7.1 | / 10 |
Users | 3.2 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Alvin has entered himself and Simon and Theodore in a hot-air balloon race around the world against the Chipettes to deliver diamonds for a group of diamond smugglers. The winners will collect a prize of $100,000. Kids and adults will enjoy this film made with musical numbers by the Chipmunks and the Chipettes.
Starring: Ross Bagdasarian Jr., Dody Goodman, Susan Tyrrell, Janice Karman, Anthony De LongisFamily | 100% |
Comedy | 82% |
Animation | 82% |
Musical | 42% |
Adventure | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English SDH
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
DVD copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region free
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 1.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
The Chipmunks today are not The Chipmunks of yesteryear. There was once a time when the characters weren’t completely disagreeable, armed with fecal matter jokes and voiced by Justin Long. There were two previous phases of Chipmunk rule, the first beginning in the late 1950s, which gave birth to the omnipresent holiday tune, “The Chipmunk Song,” and the program, “The Alvin Show.” The second phase commenced in the 1980s, where the titular group returned to television with a distinct MTV inspiration, riding a pop wave of hits to the delight of Saturday morning cartoon warriors everywhere. Midway through the run, 1987’s “The Chipmunk Adventure” was issued to multiplexes, hoping to cash in on a theatrical boom triggered by the surprising success of 1985’s “The Care Bear Movie,” which managed to out-gross Disney’s sure thing, “The Black Cauldron.” Suddenly, Alvin, Simon, and Theodore were prepped for big screen stardom, and while the effort didn’t take as expected, “The Chipmunk Adventure” eventually acquired a considerable following through cable and television showings, finding the fanbase on a more intimate level.
The AVC encoded image (1.78:1 aspect ratio) presentation for "The Chipmunk Adventure" allows for an agreeable viewing experience, with a few trouble spots. Some mild filtering has been applied to manage the image, and while it's not a deal-breaker, mild haloing and softness is noticed. Pockets of noise are detected on occasion, but nothing causes much concern. As this isn't big-budget animation, limitations are perhaps more readily observed in HD, but the work is preserved with a clean print and bold colors, making primaries quite vivid and stable. There's no fade to contend with, sustaining the original richness of the global journey. Blacks are communicative, allowing for a welcome dimensional look that's emphasized by the thick-lined cartoon appearance of the movie.
Perhaps aiming to dazzle young viewers with a full sound of Chipmunk harmony, the 5.1 DTS-HD MA sound mix is surprisingly buoyant, doing a fine job preserving the energy of the movie and its musical reach. Immediately striking is the deployment of pronounced directional activity, with distinct movement and placement that's managed with clarity and accuracy. Music and dialogue connect in this circular feel, with surrounds worked out to satisfaction, opening the scope of the effort. Dialogue exchanges are fresh and prioritized, keeping the chirp of the Chipmunks away from shrillness, while human characters retain a pleasingly lower register. Scoring cues are lush with distinct instrumentation, and musical numbers retain their synth-heavy sound, keeping up with an adequate low-end presence. Atmospherics are generally on point, selling the different stops on the tour with environmental changes. No hiss or distortion was detected.
Unlike many of the viewers who will purchase this Blu-ray, this was my first viewing of "The Chipmunk Adventure," and I'm happy to report that I thoroughly enjoyed it, even laughing out loud during a sequence where the boys fumble an attempt to play back a spliced tape of Dave's voice, hoping to con Miss Miller over the phone before they take off on the balloon race. What's most striking about the effort is how appealing the mischief is, with Alvin's persistence mildly rattling Dave's existence. Cut to today, where the CGI Chipmunks could technically be prosecuted for their mean-spirited antics. "The Chipmunk Adventure" is a pleasant, entertaining remainder that once upon a time, not long ago, the Bagdasarian legacy didn't have to sink so low to have some rock-out rodent fun.
2006
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2007
The Signature Collection
1994
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1970
2014
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1986
Sing-Along Edition
2019
1977
25th Anniversary
1994
DVD Packaging
2011
30th Anniversary Edition
1992
2011