Bolt 3D (2008/Disney
Blu-ray 3D + Blu-ray + DVD w/Digital Copy) + Meet the Robinsons 3D (2007/Disney Blu-ray 3D + Blu-ray + DVD)
Bolt
Picture:
A/A-/B+
Sound:
A-/A-/B
Extras:
B-
Film: B-
Meet the Robinsons
Picture:
A/A-/B+
Sound:
A-/A-/B
Extras: A
Film: B+
Whether
3D is here to stay or a passing fad has yet to be decided, but for the time
being it is here and here in full force.
Not only are there a variety of films that are hitting theaters intended
for the 3D format; but this reinvented format has allowed older films to be
re-imagined, now in 3D. Soon we will see
the coming of all six Star Wars films in
3D, as well as Titanic and I am sure
many more. Before the advent of 3D HD
televisions, Disney had already been pumping out theatrical 3D presentations. So it is not shocking to see, now that home
theater technology has caught up, that Disney is backpedaling a bit to insure
that all their 3D works are available for home viewing.
Now on
Disney 3D Blu-ray are both Bolt 3D and
Meet the Robinsons 3D. Both films hit theaters with enormous
success. Neither film was created by
Pixar, but instead was created solely by Disney studios’ computer animation
department (which is now one with Pixar).
This site has previously reviewed both films on Disney Blu-ray [2D only]/DVD,
but we now have the pleasure of taking these Disney adventures one step further
by taking a look at the new 3D releases.
For a
further look into both films and their Blu-ray/DVD releases, please follow the
links below:
Bolt
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/8474/Bolt+%28Disney+Blu-ray+++DVD
Meet the Robinsons
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/6139/Meet+The+Robinsons+%28Blu-ray
Whereas
readers can see I found both films very creative, I definitely preferred Meet the Robinsons and even at that I
found them both somewhat subpar when COMPARED to Disney/Pixar films. That is not to say that they do not hold
their own merits, but there is just something lacking.
What the
films may lack in content, they surely make up for with this new home viewing
experience. Disney is the standard for
Blu-ray these days and it seems that holds true for 3D Blu-ray as well. The 1.78 X 1, 1080p full HD MVC-encoded 3-D –
Full Resolution digital High Definition image on both films are simply amazing. The colors, the black levels, and oh the
detail; all sum up to a grade ‘A’ experience.
The details and textures are out of this world and whereas many recent
3D films on Blu-ray have appeared as subpar and blurry, Bolt and Meet the Robinsons are
out of this world.
The demo
quality presentations were wonderful on standard on Blu-ray, but it is more
than apparent that these films were always meant for the 3D format. The seamless transition onto home video 3D is
welcome. The 3D is never a cheap trick
with things flying from the screen.
Instead the image is creative, yet restrained; making educated and well
executed decisions. The sound quality is
inline with the previous release and no noticeable changes have been made for
this 3D release. The sound remains a 5.1
DTS HD Master Audio on Bolt and Meet the Robinsons, that is of demo
quality as it is well rounded, boisterous, and uses all the full speaker range
to bring the films to life. Both the new
3D image and sound allow these films to reach their full potential on home
video.
Sadly the
extras on both films are the same as those found on the original Blu-ray
releases. Whereas the extras are
wonderfully done and plentiful, with the new release I was just expecting a few
more add-ons. For a look at the included
extras please refer to the links listed above.
I am not
sure if 3D is here to stay or not, but what I can say is that what we have seen
to date from Disney and Disney/Pixar is truly amazing; never disappointing and
always adding a layer of depth that no other studio has managed to recreate.
- Michael P. Dougherty II
