http://www.audioholics.comWhere audio and video equipment undergoes rigorous objective and subjective tests by our staff, ensuring that marketing slogans aren't the only guidelines for your home theater choices.Thu, 17 May 2012 21:30:00 -0000http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/software/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-disc-reviews/season-witch-bdFrom a distance, the trailers and marketing materials announcing Dominic Sena's Season of the Witch indeed looked promising and perhaps beyond mildly entertaining – sure, the title shared the subhead of the 1980s franchise-breaker Halloween III: Season of the Witch, starring the great character actor Tom Atkins, but the clips of the film from pre-release shots and teasers suggested hyper-aggressive demons, CGI-endowed werewolves a la Van Helsing and some butt-kickin’ crusaders from the middle ages era doing justice the only way they know how. A couple of issues abounded, though – first of all, I didn’t see Nicolas Cage in this kind of film or role, but from what I gathered, he needed a quick payday due to some personal and financial issues. Alas, his performance in this justifies my reservations, as his dialogue delivery and overall presence just seems way out of place.Thu, 17 May 2012 21:30:00 -0000/reviews/software/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-disc-reviews/season-witch-bdBlu-ray Disc ReviewsMusic and Movieshttp://www.audioholics.com/reviews/software/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-disc-reviews/ghost-protocolTom Cruise, Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg and (in an all-too-brief role) Tom Wilkinson star in Brad Bird’s latest entry in the Mission Impossible franchise. To say nothing of the super- sexy Paula Patton who kicks tail with the best of the super-spies. Paramount’s Blu-ray release of Ghost Protocol proves to be pure eye and ear candy, with a near-reference Dolby TrueHD track and eye-popping 1080p transfer. This was a version that could shine on its own as a kinetic action film, able to be enjoyed by viewers outside the diehard fanbase of the previous Mission Impossible films in the franchise. Check out our comprehensive review of this Blu-ray disc. Fri, 27 Apr 2012 02:37:19 -0000/reviews/software/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-disc-reviews/ghost-protocolBlu-ray Disc ReviewsMusic and Movieshttp://www.audioholics.com/reviews/software/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-disc-reviews/the-townIf you liked the dynamic and ultimate flow of Boston-based thrillers and dramas, and appreciate the Irish neighborhood camaraderie between the often times violent young men that populate these towns, the movie "The Town " will be right up your alley. All the elements of those films are here – the heavy tattoos, the gold chains, the tough guy sweat suit outfits, the regular stream of vulgarities spoken with a thick Massachusetts tongue…it was far from a bad film, but I’m not quite sure it was one of the best films of the year. The Blu-ray quality video and audio experience on this disc should prove quite satisfying as well. Sat, 26 Feb 2011 03:02:30 -0000/reviews/software/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-disc-reviews/the-townBlu-ray Disc ReviewsMusic and Movieshttp://www.audioholics.com/reviews/software/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-disc-reviews/the-pacific-blu-ray-reviewWhen it comes to World War II, the war in the Pacific rarely gets the kind of attention bestowed on the European theater. They fought on nameless dots of land upon an endless ocean in an alien terrain and the Marines fought a brutal war against a relentless enemy more than prepared and all too ready to die for his cause. Their battle is equally as important as any in the War and is deserving of equal attention. HBO Films and the makers of Band of Brothers have saved their best effort for the war in The Pacific. Their ten-part presentation, made with an estimated $150 million budget, has won 8 Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Miniseries – it easily ranks as the most important television of 2010.Thu, 21 Oct 2010 08:55:00 -0000/reviews/software/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-disc-reviews/the-pacific-blu-ray-reviewBlu-ray Disc ReviewsMusic and Movieshttp://www.audioholics.com/reviews/software/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-disc-reviews/iron-man-2Comic fans rejoice as Iron Man 2 delivers in both plot and the A/V experience. Video in our option wasn't quite up to reference standards but the DTS-HD Master Audio track is the defacto demo disc in terms of LFE assault for the Blu-ray format thus far. Iron Man faces a formidable foe that will give your home theater system quite a workout. For those who have not seen this film in the theaters, be warned that this review contains a comprehensive plot analysis. Be sure to watch the closing credits for a sneak peak of the up and coming Avengers movie. Wed, 20 Oct 2010 16:34:53 -0000/reviews/software/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-disc-reviews/iron-man-2Blu-ray Disc ReviewsMusic and Movieshttp://www.audioholics.com/reviews/software/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-disc-reviews/inglourious-basterdsCinema aficionados especially would have thought that with Quentin Tarantino behind the lens, a subject as wildly controversial as wiping out Nazis in WWII by a rogue band of Judaic super soldiers would yield an unforgettable experience. And while Tarantino's Inglorious Basterds is entertaining in select areas and moments, it just didn't deliver the tactile punch I was expecting, instead punctuated with drawn-out subtitle-ridden dialogue sequences and other elements that just became tiring to view. But how did the Blu-ray release fare? Read our comprehensive review to find out.Thu, 09 Sep 2010 23:55:00 -0000/reviews/software/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-disc-reviews/inglourious-basterdsBlu-ray Disc ReviewsMusic and Movieshttp://www.audioholics.com/reviews/software/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-disc-reviews/cop-out-blu-ray-reviewI don’t know what to say here. I suppose if there is nothing on the Blockbuster or Hollywood Video shelves to rent, give Cop Out a try. I always thought Morgan was hysterical on Saturday Night Live, but Willis is simply odd here. Couple that with a laughable plot – even for a “spoof” project – and the confusion over exactly what this film was supposed to actually be about, and you have a real head-scratcher when it comes to Kevin Smith’s Cop Out. This isn’t one I will personally be adding to my collection shelf, but as always, your mileage may vary.Fri, 27 Aug 2010 03:27:30 -0000/reviews/software/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-disc-reviews/cop-out-blu-ray-reviewBlu-ray Disc ReviewsMusic and Movieshttp://www.audioholics.com/reviews/software/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-disc-reviews/clash-of-the-titansAs far as remakes go, Clash of the Titans was a solid effort in my opinion but I am not sure I'd buy this disc. While not bad per se in any sense of the word, Clash of the Titans wasn’t quite reference material in the audio, video or plot departments. It can however provide a great night of family entertainment worthy of renting and giving your A/V system a good workout thanks to the DTS HD 5.1 soundtrack and HD 1080p video. The CGI effects in this remake really make the original movie classic look cheesy in comparison.Thu, 12 Aug 2010 01:55:00 -0000/reviews/software/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-disc-reviews/clash-of-the-titansBlu-ray Disc ReviewsMusic and Movieshttp://www.audioholics.com/reviews/software/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-disc-reviews/crouching-tiger-hidden-dragon-blu-rayFilled with gorgeous outdoor sets featuring wildly varying Chinese terrain lay a mythic story that seems torn from the pages of a half remembered fairy tale. In Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon Ang Lee explores traditional Chinese cultural mores, unrequited love, class division, empowered women in a patriarchal society - and of course some of the best Wuxia martial arts action ever put to film! An unforgettable journey is brought to crisp, high definition life through Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon on Blu-ray.Mon, 26 Jul 2010 19:40:00 -0000/reviews/software/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-disc-reviews/crouching-tiger-hidden-dragon-blu-rayBlu-ray Disc ReviewsMusic and Movieshttp://www.audioholics.com/reviews/software/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-disc-reviews/brooklyns-finestI came out of watching Brooklyn’s Finest with just disappointment; I really expected better. It wasn’t a terrible film in the least, but it wasn’t memorable to me either. While entertaining, though, it falls short of a real memorable cinematic experience – and those of you who have seen and have a great affection for Antoine Fuqua’s awesome Training Day will know what I am talking about almost instantly. I for one don’t see repeat viewings being necessary for a permanent purchase for my own collection, and that’s all I can offer from my perspective – your mileage, as always, may vary.Sat, 24 Jul 2010 20:45:21 -0000/reviews/software/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-disc-reviews/brooklyns-finestBlu-ray Disc ReviewsMusic and Movieshttp://www.audioholics.com/reviews/software/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-disc-reviews/passengers-on-blu-rayPassengers on Blu-ray is set to be released on May 12, but we'd be very surprised to see copies of this relatively unknown film rushing off the shelves. The hype around Passengers was minimal at best, which is surprising, given Hollywood "It" girl and every woman's favorite leading lady Anne Hathaway has the starring role. Mon, 11 May 2009 14:25:00 -0000/reviews/software/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-disc-reviews/passengers-on-blu-rayBlu-ray Disc ReviewsMusic and Movieshttp://www.audioholics.com/reviews/software/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-disc-reviews/into-the-wild-hd-dvdInto the Wild is among the last round of Paramount HD DVD releases. The Golden Globe winning movie tells the story of a young man who tried to escape civilization. It turns out to be one of the great road movies with a captivating musical soundtrack.Mon, 10 Mar 2008 21:38:46 -0000/reviews/software/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-disc-reviews/into-the-wild-hd-dvdBlu-ray Disc ReviewsMusic and Movieshttp://www.audioholics.com/reviews/software/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-disc-reviews/eastern-promises-hd-dvdAcademy Award Nominee Viggo Mortensen teams up for second time with director David Cronenberg for Eastern Promises a hard hitting crime thriller. This HD DVD review contains no spoilers! I highly recommend this film to anyone who likes action movies, thrillers, mystery or even art-house cinema, this film fits somewhere between them all. The HD transfer is brilliant and the multi-channel surround sound is well done.Tue, 22 Jan 2008 19:13:10 -0000/reviews/software/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-disc-reviews/eastern-promises-hd-dvdBlu-ray Disc ReviewsMusic and Movieshttp://www.audioholics.com/reviews/software/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-disc-reviews/transformers-hd-dvdOnce upon a time there were plastic Japanese toys that changed from cars into robots. Now we have huge blockbuster movies that change our childhood toys into reality! Ok, maybe not reality, but the latest Transformers movie does a pretty good job with the flashy animation and popcorn flick thrills. Drop in a kid, a hot girl, some good one-liners, and Michael Bay as the director and you'll get this summer's biggest movie on a plastic disc that's sure to please. Thu, 25 Oct 2007 20:19:25 -0000/reviews/software/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-disc-reviews/transformers-hd-dvdBlu-ray Disc ReviewsMusic and Movieshttp://www.audioholics.com/reviews/software/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-disc-reviews/we-were-soldiersI nabbed the We Were Soldiers HD DVD early on since it was a pairing of Randall Wallace and Mel Gibson. That's as good as calling it Braveheart II as far as I'm concerned. It turns out the HD DVD video quality wasn't all I had expected (OK, it was downright disappointing), but we'll get into more of that that below.Wed, 29 Aug 2007 15:09:25 -0000/reviews/software/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-disc-reviews/we-were-soldiersBlu-ray Disc ReviewsMusic and Movieshttp://www.audioholics.com/reviews/software/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-disc-reviews/batman-begins-hd-dvdIf ever a movie was created to tap into the depths of just how far a DLP or LCD projector can go with regard to black levels you would think it was Batman Begins. Full of scene after scene of dark, detailed imagery, this movie is a veritable smörgåsbord of test clips for just how low your projector will go. Combined with an audio track that will throw you back in your seat, Batman Begins is a wild ride for both sight and sound.Tue, 28 Aug 2007 01:00:00 -0000/reviews/software/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-disc-reviews/batman-begins-hd-dvdBlu-ray Disc ReviewsMusic and Movieshttp://www.audioholics.com/reviews/software/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-disc-reviews/miami-vice-hd-dvdMiami Vice surprised me by being a "straight shooter" in the midst of a series of campy remakes that poked fun at their counterparts. As far as the technological side of the DVD, this is by far the most advanced HD DVD I've yet encountered. If you want to know what the menu system of an HD DVD can do, Miami Vice shows off quite a few of the features. The picture is beautiful, even though much of it is dark and shot in the evening when grain tends to creep into the film.Mon, 04 Jun 2007 21:47:20 -0000/reviews/software/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-disc-reviews/miami-vice-hd-dvdBlu-ray Disc ReviewsMusic and Movieshttp://www.audioholics.com/reviews/software/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-disc-reviews/departed-hd-dvd-reviewThe Departed is a film that captured our attention for several reasons. First off, as an Academy Award winner it stood out for its apparent merit as a film. Secondly, the number of A-list actors in the film are mind-blowing and I knew the film would be enjoyable regardless of plot due to the sheer presence of the talent on the screen. The last reason we chose this disc was due to the fact that surely for such an eventful film as a Scorsese masterpiece the audio and video quality must have been meticulously attended to in the mastering process to HD DVD.Tue, 29 May 2007 13:40:49 -0000/reviews/software/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-disc-reviews/departed-hd-dvd-reviewBlu-ray Disc ReviewsMusic and Movieshttp://www.audioholics.com/reviews/software/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-disc-reviews/audioholics-hd-dvd-review-methodologyThere are plenty of places reviewing HD-DVDs* these days, so why should Audioholics even bother? Well, we cruised around the web and the usual sources and found a distinct lack of technical information on the various discs with respect to audio and video quality. Since the entire point of HD DVD and Blu-ray Discs is to provide audio and video that far exceeds that of standard definition DVDs, it's important to focus on those aspects when reviewing the new format discs.Fri, 04 May 2007 16:03:59 -0000/reviews/software/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-disc-reviews/audioholics-hd-dvd-review-methodologyBlu-ray Disc ReviewsMusic and Movies