The Review at a Glance: (max score: 5 )
Film:
Extras:
Audio/Video total rating:
( Max score: 100 )
87
Studio and Year: Disney - 2008
MPAA Rating: G
Feature running time: 78 Minutes
Genre: Family/Animation
Disc Format: BD-50
Encoding: AVC (MPEG-4)
Video Aspect: 1.78:1
Resolution: 1080p/24
Audio Format(s): English 5.1 uncompressed PCM, English Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles: English SDH
Starring: Mae Whitman, Angelica Houston, Lucy Liu, Jeff Bennett, Raven Symone, America Ferrera
Directed by: Bradley Raymond
Music by: Joel McNeely
Written by: Cheryl Abood & Carter Crocker
Region Code: A
Blu-ray Disc release Date: October 28, 2008
"Enter the world of Fairies"
Film Synopsis:
Tinker Bell explores the origins of everyone’s favorite fairy. Born into the fantastic world of Pixie Hollow, Tinker Bell discovers her fairy-talent is ‘tinkering.’ As the fairies prepare to bring spring to the world, Tink learns that tinkers must stay behind in Pixie Hollow to create wonderful things for the other fairies to use as they deliver the seasons to the mainland. Stubborn, sassy Tink thinks this means she isn’t special or important, so she asks her new friends Fawn, Iridessa, Rosetta and Silvermist to teach her their talents so she can go to the mainland, too. Turningher back on who she is inside, Tinker Bell’s attempts to switch her talent only lead to disaster, even endangering the arrival of spring! Yet, with encouragement from her friends, Tinker Bell learns that when she is true to herself, magical things can happen!
My Take:
This is the first in a series of Disney films that will feature Disney Fairies. I have fond memories of Tinker Bell from my younger years when I used to watch the wonderful world of Disney on Sunday nights. She would always fly in and wave her wand during each show’s beginning. She has been portrayed by several actresses (including Julia Roberts) over the years and is easily one of the most recognizable and beloved of the Disney characters. This is Tink’s first full length feature and it was indeed an enjoyable introduction to the Disney Fairy series. The visualization of the characters was subtly brought up to date by the style of dress, hair and ethnic variety. The story was wonderfully balanced and voiced by a great cast. Joel McNeely’s beautiful music score provided an excellent backdrop for the film which certainly enhanced the aspect of its telling. Viewers are sure to fall in love with these cute and cuddly characters that are truly staked in Disney tradition. I thoroughly enjoyed it and I am sure that your family will as well.
Parental Guide:
This is a Disney film that the whole family can watch.
AUDIO/VIDEO - By The Numbers:
REFERENCE = 92-100 / EXCELLENT = 83-91 / GOOD = 74-82 / AVERAGE = 65-73 / BELOW AVERAGE = under 65
**My audio/video ratings are based upon a comparative made against other high definition media/blu-ray disc.**
(Each rating is worth 4 points with a max of 5 per category)
Audio: 84
Video: 90
(Each rating is worth 4 points with a max of 5 per category)
Tinker Bell comes to Blu-ray from Disney featuring 1080p AVC encoded video that has an average bitrate of 28 mbps and lossless uncompressed 5.1 channel PCM audio that has a constant bitrate of 6.9 mbps.
Disney animated features have a reputation for strong visual presentations and Tinker Bell is no different. The first thing that jumps out at you is the beautifully rendered colors. Pixie Hollow is awash with lustrous and vibrant hues that are wonderfully diverse. Greens are particularly vivid with visible gradational stages that bring out subtle degrees of separation. Each of the characters has distinctive physical qualities that are attributable to the color of their clothing, hair, eyes, or skin. Things such as the deep blue of Tink’s eyes, the smooth light brown luster of Iridessa’s skin, or the deep black of Rosetta’s long flowing pony tailed hair were reproduced with succulent texture that was eye catching. Images were immaculately resolved with pristine quality and fine minutia that showed strict attention to detail regardless of perspective. In chapter 6 as Tink is sitting at a table she lays her head down on the table. As she does, her hair buckles which reveals flowing, individual strands of hair that are clearly defined. The facial features of the various characters had a nice supple quality that allowed them to display a varied range of emotions. Contrast and black levels strike a great balance so whites are detailed and punchy while blacks have respectable depth and noticeable delineation. I didn’t notice any signs of video related artifacts associated with the encoding.
The soundtrack for this film is not the type that contains powerful low frequency transients or extended dynamics. Its strengths lie in its attention to detail and beautifully crafted music. Joel McNeely’s music is the centerpiece of the surround mix and features well articulated instrumentation that doesn’t rely on the power of the bass drum or timpani. It relies on the subtle delicacy of strings and brass which is mixed with the variety of nature’s sound effects to create an aurally resplendent surround experience. Dialogue is definitively authoritative with excellent clarity and room penetration through the center channel. Off camera directional cues and panning sequences are spot on which help create a believable and stable sound stage. The surrounds are actively engaged either in support of the music or to handle the films associated sound effects. Low frequency effects were not in your face but there was enough bass present that it could be felt when appropriate. An example is during the stampede of the thistles. As they rush by the camera they are split in two rows starting at the back of the room and going toward the front. The sequence had excellent channel separation that divided the room in two and converged at the front. The pounding of their “feet” as they charged onward had solid tactility and tight bass response. I was impressed with the amount of subtle nuance that was clearly audible even during busier sound sequences. Things like the soft flutter of a single fairy’s wings or the sound of Tink’s delicate feet walking on the surface of the sand on the beach were detectable. I was very pleased with the quality of this presentation as a whole.
Bonus Features:
Final Thoughts:
Tinker Bell is a wonderful family movie from Disney that is a fitting tribute to this long standing Disney icon. Fans can look forward to her continuing adventures in later Disney Fairy Series films. Disney has established a reputation for strong high definition audio/video quality in their animated Blu-ray Disc releases and Tinker Bell continues in that vein. The bonus supplements are average but do offer young viewers the chance to interact with Tink in the magical realm of Pixie Hollow. This is a film that not only looks and sounds great but can be enjoyed by the whole family.
Ralph Potts
AVS Forum Blu-ray Reviews
Reference Review System:
JVC DLA-RS1x 1080p High Definition Front Projector
Carada Precision Brilliant White 96" Screen
Oppo 970HD universal disc DVD Player (480i HDMI)
Toshiba HD-XA2 HD DVD Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
Panasonic DMP-BD55K Blu-ray disc Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
Sony Playstation 3 Blu-ray disc Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
Marantz DV7001 Universal Disc Player
Denon AVR 5308CI THX Ultra 2 Preamp/Video Processor
B&K Reference 200.7 Series 2 seven Channel amplifier
Canton "Ergo" Series speakers
Axiom Audio QS8 Quadpolar speakers
SV Sound PB-13 Ultra (Rosenut finish)
APC AV S15BLK Power Conditioner/Surge Protector
Furman SPR-20i Stable Power Regulator
Wireworld, VizionWare, Audioquest, Best Deal Cables - Audio/Video/Speaker Cabling
Cool Components - CP-CP102 cooling package
The Review at a Glance: (max score: 5 )
Film:
Extras:
Audio/Video total rating:
( Max score: 100 )
87
Studio and Year: Disney - 2008
MPAA Rating: G
Feature running time: 78 Minutes
Genre: Family/Animation
Disc Format: BD-50
Encoding: AVC (MPEG-4)
Video Aspect: 1.78:1
Resolution: 1080p/24
Audio Format(s): English 5.1 uncompressed PCM, English Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles: English SDH
Starring: Mae Whitman, Angelica Houston, Lucy Liu, Jeff Bennett, Raven Symone, America Ferrera
Directed by: Bradley Raymond
Music by: Joel McNeely
Written by: Cheryl Abood & Carter Crocker
Region Code: A
Blu-ray Disc release Date: October 28, 2008
"Enter the world of Fairies"
Film Synopsis:
Tinker Bell explores the origins of everyone’s favorite fairy. Born into the fantastic world of Pixie Hollow, Tinker Bell discovers her fairy-talent is ‘tinkering.’ As the fairies prepare to bring spring to the world, Tink learns that tinkers must stay behind in Pixie Hollow to create wonderful things for the other fairies to use as they deliver the seasons to the mainland. Stubborn, sassy Tink thinks this means she isn’t special or important, so she asks her new friends Fawn, Iridessa, Rosetta and Silvermist to teach her their talents so she can go to the mainland, too. Turningher back on who she is inside, Tinker Bell’s attempts to switch her talent only lead to disaster, even endangering the arrival of spring! Yet, with encouragement from her friends, Tinker Bell learns that when she is true to herself, magical things can happen!
My Take:
This is the first in a series of Disney films that will feature Disney Fairies. I have fond memories of Tinker Bell from my younger years when I used to watch the wonderful world of Disney on Sunday nights. She would always fly in and wave her wand during each show’s beginning. She has been portrayed by several actresses (including Julia Roberts) over the years and is easily one of the most recognizable and beloved of the Disney characters. This is Tink’s first full length feature and it was indeed an enjoyable introduction to the Disney Fairy series. The visualization of the characters was subtly brought up to date by the style of dress, hair and ethnic variety. The story was wonderfully balanced and voiced by a great cast. Joel McNeely’s beautiful music score provided an excellent backdrop for the film which certainly enhanced the aspect of its telling. Viewers are sure to fall in love with these cute and cuddly characters that are truly staked in Disney tradition. I thoroughly enjoyed it and I am sure that your family will as well.
Parental Guide:
This is a Disney film that the whole family can watch.
AUDIO/VIDEO - By The Numbers:
REFERENCE = 92-100 / EXCELLENT = 83-91 / GOOD = 74-82 / AVERAGE = 65-73 / BELOW AVERAGE = under 65
**My audio/video ratings are based upon a comparative made against other high definition media/blu-ray disc.**
(Each rating is worth 4 points with a max of 5 per category)
Audio: 84
- Dynamics:
- Low frequency extension:
- Surround Sound presentation:
- Clarity/Detail:
- Dialogue Reproduction:
Video: 90
(Each rating is worth 4 points with a max of 5 per category)
- Resolution/Clarity:
- Black level/Shadow detail:
- Color reproduction:
- Fleshtones:
- Compression:
Tinker Bell comes to Blu-ray from Disney featuring 1080p AVC encoded video that has an average bitrate of 28 mbps and lossless uncompressed 5.1 channel PCM audio that has a constant bitrate of 6.9 mbps.
Disney animated features have a reputation for strong visual presentations and Tinker Bell is no different. The first thing that jumps out at you is the beautifully rendered colors. Pixie Hollow is awash with lustrous and vibrant hues that are wonderfully diverse. Greens are particularly vivid with visible gradational stages that bring out subtle degrees of separation. Each of the characters has distinctive physical qualities that are attributable to the color of their clothing, hair, eyes, or skin. Things such as the deep blue of Tink’s eyes, the smooth light brown luster of Iridessa’s skin, or the deep black of Rosetta’s long flowing pony tailed hair were reproduced with succulent texture that was eye catching. Images were immaculately resolved with pristine quality and fine minutia that showed strict attention to detail regardless of perspective. In chapter 6 as Tink is sitting at a table she lays her head down on the table. As she does, her hair buckles which reveals flowing, individual strands of hair that are clearly defined. The facial features of the various characters had a nice supple quality that allowed them to display a varied range of emotions. Contrast and black levels strike a great balance so whites are detailed and punchy while blacks have respectable depth and noticeable delineation. I didn’t notice any signs of video related artifacts associated with the encoding.
The soundtrack for this film is not the type that contains powerful low frequency transients or extended dynamics. Its strengths lie in its attention to detail and beautifully crafted music. Joel McNeely’s music is the centerpiece of the surround mix and features well articulated instrumentation that doesn’t rely on the power of the bass drum or timpani. It relies on the subtle delicacy of strings and brass which is mixed with the variety of nature’s sound effects to create an aurally resplendent surround experience. Dialogue is definitively authoritative with excellent clarity and room penetration through the center channel. Off camera directional cues and panning sequences are spot on which help create a believable and stable sound stage. The surrounds are actively engaged either in support of the music or to handle the films associated sound effects. Low frequency effects were not in your face but there was enough bass present that it could be felt when appropriate. An example is during the stampede of the thistles. As they rush by the camera they are split in two rows starting at the back of the room and going toward the front. The sequence had excellent channel separation that divided the room in two and converged at the front. The pounding of their “feet” as they charged onward had solid tactility and tight bass response. I was impressed with the amount of subtle nuance that was clearly audible even during busier sound sequences. Things like the soft flutter of a single fairy’s wings or the sound of Tink’s delicate feet walking on the surface of the sand on the beach were detectable. I was very pleased with the quality of this presentation as a whole.
Bonus Features:
- (HD)Magical guide to Pixie Hollow – Interactive map with descriptive narration by Tinker Bell and Queen Clarion
- (HD) Tinker Trainer – Test your Tinker Fairy skills in this interactive activity
- (HD) Ever wonder – See how fairies put the wonder in natural wonders
- (HD) “Fly to your heart” music video by Salena Gomez
- (HD) 6 deleted scenes with optional introduction by Director Bradley Raymond and Producer Jeannine Roussel
- (HD) Creating Pixie Hollow – A 10 minute Making of documentary
- BD-Live access
Final Thoughts:
Tinker Bell is a wonderful family movie from Disney that is a fitting tribute to this long standing Disney icon. Fans can look forward to her continuing adventures in later Disney Fairy Series films. Disney has established a reputation for strong high definition audio/video quality in their animated Blu-ray Disc releases and Tinker Bell continues in that vein. The bonus supplements are average but do offer young viewers the chance to interact with Tink in the magical realm of Pixie Hollow. This is a film that not only looks and sounds great but can be enjoyed by the whole family.
Ralph Potts
AVS Forum Blu-ray Reviews
Reference Review System:
JVC DLA-RS1x 1080p High Definition Front Projector
Carada Precision Brilliant White 96" Screen
Oppo 970HD universal disc DVD Player (480i HDMI)
Toshiba HD-XA2 HD DVD Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
Panasonic DMP-BD55K Blu-ray disc Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
Sony Playstation 3 Blu-ray disc Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
Marantz DV7001 Universal Disc Player
Denon AVR 5308CI THX Ultra 2 Preamp/Video Processor
B&K Reference 200.7 Series 2 seven Channel amplifier
Canton "Ergo" Series speakers
Axiom Audio QS8 Quadpolar speakers
SV Sound PB-13 Ultra (Rosenut finish)
APC AV S15BLK Power Conditioner/Surge Protector
Furman SPR-20i Stable Power Regulator
Wireworld, VizionWare, Audioquest, Best Deal Cables - Audio/Video/Speaker Cabling
Cool Components - CP-CP102 cooling package