Plot: What’s it about?
This disc collects all four Wallace & Gromit shorts, all with a new high definition shine. In addition to the three classics from the duo, we have a newer short A Matter of Loaf and Death, not to mention some nice supplements. I’ve included a brief synopsis for each short below.
1. A Grand Day Out- Wallace and his canine friend Gromit have a hankering to go on holiday, but are unsure where to venture to. Even after reading countless books, travel magazines, and even trying to blindly select a destination from the globe, nothing seems to tickle their fancies. But then Wallace notices the cheese supply is running low and a result, it is decided to go somewhere that has cheese…lots of cheese. The normal places aren’t good enough in this case, so the two build their own spacecraft and venture to the moon, in search of sweet cheese. But of course, this won’t be as easy as expected, so it will take some work to get all the cheese they want, especially with a less than friendly native hot on their trail.
2. The Wrong Trousers- Wallace has crunched the numbers time and again, but the bills always seem to overweigh the income. In an effort to remain in the black, Wallace decides to rent out the spare room, which means Gromit has to deal with a new lodger. The new resident is a small penguin, who hits it off with Wallace right off, even doing some of the tasks Gromit usually does, which sends Gromit into a real tizz. But when the penguin overtakes Gromit’s mechanical trousers -with Wallace inside them- things turn sour and everything quickly runs out of control.
3. A Close Shave- In this classic tale of romance & robbery, Wallace and Gromit get into all sorts of problems. Wallace finds himself fallen head over heels for a woman, while Gromit ends up accused of kidnapping sheep. Of course, Gromit is innocent of the charges, but thanks to a criminal mastermind, he remains the prime suspect. It is all due to Wallace’s Knit-O-Matic, but he is so blind with love that he can’t seem to help Gromit, even in this time of need. Will Wallace’s romance blossom into eternal love, while Gromit is locked up on sheepnapping charges?
4. A Matter of Loaf and Death- Wallace has become a baker, a trade which allows him to have fun, but also lands him in a rather dangerous situation. As he is in the baking trade, he crosses paths with one Piella Bakewell, the former spokesmodel for Bake-O-Lite products. She’s a lot heavier now than she was then, but she still catches Wallace’s eye. Of course, he is smitten with her and she seems to feel the same way, but in her mind, she is merely carrying out a nefarious plot. She seeks to rack up a baker’s dozen of kills and Wallace is lined up to be her final victim. Can Wallace figure out the truth in time, or will his journey into the kitchen prove to be his final mistake?
Video: How does it look?
The shorts are all presented in their intended format, whether full frame or widescreen, so no concerns there. If you don’t think this kind of material can benefit from high definition, then watch and learn. The images here look impressive, with much improved clarity and refinement. This kind of material might not have eye popping depth potential, but the detail is excellent and the transfers pull every drop of detail out of the source. This is by far the best available visual presentation of these shorts, so for fans this is must see stuff.
Audio: How does it sound?
The audio is also much improved, thanks to PCM 5.1 options on all four shorts. The sound isn’t bombastic, but you’ll notice clearer dialogue and overall enhanced refinement. The music also benefits, with a richer texture throughout. Of course, the newer the short, the better the overall sound, but that is reasonable. All four sound great however, with no complaints whatsoever. This disc also includes 2.0 surround and Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtracks, as well as English subtitles
Supplements: What are the extras?
ick Park provides his audio comments on all four shorts, while also joined by various other crew members. As expected, the passion put into these projects is obvious, as the participants all have a lot to share. Park spares no detail, so you will get all the insight into the Wallace & Gromit world that you can handle. This disc also includes a brief featurette on each short, a scrapbook of stills & artwork, and a collection of Wallace’s greatest inventions
