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Blu-ray Review Big Hero 6 Blu-ray Review (1 Viewer)

Matt Hough

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Big Hero 6 Blu-ray Review

Science nerds save the day in Walt Disney Animation’s delightful Big Hero 6. Adapting a Marvel Comics action franchise into an origin story first film via cutting edge and eye-popping animation and utilizing some voice actors new to the genre and all the more welcome with their fresh approaches to characterization, the Disney animators have captured a funny and bittersweet saga beautifully using CG techniques resulting in one of the best animated movies of 2014. Equal parts humor and heartbreak with revenge and redemption also on the menu, Big Hero 6 has a lot to offer animation fans of all ages.



Studio: Disney

Distributed By: N/A

Video Resolution and Encode: 1080P/AVC

Aspect Ratio: 2.39.1

Audio: English 7.1 DTS-HDMA, Spanish 5.1 DD, French 5.1 DD

Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish, French

Rating: PG

Run Time: 1 Hr. 41 Min.

Package Includes: Blu-ray, DVD, Digital Copy

keep case

Disc Type: BD50 (dual layer)

Region: ABC

Release Date: 02/24/2015

MSRP: $39.99




The Production Rating: 4/5

After his devoted brother Tadashi (Daniel Henney) is lost in a devastating explosion at the university where the gifted robotics student was trying to persuade his fourteen year-old genius brother to enroll, distraught Hiro Hamada (Ryan Potter) discovers something special his brother has left behind, a health care companion robot called Baymax (Scott Adsit) who becomes his closest friend. Hiro and Baymax join with his brother’s fellow student scientists stoner Fred (T.J. Miller), independent Go Go (Jamie Chung), persnickety Wasabi (Damon Wayans Jr.), and chemistry virtuoso Honey Lemon (Genesis Rodriguez) to track down the mysterious figure in a kabuki mask controlling millions of micro-bots, an invention of Hiro’s originally used to gain entrance into the university’s robotics program. The group suspects the enemy to be billionaire Alistair Krei (Alan Tudyk) who had originally offered Hiro a healthy price for his micro-bot invention but had been turned down much to the delight of university professor Robert Callaghan (James Cromwell) who mentors the robotics program at the university. But whoever the mystery villain is, the group knows it must stop him before he gains power over the entire world.

The screenplay by Robert L. Baird, Daniel Gerson, and Jordan Roberts based on the Marvel comics by Duncan Rouleau and Steven T. Seagle takes some risks early-on with the tragic death of the movie’s most appealing character from the get-go: Hiro’s loving brother Tadashi. Acting as a surrogate father figure (which robot Baymax then inherits once Tadashi meets his end), Tadashi is the brother all little boys dream of: patient, understanding if a bit firm, but still empowered with a sense of play. Once he’s gone, our attention turns to Baymax, and the writers and voice actor Scott Adsit win us over all over again with a series of wonderfully endearing encounters with Hiro which firmly seal their devotion to one another. The script includes some gentle lessons on the lack of satisfaction one achieves with revenge and celebrates the use of intelligence over pure brawn in solving problems. The nerds (an appellation which they all gleefully claim) rule the roost and even in the ridiculous superhero identities they forge for themselves once they set out to defeat their mysterious enemy, they remain joyfully identifiable and entertaining. The animators have a field day with several showcase sequences (all of them likely enhanced by 3D which, ruefully, Disney is foolishly once again not making available on Blu-ray in Region A) including a deliriously delightful soar through the skies of San Fransokyo once Hiro has transformed Baymax into a flying combat robot, the initial face-off with the villain where the heroes must compete against zillions of the micro-bots which can combine into any shape (astounding animation for those) and where his identity is revealed and the motivation for his evil is established, and the climactic encounter with both the villain and Hiro and Baymax’s valiant journey through a space warp to save someone precious at the risk of their own lives. In all of these, the combination of expert animation, tremendous voice acting, and just-right pacing gives the film the quality of a small gem.

Ryan Potter gets the full plate of emotions as young teen hero Hiro, initially cocky and impossible to reach who later through the series of film events becomes more even-tempered, considerate, and maturing with the help of friends and robots alike. Scott Adsit’s funny robot Baymax offers more laughs here than the actor managed during many seasons on NBC’s 30 Rock. Daniel Henney is the perfect big brother present for far too short a time, and the work of T.J. Miller, Jamie Chung, Damon Wayans Jr., and Genesis Rodriguez as the four friends who with Hiro and Maymax eventually form Big Hero 6 all suit their characters wonderfully. As the two adults involved in the activities of the heroes, James Cromwell and Alan Tudyk perform with directness and much expertise.


Huggable Baymax


Video Rating: 5/5  3D Rating: NA

The film’s theatrical aspect ratio of 2.39:1 is faithfully reproduced in this 1080p transfer using the AVC codec. Naturally, all of the perfection one expects from today’s animation wizards is on display: sharpness, sensational color that’s eye-popping without blooming or banding, black levels that run rich and deep, and contrast that has been expertly maintained. The film has been divided into 16 chapters.

The film was released theatrically in 3D, and a 3D Blu-ray is going to be released in other regions but not domestically. More’s the pity since several sequences appear to have been created expressly to showcase 3D effects and the film’s set pieces would all appear to have been even more dazzling in three dimensions. Once again, Disney is urged to reconsider their new corporate strategy in regard to Region A 3D Blu-ray releases.



Audio Rating: 4.5/5

While the DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 sound mix is an impressive one, one may find there is a slightly less immersive experience with this movie than has been present in other CG animated films of the past couple of years. Henry Jackman’s background rock score certainly gets superb placement throughout the entire soundstage, and there are plenty of examples of split effects panning across and through the soundfield. Dialogue has been expertly recorded and gets some directionalized placement during the movie though most of it is found in the center channel. It’s just that compared to the genuinely encompassing sound designs of Frozen and Wreck-It Ralph from Disney in recent years, this soundtrack seems just the tiniest bit less remarkable.



Special Features Rating: 3/5

Feast Theatrical Short (6:13, HD): the Oscar-nominated short which preceded Big Hero 6 in theaters.

The Origin Story of Big Hero 6: Hiro’s Journey (15:10, HD): actress Jamie Chung hosts a behind-the-scenes look at the movie’s production from initial search for material through location scouting and featuring brief interviews with directors Don Hall and Chris Williams, producer Roy Conli, writers Robert L. Baird and Daniel Gerson, production designer Paul Felix, and actor Scott Adsit.

Big Animator 6: The Characters Behind the Characters (6:39, HD): the six lead animators on the film have a roundtable discussion on the personalities of the major characters and how those were adapted or invented for the film.

Deleted Scenes (13:10, HD): directors Don Hall and Chris Williams introduce each of the four deleted scenes (done in storyboard form) which can be viewed separately or in montage.

Big Hero Secrets (2:45, HD): an Easter Egg which reveals many hidden paeans to Disney features embedded throughout Big Hero 6.

Theatrical Trailer (1:41, HD)

Promo Trailers (HD): Inside Out, Aladdin, Tinker Bell and the Land of the Neverbeast.

DVD/Digital Copy: disc and code sheet enclosed in the case



Overall Rating: 4/5

Another winner from the Disney Animation Studio (and one of the Oscar nominees for Best Animated Feature of 2014), Big Hero 6 combines laughs, thrills, and tears into a compelling package which both older and younger family members will find much to appreciate. While the lack of a 3D release stateside is regrettable, the video quality of the 2D version certainly leaves nothing to be desired. Recommended (though I think I’d look for the 3D version)!


Reviewed By: Matt Hough


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bujaki

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Jose Ortiz-Marrero
I enjoyed this film in 3D. Since this release lacks the 3D version, it's a no sale for me. Will look for it in another region.

Could it be that Disney is dumbing everything down to small fry who might be restless wearing the 3D glasses?
 

Jonathan Perregaux

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Jonathan Perregaux
I had to order Frozen from another side of our planet in order to get the 3D experience, which was actually worth the bother. Apparently Disney fixed that for Big Hero 6. So guess what? I ain't buying it.
 

Todd Erwin

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I'm torn about purchasing this one. Loved it when I saw it in 3D in the theater, but hate that Disney won't release it on Blu-ray in 3D here in the US.
 

RolandL

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I'll wait till its on Starz 3D On Demand. Watched Maleficent in 3D on Starz a few days ago. I liked the story, the 3D was just OK. The 3D in Frozen was a lot better.
 

RolandL

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Watched it in 3D last night on Starz. Side-by-side 3D but still looked good - 130 by 70 inch image from my Panasonic AE8000 projector.
 

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