The Big Lebowski (Universal, $29.98) is like your old buddy who is so amusing and you get a big smile every time you even think about getting together again. This week’s (Aug. 16, 2011) Limited Edition Blu-ray of the cult comedy classic offers much to laugh about once again:

• The movie itself and the disheveled Dude is enough
• Vintage Coen Brothers off-the-wall characters and situations
• Jeff Bridges and entire cast give performances of their careers
• 28-page booklet with hilarious movie quotes, quizzes, interviews, Bridges’ photos
• Interactive elements are fun to keep track of utterances of the f-word,  pop-up picture-in-picture comments, interviews, behind-the-scenes
• Bonus features galore including making-of, finishing lines of dialogue trivia, previously-released ten-year anniversary interviews, and fun interactive map of shooting locations.

– By Scott Hettrick

Disney’s two Blu-ray releases this week (Aug. 9, 2011) are notable for different reasons and both are worth a look:

* Mars Needs Moms (Disney, $49.99 4-disc set w/ 3D) took a pounding from critics and cost filmmaker Robert Zemeckis his company and partnership with Disney, but the performance-capture/computer-animated movie itself about a boy (Seth Green) who heads to outer space to rescue his mom (Joan Cusack) when she is abducted by aliens offers the following:

• Plenty enough fun and enjoyable for any kid and their parents.
• 3D on Blu-ray looks even better and more effective than in theaters
• Alternate scene in 3D of mother’s abduction is impressive extra
• Lots more enjoyable bonus features including extended opening and multiple deleted scenes that are interesting, and amusing behind-the-scenes mini-doc about motion-capture process for actors.

* The Fox and the Hound 30th Anniversary Edition /Fox and Hound 2 (Disney, $39.99 three-disc set with Blu-ray and two DVDs)  is one of the few bright spots from the black hole post-Disney death era of the late 1960s – 1980s, with a cute story of an unlikely friendship between a young hound dog and a fox that evolves into a natural estrangement as they mature.

• First half when animals are pups is far more cute and fun
• One of last Disney movies using old school animation by several of Nine Old Men (this was also the first Disney film that filmmaker Tim Burton worked on).
• Music and songs by Pearl Bailey (“Best of Friends”) a delight
• Couple of mildly entertaining bonus features: sing-along, video of unlikely friendships, and mini-doc on transition of Disney animation
• DVD premiere sequel Fox and the Hound 2 has much less sophisticated TV-style quality and different voices but cute enough for younger viewers.

– By Scott Hettrick

Warner’s May 31 (2011) HiDef Blu-ray releases of a couple of filmmaker Stanley Kubrick’s best movies are magnificent (and also tied to $149 package of nine of Kubrick’s films on Blu-ray, including “Dr. Strangelove,” “2001″ and first Blu-ray version of “Lolita”):

* A Clockwork Orange 40th Anniversary Editon (Warner, $34.99) is a beautiful rendition of the 1971 controversial story of youth obsessed with sex and violence and extreme governmental attempts at deterrence and rehabilitation – originally rated X.

• Mezmerizing peformance by then-unknown Malcolm McDowell
• Equally mezmerizing electronic soundtrack by Walter Carlos who later became Wendy Carlos
• Another amazing successful genre shift for Kubrick with a low budget after nearly bankrupting MGM during production of big budget of “2001: A Space Odyssey” three years earlier.
• Blu-ray offers immaculate presentation of vivid and bright colors and dazzling, innovative sets.
• Beautiful double-disc set with color 40-page booklet of great photos and essays.
• Two fascinating new documentaries/interview about the movie and McDowell and two feature-length documentaries about the life and careers of McDowell and Kubrick
• Numerous informative background trivia anecdotes by McDowell during audio commentary – Kubrick ordered the film banned from theaters and TV-home video in the UK until his death due to threats on his family.

* Barry Lyndon (Warner, $19.98) is perhaps one of the most visually exquisite films ever shot, with an equally powerful classical music score, yet the three-hour groundbreaking period film starring Ryan O’Neal (he and Farrah Fawcett named their son after his character) as an 18th century Irish scoundrel who manages to turn his series of failings and missteps mostly relating to his quick temper and penchant for deceit into an unlikely rise through the military ranks of the Seven Years War and eventually aristocracy was mostly dismissed by audiences and some critics in 1975. Yet director Martin Scorsese still considers it one of Kubrick’s best films and delivers a “profoundly emotional experience.”
It remains atop my list of the best films ever made.

• Finally, a wider screen aspect ratio of 1.78:1 (formerly 1.66:1)
• First HiDef Blu-ray edition is improved but still a little grainy
• Still no bonus features included, as ever — maybe Scorsese will see to remedying that for a 40th anniversary edition in a few years.

– By Scott Hettrick