Monster Camp (DVD)
APPROX. 80 MINS. - PROD. YEAR: 2007 - MPA RATING: NR
" You won't see a grown 300lbs man dressed like a giant moth anywhere else... except maybe at Comic Con.
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Video:
I'm not sure of the exact aspect ratio for "Monster Camp" to tell you the truth, as it isn't listed on the case and I was unable to track down that information online. I do know that the picture fills out a 16x9 widescreen television, though, so it's probably somewhere in the range of 1.78:1.
The picture quality itself is mediocre at best, with soft colors and dull black levels. There's also a noticeable sheath of mild noise or some kind of distortion overlapping the entire production that even becomes more pronounced in darker scenes. Details aren't anywhere near as crisp and clear as they could be, but then again when you see some of the bizarre characters in the film (not mentioning any names)--consider it a blessing.
Audio:
Like the video, the audio is another mystery, although if I were a betting man I'd wager that it sounds like Dolby Digital 2.0 to me. I picked up on a few amateurish goofs like the wind beating down on the microphone during exterior shots and a peculiar monotonous buzzing in a few places. I thought the battery of some device in my house was dying and it took me a few moments of glancing around before I realized it was part of the film. Other than that, the dialogue was clear which is the main thing.
Extras:
Cullen Hoback goes solo in a traditional "Director's Commentary." Normally I'm not crazy about one-man commentaries, but Hoback provides a fair amount of interesting anecdotes about some of the players seen in the film. It's worth noting that the inclusion of the commentary seems to have shifted the soundtrack slightly out of sync with the video, which is a pet peeve of mine. That being said, it's still definitely worth checking out.
Next, there are two short films: "The Everything Machine" (7:39) and "Dragons Are Real" (14:00). The first features a pair of gamers seeking the ultimate thrill, while the latter is basically a promotion piece put together to raise the necessary funds to produce "Monster Camp."
The last bonus feature is a trailer for Hoback's "Freedom State."
The Final Cut:
Anyone who has ever played a video or role-playing game should get a kick out of "Monster Camp." For the rest, all I can say is live a little and let your imagination run wild. You won't see a grown 300lbs man dressed like a giant moth anywhere else... except maybe at Comic Con.
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