May 13, 2008 2:07 pm US/Pacific
My Say On Blu-Ray
Erik A. Candiani
Now that the towel has been thrown… the white flag raised… and HD-DVD slowly disappears the way of other 'great' failed home video technologies like Betamax and DIVX DVD, we can begin focusing on the true future of high definition home video. Blu-Ray.
When I say "future", let's compare it to standard definition DVD's lifetime thus far: a whopping 11 years. My bet is that Blu-Ray will shine brightly… but for a shorter time. The digital download age is most definitely upon us, and society's desire for instant gratification and ultimate portability will certainly affect Blu-Ray's chances of long-term survival.
I'm part of the problem. I own an iPhone, and love watching videos on my whopping 3.5-inch screen, but absolutely dread the thought of movies going digital download only. In my DVD and Blu-Ray addicted mind, there's nothing like taking the cellophane off a new movie… staring at the cases on my overloaded movie shelves and skimming through them like photo albums of old friends. (I could, however, do without the annoying sticker label at the top that inevitably breaks into several pieces as you try to remove it from the case.) I honestly believe that my vast collection of movies will cease growing if I can no longer hold a physical product. Yes, I am materialistic - not "datalistic" - and foresee little joy in buying ones and zeros over the Internet. That will be a sad day.
But this is now. And Blu-Ray is incredible. I was on-board with DVD since its infancy… and bought into Blu-Ray right off the bat. I knew it was the superior format, only becoming nervous when Paramount briefly jumped ship.
This will not be your typical video review column… uh-uh. It's Blu. No prehistoric VHS here, and only the occasional DVD when the title warrants review and isn't available on Blu-Ray. This is Hi-Def, Baby. If it ain't 1080P and clear enough to see the pores on Keira Knightly's face, you probably won't see it here.
I won't be scribing full-fledged movie reviews with an in-depth story synopsis and character study. No. Since most Blu-Ray releases have been released theatrically, I see little reason for retelling the storyline of a film that has been reviewed countless times at this point in it's cinematic history. If things have changed – or been added, I will most definitely cover these mutilations or alterations. (Thanks, George Lucas… but I'll take the originals, please.)
I'm going to review the Blu-Ray disc itself. Is it worth buying? Renting? Tossing? I'll review the clarity of the image, audio, extra features, technical aspects, and most importantly… the entertainment value of the release. When you're shelling out up to thirty bucks a movie, it's nice to know what bang your getting for your buck.
Now, let's get things started with My Say on Blu-Ray!
For more information on what Blu-Ray is, check out:
http://www.blu-ray.com/faq/
Erik A. Candiani is an award-winning senior producer / editor for CBS13 (KOVR) and CW31 (KMAX) in Sacramento, California.
Erik is also an instructor at the Art Institute of California – Sacramento, where he teaches students the art of editing. He began his film career while serving in the United States Marines as a Motion Picture Specialist, and attended film school at Lowry Air Force Base in Denver, Colorado.
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