Game of Thrones is coming to DVD and Blu-ray in March. And while that is still quite a long way away, HBO has already unveiled the cover art for both the Blu-ray and DVD sets. As you probably expected, it looks awesome.

The set, which hits shelves on March 6 in the US, features five discs full of Game of Thrones, including, of course, all ten episodes from the show's first season. And while the DVD box art simply features that image of Ned Stark sitting on the Iron Throne, the Blu-ray cover art features an intricate pattern to frame it. The 'Episode Guide' insert also happens to feature family trees for some of the important houses, including House Stark, House Baratheon, House Lannister, and House Targaryen. You can check out an image of both packagings above, but there are also some special features to contend with.

The Blu-ray set will include a "Complete Guide to Westeros," the "Anatomy of an Episode," "In-Episode Guides," and something called "Hidden Dragon Eggs" (I have no idea what this is, but it sounds exciting).

Both sets will include "Making Game of Thrones," "Creating the Show Open" (whatever that means), "From the Book to the Screen," "Character Profiles," "The Night's Watch," "Creating the Dothraki Language," and audio commentaries from David Benioff, D.B. Weiss, George R.R. Martin, Emilie Clarke, Peter Dinklage, and Kit Harrington.

More details about these special features are slated to be released later. Want a closer look at the Game of Thrones packaging? Simply click over to the next page for a much larger look.

You can catch more Game of Thrones news here, including a glimpse at the making of season 2 and a look at the new cast members joining for the show's second season.

Game of Thrones season 2 will premiere on HBO in April 2012.

Game of Thrones Season One DVD and Blu-ray Details Unveiled

Doctor Who series 6 was, as a whole, the strongest season of the series since it returned to television in 2005. Sure, there were a few duds (see: "The Rebel Flesh/The Almost People," "Night Terrors), but overall the series featured some of the Doctor's greatest outings. And, in a move that was controversial with many fans, the season was given a greater mythological arc, with a future version of the Doctor being killed in the very first episode and the true circumstances of his death not being revealed until the season finale.

Doctor Who: The Complete Sixth Series hits DVD and Blu-ray on November 22. The set contains not only the thirteen episodes of the sixth series, but the 2010 Christmas special, "A Christmas Carol," and a multitude of special features.

The set is packaged in a strikingly shiny case, with a strikingly simple cover (pictured above right). It's a much simpler cover than the busier holographics of the series 5 box set, and that definitely works to the set's advantage.

The set contains plenty of special features. Disc 1 features not only "A Christmas Carol" but the corresponding episode of Doctor Who Confidential. Comic Relief specials "Space" and "Time," in which the TARDIS lands inside the TARDIS, are also included on the disc.

Commentaries for "The Impossible Astronaut," "The Doctor's Wife," "The Rebel Flesh," "A Good Man Goes to War," and "The Wedding of River Song" are included in the set, as are 'Monster Files' featurettes for the Silence, the Gangers, the Anti-Bodies, and the Cybermats. Disc 6 features all thirteen episodes of Doctor Who Confidential's final season as well.

But the big unseen feature of this set are the five "Night and the Doctor" mini-sodes. These are the hidden gems of the set. "Bad Night" is the first of these, which chronicles what exactly happens when Amy answers the TARDIS phone when the Doctor's not around. "Good Night" is a much better outing, featuring the Doctor and Amy having a heart-to-heart about the saddest moment of her life. "First Night" and "Last Night" form a pretty poignant two-part minisode, in which there are several River Songs on the TARDIS at one time. While the first episode is comedic, the second episode has a bit of poignancy -- and also a bit of a hint for River Song's future. The final of the five specials, "Up All Night," doesn't feature the Doctor at all -- it features Craig (James Corden) and Sophie (Daisy Haggard) having a conversation about baby Alfie the night before "Closing Time" begins. It's a fun, if inessential, little episode.

All in all, any fan of Doctor Who would enjoy seeing The Complete Sixth Series under their Christmas tree. It's a well-packaged set teeming with special features that even the most well-versed Whovian can enjoy. You can get the DVD on Amazon here, and on Blu-ray here.

You can check out a peek of the Monster Files entry of "The Silence" below.

Blu-ray Review - Doctor Who: The Complete Sixth Series

The complete second season of Glee will be coming to DVD and Blu-Ray in September.

Release Date: September 13

Official Description: Glee is a biting musical comedy about a group of eager and ambitious students who strive to outshine their singing competition to win Nationals while navigating the cruel halls of McKinley High. A pop-culture phenomenon, Glee boasts critical acclaim, a loyal fan base of “GLEEks,” two Platinum and two Gold albums, more than 29 million song downloads, the record for the most titles on the Billboard Hot 100 by a non-solo act (beating out Elvis Presley, James Brown and The Beatles), an incredible 19 Emmy nominations – earning it the distinction of being the most-nominated series of the year – and four Emmy Awards. To top it off, the genre-defying, award-winning series has been picked up through its third season.  Glee: The Complete Second Season Blu-ray and DVD is bursting with exclusive bonus materials including the fan-favourite Glee Music Jukebox, a behind-the-scenes look at the epic Season 2 finale shot in New York City, a featurette showcasing the Glee guest stars: Gwyneth Paltrow, Carol Burnett and more, additional featurettes highlighting sensational cast performances and much more.

Cost: $39.98 for the DVD set; $44.99 for the Blu-ray set.

Special Features:

• Glee Music Jukebox
• Guesting on Glee
• Stevie Nick Goes Glee
• A Day in The Life of Brittany
• Shooting Glee in New York City
• Sue’s Quips
• Santana Slams
• Building Glee’s Auditorium with Cory Monteith
• The Making of the Rocky Horror Glee Show
• Exclusive Bonus Song – “Planet, Schmanet, Janet”
• Getting Waxed with Jane Lynch
• The Wit of Brittany
• Glee at Comic-Con 2010

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Glee Season 2 DVD Details

The third season of FX's highest rated show, Sons of Anarchy, will be coming to DVD and Blu-ray on August 30.

Starring Charlie Hunnam, Ron Perlman and 2011 Golden Globe® Award-winner Katey Sagal, Sons of Anarchy focuses on a motorcycle club who will stop at nothing to protect their small town against drug dealers, law enforcement officers and corporate developers, while also continuing to deal illegal arms.

In season 3 of the show, Gemma was framed for murder, while Jax's infant son was kidnapped.  Abel's trail led SAMCRO to Ireland where many secrets were revealed.

The season 3 DVD and Blu-ray sets will include all 13 episodes of the previous season, along with the following special features:

• Season 3 to 4 Story-Bridge (scenes shot exclusively for the Blu-ray and DVD that will bridge the storylines from season 3 to 4)
• Extended Episodes
• Gag Reel
• Deleted Scenes
• Writer’s Roundtable
• Commentaries with Cast and Creators
• Fox Movie Channel at Season 3 Premiere

Amazon is already taking price guarantee pre-orders for the Sons of Anarchy box sets.  You can order the DVD here and the Blu-ray set here.

clarissa @ tvovermind.com
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Sons of Anarchy Season 3 DVD to Be Released August 30

The critically acclaimed show, Breaking Bad, will have its third season released on DVD and Blu-ray on June 7th.  The Los Angeles Times calls Breaking Bad "the best show on television", and it won two 2010 Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for Bryan Cranston and Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for Aaron Paul.

In the third season, we learned that Walter White's cancer was in remission.  But the chemistry teacher-turned-meth maker still couldn't catch a real break.  His wife Skyler (Anna Gunn) had chosen to end their marriage and filed for divorce.  His brother-in-law (played by Dean Norris), who happens to be a DEA agent, is out to bust him.  And a Mexican drug cartel wants him dead.  In other words, things are not looking up for Walter.

The special features of the Breaking Bad DVD and Blu-ray set includes:

• Cast commentary on Season 3
• Gag Reel
• Bryan Cranston Answers Fan Questions
• Unused Footage

Below is a trailer for the season 3 DVD release of Breaking Bad, as well as a photo of the cover for the box set.  If you're a fan of this show, then you'll definitely want to purchase the box set on Tuesday, June 7.

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Breaking Bad Season 3 DVD Release Details

This review was also written by Brittany Frederick.

I love Acorn Media, and judging by the amount of high quality TV DVDs they keep putting out, they love me too. At least, I was definitely feeling something akin to love after watching their latest release, Slings & Arrows. I'd been meaning to watch that show for a while before I discovered it was coming out on Blu-ray, and the new release gave me all the excuse I needed. And it was wonderful.

I read my first Shakespeare play when I was eight. Okay, it was extremely condensed, but "A Midsummer Night's Dream" quickly became one of my favorite stories. Similarly condensed versions of "Romeo and Juliet" and "As You Like It" were also some of my favorites. I hadn't dared to touch any of the more heady plays; "Hamlet," "Macbeth," and "King Lear" were certainly not on my to-read list.

So when I popped in my copy of Slings & Arrows that I received from Acorn, I knew I was onto something special. Not only because it gave me a look into the plays themselves, but it made the characters who performed the plays equally engrossing. It was like looking through a window into another window; not only was I being treated to the fantastic Shakespearean stories that formed a major part of the show, but I was also being treated to the interesting characters that were actually part of the show!

Paul Gross plays Geoffrey Tennant, and boy, does he. American audiences might know Gross from his role in the short-lived Eastwick, but they should know him from this Canadian gem of a series. Tennant is loony and serious at the same time, and he never gets old as the focal point of the show. Thankfully, he doesn't have to even try, thanks to a fantastic supporting cast that includes Stephen Ouimette as the ghost of Oliver, his predecessor as the head of a theater. See? It has ghosts! It's Shakespearean!

Of course, it's not all the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune. It's actually a really tightly written comedy. I like to think of it as Arrested Development + Shakespeare, because it's just as witty, if not wittier, than that keystone of sitcomedy. It's mixed with healthy amounts of emotional drama, though, so you won't feel weary after a long session with the series. You'll feel like you've been on one of those rollercoaster rides of emotions: you'll cry one minute and laugh the next. Is that cliche? It doesn't do the show justice.

Fans may remember that the complete series was released on DVD in 2008. Is it worth the double-dip? Not exactly. While the Blu-Ray version does have a superior audio and video quality, the only new special features are three commentary tracks (Season 1, Episode 1 with Bob Martin, Mark McKinney and Susan Coyne; Season 2, Episode 6 with Graham Harley and Michael Polley; and Season 3, Episode 6 with Paul Gross, Martha Burns and Peter Wellington). The commentary tracks are a worthwhile listen, but I can't see spending an additional $60 (at least at Amazon as of this date) for them and the upconversion. If you haven't bought the series yet, however, Blu-Ray is definitely the way to go.

• Buy on DVD
• Buy on Blu-ray

Blu-ray Review - Slings & Arrows: The Complete Collection

Guys, this is speedy stuff.

Fringe's third season has barely aired three episodes, and the DVD and Blu-ray sets are already up for grabs on Amazon. Of course, you're going to have to wait a while -- a long while, as a matter of fact, almost a year -- until you get your sets, but you can already nab one of them to have on reserve.

Of course, no cover or information has been released, but it's looking like the sets will be pretty standard, price-wise: the DVD is retailing for $41.99, while the Blu-ray is going for $48.99.

The set probably won't be released until September 2011, but that doesn't make any difference. When you order from Amazon, you'll be locked in at the lowest pre-release price they have, even if it changes. Also note that a large number of pre-orders might just be the reassurance that FOX is looking for if they have to make any decisions about renewing Fringe for a fourth season.

If the first three episodes of the season are any example, I have to say that we're heading into the best season of Fringe yet. I can't wait.

Pre-order DVD.

Pre-order Blu-ray.

Reserve Your Copy of 'Fringe: The Complete Third Season' on DVD

That sound you heard was my exclamation of joy as the review copy of Human Target: The Complete First Season landed on my desk yesterday. I would've had this review done by then, but I was too busy watching the entire season from start to finish. Of course, when you have a great show, you expect an equally great home release; read on to find out if Human Target got what it deserved.

The Show

Did I mention that I love Human Target? I'm not just a fan, but I'm also the official president of the Human Target Fan Club. Regular readers will be aware that I don't throw my support behind a show lightly, but I not only liked Human Target, I fell in love. I haven't been this excited about a TV show since 24 premiered almost a decade ago.

In retrospect, I probably should have seen that coming: the series pairs a great comic book character that I've loved since I was a child (assassin turned personal bodyguard Christopher Chance) with an actor I've been a fan of for most of his career (Boston Legal's criminally underrated Mark Valley). Add into the mix Pushing Daisies' Chi McBride as Chance's business manager Winston, and Watchmen's Jackie Earle Haley as tech expert/fixer Guerrero, and you have a perfect cast. Thankfully, they received able support behind the scenes, in showrunner Jon Steinberg (Jericho), composer Bear McCreary (Battlestar Galactica),  and an assembled team of writers, directors and crew that led to the show being nominated for three Emmy awards - for Outstanding Stunt Coordination, Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music, and Outstanding Main Title Design.

Critical acclaim aside, Human Target takes viewers on a non-stop thrill ride that also offers the best character depth along with it. Usually, you have to trade one off for the other, but not with this series. In every episode, viewers are treated to outstanding action sequences, sharp banter between the series' leads, interesting narrative structure, and a season-long gradual and unforced insight into Chance's psyche until, in the season finale "Christopher Chance," we finally get to see what made him who he is. Along the way, there are plenty of engaging standalone plots, including the episode "Baptiste" (written by series producers Matthew Federman and Stephen Scaia), which was one of the best episodes of this past TV season, period. You cannot go wrong with taking a chance (ha) on Human Target.

The Blu-Ray Discs

Human Target's box art, inside and out, is composed of the promo photos fans of the show will no doubt be familiar with. The cover has a cool lenticular effect similar to the second-season release of Fringe. Inside the plastic snapcase, you'll find two discs and Warner's standard accompanying booklet which contains episode synopses, airdates, credits and a list of special features. A note:  rather than put the two discs in common flipbook style, Warner has elected to put one on each side of the snapcase - so your Disc 1 is actually under the booklet.

I thought the show looked good when I watched it on FOX HD, but the Blu-Ray transfer is even better. You get 108op high-def widescreen (16:9/1:78:1) with a Dolby Digital 5.1 audio track, and it all looks great. Human Target had some great views, such as the monastery in "Sanctuary," and the transfer does well by them. Nothing better than when a great show looks just as great. Warner advertises that the audio mix has been "enhanced from broadcast," and that's also definitely true. It's well worth the $8 between DVD and Blu-Ray (on Amazon, anyway) if you have that option.

There's subtitle support for English SDH, French and Spanish.

The only nitpick is that FOX probably wishes they could remove the "Fridays 8/7" sticker they put on these, considering they made public yesterday that the show will be moving back to its old Wednesdays at 8 PM timeslot come November. However, since these have been out since September 21, you can't really blame them for that.

The Special Features

There's nothing more disheartening than having a great show and getting nothing back in terms of special features. Thankfully, Human Target doesn't have that problem. It isn't what I'd call loaded, but I'm satisfied with what fans did get.

There are two featurettes here. The first is  "Human Target: Confidential Informant," which is your standard making-of explaining how the series got from the comic book to the television screen. Since a lot of people I've talked to have no idea that the show is based on the Wein/Infantino comic, I'm sure this will be an eye-opener for a good chunk of the show's audience. It certainly goes beyond what you'd expect for a standard making-of.

Wisely, the second is "Human Target: Full Contact Television," which sheds a light on those Emmy-nominated stunt sequences. They look amazing on TV, and I gained even more respect for all involved when I saw how much work it took to get them to be that great. Fans might also be surprised to know that's really Mark Valley in there, getting involved in his own stunt work. While he obviously doesn't do everything, he does a lot more than your average actor would, which is just another sign that he deserves to be leading a major action-adventure series.

There are deleted scenes for a few episodes here, but the crown jewel of these features is an audio commentary track on the pilot with three of my favorite people on the planet - Valley, Steinberg, and Chi McBride (as well as producer Peter Johnson). I could listen to these guys talk about this show forever, and the track doesn't disappoint. The banter we see on the show is very real and carries over off-screen in a track that's informative and fun. The natural question is "Where's Jackie Earle Haley?" but considering he was shooting two movies during Target (Nightmare on Elm Street and Shutter Island), his absence is regretted but understandable. My only other dismay is that there aren't more great commentary tracks on other episodes! (Okay, and a gag reel would've been pretty hilarious, too.)

The Bottom Line

I can't recommend this release enough. Human Target is an amazing show that deserves a lot more attention than it's getting, and the Blu-Ray release is almost perfect. If it had more commentaries and/or it'd managed to finagle Jackie Earle Haley for one, I'd be in Blu-Ray heaven.

Amazon currently has the Blu-Ray for $41.49 as of the date of this review. If you haven't already picked it up, please do. You'll thank me later.

Blu-ray Review - Human Target: The Complete First Season

Nice timing, universe! On the night of Fringe's third-season premiere, Warner's review copy of the spooky show's second season (yay alliteration!) landed on my desk. Take a look with me at the Blu-Ray edition, if you haven't already picked up your copy - Fringe hit home on September 14th.

The Show

I'm going to make a shallow and unsurprising confession here: the only reason I ever watched Fringe was for Mark Valley. I missed the majority of the J.J. Abrams and Co. bandwagon except for being forced to sit through a few episodes of Alias by a friend who was a huge fan, the Robert Patrick cameo in Lost, and watching Star Trek on a flight home from London. In other words, I was sort of predestined to not give a damn.

I was pleasantly surprised to actually give a damn. While it can be uneven at times, Fringe is amazing when it's great. The second season outdoes the first, I think, because I have a lot more favorite episodes here than I did with season one (Mark Valley aside). There's the flashback episode "Peter," which takes place back in the 80's (complete with an equally cheesy new opening sequence!). There's "White Tulip," which features a creepy but stellar performance by Peter Weller. Of course, you can't talk about the second season without mentioning the musical episode "Brown Betty," which while it may scream "we're doing this because of FOX's insane idea to have a bunch of musical episodes," is populated by a cast that can actually carry a tune and a plot that actually works. To say nothing of the season's huge cliffhanger. No, I mean I'm not going to say anything for fear of somehow ruining tonight's premiere. Just take my word for it that while it's not all perfect, there are enough stellar episodes in this season of Fringe to justify picking this one up.  I dare to say it actually improves on season one. (Even if John Scott is still dead.)

The Blu-Ray Discs

While the box art for the first season of Fringe wasn't bad, this season is really stellar. It's got a lot more going on than the classic black minimalism of the first season ever did, and as a result it's a lot cooler to look at. I appreciate the return of the lenticular effects, which gives the box art a spooky glow at the right angle (no appearing frogs on the box art this time).  You lose that effect with the image on the front of the plastic snapcase, but the red tone they've chosen for that background makes it look just as awesome.

Fringe conforms to the standard packaging for WB Blu-Ray releases. There's the plastic snapcase inside the cardboard outer box. On the inside, you get the booklet which contains a basic episode guide and information on the special features (they're not all on the last disc but scattered throughout). The discs can be flipped through just like a book, and they are some neat-looking discs.

Technical specs-wise, you get video in 1080p high definition, with 1:78:1 widescreen presentation. The audio track is a crisp Dolby Digital 5.1. There are three sets of subtitles: English SDH, French and Spanish. Fringe's visual effects and colors benefit from the Blu-Ray upconversion. Considering that the BR version is only $7 more on Amazon as of this writing, I think it's worth the upgrade to Blu if you have that option.

If I have one complaint, it's that the commentary tracks are listed as "creative team commentary" throughout. As a commentary track geek, I like to know who's on my commentary tracks, and which ones they're on. I'd rather not have to pop in every single disc to decipher that information.

The Special Features

Fringe has a pretty worthy selection of special features for this release. You get three featurettes, six "sidebars," four commentaries, a gag reel and deleted scenes. Here's the specifics:

• "The Unearthed Episode": This is the episode which aired a few days before "Johari Window," and is actually an unaired episode from the first season (hence the reappearance of Kirk Acevedo's Charlie).
• "The Mythology of Fringe": A pretty good featurette which is exactly what it says on the can. Considering the contents of the season, it's much appreciated for those fans who might have a tough time keeping track of everything that's happened.
• "In the Lab with John Noble and Prop Master Rob Smith": A poke around Walter's lab with the guy who put it all together.
• Four commentaries with series stars and creative team ("Momentum Deferred," "Peter", "Brown Betty," and "Over There, Part 2"). The highlight is "Peter," which features John Noble and Blair Brown, and is moderated by Damian Holbrook. I'm not really sure why Noble and Brown need a moderator, but it's great to see them on a track. That track is the only one which shows cast members as participants. It's also amusing that the musical episode gets its own commentary track.
• "Fringe: Analyzing The Scene" sidebars on six episodes ("A New Day In The Old Town," "Momentum Deferred," "Of Human Action," "What Lies Below," "Brown Betty" and "Over There, Part 2"). These are exactly what they say they are - spotlights on certain scenes in each episode.
• Gag reel
• Unaired scenes for "Night of Desirable Objects," "Grey Matters," "Olivia. In The Lab. With The Revolver.," "Northwest Passage" and "Over There, Part 2."

The Bottom Line

Fringe had a great second season. Sure, not all the episodes were great and sometimes it got hard to follow, but you can't overlook some great episodes and amazing guest appearances to boot. No offense to Joshua Jackson and Anna Torv, but I'm convinced the real star of the show is John Noble, who deserved an Emmy nomination for his work. The BR release is pretty darn good, and makes some great choices in putting commentary tracks on unique episodes (and giving Noble a track), plus putting a lot of special-feature emphasis on the season finale. This one's a keeper.

You can already own this one on Blu-Ray through any major retailer, or direct from WHV here. Although I suspect true Fringe fanatics already bought it and are probably marathoning their way through Season 2 right now in anticipation of the Season 3 premiere in just hours...

Blu-ray Review - Fringe: The Complete Second Season

Modern Family: The Complete First Season was released this week on Blu-Ray and DVD and, thanks to our friends at Fox, we have a Blu-Ray set to give out to one lucky reader.

Read our review of the Modern Family Season 1 DVD.

Here's the details about the box set:

Contest - Win Modern Family Season 1 Blu-Ray

August 17 meant that fans got a new dose of Dexter with the release of the critically acclaimed fourth season. How did the home version stack up to the amazing year of the show? Look no further to find out.

The Show

I'm sure if you're at all familiar with Dexter, you've heard all the hype about this season, and it's all true. This is probably the best season of the series yet, and it leads into what's already shaping up to be a great season five. Michael C. Hall was robbed of an Emmy for a lead performance that gets more complex and more compelling every year. This year, Dexter's problem was trying to have an idyllic home life while balancing it with his killer urges. He thought he'd found someone who proved it was possible when he met Arthur Mitchell (the very deserving Emmy Award winner John Lithgow, who will ruin Third Rock from the Sun for you with his disturbing performance), but of course Mitchell isn't what he seems either. He's the Trinity Killer, and he and Dexter are on a collision course that ends shockingly.

Those two could make a series on their own, but Dexter doesn't stop there. We see Debra (Jennifer Carpenter, who is continually robbed of even being nominated for any major awards) dealt a major personal loss of her own. The vastly underrated Desmond Harrington, in his first season as an official regular (despite being in every episode of season three), gets his own subplot when Quinn winds up in bed with a reporter who isn't what she looks like either. Harrington is finally starting to get his due with Dexter, where he's proving he might be able to carry a show of his own someday. However, he's paired with Courtney Ford, who is more annoying than anything else and whom I would call the one weak link of the season. There's also a romance going between Lt. LaGuerta (Lauren Velez) and Sgt. Batista (David Zayas). Love appears to be in the air in Miami, but of course, this is Dexter and by the end of the season, love hurts a whole lot of people.

Taken as a whole, this may be one of the most involving full seasons of a show I've ever seen. I don't remember being this on the edge of my seat since the debut season of 24 almost a decade ago.

The Blu-Ray Discs

Wow. Compared to the DVD version, the Blu-Ray edition of Dexter is worth the upgrade. I had both the DVD and Blu-Ray in hand at the time of this review, and I definitely prefer the Blu-Ray. On any other show, I wouldn't be so gung-ho about the upgrade - after all, we've been watching TV on DVD just fine for years before Blu-Ray came along - but Dexter is a show that really benefits from the conversion. Specifically, the enhanced audio makes the show seem even scarier than it actually is. The score and sound effects are creepy and/or thrilling enough already, but in Blu-Ray they can get downright startling. There were a couple of times I flinched a little. The video's improved as well (all those great Miami colors really pop), but it's the audio that enhances the Dexter experience.

This is because the show sports a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 audio track (there's also a Spanish 2.0 stereo track), and is presented in 1080p high-definition widescreen, with optional English subtitles. These discs are really enhanced to make Dexter compelling in the visual and auditory realms, which when teamed together with such a great season, does make for one heck of a viewing experience.

There aren't any packaging issues to discuss as this is a Blu-Ray release. However, I'm waiting for someone to complain about the package art.  In this age where someone gets offended at just about everything, I'm surprised no one has complained about little Harrison on his father's shoulders while the juice-as-blood imagery is plain as day. After all, they complained about the monkey in Michael C. Hall's Dodge commercials.

The Special Features

One of my gripes with each edition of Dexter is that the special features just aren't there. At least in the first two seasons we had a commentary track or two, but more or less, extras have been limited to episodes of other Showtime properties and then maybe something else. It's beyond frustrating, because there's so much good material that could be put on these discs. There's nothing worse than a great show that doesn't get its due in bonus features.

This time around, you get two episodes of Californication (Season 3, Episodes 1 and 2), two of The Tudors (Season 4, Episodes 1 and 2) and the first episode of the Matt LeBlanc show Episodes. I understand the goal is to market other Showtime series to loyal Dexter fans, but I was saying to myself, "If I wanted to watch those shows, I'd go out and get the DVDs of those shows." You're not far off from them, as The Tudors comes out in October, and Californication in November. Ostensibly, Showtime wants you to buy those DVDs as well, but how many people would buy an entire DVD set after viewing only two episodes of a show? I'm not sure.

The one Dexter-related extra here is a series of interviews with Michael C. Hall, Jennifer Carpenter, Julie Benz, Lauren Velez, David Zayas, James Remar, John Lithgow, C.S. Lee and producer Clyde Phillips. Suspiciouly missing from this group is Desmond Harrington (Quinn), an absence made more noticeable by the fact that everyone else is here. These are good interviews, but it just makes me wish there were more to them.

To add insult to injury, all the special features are once again only available through BD-Live, meaning you have to access them via your computer. It's tedious and one wonders if these will still be available a year or two or three down the line, or if eventually you'll be deprived of those as well.

Target offers an exclusive copy of this year's PaleyFest Dexter panel if you purchase this season through them, but then you're paying a good $10 more at least over the price of online retailers, so essentially you end up being charged for the bonus disc. Having attended that panel myself, I can't say that I think it's worth the extra money, as it's worth probably one watch and that's it.

The Bottom Line

If you're a Dexter fan, a fan of good TV, or even a casual watcher of the show, you need to own this season. The disappointing lack of special features continues to sting but the overwhelming quality of the episodes still makes this a must-own. If you have the option, the Blu-Ray version is worth the extra cost for how much it further enhances the viewing experience. Go out, get this season, enjoy the ride, and get ready for what looks to be a great fifth season. Yet it would have to work pretty hard to top this one.

Blu-ray Review - Dexter: The Fourth Season

The complete fifth season of the CW flagship series Supernatural streets on September 7, and I have the rundown on the Blu-Ray edition for you before it does. Let's take a look!

The Show

Together with Smallville (which I previously reviewed here), Supernatural is the show that makes The CW what it is. It's probably the network's best known series, and has inspired a whole legion of fans. This season is the culmination of all the ones before it, as brothers Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) literally tackle the Apocalypse. Last season, Sam unknowingly let Lucifer out of Hell, and now the world is going to...well, you get the picture.

Supernatural filled that void of paranormal action-adventure left behind by Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Angel. While perhaps not as philosophically deep as those two shows, it fits the bill of having mostly ridiculously good-looking, smart-aleck younger people going out to save the world from stuff that the rest of us don't want to think about. This is an appropriately big year for the show, as it's creator Eric Kripke's last as showrunner, a decision that will no doubt impact the series in the future (how so remains to be seen, but a show is never the same when the person who created it isn't the one at the helm anymore). Considering this, it's no surprise that the show brings out the biggest of big bads in this season: the devil himself (take that, M. Night Shyamalan).

The Blu-Ray Discs

This is the second season to be released on Blu-Ray at the same time as the DVD version (the first being season four). Warner released Blu-Ray for season three two months after the DVD version, and it took years for season one to get the Blu treatment, though surprisingly, there hasn't been a Blu-Ray release of season two yet. I can only imagine that's coming at some point (why not, when you've done all the rest?).

Supernatural may be one of the best-looking releases I've ever seen. The box art for all the previous releases was appropriately creepy yet beautiful to look at, and this is no exception. The accompanying booklet is standard fare for Warner releases, making it informational yet not cluttered.

The audio and video here is pretty good, even better if you consider that a lot of this show takes place in dark and otherwise spooky places to begin with. I was able to see everything clearly even in darker shots, and the audio is understandable. I've enjoyed a great deal of Supernatural from a technical standpoint, as one of the frequent directors was the late Kim Manners, who did such great work for so many years on The X-Files. Though he passed away after season four, he obviously left his mark; this season doesn't disappoint in the technical respect; it's appropriately creepy where it needs to be, but the show is still great to look at and you'll never find yourself confused as to what the heck you're looking at.

As this is a Blu-Ray release, there are no packaging issues to discuss. It's the usual Blu-Ray snapcase inside the cardboard cover.

The Special Features

There are about as many special features here as you've seen on the previous season sets. There's a gag reel which contains quite a few inappropriate moments, one deleted scene (yes, that's right, singular) from Episode 9, "The Real Ghostbusters," one commentary track on episode 4, "The End," with two of the producers, and two additional features - "Supernatural: Apocalypse Survival Guides" and the entirety of "Ghostfacers: The Web Series." All the special features are worth a watch, especially if you're a Bobby Singer fan, as the former puts a spotlight on Jim Beaver's character. These aren't short little features, either; all of them are quite long, even the gag reel.

I'm surprised at the decision to only include one deleted scene when there are certainly others out there. As highly devoted as Supernatural fans are, I feel safe in saying they'd watch all the deleted scenes they can get. The one commentary track might seem in an odd place - on the fourth episode of the season rather than at the beginning or end like most seasons - but given the content of the episode in question, it's not that odd as there's plenty to talk about there. I found it a worthwhile listen as far as commentaries go. From a TV nerd standpoint, I got a kick out of it because it involves Ben Edlund, who is known for writing on Angel (he penned the hilarious fifth-season puppet episode "Smile Time"), but to me will always be the guy who created one of my favorite childhood franchises, The Tick. Spoon!

The Bottom Line

Supernatural fans will pick this up anyway, but they'll be just as satisfied as they were in seasons previous. I can recommend this series for anyone who likes a good, sometimes creepy bit of action-adventure in the vein of other paranormal shows like Angel, though coming in at the end of the fifth year might be mildly confusing for new viewers. I'm not as excited about this show as its fans, but I can say it's not a bad way to spend your weekend.

The Blu-Ray and DVDs hit stores on September 7, or you can pre-order direct from Warner by clicking on the box art above. Further information is available at the website here.

Blu-ray Review - Supernatural: The Complete Fifth Season

The wait is over, Nerd Herders! Chuck Season Three arrives on Blu-Ray and DVD September 7, and I have your inside scoop on the Blu-Ray edition right here!

The Show

If you still haven't seen Chuck, you're missing out - and I can say that from experience. I hadn't watched the show until getting the plum assignment to interview the cast at WonderCon 2010, and I ended up marathoning both Season 1 and Season 2 in a week. Season 3 became appointment TV in my house on a night normally reserved for 24 - a show that Chuck was routinely better than each week, and I say that as someone who's been a 24 fan for all eight seasons. Chuck is that good.

In Season 3, there's more spy mayhem and Buy More madness. Chuck (the vastly underrated and underpaid Zachary Levi) is still trying to balance his spy life with working at the electronics store. This wouldn't be so hard if he also hadn't downloaded the Intersect 2.0 into his head - while the new Intersect gives him more skills, it also may be driving him not-so-quietly insane, much to the distress of his handler and love interest Sarah Walker (Yvonne Strahovski). Meanwhile, NSA tough guy Casey (the scene-stealing Adam Baldwin) finds himself partnered with Chuck's fumbling best friend Morgan (Joshua Gomez) and dealing with people from his past. Oh, and did I mention there's a Superman in the house?! Brandon Routh portrays ruthless CIA agent Daniel Shaw, who takes over the operation and also has his eye on Sarah.

There's a lot of stuff going on in this season of Chuck. There are also some pretty great guest stars - Robert Patrick and Adam Baldwin have an X-Files reunion in one episode; Scott Bakula returns as Chuck's father; Smallville alum Kristin Kreuk pops in for a few episodes, and her first appearance also features Stone Cold Steve Austin (who's already been confirmed as returning for the upcoming season 4). You really can't go wrong with this show.

The Blu-Ray Discs

When I bought Season 1 and Season 2 of Chuck, I bought the DVDs after reading complaints about the poor Blu-Ray transfer, so I was a little apprehensive about how this Blu-Ray edition would perform. Now, I'm no video and audio technical expert, but the presentation didn't raise any red flags for me. It looks plenty viewable and I had no problem with understanding the audio. I don't want to say it's a flawless presentation since I don't know the technical fine print, but it's certainly watchable. All the episodes are presented in widescreen, which is always a plus.

The art is pretty much exactly the same as it was with the previous two seasons, both on the discs and in the accompanying booklet, just with different episodic pictures. The music on the menus is the exact same too. This isn't a bad thing, as it gives the whole show a uniform feel. The booklet has the same basic information that all Warner Home Video sets come with, which is to say the basic facts about each episode that you might want to reference.

Since this is a Blu-Ray release, there's no real packaging to discuss - one of the things I've noticed about Blu-Ray is that all Blu-Ray cases are fundamentally the same, as opposed to DVD boxes that can be either huge (like Deadwood) or tiny (like Family Guy's later volumes).

The Special Features

There are fewer special features here than there were on the previous seasons of Chuck. There's the by-now-standard deleted scenes (here called "declassified"), a gag reel (which on this show is always hilarious), and two featurettes - "Chuck-Fu and Dim Sum: Becoming A Spy Guy" and "The Jeffster Revolution: The Definitive Mockumentary."

Whoever designs the special features for Chuck is a freaking genius. These are always so much fun to watch (anyone remember the spoof Buy More employee training videos?). It also helps that they get just about everyone involved with them, be it the executive producers or the entirety of the cast, plus in this case, the inclusion of major guest star Brandon Routh. I never find myself wishing that someone was on the DVDs, or that a featurette could have been better. The main featurette is incredibly thorough, and covers the entire season, so don't watch it if you haven't seen all of the season yet. It contains Comic-Con footage, Zach Levi making up words, and even a meatloaf metaphor from Ali Adler. What other show would give you that?

The second featurette is an absolute blast, and is exactly what it says on the tin. It's a mock documentary about Jeffster, the band formed by Buy More employees Jeff (Scott Krinsky) and Lester (Vik Sahay). This is the kind of thing you might have seen on MTV or VH1 when they still played music. It takes fans all the way through the entire history of Jeffster.

I know I seem to say this with almost every review, but I'd love to see commentaries on this season. This cast is downright hilarious, leaving me wondering what they'd do if unleashed on their own work. I wonder if the once-commonplace audio tracks are becoming extinct on DVDs.

The Bottom Line

While it doesn't have as many bells and whistles as the first two seasons, Chuck fans won't be disappointed by this release. People who haven't seen the show are advised that the show itself is more than worth the blind buy. Highly recommended.

You can pre-order through Warner Home Video by clicking on the box art above, or the season hits stores on September 7. More info is available on the official DVD site, http://www.chuckdvd.com.

DVD Review - Chuck: The Complete Third Season (Blu-Ray)

As soon as I finished watching "The Eleventh Hour," the series 5 premiere of Doctor Who, I immediately knew that I would be adding the following season to my collection. I didn't have any of the other seasons of Who primarily because they were way too expensive for my budget, but series 5 would definitely make me want to change that.I began anxiously waiting for the release date of the DVD box set so that I could add it proudly onto my shelf.

Now, we have a release date for the set. It'll be hitting shelves in the UK on Monday, November 8, while in the US the set will adhere to the Tuesday tradition and be released the following day, November 9.

The six-disc set will also feature additional bonus scenes that were filmed exclusively for the release, set inside the TARDIS featuring the Doctor and Amy in-between episodes. The set will also feature a video diary filmed by Matt Smith throughout filming, which I suspect will be a lot of fun, as well as "cut-down" episodes of Doctor Who Confidential and the Monster Files included with the UK's volumed releases of the series.

The sets are retailing in the UK for £69.99 (on DVD) and £79.99 (on Blu-ray). In the U.S., they're actually a bit cheaper, costing only $55.99 for the DVD and $62.99 for the Blu-ray. They're not the cheapest sets ever, but at least they're a slightly cheaper than previous sets.

The box art for the series has also been released, and in my opinion, it's much better than the previous art for the series. Sure, it is pretty much the wallpaper the BBC released (plus the TARDIS), but it's still pretty sleek. I wouldn't doubt that it has a sort of iridescence to it as previous sets have had.

American fans can pre-order the sets through the links below:

• Doctor Who: The Complete Fifth Series [DVD]
• Doctor Who: The Complete Fifth Series [Blu-ray]

Pre-Order 'Doctor Who: The Complete Fifth Series'

Yesterday, South Park broadcast its landmark 200th episode on Comedy Central.  To celebrate, TVOvermind is giving away a copy of South Park Season 13, Uncensored, on Blu Ray.  Don't think the added resolution of Blu Ray brings much to animation?  You are soooo soooo wrong.

In order to win, here is what you need to do:

First, follow us on Twitter at @TVOvermind - what's this you say?  You don't have a Twitter?  Whine about your lack of skill to somebody else.

Next, and this is important, you MUST tweet the following:

Want to win a South Park Season 13 BluRay? Visit @TVOvermind and find out how! http://bit.ly/cepWPW

That's it!  The deadline is April 21st at midnight Eastern Time.  Winner will be contacted directly.  Now get tweeting.

TVOvermind's "South Park" Season 13 Blu Ray Giveaway!

If you've been saving your pennies for the big LOST complete series set, you might need a few less pennies than you thought. Back in January, I posted that the 38-disc (36 for Blu-Ray) set would be $230 for the DVD and $280 for Blu-Ray. That was quite a bit higher than the actual prices, I'm happy to tell you. Instead, you're looking at more around a $150/$200 for DVD/Blu-Ray sets. And the best part about all of it? You can pre-order the sets right now, to be delivered when they hit shelves on August 24.

That's right. You can head over to Amazon and snag your copies of the drama for those low prices today, and you can also oogle at the awesome temporary cover art for the set, which obviously is not the final copy (but still makes me giddy with excitement).

But wait! Before you go rushing off to Amazon to order those sets, why don't you order the sets and help us out at the same time (we scratched your backs, now you scratch ours). If you use the links below to pre-order your set, you'll be able to help TVOvermind out, without paying a cent extra! What's not to like? Just click on the links below to start placing your order.

• Lost: The Complete Collection [DVD]

• Lost: The Complete Collection [Blu-ray]

What do you think? Are you going to buy the set above (through TVOvermind, hopefully), or will you just stick with the season-only sets?

Pre-Order 'LOST: The Complete Collection'

Thanks to the good folks over at FOX, we have a brand new Simpsons Season 20 Blu-ray box set to give away to one of our lucky readers!

The Simpsons 20th session was released on DVD and Blu-ray on January 12.  For those of you who own a BluRay player, here's your chance to win a copy.

The inspriation for this contest comes from a game my friend Trish and I played back in law school.  Each day we posted our favorite Simpson's quote on our MSN and a group of our fellow students choose the funniest of the two.  In the end, I won (suck on that, Trish!) and she had to buy me dinner.

I love Simpsons quotes.  So I want to hear your favorite one.  It can be from ANY season.  Here are the contest rules:

Open to residents in Canada and the continental United States (it's a Region 1 Blu-ray).

Email me at clarissa @ tvovermind.com with your favorite Simpsons quote (as short or long as you like).  Make sure to write "Simpsons Contest" in the subject line and identify who said the quote!  The contest winner will be drawn at random.

Contest will end at 5:00 p.m. EST on Wednesday, January 20.  I will contact the winner by email and make arrangements to mail the Blu-ray.

Good luck!  I've got a lot of old Simpsons quotes running through my head all the time, so I can't wait to see what you come up.  And don't try to fool me with a Family Guy quote or something.  Trust me, I'll know.

UPDATE! I've already gotten several emails and they're making me laugh.  You guys are really brightening up my day.  Keep 'em coming!

Email: clarissa @ tvovermind.com

Follow: twitter.com/clarissa373

Contest - Win a Simpsons Season 20 Blu-ray!

If you're wanting to start the decade off with a little TV on DVD, then January 5th is the date for you. Three great new seasons of great shows are hitting shelves on Tuesday, and they're worth a look.

First up is season one of Battlestar Galactica. Yes, it's already out on DVD, but this release is Blu-Ray. It's marketing on Amazon for $62.99, and it should be worth every penny for fans of Starbuck and Adama. After all, who wouldn't want to see the ships and aliens of Battlestar in brilliant high-definition? The set carries four Blu-Ray discs, and can hopefully complete your Blu-Ray Battlestar collection, since The Plan and Season 4.5 are already available on Blu-Ray.

Next up is Chuck's second season, available in both DVD and Blu-Ray formats. The DVD is selling on Amazon for $38.99, but the Blu-Ray is only selling for $47.99, only nine dollars higher. The six-disc set contains all twenty-two episodes of the second season. The set is available only five days before the third season's premiere, "Chuck Versus the Pink Slip," so if you've missed a few episodes, the set is the perfect way to catch up.

And finally, expand the number of wives DVDs in your collection with the third season of Big Love. The ten episodes (which aired from January to March of 2009) are held on four discs. The set is not going to be available on Blu-Ray for this release, but then again, what difference does it make? Big Love isn't a show that would benefit that much from a high-def release. The DVD set is selling on Amazon for $38.99.

With Big Love, Chuck, and Battlestar Galactica all being released only five days into the decade, it's a proper way to start the aughts off.

Sam's Pick: Chuck, Season 2. Unquestionably NBC's best show, Chuck came close to meeting its end with the second season, and only narrowly got a third, with the help of an impassioned campaign by the fans. Making Chuck the #1 DVD of the week would send a clear message to NBC that we're not ready to give up Chuck, and would greatly heighten the prospects for a fourth season.

TV on DVD: January 5, 2010

Getting a review copy of LOST The Complete Fifth Season 'The Journey Back - Expanded Edition' before the street date really didn't give me much of an advantage as a reviewer. By this time, I would hope that anybody with enough interest to read a 'Blu Ray' review is aware of the technical beauty of the Blu Ray format. Simply put, it exceeds the broadcast quality (ABC broadcasts the show at 720p, and yes I know you have 1080i/1080p cable or satellite but guess what: it's up sampled) significantly.

To say you have not seen LOST until you have seen it in true 1080p high def might be a bit of a stretch, but you have certainly not seen it at its best. The natural locations of LOST matched with the high art of shot composition and blocking executed by the crew is very worthy of mega-high definition. Add in Michael Giacchino's orchestral score and some of the best Foley work (sound effects) in the business and LOST on Blu Ray could easily be used as the reference disc for calibrating your home theater.

So yes, Blu Ray is still the best way to watch a show so far (until Imax TV arrives, of course) and, in case you are wondering, LOST is still one of the best shows to re-watch. The story just never loses its appeal, and the high adventure aspects of the show become slightly embossed in the crystal clear Blu Ray environment.

Packaging wise, LOST The Complete Fifth Season adheres the industry standard including a coated card-stock slip case over a rugged clamshell container for the discs themselves. The artwork is meant to evoke the fade to white as well as the time flashes that dominated and frustrated fans. It's beautiful to look at and impossible to photograph, so don't trust any of the pics you see on the web. Next to the other sets for LOST, it sticks out like a radiant, beautiful, sore-thumb.

When I got the set early, I thought it would be a great opportunity to review the set in advance - but I was wrong. Aside from the technical advantages, there is little that separates the Blu Ray set from the DVD... until today, but we'll come back to that later. Some of the more minor advantages over the DVD set: high def extras. Most Blu Ray sets, until this season, have included the standard def (480p/i) encoded extras produced for the DVD set. This has annoyed more than a few fans, myself included. The main allure of Blu Ray for a fanboy is getting the best possible print, and up sampled 480p/i doesn't cut it. The reason the nets do this is clear, high def cuts of the deleted scenes and so on would have to be remastered to 1080p. In other words, they would be expensive. I'm happy to report that LOST The Complete Fifth Season on Blu Ray does include several HD mastered extras.

The main reason I couldn't review the set in advance is that the Blu Ray's premiere LOST-Geek oriented extra, the LOST University, did not open its doors until today. LOST University is exactly what the name implies, but maybe a little more. The feature allows LOST fans to participate in asynchronous classes covering a range of topics associated with the show. LOST University is not merely a glorified trivia session of the show itself, yet, in the 'heady' tradition of LOST, this program includes classes hosted by authentic academic egg-heads - as well as the entire LOST cast - on literature, physics, hieroglyphics and language, and philosophy. There are exams, GPAs (gulp), and even a very active social circle via the web boards at the LOST University website.

The LOST University feature is truly the differentiating content here. While some continue to call Blu Ray a fad that is destined to end up in the same junkyard as Beta tape - a superior format to VHS that died anyways - content such as LOST University makes Blu Ray's advantages crystal clear. Utilizing internet connectivity, BD Live applications live on Blu Ray discs and are powered by the platform independent Java language. LOST University is a sobering example of what DVD's cannot do as television viewing becomes more and more centered in the internet arena.

What one may rightly question is whether or not this feature is going to appeal to less die-hard fans of the show -I'm talking about the fans who tune in solely for the substantial entertainment value of LOST, and not the deeper intellectual fodder . The answer is a big 'probably not.' You don't need to participate in LOST University to understand or appreciate the show, but for those of you who cannot get enough LOST university the feature will be the best thing since Dharma Fish Biscuits.

Final Word

LOST The Complete Fifth Season on Blu Ray presents the highest quality transfers of one of televisions best shows. There is no question that fans will want to purchase this version over the DVD. Many of the special features are High Definition as well, and the menus load super zippy. And, yes, there are plenty of Easter eggs. The crowning achievement is most definitely the LOST University feature, which is guaranteed to give LOST fans hours and hours of informative and compelling LOST-seasoned fun.

For a preview of the LOST University content, check out our clips here.

For a review of LOST The Complete Fifth Season on standard DVD, click here.

Review - LOST The Complete Fifth Season on Blu Ray

Battlestar Galactica's tele-movie, The Plan is set to hit Blu-Ray Hi-Def and DVD at the end of October and fans are in for a real treat.  The DVD will boast some nice extras that include a BSG Trivia game, the 90 minute, uncut tele-movie, The Plan, as well as the U-Control and BD-Live freatures that come from Universal.  U-Control is Universal’s exclusive signature feature that puts the viewer just one click away from going deeper into the making of the film without ever leaving the movie.  The BD-Live is a control center that gives your Internet-connected player access to get even more content about the movie and the making of it, and more!  Below is the full press release from NBC Universal about Battlestar Galactica: The Plan.

EXPERIENCE THE FIGHT FOR HUMANITY'S SURVIVAL THROUGH THE EYES OF THE CYLONS FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER

Premieres Exclusively on Blu-ray™ Hi-Def, DVD and Digital Download October 27, 2009

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. - September 4, 2009 - Television's most thrilling science fiction adventure makes a stunning turnabout when Battlestar Galactica: The Plan debuts on Blu-rayTM Hi-Def and DVD on October 27, 2009 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment. For the first time ever, fans can experience the uncut and uncensored story of humanity's futuristic fight for survival through the eyes of their deadly adversaries, the Cylons. This never-before-seen perspective of the Cylon plan reunites the series' original television cast, including Emmy® Award winner Edward James Olmos (Stand and Deliver), Dean Stockwell (JAG), Tricia Helfer (Burn Notice), Grace Park (The Cleaner) and Callum Keith Rennie (Californication). Ronald D. Moore and David Eick return as executive producers.

Battlestar Galactica: The Plan's executive producer and writer Jane Espenson added, " Edward James Olmos was our director on the movie, and he did an amazing job. He also shot some great footage that we are not able to show on TV, so I'm thrilled that viewers can experience it uncut as our director envisioned it."

Battlestar Galactica: The Plan includes the uncensored 90-minute feature and revealing bonus features that take viewers onto the set of the most unexpected twist ever in the intergalactic saga's history. Interactive features available exclusively on Blu-rayTM Hi-Def include the new Battlestar Galactica Trivia Game, as well as Universal's acclaimed U-CONTROLTM and BD-LiveTM experience. With Blu-rayTM Hi-Def, viewers can enjoy Battlestar Galactica: The Plan's stunning visuals with perfect picture and the purest digital sound available.

During four spellbinding seasons on the SCI FI Channel (now Syfy), Battlestar Galactica's vivid reimagining of the classic television series earned a legion of devoted fans, as well as unfettered critical acclaim, and Emmy® Awards for Outstanding Special Visual Effects in 2007 and 2008 and a Peabody Award in 2008. Battlestar Galactica: The Plan is priced at $39.98 SRP on Blu-rayTM Hi-Def and $26.98 SRP on DVD. Preorder close is Sept. 8, 2009.

BATTLESTAR GALACTICA: THE PLAN - BONUS FEATURES
Battlestar Galactica: The Plan on Blu-rayTM Hi-Def and DVD takes viewers deeper into the acclaimed space drama with exclusive bonus features, including:
EXCLUSIVE TO BLU-RAYTM HI-DEF:
• BD-LIVETM: Access the BD-LiveTM Center through your Internet-connected player to download more exclusive content, the latest trailers and more!
o MY SCENES: Bookmark your favorite scenes from the movie.
o BATTLESTAR GALACTICA TRIVIA: All-new trivia game.
BONUS FEATURES (BLU-RAY™ HI-DEF and DVD):

• DELETED SCENES
• FROM ADMIRAL TO DIRECTOR: EDWARD JAMES OLMOS AND THE PLAN – A day-in-the-life with director and actor Edward James Olmos, as he tackles the most ambitious Battlestar Galactica production to date.
• THE CYLONS OF THE PLAN – Features interviews with the actors who play the film's key Cylons, including Dean Stockwell, Tricia Helfer, Grace Park, Michael Trucco, Rick Worthy and Michael Bennett.
• THE CYLON ATTACK – This featurette takes viewers behind the scenes for the planning and execution of one of Battlestar Galactica: The Plan's major action sequences.
• BEHIND THE PLAN - An in-depth look at some stunning visual effects and the role post-production plays in bringing the world of Battlestar Galactica to life.
• FILMMAKER COMMENTARY

SYNOPSIS
Battlestar Galatica: The Plan.. The Cylons began as humanity's robot servants. They rebelled and evolved and now they look like us. Their plan is simple: destroy the race that enslaved them. But when their devastating attack leaves human survivors, the Cylons have to improvise. Battlestar Galatica: The Plan tells the story of two powerful Cylon leaders, working separately, and their determination to finish the task.

An inspired, visually stunning reimagining of the 1978 series of the same name, Battlestar Galactica captured the imaginations of a new generation of fans with its gritty realism, compelling storylines and commanding performances. The show garnered numerous awards, including two Emmys® and the prestigious George Foster Peabody Award and was recognized by the American Film Institute (AFI) as one of the most outstanding television programs of the year for two years running. In March 2009, Battlestar Galactica's impassioned explorations of today's hot-button issues, including politics, terrorism, treatment of prisoners and religion, even inspired the United Nations to host a special panel to discuss the questions it has raised. The series is from Universal Cable Productions and is executive produced by Ronald D. Moore and David Eick.

BATTLESTAR GALACTICA: THE PLAN
TECHNICAL INFORMATION
Blu-rayTM Hi-Def
Street Date: October 27, 2009
Copyright: 2009 Universal Studios Home Entertainment
Selection Number: 61110464
Price: $39.98
Running Time: 90 Minutes
Rating: Not Rated

BATTLESTAR GALACTICA: THE PLAN
TECHNICAL INFORMATION
DVD
Street Date: October 27, 2009
Copyright: 2009 Universal Studios Home Entertainment
Selection Number: 61107967
Price: $26.98
Running Time: 90 Minutes
Rating: Not Rated

Source: NBC

Battlestar Galactica: The Plan Set to Launch on Blu-ray October 27

I have to say, I’m a bit astonished by the amount of people who think Blu-Ray is some kind of fad.  Every time I hear somebody say that the format will eventually fade out I wonder if they even have eyeballs.  That said, I can understand how some people would see it that way.  Blu-Ray, under the wrong circumstances, may not seem like much of a big deal.  Under ideal circumstances, though, it can be a revelation – and LOST, with its abundant natural light and distinctive natural locations, is the perfect vehicle for enlightenment to the power of Blu-Ray.

Here’s the thing, I’m writing this for LOST fans so I know I don’t need to convince you to buy “the show” itself, but trust me on this: LOST has to be seen on Blu-Ray.  There is another dimension revealed which is difficult to put into words, but let me try:

When I visited Hawaii during the production of Season 4 (I was on the set for the filming of the episode “The Other Woman”) something very strange happened that probably wouldn’t happen if you were visiting the set of any other show.  Most notably, this happened in the Kualoa valley where numerous scenes have been filmed for LOST.

You stand there, gaze up at the eroding volcanic foot hills that flank the undulate pastures, and suddenly it strikes you:  “the island is real.”  Walk beneath the dense canopy of a Banyon tree grove and the shadows come to life with the sinister presence of the others. You get the picture.  LOST is as much a product of the inspiring terrain that it is filmed on as the minds of the writers who create it. Some of that is lost when you watch LOST on television.  Nature has a level of detail that will forever surpass any television resolution.  Which brings us back to the technical merits of Blu-Ray.

I’m old enough to remember the old laserdiscs that preceded DVDs. Imagine Vinyl LP sized DVDs, that is essentially what they were.  They nearly doubled the line resolution of VHS, delivering 420 lines versus VHS’s 240.  The problem was, most television sets were not designed to accurately display progressively.  Anything over 240 lines would be displayed with a process called interlacing.  So 420 was actually 480i.  Without digital precision, 480i was kinda meh back in the day.  It was better than VHS, don’t get me wrong, but the limitations of most consumer level TVs really deprived laserdisc of its promise.

DVD was not far behind.  Anybody remember the component input revolution?  Think your DVD player looks great?  Wait until you take it out from the 3 wire video/audio left/audio right setup and put it in color stream/component.  All of this technical gobbilty gook basically comes down to this: our television technology is outpaced by our media storage capabilities.  The same couldn’t be truer for blu-ray.

As far as consumer pricing is concern, capable 1080p TV’s have not entered the market until the last year or so.  Sure, if you are blowing $1,200 + on a television you probably have one.  Even now, there are numerous 720p sets amongst the flat panel collections of your local Best Buy, and many of the 1080p’s there are still too slow to truly enjoy 1080p.  If the television cannot display the picture fast enough, compromises have to be made – in the case of Blu-Ray, the format demands very fast reproduction and the compromise is blocky pictures whenever the camera moves quickly, and bizarre pixilated ‘edging’ on the characters.  Most of it can be ‘gotten used to.’  If you're not convinced, go to your local Best Buy and ask for a demonstration of Blu Ray on a "Blu Ray capable" television.  The bottom line is, this distinction does exist - and until you've seen the difference, Blu Ray may indeed seem like a fad.

So this all comes back to LOST.  LOST, being filmed in locations that have details that elude the sensitivity of film emulsion, tests the reproduction capabilities of any format. Perhaps even Blu-Ray at 1080p isn’t nearly clear enough to summon that sense of LOST’s reality that standing in the Kualoa valley does, but it is damn close.

Everybody seems to be obsessed with whether or not the sets contain any new extras or not, they don’t.  In fact, the old DVD extras aren’t even upsampled.  If your TV reports resolution to you, you’ll find the extras are in plain old DVD-480.  I say: so what.  The opportunity to watch LOST with a palpable increase in the amount of natural detail is beyond the value of any extra they could throw in. Make no doubt about it, the main attraction for any LOST fan with the Blu Ray is the opportunity to watch the show with a whopping 360 lines of additional clarity that will make you appreciate the natural beauty of lost more than the broadcast 720p, or the low-res DVDs ever could.

Comparing the Blu Ray edition to the standard edition DVD is difficult without an appreciation of the technical virtues of a good Blu Ray setup. In terms of packaging, the Blu Ray sets are identical to the previously released LOST Season 3 and 4 Blu Rays sporting a hard shell plastic case with the standard paperback novel profile, versus the DVD trade paperback size. There is a noticable lack of inserts and booklets.  It is very much a set targeted towards upgrading the viewing experience of the episodes themselves, and nothing more.

It is interesting to note that purchasing the Blu Ray does give you a $20 discount if you own the original DVD set, but you have to mutilate the box of your DVD set and the slipcover of the Blu Ray's in order to provide the qualifying proof of purchase.

The bottom line:  experienced technophiles don't need to be told that Blu Ray wins on the merit of performance.  If you are buying for the first time, LOST is defintiely a program that benefits from the upgraded bandwidth.  Until something better comes along, Blu Ray is simply the best way to watch LOST – and anything else for that matter.  Just make sure your TV is up to the task.

REVIEW - Lost Season 1 and 2 on Blu-Ray

If you have HBO and are catching up on True Blood in preparation for its return this Sunday, June 14th, odds are you are watching the replay for free. If you have a blu-ray player and a 1080p capable TV, though, you are making a big mistake – True Blood is the perfect example of a series made to be seen with the ultra high bandwidth of the Blu Ray standard.

For starters, let’s correct a common misconception. If you have HD cable, you may not actually be receiving full resolution HDTV. For many customers, myself included, HD cable means 720p or at best 1080i, and then very likely up sampled. The truth is in the grain and noise. If you have it, you are not experiencing the true HD experience. Cable providers throw around the term “High Definition” as if it has no meaning.  Viewers too will often dismiss the difference between satellite/cable HD and Blu Ray HD.  You either have the equipment, or you don't.  If you can't see the difference, chances are you have bad eyes, a bad TV, or a little of each. Now back to the matter at hand: True Blood.

Filmed mostly in Los Angeles - with bits of Shrieveport, Louisiana sprinkled in for authenticity – True Blood manages to feign its locale, Bon Temps Louisiana, with a mixture of believable foliage, color, and texture – and illusion that could fall apart through the lens of crystal clear HD, but instead becomes a viable reality with this set. Blu Ray aficionados will often praise how their format of choice exposes the true look of films, and for True Blood this claim couldn’t be more accurate.

I originally watched True Blood in 720p on Time Warner, complete with occasional blasts of digital block noise. For the most part better than average, but once you’ve seen the show in 1080p with a full out uninterrupted data stream, crystal clear fast motion, and uncompressed audio, there is just no looking back.

Of course the story is no better in this format, True Blood remains as engrossing and decadent as it always has been. Alan Ball mixes in a little fantasy with the morbid ‘Imp of the Perverse’ guilty pleasures of Six Feet Under and comes up with a southern fairy tale that somehow finds a thread of innocent wonder amongst an insulation of Vampires, psychics, gore, sex, and good old human evil.  What the set does add to the story is an intriguing bundle of enhanced viewing features that focus on the back-story of the characters.  Every episode gets the extras treatment with revealing behind the scenes commentary and various story slanted bonuses such as how each vampire was made, maps of Bon Temps, and more.

The quality of the story telling alone is reason enough to purchase any collection, but if you have the opportunity do yourself a favor and reintroduce yourself to True Blood through the Blu Ray.

True Blood Blue Ray - Worth the Upgrade

HBO is beginning to generate buzz for the upcoming release of True Blood on Blu-Ray.  Like many recent Blu-Ray titles, True Blood really shows off what the format is capabable of as a premium viewing platform.

HBO is taking a bold step by allowing HBO on-demand customers the chance to watch an episode of True Blood with all of the Blu-Ray enhancements.  Personally, for us Time-Warner bound souls this isn't truly a look at Blu-Ray since we only have 1080i upsampling of 720p streams.

None-the-less, here is what True Blood fans can look forward to when the content goes live, courtesy of HBO.

Beginning May 4, and throughout the month on HBO On Demand, viewers will be able to watch the entire first episode from Season One in “True Blood Enhanced Viewing” mode, amplifying their experience with four types of original, interactive picture-in-picture, pop-up features that will be showcased throughout the DVD:
•           Lafayette – viewers can get the scoop on everyone in Bon Temps with True Blood’s flamboyant and outspoken Lafayette, who dishes up everything from secrets about Tara’s crush on Jason to the history of the Stackhouse family.
•           Vampire History – viewers intrigued by the vampire characters can learn more about how their favorites were “made.”
•           Hints and FYIs  –  viewers get to unravel the mysteries surrounding the entire series through helpful hints and FYI pop-ups.
•           Animated Maps – viewers get to explore colorful locations in Bon Temps through animated maps.
•
Available in stores May 19, TRUE BLOODSM THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON BLU-RAY™ DVD will offer all 12 episodes in True HD 1080p video and DTS-HD master audio, allowing viewers to engage with storylines, characters and themes of the show on a higher level through the “Enhanced Viewing” mode.  Along with the exclusive features listed above, Blu-ray bonus materials include a documentary that chronicles the integration of vampires, “Tru Blood” beverage ads that market the synthetic blood to “out of the coffin” vampires, and “Vampire Rights” PSAs.

HBO To Preview True Blood Blu-Ray Extras

Universal has announced the release of Battlestar Galactica season 4.5 as well as a feature saturated Blu Ray entry of Battlestar Galactica The Complete series.  Both Blu Ray editions will also be available on standard DVD.  Read on for more tech specs and details.

Says Universal:

The epic story of survival that redefined science-fiction television for a new generation comes to a breathtaking finish when Battlestar Galactica: Season 4.5 arrives on Blu-rayTM Hi-Def and DVD on July 28, 2009 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment. The must-own home entertainment release of the year, Battlestar Galactica: Season 4.5 features over 13 hours of explosive extras, including three extended episodes of the series finale that never aired on television, never-before-seen deleted scenes, behind-the-scenes featurettes, and commentary and podcast interviews with Executive Producers Ronald D. Moore and David Eick.  The Blu-ray™ Hi-Def edition also includes Universal’s acclaimed U-Control and BD-Live features, providing the ultimate way to enjoy this thrilling, contemporary classic television series.

As far as the goodies are concerned:

BATTLESTAR GALACTICA: SEASON 4.5 BONUS FEATURES
EXCLUSIVE TO BLU-RAYTM HI-DEF:

• U-CONTROL:  Universal’s exclusive signature feature puts viewers one click away from going deeper into the making of the film without ever leaving the movie.
• THE ORACLE: An interactive guide including ships and characters.
• BATTLESTAR ACTUAL: A glossary of all the unique Battlestar Galactica terms.
• WHAT THE FRAK HAPPENED TO YOU?  Explore the history and connections of your favorite characters through video clips and relevant facts.
• BD-LIVE™: Access the BD-Live™ Center through your Internet-connected player to get even more content, watch the latest trailers, and more!
• BATTLESTAR GALACTICA ULTIMATE BATTLE: Players can battle their friends as Colonials or Cylons using strategy and luck to achieve victory.
• MY SCENES:  Pick your favorite scenes from the film to create your own video montage.
• THE MUSICIANS BEHIND DAYBREAK: Composer Bear McCreary interviews and explains how many unique musicians have contributed the show and specifically the series finale, Daybreak.
• BONUS FEATURES (BLU-RAY™ HI-DEF and DVD):
• EXTRAS
• EVOLUTION OF A CUE: Composer, Bear McCreary takes us step by step through his process of creating the music of Battlestar Galactica.
• WHAT THE FRAK IS GOING ON WITH BATTLESTAR GALACTICA?: A recap of Battlestar Galactica’s first three thrilling seasons – in only eight minutes!
• …AND THEY HAVE A PLAN: What do they mean every episode when the opening sequence on the Cylons states “And They Have A Plan?”  All will be revealed in the upcoming movie The Plan.
• THE JOURNEY ENDS:  THE ARRIVAL: Battlestar Galactica has traveled full circle.  The journey has concluded never to be revisited.  But how did we arrive at the end?
• A LOOK BACK
• SO SAY WE ALL: Executive Producer Ron Moore and the cast and crew reveal their personal insights on Battlestar Galactica.
• MANIFESTO DESTINY: It all began with this manifesto.  Why was it written and what was the response?
• BATTLE-STYLE GALACTICA: Those behind the camera delve into their approach to visual style of Battlestar Galactica.
• MARTYR TO A CAUSE: As the only actor to appear in both the original and reimagined series, Richard Hatch offers his unique perspective on Battlestar Galactica.
• THE SINS OF THE FORGIVEN: Insights on the curious religious aspects of Battlestar Galactica.
• BATTLESTAR REVELATIONS: Firsthand accounts from those on the Battlestar for the past five years.
• AUDIO COMMENTARIES BY RONALD D. MOORE, DAVID EICK, AND EDWARD JAMES OLMOS
• RONALD D. MOORE’S PODCAST COMMENTARIES
• DAVID EICK’S VIDEO BLOGS
• DELETED SCENES

and

BATTLESTAR GALACTICA: SEASON 4.5
TECHNICAL INFORMATION

• Blu-ray Hi-Def
• Street Date:  July 28, 2009
• Copyright:  2009 Universal Studios Home Entertainment. All Rights Reserved.
• Pre-Order Close: June 6, 2009
• Selection Number: 61108246
• Price:  $69.98 SRP
• Layers:  BD-50
• Aspect Ratio: Widescreen 2.35:1
• Rating:  Not rated.
• Languages/Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish
• Sound:  DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1

TECHNICAL INFORMATION
DVD

• Street Date:  July 28, 2009
• Copyright:  2009 Universal Studios Home Entertainment. All Rights Reserved.
• Pre-Order Close: June 6, 2009
• Selection Number: 61105927
• Price: $49.98 SRP
• Layers:  Dual Layer
• Aspect Ratio:  AW 1.78:1
• Rating: Not rated
• Languages/Subtitles:  English SDH, Spanish
• Sound:  Dolby Digital 5.1

BATTLESTAR GALACTICA: THE COMPLETE SERIES
TECHNICAL INFORMATION

• Blu-ray Hi-Def
• Street Date: July 28, 2009
• Copyright:  2009 Universal Studios Home Entertainment. All Rights Reserved.
• Pre-Order Close: June 9, 2009
• Price:  $349.98
• Selection Number:  61107923
• Layers:  BD-50
• Aspect Ratio: Widescreen 2.35:1
• Rating: Not rated
• Languages/Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish
• Sound:  DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1

TECHNICAL INFORMATION
DVD

• Street Date: July 28, 2009
• Pre-Order Close: June 9, 2009
• Copyright:  2009 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.
• Price:  $279.98
• Selection Number:  61106532
• Layers:  Dual Layer
• Aspect Ratio: AW 1.78:1
• Rating:  Not rated.
• Languages/Subtitles:  English SDH, Spanish
• Sound:  Dolby Digital 5.1

Universal Announces Battlestar Galactica Blu-Ray Titles