The Godfather Trilogy
The inclusion of Part II on a single disc is just one reason why The Coppola Restoration is likely to remain the definitive edition of Francis Ford Coppola’s epic adaptation of Mario Puzo’s bestselling crime saga, comprising two undisputed masterpieces and one belated, much maligned threequel. An immaculately conceived, immensely rich and intricately woven tapestry of family, morality, and tragedy of Shakespearean (if not biblical) profundity, The Godfather has arguably deposed Citizen Kane from its status as the greatest American film ever made, and certainly lends itself to endless repeat viewings. The first two films were restored to perfection for their high-definition debut. Restoration guru Robert A. Harris and Coppola himself returned to the original negative to preserve, if not improve upon, the moody lighting and unique colour timing of the theatrical release. The restoration process is covered in one of the many new hi-def features accompanying the copious extras from earlier editions, including the original Coppola commentaries, ‘making ofs’ and deleted scenes. Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, William Friedkin and Guillermo del Toro join Coppola and producer Bob Evans in various featurettes exploring the film’s origins, troubled production and enduring legacy, showing the influence of American film’s first family of crime on everything from The Sopranos to The Simpsons and South Park. That a film so widely parodied and pillaged can look and feel as fresh today as it did when Nixon was President is yet another testament to Blu-ray’s brilliance.

		Zodiac David Fincher channels Kubrick as he explores San Francisco’s notorious murder spree of the ’70s in this compelling anti-thriller. A flawless transfer (of the Director’s Cut) is augmented by Fincher’s typically exhaustive extras, including a documentary about the real-life Zodiac.
		Eagle Eye This may not look like a crime film, but under the skin it’s an edgy political thriller. After all, our reluctant heroes are sent on a helter-skelter trip around the US, forced to steal, smuggle and show a scant regard for traffic laws — and all in pursuit of a giant conspiracy. The plot may be clear as mud, but at least the picture’s sharp.
		Burn After Reading The Coen brothers assembled an all-star cast for their return to comedy after the Oscar triumph of No Country For Old Men. An expertly plotted crime farce, with Emmanuel Lubezki’s cinematography and hilarious performances from the stars bursting off the screen.
		Sin City Robert Rodriguez’s blackand-white-and-red-all-over adaptation of co-director Frank Miller’s graphic novel is one of the most eagerly anticipated Blu-rays of all. This has both the theatrical cut and the unrated edition in glorious black-and-white, plus a stockpile of extras.
		Casino Sometimes dismissed as GoodFellas’ lesser sibling, Casino in fact stands up just as well, a superlative cast — Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, Sharon Stone — elivering the drama and Scorsese crafting an epic that feels intimate too. The rainbow colours of Vegas glow off the screen here.
		American Gangster Proof that hi-def brings out the best in acting tours de force as well as effectsfests, this drama sees Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe facing off as drug-dealer and cop respectively. The ’70s colour-scheme is crystal-clear and beautifully shot — and it sounds great.
		The Untouchables Finally here in a transfer that’s as sharp as the characters’ suits, Brian De Palma’s G-Man classic arguably sees the finest hour of stars Kevin Costner and Sean Connery, as well as boasting a great De Niro turn and a terrific David Mamet script.
		In The Line Of Fire Showing that it’s not just new films that look good in Blu-ray, Clint Eastwood’s cat-and-mouse Secret Service thriller looks a quantum leap above the DVD print. The blacks are blacker, the colours clearer and the sound a truly three-dimensional effect.
		The Usual Suspects Some films transcend mere cinema and become cultural reference points, and The Usual Suspects did just that. Not only did it give a huge boost to the careers of Kevin Spacey, Benicio Del Toro and director Bryan Singer, but it also introduced new phrases into the everyday: “Keyser Soze!” This high definition print allows you to recreate the first time you saw it in the cinema.

		Staff Pick Run Lola Run Ian Freer, Assistant Editor Tom Tykwer’s adrenaline rush of a movie fuels the blood like nothing else. With a brilliant conceit — a girl has to find lots of Deutsch dosh in 20 minutes to save her fella’s life — it scores in its nutty energy, wit and visuals that razzle the retinas. In fact, it’s exactly the kind of film Blu-ray was invented for.