Smurfs, The 3D

When the evil wizard Gargamel chases the tiny blue Smurfs out of their village, they tumble from their magical world and into ours—in fact, smack dab in the middle of Central Park. Just three apples high and stuck in the Big Apple, The Smurfs must find a way to get back to their village before Gargamel tracks them down. (Gary Reber)

Special features include The Smurfs Fantastic Adventure Game, commentaries, five deleted and extended scenes (HD 07:41 3D), the featurettes The Smurfs: Comic Book To The Big Screen (HD 08:15 3D), and Going Gargamel (HD 09:57 3D), Smurf Speak: Meet The Cast (HD 09:26 3D), Blue-Pers (HD 0:25 3D), Happy Music Montage (HD 01:49 3D), five progression reels (HD 09:14 3D), previews, BD-Live functionality, and an UltraViolet digital copy.

The 1080p MVC 3-D picture with 3D stereoscopic conversion is by Sony Pictures Imageworks, Legend3D, Saswoon Film Design, and In-Three. As with the 2-D picture, the 3-D treatment is equally impressive. The same level of resolution and fine detail is evident in the 3-D presentation, enhanced with impressive spatial and dimensional depth and perspective. Both the digital and live-action worlds are rendered with a seamless integration. Textures in both worlds are impressively detailed, as are facial features, hair, clothing, and objects. The color palette is nicely saturated with rich and vivid hues that retain warmth. The blue Smurfs really pop! Contrast is excellent with deep, solid blacks and revealing shadow delineation. As for 3-D effect, both positive and negative parallax imagery are well balanced, to deliver a pleasing natural dimensional and spatial experience, both in terms of in-screen and out-of-screen action. The action depicted in the "wormhole" tunnel segments is a good example, as well as cityscapes of New York City. Several impressive "reverse" 3-D effects provide further spatial perspective. This is one of the more impressive 3-D experiences that delivers a perfectly natural sense of depth and perspective, while providing enhanced 3-D effects that are eye-popping. (Gary Reber)

The DTS-HD Master Audio™ 5.1-channel soundtrack is energetic and engaging throughout. Spatially, the soundtrack delivers an impressive holosonic® enveloping experience with aggressive directionalized surround energy. Every nuance is resolved, and all the sound elements are nicely integrated and balanced. Dialogue is well integrated spatially. Atmospherics and sound effects are dynamic and nuanced with excellent fidelity and transparency. The .1 LFE channel delivers appropriate foundation support with solid, at times sub-25 Hz, low-frequency response. The orchestral music score is sweeping, with a wide and deep soundstage presence that aggressively extends into the surrounds, for an immersive soundfield sonic experience. This is a terrific soundtrack experience that delivers harmonious, magical sonics that will thrill family audiences. (Gary Reber)