From: Paramount Home Video - Year: 2007 - Rated: PG-13 - Release Date: December 16, 2008 - Features: Anamorphic * Widescreen * Extras! * - Recommended! After an excellent HD-DVD outing, the underrated Adam Sandberg vehicle <a href="powersearch.php3?search_string=Hot+Rod&schoice=1&exact_match=yes">Hot Rod</a> comes to Blu-ray with the grace of a majestic eagle. The stellar technical aspects of that disc are the order of the day, and we also get an excellent set of extras. Amazon Compare

From: Paramount Home Video - Year: 1995 - Rated: PG-13 - Release Date: December 16, 2008 - Features: Anamorphic * Widescreen * Extras! * - Recommended! This sure isn't high art, but as the first bigscreen pairing of Chris Farley and David Spade, it does represent a silly high water mark for 1990s comedies. A solid cast helps flesh this one out in a number of ways, but it's really all hinged on the wacky banter between Farley and Spade, and they make this one funny. Does the Blu-Ray release necessitate an upgrade? With no new extras and an image transfer that is simply nice (without being exceptional in any way), it's a tough call. As with the BD release of titles like Into The Wild, Event Horizon and Ghost, Paramount is offering a $10 rebate if you already own the SD version. Amazon Compare

From: Paramount Home Video - Year: 2007 - Rated: R - Release Date: December 16, 2008 - Features: Anamorphic * Widescreen * - Recommended! Save for an HD trailer, the single disc Blu-Ray release doesn't include any extras not already found on the previous <a href="showreview.php3?ID=9927">two-disc SD version</a>. There wasn't really all that much there to begin with, so the tipping point is whether or not the image and audio enhancements merit a double-dip or not. The film remains a knockout, a gorgeous travelogue with a tragic coda that we all know is coming. One of my absolute favorites of the year, and highly recommended in whatever format you choose. If you already own the two-disc SD, the need to upgrade is marginal (unless you're a Blu-Ray completist). The good news is that this BD release can be had for less than $20. Amazon Compare

From: The Criterion Collection - Year: 1949 - Rated: Not Rated - Release Date: December 16, 2008 - Features: Extras! * - Recommended! Simply put, this is an excellent edition of a classic film. If you're a fan, you'll want to upgrade, and if you don't already have a copy, then you need to get one. I can’t say it much plainer than that. The Blu-ray version is occasionally striking, but overall the image quality is a bit disappointing. Amazon Compare

From: The Criterion Collection - Year: 1976 - Rated: R - Release Date: December 16, 2008 - Features: Widescreen * Extras! * - Recommended! One of the classic films of the 1970s, with a distinctive visual style and some great central performances, comes packed with many significant extras. Highly recommended. Amazon Compare

From: The Criterion Collection - Year: 1994 - Rated: R - Release Date: December 16, 2008 - Features: Anamorphic * Widescreen * DTS * Extras! * - Recommended! Revered director Wong Kar-wai's most accessible, purely enjoyable film, Chungking Express is romantic, thoughtful, sweet, and sad; a dreamlike vision of the happiness and heartache of the search for connection in a crowded, impersonal city. Criterion's second release from the director doesn't overwhelm you with supplements, but the movie says it all, even more clearly on Blu-ray. Amazon Compare

From: Warner Home Video - Year: 1964 - Rated: G - Release Date: December 02, 2008 - Features: Anamorphic * Widescreen * Overlong and a bit dull, the feature is saved from total disaster by the skills of the voice talent. The transfer is pretty good, but there are no extras at all. Amazon Compare

From: Warner Home Video - Year: 1943 - Rated: PG - Release Date: December 02, 2008 - Features: Extras! * - Recommended! A kiss may be a kiss, and a sigh is just a sigh, but movies are just plain better on Blu-ray, and an enduring classic like Casablanca is no exception. The sparkling high-def transfer infuses this Oscar-winning masterpiece with even more drama, style, romance, and intrigue than ever before, and Warner's elegantly appointed ultimate edition dresses up the film with a host of handsome collectibles. Sure, it's pricey, but this set is a must-own for serious film fans, a worthy upgrade from the standard DVD, and easily earns our highest and heartiest recommendation. Without question, you'll play it...again and again. Amazon Compare

From: New Video - Year: 1985 - Rated: Not Rated - Release Date: November 18, 2008 The spirit may move you from time to time in this cross-cultural, postmodern musical, but unfortunately it's too inconsistent and tepid to recommend. Amazon Compare

From: The Criterion Collection - Year: 1994 - Rated: PG-13 - Release Date: November 25, 2008 - Features: Anamorphic * Widescreen * DD 5.1 * Extras! * - Recommended! Revered director Wong Kar-wai's most accessible, purely enjoyable film, Chungking Express is romantic, thoughtful, sweet, and sad; a dreamlike vision of the happiness and heartache of the search for connection in a crowded, impersonal city. Criterion's second release from the director doesn't overwhelm you with supplements, but the movie says it all. Amazon Compare

From: Warner Home Video - Year: 2008 - Rated: PG-13 - Release Date: November 04, 2008 - Features: Anamorphic * Widescreen * DD 5.1 * Extras! * In a Hollywood full of unoriginal ideas and remakes, it’s nice to see one of these that actually gets it right for a change. It’s unfortunate that the star of Get Smart, Steve Carell, is restrained by the screenplay, but as an amusing, escapist action film, this remake delivers. Warner’s Blu-ray disc features above average audio, video, and extras, but this isn’t among one of the studios better HD efforts. Amazon Compare

From: Anchor Bay Entertainment - Year: 2008 - Rated: R - Release Date: December 02, 2008 - Features: Anamorphic * Widescreen * DD 5.1 * If the horrible artwork on the DVD cover doesn’t keep you away from the direct-to-DVD release, Lower Learning, hopefully the knowledge that you won’t laugh much, if at all, will. Despite a trio of semi-big names headlining the cast, this is a complete waste of time. Anchor Bay’s DVD is a solid effort though, thanks to above average audio and video, and a few extras as well. Amazon Compare

From: Warner Home Video - Year: 2008 - Rated: PG-13 - Release Date: December 09, 2008 - Features: Anamorphic * Widescreen * Extras! * - Recommended! Warner Bros. has delivered The Dark Knight in a beautiful Blu-ray, just in time for the holidays. And it's awesome. From the stunning picture quality and powerful True HD track to the satisfying assortment of extra material, this is a sublime release for one of the year's best films. There may be some controversy regarding the alternating aspect ratio, but believe me, it's hardly a distraction. I'm thrilled with this disc and it's hard to imagine any bat buff feeling differently. Amazon Compare

From: 20th Century Fox - Year: 2008 - Rated: PG-13 - Release Date: December 02, 2008 - Features: Anamorphic * Widescreen * DD 5.1 * Extras! * - Recommended! The theatrical run for this one came and went rather quickly, and poor word-of-mouth seemed to kill it off pretty quickly. The reality is, I Want To Believe plays much better at home, as it seems like an extended standalone episode from "the good seasons" of The X-Files. This two-disc set carries the theatrical and extended cuts of the film, and a healthy block of watchable extras (including an in-depth 85-minute documentary). An easy recommendation for any and all X-Files fans. Amazon Compare

From: DreamWorks - Year: 2008 - Rated: Not Rated - Release Date: November 18, 2008 - Features: Anamorphic * Widescreen * Extras! * - Recommended! Paramount's Blu-ray arrives in a perfect package. Not only is the movie flat out hilarious, but the high definition presentation is a total knockout. Beyond that you've got an amazing collection of extra materials. In short, Tropic Thunder is the perfect package. One of the most impressive releases of the year. Highly recommended. Amazon Compare

From: Kino on Video - Year: 1962 - Rated: Not Rated - Release Date: December 09, 2008 Behan's tale of prison life, the bleak fate of the condemned and the dehumanizing effects of the death penalty on others, makes a memorable appearance with Patrick McGoohan in the lead. Amazon Compare

From: First Look - Year: 2004 - Rated: R - Release Date: December 02, 2008 - Features: Anamorphic * Widescreen * Ambition is a wonderful thing, especially when it comes to science-fiction films. However, too much ambition can hurt a project, and that is the case with 2004’s Immortal. This good-looking misstep makes its Blu-ray debut in with a solid effort from First Look. Amazon Compare

From: The Criterion Collection - Year: 1952 - Rated: Not Rated - Release Date: November 18, 2008 - Features: Extras! * - Recommended! Although little known in America, Fanfan la tulipe is a good deal of rollicking fun, provided here with a beautiful transfer. Amazon Compare

From: The Criterion Collection - Year: 1965 - Rated: Not Rated - Release Date: November 25, 2008 - Features: Anamorphic * Widescreen * Extras! * - Recommended! The technical TLC and ample extras make this a worthy upgrade from the previous bare-bones release of the title. This remains a taut, well-crafted thriller from a time that can seem like eons ago, though we'll never tire of dangerous men doing possibly dastardly things under cover of night in the name of country. Amazon Compare

From: Warner Home Video - Year: 2008 - Rated: PG - Release Date: November 11, 2008 - Features: Anamorphic * Widescreen * Extras! * - Recommended! The Clone Wars arrives on Blu-ray with a solid slew of extras, great video quality and decent uncompressed audio. If you missed this in theaters and enjoy Star Wars then this is a title worth checking out. If only because it serves as a gateway to a potentially more interesting television series. Amazon Compare