Barbie (DVD)

Like many others, I gained interest in the movie after reading critics reviews, but I had a hard time imagining what could be the plot line. What was also interesting was how the movie would handle the intellectual property that is Barbie, especially given how protective Mattel is over its brand - they declined the original Toy Story and only after they saw how well Pixar handled the movie did they allow Barbie in Toy Story 2 and SPOILERS Barbie was not portrayed poorly in the Toy Story franchise. In addition, there was the "Barbie Girl" lawsuit. The movie was also produced by Universal Studios and set for theatrical release which means it isn't a movie only designed for marketing purposes like the cartoons from the 1980s and 1990s. I'll avoid spoilers in this review, but if you really want to avoid spoilers, I would avoid the trailers which I felt took away some of the fun parts in the movie. There were other scenes that were enjoyable and cute. Some parts of the movie were predictable to me, though my husband disagreed and I got my "I told you so" moment. The trailers I saw did not include some of the main points in the movie and it was kind of a surprise, though looking back at how the Barbie IP was treated in the past, it is kind of a "yeah, that makes sense" feel. I would also avoid going through the Barbie section at a store or online because you will see the characters from the show if you really want to avoid spoilers. The parts I really liked were the nostalgia feels and the monologue by America Ferrera and it's touching to see how she has grown and then I realize, oh how I have grown too since she is only a few years younger than me and I've seen her "grow up" on the screen. I also liked the latter part of the movie, because it was funny how the setting changed. Some parts of the movie I may have been having more fun than deserved. I recently watched The Menu and those laughs were much more spontaneous. In this movie, I wanted to have a good time, so I was more generous with my feels and lowered my threshold to be entertained. Barbieland is much brighter and fun-looking compared to the real world. And yet the movie has its serious moments. I come from a conservative background so I can understand how some families may be sensitive over some topics. There is some reference to body parts, and I asked my husband if this was a movie for kids - and he said no. And we laughed it off, but I probably would not want to watch this with a younger audience and have to explain things to them. Regarding sexuality, I think this movie is actually pretty good for a younger audience, because it avoids topics related to sex and focuses more on innocence - there is one scene where Ken asks if he can come in for the night and that's basically it. There is sexual harassment depicted - but it is portrayed negatively. There are instances of drinking alcohol which is portrayed negatively...hopefully. Overall, although I could easily predict how things would end, it was the journey that was less predictable. The parts that were not predictable were enjoyable and I've already recommended the film to friends and family. Two other movies I watched recently were the Little Mermaid and I would rate this movie higher than that. I also recently watched The Menu which is a comedy horror film and I rate that higher than this.

Hi Barbie! The incredible feat of making my childhood obsession with Barbie feel like a positive thing again, rather than a negative influence I'm supposed to regret. Barbie's script has been flipped, and in the most celebratory, fun way no one ever could have expected. For so long, Barbie has been portrayed as the embodiment of everything wrong with the world for women. We were supposed to think of her as a villainous presence, a menace that planted a poisoned seed in our childhoods. That's not how Little Me felt when I looked at Barbie. I wasn't thinking about how I couldn't measure up to her, or her measurements. No way! I got to be her, inhabit her, and she was me -- my avatar, an extension of myself, a 3D object that acted in my place in a safe, controlled environment. I was Barbie and Barbie was me. She never made me feel like I didn't want to be me. On the contrary, she was comforting if something/someone had made me feel bad. Even the big stuff. Or if something had made me feel 'less than.' She was where I turned and she made me feel better. Or let me act out the ways I was feeling. She had no down side. I never wanted her boobs anyway. I thought they looked painful. And her tiny waist just looked weird and physically deformed. Not like a body I should want. (Magazines did that. Thanks, Vogue.) What Greta has done is take all those feelings of love I always felt, and removed the shame from having loved her. Barbie is not the embodiment of everything wrong in the world for women. She actually evolved right alongside women, changing with the times. Barbie looked at her omnipresence in young girls' lives during a crucial developmental stage and saw how important it was/is that she be a role model. Though it took way too long to become representative of all skin colors, Barbie is now that today. This film is a comedy and I cried. Multiple times. I cried happy tears, and amazed tears. Tears of honest to God gratitude. Because I had been transported back into Little Me and felt immersed in the wonder of the Barbie world, feeling once again how happy it had always made me deep down and in a significant way. Feeling it again, not just looking back on it and remembering it. That feeling hit me in the gut, and I got teary. But I ugly cried (like, paused it and let the floodgates open) when I realized that I'd never before experienced feeling quite this seen. Simultaneously discovering new ways she had been significant to me that I'd never thought about. I felt like Little Greta and Little Me grew up together, she just got me. So well. This movie knew me. It understood me. Seriously, when people talk about "feeling seen" this is the definition of that feeling. To be seen at a fundamental level, living inside my brain, defining who I am today and what Little Me thought about what the future could be -- not just for all women, but specifically for Big Me. And Little Me. I cried. Side note: I love the portrayal of Hasbro. It was a genius move in a film that had already wayyyy surpassed genius before Hasbro steps into the picture. It was like getting more touchdowns than you actually need. It takes awesome to wicked awesome.

The biggest part of my Barbie movie journey is complete. It ended with me enjoying it very much. It started with me despising the concept. The Barbie I grew up with was for someone else - girl classmates - no big deal there. By the time I got to college, Barbie represented unrealistic beauty standards. That was my understanding of Barbie ever since. So the idea of a new movie celebrating a character that has had arguably deadly consequences (dangerous attempts at weight loss to the point of being fatal) was disgusting to me at first. Then I saw a post or two from men complaining about the movie. Okay then the movie had my attention. 😁 One of the men complained that the male characters in the movie were just an accessory in the background; another said Ken was milquetoast and totally weak. Women responded to the effect of “welcome to my world from the past century”. More on that later. I also heard of Barbie being an inspiration somehow. I found online articles describing the cultural phenomenon through the past century that is Barbie. That's when I really started to get it. That bit of homework before the movie really helped. Subsequently watching the movie confirmed what I thought was happening. The Bechdel test is a method of confirming gender inclusivity in a movie. The Barbie movie deliberately failed the Bechdel test in reverse. The men in Barbieland had no identity outside of their women, and all the conversations between two or more men were about the women. I found it a very enlightening perspective. Much to my surprise, they addressed head on that disturbing piece of Barbie history, promoting unrealistic beauty standards. They even addressed my friends who abused Barbie dolls in creative ways. 🙂 Most of all, there's a desperately needed harsh look at gender expectations and limitations. America Ferrera stole the show with a speech all about it! She rightly received an Oscar nomination for her work in this movie. This is a rare movie that delivered critical messages, and delivered hilarious comedy, and delivered some good music & dancing, and did so in an innovative manner. This movie is absolutely groundbreaking!

So refreshing when a film lives up to its massive hype. Barbie perhaps exceeds the hype. Smartly written, very funny, emotionally engaging, and a visual feast (pardon the cliche). Margot Robbie, as exec producer, apparently did not plan on starring, and thankfully she saw the light. She's perfectly cast in the lead Barbie role, as is Ryan Gosling as Ken. I think America Ferrera does award worthy work as Barbie's emotional interlocutor with the "real world", and mentor on Barbie's journey from Pinocchio-like one note plastic doll, to living, feeling, three dimensional woman. The large ensemble cast overall is terrific. I read that Greta Gerwig was inspired in part by French director Jacques Demy's musical films, esp Les Demoiselles de Rochefort (The Young Girls of Rochefort), which made immediate sense to me. Demy's film is a sunny, brightly 1960s -hued musical (with some subtle darker, bittersweet moments) starring Catherine Deneuve and her late sister Francoise Dorleac. Its a film i always find myself smiling all the way through, like i just did with Barbie. Oh, and Gene Kelly appears in a late career role, agelessly singing and dancing. As a long term Kubrick fan (first watched Dr. Strangelove and Paths of Glory on TV in the 1960s), I have to give particular kudos to Barbie's opening scene, a homage to the Dawn of Man opening sequence of Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey. Extremely clever and very funny, it wonderfully primes the viewer for the fun spectacular about to unfold. I mean, Barbie as the primordial Monolith! Brilliant! Quit doom scrolling for a few hours, give your mind / psyche a needed break, and watch both films!

Excellent PQ and AQ! Fun movie! It's worth it just to see Ryan Gosling singing "Just Ken"!

Great movie!

As an enthusiast with a 7.2.4 Dolby Atmos setup, I was eager to experience Barbie in its highest quality possible. The 4K UHD Blu-ray did not disappoint. Video Quality: The 4K UHD presentation is nothing short of spectacular. The film was captured digitally in ARRIRAW (6.5K) and finished as a 4K Digital Intermediate, ensuring a pristine image. The HDR10 grading enhances the vibrant color palette of Barbie Land, delivering deep blacks and perfect flesh tones. The wide color gamut and high bitrate contribute to a sharp, detailed picture with amazing depth, free from artifacts or pixelation. Audio Quality: The Dolby Atmos mix on this disc is a standout feature. Presented in Dolby TrueHD 7.1, the track offers a rich and immersive soundscape. While some may expect a full 7.1.4 object-based Atmos mix, this 7.1 bed provides a dynamic and enveloping experience. The front channels deliver clear dialogue and impactful music, while the surround channels create an immersive environment. The height channels add subtle atmospheric effects, enhancing the sense of space without overwhelming the mix. Comparison: 7.1 Bed vs. 5.1 Bed: A 7.1 bed offers a more expansive surround sound experience compared to a 5.1 bed. With an additional rear surround channel, the 7.1 configuration provides better channel separation and a more immersive soundstage. In the case of Barbie, the 7.1 bed ensures that the dynamic audio elements are well-distributed, enhancing the overall cinematic experience. Conclusion: The Barbie 4K UHD Blu-ray delivers an exceptional audiovisual experience. The stunning video quality and immersive Dolby Atmos audio mix, particularly the 7.1 bed, make this a must-have for home theater enthusiasts. Whether you’re a fan of the film or an audiophile seeking high-quality content, this disc offers a top-tier experience.

As a father always on the lookout for family-friendly movies to enjoy with my small children, we recently decided to watch the latest "Barbie" film. While the movie had its moments, there were a few aspects that left us wanting more. Positives First: The movie's vibrant color palette and animation quality were impressive. It was visually engaging for the kids, and they seemed captivated by the bright and lively scenes. The movie also incorporated some classic Barbie charm, which was a nice touch of nostalgia for me. Storyline Complexity: However, the storyline felt a bit complex for my younger children to follow. There were several plot twists and nuanced themes that seemed to go over their heads. As a result, I found myself pausing the movie occasionally to explain what was happening, which disrupted the flow of our viewing experience. Pacing and Length: The pacing of the movie was another concern. Some parts dragged on, causing my kids to become restless and less engaged. A shorter runtime or a more streamlined plot might have held their attention better. Character Development: While Barbie as a character was as charismatic as ever, some of the supporting characters lacked depth. My kids often connect more with movies that have well-rounded and relatable characters, but this aspect was somewhat lacking in "Barbie." Moral and Educational Value: I also felt that the movie missed an opportunity to deliver a stronger educational or moral lesson. While there were underlying themes of friendship and self-discovery, they were not as pronounced or effectively conveyed as I would have liked for a children's movie. Conclusion: In summary, while "Barbie" was a visually appealing movie with its signature charm, its complex storyline, pacing issues, and lack of depth in character development and moral messaging made it a slightly less enjoyable experience for my younger children. It might be more suitable for slightly older kids who can appreciate and follow the plot more readily.