Open Season (2006/Sony Blu-ray 3D Edition/Computer Animated Feature Film)
3-D
Picture: A- 2-D Picture: B+ Sound: A- Extras: B- Feature: B-
The new
Blu-ray 3D format titles just keep in coming and Open Season (2006) is yet another title already issued on standard
Blu-ray that is one of the better early original titles in the format. Like Cloudy
With A Chance Of Meatballs (our debut Blu-ray 3D title), the new Blu-ray 3D
version outperforms the original 2D Blu-ray all around and in addition, is my
favorite performer technically of the four I have seen so far.
If you
are not familiar with the film, here is the link to our original coverage:
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/4914/Open+Season+(Blu-ray/Computer+Ani
The 1080p
1.85 X 1 MVC-encoded 3-D – Full Resolution digital High Definition image
outdoes the 2D 1080p HD image from the previous Blu-ray, which is also included
here in not only showing off the 3D originally designed for this release
(including in the 70mm IMAX format), but is the best demo of 3D in the new
Blu-ray 3D format I have seen yet, with timing, depth, detail and clever usages
of the format that even rival the Robert Zemeckis A Christmas Carol. The
makers are having a field day here, pushing the limits of the format, making it
one of the best 3D theatrical features to date, even in the face of Disney,
Pixar and Avatar.
A new
DTS-HD MA (Master Audio) 5.1 mix has replaced the PCM 5.1 16-Bit/48kHz mix from
the 2D Blu-ray and it is the improvement I was hoping for an expecting, doing a
much better job of reflecting both the 8-channel (7.1) Sony Dynamic Digital
Sound (SDDS) from the 35mm prints (used when they were screened at their best) and
the also-awesome Sonics-DDP digital sound system used for IMAX
presentations. Though the PCM was
decent, it somehow seemed limited and this DTS-MA version seems to have a much
wider and more transparent soundfield with slightly better articulation and
when added to the 3D is a terrific experience.
Not bad considering it is already a few years old in one of the most
competitive parts of the entertainment industry today. The combination is fun enough and impressive
demo material that speaks for itself.
Extras repeat
the original Blu-ray and include a few new items. Original features (to repeat from the older
review) include Inside the Animals Studio, a making-of featurette Behind The Trees, Voices Behind the
Stars featurette, Voice-A-Rama: See what the characters sound like with
different accents, Music Video for I Want
To Lose Control, Deleted Scenes, Ring tales, Art Gallery, Beat boards and
HD short Boog & Elliot’s Midnight Bun Run. Older extras upgraded to 3D include feature
length audio commentary with the filmmakers behind Open Season for 3D, Wheel of
Fortune: Forest Edition (now in 3D) and Voice-A-Rama: See what the characters
sound like with different accents, now in 3D.
We also get a "Swept Away" Scene Deconstruction and the Surf’s Up (2D) sneak peak has been
replaced by three Sony releases in 3D: Monster
House, Cloudy With A Chance of
Meatballs and the upcoming Smurfs
revival feature.
- Nicholas Sheffo
