Miami Vice Blu-ray

Guns, drugs, babes and speedboats are all fine ingredients for a high-octane Blu-ray release. However, Miami Vice director Michael Mann, with his love for drawing out scenes with seemingly unending dialog, is somewhat stingy in doling out the Blu-ray thrills. When Mann does throw out a high-def bone, like a gorgeous boating trip to Havana or a laser-lit nightclub moment, viewers will want to watch. People who caught the earlier HD DVD release will be disappointed that the Blu-ray version offers many of the same supplements. High-def newbies should enjoy activating the title’s U-Control features, which offer pop-up interactivity throughout the film. (To fully playback every U-Control offering, viewers will need Profile 1.1 hardware.)

Shelf Talk: Miami Vice’s story line of NARCs going undercover to take down a Colombian drug lord is a direct hit on Blu-ray’s male-skewing PlayStation 3 consumer base. The exclusive U-Control features might inspire fans to upgrade.