7.1 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 2.5 | |
Overall | 2.5 |
Foreign | 100% |
Sci-Fi | 45% |
Action | 30% |
Fantasy | 27% |
Supernatural | 15% |
Adventure | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.33:1
Japanese: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Six-disc set (6 BDs)
Digital copy
Region free
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 3.0 | |
Extras | 0.0 | |
Overall | 2.5 |
Note: some of what appears below are summations from the booklet included with this Blu-ray release, written by Keith Aiken.
Special effects wizard Eiji Tsuburaya was at one point best known for his work on some of Japan's most popular Kaiju films -- Toho's Godzilla and Mothra -- but it may be for the Ultra franchise for which he
will ultimately be remembered. In 1963 Tsuburaya founded Tsuburaya Productions, a then small house with the goal of crafting small
screen entertainment with big screen quality. Tsuburaya's first production, Ultra Q, was a monster success (in more ways than one). A follow-up
was quickly ordered. That follow-up: Ultraman, another massive hit for Tsuburaya and the first of numerous
television and cinema Ultra
Q spin-offs that have since gained the franchise recognition in the Guinness Book of World Records for its sprawling longevity.
For its six-disc Ultraman Ace Blu-ray release, Mill Creek preserves the original broadcast parameter 4x3 aspect ratio which places vertical "black bars" on either side of the modern 1.78:1 HD display. The 1080p image is certainly not perfect. It shows evidence of both age-related wear as well as compression artifacts. The picture is choppy in both areas, revealing usually minor, but collectively evident, pops and speckles and other examples of age. Meanwhile, backgrounds serve up rather clumpy examples of compression macroblocking, intermixing with the natural film grain to create a distressed, uneven foundation. Fortunately, the essential working elements are in good order. Textural clarity is fine given the various limitations of age and disc space, offering pleasantly crisp, though not entirely razor-sharp, qualities to human skin textures, rubbery monster and Ultra suits, real world environments, and the extensive array of miniatures used throughout the production. Clarity allows audiences to spot wires holding up various components and identify points of wear and other weak points in the production that small, fuzzy, standard definition screens most certainly masked back in the day. Color reproduction is fair, offering fine foundational tones across the spectrum. Red is always a standout in the Ultraman universe, and it's presented with enough tonal oomph to please. Addiotnal tones, whether gray urban accents, earthy terrain, green vegetation, or various colors on Kaiju present with well-rounded, fine-tuned contrast. Skin tones are good enough, ditto black levels. This is by no means perfect, but on that Mill Creek price-quality curve it's fairly good for what it is.
The native Japanese recording is the only audio option to be found throughout this set, presented in the DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 lossless configuration. Like previous vintage Ultraman releases, it's perfectly serviceable but does show the relative lack of precise definition and the age and limitations of the original source. Music enjoys positive front end stretch and range but clarity is lacking. It's thin, a bit muddled, but baseline effective. Action scenes likewise want for greater precision, both in terms of elemental separation and overall clarity. Explosions, crashes, and other sounds of Ultraman vs. Kaiju madness struggle to offer anything beyond basic sound signatures. The material does stretch nicely along the front and some of the more movement oriented elements -- like jets flying and missiles zipping towards the end of the first episode -- do offer some impressive feelings for spacial definition along the front and some surprising heft, too. Atmospheric support elements additionally lack the clarity, spacial awareness, and balance one would expect from superior audio engineering and more expansive channel opportunities, but again the content suffices within context. Dialogue plays with solid essential clarity and prioritization. It images well enough towards the middle with only occasionally mild feelings of drift beyond towards the sides.
Ultraman Ace contains no supplements across any of the six discs. The main menu screens on each disc only offer the opportunity to toggle subtitles on and off in addition to selecting any of the disc's episodes, which are vertically oriented. The set does ship with an impressively assembled booklet that includes glossy pages, numerous color photographs, and plenty of text. It begins with introductory commentary on the show's history and production and also features a character breakdown, detailed episode synopses, key monster explorations, and a technology guide. Mill Creek has put together a comprehensive series breakdown in a relatively small space. While it's disappointing that there are no video-based extras, this compact handbook will prove to be a treasure for veterans and a necessity for newcomers just getting their feet wet in the universe. A MovieSpree digital copy code is also included with purchase.
Ultraman Ace dared to shake up the formula. All of the changes didn't stick for the entire run, but it's nice to see an effort to push the content forward rather than regurgitate what's come before, though certainly there's plenty of regurgitation in terms of essential production constructs and constraints. Not the best in the series but nevertheless a fine little show within the greater whole, Ace will appeal to relative newcomers and longtime franchise fans alike, be those who have only now gotten their feet with with Mill Creek's efforts or those who date back to the original airings. The Blu-ray's video and audio qualities suffice at best. No extras are included. The SteelBook is nicer and, at time of publication, a good bit cheaper. Opt for that one instead, but Ace on Blu-ray in any packaging does come recommended.
帰ってきたウルトラマン / Kaettekita Urutoraman
1971-1972
ウルトラマンタロウ
1973-1974
ウルトラマン
1966-1967
ウルトラセブン
1967-1968
ウルトラQ
1966
1974-1975
2015
Series + Movie / ウルトラマンオーブ & 劇場版 ウルトラマンオーブ 絆の力、おかりします!
2016-2017
2016
includes Ultra Fight Orb
2016-2017
Ultra Galaxy Legend Gaiden: Ultraman Zero vs. Darklops Zero
2010
Ultraman Zero Gaiden: Killer the Beatstar
2011
モスラ対ゴジラ / Mosura tai Gojira
1964
Series + Movie / ウルトラマンジード / Urutoraman Jîdo
2017-2018
ゴジラ・エビラ・モスラ 南海の大決闘 / Gojira, Ebirâ, Mosura: Nankai no daiketto / Ebirah, Horror of the Deep
1966
Ultraman Ginga ウルトラマンギンガ, Urutoraman Ginga / Ultraman Ginga S ウルトラマンギンガS, Urutoraman Ginga Esu / Ultraman Ginga S The Movie: Showdown! The 10 Ultra Warriors! 劇場版 ウルトラマンギンガS 決戦! ウルトラ10勇士!!, Gekijōban Urutoraman Ginga Esu Kessen! Urutora Jū Yūshi!! / Ultra Fight Victory ウルトラファイトビクトリー, Urutora Faito Bikutorī
2013-2015
怪獣島の決戦 ゴジラの息子 / Kaijûtô no kessen: Gojira no musuko
1967
三大怪獣 地球最大の決戦 / San daikaijû: Chikyû saidai no kessen
1964
Gamera tai Gyaosu
1967
Gamera tai Barugon
1966