This weeks' notable DVD release is the Incredibles. An entertaining superhero story with surprising depth if you read between the lines of the laugh a minute pace. It's the perfect film to watch with the young ones as Pixar animation has mastered the art of placing enough depth and "grown up" humor to entertain adults as well as kids. The Incredibles has the innate ability to charm even the most stodgy audience who would normally never submit to animation or superhero films, it draws you in with warm humor and then holds your attention with a quality story.
The Incredibles starts off with the adventures of Mr. Incredible (Craig T. Nelson), one of many superheroes fighting crime in an animated city colorfully styled after a 50's vision of futurist design. Superherodom is forced underground due to a legal precedent that opens the door to litigation of any super being and a turn in popular perception that the Superheroes do more harm than good. Mr Incredible permanently occupies his secret identity as Bob Parr, and marries super heroine Elasti-girl (Holly Hunter). Together they have two children with special gifts of their own and an apparently normal baby. Since the call to action is too much for super men to ignore, Bob and his buddy from the old days, Lucius Best aka Frozone (Samuel L. Jackson) who has the ability to freeze water vapors right out of the air, go out at night and commit secretive acts of heroism.
"Saying that everyone is special is just another way of saying nobody is special."
This story is interesting and fresh to film but not necessarily unique to comic fans. The idea of society turning against heroism and greatness in all its varieties for a collective mediocrity is a potent message today when anyone can be "hero". The same ground was brilliantly covered in a comic series called "Watchmen" by legendary comic writer Allan Moore, the film will arrive in 2006. Watchmen (which can be found in graphic novel format at your local comic shop) takes a much darker look at an era that no longer needs heroes as super beings permanently adopt their secret identities to hide in mainstream society. The Incredibles takes subject matter several shades lighter but is not without its own distinct message of the value of the individual and the danger of conformity. After being told by mom (Elasti-girl) that he's not permitted to use his special gifts to "better" anyone in school athletics because everyone is special, "Dash" the super-speedy son of Mr Incredible laments: "Saying that everyone is special is just another way of saying nobody's special."
The sound and video quality for this DVD release it top notch as to be expected by Pixar films. Pixar's animation always seems at home on an HD monitor and will look brilliantly detailed on any ntsc display. The soundtrack is alive with directional use of surround speakers. Fantastic ambience is accomplished in certain scenes where the audio track moves consistently with the characters with acoustic indoor/outdoor effects. For examples, the cave sequence when Dash decides to explore deeper into the cavern and when Mr Incredible explores the many rooms and hallways of a sprawling island complex, lair to the main villain of the film Syndrome voiced by Jason Lee. The soundtrack produces subtle and strangely fitting sound effects for the force field bubble of the Incredible's daughter, Violet and makes quick transitions to awesome subwoofer rattling explosions in a jet sequence. The sound and video quality are truly top notch and makes a quality demo for your Home Theater system, the DVD is easily popped into the machine for guests of all ages. It earned a PG rating for its mild animated violence.
The two disc set is loaded with extra features which I have not reviewed. Here is a rundown of what to expect.
The Incredibles (Widescreen 2-Disc Collector's Edition) (2004)
Starring: Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, See more
Director: Brad Bird
Encoding: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. This DVD will probably NOT be viewable in other countries. Read more about DVD formats.)
Format: Animated, Color, Closed-captioned, Widescreen, Dolby
Rated: 
Studio: Walt Disney Home Video
DVD Release Date: March 15, 2005
DVD Features:
- Available subtitles: English
- Available Audio Tracks: English (Dolby Digital 5.1 EX), French (Dolby Digital 5.1 EX), Spanish (Dolby Digital 5.1 EX)
- Commentary by writer/director Brad Bird and producer John Walker
- Commentary by the animators
- "Jack-Jack Attack" exclusive all new short film
- "Incredi-Blunders" bloopers and outtakes
- Deleted scenes, including alternate opening
- Making of "The Incredibles" featurette
- Seven additional behind-the-scenes featurettes
- Pixar short film "Boundin'" with optional commentary by director Bud Luckey
- "Who is Bud Luckey?" featurette
- Top secret NSA files on all the Supers
- "Mr. Incredible & Pals" cartoon with optional comtary by Frozone and Mr. Icrediblemen
- "Vowellet" an essay by vocal talent Sarah Vowell (Violet)
- Introductions with Brad Bird
- Number of discs: 2
