Blu-ray Movie Reviews

This animated tale is based on Kate DiCamilla's award-winning 2004 book about an unordinary mouse born with big ears and even bigger dreams. Banished from home because of his desire to be a knight, Despereaux (voiced by Matthew Broderick) sets off with Roscuro (Dustin Hoffman) on a quest to rescue a princess (Emma Watson).

This is a visually stunning experience, but the film itself is a letdown. The script, penned by Gary Ross, is a mess and reaches too far, confusing younger audiences—and, to a certain extent, adults too. The slow first act made the 94-minute runtime seem longer than it was, but once the character introductions are out of the way, the pacing picks up and eventually saves the film from being a complete disaster.

Lacking the spit and polish of a Pixar release, Despereaux doesn't disappoint in 1080p. Colors aren't as vibrant as I've seen from other computer-animated features, but they fit the setting and mood. Depth and detail is first-rate in both the foregrounds and backgrounds, although inky blacks are difficult to find—in fact, they are more along the lines of dark gray. I've yet to see an animated title look bad on Blu-ray, and this is no exception.

The DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack definitely isn't in the same league as Pixar with its less-than-spectacular sound design. Dialog is intelligible and the front stereo spread is wide, but discrete effects are limited with the surround speakers providing minimal ambience. The score is by far the most impressive aspect of the track and elevates the overall audio experience.

The supplements include a "U-Control" PIP with interviews and behind-the-scenes footage, a game, two deleted songs, and a production featurette on the animation. Other Blu-ray exclusive features include a "making of" featurette, the "Top Ten Uses for Oversized Ears," and an exclusive sneak peek at Curious George 2.

The horrifically slow first act nearly sinks this tale before it has a chance to capture the audience, but the computer animation and incredible voice talents keep it interesting enough. The video presentation is fantastic and worth a rental for families with kids, but unless you're a big fan of the genre, there are better alternatives on Blu-ray.

Release Date: April 7, 2009
Studio: Universal

Movie: 6/10
Picture: 9/10
Sound: 8/10

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
Belkin PF60 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