- Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
- Video Codec: AVC/MPEG-4
- Resolution: 1080p/24
- Audio Codec: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, French Dolby Digital 5.1, Portuguese Dolby Digital 5.1, Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1, English Audio Description
- Subtitles: English, English SDH, French, Portuguese, Spanish
- Region: A (B? C?)
- Rating: PG
- Discs: 2
- Studio: Paramount Home Entertainment
- Blu-ray Release Date: July 15, 2011
- List Price: $44.99
[amazon-product]B003Y5H542[/amazon-product]
BestBuy.com:
Purchase Rango on Blu-ray+DVD+Digital Copy at CD Universe
Shop for more Blu-ray titles at Amazon.com
Overall
[Rating:4/5]
The Film
[Rating:4/5]
Video Quality
[Rating:4.5/5]
Audio Quality
[Rating:4/5]
Supplemental Materials
[Rating:3.5/5]
Click thumbnails for high-resolution 1920X1080p screen captures
(Screen captures are lightly compressed with lossy JPEG thus are meant as a general representation of the content and do not fully reveal the capabilities of the Blu-ray format)
–
The Film
[Rating:4/5]
Pirates of the Caribbean director Gore Verbinski collaborated with Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) to create the first animated film from either party, Rango. The film, featuring Johnny Depp, is a fun and unusually mature animated tale that will entertain both younger audiences and older audiences alike.
A mishmash of Sergio Leone spaghetti western and Roman Polanski’s Chinatown, Depp play’s a sheltered chameleon with vivid imagination and a proclivity for dramatization who has been living life as an ordinary pet who is accidentally lost in the desert. There he finds the small town of Dirt, a town populated by a colorful group of desert dwelling creatures, remarkably similar to a town in the wild west. Dirt has a problem, however, they are desperately in need of water – and a hero. Well, our colorful chameleon is just the guy to fill the role. Adopting the persona of Rango, a tough gunslinging stranger from the west, Rango is made the town’s sheriff where he eventually uncovers a dangerous secret about the missing water supply – but is he really up to the task of helping the poor townsfolk out, or just a fraud?
With a voice cast that features Isla Fisher, Abigail Breslin, Timothy Olyphant, and Ned Beatty as the old Mayor, Rango is superbly acted. Animation is also excellent. For a first time out from ILM, this is absolutely spectacular – watch out Pixar! Of course, a lot ahas to be said for Verbinski;’s handling of this material. Adults familiar with the material that Rango alludes to will find much to love here, while kids will enjoy the pure silliness and action that resides on the surface.
Video Quality
[Rating:4.5/5]
Unlike most digitally-sourced CG-animated films, Rango doesn’t go for that pristine look. There has been purposely applied layer of “grain” applied to the image to give it that authentic western look and this AVC/MPEG-4 1080p transfer captures it flawlessly. Colors pop, detail in the animated creatures from individual scales or hairs stand out with ease.
Audio Quality
[Rating:4/5]
There’s an engaging DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack that offers up clean dialogue, full bass and smooth, natural highs. The surrounds are quite active, but not as aggressive as some other animated films.
Supplemental Materials
[Rating:3.5/5]
In addition to offering both theatrical and extended cuts of the film, there are picture-in-picture storyboards, an audio commentary with the filmmakers, deleted scenes, an interactive tour of the town of Dirt and more, making this feel like a truly value-added package.
The supplements provided with this release are:
- Audio Commentary by director, story co-writer and producer Gore Verbinski, head of story James Ward Byrkit, production designer Mark “Crash” McCreery, animation director Hal Hickel and visual effects supervisor Tim Alexander (Extended Version Only)
- Breaking the Rules: Making Animation History (1.78:1; 1080p/24; 0:48.52) – A look at how Gore Verbinski and Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) created their first animated film.
- Deleted Scenes (1080p)
- Real Creatures of Dirt (1.78:1; 1080p/24; 0:22.16) – Experts talk about real creatures that inspired the characters of Rango.
- Storyboard Reel Picture-in-Picture (Theatrical Version Only)
- A Field Trip to Dirt (1.78:1; 1080p/24) – An interactive tour of the town of Dirt and the characters that inhabit it.
- Theatrical Trailer (2.35:1; 1080p/24; Dolby Digital 5.1)
- DVD
- Digital Copy
The Definitive Word
Overall:
[Rating:4/5]
High quality animated fun dressed up in western garb, Rango is a brilliant first effort from ILM and Verbinski. Highly recommended.
Additional Screen Captures
–
[amazon-product]B003Y5H542[/amazon-product]
BestBuy.com:
Purchase Rango on Blu-ray+DVD+Digital Copy at CD Universe
Shop for more Blu-ray titles at Amazon.com
Overall
[Rating:4/5]
The Film
[Rating:4/5]
Video Quality
[Rating:4.5/5]
Audio Quality
[Rating:4/5]
Supplemental Materials
[Rating:3.5/5]
