7.4 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
By uttering a single magic word, young Billy Batson transforms himself into the world's mightiest mortal: Captain Marvel. That word is created from the first letters of the names of the six elders who train Billy with their special gifts – Solomon, wisdom; Hercules, strength; Atlas, stamina; Zeus, power; Achilles, courage; and Mercury, speed – SHAZAM! Now, the entire series has been meticulously remastered in High Definition from original elements, bringing a whole new viewing experience in this 4-disc set featuring every exciting episode of this classic television show!
Starring: Michael Gray, Les Tremayne, Jackson Bostwick, John Davey (I), JoAnna CameronComic book | 100% |
Adventure | Insignificant |
Fantasy | Insignificant |
Action | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.33:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Four-disc set (4 BDs)
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 2.5 | |
Extras | 0.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Superhero saturation has yet to reach a breaking point on either the big or the small screen (virus concerns not withstanding) and in fact the genre is likely here to stay, in part because it never really went anywhere. The draw into the world of superpowers, secret identities, heroes, villains, and everything else that comes with the territory dates back more than 80 years when Superman took the world by storm in Action Comics #1. In 1952, Adventures of Superman launched the hero onto screens across the nation. DC's other hot property, Batman, found its wings in the 1966 TV show of the same name that has since become a cultural icon. Following up on Batman was Shazam!, a 1974 Saturday morning live action show based on the Whiz Comics hero (which would eventually be folded into the DC family). But rather than the depicting the battle against evil and building the character, the show weaves together a number of independent morality tales and builds character in its audience by inserting Billy Baston and Captain Marvel into everyday life scenarios where a valuable lesson is to be learned as a result of their, and Captain Marvel's, involvement into the story.
Warner Archive's work with Shazam!: The Complete Live Action Series is to be commended. The remastering yields a near perfect viewing experience that is faithful to the original film elements, boasting newfound clarity that brings the show to life like never before. The picture maintains a healthy grain structure, one which is consistent in density and flattering of the innate textures within. The picture is naturally sharp and revealing, showcasing skin details and environmental components -- plenty of manmade places and objects as well as a plethora of natural locations -- with striking clarity and efficiency. Rarely does the picture ever appear soft or inorganically flat. Colors are very good, too, presenting with strong tonal density and pleasing neutral output. Never do tones appear oversaturated or, on the other end of the spectrum, dull, faded, and/or flat. Skin tones appear healthy and black levels are pleasantly deep and true. There are no serious source blemishes of note and neither are there any distracting compression artifacts.
Shazam's DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 lossless soundtrack begins inauspiciously with garbled, muddy dialogue in the parking lot in episode one, where the kids speak with little distinctive clarity. The presentation improves a bit when the acton shifts to Billy and Mentor though it certainly doesn't offer superior clarity or lifelike reproduction here or anywhere else. Nothing through the series is particularly robust but the track does quickly reach a point of acceptable definition for music, effects, and dialogue, all of which are limited in range and detail but carry the material well enough. Content images to the center without much feel for grand width or even want to stretch. The track is fairly bland and cramped and there are few real technical issues to note, too. A few lip sync problems crop up at times, one of the most prominent coming at the 13 minute mark in episode one. Additionally, listeners will note the occasional example of uneven pitch from time to time, even from shot to shot.
No supplements are included across any of the four Blu-ray discs. No DVD or digital copies are included with purchase. This release does not ship with a slipcover.
In Shazam!, it's the heroes jobs to involve themselves in everyday tedium, not battle larger-than-life villains in complexly choreographed action extravaganzas. Captain Marvel is more of a teacher than a hero. Sure he can fly, he has super strength, and he uses his powers to save the day, but it's the lessons learned where the show works to earn its stripes. It's an entirely different animal than even its TV comic contemporaries, and while it's ultra cheesy by today's standards there's a charm to its simplicity and its willingness to put purpose and practicality above razzle-dazzle. Warner Archive's featureless four-disc set delivers very good 1080p video and mostly adequate two-channel audio. Recommended.
Director's Cut
2005
Cinematic Universe Edition
2019
2014
2016
1978
1984
2020
2017
2017
Extended and Theatrical versions
2011
2012
2015
2019
2019
Cinematic Universe Edition
2022
2021
1996
2007
2013
2023