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Blu-Ray : Recommended
Ranking:
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Release Date: September 13th, 2016 Movie Release Year: 2016

Barbie: Star Light Adventure

Overview -
OVERALL:
Recommended
Rating Breakdown
STORY
VIDEO
AUDIO
SPECIAL FEATURES
Tech Specs & Release Details
Technical Specs:
50GB Blu-ray + DVD + Digital HD
Video Resolution/Codec:
1080p MPEG-4 AVC
Length:
80
Aspect Ratio(s):
1.78:1
Audio Formats:
French: DTS 5.1
Subtitles/Captions:
English SDH, French, Spanish
Special Features:
Two Dreamtopia Shorts
Release Date:
September 13th, 2016

Storyline: Our Reviewer's Take

Ranking:

I don't know if I'm getting softer the older I get, but these 'Barbie' films aren't that bad. Don't get me wrong, I'm not the intended demographic, nor are most people here, but if you have kids who are into this 'Barbie' realm, these films will not make you want to gouge your eyes out as you watch it with them. There is heart and soul, along with inspiring messages of friendship, believing in one's self, and trust in these 'Barbie' movies. It's all very predictable to us adults, but there is enough creativity and nods to older films that will peak your interest as your kids enjoy these films, which seem to be a very lucrative franchise these days, with several films releasing each year, complete with all of the merchandising to go with them.

In fact, this 'Barbie' film here 'Star Light Adventure' was released in theaters for a couple of days earlier this year. As you can see above with the many 'Barbie' films, most of these movies take place on Earth, but 'Star Light Adventure' heads to outer space  with all of the same themes and basic characters, not to mention the over abundance of bright neon colors that pop off screen in every second of the film. The film follows Barbie living on a different planet other than Earth with her father.

She has a pet named Pupcorn, both of which love to ride their hover boards around the universe. Well, Pupcorn gets around in the same vein as a drone, but you get the picture. There is a prophecy that is foretold that the stars in the galaxy keep all life sustainable and relatively happy and that one true leader will make sure these stars shine bright forever. A villain comes aboard and the stars begin to darken, which is where Barbie is summoned to another planet by a group of elite people tasked with keeping these stars shining bright. Barbie trains, learns to work with others, form friendships, as well as trust people, which leads to the prophecy to her as a leader.

All of this is explained in the first couple minutes of the film, and again, this is highly predictable from the very beginning. 'Star Light Adventure' covers all of the basic genuine friendly messages one would need, growing up, and the film tackles these in fun and entertaining ways for the kids. There are music numbers, outer space adventures and quirky characters that have decent story arcs. There are some fun sci-fi elements that will keep adults interested too while they watch with their young ones. These Barbie films sure have the formula down to keep kids and now parents interested for the foreseeable future.

The Blu-ray: Vital Disc Stats

‘Barbie: Star Light Adventure’ comes with a 50GB Blu-ray Disc that is Region A locked along with a DVD copy of the film and a digital download. There are a couple of inserts that cover other Barbie products and the download code. Everything is housed in a hard, blue plastic case with a cardboard sleeve cover.

Video Review

Ranking:

'Barbie: Star Light Adventure' comes with a 1080p HD transfer and is presented in 1.78:1 aspect ratio. Like the other 'Barbie' films, the color level here is at an all-time high, injecting the brightest pinks, purples, reds, and blues into your eyeballs at all times. Nothing is realistic looking here in this animated feature, or at least not like a Pixar film, but if the kids want bright colors all the time, then they're going to get exactly what they asked for times ten.

There are varying shades of greens and blues on the different planets that make things more distinguishable from the glittery color palette here. Detail is decent with some good textures in the other creatures on other planets, but otherwise, everyone looks a bit plastic-y, like the real Barbie dolls. There are some instances of some minor banding, aliasing, and noise, but due to the abundance of bright colors that pop, you won't really notice.

Audio Review

Ranking:

This release comes with an excellent lossless DTS-HD MA 5.1 mix that is very enjoyable, minus the bubble gum pop music. This track is a fully immersive experience with each speaker receiving a good workout from start to finish. The sound effects and ambient noises are very robust, loud, and pack a punch at all times. The ambient noises of planetary space, other worlds, the hover boards hovering around, and people talking all sound excellent and well-balanced on the surrounds.

There is also some great directionality here as well. The low end keeps the bass up through the entire movie, giving this sound element a ton of depth. The music always adds to the entertainment value for the kids without drowning out any other noise. The dialogue is always crystal clear and easy to follow, and free of any pops, cracks, hiss, or shrills. Excellent work here on the audio presentation.

Special Features

Ranking:

Music and Lyric Videos (HD, 14 Mins.) - There are two different music videos here, each coming with a separate video with the lyrics appearing on the screen in big letters, if you'r serious about the karaoke. The songs are 'Firefly' (no relation) and 'Shooting Star').

Bloopers (HD, 2 Mins.) - Faux gag reel of the animated characters flubbing their lines and missed spots.

Barbie Dreamtopia Shorts (HD, 13 Mins.) - Here are a couple of small animated shorts that involve Chelsea and Barbie. One is about prepping for a part, the other is about finding a magical rock. Episode titles are 'Wispy Forest' and 'Rainbow Cove'.

Final Thoughts

Again, I might be losing it as I get older, or getting softer, but these 'Barbie' films aren't terrible. Sure, they are predictable, bland, and ridiculous, but they have a lot of heart, soul, and good messages for the young ones watching. Plus, the adults won't mind the references to previous films in these quick features. The video is full of color while the audio presentation is top notch and immersive. The kids will love the extras too. Recommended for families with young ones!