Paddington 2 Blu-ray Review
Score: 80
from 6 reviewers
Review Date:
Paddington 2 is a warmly charming film for all ages, with an excellent Blu-ray featuring a great Atmos track, strong video encode, and enjoyable extras.
Disc Release Date
Dolby Atmos
Dolby TrueHD
Video: 83
The Blu-ray of *Paddington 2*, shot digitally on Arri Alexa with a 2K digital intermediate, delivers stunning clarity, vibrant colors, and impressive detail, despite minor noise and aliasing. Though unavailable in 4K UHD from Warner Bros., the 1080p transfer remains impeccable, offering a warm and inviting visual experience with deep blacks and lifelike textures.
Audio: 82
Paddington 2’s Dolby Atmos mix delivers crystal-clear dialogue, dynamic range, and tight LFE. Height channels and full surround effects enhance key scenes like the train chase and prison escape, making the audio experience lively and immersive, although overheads are used sparingly.
Extra: 65
The Blu-ray extras for 'Paddington 2' include lightweight but entertaining featurettes, such as making marmalade and exploring character roles, with the highlight being the detailed and organized audio commentary by director Paul King, discussing script-writing, cinematography, and visual effects.
Movie: 88
Paddington 2 masterfully balances syrupy sweetness with a heartwarming narrative, featuring top-notch visual design, a delightful cast including Hugh Grant as the villain, and seamless CG integration, making it a joyful family film that transcends age barriers and technical expectations.
Video: 83
The Blu-ray release of "Paddington 2" offers a visually impeccable experience, capturing the film's whimsical charm and warmth with remarkable fidelity. Shot digitally using Arri Alexa cameras and finished with a 2K digital intermediate, the 1080p transfer on Blu-ray is sharp and detailed. You can discern intricate textures such as the woven fabrics of costumes and the individual strands of Paddington’s fur, which appears particularly refined despite occasional minor aliasing. The blend of CGI and live-action is executed with finesse; although Paddington’s character design intentionally maintains a bit of a cartoonish flair, it complements rather than detracts from the overall sharpness and clarity of the film.
Colors in "Paddington 2" are bright and cheerful, with an expressive palette that ranges from the bold primaries of Mrs. Brown's sweaters to the vibrant orange marmalade Paddington loves. The overall grading leans towards warmer tones, imbuing scenes with a honey-colored hue that enhances the film's inviting atmosphere. Despite this warmth, black levels are deep and inky, providing strong shadow detail without visible crushing.
Warner Brothers' encode is exceptionally well-executed, handling noise and compression artifacts efficiently. The only notable visual blemishes are slight inconsistencies in noise and mild aliasing on Paddington's fur, but these are minor quibbles in an otherwise stellar presentation. Light and contrast are managed beautifully; rich lighting maintains hearty contrast, and striking resolution captures every nuance of facial definition and city landscapes. Despite the lack of a 4K UHD release, the Blu-ray’s MPEG-4 AVC encoding at 1080p remains an outstanding visual treat that replicates the theatrical experience with lifelike colors, deep contrast, and intricate detail that will delight both fans and newcomers.
Audio: 82
The audio presentation of the Blu-ray edition of "Paddington 2" offers an impressive next-generation experience, primarily utilizing the Dolby Atmos format. This advanced sound mix ensures a dynamic range and exceptional clarity, with the lossless Dolby TrueHD 7.1 unfolding seamlessly depending on your setup. Dialogue is meticulously centered, providing crystal-clear vocal reproduction, while Dario Marianelli's original score adds a full-bodied sound that beautifully complements the on-screen action. Channel separation is particularly notable in action scenes, such as the chaotic train finale and Hugh Grant's high-energy sequences, making effective use of the sound spectrum to enhance the viewer's immersion. Ambient sounds like clinking kitchenware, turning pages, and flowing water are deftly incorporated to enrich storytelling elements.
Surround sound performance in "Paddington 2" is robust, delivering precise effects that elevate the viewing experience. The film’s more kinetic scenes benefit from sharp low-frequency extension, especially during moments like the waterfall in Darkest Peru and lively sequences at a nighttime carnival. Overhead channels are used sparingly but effectively, adding depth to prison escape scenes and providing atmospheric city sounds. Despite being center-heavy at times, the audio balance ensures that music and sound effects envelop the viewer from all directions, enhancing sequences from quiet clock tower ambiance to loud train chases. The sound mix remains defect-free throughout, with no noticeable drop-outs or sync issues.
Overall, the Dolby Atmos track breathes life into "Paddington 2" with its energetic execution and attention to auditory details. The immersive soundstage excels during both subtle situational moments and high-adrenaline sequences, making it a standout feature of the Blu-ray release. This expertly crafted audio experience underscores the film’s charm and adventure, proving itself as an essential component of its overall appeal.
Extra: 65
The Blu-ray extras for "Paddington 2" deliver a combination of charming behind-the-scenes insights and technical commentary, although they may vary in depth and appeal. The collection consists of a series of featurettes and a comprehensive audio commentary by Director/Co-Writer Paul King. The commentary is the most substantial of the extras, providing an organized and engaging breakdown of the film's production, script-writing, visual design, and cast performance. The featurettes, while often lightweight, offer enjoyable tidbits such as marmalade sandwich recipes and character discussions. These supplementary materials, though not exhaustive, add value to the viewing experience for both casual fans and those interested in filmmaking.
Extras included in this disc:
- Paddington: The Bear Truth: A look at what makes Paddington a delightful character.
- How to Make A Marmalade Sandwich: A kid-friendly recipe for marmalade.
- Music Video with Phoenix Buchanan: Hugh Grant's self-parodying music video.
- The Magical Mystery of Paddington's Pop-Up Book: Insight into the pop-up book's technical design.
- The Browns and Paddington: The Special Bond: The cast discusses returning for a second Paddington movie.
- Knuckles: A Fistful of Marmalade: Brendan Gleeson talks about his character.
- The (Once) Famous Faces of Phoenix Buchanan: A look at Hugh Grant's role.
- Audio Commentary by Director/Co-Writer Paul King: An in-depth commentary on making the film.
Movie: 88
"Paddington 2" manages to skillfully bridge the gap between heartfelt family storytelling and whimsical, all-ages adventure, proving a rare sequel that surpasses its predecessor. The narrative hits familiar beats yet does so with an undeniable charm, much enhanced by an endearing protagonist and vibrant visual aesthetics. Paddington’s quest to buy a pop-up book for Aunt Lucy’s birthday evolves into a misadventure with come-up-to-the-challenge moments for both him and the film’s audience. Voiced impeccably by Ben Whishaw, our bear hero not only endears himself to the characters within the film but charms the viewers as well, seamlessly blending animation with the live-action cast.
Visually, the film draws inspiration from Wes Anderson, employing symmetrical compositions and warm color palettes that invite viewers into an inviting London town. These efficiently support the whimsical narrative without making it feel overly garish or juvenile. The ensemble cast including Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins, Julie Walters, and Hugh Grant – who steals scenes with theatrical aplomb as Phoenix Buchanan – adds significant depth and sophistication. Framestore’s advanced CGI ensures Paddington’s expressions and mannerisms are astonishingly life-like, nearly rivaling the animation prowess of industry giants like WETA and ILM.
The subtle undercurrents of social commentary make "Paddington 2" more than just a family entertainment piece. The film's handling of themes such as justice, acceptance, and kindness is gentle yet impactful. Incarcerated Paddington’s influence in spreading joy, even among hardened criminals like Brendan Gleeson's Nuckles McGinty, underscores an infectious positivity that defines the narrative. Without descending into mean-spirited humor, the film maintains an entirely wholesome atmosphere, comfortable for viewers of all backgrounds. This integration of heartfelt themes with engaging storytelling solidifies "Paddington 2" as an instant classic in family cinema and a worthy successor in the adventures of the lovable bear from Peru.
Total: 80
"Paddington 2" is a beautifully heartwarming film that captivates audiences of all ages. Ben Wishaw's whimsical voice acting brings the lovable bear to life, while writer/director Paul King infuses a hearty dose of charm and wit into the story. The plot, though predictable, is full of delightful moments that keep viewers smiling from start to finish. The cinematography shows a clear influence from Wes Anderson, offering a distinctive and visually engaging style. Still, it’s the film's big heart and tender messages about kindness and community that remain at its core.
Warner Brothers has done an excellent job with the Blu-ray release of "Paddington 2". The video encode presents a vibrant and clean picture, capturing the film's colorful palette beautifully. The Dolby Atmos audio track enhances the experience with rich, immersive sound. The availability of subtitles in multiple languages ensures accessibility for a wider audience. While the bonus features may be more entertaining than technical, they offer valuable insights into the making of the film, including commentary from Paul King about expanding the story's scale for a larger cinematic experience.
In conclusion, "Paddington 2" is a charming and special film that showcases the importance of kindness and the power of community. Warner Brothers' Blu-ray release excels in both audio-visual presentation and supplementary content, making it a highly recommended addition to any home theater collection. Whether you're a fan of the original or new to Paddington's adventures, this release promises an engaging and delightful viewing experience.
AV Nirvana review by Michael ScottRead review here
Video: 90
The colors are bright and cheerful, with great color saturation for primaries (such as Mrs. Brown’s sweater, or the orange marmalade that Paddington loves so much), and the overall grading is a bit on...
Audio: 90
The adventures of Paddington are never too wild or crazy, but the there is more than enough activity to give the surrounds a full workout, ranging from Hugh Grant running around stealing clues from the...
Extras: 70
Paddington: The Bear Truth • How to Make A Marmalade Sandwich • Music Video with Phoenix Buchanan • The Magical Mystery of Paddington's Pop-Up Book • The Browns and Paddington: The Special Bond • Knuckles:...
Movie: 90
However, Paddington skates a delicate line between children’s storytelling, and sweetly heartfelt adventures that tug at the heart strings in such a w way that it is accessible to people of all ages....
Total: 90
Warner Brothers has done a fantastic technical job with the Blu-ray, giving it a great Atmos track as well as a very capable looking video encode and solid extras (something becoming more and more rare...
Blu-ray.com review by Randy Miller IIIRead review here
Video: 100
Textures are extremely strong, most notably ursine fur and densely layered background details, with a crisp appearance that showcases the strengths of its all-digital source material....
Audio: 90
Channel separation is typically limited to action scenes and background ambiance, while low frequency is also put to good use on several occasions: the rushing waterfall of its "Darkest Peru" prologue,...
Extras: 60
Knuckles: A Fistful of Marmalade (2:30) The (Once) Famous Faces of Phoenix Buchanan (3:45) Audio Commentary - Returning director/co-writer Paul King delivers an organized and enjoyable scene-specific commentary...
Movie: 80
Not to mention its warm and very inviting visual design, which certainly owes a lot to Wes Anderson: full of golden yellow tones, symmetrical compositions, and a fetish for exacting background details,...
Total: 80
Although the plot is predictable and its visual style borrows almost every trick in Wes Anderson's playbook, the film's big heart ultimately smooths over some of the less polished elements; in short, it's...
The Digital Bits review by Dennis SeulingRead review here
Video: 95
Audio: 95
Ambient sound details, such as footsteps, the clanking of kitchen cutlery, pages of the pop-up book turning, rushing rapids, and Paddington’s sighs are subtle to enhance story telling....
Extras: 75
Movie: 85
Paddington lives with the Brown family in Windsor Gardens and has become a familiar and beloved member of the community....
Total: 88
The epilogue illustrates that the plot is ongoing as Paddington comes to realize that his kindness is responsible for binding the community together....
DoBlu review by Matt PaprockiRead review here
Video: 80
Stellar color favors yellows and warmer hues, furthering the comfort level of this darling film....
Audio: 80
Separation between channels offers fantastic tracking, having fun during the barber sequence (Paddington’s voice panning across the fronts) and adding liveliness to the boisterous finale involving two...
Extras: 40
For an additional 16 Paddington 2 screenshots, early access to all screens (plus the 12,000+ already in our library), exclusive 4K UHD reviews, and more, support us on Patreon....
Movie: 100
Sprightly antics pit Paddington against window washing, the charismatic mayhem of a barber shop, and the core of this sequel, Paddington trying to bring joy to a prison populace (of course the prisoners...
Total: 75
Every second of Paddington 2 is a delight, and even without any surprises, the overwhelming charm carries this sequel to success....
Home Theater Forum review by Todd ErwinRead review here
Video: 90
That being said, the Blu-ray that Warner has released looks very much as it did in theaters, very film-like in appearance with consistent, life-like and vivid and warm colors....
Audio: 90
Otherwise, this is a very solid lossless surround track featuring crisp dialogue directed mostly to the center channel, while music and other sound effects are spread across the fronts and to the rears....
Extras: 80
The Magical Mystery of Paddington’s Pop-Up Book (1080p; 3:03): A discussion on the technical design of the pop-up book featured in the film....
Movie: 90
Out of work actor Phoenix Buchanan (Hugh Grant) is obsessed with finding that treasure to fund his one-man show, and late one night steals the book and frames Paddington for the theft, placing the bear...
Total: 90
Warner’s Blu-ray presentation is first-rate, and the extra, while more kid-friendly than overly technical, are fun to watch as well....
Why So Blu?Read review here
Video: 90
With all the various sets and British locations, there is plenty of great detail to observe....
Audio: 90
This is a center-heavy feature, but the audio is spread across and balanced well enough where necessary....
Extras: 70
The (Once) Famous Faces of Phoenix Buchanan (HD, 3:45) – A focus on the work Grant went through in becoming a part of the film....
Movie: 90
This means getting to see the innocence in a few screwball comedy setups, which once again emphasizes how universally appealing the humor is thanks to the tone, implications and fine voice work by Whishaw....
Total: 90
Paddington 2 is a wonderfully special film, as it’s about a bear who brings kindness into the world, and makes the world all the better because of it....
Director: Paul King
Actors: Ben Whishaw, Hugh Grant, Hugh Bonneville
PlotPaddington, a lovable bear living with the Brown family in Windsor Gardens, is now a valued and popular member of the community. His Aunt Lucy's 100th birthday is approaching, and Paddington wants to gift her a unique pop-up book of London, found in Mr. Gruber's antique shop. Paddington undertakes various odd jobs to buy the book, but it is stolen before he can purchase it. Falsely accused of the theft, Paddington is convicted and sent to prison. In jail, with his unfaltering optimism and kind-hearted nature, he makes new friends, including the initially fearsome but ultimately kind-hearted chef, Knuckles McGinty.
Meanwhile, the Brown family works tirelessly to clear Paddington's name and find the true culprit. They unravel clues that lead them to a charming yet unscrupulous actor, whose ambition has driven him to desperate measures. The Browns face numerous obstacles as they chase down leads and try to collect evidence. Through adventure, teamwork, and unwavering belief in justice, they endeavor to reveal the truth and ensure Paddington’s release from prison.
Writers: Paul King, Simon Farnaby, Michael Bond
Release Date: 12 Jan 2018
Runtime: 103 min
Rating: PG
Country: United Kingdom, France, Canada, United States
Language: English