Extraordinary Tales Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray presentation of "Extraordinary Tales" features an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in a 1.85:1 aspect ratio, courtesy of Cinedigm and G Kids. This release exhibits remarkable sharpness and definition, meticulously preserving the diverse animation styles across its segments. From the high-contrast black and white rendering in "The Tell-Tale Heart" to the watercolor softness in "The Masque of the Red Death," each story showcases unique visual signatures. The line details remain crisp and textures are beautifully rendered, particularly in sequences resembling paper sculptures. A minor haze appears in "The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar," but it does not detract from what is otherwise a top-tier presentation.

The 1080p transfer is free from undue banding, compression issues, and other visual artifacts, which significantly enhances the viewing experience. Black levels are rich and inky, contributing to a palpable three-dimensional depth across various segments. The color palette accurately reflects the mood and tone of each story, with vibrant primary colors in "The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar" aligning with its EC Comics-inspired aesthetic, while "The Masque of the Red Death" stands out as the most visually stunning with its subdued hues. Overall, this Blu-ray edition is an exemplary showcase of superior video quality and faithful representation of diverse animation styles.

The audio presentation of the Blu-ray for "Extraordinary Tales" features a high-quality DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. Predominantly narrated, most segments effectively utilize the front center channel for dialogue while allowing subtle background and ambient sound effects to drift into the surround channels. While the immersion isn't overwhelmingly pronounced, there's a consistent, nuanced engagement throughout the shorts. The archival recording of Bela Lugosi's narration for 'The Tell-Tale Heart' purposely retains its vintage hiss and pops, adding to the creepy atmosphere of the story.

Sergio De La Puente's eerie and evocative score is given excellent treatment on this track, resonating beautifully to enhance the unique mood of each narrative. The timing and levels of the audio are impeccable, requiring no manual volume adjustments during viewing. Despite lacking intense channel movement or directionality, the overall sonic presentation maintains clarity and cleanliness, ensuring no technical issues disrupt the experience. The careful balance between narration, music, and sound effects creates an effectively haunting ambiance befitting the tales.

The Blu-ray extras for "Extraordinary Tales" offer a comprehensive and engaging dive into the creation of this animated anthology. Featuring the most insightful highlights, the extras include an in-depth behind-the-scenes documentary and a rich commentary by director Raúl Garcia that sheds light on both the technical processes and his personal ties to Edgar Allan Poe. Both animation enthusiasts and casual viewers will find value in the detailed breakdowns and interviews with the animators and co-writers. The brief yet captivating segment on the animation styles leaves you wishing for more, while the U.S. trailer rounds out the package.

Extras included in this disc:

• Audio Commentary by Director Raul Garcia: Engaging, insightful commentary on technical aspects and personal connections to Poe.
• The Making of Extraordinary Tales: Comprehensive documentary featuring interviews with crew.
• The Art of Extraordinary Tales: Brief overview of animation styles.
• U.S. Trailer: Promotional trailer for the anthology.

"Extraordinary Tales," directed by Raúl Garcia, is an evocative collection of five Edgar Allan Poe stories brought to life through diverse animation styles and a stellar cast of voice actors, including Christopher Lee, Bela Lugosi, Julian Sands, Guillermo del Toro, and Roger Corman. Each tale within the anthology showcases unique visual interpretations, weaving a rich tapestry of Gothic atmosphere and psychological horror that captures the essence of Poe's work.

"The Fall of the House of Usher" leverages Christopher Lee's haunting narration, accompanied by an animation style reminiscent of wood-carved paper sculpture. While the adaptation abridges the original story, it effectively conveys the eerie ambiance and cascading tragedies characteristic of Poe’s narrative. "The Tell-Tale Heart," using high-contrast black-and-white visuals inspired by Alberto Breccia, features archival audio of Bela Lugosi. Though the adaptation is brisk, the stark imagery aligns beautifully with the classic tale's psychological tension.

"The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar," narrated by Julian Sands, adopts an old EC Comics aesthetic. The vivid animation and distinct voice work enhance this lesser-known tale of hypnotic horror, adding depth to its journalistic style. Guillermo del Toro's subdued yet impactful narration in "The Pit and the Pendulum" pairs well with CGI animation that mimics high-quality video game cut scenes. The use of split screens adds a dynamic layer to the unfolding dread. Finally, "The Masque of the Red Death" presents a mesmerizing Commedia dell'Arte pantomime with watercolor visuals, eschewing narration to maintain a dreamlike, hallucinatory quality fitting Poe's vision.

Overall, "Extraordinary Tales" is a visually stunning and thematically rich anthology that honors Edgar Allan Poe’s macabre legacy by adeptly blending distinct animation styles with compelling voice performances. This collection is a must-watch for horror aficionados and fans of literary adaptations alike.

"Extraordinary Tales" presents a captivating blend of Edgar Allan Poe's timeless narratives with visually diverse and stunning animation styles. Each segment of the anthology is distinctly brought to life by notable narrators, ensuring that every story feels unique and engaging. The variety in artistic design carefully complements the eerie and gothic atmosphere of Poe’s works, maintaining the viewer's interest throughout. While some stories are streamlined to their bare essentials, potentially disappointing purists, the overall visual presentation and narrative delivery make these retellings compelling.

From a technical perspective, "Extraordinary Tales" excels on Blu-ray. The visual fidelity is striking, with Cinedigm offering a remarkable A/V presentation that elevates the intricate animation. The audio quality is equally impressive, bringing depth and clarity to the narrations and accompanying soundscapes. The Blu-ray release also includes several substantial extras, providing additional context and behind-the-scenes insights that enrich the viewer's experience.

Years ago at the dawn of the multimedia PC age (as they were called back then), my wife bought me an Edgar Allan Poe videogame where I had to discover what had happened to Lenore (Poe fans will understand that reference). The game was a bit short on story specifics but long on design ambiance, and the same might be said for "Extraordinary Tales." The actual stories here are given somewhat short shrift in an attempt to streamline them to their very basics. That may understandably upset some Poe purists, but for those willing to go with the flow (and/or Poe), the visual presentations here are often absolutely stunning and should be appreciated by lovers of modern animation. Technical merits are first rate, and "Extraordinary Tales" comes highly recommended.