Clockwork Orange is one of the most appropriately violent films of all times, set to the music of Ludig von Beethoven. The book is marvelous and Kubrick’s version of the movie is a tour de force of psychology, witticism and violence. The story of an ultraviolent teenager, Alex, starts with a rape scene and a gang fight. Anthony Burgess, author of the book the movie is based on, created his own language for the dailouge in the book; a mix of British and Russian slang, Kubrick keeps it authentic in his interpretation. Ultimately, it is truly a visually stunning movie. A little piece of trivia, the actor who played Chewbacca has a small roll …

As far as the video transfer to HD, I have no complaints, but I have no great praise. Now, having historically watched the movie in SD on a shitty TV, it was refreshing to watch the movie in glorious HD. Again, another movie that proves my theory that some movies are unnecessarily redone in HD. I think this movie would probably look fine in SD upconversion and an all-out assault on SD is faulty. Being a fan of Kubrick, and the movie, however, I was pleased as punch to get it in HD. The movie is from the 70’s so the film quality is not the greatest, however, it makes a nice HD movie. This is a Kubrick movie based on a twisted interpretation of the not-to-distant future where violence regins supreme. HD is an effective format for Kubrick’s shots. All in all though, there is nothing that really stands out about this movie in HD. Don’t be fooled though, the “X” rating is for the violent scenes more than nudity or adult situations.

What makes this an effective HD DVD is the audio. Clcokwork is as much of a visual movie as it is an aural experience. Produced in the days before surround and multichannel audio was the norm, Kubrick weaves music in and out of each scene. Beethoven’s symphonies are a character in this movie and HD audio is a perfect format for experiencing that character.

The extras are nothing special. the menu is easy to navigate and not cumbersome, but not interesting. A great movie I am glad to see in HD.

ILHDDVD Rating: 3/5 (One of my favorite movies)
Video/Image: 3/5 (A good conversion, but generational limitation limit this image)
Audio: 4/5 (love it)
recommended

Did you see this HD DVD? Rankit: (4 votes, average: 3 out of 5)

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I’ll start off by saying I don’t like Angelina Jolie. I am straight, but apart from her rockin’ boobs, she’s just too skinny. I would have preferred anyone of the other Lara models play Lara. Secondly, I was only semi-fan of the Tomb Raider games. They were truly monumental. This movie too is monumental, despite starring Jolie, due to the fact it was the first movie based on a video game that met with any measure of success (excluding The Last Starfighter). If Oscars were handed out for boob shots, this movie would have swept the awards. But alas, the days of Ass : the Movie are far off and we are left with this gem.

The picture was what you would expect - a nice 1080 picture. Production quality was high and it pad off in spades with beautiful lighting and colors, and great shots of Jolie’s boobs. Please don’t be offended by my comments about her boobs. The director clearly wanted to utilize this asset of Jolie. Also, in the game Lara’s boobs are quite prominent. (Gamers like boobs). In any event, I have no complaints about the video quality - just no wow factor.

HD DVD video quality for me will pretty much be compared to Transformers and Batman Begins for new releases and Grand Prix for older releases. For dramas with less action the comparison is made to Unforgiven. So far I think thos movies are tops with image quality. While Tomb Raider had some sex appeal, image quality/production is not on par with Batman Begins or Transformers.

As for the sound, the DTS mix was acceptable. I would have preferred more environmental audio like in transformers, or even unforgiven. But alas, this movie was focused on boobs.

The extras were forgettable.

ILHDDVD Rating: 3/5 (fun)
Video/Image: 3/5 (Just fine, but no wow)
Audio: 3/5 (Could have used more environmental expansion via audio)
recommended

I really wanted to like this in HD. Really. The story of Dune is complex, futuristic and totally fit for an awesome HD experience. Unfortunately sci-fi movies from the 80’s not named “Star Wars” are not typically fit for HD wihtout some major remastering. It is hard to recommend an HD DVD where blue screen clipping is present. Regardless, David Lynch did a great job telling this story. So much so that I can say this is the weirdest big budget sci-fi movie I have ever seen. the HD DVD contains the 2 and a half hour version - unfortunately, no 4-hour version exists.

 The picture is less than exceptional - even 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen could not save Dune. The movie is set in the year 10-thousand-someting-or-other. Its really far into the future. There is space travel which is really controlled by “the spice”,mined on the desert planet Arrakis. Giant sandworms exist on Arrakis that threaten the humans (Fremen) and spice miners. These sandworms are essential to the film so selling the effect is crucial to the film. HD DVD exposes every weakness of 1980’s miniaturues and blue-screen effects. The scenes with the worms were laughable. Similarly, the ships the characters travel in looked like colorforms placed on a starfield background. I loved this movie when I saw it in the theatres. My friends and I would run around yelling “Muad’Dib” and pretend to use the futuristitic weapons as portrayed in the movie. I want this movie to work becasue it would help HD DVD sales. Unfortunately the HD DVD video transfer weas horrible and is in need of major post-production effects rework (how about a 5-disc offering like with Blade Runner?).

The audio was a sufficient 5.1 mix. Little things that needed to sound pronounced and powerful did - namely, the thumpers used to distract or attract sandworms provided a nice bass tone. Other than that, there was nothing exceptional about the audio track, and that’s just too bad.

The extras were comprehensive, but nothing extraordinary, just the typical run of the mill info featurettes. While I am on this topic, the menu was generic.

Lack of attention to the HD DVD transfer and a lack of features geared towards the cult followign Dune attracts makes it tough to advocate buying this movie. If you can get it as part of a promotion, and you are familar with the story, do it; but you won’t convince any friends to go to HD movies with this.

ILHDDVD Rating: 3/5 (I felt too much removed from the action)
Video/Image: 1/5 (failure to address effects shortcomings ruins this)
Audio: 4/5 (acceptable)
not recommended

Did you see this HD DVD? Rankit: (3 votes, average: 2.67 out of 5)

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Ron Howard’s breakout mega-film of the early 90’s. A huge hit in the theatres, you would think a movie about big fires would translate well into HD … and it does. Like all our reviews, we skip the plot reviews because we want to know whether you should buy this movie in HD DVD or just use an upconverted SD DVD. I don’t want to dote on character development (which is heavy in this movie) becasue it matters not to the HD quality. So, in short, this Universal release is a very cool movie about Chicago firemen as told through the voice of two firefighting brothers. Firefighters are unique civil servants in that they lack authority some other civil servants possess. This makes a firefighter a true hero. Obviously, then, Backdraft asserts itself as a tribute to these unique heroes.

Having watched many recently produced movies on HD DVD and many movies produced more than 20 years ago movies on HD DVD I am beginning to see a major difference in the pre-effects days in Hollywood. Backdraft is probably one of the last great action/drama movies that does not rely on effects to make things look perfect. The transfer to HD is grand but what remains is that late 80’s/early 90’s movie quality. We still have to deal with the 2 minute musical interlude to show activity: building a house, falling in love, or learning how to be a firefighter. Backdraft probably looked awesome in a theatre (I have to admit I never saw it in the theatre). The explosions and fires still hold up, and that’s what this movie is about, but having been indoctrinated into HD with movies like Transformers where the action occurs all around you, and not just in front of you on the screen, even on a 56″ TV the anamorphic 70mm looks kinda dinky. You have to respect the fact, however, that the fire in this movies is real and not digitally added. While this retains the uniqueness of the movie, it limits the director’s ability to make a truly immersive picture. I am confident, however, that when shooting the film, cinematographer Mikael Salomon probably never said, “Gee, I wonder how this will look in HD from a couch”. All old skool movie making aside, the HD picture was great - with no discernable flaws (as were exhibited in Dune, our next review).

Like most of the movies I like in HD, what makes this movie special in HD is the audio mix. Its a Dolby Digital 5.1 mix (No true HD for you Dr. Jones!) Where the cinematographer was limited the engineer really made this HD transfer shine. The fires engulfed us not with its images, but with its roar and grumbles. Additionally, the subtle environmental effects added that special favor to this movie.

The extras are forgettable. Universal, regreattable, spent no time on the menu system either which is the typical polished silver Universal HD DVD menu.

Did I like this movie? Yes. Did I like the HD transfer? sure. Would I recommend it? Yes, but there are about 50 other HD DVD movies I would get before this one - unless, of course, this is one of your all-time favorties.

ILHDDVD Rating: 3/5 (I felt too much removed from the action
Video/Image: 3/5 (good)
Audio: 4/5 (awesome)
recommended

Did you see this HD DVD? Rankit: (4 votes, average: 3.5 out of 5)

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Billed as a poor man’s Star Wars, The Last Starfighter was another 1980’s space adventure. Starfighter was unique because of the groundbreaking use of CGI. The results of CGI in Starfighter made it look more like Starfox rather than photorealistic CGI. For the times though, it was truly groundbreaking. Regardless, this movie is sfilled with 80’s goodness, big hair and goofly clothes on the females, TV antennas, and trailer parks. This movie was magical when I saw it in the theatres - the HD version captures that magic, that 80’s style and updates it for my kick ass TV and kick ass sound system.

80’s movie have a certain feel to them - a very analog feel, like holding a classic LP. The transfer to an HD 1080 image was awesome. Its not perfect, you will see some minor scratches, but it translates very very well. Again, the science fiction nature of the film lends itself well to a 1080 resolution. Starfighter was one of the first movies to really take advantge of new CGI technology, instead of models like Star Wars used. In the theatre the CGI looked CGI. It looked good, but it was not very realistic. The CGI nature of these shots comes through beautifully in HD - don’t expect to be sold on the effects though.

The audio is awesome. Recorded in 70mm 6 track the ability to make a 5.1 mix was alot easier. The environment was very spatial and I have no complaints. This movie is a great example of how a TrueHD mix can make a movie come alive.

The extra features are lacking. There is a nice little documentary on the amking of the movie, but apart from that and commentary, there is nothing.

A fun movie that should be in every collection. There was no ‘wow’ factor which would require me to redo my top 5 or honorable mention list, but its pretty fun and looks and sounds great.

ILHDDVD Rating: 4/5 (I still love this movie)
Video/Image: 3/5 (Its 80’s but the HD transfer was great)
Audio: 4/5 (awesome)
recommended

Did you see this HD DVD? Rankit: (4 votes, average: 3 out of 5)

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