Goodfellas (Warner 80932)
Video: 1080p, 480i/p
Audio: Dolby Digital Plus 5.1, Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo

At first, Martin Scorsese’s probe into mob life seemed an odd choice for HD. Having seen it, I agree with Warner and am very enthusiastic. This HD DVD is one of the best-looking so far. The picture is smooth and very filmlike, with incredible period detail in settings, automobiles, clothing, and hairstyles. The hi-def resolution gives the picture a three-dimensional feel -- some of the street scenes are breathtaking. The sound is OK; Goodfellas was made in 1990, and film sound has come a long way since then. Most of the sound is up front, though some very effective uses of surround are scattered throughout the film. I tried the Dolby Digital 5.1 output two ways: through the optical digital out and through the 5.1 analog outputs. The 5.1 analog wins all the way, primarily because of the music. There’s a lot of period rock on the soundtrack, and it sounds fuller and better defined through the 5.1 analog outputs. There are two commentaries, four production featurettes, and a trailer, all in SD. But it’s the feature that counts, and this one’s a honey.

Ray (Universal 31062)
Video: 1080p, 480i/p
Audio: Dolby Digital Plus 5.1, Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo

This better-than-usual Hollywood biopic has received a stunning HD transfer. All of the period street scenes are sharply etched -- signs, clothes, hairstyles, and automobiles are as sharp as the proverbial tack. Colors are rich and deep, blacks are black, and contrast is dead on. The only problem is in the film itself: such a powerful orange filter was used for the flashback scenes that even the dirt looks orange. This effect is more pronounced than I remember seeing it in the theater, but the rest of the scenes have natural color. Ray, of course, is about a musician, and the sound is of utmost importance. I’m happy to report that it’s just fine. The Dolby Digital Plus track, played back through the 5.1 analog outputs, has transparency, warmth, and presence, not to mention a solid bass line. All of the extras from the special edition have been carried over to this disc (who says HD DVD doesn’t have enough storage capacity?), including complete, uncut musical numbers from the film. They’re in SD, but at least they’re there. A most enjoyable and entertaining HD experience.

The Searchers (Warner 80942)
Video: 1080p, 480i/p
Audio: Dolby Digital Plus 1.0, Dolby Digital 2.0 mono

Generally considered John Wayne’s finest western, The Searchers was shot in VistaVision. This HD DVD transfer is nothing short of amazing. First, the film has been completely restored, so the source material is impeccable. Second, the images are the sharpest so far on disc. Colors are rich, and almost every scene looks three-dimensional. The intricate patterns of the many plaid shirts worn by the actors are reproduced without shimmer. In one scene, as two men fight and clouds of dust rise from their clothes, it looks so real you might cough. But what everyone most remembers from The Searchers are the wide vistas of the great plains. The reissue engineers have wisely chosen to use the original mono soundtrack, but have successfully cleaned it up. The sound comes only from the center channel, but it’s robust and detailed, and fits the film perfectly. All the extras from the SD special edition are included here. If you could buy only one HD DVD to play in your new Toshiba player, this should be it.

Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (Paramount 07040)
Video: 1080p, 480i/p
Audio: Dolby Digital Plus 5.1, DTS 5.1, Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo

This retro-futuristic movie was very popular with some folks, and showed what could be done with backgrounds entirely created with the use of blue screens. The stylized look is much like a tintype, with muted colors -- so muted that sometimes they appear to be almost black and white. I think it safe to say that, so far, no other film has looked like Sky Captain, and this brilliant HD transfer captures every subtlety. If it sometimes doesn’t seem sharp, well, that’s how the movie was shot, and there are still plenty of scenes crisp enough to let you know you’re watching 1080i. The DTS sound is okay, but the Dolby Digital Plus, run through the 5.1 analog outputs, is awesome. The scene in which the machines march down the main street is plenty loud but also plenty transparent, and is amazing to hear. As for the rest of the film, all 5.1 channels are active throughout, and entirely immerse the viewer in the action. This is the best HD for sound that I have heard. The extras from the SD edition have been carried over to this one, and there is an HD trailer as well. A job well done, and another victory for the HD DVD format.

Spy Game (Universal 27788)
Video: 1080p, 480i/p
Audio: Dolby Digital Plus 5.1, Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo

Until now, the main reason to see this slick but heartless tale of espionage was for Robert Redford’s superb performance. Now you might want to see it simply to take in its HD qualities. The picture is simply amazing, even by HD standards. The many outdoor shots -- of Berlin, Beirut, and Washington -- are so detailed that they look like stills for picture postcards. Close-ups, too, have impressive focus and detail. Each line in Redford’s aging face is there, each thread of the costumes, each dot of ink on a memo. Every chapter of this HD DVD screams out High definition! And it’s not just the sharpness -- the wide-ranging colors are also excellent all the way. Through the analog outputs, the Dolby Digital Plus sound is perfectly clear and balanced even in action sequences, when all five channels are very active. There’s plenty of oomph for loud passages, but never at the expense of clarity. All the extras from the SD version are included here, still in SD. This just might be the demo disc you’ve been looking for to show off your new HD DVD system.