It’s that time again when the attention of Europe turns to all things football. With so many matches and so much screen time dedicated to Euro 2012, it can feel like there’s no escape. But if you don’t like football, never fear – claim back your TV and escape into a world of high-definition wonder with this selection of some of the best Blu-rays available now.
Harry Potter – The Complete 8-Film Collection (Warner Bros)
Leap out of your living room and into the magical world of Harry Potter with this mammoth 11 BD collection, with enough content to last you through the entire of Euro 2012 and then some. Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson lead an all star cast in the globally renowned series adapted from J. K. Rowling’s much loved tales of witches and wizards. From fledgling students to masters of sorcery, this eight movie collection comprises the entire back catalogue of adventures in spectacular HD.
This Means War (Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment)
Not keen on picking a side to support in Euro 2012? Choosing between Chris Pine or Tom Hardy in This Means War could prove much more fun! As the world’s deadliest CIA operatives, these inseparable partners are also best friends, until they fall for the same girl (Reese Witherspoon) and find themselves using their skills and high-tech gadgetry against each other to win her affections. With action, romance and plenty of adrenaline fuelled fight scenes, this hilarious rom-com packs a serious punch.
Hugo 3D (Paramount)
Martin Scorsese’s Hugo won big at this year’s Oscars, scooping no less than five awards for visual effects, sound, art direction and cinematography – so if you didn’t catch it in the cinema, now’s the perfect time to catch up. A brilliant example of 3D entertainment at its finest, Asa Butterfield stars as twelve-year-old Hugo, an orphan living inside the walls of a Parisian train station. Enchanting and beautiful, this 3D BD is truly one of Scorcese’s finest moments.
The Blind Side (Warner Bros)
For those looking for some heart behind their sporting action, why not check out Sandra Bullock’s Oscar winning performance in The Blind Side. Tenacious and sassy businesswoman Leigh (Bullock) takes on the challenge of her life when her family fosters shy outcast Michael (Quinton Aaron). After discovering his unique talent for American football, Michael and Leigh work together to turn his troubled life around and give him the best chance of making his dreams come true. Truly inspiring entertainment, both on and off the pitch!
The Help (Disney)
Rising star Emma Stone stars as headstrong writer Skeeter Phelan in this multi-award winning adaptation of Kathryn Stockett’s The Help. Set during the 1960s civil rights era, Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer play veteran maids who divulge the best and worst of their experiences as part of an anonymous expose on life as a servant in Mississippi. Educational and heart-warming, this poignant movie offers viewers of all ages a picture perfect look at the American dream and those who worked so hard to make it a reality.
The Descendants (Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment)
If you’re not enamoured with the prospect of a visit to Poland or Ukraine, perhaps a Hawaiian paradise is more your scene. Get washed ashore with George Clooney in this touching drama about a dysfunctional Honolulu- based family. Lawyer and land trustee Matt (Clooney) is toying with the prospect of selling the family plot when an accident forces him and his brood to re-examine their lives. Funny and touching in equal measure, you’ll be swept away by this BD’s charm and its beautiful locations, presented to perfection in stunning HD.
The Twilight Saga (Lionsgate)
To bring a different sort of competitiveness to your home during the tournament, why not sink your teeth into The Twilight Saga, and try to decide if you’re on ‘Team Edward’ or ‘Team Jacob’. Comprising the first three movies in the romantic vampire franchise, this collection provides the perfect remedy to an afternoon of football, giving viewers new and old the chance to fall in love with Bella and her admirers all over again.
The Lion King 3D (Disney)
Roaring off the screen and into your living room on BD 3D, this classic tale follows Simba the lion and his adventures with family and friends in the Pride Lands of Africa. Fantastically re-mastered for Blu-ray and with that unforgettable soundtrack, the whole family can experience this universally loved classic like never before.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Sony)
Why not try some European drama of a different kind with David Fincher’s adaptation of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Starring Daniel Craig as disgraced journalist Mikael Blomkvist and Rooney Mara as unfathomable hacker Lisbeth Salander, Fincher’s take on the Scandinavian mystery has been applauded by film buffs and fans of Stieg Larsson alike. Hired by a wealthy patriarch, Blomkvist and Salander join forces to unravel the truth behind a 40 year old mystery, bringing to life a dark and despicable secret.
Transformers: Dark of the Moon 3D (Paramount)
The action on the pitch will have to go some way to beat the spectacular on-screen fireworks in the third instalment of Michael Bay’s explosive Transformers franchise. This Blu-ray, available in either 3D or 2D, sees Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) and his robot comrades battle to save planet Earth once more, culminating in an incredible, showstopping finale in and above the streets of Chicago. Kids and adults alike will be blown away.
