Norm of the North appears in an aspect ratio of approximately 1.78:1 on this Blu-ray Disc. The image looked solid.
Sharpness worked well, as the movie boasted consistently detailed elements. No softness emerged in this tight, accurate presentation. I saw no shimmering or jaggies, and edge haloes remained absent. The flick also lacked any print flaws.
Given the Arctic orientation, blue became the movie’s dominant hue. However, other shots – especially in NYC – managed a broader palette, and the movie showed these colors in a vivid manner. Blacks seemed dark and deep, while shadows appeared smooth and clear. Everything about the transfer pleased.
Though not bad, the movie’s DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack seemed less impressive. This was because the soundfield often lacked much ambition, though it did improve as the movie progressed. Early scenes failed to use the five channels especially well, as they focused on the front channels even during action-oriented scenes.
However, matters opened up better in the film’s second half. Sequences such as one during a storm at sea used the channels in an engaging manner and created a good soundscape. I just wish the mix boasted that much activity from the start.
Audio quality seemed good. Speech was distinctive and natural, without edginess or other issues. Music was perky and full, while effects appeared accurate and packed a nice punch. The semi-restrained soundfield left this as a “B” mix.
A handful of extras appear here, and we start with Do the Arctic Shake!, a sing-along. It goes for one-minute, 25-second and lets viewers croon with the movie’s dance song. It’s a forgettable addition.
Nine Deleted Scenes fill a total of four minutes, 35 seconds. Most of these come from the Arctic parts of the movie and they offer minor character moments. The others focus on Mr. Greene’s machinations, and they also lack much substance. Don’t expect anything interesting from this lackluster set of sequences.
Next comes That’s Funny!, a compilation of “the movie’s best jokes and one-liners”. The reel goes for two minutes, six seconds and gives us a slew of attempts at humor. These fail to deliver much amusement.
Called The Arctic Challenge, a trivia game ensues. It includes 14 true/false questions about Arctic life. It boasts minor educational value.
The disc opens with ads for Shaun the Sheep: The Movie, Beyond Beyond, Alpha and Omega: Family Vacation and Alpha and Omega: The Legend of the Saw Tooth Cave. No trailer for Norm appears here.
A second disc presents a DVD copy of Norm. It includes the same extras as the Blu-ray.
Persistently ordinary, Norm of the North gives us a mediocre animated adventure. While not without a smidgen of entertainment value, the film seems too disjointed and derivative to succeed. The Blu-ray offers excellent visuals and mostly positive audio but lacks substantial supplements. Little kids may derive some enjoyment from this lackluster cartoon but others can find more satisfying material.