MOON UK launch confirmed for Monday 16th November 2009 on Blu-Ray & DVD, we couldn’t be any more excited obviously, but before our review of the UK Blu-Ray, to provide a bit of balance and all that, here are a few of the latest reviews to hit the web this week, clicky the banners for the full review:

Sizemore

Moon is better than 2001: A Space Odyssey by a country mile.

HeyUGuys say:

I cannot recommend this Blu-ray enough. Not only do you get to see one of the most arresting films in years, complete with stunning design work and a flawless performance by Sam Rockwell, the extras on the disc make this an essential purchase.

The Geek Files says:

Jones’s film is thoughtful, technically excellent and superbly crafted, rather astonishing for a debut effort and even more astonishing given the limitations of the relatively microscopic budget. Despite this, nothing looks cheap or wobbly; every cent is well spent on screen. It’ll be interesting to see what the filmmaker can do with more cash in the pot. Overall, well worth investigating.

Sound and image are clean and clear with no problems whatsoever, and the menu display and navigation is slick and stylish.

Empire says:

They do make ’em like they used to — a fresh blast of old-school sci-fi, bursting with ideas and a stellar turn from Rockwell.

ManMadeMovies Says:

Our original review of the theatrical release of MOON

Go see ‘Moon’, enjoy it, spread the word, go again and take a friend, they’ll love you for it. In a summer stuffed full of mega bucks CGI fests, it’s great to get more bang for yer buck when leaving the local cinema with plenty to talk about, and plenty to think about also

And now we say, go buy MOON on Blu-Ray or DVD UK this coming Monday 16th November and prepare to to witness one of the best male lead performances seen on screen in recent years from Sam Rockwell. So much so we think he deserves at least a nomination in the 2010 Academy Awards.

This was my first Blu-Ray experience, enjoyed the movie that much at the cinema, I shelled out for a Blu-Ray player and what is commonly known as a “Big Telly” ready for release, and the transfer to Blu-Ray does not disappoint, in fact, the viewing experience has been enhanced, which is good as MOON demands repeat viewings to pick up on some of the more subtle touches Director Duncan Jones has woven into his fantastic first feature length movie.

Even after repeat viewings, it is still incredible to realise that the entire budget for MOON was $5 Million, or around £2.75 Million sterling. Every single cent has been sucked dry by a crew intent on making a great movie, the craft and effort is on display at all times from the internal Sarang Moon base sets, to the external lunar landscape model miniatures.

More evidence of the skill that has gone into the making of MOON are in the great extras included on both Blu-Ray & DVD:

Commentary with writer / director Duncan Jones, director of photography Gary Shaw, concept designer Gavin Rothery and production designer Tony Noble. Very funny and easy to detect a great sense of camaraderie amongst the crew as they joke about situations that occured during production.

Commentary with writer / director Duncan Jones and producer Stuart Fenegen A more technical overview with great insights into the production of MOON

Whistle – a short film by Duncan Jones Great short about a future assassin and the effect of his work on those close to him, you can see touches of the same style as MOON and what may become a signature of Jones’ work, the subtle involvement of the Director and crew in the film itself. (see if you can spot VFX wizard Gavin Rothery in both films, and Jones also…)

The Making Of Moon featurette What it says on the tin jobby, a one of the only opportunities on the disc to get a glimpse of the work put in by the amazing Sam Rockwell.

GERTY Table Tennis Easter Egg Not gonna ruin it for you ;P

Creating the Visual Effects featurette Very interesting guide through all the methods used to make Sam’s life on Sarang believable.

Science Centre Q&A with Duncan Jones featurette REAL space people at NASA get a special screening of MOON and we get to see the Q&A after, Jones answers questions on the science behind MOON.

Filmmakers Q&A at the Sundance Film Festival featurette Possibly my favourite feature on the disc as we see the premier of MOON at Sundance with Duncan’s intro, and post screening Q&A. He genuinely looks excited and slightly nervous to start with and you watch him grow into the role of feature director as the Q&A progresses. I’m sure he’s done enough now to be an old hand, but wonderful to see the beginning of the career of a Director with such great potential.

Once you have worked your way through the extras, which are the same on either format, you are left with an incredible little British Indie Sci-Fi that pays homage to some of the classics of the past, but points forward to a very promising future for Director Duncan Jones, this is seriously a treat for movie fans whether they love Sci-Fi or Psychological Thrillers alike, or just bloody good film making.

MOON is one of those films where all the ingredients have combined to deliver a thing greater than the sum of it’s parts. Which is something that does not happen too often. For as well as the stunning visuals, incredible performance of Rockwell as Sam Bell, everything is pulled together with the beautiful and haunting soundtrack by Clint Mansell

Check out a few clips below, MOON is available to grace your home from:

UK Monday 16th November 2009
US Tuesday 12th January 2010

MOON Trailer