Sesame
Street: Elmo & Cookie Monster SUPERsized Fun!
(2016/Warner DVD)/The
Smurfs (2011/Sony 4K
Ultra HD Blu-ray w/Blu-ray)
4K
Ultra HD Picture: B+ Picture: C+/B- Sound: C+/B+ Extras:
C+ Main Programs: B-/C
Here's
a new pair of old favorites back again...
Sesame
Street: Elmo & Cookie Monster SUPERsized Fun!
(2016) is one of the more loaded Warner DVDs of the ongoing series of
releases, this time with a main program compilation running over 2
hours on its own, then adding a few DVD-ROM goodies and Lifting
Snuffy
program that runs about 50 minutes-long. These are always good
releases, but I was surprised that they took advantage of the space
this time around and hope we see more of this, especially since the
catalog of the series is so underseen, undervalued and should be
unleashed (how about a Blu-ray of all the old filmed shorts from the
beginning of the series restored for HD at 4K? More than just
children would love that one, like those Old
School
sets).
The
characters are as fun as ever and the only anomaly is that Oscar The
Grouch still has a metal trash can, but he's more fun being noisy
than with quiet plastic. One of the nicest DVD singles in the
series, you can read about more of them elsewhere on this site, but
I'd recommend this one above most despite a few repetitions (the
Cookie Monster movie spoofs are a plus).
The
original CGI/live action 2011 feature film The
Smurfs
has been reissued in a new 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray version that includes
the original 1080p Blu-ray we reviewed in the Blu-ray 3D set of the
film here...
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/11335/The+Smurfs+(2011/Sony+Blu-ray+3D+w/Smurf-O
Same
film, same mixed reaction to it and not a fan of the franchise, but I
was unhappy with the performance of the 2D 1080p Blu-ray, so the
upgrade in the 4K 2160p version was needed... especially with a third
film in the series about to his movie theaters. Of course, we only
get extras on the regular 1080p Blu-ray and they are the same as
before.
The
anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 image on Fun!
is just fine, though most segments tend to be enhanced by visual
effects, instead of the people and Muppets being on the street; I
find the latter always more compelling. However, detail flaws are
minor, color pretty good for the format and we have a stable,
consistent performer.
The
2160p HEVC/H.265, HDR (10; Ultra HD Premium)-enhanced 1.78 X 1 Ultra
High Definition image on Smurfs
corrects pretty much all of my complaints with the disappointing
1080p 1.78 X 1 digital High Definition image transfer that Sony has
decided not to retransfer (it has some fans, so guess its best left
alone). For me, the image is suddenly more colorful (like the 3D
version not included), we get more depth, detail and its just more
fun overall. That also allows it to match the fine performance of
the sequel in 4K (see below), so fans in particular can rejoice.
The
lossy Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo on Fun!
is pretty good throughout and did not need a 5.1 upgrade to be clear,
consistent with the good quality of the Sesame
Street
DVD series in general.
Smurfs
still has its impressive DTS-HD
MA (Master Audio) 5.1 lossless mix on the regular 1080p Blu-ray
(repeated on the Blu-ray 3D version NOT INCLUDED in this set), but
the new 2160p 4K edition attempts to upgrade the sound to a Dolby
Atmos 11.1 (Dolby TrueHD 7.1 core) lossless sound and though it does
had some overheard sounds and opens up some parts of the mix, it also
proves even this mix has limits including less overall impact in the
soundfield, surrounds and music.
For
more on Smurfs
2,
try our coverage of the 4K 2160p Ultra HD Blu-ray set at this link:
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/14133/Alvin+and+The+Chipmunks:+The+Road+Chip+(20
-
Nicholas Sheffo
