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WSR Detailed Disc Review
Kit Kittredge: An American Girl
Genre: Family
Reviewed In Issue 137 (Dec 2008) Of Widescreen Review®
Stars:
Abigail Breslin, Julia Ormond, Chris O’Donnell, Jane Krakowski, Wallace Shawn, Max Thieriot, Willow Smith, Glenne Headly, Zach Mills, Joan Cusack & Stanley Tucci
Story Synopsis:
Kit Kittredge (Breslin) is a typical American Girl living during the Great Depression of the 1930s. When her dad, Jack (O’Donnell), loses the family car business, he must leave his comfortable family home in search of work. To make ends meet while Jack is away, Kit’s mom Margaret (Ormond) is forced to take in a boarder in order to keep a roof over her and her daughter’s head. But when Margaret’s lockbox containing all the family’s cash is stolen, Kit’s new hobo friend Will (Thieriot) is suspected of the crime. Now it is up to nine-year-old Kit to find the real perpetrator and clear her dear friend’s name. Based on the Kit Kittredge stories by Valerie Tripp. (Stacey Pendry)
Picture:
The anamorphically enhanced 1.78:1 DVD can be marred by heavy compression artifacts, often distractingly so. Resolution is fair, but the picture can become noticeably soft. Moiré artifacts are noticed, and there are occasional scenes that are covered in random noise. Contrast is somewhat low, and colors appear washed out. Fleshtones also have a pink appearance. Shadow delineation is nicely rendered though, and while black levels can be deep, there are moments when they are fairly high. Edge enhancement is minor enough to not be a distraction. The VC-1-encoded Blu-ray Disc shows good resolution, but it is not up to par with the best high-definition releases. Black levels are still inconsistent, and the picture still appears washed out. Shadows are defined well, but the picture appears flat and lifeless.(Danny Richelieu)
Sound:
The Dolby® Digital 5.1-channel soundtrack features a good front spread, and the surround channels are incorporated well at times. The LFE channel is not used, though, and deep bass is rare. Still, when there is bass, it is defined well. Phantom imaging is not a big part of the mix, but the front stage can extend well beyond the physical limitations of the room. Dialogue is articulate and fidelity is generally good. Dynamic range is somewhat limited, but there can be a decent sense of dimension in the front stage. The Blu-ray Disc also includes a Dolby Digital encoding that is not an improvement over the DVD. (Danny Richelieu)
