This much anticipated title on Blu-Ray is without a doubt, a great show off your system disc. The mega blockbuster stars Will Smith, Jeff Goldblum, Bill Pullman, Judd Hirsch, Robert Loggia, Brent Spiner, and Randy Quaid. Dazzling special effects and an edge of your seat first half hour sequence make this disc a must buy for many. The film itself has a few problems, injecting humor into a not so humorous scenario:Brent Spiner's minor role is a perfect example, Will Smith is a little too light hearted, especially after his best friend has just died, Judd Hirsch's Jewish father routine is way too streotypical, and Bill Pullman's speech on July 4 is over the top is swelling patriotism. Aside from that, we are treated to some of th ebest effects in modern cinema, the destruction of major buildings in L.A. and New York, The White House, and the Capitol dome all are wiped out by the alien invaders in a single burst from their city sized space ships.

The picture on this blu-ray disc is outstanding. Although I have viewed this film several times, thehigh definition disc brings out etails never noticed before. When Goldblum and Smith are planting the virus inside the alien's mothership, invasion armies can be clearly seen on planetoids, where on regular dvd those details are lost.

The sound, DTS HD MA 5.1 Lossless is the only way to watch this film, as it grips you during the explosions sequences and envelopes you with the sound.

Extras are the biggest disappointment on this disc as Fox chose not to include additional or alternate footage, which is available on standrad DVD special edition. I guess we will have to waiit for the Blu-Ray special edition, as the studios begin to double dip their strong titles. The disc does contain some extras-scene specific commentary from Roland Emmerich and Dean Devlin, commentary from special effects supervisors, trivia tracks, D-Box controls, and exclusive Blu-Ray extras, personal scene selections and an ALien Scavenger Hunt game. While these Blu-Ray exclusives are welcome, we wish Fox had not given up the other extras to include these. On this 50 GB discs, their was room for all of it.