I'm So Excited! Blu-ray Review

"I'm So Excited!" delivers a visually stunning experience, courtesy of its pristine 1080p transfer. The Blu-ray presentation meticulously captures the film's vibrant palette, enhanced by an aspect ratio of 1.78:1. From the engaging opening titles, viewers are treated to an explosion of colors—each shade vividly rendered against the plane's interiors, costumes, and the enchanting blue skies outside the cockpit. The tonal balance of these hues is impeccable, appearing natural while retaining their vividness, which ensures an immersive viewing experience.

The image quality extends beyond mere color vibrancy. Details are exceptionally sharp, with facial textures finely resolved down to individual pores, wrinkles, and hair stubble. The fabrics used in costumes and airplane seats are richly textured and crisply defined, offering a heightened sense of realism. Black levels are deep and consistent, providing a solid contrast that complements the natural appearance of skin tones. Furthermore, this Blu-ray transfer exhibits excellent clarity throughout, devoid of any noticeable noise, blocking, or banding issues.

This exemplary transfer from Sony ensures "I'm So Excited!" is not just another colorful romp but a visual treat with technical precision that rivals more action-packed titles. Indeed, the video presentation is so well-handled that it stands as demo-worthy material, sure to impress any audiophile or home cinema enthusiast.

The Blu-ray audio presentation of "I'm So Excited!" features an impeccable DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack that demonstrates excellent balance and richness. The film's musical numbers are highlighted by robust, full-bodied soundscapes that exude precision and clarity. Instrumentation and vocals in the pivotal song-and-dance routines display remarkable fidelity, underpinned by rock-solid bass and faultless clarity. Despite the film’s heavy reliance on dialogue over dynamic effects, subtle ambient sounds such as the hum of the aircraft enhance the overall experience, creating a light yet critical environmental backdrop. Dialogue reproduction remains flawless throughout, earning top marks for clarity and front-middle spacing.

This DTS-HD 5.1 mix ensures all audio elements are consistently clear with no audible pops, cracks, or hissing, maintaining an immersive listening experience. The Spanish dialogue is always crystal clear and easily understandable, with English subtitles seamlessly aiding non-Spanish speakers. As the narrative largely unfolds within an airplane setting, significant ambient noises are limited to engine sounds and occasional environmental effects; however, these are effectively rendered through the surround channels, contributing to the track's well-balanced profile. Overall, this audio presentation offers a satisfying and fully engaging auditory experience, meeting high technical standards and enhancing the film’s entertaining quality.

The Blu-ray extras for "I'm So Excited!" offer minimal yet insightful behind-the-scenes content. Included are two key features: "Making I'm So Excited!"—a succinct six-minute exploration of scene development, paired with film clips, and "Presenting I'm So Excited!"—a comprehensive, nearly 30-minute Q&A with Director Pedro Almodóvar and cast members by Moderator Thomas Campbell, offering valuable insights despite its leisurely pace. Additional materials include the theatrical trailer and previews for other Sony titles.

Extras included in this disc:

• Making I'm So Excited!: A brief look at the making of several scenes, intercut with clips from the film.
• Presenting I'm So Excited!: Moderator Thomas Campbell sits down with Writer/Director Pedro Almodóvar and actors for a screening Q&A session.
• Theatrical Trailer: Trailer for the film.
• Previews: Additional Sony titles.

In "I'm So Excited!", Pedro Almodóvar takes a bold departure from his more somber recent works to offer a colorful, comedic portrayal of an airline on the brink of disaster. The film opens with a dose of normalcy as a couple played by Penélope Cruz and Antonio Banderas announce a pregnancy, but swiftly tumbles into chaotic frivolity. The flight to Mexico faces technical malfunctions leading to a peculiar scenario where economy class passengers are drugged into unconsciousness while the business class cabin transforms into a hedonistic playground. Captured within this surreal setting is an ensemble cast engaging in self-discovery through sex, drugs, and song.

The diverse lineup includes a psychic claiming prophetic knowledge, closeted pilots entangled in complex relationships, and various quirky passengers. The film's structure prioritizes lighthearted chaos over conventional narrative tensions, offering moments of slapstick comedy and personal revelations. Despite its vibrant and energetic demeanor, the film doesn't completely escape its flaws. Characters often veer into cliché territory and lack substantial depth. Even so, each actor delivers performances that capture the film’s playful essence, making it an engaging albeit uneven journey.

Almodóvar's attempt to infuse a slapstick comedy with profound themes results in contrasting reactiveness, particularly among progressive audiences who may appreciate the film's progressive humor and unabashed debauchery. However, its inconsistent pacing and anticlimactic conclusion weaken its impact. Despite these turbulence points, "I'm So Excited!" remains a diverting escapade marked by colorful character interactions and unusual situational comedy. It provides an amusing yet inconsequential diversion—a vivacious blend of eccentric characters meeting impending doom with irreverent glee.

"I'm So Excited!" presents a vibrant and eccentric portrayal typical of director Pedro Almodóvar's style, yet it diverges noticeably from his past dramatic works. The film combines quirky humor with a whimsical narrative, resulting in intermittent laughs that are sometimes mired by uneven pacing and recurrent themes. The characters, while simple, are imbued with an infectious zeal that brings a level of charm to the film. However, these qualities may not resonate with conservative viewers who may find the content too risqué.

Sony's Blu-ray release of "I'm So Excited!" is commendable in its technical execution. The video quality is exceptional, offering vivid colors and clarity that enhance Almodóvar's flamboyant visual style. The audio delivery is equally robust, with a soundtrack that complements the film's lively atmosphere. However, the included extras are sparse and leave much to be desired, which might disappoint fans looking for deeper insights into the film’s production.

In conclusion, "I'm So Excited!" offers an entertaining if flawed escapade that showcases Almodóvar’s unique storytelling. While it may not reach the heights of his best work, it remains a worthwhile watch for its target audience. Given the strengths in video and audio quality, renting before purchasing is advised, especially considering the high initial price of the Blu-ray.