[youtube width="480" height="295"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGn4IN_rY74[/youtube]

All of this while:

• Disc costs are seeing signs of going down
• Discs ARE more durable than DVDs
• Disc waits are still higher than DVD for many

This is a money grab pure & simple. The response hasn’t been  pretty so far and it is definitely more angry than the previous $1 hike. I hope they rethink this plan, but personally, I’m questioning what to do at this point… Drop Blu-ray, reduce to 2 discs out at a time, go iTunes rental path, or simply absorb the cost increase…

Hmmm…lousy handling of the situation in a down economy…

How is that people still rate Blu-ray discs down on Amazon because it won’t play in they’re DVD player?

The marketing has been everywhere. Amazon has had the following on the top of each Blu-ray page for a VERY long time:

IMPORTANT NOTICE: This disc is a high-definition disc and is compatible only with Blu-ray players. It will not play on a standard DVD player.

Sometimes I just don’t understand people. Why is it so hard for average people to pick up on new technology? I know I’m not a “normal” consumer, but I’m curious what I’m missing here. Is it just that people don’t read before buying? The discs are freaking expensive enough that I know I’d read the details before blowing $20 without knowing if it would work.

Just confused and a bit frustrated…

The general idea is that Shia LaBeouf and Michelle Monaghan play strangers who through thoroughly unbelievable circumstances are forced into running from the law & military by a unknown individual that seems to control all technology around them. I won’t spoil the plot that truly stretched my willingness to suspend disbelief, but suffice it to say, not all is at appears and more is uncovered by supporting actors such as Rosario Dawson and Billy Bob Thornton.

The movie is a heavy handed attempt to prey on the fear of surveillance, the Patriot Act, and the current climate of guilty until proven innocent. However, it isn’t terribly intelligent in handling these issues. I think many theatergoers, probably missed some of the point.

On the positive side, I think Shia LeBeouf’s acting is improving. Now don’t misunderstand me, he’s not likely to be winning any awards for the performance, but I thought it was somewhat more believable than I have seen from him previously…

All in all, not a great movie, but somewhat entertaining…maybe worth a watch on a quiet night?

Movie poster courtesy of the Internet Movie Poster Awards.

Because we have to chase him.  Because he’s the hero Gotham deserves, but not the one it needs right now. So, we’ll hunt him because he can take it; because he’s not our hero. He’s a silent guardian, a watchful protector, a dark knight.

I just finished watching my new Blu-ray of The Dark Knight. I do love this movie and as I twittered earlier, between this, Iron Man, and WALL-E, we’ve had an amazing year for fun, interesting movies. I love the above lines from Commissioner Gordon in the last minutes of the movie. I think they could’ve come off as really cheesy, but Gary Oldman delivers the lines wonderfully.

The Blu-ray is beautiful. Some had commented that the flipping of aspect ratios between the typical film scenes and the IMAX scenes was distracting, but I didn’t notice the transition. When I was looking for it, I could obviously see it occur, but it wasn’t problematic at all. I haven’t dug into the special features or BD Live content yet, but I’m sure I will in the coming days/weeks.

All in all, I’m thrilled to be able to watch this again and in such amazing video quality is a treat.

I just got done putting together a train table for Ben’s Christmas. One of the boards under the center of the table split when being screwed together I don’t think it is a terribly load barring board, so I’m just going to call the company (Toys ‘R Us’ Imaginarium line) to get a replacement part. On the whole, I don’t think any of the train table brands are that well made, but hopefully this one will work for him. Now, I have to see how the train track (also Imaginarium) will work and likely add some pieces from the Thomas the Tank Engine universe.

While putting everything together, I watched “The Pixar Story” documentary on the 2nd WALL-E Blu-ray disc. I’ve been wanting to see this film for a couple of years now and I must say it didn’t disappoint. It’s not a hard hitting look nor a is it a puff piece. Presented in HD where available, it’s an exciting look into Pixar’s history from before any of the principal’s joined together to when it was a division under Lucas to the eventual sale to Steve Jobs. I loved all of the behind the scenes informal video and I think if I had more mathematical or artist talent I would have loved heading down that path. Oh…to have life in front of me again as Ben does today…

I only hope that I can adequately introduce him to my love of art, technology, animation, and all things Disney/Pixar.

Disney has announced a slate of movies to build out its Platinum Blu-ray line: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Fantasia, Fantasia 2000, Pinocchio, and Beauty and the Beast. Also, the Pixar film Finding Nemo will be released in 2009 (it was originally to come out this fall). They didn’t announce a schedule or an order that the films will arrive, but as a whole, the group looks good.

Yes, the story also mentions From Dusk ‘Til Dawn, but that was is definitely the less interesting title to me and the October date has changed to early 2009 in the updated story. I can’t wait to see Sin City in some truly high-def goodness. Seriously, this film rocks and I own the super-duper DVD set that has the extended cuts and I would still double-dip to get this one assuming the quality is BD-50 1080p with HD or lossless audio and the previous extras intact. It is just an amazing stylistic experience, but not for the squeamish.