Battle of the Year 3D Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		2.0
Overall		3.0

Battle of the Year 3D Blu-ray Movie Review

Better battle in 2D instead.

Sony has released 'Battle of the Year' in Blu-ray 3D as a standalone version of the film rather than include the 2D disc in the case, as is the custom with most 3D/2D titles. The 2D-only version review may be found separately here.

1-2-3-TEAM!

Battle of the Year 3D Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Battle of the Year's Blu-ray 3D presentation isn't all that. The added layer of depth doesn't do much for the movie beyond stretch it out a bit and find some more spacing across some of the more sprawling locations in the movie, particularly the practice gymnasium that's so prominent throughout the film. Dancers certainly won't leap out of the screen, hand and foot gestures won't extend beyond the glass, and dance interaction doesn't feel appreciably more real in 3D. General depth satisfies, though it's a bit flatter than the average presentation. It does find some good small-area spacing visual effects. For example, the distance between the exterior bars on WB's windows and the glass has a very real feeling of spacing to it, as does the other side between the blinds and the glass. The dance routines do show some added spacing between the dancers and the floor, but the improvement is marginal considering that the effect does nothing to heighten the experience any more than the 2D transfer already does. The opening titles do hover nicely off the screen, but that's hardly reason to to choose 3D. To make matters worse, the image looks a bit darker than the 2D transfer. Already darkened shots look especially bleak, and there's not that color pop and sensationalism found on the 2D image. Details remain crisp and well-defined, however, with WB's scruff facial hair, clothing lines, and the scuffed gymnasium floor impressing in most every scene. Overall, the film fails to benefit from any aspect of its Blu-ray 3D presentation.

All screenshots are sourced from the 2D version of the film, not included in this release.

Battle of the Year 3D Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

For a full review of the audio quality, please click through to the link above.

Battle of the Year 3D Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Supplements are identical across both the 2D and 3D releases. Please click the link above for more information.

Battle of the Year 3D Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Battle of the Year certainly isn't going to win "movie of the year," but it's a fair, if not cliché, tale of togetherness and success. But it didn't need a 3D release. The film works just as well, if not better, in 2D. The 3D, as presented on this Blu-ray, rarely does much more than stretch the film out on the Z-axis. Audio and supplements remain the same. Fans would be smart to save a few dollars and buy the 2D release instead, particularly considering the absence of a dedicated 2D disc in the case.