Jack the Giant Slayer, the latest entry in the suddenly popular sub-genre of modern spins on fairy tales, offers up a fantasy adventure story aimed at teens and tweens. Released in March of 2013 after almost two years of post-production, it was quickly overshadowed at the box office by Oz the Great and Powerful. Its Blu-ray release release delivers a modest collection of special features as well as the expected modern digital perfection in terms of picture and sound. This near perfect rendering of some not particularly pleasant production design proves to be a mixed blessing.
Studio: Warner Brothers
Distributed By: N/A
Video Resolution and Encode: 1080P/AVC
Aspect Ratio: 2.39.1
Audio: English 5.1 DTS-HDMA
Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish, French
Rating: PG-13
Run Time: 1 Hr. 54 Min.
Package Includes: Blu-ray, DVD, UltraViolet
Standard ELITE Blu-ray case with inner case hubs for two discsDisc Type: BD50 (dual layer)
Region: A
Release Date: 06/18/2013
MSRP: $35.99
The Production Rating: 3/5
Trailer
"Kneel"
Video Rating: 5/5 3D Rating: NA
Audio Rating: 4.5/5
Special Features Rating: 2/5
- Ultraviolet Digital Copy Promo (1:22)
- Warner Blu-ray 3D Promo (1:49)
- Know Your Enemy (4:23) Discusses the designs of various giants who appear in the film, inclusive of the physical and personality quirks of individual giants. On camera comments are provided by Producer/Director Bryan Singer, Digiatl Effects Supervisor Eric Adrian Fernandes, Visual Effects Supervisor Stephen L. Rosenbaum, Bill Nighy (“General Fallon”).
- Suiting Up (3:55) focuses on costume designs, both physical and CG/virtual. On-camera comments are provided by Costume Designer Joanna Johnston, Singer, Hoult, Eleanor Tomlinson (“Isabelle”), Ewan McGregor (“Elmont”), and Stanley Tucci (“Roderick”).
- The Magic of a Beanstalk (3:03) looks at the various practical and virtual ways the giant beanstalk was realized on film. On-camera comments are provided by Singer, Hoult, Tomlinson, McGregor,and Eddie Marsan (“Crawe”)
- How to Zip (2:05) focuses on the beanstalk “zip-line” sequence and how it was realized cinematically through a combination of stunts and effects. On camera comments are provided by Hoult and Singer.
- Giant’s Kitchen (2:57) focuses on a set piece involving the attempt by numerous characters to escape from a giant’s kitchen. In addition to discussion of the practical and digital props and effects, there is some brief but interesting discussion about how elements of the scene were improvised on a motion capture stage. On-camera comments are provided by Set Decorator Richard Roberts, McGregor, and Hoult.
- Saving the Princess (2:17) discusses the character of Jack and his quest to rescue Isabelle with some particular emphasis on the escape set-piece heading down the beanstalk. On-camera comments come from Hoult, Singer, and Tomlinson.
- Attack Tactics (3:48) concentrates on the giant fighting methods employed by characters in key film sequences. On-camera comments come from Singer, Hoult, Tucci, Marsan, Animation Supervisor Jan Philip Cramer, Fernandes, and Tomlinson.
- Defending your Kingdom (3:05) Looks at the creation of the movie’s fairy-tale world combining spectacular real UK locations with practical and digital effects. The latter part of the featurette is devoted to the film’s climactic castle siege sequence.
- Reward (5:04) viewers making it to the top of the beanstalk (whether they have been choosing to watch the featurettes on the way or not) are rewarded with an extensive alternate opening sequence for the film consisting of pre-visualization and storyboard material with a couple of unused live action shots near the end.
- CG animatic of alternate opening (not the same as the alternate opening used as the reward for completing the Become a Giant Slayer feature)
- Jack encounters a precarious bridge when pursuing the giants who captured his friends
- Jack discovers cages where the giants detain several humans
- A giant falls from the sky on a guard in the middle of a conversation
- Jack is reunited briefly with his Uncle during the climactic siege
- Ultraviolet Digital Copy promo (1:20)
- Pacific Rim Theatrical Trailer (2:34)
- Man of Steel Theatrical Trailer (2:32)
- 42 Theatrical Trailer (2:27)
- The Amazing Burt Wonderstone home video trailer (2:28)
- Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox DTV Trailer (1:04)
Overall Rating: 3/5
Reviewed By: Ken_McAlinden
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