The Angry Birds Movie

"The Angry Birds Movie" on 4K UHD Blu-ray delivers a visually captivating experience that builds impressively upon its 1080p counterpart. Sony's efforts on the Ultra HD release have subtly yet significantly enhanced detail and texture, presenting a crisper and more immersive image. The nuanced improvements in clarity across the diverse environments—from the rough terrain of Bird Island to the intricacies of the pig pirate ship—complement the animation's innate vibrancy. Details such as feathers, fur, and foliage receive particular attention, showcasing refined texturing and layering that breathe life into every scene. Despite being an upconversion from 2K to 4K, the transfer manages to preserve a clean and robust image free from digital flaws like aliasing or banding.

The HDR presentation shines in its reproduction of colors, deepening and enriching the already stunning palette. The lively shades of green that dominate the landscapes, the deep blues of the sky, and the varied hues of the characters are rendered with striking vibrancy, illuminating subtle differences in coloration not as evident on the standard Blu-ray. The presentation is further elevated by excellent black levels and contrast, ensuring that darker scenes maintain depth and detail without losing information. This, combined with specular highlights that add a lifelike sparkle to water surfaces and metallic objects, exemplifies the strengths of HDR technology.

Despite occasional hints of aliasing due to the 2K source material, the overall video quality remains remarkably high, providing a reference-quality viewing experience. The precise handling of colors, from the neon glow of Pig City to the gentle gradients at sunset, enhances every frame. Textures are displayed with lifelike accuracy, adding dimensionality and realness to this animated world. In conclusion, "The Angry Birds Movie" on 4K UHD Blu-ray not only transcends its 1080p presentation in visual fidelity but sets a high standard for animated features transitioning to 4K, making it an essential addition for enthusiasts seeking to showcase the capabilities of their home theater systems.

The 4K UHD Blu Ray release of "The Angry Birds Movie" elevates the home theater experience with its Dolby Atmos soundtrack, which is designed to immerse the viewer in the animated spectacle thoroughly. The audio track makes a significant leap from its Blu-ray counterpart by utilizing the Dolby TrueHD 7.1 compatibility, alongside an expansive set of language options and subtitles catering to a global audience. Leveraging an 11.1 setup that adds four height channels to the traditional 7.1 configuration amplifies its already top-tier soundstage. The dynamic range of the film, especially during the climactic final act, showcases a masterful blend of chaos and precision. Quiet, poignant moments transition seamlessly into scenes brimming with explosive action and environmental intricacies, capturing every nuance with fidelity.

While the Dolby Atmos track shines during intense action sequences, embodying the fiery chaos and crumbling structures of Pig City with an enveloping dome-like soundfield, it equally impresses with its musical range. Song selections and individual instruments benefit significantly from the upgraded audio format, spreading through the height channels and into the surrounds with exceptional clarity. This results in a broad and expansive imaging that creates an engaging auditory wall, continuous and meticulously separated between channels. The low-frequency extension (LFE) channel complements the surround track by adding depth to the hip-hop music, explosions, and character nuances, providing a tangible weight to the action without overwhelming.

Critically, the vocal clarity remains pristine across the board, ensuring dialogue cuts through even in the midst of action-packed sequences. This clarity is consistent with special attention given to directional precision in the surround sound presentation. Each movement and auditory cue is accurately placed across speakers, enhancing the immersive experience. While some reviews note an initial lack of overhead activity in the earlier parts of the film, as the narrative progresses, atmospheric sounds and key action moments fully exploit the advantages of Atmos technology—highlighted particularly during scenes where birds invade or when the pigs' antics elevate the island's soundscape. This audio presentation positions "The Angry Birds Movie" as a compelling showcase for the potential of Dolby Atmos in animated features, despite any perceived initial reservations about its object-based audio utilization.

The Ultra HD Blu-ray release of "The Angry Birds Movie" packs a generous assortment of extras across its discs, making it a comprehensive package for aficionados. The supplemental materials, primarily housed on the 1080p Blu-ray disc, offer a deep dive into the film's production, characters, and music. Highlights include a series of delightful Hatchling shorts that add depth and humor outside the main storyline, insightful behind-the-scenes featurettes like "Creating the Real World of Angry Birds," which illustrates the intricate process of transforming a popular game into an animated film, and "Making Music! With Composer Heitor Pereira," where the composer shares his creative process behind the film's score. Additionally, the Symphony Mode presents an innovative way to experience the movie with just its musical score. Furthermore, the integration with the Angry Birds Action! app adds an interactive dimension to the viewing experience. This set not only caters to fans with its 4K and 3D Blu-ray versions but also enriches the viewing experience with its well-curated extras.

Extras included in this disc:

Symphony Mode: Watch the movie with an isolated score.

Making Music! With Composer Heitor Pereira: Composer Heitor Pereira discusses creating specific themes for characters and scenes.

Hatchlings: Features four animated shorts and a making-of featurette.

Meet the Birds: Cast interviews and behind-the-scenes footage of the four main characters.

Creating the Real World of Angry Birds: A making-of piece featuring discussions on adapting the game to film.

Crafty Birds: A tutorial for crafting movie characters.

Meet the Pigs: Interviews on the villainous pigs.

Dance Along Birds and Pigs: A line dance tutorial inspired by the film.

Music Video: "Friends" by Blake Shelton.

Bubbles and Hal: An animated short featuring characters Bubbles and Hal.

Deleted Scenes

Photo Gallery

Trailers

"The Angry Birds Movie" beautifully transitions from a beloved mobile game to an engaging cinematic experience, offering a colorfully animated adventure that appeals to both fans of the game and newcomers alike. Set on an idyllic island inhabited by mostly happy, flightless birds, the story introduces us to Red, Chuck, and Bomb - three outcasts who become the island's unlikely heroes when green pigs invade their home. The film's visual presentation is enhanced by its 4K UHD Blu-ray release, elevating the vibrant landscapes and dynamic characters to a dazzling spectacle. With HDR support, the colors pop with an intensity that mirrors the energy of the movie's slapstick humor and fast-paced action.

At its core, the film cleverly expands on the game's simple premise of birds vs. pigs, weaving a narrative that explores themes of anger management, acceptance, and teamwork. The voice performances, including those by Jason Sudeikis, Josh Gad, and Danny McBride, add depth to the characters, making them more than mere replicas of their game counterparts. Despite its entertaining facade, the movie does struggle with pacing issues and a somewhat formulaic storyline. However, these are minor setbacks in what is generally a successful adaptation of a mobile game into a full-length feature film. The addition of adult-oriented humor and various pop culture references ensures that "The Angry Birds Movie" isn't just for children but a family-friendly film with elements that viewers of all ages can enjoy.

On the technical side, this UHD release not only showcases the movie in unrivaled detail and color but also includes a 1080p Blu-ray version and an exclusive 3D disc, making it a comprehensive package for enthusiasts of physical media. Despite its predictability, the film receives a significant boost from its high-quality animation and strong vocal performances, ensuring that "The Angry Birds Movie" is more than just a novelty; it's a testament to the creative possibilities of adapting mobile games into cinematic stories.

"The Angry Birds Movie," although not groundbreaking in the animated genre, manages to carve out its niche with a visually stunning 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray presentation that rivals its counterparts. Sony Pictures Home Entertainment delivers a package that boasts excellent video quality across the Ultra HD, 3D, and standard HD versions, paired with a satisfying lossless Dolby Atmos surround sound experience that enhances the film's vibrant action sequences. The array of supplementary material, albeit not profoundly extensive, offers a worthwhile delve for fans. The movie, criticized for a plot that feels somewhat lackluster compared to Pixar's emotionally charged narratives, finds its strength in humor, colorfulness, and a touch of adventure appealing to both young audiences and adults, especially those nostalgic or curious about the game's leap to the big screen.

Despite its origins from a smartphone app—a concept that might stir initial skepticism—"The Angry Birds Movie" flourishes beyond expectation thanks to a creative script and a vast ensemble of voice talents. It cleverly transforms an island of quirky, flightless birds into heroes using their anger to thwart threats, resonating with an underlying message about harnessing innate strengths. The film benefits from a superbly detailed 4K video presentation complemented by great Dolby Atmos audio, although a minor visual flaw is noted. The inclusion of a 3D Blu-ray in the package is a commendable addition, particularly enticing for early adopters and enthusiasts seeking an immersive viewing experience.

In conclusion, while "The Angry Birds Movie" may not ascend to the emotional or narrative heights of its animated peers, it remains an entertaining and visually splendid offering worthy of addition to any home media library. Its technical merits on the 4K UHD Blu-ray, coupled with a decent array of bonus features and an exceptional three-dimensional viewing option, make it a recommended purchase. This release proves that even a concept as simple as a mobile game can transform into a cinematic experience that both children and adults can enjoy while appreciating the high-quality presentation it receives in its home media iteration.