Open Season Blu-ray Review

The Blu Ray video presentation of "Open Season" stands as a monumental achievement in the realm of high-definition animation, setting a benchmark for quality and clarity. Showcased in a flawless 1080p with a 1:85:1 aspect ratio and utilizing the AVC codec efficiently, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment's decision to employ this format for "Open Season" has evidently paid off, presenting an image that is nothing short of stunning. The level of detail achieved in this direct-to-digital transfer is remarkably outstanding, allowing viewers to observe even the minutest elements like individual hairs on Boog and the intricate textures of the environment. The sharpness of the image is consistent across various scenes, providing a crispness that enhances the viewing experience significantly.

The color reproduction in "Open Season" is another area where this Blu Ray release excels. Colors are vibrant and pop off the screen, yet they never cross into the realm of being overly saturated or gaudy, maintaining a balance that is both eye-catching and true to the animated world's intended palette. The blacks are deep and inky, contributing to an excellent contrast that brings out the full color gamut, while the total absence of video noise and grain ensures a smooth, clean visual experience. This clarity extends even into night scenes, where the depth and detail are preserved exceptionally well, showcasing deep blues without losing detail in the shadows.

What sets "Open Season" apart from other CGI animations on Blu Ray is its rejection of post-processing tweaks designed to mimic film-like qualities. There's no artificial grain or deliberate blurring; instead, the presentation takes pride in its digital crispness, embodying a look that's akin to crayon and construction paper – vivid, clear, and wonderfully animated. The absence of color banding and chroma noise further emphasizes the care put into this transfer, making "Open Season" not just a visual treat for children but a showcase piece that demonstrates what is technically possible with Blu Ray video presentations. This digital masterpiece illustrates an unparalleled level of detail and vibrancy, setting it high as a demo title and representing a pinnacle in animation clarity that truly respects and elevates the source material.

The audio presentation of "Open Season" on Blu Ray, while benefiting from a technically adept handling, presents a mixed bag in terms of immersion and engagement. Dialogue across the spectrum is delivered with clarity, particularly shining in its uncompressed PCM track, where naturalness and precision are noticeable. The film score, orchestrated by Ramin Djawadi, stands out for its balanced integration, providing an adequate backdrop to the narrative without overwhelming. Sound effects, especially those of high intensity like the dam break, showcase a well-rendered dynamic range. However, the soundtrack missed opportunities to fully utilize the 5.1 surround setup, leaning heavily towards a front-focused mix that leaves the LFE and surrounds underexploited. This results in a soundstage that fails to completely envelop the listener, subtracting from what could have been a more engaging audio experience.

The film's original songs, particularly those by Paul Westerberg, diverge in reception, drawing criticism for detracting rather than adding to the film’s atmosphere. Their inclusion and presentation in the mix appear disjointed, occasionally pulling the audience out of the immersive experience. On a technical level, the soundtrack delivers with clear animal vocalizations and environmental sounds capturing the nuances intended by the creators. Yet, this precision does not translate to a fully realized soundscape that leverages all dimensions of the available sound field. Instances where the ambient potential of the forest setting could have been harnessed are notably absent, leaving a sense that the audio environment is sparse and lacking in depth beyond the central action.

Despite these critiques, it's evident that considerable effort was placed into ensuring the technical quality of the audio presentation. Upper frequency details and low bass moments receive their due, with specific sequences providing a showcase for the sound design's potential. Nonetheless, the overall approach to the audio mix prioritizes safety over adventure, resulting in an experience that, while free from glaring faults, doesn’t consistently capitalize on its opportunities to immerse or impress.

The Blu-ray extras of "Open Season" are a commendable blend of engaging content for younger audiences and insightful material for adults, though the majority remain in standard definition, mirroring their DVD counterparts. High-definition highlights include "Midnight Bun Run," a delightful short film, and interactive features like "Wheel of Fortune: Forest Edition" and "Voice-A-Rama," enriching the viewing experience with additional entertainment. On the flip side, the inclusion of various behind-the-scenes featurettes, such as "Behind the Trees" and "The Voices Behind the Stars," offer a deeper look into the animation process and voice acting, albeit these are not in HD. While the audio commentary provides a perky and enthusiastic insight into the film's creation, the mixed offering of SD content alongside HD additions somewhat undermines the potential of Blu-ray's capabilities. Despite this, the disc boasts a substantial set of extras that broadly cater to its audience, though it slightly falls short in fully leveraging high-definition technology.

Extras included in this disc:

• Midnight Bun Run: A short film featuring characters Boog and Elliot.
• Wheel of Fortune: Forest Edition: An interactive game based on the TV show.
• Voice-A-Rama: An activity allowing selections of music cues by different characters.
• Swept Away Scene Deconstruction: A multi-angle look at creating a scene.
• Audio Commentary: Insights from directors Jill Culton, Roger Allers, and Anthony Stacchi, plus producer Michelle Murdocca.
• Behind the Trees Featurette: Focuses on animation and music production.
• The Voices Behind the Stars: Showcases the film's voice talent at work.
• Deleted Scenes: Two storyboard-based scenes not included in the final film.
• Beat Boards: Conceptual drawings of early character designs.
• I Wanna Lose Control Music Video: A montage of film clips set to music.
• Surf's Up Teaser Trailer: Promotes Sony's next animated movie.

The movie "Open Season" brings to the screen a mixed bag of emotions and critiques, seamlessly blending elements of friendship and adventure amidst a backdrop of vibrant animation. The film centers around Boog (voiced by Martin Lawrence), a domesticated grizzly bear, and his ragtag friendship with Elliot (voiced by Ashton Kutcher), a wild deer. This duo’s journey from the comforts of home into the untamed wilderness delivers a narrative filled with both heartwarming moments and missed comedic opportunities. Despite the somewhat derivative plot that echoes tales from animation giants like Shrek and Madagascar, "Open Season" manages to carve out its identity through a unique twist on the typical hunter versus animal storyline, piquing interest with its role reversal of prey plotting against hunters. However, the movie's reliance on at times crude humor and the lack of depth in character development, particularly the villain Shaw (voiced by Gary Sinise), leaves it trailing behind its animated counterparts in terms of storytelling richness and emotional impact.

Visually, "Open Season" stands out with its admirable animation quality, flaunting bold colors and fluid camera movements that showcase the film's vibrant wilderness setting. Although it may not reach the artistic heights of Pixar masterpieces or Sony's own "Monster House," the visual appeal is undoubted, making it a worthwhile watch for those keen on experiencing the graphical capabilities of Blu Ray presentations. The voice cast brings a level of charm and enthusiasm to their roles, with supporting actors like Billy Connolly and Jane Krakowski outshining the leads through their portrayal of spirited woodland creatures. While the movie's soundtrack, composed by ex-Replacements songwriter Paul Westerberg, falls flat with forgettable tunes, it's the animation and voice performances that keep "Open Season" from being entirely overshadowed by its critiques.

"Open Season" navigates through familiar territory with enough flair to make it a pleasant viewing for its intended younger audience, albeit without transcending into the realm of animated classics revered by all ages. The movie's box office success, coupled with its high-quality Blu Ray presentation, underscores its visual appeal and entertainment value despite its narrative and comedic shortcomings. It’s clear "Open Season" shines brightest in its animation and character design, making it a visually captivating piece that leverages its technical strengths to compensate for its narrative weaknesses. For viewers seeking a light-hearted movie night or aiming to dazzle with their 1080p displays, "Open Season" delivers on those fronts, even as it struggles to leave a lasting mark on the animated genre's broader landscape.

"Open Season" stands as an engaging animated feature that, despite its shortcomings, indeed captures the hearts of its intended younger audience. The amusement and charm embedded in its storyline and character dynamics offer children a delightful rollercoaster of emotions filled with laughter and joy. Notably, the film may not resonate on the same frequency with adult viewers, as it lacks the nuanced storytelling and emotional depth frequently found in Pixar's offerings. Regardless, it maintains an appeal with adorable moments and a lighthearted atmosphere that makes it a worthy viewing for families seeking entertainment that caters primarily to children.

Sony's Blu-ray release of "Open Season" is commendable, boasting an impressive array of family-oriented extras that add significant value to the overall package. The inclusion of Sony's first-ever AVC MPEG-4 transfer on this Blu-ray epitomizes the studio's commitment to delivering high-quality visual experiences, setting a precedent in animation film presentation. The sheer technical finesse of the transfer enhances the viewing experience, bringing the animated world to vivid life with crisp visuals and vibrant colors. However, it's important to consider that the film's plot and character development may not hold the same allure for more mature audiences, who might find Pixar's animations more appealing due to their sophisticated and layered storytelling.

In conclusion, "Open Season" on Blu-ray emerges as a solid addition to a family's movie collection, particularly for those with young children. While it doesn't reach the storytelling heights of some of its contemporaries, the film compensated through its visual spectacle and the plethora of extras included in this release. For families and animation enthusiasts, it exemplifies a commendable combination of content and quality, making it a potential purchase for households with kids while suggesting a rental for audiences seeking deeper narrative complexity.