6.5 | / 10 |
Users | 4.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Meet Clark Kent. Sent to Earth as an infant from the dying planet Krypton, he arrived with as many questions as the number of light-years he traveled. Now a young man, he makes his living in Metropolis as an intern at the Daily Planet – alongside reporter Lois Lane – while secretly wielding his alien powers of flight, super-strength and x-ray vision in the battle for good. Follow the fledgling hero as he engages in bloody battles with intergalactic bounty hunter Lobo before fighting for his life with the alien Parasite. The world will learn about Superman...but first, Superman must save the world!
Starring: Alexandra Daddario, Ryan Hurst, Darren Criss, Bellamy Young, Brett DaltonComic book | 100% |
Animation | 65% |
Video codec: HEVC / H.265
Video resolution: 4K (2160p)
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.78:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
French: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps)
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps)
English SDH, French, Spanish
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
Digital copy
4K Ultra HD
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A, B (C untested)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 2.5 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Chris Palmer's Superman: Man of Tomorrow isn't the start of a new DC animated universe, but it sure feels like a bold step into new territory. This is also not the first time one of their direct-to-video films toyed around with established characters and lore, yet the striking combination of a retrofitted Metropolis and clean, uncluttered visual design -- not to mention a few odd but inspired guest stars, including The Martian Manhunter and fraggin' Lobo -- make this origin story feel fresher and newer than most. Easily accessible to newcomers but different enough to pique the interest of die-hard fans, Man of Tomorrow continues the studio's recent winning streak and looks good doing it.
Like a romantic comedy, though, the unlikely pair ends up getting together...and, wouldn't you know it, The Martian Manhunter and Lex Luthor are also in on the fun. Their common enemy is Parasite, a being inadvertently created during that initial fight between Superman and Lobo when Rudy Jones (a lowly but strangely authoritative janitor at Luthor's S.T.A.R. Labs) is mutated during an industrial accident. Now cursed with the ability to suck the life force out of anyone he touches, Parasite's hideous alien body grows larger and more power-hungry after every meal.
It's a lot to unpack in just over 80 minutes, but Man of Tomorrow manages to feel like a well-paced and engaging adventure almost every step of the way. The initial arrival of Lobo feels a little forced although his character origins eventually fit their way into the plot naturally, even if The Martian Manhunter -- who can't help but play second fiddle, due to Lobo's brash personality -- is obviously a more compelling character in the long run. Man of Tomorrow also drops the ball slightly in regards to Lois Lane, who takes a backseat during several crucial moments despite a strong overall showing in the first and third acts. By and large, though, these are minor complaints for a film that plays most of its cards right and manages to surprise in a few unexpected ways. The bold and outline-heavy visual design is an obvious highlight, while its excellent voice cast includes Darren Criss in the lead role as well as Alexandra Daddario (Lois Lane), Ike Amadi (J'onn J'onzz), Ryan Hurst (Lobo), Zachary Quinto (Lex Luthor) and more.
Both the terrific visuals and inspired voice casting are showcased nicely by Warner Bros.' new 4K/Blu-ray combo pack (also available as a Blu-ray/DVD combo pack),
which features very solid A/V specs and a handful of extras.
Man of Tomorrow features a much different visual style than most DCAU productions: one dominated by bold outlines, clean layouts, and flat colors in lieu of strong textures and gradients. (Think Archer or The Venture Bros., but less stiff.) While the Blu-ray remains a fine effort in its own right -- especially considering its low but very efficient bit rate -- the 4K's 2160p transfer is exceptionally crisp and makes for an almost-perfect upscale. In direct comparison the picture is noticeably thicker and more dense, as color saturation is more refined and depth is increased thanks to the benefits of HDR enhancement. The latter also leads to contrast levels that yield better shadow detail, especially in scenes dominated by darkness. Subtle shading is also more distinct, mostly around thicker character outlines.
From a technical perspective, the bit rate is also substantially improved: on average it hovers around 4-5 times higher than its Blu-ray counterpart and that disc's stray jagged edges are also less noticeable. (Some remain, but they may be part of the source material.) Overall, it's a top-notch 4K transfer that should absolutely thrill die-hard DCAU fans and, if this visual style continues, I'd image that the creative team will refine it even further.
For my thoughts on the included Blu-ray's 1080p transfer, please see my review of that edition.
While the DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio mix doesn't take the DCAU in any new directions, it's still a very satisfying effort that gets the job done. As expected, dialogue is mostly right up front in all but the most crowded scenes (of which there are very few) and the surrounds are mostly reserved for atmospheric touches, action scenes, and the score by Kevin Riepl, whose last musical contribution for the DCAU was 2019's Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. So while there aren't many sonic surprises here and a full-blown Atmox mix would've been interesting, this six-channel track covers the bases nicely and is mixed perfectly well with very good dynamic range.
Optional subtitles, including English (SDH), are offered during the film and extras, although the Blu-ray has more dubs to choose from. Regardless of disc, they're formatted nicely and do not suffer from any obvious sync issues.
This two-disc release arrives in a dual-hubbed keepcase with a matching slipcover and two inserts including a Digital Copy redemption slip. All bonus features listed below can be found on the included Blu-ray disc.
DC's latest animated film Superman: Man of Tomorrow finds a comfortable balance between old and new: established characters and settings have been given a fresh overhaul and visual redesign, which manages to make this origin story feel like something new and different. Though not without a few small speed bumps along the way, it hits most of its marks and doesn't drag at all from start to finish. Overall, I enjoyed this one more than expected and Warner Bros.' 4K combo pack offers solid A/V specs and a decent mixture of old and new extras. Whether you opt for this version or the stand-alone Blu-ray, Man of Tomorrow earns an easy recommendation for casual and die-hard fans alike.
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