kal
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Joined: 06 Mar 2006
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Location: Ottawa, Canada
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 Link Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2012 10:12 pm Post subject: A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas 3D [Blu-ray] |
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Another reference disc!
A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas (Two-Disc Blu-ray 3D / Blu-ray / DVD / UltraViolet Digital Copy) (2011)
(Hover over link for price, click to purchase and support our forum at no extra cost to you)
| Quote: | 'A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas' is a surprisingly funny stoner comedy that makes the very best use of the 3D technology to enhance the humor. Despite featuring a holiday theme, the two buds find themselves in a third misadventure that's just as raunchy as the previous two movies. Considering the amount of jokes related to 3D gimmicks and gags, it's difficult to imagine watching the movie any other way. And thankfully, the 3D Blu-ray arrives with one of the best presentations of the format although the unrated cut would have been to have as well. The audio isn't quite up to par with the video, but it's still a great and entertaining listen. Supplements are the same as the 2D Blu-ray version, but the 3D package makes the better overall purchase simply for the video.
The Video: Sizing Up the Picture
Never before has the search for a 12-foot Douglas Fir Christmas tree been this much fun, and it's pretty much all thanks to the way the movie was shot. With the use of 3D technology every step of the way, 'A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas' conjures up every possible gag and camera trick imaginable, including one scene where a giant, "claymation" ***** swings across the screen. Making the effect even grosser, as well as more hilarious, the 1080p/MVC MPEG-4 encode (2.40:1) offers a razor-sharp presentation, where viewers can make out all the disgusting details. Whether the best buds are running through the streets of New York or chilling in suburbia, fine lines are distinct and small objects in the background are perfectly visible. Textures on clothing, around various trees and the faces of actors are lifelike.
Being a comedy set around the holidays, colors are understandably vivid and energetic. Reds and greens especially — the primaries commonly on display during the festive season — take precedence with rich saturation, giving the movie a fun animated appeal. Secondary hues also participate in spreading the cheer with a warm, bold appeal. The clay-animation sequence comes with a slightly exaggerated palette, but it appears intentional as it only adds to the laughs. The rest of the picture shows a bright and crisp contrast level, that only compensates for the darken glasses but also gives the stoner comedy a dramatic pop. Except for one minor scene where the luster fades just a tad, blacks are very inky and penetrating with excellent shadow details, providing the image with an attractive cinematic quality that really shines throughout.
Topping it all off, 'Harold & Kumar' crash into the third dimension like they really mean business. Filmed on HD cameras with the new 3D capture and rigs by Panavision, the filmmakers make the very best use of the new toys by having many of the jokes related to the technology. And why not? If you've got it, flaunt it. From the very beginning, a simple conversation about 3D soon moves into a scene with eggs hurling straight at the audience, crashing on surfaces as the white and yolk spread all over the screen. Other gags feature confetti exploding in viewer's faces and each colorful, glossy string flies in the air. Dimensionality and depth is not only consistent from beginning to end, but background object genuinely seem to move independently of the foreground. It's really just one silly 3D gimmick after another, but they're intentional gags with several reach-out-and-touch-it moments and with objects almost appear to leap off the screen.
Ultimately, whatever one's opinion of the movie is, it almost doesn't matter because this is really fun way of showing off what 3D Blu-ray can do.
The Audio: Rating the Sound
On the audio front, the DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack doesn't quite match the fun and hilarity of the video. It's still a great track, however, with a great deal of activity in the rears. The musical score, especially, extends into the surrounds, nicely enhancing the soundfield and spreading the Christmas joy. A few of the action sequences also come with clear discrete effects and good panning, but they're not always convincing. Instead, the lossless mix does it best work in the fronts where dynamic range is quite extensive and crystal-clear, broadening the soundstage with clarity and terrific imaging. The low-end is decently deep, but aside from one surprisingly punchy moment with a shotgun, bass never really reaches the lower depths. The center channel delivers clean and precise vocals, allowing every joke uttered to be perfectly heard.
It's a great and entertaining high-rez track overall, but it doesn't compare to the 3D amusement of the video. Honestly, the filmmakers should have exaggerated the design so as to equal the fun of the 3D gimmicks. |
Kal
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