A Bunch of Blu 4
In this edition, we focus on Robin Hood (2010), Letters to Juliet, Loose Screws: Screwballs II, Babies, and Vigilante
You really do have to feel sorry for Blu-ray. It just gets a formidable footing into the home theater market and along comes a new visual gimmick - 3D - to threat its format opportunities. Granted, the new dimensional take on titles will require the help of high definition to make its bid, but it seems unfair for another upstart to ride piggyback on something that's yet to establish its own commercial credentials. The studios are really no help either. They hinder expansion by focusing on frivolous concepts like sell-through date, theatrical to digital turnaround times, and that everyman clash between rental and retail. As a result, films that should get the best preservationist treatment are taken for granted, while the most recent box office bomb is fleshed out with more added content than a box of Criterion classics. When trying to sell your elitist approach to your standard cinephile, such a strategy is, more or less, a non-starter.
Even worse, the geek freak patrol are clamoring for their own lost treasures to be transferred over in the best possible remastered manner. They will not settle for shoddy visuals or a less than completist approach to bonus features. Even when a company can't condescend to all of their demands, their sense of entertainment entitlements tends to stunt any significant growth. As we wander into the next decade of this new millennium, as 2011 promises a staggering 28 films in the trumped up 3D style, it looks like the battle will continue to wage. In one corner will be the cash kowtowing of a business model desperate to stay relevant in a realm of easy instant media access. In the other are those who want the artform given the historical respect it so richly deserves. Looking over the five titles featured in this third installment of our semi-regular Blu-ray overview, you can see that some distributors are trying to conform to the latter. On the other hand, they have to deal with the often uneventful needs as part of the former. Let's begin with:
Robin Hood (Score: 5)
The disc offers both the original and the "unrated" version of the film (read: more scenes added which did not get a pass from the MPAA), along with a look inside the "Director's Notebook" and a discussion on the Art of Nottingham.
Letters to Juliet (Score: 4)
The Blu-ray blesses us with an unnecessary commentary from Ms. Seyfried and her self-congratulatory director Gary Winick, a behind the scenes look at the production, more information on Verona, and some deleted/extended scenes.
Loose Screws: Screwballs II (Score: 7)
Bonus features on the format update include a 1.33:1 VHS version of the film almost 10 minutes longer in running time, along with a commentary track from Zielinski and interviews with producer Maurice Smith and production manager Ken Gord.
Babies (Score: 2)
We receive a "three years later" update on the subjects as well as an overview of the winners in the "Everyone Loves...You Babies" sweepstakes as part of the disc' added content.
Vigilante (Score: 8)
The package here presents a commentary with Lustig and co-producer Andrew Garroni, a second track with the director and co-stars Forester, Williamson, and Frank Pearce, along with a promotional reel, radio spots, trailers, and a still gallery.