Blu-Ray Feature: 2010 High-Def Holiday Gift Guide

Printer-friendly versionE-mail page to friendPDF version

For Serious Couch Potatoes:

“24: The Complete Series” & “Lost: The Complete Collection”

As the incredibly-lackluster 2010-2011 season continues to drone on without producing a single exciting new network hit, I think we’re going to miss “24” and “Lost” even more than we normally would as the calendar switched over. “Lost” is available now on Blu-ray in a gorgeous complete collection or standalone season sets and “24” will be available DVD-only on December 7th (you can also buy the eighth and final season in HD on the same day). As more and more creative voices head to cable with shows like “The Walking Dead” and “Boardwalk Empire,” it seems less and less likely that we will see programs like “24” and “Lost” on network TV again. As “American Idol” works its way through another dull season and the networks realize that there’s not one new hit on their schedules, your loved one will be happy to be able to watch “24” and “Lost” instead of the programs death-marching to cancellation. (“Lost” is available now and “24,” both the complete series and eighth season standalone, will be released on December 7th, 2010.)

“Deadwood: The Complete Series”

HBO’s brilliant “Deadwood” has been chosen for induction into the complete series Blu-ray catalog of the most important TV network in the last twenty years. The 36 episodes of Milch’s brilliant deconstruction of the TV Western have been segmented on 13 discs — four per season and a disc of bonus material. Essentially, this is nothing more than an HD translation of what was released two years ago on standard disc. If you’re still dreaming of that oft-rumored movie that would tie up all the loose ends of this canceled-too-soon program than you’ll have to keep dreaming. Everything you’d find in the individual season sets have been imported to the complete series set along with the new special features available on the 2008 release. The best of that set was “The Meaning of Endings,” a 23-minute discussion with Milch about the controversial end of the show in which the creators walks the set and talks about where he was planning to go in season four. The other features on the extra disc include “The Real Deadwood: Out of the Ashes”, “Q&A With Cast and Creative Team”, “Deadwood 360 Tour”, and “Al Swearengen Audition Reel (as performed by Titus Welliver)”

“The Pacific”

HBO’s “Band of Brothers” has been an annual bestseller around the holiday season, first on DVD and now on Blu-ray, and it seems virtually impossible that their equally-notable “The Pacific,” now on Blu-ray and DVD, would not follow it up the charts and turn out to be one of the most-given HD gifts of the upcoming season. With perfect HD picture and sound, fascinating special features, and one of the best mini-series in the history of television, this is a highlight of a very-impressive season for Blu-ray. “The Pacific” is simply spectacular. The winner of an amazing eight Emmys, including Outstanding Mini-Series, “The Pacific” is really in a class of its own. It is much more than a mere shadow or duplication of “Band of Brothers.” With only two episodes per disc, the compression on “The Pacific” is so minimal that the HD transfer looks even more ridiculously good than you’d expect. And the sound mix is shattering. Turn it up loud and let it rattle your bones. A mini-series like this one is supposed to shake you. “The Pacific” may be just the story of a few people but it is relatable to many. It is a historical document that also feels remarkably timely. Don’t miss it. Don’t fail to own it. Not only is TV this rare something that should be treasured but you will have a tough time finding a better Blu-ray TV box set this season. “The Pacific” stands alone.

“Twilight Zone: Season 2”

“The Twilight Zone” helped shape science fiction of all forms, not just television. It’s one of the most influential programs of all time and most episodes have held up incredibly well. There aren’t many programs from the early ’60s for which a shot-for-shot remake could air in 2010 and still be devastatingly effective. You can say that about most episodes of “The Twilight Zone.” What are the highlights of season two, which ran from 1960 to 1961? “The Eye of the Beholder,” “Nick of Time,” “The Night of the Meek,” “The Invaders,” “The Odyssey of Flight 33,” “Long Distance Call,” “Will the Real Martian Please Stand Up?,” and “The Obsolete Man.” “Beholder” and “Invaders” are two of the most influential half-hours of TV ever. As for notable current-and-future stars of ‘60-‘61, season two included William Shatner, Art Carney, Agnes Moorehead, Buddy Ebsen, Cliff Robertson, and the great Burgess Meredith. Like the first season release, the special features provided are simply mind-blowing. Not only are the previously-available special features included along with a ton of amazing archival material (often just wonderfully-inserted into watching the episodes themselves, such as when a brief spot for the new “The Andy Griffith Show” plays between episodes as you’re watching them back-to-back) but hours of exclusive blu-ray material has been included. Highlights of the new material include a 1953 episode of the series “Suspense” called “Nightmare at Ground Zero” that was written by Serling and 15 radio dramas featuring from Twilight Zone Radio featuring current actors reading/acting old dramas including Jim Caviezel, Jason Alexander, Ed Begley Jr., Fred Willard, Jane Seymour, Henry Rollins, and more. The dramas go for $1.95 a piece online so that’s technically a $30 special feature. And it’s just the beginning. 25 new audio commentaries have been recorded featuring historians and experts on the show along with writer/directors, producers, and more. Combined with the old commentaries and vintage audio recollections, it’s hard to think of another show that’s been so dissected and discussed in one release.