Customer Reviews

The Smurfs / The Smurfs: Christmas Carol (Three-Disc Combo Blu-ray / DVD + UltraViolet Digital Copy)

5 star:		(51)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(11)
1 star:		(25)

 

 

This movie resembles two recent 3D videos: it uses the same combination of real-life footage with cartoons as "Yogi bear" and its cartoon heroes resemble gnomes from "Gnomeo and Juliet". Like with "Yogi Bear", there is an entertaining plot which keeps you occupied, and there is good humor which makes you laugh. Smurfs is a little better than Yogi Bear, though, because plot is more sophisticated and acting is more complex and involved. There is nothing in this movie to scare little kids but they may get bored as one probably has to be 10+ years old to understand all the humor and adult's problems with balancing professional life with family and Smurfs, but adults will certainly have fun. I honestly think it is one of the better movies that came out in 3D to-date.

Talking about 3D - 3D effects are OK but not outstanding. There are several scenes made with extensive use of computer graphics done with 3D in mind which stand out, but the rest of the footage is regular 3D footage of live action with fine, but not stunning depth.

I noticed that this movie got several bad reviews on Amazon, with one and two stars ratings. As I looked through those reviews, I noticed that they were all written by people who remember Smurfs from TV shows from decades ago and who are frustrated that Smurfs in this movie are so different from what they remember. I can't blame them - this is human nature and the way how we attach to memories from the past. I never saw the original story, and if I saw it today, I probably would find it boring and outdated as the majority of old films and shows. Without the set of mind pre-determined by expectations about smurfs, I enjoyed the movie and found that it was fun to watch!

I just finished watching Smurfs with my kids in the movie theater and definitely recommend it to children agest 7-12. To properly rate this movie, I'll comment on it from the standpoint of "should you take your kids to see it?" The movie itself is good with an easy storyline to follow. Gargamel wants to capture the "essence" of the Smurfs so he can be the besdt magician in the world. To do that, he needs to capture one of the Smurfs and the movie goes about telling the story of how he tries to do that. I thought that a child under the age of 7 will likely not get all the innuendos and may even be scared at certain points in the movie--especiall of Gargamel. 12 year old on the other hand are about at the ceiling where they would find the movie funny and entertaining. There are definitely some good jokes that even adults would like--but not enough to recommend it solely for adults who want to see it themselves (although curiously there are always adults in this sort of movie--I kind of wonder why?) A good flick that is about the right length for kids to sit through with some good action and funny moments.

Toy Story had a magical feeling that just can't be matched anymore and we meet the next underwhelming exhibit, 4,845,621,593. I was expecting a good-hardy warm Gargamel chase frenzy from the cartoon, but instead, we were delivered a sappy, drooling flick reminiscent of what is comparable to a Scary-movie-Garfiled hybrid subtracting the icing from the cake. Let's play with matches and coins-boredom tears may be invoked into the cries of children all about the land and your admissionary fee will be irredeemable. Take you pick, stick to the cartoon for barrels of fun, or watch this hastily written cinematic-log. NOT AN ENJOYABLE FILM.

First, let me say that I enjoyed the movie. I have been a fan since the Hanna-Barbera cartoon from the eighties. This is a cute and enjoyable movie, even with the occasional low brow humor and over-indulgent slapstick that channels old Hollywood physical comedy. No the story isn't overly complex, but it does dabble in backstory that pays attention to the canon from Saturday morning cartoons a la Hanna-Barbera without going into too much depth. It's enjoyable for all ages, whether kids or kids-at-heart who want to be nostalgic or just entertained. The cast was a good fit, even if Hank Azaria was subject to brutally obvious Wile E. Coyote moments in the story.
Now the downside: Even though I won't rant with a verbal tantrum that some of the others have already posted, I will say that I share their disappointment about my purchase of a more-expensive 3D Blu-ray version of this film, to find out that doesn't include all the extra features like "The Smurfs - A Christmas Carol". This one item in particular is a substantial omission from the 3D combo pack, and apparently it's not available through iTunes as of this date. It's also disappointing that the digital copy included is not an iTunes compatible format.
I do not like the new Ultraviolet streaming format for various reasons that others here have already (rather irately) mentioned, as well as one particular reason of my own. When we, the consumers, purchase something that includes a digital copy, we do expect to be able to use it with our portable devices without the over-complications of creating multiple new accounts to access it, and to receive low quality streaming that the new Ultraviolet Digital Version seems to impose. My main issue with the service is that when I download Ultraviolet Digital Copy instead of streaming it, I haven't been able to find a selection in the software that allows me to choose where to store the file. This is a major inconvenience when you are using a computer that only has a 256GB hard drive like the Macbook Air, and when you use a network storage device such as Time Capsule or WD Sharespace on your home network to store audio/video digital media. It also means that (so far) it will not play on an Apple TV. I understand the right of the manufacturer to produce their own digital copy format, but that doesn't mean it is the format that consumers want, or want to pay for in lieu of important special features that are included with less expensive editions. I definitely don't want to purchase two copies of the Blu-Ray combo packs to get everything that is typically included in all of them, including the 3D version. My suggestion is that the industry pick a standard for digital copies just like they did when they all caved and went with Blu-Ray, and also select a standard on content inclusion/exclusion so that consumers aren't disgruntled or disappointed.

Yep, this movie is exactly that...great for kids and incredibly silly/cute. The basic premise is that Gargamel and Azrael are ever on the hunt for Smurf's to G can extract the essence of the smurfs to fuel his wizardry. One thing leads to another and several Smurf's end up getting sucked through a portal of sorts and end up in modern day New York City, where they end up befriending Neil Patrick Harris and his pregnant wife, and begin the search for a way back to their own realm. Gargamel and Az of course follow the smurfs through the portal. Azaria plays Gargamel, and is acceptably over the top. Neil Patrick Harris is, well, pretty much the same as always. Charismatic, but pretty much the same basic personality as in all his movies, but far less a-holish than his character in 'How I Met Your Mother'. The Smurf's all all voiced by recognizable actors and pop icons, including Katy Perry (can you guess who she is?). The characters are all cute and likable, even Grouchy Smurf, lol. There's really nothing epic or enduring about this flick per se, but it really doesnt need to be all that. It simply is a modern day Smurf's tale. Your kids will most likely love it, and the adults will at worst tolerate it, and at best will enjoy it for its charm and quirkiness.

Enjoy!

I am giving this movie 2 stars just because I've had the best sleep ever while watching this movie....it was so boring, it put me right to REM sleep.

This movie is for the kid in all of us. It's funny, cute, silly, awesome, and Smurftastic! I've never watched the classic cartoon series, so I couldn't compare it. During the Blue Moon Festival, an evil but wacky wizard named Gargamel chases Papa, Clumsy, Brainy, Grouchy, Gutsy, and Smurfette into a vortex and transports them to New York City. (It's a classic fish-out-of-water story) They seek refuge with Patrick and Grace Winslow, a couple who are expecting a baby. The Smurfs drive Patrick crazy and almost cost him his job. They try to bring the vortex back before Gargamel captures them. This is definitely a movie I would see again and again. I highly recommend THE SMURFS!!!

This review is for the digital copy included with the movie and not a review of the film

The movie that you are looking at is one of the first to use the new "Ultra Violet" system for digital copy and distribution. A lot of you may not have heard anything about it and asking what is Ultra Violet. The hype around Ultra Violet says that it will allow you to stream your digital copy to any device and the files are store in the cloud so that once you purchase a single digital copy you wont ever need to replace it when technology changes. The reality is that the system is being forced on consumers before it is ready as of the release of Green Lantern and Horrible bosses (first 2 movies to use the system in mid October) exactly 0 mobile devices or set top boxes support the system and few will in the near future. Another major issue with the new digital distribution is the streaming aspect if you have a smart phone or tablet device on a limited data package is you stream a single 2 hour movie in HD the amount of data transferred could easily put you over the common 2 GB data packages.

I took the kids to see this, I wished I had waited to see it on video. I thought it was painful to watch, I can't remember being so irritated at a movie I just couldn't wait for it to end. I liked the smurfs as a kid but these smurfs were strange and not what i remembered. I'd let the kids watch it for free, but don't pay for it.

Wow, I haven't seen a movie this bad since Beverly Hills Chihuahua. It really doesn't have much in common with the original cartoon. Part of the magic of "The Smurfs" cartoon was their little toadstool village and the land in which they lived. The movie sets the Smurfs in the modern world (pursued by Gargamel), and a lot of charm is lost as a result. They end up at Neil Patrick Harris's house where lots of slapstick hi-jinks ensue, and everyone learns their lessons. Kids under 8 will probably find this movie entertaining, but older kids who have already seen a few movies like this might find the plot and the jokes to be tired cliches.

Fans of the old-school smurfs will notice that these new Smurfs really don't act like the old ones. And for some reason, the producers felt that the movie really needed a Scottish smurf in a kilt and sideburns. Hence, the creation of Gutsy smurf. If you are a fan (or over the age of 8) do yourself a favor and skip this movie!