The Tale of Despereaux Blu-ray Review

The Tale of Despereaux arrives on Blu-ray with a pleasing 1080p/VC-1 encode and a 2.35:1 aspect ratio, presenting a surprisingly intricate visual experience. While the initial impression might suggest an overly-brightened and somewhat hazy aesthetic, this eventually reveals a wealth of detail sublimely suited to the story's unique charm. The animation, sourced directly from the digital master, offers impressively clean visuals free of dirt, scratches, or digital noise. Acute attention to details is evident with finely rendered fur, delicate reflections, and the intricate settings of both the Mouseworld and Ratworld demonstrating three-dimensionality and depth. Rapid action and fluid camera movements are captured smoothly, without smearing or blurriness.

The Blu-ray transfer employs a rich, painterly sheen of colors, particularly in sequences set in the dungeons or Ratworld, where subdued orange hues and earthy reds effectively convey mood and atmosphere. The color palette across the film is deliberately muted to reinforce the narrative's old Europe aesthetic, with ambient textures contributing significantly to the visual storytelling. While the colors might not boast Pixar-like flamboyance, they exhibit a richness and saturation that brings scenes to life where intended. Early town scenes and castle chambers maintain a washed-out look by design, providing a cohesive look that underscores the thematic elements.

Technically, the presentation benefits from well-managed contrast and brightness, ensuring that even shadowy segments in the dungeon hold up well. Although black levels are not the deepest, the overall clarity is maintained, rendering shadow delineation effectively. No encoding errors or color banding diminish the viewing experience, with edge enhancement completely absent. The Blu-ray’s visuals deliver a thoroughly engaging and visually appealing experience that holds up well under repeated scrutiny, emphasizing detailed craftsmanship within each animated frame.

The DTS-HD MA 5.1 audio track on the Blu-ray presentation of "The Tale of Despereaux" delivers a solid, if somewhat restrained, auditory experience. Spread primarily across the front speakers, this mix offers a clear and reliably placed dialogue, ensuring characters' voices, such as Hoffman's and Broderick's performances, are vividly captured. William Ross’s score enjoys a well-integrated presence within the mix, embellishing the film's emotional and action-driven moments with warmth and depth. The frontal audio spread is wide, with specific impacts and action sequences, like the arena's rat chants and slapstick chases, nicely distributed for an engaging listening experience. However, the overall dynamic range doesn't quite reach the level of excellence one might anticipate for such a visually dynamic film.

Featuring a 24/48 kHz bit and sample rate lossless DTS-HD Master Audio track, this audio mix complements the film's visuals effectively without overwhelming the listener. Subtleties in the sound design, like the ship's creaking at the beginning, water dripping through catacombs, and scurrying rat feet, are articulated with precision. The Foley sounds capture directional subtleties with remarkable clarity, from mice feet to clothing rustling and simmering soup. The LFE channel is sparingly but effectively used, delivering bass frequencies extending below 25 Hz for added impact when needed. Dialog clarity and integration within the mix remain top-notch across varied scenes, maintaining coherence throughout.

Despite these strengths, the audio mix has moments that feel underwhelming, especially during sequences begging for more robust surround activity. The zooming camera movements and dynamic soup pot dashes lend themselves to energetic front and rear speaker activity, yet the lower frequencies are conservatively implemented. Even the quieter scenes maintain a pop but lack significant bass emphasis. This blend results in an admirably clean audio track that aligns well with the film's visual narrative but stops short of being truly impressive or immersive across its entirety.

Universal's Blu-ray release of "The Tale of Despereaux" comes equipped with an array of extra features that, while not groundbreaking, provide an insightful and entertaining peek behind the scenes. The U-Control feature offers Picture-in-Picture (PiP) options that include feature-length animatics, storyboards, interviews, and behind-the-scenes footage. While some elements may lean towards typical Electronic Press Kit (EPK) content, others, like the Scene Progressions, offer a genuinely detailed look at the animation process from initial sketches to final lighting. Additional perks include two deleted songs in animatic form, interactive games, and a sneak peek at "Curious George 2". Given the thorough inclusion of various production facets and lighter kid-friendly content, the extras on this disc offer both informative and fun experiences for viewers.

Extras included in this disc:

• The Making of the Movie: A standard documentary with interviews and production stories.
• Sneak Peek at ‘Curious George 2: Follow That Monkey': Preview of the direct-to-video sequel.
• Top 10 Uses for Oversized Ears: Humorous look at how Despereaux uses his large ears.
• Deleted Songs: Two excised songs shown in animatic form.
• Scene Progressions: Detailed look at animation stages of six film segments.
• Make Your Own Soup Game: Interactive game allowing users to create virtual soups.

Additionally accessible via U-Control:

• Feature-length animatics and storyboards.

"The Tale of Despereaux" evokes a mix of enchantment and bewilderment with its unconventional approach to storytelling. While the richly detailed world and surprisingly dark plot twists captivate those willing to dive into its murky depths, the narrative often struggles under the weight of competing elements. Despite this, the movie presents an abstract yet engaging deviation from typical "cute-critter" tales, offering solid family fare for those open to its unique charm.

Technically, the voice talents—ranging from Matthew Broderick as Despereaux to Dustin Hoffman as Roscuro—deliver commendable performances, but they sometimes feel underutilized due to a scattered and unfocused narrative. The direction by Robert Stevenhagen and Sam Fell, conducted via email and videoconferencing, results in scenes that meander and miss the beat of cohesive storytelling. Key plot sequences, such as Roscuro's ill-fated fall into the queen's soup that triggers a kingdom-wide ban on both soup and rats, are striking yet lack the emotional depth needed to engage fully.

Visually, the movie toggles between vibrant medieval aesthetics and less compelling animated sequences that can feel half-rendered. This mixed execution detracts from the potential for dramatic immersion, and while Sigourney Weaver's narration strives to stitch the story together, it often feels overbearing. For animation aficionados yearning for a more cohesive rodent-centric culinary adventure, "Ratatouille" remains a superior alternative. Nevertheless, "The Tale of Despereaux" may still find its niche among audiences seeking an offbeat fairy tale experience.

The Tale of Despereaux on Blu Ray is a technically competent release marred by notable shortcomings. While the animation is visually stunning and the audio quality is satisfying, the narrative falls short of its ambitious goals, resulting in an uneven viewing experience. The story, laden with numerous elements, becomes tedious to follow and lacks cohesion. This issue is mitigated slightly upon subsequent viewings when one can better parse out the extraneous components that bog down the narrative flow.

From a technical standpoint, the Blu Ray offers decent quality; however, it fails to reach exceptional standards. The video presentation, although visually appealing, does not elevate beyond solid HD clarity, and the audio mix, while engaging, is far from groundbreaking. Additionally, the special features included do not add significant value and are lackluster at best, offering little incentive for exploration.

In conclusion, The Tale of Despereaux is best suited for ardent fans of the original material or for family movie nights where children’s engagement is the primary goal. This Blu Ray release, though visually beautiful and acoustically pleasing, ultimately struggles due to its convoluted plot and underwhelming supplementary features. A cautious rental is recommended before considering a purchase.