5.9 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
This spinoff of the beloved Cars films follows Dusty the crop duster, who dreams of flying in a race around the world. But in order to qualify for the competition, he'll have to overcome his fear of heights.
Starring: Dane Cook, Stacy Keach, Priyanka Chopra, Cedric the Entertainer, Julia Louis-DreyfusFamily | 100% |
Animation | 86% |
Adventure | 84% |
Comedy | 57% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 MVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1
French: DTS-HD HR 7.1
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1
English SDH, French, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Three-disc set (2 BDs, 1 DVD)
Digital copy (as download)
DVD copy
Blu-ray 3D
Slipcover in original pressing
Region free
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 2.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
High above the world of Cars comes a low-altitude spin-off that never quite takes off. That's right, three aviation puns in one sentence. And if that has you rolling your eyes, brace yourself for director Klay Hall's Planes, a well-intentioned family-friendly racer sure to entertain younger kids, and just the kids. There's nothing particularly terrible about the film, and it's certainly not as bad as you've probably heard. Still, the animation lacks the fresh coat of paint typical of most theatrically released CG-animated spectacles, Jeffrey M. Howard's screenplay relies heavily on familiar cliché after familiar cliché and, sorry to say, the voice cast isn't all that special. Not so surprising considering the psuedo-sequel began its life as a DisneyToon Studios direct-to-video project and was only later promoted to feature film once the powers that be started to see box office potential. And yet Planes remains a decidedly direct-to-video adventure, with Hall and company distilling elements of Cars and Cars 2 into a cute, harmless, ultimately unremarkable underdog story most parents have sat through a hundred times before.
"I'm just trying to prove that maybe, just maybe, I can do more than what I was built for."
Disney's Planes excels on Blu-ray in both 3D and 2D, with only a hint of banding creeping into the otherwise pristine 1080p/MVC-encoded 3D experience and AVC-encoded 2D presentation. In 3D, depth and dimensionality are notably dazzling, with plane noses that jut out from the screen and vast international vistas that stretch into the distance. Foreground objects exhibit welcome pop at every turn, races are that much more exciting, and the fun kids will have is that much more infectious. All the while, colors are bright, vibrant and playful, bathed in convincing light and shadow that isn't undone by the added dimness of the 3D glasses. Primaries remain strong and black levels inky, with consistent contrast and unhindered clarity to boot. Detail is quite striking too, with crisp edges and exacting textures. Crosstalk is almost non-existent (for those whose displays are prone to ghosting) and aliasing is never a concern. Nor is macroblocking, ringing or any other unsightly anomaly for that matter. And while, yes, there's a bit of filmic, wind-born softness present whenever Dusty and his competitors lift high above the Earth, it never amounts to an issue, and really only enhances the illusion of flight. Planes may not be the prettiest Pixar sequel or spin-off, or the most engaging 3D animated adventure, but it holds its own beautifully.
Perhaps more thrilling is Planes' DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 surround track, even if the film's original sound design isn't really all that engrossing. Dialogue is crystal clear and perfectly prioritized, without anything in the way of muffled or buried lines. Voices tend to float in the mix, but no more so than in most animated films. LFE output, meanwhile, embraces every engine chug and roar, propeller drone, and dive-bomb attack, making the most of the adventure's every racing sequence. The rear speakers are quite active as well, with an endless assortment of directional and ambient effects. Racers zoom seamlessly from one channel to the next, the soundfield is suitably enveloping, and hardfought losses and narrow victories take full advantage of every asset at their disposal. Quieter moments are slightly flatter and less immersive, but no matter. Planes sounds as good as it looks, and as far as I can surmise, couldn't sound much better.
Planes would have been better off abandoning the racing scene of the first two Cars movies and focusing instead on something new to the series' universe. Private and commercial aviation, the Air Force, the daring rescue work glimpsed in the trailer for next years Planes: Fire & Rescue... just a few of the tantalizing possibilities that would have set Hall's spin-off free. Not that kids will care. Younger children will have a blast, if only because they won't notice just how much Planes begs, borrows and lifts from a hundred other underdog stories. Disney's Blu-ray release is more satisfying, fortunately, with an excellent video presentation, a relatively impressive 3D experience, and involving DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 surround track. Its supplemental package is much too direct-to-video for a film that earned a theatrical release, but complaints end there. Bottom line? You could do a whole lot worse this holiday season. Planes is perfect for the kiddies, even if it will prove somewhat disappointing for parents.
with Exclusive Bonus Disc
2013
with Exclusive DVD Bonus Disc
2013
with Exclusive Bonus Disc
2013
2013
2013
2014
2013
Ultimate Collector's Edition
2017
2012
2014
2011
2011
2017
2013
2005
2008
2012
2013
2013
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2015
Ballerina
2016
with 2 Poppin' Penguins Toys
2014
2009
2008
2014