Product Description

The sub zero heroes are back. Scrat is still trying to nab the ever elusive nut, while maybe finding true love. Manny and Ellie await the birth of their mini-mammoth. Diego the saber toothed tiger wonders if he's growing too soft and Sid the sloth gets into trouble when he creates his own makeshift family by hijacking some dinosaur eggs. On a mission to rescue the hapless Sid, the gang ventures into a mysterious underground world, where they have some close encounters with dinosaurs, battle flora and fauna, run amuck and meet a relentless, one eyed, dino-hunting weasel named Buck.

Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs dazzles with a stupendous 3D Blu-ray presentation that's the most complete and problem-free of any of the four releases yet. The 3D effect is in full splendor right out of the gate with a nifty-looking Fox logo nestled amongst some snow-capped trees, but the best part comes via the way the on-screen text -- in this case "A News Corporation Company" -- seems to hover off the screen and over the rest of the image. As with the other 3D titles, this one's about depth perception first and a few scattered "gotcha" pop-out effects second. Like Coraline, not every scene delivers some exciting, deep, and dazzling 3D imagery; some of it looks little-to-no different than its 2D counterpart, but that's the point. 3D isn't about gimmicks, its about a more natural look that's reflective of a real-world environment comprised of three definitions. If something's flat, it's flat; there's nothing going on here that suggests that the filmmakers were overzealous with the 3D effects, instead allowing them to naturally become a part of the film rather than forcing into the frame for no good reason. That's the biggest contributor to the succes or failure of a 3D film, it would seem; make it real or don't make it at all. Of course, "real" is a relative term when discussing a computer-animated movie that features talking prehistoric animals, but the point is that nothing about this 3D presentation stands out as visually dishonest.

Still, there are plenty of times where "wow" just doesn't do the picture justice. There are the few obligatory scenes where animal snouts seem to stick out of the screen, but it's in the way the characters seem to have greater shape and a more realistic form that proves the image's most compelling element. Environments, too, look fantastic; backgrounds extend out at a more perceptibly deep distance whereby viewers will find a definitive balance between background and foreground elements and be able to better judge where everything is situated in relation one to another. A dance in chapter 13 between Scrat and his new girlfriend delivers one of those seemingly inconsequential but visually enthralling elements as something -- stars, dust, snow, who knows -- floats about the screen, each one appearing at some distance away from the other and creating a simple but breathtaking effect that's just as mesmerizing as the more obvious elements throughout the picture. Best of all, Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs seems free of distracting "ghosting" or double image elements. A few peek through during the end credits, but this is easily the most seamless 3D presentation yet in that regard.

As to the more traditional elements, Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs proves just as handsome as its Details are nothing short of striking. One could easily count the hairs on various characters' bodies in appropriately up-close shots, while the rougher texture of dinosaur skin or the many nuances seen on rocks, trees, plants, and ice sheets appear as crisp, smooth, and intricately detailed as most anything ever seen on an animated Blu-ray release. Colors, too, are excellent. The new underground dinosaur worlds allow the transfer to capture a wonderfully vibrant array of hues that look bright and pleasant even through the filter of the 3D glasses. The 3D presentation doesn't lose much, if any, vibrancy compared to the 2D version. Additionally, black levels excel; a cave scene in chapter seven is an excellent showpiece for the transfer's retention of both shadow detail and inky and honest blacks. Very slight banding is visible for but a few seconds worth of the movie; it's as slight as can be and in no way detracts from the viewing experience and, by extension, in no way lowers this disc's score. Fox's Blu-ray 3D presentation of Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs is, visually, the format's most stable and attractive yet. It's practically flawless, and the only downside is that owners of other than Panasonic gear will have to wait out what promises to be a lengthy exclusivity window if they want to enjoy this masterpiece of a 3D transfer at an affordable price.

Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs hatches a quality DTS-HD MA 7.1 lossless soundtrack that's very good but not quite at the level of the absolute best soundtracks. This is a very strong track that's audibly convincing in its recreation of the film's varied environments. It handles everything from Scrat's light scattering about the soundstage to the most prodigious thumps and roars that emante from the largest dinosaurs with an ease and naturalism that's hard to top. The track also delivers a healthy bit of atmospheric support throughout the film; thunder rolls gently about the stage in one scene, and rain saturates the listening area to nicely realistic effect. Bass rumbles with authority on several occasions; it's never overbearing, but it could stand a slight boost in power. As it is, though, it's relatively convincing and positively tight, finding a nice mixture between excess and minimalism in a film aimed at smaller children. Music is nicely delivered, too, as it floats through the soundstage and emanates from the speakers with pinpoint clarity and a smoothness that ranks among the better presentations. Rounded out by crisp and accurate dialogue, Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs delivers a fine listen that's a good companion to the film's breathtaking 3D visuals.

3D Blu-ray DVD Movies Disc - Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs Features

Video
Video codec: MPEG-4 MVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1

Audio

Subtitles

Discs
50GB Blu-ray Disc
 

Package Content

3D Blu-ray DVD Movies Disc(50GB) - Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs x 1