It is the holiday season and with that comes the mad dash to find something for everyone on your list. For the movie geeks out there Blu-rays are must own items featuring the best picture and sound quality possible, but many of the most asked for movies aren’t available in the format. Sure some of these can be imported and played in region-free players, but the average consumer probably doesn’t know or care about that. I compiled this list to point out some of the Blu-rays that are almost no-brainers, but still haven’t made the leap to Blu-ray.
1. 1.The Big Lebowski- You quote it, I quote it, and we all quote it. Arguably the most widely loved Coen brothers’ movie is for some reason not on Blu-ray. This modern noir tale where Jeffrey “The Dude” Lebowski is mistaken for a millionaire with the same name and is thrust into a complicated web of deceit, greed, and death. The movie has gained so much popularity after release that it has spawned festivals, books, and even religions (Dudeism, of which I am an ordained minister). The Coen Brothers are my favorite working film makers and this movie is near the top of my list of their best films, but for some reason this movie isn’t available in complete HD-glory. Now the next Coen film is being released in the coming weeks and it would seem like a great time to release their film where Jeff Bridges previously starred, but for some reason the people running the show don’t think like that. When Blu-ray and HD-DVD were battling it out to become the next king of heap, HD-DVD released a version of “The Big Lebowski” and now here we are a couple years after Blu-ray has taken over and we are still deprived of The Dude in High-definition. It is a shame because I feel like this Blu-ray would really tie the room together, but that is just, like, my opinion man.
2. 2. Most of the other Coen Brothers films- Now I know that I’m cheating here a bit by lumping these all behind one number, but these films really need to be released in HD-glory. For those not too familiar with the Coens’ work here are the ones not yet released on Blu-ray: “Raising Arizona”, “Miller’s Crossing”, “Barton Fink”, “The Hudsucker Proxy”, “O Brother, Where Art Thou?”, “The Man Who Wasn’t There”, “Intolerable Cruelty”(I wouldn’t mind this not being released ever again actually), and “The LadyKillers. Now not all of these movies are household hits, but for the most part all of them deserve a Blu-ray release. Film makers early films can often tell us about their later films and these earlier films are often a gateway into the mind of these film makers when they are starting out. “Barton Fink” is my favorite Coen Brothers film and it deserves the HD treatment. Also a problem with the DVD is that it spoils the last parts of the movie by literally showing them as the menu, not a good way to first see a masterpiece like “Barton Fink”. “The Man Who Wasn’t There” definitely a rerelease because it is beautifully in all black and white that would look great in Blu.
3. 3. Pulp Fiction – It is nothing short of a crime that one of the most influential films of the 90’s is not available in Blu-ray. Sure “Reservoir Dogs” is available but “Pulp Fiction” has somehow not been released. I feel that “Reservoir Dogs” is the better film because it does so much even though it takes place mostly in one location, but that doesn’t take away the fact that “Pulp Fiction” is not available in the format. The film follows the lives of two mob hit men, a boxer, a gangster's wife, and a pair of diner bandits intertwines in four tales of violence and redemption. This is the film that whenever I hear someone talking about quarter-pounder with cheese I want to respond back, “a Royale with cheese”. This is the film that has spawned countless spoofs and parodies that are already available on Blu-ray, but the original is somehow not. If it comes down to it I may even be willing to smuggle a copy out of the factory up my ass ala “the watch”.
4. 4. The Star Wars Saga- Full disclosure here, I am a huge Star Wars geek. I have wanted to become a Jedi and wield the force since my dad first showed me these films when I was a wee lad. Well now that we have all six films out in DVD, what is the holdup? George Lucas has already proven to the fanbase that he likes money and that he likes to revisit the films, but somehow Blu-ray has escaped his grasp. Sure he’ll probably make someone else shoot first again, but there is a chance that we will get the complete beautiful originals intact. Sure us Star Wars nerds will probably buy the prequels as well to have the set, but just think as finally getting the two best things about the prequels in HD: the effects and Natalie Portman.
5. 5. Jurassic Park saga- Dinosaurs in HD, let me repeat that, Dinosaurs in HD. Why are these films not in Blu-ray already? Jurassic Park made me believe that Dinosaurs existed when I was a young child and now that I’m an adult I want to believe that they are real again. The second and third entries in the saga may not be the best sequels to ever come into the world, but they aren’t completely shitty movies. Instead of the fourth film in the franchise that was rumored to be coming a couple years back (reports said that it included super smart dinosaurs from the future) why not just update these films and walk away. The state-of-the-art cgi effects may not holdup now but really those can be remastered. Why I am not sitting here watching these movies for the billionth time in HD right now is something I really don’t know.
6. 6. Titanic- James Cameron and one of the cheesiest lines in film history make this film one of the most talked about films ever made. Snatching up some of the highest praise when it came out and now still being talked about. This would have been a great rerelease at the time of “Avatar” to cash in on the hype, but for some reason we are left with. Plain old SD Leo “I’m the King of the world” Dicaprio.
7. 7. Some Pixar Films- Yes I’m cheating again. “Finding Nemo” and “The Incredibles” are two of the most beautiful animated films to have ever come out and they aren’t on Blu-ray? Somebody has fallen asleep at the wheel because these would have been among some of the first movies that I would have released in Blu-ray. Also seriously “Cars” and “Monsters Inc.” are available on Blu-ray and they never won the best animated film Oscar.
8. 8. Lord of the Rings: The Extended Editions-Theatrical versions are for the pussies that casually like these films, but for anyone that is a LOTR nerd these versions will not cut it. I expect to see these released around when the much troubled “Hobbit” films are coming out, but really anyone that wants these things will buy these even if they came out tomorrow.
9. 9. Tron- The sequel is coming out this very month and for many people it will be the first time that they will have experienced the world of Tron. This is because for some reason Disney isn’t making any more copies of this film. I’ve heard that without this film, “Tron Legacy” doesn’t make as much sense. Why aren’t they releasing a remastered version of “Tron” to the masses?
10. 10. Arrested Development- Sure the rest of the list has been movies, but I had to reserve a spot for my favorite TV show. It is a shame that this show got canceled when it did, but it is even more of a shame that this show isn’t in HD. I want to see the chicken dance in all of its glory, I mean, Come on!
