The Film
From the opening sequence, which is essentially a movie-within-a-movie, Planet 51 (a play on the mysterious Area 51, get it?) is anything but subtle. It conjures up memories of why spoofs of B-movies (Mars Attack for one) aren't all that funny. This one attempts to play to kids by featuring Disney/Pixar-style animation while telling the story of an alien landing on a peaceful planet that is straight out of the 1950s.
The twist here is that the "alien" is really a self-absorbed human from Earth. No reason is mentioned where the name "Planet 51" comes from, nor is it explained why the women wear dresses and the men have no pants. You need to just go with it, and that would be acceptable if the film moved along. Instead, it is a slow 91 minutes with a predictable ending that is likely too cutesy for adults, but with too many old movie references for kids. In space no one can hear you yawn.
For another visit to Planet 51, check out Chris Boylan's review.
The Picture
The animation is really good and has a 3D quality to it, and on Blu-ray this one really pops with very alien-like green skin tones. The 1080p 2.35:1 presentation is like a Technicolor wonder, and is free of any jaggies or other noticeable problems. Dare I say this animated film looks "out of this world?"
The Sound
While there is never an explanation as to why the animals happen to speak English (yet misread a candy bar - damn plot holes), they sound crystal clear thanks to the Blu-ray's 5.1 channel DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack. The makers didn't overdo it with the surround sound however, and while there is noticeable immersion with the few action sequences, the rest of the time most of the sound comes straight at you from the front. For a kid's film it is wisely never too loud, but it isn't by any means the most engrossing audio either.
The Extras
The Blu-ray is packed with plenty of extras, including a video game that can be played with a remote control or via a downloadable iPhone/iPod Touch app. In addition to extended scenes (a few of which offer a bit more insight to the story), there are short featurettes, including "The World of Planet 51," "Life on Planet 51" and "Planetarium - The Voice Stars of Planet 51." There are also animation progression reels, a music video montage and this is a BD-Live enabled disc, so hardcore fans can even hope for additional exclusive content.
Final Thoughts
A few years ago digitally animated films were something really special, but Planet 51 is just an example of how even the best-looking visuals can't make up for a ho-hum story. Even the extras can't make us worth wanting to visit this far away world.
Product Details
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