Scorsese Extols Blu-ray

One of the most acclaimed filmmakers of the last half-century effusively praised the Blu-ray format this week, calling it the next-best thing to seeing a movie in the theater.

Martin Scorsese, addressing the Blu-Con conference via satellite from New York, extolled the Blu-ray format as having "the best potential to replicate the actual experience of seeing a film is the best I've seen, in 40 years as a filmmaker." He also praised the Hollywood studios for placing a greater emphasis than in the past on the quality of the presentation of films on home video.

"The audience at home demands the best-quality image and sound. Blu-ray now allows you to experience the film as close as it was meant to be," Scorsese said. "It is impossible to recreate completely the experience of watching in a movie theater, but I firmly believe Blu-ray is as close as you're going to get to that experience, at home."