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Blu-Ray : Recommended
Ranking:
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Release Date: August 28th, 2012 Movie Release Year: 2012

The Pirates! Band of Misfits - 3D

Overview -

When the infamous Pirate Captain (Hugh Grant) is shunned once again by his rivals Black Bellamy (Jeremy Piven) and Cutlass Liz (Salma Hayek), he sets his sights to win the coveted Pirate of the Year Award. With his trusted dodo, Polly, and a ragtag crew at his side, the Pirate Captain will need to battle a diabolical queen (Imelda Staunton), save a young scientist (David Tennant), and never lose sight of what a pirate loves best: adventure.

OVERALL:
Recommended
Rating Breakdown
STORY
VIDEO
AUDIO
SPECIAL FEATURES
Tech Specs & Release Details
Technical Specs:
Region Free
Video Resolution/Codec:
1080p/AVC MPEG-4
Length:
88
Aspect Ratio(s):
2.35:1
Audio Formats:
Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles/Captions:
Spanish
Special Features:
Trailers
Release Date:
August 28th, 2012

Storyline: Our Reviewer's Take

Ranking:

The rowdy, boisterous buccaneers of 'The Pirates! Band of Misfits' are the most civil and considerate bunch you'll ever meet. This cheerful crew of scalawags is an inexperienced ragtag group who really love Ham Night and don't quite possess the imagination for creating fearsome names for one another. The Albino Pirate (Anton Yelchin) and Pirate with Gout (Brendan Gleeson) are more like oddities than terrifying plunderers while Surprisingly Curvaceous Pirate (Ashley Jensen) works hard at remaining a mystery to others. The Pirate with a Scarf (Martin Freeman) is the loyal second in command with a very nice scarf indeed. About the most violent thing you'll ever see from them is a disagreement over the best part about pirating: the cutlasses or the looting.

They're a naïve but absolutely lovable lot who think the world of their captain, the conveniently named Pirate Captain (voiced with splendid charm by Hugh Grant), and always emotionally supportive when he's feeling low, which is apparently often. Rubbing his self-esteem the wrong way lately is the annual "Pirate of the Year" competition, which he's been coveting for probably over twenty years but always failed to win. His opponents are a frightful trio of outlaws — Black Bellamy (Jeremy Piven), Cutlass Liz (Salma Hayek) and Peg-Leg Hastings (Lenny Henry) — who are far better in the fine arts of pirating than the poor Captain's entire crew. They even possess a flair for elaborate entrances with some of the most dramatic use of slow-motion we've in some time.

Our affable band of sea dogs may not be endowed with similar talents for theatricality, and even less for looting other ships roaming the Atlantic, but that's precisely what we like about them. Based on the first two books in The Pirates! adventure series by Gideon Defoe, who also adapted them for the big screen, these merry men of luxuriant beard admirers are a motley troop of outsiders amongst a multitude of outsiders. Their captain is the idealist, hopeful but generally misunderstood sort, a rather popular character type in many animated films of late, and dreams of being remembered as the greatest pirate that ever roamed the seas. To prove he has what it takes, his crew stumbles upon a chance meeting of Charles Darwin (David Tennant) and his amusingly clever "man-panzee." When Darwin explains the slightly-overweight, big-boned parrot Polly is in fact the last living dodo on the planet, the captain sees the opportunity for untold riches which would make him a shoe-in at the Pirate competition.


This is an underdog story of a different sort, a familiar tale told in another manner, seen it all before yet completely new and fresh. It's with pirates after all! We've never seen that now, have we? The ending is as clear as the edge of the horizon in sunset, but the voyage getting there is an absolute riot, pushed along with many misadventures involving a terrifically comical contest of scientists and a bathtub slide down several flights of stairs. There also the usual hard lessons learned for the little tykes, such as companionship, being part of a crew of pillagers and plunderers, loving your inner pirate and realizing the sea-faring life is a joy all unto itself. Along the way, the Captain and his crew cross swords and exchange some very hurtful words with a scarily furious Queen Victoria (Imelda Staunton), who doesn't hide her discrimination of pirates in the least.

'The Pirates! Band of Misfits' is set afloat by the fine artists at Aardman Animation, the same team best known for Plasticine characters Wallace and Gromit and the fantastic poultry adventure 'Chicken Run.' Partnering with Sony Pictures Animation, the British studio brings their signature stop-motion clay animation style with remarkably striking detail, arresting the imagination with every character's fluid movement and a distinct uniqueness in each of their attire. Director and co-founder of Aardman Peter Lord keeps the wit and humor high at all times, maintaining the frame as just the right distance for us see the emotional expressions on characters' face while also taking in the tiniest feature in the background. The animated screwball comedy is probably the best swashbuckling journey through science and history we've ever seen. To paraphrase one of the mates, this is the most educational pirating adventure yet.


The Blu-ray: Vital Disc Stats

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment brings 'The Pirates! Band of Misfits' to Blu-ray in two combo pack options, both of which include a DVD-9 copy of the film. For this review, the three-disc pack comes with two Region Free, BD50 discs — one carrying only the movie in 3D while the other shows the 2D version with all the special features. With a lenticular slipcover, the package also includes a code for an UltraViolet Digital Copy, information for entering a contest to win a Jamaican getaway for the whole family and a code for PS3 owners playing 'Little Big Planet 2.' A series of skippable 3D trailers kick things off before greeting viewers with an animated 3D main menu with the sounds of the ocean playing in the background.

Video Review

Ranking:

'The Pirates!' hoist the sails and set a course for 3D Blu-ray with a splendid 1080p/MVC encode that will mesmerize the eyes but not exactly enchant the imagination. The most impressive aspect of the image is a natural sense of depth throughout due largely to the style of the stop-motion animation. Several shots, generally those in daylight exteriors on the deck of the ship, display the foreground with clean separation, creating a believable three-dimensional space for the characters to move around in. Objects in the far distance penetrate deep into the background while several gimmick effects extend beyond the limits of the screen at the faces of viewers, especially the pirate flag with the springy eyes. Sadly, the 3D illusion isn't always consistent or that entirely immersive, not really adding much to the film's enjoyment. Several scenes are noticeably flatter than others, but for a majority of the time, dimensionality is impressively entertaining.

Presented in its original 2.35:1 aspect ratio, the picture displays flawless, spot-on contrast and clean, crisp whites, revealing remarkable razor-sharp clarity into the far distance. Black levels are inky rich and intense with precise gradational details throughout, from Black Bellamy's beard to the night skies with a full moon in the background. Low-lit interiors also show deep, dark shadows permeating the screen and adding a terrific three-dimensional feel to the video. The color palette leans more towards the softer pastel hues, and they're rendered beautifully with bold warmth and a bright glow. Primaries also remain accurate and energetic from beginning to end.

The talented blacksmiths at Aardman Animations have also supplied this animated vessel with striking details in every frame. Whether we're looking at the elaborate clothing of the pirates or the staring at each line in their glorious beards, the high-def transfer exhibits stunning definition. The tiniest buildings on the tropical hills of Blood Island are as clear as those in those in the foreground. We can make out every individual brick, stone and store-sign amid the foggy streets of London. Inside Pirate Captain's quarters, each picture hanging on the filthy walls is visible while every stain, smudge and splotch smeared over the wooden planks making up the room as well as the ship is distinct and distinguishable. In the end, 'The Pirates!' is a bountiful feast for the eyes on Blu-ray.


Audio Review

Ranking:

For the audio, the most civil pirates you'll ever meet dispense with the pleasantries and jump right into some brilliantly cheerful chanteys for the whole family to enjoy. The DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack is a mostly front-heavy affair but squeaky-clean with wide imaging and lots of amusingly subtle activity in the background. Dialogue is precise with clear intonation in the vocals, which quickly change from gleefully buoyant to frightful hysteria without missing a beat. Dynamic range is extensive and room-penetrating, providing distinct clarity to the swashbuckling action. Bass is mostly deep and impactful with excellent response, and a few scenes of explosions and rumbling exhibit great moments of powerful low-frequency effects. They're not dramatically intense, but fun nonetheless.

Rears speakers are for a majority of the movie's runtime silent, which is somewhat disappointing, but the occasional ambient effect keeps the lossless mix entertaining. However, the action sequences come with a few sounds which pan from the screen into the back of the room with fluid movement and appreciable directionality, nicely expanding the soundfield and providing a couple bits of envelopment. The musical score of Theodore Shapiro and the several song selections make better use of the surrounds, spreading throughout the room and creating a more satisfyingly immersive experience. All in all, 'The Pirates!' pillage and plunder with agreeable rowdy mayhem on Blu-ray.


Special Features

Ranking:

Two of the supplements are shared with the Blu-ray while the other two can only be found on the DVD disc.

  • Filmmakers' Commentary — Director Peter Lord and co-director Jeff Newitt have a rather dry, somewhat lackluster chat with film editor Justin Krish. Lord mostly narrates the on-screen action with the occasional observation about the animation or the voice talent from the other two. There are also lots of praising for the work done and compliments for Gideon Defoe's writing. Some good, interesting stuff is shared from time to time, but the commentary track as a whole is not terribly engaging.

  • So You Want to Be a Pirate (HD, 18 min) — A very funny and clever new short film featuring the Pirate Captain as the host of his own late-night show and several hilarious skits with guests.

  • Mr. Bobo's Flash Card Challenge — Exclusive only to the DVD, this interactive game features Darwin's man-panzee stumping viewers with word puzzles.

  • DVD-ROM — When places inside the computers DVD drive, kids can download fun pirate-related activities and coloring pages.

  • Trailers (HD) — The same set of theatrical previews seen at startup.


From Aardman Animation and the director of 'Chicken Run,' Peter Lord, 'The Pirates! Band of Misfits' is the latest animated screwball comedy from the British studio about the most civil and considerate bunch of buccaneers you'll ever meet. With a terrific cast of voice talents behind each character, the film is a clever and witty swashbuckling adventure through science and history. The 3D Blu-ray of 'The Pirates!' arrives with an exceptional three-dimensional picture quality and an excellent audio presentation. With a healthy assortment of supplements that will entertain both young and old, the high-def package is recommended for animation lovers everywhere and those hankering for more HD 3D goodness.