Rating:  -
Before anyone starts saying this has not been released yet and there cannot be a review of the Bluray edition let me tell you this, this movie has been available in Japan and Mexico for quite some time now, and I was able to get a copy of the Mexican edition, which was at one time, identical to the one to be released in the US. It is a 3 disc edition (2 BD plus DVD copy of the movie), this has now been changed to a 4 disc set in the US to include the additional digital copy.
Disc one starts with an intro by director Pete Docter, in which he pretty much explains all the contents in this 'glorious' high definition version of the movie. A mini documentary on the 'Monsters, Inc: Ride & Go Seek ' ride in Disney Japan is also included. The highlight to me was the creators 'Round table' in which they talk about the process of creating the movie, some deleted scenes not included in prior DVD versions are shown here and they finally explained to me why is it so difficult to get a reservation at 'Harryhausen's' if all the staff from the scare floor seems to hang around there!
The Pixar shorts 'For the birds' and 'Mike's new car' (originally made on 4:3 format) are also included in HD format (as previously released in 'Pixar shorts)
The movie is presented in 1:85:1 aspect ratio. The word that comes to mind to describe how this looks is simply 'Beautiful', the colors, the textures, Sullivan's fur, the character's skin textures, Roz' sweater. Details pop up, colors are bright and clear. I had never noted that the real name of 'Boo' is actually in the movie until I saw it on Bluray!
The audio is another improvement of this BD edition. Presented in an uncompressed 5.1 track, the music by Randy Newman and the sound effects (check the audio in the door chamber sequence or every time 'Boo' laughs/cries and there is a power variation) sound just great. Spanish and French Dolby Digital tracks are also included. An audio commentary with the creators provides a lot of details of the movie, since I have watched this over and over with my 2 year old kid I have been able to play the commentary a couple times so he watches the movie and I learn about how it was made.
One thing I noted though, the end credits in the Bluray are not the same as in the DVD. The DVD will have the bloopers play while the credits roll, while the Bluray does not. Those 'Bloopers' though are included in disc 2 as additional features.
Disc 2 includes a feature called the 'Employee's manual' Additional spots created to promote the film are included too. Storyboards and drawings from the artists in HD as well as the '100 doors challenge', which is like a trivia game in which based on your responses you will be offered a position in Monsters Inc. Disc 3 as mentioned earlier, is a DVD copy of the movie (in the Mexican edition the 4:3 presentation is included, NOT widescreen) which is great as my kid can have that to watch it as many times as he desires.
Fans of the movie or any Pixar movie should not miss this!
Rating: -
REVIEW REPRINTED FROM "KIDS' FLICKS (DADS PICKS)" BY TOM LAMARR
[...]
"Monsters, Inc. saved my life."
So began a recent meeting of Teletubbies Survivors.
The dad continued quietly, glancing down at his hands as he spoke. "Someone gave it to us, used, might even have been on VHS. I was losing hope, didn't think I'd ever watch anything funny or clever again. I mean, have you ever seen Barney's Adventure Bus on widescreen HD? I love you, you love me... I don't think so."
"But there was Arthur," a mom spoke up. "That show's well written... and funny. And Sesame Street has its moments."
"Monsters, Inc. was different," the dad said. "The characters were likable and interesting. The humor worked--that opening scene is ingenious--and the plot had real tension. I didn't know computer animation had progressed that far."
"What about the ending?" an older mom volunteered. "Talk about emotionally satisfying. Monsters, Inc. has got to be my favorite movie with either John Goodman or Billy Crystal, and that's saying a lot."
"Has anyone been to the interactive theater in Disney World?" another Survivor asked, showing genuine excitement in her voice. "It's one of the few things they've added in the past ten years. Very well done. Highly recommended."
"I had a question about something else," a dad new to the group spoke up. "What was the significance of that vacuum cleaner pet or robot or whatever it was on Teletubbies?"
"Please," said the first dad, surprising the others with his volume. "Not tonight. I'm just not up for it."
"Noo-noo," a woman murmured near the back of the room. "Noo-noo."
"Now see what you've done!" snapped the mom in the seat to her left. "Jen's crying."
"No one wants to think about that part of our lives right now," the first dad said. "Let's share memories of Monsters, Inc."
[...]
Rating: -
I think that the whole delay is because they're including something else. Previously the info about the package said it was gonna be a 3-Discs edition and now it says it will be 4 discs.
Here at Costa Rica, you can get the 3 Discs Bluray version, with English, French and Spanish audio which includes 2 blurays (one of the movie, and one with extras) and disc 3 is the movie on DVD.
I really don't see the point about including a DVD with the movie if you're getting the same movie on bluray, but I guess is just another way to charge more. I guess 4 disc on the version at amazon will feature a digital copy of the movie.
I hope is something else than a digital copy disc, because having all you people waiting months and months just for that, I think is not quite fair; specially since the bluray is already available. Also Latin America blurays are zone A just like USA and Canada, therefore I don't see the point for such delay on Amazon or North America.
Maybe Disney is trying to make more money out of you for the holidays, so think about that!
Rating: -
I received package in great time. Plays wonderfully. No complaints. Would buy from them again.
Rating:  -
All new buyer be aware that this DVD is available at Spanish Books on the web and links to Amazon. I assumed that this would be in Spanish as the detailed description says so, in addition to english and when I received the DVD which was in good condition, even tho used, it was in English.
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