: Digging Into the Good Stuff

The Blu-ray edition of ‘Tropic Thunder’ includes all of the special features that are available on standard DVD (although, bizarrely, three features can only be accessed via BD-Live) and presents the large majority of the video content in high definition. It all adds up to an extensive and entertaining supplemental package that helps make this release worth every penny.

* Crew Commentary -- Writer/director Ben Stiller, executive producer and co-writer Justin Theroux, production designer Jeff Mann, producer Stuart Cornfeld, editor Greg Hayden, and cinematographer John Toll pack into a room to deliver one a surprisingly dry (albeit affable) commentary that covers the genesis of the project, casting, the shoot, and the final cut of the film. While Stiller does his best to keep the atmosphere fairly light, he and his crew really dig into the hows and whys of every aspect of the production. Serious film fans will actually find this track offers far more information than a typical comedy commentary, but the flick’s core audience may be turned off by the proceedings.
* Cast Commentary -- Members of the film’s core audience will enjoy this secondary gem that finds Ben Stiller, Jack Black, and Robert Downey Jr. delivering one of the most engaging cast commentaries I’ve heard in a long time. Not only does Downey Jr. manage to stay in-character and in rare form for the entire track, but the trio still offers compelling insights into the production. Fast, funny, and informative… I couldn’t ask for more.
* Rain of Madness (HD, 30 minutes) -- Even if you’re determined to skip every feature on the disc, be sure to at least watch this fantastically hilarious mockumentary. Taking its cues from “Hearts of Darkness” (the outstanding feature-length documentary of ‘Apocalypse Now’s infamous production), this one is arguably funnier than the film itself. The only downside is that it isn’t a feature-length monster mockumentary… I would have laughed myself into a coma.
* Production Featurettes (HD, 49 minutes) -- While almost all of the disc’s mini-docs are a bit too short for my tastes (minus the somewhat bloated 22-minute cast featurette), ‘Tropic Thunder’ includes quite a few production featurettes. “Before the Thunder” digs into pre-production, “The Hot LZ” explores the film’s first big action scene, “The Cast” gives a variety of actors an opportunity to discuss their characters and performances, “Blowing Shit Up” introduces the special effects team and their explosive tools of the trade, “Designing the Thunder” looks at the various sets that appear in the final cut, and “Make-up Test with Tom Cruise” documents, well, a make-up test with Tom Cruise.
* Deletions, Extensions, and an Alternate Ending (HD, 21 minutes) – I’m not a big fan of the film’s alternate ending, but the rest of this collection should appeal to casual and diehard fans of the film. While it was rather obvious why each scene was cut or trimmed (especially the drawn-out exchange between Stiller and Downey Jr. in “Eight Minutes in Hell”), the scenes still earned a few extra chuckles from me. Optional audio commentary and short introductions are included as well.
* Full Mags (HD, 11 minutes) -- Instead of a gag reel, Stiller and company provide a sampling of their uncut improvisations. Equal parts behind-the-scenes featurette and amusing fly-on-the-wall outtakes, this one was a lot of fun.
* BD-Live Content (HD, 48 minutes) -- To watch the rest of the production content that appears on the standard DVD, you’ll need to access the disc’s online interface. You can download deleted scenes from “Rain of Madness,” a short series of video rehearsals, and additional “Full Mag” outtakes.
* MTV Movie Awards (SD, 4 minutes) -- Rounding out the supplemental package is a promotional short the cast filmed for the MTV Movie Awards.

HD Bonus Content: Any Exclusive Goodies in There?

Nothing.

Easter Eggs

No easter eggs reported for 'Tropic Thunder' yet. Found an egg? Please use our tips form to let us know, and we'll credit you with the find.

Final Thoughts

’Tropic Thunder’ is a smart and infectious comedy that offers a sharp script, solid laughs, and yet another engaging, award-worthy performance from actor Robert Downey Jr. The Blu-ray edition of the film is even better. Boasting a stunning video transfer, a powerful TrueHD audio track, and an avalanche of special features, this disc is an easy one to love. I highly recommend it.

Technical Specs

* BD-50 Dual-Layer Disc
* Region Free

Video Resolution/Codec

* 1080p/AVC MPEG-4

Aspect Ratio(s)

* 2.35:1

Audio Formats

* English Dolby TrueHD 5.1 Surround
* Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
* French Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround

Subtitles/Captions

* English SDH
* English Subtitles
* Spanish Subtitles
* French Subtitles
* Portuguese Subtitles

Supplements

* Audio Commentaries
* Featurettes
* Short Film
* Deleted Scenes
* Alternate Ending
* Outtakes
* BD-Live Content

Exclusive HD Content

* BD-Live Functionality

Wall•E (Blu-ray)
Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment / 2008 / 98 Minutes / Rated PG
Street Date: November 18, 2008
List Price: $35.99 BUY NOW $24.99

Reviewed by Peter M. Bracke
www.highdefdigest.com
Wednesday, November 12, 2008

The Movie Itself: Our Reviewer's Take

Every once in a while, a film comes along that so pushes the boundaries of its genre that it redefines and elevates the form of commercial cinema itself. 'Wall•E' is just such an event. The seventh theatrical release from Pixar Studios, it is a bold and audacious work, one that challenges the audiences' intelligence to embrace and explore daring existential ideas, while melding it's ambitions with an emotive narrative that is truly universal in its appeal. It's rare to find a mainstream motion picture -- one entirely CGI-animated and about robots, no less -- that works as both entertainment and as art. 'Wall•E' is a truly groundbreaking achievement.

The first act of 'Wall•E' is told almost entirely without words. We meet the titular robot, a lowly but studious clean-up droid who has been left behind on a polluted Earth after humankind has left to explore other worlds. Centuries have passed, with little Wall•E alone in collecting trash and, in the process, finding treasures of a lost civilization (among them a much-loved copy of "Hello, Dolly!", just one of 'Wall•E's many clever touches). Though Wall•E occasionally ponders the aloneness of his existence (a quick glimpse of the stars between parting clouds here becomes a revelatory moment), he is essentially content.

It is at this point in the story that 'Wall•E,' and it's conceptualist and director Andrew Stanton (who previously helmed 'Finding Nemo' for Pixar), transition the story from the merely inspired to the level of existential masterpiece. Wall•E's entire life has, up until this point in the story, been entirely routine. But then a spaceship arrives, and with it a female probe named Eve. Wall•E is more than intrigued, he is in love. And with the arrival of Eve comes an expanding of his consciousness. For the first time, Wall•E realizes he is lonely, and that newfound paradigm shift forces him on an adventure of spiritual dimensions.

After the spaceship returns to take Eve back, Wall•E must then confront what has become of us humans. Now mere blobs who are waited on hand and foot, we have become a physical product of our own laziness (and, the film controversially argues, our disuse of the Earth we have pillaged and abandoned). 'Wall•E' then becomes an exciting adventure tale, as Wall•E must decide if he will leave his life of banal contentment and follow Eve, as well as leave to explore new worlds. It's a coming-of-age tale, but also a story of the human condition itself. The conclusion, and Stanton's ultimate statement on our evolutionary dreams and desires, is one of the more intelligent examinations of such heady existential questions I've seen in a mainstream Hollywood film.

Visually, 'Wall•E' is a wonder that rivals Pixar's best -- no small compliment when you consider the studio has produced such masterpieces as 'Finding Nemo' and the 'Toy Story' films. The abandoned Earth that Stanton has imagined is as vibrant and detailed as anything seen in such sci-fi classics as '2001: A Space Odyssey' and 'Blade Runner.' The nods to pop culture sprinkled throughout (everything from a found Rubik's Cube to a special appearance by Fred Willard) are not gimmicky, adding a richness and texture to the vision that at times borders on the haunting. And little Wall•E himself is perhaps the most expressive robot in cinematic history -- think a cross between the blips and burps of R2-D2 with those expressive eyes of No. 5 from 'Short Circuit.' That Wall•E and Eve, are two of the most fully-realized and three-dimensional characters seen in any movie this year (and are, in fact, far more human than most of the actual humans we see onscreen) only further speaks to Pixar's genius in fusing the technical with the emotional.

'Wall•E' is ultimately wondrous because it tells an exciting and involving tale while exploring the very nature of what it means to be human. The film is a masterpiece on all levels -- storytelling, characterization, narrative construction and visual acumen -- and it never steps wrong. If there have been any lingering criticisms of the film, it is that it barely conceals some of its more political and environmental concerns (read: it's too "liberal") and thus borders on the didactic. But I found it far from heavy-handed, and the messages not so much overt as simply inherent in the film's themes and story. 'Wall•E' a humane and challenging film, but also a highly entertaining one, and -- amazingly -- suitable for the entire family. I would rank it as Pixar's finest achievement yet, and also one of the best films of 2008.

The Video: Sizing Up the Picture

Pixar and Walt Disney Studios have been hyping the Blu-ray of 'Wall•E' for weeks now via press releases and an extensive marketing campaign, and with good reason. This is a stupendous high-def presentation, one guaranteed to rank as a new demo disc of choice. This is easily one of the best examples of an animated film I've seen on Blu-ray, and stands head-to-head with previous Pixar Blu-ray releases 'Cars' and 'Ratatouille.'

'Wall•E' gets a direct-to-digital transfer presented in 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 video at 2.35:1. Pixar has crowed that there is not a pixel out of place, and the hyperbole is justified. 'Wall•E' is a visual masterpiece, and the sparkling surfaces are as sharp and clean as any high-def image your are going to see. Much of the animation is photo-realistic, and the level of detail to the picture is five-star. A good portion of 'Wall•E' takes place on dusty planet surfaces, so there is some intentional diffusing of the picture, but it's absolutely appropriate to the intended look of the film. Shadow delineation is also superb, with even the darkest areas of the picture revealing the finest of textures still visible.

The color palette is expansive, and one of the best examples I've seen yet of the improvements high-def offers over standard-def. Comparing the Blu-ray and standard DVD editions of 'Wall•E' (Disney was kind enough to supply us with both), it's clear how much smoother fine gradients of color are in high-def. Hues are also richer, especially primary colors. Fleshtones, as they are, are also accurate. But most impressive about 'Wall•E' is the sense of depth to the picture. This is as close to 3-D as you are going to get without wearing glasses, and on a large screen the effect is magnificent. Predictably, the encode is rock solid, with no artifacts, edginess or moire patterns, and an absence of noise. For my money, 'Wall•E' is the new reference standard for an animated presentation on Blu-ray.

The Audio: Rating the Sound

A DTS-HD Lossless Master Audio track is offered for 'Wall•E,' in 6.1 Surround (48kHz/24-bit). (Note: The track is incorrectly labeled as 5.1 Surround on the packaging.) There are no other mixes offered (not even standard Dolby Digital or any other foreign language dubs or subtitles. The audio is superb, delivering a fully immersive experience that is sure to dazzle.

Animated films are always a treat to enjoy on high-def because their soundtracks are constructed wholly in the studio, from the ground up. Every element sounds in the right place, with an expert balance of effects, music and dialogue. The added surround channel helps open up the rear soundstage wonderfully, with excellent seamless pans between all channels. Discrete effects are numerous, and subtle ambiance is almost always sustained. The score is also perfectly integrated and bled throughout.

Dynamic range is rich and robust, with excellent clarity and attenuation across the entire frequency spectrum. Low bass is as tight as a drum and never overpowering to the rest of the mix. Though 'Wall•E' is surprisingly light on dialogue (particularly the first half of the film), the spoken word isn't given short thrift and the mix is always perfectly balanced. Finally, it's no surprise, given that this is a Pixar film, how well-recorded 'Wall•E' is. The mix never sounds artificial or processed, and the source is as clean and slick as a newly-waxed floor. 'Wall•E' sounds as good as it looks.

The Supplements: Digging Into the Good Stuff

Previous Pixar Blu-ray releases 'Cars' and 'Ratatouille' were chock full of supplements, but 'Wall•E' outdoes them both. There are two discs here packed full of material (plus a third platter with Digital Copy) and this is another fine example of quantity and quality. All video materials are presented in full 1080 video, and subtitle options are offered in English on the video-based materials.

Disc One:

* Audio Commentary - The standard DVD edition of 'Wall•E' includes an audio commentary with director Andrew Stanton. That commentary is presented here in a Cine-Explore mode that also includes picture-in-picture visual information. There's an option to switch off the visuals, however and listen to the audio-only portion. As the commentary with Stanton is identical on the DVD and Blu-ray versions, check out the exclusives section below for a review of the track.
* Short Film: "Burn•E" (HD, 7 minutes) - A beautifully-animated and whimsical Pixar short is included, called "Burn•E." The short is also viewable in a PIP mode that includes running storyboards for the entire short.
* Short Film (HD, 5 minutes) - An additional Pixar short is included, for an imaginative and visually-gorgeous little magician's tale called "Presto." I liked it even better than "Burn•E."
* Theatrical Trailers (HD) - Finally, there are a ton of trailers for other Disney titles, including 'Pinocchio,' 'The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian,' 'Earth' and 'Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure,' as well as a 'Disney Parks' promo spot.

Disc Two:

The extras on disc two are divided into two sections, first "Robots," then "Humans." All materials are in full 1080 HD, with English, French and Spanish Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo and subtitle options.

* Deleted Scenes (HD, 23 minutes) - The "Humans" section kicks off with four quite meaty scenes here, which you can play individually or as a group (with introduction by Stanton). The scenes are a mix of wholly completed and rendered scenes, and some in more raw states of completion. The four scenes are: "Garbage Airlock," "Dumper," "Secret Files," and "Docking."
* "Behind-the-Scenes" Featurettes (HD, 9 minutes) - This three-part documentary gives us a fairly thorough visual overview of the conception and production of 'Wall•E.' Interviews with Stanton and most of the main Pixar crew are intercut with extensive making-of footage shot during the story development, animation, and post-production processes. "The Imperfect Lens: Creating the Look of Wall•E" (14 minutes) covers the beginning stages of visual design. "Animation Sound Design: Building Worlds from the Sound Up" (19 minutes) dissects the creation of the film's entire soundtrack, which was constructed completely in the studio. Finally, "Captain's Log: The Evolution of Humans" (8 minutes) goes in-depth into the conceptualization and rendering of the film's human characters.
* BnL Shorts (HD, 9 minutes) - Full-length versions of the three short films watched by Wall•E in the film are presented here uncut and fully-animated. The three shorts are: "Captaining the Axiom," "Operation Cleanup" and "Meet the BnL Bots."
* Gallery (HD) - These extensive still galleries are divided into four sections: "Character Design," "Layouts & Backgrounds," "Visual Development" and "Publicity." The images are quite extensive, and including both conceptual art and more fully-rendered drawings. In total, I counted over a hundred different images. (Note there is also a "Play All" function that will automatically advance you through all the stills in the gallery.)
* Documentary: "The Pixar Story" (HD, 88 minutes) - Curiously, the best extra of this entire set is practically hidden in the disc's menus. It's in the "Humans" section, but on a second page that you have to scroll down to even access -- is Pixar trying to hide it?) Directed by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Leslie Iwerks, this is a fantastic documentary on the history of Pixar Studios. I bet Disney could easily have sold this as its own Blu-ray release -- it's really that good. The entire birth and growth of the copmany is chronicled, from their beginnings in 1979, through early experimental shorts and commercials, to the juggernaut we know now today. Fresh interviews are included with all of Pixar's chief artists, as well as such luminaries as Roy Disney, Tom Hanks and Steve Jobs. A must-watch.
* Vignette: "Wall•E's Treasures & Trinkets" (HD, 5 minutes) - The "Robots" section begins with this oddity. I must admit, I didn't quite get it -- it appears to be a montage of Wall•E doing cute little things but not much else.
* Sneak Peek : "Wall•E's Tour of the Universe" (HD, 1 minute) - This mock preview spot is a cute promo for the walle.com website.
* Bot Storybook (HD) - A sort of bizarre, animated interactive game, this can be viewed as a short stand-alone montage, or a "Play Along" mode allowing you to interact with the visuals on the screen.
* Bot Files (HD) - This is essentially a still gallery, with individual animated visual files for 28 different robots seen in the film. Each robot gets a 360-degree visual spin of the robot, with a narrator filling us in on some interesting facts about the machine.
* Trailers (HD) - Finally, four trailers for 'Wall•E' are included - three domestic, and one French-Canadian promo.

Disc Three:

* Digital Copy - Finally, a third DVD disc is offered that contains a DisneyFile (aka Digital Copy) version of the film in 480p standard-definition. The DisneyFile copy is compatible with PCs, PSP and iTunes.

HD Bonus Content: Any Exclusive Goodies in There?

Disney and Pixar have not skimped on the exclusives for 'Wall•E,' either. There are two main exclusives here that impart a wealth of information and are on par with the standard suite of extras.

* Cine-Explore Mode - Director Andrew Stanton's solo audio commentary is presented here with additional picture-in-picture information. Stanton jumps right in and immediately tackles the more controversial environmental and political criticisms of the film. He covers his original ideas for the core story, the development of the Wall•E and supporting robot characters, and some of the substantial changes made to the second and third acts as the production progressed. PIP information features a wide range of material, including storyboards, enlargements of small visual details seen in the film, and filmmaker photos and data. Even in audio-only form (there is an option to turn off the PIP portion) this is a great commentary.
* Geek Talk, Trash Talk & Trivia (HD) - A second visual commentary is offered with a quartet of 'Wall•E' filmmakers: Character team supervisor Bill Wise, co-producer Lindsay Wallace, story artist Derek Thompson and lead animator and story consultant Angus McClain. The four participants are seen via silhouette on the bottom right of the screen (as if you are watching the movie in a theater with them). This is a boisterous, even goofy track, with the four riffing off all sorts of pop culture references and insider stories on what's appearing on-screen. It's perhaps not as articulate and insightful in terms of story and character as Stanton's track, as the group largely comments on visual gags, animation secrets and other technical tidbits.
* 3-D Set Fly-Throughs (HD) - Found on disc two (under the "Humans" section), click this feature and an interactive map of the Axiom spaceship appears. There are various points of the ship you can click on to watch a full 3-D "fly-through" animated tour of the location.
* Interactive Games (HD) - There are four included here under the banner "Axiom Arcade." These are neat, as they all hark back to the visually-simple upright arcade games of the '80s, and are actually fun to play. The four games are: "Eve's Bot Blaster," "Wall•E's Dodge & Dock," "M-D's Mop-Up Madness" and "Burn•E's Break Through."
* BD-Live - Finally, 'Wall•E' comes BD-Live-enabled. At presstime, the disc's web destination has not yet been activated, but watch this space for updates if/when content comes online.

Easter Eggs

No easter eggs reported for 'Wall•E' yet. Found an egg? Please use our tips form to let us know, and we'll credit you with the find.

Final Thoughts

'Wall•E' is a wonderful film. It's majestic, emotional, thought-provoking, and wildly imaginative. It's also quite a risk for Pixar, as it mingles existential mediations on human existence with the lightness and whimsy the studio is so well known for, and it all pays off. This Blu-ray is a stunner, too, with five stars across the board for video and audio. Throw in a Digital Copy of the film on a third disc and a host of supplemental and exclusive content, and you have a new reference-standard Blu-ray. This is a must-own.

Technical Specs

* Blu-ray
* BD-50 Dual-Layer Discs
* Three-Disc Set
* Bonus View (Profile 1.1)
* BD-Live (Profile 2.0)

Video Resolution/Codec

* 1080p/AVC MPEG-4

Aspect Ratio(s)

* 2.39:1

Audio Formats

* English DTS-HD Lossless Master Audio 6.1 Surround (48kHz/24-bit)

Subtitles/Captions

* English SDH
* English Subtitles (Supplements Only)
* French Subtitles (Supplements Only)
* Spanish Subtitles (Supplements Only)

Supplements

* Audio Commentary
* Featurettes
* Deleted Scenes
* Digital Copy

Exclusive HD Content

* Picture-in-Picture
* Interactive Games
* BD-Live

Bill Livolsi, November 20, 2008
ProjectorCentral.com
BUY NOW FROM HD HOME CINEMAS

The Optoma HD806 is the newest of Optoma's family of DLP 1080p projectors. From the outside, the HD806 looks identical to the HD80, released in July of 2007. We reviewed it at that time (see review) and we were extremely enthused with it, eventually giving it an Editor's Choice Award. The HD80 was quickly followed by the HD8000, which is basically the same projector with some additional calibration features, and it is sold through the CEDIA channel rather than via internet resellers.

The big difference between the HD806 and the two previous models is the color wheel - the HD806's color wheel has six segments, including red, green, blue, cyan, magenta, and yellow. Meanwhile, the HD80 and HD8000 have seven segment color wheels, with red, green, blue, red, green, blue, and dark green segments. The advantage of the HD806's new color wheel is that it delivers more light output at the expense of color saturation and contrast. As such, the HD806 is built for use in situations with more ambient light.

Optoma HD806 Specifications

ANSI lumens: 2000

Contrast (full on/off): 8,000:1

Light Engine: 1920x1080, native 16:9, 1.0" DLP with 2x speed, 6-segment (RGBCMY) color wheel and 300W UHP lamp.

Video Compatibility: 1080p/60/50/24, 1080i, 720p, 576p, 576i, 480p, 480i.

Connection Panel: Two HDMI 1.3 ports, one DVI-I port, one YPbPr component input, s-video, component video, one RS-232C port.

Lens and Throw Distance: 1.2x manual zoom/focus lens. Throws a 100" diagonal 16:9 image from 13' 5" to 16' 1".

Lamp Life: 3,000 hours.

Replacement lamp price: $479.

Warranty: One year.

Advantages

Optoma HD80 Home Theater Projector
High Lumen Output. Our HD806 test sample measured a very high 1,036 ANSI lumens in its brightest cinema mode. This is a significant jump in brightness as compared to the HD80 which produced 687 lumens in the same mode. 687 lumens is plenty of light for dark room viewing, but the additional lumen power of the HD806 opens up more opportunities to use it in higher ambient light environments.

* HD Sports. The HD806 is an excellent choice for sports bars looking to step up to large screen 1080p resolution video. At home, is a good projector for the living room, multipurpose room, or den if you do your viewing with a few lights on. With 1036 lumens, you can compensate for moderate amounts of ambient light without sacrificing much in color accuracy. As a result, the football game looks great, and your friends aren't tripping over themselves in the dark.
* Video Games. While video games are getting more and more cinematic as time goes on, and are therefore best played on a cinema projector, many people don't like playing in a pitch-dark cave. The HD806 lets you move the action into a living room or den, making it a great secondary projector. Even better if your kids like video games and you don't - the HD806 can be used as the gaming projector, keeping hours off of your dedicated theater projector.

Good ANSI contrast. The HD806 measured 448:1 in our ANSI contrast test lab. This is solid performance. It is competitive with the new high contrast LCD projectors that have just come to market, and falls just a bit short of the latest model DLP projectors that are designed for dark room viewing. The HD80 measured 515:1 due to its deeper black level, which is one of the features that makes it preferable for dedicating theater use. Keep in mind that the contrast which is visible to you on the screen takes a huge hit as soon as ambient light enters the viewing environment, so contrast measurements and specs mean a lot less on a projector meant for ambient light use.

Color. The HD806 uses a 2x speed six-segment color wheel, comprised of red, green, blue, cyan, magenta, and yellow segments. The HD80 uses a 6x speed seven-segment wheel, with segments of red, green, blue, red, green, blue, and dark green. When the two projectors are placed side by side, several things are immediately clear. The HD80 has better saturation, so its picture appears to be richer and more engaging when viewed in the dark. However, once you turn a light on, the truth changes--the HD806 suddenly looks more vibrant and alive due to its inherent advantage in brightness.

Good connectivity. Like the HD80, the HD806 has two HDMI 1.3 ports as well as a DVI port. The DVI connection will take both analog and digital signals, meaning you can connect your computer's DVI or VGA outputs to the HD806. Component video is present as well, which helps if you have game consoles that lack HDMI, like an early model of the Xbox 360 or a Nintendo Wii.

Limitations

Limited placement flexibility. The HD806 has a 1.2:1 manual zoom lens and no lens shift; instead, it has a fixed throw angle. As a result, it must be mounted on a coffee table or in a ceiling mount, as it is very difficult to mount on a rear shelf. The bottom edge of the image will appear 39% of the image's height above the centerline of the lens. For example, a 100" diagonal screen is 49" tall, so the bottom edge of the screen will be 19" above the projector's lens centerline.

Optoma HD806 Home Theater Projector
Very slow auto iris. The HD806 has an auto iris, like many popular home theater projectors. However, most auto irises adjust many times per second, or even on a per-frame basis. On our test unit, the auto iris adjusted roughly once every thirty seconds. Because it is so slow, it does not have the same contrast-boosting effect as other, faster irises. It can still be used as a manual iris if you feel that the HD806 is too bright.

2x speed color wheel. The HD806 uses a 2x speed color wheel, which can cause many viewers to see color separation artifacts, also known as rainbow artifacts. Rainbow artifacts can be reduced by using a smaller screen or sitting farther from the screen, since rainbows are created by eye movement. Not everyone is sensitive to DLP rainbows, but those who are will see them most frequently on projectors with 2x speed color wheels. For this reason we are cautious about recommending DLP projectors with 2x speed wheels for dedicated home theater use.

The traditional color wheel in most DLP business projectors has a four segment wheel, which is red, green, blue, and clear, or white. This type of wheel at 2x rotation speeds generates the highest incidence of rainbows. Since the wheel in the HD806 has three primary and three complementary colors, we would expect rainbow activity to be reduced. However, in practice we saw enough rainbow activity on the HD806 to cause us to suppose it had a 2x speed wheel. By comparison, the HD80 next to it in side by side viewing showed no rainbows at all.

Fan noise/room heat. The HD806 has higher fan noise than the average home theater projector on the market today. The projector has a 300-watt lamp. That's hotter than most competing units, which tend to have lamps in the 160-watt to 200-watt range. The practical consequence of this is that the projector needs to move more air to maintain a stable operating temperature. So it produces somewhat more fan noise. If you have the HD806 installed in a small room, the heat from the projector can warm up the room. So adequate room ventilation is a must.

Conclusion

The Optoma HD806 is an attractive solution for projection in ambient light. We could see it working extremely well in a sports bar environment. In that setting, you want the HD806's bright, vibrant, high definition 1080p picture, and its shortcomings are irrelevant. People are not sitting so close to the screen that rainbow artifacts would be an issue. Fan noise and heat output are irrelevant. And the vast majority of sports bars will ceiling mount, so the lens limitations are of little concern. It is really an ideal projector for that type of use.

As far as home theater is concerned, when compared to projectors like the HD80 and HD8000, the HD806 falls a bit short in contrast, color saturation, and color wheel speed. However, if you are looking for a bright DLP 1080p projector for casual home video entertainment with a light or two on, and you are among those that aren't sensitive to rainbow artifacts, the HD806 may be just the right choice. But if you can darken your viewing room such that you don't need the HD806's light output, then the HD80 and HD8000 will be the better options for the highest quality home theater picture.

Turn Your Couch into a "Disney" Ride for Under $300
All New Wireless ButtKicker® Kit to be Released by Amazon.com on Black Friday

Westerville OH, November 17, 2008 /PRNewswire/ — The Guitammer Company announces the release of the all new wireless ButtKicker® Kit for home theater, gaming and music. The new ButtKicker Kit is a complete, consumer-friendly, do-it-yourself product for home theater and gaming that quickly and easily transforms any type of furniture to become part of an affordable "4-D" theater, allowing viewers to literally feel sound… including movie soundtracks, concert quality audio and video game explosions, bumps and thumps. As more and more families satisfy their entertainment needs in their own homes, the ButtKicker Kit will provide an exciting tactile addition to basic setups and for home theaters already equipped with HDTV flat screens, surround sound, an Xbox and a Blu-ray player. It's not expensive, but it is a first class performance upgrade.

Used by Disney, IMAX, Universal Studios, The Kennedy Space Center, dozens of Grammy Award-winning musicians and thousands of home theater owners worldwide, ButtKicker brand low frequency audio transducers provide high quality low frequency audio and realistic special effects, without loud volume, adding a powerful and exciting effect to movies, music and games. But don't let the name fool you… ButtKicker brand products are serious, award-winning pro audio "silent subwoofers" that provide powerful, musically-accurate low frequency effects... without airborne sound... perfect for apartments and close living quarters.

As anyone who goes to a concert or movie theater with a good audio system knows, sound that is felt is an essential part of accurate and pleasing audio reproduction. The Guitammer Company is the leading expert in low frequency audio and its ButtKicker family of products is sold worldwide. You have most likely felt these devices at amusement parks or dance clubs, perhaps without knowing what produces such powerful low frequency audio and special effects. Now, for less than $300 you can experience at home what thousands of movie theater-goers will experience at select new AMC movie theater complexes beginning in January 2009, which will be equipped with ButtKicker units for all the seats.

Guitammer is working closely with sports leagues and broadcasters developing a patent pending television broadcast technology called ButtKicker Live!®, which will soon allow ButtKicker Kit owners to experience, live and in real time, what it feels like to be inside a race car during a race… or what the quarter back feels when he gets sacked… or what the boards at a hockey game feel like when players are checked into the wall…or what it feels like in the stands at a drag race…or what sound feels like on stage at the Grammy Awards.

ButtKicker Wireless Home Theater Kit, Includes ButtKicker Advance and Power Amplifier BKA300 (BK-KIT-4)

Hancock (Blu-ray)
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment / 2008 / 90 Minutes / Unrated
Street Date: November 25, 2008
List Price: $38.95

Reviewed by Peter M. Bracke www.highdefdigest.com
Tuesday, November 04, 2008

The Movie Itself: Our Reviewer's Take

It's a shame when a film comes along with such a sure-fire concept, only to squander almost all of its opportunities. 'Hancock' is just such a movie. It's got a nifty idea that's ripe for pop culture satire -- a failed superhero who shirks his responsibilities as a man of virtue and valor -- and mega-star Will Smith in the lead. Plus, it's directed by Peter Berg ('The Kingdom,' 'Friday Night Lights'), who one would think could bring a fresh, edgy sensibility and dark comedic spin to a genre that's sorely in need of a little post-modern skewering. Alas, 'Hancock' just doesn't gel -- it fails as a superhero film, it fails as a comedy, it fails as an action film, and it fails as some sort of didactic statement on heroism. Though not a complete fiasco, this must certainly rank as one of the biggest disappointments of the year.

'Hancock' initially seems promising. The first third of the film is the best, as we're introduced to Hancock (Smith), a cynical and downright lazy superhero who apparently didn't get the memo that he's obligated to embrace his superpowers and social status for the betterment of mankind. Instead, he's the equivalent of an alcoholic clown, one who is always getting into trouble with the broads and booze, as likely to inspire a lawsuit by the public as hope and optimism. The beginning parody sequences of 'Hancock' are the most fun, as Smith revels in playing this sad sack of a superhero (one particularly inspired sequence sees Hancock attempting to save a beached whale). Here Smith recalls the youthful enthusiasm of his early "Fresh Prince" days, and seems to be having more fun than he's had in any of his other recent roles.

Too bad, then, than 'Hancock' doesn't stick with this narrative approach, but instead deep-sixes itself with lame subplots and a poor villain. Hoping to rescue his pathetic public image, Hancock turns to idealistic PR man Ray Embrey (Jason Bateman). Ray has suffered in life due to many unfortunate events, and sees Hancock's rehabilitation as an opportunity for his own redemption. So he concocts a plan to help Hancock do his own little celebrity rehab for his crimes, in the hopes of convincing the public (as well as Ray's beautiful wife, played by Charlize Theron) that he's once again worthy of admiration. Conveniently, thrown into the mix is a revenge-minded bank robber (Eddie Marsan), who will prove just the ticket to get Hancock back in the world's good graces.

Alas, little of this complex plotting works. Marsan is a forgettable villain, and he never seems plausible -- the character has been shoe-horned in clearly because the film needs an antagonist and nothing more. Theron is also woefully miscast, and misplaced. She's simply too beautiful for such a dull role, and the character has absolutely no bearing on the eventual narrative events or the story's outcome. Bateman is certainly the best part of the film, as he manages to create a genuine and three-dimensional personality, despite the lameness of the script. Too bad he and Smith developed such a great comedic chemistry, as their relationship is so quickly tossed aside for all the predictable action and villain elements that it never has time to mature.

'Hancock' has a runtime of only 90 minutes, but for me it felt like three hours. This is the kind of unsuccessful film that isn't so bad its good, nor does it even have enough memorable moments that you can call it a laudable failure. (Even in its unrated form here, the film has no real bit or subversive wit.) It's amazing that so much talent, time, and money was put into a script that's so poorly constructed and confused in its intentions. To be fair, at least 'Hancock' is ambitious in idea if not execution, and the idea of a superhero satire that isn't an outright parody was a good one. But nothing in 'Hancock' works, and this is a case of a movie that is far, far less than the sum of its parts.

The Video: Sizing Up the Picture

'Hancock' is presented in 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 video (2.40:1). This is a good-looking, visually slick film, and Sony has produced a nice, shiny transfer.

Backed by a big budget, 'Hancock' certainly looks expensive. There is nary a blemish to be found on the source, and grain is minimal. Black levels are excellent, though typical of most new releases these days, contrast runs a bit hot (but generally doesn't obscure fine detail). Color reproduction is top tier, with nicely saturated hues and no bleeding or smearing. Visible depth is often wholly three-dimensional, and close-ups in particular are impressive. There is considerable CGI in the film, and these effects can look a bit softer and blurrier, but generally the transfer is quite consistent in sharpness. As is usually the case with Sony, the encode is rock solid, with no obvious artifacts or annoying edge enhancement. 'Hancock' looks very good indeed.

The Audio: Rating the Sound

Sony offers up a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 Surround track (48kHz/24-bit) for 'Hancock.' Though essentially a comic book movie, 'Hancock' isn't really an action film, so we get lively sound design but not a truly gangbusters aural spectacle.

Surrounds are generally engaged. Action and highly-comedic moments enjoy some clear and forceful discrete effects. Imaging and directionality are as seamless as you would expect from a big-budget studio release. Sustained ambiance is less pronounced, with many dialogue-driven scenes leaning towards flat in terms of development. Tech specs are certainly first-rate, with hefty low bass and robust, clean high-end. Dialogue is always distinct and never overwhelmed by the action. 'Hancock' enjoys a very solid TrueHD mix.

The Supplements: Digging Into the Good Stuff

Given 'Hancock's $200 million-plus domestic gross, I expected more substantial extras than we get here. There is no commentary, deleted scenes, or the like, which suggests Sony may be planning a double-dip of this one in the future. In any case, all video materials are presented in 1080/AVC MPEG-4 video with optional Spanish, Portugese, Chinese, and Korean subtitles.

* Featurette: "Superhumans: Making Hancock" (HD, 12 minutes) - This is your basic promo, clearly made at the time of the film's production. There are interviews with all the main cast, including Will Smith, Jason Bateman, and Charlize Theron, plus director Peter Berg, screenwriter Akiva Goldsmith and other crew, who all talk about the movie in the future tense (because it hadn't come out yet). This kind of extended commercial doesn't offer much more than the basic overview of the story, characters, and satiric nature of the movie, and there is certainly no real perspective. Passable.
* Featurette: "Seeing the Future" (HD, 15 minutes) - The best of the remaining featurettes, this is a surprisingly in-depth look at the film's "pre-viz" process (including a breakdown of six scenes) whereby the film's effects are rendered in rough form far before they are shot, and then built up more extensively in post-production. Technical in nature, at least there is some real depth here, unlike the other, far more surface-level featurettes.
* Featurette: "Building a Better Hero" (HD, 8 minutes) - The next segment profiles effects wizard John Dykstra, who handled all of the integration of the film's live-action and practical effects with the CGI elements.
* Featurette: "Home Life" (HD, 11 minutes) - This featurette delves into the film's production and location design, specifically the Embrey house. Chats are included with the film's art and props crew.
* Featurette: "Bumps and Bruises" (HD, 10 minutes) - This stunt expose fills us in on all the cool action sequences in the film, some (but not all) of which Will Smith performed himself. As the title implies, it wasn't always easy on the actor. It's also looks mighty expensive, with a surprising amount of the action done live on-set.
* Featurette: "Suiting Up " (HD, 8 minutes) - A look at the Smith's superhero attire and the other costumes in the flick. Unfortunately, it's not very impressive -- couldn't they have designed something a bit more imaginative than what looks like a cut-rate X-men outfit?
* Featurette: "Mere Mortals: Behind the Scenes with Dirty Pete" (HD, 4 minutes) - Finally, we have the slightest of the featurettes, which is a fluff piece on director Peter Berg. It's almost handled as a joke, as if all Berg did was tell the actors to get "real excited" and run around and do superhero things. Oh, and play with a Rubik's Cube.
* Digital Copy (SD) - Rounding out the set is a Digital Copy of the film provided on a second DVD.

HD Bonus Content: Any Exclusive Goodies in There?

Like the standard set of extras, Sony hasn't stacked 'Hancock' with a load of exclusive content. There is, however, one bonus feature of note.

* Picture-in-Picture - Eschewing the usual talking heads/behind-the-scenes footage approach of most PIP tracks, "On-Set Video Diary" (Profile 1.1 required) is exactly what its title implies. Throughout the film, video diary footage is shown that matches the on-screen action. We get to see director Peter Berg, star Will Smith and cast & crew in action on location and in soundstages. Unfortunately, there is none of the context that would be provided by actual video commentary or interview material, so I found this track wore out its welcome rather fast. It's an interesting idea, but I prefer tracks that mix up the content a bit more.
* BD-Live - 'Hancock' also comes BD-Live-enabled (Profile 2.0 required). At press time, there was no live content. We'll update after the disc streets when/if new content comes online.

Easter Eggs

No easter eggs reported for 'Hancock' yet. Found an egg? Please use our tips form to let us know, and we'll credit you with the find.

Final Thoughts

'Hancock' isn't really a disaster, it's just a considerable disappointment. With such a potentially neat concept, I expected better from Will Smith and director Peter Berg, let alone the convoluted script. This Blu-ray is a solid technical effort with fine video and audio, though the supplements could have been improved. 'Hancock' is worth a rental for fans of comic book movies and Will Smith, but definitely keep your expectations low.

Technical Specs

* Blu-ray
* BD-50 Dual-Layer Disc
* Two-Disc Set
* Bonus View (Profile 1.1)
* BD-Live (Profile 2.0)
* D-Box Enhanced

Video Resolution/Codec

* 1080p/AVC MPEG-4

Aspect Ratio(s)

* 2.40:1

Audio Formats

* English Dolby TrueHD 5.1 Surround (48kHz/24-bit)
* French Dolby TrueHD 5.1 Surround (48kHz/24-bit)
* Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround (640kbps)
* Portuguese Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround (640kbps)
* Thai Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround (640kbps)

Subtitles/Captions

* English SDH
* French Subtitles
* Spanish Subtitles
* Portuguese Subtitles
* Indonesian Subtitles
* Thai Subtitles
* Chinese (Traditional) Subtitles
* Chinese (Simplified) Subtitles
* Korean Subtitles

Supplements

* Featurettes
* Digital Copy

Exclusive HD Content

* Picture-in-Picture
* BD-Live