The Film
Hot on the heels of an Oscar nomination in the Animated Feature Film category, we have the Blu-ray release of The Boxtrolls. While the film certainly has some stiff competition from blockbusters such as How to Train Your Dragon 2 and Big Hero 6, it's definitely worthy of your movie-watching time.
Based on the novel Here Be Monsters! by Alan Snow, the stop-motion animated film is all about the citizens of Cheesebridge and how they worry that the Boxtrolls will steal and kill their children. Yikes. So it's not exactly as lighthearted as a bunch of funny Lego people, but not to worry. Beneath those boxes are some very sweet characters and themes.
One character that isn't so sweet is Archibald Snatcher (voiced by Ben Kingsley), who offers to do away with the Boxtrolls, in exchange for a slot on The White Hats, the city's cheese-loving council.
Over the years, the Boxtrolls are scooped up, much to the dismay of Eggs (Isaac Hempstead-Wright), the orphaned boy who lives amongst the tiny trolls. So he heads out into the world to let the people of Cheesebridge know that the Boxtrolls are actually completely misunderstood.
The Boxtrolls is by the same people who brought us Coraline and ParaNorman, so the animation style, the creepy characters, and even the stinky cheeses shouldn't be all that surprising. However, that doesn't mean you have to hide your children. The Boxtrolls are actually a peaceful little group, who just happen to dress themselves up in cardboard boxes.
The idea of a class system, ridding the world of the little people, and how humans can be completely awful sometimes will probably go over little ones' heads. This is an engaging movie, filled with whimsical, interesting characters. Still, some can be a little scary (Tracy Morgan and Simon Pegg's contributions are particularly freaky), so The Boxtrolls is probably best suited for a family movie night -- but it's definitely one you won't want to miss.
The Picture
From the trolls and the townspeople to the gears and gizmos; The Boxtrolls is one gorgeous looking film. While the 1.78:1 image isn't bursting with the types of bright colors you'd see in other animated films, it does have quite the wonderful palette. And even in the dimmest, darkest moments, The Boxtrolls is a sight to behold. The stop-motion animation is wonderfully detailed, which is evident in both the 3D and 2D versions. (And both of those are on the same disc, FYI.) It's important to note that despite everything going on in the film, it doesn't have a ton of pop-out effects, but it's fun nonetheless. The 3D manages to make the stop-motion animation seem that much more real -- and that much more creepy. Also, it doesn't detract from the image, which is probably the most impressive point, considering how dark it is.
The Sound
Why The Boxtrolls doesn't have a 7.1 track is anyone's guess, but it's hard to be disappointed with this DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix. The varied vocal track is always clear, even with the film's many accents and chaotic moments. It also delivers a pretty decent amount of surround sounds. It's not as immersive as something like How to Train Your Dragon, but there is plenty of thunder and rain, as well as the insanity of the exterminators, the carnival crowds, the ball and much more to keep your ears happy.
The Extras
Final Thoughts
Eggs is the type of character that kids will relate to and cheer for, but The Boxtrolls is probably best suited for family viewing. It's a fun, whimsical tale with interesting and sometimes creepy characters. The AV is also a real treat, with stunning animation and a fun audio track. Fans of Coraline and ParaNorman will eat up The Boxtrolls with a spoon -- and possibly a side of cheese.
Product Details
| Overall | |
|---|---|
| Video | |
| Audio | |
| Movie | |
| Extras |
