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DVD & Blu-ray

UK DVD & Blu-ray Releases: Monday 14th November 2011

DVD & BLU-RAY PICKS

Touch of Evil (Eureka): Orson Welles’ classic 1958 film noir is about a Mexican narcotics cop (Charlton Heston) who investigates the death by car bomb of a wealthy American businessman on the US side of the border (one of the great opening scenes in film history). Co-starring Janet Leigh, Welles himself and Marlene Dietrich, Universal screwed up the original release (why remains a mystery) but have redeemed themselves by providing masters for this Blu-ray release. This includes five variants of the film, in different aspect ratios: the 1958 theatrical version in both 1.37:1 and 1.85:1, the 1958 preview version in 1.85:1, and the 1998 reconstructed version in 1.37:1 and 1.85:1. [Buy it on Blu-ray from Amazon UK]

Silent Running (Eureka): Douglass Trumbull’s 1972 sci-fi set in a distant future, where all of Earth’s remaining plant life is preserved in vast greenhouse-like domes orbiting in space. When the man in charge (Bruce Dern) refuses to obey orders and destroy them, he begins a voyage into the unknown accompanied only by the ships robotic drones. Featuring an excellent lead performance from Dern and clever visual effects, this remains a rare glimpse of sci-fi in the pre-CGI era. The HD transfer looks great and there are some notable extras. [Click here for our full review] [Buy it on Blu-ray from Amazon UK]

Page One: A Year Inside the New York Times (Dogwoof): Andrew Rossi’s documentary exploring a year inside America’s most famous newspaper is an interesting insight into one of the world’s key media institutions. Filmed during a year of crisis, as the transition from print to digital bites hard on the economics of newspapers, it also functions as a memorable portrait of media writer David Carr. [Click here to listen to our interview with Andrew Rossi] [Buy it on DVD from Amazon UK]

ALSO OUT

Beginners (Universal Pictures) [Blu-ray / Normal]
Blue in the Face (Miramax) [Blu-ray / Normal]
Bridesmaids (Universal Pictures) [Blu-ray / Normal]
Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (Miramax) [Blu-ray / Normal]
Cop Land (Miramax) [Blu-ray]
Farscape: The Complete Seasons 1-4 (Go Entertain) [Blu-ray / Box Set]
IMAX: Dinosaurs Collection (BPDP) [Blu-ray / 3D Edition]
IMAX: Wonders of the World Collection (BPDP) [Blu-ray / 3D Edition]
Kung Fu Panda 2 (Paramount Home Entertainment) [Blu-ray / Normal]
Larry Crowne (StudioCanal) [Blu-ray / Normal]
Marley and Me 2 – The Puppy Years (20th Century Fox Home Ent.) [Blu-ray / Normal]
Outrage (StudioCanal) [Blu-ray / Normal]
Quadrophenia (Universal Pictures) [Blu-ray / Normal]
The Coen Brothers Blu-ray Collection (Universal Pictures) [Blu-ray / Box Set]
The Firm (Paramount Home Entertainment) [Blu-ray / Normal]
Toy Story (Walt Disney) [Blu-ray / 3D Edition]
Toy Story 2 (Walt Disney) [Blu-ray / 3D Edition]
Toy Story 3 (Walt Disney) [Blu-ray / 3D Edition]

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