The Zone

Anybody else get this? I was surprised at how skimpy the extras were on disc two (and disc one), but at least most of it is in HD. What was interesting for the BLU RAY is the pseudo exclusion of the IMAX scenes in full frame as bonus features like the SD disc set. That's because the movie is a 2.35 to 1 cinemascope movie and the IMAX scenes all kicked in at full 16x9 frame (1.78 to 1). I didn't notice at all until the second time I looked at the disc. Similarly, I didn't notice the jumps in scenes when I saw it in IMAX at the theater too.

Anyone else wondering why there's no real interviews from the set or even much discussion about Heath Ledger? I would have at least liked to have seen some acknowledgment to his participating in the film and the contributions. It just seems a bit hallow without a true tribute to his performance.

Overall, it's a rockin' Blu Ray and one of the best releases yet.

** FYI - this is apt for the BLU RAY forum as it's a much more technical play on the format specific.

I was hoping to get this for Christmas but I guess everybody assumed somebody else was getting it for me. I'll pick it up eventually, but for now I'm biggity-broke.

I'll assume they skimp on the extras so that they can release more and more future editions of the same movie when sequels come out or whenever somebody comes up with a new cover design or something. I'd like Joel Schumacher to do a commentary track, that'd be interesting.

Spandau Belly wrote: I'd like Joel Schumacher to do a commentary track, that'd be interesting.

Why, so he can feel awful about what he did 10-14 years ago compared to this movie?

sonnyboo wrote:

Spandau Belly wrote: I'd like Joel Schumacher to do a commentary track, that'd be interesting.

Why, so he can feel awful about what he did 10-14 years ago compared to this movie?

Not really, H@rry actually suggested a brilliant idea of having all the guys who played James Bond do commentary tracks for each other's films and sharpshoot each other and stuff. And I kinda liked that idea.

I'm actually just interested in the perspectives of multiple artists who approach the same material.

sonnyboo wrote:Anybody else get this? I was surprised at how skimpy the extras were on disc two (and disc one), but at least most of it is in HD.

I said this about the DVD...but rubbish really. Seems they used "and hey look, more features" as a marketing ploy to get people to upgrade to BD. But it just makes the discs pale in comparison to those for Batman Begins.

And for the Blu-Ray, it seems like they've done the same thing to introduce BDLive.

What was interesting for the BLU RAY is the pseudo exclusion of the IMAX scenes in full frame as bonus features like the SD disc set.

And yet, we do have these. They good for an individual scene hit, but it's not like I'm going to keep going back to them just to watch a full-frame IMAX image.

Anyone else wondering why there's no real interviews from the set or even much discussion about Heath Ledger? I would have at least liked to have seen some acknowledgment to his participating in the film and the contributions. It just seems a bit hallow without a true tribute to his performance.

Nolan has addressed this. He wanted the discs to be the same as if Ledger had not died and rather than making lots of special memorial pieces Nolan thought his performance in the film would be the the best memorial.

So I finally picked up The Dark Knight on Blu-Ray and honestly, it's kinda got me turning slightly against the format again. I only got a bluray because they threw it in with this new television I bought but then I bought some movies for it and liked how they looked and was kinda embracing it, but fuck, from now on I'm only going to buy movies where I value the realism and not movies that I see for a romanticized universe. I got Apocalypto and that one plays great, but with The Dark Knight I just couldn't get over what shit everybody looks like. I was watching this movie and just kept thinking about how fucking ugly Maggie Gyllenhall was.

It's kinda like shakeycam, the way these shakeycam action movies like Bourne are easier to follow on the small screen (at least for me). When I'm in the cinema I'm always kinda overwhelmed no matter how far back I sit and I always notice more on home video, but with blu-ray they keep so much of the detail in tact and I'm just there counting the wrinkles on Aaron Eckhart's face and the blackheads and pimples around Maggie Gyllenhall's nose and these glamorous actors suddenly look like I do in the morning. I never found Gyllenhall remotely attractive, but she was actually grossing me out this time.

Anyway, it was still an enjoyable movie and all, but fuck, these actor people aren't as good-looking as we all thought. It makes me affraid to watch any movie on bluray that stars a chick I thought was really hot. The idea that Kate Winslet's Titanic clevage could get ruined for me is too much to bare.

I'll also add that I got this movie at Future Shop and they sometimes develope their own steel cases for big movies and so this one came in a cool steel case. So if my place ever goes up in flames I know that my copies of The Dark Knight, Planet Terror, Collateral, and Oldboy will survive which is actually probably a good small legacy to leave behind. I mean, I've thought about my mum having to sort out my shit if I were to die and coming over and getting to that bookcase I have devoted to pornography and it's kinda embarassing. And to think, I'm going to have to pack all that shit up and move it in a few months when I relocate for professional reasons.

Update:

All Maggie Gyllenhall discussion can be found here.

Spandau Belly wrote:

sonnyboo wrote:

Spandau Belly wrote: I'd like Joel Schumacher to do a commentary track, that'd be interesting.

Why, so he can feel awful about what he did 10-14 years ago compared to this movie?

Not really, H@rry actually suggested a brilliant idea of having all the guys who played James Bond do commentary tracks for each other's films and sharpshoot each other and stuff. And I kinda liked that idea.

I'm actually just interested in the perspectives of multiple artists who approach the same material.

Having watched a few of "Joel's" movies I can safely say I'm not interested in anything he has to say that isn't "I'm sorry".