Best extra: A revealing commentary with director J.J. Abrams, executive producer Bryan Burk and co-writers Robert Orci and Alex Kurtzman, where we discover the blockbuster originally opened with the birth of Spock.

LEAVE IT TO J.J. ABRAMS to boldly go where no one had gone before – deep into the origins of Gene Roddenberry’s classic “Star Trek – and make it work. But with brilliant TV series and films of his own (“Lost,” “Fringe,” “Alias” and “Mission Impossible III”), Abrams understands the heart of the matter – fandom.

This new film captures Trekkers while making new fans. Somehow Abrams managed to recapture the spirited essence of Roddenberry’s original crew, bring the tech up to date and punch the action into warp speed. Don’t be surprised to find “Star Trek” a major contender this upcoming Oscar season.

The three-disc Blu-ray is loaded with hours of hi-def specials. Disc 2 includes 10 featurettes. “To Boldy Go” has interviews with Leonard Nimoy, who resurrects his role as Spock, and Abrams who admits that “The Twilight Zone” was his childhood favorite. Abrams credits success with casting mostly unknown actors – Chris Pine as Kirk, Zachary Quinto as Spock, Karl Urban as a perfect Leonard “Bones” McCoy, Simon Pegg as Scotty, Zoe Saldana as Uhura, John Cho as Sulu and Anton Yelchin, an actual Russian, as Checkov – in the major roles.

He also says he dedicated himself “to making it real” – shooting with film cameras, not digital; ensuring starships and special effects were top-notch as were props and costumes, sound and music. Learn more about the making-of through mini-pop-up video interviews sprinkled throughout the featurettes. BD Live internet access to NASA’s site contains news stories and photographs.

Abrams also confesses in commentary that he winged it most days. They had a script, actors and a set, but no storyboards to plan camera shots. “I just made it up as went along,” he says.

Who but Abrams would have the brass for that?

And if you thought “Star Trek” looked great in theaters, wait until you catch it at home with Blu-ray’s definitive imagery and uncompressed sound. Video is exceptional while the extremely active soundstage might have you thinking the Romulans are invading your living room. This is one of the best rides we’ve had in quite a while. Live long and prosper, Helmsman Abrams and crew.

— Bill Kelley III

“MY SISTER’S KEEPER”

Blu-ray widescreen and DVD widescreen, 2009, PG-13 for mature thematic content, some disturbing images, sensuality, language and brief teen drinking

Best extra: "From Picoult to Screen," a talk with author Jodi Picoult, whose novel became the basis for the movie

FROM THE OPENING scene, you know "My Sister’s Keeper" is going to be heart-wrenching, not only in the emotions experienced while watching it, but because of the moral issue of conceiving a baby to medically save a terminally sick sibling. It’s hard to watch in Blu-ray, as well, because many of the scenes are closeups of emotionally wrought faces; the details are amazing, especially with Cameron Diaz (Sara Fitzgerald) and Sofia Vassilieva's (Kate Fitzgerald).

Sara and her husband Brian (Jason Patric) decide to conceive a sibling for Kate, who has been diagnosed with a rare form of Leukemia. The baby, Anna (Abigail Breslin), turns out to be a perfect match to help her sister in bone marrow transplants and blood transfusions over the years until Anna decides she wants to be medically emancipated from her parents to stop the procedures, including an imminent kidney transplant. She hires a lawyer and the race begins, not only to see who wins, but for Kate's life.

In the movie, director John Cassavetes decided to change the novel's ending. That sparked controversy, especially among Picoult's readers.

Unfortunately, the only bonus feature, in HD, worth watching barely touches on that subject. But, as Cassavetes has said in previous interviews, "movies are different than books."

Other bonuses include eight additional HD scenes that add little to the movie and a digital copy.

So, if you’re in the mood to wrestle with your own conscience in how you’d deal with this family’s dilemma, pop in "My Family’s Keeper." Try not to do it, though, when elated – that mood will plummet.

— Toni Guagenti

“BRÜNO”

Blu-ray widescreen and DVD widescreen, 2009, R for pervasive strong and crude sexual content, graphic nudity and language

Best extra: In an inspired move, the Bonus View Enhanced PIP Commentary with writer/star Sacha Baron Cohen and director Larry Charles runs half an hour longer than the film with the movie occasionally being put on pause while the commentators expand on a point.

THE BRAVE AND DARING Cohen leaves Borat behind and returns to the character of Brüno, using the flamboyantly gay Austrian fashionista to shine a light on our culture's rampant homophobia and celebrity worship. Reuniting with "Borat" director Charles, Cohen drops his fictional character into real situations with real people (from Paula Abdul to Ron Paul to the vile parents of child models) and shows just how low our culture and values have sunk.

"Brüno" was shot on HD video and the results are fairly strong on Blu-ray, with any limitations being intrinsic to the source material. Because the film is entirely dialogue-driven and shot on the fly like a documentary, there's little in the way of sound design.

There are a number of supplements, including an hour of deleted, extended, and alternate scenes, and the before-mentioned commentary with Cohen and David, who give a fascinating talk about the making of the film, going in depth about the lengths they went to (including putting his life in danger and being arrested) to pull off the film's outrageous comic set pieces. Cohen is the Andy Kaufman of our day and "Brüno" is satire at its finest.

— Josh Boone

“ROME: THE COMPLETE SERIES”

Blu-ray widescreen and DVD widescreen, 2005-2007, TV-MA contains explicit violence, gore, language, nudity and sex

Best extra: “All Roads Lead to Rome” is a picture-in-picture trivia track that allows viewers to examine historical facts throughout the series.

YOU DON’T HAVE to have a degree in history to find the fascination in this HBO series. There’s plenty of action, intrigue and characters we want to know more about, beginning with two Roman soldiers, Lucius Vorenus and Titus Pullo played by Kevin McKidd and Ray Stevenson.

Historians advise that Lucius and Titus were the only two soldiers named in all of Julius Caesar’s writing. So what we get is a look at Rome during the dynamics of Caesar’s rise to fame to his assassination and the following years with Cleopatra and Mark Antony as experienced through commoners, family, politicians and soldiers.

Created by Bruno Heller, John Milius, and William J. MacDonald, “Rome” earned Emmys for Art Direction, Cinematography and Costumes, all of which look great in high-def.

Visuals and language are not for the squeamish where, in Blu-ray, detail absolutely sparkles. An award nominated score by Jeff Beal, brilliant dialog and effects shine in DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio.

The original standard-def presentation was loaded with commentaries, behind-scene documentaries and interviews; most of them have been carried over. Exclusive Blu-ray features include the “All Roads Lead to Rome” and “Bloodlines” interactive feature.

It’s not family fare but it is recommended.

— Mike Reynolds

“FIGHT CLUB: 10TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION”

Blu-ray widescreen, 1999, R for disturbing and graphic depiction of violent and anti-social behavior, sexuality and language

Best extra: "A Hit in the Ear: Ren Klyce and the Sound Design of Fight Club" is a Blu-ray exclusive that allows viewers to remix four scenes with the Academy Award winning Sound Designer.

“THERE IS NOTHING wrong with your television set. Do not attempt to adjust the picture. We are controlling transmission.” These words from "The Outer Limits" may cross your mind when you pop in the Blu-ray of "Fight Club" and are sent to a menu screen for the Drew Barrymore film "Never Been Kissed." Don't worry; it's just David Fincher having some fun with fans of his dangerous and subversive 90s classic.

This Blu-ray is reference quality across the board. The new hi-def transfer delivers a knock out to the now ancient DVD edition, finally giving fans the transfer they deserve. Blacks are rock solid, colors are more vibrant and truer to the theatrical experience, and there's far more depth to the image. Even more impressive is the uncompressed audio track, which I would argue, is the finest track I've heard for a catalog title. This is an aggressive track that will submerge you in the world of "Fight Club" and utilize every speaker in your home theater. Without a doubt, Fincher was intimately involved in both the new transfer and audio track.

Fans need not hold onto their old DVDs. All the extras, including four exhaustive audio commentaries and series of behind-scenes vignettes with multiple angle options and commentary have made it to Blu. Three new features have been assembled for this 10th Anniversary Edition and are exclusive to this release. Aside from the sound design feature, there's also the "Insomniac Mode: I Am Jack's Search Index, Commentary Log, Topic Search," which is a nifty Fox invention that allows viewers to jump around the film and commentary tracks via a glossary of themed words related to the film. There's also a ten-minute hi-def featurette cobbled together from a Spike TV awards show hosted by Mel Gibson that finds stars Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, and Fincher onstage reading negative reviews of the controversial film.

Aside from being phenomenal entertainment, the new transfer and uncompressed audio track surely make this one of the finest Blu-ray releases of the year.

— Josh Boone

“GALAXY QUEST”

Blu-ray widescreen, 1999, PG for some action violence, mild language and sensuality

Best extra: “Never Give Up, Never Surrender: The Intrepid Crew of the NSEA Protector” mixes new and vintage footage for a clever, high-def making-of.

BY GRABTHAR’S HAMMER – this is the best darn week of sci-fi Blu-ray releases I’ve ever seen. Yes, we’ve got J.J. Abrams’ masterful new take on “Star Trek” available. But we’ve also got the best Trek parody – and best stand alone space comedy – of all time, “Galaxy Quest” in a new, deluxe high-def format.

It’s enough to make a Crimorian Fangor beast weep with joy.

Written by David Howard and directed by Dean Parisot, “Galaxy Quest” has a stellar cast beginning with Tim Allen playing actor Jason Nesmith/Capt. Taggart. Allen reports that he became friends with William Shatner/Capt. Kirk after making the film. Still, when Shatner complimented him on his command chair presence, Allen admitted he copied the pose from Yul Brynner’s pharaoh in the classic “Ten Commandments.”

New extras – all in high-def – let us in on behind-scenes fun. Alan Rickman (Sir Alexander Dane/Dr. Lazarus) and Sigourney Weaver (Gwen DeMarco/Lt. Tawny Madison) talk about how their classical training conflicted with Allen’s warm-up antics. As in the film, all became friends. Weaver learned to rap from Daryl Mitchel (Tommy Webber/Lt. Laredo) and we get to see it here. It’s a long ride from Weaver’s term as sharp shooter Ellen Ripley (“Alien” saga) and that’s just how she likes it.

Memorable performances also include Tony Shaloub’s generally unflappable Fred Kwan/Tech Sgt. Chen. He says his performance was based on David Carradine in “Kung Fu.” A happy surprise is the discovery that Justin Long (Mac guy in those commercials) made his film debut in “Galaxy Quest” as Brandon, the fanboy who enlists his buddies via PC to help the Quest crew defeat the villains and return to earth. No wonder computer folks automatically want to trust him.

Additional features concentrate on the special effects created by the late Stan Winston and Industrial Light and Magic, and the birth of the Thermian race inspired by actor Enrico Calantoni. The Thermian soundtrack is a carry-over from the DVD. We also get deleted scenes and an exclusive and complicated “Galactopedia,” where text information can be instructed to pop-up as you watch the movie. This device can take up a lot of visual space, however, and works best with a large screen.

The movie looks great on Blu-ray; black levels, color and detail reproduce beautifully. There are plenty of good effects to enjoy, beginning with the bit where Allen’s character makes his first trip back home through space. Although it won’t blast you off the planet, the Dolby TrueHD 5.1 soundtrack is good, too; you won’t miss a line of snarky – or heartwarming – dialogue.

Highly recommended.

— Mike Reynolds

“FOOD, INC.”

Blu-ray widescreen and DVD widescreen, 2009, PG

Best extra: At 37 minutes, the deleted scenes are practically a mini-movie unto themselves.

THE DOCUMENTARY “Food, Inc.” takes you from the grocery store to the nation’s food supply, and what it finds there is eye-opening and not always very appetizing. There are sick animals and practices that make people very sick – or die. There is lax oversight and there are difficult working conditions. There is a paucity of choices for people who are poor. And there is a lot of corn, engineered and manipulated into just about everything you eat.

But it’s not all bad news. The documentary also prominently features Joel Salatin and Polyface Farm, featured in The Virginian-Pilot and just 3 ½ hours drive from here. The farm is a well-known model of natural farming, raising pigs, cows and chickens in a symbiotic and open-air environment. It also tells the story of how Wal-Mart came to sell organic yogurt, effectively making it available to everyone in the United States.

The disc comes packaged with resources and tips, including a card inside the jacket with 10 attainable goals you can achieve to change the food system. There’s also a long list of Internet resources for learning more and taking action in one of the special features. It’s hard to imagine why the deleted scenes were not included in the movie, which is short by most standards, at 91 minutes. The scenes take you deeper into Smithfield Foods’ plant in Tar Heel, N.C., and tell the story of a little girl who loved spinach but and will have to have multiple kidney transplants and never be able to eat a normal diet after an E. Coli outbreak in 2006. And you get to see Joel Salatin’s pigs express their pigness, which is refreshing after looking at their factory counterparts’ lives.

We only received the DVD version for this review.

— Judy Le

“KEVIN SMITH: 3-MOVIE COLLECTION”

Blu-ray widescreen, 1994, 1997, 2001, R for language and nudity

Best extra: The never-before-seen 90-minute documentary "Oh, What A Lovely Tea Party: The Making of Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back," is a new extra on the "Clerks" Blu-ray and not the "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back" disc.

“Clerks” - In his exclusive introduction to the 15th Anniversary Blu-ray edition of his raunchy, black & white, 16mm classic "Clerks," Kevin Smith jokingly calls the release a "vulgar cash grab" that "spits in the face of the medium" and says "if Blu-ray is Superman then 'Clerks' is its Lex Luthor." Smith insisted that something new be added to the release (along with all the extras from the previous DVD editions), which is why you'll find the "Jay and Silent Bob" documentary (in very poor standard-def) here instead of on the "Strike Back" Blu-ray.

All of the extras have been carried over from the "Clerks X" release, including multiple commentaries, an earlier cut of the film (in standard-def), a 90-minute retrospective documentary, a 10th anniversary Q&A, and more.

“Chasing Amy” - There's a number of new extras, including the 82-minute hi-def retrospective doc, "Tracing Amy," that is refreshingly frank. Smith talks at length about how his relationship with actress Joey Lauren Adams inspired the film, particularly his hang-ups which doomed their romance. The two sit down to reconnect and discuss both their relationship and the film in another hi-def extra, "Was It Something I Said?" There's also a brand new commentary to replace the old Criterion one and a new Q&A with the cast and crew.

Both films were shot on the cheap and neither look particularly good in hi-def. "Clerks" gains the most from hi-def, while "Amy" suffers from excessive digital noise reduction. There's not a lot to be said of either uncompressed audio. The films are wall-to-wall dialogue and the budgets for these films were so low ("Clerks" was shot for under $30K and "Amy" for less than $300K) that there was very little money for an amazing mix.

Still, it's nice to have them on Blu-ray. There are a ton of extras on both "Clerks" and "Amy" and Smith has gone out of his way to see that ample new supplements are included.

You can buy them separately or the box set with the previously released "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back," which includes only a lone commentary as a supplement. Fans should rejoice.

— Josh Boone

“NATIONAL LAMPOON’S CHRISTMAS VACATION: 20th ANNIVERSARY EDITION”

Blu-ray widescreen, 1989, PG-13 for language and sexual content

Best extra: Only one on the hi-def disc, commentary with actors Randy Quaid (Cousin Eddie), Beverly D’Angelo (Ellen Griswold), Johnny Galecki (Rusty), Miriam Flynn (Cousin Catherine), director Jeremiah Checkik and producer Matty Simmons

SOME OF YOU might be more into the cheesy, albeit funny, goodies that come in this Blu-ray collector’s edition of "Christmas Vacation," the third out of four for the Griswold family.

You get a cool, red tin with instant snow powder, a Santa cap with Marty Moose on it, four holiday drink coasters with movie quotes, an "I Survived a Griswold family Christmas" button, and, a Blu-ray exclusive, a miniature Marty Moose mug like the one Clark (Chevy Chase) and Cousin Eddie drank from around the Christmas tree.

For others, the new commentary is a hoot and goes by quickly with six people who have good rapport and tell funny stories. There aren’t many Chase stories, unfortunately, and just a couple about writer John Hughes, who died earlier this year. Nonetheless, the commentary is an entertaining 90 minutes.

The quality of the Blu-ray disc is also top-notch for this 20-year-old movie. You can clearly see all the Griswold antics as they were meant to be seen, including the tacky, overly lighted Griswold house and D’Angelo’s million hairstyles (that she makes fun of during the commentary).

So why not feel good about your family’s dysfunction this holiday season by watching the ultimate dysfunctional family in HD. You won’t regret it.

— Toni Guagenti

“THE OPEN ROAD”

Blu-ray widescreen, 2008, PG-13 for some language

Best extra: A brief hi-def featurette (clocking in at under 7 minutes) and a commentary with Jeff Bridges and writer/director Michael Meredith are the only extras.

JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE STARS as a minor league baseball player who has to track down his estranged father, a retired baseball legend, to bring him to his dying mother's bedside. This low-key drama, which never made it to theaters, though predictable, showcases some nice performances from Bridges, Timberlake and co-stars Kate Mara, Mary Steenburgen and Harry Dean Stanton.

"The Open Road" hits a home run on Blu-ray with a strong transfer. Colors, detail, and contrast are rock solid across the board. The uncompressed audio is nice as well, with crisp dialogue and a robust, country-flavored score by Christopher Lennertz.

Bridges and Meredith, whose father was a professional athlete, discuss the shoot, which took place in Louisiana. They praise Ted Danson (who cameos in the film) and real-life wife, Steenburgen, for graciously allowing rehearsals to be held in their home over the course of a week.

Recommended for a rental.

— Josh Boone

“FRANKLYN”

Blu-ray widescreen and DVD widescreen, 2008, R for language

Best extra: The only real supplement, aside from roughly five minutes of deleted scenes and a very brief electronic press kit, is half an hour of interviews with the cast and crew.

CHANCES ARE YOU’RE never heard of "Franklyn," the surreal and ambitious dark fantasy set in both contemporary London and a dystopian alternate reality starring "Casino Royale's" Eva Green and Ryan Phillippe.

The film follows four plot lines, three in London and one in the fantastical Meanwhile City. The scenes in Meanwhile City are reminiscent of both "Dark City" and "V For Vendetta," with Phillippe playing the sole atheist in a city overrun with different cults and religions and where non-belief is a crime. The production design in this massive imaginary city is wondrous, especially considering the film's low budget ($12 million).

A commentary track with writer/director Gerald McMorrow, who based the feature on a short film he’d made, would have been preferred to the talking head piece, which never goes in depth enough to satisfy. It's just too many participants given too little time to discuss the project.

Because we only received the DVD for review, I can't comment on the quality of the Blu-ray. With that said, this intriguing film is certainly recommended for a rental.

— Josh Boone

“NEAR DARK”

Blu-ray widescreen, 1987, R for gore, violence, language and sensuality

Best extra: An in-depth making-of, “Living in Darkness,” features interviews with the director, writers and cast.

IT WOULD HAVE been real scary hanging around the “Near Dark” set with actors Lance Hendrickson, Bill Paxton and Jenette Goldstein. Fresh from their experience on “Aliens,” now locked deep into the roles of their evil vampire family, they took on anyone and everyone during their Arizona film shoot.

Paxton and Hendrickson describe an encounter with a trooper who had pulled them over for speeding. At one moment, the officer nearly pulled his gun, weirded out by their underworldly appearance and attitude. In the end, it was just easier to let them go than maintain contact.

Needless to say, this is not a “Twilight” kind of vampire flick. Directed and co-written by Kathryn Bigelow, currently winning accolades for “The Hurt Locker,” the story is a supernatural take on a western romance. Hendrickson’s family of vamps have been roaming the countryside for decades, taking their fill and leaving before sunup, rustlers with a deadly purpose. It’s smart and scary, and darkly romantic with a luminescent vampire girl, Jenny Wright, pursuing a young and bewildered Adrian Pasdar (“Heroes”). Pasdar loves Wright but is unwilling to pay the price of immortality; mortal death every night he lives.

“Near Dark” was initially released at the same time as “Lost Boys” demonstrating – again – a difference in audiences that like vampire horror. No reason you can’t enjoy both; ND has maintained and increased its fan base since it first appeared. And yes, it would be nice to have a prequel, “First Light,” as described by Hendrickson, Paxton and Goldstein.

There’s plenty of film grain in this dark Blu-ray edition, which makes you wonder at the frequently flat look we have here. Video looks better than it ever has on DVD, but not by a lot. There isn’t much of a high-def experience to sound either. There are good effects but dialogue is lost from time to time.

Extras are carried over from previous releases, all in standard-def and not all-inclusive, but you’ll also find a director’s commentary and a great deleted scene.

Get this one for your collection.

— Mike Reynolds

“LOGAN’S RUN”

Blu-ray widescreen, 1976, PG

Best extra: Commentary with director Michael Anderson, actor Michael York and costume designer Bill Thomas, a carry-over from the DVD.

LOCALS MIGHT REMEMBER that “Logan’s Run” was nearly filmed in Norfolk, Va., with the 1971-built Scope masquerading as the Domed City. Alas, it was filmed in Texas and California.

But, if you do remember that piece of trivia, you’d be on the hit list of “Logan’s” plot line.

Michael York plays Logan 5, a Sandman or executioner, in a world where, once people turn 30, they’re dead. Well, actually, there’s a procedure called The Carousel, where 30-year-olds go to flame out, hopefully to be reborn back into the pleasure loving, youth oriented society. It’s the Sandman’s job to run down those who won’t willingly participate.

It just so happens that, as our hero’s palm crystal is about to go red – a sure sign of impending age and doom – he learns that this rebirth story might be a lie. Yep, it takes him 30 years and possibly thousands of kill shots to figure that out.

Handsome and British, the classically trained York is joined onscreen by Jenny Agutter, Robert Jordan, Farrah Fawcett-Majors and Peter Ustinov. The pre-“Star Wars” “Logan’s Run” won a Special Achievement Oscar for effects; it was also nominated for cinematography and art and set decoration.

Which brings us up to the present where the video looks good in HD, just not great. There are decent fleshtones and the jungle scenes sparkle, however, the “Don’t Trust Anyone Over 30” unisex costumes and pre-CGI models lessen the impact. A Dolby Digital TruHD soundtrack is pretty solid, but is still lost in the ‘70s.

There are no new extras, only carryovers from the DVD releases and none from the laser disc. All are presented in standard-def. Unless you’re a true fan, you might want to save your pennies for other sci-fi classics being released this week.

— Mike Reynolds

“ANDY BARKER, P.I. THE COMPLETE SERIES”

DVD widescreen, 2007, unrated

Best extra: "Going Where the Numbers Take You," an affectionate retrospective about the way-too-short-lived series

LET'S SEE. On one side of the camera you have co-creators Conan O'Brien and Jonathan Groff ("Late Night's" longtime head writer), a director who skippered episodes of "Scrubs" and "My Name Is Earl" and writers whose credits include "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "30 Rock." On the other, you have Andy Richter and a supporting cast with a collective pedigree that lists "Arrested Development," "How I Met Your Mother," "Ellen" and "The Pretender."

So why did "Andy Barker, P.I.," an endlessly clever, perfectly cast, cinematically shot series about a nice-guy CPA who doubles as a nice-guy gumshoe, run all of six episodes?

To be fair, that's all NBC ordered. But to be accurate, the network – the same network that thought it was a good idea to air Jay Leno five nights a week in prime time – killed it after four weeks.

File it under, "Go Figure."

Then, be thankful that Shout Factory has collected the series on two discs and accessorized it with a full roster of extras: A commentary on each episode (the powwow with Richter, O'Brien, Groff, and director Jason Ensler on the pilot is a hoot) a gag reel that's actually funny and two really good features – one with the writers about what it takes to create a series from the ground up, and a retrospective with the cast and crew that leaves no question that "Andy Barker" was a labor of love. The consensus? It clicked because the character, like the star, is such a nice guy.

In other words, what's not to like?

— Craig Shapiro

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