Battlestar Galactica: The Plan

Blu-ray » As a coda to the series "The Plan" work well enough to fill in a few of the unexplained mysteries that remained following the series' final season. In many ways it is unnecessary, but this doesn't mean it isn't worth a look. I would, however, not suggest "The Plan" as a starting point for those who have yet to watch all four seasons as it reveals numerous secrets and plot points.

The plot follows various Cylons and their activities behind the scenes on a timeline that runs from the miniseries leading up to the end of the second season. It is a combination of new footage fitted in with older scenes but rarely is there any dramatic difference between the new and old footage. Also, despite the herky-jerky nature the film still retains a fairly coherent tale, but it isn't quite the masterpiece that I was hoping for. This one is for the fans.

Hardware

Blu-ray » Director Richard Stanley's tale about a murderous mechanical monster set in a post-apocalyptic future might share a thing or two with "The Terminator" films but a similar budget isn't one of them. This B-movie classic makes up for its lack of funding with solid performances from Dylan McDermott and Stacey Travis, an unusual cast of characters, loud music and a mess of political and religious undertones. Although the special effects are a bit dated, I was shocked by how good this Blu-ray release looks (even compared to newer films with a similar budget). It also has a wealth of bonus features including a wonderful new documentary.

North by Northwest

Blu-ray » While there are still those who complain about the re-releasing of older films for the second or third time on DVD and offer the complaint of, "How much difference could there be between the old release and the new one?" I'm of the mind that if Warner Brothers makes it worth my while I'm not going to complain. Such is the case with the 50th Anniversary edition of Alfred Hitchcock's "North by Northwest." Like the recently released "Wizard of Oz" "North by Northwest" makes for a stunning Blu-ray title. The picture is nearly flawless and the audio is surprisingly robust (particularly in the crop-dusting scene). Those who have yet to upgrade to Blu-ray and already own the DVD that was released 2000 should proceed with caution before picking up the DVD version of the 50th Anniversary edition because only a couple of extras have been produced for this release. Blu-ray owners should consider this mandatory.

The Proposal

Blu-ray » I was pleasantly surprised by this by-the-numbers romantic comedy, particularly because I'm not a fan of either Sandra Bullock or Ryan Reynolds. This might have something to do with charmless nature of "The Awful Truth" and "Ghosts of Girlfriends Past." Nonetheless, this story about a pushy publishing house executive (Bullock) who forces her assistant (Reynolds) to marry her so she doesn't get deported back to Canada, is enjoyable even though it's rarely original.

Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory

Blu-ray » While I do prefer Tim Burton's "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" I still enjoy the 1971 film adaptation of Roald Dahl's book starring Gene Wilder (despite the fact that a I was forced to listen to "The Candy Man" every morning at my babysitter's house). Apparently the film was a box office bomb and Dahl refused to see it but somehow became a classic that those of my generation tend to adore nonetheless. The image quality is surprisingly good (despite the obvious '70s aesthetic) and while the audio is a bit limited they've done the best they could (making a 5.1 surround out of a mono track is rocket science). The special features are few but the commentary and the 30-minute documentary "Pure Imagination" are worth checking out. "Willy Wonka" is a wonderful taste of nostalgia.