There are a lot of things I love about Blu-ray, the great sound, the incredible picture, but I think possibly my favorite thing about it is it's ability to connect to the internet, thus enabling the studios, creators, etc to give us more and more features.  While this feature has been used in the past to some extent, it seems that studios are putting more and more thought into the content released online.  And I really feel that we've just seen the tip of the iceberg as far as what can be done with this.

One new release that's really using this feature to the fullest is the new CSI: Season 9 set.  By connecting to BD-Live via your Blu-ray player you can now access some really amazing sounding content.  Currently using the BD disc you can gain access to exclusive footage from two recent forensic conferences, a chance to see CSI through the lens of real professionals. The footage includes crime scene re-enactments, CSI gear demonstrations, and investigator interviews.  Personally I think it's great that we can dive deeper into what real CSI's are doing in their day to day careers, and learn what really goes on during a crime scene investigation.

I haven't had a chance to explore these features, but I'm hoping to have that chance soon, and if I do get to check them out, I will be sure to let you know what I think about it.  For now you can check out the full press release below:

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This past August there was one movie I was really excited to see, but that I just didn't have a chance to see before it left theaters.  That movie, you might be able to guess from the title of this blog post, was Jennifer's Body.  I had actually been anticipating this movie for over a year having gotten my hands on a copy of the script, besides it was written by Diablo Cody.  Cody, you may remember, was the mind behind Juno, and the thought of her writing a horror-comedy mad me giddy with anticipation.  And I'd be lying if I wasn't a fan of the cast, yes Megan Fox is in it, and yes she's beautiful, but I was really excited about Amanda Seyfried, Johnny Simmons, and Adam Brody.

I've been a fan of Seyfried since her days on Veronica Mars and Mean Girls, and I think she's proven over the last few years that she's an amazing actress.  Add in Johnny Simmons, who is the cousin of a good friend of mine, and one of the nicest guys you'll meet,  and Adam Brody, the guy who made geeks cool on The O.C, and you've got one killer cast.  And the story, about a girl whose possessed by a demon and start hunting the boys in her high school, sounds like it turns the conventional horror story on it's head a bit.  Plus I've been a fan of horror comedies since the days of Scream.

But, as I said, I never got the chance to see the film, mainly because I just haven't had the time or money to do so.  But luckily the DVD is coming out relatively quickly hitting shelves just 4ish months after premiering in theaters.  The Blu-Ray looks like it will be packed full of some great special features as well as two versions of the film, with the extended version being "too sexy and gruesome for theaters!"  Even though the movie didn't get the best reviews or have a huge box office presence, I still think it looks like one that will be fun to sit and watch in the comfort and safety of your own home, just make sure there's no cheerleaders around! 

You can see the full press release below:

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You may have noticed the new banner towards the top of the page, or maybe the new column on the right hand side which says "USA's Game of the Week" both of which should take you to the USA Network's redesigned and reintroduced Character Arcade.  There's a slue of new games, most of which I haven't even had time to check out.  But there's also some great new features that help to incorporate your friends and make it all a more social experience.  What are those features you ask?  Well I'm glad you did ask, because there listed right below:

Character Arcade now features:

-Facebook Connect Integration; sign in with your Facebook account & challenge friends

-Game of the Week promotion featuring weekly prize give-aways

-Point System to buy accessories and upgrade avatars [redeemable for physical rewards coming soon]

-New virtual trophy case

-New Games including MMO and downloadable PC Games

-A new gaming blog: http://theclik.characterarcade.com/

-A new Twitter feed: http://twitter.com/CharacterArcade

One of the few games I had time to check out was the Psych Food Fight, featuring Little Shaun and Gus.  The game reminds me of the game a few years ago where you see how far you can throw the cat and it hits bombs and other explosives to make it go further, that one was a favorite of mine in Law School.  Here instead of a cat you fling food across the cafeteria hitting other kids and their lunches, seeing how far you can fling it.  It's a blast!

Overall I really like the new look and feel of the Character Arcade and will be spending some time exploring it in the near future.  In fact I'm hoping to run a new column every week or so spotlighting a new game or two, so look for that.  Overall I think the new features really add something to it and make it more of a community experience.  I for one can't wait to spend some more time there.

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This week sees the release of two very different romances on blu-ray.  One is a classic 80s romance that is beloved by many and features one of the most iconic film images of the 80s.  The other is a new comedy that is packed full of laughs, despite the unceremonious way it was dumped into theaters with hardly any publicity.  Both are great flicks that should be on your list to at least rent, if not to own.

The movie also has some great (and quotable) lines and as I said one of the most iconic images of 80s film.  One of these lines, featured on the box, is one I love so much that my AIM screenname is derived from it: "I gave her my heart, she gave me a pen."  And if anyone doesn't immediately recognize the image of Cusack holding the boombox over his head, then they probably weren't alive in 1989.  That scene alone, with Dobler professing his love for Diane, by allowing Peter Gabriel's "In Your Eyes" to say everything he can't is worth the purchase of this movie.  

I highly recommend you get out there and grab yourself a copy of the film.  Although I will say if you already own the previous DVD release, it's probably not worth double-dipping, as this one has all the old features, with the only new addition being the inclusion of a retrospective of the film.

I Love You, Beth Cooper couldn't be further apart from Say Anything, it's slapstick and whimsy as opposed to emotional and romantic, but it's still a good film.  In fact I'd say it's one of the most overlooked films of 2009.  The movie was unfairly dumped into theaters with hardly any promotion, do you remember seeing ads for it, and barely had a chance at the box office, despite decent reviews.  While the movie is not as good as the excellent book by Larry Doyle, it is still quite funny, and just plain fun.

Paul Rust (Inglorious Basterds) stars as Denis Cooverman, a nerdy, nervous sweaty senior who uses his valedictorian speech to profess his love for the head cheerleader, Beth Cooper, who barely knows who he is.  What follows is a typical "one night in the life" of a bunch of partying high schoolers.  As the night goes on the extremely nerdy Denis actually gets to know the real Beth Cooper and discovers that she's not who he thought she was, and although she's not what he expected, she's actually better, she's a full-fledged person.  The movie really touches on some great issues that comes with graduating high school, and might even take you back to your own high school days.  It's definitely worth renting.

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