Finding Dory Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray video presentation of "Finding Dory" is a visual tour de force, showcasing impeccable high-definition quality. The 1080p AVC MPEG-4 encode delivers pristine clarity and sharpness that elevate the animation to remarkable realism. Fine details are meticulously rendered, from the intricate fish scales to underwater vegetation, offering viewers a luminous and captivating experience. The contrast levels are expertly managed, with inky blacks and multi-layered whites and grays providing excellent dimensionality. The colors are richly saturated and vivid, especially in scenes filled with diverse marine life, creating an abundantly colorful and vibrant viewing experience.

The intricate attention to visual detail is evident in the vivid portrayal of environments, whether it's the ocean floor or various manmade structures within the Marine Life Institute. The Blu-ray format excels in displaying the complexity of textures and surfaces with commendable sharpness and clarity. Color reproduction is exceptional, featuring a broad palette of rich blues, greens, yellows, and more, all rendered with nuanced shading. Black levels are consistently deep, and the overall image cleanliness is impeccable, showing only trace levels of banding in rare instances. This presentation is as close to flawless as HD gets, leaving observers wishing for a UHD version to enjoy HDR and wide color gamut enhancements.

In summation, "Finding Dory" on Blu-ray is a reference-quality transfer with magnificent blending of pastel colors and deeply saturated hues in various sequences. The film maintains an impressive visual fidelity throughout, with smooth, clean movements and excellent separation of objects within the scenes. It's a testament to Pixar's capability in creating breathtaking animated visuals that transform digital animation into an almost photo-realistic experience. The 1.78:1 aspect ratio ensures that every scene is framed perfectly to deliver a first-rate visual experience on screen.

The DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 soundtrack for "Finding Dory" is an exceptionally well-engineered audio experience that utilizes the full breadth of the soundstage. The surround activity is frequent and immersive, seamlessly integrating front and rear channel elements. The dynamic range is robust, providing punchy and palpable low-frequency detail without overdoing it—ensuring it doesn't reach the earth-shaking levels that would disturb neighbors or frighten younger viewers. Notable effects include directionalized dialogue and ambient underwater sounds, which contribute to a highly engaging audio landscape.

Music and dialogue enjoy pristine clarity and balance across the entire sound field. Thomas Newman's score is enveloping, extending naturally into the rear channels to create a seamless wraparound effect. Voices, both in general dialogue and specific instances like Sigourney Weaver's public announcement, emerge clearly and accurately from different stages, maintaining pinpoint precision. Action sequences are enhanced by a solid LFE presence, particularly during key set-pieces, but they stop short of the house-rattling intensity noted in other Pixar titles like "Finding Nemo."

The mix also supports heightened technology through up-mixing with DTS:Neural:X, offering an even more immersive sensation of being underwater with the characters, though it's regrettable that Disney hasn't supported native DTS:X or Dolby Atmos for this release. Nevertheless, dialogue is rendered impeccably with clear front-center placement and is complemented by well-placed atmospheric effects. Overall, this is a highly immersive and engaging track that showcases the film’s aquatic environment with technical excellence.

The "Finding Dory" Blu-ray offers an extensive selection of meticulously crafted bonus features, both on the primary disc and an additional bonus disc. The primary disc includes an engaging audio commentary by Director Andrew Stanton, Co-Director Angus MacLane, and Producer Lindsey Collins, sharing detailed insights into the development of the film. The bonus features are diverse, ranging from behind-the-scenes looks at the creation of characters and themes to entertaining shorts and deleted scenes. Impressive highlights include "The Octopus That Nearly Broke Pixar," exploring the technical challenges of animating the character Hank, and "Dory’s Theme," providing a deep dive into the film’s musical composition. Additional features like "Piper," a beautiful short about a baby sandpiper, and "Living Aquariums," four serene, animated fish tank scenes, enrich the viewing experience.

Extras included in this disc:

• Piper: Short film about a baby bird learning to feed itself.
• Marine Life Interviews: Characters discussing their interactions with Dory.
• The Octopus That Nearly Broke Pixar: Challenges in animating Hank.
• What Were We Talking About?: The narrative development around Dory's memory loss.
• Casual Carpool: A light-hearted commute with cast and director.
• Animation & Acting: Behind-the-scenes of voice acting and animation.
• Creature Features: Cast share fun facts about their characters' species.
• Deep in the Kelp: Research trip to Monterey Bay Aquarium for environmental accuracy.
• Skating & Sketching with Jason Deamer: Art director discusses character design.
• Dory’s Theme: Discussion on musical elements shaping Dory's theme.
• Rough Day on the Reef: Compilation of humorous computer glitches.
• Deleted Scenes: Seven scenes with director’s introductions.
• Living Aquariums: Four ambient aquarium-themed animations.
• Trailers: Four international trailers for the film.

"Finding Dory" continues Pixar's legacy of animated excellence, although it might not surpass the groundbreaking originality of its predecessor, "Finding Nemo". Released 13 years after the original but set just one year later, the film centers around Dory, the forgetful blue tang voiced by Ellen DeGeneres, who suddenly recalls memories of her long-lost family. This sparks a life-changing quest with old friends Marlin (Albert Brooks) and Nemo (Hayden Rolence), introducing viewers to charming new characters like Hank the octopus (Ed O'Neill), Bailey the beluga whale (Ty Burrell), and Destiny the nearsighted whale shark (Kaitlin Olson).

Much of "Finding Dory" feels familiar, echoing the adventurous spirit and emotional stakes of the first film. Initially, it plays out more as a series of engaging vignettes rather than a cohesive, groundbreaking narrative. However, as the story progresses and Dory’s quest becomes more personal, the film carefully reveals its heart and soul, delivering an emotional punch that resonates deeply. The animation remains top-notch, showcasing Pixar's deft touch in creating visually stunning underwater sequences and vibrant characters.

The voice acting is superb, with DeGeneres brilliantly capturing Dory’s optimism and vulnerability. O’Neill, Burrell, and Olson inject humor and warmth into their roles, adding new dimensions to the tapestry of characters. The narrative skillfully employs flashbacks to explore Dory’s childhood, giving depth to her enduring struggle with memory loss and highlighting themes of resilience and self-discovery. Though not as tightly woven or impactful as "Finding Nemo," "Finding Dory" succeeds in expanding the universe in meaningful ways. It may not break new ground, but it provides a heartfelt continuation of a beloved story with genuine moments of humor and poignancy.

Pixar's "Finding Dory" successfully crafts a familiar yet uniquely touching narrative that, while reminiscent of its predecessor, excels with its depth of character and emotional journey. The film focuses more on the spirit and emotional development of its characters than on the physical adventure itself, establishing it as a worthy sequel to the original. Stylistically, the movie continues Pixar's tradition of blending humor with moments of heartfelt emotional resonance, ensuring it catches the audience's attention from start to finish.

The Blu-ray release of "Finding Dory" is technically outstanding. The video presentation is of reference quality, showcasing vibrant colors and intricate details that truly bring the underwater world to life. Additionally, the 7.1 lossless audio track is remarkable, delivering an immersive sound experience that enhances the viewing pleasure. While some may find the assortment of bonus materials slightly thin, those included are valuable and enriching. Notably, the availability of a 3D release provides an added dimension for those with compatible systems, enhancing the film’s visual immersion.

In conclusion, "Finding Dory" on Blu-ray is highly recommended for its technical excellence in both video and audio presentations. Despite its derivative aspects, the film is a solid continuation of Pixar's legacy, effectively balancing humor and heart. Whether you're a Pixar aficionado or new to the franchise, this Blu-ray edition warrants a place in your collection.