Family Home Theater

Grade:  A-
Entire family:  Yes
2001, 92 min., Color animation
Rated G
Disney-Pixar
Aspect ratio:  1.85:1
Featured Audio:  Dolby TrueHD 7.1
Bonus features:  A-
Includes:  3D Blu-ray, Blu-ray, DVD, Digital Copy
Trailer

Not many people have 3D TVs, but there’s reason to pick up a copy of Monsters, Inc. on 3D Blu-ray even if you’re not equipped to watch with those funny glasses just yet. For this release the fourth Pixar animated film got an audio makeover—even the standard Blu-ray—and the English Dolby TrueHD 7.1 is a considerable upgrade over the previous Blu-ray and DVD.

The sound really fills the room now and matches the “wow” factor of the video, where you can see every hair on big blue monster Sulley’s body. If ever a film was made for Blu-ray, it’s this one.

If you think about it, Monsters, Inc. is a pretty daring concept: Monsters live in their own alternate world apart from humans in a city where the power is generated by the screams of human children, provided by a company that sends monsters into closets all over the world to scare kids and bottle up their reactions. But it turns out that these monsters are as afraid of humans as humans are of monsters. So when a little girl comes through the portal into Monstropolis and is found by Sulley (John Goodman), whom she nicknames “Kitty,” and Sulley’s best friend and scaring coach, the one-eyed, lottery-ball shaped Mike (Billy Crystal), the two first panic . . . but then grow attached to the child and try to protect her from a monstrous overreaction.

Monsters, Inc. looks terrific on Blu-ray and 3D Blu-ray. Though the latter doesn’t have as many gimmicky “pop out” moments as some releases, the depth of field is more pronounced.

This combo pack also comes with plenty of bonus features, including a free movie admission to see “Monsters University,” in theaters June 21, 2013. A sneak peak is also included, along with a bonus short (“Partysaurus Rex”) and a gag reel. Bonus features from previous releases are also included, among them a commentary with directors Pete Docter and Lee Unkrich, writer Andrew Stanton, and Pixar chief John Lasseter. Other bonus features: a trivia game, post-release footage, early storyboards, and lots of mini-features.

Monsters, Inc. should appeal to the whole family. It’s funny, the characters are endearing, the monster world is cleverly developed, and the Pixar gang really has fun with this one.