We Bought a Zoo on Blu-ray

From FOX Studios comes Cameron Crowe's (Jerry Maguire, Almost Famous) latest film, We Bought a Zoo. Based on a true story, the movie finds widower Benjamin Mee (Matt Damon, The Bourne Identity, 30 Rock) needing to make a change. While house hunting, he finds his dream dwelling comes with a closed-down, but still populated, zoo attached, and decides that this might be just the adventure he needs. Together with his two children and the zoo's colorful staff, Benjamin sets out to make the zoo, and his life, mean something again.

We Bought a Zoo is not Crowe's best work, but then, who expects it to be, considering some of the masterpieces the director has made? However, We Bought a Zoo is still damn good. It proves that Crowe still knows how to coax incredible, authentic performances out of his actors. He can still tug a heart string. He develops wonderful visuals, but never forgets that the story is about the characters.

Damon is brilliant in the lead role. He captures the struggle of a father, raising two kids on his own, one of whom he has trouble connecting with because they are too much alike. He also breathes Mee's mission to life with such zeal, that one is left hanging on his every move, rooting for him to succeed, hoping he can find hope and joy in his life again.

We Bought a Zoo is buoyed by an excellent ensemble cast, and that's not just referencing the beautiful animals. Maggie Elizabeth Jones (Footloose) is adorable as Mee's daughter. Thomas Haden Church (Sideways, Wings) brings a realism to Benjamin's brother, who wants to be supportive, but thinks his sibling is off of his rocker. And then there's J.B. Smoove (Curb Your Enthusiasm), Carla Gallo (Bones, Californication), John Michael Higgins (Bad Teacher, Happily Divorced), Angus Macfadyen (Chuck, Braveheart), Elle Fanning (Super 8), Patrick Fugit (Almost Famous), and Colin Ford (Push, Supernatural), all of whom bring something special to the table. The chemistry between them, and the unique make up of each player, really makes this movie sing in an exciting, interesting way.

Oddly, it's Scarlett Johansson (Lost in Translation, The Avengers) that is wasted here. Stuck in a boring, predictable, romantic interest role, she gets lost among the others. This isn't because the actress is inferior in any way, but rather, more than anyone else, her presence seems to be there only to serve Benjamin's character. She doesn't have enough personality of her own to really stand out. In fact, Benjamin's relationship with a tiger actually serves the same purpose she does, with slightly more impact, so her part is extraneous. It's a shame, and the movie's only real weak point.

There are plenty of bonus features on the three disc Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy set. There's an audio commentary with Crowe, editor Mark Livolsi, and, weirdly, considering his small role in We Bought a Zoo, the hilarious J.B. Smoove. There are a ton of deleted and extended scenes. A half hour is devoted to the making of the picture, and there is a featurette about the real Benjamin Mee. There's also a gag reel, and more! One can literally spend more time watching the extras than the movie, and that's a nice claim to make. It helps, too, that what is present enriches the movie experience, and is really everything one might want in this release.

In short, We Bought a Zoo is a fantastic film that any movie lover should own. It's an inspiring story, a memorable tale, and just plain fun. Pick up a copy, on sale now.

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The Island hits Blu-ray

     Coming to Blu-ray Tuesday, June 21st is The Island. This 2005 Paramount movie stars Ewan McGregor (The Ghost Writer, Big Fish) and Scarlett Johansson (Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Iron Man 2) as Lincoln Echo Six and Jordan Two Delta, two individuals living in a very structured hive, safe from the contaminated post-apocalyptic outside world. The residents hope for the day they will win the lottery and get to move to The Island, the only place that is still safe outside of their living quarters. But then Lincoln realizes that not everything is as it appears. For instance, the outside world is not post-apocalyptic. Lincoln and Jordan escape from the compound, pursued vigorously by a private security firm hired by compound director Dr. Bernard Merrick (Sean Bean, Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings). Can they alert the public to their plight before they are killed or captured?

     If you missed this movie when it came out, it would be a good idea to check out this Blu-ray release. It's action packed, as expected for a movie directed by Michael Bay (Transformers, Armageddon), but it also has a lot of heart. The story of two naive individuals who figure out their world is wrong, and are willing to do anything to save not only themselves, but everyone else being manipulated, is a wonderful tale. Their plight is central to the story, and the Bay signature touches merely enhance the experience, rather than drowning it out.

     Also, performances by not just McGregor, Johansson, and Bean, but also by supporting cast Steve Buscemi (Boardwalk Empire, The Big Lebowski), Dijimon Hounsou (Gladiator, Blood Diamond), Michael Clarke Duncan (The Green Mile, the upcoming FOX series The Finder), and Ethan Phillips (Star Trek: Voyager) are all flawless. These actors give some of their finest work. I'd elaborate, but I hate to spoil the twists and turns of the plot. Trust me. It's obvious once you watch what I refer to for each one. 

     At around 135 minutes it may seem long to some, but the pacing is good in the first half, and frantic in the second, so there is little chance of getting bored. The special effects are top notch, and the futuristic hive is well designed. It is set in the future, but not very far, and still relatable. The new technology imaginings seem a bit far off for 2019, but still possible in our lifetimes.

     Blu-ray is definitely the right way to experience The Island, as the extended freeway chase comes alive, with all of its crashes and explosions highlighted nicely in the 1080p high definition. Of course, the 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio surround sound really puts the viewer in the center of it all, assuming you have a system to take advantage of it. The action sequences get a little loud, so keep the volume control handy, but it's all realistic, and picture and sound are crystal clear. It's just hard to imagine that the film will look half as good without the proper technology to experience it, because of the sweeping vistas and high octane effects. 

      That being said, the bonus features are a bit thin. There are subtitles available in English, French, and Spanish, and a commentary track by Michael Bay, but including none of the actors. Three featurettes give a look at how the action sequences are shot and the futuristic architecture designed, but none last more than fifteen minutes. They are interesting, but far from satisfying, leaving you wanting more. Luckily, the price point is relatively low, so you won't feel ripped off, even without many extras.

     Go out and buy The Island on Blu-ray, available this Tuesday, June 21st.

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Article first published as Blu-ray Review: The Island on Blogcritics.