ICE AGE 2: THE MELTDOWN (DVD Review) - 22/10/06

Like pulling on your favourite coat this class act of a sequel to the original "Ice Age" is darker in tone but just as exciting and fulfilling as the original - All the characters return plus some new ones with a very strong moral thread running through the plot as the cast of animated animals attempt to escape from the coming meltdown in the form of a flood. We get a couple of villains and side-villains to keep things ticking over with a love story and comedy galore plus a sub-plot with Scrat as he continues to acquire his acorn. The excellence continues in this Limited Edition 2-Disc Set on Region 2 (UK) which doesn't appear in the US until late November. We get a further cartoon short with "No Time For Nuts" featuring Scrat and a selection of Interactive Games with Audio Commentaries to the main feature. With an extensive look behind the scenes at the filming of "Ice Age 2" we get numerous featurettes and shorts covering a Sid Sing-A-Long, Crash & Eddie Stunts plus a Sound Effects Laboratory and Deleted Scenes. Tests & Storyboards with a Multi-Angle Function and Music Montage. Also the Lee Ryan Music Video for the end credits and much more... which basically means there is a ton of stuff on here such as Animation Tests, Theatrical Trailers, some amusing "old style" film footage mocked up to cover the characters, a couple of "News" reports that actually start out quite creepy like some horror film then turn into a comedy retrospective and so on & so forth. The Collector's Edition cardboard slipcase is one of those raised effect types that really gives the cover a depth to it with Scrat on the front. Rated: U (UK). Runtime: 86 Mins Approx. PAL - Colour. Audio: English 5.1. Dolby, 5.1. DTS, 5.1. Audio Description, Commentaries 2.0. Subtitles: Main Feature English only. Letterbox Version 16:9 Aspect Ratio 1.85:1 (Approx). 20th CENTURY FOX 2006. F1-0GB 2998001001 / ISBN # 5039036028691>