BLU-RAY REVIEW

Finding Dory 3D

Featured In Issue 212, December 2016

3D Picture5
Picture5
Sound5
WSR Score5
Basic Information on new release titles is posted as soon as titles are announced. Once reviewed, additional data is added to the database.
(Studio/Distributor):
Walt Disney Home Entertainment
(Catalog Number):
1380498
(MPAA Rating):
PG
(Rating Reason):
Mild thematic elements.
(Retail Price):
$$39.99
(Disc Type):
Single Side, Dual Layer (BD-50)
(Widescreen Edition):
Yes
(Full Screen Edition):
(Running Time In Minutes):
97
(Color Type):
Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access):
Yes
(Closed Captioned):
Yes
(Regional Coding):
(Theatrical Year):
(Theatrical Release):
Yes
(Direct-To-Video Release):
(Disc Release Date):
11/15/2016
(THX® Digitally Mastered):
(Director):
Andrew Stanton & Angus MacLane
(Screenplay/Written By):
(Story):
(Music):
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer):
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor):
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers):
(Co-Producers):
(Producers):
(Academy Awards):
(Principal Photography):
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio):
(Measured Disc Aspect Ratio):
(Disc Soundtrack):
DTS HD Lossless 7.1
(Theatrical Sound):
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(DTS Bit Rate):
(Dolby Digital Bit Rate):
(Additional Languages):
(French Language):
(Spanish Language):
(Subtitles):

Finding Dory follows the heartwarming quest to find Dory's family in this epic undersea adventure. When Dory, the forgetful blue tang fish (DeGeneres), suddenly remembers she has a family who may be looking for her, she, Marlin (Brooks), and Nemo (Rolence) take off on a life-changing quest to find them—with help from Hank (O'Neil), a cantankerous octopus; Bailey (Burrell), a beluga whale who's convinced his biological sonar skills are on the fritz; and Destiny (Olson), a nearsighted whale shark. (Gary Reber)

Special features include commentary with Director Andrew Stanton, Co-Director Angus MacLane, and Producer Lindsey Collins; the theatrical short Piper (HD 06:05); the Marine Life Interviews mini-short (HD 02:04); 11 featurettes: The Octopus That Nearly Broke Pixar (HD 09:05), What Were We Talking About? (HD 04:31), Casual Carpool (HD 03:47), Animation & Acting (HD 06:57), Creature Features (HD 03:02), Deep In The Kelp (HD 03:20), Skating & Sketching With Jason Deamer (HD 04:14), Dory's Theme (HD 04:57), Rough Day On The Reef (HD 01:11), Finding Nemo As Told By Emoji (HD 02:47), and Fish Schticks (HD 03:35); four Living Aquariums; seven deleted scenes with introduction (HD 50:15); four trailers; upfront previews; and a digital copy.

The 1.78:1 1080p MVC native 3D picture was digitally endeared. The undersea imagery is wonderful with a bright, pastel color palette with a variety of blues, oranges, yellows, and greens, depicting a vast variety of fish. The bold blue rendering of Dory and the bold orange rendering of Nemo and Marlin, in particular, are striking and enhance the varied contrasts. Surrounding environments exhibit revealing shading and shadow nuances. Black levels are deep and solid. Resolution is excellent, with very fine detail exhibited in the texture of fish, the Marine Life Institute structural textures, rock formations in the Institute's harbor and pavements, walls, etc. As for the 3D presentation, it is exemplary Disney animation, with a very natural, non-gimmicky dimensionality. The animation is reserved in terms of depth but nonetheless natural in perspective. Separation of fish in open waters exhibits reserved separations in terms of relative depth. But overall, the naturalness is pleasing. Above, on dry land, the depth is stellar with impressive natural depth and perspective. In other scenes, where Nemo and Marlin are above and below the surface, the imagery is nicely dimensional. All throughout, there are segments that really are dimensionally engaging, Nothing ever really over-projects out of the screen but instead stays believably internal or at the edge. While not aggressively three dimensional, the effort to create a perfectly natural dimensional experience will please. This is a well-crafted 3D presentation that is sure to please the entire family. The 3D presentation is definitely the preferred viewing experience. (Gary Reber)

The DTS-HD Master Audio™ 7.1-channel soundtrack is terrific, with a sweeping, almost constant orchestral music score that occupies a wide and deep soundstage and an aggressive surround presence. The music is quite dynamic, with excellent fidelity and instrument definition. Bass is extended but perfectly natural sounding. Atmospherics provide realistic ambiance and environmental soundscapes, Sound effects punctuate the sounds of the characters in motion and in peril. The surrounds provide solid, seamless envelopment throughout. The action segments are enhanced with a weighty, natural energy, which creates a flow of excitement and comedy. Voices sound natural and intelligible throughout. The character voices are often hilarious, Sigourney Weaver's voice penetrates the soundfield in the scenes at the Marine Life Institute, and at times the voices are directionalized. This is superbly produced and mixed soundtrack that sounds pleasantly natural, with reference-quality moments. (Gary Reber)