6.5 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 2.5 | |
Overall | 2.5 |
In LEGO DC: Batman - Family Matters, suspicion is on high after Batman, Batgirl, Robin and other DC superheroes receive mysterious invitations. However, family values must remain strong when Batman and his team encounter the villainous Red Hood, who is obsessed with destroying the Bat-family and all of Gotham City.
Starring: Troy Baker, Steve Blum, Zach Callison, Cam Clarke, Will FriedleComic book | 100% |
Animation | 87% |
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
German: Dolby Digital 5.1
Danish: Dolby Digital 5.1
Finnish: Dolby Digital 5.1
Norwegian: Dolby Digital 5.1
Swedish: Dolby Digital 5.1
English SDH, French, German SDH, Danish, Finnish, Norwegian, Swedish
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
Digital copy
DVD copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 2.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 0.5 | |
Overall | 2.5 |
In Family Matters, the LEGO and DC brands once again join forces to tell a tale of crimefighting, redemption, and reunification in Gotham City. The film blends zany action with silly gags but also finds a bit of heart along the way. It's a simple story, really, and one that is kid friendly not simply for its visual style but for the basic themes that define the tale. It's compact, colorful, and careful to offer everything a modern Superhero story demands without pushing too dark or offensive in any way.
LEGO DC: Batman - Family Matters arrives on Blu-ray with a 1080p, 1.78:1-framed video transfer that looks good at-a-glance but shows signs of struggle upon closer, and oftentimes not so close, inspection. The biggest culprit is undoubtedly banding, a constant, dense eyesore throughout. Look at the sky in the opening moments when Batman confronts Grundy for the first of countless examples. Look along the hood of Wayne's limo minutes later. Look anywhere, really. The image is plagued by severe bands of curved mess strewn across most every background. It's not a pretty sight. Aliasing is a problem, too, though nowhere near so severe and regularly occurring as the banding. The picture otherwise looks rather good, yielding a clear image that presents the various LEGO textures with impressive complexity, particularly in close-up but even at medium distance where fine brick details are in evidence. Capes and other one-off elements not made of plastic are impressively complex, too. Colors are bold in traditional LEGO style. The various superhero and super villain costumes enjoy excellent pop and saturation. Black levels are strong, too. If only the picture weren't besieged by all that banding it would probably rate at about a 4.5/5.0.
LEGO DC: Batman - Family Matters features a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack. It's quite good in sum, delivering a steady stream of high power intensity, certainly not up to Hollywood Action film standards but delivering enough core activity and subwoofer usage to satisfy requirements, and then some. The track is surprisingly dynamic and large, with the first action scene, pitting Batman against Solomon Grundy, delivering healthy low end response and plenty of activity throughout the entire stage. It's a trendsetter and the rest of the track follows, offering well versed surround implementation, both in support of the fronts and in delivering many examples of discrete excitement throughout the stage. Music enjoys wide front end coverage and well balanced surround and subwoofer content, too. A few little atmospheric effects poke in here and there but the dynamic action effects and music generally define the presentation. Dialogue is clear and center focused for the duration. It is well prioritized even above action din.
For this Blu-ray release of LEGO DC: Batman - Family Matters, Warner Brothers has only included the film's Trailer (1080p, 2:32). A DVD copy of the film and a Movies Anywhere digital copy code are included with purchase. This release also ships with a non-embossed slipcover. Additionally, this version includes a fun LEGO build of the Batmobile. There is another release that doesn't include the LEGO toy and, at time of writing, actually costs a little more.
There are several good dramatic beats in LEGO DC: Batman - Family Matters, enough to keep adults interested in the movie but not so interruptive and complex as to drag younger audiences out of the film. They're here for the action and humor, which the film supplies in more than adequate volume. The picture is fun in total and should appeal to a wide audience gamut, including kids, parents, and DC comics fans. Warner Brothers' Blu-ray is all but featureless but does include an awesome LEGO Batmobile build that every LEGO and DC collector will want to own. The Blu-ray's video is problematic as it's besieged by a steady barrage of banding but otherwise looks good. The 5.1 lossless audio offering is perfectly good. Recommended, particularly as it's relatively inexpensive and ships with that LEGO toy.
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