While Disney excels at putting out high quality productions that retain their value over the years, the company (particularly during the latter part of the Eisner reign) has also been known to rush out haphazard direct to video sequels and prequels that aren't worth the discs they're printed on. Having not seen the first movie in the 'Tinker Bell' series, I was a little apprehensive going into 'Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure.'
Tinker Bell lives in Pixie Hollow with her fairy friends. They cause magical things to happen in nature, like leaves falling, dew hanging on spider webs, and woodland creatures prepare for hibernation.
Tinker Bell has been asked to make the Fall Scepter for the Revelry. She must make the scepter out of a precious "moonstone" that, when hit with blue moon beams at just the right time, will produce blue pixie dust, which is far more powerful than regular old gold pixie dust.
When Tinker Bell breaks the moonstone, because of a fight she has with her best friend Terrance, she sets off on a quest to find an enchanted mirror that has the ability to grant wishes to those who possess it. If all of this sounds "out there" that's because it is. I mean we're talking about Neverland here, a fairy tale world where just about anything is possible.
On Tinker Bell's journey she meets some outlandish and loveable characters, like a lightning bug named Blaze (who fills the spunky animal sidekick quotient required for any Disney animated film), a couple bickering trolls, and a heavy helping of friendly animals. Her journey is like a mini 'National Treasure' type expedition. She's got a vague idea where the mirror is located, but it's up to her to find out where it is. And what does Tinker Bell learn throughout all this? That friends can help you along the way. It's hard doing everything by yourself. And your buddies are there to help and guide you.
The film, while it could have veered off into nonsense territory, stays pretty close to the center moral of the story. True friendship is one of the greatest gifts we have. Yes it all sounds a little childish, but this is for children. That being said, the upside is that you won't have to worry that your children are watching some mindless drivel (Like one of the Disney Channel's teeny-bopper sitcoms). 'Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure' has a heart, and some fantastical, cinema-worthy animation to boot.
It's also nice to see Disney staying true to the iconic Tinker Bell character. She's nice most of the time, but she has a temper that usually gets her in trouble. My wife (leading expert on all things fairy) informs me that fairies can only feel one emotion at a time, so they feel it very strongly. This is something that is evidenced in the film, and the characters' facial expressions completely sell it.
I'm not afraid to admit it. I liked 'Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure.' It's fun, spunky, and it isn't dumbed down for the masses. It will treat your kids like they can actually think on a comprehensive level. There's some slapstick shenanigans stuck in for good measure, but on the whole, this film is at the top of Disney's direct to home video pile and it's one the whole family will be able to enjoy again and again.
Just the mere mention of "direct to home video" makes a film sound rushed, and therefore of lesser quality, but 'Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure's AVC-encoded 1080p transfer is beautifully stunning. The CGI animation feels natural and the HD presentation gives it the proper platform on which to be viewed. Detail is top-notch here. The pixie dust sparkles with absolute clarity, and the "Fairy Tale Theater" part is amazingly rendered. Pirates, pirate ships, and scenery are all created from sparkling gold pixie dust. It's a sight to see!
One glimpse at the provided DVD and you can tell right off what improvements you're getting with the Blu-ray. Colors on the DVD are slightly washed out, faces appear whiter than normal, and detail like the sparkling pixie dust is softer. The Blu-ray has strong vibrant colors, skin tones are perfectly rendered, and detail is optimal. The animators even saw fit to add dust particles into the air as Tinker Bell is wandering around in a dark pirate ship with her makeshift lightning bug flashlight. As the light cuts through the darkness, tiny particles are seen floating in the air, just as in real life.
This is a dazzlingly spectacular transfer of a richly detailed and boldly colorized film. There's nothing here that keeps this from earning top video score honors.
While not matching the overall splendor of the video, the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 audio track is far better than I would have expected from this type of production. The audio track shows off the movie's soundtrack with precision, although the music makes up much of the surround sound you'll hear. The film is decidedly front heavy, giving an ample stage for the dialogue and pixie dust sound effects. LFE is present, and produced well during most of the movie's action scenes. Panning effects, such as fairies flying across the screen, are perfectly rendered. Overall, this is a strong audio presentation, perfectly suited for a film of this nature.
'Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure' is an honest, sweet film that is sure to be loved by families the world over. The film definitely doesn't have a "direct to video" feel. It could have easily been released in theaters along with the rest of Disney's animated features. The film does, however, find a perfect home on Blu-ray, with a reference quality video presentation coupled with strong audio. This is a must own for any family looking for quality titles for kids.
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