The Last Unicorn (1982/Lionsgate Blu-ray)
Picture:
B Sound: A- Extras: B- Film: C+
The Last Unicorn is not the best animated film ever
made, but it is surely a classic. The
weak animation is probably the film’s biggest downfall as it looks aged and
certainly only appeals to a select audience.
The books the film was based on, however, are the stuff of dreams and
solidify The Last Unicorn as a
classic.
This film
has been discussed in depth in a previous DVD review and as the content remains
the same I will direct readers to that review through the link below, but
continue to discuss the high quality that is delivered here on this new Lionsgate
Blu-ray:
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/5096/The+Last+Unicorn+%2825th+Annivers
The
technical features on this Blu-ray release are surprisingly well done. The film had production issues to start with,
so how Lions Gate has managed to upgrade the film here on Blu-ray is hard to
believe. The picture is presented in a
1080p AVC MPEG-4 encoded 1.85 X 1 that has wonderful colors and clarity for its
age. The animation was not great to
start with (always lacking detail), but what is delivered is well done. The colors are vibrant and the main problem
lies in the debris and dirt that remains throughout the film. It seems that attempts were made to clean up
the film, but certain sequences are just horrendous, especially the opening
sequence.
The
source material seems mostly undamaged, but judging from the debris that flies
across the screen the film masters still need another look. The sound is a Lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
track that is pleasing to the ear as it includes the option to either use the
original theatrical track or the censored home video release. The sound is surprisingly crisp, clean and
clear though it is no way has the quality or all encompassing feel of say a
Disney release. Fact of the matter is
the original Last Unicorn production
did not have a ton of money poured into it, so there is not much to work off of
here, but it is nice nevertheless.
Most of
the Bonus Features are ported over from the 25th Anniversary DVD so
offer nothing new or exciting, but for those who have yet to purchase the film
the extras are well done and worth a look.
The extras include the following:
- “Immortal Characters”
Featurette
- Audio Commentary with Writer
Peter S. Beagle & Publisher Connor Cochran
- 2010 The Last Unicorn Art
Contest Gallery
- Peter S. Beagle and his Work
- “The Tail of the Last
Unicorn” Mini-Documentary
- Schmendrick’s Magical Gallery
- Original Trailer
- Trailer Gallery
- Michael P. Dougherty II
