Missing Link

In "Missing Link," Sir Lionel Frost (Jackman) Is a brave and dashing adventurer who considers himself to be the world's foremost investigator of myths and monsters. The trouble is no one else seems to agree. As spies go, Mr. Link (Galifianakis) is as endangered as they get. He's the last of his kind, he's lonely, and he believes that Sir Lionel is the one man alive who can help him. Along with the independent and resourceful Adelina Fortnight (Saldana), who possesses the only known map to the group's secret destination, the unlikely trio embarks on a riotous roller-coaster ride of a journey to seek out Link's distant relatives in the fabled valley of Shangri-La. (Gary Reber)

Special features include commentary by Director Chris Butler; the featuretttes: "Creating Mr. Link" (HD 01:23), "Bringing The Final Batle On The Ice Bridge To Life" (HD 01:46), "Animation Inspiration" with optional commentary by Butler (HD 03:44), "VFX Breakdown Reel––Realizing The Potential Of Stop Motion" (HD 06:05), "Oh What A Mystery: Pulling The Camera Back On Missing Link's Magic" (HD 02:25), "Making Faces" (HD 0:46) and "Inside The Magic Of Laika" (HD 02:46); a gallery; the theatrical trailer; upfront preview and a Movies Anywhere digital code.

The 2.40:1 1080p AVC picture, reviewed on a Sony Bravia Z9D 4K Ultra HD HDR display, upconverted to 2160p with greater resolution and luminance, was digitally produced and sourced from a 2K master Digital Intermediate format. The stop motion and CG animation is absolutely wonderful and remarkably engaging. The character depictions are wonderful and entertaining. Color fidelity is terrific with warm and rich, as well as saturated hues. Primaries are strong and often pop. The color spectrum is wide with nuanced shadings and depth. Contrast is excellent and well balanced with deep, solid blacks, revealing shadow delineation and whites that project, such as the scene in Shangri-La. Resolution is incredibly detailed with fined textures exhibited throughout. Costumes are nicely textured, backgrounds are executed with flair, and motion is impressive. Facial features are exaggerated and humorous. This is a brilliant visual experience that is absolutely entertaining as well as reference quality. (Gary Reber)

The Dolby Atmos/Dolby TrueHD 7.1-channel soundtrack delivers a dynamic sounding and enveloping soundfield with an aggressive surround presence that extends to the four surround channels and is at times directionalized. Atmospherics contribute to a sense of sonic realism and dimensional spatiality. Sound effects are dynamic sounding with powerful gunfire, rain, lightening, sea waves, door slams and other effects. Foley sound effects are masterfully executed and deliver convincing realism, perfectly complementing the visuals. The orchestral score is nicely recorded with excellent instrumental clarity and definition. The music occupies a wide and deep soundstage that extends aggressively to the four surrounds. Bass extension is excellent with deep, sub-25 Hz frequencies, and at times is very powerful. ADR dialogue is well executed with convincing spatial integration. As for the Immersive Sound element, it is hardly a factor, with just a few instances of percussion in the front height channels. This is a wonderful holosonic® soundtrack with great sound effects and music that is extremely entertaining. (Gary Reber)