Monsters, Inc. (Blu-ray)

Monsters, Inc. makes its long awaited Blu-ray debut with a striking 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer that nearly exceeds expectation to deliver an oft-times flawless presentation of its digital source. Monstropolis is a colorful cityscape indeed, and Disney's palette never falls short. The varied blues and purples of Sulley's fur, the slick-scaled greens of Mike's hide, and the vivid reds and oranges that populate their adventure look fantastic, granting the image a power and stability its DVD counterpart fails to achieve. Black levels are equally remarkable, dipping deep without sacrificing background clarity in the slightest. In fact, contrast remains bold and beautiful from beginning to end, edge definition is ever crisp and sturdy, and fine detail is impeccable. Moreover, I didn't see a single artifact, color band, or similar oddity at any point in the presentation. My lone complaint? Sulley's thread-thin shoulder fur is a breeding ground for aliasing (eagle-eyed screenshot addicts will notice the issue in some of the screenshots attached to this review). I'm unsure as to whether the problem is present in Pixar's original digital source or the result of the relative limitations of 1080p resolution -- unless it's a source issue, a higher resolution would resolve the hairs more effectively -- but it's a slight distraction worth noting.

Ultimately, Monsters, Inc. is yet another animated Disney classic the studio has treated with the utmost respect and love. Minor (likely inherent) shortcomings aside, I was quite pleased with their efforts.
 How much did I enjoy Disney's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track? Enough to rewatch the door storage chase sequence five times. Don't misunderstand, the entire mix is, without a doubt, a sonic showcase piece through and through, but the third act of the film is an absolute joy to experience. Whirring conveyor lines fill the soundfield with breathtaking aggression, clattering doors can be heard from every direction, and Mike and Sulley's banter remains crystal clear in spite of the chaos erupting all around them. There are other standout scenes as well. The pair's banishment and subsequent encounter with the Abominable Snowman in a roaring blizzard, their battle with Randall through a variety of locales, their every run-in with the overzealous CDA, their first walk down the streets of Monstropolis... I'm beginning to think it would be easier to just rattle off every scene in the film. The quietest moments boast exceptional fidelity, LFE output is powerful enough to leave a lasting impression on the most hardened sternum, and rear speaker activity is as involving as the aforementioned scenes deserve. Moreover, pans are effortless and directionality is spot on. Need I even address the soundfield? Immersion doesn't even begin to describe the absorbing experience audiophiles of all ages should prepare for.

Just be warned: younger kids will find the film's scarier scenes to be much scarier with such stunning sonics, so adjust your volume accordingly. That being said, it doesn't get much better than this.



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