Why So Blu?

Gregg’s Top 10 Bodacious Blu-rays of 2012

I couldn’t sum up the Blu-ray releases of 2012 better than Brian White’s article in which he mentioned standouts such as the Bond collection, Universal Monsters and so on. It’s almost as if the studios got together and said, “Hey, if the world does end on 12/21/12, we better go out with a bang.” Had that fictional conversation took place, they certainly lived up to their aspirations. It was definitely much easier assembling a list of top 10 cinema releases this year than it was Blu-rays.  Now onto the rankings!

10.  Drive – I first saw this movie on a whim at a $2 theater up the street from me.  Two hours later I was enamored with it.  Though the role didn’t require a lot of diversity, Ryan Gosling did well as the stoic Driver character.  The film excelled at building a lot of tension in a short amount of time while unleashing it with some impressive ferocity.  The supporting cast couldn’t have been better, and yes, the scorpion jacket is pretty kick ass.  What’s the only thing that could make Drive better?  Drive on Blu-ray of course.

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9.  The Big Bang Theory (Season 1) – There were three seasons of TBBT released on Blu-ray this year; those being 1, 2 and 5.  While all provided a library of laughter, it was the show’s inaugural season that impressed me the most.  The interaction of four intelligent, nerdy friends and a hot neighbor was best executed here, though that’s not to cast off seasons 2 and 5.  This wasn’t an easy pick of the three, but a confident one when the day is over.

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8.  The Sting – My dad introduced me to this film years ago and I was hooked from the start.  Paul Newman and Robert Redford combine with an impressive cast in this who-can-out-con-who 1973 film from Universal.  It’s the 1930’s and one mafia boss (Robert Shaw) intends to grow his underworld wealth on the streets of Chicago.  The only thing standing in his way are a couple of guys who’ve got more stock in the clever department than they know what to do with.  It’s a brilliantly written script combined with some equally impressive acting.  The Sting is a classic, pure and simple.

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7.  The Artist – Had I seen this in the theaters in 2011 when it was released, my top 10 cinema list from last year would have a different look to it.  Nevertheless, the Blu-ray didn’t escape my notice and all I can say is this movie is worthy of every single Oscar it won.  It’s a beautiful film that took a lot of courage to make.  A silent film in the 21st century?  Why?  Because somebody decided to be original, artistic and innovative.  The ending was unexpected and put a smile on this reviewer’s face that stuck from the roll of the credits to when the lights came on.

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6.  Singin’ in the Rain – I’m generally not a fan of musicals, but when something gets labeled as the best of its kind, it’s usually a good idea to check it out.  Where my dad showed me The Sting, it was my mom who introduced me to Singin’ in the Rain.  I mean she has raved about this movie for decades, literally!  So if you are not impressed by Gene Kelly, there is something wrong with you.  The guy was a triple-threat in show business, which is a rarity today.  He could act, sing and dance…wow could he dance.  The best way to describe this film is ‘fun’.  Co-starring Debbie Reynolds and Donald O’Connor, the trio bring us a humorous tale of Hollywood with one starlet’s attempt to make it big.  Throw in a little romantic vibe for good measure and a whole lot of incredible dancing.  Reynolds knew nothing of tap dance before this movie, yet she looks like a seasoned vet.  O’Connor, if you watch carefully, delivers a routine that contains choreography found in today’s breakdancing.  Then there’s Kelly.  What else can I say?  The guy’s an inspiration.

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5.  The Avengers – If you want an action flick full of flavor, here’s your drug.  The movie was an absolute smash-fest that didn’t disappoint and made an impressive, though not surprising, transition to Blu-ray.  Did I mention one of the versions released came with a digital copy?  Amen to that.  Boo on Ultraviolet.  Robert Downey Jr. and crew combine for some great chemistry and riveting action in this superteam Marvel extravaganza that didn’t disappoint.  Hey is it possible to wear out a disc from too many viewings?  Nah, didn’t think so.

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4.  Game of Thrones (Season 1) – I remember earlier this year trading praise with fellow writer Sean Ferguson about this show in March as I watched every episode in complete awe.  What an incredible show.  Sadly, you can be certain you won’t be seeing its sophomore season on my list this time next year as that was quite disappointing.  Whereas season 2 was just a constant build-up to the following week, season 1 brought the goods each and every episode.  The acting is top notch, the writing was outstanding and the twists were magnificent.  The production team didn’t slouch on the financial aspects of this series either, but how they did it on the suprisingly low budget of roughly $60 million is impressive. Oh, and by the way, let’s not forget that as this is December, it inevitably means “Winter is coming.”

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3.  E.T. – I still remember the day I saw this movie in theaters when I was 5 years old.  I still remember crying uncontrollably at the end as my parents reminded me it was just a movie.  Hey, give me a break.  I was 5!  This film will always stick with me for the relationships it established within its story and the creativity which was brought forth from director Steven Spielberg.  There is no arguing the place this movie has in cinematic history.

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2.  Jaws – This movie went through a tedious restoration process that has shown through on every possible level in its Blu-ray birth.  The colors are lush, the sound enveloping, the shark is still hungry and the story as riveting as it is every year I watch it.  The extras proved to be pretty impressive as well.  Not only that, but digital copy is in high def.  Brilliant!  There are a few movies I waited a long time for to come out on Blu-ray and this was one of them.  To say I wasn’t disappointed was the understatement of the year.  Even Spielberg said the movie looks better now than when it first came out 37 years ago.

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1.  Indiana Jones: The Complete Adventures – Maybe there’s an unfair advantage here because it’s a four-film bundle.  Who cares?  Even with the criticism Kingdom of the Crystal Skull received, I still enjoyed it and the franchise has gone down as one of the most popular in the history of film.  The score is one of the most recognizable of any movie.  It is the role, arguably, that most recognize Harrison Ford for and the adventures fulfill our imaginations and excitement like few others.  My personal favorite of the bunch is The Last Crusade, but these are all timeless movies, with Raiders of the Lost Ark setting numerous standards in filmmaking.  The movies look brilliant and Indy lives on in high def!  This is probably the first and only time you’ll ever see the same director claim the top 3 spots, let alone 3 in a row, on any list of mine.  That’s just how damn good Steven Spielberg is at his trade.

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And that, folks, is another year of 1080p in the books here at Why So Blu.  It was unquestionably the most difficult Blu-ray list I’ve had to assemble to date, primarily due to the exceptional content that was released on the format this year.  Jaws made a very strong case for that top spot and a few others that didn’t make the list were jockeying for position.  There were classics from years past, 2011 cinema releases that saw the light of Blu-ray in 2012, and then there were those 2012 films that came out on Blu-ray before December made its exit.  Stay tuned for more Top 10 lists here at Why So Blu during the rest of the month!

Happy Holidays!