7.1 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
A spin-off to the TV series Ultraman Orb, the prequel introduces the characters Gai Kurenai and Jugglus Juggler, who, legend has it, once fought for the same power.
Starring: Hideo Ishiguro, Takaya Aoyagi, Saki Fukuda, Asuka Shibuya, Yasuhisa FuruharaForeign | 100% |
Sci-Fi | 56% |
Action | 47% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Japanese: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
English
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
Digital copy
Region A, B (C untested)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 0.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
The Ultraman franchise's longevity and breadth are only matched by its entertainment value and fun factor. The franchise somehow, someway, maintains freshness and vigor even through what seems like countless iterations and endless variants of the character. What was once a small Japanese TV production has blossomed over the decades to include feature-length movies and, now, Ultraman Orb: The Origin Saga, an Amazon web series that debuted on the online giant's service in December 2016. The Origin Saga serves as prequel to the 50th anniversary series Ultraman Orb, which itself premiered only months earlier in July 2016 on TV Tokyo. This two-disc Blu-ray set also includes the short Ultra Fight Orb on disc two. That program originally aired in April 2017. Find below brief recaps of both programs, followed by video and audio presentation analyses. No supplements are included.
Ultraman Orb: The Origin Saga earns a hearty Blu-ray release that is not without flaw but that holds up as an extremely satisfying picture in the aggregate. The most glaring weakness comes in the form of compression artifacts which are minimized in intensity in well-lit scenes but that tend to present with higher visible yield in lower light shots, scenes, and sequences, often to the point of distraction. But this and a bit of noise here and there are the only real sore spots in an otherwise excellent presentation. One might could argue that the 1080p resolution delivers enough in terms of clarity and robustness to render some of the CGI fakery a little too fake against the well-defined real elements in play, but there's always been an inherent charm to the series' somewhat silly visual effects, and that holds true here. It doesn't remove the viewer from the show, but it does serve as a reminder of the fantastical, slightly goofy nature of the whole thing. Indeed, textural might is obvious throughout, with character, costume, and environment details holding very clear and very well defined. There's not a missed pore or out off place hair to be found, not a shoddy looking environment or a poorly managed article of costume or clothing. The digitally sourced imagery shines across the board, in close-up and well way from the camera, too. Colors are vibrant and healthy, presenting both essential, real-world tones and digital constructs with equal pizzazz. Tonal intensity is excellent throughout the spectrum, flesh tones appear spot-on, and black levels are suitably deep and accurate. While certainly struggling with a few problems that might have been mitigated with a bit more sprawl onto other discs -- pushing the content onto three platters rather than two -- the overall presentation quality is relatively high, particularly given the aggressive Mill Creek pricing.
The only audio option available on both programs is the original Japanese language track, presented here in DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 lossless configuration. Much like several other Ultraman releases -- particularly the more newly minted shows -- this one plays larger than its limits. The two-channel lossless soundtrack is exuberant, energetic, even exciting. There's so much energy, width, and activity -- not to mention sound foundational detail -- that the two channel effort sometimes passes for a multichannel surround presentation. There's a barrage of activity in everything from the opening title theme song to the various action scenes. The former offers crisp, intense, widely dispersed notes and well defined centralized lyrics, the latter a barrage of sound elements that draw the listener into the mayhem with various crashes, beams, punches, kicks, zooming spacecraft, and all variety of oversized mayhem spilling into the soundstage with very impressive energy and dedication; it's a shame more two-channel tracks can't find this level of engagement and fun. Dialogue is clear and lifelike with firm, consistent front-center engagement. Two channels, no problem. This one's good to go just as it is. Note that English subtitles are included and default to "on;" they can, of course, be turned off in the menu or during playback using the remote's subtitle button.
Unfortunately, no supplemental content is included anywhere across the two Blu-ray discs, none for Ultraman Orb: The Origin Saga and none for Ultra Fight Orb, disappointing but par for the Ultraman Blu-ray course. The two disc set does ship with a non-embossed slipcover that includes alternate artwork that differs from that included as the Blu-ray case insert. A MovieSpree digital copy code is included with purchase.
Whether the stories move forward in time or move backwards to offer a new angle look at an established corner of the saga, the Utlraman freight train keeps moving forward with richly developed stories, robust action, and all of the charm that has helped maintain the status quo even through decades of technological and narrative advances. That all holds true for both The Origin Saga and Ultra Fight Orb, and for their Blu-ray releases. Mill Creek has certainly been consistent with the presentations, offering sound video and rock-solid audio here across two discs. There are once again no extras, a disappointment but understandable at the aggressive price point that is all but begging fans and newcomers alike to pick this up, along with everything Ultraman the studio has released so far. Recommended.
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
Series + Movie / ウルトラマンジード / Urutoraman Jîdo
2017-2018
2016
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
2018
2019
1974-1975
2010
Urutoraman sâga
2012
ウルトラマンタロウ
1973-1974
Ultra Galaxy Legend Gaiden: Ultraman Zero vs. Darklops Zero
2010
帰ってきたウルトラマン / Kaettekita Urutoraman
1971-1972
ウルトラマンA(エース) / Urutoraman Ēsu
1972-1973
ウルトラセブン
1967-1968
Daikaijû Batoru: Urutora Ginga Densetsu
2009
Ultraman Zero Gaiden: Killer the Beatstar
2011
2008-2009
ウルトラQ
1966
ウルトラマン
1966-1967