The Film
Not every Pixar movie is lucky enough to get a sequel. Instead of giving fans what they really want (that would be another Incredibles outing, thank you very much), the studio cranked out Cars 2. After that release, filmgoers were slightly pumped and a little leery to hear that another Monsters Inc. outing would soon follow.
Of course, Monsters University isn't technically a sequel. It's Pixar's first prequel. It's also the story of when Mike (voiced by Billy Crystal) met Sully (John Goodman). Needless to say, it was not love at first sight. The two went from rivals to frenemies to the inseparable duo seen in the original film. The movie finds the two back in their school days. Sully is a jock type looking to coast on his heritage and scary nature, while Mike displays a little more eye (one, to be exact) of the tiger. The two soon find themselves in a Revenge of the Nerds-esque situation (which is even funnier, given Goodman's association), as fraternity brothers looking to claw their way back into the school's elite "Scare Program."
Monsters University is filled with colorful characters, as well as slimy and scaly ones. It's also busting with vocal talent, which includes Steve Buscemi (who reprises his role as Randy), Helen Mirren, Sean Hayes, Dave Foley, Alfred Molina, Nathan Fillion, Aubrey Plaza, and many more.
Sure, this sequel isn't on par with Toy Story 2 or Toy Story 3. It's not even as awesome as the original, but it's no Cars 2. Instead, Monsters University gives us a chance to revisit the original film's characters and gives them a backstory -- a pretty decent one, in fact.
The Picture
These monsters are anything but scary. In fact, Pixar has made Monsters University into quite the beautiful beast. The film's 1.78:1 image is one of the best of the year, thanks to a gorgeous color palette and razor-sharp detail. There are a lot of unique characters in this film, not to mention the lush backdrop of the university. All of that is gorgeous, with awesome black levels to boot. As mentioned, the colors aren't the only bit of eye candy here. This animated comedy is filled with scales, spikes and fur, all of which are absolutely stunning.
Like most Pixar/Disney flicks, the 3D isn't necessary, but I'm certainly not complaining in this case. Those effects give Monsters University a ton of depth. You're going to actually feel like you're walking (or slithering) through the MU campus. The film doesn't have a ton of pop-out effects, but there should be enough to keep viewers happy. Even better, the 3D doesn't seem to bother one hair or horn on Sully's head. The colors are bright and the detail is demo-worthy throughout the entire film.
The Sound
Disney is giving viewers plenty of audio options with this release. The disc comes with 2.0 and 5.1 tracks, but why you'd bother with either when there's an awesome Dolby TrueHD 7.1 mix is anyone's guess. If you do have a smaller setup, this release may force you to upgrade. The monsters come through the soundfield with a might roar (literally). However, there are also plenty of screams, parties and other antics. Even some of the quieter moments deliver a nice immersive effect. It's an excellent track from beginning to end.
The Extras
Instead of trying to squeeze a bunch of other extras onto the 2D disc, Disney has packed in a whole other Blu-ray. This includes a ton of short featurettes that cover Pixar and everything you'd want to know about the film's production. The one thing that's absent is a little something on the film's many famous voices. However, there's a lot of good stuff here, most notably "Campus Life," which details a day in the life of someone on Pixar's production crew.
Final Thoughts
Monsters University isn't the best Pixar movie, but it's far from the worst. In fact, it's pretty entertaining. It won't tug at your heartstrings like Toy Story, but there are plenty of laugh-out-loud moments here for all ages. The fact that it has a stunning Blu-ray is just the icing on the cake. The extras, the AV and even the 3D make Monsters University required viewing for all Blu-ray fans.
Product Details
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