kal
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Joined: 06 Mar 2006
Posts: 18114
Location: Ottawa, Canada
TV/Projector: JVC DLA-NZ7
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| Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2012 9:06 pm Post subject: Finding Nemo - 3D [Blu-ray] |
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Another reference disc!
Finding Nemo (Five-Disc Ultimate Collector's Edition: Blu-ray 3D/Blu-ray/DVD + Digital Copy) (2003)
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| Quote: | 'Finding Nemo - 3D' is a classic adventure tale about an overbearing clown fish father who travels an entire ocean to rescue his son. Along the way, he meets new friends, survives impossible odds, and learns what it will take to become a better father. As a Blu-ray, 'Finding Nemo' features reference video, an outstanding 7.1 Dolby TrueHD audio presentation (put this Blu on your demo rotation, like, yesterday), and Walt Disney Home Entertainment improved and added to what was already an impressive Special Features package from the original DVD release. The only question, dear Readers, is whether or not you personally enjoy 3D? If you do, then this 5-Disc Ultimate Collector's Edition is Must Own. If you prefer your movies in two dimensions, and don't need a portable Digital Copy for iTunes or Windows Media Player, then the 3-Disc Collector's Edition is the Must Own release.
The Video: Sizing Up the Picture
'Finding Nemo - 3D' premieres on Blu-ray with a stunning MVC MPEG-4 encode framed in a 1.78:1 aspect ratio.
'Finding Nemo' is the first Pixar or Disney 3D conversion re-release that I missed in the cinemas. Oops. Yesterday, I reviewed 'Up - 3D', which was not only Pixar's first native 3D movie, but hugely detailed an immersive, and I wasn't sure how 'Nemo' would compare. Yes, while some of the film's water textures show their technological age when compared to their newer films, overall 'Nemo' remains a boldly realized, intricate, and simply stunning universe. There's so much detail, exotic locations, and tropical colors that make CGI animated films perfect HD showcases. Another thing I love about Pixar films is how certain textures, particularly the rusty red metal buoy and the metal pulley on the fishing boat, appear as photo realistic.
While some displays may fall in a few scenes, let me assure you -- I was looking so, so closely -- there are no technical flaws to be found. The movie's sea setting will crack lesser movie encodes. With so many gradual color changes (from light to dark and vice-versa), in both characters and virtual sets, one would fear banding, but you won't find any. Or with the screen filled with so many moving fish elements, macro-blocking has probably ruined a few 'Nemo' cable broadcasts, but not here, friends. Perfection.
As a 3D experience, I absolutely loved it. Other Pixar 3D releases may have more natural depth, but I think this has a lot to do with the ocean environments' lightning conditions. However, busier and brighter environments, like the coral reef, are incredibly deep and complex. There's no feeling of that cardboard cutout look some 3D conversions end up with. I'm sure, if produced today, the filmmakers could have gone further, but 'Nemo' honestly looks like native stereo 3D. Also, 'Finding Nemo' has my favorite use of the popout effect. Because the fish characters so small, in a very few instances, they swim up and subtly out of the screen -- not in one of those shock moments, but rather for simple dialog. Definitely a novel effect, one that won't work for all movies, but it reminded me of the most beautiful moments in 'Life of Pi', which may be the best 3D on film to date.
I know many of our readers aren't huge fans of 3D, and I had my doubts too in the beginning, but with every release -- especially high quality ones such as 'Nemo' where there's no sacrifice is brightness and color accuracy -- I'm falling more and more in love with the format's immersive experience. For me, it's not just about the whiz-bang-look-at-me effect, but instead it's another neurological trick -- like surround sound -- that suspends my disbelief and pulls me into the story.
'Finding Nemo' has always been a gorgeous film and, while stunning in high definition, in 3D it's nothing short of a journey into a magical realm.
The Audio: Rating the Sound
If you thought the video looked great, hold on tight, because the 'Finding Nemo - 3D' 7.1 Dolby TrueHD mix is superb.
We home cinema enthusiasts spend a lot of money and time (a LOT of time) trying to perfect our gear -- speaker placement, calibration, crossover frequencies, room setup -- and when we have all these tweaks just right, we want proof our efforts were worth it. We want those aggressive mixes that show off dynamic range, immersion, and concussive LFE. Sometimes, we even make sacrifices to experience high caliber audio mixes by watching flicks we don't necessarily love (who hasn't said, "hey, the movie's kinda bad, but you HAVE to hear the surround sound"?). To be sure, 'Finding Nemo' displays all those qualities we love, but the true magic is this: because the story's so good, we'll actually want to watch, and hear this film, over and over. Demonstration highlights include the two sequences in and around the sunken submarine, the Angler Fish chase, the East Australian Current, inside the whale's mouth, and being caught in the fishing net.
However, despite these spectacle-infused moments, 'Finding Nemo' is so much more. It's one of those tracks where you actually stop thinking about what's happening around and simply fall into the world. Dialog is not only perfect, but the soundstage is so lifelike and wide -- only if a character is dead center on screen does his or her voice come out of the center channel; otherwise, the voices appear to come from your entire front wall. The various environments are sophisticated and subtle. Like you're really underwater. Thomas Newman's emotional score soars from every channel, sucking you into story and character.
'Finding Nemo' features a delicate, discrete, reference quality surround sound mix that beautifully compliments everything on screen and never steps on the action. Many incredible soundtracks are better than the movies to which they are attached, so it's a pleasure to have an audio mix this special on a worthwhile movie.
[NOTE: the Set Up menu appears to default on 5.1 audio, requiring a manual selection of 7.1. However, on my 7.1 system in both bitstream and PCM, the disc automatically played all 8 channels when selecting 7.1 or 5.1.] |
Kal
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