Potpourri for $200, Alex!

Life has gotten in the way of blogging over the last few weeks, so it's time for a long overdue update...

We've been trying to catch as much of the Olympics as possible since they started last wekend. It's a real thrill that the're being held in Canada (despite the non winter-like Vancouver weather), and very cool that the entire country is abuzz with pride and excitement over the Games and the performance of our athletes. In the end, and rather unfortunately, it will all come down to the success or failure of the men's hockey team. After an opening game 8-0 romp over Norway, they struggled mightly against a fiesty and determined Swiss team, backstopped by an amazing performance by Jonas Hiller in goal. It will all come down to whether Team Canada's star-studded lineup can develop the chemistry required over the course of a short tournament. They face a very tough test against the U.S. later this afternoon.

In gaming news, Hustle Kings and Borderlands have occupied virtually all of my limited gaming time. I'm over halfway through Borderlands at this point and still enjoying the heck out of it. I'd probably be finished had Hustle Kings not snuck up and stolen so much of my time. I'd like to make a concerted push to complete Borderlands, hopefully after the Olympics.

I also took a sneak peek at Mass Effect 2 last weekend. The visuals are stunning (especially the cut scenes), but the gameplay didn't immediately hook me. Granted, this is only based on about 1.5 hours of play, and I'm not about to render any sort of judgement until I've delved into it much deeper.

We've checked out a bunch of blu-rays over the last few weeks as well. Here's a round-up...

Braveheart

I've always felt that Braveheart is vastly overrated by a certain demographic of film fans. However, it is an exceptionally well crafted piece of work, and hugely entertaining. The DVD video transfer of Braveheart left a lasting impression on me after seeing it several years ago. As good as it was, the blu-ray transfer is simply off the charts in comparison, easily among the most impressive I've seen. The level of detail so apparent in the DVD release is taken to new heights here, and the audio track is no slouch either. If Braveheart sits as part of your permananent film collection, the new Sapphire Series blu-ray is an absolute must-own.

Kung Fu Hustle

A hidden gem of a film. Part traditional Kung Fu, part 30's gangster flick, and part Looney Tunes, Stephen Chow's Kung Fu Hustle must be seen to be believed. The blu-ray improves on the already great DVD release on all counts, but not to the degree that some other titles do. While the picture looks terrific, it falls just short of reference quality. The audio, OTOH, is reference quality. The DTS track on the original DVD was fantastic, but I've never heard side surround imaging as strong and precise as on this very active blu-ray mix. This is surround sound as it's meant to be, folks. I'll be anxiously awaiting the blu-ray release of Shaolin Soccer (which I've yet to see). In the meantime, do yourself a favor and see this film!

Fight Club

Another film whose reputation exceeds itself to some degree. Don't get me wrong, I love me some Fight Club and will always own the latest and greatest version (hence the upgrade to blu-ray). I was expecting to be truly wowed by this BD, and simply wasn't. I can't point to any particular reason why, as both video and sound are solid. Perhaps it's more a case of the special edition DVD being so good in the first place, though I haven't bothered to take the time to compare them directly. Either way, it's tough to to give this one a hearty recommendation as an upgrade.

Leon: The Professional

Luc Besson's Leon, while not a great film, has established itself as a personal favorite. How can you not not love Jean Reno's turn in the title role and the interplay between he and Natalie Portman's Mathilda? I wasn't sure what to expect from this blu-ray going in, but came away very pleasantly surprised. This is a great looking transfer and the audio kicks into high gear when called upon, most notably during the action-packed finale. As a bonus, the disc includes both the theatrical and extended cuts of the film. Highly recommended if you love the film. And if you've never seen it, what are you waiting for?

Kingdom of Heaven

See Braveheart, above. Most of the same comments apply here. KoH certainly has it's detractors, but I'm not one of them. Love it or hate it, there's no denying that blu-ray and Ridley Scott were made for each other. The format is the perfect match for his visual trickery, and this transfer is just about as good as it gets, save for the fact that darker scenes tend to be a little compressed. No complaints about the audio either, it's every bit as powerful as you'd hope. If you're a fan of the film, this one's a no-brainer purchase.