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TCHAIKOVSKY: The Tragic Life of a Musical Genius (1996) Published on July 07, 2008 The biographical re-creation is rather elaborate, with expensive sets of the Russian court, the various country estates occupied by Tchaikovsky, and his domestic life.


Mon Oncle Antoine (1971) Published on July 06, 2008 This landmark Canadian feature is a perfect choice for the Criterion restoration treatment.

The Moody Blues Live: Lovely to See You (2005), Blu-ray Published on July 06, 2008 Blu-ray really didn’t add that much visually over the original DVD, but the surround fidelity made a giant leap sonically.

RICHARD WAGNER: Der fliegende Holländer (The Flying Dutchman) Published on July 05, 2008 This Flying Dutchman is set to such haunting music, and is replete with cinematic effects— crashing waves, authentic ships, a ghoulish crew dancing in shallow water, and real feasting.

Jumper, Blu-ray (2008) Published on July 05, 2008 A perfect mindless, action-oriented film for weekend afternoon viewing.

Bernstein Conducts SCHUBERT: Symphony No. 9 & SCHUMANN: Manfred Overture (1987/1985) Published on July 03, 2008 Near definitive readings for both these wonderful works

Roland Petit's ballet "Proust" (2007) Published on July 01, 2008 A ballet that worships at the altar of art.

Mad Men, Season One, Blu-ray 3-Disc Set (2008) Published on June 30, 2008 AMC is to be commended for such a novel and totally compelling series – this is the sort of programming you’d expect to see on HBO or Showtime.

Be Kind Rewind, Blu-ray (2008) Published on June 29, 2008 A quirky and hilarious warmhearted romp

Gangs of New York, Blu-ray (2002) Published on June 26, 2008 Who knew that New York City in the 1860s was such a violent and gang-ridden place?

Artur Rubinstein in Concert (1973/2007) Published on June 26, 2008 Taped August 1973, Rubinstein is 86-years-old, and the musicians attend to his every note as if it were the last time they would hear him.

The Beast With a Billion Backs, Futurama Feature (2008) Published on June 25, 2008 Matt Groening's Simpsons-ish sci-fi series lives on in a feature-length adventure with Fry, Leela, Bender and all the others.

BRUCKNER: Symphony No. 9 in D minor (2007) Published on June 24, 2008 The visual coverage is the most varied and interesting I have yet seen in a symphony orchestra video.

Persepolis, 2007 Published on June 22, 2008 A very touching story of a young girl growing up in troubled Iran, told in a visually original and compelling way.

The Eye, Blu-ray (2008) Published on June 20, 2008 While the movie itself perhaps comes up somewhat short in substance, the two-disc set offers a substantial host of extras.

ZZ Top, Live From Texas, Blu-ray (2008) Published on June 20, 2008 In terms of image quality, this disc is superb in every way, and offers an excellent HD presentation, with really good contrast.

The Buddha of Suburbia, 1993/2008 Published on June 20, 2008 Realistic, sometimes painful, sometimes hilarious coming-of-age story of a young Pakastani in dysfunctional East/West family in South London in the 1970s.

Art Blakey/Mike Mainieri and their combos - Jazz Legends Series (1982/2007) Published on June 16, 2008 Jazz filmed at the Brecker Brothers' jazz club in 1982 is entertaining but short.

The Sand Pebbles, Blu-ray (1966/2008) Published on June 16, 2008 Right up there with Patton - one of the very best of Fox’s recent classic catalog Blu-rays.

Nights in the Gardens of Spain (1990) Published on June 12, 2008 It would be difficult to find a finer performance than that of De Larrocha and Dutoit.

Company, A Musical Comedy, Blu-ray (2007) Published on June 12, 2008 Bobby is a perpetual bachelor celebrating his 35th birthday with all of his married friends and some of his girlfriends.

There Will Be Blood, Blu-ray (2007) Published on June 12, 2008 A blistering look at the beginning of the oil industry seen through the life of an oil man - now in HD

Clifford Curzon: The BBC Piano Recitals (1959 & 1968) Published on June 11, 2008 Curzon plays the Schumann suite-ode to childhood quite directly, without mannerism, his wrists quite high above the keys.

A Bridge Too Far, Blu-ray (2008) Published on June 11, 2008 Very little went as planned - both in the actual invasion and in the filmic epic on the subject.

SMETANA: Má vlast (My Fatherland) (1984/2008) Published on June 09, 2008 Fine concert video, but I missed the Czech scenes featured in an early laserdisc also videotaped in the early 1980s.

Becoming Jane, Blu-ray (2007) Published on June 06, 2008 Another Jane Austen story, with all the period touches in hi-res.

Frank Sinatra, The Golden Years Box Set (2008) Published on June 05, 2008 Five earlier features starring Sinatra, proving that he was a good actor as well as a great voice.

Patton, Blu-ray (1970) Published on June 04, 2008 It is a great film which won seven Academy Awards in 1970, but Patton himself had plenty of chinks in his Great Man armor.

Signs, Blu-ray (2008) Published on June 02, 2008 The impact of music and dynamic transients is quite startling and adds a much-needed measure of dramatic oomph to the requisite scenes.

Rambo I - III Box Set, Blu-ray (2008) Published on June 02, 2008 I was pleasantly surprised to find that they had held up as relatively well as they have.

Rambo, The Fight Continues, Blu-ray (2008) Published on June 02, 2008 While definitely not for all tastes, the movie offers an impressive package of home-theater spectacle and generous extras.

Jiri Kylian’s Car Men ballet (2006) Published on June 01, 2008 Utilizes four dancers in one of the most exciting collaborations of filmmaker and choreographer in a dance film that I have ever viewed.

Louis Armstrong, Live In Australia (1964) Published on May 31, 2008 A must-have video for Louis Armstrong fans; and fans of classic jazz will not be disappointed.

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe, Blu-ray (2008) Published on May 30, 2008 As a Blu-ray disc, it’s reference quality, with both picture and sound that offer a superior home theater experience.

JOHANN STRAUSS II: Die Fledermaus (The Bat), Blu-ray (2008) Published on May 30, 2008 In terms of entertainment value, this new Blu-ray disc from Opus Atre is beyond brilliant.

Diva (1981) Published on May 29, 2008 This French thriller is a stylish and distinctive mix of new approaches to music, design, color and cinematography.

Johnny Griffin Quartet/ Richie Cole Group - From The Village Vanguard (1981) Published on May 27, 2008 1981 Village Vanguard Sessions from Richie Cole and Johnny Griffin

What’s Going On - The Life and Death of Marvin Gaye Greatest Hits - Live in ’76, (2-DVD Collector’s Edition) Published on May 27, 2008 The Troubled Genius of Marvin Gaye

Sergiu Celibidache Conducts RAVEL & DEBUSSY Published on May 27, 2008 His frailty in person belies the energies of his art, which now emanate from a modest stick technique.

Battle of Britain, Blu-ray (1969/2007) Published on May 25, 2008 The cast of the film consists of most of the top names in British films of the period.

National Treasure, Blu-ray (2007) Published on May 25, 2008 The story not only becomes a thrill-ride of a treasure hunt, but also a race to save the most precious document of American history from the bad guys.

National Treasure 2 - Book of Secrets, Blu-ray (2008) Published on May 25, 2008 Treasure hunter Gates is back in this sequel, trying to clear the name of his great grandfather who has been implicated in the assassination of Lincoln.

“Legends of Jazz” Showcase, Blu-ray (2006) Published on May 22, 2008 Now those of us equipped for Blu-ray playback can luxuriate in both the enhanced images and surround sound

Con Air, Blu-ray (1997) Published on May 21, 2008 As with most Jerry Bruckheimer-produced flicks, there are plenty of scenes with explosions, chases, and weapons.

Juno, Blu-ray with Digital Copy (2007) Published on May 20, 2008 Ellen Page is talented beyond her years and well-deserving of Best Actress Oscar nomination that she received.

The Harpsichord in the 18th Century of the Most Serene Republic of Venice Published on May 15, 2008 Performer Barchi also built the instruments on which he plays, and is located in Venice, so it was natural to have a Venice theme for the first of four DVDs.

Avant-Garde 2 - Experimental Cinema 1928-1954 (2007) Published on May 14, 2008 Mainly of interest as a document of cinematic history

The Lovers (1958) Published on May 12, 2008 Malle’s follow-up to Elevator to the Gallows, which also starred Moreau (and a score by Miles Davis)

MOZART: Die Zauberflote (The Magic Flute), Blu-ray (2008) Published on May 12, 2008 Hands down the finest presentation of an opera on recorded video disc I’ve ever seen.

Shall We Dance?, Blu-ray (2008) Published on May 12, 2008 This movie excels in its presentation, and is as close as it gets to reference quality technically.

Janet Jackson, Live In Hawaii (2008) Published on May 12, 2008 I feel compelled to admit that I didn’t find this two and a half hour concert nearly as laborious to get through as I imagined. The entire thing was most entertaining.

The Company, Blu-ray (2008) Published on May 11, 2008 Michael Keaton chain-smokes RJ Reynolds' entire manufacturing output of tobacco in his tireless search for the Soviet mole.