The Review at a Glance: (max score: 5 )
Film:
Extras:
Audio/Video total rating:
( Max score: 100 )
92
Studio and Year: 20th Century Fox - 2011
MPAA Rating: G
Feature running time: 96 minutes
Genre: Family/Animation
Disc Format: BD-50
Encoding: AVC (MPEG-4)
Video Aspect: 2.40:1
Resolution: 1080p/24
Audio Format(s): English DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio, English/French/Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish
Starring: Anne Hathaway, Jessie Eisenberg, George Lopez, Jamie Foxx, Leslie Mann, Rodrigo Santoro, Will i Am, Tracy Morgan, Jemaine Clement
Directed by: Carlos Saldanha
Music by: John Powell
Written by: Don Rhymer, Joshua Sternin, Jeffrey Ventimila, Sam Harper
Region Code: A
Blu-ray Disc release Date: August 2, 2011
"He's going to the wildest, most magical place on earth ... home"
Film Synopsis:
Blu (Jesse Eisenberg) is a rare domesticated macaw who believes he's the last of his kind. But when his owner learns about Jewel (Hathaway), Blu's female counterpart in Rio de Janeiro, they set out on the adventure of a lifetime. Even though he's never learned to fly, Blu befriends a group of wise-cracking, smooth-talking city birds who help him find the courage to spread his wings and follow his destiny.
My Take:
Stolen from the wild by smugglers as a young bird, Blu, a rare Spix Macaw, is thousands of miles away from his homeland of Brazil, living happily in Moose Lake Minnesota as a domesticated companion. When his owner Linda discovers that he is the last male of his kind, they head south to Rio de Janeiro to meet the only other female. But it's far from love at first sight between the socially-awkward, flight-challenged Blu and the fiercely independent, high-flying female Spix Macaw, Jewel. Shortly after Blu's arrival, the two rare birds are captured by greedy animal smugglers and find themselves lost in the Brazilian rainforest. Unexpectedly thrown together, they embark on a hilarious and clumsy adventure where they learn about friendship, love, courage and spreading one's wings to fly.
Rio is exactly what you might expect in that its story about being taken out of one's element, adjusting to life on the outside and suddenly being thrust back (give or take) sounds all too familiar. That's okay because the enjoyment found in films like this isn't contained in the formula but in the execution. In other words, likeable characters, a charming story, and visually engaging imagery that draws the audience in. In this case all three are represented and make for a rewarding animated film that proves lots of fun for kids and parents alike. The predictable elements are enriched by well crafted/witty dialogue, entertaining musical set pieces featuring Samba style rhythms, and a cache of secondary characters that prove to be more than window dressing. The mix of light drama, mild suspense, and breezy adventure appropriately coincide with the film's thematic tone as its heartwarming aspects provide the motivation for us to root for Blu. I tend to enjoy feel good movies like this and Rio, paint by the numbers or not, had me right from the start. The animation is top notch and the actors that lend their vocal talents to the film bring the characters to life with spirit and enthusiasm. Rio is fairly typical but makes for a charming and delightfully fun animated film that can be enjoyed by the whole family.
Parental Guide:
This film is appropriate for all audiences.
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: 90
Video: 94
(Each rating is worth 4 points with a max of 5 per category)
Rio comes to Blu-ray Disc from Fox featuring 1080p AVC encoded video that has an average bitrate of 20 Mbps and lossless DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio sound that has an average bitrate of 3.8 Mbps.
This is a pristine and reference quality high definition presentation from Fox. The video quality is superlative in its depiction of the film's animated subjects. Detail and definition is impeccably rendered as images have a luminous and sparkling clarity that is appreciably dimensional. Fine degrees of subtle delineation and texture are clearly discernible. Colors are richly saturated, vibrant and beautifully rendered. The switch of the relaxed color scheme of Moose Lake to the lush, warm and gradationally satisfying Rio, Brazil makes for a stimulating visual contrast. Primary colors are particularly vivid and exhibit visibly delineated stages that bring out subtle degrees of separation. Contrast is spot on, blacks are rich with deep highlights and grays exhibit multi-layered stages that enhance dimension.
The DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack makes for a great home theater experience. This is a fairly active sound design that truly benefits from the higher resolution that lossless audio offers. Dialogue is crystalline with appreciable tonal inflection and non sibilant vocal character. Dynamics are top notch as the elements contained within the soundtrack have definitive energy and potent impact. The music plays an integral role in this presentation and the entire surround platform is used to present the marvelous musical set pieces. The auditory is rich in clarity and detail which allows the subtle environmental sounds in the recording to easily be heard as the mix creates a stable and immersive surround sound experience that achieves excellent balance. Low frequency detail is authoritative and tight as it engages the room with palpable bass that augments the track's recorded elements. This isn't an aggressive surround sound mix but it is an articulate one that is lots of fun and sounds great.
Bonus Features:
Final Thoughts:
Rio comes from the creative minds behind Ice age and is a spirited and well crafted animated film that may not break new ground but still makes for delightfully fun family entertainment. Its presentation on Blu-ray Disc doesn't disappoint and features reference quality video and superb lossless surround sound. The bonus supplements include a bonus DVD and Digital Copy of the film plus a host of fan friendly extras, including cast/crew interviews, interactive features, a special offer for Angry Birds enthusiasts. This strong offering from 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment is worthy of your buying dollars so if you're inclined feel free to purchase with confidence.
Ralph Potts
AVS Forum Blu-ray Reviews
Reference Review System:
JVC DLA-RS50 3D Ready 1080p High Definition Front Projector
Stewart Filmscreen - Studiotek 130 G3 100 16x9 Screen
Anthem AVM50v THX Ultra 2 Preamp/Video Processor
Sherbourn Technologies - 7/200 Seven Channel Amplifier
Oppo BDP-93 Universal Disc/3D capable Blu-ray Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
Panasonic DMP-BDT310 3D capable Blu-ray Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
Toshiba HD-XA2 HD DVD Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
Sony Playstation 3 Blu-ray disc Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
System Controller: Apple iPad/iRule HD Universal Remote Control
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, Better Cables, 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 )
92
Studio and Year: 20th Century Fox - 2011
MPAA Rating: G
Feature running time: 96 minutes
Genre: Family/Animation
Disc Format: BD-50
Encoding: AVC (MPEG-4)
Video Aspect: 2.40:1
Resolution: 1080p/24
Audio Format(s): English DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio, English/French/Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish
Starring: Anne Hathaway, Jessie Eisenberg, George Lopez, Jamie Foxx, Leslie Mann, Rodrigo Santoro, Will i Am, Tracy Morgan, Jemaine Clement
Directed by: Carlos Saldanha
Music by: John Powell
Written by: Don Rhymer, Joshua Sternin, Jeffrey Ventimila, Sam Harper
Region Code: A
Blu-ray Disc release Date: August 2, 2011
"He's going to the wildest, most magical place on earth ... home"
Film Synopsis:
Blu (Jesse Eisenberg) is a rare domesticated macaw who believes he's the last of his kind. But when his owner learns about Jewel (Hathaway), Blu's female counterpart in Rio de Janeiro, they set out on the adventure of a lifetime. Even though he's never learned to fly, Blu befriends a group of wise-cracking, smooth-talking city birds who help him find the courage to spread his wings and follow his destiny.
My Take:
Stolen from the wild by smugglers as a young bird, Blu, a rare Spix Macaw, is thousands of miles away from his homeland of Brazil, living happily in Moose Lake Minnesota as a domesticated companion. When his owner Linda discovers that he is the last male of his kind, they head south to Rio de Janeiro to meet the only other female. But it's far from love at first sight between the socially-awkward, flight-challenged Blu and the fiercely independent, high-flying female Spix Macaw, Jewel. Shortly after Blu's arrival, the two rare birds are captured by greedy animal smugglers and find themselves lost in the Brazilian rainforest. Unexpectedly thrown together, they embark on a hilarious and clumsy adventure where they learn about friendship, love, courage and spreading one's wings to fly.
Rio is exactly what you might expect in that its story about being taken out of one's element, adjusting to life on the outside and suddenly being thrust back (give or take) sounds all too familiar. That's okay because the enjoyment found in films like this isn't contained in the formula but in the execution. In other words, likeable characters, a charming story, and visually engaging imagery that draws the audience in. In this case all three are represented and make for a rewarding animated film that proves lots of fun for kids and parents alike. The predictable elements are enriched by well crafted/witty dialogue, entertaining musical set pieces featuring Samba style rhythms, and a cache of secondary characters that prove to be more than window dressing. The mix of light drama, mild suspense, and breezy adventure appropriately coincide with the film's thematic tone as its heartwarming aspects provide the motivation for us to root for Blu. I tend to enjoy feel good movies like this and Rio, paint by the numbers or not, had me right from the start. The animation is top notch and the actors that lend their vocal talents to the film bring the characters to life with spirit and enthusiasm. Rio is fairly typical but makes for a charming and delightfully fun animated film that can be enjoyed by the whole family.
Parental Guide:
This film is appropriate for all audiences.
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: 90
- Dynamics:
- Low frequency extension:
- Surround Sound presentation:
- Clarity/Detail:
- Dialogue Reproduction:
Video: 94
(Each rating is worth 4 points with a max of 5 per category)
- Resolution/Clarity:
- Black level/Shadow detail:
- Color reproduction:
- Fleshtones:
- Compression:
Rio comes to Blu-ray Disc from Fox featuring 1080p AVC encoded video that has an average bitrate of 20 Mbps and lossless DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio sound that has an average bitrate of 3.8 Mbps.
This is a pristine and reference quality high definition presentation from Fox. The video quality is superlative in its depiction of the film's animated subjects. Detail and definition is impeccably rendered as images have a luminous and sparkling clarity that is appreciably dimensional. Fine degrees of subtle delineation and texture are clearly discernible. Colors are richly saturated, vibrant and beautifully rendered. The switch of the relaxed color scheme of Moose Lake to the lush, warm and gradationally satisfying Rio, Brazil makes for a stimulating visual contrast. Primary colors are particularly vivid and exhibit visibly delineated stages that bring out subtle degrees of separation. Contrast is spot on, blacks are rich with deep highlights and grays exhibit multi-layered stages that enhance dimension.
The DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack makes for a great home theater experience. This is a fairly active sound design that truly benefits from the higher resolution that lossless audio offers. Dialogue is crystalline with appreciable tonal inflection and non sibilant vocal character. Dynamics are top notch as the elements contained within the soundtrack have definitive energy and potent impact. The music plays an integral role in this presentation and the entire surround platform is used to present the marvelous musical set pieces. The auditory is rich in clarity and detail which allows the subtle environmental sounds in the recording to easily be heard as the mix creates a stable and immersive surround sound experience that achieves excellent balance. Low frequency detail is authoritative and tight as it engages the room with palpable bass that augments the track's recorded elements. This isn't an aggressive surround sound mix but it is an articulate one that is lots of fun and sounds great.
Bonus Features:
- (HD) Deleted scene
- Explore the world of Rio - Interactive tour/feature
- (HD) Saving the species: One voice at a time - 24 minute featurette on the voice cast
- (HD) The making of Hot Wings - 8 minute featurette with Jamie Foxx and Will i Am
- (HD) Boom-Boom Tish-Tish: The sounds of Rio - 13 minute featurette on the film's music
- (HD) The real Rio - 9 minute featurette on Rio, Brazil
- Carnival Dance-O-Rama
- (HD) Welcome to Rio music video - Featuring vocals by Jessie Eisenberg and Anne Hathaway
- (HD) Telling the world music video by Taio Cruz
- (HD) Rio de JAM-eiro Jukebox
- Postcards from Rio - Make your own!
- (HD) Angry Birds Rio (3 segments) - Trailer, Nigel Mash up, and Instructional/Clue video
- BD-Live: Live Extras
- Pocket BLU - with Wi-Fi download option (Apple products)
- Bonus DVD of Rio
- Digital Copy Bonus Disc
Final Thoughts:
Rio comes from the creative minds behind Ice age and is a spirited and well crafted animated film that may not break new ground but still makes for delightfully fun family entertainment. Its presentation on Blu-ray Disc doesn't disappoint and features reference quality video and superb lossless surround sound. The bonus supplements include a bonus DVD and Digital Copy of the film plus a host of fan friendly extras, including cast/crew interviews, interactive features, a special offer for Angry Birds enthusiasts. This strong offering from 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment is worthy of your buying dollars so if you're inclined feel free to purchase with confidence.
Ralph Potts
AVS Forum Blu-ray Reviews
Reference Review System:
JVC DLA-RS50 3D Ready 1080p High Definition Front Projector
Stewart Filmscreen - Studiotek 130 G3 100 16x9 Screen
Anthem AVM50v THX Ultra 2 Preamp/Video Processor
Sherbourn Technologies - 7/200 Seven Channel Amplifier
Oppo BDP-93 Universal Disc/3D capable Blu-ray Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
Panasonic DMP-BDT310 3D capable Blu-ray Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
Toshiba HD-XA2 HD DVD Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
Sony Playstation 3 Blu-ray disc Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
System Controller: Apple iPad/iRule HD Universal Remote Control
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, Better Cables, Best Deal Cables - Audio/Video/Speaker Cabling
Cool Components - CP-CP102 cooling package