- Joined
- Jul 3, 1997
- Messages
- 66,558
- Real Name
- Ronald Epstein
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.
Monsters vs. Aliens in 3D
Studio: DreamWorks
Product Release: Only available with Samsung hardware purchase
Ratio: 2.34:1
Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1
Running Time: 94 Minutes
Rating: PG
ON A SCALE 0-5
Overall 3D Presentation Rating: 5
3D Separation: 5
3D In Yo' Face Factor: 4
SAMSUNG COULD SELL A LOT OF DISPLAYS WITH THIS DISC
It seems like the best 3D discs are going to be the ones
you can't easily get your hands on. Avatar (soon to be reviewed)
is tied up with Panasonic and Monsters vs. Aliens is exclusive to
the purchase of Samsung displays.
No argument Monsters vs. Aliens is the best animated 3D I have
seen. I would go as far as saying that it sets the benchmark but
it's plagued with a problem that I will get into in a few moments
(though I am certain you can guess what it is already).
Monsters vs. Aliens is a lively, highly entertaining animated film
that gives nods to such famous classic "B" horror movies including
Attack of the 50 Foot Woman and Mothra.
Susan (Reese Witherspoon) is about to marry the man of her
dreams, a self-centered local weatherman -- that is, until she
is hit by a meteorite from space which causes her to grow to
monstrous size. The government seizes her and locks her up
with other monsters considered to be of her own kind. There's
the Jello-like B.O.B. (Seth Rogan), Dr. Cockroach (Hugh Laurie),
Insectosaurus and and The Missing Link (Will Arnett). All are
destined to be imprisoned for life, that is, until an evil alien named
Gallaxhar (Rainn Wilson) threatens Earth's existence and the only
hope of survival is through these unaccepted creatures.
Let's get to it. Monsters vs. Aliens on 3D Blu-ray is everything
you could hope for out of this format. Exceptional, perfect picture
quality, enriched with colors, where you can see detail down to
individual strands of hair. 3D depth and separation is at the moment
unmatched by any other animated title I have reviewed. Just
when I thought I had seen the best that 3D can offer, along comes
this title. It just blows away everything else that is out there for
now (prior to the release of Avatar).
I am even basking in the fact that there is a considerable amount
of "In Yo' Face" 3D leaping off the screen although within the first 5
minutes of the film it's pure gimmickry. Fingers reach out at you,
TV antenna's and the barrels of alien guns protrude right off the
screen.
...but that's not even the most remarkable aspect of the 3D.
Just take a look at moments like when General Monger (Keifer
Sutherland) is flying around on his jet pack. It's as if he's hovering
in mid-air apart from everything that is placed around him. This
is the kind of stuff that people need to watch to be sold on the
format.
But here's the problem that prevents Monsters vs. Aliens
from being called the current benchmark 3D: ghosting.
Back in February Adam Gregorich, Kevin Collins and I
looked at this title being demoed at a Samsung 3D event.
All of us saw ghosting that at the time we thought was more
inherent to the LCD/LED hardware (though we also suspected
transfer problems). The ghosting was much less noticeable
on plasma displays which is why we ultimately chose plasma
as the best way to watch 3D.
However, now that I am watching the film in its entirety,
I notice several scenes that have ghosting problems. Most
of it happens in dark scenes though on the day-lit scene upon
the Golden Gate Bridge I can still see ghosting within the
bridge cables.
It's a shame. Most of the bright scenes are so crisp and
razor sharp that the 3D just pops out at you. The overall
presentation is so monumental that you almost can forgive
the ghosting problems.
Perhaps there can be a total remaster of this film done
when the release goes public. One of the main reasons I
mention this is because of the audio. This disc features
a dolby digital 5.1 track but no lossless audio. This is a
huge loss because the mix is as engulfing as the imagery.
There are so many effect sounds whizzing around the
viewer's head. I mean, the audio is potent but if there is
the potential to liven it up, by all means the studio should.
CONCLUSION
When you see 3D like this -- so lifelike, so
unimaginable -- it's much easier to forgive its flaws.
Right now Monsters vs. Aliens is the best 3D animated
disc that is still out of most consumer's reach unless
they purchase a Samsung display. I can certainly see
why this title was chosen to be exclusive to the hardware
manufacturer.
That being said, I do hope that by the time this 3D
Blu-ray is released to the general market that there is
some remastering done to take care of the ghosting
problems and to incorporate a lossless audio track.
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