Blu-ray Holiday gift guide

The greatest gift you can give someone is something you intend to borrow. Games are great for this, but buying more than a handful of loved ones a $60 game is just infeasible given the current state of our septic tank economy. Well, you see that PS3, right there? The really expensive black thing? That there doohickey is capable of playing the highest quality films and TV shows you ever did see!

Blu-ray, the kids are calling it, and many of your favorite motion pictures and televised serials are up for a crystal clear 1080p release. Plus, they’re cheap! Well, cheaper. You can purchase almost three Dark Knights for every LittleBigPlanet at most retailers, and that’s definitely something to consider while doing your last minute Chanukah shopping.

Above: Click to Immensify!

The High-Def pics you’ll see below were taken directly from the retail disc. Click on ‘em to enlarge, gawk at, and even finally replace tubgirl as your desktop background! Plus your buddies at GR are gonna link you straight to Amazon, who generally offers the best prices around. Let’s start with the finest discs 2008 has to offer.

The Dark Knight

Not only did this flick prove better than the original and rake in record-breaking box office, The Dark Knight also revitalized the superhero genre scant weeks after Iron Man seemed to do the same thing. You’ll immediately find the Blu-ray crisper and brighter than that cam version you bittorrented a couple months back, mostly due to the way they’ve included the IMAX footage, which leads to some seriously breathtaking adventures in aspect ratios.

For the none of you who haven’t seen it, there’s stellar performances all around, most notably that of Heath Ledger’s Joker. Keep your eye on this kid - his star is on the rise!

Bestest Bonus: To make up for the lack of Director’s Commentary, on December 18th (today!) 100,000 internet-abled Blu-ray owners will be able to participate in a live Q&A/Commentary with director Christopher Nolan!

Contains Digital Copy!

WALL•E

Could anybody other than Pixar make a movie about a speechless robot who wants to hold hands and turn it into the GR gorehounds’ favorite film of the year? We’re sure you’ve at least heard of WALL•E’s heart-warming feelgoodery by now, but it has to be said that Pixar’s Blu-ray transfers are second to none. Whether you have an HD TV/HDMI connection or not, WALL•E’s post apocalyptic, sci-fi settings make the differences between high and standard definition powerfully apparent.

Not only the best movie of the year, but possibly Pixar’s best movie so far. Need we go on? If you don’t like this movie, you have no soul. And if you have a Blu-ray player, you owe it to yourself to pick up WALL•E.

Bestest Bonus: A feature length documentary called “The Pixar Story” directed by the granddaughter of the man who created Mickey Mouse. Coming full circle, or monopolistic nepotism? Discuss!

Contains Digital Copy!