Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		0.0
Overall		3.0

First Squad: The Moment of Truth Blu-ray Movie Review

A different spin on World War II's bloodiest front.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman January 7, 2012

Dead versus living? My money’s on the dead.

Many historians will argue that World War II was truly a war between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union, with other fronts and combatants merely battling on the conflict's second tier. It's hard to argue the point, considering the ferocity of the fighting, the turning point that was Stalingrad, and the vast resources used by the Nazis that might have, used elsewhere, overwhelmed the Western allies and led to the eventual fall of England, amongst other nations. First Squad: The Moment of Truth is a 2009 animated film that explores the mythical -- or real? -- side of the critical Russian front and the occult and supernatural powers employed by both sides in an effort to turn the tide of battle one way or the other. First Squad is a fun, fast, and smart little feature; it's a bit short, even in its "long" version, but Directors Yoshiharu Ashino, Aljosha Klimov, Misha Shprits, and company have managed to create a full, rich story in a relatively small window. It won't redefine anyone's perception of the war's Eastern front or the supposed advances into the supernatural on either side -- particularly the German side -- but it will entertain audiences who enjoy the time period and wish to see it from a somewhat unique perspective.

Ready for battle.

Hunger, despair, death. Invasion! The year is 1942, and Nazi forces have swept into the Soviet Union. A conventional war on the surface though it may seem, both sides are actually struggling to unleash something more powerful on the other, hoping to wage supernatural warfare, thereby turning the tide and putting an end to the ultra-bloody conflict. The Germans are dabbling in dangerous, ancient powers. It's been 700 years since the death of Baron Von Wolff, and prophecy foretells of his imminent return. Nazi occultists manage to resurrect him, which spells doom for the Soviets, unless they can combat the Baron with their own brand of supernaturalism. Soviet Major Below is the head of the mysterious Sixth Division, a command that recruits young people with special, superhuman powers to do battle against the Germans. Unfortunately, the entire group has been killed, save for the clairvoyant Nadya, who is to be dispatched into the land of the dead in an effort to recruit her fallen comrades to do battle against the powerful Baron and swing the momentum in her country's favor.

First Squad smartly relies more on character and situational development rather than bland action to weave together its story. The result is a movie that's superior to similar fare that accentuates style rather than substance. First Squad's action is actually enhanced, then, rather than made into a second-class element, because it works seamlessly into the story, rather than made the one and only focal point. The plot in First Squad is rich, smart, involved, and captivating; audiences will come to know and understand both the characters and the world(s) in which they live and fight. The complimentary action is swift and exciting, supported by authentic and convincing period visuals. First Squad moves swiftly in its relatively short runtime, but it still takes its time in developing the story and characters; it's not until almost halfway through until the gaps have been filled and much of the storyline becomes clear. The interspersed "live action" retrospective interviews do tend to break up the movie's flow; while there's some good information revealed, it comes at the expense of the larger whole.

What's really unusual here isn't the emphasis on story, the well-placed action, the nicely-developed characters, or the general timeframe. Rather, it's the World War II clash of the supernatural on both sides of the front. Normally, history and entertainment both have been fixated on the Nazi fascination with the occult and the supernatural; numerous films, novels, and even video games have made that little obscure and still somewhat mysterious slice of World War II-era history into something of a cultural phenomenon, and rightly so given the circumstances surrounding the war, the people involved, the potential for truly "dark" forces to have turned that conflict's tide. First Squad actually examines one side's counter to Nazi occultism and supernaturalism through the use of "mutants," for lack of a better term, though one that is relevant for comparison's sake. The story of First Squad seems like a mixture of Captain America meets X-Men with a healthy dosage of something darker than even those combined entities cannot completely produce. First Squad will appeal to a broad range of audiences, then, and kudos to the filmmakers for a little bit of novelty that goes a long way in making the movie one that's well above-average.

First Squad: The Moment of Truth Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

First Squad: The Moment of Truth features a strong 1080p Blu-ray transfer. The film's opening titles look quite good, as distorted, distressed, and gritty as they may be. They're also the most colorful element in the film to be sure; the bulk of First Squad features deliberately drab earthen colors that reflect the despair of the time. Even the brightest shades sport a dim, faded look next to the pale tans, greens, browns, blacks, and white snowy backdrops. The animation isn't super-detailed by its very nature, but it's stable and crisp, the 1080p transfer proving more than capable of offering a steady image that holds up well even on large displays. Clarity is quite good, too, while blacks appear accurate. Slight banding is occasionally evident. The interspersed live action interview clips hold their own, with average detailing and coloring on the subjects themselves; they're surrounded by darkness, generally, with only a harsh red blob of light in either upper left- or right-hand corner of the screen that itself has trouble with color gradations. Overall, however, and mostly judging the animation, this is a quality transfer from Anchor Bay.

First Squad: The Moment of Truth Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

First Squad: The Moment of Truth's myriad of soundtracks are highlighted by a trio of losses options; each Dolby TrueHD 5.1 presentation is proficient and exciting whether the English, Russian, or Japanese varieties. The opening title music is nothing short of thunderous; it's excellently spaced and defined by a strong surround support element. Clarity, here, is strong, as it is throughout. The track is defined by various levels of sonic immersion and power. Rumbling military hardware is clean and accurate. Gunfire and explosions are a great strength, playing authentically and often seamlessly all over the stage. Ambience, likewise, is a strength, whether applause and chatter early on at Nadya's "talent show" or in other natural atmospherics that often do well to set the stage, sonically, from scene to scene, notably in the evident and chilling sense of realism when Nadya is transported to the land of the dead. This is an effective, immersive, entertaining track that suits the material nicely.

First Squad: The Moment of Truth Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This Blu-ray release of First Squad: The Moment of Truth contains two versions of the film: a "short" version (1:00:28) and a "long" version (1:12:53). Supplements include only trailers for Redline and Battle Royale.

First Squad: The Moment of Truth Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

First Squad: The Moment of Truth is an entertaining and fairly unique little slice of animation-meets-World War II. It's a cross of several different genres but with a uniqueness all its own at the same time. It's plot- and character-driven first and foremost, with its action seamlessly incorporated into the final product, rather than the final product worked around some studio-mandated quota of action scenes. The film is well paced, even if it takes its time introducing the entire scope of the story. First Squad should have broad appeal to many different fans of various genres, from Superhero to War, from Anime to History, for it incorporates all into one tidy, entertaining, and sometimes even enthralling little package. Anchor Bay's Blu-ray release of First Squad: The Moment of Truth features standout video and audio, but no supplements. Still, it comes recommended as a purchase on a decent sale, and it's definitely worth a more immediate rental.