James Bond Vol. 1 & 2
When it comes to Bond you should do exactly what the makers of Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace did: Start at the beginning. Seriously, hopping into a latter day Pierce Brosnan opus will provide no clue as to what all the fuss was about outside of a godlike N64 game.
These two volumes cover four decades of 007, containing Dr No, Live and Let Die, and Die Another Day on Volume One, and From Russia with Love, Thunderball and For Your Eyes Only (for those taking score, that’s one Brosnan, two Roger Moores and three glorious Sean Connerys).
Above: Hell yes that’s a boat transforming!
The franchise is MGM’s baby, but it’s still remarkable how goddamned good these restorations look in 1080p. There were moments in Dr No and From Russia with Love that look as though they were shot last year, and merely set in the sixties. You can even count Connery’s back hairs should you feel like it (242). Not only is it a shame every film doesn’t get treated this way, Blu-rays of movies made eight months old should be embarrassed when looking at these transfers.
Above: Smooooth Podiatry
Bestest Bonus: Just about everything from the Ultimate Box set, only now on half the discs.
Sleeping Beauty 50th Anniversary
The first classic Disney feature in High Definition, and probably the greatest presentation of an animated 2D film we’ve ever seen. Even if you own it already, this is the first time since its 1959 release most of us will ever get to see it in its original form (2:55:1 in the fabulously defunct Super Technirama 70 format for the widest aspect ratio EVAR!)
Fairy tale phobic? Then we implore you to focus on the on the pig demons, drunken antics, and climactic clash with a dragon. Lady Maleficent proved to be a cut above your average villain (menacing enough to reprise the role in Kingdom Hearts series), and it’s all brought to you in an art style that sets it apart from every other Disney film. Best of all, Sleeping Beauty comes to you on two discs so content enriched (in HD!) you’ll forget the movie is only 75 minutes long.
Bestest Bonus: A virtual walkthrough of the long-disassembled Sleeping Beauty Disneyland attraction. Yes, some of us are drooling Disneyphiles.
Contains Digital Copy! (A standard-def DVD)
Firefly: The Complete Series
Oh goodness, where to start? It’s hard to gush any more about the bittersweet triumph that is Joss Whedon’s space western. Either you’ve seen it, love it, and will snatch up this Blu-ray sight unseen, or you’re sick of hearing your friends telling you to watch it. We’ll refrain... but you should! You really, really should.
Even with humanity in the toddler phase of universal colonization, Firefly managed to avoid going the melodramatic sci-fi route, and instead crams every episode with small, meaningful scenarios, hilariously endearing characters, and better action sequences than you’re likely to see on television nowadays. It’s no wonder Fox chose this series for one of its first forays into high-def TV, because we can’t think of a title more deserving to fill your widescreens than this wonderful Blu-ray treatment of a show too beautiful to live.
Bestest Bonus: New-to-Blu features include an all new commentary and a sitdown with Joss, Wash, Book and Captain Tight Pants.
