Spark: A Space Tail Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.0
Video		3.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		1.0
Overall		2.5

Spark: A Space Tail Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman July 1, 2017

Almost everything in and around the cinema world today could be labeled with the term "over-saturation" in some form or fashion. There's just so much of everything, and there's so very little creativity in that so much of everything, that when it comes down to cases it's all about degrees. To what degree does a film take its own characters and setting and work them into a prefabricated plot or within a larger world of established concepts and qualities that that particular film simply repackages in its own outer identity? There are obviously exceptions, but Spark: A Space Tail isn't one of them. And for a movie with the word "spark" in the title, there really isn't any. It's lifeless, unoriginal, and tries too hard while failing to offer more than a trifle of individuality. The film always plays second-fiddle and cannot escape the obvious connections and heavy borrowing from other, better films.

The force is strong with this one!

Planet Bana was once a paradise: colorful, full of happy people, and existing in a state of peace and harmony. But the king's brother, Zhong, grew jealous. In a fit of rage, he unleashed the Space Kraken which all but destroyed Bana, splitting it into a number of pieces and killing off many of its inhabitants. Amongst the survivors was a young boy named Spark. Thirteen years later, Spark (voiced by Jace Norman) lives in hiding on one of Bana's fractured chunks that has been turned into a garbage depot. From there, his friends Vix (voiced by Jessica Biel) and Chunk (voiced by Rob deLeeuw) fight a clandestine war against Zhong. One day, Spark decides to take on one of the missions himself. But instead of a foolhardy undertaking, it turns out to be the first step in Spark's journey in uncovering his true identity and fulfilling his destiny.

Two movies (or one movie and a franchise) that immediately spring to mind when viewing Spark are Ratchet & Clank and Star Wars. Here's a movie in which the protagonist finds himself living amongst the scrap but with an aspiration to make a difference in the universe. He soon discovers his true heritage, abilities as a warrior, and purpose in the universe. There are certainly any number of other stories from which this film borrows, but no matter which ones one chooses to list, the result is always the same: unoriginality. Like most of these movies, it means well. Truly, it does; there's a fair bit of heart on display in a number of constructive areas beyond its stale plot that collectively keep the movie floundering rather than outright drowning. The filmmakers do their best to keep the movie spunky and spirited, and it might very well please younger viewers without much experience or expectation, but most in the audience will find it trite at best and pointless at worst, even as it does effort to show a little life beyond its recycled core.

To be sure, it's those peripherals, those elements that are unique to the movie rather than borrowed from so many of its peers, that help Spark: A Space Tail to stand out from the crowd. Granted, none of it is enough to allow it to stand out all that far, but it is enough to keep the movie from total self-destruction right from the get-go. First and foremost, the voice acting ranges from solid to strong. The filmmakers have assembled a likable and diverse cast, from the venerable Patrick Stewart to the familiar Jessica Biel. Add in a pair of Oscar winners in Hillary Swank and Susan Sarandon and the cast is certainly something to brag about. Indeed, they do a great job. The voices match the characters scene for scene perfectly, and even young Jace Norman as the title character finds just the right cadence. The movie's animation is nothing special from a technical perspective, but there are some fun designs, large and small, primary and supportive, that help carry the movie and give it just enough juice to maintain a reasonable level of interest. Again, though, none of it is enough to completely overcome the narrative emptiness, but the technical side of the ledger does at least keep the film afloat when it has no business of doing so.

Spark: A Space Tail Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Spark: A Space Tail is one of the more visually bland animated films, clearly lacking the budget and polish of the more sophisticated films on the market. Basics are fine. Colors are vibrant and there's adequate pop, but there's not a lot of nuance; boldness is intact but complexity is not, particularly along the larger swaths of color. Some of the finer point elements, like wear on robots, offer a little more transitional color complexity. Details are fine, a bit flat again on the larger surface area elements, but those finer, more intricate areas find a bit more appreciable detailing. The transfer does show some issues, though, chief amongst them being significant aliasing. Overhead city shots are particularly prone to excess shimmering to the point of scene-destroying distraction. Various lines are jagged, too, even along character faces. Light banding is evident but never much of a concern. This is hardly a striking transfer, much of it the fault of a somewhat limited source, but no matter the cause it's only impressive at-a-glance; the image suffers greatly beyond.

Spark: A Space Tail Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Spark: A Space Tail's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack is, on the other hand, very impressive. It won't blow anyone away, but it's full, detailed, and lively. Music, whether instrumental score or Pop songs, enjoys fluid spacing around the stage. Width along the front comes effortlessly, surround implementation is obvious and well balanced, and the low end is agreeably deep and supportive. Action effects are nicely integrated, too, with plenty of weight and well distributed and naturally positioned details. Spot-specific imaging and variable, moving elements are finely integrated, too. Ambient effects are pleasantly supportive. Dialogue is clear and robust, center positioned and well prioritized at all times. Pleasing reverberation may be heard when General Zhong speaks around the 50-minute mark.

Spark: A Space Tail Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Spark: A Space Tail contains a voice work featurette, image progression highlights, and an art reel. A DVD copy of the film and a voucher for a UV/iTunes digital copy code are included with purchase.

• A Creative Spark: Voicing the Characters (1080p, 3:06): The voice cast talks up the experience of working on the film.
• Bringing Spark To Life (1080p, 3:05): A collection of images from the film in various stages of production, set to music.
• Spark Concept Art Reel (1080p, 1:43): Early artwork for the film, set to music.

Spark: A Space Tail Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Spark: A Space Tail can hardly be labeled as "creative." It's mostly an empty vessel, dramatically, a film with precious little imagination, flat characters, and a try-hard cadence. Solid voice acting and a few nifty visuals save it from complete failure, but the film is destined to join other animated flops that have tried, and failed, to match up with the big boys. Universal's Blu-ray offers troubled video, solid lossless audio, and a few extras. Skip it.