Meet The Robinsons 3D [Blu-ray] 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.

 

 

 

 

MEET THE ROBINSONS

  

Studio: Walt Disney

Product Release: November 8, 2011

Ratio: 1.85:1

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

Running Time: 95 Minutes

Rating: G

 

 

ON A SCALE 0-5

Overall 3D Presentation Rating: 5

3D Separation: 5

3D In Yo' Face Factor: 4

 

 

Keep Moving Forward

 

 

Most of you are about to realize what a very special time

this is for 3D enthusiasts.  Up until recently, studios have 

been rather sporadic in releasing quality 3D films to store 

shelves.  However, it took one studio's firm commitment to

releasing quality content to a starving market to really turn

things around.  That studio, of course, is none other than

Walt Disney.  

 

Over the next two weeks Walt Disney will be releasing some of

the best 3D titles that I have had the pleasure of watching including

the Toy Story, Toy Story 2, Toy Story 3 and Bolt.  These films are 

exceptional demo-worthy material for your newly-invested display

and represent the very best of what this format has to offer to home

audiences.  Today, I am going to add one more title to that list: 

Meet The Robinsons.

 

 

12 year old orphan boy, Lewis (Daniel Hansen), a budding

genius in science and technology, is frustrated over not being

adopted or being accepted for who he is.  Lewis spends his

days working on a memory device, much to the disgruntlement

of his brooding roommate, "Goob" (Matthew Josten).  

 

Things suddenly turn upside down upon meeting a young teenager

named Wilbur Robinson (Wesley Singerman), who has traveled

from the future to protect Lewis from an evil guy wearing a bowler hat

(Stephen J Anderson).  At first, Lewis doesn't believe Wilbur's story,

that is, until they embark on hovercraft ride into the future.  It is in this

forthcoming timeline that he meets The Robinsons, perhaps the
zaniest cast of madcap characters ever assembled in a Disney film

all at once.   WIth Bowler Hat Guy in hot pursuit, Lewis now must

repair an alteration in the space-time continuum and save his newly

found family from being perished forever.

 

 

Meet The Robinsons was one of  the last computer animated films

produced by Walt Disney Studios prior to its acquisition of Pixar.  Made

entirely within the digital 3D format, Disney animators have once again

breathed life into their animated characters providing their audience with

an appealing, heartwarming story filled with a plethora of pop cultural

references and spoofs of movies and television that will keep everyone

in the family smiling.

 

Meet The Robinsons looks spectacular on 3D Blu-ray.  It's bright,

ultra-colorful and has a wonderful sheen that lends to the widening

of eyes upon taking it all in.  Really, I cannot overemphasize enough

how brilliant a transfer this is.  I rarely have the opportunity to witness

images so stunningly beautiful, enhanced in 3D, where everything

seems so life-like.  Black levels are excellent. This is about as

crystal-clear a transfer can get. Just wait until you watch the film's

opening sepia-toned flashback.  You'll marvel at its clarity, Not a blemish

nor artifact to be found anywhere.  In short, this is demo-worthy material.

 

 

The inclusion of 3D makes this film even more of an eye-popping

experience for the viewer.  There is a heightened sense of virtual

spacing created by the separation and sizing of foreground and

background objects.  The filmmakers take ample opportunities to

throw objects out towards the audience, though unfortunately, the

effect is not as extended as I would have hoped. Still, there is no

cause to be unhappy here.  The film still manages to dazzle the

viewer with some really cool 3D effects that include flying sparks,

spraying water, spouting lava, spewing peanut butter and kicked-up

dirt.  Once in a while we get treated to objects that project themselves

outward such as the wing of a hovercraft, the head of a robot or the

chin, fingers and shoes of the Bowler Hat Guy.  

 

There is a minor problem with ghosting whose severity will probably

differ with each display.  It's not a major concern, mind you, but I 

did notice a lot of double-imaging that traced characters in many of

the darker scenes.  The first time we see Doris, the bowler cap 

hurtling in the air, or when fingers point themselves outwards, there

is a slight amount of crosstalk present.

 

 

The film's 5.1 DTS-MA track is exceptionally engaging. Audio is

quite hefty, well pronounced, and the rears provide enough effect

usage (including Bowler Hat Guy's menacing laugher) that the listening

environment remains perfectly balanced and well-rounded.  There

is a generous amount of LFE activity that underlines the movement

of the hovercraft or the arrival of a stomping Tyrannosaurus. 

 

Meet The Robinsons arrives as a 3-Disc Blu-ray combo package

(Blu-ray 3D+Blu-ray+DVD) in lenticular cardboard casing.  Bonus

features include audio commentary, deleted scenes, Inventing The

Robinsons featurette, games and music videos.

 

 

CONCLUSION

 

 

 

It was just this past week that I was touting the upcoming 3D

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