With 2009 now in the bag, we take a look back at the best blu-ray releases of the year. These are not the best movies of the year, but they are the best blu-rays, meaning that despite the shortfalls of the films as a whole, there are some amazing scenes that just have to be experienced in their full high definition glory. This is a list that only true videophiles can really appreciate. Blu-ray movies are known for their exceptional picture and sound quality, often times resulting in the HD picture actually being more clear than real life. So without further delay, here is the list of the best blu-rays of 2009 and what makes them so great.

5) Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen

Michael Bay’s second opus to our childhood is far from perfect. In fact one of the main gripes against this movie is that there are too many explosions….which in blu-ray land is more of a bonus than a gripe! While the movie does tend to run long and the plot is a bit painful, there are three intense battle scenes that absolutely have to be viewed in High def with a solid home theater set up. The opening scene in which Optimus jumps out of a plane to battle the huge Decepticon destroying the freeway, the forrest battle scene in which Optimus takes on a whole posse of Decepticons, and the final showdown between all of the good guys and all of the bad guys are well worth the price of this blu-ray.

While the scenes mentioned above are definitely the highlight, the entire movie looks incredible. Everything from Megan Fox’s plump glossy lips to the little knobs on Bumblebee’s tires- they all appear here in all of their digital glory. The audio is top notch also as each gun sounds distinct and that scrambling sound effect when the transformers transform is just as cool, even cooler perhaps, as it was back in 1987. While many people bemoan that this type of CGI powered film making is soulless, you can’t help but gain new admiration for the beauty, brutality, and flat out chaos in this film that is really brought to life in the blu-ray format.

4) Watchmen

When I first saw Watchmen in theaters, I was a bit dissappointed. Director Zack Snyder’s (300) envisioning of the beloved graphic novel seemed a bit too convoluted and soulless compared to its source material. When the movie came out on blu-ray I decided to give it another shot and I’m glad that I did. There is just so much more going on in this film visually than a graphic novel could ever convey. Perhaps what made the film so difficult to enjoy at first was the transition from the 2D pages to full on HD CGI mastery. After watching the blu-ray, I noticed so many subtle details in the film that only fans of the graphic novel would understand…or even notice.

Then there is the obivous awesomeness that takes place throughout the film. Dr. Manhattan teleporting to Mars, Rorschach and the prison break scene, the Watchmen being called to Vietnam, and the list goes on. While the movie is often dismissed as a 2 hour music video, the visuals in conjunction with the intricate storyline make for a truly amazing viewing experience. What the movie lacks in substance, it more than makes up for with incredible visuals and audio.

3) The Hangover

The Hangover is one of, if not THE funniest movies of 2009. That alone should be reason enough for it to appear on any top blu-ray countdown. Despite how hilarious the film is, it also earns its spot on the top blu-ray list due to a number of other merits, particularly the visuals. I’m slowly becoming convinced that many things look better in high definition than they do in real life and this movie has helped sway me more in that direction. Las Vegas is captured beautifully in this film. When the camera pulls back to show a shot of the strip, it is so detailed you feel like you can almost count each individual light bulb. When they show the tiger, you can see nearly every individual hair on its fur.

It doesn’t hurt that the movie has an awesome soundtrack. Between the audio and the visual, you really get the feeling like you are along for the ride in this Sin-city comedy. Even though there are no huge explosions or CGI effects in this film, it has great audio and is a visually stunning blu-ray. It doesn’t hurt that the movie happens to be funny as hell also.

2) Star Trek

JJ Abrahms’ take on the Star Trek mythos helped to usher the original characters into a brand new era. Technology has finally got to the point where Star Trek looks real. Thankfully, blu-ray is there to show this new reality in beautiful hi def. Everything from the textures on the star fleet uniforms to the scratches on the hull of the ship all come through with amazing detail. When I saw this in theaters, the scenes aboard the enemy ship were almost too dark to discern what was going down. This is not the case with the blu-ray edition. The blacks and darker hues are all very distinguishable from one another and you can easily make out what is going on in the darker lit scenes.

I’ve never been a big fan of starship battles, but when you can follow a single photon from its launch all the way to its impact on an enemy ship, well that just increases the cool factor exponentially. The lighting effects, the particle effects, damn near all the effects shine on this blu-ray. Perhaps what is most impressive (and noticeable on blu-ray) is how seamlessly these effects blend in with the real world elements of each scene, further adding to the “realism.” Add in Zoe Saldana in high definition and you’ve got all the makings of a winner.

1) District 9

District 9 is one of the most unique sci-fi films to come out in some time. This is not to say that every element in the film is unique, rather the combination of elements and characters and the way they are interwoven in the narrative are what make for one of the most original movies in a while. The details in the special effects in this film are just mind blowing. When they show close ups of the prawns, everything from the fuzzy little feelers on their chins to the intricate markings found all over their bodies really come alive. What is more impressive is that they used one character model to create all of the prawns, yet it stands up under the digital scrutiny of the high definition eye. No two prawns look the same and they all look like they are different members of the same race.

What is also very noticeable is the way the film cuts back and forth from documentary footage to ‘real life’ footage. The documentary sections look a bit grainy, although still fairly clear. When they cut back to the ‘real’ footage, you immediately notice how brightly the colors pop and how sharp all of the details are. They say when you lose one of your senses, the other senses compensate. For instance, if you go blind, your sense of hearing and smell will try to make up for it. This is evident in Distrcit 9. When they show the slum conditions of District 9, the visuals and audio are so crisp you can almost smell the nasty stench. The audio is so good you can even hear trash crackling as it is being stepped on as the characters walk around in District 9.

It is amazing that such a low budget film can deliver on such top notch special effects. What is even more impressive is how well all of these effects hold up under HD viewing. Usually when viewed in HD, any inconsistencies or flaws will be glaring. This is not the case with District 9 as everything not only looks more detailed, but more real when viewed in hi def. District 9 is a fantastic movie and all of their hard work and painstaking attention to detail really shines on blu-ray. Of all the movies on the list, this is the one I enjoyed the most and this is perhaps the most impressive blu-ray I have seen this year.