6.5 | / 10 |
Users | 4.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
In this very first interactive animated DC movie, you get to decide the direction Jason Todd's fate.
Starring: Bruce Greenwood, Gary Cole, John DiMaggio, Vincent Martella, Zehra FazalComic book | 100% |
Action | 75% |
Animation | 62% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.78:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Digital copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Based on the seminal 1988 four-issue Batman arc by Jim Starlin and Jim Aparo (and 10 years after Under the Red Hood), Brandon Vietti's Death in the Family resurrects a controversial story that originally showcased the ultra-violent demise of Jason Todd, AKA the second Robin. This story's secondary claim to fame was a uniquely democratic format in which fans got to decide Robin's fate by dialing a 900 number to cast their votes. The synopsis above spoils how that all turned out, but Warner Bros.' intriguing new animated adaptation lets modern audiences literally choose their own adventure via interactive seamless branching. It's up to you now, people: does Jason Todd live or die?
As such, the typical synopsis featured in most reviews doesn't seem appropriate here, but those unfamiliar with the source material may at least want to familiarize themselves with it before watching, if only to understand how much your choices can affect the outcome. Of course, the biggest one -- does Robin live or die? -- is the strongest catalyst for change here, but other choices along the way can lead to drastically different "branched" outcomes for other main and supporting characters that range from 30 seconds to a full 20 minutes. Whatever route you choose, Death in the Family stands as a brief but pretty satisfying little experiment that may lead to similar releases in the future.
One more clarification: Don't be deceived by that default listed running time of 86 minutes, which represents the total amount of content
based on every possible choice made during the show. Death in the Family Blu-ray's packaging more accurately reflects a running time of
18-31 minutes based on your potential choice combinations.
Despite the lack of a 4K option (likely due to limitations surrounding its specific authoring), Death in the Family serves up a satisfying 1080p transfer that showcases its Under the Red Hood-style animation almost perfectly. It's obviously a dark affair and the Blu-ray holds steady with good shadow detail, almost no black crush, and good color saturation that supports its mixture of vivid and muted hues. On-screen "choice breaks" are razor-sharp with crisp edges and easy-to-read text. No glaring compression artifacts or aliasing were spotted along the way, although a few instances of mild banding can be seen on harsh gradients. Again, Death in the Family is very much on par with similar DCAU Blu-rays but, due to its unique formatting, the transfer's visual consistency works in its favor more than usual.
The DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio is no slouch either, delivering a suitably clean and immersive presentation every step of the way. Dialogue is typically anchored right up front with occasional surround activity during crowded conversations or in larger rooms, while the lion's share of rear channel presence is reserved for ambient touches, action sequences, and of course the rousing original score by Christopher Drake, who has contributed to more than a half-dozen DCAU films including Wonder Woman, Batman: Year One, and The Dark Knight Returns. LFE packs an awful lot of punch on occasion, and there's also no shortage of channel pans and discrete channel activity; both add plenty of weight to the film's heavy but dynamic atmosphere. Overall, a fine effort that falls right in line with most DCAU productions.
Optional dubs and subtitles (including English SDH) are offered during the main feature and select extras.
This single-disc title arrives in an eco-friendly keepcase with attractive cover artwork, a metallic-enhanced slipcover, and a Digital Copy redemption code -- be sure to see my note about that below, by the way. While this release lacks DCAU's traditional "house blend" of bonus features (not a big deal, as they rarely pertain to the main feature anyway), Death in the Family nonetheless contains a few welcome surprises in the extras department.
Brandon Vietti's Death in the Family is a fascinating adaptation of the controversial 1988 Batman story arc... or maybe "expansion" is a better word: this unique production lets viewers decide the fate of Robin (among other outcomes) via seamless branching options chosen with the touch of a button. It's hardly new territory for those familiar with Telltale Games and the like, but this format feels natural for the source material and that makes a big difference. Warner Bros.' Blu-ray features other nice touches as well, including a quartet of previously-released DC Showcase shorts grouped together with new audio commentaries. It all adds up to a fun little detour that, along with Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge and Superman: Man of Tomorrow, feels like another step in the right direction.
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