7.3 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
On the same day in 1989, forty-three infants are inexplicably born to random, unconnected women who showed no signs of pregnancy the day before. Seven are adopted by a billionaire who creates The Umbrella Academy and prepares his "children" to save the world. Now, the six surviving members reunite upon the news of their father's passing and must work together to solve a mystery surrounding his death. But the estranged family begins to come apart due to their divergent personalities and abilities, not to mention the imminent threat of a global apocalypse. The Umbrella Academy is based on the comic book series created and written by Gerard Way, illustrated by Gabriel Bá, and published by Dark Horse Comics.
Starring: Elliot Page, Tom Hopper, David Castañeda (II), Emmy Raver-Lampman, Robert SheehanComic book | 100% |
Fantasy | Insignificant |
Adventure | Insignificant |
Action | Insignificant |
Mystery | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.00:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.00:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Three-disc set (3 BDs)
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 0.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
It's quite staggering to consider the depth and breadth of Superhero content on the market today. Old sources, new ideas, different formats: there's absolutely no shortage of choices for today's insatiable audiences, and the good news is that so much of this content is actually quite good. What might have just been a passing fad, a showcase for visual effects, one or two (or a few billion) quick bucks for studios has instead become the defining element across the spectrum of the visual entertainment medium. So with all of the iconic Iron Man and Batman type comic characters making a pretty penny, it's no surprise to find something like The Umbrella Academy make its way to small screen. The Netflix produced show, based on Gerard Way's 2007 comic of the same name, follows a handful of eccentric superheroes who share in common a few things: miraculous conception and birth, adoption into a wealthy household, and bizarre superhuman abilities. It's sort of like The X-Men meets The Magicians in terms of essential form and style and, of course, there's a whole "save the world" element to give it a bit of a kick.
Universal enrolls The Umbrella Academy onto Blu-ray with a straightforward, cut-and-dry 1080p transfer. It's perfectly fine if perfectly unassuming in 2021. The digitally shot material translates well to the format, offering clear, crisp, well defined textures all around, including a number of interesting locations, particularly the various rooms and design cues and trinkets and furnishings around the Hargreeves mansion as seen so prominently throughout the season. Facial close-ups are good, showing natural pores and hairs and some applied makeup and prosthetics with appreciable depth and sharpness. Colors are not at all spicy. The picture is not the most energetically brilliant but that's by design. There's a mild coldness to it but that doesn't stop essential tones from offering good essential pop and accuracy. Whites are sufficiently bright and crisp and blacks never veer too far from true. Noise is not much of a concern, and neither are any other source anomalies. The encode is in fine shape.
Universal's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack is surprisingly reserved, at times, not so much considering immersion, spacing, and activity level but rather in raw output power. At reference volume it's not particularly energetic, forceful, not particularly loud. Even the quieter moments of basic dialogue seem a bit too held in check but a small volume adjustment is all that is needed to bring a little more life to the proceedings. But when the action comes it certainly delivers a potent listen, especially with a minor upward volume adjustment. There's plenty of LFE engagement, surround intensity, and a healthy sense of space and place and effortless stage traversal and fill, whatever any given shot or scene demands. Mild atmospherics are nicely integrated, too, and music is clear and lifelike with excellent stage balance and saturation. Dialogue is clear and center positioned for the duration.
This three disc Blu-ray release of The Umbrella Academy includes no supplemental content. No DVD or digital copies are included but it does ship with a lenticular slipcover.
The Umbrella Academy may not be expressively unique but it's a solid genre entry with a fully interesting ensemble, a decent story, and quality production values. For those looking for a basic superhero fix with a side helping of family dysfunction, The Umbrella Academy is sure to hit the spot. The three disc set is featureless but the video and audio presentations are by-and-large fine, if not nondescript. Recommended.
Cinematic Universe Edition
2019
2021
2020
2017
2017
2007
2016
2019
1996
Cinematic Universe Edition
2019
15th Anniversary Edition
2004
Cinematic Universe Edition
2022
2023
2007
2019
2009
DC Universe Animated Original Movie #30
2017
DC's Legends of Tomorrow
2016-2022
Warner Archive Collection
1974-1976
2020