The Boxtrolls Blu-ray Review

The Boxtrolls Blu-ray video presentation impresses with its immaculate 2D 1080p/AVC-encoded rendition, which captures the intricate and labor-intensive stop-motion animation with striking precision. The film exhibits powdered pastels and cardboard hues with commendable confidence, while blacks remain deep and satisfying, devoid of crush and noise. Details are exceptionally clear, allowing viewers to appreciate every nuance and imperfection in the puppetry, set design, and texture of the animated world. The encode is flawless, free from significant artifacting, banding, or aliasing, which results in a clean and cinematic viewing experience.

In 3D, The Boxtrolls achieves an even more astounding visual prowess with its 1080p/MVC-encoded presentation. The depth of field and sense of realism created by the 3D effects are remarkable, giving each character, costume, and set piece a lifelike tangibility that surpasses expectations. The textured elements come alive, providing a tactile sensation rarely seen in animated films, and the presentation avoids overusing gimmicky shots, focusing instead on creating an immersive three-dimensional world. The dimensionality is sophisticatedly executed to ensure that foregrounds and backgrounds exhibit convincing separation, enhancing the overall viewer engagement.

Additionally, the presentation features slightly subdued contrast levels that contribute to the film's downcast mood for most of its runtime, until the climax where a shift to vibrant, crisp whites energizes the visual storytelling. Black levels are impressively deep, adding an intricate sense of shadow detail that enhances the film’s dark alleys and tunnels. Color reproduction is vivid, with rich primaries and warm secondary hues that enrich the detailed textures of both characters and environments. These technical attributes combine to deliver a visually stunning and highly immersive experience that stands out as a reference-quality release.

Universal's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track for "The Boxtrolls" delivers a splendidly satisfying audio experience. Though it may not be as jaw-dropping as the film's visual presentation, it excels in immersing viewers both in the rustic underground world of the Boxtrolls and the bustling streets above. Dynamics are handled proficiently with distinct separation and clarity, offering clean definition of the tiniest objects clanging and ringing across a balanced soundstage. Enhancing the immersive experience, the low-frequency effects (LFE) are robust and weighty, particularly noticeable in scenes involving villains' sinister dealings, blazing furnaces, and industrial trash compactors.

The surround sound presentation is aggressive and lively, transforming the Boxtrolls' intricate dwellings into a fully enveloping soundscape. Rear speaker activity is primarily and most notably employed during action sequences, where effects enjoy discrete directionality and excellent panning. This adds a layer of fun and engagement to the already vivid setting. Clarity and detail are top-notch, with dialogue reproduction remaining clean and intelligible throughout. Although there were occasional moments where Wright's voice seemed slightly thin, these instances were hardly distractions. Overall, while primarily front-heavy, this DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack is an excellent lossless mix, elevating the experience of “The Boxtrolls” with its robust audio performance.

The Blu-ray extras for "The Boxtrolls" offer a comprehensive behind-the-scenes look into the creation of this stop-motion marvel, delivering an insightful blend of technical and creative perspectives. The selection ranges from detailed audio commentary by directors Graham Annable and Anthony Stacchi, who explore the adaptation process, character evolution, and animation techniques, to extensive production featurettes that highlight the meticulous artistry behind the film. The "Dare to Be Square" segments provide an in-depth examination of various production aspects, including voice acting, character design, and special effects. Animatic sequences and shorter featurettes further illustrate the innovative processes involved in bringing "The Boxtrolls" to life on screen.

Extras included in this disc:

Preliminary animatic sequences: Initial animation drawings with optional director's commentary. Dare To Be Square: Behind The Scenes Of The Boxtrolls: In-depth production featurettes. Featurettes: Insightful sketches of the creative process. Feature Commentary with Directors Anthony Stacchi and Graham Annable: Detailed director commentary. Bonus DVD and Digital HD Copy: Additional formats of the film.

"The Boxtrolls," produced by Laika Entertainment, is a visually stunning stop-motion animated film that continues the studio’s legacy of technical excellence. The film's animation is nothing short of extraordinary, showcasing an incredible level of detail and artistry that immerses viewers into the world of Cheesebridge. The characters, particularly the Boxtrolls, are brought to life with remarkable expressiveness and individuality. The voice cast, featuring talents such as Isaac Hempstead Wright, Ben Kingsley, and Elle Fanning, adds further depth to the distinct personalities of each character.

However, despite its aesthetic brilliance, "The Boxtrolls" grapples with narrative inconsistency. While the premise of a human boy named Eggs being raised by these whimsical creatures offers a charming setup, the story often falters due to its uneven pacing and underdeveloped characters. The film attempts to blend dark themes such as political collusion and propaganda with light-hearted adventure, but the execution leaves much to be desired. The human characters, though voiced by a stellar cast, lack depth and fail to leave a lasting impression. The protagonist Eggs, though endearing, is overshadowed by the film's more vibrant Boxtroll characters.

The film’s villain, Archibald Snatcher, voiced by Ben Kingsley, is portrayed with a menacing sneer but becomes overbearing as the storyline progresses. The supporting characters, especially Winnie's parents and Snatcher’s henchmen, come off as underutilized, further detracting from the film's potential impact. Despite these narrative shortcomings, "The Boxtrolls" manages to convey a meaningful message about identity and acceptance, even if it is delivered amidst a somewhat cluttered plot. Overall, the technical prowess and imaginative design of "The Boxtrolls" stand out as its strongest assets, while its storytelling leaves room for improvement.

"The Boxtrolls" is a film that, despite its narrative flaws and occasionally uninspiring moments, manages to enchant and mesmerize with its exceptional stop-motion animation. Laika Studios has once again demonstrated their prowess in creating a visually stunning world, where the meticulously crafted Boxtrolls stand out even when the story and human characters fall short. The animation is undeniably the highlight of the film, enabling an otherwise ordinary tale to rise above mediocrity. Though the plot may occasionally languish, the visual spectacle keeps the audience engaged and entertained.

Universal's Blu-ray release of "The Boxtrolls" further enhances the experience with impressive video and audio quality. The 3D presentation is particularly remarkable, adding depth and immersion to Laika's already vivid and intricate world. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track offers a robust and clear auditory experience, ensuring that the sound design complements the visual feast. Special features included are of decent quality, though somewhat on the lighter side, providing an insightful glance into the making of this animated feature.

Overall, "The Boxtrolls" on Blu-ray is a worthwhile addition for collectors and animation enthusiasts. The film itself may be uneven, but the technical excellence of the Blu-ray release makes it a compelling purchase. The combination of stunning visuals and high-quality audio creates an immersive viewing experience that is hard to overlook. While some may opt for renting first, the sheer quality of this release might just make ownership a tempting proposition for many.