Blu-ray bytes: The Wolfman and The Book of Eli

Highlighting the best interactive features from the high-definition format.

Wolf byte

Director Joe Johnston’s lumbering and lethargic remake of Universal’s monster classic The Wolfman (Universal Home Entertainment, unrated director’s cut, $39.98) arrives in the high-definition format with enough for the fan of interactive multimedia to sink his teeth into.

“The Wolfman” stars a frightening-looking (before the makeup) Benicio Del Toro and Anthony Hopkins in a fang-filled father-and-son conflict in which the fur occasionally flies.

Congratulations are in order for those able to make it through the two-hour-long director’s cut  you’re a better man than I. Unfortunately, your reward, if you’re interested in the Blu-ray magic, is to go back and watch the included theatrical version to get the goodies.

Viewers get a pair of U-Control features well worth appreciating. First, “Legacy, Legend and Lore” dissects werewolf mythology with plenty of on-screen fact boxes and classic illustrations of the beasts. Even better, viewers get pop-up boxes of other werewolf films, including “American Werewolf in London” and the 1941 original, with comparative insight from narrator Doug Bradley (Clive Barker’s Pinhead).

Next, “Take Control” offers the little-brother version of Warner Home Video’s Maximum Movie Mode through cutaway scenes of production staff, including makeup maestro Rick Baker and visual-effects producer Karen Murphy, who passionately explain their craft with multimedia helpers.

It’s hard to hate the film after watching these artisans speak.

Universal’s best move, however, is offering the original 1941 “Wolfman” movie, starring Lon Chaney Jr. as the cursed Lawrence Talbot. It’s a streaming download for viewers with a sturdy broadband connection.

The film also is available for download via a code (off the Blu-ray package) onto computers or smart phones.

The all-too-clever idea of offering the classic obviously backfires because the original is much more fun than the latest iteration. However, its inclusion adds another welcome layer of BD-Live interactivity to satisfy the film connoisseur.

Now, that’s worth howling at.

Blu-ray of Eli

Sci-fi fans got a worthy dose of post-apocalyptic action from the Hughes brothers, Denzel Washington and Gary Oldman in “The Book of Eli.”

Multimedia fans will not feel so satisfied with the Blu-ray release (Warner Home Video, rated R, $35.99). Simply put, the stylish design of the movie may look fantastic in the 1080p format, and it comes loaded with a compelling story about the classic battle of good versus evil, but I really was looking forward to the tempting extras listed on the packaging.

Unfortunately, viewers will feel sucker-punched by the fake Maximum Movie Mode, which does not deliver the same experience enjoyed in other MMM-enhanced releases such as “The Watchmen” and “Sherlock Holmes.”

Instead of the director offering a class with plenty of visuals about his movie, viewers get a steady stream of pop-ups offering behind-the-scenes fodder and the occasional “click on me” box (called Focus Points) that take them away from the film and deeper into the production process.

The only standout extra is a motion comic of key bad guy Carnegie’s early years drawn by Tommy Lee Edwards.

Otherwise, it’s just DVD extras mediocrity, unable to propel the Blu-ray evolution.