7.6 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
The TRANSFORMERS saga starts a new chapter as old foes return, legendary heroes rise, and new ones are found in unlikely places. The new EMMY Award winning series TRANSFORMERS PRIME, A Hasbro Studios production, currently airs on The HUB television network in the U.S. and Teletoons in Canada, deepens the epic mythology of both the AUTOBOTS and DECEPTICONS, while starting a new chapter for a new generation of fans.
Starring: Peter Cullen, Frank Welker, Steve Blum, Jeffrey Combs, Sumalee MontanoSci-Fi | 100% |
Animation | 93% |
Adventure | 91% |
Action | 91% |
Family | 47% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.78:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
English: LPCM 2.0
None
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Four-disc set (4 BDs)
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (locked)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 1.5 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
It has truly been our darkest hour.
It's not exactly the Transformers that dominated the Saturday morning airwaves and toy store shelves in the 1980s, but Transformers
Prime retains the core essence of the original toy line and 'toon, namely the battle of good versus evil embodied in Autobots and Decepticons
and,
more specifically, Optimus Prime and Megatron. Transformers Prime's second season rounds off the first's cliffhanger ending and delves into
many new adventures, some largely standalone but most following a carefully constructed arc that furthers the tale of shapeshifting robots battling
light
years away from their home world -- where else -- here on Earth. To be sure, however, the characters have undergone a rather radical physical
makeover since the 1980s. Some basic elements remain -- Prime's a big rig, Peter Cullen voices him, Bumblebee's yellow, Starscream craves power,
and, um, yeah -- but much more has changed than it has stayed the same, thanks
in large part to an
adherence to the Michael Bay films and bit less reliance on the classic, original line design. Like or loathe the
way the show
looks and what it's done with the characters,
there's no denying its strengths as a strongly scripted series that offers a whole lot more to discerning viewers than meets the eye that sees only a
weird looking Saturday morning cartoon that's all at once boxy and plastic and sleek and streamlined organic.
Who are you?
Transformers Prime: Season Two rolls out onto Blu-ray with a solid but problematic high definition transfer. Generally the image fares well. Viewers will enjoy the clear realization of all of the digital artists' fine details, such as wear and tear in the form of dents and scratches and stray elements on metallic Transformer bodies. Human characters are a bit more inorganic, "pristine" perhaps and without much more than the most basic details to their appearance. Colors are quite strong, whether in many of the lower-light areas on board the Nemesis or in brighter exteriors that allow Prime's red, Bee's yellow, and Bulkhead's green to shine through with exacting precision. The image does take on a fairly flat appearance, though, but not to the detriment of vibrancy or detail. On the flip side, moderately heavy banding is a regular guest throughout the season, as are jagged lines and bouts of shimmering. None of these make the series unwatchable by any stretch of the imagination, but they do stand out against an otherwise good-looking animated transfer.
Transformers Prime: Season Two features a robust, power-packed DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack. It offers a wide sound field, presenting action scenes with a robust presence that nicely immerses the listener in the various combat scenes. Surrounds are put to good use in the pursuit of satisfying envelopment. Bass is strong, doing well to round the heaviest effects into natural shape; the Nemesis rumbles through the sky with striking power, gun blasts and explosions pack a nice punch, and more generalized sound effects emit just the right amount of low end force. Music, likewise, enjoys fine clarity and front-end spacing. Atmospherics are rather minimal, but the excellence of action and music more than make up for the lack of natural immersion in the calmer moments. Dialogue is even and accurate, playing smoothly and intelligibly through the center. This is a fine sound presentation that elevates the action greatly and effortlessly places the listener in the midst of the action.
Transformers Prime: Season Two contains only the following two supplements, both located on disc four:
Transformers Prime: Season Two works very well, even around some pacing issues. There are smart plots and strong character moments, an admirable effort at high-impact drama to shape the series beyond a bland action-only cartoon. Themes of loss, trust, loyalty, and the bonds of friendship shape much of the season, all of which work well around action that's sometimes repetitive and sometimes as big in scope as the Saturday morning canvas allows. This is far from a perfect season, however. It's a little bit less than its predecessor, but Prime remains a quality show that might frustrate purists with its ultramodern animation style, character evolution, and closer adherence to the Michael Bay vision even while retaining the core of what makes Transformers great. Shout! Factory's Blu-ray release of Transformers Prime: Season Two features good video and high quality audio. Supplements are few. Recommended to fans.
Limited Edition | Includes 96-page prequel graphic novel
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