Cats & Dogs: The Revenge Of Kitty Galore 3D

In the eternal battle between Cats & Dogs, one crazed feline has just taken things a paw too far. Hairless feline Kitty Galore (voiced by Midler), a former elite agent for spy organization MEOWS, has gone rogue. In 48 hours she plans to unleash a diabolical device designed to not only bring her canine enemies to heel but take down her former kitty comrades and make the world her scratching post. Faced with this immediate and unprecedented threat, cats and dogs will be forced to work together for the first time in history in an unlikely alliance to save themselves—and their beloved humans—from global catastrophe. The cat is voiced by Christina Applegate and the two dogs''Butch, a German Shepherd, and Diggs, an Anatolian Shepherd''are voiced by Nick Nolte and James Marsden. It's time for the fur to fly. (Tricia Spears)

The three-disc package includes the Blu-ray Disc™ release, the Blu-ray 3-D release, and the DVD/digital copy combo disc of the film. Special features on the Blu-ray Disc include the featurette Dogs Dishing: Tails From The Bark Side Of Hollywood (HD 08:59), The Best Of The Best Cat vs. Dog Animated Showdowns (HD 04:33) "Meow-Takes: Outtakes and Gag Reel" (HD 03:32), the animated short Looney Tunes "Coyote Falls" (HD 03:00), a sneak peek of the film Yogi Bear, and up-front ads.

The 1.78:1 1080p MVC picture was shot on 35 mm film in traditional 2D with Panavision Panaflex Millennium XL cameras and Panavision Primo lenses. The spherical 3-D conversion was executed by Prime Focus, a post house specializing in converting 2D to 3D. From the James Bond-like opening, the sense of perceptual depth is exhibited throughout. There is even a sense of roundness seen in the humans and the real dog and cat characterizations in leading roles. The 3D is always satisfying and, at times, the effects punch out from the screen to enhance the shenanigans. There are numerous segments, which play on the Bond and Mission Impossible brand, with eye-catching computer-generated 3-D images. The CG images are nicely shaped, with perceptual depth. More than 1,000 visual effects were seamlessly melded with live-action film during the Digital Intermediate color timing and then converted to 3-D format. CG animation replaced the faces of dogs and cats whenever they were talking. There are scenes with 30 to 40 dogs in different places that look nicely dimensional. Rarely is there noticeable flatness, which is remarkable, considering the entire film was converted from 2D. The resulting visual character is realistic. The animals were shot by Cinematographer Steven Poster, using remote-controlled Panavision cameras, so there were no production crews close around to disturb the dogs and cats, only Boone Narr, their trainer. Poster and Director Brad Peyton wore 3-D glasses during post production and directed the depth perception of key frames for foreground, screen plane, and background positioning, as well as the convergence. The scenes at Playland are visually exciting in 3D, displaying a huge scope, and aided by flashy CG motion effects! No crosstalk imagery or ghosting is apparent, which further enhances the pristine look of the film. The color palette is vibrant, with rich and warm hues that really pop, yet fleshtones remain perfectly natural. Contrast is excellent with deep, solid blacks and revealing shadow delineation. Resolution is superb. Fine detail is revealed in facial features, animal fur and features, clothing, and object textures. The imagery is attractively crisp throughout the foreground and background. This is a fun visual experience and a movie the entire family can enjoy. (Gary Reber)

The DTS-HD Master Audio™ 5.1-channel soundtrack is a lively sonic experience driven by a sweeping, high-energy orchestral music score. The music is well-recorded, with a wide and deep soundstage that aggressively expands into the surrounds. The music is familiarly Bondish in style and tempo, with an energized character. Sound effects and atmospherics are spatially dimensional, with aggressive surround support, which enhances the holosonic® envelopment. The low end of the spectrum is tight and deep, providing a solid bass foundation. The .1 LFE appropriately enhances the punchy impact of the action segments. Panned sound effects nicely complement the 3-D effects and enhance the overall invigorating sonic experience. Dialogue is spatially integrated, but the ADR speak by the cats and dogs, at times, is wanting in integration, even though after a few minutes you really believe the animals know how to talk. This is a busy, high-energy soundtrack that is crafted to entertain and that it does, especially for young viewers. (Gary Reber)