7.5 | / 10 |
Users | 3.6 | |
Reviewer | 4.5 | |
Overall | 3.6 |
Two dogs escape the research facility where they've been subjected to cruel experiments, and are subsequently hunted by the government because they may carry the plague.
Starring: John Hurt, Christopher Benjamin, James Bolam, Nigel Hawthorne, Warren MitchellAnimation | 100% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Adventure | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (48kHz, 16-bit)
English
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (locked)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
Director Martin Rosen wanted to make animated films for a slightly older audience, eschewing the lure of creating cartoons for all ages, trying to craft something distinct for crowds craving a more sophisticated look at the storytelling art form. 1979’s “Watership Down” turned out be a hit for Rosen, with his gamble to craft a more severe tone for his adaptation of Richard Adams’s celebrated novel paying off, creating a legion of fans that remains to this day. Pressing his luck, Rosen returns to Adams for his follow-up, taking on the considerable challenge of bringing “The Plague Dogs,” his 1977 book, to the screen, and doing so with even more attention to the reality of dramatic entanglements for the main characters. If “Watership Down” was mildly unsettling, “The Plague Dogs” is likely to put many viewers into the fetal position, though Rosen manages such bleakness with wonderful artistry and voice talent, giving this summation of animal cruelty and survival need texture and soul as it deals with unthinkable horrors facing its cast of stressed animals.
Trying to please fans of "The Plague Dogs," Shout Factory manages to pull off something special for the Blu-ray release, offering the Extended Cut of the movie. To help fill in for what was edited, a U.K. film print has been obtained, blended into the 2K scan of the Theatrical Cut. The results aren't problematic, as the feature is a fairly dark creation to begin with, keeping jarring resolution dips out of the AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation. Detail stays consistently soft throughout, offering some texture from the original animation, retaining intended artistry, while the great outdoors remains dimensional throughout several environments. Hues are secure, handling the bleak palette of testing center interiors and more naturalistic visions of nature, including warmer sunsets. Character colors are equally defined, with a brighter orange for Tod. Delineation has some challenges, but most frame information is accessible, though some of Rowf's close-ups solidify. Source is in healthy shape, with a few scratches and chemical spots, along with scattered speckling.
The 2.0 DTS-HD sound mix provides a clear understanding of elements, though some age and production limitations are detected. Dialogue exchanges are clear, which is necessary to keep up with accents and slang, which can be pretty heavy at times. Distinctions between human and animal conversations are also achieved. Scoring supports with reasonable heft and appealing instrumentation, and soundtrack selections are acceptable, setting the period mood. Atmospherics are engaging, detailing changes in weather and locations. Community efforts from man and animal are also captured without muddiness. A few pops are found along the way.
"The Plague Dogs" is artfully animated with a fine cinematic style, and voice work hits emotional beats with complete accuracy (Patrick Stewart is featured as a military official), with Rosen making sure quality is tended to before he descends into a depressive abyss concerning the fate of the main characters. This is not a film to passively enjoy. It hits hard, and does so with storytelling bravery, asking viewers to embark on an adventure with damaged, starving dogs. Tonally, Rosen is on a tightrope over Niagara Falls here, and the effort is laudable, but "The Plague Dogs" is strictly for those who know what they're getting into, allowing them time to appreciate what Rosen and the production pull off with care and attention to animated detail.
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