“Cars 2” Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack Review

My boys loved Cars when it first came out and they’ve enjoyed playing with Cars toys and getting to know the Cars gang.  On November 1st, 2011, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment released Cars 2 on Blu-ray Combo Pack, Blu-ray 3D, DVD and Movie Download.  Cars 2 is available for purchase online and in stores.

The film features an all-star vocal cast including Owen Wilson who reprises his role as hotshot racecar Lightning McQueen.  Larry the Cable Guy provides the voice of Mater (proprietor of Tow Mater Towing and Salvage), Lightning McQueen’s best friend and the heart and soul of Radiator Springs.  Bonnie Hunt is back as Sally, the baby-blue Porsche 911 Carrera whose motor races for Lightning.  Acclaimed actor Michael Caine makes his Pixar debut as Finn McMissile, a top British spy who mistakes Mater for an undercover American agent with a genius disguise.  Emily Mortimer brings charm, cleverness and cachet as Holley Shiftwell, a rookie field spy who knows every trick in the manual.  Versatile actor John Turturro gives a free-wheeling performance as Francesco Bernoulli, the world-renowned Italian racing champ who is Lightning’s chief rival.  Tony Shalhoub, Joe Mantegna, Peter Jacobson, Jason Isaacs, Eddie Izzard, Paul Dooley, Cheech Marin, John Ratzenberger, Franco Nero and Vanessa Redgrave also lend their vocal talents.  Bonus feature include an interactive “World Tour” map, commentary by Director John Lasseter, and much more!

Cars 2 features exclusive all-new Pixar Animated Short “Air Mater.”  “Hawaiian Vacation” Animated Short and Hours More Exciting Bonus Features Take Audiences on a “World Tour” with the Artists and Filmmakers.

Disney-Pixar’s fast-action summer hit Cars 2 comes home on Blu-ray Combo Pack, Blu-ray 3D, Movie Download and DVD – November 1, 2011.  Celebrating the 25th anniversary of Pixar Animation Studios, the high octane in-home release invites families and fans of all ages to come along on a journey around the world with the #1 animated film of the year and introduces an exclusive all-new animated short “Air Mater,” featuring the fan favorite character spinning his tales in an exciting adventure high above Radiator Springs.  The must-own animated release also includes fascinating commentary from award-winning director John Lasseter and “Hawaiian Vacation,” the delightful animated short that accompanied the film in theaters.

The immersive Cars 2 bonus features include a one-of-a-kind interactive “World Tour” map that takes viewers through nine different locations, including those featured in the film and more.  A global thrill-ride, it allows viewers to go behind-the-scenes with the Pixar artists and filmmakers as they circle the globe finding inspiration for the most international of all Pixar films to date.  Cars 2 is also the first Pixar film to be released in spectacular Blu-ray 3D. 

Academy Award-winning filmmaker John Lasseter, chief creative officer for Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios, returns to the driver’s seat as director.  Cars 2 is produced by visual effects industry veteran Denise Ream (associate producer, “Up;” visual effects executive producer, “Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith”).  Oscar-winning composer Michael Giacchino (“The Incredibles,” “Up”) provides the electrifying score with a surf-rock-meets-spy-thriller flavor and a variety of global accents, evoking a sense of thrills, mystery and emotion.  Brad Paisley, Robbie Williams, Weezer, French singer Benabar and Japanese girl band Perfume lend their diverse musical talent’s to the film’s soundtrack.

Cars 2 is available in-home in several ways:

2-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack  (1 Blu-ray Disc + 1 DVD)
Suggested Retail Price:  $39.99 U.S./$44.99 Canada
Bonus Features:
– Cars Toon “Air Mater” – Exclusive All-New Short
– Toy Story Toon “Hawaiian Vacation” – Theatrically Released Short
– Director John Lasseter Commentary

2-Disc DVD Combo Pack   (1 DVD + 1 Blu-ray Disc)
Suggested Retail Price:  $39.99 U.S. / $44.99 Canada
Bonus Features:
-Cars Toon “Air MATER” – Exclusive All-New Short
– Toy Story Toon “Hawaiian Vacation” – Theatrically Released Short
– Director John Lasseter Commentary

5-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack   (1 Blu-ray 3D Disc + 2 Blu-ray Discs + DVD + Digital Copy)
Suggested Retail Price:  $49.99 U.S. / $56.99 Canada
Bonus Features:
– Cars Toon “Air Mater” – Exclusive All-New Short
– Toy Story Toon “Hawaiian Vacation” – Theatrically Released Short
– Director John Lasseter Commentary
– “World Tour” Interactive
– Sneak Peek: The Nuts and Bolts of “Cars Land”

11-Disc 3-Movie Blu-ray Combo Pack “Collector Set” – Cars 2, Cars, and Mater’s Tall Tales
Suggested Retail Price:  $119.99 U.S. / $134.99 Canada

Cars 2  (1 Blu-ray 3D Disc + 2 Blu-ray Discs + DVD + Digital Copy)
Bonus Features:
– Cars Toon “Air Mater” – Exclusive All-New Short
– Toy Story Toon “Hawaiian Vacation” – Theatrically Released Short
– Director John Lasseter Commentary
– “World Tour” Interactive
– One Die-Cast “John Lassetire” Car

Cars   (1 Blu-ray Disc + 1 DVD + Digital Copy)
Bonus Features:   All Bonus Features Currently Available for Cars

“Mater’s Tall Tales”  (1 Blu-ray Disc + 1 DVD + Digital Copy)
Bonus Features:  All Bonus Features Currently Available for “Mater’s Tall Tales”

1 Disc DVD
Suggested Retail Price:  $29.99 U.S. / $35.99 Canada
Bonus Features:
– Cars Toon “Air Mater” – Exclusive All-New Short
– Toy Story Toon “Hawaiian Vacation” – Theatrically Released Short
– Director John Lasseter Commentary

Movie Download

Suggested Retail Price High Definition:  $39.99 U.S. / $44.99 Canada

Suggested Retail Price Standard Definition:  $29.99 U.S. / $35.99 Canada

Bonus Features:

– Cars Toon “Air Mater” – Exclusive All-New Short

– Toy Story Toon “Hawaiian Vacation” – Theatrically Released Short

– From the “World Tour” Interactive Feature – “Emeryville,” one of nine destinations offered on the 5-disc set as well as the 11-disc “Collector’s Set”

– “Bringing Cars 2 To The World” – Available only on Movie Download, it presents a special behind-the-scenes look at how Pixar artists and filmmakers make movies in over 40 different languages for audiences around the world to enjoy.

Specifications:

Street Date:  November 1, 2011

Feature Run Time:  106 minutes

Rating:  U.S.:  G / Canadian: G (Bonus Material Not Rated)

Aspect Ratio:  Blu-ray 3D:  2.39:1 Aspect Ratio (Feature Film)

                                  Blu-ray:  1080p High Definition – 2.39:1 (Feature Film)

                                  DVD:  1080p High Definition – 2.39:1 (Feature Film)

Audio:  Blu-ray 3D:  English 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, English 5.1 Dolby Digital EX, English DVS 2.0 Dolby Digital, English Near Field Mix 2.0

Blu-ray; English 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio ES, English DVS 2.0 Dolby Digital, English Near Field Mix 2.0

DVD: English 5.1 Dolby Digital EX, English DVS 2.0 Dolby Digital, English Near Field Mix 2.0 Dolby Digital, English SDH SubtitlesBlu

Subtitles:  Blu-ray 3D:  English SDH Subtitles, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital EX & Spanish Subtitles (US Only), French 5.1 Dolby Digital EX & French Subtitles (Canada Only)

Blu-ray:  English SDH Subtitles, Spanish 7.1 DTS-HD HR, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital EX & Spanish Subtitles (US Only), French 7.1 DTS-HD HR, French 5.1 Dolby Digital EX & French Subtitles (Canada Only)

DVD:  Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital EX & Spanish Subtitles (US Only), French 5.1 Dolby EX & French Subtitles (Canada Only)

FILM SYNOPSIS

Star racecar Lightning McQueen and the incomparable tow truck Mater take their friendship to exciting new places in Cars 2 when they head overseas to compete in the first-ever World Grand Prix to determine the world’s fastest car.  But the road to the championship is filled with plenty of potholes, detours and hilarious surprises when Mater gets caught up in an intriguing adventure of his own: international espionage.  Mater finds himself torn between assisting Lightning McQueen in the high-profile race and towing the line in a top-secret mission orchestrated by master British super spy Finn McMissile and the stunning rookie field spy Holley Shiftwell.  Mater’s action-packed journey leads him on an explosive chase through the streets of Japan and Europe, trailed by his friends and watched by the whole world.  The fast-paced fun includes a colorful new all-car cast, complete with menacing villains and international racing competitors.

Check out Cars 2 on Facebook, Twitter, and their official website.

MY THOUGHTS

We enjoyed watching Cars 2 and seeing the old gang back in a new movie, although one of the characters was missing from Cars 2.  It was funny and fun to watch, however, I preferred the little town setting.  Cars 2 was a little more like James Bond than the first original movie was.  There was one part in the movie that implied violence – I caught it, but I don’t think the boys did – and that bothered me some.  Overall though, the movie was a good watch and I loved the new characters that were introduced.  The special features in the Blu-ray Combo Pack were fun.  We love to watch the Cars Toons and the Blu-ray Combo Pack featured “Air Mater.”  I hope they come out with more Cars Toons because even I find them fun to watch.  The Toy Story Toon “Hawaiian Vacation” was also a fun short to watch.  A big thanks goes to Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment for this review opportunity on The Mommy-Files.

I received a copy of “Cars 2” in the Blu-ray Combo Pack from Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment to facilitate this review.  All opinions expressed in this post are 100% mine.