Cars 2 (Five-Disc Combo: Blu-ray 3D / Blu-ray / DVD / Digital Copy) Reviews

 

What can I say?  I love 3D!  From the moment I began watching 3D content in my home I quickly discovered that I needed more content.  I suspect that those of you just purchasing your first 3D hardware will acquire the same ferocious appetite.  That's why I became the HTF 3D ADDICT.  I personally love images that pop off the screen and come inches away from your face without becoming overly gimmicky.  However, I certainly appreciate the nature documentaries that offer beautiful depth and separation.  These are not necessarily reviews of the film themselves.  I am not going to concentrate on story or supplements -- you can find the 2D reviews elsewhere on this forum.  My job is to let you know exactly what kind of 3D experience to expect from the titles that are being released.   As I will be receiving a handful of new product from the studios expect to see more title coverage.

 

 

 

 

CARS 2

  

Studio: Walt Disney

Product Release: November 1, 2011

Ratio: 2.39:1

Audio: 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio. French and Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital EX

Running Time: 106 Minutes

Rating: G

 

 

ON A SCALE 0-5

Overall 3D Presentation Rating: 3

3D Separation: 2

3D In Yo' Face Factor: 1

 

 

The idea of Pixar making an animated film that humanizes automobiles may

have first seemed an odd choice when the original Cars film premiered in 2006,

but audiences seemed to have immediately fallen in love with its family-friendly

testimonial to heartland America, Nascar and the towns and tourist attractions

that used to line Route 66.  

 

Unfortunately, Cars 2 retains none of the charm of its predecessor.  In fact, 

it's an utter, complete mess of a film that somehow gets turned into a loud,

complex shoot-em-up spy thriller that completely ignores all the elements of

what makes a great Pixar movie including intriguing story, character development

and relationships that invoke some sort of emotional investment by its audience.

 

 

This time around, the film centers upon two sub stories.  The first involves 

Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) who agrees to participate in the championship

World Grand Prix race against a Italian Formula One Francesco Bernoulli 

(John Torturro),  The second involves the good-hearted Tow Mater (Larry the 

Cable Guy) getting cluelessly involved in a spy ring headed up by British agent

Finn McMissile (Michael Caine) and love interest Holley Shiftwell (Emily Mortimer)

who face off against the villainous monocle-wearing weapons designer Professor

Zündapp (Thomas Kretschmann).  

 

 

One would think that filling the screen with colorful racing cars and fast-edited

action scenes would hold the interest of Pixar's target audience.  However,

somehow the story gets totally bogged down with over-the-top violence and jokes

that mostly aim more towards adult audiences than kids (though there is the inclusion

of un-warranted toilet humor).  In essence, Pixar has taken the focus away from its

lovable characters and put it towards a complex plot that adds to much weight

to the film's overall enjoyment.

 

Disney has always been noted for its first-rate transfers and this one is no 

exception.  The pristine transfer allows for the film's beautifully animated cars

to show off their shiny clear-coats. The pure digital transfer shows an unparalleled

level of sharpness that brings out deep rich rich textures within the animation.

Colors are stunning here, particularly in the Tokyo race sequences where brilliant

neons dazzle the eyes.  There are absolutely no flaws to be found here.

 

 

My biggest complaint outside of the film's plot, is its 3D presentation.  Like

the story, it seems to be mostly ineffective and all over the map offering 

varying degrees of depth from scene to scene.  While the process does manage

to add realism and make the film somewhat more immersive, one could easily

argue that the 3D adds no real value to this film at all.  Most of the scenes seem

quite flat, offering a minimal amount of depth.  The level of depth seems to open

up in town shots of Radiator Springs, Paris, and along the winding roads of the

Italian countryside.  In fact, it isn't until 3/4 of the way through the film during 

a scene inside the London clock tower that one gets the sense that the filmmakers

were making good use of the format with their placement of various objects.  This

leads to one of the biggest arguments I have been making against 3D as of late....

why don't filmmakers make better use of the format?    Theaters and Home

Entertainment companies are charging a premium to watch a film like Cars 2

where there is absolutely no payoff for the audience.  With all the props at

the filmmakers disposal, why couldn't some WOW factor be interjected into

the film?  How much more enjoyable would a film like this have been if objects

flew out towards the audience.  Isn't this what makes 3D what it is?   Instead, 

Cars 2 keeps all its action within the confines of the screen.  There is nothing

of WOW value here except perhaps a few fenders attempting to poke out

beyond its boundaries.  As I sat and watched, I couldn't help but be aggravated

over the fact that people paid good money to see a film like this in 3D and

probably walked away extremely dissatisfied.

 

 

The film has a rather punchy 7.1 DTS-HD track, downconverted to 

5.1 on my system.  Viewers will find themselves immersed in 360-degree

audio that places them in the middle of the action.  A great example

of this is the race sequences where revving engines dash across 

the channels with a gratifying amount underlying bass while the surrounds

come alive with the sounds of roaring crowds.   Dialogue remains stiffly

in the center channel as the surrounds give a wealth of support for

the film's effect noises which are well placed throughout with a nice

sense of directionality.  Michael Giacchino, who has written scores

for films like Star Trek (2009), Ratatouille, Up and Super 8 provides

a soundtrack that is not only mostly forgettable, but easily gets lost

amidst all the noise of the film.

 

Cars 2 arrives as a 5-disc combo set comprised of 3D Blu-ray, 

2D Blu-ray, Blu-Ray Bonus, DVD and DIgital Copy packaged in

lenticular packaging.

 

The 3D disc includes the short Air Mater in 3D, which is a

sort of light-natured story about Tow Mater becoming part of 

the Falcon Hawk squad while giving us an introduction to the

upcoming Planes series.  The 3D is adequate here, giving us

nice depth, but nothing eye-popping.

 

The 2D Blu-ray and DVD disc also offers Air Mater as well 

as the theatrical short, Hawaiian Vacation.  A Director's commentary

is offered along with the film feature.  The Blu-ray bonus disc

offers interactive access to deleted scenes, documentaries,

animation and more from different locations in the movie. 

 

 

CONCLUSION

 

 

Cars 2 completely runs out of gas, failing to connect to its audience

on any level.  Furthermore, it's one of those films that could have

possibly been saved by being a satisfying 3D experience, but alas,

even fails at that.  

 

Only true fans of the series will appreciate the film.  I would expect

kids will quickly become bored by the film's complex storyline.  This

film certainly should not be considered for a blind purchase based on

expectations from the original film.   Though at the time of this review,

there was only a $7 difference in price between the 2D and 3D offerings,

I am uncertain whether the extra expense offers a better viewing experience.

 

 

Images are for illustrative purpose only not representative of the picture quality of this disc. 

 

Equipment

 

LG 60PX950 THX Certified 3D display

Oppo BDP-93 3D Blu-ray Player

Denon 3311CI Receiver

Atlantic Technology H-PAS AT-1 fronts, 4400 center; 4200 rear speakers

SV Sound Subwoofer