Let’s start with a little disclosure.  KATU is an ABC affiliate.  ABC is owned by Disney.  The fact is that I get a lot of Disney product in my mailbox so I review it.  I just want to get that out of the way so I’m not accused of homerism or cronyism. 

Trust me, Disney doesn’t need me to peddle their products.  Nevertheless, I review what I receive and the honest truth is that Disney does a very good job looking out for their customers.  They deliver entertaining, well-produced products and not too many people will dispute that.

With that out of the way, I’m once again going to gush over Disney’s new releases.  The latest films to hit home video are Up and Monsters, Inc., from the Pixar Animation Studio.  Pixar is not just a film company; it’s a collective of true artists. 

In my opinion, this group of incredibly talented filmmakers is the best in the business today.  Their success goes much deeper than the brilliant computer animated images they create.  They’re expert storytellers, able to deliver magic suitable for all ages where other companies and films fail.

Up

After a string of memorable films, you have to wonder when or if Pixar will ever have a misstep.  Don’t count on it here because Up is truly worthy of all the critical praise you heard upon its release last summer.   This is a film transcending the family film genre or even that of animation.  Up is beautiful, wonderful filmmaking with a story full of thrills, heart and true emotion.  I almost wonder if parts of it are too adult for the young audience it will be reaching.

You probably know that Up is about a man who uses thousands of balloons to float his house away on an amazing adventure.  That doesn’t happen for a while, though.  The opening 12 minutes is a short journey through Carl’s (Ed Asner) life.  The film starts with him as a child and a dozen minutes later, Up’s story truly begins with Carl as a senior.  I won’t ruin what happens during that duration, but there’s a montage capable of bringing tears to the eyes of anyone who has loved and lived.  It’s an amazing way to start a film and while the remainder of the film is standard Pixar fare, it’s still better than everything else on the family film market.

Up is heavy on theme and addresses topics such as family, obsessive quests, loneliness and closure.  It’s might be Pixar’s most adult film but kids will also have a blast.  Director Pete Docter shows that his hit Monsters, Inc. was no fluke and the animation, set pieces and story are again top notch. 

Up is now available in a special package for Blu-ray owners.  Up, like all of Pixar’s output, is a reference quality film for high definition owners.  If you have a friend doubting the magic of Blu-ray, just pop this one in and watch his eyes bug out.  It’s beautiful, crystal clear and spectacular. 

As a bonus, Disney includes a second disc with special bonus features, a standard definition DVD, and a digital copy for your portable device.

Special features include the Cine-Explore mode which allows you to watch Up with audio commentary from Pete Docter and Bob Peterson, while viewing special production art.  The main disc also comes with two bonus short animated features and a fascinating documentary on the Venezuelan locations which provide the setting for the second half of the film.  There are also alternate scenes and a hidden Easter egg.

Disc two comes with seven documentaries, covering the characters, the design of Carl’s house, the balloon animation, and composer Michael Giacchino’s (Lost) score.  You also get some alternate scenes a promo montage and a geography trivia game…all in glorious high definition.

Up continues Pixar’s dominance as the best film studio in operation today.  It’s a wonderful film that actually may appeal more to adults than to kids.  The movie looks great on Blu-ray and this is a must-own for Disney/Pixar fans or anyone looking to put their high definition television to the test.

Rated PG

The Movie
5 out of 5

The Blu-Ray Disc
5 out of 5

Monsters, Inc.

As you tuck your little ones into bed tonight, rest assured their night terrors and the devilish beasts awaiting them in their closets are all for a good cause.  The screams of little children provide the clean and efficient energy powering Monstropolis and Sulley (John Goodman) and Mike (Billy Crystal) are the top producers in the business. 

Their lives get a little complicated when the sneaky Randall (Steve Buscemi) allows a child to escape into the monster world.  Before they can return the little tyke, Sulley grows attached and the trio has to struggle to stay a step ahead of the authorities and their rivals.

Monsters, Inc. is just as heart-warming and fun as you remember it, but now you can watch it in high definition.  This, along with Up, makes this week a Pete Docter double-shot.  He’s proven himself as a great animator and director and both of his films are worthy of a spot in your high-def collection.

Is it worth the upgrade?  That’s up to you.  I can tell you that you haven’t seen Monsters, Inc. this bright or vivid since you saw it in the theater.  The 1080p presentation is flawless and all the old bonus features from your old DVD are back (presented in standard definition). 

To sweeten the pot, Disney has included several new bonus features produced in high definition.  Like Up, the Monsters, Inc. Blu-ray is a four disc set with two Blu-ray discs, a standard definition DVD and a digital copy disc for your home computer or portable device.

New features include the 22-minute “Filmmakers Round Table” in which the artists discuss the creation of the film.  It’s an interesting conversation and includes a fascinating discussion on the effect 9/11 had on the filmmakers and the challenges that event posed. 

There’s also a 12-minute look at the Monster, Inc. ride at Tokyo Disneyland and a pretty challenging trivia and puzzle game.  The original DVD shorts, For the Birds, and Mike’s New Car are back and upgraded to 1080p.

You’ve seen the movie so the choice to upgrade is dependent on how much of a high-def junkie you are.  For me, once you go high-def there’s no going back so I’m all about upgrading, especially when the product is as high quality as this.  This is an excellent Blu-ray release and the picture and audio quality is impeccable.

Rated G

The Movie
4.5 out of 5

The Blu-ray Disc
5 out of 5