Monsters University on Bluray

It’s time to pick up the movie that makes going to school monstrously fun!!! Tomorrow look for the release of  “Monsters University” from Disney/PIXAR with your choice of a 4-Disc Ultimate Collector’s Edition Blu-ray 3D Combo Pack, or the 3-Disc Collector’s Edition Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD or watch it On-Demand. Beyond the Marquee was sent an advance copy of the film to check out and we’ve got our review below, though we can give you a tiny spoiler now…IT’S AWESOME. Read ahead for our review and scroll down to the end for some extra bonus items you’ll enjoy to get you excited for the latest release guaranteed to be joining your home video collection.

ABOUT THE FILM:

Ever since college-bound Mike Wazowski (voice of Billy Crystal) was a little monster, he has dreamed of becoming a Scarer—and he knows better than anyone that the best Scarers come from Monsters University (MU). But during his first semester at MU, Mike’s plans are derailed when he crosses paths with hotshot James P. Sullivan, “Sulley” (voice of John Goodman), a natural-born Scarer. The pair’s out-of-control competitive spirit gets them both kicked out of the University’s elite Scare Program. To make matters worse, they realize they will have to work together, along with an odd bunch of misfit monsters, if they ever hope to make things right. “Monsters University” bravely explores themes of self-discovery and the revelations that come with growing up.

Read Our review of “Monsters University” from Beyond the Marquee’s own Family-Friendly Mom Reviewer “Marquee Mama” – CLICK HERE

VIDEO:

I’ll start right off and say this, if you are buying a Disney/PIXAR movie on Blu-ray you know you are getting nothing but the best quality available. With every film the studio releases and as technology continues to advance, PIXAR films are at the fore-front of digital movie magic. In Monsters University no exception can be found, the film visually if gorgeous! Everything is clean, crisp and clear, and pops with colors that span the spectrum. I was amazed at the detail in the trees on the campus, the textures of the weathered buildings, Sully’s fine blue hair is flawless as it sways and moves with motion. Dialogue is clean and crisp and puts you in the dorm rooms and classrooms right there with the students. I loved focussing on some of the new monsters introduced into this film and seeing how PIXAR rendered their skin,scales and slimy bodies with precision and a lot of painstaking detail. Unlike most sequels that sometimes skimp out on quality, Monsters University breaks the mold. Light and shadow compliment each other like never before and place this animated film at the top of my list. Feature Run Time: Approximately 103 minutes

AUDIO:

As superb as the video quality is, like a good college rivalry the audio is fierce in competition for the winning trophy. There’s been some recent Disney films I’ve reviewed that have wowed me with the sound mixing, but nothing prepared me for what was in store for this film on Blu-ray. Having seen this film in the theater a couple times with my kids, I think at home on our 7.1 surround system, the audio sounded even better. Dialogue is clean and crispFrom the ambience of the college grounds and campus party atmospheres, to the various challenges of the Scare Games, this film comes to life with an explosion of audio sensory goodness. Some of my favorite scenes were when Mike and Sully cause chaos in the classroom destroying the Dean’s famous scare can, the exploding pink spike ball relay scene and the grand finale as Mike and Sully escape from the other world leaving a destructive shock-wave in their wake. Jaw dropping sound effects and music mix accompanying the film really set the bar on this far above anything I’ve ever heard before.

BONUS FEATURES:

I’ve got to be honest I’m still trying to get thru all the Bonus Features. When the disc boasts about the HOURS of extra content, they aren’t kidding. I’m finding myself trying to make time to watch it all, but what I have seen thus far has given me a deeper and greater appreciation not just for the film itself, but all those creative individuals who worked years on this feature. I love that “The Blue Umbrella” short is included in with this, I went back to see the film a 2nd time in the theater, mainly just to watch that short, so now I can examine it over and over again for it’s cleverness and imaginative storytelling.

Here are some of the features you can find…and worth every second of their time they are on these discs!!!

• Campus Life – What’s it like being on a production crew at Pixar? Get a look at a day in the life of the “Monsters University” crew through their own eyes.

• Story School – This documentary examines the challenges of creating a prequel as well as themes that run through the story, and the change in focus from Sulley to Mike.  We’ll also look at how gags are developed – from writing jokes to brainstorming a million ideas, only 5% of which actually end up in the movie.

• Scare Games – At Pixar, we play hard while we work.  The same people who keep the film production moving – producers, managers, coordinators and artists – are also the ones who bring spirit and excitement to some of our extracurricular activities. We check out the MU production teams as they go head to head in the mostly playful Pixar Scare Games competitions.

• Welcome to MU – Sets aren’t just buildings, they are the worlds our characters live in and explore.  This look at the Monsters University campus and its development is told from the perspective of the artists who created each piece of the campus from the architecture to the ivy leaves.  .

• Music Appreciation – Randy Newman’s scores are a mainstay of Pixar films, and this documentary will give you a privileged look at his creative process.  We follow the “Monsters University” scoring process from spotting to writing and on to the scoring session. including special college-themed recording sessions.

• Scare Tactics – Animators are actors who digitally bring the characters to life. In this look at how the MU animation team worked, you’ll see their process of how they channeled their own monster-selves and created moments on screen that were really funny, really scary and also really serious, sometimes all at the same time.

• Color and Light – How can a single painting set the tone for an entire scene? We’ll look at the creation of the colorscripts and how they were realized technically in the final film.  Along with the process, this piece explores the many layers of technical innovation required to produce such a naturalistic feel.

• Paths to Pixar – MU Edition – When one door closes, sometimes another door opens – one with an even more exciting opportunity behind it. Members of the MU crew tell their own compelling backstories and share the challenges they overcame along their paths to Pixar.

• Furry Monsters: A Technical Retrospective – Explore the difficulties in creating characters that are 20 years younger with tools that are 10 years more advanced in this contrasting look at the differing technical challenges that arose when making “Monsters, Inc.,” and “Monsters University.”

• Deleted Scenes – Four separate scenes – “Rivalry,” “Recon,” “Movie Night,” and “Drama Class” – are highlighted with an introduction from director Dan Scanlon.

• “The Blue Umbrella” – This animated short film from Pixar Animation Studios, directed by Saschka Unseld and produced by Marc Greenberg, played in theaters in front of “Monsters University.” “The Blue Umbrella” tells the story of an evening commute in which the rain starts to fall and the city comes alive to the sound of dripping rain pipes, whistling awnings and gurgling gutters. And in the midst, two umbrellas—one blue, one not—fall eternally in love.

• Additional Bonus Features – Audio Commentary, Promo Picks, College Campaign, Theatrical Campaign, Set Flythroughs, Art Gallery and more!

FINAL THOUGHTS: This was one film that as I watched it in the theater for the first time I was already saying to myself “I can’t wait to own this on Blu-ray!” and now that day has come and I think you’ll be just as pleased with it. Pick it up today wherever Blu-ray and DVD’s are sold, or head over to AMAZON.com to order your copy today.

***Don’t Go Away*** THERE’S BONUS FUN STUFF BELOW!!!

Bonus Clip: Deleted Scene- Rivalry /Director Dan Scanlon discusses the deleted scene where Mike and Sulley meet in primary school.

Bonus Clip: Drama Class /Deleted scene of Mike and Sully performing together during drama class

Bonus Clip: Hardscrabble /Exploring the difficulty and inspiration behind designing Dean Hardscrabble from Monthropology

Bonus Clip: Sully and Mike’s Theme / Director Dan Scanlon and composer Randy Newman discuss Mike and Sully’s music theme throughout the film

Bonus Clip: Scare Games / Pixar employees engage in their own team building Scare Games during production

Monsters University 3D Bluray Combo

Who’s your favorite Monster? Mike or Sully? Tell us below!