Alice Through the Looking Glass Blu-ray Review

Disney's "Alice Through the Looking Glass" truly capitalizes on its visual splendor, and the 1080p Blu-ray transfer does an excellent job of bringing this spectacle to life. Encoded in MPEG-4 AVC, the detailed presentation is sourced from a 3.4K resolution digital filming on the Arri Alexa XT, ultimately mastered at 2K, giving it a naturally rich and highly detailed appearance. The film's 1.85:1 aspect ratio ensures that every frame is meticulously filled with vibrant colors and intricate details. From the bustling docks to the elaborate costumes, the texture and quality are consistently exceptional. The meticulousness is evident through every fabric's density, the brickwork's definition, and even the skin textures, making for a deeply immersive viewing experience.

Colors in this Blu-ray presentation are both loud and balanced, with reds particularly standing out with their punchiness and nuanced precision. While the shadows and blacks maintain a solid, deep tone without crushing, the daylight scenes are bathed in an enthralling fantastical glow, enhancing the overall dreamlike aesthetic. There is a soft and ethereal quality to the skin tones, aligning well with the fantasy elements of the film, yet staying natural enough to showcase minute facial details such as makeup brush marks and lip textures vividly. Though some lower light scenes introduce light noise, it remains inconsequential to the viewing experience.

Depth and separation are notably impressive on this disc, echoing its theatrical 3D release. The environments, mainly CGI-rendered, possess palpable depth, particularly highlighted in dynamic scenes such as those involving ships and intricate settings like the Time Castle. Every gear and cog in these scenes is mesmerizingly clear, allowing the viewer to continually discover new elements upon repeated viewings. Overall, this Blu-ray stands as a reference-quality disc thanks to its consistent and high-level visual presentation that enhances the enjoyment of the film significantly.

"Alice Through the Looking Glass" delivers an exceptional auditory experience with its DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 lossless soundtrack. The film’s opening storm sequence showcases impressive dynamic range, with winds whipping, waves crashing, thunder cracking, and canons booming, immediately immersing the listener in a detailed and powerful soundscape. The sense of space and directionality is masterfully handled, providing a robust surround sound experience despite the absence of overhead information. Discrete effects and environmental atmospherics are finely balanced, ensuring a consistent and engaging listening experience throughout the film.

The mix exhibits a strong and deep low-end foundation, with excellent clarity and detail across the front channels extending into the sides and rears. The bass response is particularly noteworthy, with weighty LFE contributions during impactful scenes like the mechanical cog sequences in the Time Castle and when Alice steals the Chronosphere. Although some may find the dialogue slightly low in the mix, it remains crisp and clear, maintaining focus in the center channel, occasionally integrating other channels for spatial effects.

In conclusion, while lacking the Dolby Atmos track from its theatrical release, this DTS-HD MA 7.1 mix stands out as one of Disney/Buena Vista's better efforts. The immersive soundstage, dynamic range, and overall clarity make it a reference-quality audio presentation that enhances the fantastical elements of the film, offering an enthralling auditory journey through its unique environments.

"Alice Through the Looking Glass" Blu-ray's extras provide a rich, behind-the-scenes look into the film's production, discussing crucial elements such as costuming, set design, and character development. Notably, the included audio commentary by Director James Bobin and the featurette "Behind the Looking Glass" offer insightful technical details that enrich viewers' understanding of the film. The supplementals skillfully balance visual analysis with narrative exploration, creating a comprehensive overview of the movie's production.

Extras included in this disc:

• Behind the Looking Glass: Overview of the film’s story, cast, and Tim Burton's involvement.
• A Stitch in Time: Costuming Wonderland: Insight into costume design with Colleen Atwood.
• Characters of Underland: Examination of supporting characters.
• Time On…: In-character monologue by Sasha Baron Cohen.
• Alice Goes Through the Looking Glass: A Scene Peeler: Split-screen view of a key scene's progression.
• Alice Goes Through Time’s Castle: A Scene Peeler: Focus on stunt work with blue screen shots.
• Music Video by P!nk - "Just Like Fire": The full music video.
• Behind the Music Video: Making of the "Just Like Fire" music video.
• Audio Commentary: Detailed track by Director James Bobin.
• Deleted Scenes with Audio Commentary: Unused film scenes with optional director commentary.

Director James Bobin's "Alice Through the Looking Glass," starring Mia Wasikowska, Johnny Depp, Anne Hathaway, and Helena Bonham Carter, attempts to follow Tim Burton's visually striking 2010 original but fails to hit the same mark. Despite its impressive production design, filled with vibrant colors and whimsical settings that captivate the eye, the film is dramatically vacant and thematically irrelevant. The screenplay lacks depth, offering a repetitive and straightforward narrative that primarily serves as a showcase for digital, costume, and makeup wonders. While the movie expertly plays with scope, perspective, and imaginative environments, it ultimately suffers from an over-reliance on visual spectacle at the expense of substantive storytelling.

The performances are notably inconsistent. Wasikowska's Alice seems disconnected, struggling to find her character's drive amid the dazzling effects. Depp's Mad Hatter is more extravagant than ever, often coming off as a caricature, which detracts from any potential emotional resonance. Cohen's portrayal of Time brings a fresh dynamic to the film, yet it isn’t enough to salvage the overall weak narrative structure. The plot revolves around Alice's perilous journey to retrieve the Chronosphere in an effort to save the Hatter's family, a quest that feels contrived and overly dependent on colorful distractions rather than meaningful plot development.

Ultimately, "Alice Through the Looking Glass" is a prime example of style over substance. The film’s lavish visuals and imaginative settings cannot mask the lackluster storytelling and superficial character arcs. It is a visual feast with an empty core, making it a mildly entertaining experience but not one that resonates or endures. Despite its potential, the film fails to deliver a cohesive and engaging sequel, serving more as a testament to what could have been than what actually is.

"Alice Through the Looking Glass" on Blu-ray is a visual feast, boasting an awe-inspiring presentation both in terms of video and audio quality. The film itself may not break new ground narratively, often opting for predictable plot developments and familiar sequel territory. However, its vivid visual style and remarkable CG characters significantly elevate the viewing experience. The 1080p Blu-ray format is utilized to its fullest potential, delivering a pristine and positively gorgeous experience that will impress even the most discerning viewers. The 7.1 lossless audio further complements the visual splendor, providing an immersive soundscape that heightens the overall impact.

Despite some shortcomings in the storyline and performances—particularly Mia Wasikowska's evidently uncomfortable portrayal of a strong female lead—the film offers plenty of eye-candy and serves as an excellent tech demo for those looking to showcase their home theater setup. While the extras could be seen as somewhat generic and moderate in length, there is still a wealth of content for fans to explore, making the package a comprehensive offering.

In conclusion, "Alice Through the Looking Glass" is a success in its own right. Though it may not strive to tell a deeply meaningful story, it excels in dazzling its audience into submission and acceptance with its stunning production quality. The Blu-ray edition stands out as a splendidly realized production, singing with visual and auditory excellence. While fans might lament the absence of a UHD disc with Atmos/X sound, this release still comes highly recommended for those content with 1080p Blu-ray. Disney has certainly delivered for the movie’s fans, hitting it out of the park with this spectacular Blu-ray presentation.