Annie Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		5.0

Annie Blu-ray Movie Review

Sony has released the beloved 1982 film 'Annie,' starring Eileen Quinn, Carol Burnett, and Albert Finney, directed by John Huston, to Blu-ray. At time of writing, this Blu-ray disc is exclusive to the third volume of the prestigious 'Columbia Classics Collection' boxed set, where a UHD copy of the film, and five other films, are included. The film was previously released to Blu-ray by Sony in 2012. The supplemental content is a blend of all of the legacy extras and some new material. Also included is new 1080p video sourced from the 4K master and 5.1 lossless audio.

Annie Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

This new Blu-ray release of Annie has been sourced from the 4K master, and it looks incredible. The picture holds to a natural grain structure, which presents with a healthy and natural density that is light and complimentary and very flattering to the source. It looks great and helps to support the bountiful textures on display throughout the film, including the range of elements between the battered and worn orphanage and the regal and resplendent mansion. Viewers will see scuffs on the floors and grime on the orphanage walls with remarkable clarity and precision. It is possible to pause and count the freckles on Annie's face and view individual curly hairs on her head. The image leaves nothing to the imagination, presenting the original film source for all it's worth at this resolution. Colors are exceptional. They are deliberately a little on the drab side at the orphanage, but there's incredible depth and vibrance and stability at the mansion. Bold hues are commonplace, Black level depth is wonderful, especially during some of the nighttime orphanage scenes. Whites are crisp and skin tones are healthy. This is Annie at its 1080p best.

Annie Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack is a triumph. Score and songs play with wide front immersion and superb clarity. Surround extension during music is a little gentler than it is fully immersive, but there are certainly some elements that make their way back there to help provide a full, engaging experience. The track incorporates support cues with good placement and detail. Bass is precisely complementary. Dialogue is clear and center focused, but it is the music that is the standout component here; audiences are going to be delighted with this track.

Annie Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This new Blu-ray release of Annie includes a blend of the legacy extras from the 2012 release and also adds several new supplements, including a new audio commentary track. Coverage of the carryover content can be found by clicking here. New content is marked as such and briefly reviewed below. As it ships in the above-linked "Columbia Classics" boxed set, a slipcover and a digital copy code are included.

• NEW! Revisiting Annie with Aileen Quinn (1080p, 12:04): The actress reflects on her career and life with Annie on stage, in the film, and in the years since her portrayal. She also explores work with cast and crew, dance choreography, filmmaking anecdotes, and more.
• NEW! Behind the Music with Charles Strouse (1080p, 10:02): The film's composer remembers his work on the film.
• NEW! Looking Back: A four-part feature.
  
  
  • Annie's Journey to the Screen (1080i, 4x3, 17:00): This vintage supplement looks back at John Huston's direction, the film's budget, casting, dance choreography, child acting, costumes and sets, and more.
  • "Easy Street" (1080i, 4x3, 5:50): Making and recording one of the film's musical numbers.
  • "I Don't Need Anything But You" (1080i, 4x3, 7:06): A fun behind-the-scenes look at making one of the film's most dazzling and complex sequences.
  • Making a Finale (No Audio) (1080p, 4x3, 17:49): On-set footage from the making of the film's finale. As the title suggests, there is no audio.
• NEW! Audio Commentary: Carol Burnett, Ann Reinking, Tim Curry, and Roseanne Sorrentino discuss the film in this newly recorded retrospective commentary. The track includes various participants cobbled together, piecemeal style. They were recorded at different times over the years.
• Sing-Along with Annie
• My Hollywood Adventure with Aileen Quinn
• Musical Performance by Play: "It's a Hard-Knock Life"
• NEW!(ish) Original Trailers & TV Spots (1080p): Incudes all of the trailers and TV spots from the original disc and adds the international teaser and trailer. Included are Theatrical Trailer (3:38), Behind the Scenes Teaser Trailer (2:02), International Teaser Trailer (1:09), International Theatrical Trailer (2:53), TV Spot #1 (0:32), TV Spot #2 (0:32), and TV Spot #3 (1:02).

Annie Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Annie is the epitome of feel-good cinema. Its entire construction deals with positive thinking, love, family, friendship, and promoting the good in life while working through the bad and refusing to let negative circumstances stand in the way of a healthy outlook on life. It's a movie high in spirit and fit for the entire family. It's catchy and pleasant, filled with quality song and dance numbers. The performances are stellar even if the movie is shaped by rather simple and straightforward ideas. It's that adherence to simpleness and goodness that make the movie great and so incredibly sweet, one of the top musicals, and perhaps the finest "rainy day" picture of them all. Sony's new Blu-ray release of Annie offers stellar new video and audio and features all of the legacy supplements and several new extras. This release, as it ships in the above linked "Columbia Classics Collection," earns my highest recommendation.