Blu-ray Movie Reviews

Mr. Browning (Colin Firth) has seven children he's trying to raise by himself and they need some serious discipline. When the latest nanny quits the job because of their malfeasance, the frustrated father hears a mysterious voice telling him he needs to hire Nanny McPhee (Emma Thompson) whose magical ways will set the kids on the proper path and strange things start to happen whenever they make the proper choice.

Writer/star Thompson does an admirable job in both jobs, although the film isn't in the same league as Mary Poppins. I liked the message but the story falls apart midway through the second act with its slapstick humor and I began to lose my patience.

Video Highlights

• VC-1/1080p encode on a BD25 disc
• Bold primary colors
• Fabulous detail
• Revealing shadows and inky blacks
• Virtually seamless CGI

Audio Highlights

• DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack
• Excellent sound design
• Enveloping surround track
• Intelligible dialog
• Realistic ambience

Fortunately the A/V presentation nearly makes up for the lackluster story. I loved the vivid color palette and when McPhee plants her suggestion in Mr. Brown's mind, you'll swear she's hanging from your ceiling.

Bonus Materials

• Audio commentary with director Kirk Jones and the children
• Casting the Children (SD)
• Village Life (SD)
• Nanny McPhee Makeover (SD)
• Deleted scens (SD)
• Gag Reel (SD)
• How Nanny McPhee Came to Be

Maybe the film caters to a demographic younger than my kids, but they were just as frustrated as I was with the production. Despite the fact that it doesn't have that timeless appeal as the aforementioned Mary Poppins, the presentation is first-rate and fans are in for an audio visual treat.

Release Date: August 17, 2010
Studio: Universal

Movie: 5/10
Picture: 9/10
Sound: 9/10

Review System

Source
Oppo BDP-83 Blu-ray player

Display
JVC DLA-RS1 projector
Stewart FireHawk screen (76.5" wide, 16:9)

Electronics
Onkyo Pro PR-SC885 pre/pro
Anthem PVA-7 power amplifier
Panamax M5400PM power conditioner

Speakers
M&K S-150s (L, C, R)
M&K SS-150s (LS, RS, SBL, SBR)
SVS PC-Ultra subwoofer

Cables
Monoprice HDMI cables (source to pre/pro)
Best Deal analog-audio cables
PureLink HDC Fiber Optic HDMI Cable System (15 meters) from pre/pro to projector

Acoustical treatments from GIK Acoustics