Planes Blu-ray Review

Disney’s Planes looks immersive on Blu-ray with an impressive 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer. The film’s original 1.78:1 aspect ratio is beautifully preserved, delivering vibrant and playful colors that appear rich and deeply saturated. Primaries are particularly strong, adding vibrancy and dynamism to every scene, while more subdued pastel hues provide warmth and zest. Black levels are inky and provide a solid base for excellent contrast, ensuring clarity in both shadowed and brightly lit scenes. The animation is confidently crisp, with fine detail evident in the individual lines of each plane and the realistic rendering of supporting elements like ocean waves and landmarks.

While the video presentation is generally free of notable defects, a hint of banding occasionally appears but does little to mar the viewing experience. Similarly, those concerned about aliasing may notice mild occurrences but they remain largely unobtrusive. An interesting optical softness emerges when Dusty and his competitors soar above the Earth, which some may find enhances the illusion of flight rather than detracts from the presentation. Overall, Planes isn’t necessarily the prettiest Pixar-associated title, yet it demonstrates an impressive and sharply detailed animation that showcases the film’s lively color palette and depth convincingly.

The audio presentation of the Blu-ray release of "Planes" offers an immersive and meticulously crafted DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 surround track. The dialogue benefits from absolute clarity and perfect prioritization, ensuring that every line is distinctly heard without being muffled or buried. Voices are well-placed within the mix, consistent with the typical setup for animated films. The low-frequency effects (LFE) are particularly noteworthy, as every roar, propeller drone, and high-speed maneuver is audibly emphasized, enhancing the adventurous racing sequences to their fullest potential.

The rear speakers are impressively engaged throughout the film, contributing a rich array of directional and ambient effects. This creates a seamless and enveloping soundfield, with planes zooming wildly from one channel to another, capturing the essence of speed and movement with superb panning accuracy. The front soundstage is expansive, utilizing all three channels effectively while maintaining distinct and precise vocal clarity in the center. The dynamic range exhibits excellent clarity in the upper frequencies, making even quieter moments rich with subtlety. The low-end frequencies deliver powerful responses, particularly during scenes that feature propellers and jet planes. Overall, this audio track complements the high-energy visuals of "Planes" with its superbly realized sound design.

The Blu-ray extras for "Planes" provide an insightful and engaging deep-dive into the film's production, characters, and the world of aviation. "Klay's Flight Plan" offers a fascinating 16-minute featurette, detailing Director Klay Hall's passion for aviation and its influence on the film's creation. The "Meet the Racers" segment provides succinct biographies of key characters, enhancing viewers' understanding of their roles and backstories. Additionally, the "Top 10 Fliers" feature is an educational highlight, hosted by ESPN's Colin Cowherd, which celebrates the most iconic figures in aviation history. Deleted scenes and trailers round out the comprehensive suite of extras, ensuring fans receive a well-rounded cinematic experience beyond the main feature.

Extras included in this disc:

• Exclusive Musical Scene: Franz's Song: A deleted musical sequence introduced by Klay Hall and Traci Balthazor-Flynn.
• Klay's Flight Plan: Filmmakers discuss production, focusing on Hall’s aviation interest and the film’s development.
• Deleted Scenes: Two unfinished scenes: a training montage and Taj Mahal sequence.
• Meet the Racers: Bios of Dusty, El Chupacabra, Ishani, and Ripslinger.
• Top 10 Fliers: Colin Cowherd counts down the top aviation icons.
• Trailers: Promotional previews for "Planes".

"Planes," a spin-off set in the same universe as Pixar's "Cars," offers a family-friendly adventure that children under ten will find engaging, though it falls short in several key areas for older audiences. The film stars Dusty Crophopper (voiced by Dane Cook), a crop duster with dreams of becoming a world-class racer. Despite his predictable rise to fame and the inclusion of charming side characters, the overall plot is riddled with clichés and lacks originality. The voice cast, which includes talents like John Cleese and Julia Louis-Dreyfus, does little to elevate the script, which often feels more suited to direct-to-video rather than a theatrical release.

Technically, "Planes" attempts to mimic the vibrant animation of its predecessor "Cars," yet fails to deliver the same visual polish and creative spark. The globe-trotting race takes viewers from New York to exotic locales like Iceland and Nepal, but the colorful international cast of racing planes ends up being more stereotypical than innovative. The animation, while competent, lacks the finesse typical of high-budget Disney-Pixar collaborations. Moreover, the film sends mixed messages about sportsmanship and enhancement, as protagonist Dusty benefits from upgraded parts after an accident, contradicting its earlier stance against such practices.

Despite these shortcomings, "Planes" has its moments of fun and heartfelt interaction, though these are few and far between. The film's blend of humor, predictable thrills, and inspirational themes makes it a passable choice for younger viewers seeking light entertainment. However, adults may find it lacking in depth and sophistication, making it an underwhelming addition to the animated genre.

DisneyToon Studios' "Planes," a CG-animated spin-off from Pixar’s celebrated "Cars" franchise, delivers a familiar underdog tale. Despite its intentions originally lying in direct-to-video release, "Planes" received a theatrical release, potentially exceeding its narrative and thematic depth. The film features a round-the-world race with characters that pale in comparison to their "Cars" predecessors. While the movie's storyline lacks originality and imagination, borrowing heavily from other underdog tropes, the Blu-ray release significantly compensates with extremely high-quality video and audio presentations. The DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 surround track ensures an immersive auditory experience, keeping young audiences entertained and engaged.

Although the film itself does not break new ground and might disappoint parents seeking freshness, it is tailor-made for children who will enjoy its vibrant animation and engaging sound. The supplemental content included in the Blu-ray package, while slightly scant and leaning towards direct-to-video territory, offers additional context and behind-the-scenes details that may interest younger fans.

Overall, "Planes" could have benefited from exploring fresh avenues within its universe, such as focusing on different sectors of aviation or rescue missions, as hinted in the trailers for its sequel. Despite its narrative shortcomings, the Blu-ray release of "Planes" is certain to delight young audiences this holiday season with its spectacular audiovisual quality. Parents should set their expectations accordingly - while the film may not enthrall them, it certainly serves as an entertaining treat for children.