Plot: What’s it about?
In Pixie Hollow, all of the fairies have their place, as different kinds of fairies handle different kids of tasks. Some fairies work to help the seasons change, others with animals, some create new inventions, and all manner of other fairies abound. The fairies seem to know their place and carry out their tasks without issue, except for Tinker Bell. Tink is new to Pixie Hollow, so she hasn’t found her path just yet. She is drawn to objects from the human world however, which leads to her believe she is to be an inventor, so she tries to come up with some fresh ideas. Her attempts meet with poor results however, leaving her to be mocked by the other fairies. Can Tink find her place and prove she belongs in Pixie Hollow?
The success of Disney’s Peter Pan inspired a couple of direct to video sequels, but this time around, Tinker Bell gets her own chance to shine. Based on Disney’s past direct to video sequels, I wasn’t too hopeful for Tinker Bell, but with Pixar involved, I decided to give it a look. As it turns out, this continues the trend of sequels that don’t live up to the original, but Tinker Bell is a few steps above the usual Disney direct to video offerings. The animation looks excellent, perhaps not up to feature film levels, but still very good and fun to watch. The writers do veer off course in regard to Tink’s character, but it seems to work well enough. I do wish more refinements were made to the storyline, but this is solid stuff. So if you’re interested in Tinker Bell, it is well worth a look, especially in this high definition release.
Video: How does it look?
Tinker Bell is presented in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen. This is about as good as it gets, a direct digital-to-digital transfer that yields an impressive presentation. The image shows off incredible depth, pulling all the possible detail out of the animation, down to the finest texture or subtle touch. The colors shine in vivid hues, while contrast is spot on and never wavers. I saw no errors of any kind here, simply a masterful treatment. This might be a direct to video release, but you wouldn’t know it from this excellent visual presentation.
Audio: How does it sound?
An uncompressed PCM 5.1 option is available and while not quite as remarkable as the visuals, the audio here comes close to that. I was surprised, but pleased when the surrounds were active throughout, few scenes pass without ample presence. The audio really enhances the movie, as the surrounds pump in atmosphere and ambience. There isn’t much raw power to hear, but there is plenty of activity and effective presence. The music sounds great too, while dialogue is clear as a bell and I heard no errors in any facet of this soundtrack. This disc also includes a Dolby Digital 5.1 option, as well as English subtitles.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes a brief featurette, some deleted scenes, an interactive game, a Selena Gomez music video, and the short film Ever Wonder.
