Taking aim at the best and worst of movies and television.
'Up,' up and away ...
Up hits you hard and does so early. The opening 10 minutes of Pete Docter's film are some of the most beautifully wrought scenes about life seen in recent memory (just when you think Hollywood's gone and misplaced what little remained of its soul). Kids will embrace Up for Pixar's finely honed blend of adventure and humor, while adults will treasure the film for its economical yet infinitely rich exploration of a life fully lived. The Blu-ray features an exclusive digital copy, along with a DVD version, filmmaker commentary and a slew of featurettes. (Disney, $45.99 Blu-ray; $20 DVD)
ALSO OUT THIS WEEK:
-- Heat: Director Michael Mann's gripping, sprawling Los Angeles crime epic makes its Blu-ray debut, porting over the considerable number of bonus features that appeared on the 2007 two-disc DVD.
-- The Ugly Truth: Stars-of-the-moment Gerard Butler and Katherine Heigl go through the motions in this tired (albeit acidic) romantic comedy.
-- Monsters, Inc.: Tagging along for Up's debut is this overlooked Pixar gem, taking its first bow on Blu-ray. Billy Crystal and John Goodman are among the voice cast for this rollicking, sweetly weird peek at the things going bump in the night.
