Harold and the Purple Crayon Blu-ray Review

The video presentation of "Harold and the Purple Crayon" on Blu-ray is solidly executed with a 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer. Displayed in a respectable 1.85:1 aspect ratio, the film leverages its colorful palette, capturing the playful and vibrant colors of Harold's world. Primaries are strong and skin tones appear naturally saturated, contributing to the film’s visual allure. While contrast is generally commendable, darker sequences sometimes fall into noticeable crush, likely due to digital compression. The overall depth of the image creates a convincing three-dimensional feel, though on occasion, viewers may encounter minimal flickers of blocking or digital noise.

Detail and clarity across "Harold and the Purple Crayon" are generally well-maintained, though not without some limitations. Edges are mostly crisp, yet a slight softness pervades certain scenes. Detailed textures from crayon drawings offer a distinctively charming, rough-around-the-edges appearance that successfully conveys the essence of fresh wax-on-paper. Despite these achievements, the overall detail doesn't quite reach the pinnacle of HD offerings—primarily dropping due to minor lapses in digital finesse.

Harold's animated sequences particularly stand out with excellent resolution, although they are limited throughout the runtime. Colors shine with a vibrantly engaging output whenever Harold wields his crayon. This coupled with accurate flesh tones—free from makeup anomalies—substantially enhances the visual experience. While some artifacts exist, they remain minimal and do not detract significantly from viewing pleasure. In sum, this Blu-ray transfer effectively captures the essence of Harold’s adventures, if not entirely elevating it to unmatched high-definition brilliance.

The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track of "Harold and the Purple Crayon" presents a mixed bag of audio prowess, characterized by its straightforward and competent execution. Dialogue is consistently clear and intelligible, strategically prioritized throughout the film, ensuring viewers can follow the story with ease. While the dynamic range is commendable, delivering some impactful moments, the low-frequency effects output lacks the depth and power that typically elevate family-oriented adventure films. While children's attention might remain unbothered, audiophiles may feel the track falls short of more immersive soundscapes found in top-tier family films. Surround activity contributes positively but does not reach notable engagement, occasionally feeling sparse.

The overall surround sound presentation enriches Harold's world, offering a reasonably immersive aural experience thanks to surround channels that handle spacing well despite some muddy moments. The film's audio mix shines in sequences laden with visual antics, where impressive surround imaging transports the audience into the vibrant settings. However, a slight imbalance between dialogue and background music occasionally disrupts coherence, presenting challenges particularly for basic television audio setups.

Audio formats include English and French 5.1 DTS-HD MA, while Spanish uses Dolby Digital 5.1, with descriptive audio available in all three languages. Subtitles are provided in English SDH, Spanish, and French. While robust dialogue reproduction ensures clarity and accessibility across scenes, the audio track tends towards a workmanlike execution, lacking extraordinary features but delivering solid performance for family-friendly content. Ultimately, this audio mix is competent and adequate for its intended audience but may leave seasoned enthusiasts longing for more enveloping experiences.

The Blu-ray edition of "Harold and the Purple Crayon" includes a modest collection of extras aimed primarily at children. While the additional content may lack depth or informative insight into the film’s production, it holds appeal for younger viewers with engaging and interactive segments. Particularly, the "How to Draw" segment stands out for offering a creative tutorial on sketching beloved characters, Harold, Porcupine, and Moose. Yet overall, these features tilt towards entertainment rather than educational content, consisting predominantly of playful activities and brief interviews which may not satisfy audiences seeking comprehensive behind-the-scenes material.

Extras included in this disc:

• How to Draw Harold, Porcupine, and Moose: A kids' tutorial on drawing the characters.
• Colors Sing-Along: A musical interactive feature for children.
• How Do You Spell Imagination?: The cast engages directly with young audiences.
• Deleted & Extended Scenes: Includes seven omitted scenes.
• Sony Previews: Various promotional previews.

"Harold and the Purple Crayon," a live-action and animation hybrid, ambitiously expands Crockett Johnson's beloved children's book into an uneven 90-minute cinematic journey. Directed by Carlos Saldanha and featuring Zachary Levi as the eponymous Harold, this adaptation attempts to infuse deeper plotlines and additional characters to broaden its narrative scope. While this effort enriches world-building, it often strays from the book’s minimalist charm, diluting the quiet introspection and imaginative solitude that were pivotal to the original story. The film introduces more complexity with adult Harold exploring themes like loneliness and identity, which may engage new audiences but occasionally feels forced, overshadowing the simplistic magic of Harold’s original adventure.

The casting of Zachary Levi as Harold has resulted in a polarized reception, with his portrayal sometimes tipping into annoyance rather than earnestness; however, supporting performances by Lil Rel Howery and Zooey Deschanel add layers of relief. Alfred Molina’s narration brings warmth reminiscent of the original book, although the blend of CGI animation with live-action elements creates some visual dissonance, detracting from full immersive enjoyment. The pacing leans towards a brisk tempo, potentially catering to modern viewers accustomed to fast-paced narratives, yet sacrificing the book’s contemplative leisurely flow, which might disengage purists of Johnson’s style.

Overall, while "Harold and the Purple Crayon" endeavors to retain core themes of creativity and resilience, it grapples with maintaining the integrity of a child’s solitary imaginative exploration amidst its updated conventional storytelling. Despite some insightful visual choices and earnest attempts at thematically deepening Harold's journey, the adaptation occasionally underwhelms by diverging from its iconic origins. Still, it stands as a visually engaging introduction for younger audiences to Harold’s crayon-wielding escapades, offering an accessible blend of family-friendly entertainment coupled with messages about creativity and friendship.

The Blu-ray release of "Harold and the Purple Crayon" presents an engaging but polarizing reinterpretation of a cherished childhood classic. While the narrative diverges from the minimalist charm of the original story, it attempts to offer a more relatable and modernized journey for contemporary audiences. The adapted story features additional elements that may engage younger viewers, although some purists might find this reworking a departure from the book's essential simplicity. A significant factor for its appeal lies in its ability to introduce Harold's adventures to new generations, albeit in a somewhat different light.

From a technical perspective, the Blu-ray edition is commendable. The video transfer and audio quality are solid, offering a decent viewing experience. However, the supplementary materials are sparse, with a noteworthy inclusion being the "how-to-draw" segment, which provides a creative touch amidst otherwise limited extras. This aspect may appeal to children and fans wishing for an interactive element tied to Harold's imaginative world.

In conclusion, while "Harold and the Purple Crayon" on Blu-ray may not fulfill expectations of those loyal to the original narrative, it succeeds in presenting an adaptation suited for contemporary viewers. It is visually and audibly well-executed, though the sparse extras may limit its overall allure. For those interested or possessing younger audiences at home, it could be worth exploring. Nonetheless, it may not captivate everyone, particularly those with fond memories of its original minimalist charm. Proceed with realistic expectations if considering adding this version to your collection.