6.5 | / 10 |
Users | 5.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
A grumpy Grinch plots to ruin Christmas for the residents of his neighboring village of Whoville.
Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Cameron Seely, Rashida Jones, Tristan O'Hare, Kenan ThompsonFamily | 100% |
Animation | 79% |
Fantasy | 70% |
Comedy | 65% |
Holiday | 24% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 MVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: Dolby Atmos
English: Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
French: Dolby Digital Plus 7.1
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1
English SDH, French, Spanish
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
Digital copy
Blu-ray 3D
Slipcover in original pressing
Region free
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Some advertisements for Dr. Seuss' The Grinch poked fun at its status as a remake, as yet another Grinch movie on the market, a tongue-in-cheek attempt to get out in front of that bit of inevitable criticism. It was a charming ad in support of a movie that's neither really here nor there, a decent retelling-with-flair of the classic Dr. Seuss tale of a particularly nasty green creature who just doesn't like Christmas. Illumination's version doesn't turn the green Grinch yellow or anything of the sort, but it does rework the story to its own fancy, adding some backstory components and plot-advancing details that weren't in the original Seuss writing. It's a perfectly fine film in isolation but probably more apt to delight younger viewers without decades of Grinch movies in mind, not to mention, of course, the original story, decades of experience that may lead older audiences to keeping count of changes instead of just enjoying the movie for what it is.
Dr. Seuss' The Grinch features a perfectly serviceable but largely forgettable 3-D Blu-ray presentation. The film's colorful, sprawling exteriors
take on a basic, but not dramatic, sense of shape, space and depth. It's disappointing that the 3-D process couldn't bring more of each component
onto the screen considering the world's unevenness, curvature, and generally oddball designs that could have thrived in a more carefully constructed
3-D realm. As it is, the image enjoys basic depth and the occasionally robust sense of space but not much more. Essential spacing and crude character
and world shapes are a little more aggressive than they are on either of the flat home video presentations (Blu-ray, UHD) but there's not much
distinguishing shape or stretch in play. Essentially, there's rarely a sense of pull and draw into the larger environments. It's effective from a baseline
perspective, but Universal's 3-D image does not do enough to truly bring the viewer into this Seussian open world.
Interiors curiously fare a little better than exteriors with some of the cozier inside locations, such as within Cindy-Lou's home, finding more balance to
location dimensionality and a feel for the size of the real space being projected onto the screen. A lengthy dinner table scene in chapter five (and again
in chapter
11) in The Grinch's home offers perhaps the most dynamic object stretch and location extension seen in the film, besting even some of the more
expansive outdoor shots,
scenes, and sequences. An organ The Grinch plays in the same chapter produces a very agreeable curvature, but such significant three-dimensional
dazzles are relatively few and far between. As far as extra-screen goodness, expect a few niceties, from gently falling snowflakes that seem to hover
out of the screen to The Grinch's outstretched arms in chapter ten that seem to protrude from the screen. The reference review display, a Sony
XBR65Z9D, revealed mild crosstalk effects.
The image is very similar otherwise to the 2-D Blu-ray in terms of detail and color. Neither suffer any obvious letdowns in the three dimensional space.
Character design details, world textures, and fine-point finishing touches all present with commendable intimacy while colors are every bit as bold and
balanced as one would expect from a frontline contemporary digital production. Overall, the image simply seems content to work with the essentials of
shape and depth rather than flex any spacial muscles that might have made this a standout 3-D release; the world and character design framework is
certainly there for a dizzying, immersive presentation. It's good as-is, but it's impossible to watch and not be left wanting more.
The included Dolby Atmos soundtrack impresses form the outset, with Danny Elfman's score presenting with a firm low end depth in support of wide and detailed musical notes, accompanied by some balanced back end reach. Music remains a steady high point for the track, particularly larger pieces that offer more zest and immersion and depth, though certainly quieter moments still maintain a level of lifelike excellence. Sound dispersal and discrete effects are equally impressive, with Whoville springing to life with all variety of cheerful holiday sonic fun to be heard, with equal attention paid to generalized din and more prominent and scene-building specifics. The sense of layering, the feel of spaciousness, the track's inhibition towards utilizing every channel at its disposal makes both individual, localized sounds as well as larger and more dispersed effects equally enjoyable, clear, and satisfying. The top layer is not used for any obvious "wow" type sound effects but listeners will appreciate the greater sense of sonic fulfillment and immersive detailing the Atmos speakers provide, whether supporting score or some of the more prominent whooshing, zipping, and zagging effects. Dialogue is steady in clarity, front-center placement, and prioritization. It does open up for reverb in chapter five when The Grinch and Max are dining in a cavernous room somewhere in his dwelling.
Dr. Seuss' The Grinch contains all of its bonus content on the 3-D disc. Extras are identical as they appear on the dedicated 1080p 2-D disc;
none of them, not even the mini movies, are presented in 3-D. A 2-D Blu-ray copy of the film and a Movies Anywhere digital copy code are included
with purchase. The release ships with an embossed slipcover.
Dr. Seuss' The Grinch is a good retelling of the classic tale with a modern spin around the edges. It rebuilds parts and invents others but remains fairly true to the basic step-by-step story details that Seuss laid out back in in the 1950s. The voice and digital animation work are top-notch and the film is well paced at less than 90 minutes. Universal's Blu-ray 3-D release delivers good but often uninspiring 3-D elements that leave the viewer wanting more. The Atmos track is terrific and the included extras are generally worthwhile. Worth a look.
2018
2018
Limited Edition with 16 Valentine's Day Postcards
2018
2018
with 26-Page Gallery and Activity Book
2018
2018
2018
2018
2018
2013
2013
2012
2011
2010
PIXAR
2015
Grinchmas Edition
2000
2014
2018
2011
Special Edition
2017
2013
Dance Party Edition
2020
2009
2015
2012
Deluxe Edition
1970
2011
1963
2021