Blu-ray 8th July Release

The Ruins (Blu-ray)

Paramount Home Entertainment / 2008 / Unrated
Street Date: July 08, 2008

Genres: Suspense, thriller

Starring: Jonathan Tucker, Jena Malone, Laura Ramsey
Director: Carter Smith (VII)

Plot Synopsis: Whether you consider plants a source of terror or not will ultimately determine how you feel about the grisly horror movie The Ruins, but director Carter Smith and his cast and crew certainly give their all in bringing the chills of Scott Smith's novel to the big screen. Jena Malone (Saved) and Shawn Ashmore (the X-Men franchise) are the name actors in a pair of American couples down Mexico way who are ambushed by hostile Mayans and forced to the top of an ancient temple, where a monstrous and diabolically clever entity awaits them. Director Smith and his talented crew (which includes cinematographer Darius Khondji of Se7en fame and composer Graeme Revell) create a visually impressive spookshow but can't quite deliver genuine suspense (gore, however, is handled capably), and Scott Smith's script boils away much of the character development and mounting terror in his book, which also strands the likeable cast. The movie's monster, so alarming and imaginative in the original novel, is likely to provoke as many laughs as screams from filmgoers, especially when it reveals its unique talent. [Amazon.com]


Sleepwalking (Blu-ray)

Starz Home Entertainment / 2008 / Rated R
Street Date: July 08, 2008

Genres: Drama

Starring: Charlize Theron, Nick Stahl, AnnaSophia Robb
Plot Synopsis: A moving drama about the deep familial bond that develops between a 30-year-old man and his young niece after the girl's mother suddenly leaves town.

Disc Features:
Featurette: "A Mother's Shame, A Family's Pain: The Making of Sleepwalking"


Batman Begins (Blu-ray)

Warner Home Entertainment / 2004 / 134 Minutes / Rated PG-13
Street Date: July 08, 2008

Overall Grade A must own collection





Genres: Action, adventure

Starring: Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Liam Neeson
Director: Christopher Nolan

Plot Synopsis: Batman Begins explores the origins of the Batman legend and the Dark Knight's emergence as a force for good in Gotham. In the wake of his parents' murder disillusioned industrial heir Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) travels the world seeking the means to fight injustice and turn fear against those who prey on the fearful. He returns to Gotham and unveils his alter-ego: Batman a masked crusader who uses his strength intellect and an array of high tech deceptions to fight the sinister forces that threaten the city.

Disc Features:

• Featurette: "Genesis of the Bat" (SD, 15 minutes) -- Culled from the same basic set of EPK and on-set interviews as all the featurettes, "Genesis of the Bat" serves as a good point of introduction. Director Christopher Nolan and screenwriter David S. Goyer handle the lions share of the explanation, and illustrate how the film was conceived, as well as the development of the reboot.
  
• Featurette: "Batman: The Journey Begins" (SD, 14 minutes) -- Details the casting of the film, including the once-controversial choices of Christian Bale and Katie Holmes. There's also a look at the film's villains, notably the underrated Cillian Murphy.
  
• Featurette: "Path to Discovery" (SD, 14 minutes) -- Chronicles the challenges of shooting the film's opening scenes and backstory in the cold climate of Iceland.
  
• Featurette: "Saving Gotham City" (SD, 13 minutes) -- Highlights the film's excellent action scenes, which were staged with as little CGI as possible -- one of the reasons 'Batman Begins' remains, for me, superior to most other blockbusters these days.
  
• Featurette: "Shaping Mind and Body" (SD, 13 minutes) -- My fave of the featurettes, as Bale is put through the paces, training to play such an iconic character. Many feel Bale is the best Batman yet, and I can see why. He seems to have an innate understanding of the character, and he certainly has the right physicality for the part. The behind-the-scenes fight footage here is also cool.
  
• Featurette: "Gotham City Rises" (SD, 13 minutes) -- This one pays a visit to the production design team, who had the massive task of reimagining the fabled city for a new generation of Batman fans, as well as having to work within real-world locations in some instances, such as Wayne Manor.
  
• Featurette: "Cape and Cowl" (SD, 8 minutes) -- This one really fetishizes the Batsuit, with a tour of its conception, construction and application. And I will admit, all that hot black rubber is a turn-on...
  
• Featurette: "Batman: The Tumbler" (SD, 14 minutes) --Pays tribute to the kick-ass Batmobile, which the Nolan originally conceived as "a Lamborghini crossed with a Humvee." Even Holmes gets into it, admitting that for the first time, she realizes "why guys love cars so much." Think she bought one for Tom Cruise?
  
• Still Gallery (SD) -- Focuses exclusively various advertising concepts for the film's multi-million dollar marketing push. Separate sections for the U.S., International and pre-release campaigns are included.
  
• Confidential Files (SD) -- A rather extensive assortment of animated text pages featuring more stills and concept art for the various "Hardware," "Enemies" and "Allies and Mentors" of 'Batman Begins.' This is actually a very cool, well put-together and informative extra, so don't skip it just because it might seem like a bunch of lame production notes.
  
• MTV Special: "Tankman Begins" (SD) -- A fairly funny spoof that was created for the 2005 MTV Movie Awards. Entertaining at first, but like most of these type shorts, runs out of steam quickly.
  
• Theatrical Trailer (HD) -- The only video in HD, though this is not really the full trailer but just a teaser.

Batman: Gotham Knight (Blu-ray)

Warner Premiere / 2008 / 76 Minutes / Unrated
Street Date: July 08, 2008

Genres: Animated, Comic Book, Fantasy

Plot Synopsis: Batman: Gotham Knight is a fresh and exciting new entry into the Batman mythos, spinning out of a 40-year history in animation including the Emmy-winning Batman: The Animated Series, widely considered a pivotal moment in American animation. A cross section of distinguished creators, award winning producers, and acclaimed writers weave six interlocking stories that reveal Bruce Wayne’s journey to Dark Knight, each with stylish art from some of the world’s most revered animation visionaries.

Disc Features:
• Documentary: "A Mirror for the Bat: The Evil Denizens of Gotham City" - A stimulating documentary covering Gotham City's most nefarious of characters, combined with a look into the symbiotic relationship Batman shares with his enemies
• Featurette: "Batman and Me a Devotion of Destiny: The Bob Kane Story" - The comprehensive chronology of the remarkable life of the creator of Batman
• "Sneak Peek: Wonder Woman" - DC Universe animated original movie
• "Batman: The Animated Series" Bonus Episodes - Bruce Timm selects his favorite episodes


Chicago and Earth, Wind & Fire: Live at the Greek Theatre (Blu-ray)

Image Entertainment / 2005 / 173 Minutes / Unrated
Street Date: July 08, 2008

Genres: Music

Plot Synopsis: The teaming of legendary groups Chicago and Earth, Wind & Fire was the tour hit of the summer. Playing to sold-out venues, this spectacular show brought the GRAMMY®-winning artists together in a show that both individually and together highlighted their revolutionary melding of rock, soul and jazz as well as their numerous #1 and Top 10 hits. Now you can have a front-row seat for this amazing concert, performed at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles. Every moment, all the energy and excitement of this final show of the tour was captured in high-definition for this extraordinary Blu-ray experience.

Disc Features:
• Bonus Track: "Drum Duel"


Roy Orbison: A Black & White Night (Blu-ray)

Image Entertainment / 1997 / 64 Minutes / Unrated
Street Date: July 08, 2008

Genres: Music

Starring: Roy Orbison
Plot Synopsis: A special one-time event documenting one of rock and roll's greatest and most unique performances. Recorded live at the Cocoanut Grove in Los Angeles, Roy Orbison is joined by an eclectic ensemble of rock and roll superstars. Highlighting this all-star line-up are Jackson Browne, Elvis Costello, T-Bone Burnett, J.D. Souther, Jennifer Warnes, k.d. lang, Bonnie Raitt, Bruce Springsteen and Tom Waits. Orbison and fellow performers spend a scintillating hour performing many of his greatest hits.

Songs: Only the Lonely, Dream Baby, The Comedians, Ooby Dooby, Leah, Running Scared, In Dreams, Crying, Candyman, Go Go Go, Mean Woman Blues, It's Over, Oh Pretty Woman, Dream You, Blue Bayou, Claudette, Uptown, Blue Angel.

Disc Features:
• Bonus Song: "Blue Angel"


The Moody Blues: Lovely to See You - Live at the Greek (Blu-ray)

Image Entertainment / 2005 / 106 Minutes / Unrated
Street Date: July 08, 2008

Genres: Music

Starring: The Moody Blues
Plot Synopsis: Concert. The 20-strong tracklist includes: 01. Lovely to See You / 02. Tuesday Afternoon (Forever Afternoon) / 03. Lean on Me (Tonight) / 04. The Actor / 05. Steppin' in a Slide Zone / 06. The Voice / 07. Talking Out of Turn / 08. I Know You're Out There Somewhere / 09. The Story in Your Eyes / 10. Forever Autumn / 11. Your Wildest Dreams / 12. Isn't Life Strange / 13. The Other Side of Life / 14. December Snow / 15. Higher and Higher / 16. Are You Sitting Comfortably? / 17. I'm Just a Singer (In a Rock & Roll Band) / 18. Nights in White Satin / 19. Question / 20. Ride My Seesaw

Disc Features:
Band Interview (SD, 18 minutes) - There's no documentary or featurette provided for 'Live at the Greek,' so fans will have to make due with this Q&A. Unfortunately, the editors left out the Q part, and all we get are the band answering questions we never hear. Luckily, it's fairly easy to get the gist of it, but this seems like a pretty tacked-on extra. (Note the video is 480i/MPEG-2 only.)