New to Blu: Movies & Music > November 21-27

The Blu-ray 3D of Brave “might just be the animated 3D presentation of the year.

“Depth is outstanding, with rolling hills and deep woods that retreat to the horizon, storms that extend into the distance, old ruins that loom overhead and wrap around our feisty heroine, vast castle halls and cramped torch-lit passageways create a convincing sense of space and scale, and every last trip beyond the castle walls is one filled with awe.”

“It shouldn’t be a surprise that a movie that earned top marks in the 3D department also receives the highest of scores when it comes to its 2D presentation.

“Say what you will about the movie, but the fact remains that Brave is simply one of the most splendidly animated movies Pixar has ever produced.

“Its lush, natural worlds are presented in crystal clear clarity, with effervescent colours and painstaking detail.”

From the sublime to the ridiculous: the week’s only other multiplex newcomer, the teddy bear comedy for adults, Ted, goes on sale here ahead of the US and UK, along with the direct-to-disc High School (“for a title as unknown as this one I’m surprised it looks so good in HD”), The King is Dead, Chernobyl Diaries (“it’s kind of surprising how well the movie was photographed and the Blu-ray captures it nicely”), Lola Versus (“true to source and free of compression problems, authoring issues, and digital tinkering”), Yamada: The Way of the Samurai and Maximum Conviction (“picture quality isn’t sparkling, but the film gets a solid presentation with a strong transfer”).

Romper Stomper spearheads an unprecedented week for back-catalogue bargains that also includes: Arachnophobia, Beaches, Bringing Down the House, Cocktail, Cold Creek Manor, Dead Poets Society, Ed Wood, Good Morning Vietnam, Grosse Pointe Blank, High Fidelity, Hocus Pocus, Romy & Michele’s High School Reunion, the Sister Act and Princess Diaries movies, Sweet Home Alabama, The Color of Money, The Hand That Rocks the Cradle, The Horse Whisperer, The Rocketeer, Under the Tuscan Sun, While You Were Sleeping and Ransom.

There’s also a bonanza of animated and natural history 3D releases, old and new: Coral Reef, Polar Bears, Amazing Ocean, Rainforest, Safari, Monsters vs Aliens, How to Train Your Dragon, Megamind, and the Shrek and Kung Fu Panda movies.

New on 2D Blu-ray are Disney’s Basil the Great Mouse Detective, Home on the Range and Pete’s Dragon.

This week’s concert Blu-rays include Paul McCartney: Live Kisses, The Doobie Brothers: Let the Music Play and An Evening With Peter Frampton.