Plot: What’s it about?
Sammy and Ray were just hatchlings themselves not too long ago, but now they’re watching over a clutch of eggs to ensure a new generation of sea turtles is safely hatched. So when a flock of seagulls shows up, the two turtles know what to expect and fend off the hungry birds. But in the chaos, the turtles find themselves under a much greater threat than the gulls, as a team of poachers has also arrived. While Sammy and Ray do their best to protect the eggs from both intruders, the poachers wind up capturing the two friends, while two hatchlings are left to fend for themselves. The friends soon finds itself as attractions in The Tank, a huge commercial aquarium center. The turtles launch several escape attempts, but also begin to make friends with some of The Tank’s more colorful residents. As Sammy and Ray cope with their imprisoned new lives, the hatchlings on the outside mount a rescue plan, though it won’t be a simple task. Can the hatchlings manage to free their grandparents and what will become of the various creatures inside The Tank?
As with the original A Turtle’s Tale, this sequel aims to entertain family audiences, but also to educate about some environmental concerns. In this case, the main concern is the confinement of sea creatures, as evidenced by the central force in the movie being a massive commercial aquarium. But does the film manage to balance the two elements, or does A Turtle’s Tale 2 come off more like a sermon than entertainment? While it gets a little too close to soapbox territory at times, the movie is able to both convey the social message and keep the audience entertained. This is thanks to some terrific writing that never pushes the agenda too hard, not to mention creating some likable, humorous characters. The Tank is filled with interesting characters and while not all are given enough time to shine, the depth of the roster adds to the movie’s appeal. The animation is improved over the original and if you have the proper set-up, the 3-D version is well crafted and quite effective. So in the end, we have a fun movie that the entire family can enjoy, which is more than enough reason to recommend A Turtle’s Tale 2.
Video: How does it look?
A Turtle’s Tale 2: Sammy’s Escape From Paradise is presented in 1.78:1 widescreen. This is a top tier visual presentation, especially if you’re able to experience the 3-D version. I don’t think I could name a better 3-D presentation than this one, it is that impressive. But the standard edition looks terrific too, with crystal clear detail and remarkable depth. The colors look bright and always reflect the intended scope, while contrast is excellent throughout. Simply put, one of the best looking releases you’re going to find on the market right now.
Audio: How does it sound?
The included DTS HD 5.1 option isn’t quite as impressive as the visuals, but it is still a great soundtrack. The audio tends to remain in the front channels for the most part, so the surrounds aren’t engaged often. Even so, the sound has good directional presence and never comes off as flat, so no worries there. Even when the front channels shoulder the burden, the movie sounds good and very lively. When the surrounds do kick in, the mix is potent and lets the rear channels flex some muscle. So not an explosive track, but a well crafted one that ensures the movie sounds quite good. This release also includes a Spanish language track, as well as English subtitles.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This release includes no bonus materials.
