6.1 | / 10 |
Users | 4.5 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.1 |
Garden gnomes Gnomeo and Juliet have as many obstacles to overcome as their quasi namesakes when they are caught up in a feud between neighbors. But with plastic pink flamingos and lawnmower races in the mix, can this young couple find lasting happiness?
Starring: James McAvoy, Emily Blunt, Ashley Jensen, Michael Caine, Jim Cummings (I)Family | 100% |
Animation | 81% |
Adventure | 69% |
Fantasy | 59% |
Comedy | 58% |
Romance | 11% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 MVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps)
English, English SDH, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Three-disc set (2 BDs, 1 DVD)
Digital copy (on disc)
DVD copy
Blu-ray 3D
Slipcover in original pressing
Region free
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 5.0 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 2.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
The story you are about to see has been told before. A lot.
Yeah, but it's never been told quite like this. Part William Shakespeare, part kids movie, part Comedy, part Adventure, part love story, part
morality tale, and even part monster truck rally-type fiasco gone terribly wrong, Gnomeo & Juliet is a movie quite unlike anything before it.
Sure there have been countless films that turn classic stories on their heads, and yes Gnomeo & Juliet seems like a movie created around a
clever pun rather than a fleshed-out story given a clever pun as a name, but by sheer force of will it works despite having everything work against it.
The idea is
cute but could it really succeed as a feature film? These aren't talking animals (well, most of them aren't talking animals) but instead
chipped, broken,
worn-down, sun-baked, long-neglected garden gnomes, not exactly the sort of things that have a proven track record of drawing in the kids in
droves. It's hard to see plush
gnomes on toy store shelves, gnome-themed happy meals, or a video game featuring various backyard gnome adventures. It's a risky idea for sure
(a sad commentary that today's film sometimes can't stand on their own merits?),
and considering that the most catchy part of it all is the title, well, the movie had better be pretty good if it has any chance at success, seeing that
the
peripherals
that so often come with kids movies don't really lend themselves all that well to marketing the thing. Fortunately, Director Kelly Asbury (Shrek 2) has pulled it off, at least well enough that the movie stands
on
its own merits. This isn't a new classic or anything, but Gnomeo & Juliet is a funny, well-made picture with solid characters, a fair bit of
adventure, and even a smidgen of heart, enough to win over all but the most demanding audiences and solidify itself as a worthwhile little 3D film
that's
suitable for the whole family.
Gnome way this is ever going to work out.
Gnomeo & Juliet arrives on Blu-ray 3D with a dazzling 1080p, 1.85:1-framed transfer. This is what Blu-ray 3D is all about; there's not much
in the way of gimmicky effects shots, but the sense of natural depth, spacing, and size is magnificent. Right from the get-go, before the picture starts,
even, viewers are treated to the wonderfully-designed Rocket Pictures neon logo. It's very shapely, almost inviting viewers to curl their hands around
the neon tubes. Better still, the movie is a backyard full of 3D eye candy. General depth is constantly impressive, not only in the well-lit daytime
scenes but
even through the cover of dark, during which several lengthy and critical sequences play out. Characters and objects clearly appear to take up a
natural amount of space, and the various gnomes are constructed
with real-feeling volume and weight. Even the smallest little chunks missing from their bodies allow viewers to get a sense of how deeply the cut
goes, but even more critical than that the 3D visuals allow the oddity that is the walking and talking gnomes to appear far more realistic and
convincing than
they might otherwise appear in a 2D-only environment. Some of the most striking visuals take place at ground level and around blades of grass.
Take a look around chapter thirteen at the way the transfer is able to distinguish each blade of grass, allowing it to sprawl far back into the depths of
the monitor but at the same time appear intricately and individually detailed. Better still, the image is one of the most steady 3D images out
there; crosstalk is a non-factor, and general stability is constant, from the most impressively deep shots to the most colorful overviews of the warring
houses.
This is also a top-notch transfer in terms of its more basic attributes. Detail is positively striking in most every frame; the image reveals the finest
little scuffs on the gnomes, the smallest details in baldes of grass, and the tiniest textures on wooden articles such as fenceposts. Even through the
3D glasses, the level of absolute clarity is evident in every shot. Colors are crisp and vibrant, with the many shades of red and blue in particular
delivered with eye-catching naturalism. Black levels are perfect; outdoor nighttime shots, lit, it seems, only by the glow of the moon, are just as
smooth and steady as the daytime shots. Banding and noise are non-factors. Disney's really hit a homerun with this Blu-ray 3D release. So far,
animated titles are proving to be the best of the bunch in terms of raw 3D ability, clarity, and natural depth. Gnomeo & Juliet is superb,
particularly factoring in how well the digital artists have taken advantage of the sizes and perspectives that are inherent to the primary characters,
giving the audience a unique garden gnome perspective in a 3D environment. Never does the transfer fail to take advantage, making this one of the
finest releases available for Blu-ray 3D reference purposes.
Gnomeo & Juliet's DTS-HD MA 7.1 lossless soundtrack isn't quite as strong as its video counterpart, but it's certainly no slouch. Perhaps most readily evident is the ease with which Disney's soundtrack handles various environmental effects. Running water, chirping birds, and other natural and backyard ambience is perfectly integrated into the track, taking advantage of the entire soundstage but remaining, generally, only a background element that supports the primary action but nicely envelops the listener in the world of the warring garden gnomes. Music, both score and Elton John's movie-specific tunes, is presented with a natural heft, fine clarity, and excellent spacing. The surround channels carry some of the music's support structure, but also play a part in the delivery of more aggressive sound effects, such as lawnmowers rumbling straight through the listening area both during a race at the beginning of the film and as a beastly rider from hell plows its way through the backyard with deadly efficiency. The track could stand a slight boost in absolute power; it never seems quite so naturally and prolifically seamless as to serve as a perfect source of reference-quality Blu-ray material, but this is still a striking, fun, and well-balanced track. Rounded into form by seamlessly clean and center-focused dialogue, Gnomeo & Juliet's soundtrack is a winner.
All of Gnomeo & Juliet's supplements come on the included 2D Blu-ray disc which is identical to the standalone 2D release. Hence, there are no exclusive 3D-only extras. A DVD/digital copy
hybrid disc is also included.
There's really nothing new here save for the play on words and the uniqueness of the characters. Gnomeo & Juliet is also structurally sound but thematically hollow, which in this case isn't a bad thing. The movie is little more than a fun diversion with a unique spin on an old and tired story, told through the eyes of...garden gnomes? It works, surprisingly enough, and while Gnomeo & Juliet won't go down in the annals of animated cinema as an all-time great, it's nevertheless a strongly-crafted and entertaining little picture that's sure to dazzle young audiences and even keep mom and dad entertained enough to sit through it once or twice. Disney's Blu-ray 3D release of Gnomeo & Juliet features a dazzling 3D transfer, a strong lossless soundtracks, and a relatively tiny assortment of 2D extras which is this release's only real weak spot. Recommended.
Ultimate Collector's Edition
2010
2013
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20th Anniversary Edition
2001
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Collector's Edition
2012
Ultimate Collector's Edition
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