Extraordinary
Tales (2003/Edgar Allen Poe/Cinedigm Blu-ray w/DVD)
Picture:
B+/B- Sound: B+/B- Extras: B Film: C
Extraordinary
Tales (2003) is an animated film based on the works of Edgar
Allan Poe that sounds like it could work but due to subpar animation,
falls a bit flat. The film features an incredible cast of voice
talent including Bela Lugosi (a nice sounding recording too), the
late Sir Christopher Lee, Roger Corman, Julian Sands, and
writer/director Guillermo Del Toro.
Five
chilling stories of some Poe's most noted work including The Fall
of The House Of Usher, The Telltale Heart, and more are
brought together featuring a different style of animation for each
piece. While detailed, some of the imagination tends to look a bit
dated and ''video-game''-like that left me disappointed. I was
expecting some real stop motion techniques but the reliance on bad
digital animation here is almost a deal breaker. Some of the colors
used are vibrant and the segments in black and white tend to stand
out more than some of the others.
Presented
in 1080p high definition with a widescreen aspect ratio of 1.85:1 and
a lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, the film looks and sounds
as good as it can on Blu-ray disc. Also included is the standard
definition version of the film on DVD with an anamorphic aspect ratio
of 1.85:1 and a lossy Dolby 5.1 mix.
Extras
include The Art of Extraordinary Tales, The Making of, Audio
Commentary by director Raul Garcia and a US Trailer.
If
you're a die-hard Edgar Allan Poe fan, then you may want to check
this out but I thought it had more potential to live up to. However,
Lee made a highly underrated TV series of Poe stories and those
interested should immediately read more about it at this link and
consider buying both releases at the same time...
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/4500/Christopher+Lee+%E2%80%93+Edgar+Allen+Poe%
-
James Lockhart
https://www.facebook.com/jamesharlandlockhartv/
