Sequels are a great time for audiences to revisit characters they have grown fond of over the years, but they are also a nice time for studios to re-release previous films in the series on Blu-ray. Moviegoers who have not had the chance to see the preceding films, as well as those who have not yet upgraded their disc collection to Blu-ray are those who are most likely to make the purchase. If you do not own Cars on Blu-ray and you were even mildly interested in making the plunge, then this really is the perfect time to jump on.
Essentially a repackaging, the 2-Disc Cars Blu-ray/DVD set, packs in all of the bonus features from its previous release:
- Carfinder Game
- Mater and the Ghostlight Short
- One Man Band Short
- Cine-Explore
- Deleted Scenes
- Radiator Springs Featurettes
- Inspiration for Cars
The differences between the releases are only a few: Mater and the Ghostlight is now in high-definition and the set comes with a coupon for $8.50 off of a Cars 2 movie ticket. As the director of Mater and the Ghostlight, Dan Scanlon, was recently announced as the director of Monsters University, it is a great time to watch (or rewatch) the short brought to us by the rising star. Additionally, the discounted movie ticket is a nice bonus for buyers who are set to watch the sequel.
The highlight of the set (besides the pristine visual quality of the film in Blu-ray) is the Cine-Explore feature, which is the best way to learn more about the film and the filmmaking process. Combining the film and commentary tracks with concept art that pops up on screen, deleted scenes are ‘inserted’ to where they might have been had they made it to the final release. Behind-the-scenes featurettes also come into the fold, which along with the commentaries provide you with an in-depth look at the film’s development. After watching the film with Cine-Explore on, you cannot help but come out with a deeper appreciation of Pixar, John Lasseter, Joe Ranft, and others involved.
If you were looking to pick up Cars on Blu-ray, then this is a no-brainer. If you already have the first Blu-ray set (released in 2007), then it is difficult to outright recommend the re-release. If you are big into conformity, then the box art for this set matches the current theme of all the recent and upcoming Pixar home releases. With Cars 2 coming in June, there is no better time to see the original in stunning high-definition.
The Cars 2-Disc Blu-ray/DVD set goes on sale on Tuesday, April 12 for a suggested retail price of $39.99, though you can find it for $24.99 on Amazon and The Disney Store.
