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Tuesday, 24 October 2006 |
 Monster House
Computer animation has always been about whether to try to be realistic or not. Here we have the best of both choices because motion capture allows for the creation of more life-like, yet cartoony, characters. But without a strong story that can hold your attention, technology alone won’t cut it. Fortunately, Monster House does both—and can appeal to oldsters (meaning those above their teens), as well as the younger set. Most preteen boys suffer from overactive imaginations, but having a living house is a bit of a challenge, even for today’s jaded kid. The story realizes that to appeal to abroad audience, you have to be a bit broad yourself, and much of this is accomplished through humor and fast-paced action—and in no small part thanks to the excellent voice ac-tors, such as Jason Lee, Steve Buscemi, and Catherine O’Hara.
High-def disc aside, this standard-def DVD is no insult to watch. And while the kiddies can watch the 19-inch TV in a brightly lit room,we suggest a widescreen display properly calibrated for brightness and contrast—and with the lights out for a “spooky” good time.Surround effects are used often and usually with good effect as well. Dialogue isn’t buried in the music either, though those playing it with-out the benefit of 5.1 will find some of the audio merging together. Recommendation: Use at least a stereo system or better. Extras are geared for both adults and kids, including featurettes and other now-standard items.
| Studio: |
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment |
| Format: |
Widescreen, Dolby Digital 5.1 |
| Audio Quality: |
A- |
| Video Quality: |
A- |
| Ratting: |
PG |
| Running Time: |
91 minutes | |
