kal
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Joined: 06 Mar 2006
Posts: 18114
Location: Ottawa, Canada
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| Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2011 2:36 pm Post subject: The Smurfs [Blu-ray] |
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Another reference disc!
The Smurfs / The Smurfs: Christmas Carol (Three-Disc Combo Blu-ray / DVD + UltraViolet Digital Copy) (2011)
(Click on picture to order from Amazon and support our forum, hover over for price)
| Quote: | 'The Smurfs' surprised me with its quality, its humor, and its heart. It still has a number of an issues that made it tough to truly enjoy unconditionally. This is a cute, fun, warm family film, and it's certainly not a grating experience for adults who will be forced to watch it, but it definitely isn't for everyone. This Blu-ray release features exclusive extras, stunning (near demo) video and spectacular audio, as well as a bonus DVD of the film and another for a rip-off/spin-off. This set comes recommended, as it would make a nice Christmas present at the very least. I went in expecting to have a copy to sell and make some money off of, but now it turns out my shelf may get a little bit more crowded...
The Video: Sizing Up the Picture
'The Smurfs' come to Blu-ray in near demo-worthy 1080p, with only a few minor hiccups detouring an otherwise amazing transfer. This Blu-ray release has absolutely phenomenal depth, fantastic clarity, and detail levels that are astonishing. Aliasing? None, not in pans, not in tall grass, nothing. Textures are amazing, with the wear and tear and dirt on the white Smurf outfits showing throw so readily, it has to be seen to be believed. This isn't just white and blue, no sir! Smurf skin doesn't have much texture to it, but humans, yowzers, they look so amazingly life like, as if you could touch them, it's beyond amazing. This film is amazingly colorful, and this bright, almost candy-coated appearance really lends itself to HD. What's really great about this disc is there's no edge enhancing, no ringing, no DNR, no black crush (not even in dark shots with Gargamel's outfit or hair!), nothing.
If it weren't for a handful of minor gripes, this would have been a five star disc I'd stand behind and fight to the finish for. First, skin tones are sometimes a little wonky, and aren't all that consistent throughout the film. I can't blame this disc for the following issues, but there are some shots where the Smurfs look a little jagged on their outlines, due to some unfinished or sloppy CG, making them look too artificial (the scene immediately following the FAO store debacle is a perfect example of this). Additionally, sometimes shots heavy in CG have a slight blurriness in other sections, as if to make the CG seem a bit more realistic, or to draw the eye, I have no clue. There is some minor noise in one dark shot, and there is one particularly gritty shot (the moment Gargamel's teleportation spell fails early in the film) that definitely stands out from the rest of the otherwise splendid disc.
'The Smurfs' makes for an amazing Blu-ray experience, gripes be damned. This really is one of the better looking titles on the format, and features a number of scenes that would be great to show off or put in a demo reel. Simply put, this disc has serious "wow" power. A little more consistency and a few blemishes removed, and the word perfection may have been thrown around.
And, no, the "subliminal" Blu-ray ad in this film doesn't give it more points. Nice try, Sony.
The Audio: Rating the Sound
Presented in full lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, 'The Smurfs' is a slice of sonic heaven. It's utterly perfect, from start to finish, and is one of the most active, well designed films of its genre. From the moment the film starts, with credits swooping through the room, to the end, with Smurfs doing the same, there's something always catching one's attention, with very few moments that don't sound like what you would imagine they would based off any scene's appearance. The soundtrack has great separation, and hits all channels frequently, and while it doesn't quite pack a punch, that's made up for in the other little accents. Bass levels aren't powerful, but they're effective, as they're used mostly to provide any given scene perspective, as though you were in the room as a Smurf, the thumps of a chasing hound, the smallest noises amplified, with impacts receiving nice thuds with a little added heft. Movement through the room is superb, with fantastic use of rear speakers that even feature randomly localized dialogue to keep the film feeling fresh. With solid volume spikes, great bits (like the cars whooshing through the room), tons of activity and dreamy dynamics, Sony hits an absolute home run with this amazing track. Most of the credit does belong to those involved in the sound department of the film, sure, but this disc really makes their presence and work be felt. |
Kal
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