Review of Monsters, Inc. Deluxe Edition (2 Disc Set)

Introduction

Disney`s CGI animation studio offshoot Pixar stunned the world with Toy Story a few years ago, delivering a combination of state of the art visuals with a wonderful storyline, making the movie an instant hit around the world. An even more impressive story followed, which was subsequently joined by the equally entertaining A Bug`s Life. Pixar`s latest creation, Monster`s Inc, raises the bar yet again with breathtaking visuals and another comprehensive set of extra features.

The film is set in Monstropolis, a scream processing factory, where a variety of monsters go into the closets of children each night, scare them and capture their screams, turning them into power for the monster`s world.

Sulley and Mike are the most successful scream catching team in Monstropolis, but their abilities are seriously challenge when a young child, Boo, follows Sulley back to Monstropolis, and with the monsters being more scared of her than she is of them, things get complicated!

Video

The video is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen and looks simply incredible. The DVD features a direct-digital transfer from the master material and as a result, the picture quality is breathtaking, probably the best yet seen on DVD, and absolutely faultless. What looks good on a television looks even more impressive on a DLP projector, with the images exceptionally crisp and detailed no matter what medium they are viewed on.

Monster`s Inc is also a technological masterpiece, with the animation surpassing anything else previously created, making Toy Story and Dinosaur look positively ancient. The animation is superb, with incredible detail, all of which is beautifully recreated by the DVD. It`s not just the mesmerising detail of Sulley and Mike, with Sulley`s blue coat a revelation, it`s the small details, and often the scale of settings, the door room sequence being one of the most impressive effects sequences in any movie, regardless of whether it`s CGO or live action. All in all, this is reference quality throughout and well worth watching for the visuals alone.

Audio

Other versions of the movie feature a DTS 5.1 soundtrack alongside the Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack, but that is sadly lacking from the Region 1 release. However, the Dolby Digital 5.1 EX soundtrack present on this disc more than makes up for that disappointment, offering a nice sound mix that makes full use of the available channels, with effects and music coming at you from all directions.

The dialogue is always clears and understandable.

Features

There is a wealth of extra features spread over the two discs, starting with a commentary track on the first disc that gives the usual technical information and trivia. Also on disc one is the excellent short "Mike`s New Car" and the amusing "For the Birds" (which won the 2001 Oscar for Best Animated Short Film and a sneak peak of "Finding Nemo".

The second disc is split into the "Monster World" and "Human World" and offers numerous features including a handbook, history, games, facts, training, deleted scenes, 3D flyarounds, an art gallery, animation gags and behind the scenes footage.

The disc is packaged in an Amaray case and contains details of the extras and chapter breaks as well as other Disney promo materials.

Conclusion

Overall, Monster`s Inc is very worthwhile addition to the Disney/Pixar line up, featuring a very entertaining movie that is impeccably presented and always entertaining along with a wide range of extras. The reference quality visuals are the icing on the cake, and this disc comes highly recommended.