Film  

I guess the best way to describe Gnomeo & Juliet is to think of it as Romeo & Juliet meets Toy Story meets the Hatfields and McCoy’s. The film is set in the fenced in back yard gardens of two adjoining rowhomes in England. The homes are owned by a man and a woman who do not get along. One house is painted blue, the other red. One address is 2B the other Not 2B. get it?

Not only do the two owners not get along, neither do the garden gnomes that inhabit each garden. The red home has red colored gnomes and the blue house, what else, blue colored gnomes. When humans are not watching, the gnomes and all other garden trinkets such as frog fountain ornaments come to life. When humans are watching, they freeze in place, wherever they may be. Sound familiar?

While the film is produced by Elton John’s Rocket Films, it did so in partnership with Disney, so I guess this little bit of “borrowing” was OK. In any event, the gnomes each hate the other group with a passion, with the hatred at times bubbling over into violence and often clouding their collective judgment.

One day, Juliet, a red gnome and daughter of the leader of the red gnomes, sees an orchid growing out of the roof of a nearby greenhouse, that has a flower on it that bears the mark of Cupid’s arrow. She decided that she must have it and slips into a black sock and heads out to get it. As she reaches for it, a blue gnome, Gnomeo, reaches for it too. Their eyes lock onto each other and they fall quickly in love, not realizing that they are both from another clan. They quickly come to realize that but nonetheless try to continue a clandestine love affair.

Along the way, they meet a lonely plastic pink flamingo, Featherstone, who is integral in fostering their love for each other. Needless to say, their family and friends were not accepting of their relationship and in the end, a mass war breaks out between the two clans that threatens their entire existences. Gnomeo & Juliet is filled with many of the characters of Shakespeare albeit in different forms, including Shakespeare himself, although just as a statute.

The story is fairly clever and at times a bit too clever as well as predictable. The film features the voices of the likes of Emily Blunt, James McElvoy, Michel Caine, Jason Statham, Ashley Jensen, Patrick Stewart, Ozzie Osbourne and even Hulk Hogan. Quite a diverse group!

The film is filled with the songs of Elton John and Bernie Taupin, orchestrations based on their music by Elton John’s one time band mate James Newton Howard and a very pedestrian song written and sung by Elton John and the current flavor of the day, Stefani Germanotta, aka Lady Gaga. Gnomeo & Juliet is certainly a cute and at times charming film that does have its moments. While I did enjoy the film a tad, I didn’t like it enough to give a rating any better than a rental. Still, it is worth a look and a film that the entire family can enjoy. Rated as a rental only.

Video  

When it comes to CGI films and those produced by the folks at Disney, the bar is pretty high in terms of video quality. Some of the best demo material out there is Disney product, namely the Pixar stuff, which looks stunning. You can now add Gnomeo & Juliet to that list. The video presentation here met all of my expectations. The image is crystal clear with deep blacks, bright and bold color that is beautifully saturated and detail that is just off the charts. The clarity, depth, detail and resolution on this release is simply stunning and of reference quality all the way. When it comes to Blu-ray computer animated films from the folks at Disney, they sure know how to deliver and deliver they do again with Gnomeo & Juliet.

Audio  

I was just slightly less impressed with the audio than I was with the video. Not that it is bad in any way, it is excellent. The audio has a full, smooth, warm and round sound that is very easy on the ears. Transparency and imaging are excellent. The surrounds are used fairly aggressively throughout the entire film to create a nice immersive sound filed. Perhaps it is because I watched this film shortly after I Am Number Four, but I found that the bass just didn’t mine the very deepest bass regions to warrant a full 5 star rating. Overall, the sound is excellent but falls just a tad, and I mean a tad, short in the areas of deep bass and overall dynamics, enough that I can’t quite give it a 5 star rating. I have no doubt however that fans of the film wont mind.

Special Features  

Gnomeo & Juliet is available in 3D as well as 2D. I was provided with a copy of the 2D combo pack which include the film on Blu-ray as well as DVD. The extras such as they are are rather pedestrian. They include 2 alternate endings, one alternate opening sequence for the film, one alternate scenes and 6 deleted scenes. All come with introductions from director Kelly Asbury of Shrek 2 fame and are all presented in storyboard style with no CGI at all.

The main featurette is a look at the making of the film with Elton John entitled Elton Builds a Garden which discusses the brief history of Rocket Pictures and the making of the film, including interviews with Elton, James Newton Howard and Kelly Asbury.

Also included is the brief Frog Talk with Ashley Jensen as she voices the character of Nanette the frog. Also included is an even shorter featurette “The Fawn of Darkness” that takes a look at Ozzie Osbourne as he voices the character Fawn.

We also get a rather brief “Crocodile Rock” music video featuring Elton John and Nelly Furtado.

Final Thoughts  

While Gnomeo & Juliet is certainly an interesting idea and a novel take on the classic Romeo and Juliet, I really can’t give it a recommendation higher than that of a rental. If you have kids, by all means, give it a look. I am sure they will enjoy it.

I have always found music to be a bit different than TV or films in that often times, commercial success in music, especially pop music, is reserved for music that appeals to the lowest common denominator and more often than not, has a shelf life that is a lot shorter than music of less coverall commercial appeal. Just picture landfill somewhere in the not too distant future filled to the brim with Mariah Carey CD’s. While this can be true for films as well, I have found that to be less so than for music.

This topic came to mind in considering the films that are the subject of this review, the Tron Legacy and Tron: The Original Classic, which are being released together in a 3D/2D/DVD combo pack. There is no doubt that the original Tron film is a cult classic of sorts and a very original film, with computer animation that is well ahead of its time. I saw the film when it was released in 1982 and can’t say that it made much of an impression, other than the innovative computer effects. It clearly wouldn’t have been my choice for a remake. I was curious to see if my view of Tron would change after all these years, given its place in the history of CGI and whether Tron Legacy would be much of an improvement.

Films

Tron: The Original Classic   Tron: Legacy  

I am afraid to say that despite the passage of 20 years, my view of Tron hasn’t changed a bit. While I have great respect for the film for its technical expertise and its ground breaking use of computer animation, I just don’t find Tron to be a very good film. I didn’t in 1982 and still don’t in 2011. I find the film to be woefully short on plot and very ponderous and at times, a bit confusing. Too much of the film is devoted to the CGI effects for the sake of the effects only and not as part of the development of the plot. In this regard, Tron reminds me of another film of the same era, Star Trek: The Motion Picture. Just like Tron, the first Star Trek film was all about the special effects rather than plot and character development. I mean, how long did we have to look at the Enterprise as is made its was through the cloud? It must have taken up half of the film and in the process, the interaction between Kirk, Spock and McCoy, which made the TV series so special, was completely lost. The same is true of Tron. There is little if any character development.

The plot that is there is confusing at times and at others, just plan boring. The plot of the film is very simple. Jeff Bridges stars as Kevin Flynn, a brilliant computer programmer who breaks into the building of his ex-employer, Encom. to hack into their mainframe to look for material that he has been unable to locate remotely. While in the mainframe, he is discovered by the computer’s operating system. The operating system takes advantage of a Star Trek like transporting device which digitizes the molecular structure of his body and brings him into the computer and drops him into a video game where an effort is made to kill him. While inside the game, he is able to locate the information he was looking for and with the help of computer programs, looks to reach the portal where he can reconstitute his physical form and enter the real world.

Visually, while the film looks rather primitive today, it was a sight to behold in 1982, with this interesting use of light and the clever combination of live action footage and computer animation. However, despite the technical merits of the film, I found the film just as tedious now as I did in 1982. The narrative simply did not hook me and pull me in like a great film does. In fact, I found my mind wandering off repeatedly during the film. Accordingly, the best I can given the film is a recommendation as a rental. If you are a fan of the film, I have no doubt that this will be a must by. But for the rest of you…

I am sure that a redo of Tron was a hard sell for the bean counters and were it not for the fact that previews of the film tested so well as Comic-con, the film wouldn’t have been made. Tron Legacy picks up years after the end of the first film. After Kevin Flynn escapes Encom’s mainframe, he becomes the CEO and takes Encom to new heights. However, he continues to return repeatedly to the digital world of Tron where he continues to improve upon the original programming, producing a world of even greater splendor and complexity, one so complex that it even creates its own life form. There is one problem however… Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges again) is trapped in the world by a program names Clu, which Kevin himself created to mind the store when he is away.

However, Clu evolves on his own and becomes intent on not only dominating the computer world, but in escaping through the portal with his armies and conquering the world. Kevin’s son Sam (Garrett Hedlund) is brought to his father’s old lab by a mysterious page to his former partner at Encom. Sam enters the lab and discovers the portal. He too is pulled into the Tron video game and has to escape the clutches of Clu who is bet on his and his father’s destruction. Together, Sam and his father, with the help of Quorra (Olivia Wilde) team up together to try and stop Clu and finally escape the world of Tron once and for all.

While I will admit that Tron Legacy is an improvement on the original, it suffers from the same issues that plagued the original, and that is style over substance. The film looks great, there is no getting around that. The technical level of the computer animation is sensational. However, the film has little in the way of character development or a fast moving plot. I would Tron Legacy to be almost as ponderous as the original. While the characters are a bit more fleshed out than in the original film, I can’t say they were by much. Why did Kevin Flynn continue to do what he did, why was his son Sam such a brat and why did a new life form or more accurately a new program create on it own. Even worse, why was Michael Sheen even in the film? Much more could have been done with him and his character. What a wasted opportunity.

Had the film focused on these issues, that of the creation of the universe and life itself rather than Clu’s efforts at world domination, we would have had a much better film, albeit one without all the flash. Again, form over substance. Its too bad too, as there is the potential for a very good film here. Tron Legacy, despite all its flash, just isn’t one.

Video

Tron: The Original Classic   Tron: Legacy 

I will admit that I was impressed with the video quality of the original Tron which looks pretty good given its age. The live action sections of the film feature nice blacks and excellent skin tones and plenty of color. The only real criticism I have is with the overall softness of the image, especially the more distant shots, which look quite soft. Overall detail and clarity are good, especially the close-ups which are well detailed. Shadow detail is excellent. I was not able to detect any obvious evidence of the application of digital noise reduction or edge enhancement. The print used for the film looks to be in excellent condition, with no obvious evidence of dirt or scratched or defects of any kind. Clearly, a lot of effort went into restoring the film for this release. Fans of the film will be thrilled with the picture quality on this release. If is safe to say that Tron has never looked anywhere near this good anywhere since its initial theatrical run.

I was expecting Tron Legacy, as a new film, to look exceptional and I was not disappointed. This is a highly stylized looking film. It features a rather subdued and almost washed out and muted color palette. This is true in all sections of the film, whether inside or out of the computer world. I would have expected the look of the film to be limited only to the digital world but it is completely consistent throughout. There is little in the way of deep blacks in the film as the film has this washed out look and is bathed in grays and browns and lighter blacks. However, the film has exceptional level of detail and clarity and three dimensionality, even without deep and inky blacks. Clarity and detail are consistent throughout the film regardless of the setting or the overall lighting. I also found no obvious evidence of the application of digital noise reduction or edge enhancement.

This is a great looking encode featuring exceptional levels of clarity and detail and is one that will thrill fans of the film Disney clearly pulled out all of the stops on this one. It should be pointed out that Tron Legacy is a bit like The Dark Knight as the film’s aspect ratio varies between the 2:35:1 aspect ration of the standard theatrical release and the 1:78:1 image of the IMAX presentation. Therefore some sections of he film will have black bars at the top and bottom while other scenes will fill your screen completely. This is how the film is intended to be presented and there is nothing at all wrong with your set up.

As noted above Tron Legacy is also available in 3D. As I do not have a 3D set up, I will leave a review of that version up to others who do.

Audio

Tron: The Original Classic   Tron: Legacy  

Let’s get the easiest one out of the way right away. The audio presentation on Tron Legacy is simply superb. The bass response and dynamics on this film are among the best I have yet heard on Blu-ray. The bass is deep, tight and detailed without even the hint of bloat. I am not sure I have ever experienced this level of bass response at home, both in terms of quality and quantity. I was afraid the pictures on the wall in my theater room would shake right off the walls the bass was so deep. In addition to the deep bass, the film features exceptional use of the surrounds, placing you in a totally immersive sound field which is simply superb. Overall fidelity is sensational, sounding smooth, rich and open without even a hint of edginess or harshness. This one is easy on the ears at any level. If I had only one criticism of the audio, it would be with the volume level of the center channel, which I found to be just a little on the low side during a couple sequences in the film. However, the rest of the audio is so good that I couldn’t justify giving the film anything less than a full 5 star rating. It is simply that exceptional.

As for Tron: The Original Classic, the audio is good although not at the level of Legacy. They do share something in common though and that is excellent bass although the bass on Classic is not quite as impressive as that on Legacy. The most obvious difference in the audio is the use of the surrounds and the overall fidelity which while good, is no where near as good as that on Legacy. While the surrounds are engaged actively throughout Classic, the film is more front heavy and as a result, the film does not have that sense of total immersion that Legacy does. The overall sound also lacks the fullness and richness that Legacy has, sounding quite nice but thinner in comparison. However, given the age of the film, I was more than impressed by the overall sonic quality on Classic which sounds a good bit better than I had a right to expect.

Special Features  

If you are a fan of these films, I have no doubt that you will enjoy the extras included in this release. The only new extra included in Tron Classic is the featurette The Tron Phenomenon which is presented in high definition and takes a look at the historical significance of the film.

The rest of the extras are from the prior DVD release of the film including an audio commentary, The Making of Tron, Development, Digital Imagery, Music, Publicity, Deleted Scenes, Design, Storyboarding and Galleries. If you already own the prior DVD release of the film, you have already seen these extras. Tron Legacy includes several extras and all presented in hugh def. I will admit that I was a bit surprised that more extras were not included about Legacy.

Included is the featurette “The Next Day: Flynn Lives Revealed: which fills us in on the goings on in the story in the intervening years between the two films as well as what happens after the Legacy ends. Also included is a featurette “Launching The Legacy” which discusses the details about how it was decided to do the film and Disc Roars, which shows how the crowd noises during the fight scenes in the film were recorded at the 2010 Comic-Con. Also included is the music video “Derezzed” which was written, produced and performed by Daft Punk.

Also included is Disney Second Screen which enables you to simultaneously explore interactive content with your iPad or computer as you watch the film. Also included is a look at Tron Uprising, the Disney XD animated series.

In addition to DVD copies of both films, this release also contains digital copies of the film compatible with Macs and PCs.

Final Thoughts  

If you are a fan of the original Tron film and/or Tron Legacy, this is a must buy for you. For the rest of you, I would recommend this release, but on the basis of a rental, if only to experience the exceptional audio presentation on Tron Legacy.

Film  

I will say for the outset that I did enjoy Tangled. It is a warm, charming and at times, funny film. The problem is that we have seen this same type of story line and presentation before many times from Disney. This film fails to break any new ground and is basically a rehash of familiar Disney faire although quite nicely dressed up in some beautiful looking CGI.

The film is a basic retelling of the Rapunzel fairy tale. The film starts out setting the scene for the film. We are introduced to the character of Gothel (voiced by Donna Murphy), an old haggard looking woman who happens upon a magic golden flower, which glows when she sings to it and which, in turn, makes her young again, sort of like finding the fountain of youth only in a flower. It is only by singing to the flower on a regular basis that she is able to live several hundred years. However, a problem develops for Gothel when the Queen of the kingdom becomes gravely ill while pregnant.

The King sets his men out to find a magic flower which will heal the Queen and save their child. The King’s men happen upon the flower despite Gothel’s efforts to hide it and dig it up and bring it to the King. The King then cooks the flower in a broth and feeds it to the Queen. The plan works and the Queen recovers and gives birth to a daughter who happens to have bright glowing blonde hair, which it turns out, has the same magical power as the flower.

Gothel decides to brake into the castle and steal the child, who she raises alone and secluded in a 70 foot tower, which is well hidden from the kingdom. Gothel forbids the girl, who she names Rapunzel (voiced by Mandy Moore), from ever leaving the tower, and scares her with tales of how dangerous the world is. While she claims that she is doing so to protect Rapunzel, she is actually doing it for very selfish reasons, as Rapunzel’s long flowing blonde hair glows when Gothel sings to it and restores her youth, just like the flower did.

Gothel’s greatest fear arrives when Rapunzel turns 18. Rapunzel is enamored by the glowing lights she sees rising into the night sky each year on her birthday and wants to leave the tower to see just what they are. It so happens that on her birthday, the tower is discovered by a thief, Flynn Rider (voiced by Zachary Levi), who is fleeing the castle and the king’s men after stealing the crown that was reserved for the king’s lost daughter.

When Flynn climbs his way into the tower, he is captured by Rapunzel with the aid of her trusty frying pan and her pet chameleon. Rapunzel hides the crown and Flynn agrees to help Rapunzel make her way out of the castle to see the mysterious lights in exchange for the return of the crown. The fact that Rapunzel has left is soon discovered by Gothel, who tracks them down as they begin an adventure to escape Gothel and her thugs, with the aid of Rapunzel’s Chameleon and a horse named Maximus. Will Rapunzel find true love? Will she be reunited with her real parents? Well, what do you think? You will have to watch the film to find out.

While I enjoyed the film, it is predictable and has some really forgettable music from Alan Menken, which sounds oh so familiar. Sure the film has its moments and sure looks and sound great, but I can really only imagine watching this film once. Recommended for families with young children. For the rest of you, I would recommend that you give it a look, but on the basis of a rental only.

Video  

I was expecting a great looking film and was not disappointed in the least by the video quality on this release. The CGI here is fantastic. The film simply looks beautiful, with a bright color palette, deep blacks, exquisite levels of detail, depth and clarity. Parts of this film have a golden glow which looks amazing and really matches the overall tone of the narrative. This is one great looking film and a natural for the high resolution and detail that only Blu-ray can bring into the home. If you loved this film in the theater, you know how good it looks. It may even look better at home than it did in the theater, the image quality here is that impressive.

Audio  

The audio track here is every bit as good as the video. The best word I can use to describe the audio is sumptuous. The fidelity is top notch with a clear full and smooth sound with excellent depth and transparency. The surrounds are used aggressively and very effectively throughout the film providing a sense of total immersion. Dynamics are excellent with deep, tight and powerful basis which sounds fantastic and will put any subwoofer through its paces. While the music is a bit pedantic, it does sound great. The dialogue track is also well recorded and well placed in the mix. Technically, this is a well designed sound mix which boasts excellent fidelity and in a word, sounds fantastic and should thrill fans of the film just as much as the video will.

Special Features  

I was not as pleased as much by the extras as I was the film. The extras include three deleted scenes introduced by directors Byron Howard and Nathan Greno, which are essentially story boards with voice overs and very primitive looking. We also get extended versions of two of the songs featured in the film, “When Will My Life Begin” and “Mother Knows Best,” which were scaled down for inclusion in the film.

Also are included are two original story book openings for the film and 9 “Tangled Teasers”, which are a collection of commercials made for the theatrical release of the film. Also included is a 50th Animated Feature Countdown, which is just that, a brief countdown of all 50 Disney animated films, beginning with the first, Snow White,and ending with Tangled.

The most extensive of the extras is the featurette hosted my Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi entitled “Untangled: The Making of a Fairy Tale” which is a real puff piece on the making of the film and frankly, not all that informative. I could really take or leave these extras and really didn’t find anything included all that interesting or informative.

The version of the release that I received is a two disc combo pack, which includes a DVD copy of the film as well. A 3D version of the film is available as well for those so inclined.

Final Thoughts  

While far from Disney’s best, Tangled is a charming film that is worth a look, if just for its stunning video and audio presentations. Recommended for families with young children and as a rental for the rest of us.

I hadn’t seen this film since its initial theatrical release 20 year ago. I was very impressed by the film back then and can recall thinking “Wow!” as I left the theater. Would the film be as impressive as I remembered it to be with 20 years worth of perspective or would it be like the Good Old Days often are, not as good as we recall? Thankfully in this case, even given the expanded length of the film, it is every bit as good as I recall it being.

Film 

I loved this film when I saw it the first time and found it to be just as pleasing on Blu-ray. The film included here is the extended cut and clocks in at nearly 4 hours and is almost an hour longer than the film I saw at the theater. A four hour running time is probably too long a time to sit in a theater to watch a film, so the ability to pause it and come back to finish it later one of the real benefits of home theater. For those of you who saw Avatar, you know the basic plot for Dances With Wolves.

Set in 1863, Dances With Wolves stars Kevin Costner as Lt. John J. Dunbar of the Union Army who, after an act of tremendous bravery (or an attempt at suicide depending on your point of view), is granted a transfer from the front lines to the frontier of the great plains. When asked at his new post why he would want a transfer to the no man’s land of the western frontier, he said so that he can see it before it is gone.

By the times he arrives at the small fort where he was stationed with a load of provisions, it had been deserted due to lack of support. All by himself, he repaired the fort and began to man it himself, hoping to get a look at buffalo and the great rolling plains. After awhile, a lone wolf comes near the fort for food and John Dunbar begins to feed it. It is after observations of him with the wolf that the local Sioux tribe gives him the name, Dances With Wolves.

A lone Sioux, eventually comes upon the fort and encounters Lt. Dunbar. He convinces the tribe to send others to feel Lt. Dunbar out, to see if he is a threat. After a slow start, the tribe welcomes him as one of their own and Lt. Dunbar weds Stands With A Fist (Mary McDonnell), a white woman who the tribe adopted after the rest of her family was killed by a more violent local tribe. Unlike some of the other tribes in the frontier, The Sioux tribe is very peaceful, living in harmony with the land, wandering the plains looking for food and water and the buffalo, who are very important to their survival. They kill only as many buffalo as they need to feed their tribe. Lt. Dunbar is captivated by how they live in harmony with nature and wants to live with them.

After he weds, he returns to the fort which to his surprise, has now been fully staffed by soldiers who do not share his love for the Sioux. They view him in his indian garb as a traitor and place him in jail. When he refuses to turn on the tribe, he is beaten. When Danes With Wolves does not return, the tribe is concerned and sets out to rescue him to reunite him with the tribe and his new wife. In doing so, Danes With Wolves is forced to make a choice between his past or his new family in a fight for his own survival.

In addition to the lead role, Kevin Costner also directed the film which is based on a book of the same name by Michael Blake. The film won 7 Academy Awards including Best Cinematography, film editing, original score, directing and Best Picture. All of the awards were well deserved. Dances With Wolves is a captivating film and a true classic. It was a treat to experience the film in HD for the first time with an all new hi def transfer and a new 7. 1 audio track. Dances With Wolves is every bit as good as I recalled it to be and is very highly recommended.

Video 

Dances With Wolves is filled with some great cinematography and looks superb on Blu-ray. Clearly, given the length of the film, great care went into the encode for this release and I could not detect much in the way of significant artifacts that would in any way spoil one’s enjoyment of the film. The early part of the film involving the Civil War battles looks quite good with bright and vivid greens and the bright red of blood the dominant colors in the color palette. When the film moves out west, those colors are replaced by the beautiful blue sky and the browns of the South Dakota landscape where the film was shot. The rolling hills of the plains look great and the film gives one a great look at how the landscape of the frontier may have looked in the mid 19th Century.

While the film does not have the inkiest of blacks, the blacks are more than acceptable and are consistent throughout the film. Some of the darker interior scenes do have a bit of black crush but are not really all that objectionable. As far as I know, that is just how the film was supposed to look. Details are quite good during close-ups but loss a bit on more distant shots which are a tad on the soft side. Film grain is apparent and it does not look like much in the way of digital noise reduction was applied to “clean” up the look of the film, which still has that film like look about it. All things considered, this is a fine encode of a fine looking film and is one that should more than please fans of the film. Well done Fox.

Audio 

The same care that went into the encoding of the video for this release was also used for the audio which has been remixed into a 7.1 sound design. The overall fidelity of the audio is excellent, which can be described as smooth, full and rich although lacking the degree of transparency as the very best sounding films. The musical score sounds sensational. The dialogue track is always clear and front and center in the sound mix. I found large sections of the film to be a bit front heavy with the surrounds used for low ambient effects. However, when they are used more aggressively, they are used very well, for example the sounds of the wind whipping through the plains, the thundering buffalo herd and the various battle sequences.

Bass response is very good with gun shots having a believable sense of weight. The same can be said of the thundering buffalo herd which rumbles quite convincingly through your room although without the sheer room rattling bass of the very best sound mixes. The film is 20 year old after all. All in all, this is a fine audio encode and one that will also thrill fans of the film.

Special Features 

Dances With Wolves is presented as a 2 disc set. The film is so long that the only extras on the first disc consist of audio commentaries featuring Kevin Costner and producer Jim Williams and a second featuring Director of Photography Dean Semler and Film Editor Neil Travis. The extras on the first film also contain two in movie experiences MIlitary Rank and Social Heirarchy Guide and Real History or Movie Make Believe?, both of which are entirely forgettable in this writer’s opinion.

The second disc contains the rest of the making of featurettes with only one in high definition and that is “A Day in the Life on the Western Frontier” which provides an historical look at what life was really like on the frontier. This one is certainly worth a look.

The rest appear to have been ported over from the prior DVD release. The other featurettes are the “Original Making With Wolves” and “The Creation of an Epic: A Perspective Documentary”, the latter of which is quite long and detailed, detailing every aspect of the making of the film and its reception by the film going public. Also included is a Dances Photo Montage with an introduction by photographer Phil Glass as well as the original trailer for the film. For a film this significant, I was expecting a bit more and some newer featurettes on the making of the film.

Final Thoughts 

Dances With Wolves is another film which has stood the test of time. It features fine audio and video encodes that should more than please fans of the film. Do yourself a favor, if you have seen Avatar, check out Dances With Wolves and see just how much better this type of material can be handled. Very highly recommended.

Film

It can’t be easy setting an entire movie in one location in real time… adding in the fact that this location is six feet under front and is a coffin simply adds to the complexity of things. Ryan Reynolds plays a trucker who has been kidnap by a terrorist group that ambushed his route and is being held for ransom. His captors bury him deep in the ground with only a zippo lighter, a cell phone and couple things in his pocket.

The film is directed by Rodrigo Cortés  his very unique visual style doesn’t have much room to really flex but when it gets a chance you really get a taste at how innovative Cortés is when you get a long dolly shot… underground… There are some nice shots in this movie to say the least and it is well framed, giving the viewer a good sense of claustrophobia.  I was watching this film with a friend who decided right away this flick wasn’t his cup of tea, upon a conversation it turns out that the reason he didn’t like it was because he was uncomfortable. The film is able illicit fear and discomfort within its audience based on the opening shot alone… That’s well done in my book.

Ryan Reynolds does a great job carrying the film and manages to relieve situations with a bit of humor and at the same time can pull on the heart strings when a pivotal and emotional scene plays out. Often Reynolds plays cocky wise-cracking characters, none more annoying than the villain Deadpool in the worst super-hero movie of all time, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, but here he gives a more mature and realistic character that suits him fine. This is one of his best performances and proves that he has range.

Buried is a very exciting, edge of your seat kind of thriller and should entertain or perhaps deter the casual viewers. If you want to try something new and experience a story told in a very unique way then this film is for you.

Video

Buried’s video is displayed using the AVC MPEG-4 in its original aspect ratio of 2.35:1. The film obviously has is going to deal with having an image that is very low lit, but it really makes the most of the fact that is lit with a cellphone backlight and a zippo lighter.

The colors of the film are very saturated due to the dark contrasted image, we’re given a mix of amber yellow when the Paul is using his zippo to light the coffin and a teal blue cast when the cellphone is in use. The palette of the film is obviously based off of those light sources so trying to get an authentic skin tone or grade to the film is moot.

The black levels are crushed so we lose a lot of the detail within the shadows however the benefit is the texture and detail in the highlights are apparent and detailed. The film is free of any dirt or scratches and the grain manages to stay at a pleasant level without being distracting.

Audio

Buried’s audio comes at us using DTS-HD Master audio in 7.1 which is awesome in creating a truly claustrophobic and atmospheric mix that surrounds and immerses us within the film. I would’ve loved to see a 9.1 mix for this film just to see how they could’ve included the height speakers, but I’m just happy to see another 7.1 mix.

The dialogue is front and centered while all the creaks of the box surrounds us and the surrounding environment really sneaks in and gives you the general feeling of being encased in the box with Ryan Reynolds.

The low frequency range of the mix really gets its love within the score when it hits the peaks, but also during some sound effects that occur throughout the film… without giving anything away the subtle use of LFE is contrasted by a few booms.

Special Features

The only real extra is “Unearthing Buried” which is a behind-the-scenes featurette, which is unfortunately in SD. However the extra covers some of the interesting filming techniques used to tackle filming in one of the tightest sets you’re bound to find in a movie. Peppered with a few EPK style interviews with Ryan Reynolds and Rodrigo Cortés this featurette does its job and manages to be pretty insightful. There’s also a HD trailer of the film but that really doesn’t count.

Final Thoughts

I’m going to say that the overall theme with this Blu-ray is the amount of hurdles it goes over, with a film that deals with an unnerving premise and is approached with a visceral disregard to the audience’s comfort; it’s safe to say that the movie manages to pull through with its unique way of getting the story across. Even on a technical level, with a movie that’s lit with a cellphone and sounds that are muffled through dirt and sand, we’re still given a great presentation to enjoy this film… Or better yet, to be trapped by this film. Give it a spin!

Film

A loose adaptation of Ian Fleming’s novel, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, follows an interesting inventor, played by Dick Van Dyke) who is the recently widowed father of two children who do a bit of misbehaving when they decide to  skip school and lollygag…  Unfortunately they are caught by Truly Scrumptious, which is a name suited for a different novel by Ian Fleming, and they are delivered back to their father.

The father and Truly come from very opposite classes, but as the story progresses we see some interest being formed as she spends time together. Eventually we get to the point where the car comes into play which is where my first criticism comes in… I realize older films like to be epic and have this general pace of a smooth sweeping epic motion but when it comes down to a super car, just get to the bloody car.

The car is a dilapidated race car that the boys take interest in and the father decides to fix it up for his next project and in doing so creates a super car that can trek water. And eventually we’re introduced to the antagonist of the story who is a villain who wants to steal Chitty Chitty Bang Bang from its creator.

As my aforementioned complaint, which is my primary one, the film is slow and has a lot of padding that could be cut out. From unnecessary songs to the fact that it takes a very long time to get the car to the point where it becomes special, the film is just slow, which doesn’t help the fact that today’s audience really has become accustomed to faster paced material.

Video

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’s video is displayed using the MPEG-4 AVC codec in its original aspect ratio of 2.20:1. The film looks pretty astonishing considering its age; the negative used is free of scratches or dust and retains all the detail and clarity that is expected from a well handled release.

The film has been refined nicely and the colors are surprisingly vivid while skin tones remain authentic. There’s also a good amount of contrast which helps keep the black levels at  a nice level while avoiding that grey overcast look that is common with older catalogue releases that aren’t as respected.

There’s a bit of grain that’s noticeable, but that’s not a big deal nor is it reasonable to expect differently considering the context. Although the film has been cleaned nicely, there’s a bit of noticeable noise during lower lit scenes. However the film is a good example of a film that wasn’t just slapped together.

Audio

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’s audio comes at us using the English DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 codec, and as always, I’m excited to see more 7.1 mixed Blu-ray’s getting released. With Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, it’s impeccable that the audio quality be the best that it can be considering the music is what makes this film a classic. Luckily we’re given a very authentic recreation of what was heard back in the sixties.

The dialogue is clear, noise-free and centered while the rest of the mix manages to stay fairly balanced and spread amongst the rest of the speakers. The sound effects and foley showcase the ambience of the mix while the music displays the dynamic range.

The music in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang was written by Robert B. Sherman and Richard M. Sherman, Richard whom may be familiar to those who’ve seen Iron Man 2; he wrote the old Stark Expo theme that plays during the archive footage presentation. It’s funny how even today the golden age composers still carry that distinguished sound with them.

Special Features

Although the film is a cherished classic, the special features section isn’t given as much love as the fans may hope for. There’s a retrospective featurette with Dick Van Dyke and a demo of a Sherman Brother’s song. But besides that it’s mostly gimmicky extras like a sing-a-long version and photo galleries. I would’ve liked to have seen a commentary with Dick Van Dyke or even a film historian. For a catalog release we’re lucky to get some decent features, but it’s a little light for my taste.

Final Thoughts

The film is a Disney classic, but in a world of Pixar the dated effects and weak plot will have a hard time capturing the attention of the film’s original demographic, however with a decent amount of special features and currently the best A/V presentation, this is a release aimed directly to the fans but is at least worth a rental.

Film

In the original film we followed the epic showdown between immortal warriors (including Connery and Lambert) destined to decapitate each other for supreme dominance (Yeah, I know how it sounds). Told in interwoven fragments over centuries through past and present the characters forged a bond and learnt of the hardships of immortality. By the end of the film heads roll and invaluable lessons are learnt, which brings us to the second instalment; Highlander 2: The Quickening.

In the opening sequence a new broadcast informs us that a hole in the ozone layer is depleting and within a matter of months it will be completely gone. In Africa millions have already died among them is the wife of Connor MacLeod (Christopher Lambert). Before her death MacLeod promised he would find a solution to end the ozone crisis. MacLeod does indeed deliver in his promise within five short years, but it doesn’t come without it’s drawbacks. An electromagnetic shield does in fact protect the earth from the sun’s rays but also keeps the planet in a constant state of night and a heightened global temperature. After a quarter century humanity has fallen into a tulmuptious state; an evil corporation has taken over the shield with profit as it’s only motivation, and terrorist cells have risen to combat this.

Throughout the film we learn more about the past of the main characters and the events that lead up to the original films storyline. I especially enjoyed this aspect of the film as after the original I had several unanswered questions. However, with these answers came more questions and often times unnecessary events were added to the storyline. On paper I really enjoy the concept of this series but in reality it isn’t executed as well as it could be. The characters are interesting but one can’t help but understand their motives; thankfully Highlander 2 is casted with actors well enough to bring out the most in their characters.

So in the end Highlander 2: The Quickening is a rather decent sequel. Of course I find the original to be the better of the two, but some interesting new elements are introduced in this film that makes it worth checking out. But this film won’t be for everyone, let’s face it, it’s a little out there. But if you enjoyed the first one I have no doubts you will enjoy this one. If you haven’t seen the first one yet I would highly recommend you do before delving into the sequel or you will be extremely confused.

Video

Presented in 1080p 2.41:1; The Highlander 2 is leaps and bounds ahead of its DVD predecessor in terms of its video quality. Being better than the DVD still doesn’t make it good as a Blu ray; when compared to some recent catalogue releases such as The Silence of The Lambs, The Doors, or even Point Break, Highlander 2 isn’t all it could be. The film mostly takes place in dark settings and therefore we sacrifice a lot of exterior details, and the backgrounds look soft. The main area in which the video quality does excel lies mostly within the daylight scenes, more specifically in close ups, the facial details are often impressive. In the end I felt that the video quality is enough to please fans, but don’t expect the world of it, because you’ll be left disappointed.

Audio

Lionsgate has included a 7.1 DTS HD audio track with the release of Highlander 2. I have to say that Highlander 2 was an extremely active track, the sound effects were aggressive throughout and the full range of speakers was utilized throughout the entirety of the film. The strongest aspect of this track has to be within the excessive amount of bass (most prevalent during the action sequences). On the flip side the dialogue had room for improvement, as it could be noisy at times. But ultimately I was very impressed with the audio track, I hope Lionsgate can keep up the quality in their future catalogue releases.

Special Features

Highlander 2 comes equipped with a decent bunch of features, the highlight of which has to be the 50 minute making of documentary which supplies is with an interesting look into the film. There are a handful of intriguing interviews with the cast and crew, and an interesting look into what went into the making of the film. The rest of the features delve into aspects of the films restoration, costume designs, music and the cinematography. To top it off we are given a few senseless deleted scenes and the original theatrical trailer. I feel fans of the film will be pleasantly surprised with the depth of some of these features.

Highlander 2: Seduced by Argentina

• The Redemption of Highlander 2
• The Music
• The Fabric
• Shadows & Darkness: The Cinematography
• Original Cannes Promotional Reel
• Deleted Scenes
• Trailer

Final Thoughts

Well it doesn’t quite live up to the original in terms of story, or overall quality I found that Highlander 2 does well by way of most sequels. There is some new information introduced into the story that helps explain things brought forward in the original film, which I found were interwoven nicely. However, the target audience on this one is rather limited and unless you saw the first film don’t bother attempting this one. As far as the audio and video transfers go I was placated but not impressed regarding the ladder, but the audio was extremely impressive. For a film of this calibre I didn’t expect much more, but it wouldn’t have hurt. So at the end of the day this one is for fans only, there isn’t much room for improvement as far as this film goes.

http://moviemarbles.com/blurays.php?brid=129

Films 

Fantasia and Fantasia 2000 have been released as a 4 disc combo pack with Blu-ray and DVD versions of the films on separate discs. I am sure that all of you are very familiar with both films, especially Fantasia. Both films are essentially a series of music videos, with some stunning and in the case of Fantasia revolutionary animation, set to classical music. The idea behind the films was to have the animators inspired by the music and to create images in their mind as a result of the music. The animation can at times be either very abstract or in the case of The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, tell a simple straightforward story.

Fantasia was originally released to theaters in 1940 and was a bit of a disappointment in terms of audience acceptance. The film was certainly a bold gamble by Walt Disney in terms of the content but it didn’t connect with audiences in the way he envisioned. Perhaps it was a bit too abstract a concept for general audiences or the fact tat it featured classical music rather than the popular music of the time period. Even back in 1940, classical music was a hard sell to mainstream audiences. The music featured in the film is certainly timeless featuring in order of appearance: Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite, Dukas’ The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6 in F, OP. 68 “pastorale”, Ponchielli’s Ls Gioconda Dance of the Hours, Mussorgsky’s Night on Bald Mountain and Schubert’s Ave Maria. All of the music was performed by the Philadelphia Orchestra conducted by the great Leopold Stokowski. Perhaps the best known of the scenes in Fantasia is The Sorcerer’s Apprentice which features Mickey Mouse and the frightening (for its day) Night on Bald Mountain. While Walt Disney envisioned that the film would be rereleased periodically with new music and animation added, the film did not do well enough at the box office to warrant any such additional releases. That changed in the 1990′s when Walt Disney’s brother Roy, decided that it was time to put together a new version of the film in time to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the release of the original.

Fantasia 2000 offers all new music and animation with the exception of The Sorcerer’s Apprentice which is included from the first film. The film features in order of appearance (as performed by the Chicago Symphony orchestra conducted by James Levine): Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 in C MInor I. Allegra con brio, Respighi’s PInes of Rome, Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Major I. Allegro, Saint Saens’s The Carnival of the Animals’-Finale, Dukas’ The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance and Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite.

Of the two films, Fantasia is the most historically significant. However, I enjoyed the music on Fantasia 2000 a bit more, including Gershwin’s jazz masterpiece, Rhapsody in Blue, which for me, is the highlight of the Fantasia 2000 set. In 2010, classical music is an even harder sell than it was in 1940 and for far too many people, I would  think that sitting through 90 minutes worth of abstract animation and  classical music together a bit of a bore. This is really a shame as both of these films deserve to be experienced by a much larger audience and are both highly recommended.

Video 

Both of these films underwent major restorations for their initial releases in high definition and it really shows. While Fantasia is certainly dated in terms of its style and visuals, the restoration is so good that the film is worthy of a 5 star rating even if the animation, while groundbreaking for its time, is not. and perhaps worthy of a 4 star rating at best. While I was not around to see the film in theaters in 1940, I can’t imagine that it looked any better than it does on this release. The images in Fantasia 2000 are simply astounding. Both films share a bright and bold color palette with deep and inky blacks.

Fantasia is presented in its original 4×3 aspect ration and Fantasia 2000 in 16 x 9.  The depth and clarity of 2000 is simply stunning, with sense of depth that is off the charts. Just take a look at the scenes in Pines of Rome, when the baby whale is lost inside an iceberg. The sense of depth is so good that you feel as though you are actually peering into the inside of an iceberg. In Fantasia 2000, when the screen goes black it goes jet black. Image detail on Fantasia 2000 is astounding as well. I found no evidence of motion artifacts or blocking, even during the opening of 2000 Beethoven’s Symphony No, 5, which must have been a torture chamber for the team during the encoding of the film. Each and every one of those fast moving triangles is clearly visible during the entire sequence, at least on a 60 inch screen. Fantasia 2000 contains some stunning animation and is a huge leap in quality over the previously released DVD. If you are a fan of these films, you will be nothing short of amazed by the video quality featured here.

Audio 

Fantasia and Fantasia 2000 are each presented in a 7.1 audio mix encoded with DTS HD Master Audio. While both sound fantastic, the audio presentation on Fantasia 2000 can only be described as sublime. Fantasia was not only groundbreaking in is visuals but for its audio as well, as it was recorded in a multichannel  format dubbed Fantasound. Accordingly, it transfers very well into a 7.1 or 5.1, with a level of fidelity that is quite surprising for 1940.

The overall fidelity of Fantasia is excellent with an excellent dynamics and an aggressive use of all channels to create a very immersive sound mix. While the sound is superb given its age, the sound lacks the utter transparency and imaging of a more modern recording., like Fantasia 2000, which has much more in the way of depth and a sonic purity that Fantasia can’t match. In fact, the music on Fantasia 2000 is presented with such a high degree of fidelity and in such an immersive sound mix, that I can state without hesitation that is at the top of my list in terms of a Blu-ray audio experience. Fantasia 2000 contains a reference quality audio experience if I have ever heard one and was a thrill to experience on Blu-ray. For multichannel musical presentations,  it doesn’t get any better than this.

Special Features 

Fantasia is presented with audio commentaries by Disney historian Brian Sibley, Roy E. Disney, conductor James Levine, animation historian John Canemaker and Scott McQueen, who manager the films restoration. Also included is a short featurette on the Disney Family Museaum in San Francisco. The most interesting of the Fantasia features is the featurette “The Shultheis Notebook” which details a notebook created by Herman Shultheis found recently which contains a step by step description of how the animation in Fantasia was done. The notebook is very important as without it, the techniques used to create this film would still be unknown to this day.

The extras for Fantasia 2000 includ the featurette “Musicana”  a look at a 1970′s project that was intended to be a sequel to Fantasia but which never went to production, outside of some hand drawn pre production pieces by Disney animators, including John Lasseter, who went on to create Pixar and who is now the head of Disney Studios. Also included is a rather long piece clocking in at 82 minutes entitled “Dali & Disney” which details a collaborative relationship between two unlikely collaborators. Salvadore Dali and Walt Disney, resulting in the Destino short, which is included as well. The extras for Fantasia 2000 also include audio commentaries by Roy E. Disney, James Levine, producer Don Ernst as well as the directors and art directors for each sequence of the film. All of the extras are presented in high definition.

Final Thoughts  

Fantasia / Fantasia 2000 represents another in a series of incredible film restoration work by the folks at Disney. This set features some striking video. I can’t imagine these films looking or sounding any better than they do here. This set is highly recommended for all film buffs and Disney collectors in particular.

Film  

Again the folks at the various film studios have provided us with yet another all time classic film on Blu-ray this year, this time, one of the most beloved musicals of all time, The Sound of Music. Released in 1965, the film won several Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Sound.

The film stars Julie Andrews as Maria, a vibrant and engaging woman who thinks she wants to become a nun. She doesn’t quite fit in with the other sisters at the convent in Salzburg, Austria, and when a position opens up with a local war hero’s family (the von Trapps) for a governess, the Mother Superior at the convent volunteers Maria for the job, in part to see if she can work out whether she really wants to become a nun. Maria arrives for the job with no experience with children and find the father of the 7 children, Captain Georg von Trapp (Christopher Plummer) a bit too strict and regimented. While music was a part of the family at one time, Georg no longer had any interest in music after the death of his wife, the mother of the seven children.

When Georg travels to visit a countess and his possible future wife in Vienna, Maria charms the children with her lively personality and music talents and quickly becomes a part of the family. When Georg returns with his future bride in tow, he quickly becomes infatuated with Maria. While Georg is having issues to deal with in his love life, he is also experiencing political issues of his own, as he has no interest in being part of the Nazi’ party as the Nazi’s are taking over control of the country in a bloodless coup known as the Anschluss.

After he finally admits his feelings to Maria and Maria and Georg wed, Georg and Maria return early from their honeymoon in Paris and find that the Anschluss has been completed. Georg’s refusal to become a member of the Nazi party and his continuing Austrian nationalism has put his own life and the lives of the rest of his family at risk.

The film is based on the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical that made its Broadway debut in 1959 which in turn is absd on the real life von Trappe family, who fled Austria after the Anschluss, eventually immigrating to the US in the 1930′s. The film is filled with several spectacular songs and memorable performances by Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer. While a bit on the sweet side in terms of the characterizations and musical style, the film still holds up quite well and is one of the greatest musicals of all time, along with my all time favorite Singin’ In The Rain.

Just about everything about this film is spectacular, from the cinematography, acting, score and direction, to the incredible scenery, this film is a real keeper. The Sound of Music is an all time classic and a must own for any film fan and receives my highest recommendation.

Video  

The Sound of Music has undergone a major restoration for this release, with an original camera negative undergoing a 8k frame by frame transfer. All dirt, scratches and defects were removed digitally and the film color corrected. The transfer of the film to Blu-ray was based on a 4k transfer made from the original 8k copy of the film. The result of all this work is a spectacular looking film, with a level of detail, black level, shadow detail and color purity that is a sight to behold.

The quality of the video is noticeable immediately upon the opening with Julie Andrews singing the theme on the top of a mountain overlooking Salzburg. From the beautiful blue sky, the lush green grass and the gray granite lf the mountains, this film looks spectacular. I really can’t imagine the film looking better. The image is razor sharp for the most part with exceptional levels of detail. Blacks are nearly perfect without any black crush and having excellent shadow detail. Yes, there are a few scenes that are rather soft, in particular, the scenes at night near the gazebo, but they are clearly intentionally softened by the cinematographer.

If there was any digital noise reduction applied to this transfer, it is hard to tell from the level of detail present in the image. In addition, fine film grain is clearly visible, with the transfer having a film like appearance that will no doubt thrill the film purists out there. This is a great film and an example of film restoration at its very best. Kudos to the crew responsible for this restoration and for the folks at Fox for such a stellar looking release.

Audio  

While a 7.1 mix, I would not exactly call this the most immersive sound experience I have ever heard at home. However, the sonics and overall fidelity are of such high quality that I can’t justify giving this release anything short of a perfect score. The original film’s sound elements were in what was described as 6 channel stereo with five front channels and one mono rear channel. The sound was mixed to a 7.1 mix with three front channels, 2 side channels and 2 rear stereo channels.

The film is rather front heavy with the side surrounds used for the orchestral pieces only with the surrounds room ambience and discreet effects. The overall fidelity of the sound is spectacular, especially the vocal musical tracks, with each voice sounding so pure and distinctive as to sound as though the actresses were in the room. All of the voices are presented perfectly in the sound mix, exactly in the same position as they are one screen. Transparency and imaging are spectacular. Just listen to the opening scene at the von Trappe mansion when the butler answers the front door. Listen as Maria enters the room and the butler asks her to stay there as he leaves the room to the right. You can clearly hear the butler’s steps as he exits the room and more importantly, your room, far to the right, well past the boundary of your room. The sense of aural depth, both front to back and side to side is outstanding.

This is a great sounding film and release. Clearly, the same degree of care that went into a restoration of the film’s visuals, went into the reproduction of the audio track. The sound is smooth, open and dare I say it rich, with excellent bass and dynamics. This is a top notch audio track and fully deserving of a full 5 star rating.

Special Features  

The Sound of Music is presented in a three disc combo pack, with disc one containing the Blu-ray version of the film, disc two the new extra package and disc three, a DVD and digital copy version of the film.

Disc two contains all new high def extras and covers just about as many topics as one could imagine, from the restoration of the film and soundtrack, the real von Trappe family on which the film is based, a back lot tour, looks at the music, the score, the sets, the locals featured in the film, looks at the various stage versions of the play, looks at Rodgers and Hammerstein, screen tests, interviews and photo galleries.

While disc one contains audio commentaries featuring Julie Andrews, Christopher Plummer and director Robert Wise, I felt that there was on glaring omission from the extras, namely interviews with Ms. Andrews and Mr. Plummer. Other than this one omission, the extras here provide the viewer with about as much information into the film’s history as one would ever want. I had a great time clicking through all the extras and learned a lot about the making of the film, the prior and subsequent stage adaptations, Rodgers and Hammerstein as well as the real life von Trappe family. With the one omission as noted above, the extras here are great and well worth a gander.

Final Thoughts  

The Sound of Music is an all time classic film and one that has undergone a top notch restoration that is a feast for the eyes as well as the ears. The Sound of Music is a film that should take its place in the collection of every serious film fan and is very highly recommended.

Film 

Without question, the folks at Pixar outdid themselves again and all these years later, breathed new life into the characters we have grown to love. From Woody, to Buzz Lightyear, Jesse, Mr. Potato Head and the rest as well as some noteworthy new additions, they all still seem so fresh and as lovable as ever. Of all the three films, this one seems the most profound, as it deals with the challenges of change, how life continues to move on and how we have to adapt to new issues in our lives. It happens to us all, whether we are kids or adults. Times change and we have to adapt. This is this issue the toys have to grapple with in Toy Story 3.

Andy is headed off to college and the toys are donated to a local daycare center where they discover that the toys there are lead there by a nasty old stuffed animal, Lotso ( voiced Ned Beatty) who appears outwardly friendly and kind but who runs the group of toys much like a mafia don. The toys decide that they hate it at the center as they are abused not only by the kids but by Lotso and his gang and want to make there way back to Andy, so that Andy can take Woody with him to college. They feel such a loyalty to Woody that they are willing to do so even if it means that they must spend many years in storage together in the attic.

After they escape, they face almost certain destruction at a garbage disposal facility, where they are betrayed by Lotso. However, they are able to escape and make there way back to Andy who is faced with the dilemma of how best to deal with his old toys leading to the most moving and charming scene in the whole film.

Toy Story 3 is a charming and moving film which is true in all respects to the spirit of the first two films. Almost all the old voices are back, with Tom Hanks as Woody and Tim Allen as Buzz. Toy Story 3 is a worthy addition to the Toy Story franchise. While you never want to say never, I seriously doubt that we will ever see a Toy Story 4. If that is the case, Toy Story 3 is a great way to close out the franchise and one great last loom at these characters. Toy Story 3 is very highly recommended.

Video 

Considering how great Toy Story and Toy Story 2 looked on Blu-ray, I had very high expectations for this release. My expectations were met is all respects, perhaps even exceeded by this release which is as perfect as perfect can be. The film is crystal clear and razor sharp with detail galore. With the bright colors and deep inky blacks, the image rendered here is almost three dimensional, with incredible levels of depth. I think that the video quality here is even better than on the first two films. I could go on and on about the quality of the video presentation here but why bother? It is simply perfect. Isn’t that enough?

Audio 

The audio here is just as perfect as the video and even exceeds the stellar audio quality on Toy Story 2. The words dynamic and immersive immediately come to mind. The audio fidelity is superb, with a smooth and open sound with deep bass and sensational dynamics. The surrounds are actively engaged throughout the film and provide a simply stunning level of immersion. The dialogue tracks are recorded with a stunning level of fidelity, sounding as if the characters are in the room with you. Stunning just about sums up the audio presentation on this release. The folks at Pixar have clearly outdone themselves again with this Blu-ray release. It is that good.

Special Features 

As one would expect for such a major release, Toy Story 3 is packed with extras concerning the making of the film. I received the 4-disc combo pack for review.

Disc one contains the Blu-ray version of the film and the very creative and inventive short Day & Night. Also included on Disc One is the Buzz Lightyear Mission Logs: The Science of Adventure. The Science of Adventure series was created along with NASA which focuses on Buzz’ trip to the International Space Station and his return to Earth.

The extras on Disc Two contain many featurettes including “Toys!” which takes a closer look at all of the film’s toys including the creation of the new characters featured in the film. Also included is “Paths to Pixar”, where Pixar editors, past and future, share stories about their careers. “The Gang’s All Here” takes a look at the returning vocal talents of the entire crew, featuring Tim Allen, Tom Hanks, John Ratzenberger, Don Rickles, as well as newcomers Michael Keaton, Bonnie Hunt, Ned Beatty and Timothy Daulton. “A Toy Story’s Eye View” takes a look at the new Toy Story-themed park at Honk Kong Disneyland.

Also featured are three animated studio stories featuring anecdotes about life at Pixar entitled “Where’s Gordon”. “Cereal Bar” and “Clean Start”. We also get a Toy Story Trivia Dash as well as Cine-Explore which features a commentary by director Lee Unkrich and producer Darla K. Anderson. “Beyond the Toybox” is an alternative commentary featuring leads from the story, tech and animation departments.

In “Beginnings: Setting a Story in Motion”, screenwriter Micael Arndt analyzes opening scenes from Toy Story, Finding Nemo and The Incredibles and discusses what makes them successful openings. “Bonnie’s Playtime: A Story Roundtable” is just that, a roundtable discussion about the creation of the Bonnie’s Playtime scene featured in the film.

In “Roundin’ Up A Western Opening”, the creation of the opening scene in the film is explored. In “Life of a Short”, the film’s artists and technicians describe their contributions to the making of the film’s opening sequence. “Goodbye Andy” focuses on the character design, acting and voicing of Andy’s last scene in the film.

“Accidental Toymakers” takes note of the fact that in creating the characters in the films, the folks at Pixar were actually creating real life toys and had become, in a sense, toymakers. There is a lot of interesting stuff here about the making of the film, involving not only the creative process but the technology used to create the film. I found much of the material interesting and well worth a look.

Disc Three is a DVD copy of the film and Disc Four a digital copy, compatible with Macs and PCs.

Final Thoughts 

Stunning just about sums it all up, from the story to the audio and video presentations on the Blu-ray release of Toy Story 3. The folks at Pixar have outdone themselves again. Well done and very high recommended.