7.4 | / 10 |
Users | 4.5 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.1 |
When Batman finds himself under attack by his own son, Damian, he at first suspects the hand of Ra's Al Ghul behind the treachery, but then comes to see that the boy may be controlled by a mysterious and murderous society known as the Court of Owls.
Starring: Jason O'Mara, Stuart Allan, Jeremy Sisto, Grey Griffin, Troy BakerComic book | 100% |
Action | 87% |
Sci-Fi | 68% |
Animation | 67% |
Fantasy | 65% |
Adventure | 63% |
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
French: Dolby Digital 5.1
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1
German: Dolby Digital 5.1
English SDH, French, German, Spanish, Korean
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
UV digital copy
DVD copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region free
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 3.5 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
It's been quite a while since we've been treated to a great DCU animated original movie. The Dark Knight Returns set a new bar in September 2012 and January 2013... but then came something of a dry spell. Has it really been two and a half years since we were so collectively engrossed? So wowed? Afraid so. The Flashpoint Paradox (2013) War (2014) and Assault on Arkham (2014) were entertaining, sure, but they were also flawed (perhaps fatally so), unsure of how to replicate the Marvel Cinematic Universe's interconnected film-n-TV magic with the animated JLA on the small screen. (And with the less than popular "New 52" reboot as its basis, no less.) Son of Batman (2014) and Throne of Atlantis (2015), meanwhile, failed spectacularly on a variety of levels, dividing even the most forgiving fans into two distinct camps: The Disappointed & Skeptical and The Disappointed & Hopeful, neither particularly pleased with what have been deemed by many to be two of the worst DCU animated movies since Superman: Doomsday (2007).
Only now, six movies into DC's shared DTV animation universe, are we finally, at long last seeing our first real contender emerge, and, whowouldathought, it's a direct sequel to Son of Batman.
Batman vs. Robin doesn't inject anything especially remarkable into the DCU shared universe. It simply approaches the material and characters with confidence, composure and good ol' fashioned know-how, offering a smartly scripted, hard hitting, character-driven thriller that rights many of Son of Batman's wrongs. The result isn't just a dark, cleverly crafted adaptation of a fan-favorite comic arc; one that has a keen sense of which elements from the original comic book story to alter, cut or retain. It's also a fluidly animated, action-packed tour of a secret Gotham underworld that pits father against son, ideal against ideal, principle against principle in a battle to the death.
Batman vs. Robin features a solid 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 video presentation, although you probably already know what comes next, so let's get that out of the way first. Yes, there are relatively minor instances of banding and hints of faint macroblocking throughout the movie, each caused by dynamic lighting techniques applied to the animation; most, if not all of which traces back to the source rather than Warner's encode. They don't amount to significant distractions -- significant being the key word -- but they haunt the skies and backgrounds, and are hard to miss once they're on your radar. Aliasing isn't entirely uncommon either, despite being limited to CG elements (sharp-edged vehicles being the prime offender). Thankfully, it's a lesser anomaly that's tough to spot in motion and fairly negligible on the whole. Otherwise, the encode delivers. As dark and dreary as the moonlit Gotham streets and shadowy underbelly of the city are at times, colors remain strong, contrast and saturation are dead on, black levels are deep and inky, and the animators' line art is crisp and clean. It's a striking image, with enough punch and power to offset any small disappointments.
Some fans will roll their eyes at yet another review that mentions banding and macroblocking, having shrugged their shoulders and accepted both issues as par for the animated course. (Still others simply have difficulty seeing what the rest of us can't seem to overlook. And believe me: I often wish I couldn't see any of it. It would make enjoying these presentation much, much easier.) The challenge is once again determining a video score, and once again comes down to subjective comparisons between the various DCU animated releases. Batman vs. Robin's point of comparison: its issues aren't nearly as prevalent or irritating as those in Throne of Atlantis, which earned a 3. Thus BvR's 4 out of 5. Some of you would go higher, some lower. But we've been here more than a dozen times before, so the methodology at least shouldn't come as a surprise.
Warner's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track benefits from Batman vs. Robin's string of thrilling, bone-cracking action scenes, from beatdowns to chases to fistfights to nightmares to all out assaults on the Batcave. LFE output is big and brawny, with welcome weight that brings serious oomph to every rib-snapping kick, jaw-slacking uppercut, shotgun blast, engine roar, mech attack and climactic battle. Rear speaker activity is just as aggressive, though a bit less consistently so (the culprit being the sound design rather than the lossless track). Undead ninjas stream in from all directions, bullets and knives ricochet from channel to channel, fear toxin hallucinations flood the soundfield, and the environments are quite immersive, especially once the baddies dispense with talking and try to settle their differences with Batman via violence. Directionality is commendable, pans are smooth, and the experience is engaging all around. Voices are clear and intelligible at all times too, without anything in the way of notable prioritization mishaps. All told, Batman vs. Robin offers a lossless track worthy of its brutal, bloody action.
Batman vs. Robin marks a big improvement over Son of Batman, with a tighter story, more engaging heroes, deadlier villains, more intriguing character dynamics, higher stakes and more striking animation. It doesn't quite rise to the level of greatness of the best of the DCU best, but it comes close enough to earn a solid recommendation. Warner's Blu-ray will please fans too, thanks to a solid video presentation, excellent DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track, and a well-crafted selection of special features.
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2015
DCU
2015
2015
Deluxe Edition w/ Figurine
2015
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DC Universe Animated Original Movie #25
2016
DCU
2014
DC Universe Animated Original Movie #9
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10th Anniversary | Commemorative Edition
2011
DC Universe Animated Original Movie #30
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DC Universe Animated Original Movie #8
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DC Universe Animated Original Movie #13
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Commemorative Edition
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DC Universe Animated Original Movie #6
2009
DC Universe Animated Original Movie #26
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DC Universe Animated Original Movie #3
2008
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2011