When I got my first DVD player, back in The Year 2000!, it came with several free movie offers. The first disc I got was Contact, the 1997 big screen adaptation of Carl Sagan’s novel, directed by Robert Zemeckis. It’s one of my favorite films. Last week, it was re-released on Blu-ray and one couldn’t ask for a better package.
The transfer of the movie itself is absolutely pristine, preserving the 1.85 theatrical aspect ratio and crisp detail of the original theatrical release. This is especially apparent in the majestic opening shot that takes us through the entire universe, as well as in the many sequences where the film switches between video-textured broadcasts and actual film.
Thankfully, the BD retains all of the bonus features from the original DVD. These include multiple feature-length audio commentaries by Jodie Foster, Robert Zemeckis & Steve Starkey, and Ken Ralston with another visual effects supervisor. There are also a number of featurettes that overview key visual effects shots. What’s great is that these features are now clearly presented whereas they were inconveniently buried in the original DVD’s awkward menu. Unique to the BD edition is a music-only audio track. (I am a huge fan of composer Alan Silvestri’s work and fully intend to sit through the whole movie, listening to this track.)
Another detail which I personally like is that the movie begins playing directly upon loading the disc. It does not start with a menu. This is a forgotten attribute of early DVDs that I find very convenient.
It’s a superb Blu-ray disc of a film that deserves to be presented in this way. I highly recommend, nay, demand that you go out and purchase it right now.
I’m not sure what on earth is going on over at Rottentomatoes.com but the critical populace needs to take it easy on that free Kool-Aid the studios have been handing out. I mean how on earth can Angels & Demons and Night at the Museum 2 have a higher rating than Terminator Salvation? It barely has more then Dance Flick! Is Terminator really a bad movie, or are the critics forgetting that their supposed to write objectively about any movie regardless of how they feel about the project? I saw the movie last night, and as much as I hate using the phrase “It’s a definite crowd pleaser,” I would recommend it to anyone. You could feel the entire audience in the full theater holding on to their seats as the movie progressed, cheering & screaming at all the right moments. Sure, the 3rd act gets a little lame and slightly ridiculous, but come on, how much does a filmmaker have to do to please these critics? The first hour is brilliant & it contains some of the best effects and action sequences I have ever seen. Not to mention the nail biting tone, the sick score and all the great acting. Sam Worthington in particular rises above the entire cast.
Miles Watts is a tireless developer of independent short and feature films. Although Zomblogalypse is a total collaboration, in many ways he is the driving force behind the series. He cites Container by Lukas Moodysson, and Diary of the Dead by George A. Romero as the films which originally pushed him toward the concept of a zombie-themed web series.
Tony Hipwell met Miles three years ago when the two became co-workers at what he terms an “almost independent cinema” in York, UK, called City Screen. But it took them a year to become creative partners. Impressed by Miles’ ability to get things done, Tony increasingly participated as DoP (that’s DP for us American filmmakers and Director of Photography for everyone else in the world) on projects with him. On Zomblog, Tony designs, and keeps an eye on, the overall story arc for the series.
Hannah Bungard was Tony’s university classmate in a Theatre, Film and TV course.
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