Blu Ray Announcement

Given that my ever-growing collection of Blu Ray movies, my newly purchased surround sound system, and my massive 1080p full Hi-Def LCD TV, I will be reviewing Blu Ray movies in full.
Fortunately this also gives me an excuse to re-review some of my favorite movies, as well as given a full description of their Blu Ray quality. You can expect some moderately detailed technical stats to accompany each Blu Ray review. The Blu Ray reviews will judge the overal quality of the movie, the disc, the packaging, the special features and any other goodies I find.
These reviews may not be as comprehensive as the ones on Hi-Def Digest, but frequently my opinions differ from their reviewers.

"Don't just watch your favorite movies... EXPERIENCE THEM!"
On Blu Ray.

As big as a leap DVDs were from VHS cassettes, Blu Ray is an even bigger, unprecedented leap forward that some still don't quite buy into. Trust me, unless you're blind and deaf, Blu Ray is the way to go.
With unrivaled clarity and precision in their best titles,
Blu Ray movies are undoubtedly the future of high quality home entertainment.

Rango

This movie is a true gem! In short, Rango is an incredibly atmospheric adventure filled with endlessly entertaining characters who find themselves in fantastical situations with mind blowing scale and impeccable design.

I even went in with high hopes after Ebert's four star review (which can be read here) got me undeniably interested. Rango is an animated film, but grouping it with monthy Disney fare would be doing it a massive injustice. Rango takes advantage of computer animation in a wonderful way, like an artist using the right medium for the specific work of art. Unlike the zillionth Shrek sequel, (remember when Shrek was new and fun?) or another kiddie kid animated movie with dumb jokes, mind-blowingly stupid slapstick, painful cliches and horrendous one liners; Rango does it all different. The slapstick plays off the tension and dialog, which makes it genuinely funny, because we somehow sympathize with our awkward and lonely protagonist: Rango.
If you look at movies like Back to the Future or Ghostbusters, both are actually pretty intense and action packed, but both are also amazingly hilarious. Rango fits right in there.
The scope and visual impact of Rango is unrivaled even by peripheral eye-candy films like Tron Legacy.
Which while I gave Tron Legacy a generally favorable review, I cringe when I see how badly the story was in contrast to its amazing visuals, I cringe even more when I see how flawlessly Rango had fluidly integrated visuals so gorgeous and undeniably massive with a great cohesive and interesting story, and how many films I cared about now fail even as eye candy as Rango agresively sets the standard really really high.
The story is a homage to spaghetti westerns across the board with a really nice chuckle moment for Eastwood fans in there, akin to the "thats a big door" line in 'Legacy'.
As a movie which is essentially a massive character arc, and fortunately it does an excellent job in letting us relate to this lil' awkward chameleon, Rango, as he is flung from his confining abode, into the desert. We experience his newfound (if not incredibly overwhelming) freedom, his fear, and his chance to completely reinvent himself. Its all really quite wish fulfillment in a way as we'd all like to be the dashing hero in our own epic story. Now, for more comparisons, Shrek. Shrek was ugly, Shrek was green. Shrek became the hero.
However, Shrek's character development was romantic and with some deap seated self image issues.
He's a friggin ogre.
But a chameleon, which is supposed to blend in seamlessly to his surroundings, hasn't a clue to who he, himself, is. The ultimate case of identity crisis. Not amnesia like Jason Bourne, but an emotional journey to find ones'self. Quite an impressive story/plot for an animated movie.
But its exactly that kind of bias which damns animated movies to the kids shlocky genre.
Animation has so much incredible potential, as 'Rango' proves, in SPADES.
As much as I would LOVE to relish over ever little scene and line in Rango that I adored, but, I don't want to spoil it, I want you to experience it for yourself.

In conclusion, Rango is an endearing movie, thats adventurous beyond belief, and filled with tone setting atmosphere that immerses you so deeply in the movie, not even the finest 3D could acomplish this.
Rango is a literal MUST SEE.