Rock-A-Doodle Blu-ray Review

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation for "Rock-A-Doodle" represents a significant improvement over the DVD release, providing a sharper and more filmic viewing experience that supports Don Bluth's original vision. Although some dirt and blurriness are noticeable, these seem inherent to the film's rushed production. The animation maintains a good level of detail with vibrant character expressions and busy backgrounds. Colors are vivid with bold primaries, especially reds and yellows, showing minimal age-related degradation. Live-action sequences carry a softer but bright palette, with natural greens and skin tones maintaining acceptable delineation.

This presentation employs MPEG-4 AVC encoding at 1080p resolution, staying true to the original 1.85:1 aspect ratio. Both brightly lit areas and darker scenes display excellent detail and clarity. The animated black levels are solid and consistent, while color reproduction retains the distinct muted yet colorful Don Bluth style. In the few live-action scenes, flesh tones are clear though not exceptional. Overall, "Rock-A-Doodle" has some 1990s charm with minimal noise and artifacts, making this upgrade a solid choice for fans of classic animation.

The DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mix for "Rock-A-Doodle" provides a compelling listening experience characterized by crisp percussion, defined rock guitars, and robust vocal performances. The soundtrack selections are presented with great clarity, ensuring that they significantly enhance the audience's engagement with the film. The scoring efforts are well-executed, featuring decent instrumentation and positioning that supports the on-screen action effectively. Dialogue exchanges are particularly well-managed, capturing performance nuances and emotional extremes without any detectable distortion, which is critical for maintaining the integrity of character interactions.

In technical terms, the audio format includes English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 with accompanying English SDH subtitles. The dynamics lean towards low-frequency content, offering minimal subwoofer usage which renders the sound quite "kid-friendly." The sound effects are comfortably pronounced, contributing order to on-screen chaos without becoming overbearing. Despite the absence of a surround sound presentation, the mix ensures that dialogue reproduction is clear and all characters are audible, creating an overall immersive audio experience.

The "Rock-A-Doodle" Blu-ray extras showcase a mix of nostalgia and insight, although some additions might feel underwhelming to collectors. The theatrical trailer offers a nostalgic glimpse into the marketing of this animated classic, despite being presented in standard definition. Unfortunately, the range of supplementary content is quite sparse, lacking both depth and variety. Fans seeking in-depth features or retrospectives may find the extras section disappointing. For a film with such a devoted following, more substantial content would have greatly enhanced the overall value.

Extras included in this disc:

• Theatrical Trailer: A nostalgic peek into the film's original advertising campaign.

"Rock-A-Doodle," directed by Don Bluth, illustrates his transition from the 1980s animated classics to the less favorable reception of his 1990s works. The film's narrative struggles markedly with coherence, stemming from an ambitious yet underwhelming fusion of animation and live-action sequences. The film's premise centers around Chanticleer, a rooster with an Elvis-like flair, whose crow supposedly raises the sun daily. When the villainous Grand Duke of Owls tricks Chanticleer into false realization of his non-essential role, the rooster abandons his farm for city life. Consequently, a real-world boy named Edmond, transformed into a kitten, embarks on an animated adventure to retrieve Chanticleer and restore order.

The plot's oscillation between live-action and animation introduces additional complexity, which the film fails to deftly navigate. The over-reliance on choppy editing and rapid storytelling glosses disrupt understanding and fluidity, with the first act condensed into a disorienting ten-minute montage. Despite these flaws, certain elements stand out positively. Christopher Plummer imbues the Grand Duke with a compelling menace that is both entertaining and chilling, while Phil Harris as the narrator dog Patou manages to stitch some cohesion to this fragmented narrative. Yet, other voice performances fluctuate drastically in quality, with the character of Goldie particularly jarring due to a grating vocal portrayal.

Narrative inconsistencies proliferate "Rock-A-Doodle," importantly highlighting a lack of internal logic within its story arcs. The script's insistence on Edmond reigniting faith in Chanticleer's powers contradicts earlier revelations, undermining viewer engagement. Furthermore, the film’s subplot involving Chanticleer morphing into an Elvis-like rock star managed by the Colonel Tom Parker-esque Pinky becomes another layer of confusion, complicating what should be a straightforward rescue mission. Overall, Bluth’s attempt at melding whimsical fantasy with darker undertones results in a muddled final product that, while featuring moments of charm, ultimately struggles to find its footing.

"Rock-A-Doodle" on Blu Ray offers a nostalgic trip down memory lane with its vibrant animation and engaging soundtrack. Don Bluth's unique animation style, which captures fluid character movements and compelling designs, remains a standout feature. The color palette is rich, enlivening the traditional adventure story even if the narrative itself feels somewhat muddled. While the film’s plot is not its strongest suit, its whimsical charm and visual appeal provide redeeming qualities. The musical score, particularly Glen Campbell’s vocal performance as Chanticleer, adds a buoyant atmosphere that enhances the film experience despite other narrative shortcomings.

Technically, the Blu Ray presentation is solid, though not without flaws. The transfer maintains the vivid colors and clarity inherent to Bluth's work, but some scenes exhibit minor inconsistencies in detail. Overall, the picture quality elevates the animation and helps obscure some of the storytelling issues. Audio clarity is another high point; the DTS-HD Master Audio track beautifully complements the animated visuals and ensures that the catchy, non-annoying songs retain their charm. The balance between the dialogue, sound effects, and music is well-orchestrated, enhancing the overall enjoyment of this eccentric film.

In conclusion, "Rock-A-Doodle" has its share of imperfections, yet its delightful animation and music make it a worthwhile watch. There are pleasures to be found in Rock-A-Doodle, most notably Bluth's animation. While technical issues are present, character design and movement are compelling, offering his unique vision to help season a traditional adventure story, giving it periodic life. The soundtrack is appealing as well, with Campbell offering Chanticleer a commanding stage presence, spinning bouncy songs with his musical gifts. There's a good movie buried somewhere underneath the final cut of Rock-A-Doodle, with positives occasionally peeking through messy editorial stitches, hinting that Bluth certainly didn't go into production with a mangled screenplay. His vision remains, but one has to work extra hard to find it.