Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray release of "Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb" delivers an impressive 1080p/24 resolution image in its original 1.85:1 theatrical aspect ratio, utilizing the AVC codec. This transfer, derived from a high-quality 4K digital intermediate shot predominantly using Red Epic Dragon cameras, maximizes the visual quality. The resulting image exhibits extensive detail, from facial pores to intricate fabric textures, brimming with clarity and devoid of grain. Colors are vibrant and remain true to life, especially skin tones, providing a striking visual experience. Blacks are deep and display excellent shadow detail, enhancing the overall presentation’s depth. Notably, this transfer is free from digital anomalies such as banding or edge enhancement, showcasing a near-reference level quality.

Despite these strengths, some drawbacks exist. A notable issue is the presence of splotchy yellow artifacts, which appear even in brightly lit scenes. These artifacts are more discernible in stills than in motion, slightly mitigating the negative impact. Additionally, while the CGI generally holds up well, maintaining crispness and precision, certain effects may appear somewhat artificial against the high-definition backdrop. The color grading adds warmth and depth, particularly in sequences like the Egyptian prologue with its deliberate yellow tint. However, sequences like the M.C. Escher segment stand out with sharp definition, free from moiré or aliasing problems.

In summary, the Blu-ray video presentation of "Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb" is a robust and engaging experience, making full use of its digital production origins to deliver a detailed and vibrant image. While minor artifacts occasionally detract from the overall quality, they do not overshadow the film’s striking visual presentation.

The Blu-ray release of "Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb" delivers a robust audio experience through its 7.1-channel DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack. Despite not featuring the original Dolby Atmos track present in cinemas, it offers a near-reference performance that makes full use of the surround speakers. The result is an engaging and immersive experience, enhanced by meticulous sound design that effectively supports the on-screen humor and antics. The mix dynamically backs the film’s numerous comic set pieces, providing an exciting auditory backdrop.

From the opening scenes set in Egypt (filmed in Canada) to the ensuing chaos at the British Museum, the soundtrack showcases excellent surround presence and atmospheric effects. Low-frequency effects are deployed with precision, adding impact to sequences involving dinosaur skeletons and a multi-headed serpent. The iconic M.C. Escher set piece also benefits from superb surround placement. Amidst the sonic complexity, dialogue remains clear and centered, ensuring comprehensibility throughout. The fidelity is top-notch, the dynamic range impressively wide, and overall, there are no technical issues to detract from the listening experience.

The Blu-ray release of Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb offers an engaging set of extras that provide a deep dive into the film’s production, highlighted by a variety of informative and entertaining featurettes. Viewers will appreciate the inclusion of deleted/extended scenes and a particularly insightful commentary by director Shawn Levy, brimming with funny anecdotes. The high-definition content maintains a professional standard, bringing clarity to both the visual effects breakdown and improvised comedic moments led by the ensemble cast. Featurettes such as “The Theory of Relativity” and “Becoming Laaa” delve into the creative challenges of specific sequences, while “A Day in the Afterlife” adds a humorous touch tailored to younger audiences.

Extras included in this disc:

• Deleted/Extended Scenes: Scene extensions and ad-libbing, in high definition.
• Improv, Absurdity, and Cracking Up - The Comedy of Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb: Behind-the-scenes on-set improvisation.
• The Theory of Relativity: Explains the filming of the imaginative M. C. Escher scene.
• Becoming Laaa: Insight into creating Ben Stiller’s Neanderthal character.
• A Day in the Afterlife: Humorous featurette about Ahkmanrah and Craig the Mummy.
• The Home of History: Behind the Scenes at The British Museum: Looks at practical location work for the film.
• Fight at the Museum: Details the choreography and filming of a fight scene involving a giant multi-headed serpent.
• Creating the Visual Effects: Brief before-and-after comparisons of special effects.
• Audio Commentary by Shawn Levy: Insightful and animated commentary by the director.
• Gallery: Pre-Vis and Photos with auto/manual advance options.
• Theatrical Trailers: Two teaser trailers for the movie.

"Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb" attempts to cap off the trilogy with its usual blend of humor and adventure but falls short in some respects. The film moves from New York's Museum of Natural History to the British Museum, providing a change in scenery but sacrificing some historical accuracy for fantastical elements. The opening scene set in an Egyptian archaeological dig is atmospheric and sets up the film's central plot around Ahkmenrah's magical tablet, which is corroding and causing erratic behavior in the museum exhibits. Ben Stiller returns as Larry Daley, now in a more established role, embarking on a quest to understand the tablet's deterioration. The journey includes reuniting Ahkmenrah with his parents, played by Sir Ben Kingsley and Anjali Jay.

The cast continues to deliver entertaining performances, with Ben Stiller's dual role as Larry and the Neanderthal Laaa providing several laugh-out-loud moments. Notable additions include Rebel Wilson as the quirky British Museum security guard and Dan Stevens as a zealous Sir Lancelot. However, some emotional weight is inadvertently added through the posthumous appearances of Robin Williams and Mickey Rooney, invoking reflections on their respective legacies. While the film attempts to insert a human element through Larry's strained relationship with his son Nicky, these subplots can feel more distracting than enriching. The film offers sufficient amusement, yet relies heavily on familiar characters and CGI spectacle, making it feel somewhat routine rather than a fresh continuation.

Despite its flaws, "Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb" maintains an enjoyable pace with engaging sequences that can captivate young audiences. Still, seasoned viewers might find the humor predictable and the narrative arc lacking originality and cohesion. Overall, while it wraps up the trilogy in an emotionally resonant manner with a sense of finality, its reliance on established formulas prevents it from reaching the same heights as its predecessors.

"Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb" attempts to blend humor with an elegiac tone, marking the final chapter in the beloved franchise. The plot, unfortunately, feels uninspired and tired, leaving both fans and cast seemingly disengaged. Despite this, the film still manages to deliver some delightful moments, most notably a cleverly designed scene set within an M.C. Escher drawing. However, the overall sense of history and wonder that characterized earlier entries in the series is noticeably absent.

Technically, the Blu-ray release excels. The picture quality is superb, with a flawless digital transfer that showcases vibrant primary colors and intricate details without any distracting artefacts. The audio is equally commendable, featuring an energetic soundtrack that enhances the comedic set pieces with ample surround action. Complementing the strong audiovisual presentation is a range of extras that provide humorous insights into the film’s production, although these do little to elevate the underlying content.

Whilst "Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb" may be a letdown in terms of narrative vigour and character engagement, the Blu-ray edition is technically impressive and offers a polished viewing experience. It may not be an essential purchase for casual viewers, but die-hard fans of the franchise and those interested in high-quality home video presentations may find it a worthwhile addition to their collection.

Conclusion

Whilst there are moments of inspiration, with a scene set inside a drawing by M. C. Escher being quite fun, the franchise has lost one of its most endearing aspects - a sense of history. Although "Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb" is intended to be a send-off for the franchise, you get the feeling this is less out of artistic intent and more due to falling box office. Ultimately it feels like one 'night' too many, with a tired plot and a bored cast who are largely going through the motions. The Blu-ray's picture, sound, and extras all help a film franchise that is rapidly losing creative steam.

You can buy "Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb" on Blu-ray here.