TweakTown's Digital Lounge Blu-ray Awards 2008

Digital Lounge Blu-ray Awards 2008

I trust that everyone is enjoying the revamped Digital Lounge, where I have been reviewing Blu-ray movies and hosting the Blu-ray release schedule since the start of the year.

Over that time, we've seen some pretty major changes; the growth of the format and the multitude of releases, both catalogue and new. And let's not forget the spectacular demise of Toshiba's HD-DVD format, which paved the way for mainstream success.

I thought it would be an apt time to take a look at the best of the best, the Blu-ray releases for 2008 which have stood above the rest. So join me in rounding up the winners (and runners up) in the first annual TweakTown Blu-ray awards!


Best Image Quality

Criteria: Most impressive image quality based on quality of materials, devoid of sloppy DNR or other digital nasties and with most efficient image encoding.



Winner: Ratatouille (Disney Home Entertainment)
Runner Up: Speed Racer (Roadshow Home Entertainment)


Best Audio Quality

Criteria: Most immersive use of sound, with lossless audio being a must.



Winner: The Dark Knight (Warner Home Entertainment)
Runner Up: The Nightmare Before Christmas (Disney Home Entertainment)


Best Special Features Collection

Criteria: Based on quality and quantity of extra features, including audio commentaries, picture in picture video tracks and providing more than basic behind the scenes information.



Winner: The Matrix Trilogy (Roadshow Home Entertainment)
Runner Up: Iron Man (Paramount Home Entertainment)


Best New Release Movie

Criteria: Best overall movie for a new release title released over the course of the year.



Winner: The Dark Knight (Warner Home Entertainment)
Runner Up: Iron Man (Paramount Home Entertainment)

Digital Lounge Blu-ray Awards 2008

Best Catalogue Release

Criteria: Best visual and audio remastering for an older title, released previously, including quality of extra features.



Winner: The Nightmare Before Christmas (Disney)
Runner Up: Dr. No (Twentieth Century Fox)


Best Studio

Criteria: Consistence of quality releases is a must, including quality of image and audio quality, consistency of lossless audio and at the very least, including special features from DVD release, if not more.



Winner: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Runner Up: Disney Home Entertainment


Best Overall Release

Criteria: Best Blu-ray release based on image, audio and special feature quality, as well as the quality of the movie in general.



Winner: Iron Man (Paramount Home Entertainment)
Runner Up: The Godfather Trilogy (Paramount Home Entertainment)


We sincerely hope you enjoyed our content throughout the year. Please feel free to discuss this in our forums and we look forward to the bounty of Blu-ray goodness in 2009!