Atlantis: Season One Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.0
Video		4.0
Audio		3.5
Extras		2.0
Overall		3.0

Atlantis: Season One Blu-ray Movie Review

Game of Groans: The Complete First Season

Reviewed by Kenneth Brown March 9, 2014

From the creators of the surprisingly entertaining Merlin comes the not so surprisingly mediocre Atlantis, which takes everything that didn't work with Merlin and uses it to build a low-budget, low-concept fantasy series that bottoms out almost from the start. Yes, there are a few commendable ideas floating around, a solid (albeit largely unfamiliar) cast, and some semi-decent creature designs and made-for-TV CG. Yes, there's a bit of fun to be had seeing what the writers will do with the mainstays of Greek mythology next. And yes, the last two episodes of the first season -- "Touched By the Gods, Parts 1 & 2" -- represent a marked improvement over the eleven that precede them. It doesn't hurt that BBC veteran Mark Addy earns some laughs as an overweight schlub of an adventurer named Hercules, Jack Donnelly shows passable charm and charisma as leading man Jason, and Sarah Parish lends some much-needed weight and oomph as the manipulative Queen Pasiphae. Tempted? Not so fast. Read on...

A hero rises...

Jason (Donnelly), a resident of contemporary Britain, goes in search of his missing father only to be sucked into an underwater vortex that transports him back in time and drops him on the shores of the city of Atlantis. Thrust into a time and place he thought only existed in stories, he finds himself becoming firm friends with the legendary Pythagoras (Robert Emms) and Hercules (Addy). Alongside his newfound friends, Jason sets out on a series of adventures to understand more about his mysterious past and to discover his true destiny. Along the way he meets, befriends and fights many famous figures from Greek mythology.

Alas, the bulk of the series plays out as if a small band of kids commandeered their parents' video camera and made a movie in the back yard. Cringe-inducing dialogue, hit or miss performances, laughably wooden action, mythological beastie-of-the-week storytelling, pedestrian camerawork (in the first episode, count the number of times fruit and other objects are seen spilling on the ground via slow motion close-ups), cornball humor, stage-play costumes and sets, cheesy superheroics heaped atop moldy melodrama... on and on it goes. And, oh, the plot holes. (Lucky for Jason, everyone in ancient pocket-reality Atlantis speaks 21st century English.) Very little shines and even less sparkles. This is revisionist Greek mythology by way of YA fan fiction, and there isn't much to separate it from other modestly financed supernaturally salted adventure series. Well, other than quality. And writing. Quality and writing. Really everything in between the two. Quality, writing and everything in between.

Is Atlantis as god-awful and nigh unwatchable as the now defunct Sinbad? Not even close, thank the gods. Although the two series do share some rather disconcerting similarities. Is it serviceable enough to warrant a renewal? Apparently. Millions watched and the BBC announced a second season... even though Jason's leaky boat sinks long before Season One draws to a close. So if it's all so middle-of-the-road, what exactly kept British audiences glued to their seats? There's just enough Merlin-y hijinks, pithy friendships and literary tinkering at the heart of Atlantis' myths-sprung-to-life shtick to fill the Merlin void. Still, if creators Johnny Capps, Julian Murphy and Howard Overman don't tighten the gears next season, it won't be long before the faithful Merlin fold realize Atlantis doesn't compare to Capps and Murphy's clever Round Table reimagining. When that happens, viewers will drift away by the droves, and Atlantis will find itself on the receiving end of the blade that felled Sinbad. Season One episodes include:

• The Earth Bull: When Jason (Jack Donnelly) goes in search of his father he finds himself washed up on the shores of a mysterious land; a world of mythical creatures, soothsaying oracles and palaces so vast it is said they were built by giants, this is the city of Atlantis. But it seems the newcomer has chosen the wrong time to arrive in the fabled realm and Jason soon finds himself at the mercy of a deadly ritual, from which there can be no escape.
• A Girl By Any Other Name: Despite their newfound fame after slaying the Minotaur, Jason, Pythagoras (Robert Emms) and Hercules (Mark Addy) are still penniless and hungry. When an old man asks them to find his missing daughter things seem on the up, but it soon becomes clear that their task isn’t going to be an easy one: she has been taken by the Maenads, fanatical worshipers of the god Dionysus. With the hopes and life of the old man fading, it’s a race against time that Jason cannot turn his back on. But just when their perilous task seems at an end, he comes face-to-face with a stranger named Medusa (Jemima Rooper).
• A Boy of No Consequence: After crossing a young nobleman, Jason and his friends find themselves at the mercy of King Minos (Alexander Siddig) who declares Poseidon will decide their fate: they are to become bull leapers. To survive they must jump the charging beast. With their lives on the line, it’s up to Jason to pull his motley team together in this ultimate test of bravery. But watching from the crowds is a dark force who hopes to turn the favor of the Gods against them.
• Twist of Fate: While hunting in the mountains, the boys stumble across an abandoned baby. Jason refuses to leave the child to die, but this charitable act has far reaching implications. With their own lives now on the line as well as the child’s, it seems the trio may well pay the ultimate price for interfering with fate.
• White Lies: A clandestine messenger brings unexpected news to Ariadne (Aiysha Hart): her exiled brother has sent for her. Ariadne calls on Jason and his friends to help guide her out of the palace without raising the suspicions of the Queen (Sarah Parish). As Heptarian (Oliver Walker) and the King’s guards close in on her brother's hiding place, Ariadne must decide where her loyalties lie; in Atlantis or with her royal sibling.
• The Song of the Sirens: Desperate to win over Medusa’s heart, Hercules pays a visit to a powerful witch, Circe. But events take a malevolent turn when Hercules realizes he has unleashed a potent but toxic enchantment. With a bitter chain of events rapidly unfolding, it’s up to Jason to undo history before it is too late. As he re-traces Hercules’ steps into the mountains, he is unaware that a deadly trap has been set for him; one with far-reaching consequences beyond the fate of just his friends.
• The Rules of Engagement: When Jason learns of Ariadne’s betrothal to Heptarian, he is brokenhearted. With nothing to lose and everything to gain, he enters into a brutal fighting tournament to honor the nuptials, lining up with a number of terrifying contestants, including the undefeated Heptarian. Determined to beat the husband-to-be and show his worthiness, it’s up to Jason’s loyal friends to guide him through the contest where there are more than just broken hearts at stake.
• The Furies: The boys gain an unexpected addition to their workforce with the arrival of Pythagoras’s feisty younger brother, Arcas. Charged with escorting valuable cargo across the desert, the gang travels into the unknown with a ramshackle caravan of strangers, but one amongst them has something to hide. It isn’t long before their journey takes an eerie turn, danger closes in and a dark secret is exposed. Our heroes are forced to confront some uncomfortable truths as they fight for their lives under the desert sun.
• Pandora's Box: Romance is at last in the air for Hercules and Medusa until she is kidnapped by a cruel moneylender Kyros. In exchange for her life, Kyros demands that Hercules retrieves a precious and powerful artifact from the Underworld; a task which can only mean certain death. With only one day to fulfill the ransom, it’s a race against time for Hercules and his loyal friends.
• The Price of Hope: After the tragic events surrounding Medusa’s disappearance, the boys pay a visit to the inventor Daedalus, whose genius offers hope of a cure. But, unwilling to wait for answers, Hercules acts on information from the unscrupulous Crios and sets off in search of his lost love. His decision soon sees the boys literally running for their lives as they become the prey in a brutal manhunt.
• Hunger Pangs: A starving Jason makes a fatal error by eating a sacrificial meat. It soon becomes clear that Jason’s gluttony has come at a price as he begins to exhibit some seriously strange behavior. As things spiral out of control, it falls to Hercules and Pythagoras to save their friend.
• Touched By the Gods, Part 1: Jason is reminded of his promise to Circe and her grim warning should he fail to honor their pact. He has no choice but to act; he must kill the queen. Infiltrating the palace will not only be mortally dangerous, but also nearly impossible.
• Touched By the Gods, Part 2: Minos’ health continues to fade as Pasiphae’s scheming reaches its peak and Ariadne is sentenced to a gruesome execution. Jason is her last hope and he’ll need all the help he can get if he is to save her life. Just as the odds seem stacked against Jason, a shocking revelation is made that exposes the past and changes the course of the future forever.

Atlantis: Season One Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Atlantis could be Merlin's evil twin, judging by its slick, slightly grainy digital photography and strong, slightly inconsistent 1080p/AVC-encoded video presentation. The series' palette is heavy on the ancient Aegean pageantry, with rich golds, burlaped browns, seafoam blues, decadent purples and many an earthtone, and skintones are well-saturated, despite fostering an amber glow during sunstruck afternoons and an absence of natural hues when night falls. Black levels are muted, though, with frequent (but mild) crushing, and contrast is a bit unwieldy, not that the show was shot any other way. Detail is pleasing too, with clean edges, crisp textures and notable delineation. Softness creeps in, noise spikes, CG elements are a bit raggedy, and nighttime sequences suffer, but again, this is Atlantis as it was meant to be. No, Season One isn't about to turn heads. But if there is a Season Two Blu-ray release, this one lays commendable groundwork.

Atlantis: Season One Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Less satisfying but equally reliable is Atlantis' DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 stereo track. Dialogue is clean, intelligible and rarely overwhelmed by the action, monster battles and betrayals as they unfold, and the rest of the soundscape fares well, with plenty of bright sword clashes, relatively frightening roars, heavy hoof-falls and the requisite oomph BBC's stereo tracks tend to deliver. Whether you love or loathe the show, though, the lack of LFE heft and rear speaker support is disappointing, particularly as often as Atlantis shoves Jason in the path of a mythological beastie, would-be assassin and insurmountable obstacle.

Atlantis: Season One Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The only extra included on the Blu-ray edition of Atlantis: Season One -- a half-hour high definition trip behind the scenes -- is a decent one, with a more extensive look at the show than I expected.

Atlantis: Season One Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Will Atlantis meet a grisly demise? Probably sooner rather than later. I can't imagine it lasting as long as Merlin; if it does, all is not well in the realm of the BBC gods. Stilted, cheesy and stagnant, the series stumbles through a rocky first season with little to show for it other than a solid cast and a few decent episodes. Honestly, if I weren't reviewing it, I doubt I would have made it past episode six. If I held on that long. Fortunately, Atlantis's Blu-ray debut succeeds with a strong video presentation and serviceable DTS-HD Master Audio stereo mix, even as it fails to serve up enough special features. Regardless, I'd recommend sampling an episode or two before buying. It won't take long to decide if you're a fan.