With the Oscars and BAFTAs just around the corner, and last week’s Golden Globes still fresh in our minds, this week we’re focusing on the best big award winning films on Blu-ray. So if you’re stuck for ideas this weekend, why not try out one of the following?
Saving Private Ryan
Picking up Oscars, Golden Globes and BAFTAs galore, Steven Spielberg’s 1998 World War II picture truly is a masterpiece to behold on Blu-ray. Awarded five stars for its audio and picture quality by Blu-ray.com, this tale of a heroic mission behind enemy lines follows Captain Miller (Tom Hanks) and his squad who are tasked with locating Private Ryan (Matt Damon). Packed with an array of amazing features, such as Looking into the Past, which sets the film’s historical context, and Recreating Omaha Beach, which examines the filming techniques behind the unforgettable opening sequence, viewers have a chance to journey deeper into the film than ever before. Shedding light on Spielberg’s inspirations and fascination with the era, interviews with veterans, historians and the cast on their military training for their roles complete the package.
The Departed
Finally scooping Martin Scorsese his first Oscar for Best Director and another three for Best Picture, Best Editing and Best Adapted Screenplay, the movie follows the lives of two undercover police officers acting on opposite sides of the law. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Jack Nicholson, Matt Damon and Mark Wahlberg, the tale of violence, bloodshed and identity will leave audiences on the edge of their seats until the very end. Special features include a documentary on the real life Boston gangster Whitey Bulger, who inspired Jack Nicholson’s character, alongside deleted scenes and featurettes focusing on Scorcese himself. Crossing Criminal Cultures explores the director’s fascination with the mafia genre, with comment from an array of stars who have worked with him and archived footage from some of his greatest movies.
Toy Story 1-3 Box Set
Nominated many times and finally achieving Oscar and BAFTA gongs for the third outing in the Best Animated Feature category, there’s no denying the Toy Story movies are amongst the best loved of all time. Brimming with gripping adventure, magnificent satire and lump-in-the-throat nostalgia, the BD box set provides layer after layer of added insight in stunning HD. All three movies follow the adventures of a group of toys led by traditional cowboy doll Woody (Tom Hanks) and futuristic space ranger Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen). A plethora of exclusive extras are spread across the four disc collection, including a look at the original character designs, animation techniques, music and audio, commentaries from the team of writers and directors, as well as shorts introduced by Buzz and a look at the alternative story and concept that was canned in favour of the film we’re all familiar with today.
So what do you think of our choices? Hit the comments to tell us about your favourite award winning films, or tell us what else you’ll be looking forward to watching on Blu-ray this weekend.
