Blu-ray Movie Reviews

Now "Bambi", Walt Disney's beloved coming-of-age story, will thrill a new generation of fans with its breathtakingly beautiful animation, soaring music and characters who will touch your heart - Bambi, the wide-eyed fawn, his playful pal Thumper, the lovable skunk Flower and wise Friend Owl.

Disney has been doing a spectacular job with their restorations and this is no exception. Bambi makes its Blu-ray debut with a stunning full frame HD transfer that is completely devoid of any blemishes. Aside from the obviously dated animation style, you’d never believe this film was so old. The opening sequences almost have a 3D look to them with incredible depth and definition. The simplistic animation blends in nicely with the matte backgrounds but the visual style does lend to a slight softness at times. Colors are somewhat subdued but completely noise free. The audio is presented in a 7.1 DTS-HD High Resolution mix that while newly mastered is a bit on the tame side. Ambiance is a bit better than the included theatrical mix, but definition is still a tad lacking. Dynamic range is limited as well, but I would expect as much for a animated feature of this time.

The 2-disc Diamond Edition also includes a DVD copy of the film along with a host of supplements. You get some new deleted scenes plus a song that wasn’t in the original. You also get some interactive features that include a look at the story meetings of the film. An interactive gallery, trailers and game are also included. The newest feature is the inclusion of Disney second screen. This allows you to follow along with even more interactive features on your laptop or iPad while watching the film.

Bambi is definitely a film from a different time. I couldn’t help but think that most of the little ones I know would become quite bored with the pacing of the film compared to the animated films of today. Still, it is a classic in every way and Disney has done a brilliant job with the restoration. A treat for any film collector’s shelf.