Alvin &
The Chipmunks – The Squeakquel (2009/20th
Century Fox Blu-ray w/DVD)
Picture:
B/C+ Sound: B/B- Extras: C- Film: C-
After
successful runs in the 1960s and 1980s, Alvin
& The Chipmunks are have won over a new children’s crowd and the box
office results are stunning. Hot on the
tails (pun intended) of the remarkable box office of the first live
action/computer animated blockbuster (no exaggeration), The Squeakquel has been as big a watershed a hit worldwide and now
joins the original feature film on Blu-ray.
You can read more about the 2007 revival at this link:
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/6824/Alvin+&+The+Chipmunks+(2007/Blu-r
Still a
one-joke concept of the trio singing the latest and near latest pop, rock, and
soul hits in their style, the combination of improved digital animation and
female singing trio The Chipettes made enough of a difference to make this
another goldmine for Fox and the owners of the original franchise. It is just about child. Safe, but maybe not
totally for the youngest of children.
However, this has maybe a little more energy than the first, but not
much. Anyone in their teens and older is
bound to get bored. To say anything else
would spoil what few surprises the makers came up with.
The 1080p
1.85 X 1 image was shot on Super 35mm film (for the flat ratio) by the great
Anthony B. Richmond, B.S.C., but is so digitized throughout that playback is
softer than one would like. The
anamorphically enhanced DVD is even weak with bad Video Black and a washed-out
look. The DTS-HD MA (Master Audio)
lossless 5.1 mix can be a little harsh and shrill in spots, but the recording
is rich and decent overall, while the Dolby Digital 5.1 on the DVD is weaker
and has the same limits and flaws.
Extras
include a Digital Copy DVD-ROM to download the film on PC and PC portable
devices, the DVD version of the film and the Blu-ray adds BD-Live interactive
functions, Live Lookup powered by the IMDb website, trivia, eight featurettes,
three additional interactive game/participation sections and Music Videos.
Just in
time for the trend, we guess the next feature will be in 3-D. What timing!
- Nicholas Sheffo
