8.3 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.5 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
The Walking Dead tells the story of the aftermath of a zombie apocalypse and follows a small group of survivors traveling across the United States in search of a new home away from the hordes of zombies. The group is led by Rick Grimes, who was a police officer in the old world. As their situation grows more and more grim, the group's desperation to survive pushes them to do almost anything to stay alive.
Starring: Andrew Lincoln, Norman Reedus, Chandler Riggs, Melissa McBride, Lauren CohanComic book | 100% |
Thriller | 93% |
Horror | 88% |
Supernatural | 83% |
Melodrama | 54% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.78:1
English: Dolby TrueHD 7.1
French: Dolby Digital 2.0
English SDH, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Five-disc set (5 BDs)
UV digital copy
Region A (C untested)
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 5.0 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
Note: This review is covering only the special packaging and collectibles found within this exclusive fourth-season release of 'The Walking Dead.' For complete coverage of the discs and everything on them, including supplemental reviews, please click through to the regular edition release here.
Inspiration.
Anchor Bay has released another impressive boxed set super edition of The Walking Dead, following up on the gruesomely excellent Governor's Aquarium Case from season three and season two's Zombie Screwdriver Case, both from McFarlane Toys. This "Tree Walker
Case,"
also
from the good people at McFarlane Toys, is nearly as impressive. It, like its predecessors, comes in a large outer cardboard box that's nearly a
perfect
cube, measuring approximately 12.25" long and tall and coming in at 11.5" deep. The box weighs approximately four pounds and eleven
ounces.
Opening reveals a firmly fitting styrofoam protectant and the digibiook-style Blu-ray case presentation on top. For the serious collector, even
one
who
doesn't care so much about the statue, this exclusive packaging, which replaces the standard, less-attractive, and cheaper, option, is reason
enough
to
purchase. The five discs are housed on three sides, with discs one and two sharing the left hand side (with their own overlapping spindles)
and discs
three and
four the middle (again with their own overlapping spindles). Disc five, the dedicated special features disc, enjoys the entire right-hand side by
itself.
Also included is an original front-cover
illustration by acclaimed comic book Author and Artist Alex Ross. The reverse side offers basic Blu-ray information -- a synopsis, special feature
details, and a technical specifications box -- while the interior, underneath the discs, offers images of select cast members. Also inside the case
are
three items, a single-sided Ultraviolet digital copy leaflet, an advertisement for the upcoming Halloween box set, and a booklet entitled "Dead Stuff," which is
essentially a miniature catalog advertising The Walking Dead merchandise.
After removing the AMC-branded styrofoam from the box -- which is cool and practically makes it something of a minor collectible -- users will
find
the crown
jewel of the set: the detailed, limited mobility model of a zombie morphed into a tree, which also doubles as a home for the Blu-ray set.
Though dark
and largely colorless beyond touches of green, brown, and gray, the statue impresses with its attention to detail, brought out exquisitely even
through the limited palette. The statue feels sturdy enough for display duty, not hollow beyond the Blu-ray case slot but not so solid that it
could
survive a major impact.
The outer textures are excellent. Tree bark is rough, and the zombie feels more or less the same, from the arm to the inside of the empty
stomach
cavity. The
foliage, which sticks up at the base of the tree, does have a bland plastic feel and represents, obviously, the most fragile piece of the set. The
bottom of the statue is a flat base with four small felt/rubbery-feeling feet. There's significant give to the Blu-ray case sleeve when empty, but
it's
built well enough for display purposes. It features raised lettering on the front. When the Blu-ray case is fully inserted, a small lever on the
bottom
engages, resulting in the zombie's head twisting to the side and its left arm raising a couple of inches. It's a neat effect, though some may be
disappointed with how obvious the small circular pin in the shoulder joint stands apart from the rest, even while painted a similar shade of
gray as
found
on the surrounding area. Note that the head and arm may be moved independently of the lever; lifting the arm does not result in a twist of the
head, but turning the head in turn lifts the arm. It's too bad a battery or A/C option wasn't included for constant movement and thereby more
closely replicating a zombie (motion sensors would have been even cooler, though obviously more costly, to simulate the effect of the zombie
reacting to a live presence nearby). The statue measures about 9" at its very
top height, around 9" from side-to-side at its widest (which is rather consistent),
and about 9.5" deep from the longest extended finger to the back of the statue.
This special edition of The Walking Dead's fourth season Blu-ray release is a must-own for die-hard collectors. It's not quite so novel and cool as last season's governor's aquarium, however. It's neither as iconic in terms of its presence in and importance to the actual show nor as visually arresting as that previous trinket, but this will look great on the shelf, with or without the attractive fold-open, tri-sided digipak casing inside, and either alongside the aquarium or as a standalone piece. It's nice enough to become the centerpiece of a small Walking Dead collection that's without the aquarium; it's just a matter of whether it's worth the additional dollars -- around $55, at time of publication -- for what amounts to something to sit on the shelf and look gruesomely pretty. For the die-hard it's a no-brainer, but casual fans are probably better off with the standalone season set.
2010
3-Disc Special Edition
2010
Special Edition with Mask
2010
Limited Edition
2010
Lenticular Cover
2010
2011-2012
Exclusive McFarlane Toys Zombie Statue Case
2011-2012
4-Disc Limited Edition
2011-2012
Lenticular Cover
2011-2012
2012-2013
Exclusive McFarlane Toys Governor's Aquarium Case
2012-2013
2012-2013
w/ Soundtrack
2012-2013
Combo Pack
2012-2013
5-Disc Limited Edition
2012-2013
2012-2013
2013-2014
2013-2014
Prison Key Edition
2013-2014
with Soundtrack
2013-2014
2013-2014
Digipack
2013-2014
2014-2015
2014-2015
2014-2015
with Funko Mystery Mini Daryl Dixon
2014-2015
Limited Edition
2014-2015
Exclusive McFarlane Toys
2014-2015
2015-2016
2015-2016
Lenticular Cover
2015-2016
with exclusive bonus disc
2015-2016
Limited Edition
2015-2016
2016-2017
2016-2017
Lenticular Cover
2016-2017
2016-2017
Limited Edition Spike Walker Statue
2016-2017
2017-2018
2017-2018
2017-2018
Lenticular Cover
2017-2018
2018-2019
2019-2021
2021-2022
2007
2009
2007
2010
2013
2011
2007
2005-2020
Director's Cut
1997
2018
Collector's Edition | + Theatrical Cut on BD
2004
2007
2016
2018
2016
2016
Lenticular Slipcover
2016
2002
2012
2015