3D Blu-ray Movie Reviews

When Toy Story launched the digital animation genre in 1995, you just knew that every Hollywood studio would eventually set up its own department to cash in on the latest movie trend. Throw in vampires with the Twilight phenomenon and 3D with Avatar, and it was just a matter of time before all three concepts would be mixed together into one picture, hence we get this entertaining animated tale from Sony Pictures.

Dracula is a single, overprotective father who has gone to great pains to raise his only daughter, Mavis, as far away from humans as possible. He orders the construction of the Hotel Transylvania in the middle of nowhere, and it’s a hot-spot destination for a host of monsters to get away from it all. On his daughter’s 118th birthday—a mere teenager in vampire years—Dracula decides to throw her a birthday bash and invites all of his friends to attend. Unfortunately, Dracula breaks one of the rules that keeps his hotel hidden from human eyes, and a wayward 21-year-old hiker discovers the mysterious fortress. Dracula does his best to get rid of the young man, but he soon discovers that his daughter has fallen in love with the human. What’s a father to do?

Sony has always done a great job with its video transfers, and that’s certainly the case here. The reference-quality 2D presentation boasts vivid detail, bright colors, and intricate digital set design. The 3D version doesn’t disappoint, but it loses a lot of brightness due to the glasses. There’s additional depth to the image and the occasional jump-through-the-screen moment that will have you ducking for cover. The audio track is loaded with discrete effects that help draw you into the picture. Dialogue is always intelligible, and there’s excellent imaging across the front soundstage with ample LFE.

Disc-based supplements include an audio commentary, deleted scenes, a smattering of making-of featurettes, and a short animated story from the Hotel Transylvania universe called Goodnight, Mr. Foot. Also included are a DVD and UltraViolet Digital Copy of the film.

Technically speaking, Hotel Transylvania is a surefire winner. Its audio and video prowess will keep the kids glued to the TV screen with its bright visuals and engaging soundtrack. Where it ultimately falls short is with its pedestrian “been there, done that” storyline, but I doubt the young ones will mind as much as the parents.

Blu-Ray 3D
Studio: Sony, 2012
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Audio Format: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Length: 92 mins.
MPAA Rating: PG
Director: Genndy Tartakovsky
Starring: Adam Sandler, Selena Gomez, Andy Samberg