Tag: dvds

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The Clone Wars S1 DVD/BLU-Ray rakes up good reviews

Now that season one of The Clone Wars has been released for a week on DVD and Blu-Ray, here’s what they’re saying:

  • Wired’s GeekDad likes the featurettes looking at the artwork, and says it is “definitely worth picking up.”
  • HD Room reviews the Blu-Ray, gives it 8.5 out of 10 with great video and replayability, thinking that this show has the best prequel-era stories.
  • iF Magazine selects it as DVD pick of the week, with the characters that you love, and new characters that are as fascinating as the familiar faces.
  • Blu-Ray.com gives it a 4 out of 5, with near-perfect video transfer, awesome featurettes, and says “the series itself has proven to be far more captivating, inventive, and entertaining than the feature film that bears its name.”
  • Den of Geek doesn’t review it, but shows off some exclusive concept art.

Looks like the release of season one is getting a good thumbs-up!

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New Clone Wars makes an early ‘Landing’

Landing at Point Rain

Just a reminder of tonight’s special showing of the new Star Wars: The Clone Wars episode, ‘Landing at Point Rain’ – the first of a four episode arc – debuting a few days early on Cartoon Network tonight at 8 PM (ET/PT). DVR users: My DVR didn’t have the updated scheduling from Cartoon Network, so be prepared to record whatever your schedule says is in that time slot (possibly “Destroy Build Destroy”). Or, if you’re patient, it’ll rerun on the regular time Friday.

StarWars.com sheds some light on this opening chapter in a larger story arc, hoping that the action to retake Geonosis is “intense as any live-action movie about the assault on Omaha Beach.” Leading into this story is a prelude script set before ‘Landing at Point Rain’, read at the Fan Days in Dallas and now available online. In addition to setting the stage for ‘Landing’, it wraps up the events of ‘Senate Spy’ with some wry banter.

Starwars.com also has put up the conclusion of the S1 box set tour. (Grant Imahara fed his box set to the rancor!)

Or, you can just say screw it all, stay on the computer, and become a fan of Dave Filoni on Facebook.

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The Clone Wars S1 DVD and Blu-Ray coming Tuesday!

The box set containing the complete first season of Star Wars: The Clone Wars comes out on DVD and Blu-Ray this Tuesday. StarWars.com starts a tour of the box set, looking at the contents of disc 1 – and showcasing the full cinematic aspect ratio used on this release, versus the broadcast version. There’s more picture to these moving pictures! The four disc set contains all 22 episodes of season 1, as well as seven extended director’s cuts, and a concept art book. The Blu-Ray version also comes with the Jedi Temple Archives bonus feature.

  • CinemaBlend has got some clips, including a trailer and some episode clips.
  • Monsters and Critics also takes a look, with a clip of their own.
  • BigPictureBigSound gives the Blu-Ray version 3.5 out of 4 stars, and says about some of the extended director’s cuts: “I was surprised more than once by the level of intensity… It’s not the Star Wars I grew up on, but taken on its own, The Clone Wars is a captivating long-term adventure.

So add it to the holiday list, folks!

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Battlestar Galactica: The Plan comes together… or falls apart…

Yesterday marked the release of the direct-to-DVD Battlestar Galactica: The Plan, directed by Edward James Olmos. Remember when the Cylons had a plan? Now you can see the events of BSG (especially seasons one and two), from the Cylon point of view. Here’s what the reviewers are saying:

  • Wired says not to put too much hope in this mediocre coda, which would more aptly be titled A Tale of Two Cavils.
  • Geeks of Doom loves the inner struggles among the Cylons, but feels that the flow is a bit off. However, they totally agree with Olmos’ proclamation that after seeing “The Plan”, you’ll want to re-watch BSG again to see how it all fits in. They also have a giveaway contest for “The Plan” DVDs.
  • Ellen Gray at philly.com likes when the Cylons try to be human… but wishes there was more of that.
  • Alan Sepinwall of the NJ Star-Ledger likes Dean Stockwell’s and Grace Park’s performances, but overall says, “As one small bit of bonus material tied to a classic series, it’s fun, but it doesn’t really stand on its own.”
  • FilmThreat calls it “a mess” that ends up with epic fail, but also closure for Boxy.
  • The Salt Lake Tribune gives it a brief C+, saying that diehard fans will enjoy it, and that’s about it.

Hyping “The Plan”, PopStar gets a few questions with Dean Stockwell about playing against himself and his views on a Quantum Leap reunion. UGO has a contest where you can win dinner with Admiral Adama, Edward James Olmos.

Overall, most reviews feel like “The Plan” is more like a series of deleted scenes than a coherent story.

Battlestar Galactica: The Plan is released today on DVD and Blu-Ray. Several reviewers note that it is unrated and contains sex and nudity, which will most likely be cut for the Syfy broadcast of it next year.

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Weekend poll: DVD vs. Blu-Ray vs. the internet

I’m not generally an early adopter when it comes to this sort of technology, so the recent focus on Blu-Ray has kind of thrown me for a loop. DVDs were certainly a vast improvement over VHS, but what’s so wonderful about Blu-Ray? (My TV is okay, but mere DVDs still look fantastic on my parent’s giant flat-screen.) And while I prefer to watch TV from my couch, I can’t deny that I’ll head to the internet if it has the shows I really want to see. (Though only if I really want them… I still haven’t watched any classic Star Trek.) So I was wondering about you guys… What are your preferred formats? Vote for as many that apply on the sidebar or beneath the cut. Continue reading “Weekend poll: DVD vs. Blu-Ray vs. the internet”

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Out this week: Robot Chicken, Menace Revealed, and?

Today is the day for Robot Chicken: Star Wars – Episode II DVDs! Hooray! Nothing out Wednesday but the Menace Revealed omnibus. Or..?

See, while StarWars.com and the various bookseller sites are telling me The Art of Star Wars: The Clone Wars won’t be out until fall, Diamond has it listed for Wednesday (twice: both versions?) under merchandise which means, presumably, coming to a comic store near you (if they ordered it.) Just for Comic-Con? Perhaps…

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First season collection of The Clone Wars coming to DVD and Blu-Ray on November 3

Bryan Young has the specs – and cover – on the set from Lucasfilm and Warner Home Video. Bonus features include seven Director’s Cut Episodes, featurettes for each episode (though that sounds like the ones we’ve already seen on StarWars.com,) and a 64-page production journal. The Blu-Ray version will also come with The Jedi Temple Archives, “An extensive database exploring test footage, early concept art, 3-D character and object turnarounds and early animation.”

The suggested retail price is $44.98 for DVD and $59.99 for Blu-ray.

ETA: On StarWars.com.