Piranha 3D Blu-ray Review

"Piranha 3D’s" Blu-ray video presentation is a commendable example of post-production 3D conversion done right. Instead of shooting natively in 3D, Director Alexandre Aja meticulously planned every shot for a high-quality 3D effect during post-production, much like "Alice in Wonderland." The results are impressive: while not on par with the top-tier native 3D films, the conversion is robust and engaging. The 1080p/MPEG-4 transfer reveals sharp details and vibrant colors that evoke the sun-soaked chaos of spring break. The sandy and rocky terrains around Lake Victoria, skin textures, and minimal clothing are captured with exceptional clarity, although the yellow/orange tinge can be polarizing. Blacks can appear overly dark, causing some crush, especially noticeable in chapter three.

The 3D elements are fairly impressive. Depth is consistently strong, seamlessly integrating foreground and background objects for a stable and natural viewing experience. Underwater scenes particularly shine, benefitting from the genre's proven synergy with the 3D format. The immersive effect is powerful, from Richard Dreyfuss' opening scene to the chaotic underwater attacks. The film leverages several gimmicky 3D shots, some successfully—such as the outboard motor sequence—and others less so, like the vomit scene. Ghosting is present in select sequences, particularly in the opening titles and some darker night scenes, slightly marring an otherwise strong visual display.

Overall, "Piranha 3D" delivers a high-quality 3D experience consistent with vibrant colors and rich textures seen in its 2D counterpart. Despite a few minor issues like ghosting and black-level crush, the 3D transfer proves to be a delightful enhancement to the film’s grotesque, yet entertaining nature. Fans of 3D cinema will find this Blu-ray presentation compelling and satisfying.

The DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless soundtrack of "Piranha 3D" provides a sonically aggressive experience that immerses viewers from start to finish. The track vividly captures the aquatic essence of the film, delivering an engaging soundstage from the soothing flow of surface water to the intense pressure of underwater scenes. Surround channels are meticulously utilized to recreate diverse aquatic environments and amplify action sequences, ensuring an all-encompassing auditory experience. Potent LFE enhances the overall punch of the sound effects, from explosions to screaming swimmers, while environmental atmospherics such as buzzing insects and the bustling ambiance of spring break activities contribute to a dynamic soundscape.

The lossless DTS-HD MA 5.1 mix maintains an active and balanced auditory experience throughout the film's runtime. Highlight moments include underwater sequences where party music transitions seamlessly between above and below water levels, preserving clarity without descending into cacophony. Surround sound utilization is exemplary, vividly capturing the frenzied motion of piranhas, collapsing party barges, and chaotic whirlpools with remarkable precision. Dialogue remains clear and distinct amidst the action, while both the source music and film score are delivered with powerful intensity.

This meticulously crafted audio mix ensures that every scene is brought to life with auditory detail and dynamism. The sole audio option on the disc, complemented by subtitles in English, English SDH, and Spanish, leaves no room for compromise. For those seeking an immersive audio-visual experience, this Blu-ray’s sound design is a standout feature that successfully amplifies the film’s vibrant and chaotic energy.

The Blu-ray release of "Piranha 3D" features a robust set of extras that fans of the film will find engaging and comprehensive. A notable inclusion is the audio commentary by Writer/Producer/Director Alexandre Aja, Producer Grégory Levasseur, and Producer Alix Taylor, who delve into the film's technical aspects and behind-the-scenes stories with a blend of humor and insight. The highlight is the extensive documentary “Don't Scream, Just Swim: Behind-the-Scenes of Piranha 3D,” which is over two hours long and divided into ten segments, covering everything from the creative process to the logistics of filming such an extravagant production. Unfortunately, the 3D version lacks the deleted scenes and other extras found on the 2D version. Despite some missing elements, the included features provide substantial content that boosts this release's appeal.

Extras included in this disc:

• Audio Commentary: In-depth discussion by Alexandre Aja, Grégory Levasseur, and Alix Taylor.
• Don't Scream, Just Swim: Behind-the-Scenes of Piranha 3D: An extensive documentary split into ten informative segments.
• Previews: Trailers for other movies like "Resident Evil: Afterlife" and "Sniper Reloaded".
• BD-Live: Additional interactive content.

"Piranha 3D" is a rollercoaster of gore, sex, and over-the-top fun that pays homage to the ultra-trashy charm of the 1978 original while pushing modern boundaries of excess. Directed by Alexandre Aja, this 2010 remake knows exactly what it is: a relentless spectacle designed to entertain those with strong stomachs and a love for campy horror. The story, centered around a group of unsuspecting spring breakers at Lake Victoria, promptly descends into chaos after a seismic event unleashes a prehistoric breed of piranhas. These deadly creatures eagerly target the scantily clad, beer-guzzling partiers, resulting in a gleeful orgy of blood and body parts.

The film leans heavily on classic horror tropes — spring break antics, paper-thin characters, and buckets of gore — yet it presents them with such unabashed delight that it's hard not to admire the commitment. The second and third acts are particularly merciless, with plenty of wry humor evident in the grotesque excesses. Special effects oscillate between convincingly horrifying and hilariously exaggerated, cementing the movie's tongue-in-cheek tone. The director’s French sensibilities offer a sly critique of American culture's propensity for both puritanical restraint and uninhibited debauchery, exemplified by scenes like religious zealots getting chomped and boats of extreme partygoers meeting a grisly fate.

"Piranha 3D" recognizes its audience and delivers precisely what it promises: visceral thrills mixed with cheeky satire. Featuring a cast that includes Elisabeth Shue as the local sheriff, Jerry O’Connell as a sleazy filmmaker, and Adam Scott stealing scenes as a fish expert, the performances are spot-on for the film’s cheeky nature. This blend of humor and horror crafts a uniquely entertaining experience that cleverly satirizes its own genre while offering a smorgasbord of outrageously gory set pieces. It’s a love letter to 80s horror flicks wrapped in modern sensibility, creating an unforgettable watch for those who appreciate the art of schlock.

"Piranha 3D" on Blu-ray delivers an immensely entertaining experience, especially for those who thrive on a mix of gratuitous gore and shameless fun. This vibrant remake embraces its B-movie roots with gusto, offering a generous serving of blood-soaked action and unabashedly explicit scenes that cater to a teenage demographic while likely horrifying most parents. The Blu-ray release is technically sound, with excellent 3D effects that truly immerse the viewer, highlighted by standout moments that are both grotesque and humorously over-the-top.

Technically, the quality of the 3D presentation on this disc is superb, bringing the on-screen chaos to life with remarkable depth and clarity. The lossless soundtrack complements the visual experience effectively, ensuring that every chomp and scream resonates with impact. While the 3D Blu-ray sacrifices some extras found in other editions, such as throwaway extras and deleted scenes, it retains a rich commentary track and an unexpectedly thorough making-of documentary that enriches the overall package.

In conclusion, there's nothing fishy about this one. "Piranha 3D" is a deviously fun little remake that's thematically vacuous and emotionally vacant, but it's hard to fault a movie with no class when it has so much fun being classless. "Piranha 3D" is all about grossing out its audience and throwing in plenty of naked females along the way. It's a teenage boy's dream come true and a parent's worst nightmare. They don't get much more tasteless than this, but for audiences who want a dose of depravity without any of the guilt that comes with anything harder than this, well, "Piranha 3D" is the ticket. Sony's Blu-ray 3D release offers viewers a quality 3D experience, albeit at the expense of several extras. Fortunately, the documentary remains, but buyers will have to choose whether a few throwaway extras and the deleted scenes are worth the upgrade to 3D. Buyers of either release will enjoy the same high-powered lossless soundtrack. Recommended.