8.3 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
It's one crazy adventure after another for human boy, Finn, and his best friend, Jake, a 28-year old dog with magical powers. They're out to have the most fun possible and they sure do find it exploring the Land of Ooo! Whether it's saving Princess Bubblegum, battling zombie candy, taunting the Ice King or rocking out with Marceline the Vampire Queen, with Finn and Jake it's always ADVENTURE TIME!
Starring: Jeremy Shada, John DiMaggio, Tom Kenny (I), Steve Little, Ron PerlmanAnimation | 100% |
Comedy | 88% |
Family | 79% |
Fantasy | 55% |
Dark humor | 24% |
Adventure | 22% |
Surreal | 22% |
Short | 20% |
Imaginary | 19% |
Action | Insignificant |
Video codec: VC-1
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.78:1
English: Dolby Digital 2.0 (320 kbps)
English SDH
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
UV digital copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A, B (locked)
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 3.0 | |
Extras | 2.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
When Pendleton Ward announced Adventure Time was about to drop a double-stuffed 52-episode season on fans, the cynic inside my brain bristled. It's the end of all things! More of a good thing often doesn't amount to good things. So how is it that the series' fifth season -- which threatens to burst at the britches -- not only good but better than every season before it? Vision, dear friends. Vision. For all its random shenaniganning (yep, just made that a word), for all its flights of surreal, id-born fancy, for all its simplistic visuals and bizarre characters, Adventure Time doubles down on everything that matters. More crucially, it expands its mythos, delves into its heroes and villains' origins (not to mention the post-apocalyptic history of the Land of Ooo), raises the stakes in surprising ways, intensifies the laughs, and makes almost every new storyline more compelling than the last. I couldn't stop cracking up... but I also couldn't stop marveling at the subtle refinements that have been made to the plot and characters, or at the sadness and sometimes heart-wrenching pathos that seem to be making bolder and bolder appearances from episode to episode. Ward and his most beloved creation aren't growing stale. Adventure Time is more infectious than ever.
The Blu-ray release of Adventure Time: The Complete Fifth Season features a solid 1080p/VC-1 encoded video presentation comparable to its high definition predecessors. There are a few necessary disclaimers -- the animation isn't always razor sharp, faint pixilation occasionally haunts the line art, and a hint of aliasing creeps into the proceedings -- but most, if not all, of these issues track back to the original animation source. (And are extremely difficult to detect when an episode is in motion.) Otherwise, there's little to complain about. Colors are bright and bountiful, primaries leap off the screen, black levels are inky, and contrast is consistently vibrant and satisfying. Detail delivers too, and the animation looks every bit as good as it should. Moreover, artifacting, banding and other unsightlies are either nowhere to be found or in very small supply, meaning Warner's latest Adventure Time offering doesn't disappoint.
Another season of Adventure Time, another decent but unremarkable 320kbps Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo track. There's nothing wrong with the mix, mind you. There just isn't anything to get excited about. Voices are clean and clear. Effects are playful and nicely prioritized. And music is as full and engaging as it could be. I'd still love to experience the series' reality-skewing adventures with LFE support and rear speaker activity, but until Ward upgrades the show's sound design, that isn't an option.
Unlike previous seasons of Adventure Time, The Complete Fifth Season doesn't include a single audio commentaries with creator Pendleton Ward or the veritable parade of guests he's trotted out on Blu-rays past. However, the 2-disc set isn't completely devoid of special features. On deck are:
Adventure Time's fifth season? The best to date, even at a double-sized 52-episodes. The Blu-ray edition's video presentation? Strong. Its lossy stereo mix? It gets the job done, just as previous season tracks have. And special features? That's really the only disappointment here. Earlier seasons of Adventure Time included audio commentaries with Ward and his team, and for every episode. The Complete Fifth Season offers a quick featurette and some animatics. Welcome, but not nearly as extensive, funny or insightful. Still, don't let that stop you from adding more Jake and Finn to your Blu-ray collection. The fifth season is well worth the cost of admission.
2010
2010-2011
2011-2012
2012
2014-2015
2020-2021
2010-2011
Australian Import
2013-2019
2014
Collector's Edition
2022
2013
1985-1991
20th Anniversary Edition
2001
Collector's Edition
2012
2012
Power Up Edition
2023
2010
2011
2014
20th Anniversary Edition
2000
2019
2014
2008
2019
2008