7.2 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
The prehistoric Crood family is challenged by rival family the Bettermans, who claim to be better and more evolved.
Starring: Catherine Keener, Clark Duke, Emma Stone, Ryan Reynolds, Nicolas CageFamily | 100% |
Animation | 88% |
Adventure | 63% |
Fantasy | 58% |
Comedy | 55% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.36:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: Dolby Atmos
English: Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
Spanish: Dolby Digital Plus 7.1
French (Canada): Dolby Digital 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 A, B (C untested)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 5.0 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
The math is pretty simple. If a digitally animated kids movie is wildly successful -- say, The Croods, which raked in well over half a billion dollars in box office returns -- then a sequel will follow on its heels. The Croods: A New Age wasn't exactly churned out with the speed that many anticipated, languishing about a full seven years before release only to pull in around 30% of the original's box office because of the bad timing to be finished in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Ignore the box office numbers, then; this is a solid, fun-loving sequel that would have certainly done much better business if business was business as usual. While the franchise is hardly the standard-bearer for its kind, there's no mistaking its keen ability to blend old and new to humorous result. This sequel takes that a step further.
Nothing wrong here. The Croods: A New Age evolves onto Blu-ray with a razor-sharp and abundantly colorful 1008p transfer. The image is terrific in all areas, bringing all but the finest textural intricacies this format can display with slightly finer output reserved for the UHD release. But those watching exclusively on Blu-ray will never be left wanting more. The film couldn't be more precise, any more sharp, any more perfect. There's a fine sense of depth to the image (amplified for the 3-D release) and abundant definition to foreground and background elements alike. Everything is digital-sharp and just as vital the picture reveals exemplary texturing to faces, clothes, and the myriad of environments seen throughout the film, with particular attention paid to the contrasting worlds of the pre-Betterman scenes and the post-Betterman scenes. But no matter where, there's not a soft object, a poorly defined face, a flat piece of clothing; everything is rich in textural definition and sharp as a tack. Colors are just as exciting. This film is much more colorful than its predecessor. Even before the Bettermans come into the picture the uptick in aggressive coloring is notable, but once inside their compound colors spring forth as if from a rainbow fountain. Everything is eye-popping for tonal diversity and intensive color saturation. The image is spectacularly vivid across leaves, animals, and a number of support elements. Character skin tones are excellent and blacks are perfect. The image shows no signs of poor compression and there are no innate source blemishes to report, either. This is digital animation on Blu-ray at its very best.
The Croods: A New Age features a Dolby Atmos soundtrack, the same track found on the companion UHD release. The audio presentation is perfectly capable. It's large and in charge, a fun and fully engaging listen that carries the material with effortless verve and vigor. Clarity is outstanding even as the soundstage is regularly pelted with various sound effects, emanating here, moving there, all in seamless, saturating harmony. There's no corner left unfilled and no speaker left unused. The track is fully active with seamless harmony in every speaker and through the range of crisp high notes to deep and rumbly lows. Whether well spaced music or fully charged action elements, the Atmos track delights side to side, front to back, top to bottom. Discrete overhead use is not commonplace but it's a lot of fun when it's needed, such as during a scene in which monkeys stampede through the stage in the 50-minute mark. The sense of overhead movement and scene critical top end saturation is quite impressive, and that the track maintains balance and detail through the chaos is even more delightful. Dialogue is clear and center positioned, rounding a first-class track into top form.
The Croods: A New Age includes a commentary track, a couple of meaty featurettes, and a handful of kid-friendly extras. A DVD copy of the
film and a Movies Anywhere digital copy code are included with purchase. This release ships with an embossed slipcover.
A New Age might very well split audiences. Grown-ups will find the first half more satisfying for its themes of family and, later, evolution to a new way of life while younger viewers will probably find the more action-packed second half more pleasing. But both ends have enough on offer to keep everyone more or less happy. It's a solid sequel, built not so much to be bigger and better but to move the world forward in meaningful ways, both within the focal Crood family and in the larger world around them. It's certainly a worthwhile follow-up that fans of the original should find to their liking. Universal's Blu-ray delivers perfect video, practically perfect audio, and a nice assortment of extras, most of which are kid-centric but there's some stuff for the grown-ups, too. Recommended.
2020
2020
with Water Bottle and 35pc Puzzle
2020
Gallery Book
2020
2013
2019
2020
2016
2018
2011
2021
2019
2014
20th Anniversary Edition
2001
2021
2013
2000
2012
2004
Collector's Edition
2022
2012
2001
Collector's Edition
2012
2007