7.5 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 5.0 | |
Overall | 5.0 |
Teenager Riley’s mind headquarters is undergoing a sudden demolition to make room for something entirely unexpected: new Emotions! Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear and Disgust, who’ve long been running a successful operation by all accounts, aren’t sure how to feel when Anxiety shows up. And it looks like she’s not alone.
Starring: Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, Lewis Black, Tony Hale, Liza LapiraAnimation | 100% |
Family | 95% |
Comedy | 22% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
French: Dolby Digital 5.1
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1
English: DTS-HD HR 5.1
English SDH, French, Spanish
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
Digital copy
DVD copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region free
Movie | 5.0 | |
Video | 5.0 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 1.5 | |
Overall | 5.0 |
In a world where virtually nothing is a given, and where even the supposed certainty of taking a next breath isn't guaranteed, there may be one iron clad, unavoidable future event which will defy the odds and arrive with 100% inevitability: in other words, there will be an Inside Out 3. Inside Out took the world by storm in 2015, coming relatively close to claiming one billion (like, with a "b") at the box office, and easily landing in the Top 10 lists for that year of many critics and the perhaps more important tally of receipts, so a sequel was virtually guaranteed. But probably even bean counters at Disney and/or Pixar weren't quite prepared for what happened when Inside Out 2 was released earlier this year. That aforementioned billion (with a "b") data point, came and went as droves attended theaters to catch the film, and as the press sheet accompanying review copies proudly trumpets, Inside Out 2 has become the highest grossing animated film of all time (at least until that third installment is released), and is as this review is being written the highest grossing film of 2024 in any genre, and has started to climb into the ranks of the highest grossing films of all time. One of the "new" characters in this film, Envy (Ayo Edebiri), might therefore understandably be taking a victory lap and figuratively offering an "in your face" to any perceived competitors.
Inside Out 2 is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Disney / Buena Vista with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 2.39:1. This is simply a stellar looking presentation from start to finish, and while I'd certainly recommend those with 4K setups to opt for Disney's 4K UHD release, those with "only" standard 1080 setups are still going to get a veritable eyeful with this impeccable presentation. The palette is just a riot of colors from the get go through the opening hockey sequence where blues are emphasized, to some of the interior moments at Riley's home, which are almost more brown-orange hued, and then on to the hockey camp. While all of the "outdoor" material trundles along, some of the most amazing visuals are within Riley's mind, and it's here that the artistry of the animation team arguably finds its best expression, one which offers really impressive detail levels and a gorgeously saturated palette. Textures on the emotions, especially some of the "fuzzier" ones, is outstanding, and even background textures like the couch on which Ennui is perched, are incredibly precise looking. And, again, the colors of some of the "mind spaces" are in fact mind blowing, with the stunning Belief System at the top of that list. The two major areas where the 4K UHD release shows most marked improvement are fine detail and palette highlights, but my hunch is if you never see that version, in more ways than one, you may not be missing all that much.
I don't know why Disney keeps insisting on different audio specs for its 4K and 1080 versions of the same film or television series, but they're at it again here, with the 4K disc offering a Dolby Atmos track and this 1080 disc offering a DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 track (I'll note that my disc actually defaulted kind of strangely to the DTS 5.1 HR codec). I often cheat a bit and give a 1080 review a 4.5 and the 4K review a 5.0, to indicate some improvement, but while, yes, there is noticeable engagement of the Atmos speakers throughout that version, I frankly found the DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 track on this 1080 disc to be practically perfect in every way as well, so I'm not going to split hairs. You may not get some of the passing overhead activity of the Atmos version, but otherwise surround activity is outstanding, and engagement of the side and rear channels can be a whirlwind in the "inside" scenes in particular, but also quite noticeably in some of the hockey sequences in the "outside" world. Dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly throughout. Optional subtitles in several languages are available.
Pixar has had a few stumbles along the way in its now rather healthy and long life, but Inside Out 2 isn't one of them. This is another beautifully written outing that provides both laughs and sentiment in about equal measure, and which offers a really stunning level of animation artistry. Technical merits are excellent, and the on disc supplements appealing. Highly recommended.
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