THE HTF 3D ADDICT: Open Season in 3D

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.

Open Season

Studio: Sony Pictures

Product Release: November 16, 2010

Ratio: 1.85:1

Audio: English, French, Portugese 5.1 DTS-HD MA, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital

Running Time: 86 Minutes

Rating: PG

ON A SCALE 0-5

Overall 3D Presentation Rating: 5

3D Separation: 5

3D In Yo' Face Factor: 3

SONY DOES 3D RIGHT!

I have been very impressed with what I have seen from Sony 3D

animation thus far.  Following with my review of Cloudy with a 

chance of Meatballs, I now find myself visiting another animated

title from the studio, Open Season and boy, am I impressed!

A bear named Boog (Martin Lawrence) is rescued as a cub by a

forrest-ranger (Debra Messing) who gives the grizzly all the comforts

of home and stardom in a town stage show.  It's not until Boog 

rescues a one-antlered mule deer (Ashton Kucher) that mishaps

begin to occur that ultimately get the two thrown back into the wild.

So begins this all-too-familiar buddy movie that has the comedic

par-par-par-partners hoping to find their way back to town, meeting

talking forrest friends and foes while avoiding a trigger-happy hunter

(Gary Sinise).

Any faults you find with the story will quickly be redeemed by the 

quality of 3D.  This is one of the best 3D titles available to date.

The image is spellbinding. I was glued to the screen with my jaw

hanging open savoring every moment of the beautiful 3D images

that lay before me.   Okay....that's a little over the top, but how else

can I emphasize how beautiful this 3D transfer looks.

Filmed digitally, there isn't a spec or flaw to be seen here.  What

lies before you is pure digital bliss.  Image is piercingly crisp with

colors that are extremely vivid without being oversaturated.  

The 3D is what holds your attention here.  It's amazing, to say 

the least.  You can tell this film was made for the format as the

level of separation and detail is stunning.  The animators make

good use of placing forrest plants, grass, and branches in different

areas of the frame to produce varying amounts of perceived depth.

There is a wild chase down river rapids that looks spectacular.  

When there isn't any action on screen one cannot help but be 

enthralled with the beautiful landscapes and rich sunsets.

With all that said, I wish there was better use of objects 

leaping off the screen -- you know, it's what I call the "In Yo' Face"

3D.  There are so many missed opportunities here such as

when Bo destroys a local convenience store.  There are all kinds

of products thrown from the shelves into the air that come 

toward the camera but just fall short of breaking the fourth wall.

With kids being your primary audience, I would have thought the

film would have been a little more "gimmicky" with its 3D.

What we get instead is some nice protruding moments that

include animal noses, duck beaks, and water splashes.  

There is some ghosting to be seen, but it's rather minimal.

Most of it can be noticed in dark scenes that are illuminated 

by ambient light.  Certainly not a major problem here.

The DTS-HD soundtrack featuring the music of Paul Westerberg

plays wonderfully across the front channels with a nice level of

underlying bass.  Alas, the audio remains very front-heavy.  There 

are some cleverly placed effects placed in the surround channels 

(such as Bo scratching on the garage door), but it doesn't seem 

as if there's enough activity to make the audio as immersive as

the video.

Included are 3D trailers for Cloudy with a chance of Meatballs and Monster House.

CONCLUSION

I was very much entertained by Open Season despite the

fact it brings nothing new to the screen story wise.  Kids will

absolutely adore this film.  Parents will be just as satisfied,

though perhaps shocked by the most startling piece of

animated toilet humor I have ever seen in a kid's film.  

What really wins here is the 3D.  This is absolutely a

"MUST OWN" title that lives up to all the qualities I feel

makes 3D a compelling format.  

This is one GORGEOUS film glorified by 3D technology.

Equipment

LG 60PX950 THX Certified 3D display

LG BX580 3D Blu-ray Player

Denon 3808CI Receiver

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

SV Sound Subwoofer