3D Blu-ray Review The Smurfs: THE HTF 3D ADDICT REVIEW (1 Viewer)

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.

THE SMURFS

Studio: Sony

Product Release: December 2, 2011

Ratio: 1.78:1

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

Running Time: 103 Minutes

Rating: PG

ON A SCALE 0-5

Overall 3D Presentation Rating: 3

3D Separation: 3

3D In Yo' Face Factor: 2

"I don't think we're in Smurf Village anymore!"

Based on a 1950's comic book by Belgian cartoonist Peyo Culliford,

The Smurfs rose to become one of the most highly popular animated

morning television shows during the 1980s.  Living in their Smurf Village,

these tiny blue creatures represented individual human characteristics

such as Brainy, Clumsy, Grouchy Handy, etc.  Each of these names

exemplified their own personalities.  Each day, the Smurfs would engage

in some sort of work activity, singing their Smurf songs,  while avoiding

capture from the evil Wizard known as Gargamel.

I have very fond memories of The Smurfs animated morning show.

I was in my early 20s and working in a local video store.  Every 

morning my co-workers and I would have an entire row of cable-driven

displays tuned to the NBC show.  It's sort of sad that with all the fond

nostalgia I have about that original cartoon series, that I found myself

fidgeting through this rather clumsy mixture of animation and live action

set in the city of Manhattan.

As the film opens, the Smurfs are readying for their annual Festival

of the Blue Moon.  However, it's not before long that Gargamel (played

by live Hank Azaria) and his cat, Azrael, is hot on the trails of a lone

Smurf who lead them to their hidden village.  The Smurfs manage to 

escape into a vortex that brings them to the modern-day city of

Manhattan where they become entangled with marketing executive

Patrick (Neil Patrick Harris) and his pregnant wife Grace (Jayma Mays).    

With Gargamel in hot pursuit to reap the Smurfs of their "essence,"

our blue heroes must quickly find a way to return home again.

The film features the voice talents of Jonathan Winters (Papa Smurf)

Katy Perry (Katy Perry) and Alan Cummings (Gutsy) who all do an

admirable job with their roles.  However, director Raja Gosnell brings

nothing fresh to this story which seems to be rehashes of familiar 

live/animated films.  In fact, instead of catering to its child audience,

the film aims completely over their heads with jokes related to adult

movies (Braveheart, Brokeback Mountain) and cameos by aging stars

that will go completely unnoticed by the younger generation.  

Sony has done a magnificent job with this 1080p transfer that looks

eye-popping in every way thanks to the high level of detail in both 

the animation and cityscape.  The level of sharpness and clarity is

outstanding. Because of this, the film lends itself to having an

"open window" effect where you feel as if you can reach out into

the picture itself. Without purposely paying attention to it, one easily

notices the intricate details of the animation such as eyebrow hairs or

clothing.  The balance of color and its textures really bring the film to

life. 

Unfortunately, watching The Smurfs in 3D is only a mediocre 

experience.  True, the process does add depth between the

characters and backgrounds, but the amount of separation is

more minimal here than most other 3D fare.  This is disappointing

as all the wonderful scenes shot in Manhattan, particularly within

Times Square, would have looked far more stunning had there been

more perceived depth.  Additionally, with a multitude of props at

their disposal, the filmmakers did very little to engage their young

audience.  Rarely is anything projected outwards.  If anything, there

is a point in the film where Gargamel's shoes seem to poke themselves 

forward.  A scene at the beginning of the film where the Smurfs

get sucked into the vortex provides some briefly impressive pullback

3D effects that involve flying leaves, but other than that, I can't say 

that I found this found this to be an involving experience.  

One of the most spectacular aspects of the 3D transfer is that 

despite the fact the film has several dark scenes where ghosting 

would usually rear its ugly head -- there is none to be seen here. 

The Smurfs is certainly more immersive sonically than it is visually.

The film's 5.1 DTS-MA soundtrack immediately wins the viewer over

with its wide dynamics and highly active surrounds that will keep heads

turning as character voices move from one channel to the other.

Dialogue is clear, remaining mainly in the center channel and the action

sequences are accented with a nice level of LFE support.

The Smurfs arrives as a 2-Disc combo with 3D and 2D feature encased

in lenticular slip-cover packaging.  Extras include Deleted & Extended

Scenes, 2 Commentary Tracks, Blu-pers, Happy Music Montage, Going

Gargamel, Meet the Cast, Progression Reels and The Smurfs: Comic

Book to the Big Screen featurette.

There are included 3D trailers for Arthur Christmas and Cloudy With

Meatballs.  However, the real treat here is the trailer for the upcoming

claymation film, The Pirates, which sports some outrageously cool

3D effects including the words, "The following preview has been 

approved...." moving out directly towards the audience.  If you are

going to remember anything about this Blu-ray disc, it will be that

particular trailer.

CONCLUSION

Whether I recommend one purchases The Smurfs in 3D is going

to depend on the who will ultimately be viewing the film.  This is

the kind of stuff that kids are going to eat up, and for that reason,

I suspect that this title will do quite well on Blu-ray.  For adults, 

however, there is nothing appealing about this film whatsoever 

including the 3D which is average at best.  If only the filmmakers

would have engaged the audience with all the film's cool props I would

have been far more forgiving of this film.

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