Directed by: Chris Miller
Starring: Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, Zach Galifianakis, Billy Bob Thornton, Amy Sedaris, Zeus Mendoza, Constance Marie, Guillermo del Toro, Bob Joles
Distributed by:Paramount Pictures
Release date: February 24, 2012
Running time: 90 minutes
Film: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 4 out of 5 stars
When this film was released in the theaters, I had no interest in seeing it. I saw all of the “Shrek” films and I thought that each one was worse than the last. I have always thought that Puss in Boots was one of my favorite characters and it is great to see him get his solo story. Well when I watch this film on Blu-ray, I really enjoyed it. I thought it was so well-done, it was very sharp and funny. I thought the trailers for “Puss in Boots” didn’t capture any of the film charm. I really think this stands alone from the “Shrek” franchise and really entertains. I would love to see more installments from this series.
The story serves as an origin story for Puss in Boots. Puss (voiced by Antonio Banderas) works with his old schoolmate Humpty Dumpty (voiced by Zach Galifianakis) and female feline Kitty Softpaws (voiced by Salma Hayek) as they chase down criminals Jack and Jill (voiced by Billy Bob Thornton and Amy Sedaris). They are in search of magic beans which will create a beanstalk to the clouds. Up the beanstalk, there is a castle which contains the legendary golden goose who lays golden eggs.
The Blu-ray presentation is absolutely spectacular. The 1080p Blu-ray transfer is superb and looks so sharp and colorful. The film’s sound is also extremely notable boasting a fantastic Dolby TrueHD 7.1 lossless track. It works so well with the films action and music. The Blu-ray combo pack also comes packed with a DVD copy of the film and also a digital copy. It is not an Ultraviolet digital copy but still enjoyable to take the film on the road with you. I enjoyed the 2D version of this film but I still prefer the 3D much more, if you have the preference.
The special features on the disc are very impressive just like the film. Firstly it includes an all new adventure short called “Puss in Boots: The Three Diablos”. This runs about thirteen minutes, it is very fun and worth checking out. There are a few Blu-ray exclusive features, the first is called “A DreamWorks Fairy Tale”, an interactive feature to create your own rhymes. The second is called “Puss’ Paw Pouncing Challenge”, which is a fun game using the remote for the kids. “The Animators’ Corner”, which is a picture-in-picture feature with director Chris Miller and producers Joe Aguilar and Latifa Ouaou. It contains comparisons from storyboards and animation tests and an interesting look at the film’s production. It is a must-watch if you enjoyed the film. Lastly there is a trivia track which provides cool facts and information throughout the movie.
Some of the additional features included are “Purr-Fect Pairing: The Voices Behind the Legend”, which is a look into the voice work from Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, Zach Galifianakis, and Billy Bob Thornton. There are a three test deleted scenes including “Humpty Plots with Jack & Jill”, “Humpty Repays His Accomplices” and “Puss in Boots Fights the Giant”. “Kitten to Cat” is a feature with focus on the development of Puss in Boots’ character. “Glitter Box Dance Off!” focuses on the dance choreography from the film. “Klepto Kitty” follows Dusty, a real-life cat burglar. “Kitty Keyboard” includes feline versions of “3 Blind Mice”, “Humpty Dumpty”, “Jack and Jill”, and “Little Boy Blue”. “Fairytale Pop-Up Book” includes the ability to view your favorite scenes and lines from the film’s characters. “Kitty Strikes Again” is a fun ‘find the differences’ game for the kids. Lastly there is “World of DreamWorks Animation”, which includes trailer and music from other Dreamworks films.