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HD Guru Gary Merson scores 3D content on DirecTV and the results are generally grim: “Take it off the air.”

Last week, DirecTV flipped the switch on a bunch of new 3D channels. It’s been a long time coming, but was it all worth the wait?

HD Guru Gary Merson has posted his review on the service provider’s first four 3D offerings. He looked at some of the programming from the exclusive N3D channel, which is a joint effort between DirecTV and Panasonic. Some of the content features the awesome power of 1080p/24. Don’t get too drooly, though; some of the content is in 1080i.

So what’s the verdict? Well, you might still be anxiously awaiting new content. Programs reviewed included:

* Wild Safari: An South African Adventure
* S.O.S Planet
* African Adventure: Safari in the Okavango
* Encounter In The Third Dimension

Using a good, old grading system, Merson says the first three programs averaged about a C on content. That sounds kind of crappy, if you ask me. In other words, you’ll watch it because that’s all there is. Even more depressing is that two of those Cs scored even worse when it came to 3D quality—with one getting a big, fat F.

“Safari in Okavango is poorly shot 3D, making viewing a strain, as ones eyes try to compensate for the discrepancies,” Merson says. “At this time we feel it would be best for DirecTV to take it off the air and only rebroadcast it if it can fixed in post production.”

Tell us how you really feel, Gary! He definitely does. Check out his full review at HDGuru.com.

by Rachel Cericola

http://www.electronichouse.com/article/hd_guru_bad_grades_for_directv_3d/

Custom Installation Services, LLC – Charlotte NC ’s Home Theater & Technology Experts!

12.01.2009
I remember being really scared seeing Gremlins in the theater. Of course, I was only 10, but man, when the evil Gremlin started wielding a chainsaw that was my cue to run out to the concession area.

There were plenty of campy movies to come out of the 80s, but Gremlins was good enough to be scary, entertaining and overall a pretty decent flick. So it should be interesting to see how well it holds up 25 years later, when we can watch it in high-definition as one of this week’s Blu-ray releases.

Tom Hanks and Ben Stiller find their way onto more Blu-rays with The Green Mile and Night at The Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian, respectively. Or you can catch Brad Pitt and try to figure out what the heck he’s saying through his thick accent in Snatch.

For something completely different, especially on the music side of things, take a look at The Rolling Stones: Gimme Shelter. It’s far different than your average rock documentary, with a bulk of it focusing on the Stones as they watch footage of the Altamont concert disaster of 1969. It’s engaging throughout, that’s for sure.

Here are all of this week’s Blu-ray releases, courtesy of Blu-ray.com:

Ben 10: Alien Swarm
BluScenes: The Classic Fireplace
BluScenes: Coral Reef Aquarium
BluScenes: Journey Through Space
A Christmas Tale
Deadline
Death Warrior
An Evening with il Divo: Live in Barcelona
The Green Mile
Gremlins
The Legend of Zorro/The Mask of Zorro
Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels
The Mask of Zorro
Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian
Paper Heart
Ride Around the World
The Rolling Stones: Gimme Shelter
Secondhand Lions
Snatch
Terminator Salvation
The Wizard of Oz (3-disc Emerald Edition)

By Arlen Schweiger

http://www.cepro.com/article/blu-ray_releases_for_dec._1_2009/K294

Custom Installation Services, LLC – Home Entertainment Audio and Video services in North Carolina.