So Santa left a high-definition player — Blu-ray or HD-DVD — under your tree. Still scratching your head about what to put in it? We pick the top 3 titles in each format.
Blu-ray
RATATOUILLE
The eye-popping colors of this cartoon gem are why high-def was
invented. Freeze-frame anywhere and you'll swear you're staring at a
painting. You also get Blu-ray-exclusive bonuses like clips of director
Brad Bird brainstorming with animators and a featurette that lets you
experience how an alternate score affects a scene's pacing.
HAIRSPRAY
The bold, saturated hues are a visual treat, but it's Blu-ray's superior audio capability that truly takes center stage, especially during the
high-energy musical numbers. An innovative picture-in-picture feature
showcases footage of stars like Nikki Blonsky and Zac Efron rehearsing
dance routines and laying down tracks in the recording studio.
BLADE RUNNER: ULTIMATE COLLECTOR'S EDITION
Just about any scene in this fully restored version of director Ridley
Scott's sci-fi classic is reference-worthy, but the sun-dappled tableau
when Harrison Ford and Sean Young first meet, glittering with impossibly
lush blacks and golds, should be running on a loop in every HDTV store
in the country.
HD-DVD
300
In what may be the coolest bonus feature ever, a bluescreen
picture-in-picture lets you view the epic swords-and-sandals
block-buster before the CG effects and backgrounds were added (most of
the film was shot on a soundstage) and before the color was jacked up to
create the movie's heavily stylized, high-contrast look.
HEROES: SEASON 1
Fans will appreciate the wealth of cutting-edge extras. Among them:
video commentaries featuring the cast and show creator Tim Kring that
play alongside eight of the 23 episodes; close-up looks at Isaac's
prophetic paintings (created by comic-book artist Tim Sale); and a chart
that maps the connections between characters.
HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX
The details are so sharp that you can count Dumbledore's whiskers — if
you're into that. The DVD seamlessly incorporates pop-up trivia tidbits
(actor Rupert Grint's dressing room was a popular cast hangout!) and
making-of featurettes into the viewing experience.
