Frankenweenie Blu-ray review

Actors: Winona Ryder, Catherine O'Hara, Martin Short, Martin Landau, Charlie Tahan

Director: Tim Burton

Language: English (DTS-HD High Res Audio), French (Unknown), Spanish (Dolby Digital 5.1)

Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Dubbed: French, Spanish

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1

Number of discs: 4

Rated: PG

Studio: Buena Vista

Release Date: January 8, 2013

Run Time: 87 minutes

 

            Tim Burton once had a tumultuous relationship with Disney, though you would never know it from his recent ventures. In his younger days Burton was a bit too edgy for Disney, and he didn’t enjoy what little work he did with them. The main reason that The Nightmare Before Christmas was released through Disney was the fact that he had come up with the concept while working there, thereby contractually giving Disney ownership. These days Burton has become a much milder filmmaker, able to make films like Alice in Wonderland with Disney. It comes as little surprise that he adapted one of his early short films into a feature-length with them as well.

 

            Frankenweenie tells the tale of a boy who loves his dog so much that he brings him back from the dead. It is a clear claymation adaptation of the classic black-and-white Frankenstein from the 1930s, and borrows from several others along the way. Burton even goes so far as to film the entire movie in black-and-white, a bold choice for animation in the days of Pixar and technologically advantages. The countless classic film references are sure to keep adults entertained, while the younger audiences can experience the classic tale for the first time.

 

            In what clearly appears to be one of Burton’s more self-autobiographical films, Frankenweenie’s protagonist is a young aspiring filmmaker named Victor, who uses his dog Sparky as the star of his monster pictures. When an accident occurs, taking away Victor’s only friend and pet, a science experiment brings Sparky back. It also sets off a series of events that result in a series of monsters being unleashed on the town.

 

            The Blu-ray 3D package includes four discs; Blu-ray 2D, Blu-ray 3D, DVD and Digital Copy. The four-disc combo pack also includes a number of exclusive special features, most notable being an all-new short film featuring Sparky. The DVD special features include a look at the exhibit traveling the world comprising of the film’s artwork and models from the film’s production. There is also a music video. The Blu-ray has these features, as well as a tour of the London sets from the film’s production and the original live-action short film that inspired this movie.