6.7 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Count Dracula and company participate in a cruise for sea-loving monsters, unaware that their boat is being commandeered by the monster-hating Van Helsing family.
Starring: Adam Sandler, Andy Samberg, Selena Gómez, Kevin James, Fran DrescherFamily | 100% |
Animation | 88% |
Comedy | 72% |
Video codec: HEVC / H.265
Video resolution: 4K (2160p)
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: Dolby Atmos
English: Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
French (Canada): Dolby Digital 5.1
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1
English, English SDH, French, Spanish
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
Digital copy
4K Ultra HD
Slipcover in original pressing
Region free
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 0.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Something kind of peculiar happened to American television in the 1964-65 season. In an era rife with westerns like Bonanza, family situation comedies like The Donna Reed Show, lawyer dramas like Perry Mason, police-centric series like Naked City, and even what would soon become a major fad, the spy show as epitomized by the then new The Man from U.N.C.L.E., a trio of comedies appeared in September or October of 1964 that were in some ways unique to the annals of series television. Arguably the most innocuous of these was Bewitched, a show which slightly tweaked the already prevalent “smart wife, dumb husband” conceit of countless other sitcoms by making the wife a witch. But the two other oddities of the 1964-65 season really have no real analogs or predecessors (at least that I can think of). The Addams Family brought the curious creations of cartoonist Charles Addams memorably to life, with the “altogether ooky” clan putting a decidedly Gothic spin on the “suburban sitcom”. Perhaps even stranger was CBS’ answer to the ABC series, The Munsters, a show which kind of came close to copyright or trademark infringement (or whatever the appropriate legal term of art might be) by “resurrecting” several notable Universal creatures like Frankenstein's Monster and Dracula in slightly changed forms. And in a way the Hotel Transylvania franchise can be seen as a more or less direct descendant of The Munsters, albeit with a few important changes. In this case the paterfamilias is not a Frankenstein's Monster knock-off, but instead a version of Dracula / Drácula (voiced by Adam Sandler), who is surrounded by a coterie of other iconic creatures (including Frankenstein's Monster, it should be noted). There is also an extended family at play in the series, with the films' "Grandpa" character a vampire (much like in The Munsters) named Vlad (voiced by Mel Brooks), and with Dracula dealing with a daughter named Mavis (voiced by Selena Gomez), a wife and mother in her own right who is kind of half Marilyn Munster (in terms of relative "normalcy) and half Wednesday Addams (in terms of a certain Goth component in her appearance and emotional tenor).
Note: Screenshots are sourced from the 1080p Blu-ray.
Hotel Transylvania 3 is presented on 4K UHD courtesy of Sony Pictures Home Entertainment with a 2160p transfer in 1.85:1. This is the first
animated release from Sony that I've personally reviewed, and I have to say it pretty much knocked my socks off, despite being culled from what I'm
assuming was "only" a 2K DI (if anyone has authoritative data to the contrary, message me with the source and I'll happily update the review). Detail
levels, already pretty flawless in the 1080p Blu-ray version, are noticeably increased, especially with regard to textures, with items like the Mummy's
burlap wrappings, Wayne's fur or Abraham Van Helsing's wiry facial hair gaining at least incrementally (and at times more than incrementally) in both
general and fine detail departments. Fabrics like Van Helsing's sweater in the opening "prelude" are also noticeably more detailed in the 4K version.
The many instances of rendering water throughout the film also gain in precision and realism (despite the stylistic conceits of the film).
HDR has added a whole new range of highlights to an already impressive palette. The purples, blues and teals of this piece are really expressive
looking and are given considerable new luster in the 4K iteration. The climax with the Kraken also has more of a slightly dirty cherry red ambience
that's quite captivating. The 4K presentation was also devoid of any issues, as slight as they are, with banding that I noticed in the 1080p Blu-ray
version.
Hotel Transylvania 3's audio presentation is similarly upgraded on this 4K UHD disc to a Dolby Atmos track, and from the very first howls which now hover midair, it's clear that there will be a more enveloping listening experience in this version, as excellent as the 1080p Blu-ray DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1's track was. The manic flying sequence with the Gremlins provides new opportunities to engage the Atmos channels, as does the huge cacophonous climax with the Kraken, and the Atmos track continues the excellent placement of effects that is already evident in the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track on the 1080p version. Surround activity is consistent throughout this presentation, with excellent fidelity and extremely wide dynamic range. All elements are woven together seamlessly and with smart prioritization, and there's careful attention paid to both directionality and discrete placement of individual sound effects.
No supplements of any kind are offered on the 4K UHD disc. The slate of supplements listed in our Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation Blu-ray review are of course available on the 1080p Blu-ray disc included in the package.
Not to put too fine a point on it, but Hotel Transylvania 3 may be treading water in more ways than one. It has an undeniably padded feeling and its vignette laden structure tends to work in fits and starts. However, if you're a fan of the film and have a 4K setup, you'll probably want to check out this version, as both video and audio attain noticeable upgrades on the 4K UHD disc. Recommended.
Hotel Transylvania 3: A Monster Vacation 3D
2018
with Glow-in-the-Dark Halloween Bag
2018
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Monster Party Edition
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