9

9 is Academy Award®-nominated Director Shane Acker's visually stunning and original animated epic adventure. In the final days of humanity, a dedicated scientist gives the spark of life to nine of his burlap creations. The world has turned into an unrecognizable landscape of machines and spare parts, but this group of nine finds that if they band together, their small community might just be able to change the course of history. (Gary Reber)

Special features include commentary with Writer/Director Shane Acker, Animation Director Joe Ksander, Head of Story Ryan O'Laughlin, and Editor Nick Kenway; five deleted scenes (SD 07:24); five featurettes: 9—The Long And Short Of It (HD 16:28), On Tour With Shane Acker (HD 05:36), The Look Of 9 (HD 13:12), and Acting Out (HD 04:54); the original 9 short feature (SD 10:33); My Scenes, U-Control interactive picture-in-picture Bonus View; BD-Live functionality; and D-BOX Motion Code™.

The DTS-HD Master Audio™ 5.1-channel soundtrack is spectacular. A 7.1-channel mix would have been most appropriate with this level of holosonic® envelopment and dimensional soundscapes. The Foley effects and atmospheric, as well as sound effects, are impressive and enhance the sense of real-sounding objects. The orchestral score is dynamic and powerful, and at times, pounding with low-frequency impact and transient attack. Instrumental timbres are clearly discernible. Dynamics are impressive, with intense SPL and subtle low-level resolution. Bass response easily exceeds 25 Hz, at times, during intense action scenes. At full SPL the sound can be system threatening, and caution is advised during playback. Dialogue is, of course, ADR produced but is remarkably intelligible and even nicely integrated spatially. Sound effects are highly and effectively directionalized in the surrounds and throughout the soundfield, with effective panning movements. Phantom center back imaging is impressive as well. The sound always is dimensional and holosonic, never collapsing to monaural or completely frontal soundstage focused. The sound designer/supervising sound editor and re-recording mixers, as well as the music scoring mixer, and for that matter the Foley effects and ADR mixers, are to be applauded for performing such an outstanding job in creating the soundscapes depicted in the animation. The D-BOX Motion Code encoding is incredible as well, spanning every possible movement, from floating to intense G force action. This is a perfect creative endeavor for motion encoding, with such engaging action and dynamics.This is an absolute incredible soundtrack of remarkable creativity and holosonic dimension that is absolute reference material. (Gary Reber)

The D-BOX Motion Code encoding is very impressive and effective. War scenes are intensely enhanced with exhilarating motion. In scenes with the "red-eye" Cyclops, the flying "red-eye" black crow, and the "red-eye" snake machines, the motion effects are exemplary of the technology. Not only is the movement experienced exemplary, but the sensation of vibrations from subtle to intense is exhilarating. This is a reference D-BOX Blu-ray Disc™ that is sure to fully engage your visceral senses. (Gary Reber)