Best Steelbook Releases of 2011

This year’s releases stretched worldwide, but ultimately came back to roost in good old America.

As 2011 draws to an end, and the supposed end of the world draws near, let’s take a moment to look back at some of the top Blu-Ray Steelbooks that were released this year.

Tron – Legacy: Sweden (Released with Tron (1980)

A beautiful and simple release, T:L re-introduced us to lightcycles and the smokin’ hot Olivia Wilde. I was totally taken with the story, which finds Jeff Bridges trying to get out of The Grid, and his young son played by Garrett Hedlund trying to help. This Swedish release looks as good as the American Best Buy exclusive Identity Disc set, with inside artwork and an excellent cover.

Sucker Punch Extended Edition ComicCon Exclusive

Clearly, the best release of the year, this steelbook rolled the dice and came up big, with embossed colored images on the cover, and impressive interior artwork. Much like the Target release of Fast Five, Sucker Punch also came with a soundtrack as part of the four-disc set. This will set the standard by which all future steelbooks are judged, and with good reason. It’s too bad that the film didn’t come close to matching its Blu-Ray release.

The Lion King Best Buy Exclusive

With the release of this on Blu-Ray, Best Buy stepped up and hit a home run with their steelbook design. Basically, if you placed a $7.50 deposit with them and promised to pay the remainder at release time, you were provided this special case in addition to whatever edition you had planned on getting. This version is known technically as a Viva Metal Pack, due to its plastic spine; however, I’ve done some research into this, and even though the interior is different than a classic steelbook, I don’t believe the title will outlast Steelbook’s powerful name. The interior of this contains a colored image as well.

Captain America HMV (UK) Exclusive

If 2011 was known as the year of the comic book hero, then Captain America had to be at the top of most people’s lists. The transformation of WWII Steve Rogers from scrawny scrapper to super soldier, Captain America has set the stage for the highly-anticipated Avengers release in May. Unfortunately, the best release America got was the extremely disappointing Best Buy exclusive slipcover with comic book Issue #1 on the back slip. WTF? Don’t American audiences deserve better?? Fortunately, HMV (UK) stepped up with one of the most compelling and appropriate covers.

This epic, embossed cover of Cap’s worn shield is clearly one of the best efforts of the year. The wording is embossed but not the shield itself, which is the only issue I have. As you can see, the inside artwork is beautiful and shows off the movie’s main characters very well. It’s a real shame that American audiences had to rely on foreign countries to offer a better release. Hollywood should be ashamed of itself.

Thor HMV (UK) Exclusive

Again, another terrific Marvel release that required a foreign nation to supply us with a better Blu-Ray. Thor’s name is embossed and Mjölnir looks incredible. This film introduced me to the superhero genre, with its witty dialogue, attention to detail, and excellent casting and music. Along with Captain America, it’s going to rocket into my top 20 films of all time. This release is just icing on the cake.

Scarface (Worldwide)

The rise of Tony Montana, and the blood bath ending of Scarface make for one of the most classic films in American cinema. The steelbook release of Scarface should be as memorable, with a smooth but shiny cover, as well as nice interior artwork. This ain’t The Godfather but it’s pretty close…

Cars 2 (Best Buy Exclusive)

Ok, granted Cars 2 was no cinematic masterpiece; alright, it was almost as awful as Sucker Punch, but the Blu-Ray release saw a similar deal to The Lion King with customers getting a free Viva Metal Pack with the pre-order or any version of the film. As you can see from these images, including the interior, Disney did a good job with the release:

Green Lantern (Best Buy Exclusive)

Easily the biggest flop of the year ($200 million to make, $220 in worldwide), Green Lantern has raised serious doubts about DC’s viability past Batman. Whether they can get this ship righted to compete with Marvel is anyone’s guess. But for now, we can all enjoy a beauty of a release from Best Buy, complete with a terrific back cover of GL’s mantra.

Cowboys and Aliens (Target Exclusive)

While this film did not resonate with audiences, the American steelbook release from Target has been wildly successful, as current prices on eBay for unopened versions will reflect. The cover is smooth but very detailed. It’s hard to find pictures of the inside artwork, and based on the rocketing prices for this one, I have no intention of opening mine. Indications are that it is colored and features images of the cast members.

Fast Five Target  and Best Buy Steelbook

Fast Five was a terrific theatrical release, with the entire gang from the previous films on hand.  Add Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and a more mature caper-than-fastcars storyline to the mix, and you have a franchise which is hitting on all strides.  Although there were no less than four different releases into the home market, each one was well done with two particular releases worth mentioning.  Target’s version offers a tri-fold case with the film’s soundtrack, while the Best Buy release features a steelbook.  Both have interior artwork, the same special features, and an exceptional transfer of the film.  I hope this offering is more of the trend than the exception.

Fast Five Steelbook (Best Buy Exclusive) Review

I’ve always said it: give people an action film with a good story and characters we can give a darn about, and audiences will flock to it.  Such is the case with Fast Five, a free-wheeling, high-octane, rollercoast ride from start to finish.  The film, well-recieved by audiences for its quick wit, fast-paced action sequences, and its mix of new and returning characters, represents the most mature release of the FF franchise.  It’s almost like the kid who comes home from the first year of college: they’re different now, with a heightened sense of themselves and the way the world works.  FF needed to take that next step in order to grow beyond its fast-cars, fast-women concept.  Fast Five leaves all the child behind, and the American steelbook release (as well as Target’s offering) is one of the best of the year.

Video Quality – 5/5

To say this film presents well is an understatement.  The transfer is excellent, boasting a 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer that is second to none.  Every detail is on display, from the trees and colorful dilapidated buildings of Costa Rica, to the sweat on newcomer Wayne Johnson’s face.  Blacks are deep and whites do not smear into other colors.  I really saw about as perfect a transfer as was possible. 

Audio Quality – 5/5

The audio transfer is the best of the FF series, boasting a HD-DTS lossless 5.1 surround track that grunts, snorts, and roars at you like Dom’s 1970 Dodge Charger.  It’s loud when it has to be, but dialogue is crisp throughout.  Even on my less-than-perfect Denon, this is a thrill ride for the ears as well as the eyes.  In no way does the audio disappoint.

Special Features – 5/5

As a fan of the series, I really appreciated the diverse amount of special features contained on the discs.  You have the standard triple play available, with two versions of the film (the 130-minute theatrical and the 132-minute extended version) on the Blu-Ray.  The DVD and digital copy are almost afterthoughts here, but I like the diversity of the digital media provided.  All features on the Blu are in HD, which sends a definite message about Univeral’s committment relative to FF.  “Scene Explorer” is my favorite, taking the audience on a triple-pane investigation of the film’s opening sequence.  The release’s breadth of content is extraordinary and appreciated.  The steelbook case is also something to mention: granted, it’s in the G1 format, but the silver steel is so pretty that it leaps off the shelf and demands you take notice of it.  More practically, since I still have so many standard DVD’s in my collection, its height still creates uniformity.  I’m not like others who abhore the G1 cases with Blu-Ray product.  This steel is fantastic. 

Target also came out with a special edition of this film that contains all of the features listed above, plus the soundtrack; the case is more like a digibook fold-out than anything else, but is well made.  I loved both products so much that I couldn’t bring myself to return either one: they stand together like Dom and O’Connor at the film’s end, overlooking the wreckage of a bank heist job well done.

Target’s Offering (Left) and Best Buy’s (Right)

Spine width is signficant but don’t take your eyes off of the Steelbook either!

Overall – 5/5

If you’re still able to nab either one of these versions, do so immediately.  Fast Five is the best of the series, boasting a near-perfect digital transfer, exceptional audio, and a well-designed package and special features.  From a Blu-Ray release, it’s one of my top 10 films of the year; although some fans might take exception to it crtically, no one can argue about the quality product sitting on their shelf.