EPIC 3D [2013] [3D Blu-ray + 2D Blu-ray + DIGITAL] [UK Release]
A Beautifully Animated 3D Adventure!
From the creators of 'Ice Age' comes the year's most exhilarating animated adventure! Transported to a magical world, where a teenager Mary Katherine [Amanda Seyfried] is recruited by a nature spirit, Queen Tara [Beyoncé Knowles], to help the “Leafmen” save their forest from evil warriors. The whole family will love this fast-paced thrill-ride, with its astonishing animation and an all-star voice cast that includes the voices of Josh Hutcherson, Colin Farrell, Christoph Waltz, Aziz Ansari, Chris O'Dowd, Pitbull, Jason Sudeikis and Steven Tyler. Go deeper with this fun-filled Blu-ray, with exclusive features!
FILM FACT: Awards and Nominations: 2013 Casting Society of America: Nominated: Outstanding Achievement in Casting in an Animation Feature for Christian Kaplan (casting director). 2013 IGN Summer Movie Awards: Nominated: Best Fantasy Movie. 2013 World Soundtrack Awards: Nominated: Film Composer of the Year for Danny Elfman. 2014 Annie Awards: Nominated: Outstanding Achievement in Animated Effects in an Animated Production for Alen Lai, David Quirus, Diego Garzon and Ilan Gabai. Nominated: Outstanding Achievement in Character Animation in a Feature Production for Thom Roberts. Nominated: Outstanding Achievement in Directing in an Animated Feature Production for Chris Wedge. Nominated: Outstanding Achievement in Music in an Animated Feature Production for Danny Elfman. Nominated: Outstanding Achievement in Production Design in an Animated Feature Production for Greg Couch, Michael Knapp and William Joyce. 2014 Behind the Voice Actors Awards: Nominated: BTVA Feature Film Voice Acting Award for Best Male Vocal Performance in a Feature Film in a Supporting Role for Aziz Ansari for the voice of "Mub." 2014 Black Reel Awards: Nominated: Outstanding Voice Performance for Beyoncé for playing "Queen Tara." 2014 BMI Film & TV Awards: Win: BMI Film Music Award for Film Music for Danny Elfman. 2014 Georgia Film Critics Association: Nominated: Best Animated Film. 2014 International Film Music Critics Award: Nominated: Best Original Score for an Animated Film for Danny Elfman. 2014 Motion Picture Sound Editors, USA: Nominated: Best Sound Editing - Sound Effects, Foley, Dialogue and ADR in an Animation Feature Film for Randy Thom (supervising sound editor, sound designer), Gwendolyn Yates Whittle (supervising sound editor), Jeremy Bowker (sound designer), Luke Dunn Gielmuda (supervising foley editor), Brad Semenoff (supervising dialogue editor), Dennie Thorpe (foley artist), Jana Vance (foley artist), Ben Burtt (foley editor), James Likowski (foley editor), Michael Silvers (dialogue editor), Leff Lefferts (sound effects editor), Andre Fenley (sound effects editor), Kyrsten Mate (sound effects editor), Kent Sparling (sound effects editor), Lisa Jaime (music editor) and Bill Abbott (music editor). 2014 PGA Awards: Nominated: Outstanding Producer of Animated Theatrical Motion Pictures for Jerry Davis and Lori Forte. 2014 Visual Effects Society Awards: Nominated: Outstanding Animated Character in an Animated Feature Motion Picture for Daniel Sampaio Lima, Haven Cousins, Thom Roberts and Tim Bower for "Bomba." Nominated: Outstanding Animated Character in an Animated Feature Motion Picture for Chris Pagoria, Dylan Maxwell, Jeff Gabor and Sang Jun Lee for "Mary Katherine." Nominated: Outstanding Created Environment in an Animated Feature Motion Picture for Aaron M. Ross, Antelmo Villarreal, Jake Panian and Travis Price for "Pod Patch." Nominated: Outstanding FX and Simulation Animation in an Animated Feature Motion Picture for David Gatenby, Mark Adams, Matthew D. Simmons and Thierry Dervieux for "Boggan Crowds."
Voice Cast: Amanda Seyfried (Mary Katherine), Josh Hutcherson (Nod), Colin Farrell (Ronin), Christoph Waltz (Mandrake), Aziz Ansari (Mub), Chris O'Dowd (Grub), Pitbull (Bufo), Jason Sudeikis (Professor Radcliffe Bomba), Steven Tyler (Nim Galuu), Beyoncé Knowles (Queen Tara), Blake Anderson (Dagda), Judah Friedlander (Taxi Driver Larry), Thomas F. Wilson (Finn), John DiMaggio (Pinecone Jinn), Rosa Salazar (Roller Derby Girl), Kyle Kinane (Biker Dude), Emma Kenney (Marigold Girl), Blake Anderson (Dagda), Allison Bills (Dandelion Jinn), Jim Conroy (Race Announcer / Additional Voices), Todd Cummings (Old Fruit Fly), Troy Evans (Thistle Jinn), Jason Fricchione (Bufo's Goon), Helen Hong (Thistle Lady), Kelly Keaton (Berry Lady), Emma Kenney (Marigold Girl), Anthony Lumia (Young Fruit Fly), Malikha Mallette (Jinn Mom), Joe Massingill (Stickman Jockey), Edie Mirman (Flower Jinn), Jason Sudeikis (Bomba), Allison Weber (Flower Kid), Matt Adler (Additional Voices), Ashley Paige Albert (Additional Voices), Stephen Apostolina (Additional Voices), Eric Bradley (Additional Voices), Jeremy Bowker (Additional Voices), Dennis T. Carnegie (Additional Voices), David Cowgill (Additional Voices), Randy Crenshaw (Additional Voices), Monique Donnelly (Additional Voices), Moosie Drier (Additional Voices), Roger Freeland (Additional Voices), Jackie Gonneau (Additional Voices), Bridget Hoffman (Additional Voices), E.J. Holowicki (Additional Voices), Rif Hutton (Additional Voices), Edie Lehmann Boddicker (Additional Voices), Hope Levy (Additional Voices), Selenis Leyva (Additional Voices), Brian Scott McFadden (Additional Voices), Jake Moulton (Additional Voices), Eric Nelsen (Additional Voices), Bill New (Additional Voices), Dana Nielsen (Additional Voices), Jonathan Null (Additional Voices), Chris Phillips (Additional Voices), Lori Prince (Additional Voices), Peter Pamela Rose (Additional Voices), Michelle Ruff (Additional Voices), Christopher Scarabosio (Additional Voices), Jeff Smith (Additional Voices), John C. Storey (Additional Voices), Byron Thames (Additional Voices), Randy Thom (Additional Voices), Madeleine Whittle (Additional Voices), David Zyler (Additional Voices), Jeff Bennett (Adult Fruit Fly) (uncredited) and Jason Harris (uncredited)
Director: Chris Wedge
Producers: James V. Hart, Jerry Davis (p.g.a.), Lori Forte (p.g.a.), Michael J. Travers and William Joyce
Screenplay: Chris Wedge (story), Daniel Shere (screenplay), James V. Hart (screenplay/story), Matt Ember (screenplay), Tom J. Astle (screenplay) and William Joyce (Leafmen characters from book "The Leaf Men and the Brave Good Bugs") (inspiration)
Composer: Danny Elfman
Cinematography: Renato Falcão (Director of Photography)
Image Resolution: 1080p
Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1
Audio: English: 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio
English: 5.1 Descriptive Audio Service
Spanish: 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround
French: 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround Sound
Português: 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround Sound
Croatian: 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround Sound
Czech: 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround Sound
Slovak: 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround Sound
Slovenian: 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround Sound
English: 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo Audio
Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish, French, Português, Croatian, Czech, Slovak and Slovenian
Running Time: 102 minutes
Region: Region A/1 + Region B/2
Number of discs: 2
Studio: Blue Sky Studios / 20th Century Fox
Andrew's Blu-ray Review: In the Blue Sky Studios animated feature film, we find Mary Katherine M.K [Amanda Seyfried], is in a hard period of her life. The animation film opens shortly after her mother's funeral. Not quite old enough to be on her own, she is moving in with her father Bomba [Jason Sudeikis], who she hasn't seen in years. M.K.'s parents divorced long ago, a major source of the marital problems being her dad's obsession with his scientific work. Sadly, nothing has changed. Bomba still places 100 percent of his efforts in proving that tiny people exist within the forest. He believes that these small people, known as Leafmen; who serve as the guardians of nature. Of course, we quickly learn that he is correct, that the Leafmen are in a constant battle against equally tiny bad guys called the Boggins; who promote rot and decay.
Shortly after M.K. arrives at her father's home, the lore of the forest is explained to us. You see, forests have always thrived because a powerful fairy Queen Tara [Beyoncé Knowles] carries the spirit of the forest. Every so many years, she passes that spirit along to another being. The day that M.K. arrives just-so-happens to be the day that the queen is going to pass along the spirit. As the Leafmen assist the Queen Tara, the Boggin army attacks and thwarts their plans, trying to steal the spirit of life and corrupting it with rot. As M.K. wanders through the forest, she stumbles upon the queen and gets pulled into their world and shrunken down and everything. With the help of the head of the Leafmen Ronin [Colin Farrell] and a cute young Leafmen soldier Nod [Josh Hutcherson], M.K. must restore a healthy balance to the forest and put a stop to the Boggins decay before it can destroy the entire forest.
There are plenty of wordy serious moments, but they're intermingled with good fun. Just to keep the kids entertained, there are even silly childish moments, especially those with the Slug [Aziz Ansari] and Snail [Chris O'Dowd]. A good amount of comedy is infused for the parental audiences. Here's to hoping that this upward trend of light-heartedness and humour continues and that DreamWorks Pictures has a positive influence on 20th Century Fox. By the way, as a sort of protest, I here and now declare that I hate and detest Chris O'Dowd, as I think he is one of the worst actors in the world, who is most the thick stupid actor to ever be on this planet and I wish he was banished forever.
Although the script is a bit hit and misses, at least the voice cast carries the film right along. The surprise performance comes from Josh Hutcherson, who is rather boring in his live-action film roles, but his vocal performance in 'Epic' is easily the best thing that he's done so far. Seyfried, Beyoncé, Aziz Ansari and Chris O'Dowd are solid. Colin Farrell is very good. And a few other surprise performances come from Steven Tyler and Christoph Waltz. Of course Christoph Waltz's unmistakable voice is lent to the villainous head Boggin. 2013 was loaded with lots of animated family films, but none of them have been amazing, but to me 'EPIC' is one of the year's better 3D animation film.
EPIC MUSIC TRACK LIST
SAME CHANGES (Written by Deborah Talan and Steve Tannen) [Performed by The Weepies with Brad Gordon]
IN THE SWEET BYE AND BYE (Written by S. Fillmore Bennett, J.P. Webster and Milton Batiste) [Performed by Magnificent Seventh's Brass Band]
GONNA BE ALRIGHT (Lyric by Taura Stinson) (Music by Raphael Saadiq) [Performed by Steven Tyler] [Background Vocals by Taura Stinson]
HELL (Written by Tom Maxwell) [Performed by Squirrel Nut Zippers]
RISE UP (Written by Hit-Boy, Chase N. Cashe, Sia and Beyoncé) [Performed by Beyoncé Knowles]
3D Blu-ray Image Quality – Blue Sky Studios presents us this animated film 'EPIC' 3D with an absolutely flawless 1080p image in an equally awesome 2.40:1 aspect ratio. Animation is always the best format for viewing 3D Blu-rays and 'EPIC' 3D is no exception and looks even more stunning, than when I saw this 3D release in the cinema. 'EPIC' 3D doesn't use gimmicky 3D of forcing images off the screen, which is rare for a 3D animation film. Instead, it pushes the world of the film deep beyond the face of the television, as if the borders of the screen are the framing of a window. The world created is visually appealing, appearing like the images of fantasies in the mind of a child. Taking place in large settings, there are layers upon layers of material that extend the picture far into the background. From dust particles floating through the foreground to the blowing trees of the background, the distance between the two is an infinite playing field for the action of the film. There is never a lack of depth. The filmmakers ensured that objects are constantly placed in all areas of this setting. While some films make you forget that you are watching a 3D film, but with 'EPIC,' the amazing environments are subconscious realistic. I appreciate the amount of detail that 'EPIC' 3D was given. The lighting of the forest gives the picture a warm and glowing softness that carries a stark contrast with the lifeless world of the Boggins. No matter which of the two settings we're in, fine details are visible. Be it hairs on a bee's body, leafy patterns, rough bark or oily bird feathers, textures and fine features can always be seen. The animation film is so strong that it leaves no room for banding or aliasing. Colours are so vibrant that when we see the grey result of the Boggins; decay, and the gravity of their rot carries a strong emphasis. Black levels are deep and rich without removing the fantastic fine details. After watching the film twice, once in 3D and once in 2D, I cannot find a single fault with the impressive image quality.
3D Blu-ray Audio Quality – Blue Sky Studios brings us 'EPIC' 3D with an awesome 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio experience and so much love has been put into the audio mix as with the image quality. From the very opening scene, the amazing dynamics of the audio mix become evident. Set mostly in forests, environmental sounds of cicadas, birds and bugs are layered throughout the channels. The sounds of a breeze blowing through leaves of a tree create an imaging effect that allows you to follow the direction of the wind. Other sounds, such as soaring arrows or passing bats and birds, also show off the strength of imaging. All speakers are constantly lit up with these great examples of environmental effects mixing. The vocal tracks are absolutely clean and clear. Large crowd scenes offer background banter that emits from all channels. Music also plays perfectly. Be it Steven Tyler's in-movie song, Beyoncé Knowles singing the closing credits or Danny Elfman's brilliant film music score, the music is a great-sounding epic experience.
Blu-ray Special Features and Extras:
Special Feature: Birds, Bugs and Slugs: Forest Explorer [2013] [1080p] [2.40:1 / 1.78:1 / 1.37:1] [5:21] Serving as a miniature nature documentary, this feature briefly teaches children about some of the real life creatures and plants featured in the animated film 'EPIC.'
Special Feature: Rot Rocks [2013] [1080p] [2.40:1 / 1.78:1 / 1.37:1] [3:18] The villainous threat in 'EPIC' is decay, but this documentary explains how the act of rotting is a beneficial part of nature.
Special Feature: Bugs of Camouflage [2013] [1080p] [2.40:1 / 1.78:1] [3:44] Here we take a look at some of nature's very best bugs at blending in and surviving and we are introduced to Ken [The Bug Guy] who explains all aspects of the bugs camouflage technique and shows off all the different insects and animals he has in his collection.
Special Feature: The 'EPIC' Life at 2 Inches [2013] [1080p] [2.40:1] [3:42] Here is a special feature made specifically for adults! This brief video scientifically explains how the human body would function at a height of two inches. Who knows how factual this information is, but it's definitely interesting and well worth viewing for younger children.
Special Feature: Mysteries of Moonhaven Revealed [2013] [1080p] [2.40:1] [24:39] This special feature looks in-depth into the making of the animated film. While the documentary supported the film's content, this one breaks down the animated film and especially looking at the characters, the story, and the animation. Here you get to view seven separate chapters, which are as follows: The World; The Leafmen; Queen Tara; Mub & Grub; Nim Galuu; The Stompers and Finding Moonhaven. Contributors include: Chris Wedge [Director], Lori Foster [Producer], Greg Couch [Production Designer], Jerry Davis [Producer], Galen Tan Chu [Supervising Animator], Melvin Tsing Chern Tan [Supervising Animator], Michael J. Travers [Co-Producer], Hugo M. Ayala [Sr. Research Associate], David R. Sloss [Lead Animator], Jackie Tarascio [Lead Animator], Michael Knapp [Art Director], Lluis Llobera [Lead Animator], Scott Carroll [Lead Animator], Stewart Shaw [Animator], Josh Hutcherson [Nod], Beyoncé Knowles [Queen Tara], David Zac [Animator], James Young Jackson [Animator], Aziz Ansari [Mub], Chris O'Dowd [Grub], AJ Conrad [Animator], Julen Santiago Garaikoetxea [Animator], Sabine Heller [Sr. Research Associate], Matthew Doble [Animator], Amanda Seyfried [Mary Katherine], Joseph Antonuccio [Animator], Jeff Gabor [Lead Animator], Thom Roberts [Animator] and Jason Sudeikis [Professor Radcliffe Bomba]. As usual, you can view each feature separately or Play All.
Theatrical Trailer [2013] [1080p] [2.40:1] [2:12] This is the Original Theatrical Trailer for the animated film ‘EPIC.’ Here they proclaim “Prepare For Something EPIC!”
Sneak Peeks: The Blu-ray trailers you get to view, are only available to view via the 2D Blu-ray disc, and they are as follows: ‘THE CROODS’ [2013] [1080p] [2.40:1] and ‘TURBO’ [2013] [1080p] [2.40:1].
Finally, because the trailers for 'EPIC' made it out to be a mish-mash of other family films, I literally expected nothing from it when I popped in the 3D Blu-ray disc. Much to my surprise, I found it to be quite enjoyable and much better than the most of this summer's other family films and enjoyed it from beginning to end. The story of 'EPIC' isn't the most unique, but it also isn't without its creative charm. The flawless audio and video qualities of the 3D Blu-ray are just another reason this set is a worthy purchase. Most of the special features are directed towards mainly children, but there is a decent 25-minute making-of for the adults also. So all in all this is an amazing Blu-ray packaged and a totally entertaining experience and again the 3D was also totally awesome and made you feel you was in the actual forest and I am so proud it has been added to my 3D Blu-ray Collection. Highly Recommended!
Andrew C. Miller – Your Ultimate No.1 Film Aficionado
Le Cinema Paradiso
United Kingdom
