LUIS AND THE ALIENS [Luis und die Aliens] [2018] [Blu-ray] [German Release]
Extra Terrestrial! Extra Trouble!
No-one believed Luis’s dad when he said he’d been attacked by an alien. And growing up with an obsessed Ufologist for a father hasn’t been easy for 12-year-old Luis Sonntag either. But then three crazy aliens crash their ship right in front of Luis, and finally he’s got the proof his dad Armin Sonntag needs to show the world he’s not crazy. The problem is, if Luis tells his dad, he’ll blast the aliens with his homemade “shockfrost” and if he doesn’t, Luis risks being sent away to boarding school. Can Luis save the day? Perhaps three wacky aliens and a little bit of space could be just the thing to bring everyone closer together. Find out for sure in this hilarious out-of-this-world wacky adventure.
Voice Cast: Callum Maloney (Luis Sonntag), Dermot Magennis (Armin Sonntag / Wabo), Ian Coppinger (Mog), Paul Tylak (Mr. Winter / Ice Cream Man / Bill), Lucy Carolan (Jennifer), Eoin Daly (Marlon), Aileen Mythen (Mrs. Winter / Valentina / Ms. Diekendaker), Simon Toal (Principal), Danna Davis (Jill), Susie Power (Sarah), Eoin McCormick (Boy 1), Oisin Murray (Boy 2), Nuria G. Blanco (Additional Characters), Roger Gregg (Additional Characters), Jill Srigley (Additional Characters), Dan Russell (Additional Characters), Mary Murray (Additional Characters), Will Forte (Nag), Franciska Friede (Jennifer), Lea Thompson (Ms. Diekendaker) and Rebecca Whitman (Mrs. Winter)
Directors: Christoph Lauenstein, Sean McCormack (co-director) and Wolfgang Lauenstein
Producers: Emely Christians, Jana Bohl, Jean-Marie Musique and Viola Lütten
Screenplay: Christoph Lauenstein, Jeffrey Hylton, Joe Vitale, Jurgen Wolff, Sean McCormack and Wolfgang Lauenstein
Composers: Ingmar Süberkrüb and Martin Lingnau
Image Resolution: 1080p
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Audio: German: 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio
English: 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio
German 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo Audio
English: 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo Audio
Subtitles: None
Running Time: 85 minutes
Region: Region B/2
Number of discs: 1
Studio: Eurovideo Medien GmbH / Ulysses Films
Andrew's Blu-ray Review: ‘LUIS AND THE ALIENS’ [2018] is a very high-quality computer generated animated film, and is also very funny and engaging, skipping along so that it feels more like a half-hour show rather than a full-length film. This well-written story launches the viewer directly into the sad life of Luis, a young boy teen who basically cares for himself due to a non-existent mother and a preoccupied father who obsesses over proving the existence of aliens.
This turmoil may be slightly disturbing to younger viewers when we view the filth and mess that Luis Sonntag [Callum Maloney] lives in with his father Armin Sonntag [Dermot Magennis] without his basic needs being properly met draws the attention of the school principal, who becomes convinced that Luis should be taken from his father and placed in a boarding school run by a scary headmistress. The efforts of these administrators, who become the antagonists, traumatize Luis into attempting an escape with the help of his alien friends who have landed on Earth. All sorts of fun ensue when he decides to travel back to the alien’s home planet to live since his own father does not appear to want him.
The three aliens have great comic chemistry in a Three Stooges-sort-of manner, and the tricks they are able to pull keep the escapades engaging, and at times, hilarious. Their ability to transform themselves into humans — such as Luis’s father and the husband and wife neighbours — is laugh-out-loud hysterical as the transformations are less than perfect with funny misplaced teeth poking out and eyeballs not situated quite right.
The ultimate car chase brings new and unexpected aliens on the scene — one in particular who has been disguised as a human all along but is in fact a scary dragon-like creature that preys on the tears of lonely children like Luis. The climactic ending and heartfelt resolution perfectly fit the fun and upbeat nature of this film.
In spite of the grim circumstances that are Luis’s reality he lives in, this animated film manages to stay light and fun with plenty of comic relief, and Luis is eventually able to voice his pain and loss to his father, who has a powerful realization and shares his own heart with his son. The open expression of love and forgiveness makes way for Luis’s sense of worthiness and for much-needed reconciliation.
Despite all the negative criticism of this wonderful animated family friendly animated film ‘LUIS AND THE ALIENS,’ I definitely give it my 100% seal of approval for its positive lessons about love, forgiveness, and reconciliation.
Blu-ray Image Quality – ‘LUIS AND THE ALIENS’ is presented with a glorious and wonderful 1080p image and is of course enhanced with a 1.85:1 aspect ratio and is nothing short of being totally superb, which is exactly how it should be. This CGI animated film imagery on this Blu-ray release is computer-generated to perfection. ‘LUIS AND THE ALIENS’ has been beautifully textured and every bit of fine detail is readily apparent, in addition to the image delivering marvellous levels of sharpness, clarity and dimensionality. Colours are fully saturated, yet completely stable. Blacks are really pitched perfect, while the whites demonstrate the same kind of straight from the computer animation realm with total perfection. Additionally, the contrast demonstrates the kind of smoothness that can only be created in the digital computer realm and so there is no grain, nor will one find any visual imperfections in the image presentation. The only slight negative aspect is that the animated film was released in 3D, so why couldn’t they have released this Blu-ray in 3D, as it would have been an even better viewing experience. Please Note: Playback Region B/2: This will not play on most Blu-ray players sold in North America, Central America, South America, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Southeast Asia. Learn more about Blu-ray region specifications.
Blu-ray Audio Quality – ‘LUIS AND THE ALIENS’ is presented on this Blu-ray Disc with a 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack, which I had to crank up the sound slightly. Much of ‘LUIS AND THE ALIENS’ is dialogue driven, but the dialogue moments are interspersed between mild comic actions and chase sequences. The sound design is effective and a great deal of fun, with the outlying channels keeping up with the onscreen action very well, even if the track falls just a tad shy of demo quality. Additionally, the track is nicely atmospheric and filled with plenty of little sounds that help complete the film’s audio sonic environments. Thanks to the lossless encode, fidelity is terrific for the musical component, as well as the sound effects. The bass channel packs the entire necessary rumble that the sound effects require. Voices have a warm, natural quality, plus the film’s dialogue is always completely understandable. So all in all, it is a very good audio performance.
Blu-ray Special Features and Extras:
Special Feature: Making of ‘LUIS AND THE ALIENS’ [2018] [1080p] [1.78:1] [12:49] With this featurette, we go behind-the-scene, especially the production crew creating the computer animation. We also get hear the views of everyone else who was involved with this animated film. We also get to view the conductor and the orchestra in the recording studio. Sadly it is all dubbed in German and you get no English subtitles. Contributors include: Christoph Lauenstein [Director], Wolfgang Lauenstein [Director], Sean McCormack [Co-director], Florian Westermann [Art Direction/ Studio Rakete], Frédérique Vinel [Producer/Fabrique D’Images], Emely Christians [Producer/Ulyesses Films], Jana Bohl [Producer/Studio Manager/Studio Rakete], Marcel Tie [Production Manager/Studio Rakete], Viola Lütten [Line Producer/Studio Rakete], Lucas Steinwärder [Production Assistant/Studio Rakete], Peter Bohl [Animator/Studio Rakete], Jo Bub [Animation Director/Studio Rakete] and Florian Westermann [Layout Supervisor/Set Texturing Artist/ Fabrique d'images].
Special Feature: Music Video: SAY HEY [2018] [1080p] [1.78:1/2.35:1] [3:41] SAY HEY is performed by Paul Köninger. This is totally brilliant and will hopefully make you want to have a good sing-a-long with Paul Köninger and at the same time hopefully make you feel good and maybe at the same time probably make you want to get up and shake your booty!
Theatrical Trailer [2018] [1080p] [1.78:1] [1:34] This is the Original Theatrical Trailer for the animated film ‘LUIS AND THE ALIENS.’ This is in German and has no English subtitles.
Trailers: Here we get to view two Blu-ray German trailers, which are as follows: Ooops! Die Arche ist weg... [Ooops! Noah is Gone...] [2016] [1080p] [1.78:1] [1:34] and Überflieger – Kleine Vögel, großes Geklapper [Richard, the Stork] [2017] [1080p] [1.78:1] [1:45]
Finally, ‘LUIS AND THE ALIENS’ animated tale revels in the kind of humour that made the animated film ‘Captain Underpants’ so popular for younger children. But it also reminded me very much of the style of the animation of ‘ESCAPE FROM PLANET EARTH’ [2013] and ‘PLANET 51’ [2010]. If there is any deeper messages in ‘LUIS AND THE ALIENS’ animated film, you get to view it where we see attempts to make a father-son relationship work, and especially with the challenges of teenagers facing the problem of growing up in our modern society, and especially accepting those who are totally different from the rest of the homogenous humans on planet Earth, who do not like someone who is so different from them. That said, the enjoyment of this joyous animated film is entirely dependent on how much one enjoys some silly potty humour. Younger children will most likely love the goofy aliens and some of the jokes, but it might become less funny with the older generation, but at the same time it can also be enjoyed by having the whole family watching the animated film together and for the adults to try and answer any questions the young children will ask, especially what they do not understand while watching certain scenes in the animated film. But most importantly, do not take any notice of any of the nasty negative pompous critics out there, who foisted their nasty narrow minded comments when they viewed ‘LUIS AND THE ALIENS,’ because I thoroughly enjoyed the fun and especially the frolics that Luis and his alien friends got up to. Highly Recommended!
Andrew C. Miller – Your Ultimate No.1 Film Aficionado
Le Cinema Paradiso
United Kingdom
