DVD Review: Night at the Museum Two-Disc Special Edition - Page 2

Many small dialogue exchanges make the film worth watching twice to catch it all, and kids will surely wear this one out with repeated viewings. A harsh PG rating from the MPAA is on the over-protective side, with only minor scares that are eventually worked out into fun sub-plots or funny minor characters. Superb choreography (especially with the special effects mixed with live action) and tightly crafted chases are only a few of the highlights.

While Shawn Levy carries a spotty resume, his direction here led to a massive box office and deservedly so. Night at the Museum is simply a loaded film, captivating any and all audiences looking to spend an evening being thoroughly entertained. It’s impossible not to have fun here.

The DVD transfer of the film is riddled with issues. Compression becomes the key problem, outlining everything and making some fast moving scenes unwatchable. Reds are filled with artifacts. Color is strong, though rarely is the picture sharp or clear. The full video presentation is muddy and soft. Black levels are soft and inconsistent.

Both DTS and 5.1 audio options fill the disc with immersive sound. Hardly a scene goes by where the audio isn’t playing some role in pulling the viewer into the film. Bass is flawlessly mixed in with other aspects of the audio, providing a powerful punch without drowning out the flawless movement from all channels. This is one of the fullest sound fields you can find on the format.

Two commentaries fill the first disc in this dual disc edition. Shawn Levy controls the first, always speaking on a technical and personal level. Writers Robert Ben Garant and Thomas Lennon handle the second. They have a little more fun along with solid information.

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Article Author: Matt Paprocki

Matt Paprocki is a 12-year movie and game critic. He currently freelances for Blu-ray review site DoBlu.com and video game site MultiPlayerGames.com.

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  • 1 - Derek Fleek

    Aug 05, 2008 at 10:07 pm

    Wow. Lenient are we? I didn't care for this one. Great review nonetheless.

  • 2 - timeisprecious

    Aug 24, 2008 at 3:07 pm

    it s good to watch it witg a galfriend

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