Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		1.0
Overall		3.5

Dreamgirls Blu-ray Movie Review

Paramount has re-released Writer/Director Bill Condon's acclaimed film 'Dreamgirls' to Blu-ray, more than a decade after the film's debut on the format. This release's highlights include in a new DTS:X Master Audio soundtrack, a few new extras, and Digibook packaging. The 1080p image has not been remastered, but it has received a new, more efficient MPEG-4 encode.

Dreamgirls Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Dreamgirls has not been remastered, but it does arrive now a decade-plus after its Blu-ray debut with a more efficient MPEG-4 AVC encode, replacing the previous edition's MPEG-2 presentation. The picture enjoys a solid overall presentation. It's pleasantly filmic and modestly grainy, capturing essential textures -- particularly period clothes in all their fine fabric detail and, for suits and ties, greater density -- with ease. Faces are appreciably complex and environments are rich and detailed. Colors are healthy and well saturated, with an honest and robust coloring that's never too loud or aggressive but also never held back or lacking intensity. Brightly colored dresses, for example, are a continual highlight. Black levels are wonderfully deep, with dark backgrounds around a stage or during some nighttime exteriors holding deep and pure. Flesh tones appear spot-on. No serious source or encode flaws are apparent. No remaster? No problem. This Blu-ray delivers a quality image, but it's disappointing that Paramount didn't release a UHD version in tandem.

Dreamgirls Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Beyond the packaging and a few new supplements, the main draw to this release of Dreamgirls is unquestionably the new soundtrack. The old Blu-ray featured a well-reviewed but nevertheless lossy 5.1 presentation. Paramount has gone back and remixed the elements to make a new DTS:X Master Audio soundtrack that's a wonderful compliment to a movie that's all about its music. From the opening moments forward, the track establishes its prominence and unwavering excellence. Sound is bountiful and spreads all over the listening area. Musical numbers are incredibly rich, very large and aggressive but at the same time precise. Every musical number is an exercise in sonic excellence, a blend of not only crisply defined lyrics and instrumentals but a clinic on spacing. Listeners will feel enveloped in the music, and the DTS:X presentation adds a complimentary overhead layer that doesn't dominate but instead adds a tangible sense of more expansive place. Particularly in music halls, there's a very strong sense of large, open area dominance that sees the music filter through with an airy top layer that allows the front end to carry the load but add a critical support piece to the overall experience. Crowd applause and other audience sonics engage the back and side areas as well, and the result is a fantastic listen that's up there with, if not better than, many of the best dedicated concert Blu-rays. The track also offers a healthy assortment of atmospheric din in those scattered moments where music isn't the dominant sound element. Passing cars, footfalls, and chatty people give shape to some outdoor shots. The listener will also feel drawn into a burst of street violence during a key scene about an hour into the film. Radio broadcast clips swirl through the stage 33 minutes in, offering a wonderful sensation of precision imaging. Dialogue is clear and detailed with firm front-center placement and prioritization. Fans are going to fall in love with this track.

Dreamgirls Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Dreamgirls re-releases with visually striking DigiBook packaging that includes embossed film title lettering on the front cover. Built into the packaging is a full-color, glossy booklet that contains character and movie still images as well as lyrics for the movie's top songs. The Blu-ray contains two cuts of the film: the standard Theatrical (2:10:12) and the new-to-this-release Director's Extended (2:20:22). A DVD copy of the film and a voucher for a UV/iTunes digital copy are included with purchase.

One area where this release has garnered some criticism is that it does not include all of the legacy supplemental content from the old 2007 "Showstopper Edition" Blu-ray release. In fact, all that's included are some new Jennifer Hudson audition and screen test footage clips. The forums are suggesting that the Target exclusive release does port over the legacy extras, so fans might want to look into that edition as well; Paramount only sent over the wide release so I cannot confirm. Below is a list of what's included on the general release.

• Audition: Can He Even Sing (1080p upscaled, ~4x3, 0:48): Jennifer Hudson auditions a scene.
• Audition: What About Me (1080p upscaled, ~4x3, 2:04): Hudson performs another scene that is key within the movie.
• Audition: And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going (1080p upscaled, ~4x3, 4:04): Hudson performs a song.
• Screen Test: And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going (1080p, 4:42): A more formal performance of the song against a black backdrop.

Dreamgirls Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

This isn't the complete all-in-one Dreamgirls experience. Fans will have to hold onto their old set (or buy the Target exclusive) for a total replacement for the original. Some fans may be off-put by the lack of a brand-new remastered transfer (or a UHD release for that matter), but the 1080p presentation is very good nevertheless. The new soundtrack is unquestionably of reference quality, and for a movie that's all about the music, it's well worth the upgrade on its own merits. The few new supplements are enjoyable but nothing earth-shattering. The new cut of the film is a welcome add, too, and the DigiBook packaging is attractive. Highly recommended, but fans concerned with bonus content should spring for the Target release.