7.3 | / 10 |
Users | 4.8 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.9 |
James Cameron produces this kaleidoscopic fantasy adventure performed by members of contemporary circus troupe Cirque du Soleil. When a young couple becomes separated, they must each journey through a sequence of dreamlike realms of discovery before they can be reunited.
Starring: Erica Linz, Igor Zaripov, Dallas Barnett, Matt Gillanders, Tanya DreweryFamily | 100% |
Fantasy | 80% |
Surreal | 1% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 MVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
French: Dolby Digital 5.1
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1
Portuguese: Dolby Digital 5.1
English, English SDH, French, Portuguese, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Three-disc set (2 BDs, 1 DVD)
UV digital copy
DVD copy
Blu-ray 3D
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A, B (C untested)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 1.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Get ready for circus marvelous!
With the barrage of 3D -- and high end 3D at that -- films dominating the visual entertainment landscape these past few years, it's a wonder it took
even this long to bring to full, vivid, extra-dimensional life the acclaimed Cirque Du Soleil, and who better than the father of modern 3D, legendary
filmmaker James Cameron (Avatar, Titanic 3D), to do it. Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away isn't the
show shot in 3D but rather a filmed fantasy centered on the world
of the circus, a dreamlike, colorful, fluid, and oftentimes exhilarating performance art set that captures the extraordinary talents of some of the most
gifted physical performers the world has ever known. Directed by Andrew Adamson (Shrek) and aided by Cameron's eye for 3D and innovations in the
medium, the film tells a simple story of love at first sight and the fantastical happenings on the way to happily ever after. Yet the story is really little
more than a necessary addition, a reason to show off some of the most amazing feats of human agility via the most cutting-edge technological marvels
currently available.
Into another world.
Knowing that James Cameron is involved, it's reasonable to assume that Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away 3D will look marvelous in 3D. And that assumption would be correct. The 3D presentation is a real looker. It displays incredible spacing and depth in practically very shot and brings the audience so close to the performances, so near to the dangers, and so fully into the world that it springs to life in a way the gorgeous 2D transfer simply cannot match. From the film's very first shot forward, the 3D elements impress. A long country road stretches far back into the screen. In the next shot, grass sprawls back and towards the carnival. Then, the camera looks down the entryway and beyond a line of tents, making for a visual treat of realistic depth. Inside the big top tent, the sense of space between the ground and the top and the performer and the top is very clear; the volume feels authentic and places viewers right inside alongside Mia and the aerialist. In the "world away," the 3D visuals give greater definition to every performer and the environment in which they act. It's a wide-open world of wonder that's spacious and confined only by the limits of the frame. There are a few cool "gimmick" shots, but generally the film is all about depth perception and shape. The review equipment (Sony BD player, Panasonic plasma) did show some regular crosstalk elements. On the general side of the ledger, the transfer retains the beautiful details and colors and rock-solid black levels of the 2D release (see the link above for a more detailed review) but does look a touch flatter and a hair dimmer. Overall, however, this is a fantastic 3D transfer that rivals most any other on the market.
Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away features a dazzling DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack. It's smooth but also aggressive, making extensive and natural use of the surround channels in every scene. Musical delivery is precise, showing great clarity and seamless flow around the stage. The track makes use of a positive, balanced low end, whether a rumbling train -- which displays great sound imaging as it moves from one side to the other -- or in support of music. Some big, heavy sound effects also produce deep and exciting bass. All of the attributes mesh seamlessly together in the "world away" for a pleasurable and perfectly engineered sound experience that's as grandiose as the visuals and as captivating as the performances. The film is littered with all sorts of distinct, well-placed, and demo-worthy moments that bring the world to life and are guaranteed to put even the best sound system through its paces. This is a marvelous listening experience that alone is worth the price of the disc.
Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away 3D contains no unique 3D supplements. All of the extras from the 2D-only disc are carried over here on the
included 2D disc. A DVD and UV and iTunes digital copies is also included.
Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away doesn't have much of a heart -- the story is as paper-thin as could be -- but it does have a soul, a very human soul that surpasses in spirit and accomplishment even the cutting-edge technology used to bring it the screen. For all the marvels behind the scenes, Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away truly dazzles through the skill of its performers. It's an amazing spectacle of human agility that's been seen before but perhaps not quite at this level of perfect execution. It makes for a nice escape from the phoniness of Hollywood -- even as the world of Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away is itself incredibly stylized -- and offers a glimpse into something uniquely human and very much real, even under makeup, costumes, and through the prism of the latest in technology. Paramount's Blu-ray 3D release of Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away delivers excellent video and audio. Supplements are few, but this release nevertheless comes recommended.
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