6 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
In the Kingdom of las Rosas, located off of the Iberian Peninsula, a 17-year-old girl named Asha senses a darkness that no one else does about the kingdom's ruler, King Magnífico. This eventually leads to her trying to make a passionate plea to the stars in a moment of need. Soon, an actual star from the sky named Star answers Asha's wish. After the star falls from the sky, it is revealed that the star has magical powers to grant wishes as well. Together, Asha and Star must overcome the evils rising in Rosas and fight for a better future for their people.
Starring: Ariana DeBose, Chris Pine, Alan Tudyk, Angelique Cabral, Victor GarberFamily | 100% |
Animation | 99% |
Fantasy | 64% |
Adventure | 59% |
Musical | 36% |
Comedy | 35% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.55:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.55:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1
French (Canada): Dolby Digital 5.1
Spanish: 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 free
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 5.0 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 4.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
It was well nigh impossible to miss the "Disney 100" branding the venerable studio engaged in throughout 2023. It was on disc packaging, it was on discs, it accompanied virtually any visual offering of any kind, that, while not necessarily limited to home theater product, included Disney's own logo. It was therefore with undeniably noble intentions that the creatives at Disney decided to honor their centennial with a "very special" animated feature that would somehow sum up the entirety of the Disney canon. That may have been a fool's errand at best, for with that glut of material to somehow reference, this "new, improved" iteration of Disney's longtime theme song "when you wish upon a star" ends up feeling blandly generic more than anything, without the very "specificity" that is heralded as a Disney hallmark in the main making of featurette included on this disc. In terms of providing an homage to Disney's legacy, a considerably more compact and arguably effective production is the Once Upon a Studio short also included as an extra, where instead of "referencing" Disney animated efforts, they're overtly all together on the screen, at least in terms of the major characters inhabiting those many films.
Wish is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Disney / Buena Vista with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 2.55:1. Perhaps surprisingly, this had "only" a 2K DI, but with animated fare that "lesser" resolution may be of relatively little importance, and this high definition presentation is often stunning, especially from a palette reproduction perspective. The design aesthetic here is what I might term the 2023-ish version of the midcentury modern approach that graced Disney's Sleeping Beauty, though with a more robust dimensionality. Detail levels are typically excellent throughout, with really solid line detail, but I think it's going to be the really gorgeous array of hues that captures a lot of the attention, at least for first time viewers. There's a really beautiful emphasis on teals and purples that play well off of Star's bright yellow, with hints of what might be called "traditional Disney evil green" permeating the climax in particular. If Star itself is a little fuzzy looking, other characters are rendered with typically excellent precision, whether those be humans, animals, or even plant life in the forest.
Disney once again offers different audio codecs on its 1080 and 4K UHD presentations, though I have to say the differences between this disc's DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 track and the 4K disc's Dolby Atmos track are relatively insignificant in my personal opinion. While there may be some increased verticality in moments like Star's descent from the heavens, the DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 track provides clear and consistent immersion in terms of both swirling ambient environmental effects and all of the musical elements. There's some really nice separation and clear engagement of various side and/or rear channels with regard to some of the batteries of percussion instruments in the underscore in particular that helps to create really fulsome surround effects. Dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly throughout. Optional English, French and Spanish subtitles are available.
Wish is a beautiful looking film, but it tells a story that is probably too generic to ever resonate very strongly. A curiously inartful song score also tends to distract rather than energize, leaving the bulk of the entertainment value in the visuals, which are typically sumptuous. Technical merits are first rate and the supplements very enjoyable, and the "snark hunt" aspect of the film may offer some fun for anyone who may be considering making a purchase.
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2016
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2021
Ultimate Collector's Edition
2016
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2008
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Dance Party Edition
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2015
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60th Anniversary Edition
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2008
2014