- Aspect Ratio: 1:78:1
- Video Codec: AVC MPEG-4
- Resolution: 1080p/24 (23.976Hz)
- Audio Codec: English Dolby TrueHD 5.1, English Dolby Digital Stereo
- Subtitles: English
- Subtitles Color: Yellow
- Region: A (Region-Locked)
- Rating: Not Rated
- Run Time: 80 Mins
- Discs: 1 (1 x Blu-ray)
- Digital Copies: N/A
- Studio: Paramount Home Entertainment
- Blu-ray Release Date: October 9th, 2012
- List Price: $22.98
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Overall
[Rating:3.5/5]
The Film
[Rating:3.5/5]
Video Quality
[Rating:3.5/5]
Audio Quality
[Rating:3/5]
Supplemental Materials
[Rating:3/5]
Click thumbnails for high-resolution 1920X1080p screen captures
(All TheaterByte screen captures are lightly compressed with lossy JPEG at 100% quality setting and are meant as a general representation of the content. They do not fully reveal the capabilities of the Blu-ray format)
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The Film
[Rating:3.5/5]
In this latest Jeff Dunham disc entitled Minding the Monsters, we find Dunham performing live with all of the favorites we’ve come to know him for. Walter, Peanut, Bubba J, Jose Jalapeno and, of course, Achmed the Dead Terrorist all make appearances – only in manners we’ve never seen them in before! Walter is grumpier than ever, Bubba J is back from the dead, Peanut has a new alter ego, and Achmed is armed with a new outfit that would shock even the most terrifying terrorist. All this and more in this spooky, funny, and mostly unique live performance from Dunham.
Jeff Dunham, for myself, is the kind of comedian that isn’t always laugh-out-loud funny, as his style of humor won’t always hit the right note; however, his use of puppets in his sketches make him the type of performer that is just that – a performer. Unlike comedians like the late George Carlin or Lewis Black who rely on facial expressions and just being pissed off, Dunham relies more on his puppets to bring the laughs – and 90% of the time this is the case. His different voices make us laugh at what we’re seeing, regardless if we find the jokes funny. In the end, I suppose the best way to describe Dunham is he’s the type we watch just to see the different puppets he’s going to bring out – and how he’s going to incorporate them into the jokes.
Video Quality
[Rating:3.5/5]
Like other Dunham Blu-ray releases, this one has a similar 1:78:1 framed, AVC MPEG-4 encoded transfer. Faring like something that might be seen on Comedy Central HD, this one arrives with decent results. Colors are mostly accurate, in particular the dark blues of Dunham’s suit. Wide shots of the audience/auditorium result in a bit of artificating. Detail, mostly the close ups of the varying puppets, is impressive at times. Minus that, the overall image felt very flat lacking any real punch. All in all, this an acceptable image that suits the live performance well.
Audio Quality
[Rating:3/5]
Arriving with an English Dolby TrueHD 5.1 mix, this offering has all the genre limitations that typically accompanies a title of this nature. Dialogue, as one might expect, is well reproduced via the center channel. There is a sense of atmosphere, mostly thanks in part to the varying audience reactions. Laughter and applause give us an example of the 360-degree sound field that exists, placing us right in the middle of the comedy. LFE hits when called upon, via thunder claps and other sound effects. All in all, like other similar titles, this one suits the material well, but does nothing to advance the genre.
Supplemental Materials
[Rating:3/5]
The included supplements are featured in High Definition:
- Creating Crankenstein – This runs 8:40 in length and deals with Dunham and his creation of the Crankenstein puppet.
- Monstrous Mistakes – Running 5:57, we’re show how Dunham dealt with the audience after losing his ability to transform his voice during a performance.
- Tour of Terror – In 5:31, we’re given a detailed tour of the Minding the Monsters set.
- Minding the Miniatures – At 13:04 in length, we’re given a look into the graveyard piece, as well as some of the 3D art that was used.
- Frightening Photos – A brief 2:21 look into the filming of the shows cover art.
- Monster Movie Magic – Running 26:17, this one details the processes that went into the production of the show.
- Audio Commentary with Jeff Dunham, Director Matt McNeal, and Kelly Asbury
The Definitive Word
Overall:
[Rating:3.5/5]
Even though Dunham’s jokes don’t always hit, his style of humor and his physical performance make his performances worth watching. Paramount has presented his latest special, Minding the Monsters, on Blu-ray with a serviceable V/A presentation and a few solid behind-the-scenes features. Recommended for fans.
Additional Screen Captures
[amazon-product]B008JQ0F2K[/amazon-product]
Purchase Jeff Dunham: Minding the Monsters on Blu-ray at CD Universe
Shop for more Blu-ray titles on Amazon.com
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[amazon-product]B008JQ0F2K[/amazon-product]
Purchase Jeff Dunham: Minding the Monsters on Blu-ray at CD Universe
Shop for more Blu-ray titles on Amazon.com
Overall
[Rating:2.5/5]
The Film
[Rating:2/5]
Video Quality
[Rating:4.5/5]
Audio Quality
[Rating:4/5]
Supplemental Materials
[Rating:0.5/5]
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