New to Blu: December 14-20

The Angelina Jolie spy thriller, Salt, lands on Blu-ray Wednesday with two extended cuts: one by director Phillip Noyce, the other “unrated”.

Unusually, only a couple of reviews have been posted internationally so far.

AVForums thought the detail “very good throughout”, softness neglible and black levels strong and deep.

“Overall it is a splendid video presentation, not quite perfect, but also almost impossible to fault.”

“This wasn’t the most stunning transfer I’ve seen, but it usually looked fine,” was DVD Movie Guide’s verdict.

But it was more positive about the extras, which include three commentaries and a “Spy Cam” picture-in-picture track.

Critics were more divided over Scott Pilgrim vs the World’s transfer. Blu-rayDefinition.com rated the video 4.5/5 (“a thrilling vision, its candy colours enhanced with a variety of stylistic flourishes”) but Hi-Def Digest awarded it only 3.5/5 (“everything looks rather dim, washed out, and well… sad to say… sort of lifeless”).

Also new this week are Marmaduke; the direct-to-Blu-ray thriller, 4.3.2.1; the sequel to The Deal and The Queen, The Special Relationship; IMAX3D Dolphins and Whales – Tribes of the Ocean/Sharks/Ocean Wonderland; and Les Miserables – 25^th Anniversary Concert.