Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		2.5
Audio		2.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		2.5

Ultraman: Secrets of The Rise of Ultraman Collection Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman February 14, 2024

Mill Creek has released 'Ultraman: Secrets of The Rise of Ultraman Collection' to Blu-ray. This single disc release contains '9 exclusive episodes of the original Ultraman series featuring English dubs, collectible artwork, and a bonus feature from Marvel Comics and Starlight Runner Productions.' Indeed, this is a collectible re-release of select episodes from the show's original season. Additionally, this release includes various bonus features, which is a rarity for 'Ultraman' Blu-ray releases.

The purpose of this release within Mill Creek's marketing strategy for the "Ultra-Verse" Blu-ray series appears twofold: first, to offer hardcore fans the opportunity to experience a handful of early franchise episodes with rare English dubs. It is also, second, a not so thinly veiled marketing tie in with the Marvel comic books The Rise of Ultraman. In fact, the bonus features on the disc tie directly to the bond between the comics and the screen franchise. Otherwise, there's not much here. The English dubs are effective and certainly a fine novelty for fans to explore, or even to use as an introduction for hesitant viewers who might be stubbornly opposed to investing into such a sprawling franchise that is not in English (whether the actual technical quality of the dub tracks make them worth listening to is another story entirely...see the audio review below). Yet however fans want to parse the reason for and motives behind this release, it's definitely a solid little collection that should enjoy a prominent place on the Blu-ray shelf of any hardcore Ultraman franchise fan.

The following episodes are included on the disc:

• Science Patrol, Move Out!
• Breach the Wall of Smoke
• Human Specimens 5 & 6
• Challenge to the Underground
• Phantom of the Snow Mountains
• Who Goes There?
• A Gift from the Sky
• The Monster Graveyard
• Spaceship Rescue Command

Ultraman: Secrets of The Rise of Ultraman Collection Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

There appears to be no discernible, significant difference between this release's episodes and those as they were found on the previous Blu-ray release. Below is a reproduction of the original Blu-ray release's video review:

While Ultra Q looked quite good on Blu-ray -- filmic, firm, borderline fantastic with only a steady but mostly unobtrusive barrage of vertical lines and a few pops and splotches getting in the way -- Ultraman is a different story entirely. Compression artifacts abound and define much of the entirety of the viewing experience. Clarity and detail aren't at all poor -- characters and environments and the various models and miniatures find good, stable definition -- but the image's better qualities are almost always overshadowed by the compression, the dense and intense macroblocking that appears across most every background. Additionally, ringing artifacts are not uncommon. Grain density is very uneven and choppy. The odd hair appear on-screen at times, too (see the 21:20 mark of "The Blue Stone of Barashi"). Colors appear to be a little washed out and depressed. The palette lacks deep contrast and tonal nuance. The 1080p resolution also equates to less forgiving model and miniature shots, which are very obvious. Wire work is also plainly visible, though these only add to the show's charm. One can imagine a more stable and sturdy presentation, but the show unquestionably benefits from the 1080p resolution. Add that Mill Creek has priced the set right and there's not a lot of room for loud complaint. Disappointment, sure, but the product's price still feels like a bargain.

Ultraman: Secrets of The Rise of Ultraman Collection Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

One of the highlights of this release is the English dub audio, presented here in the DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 lossless configuration. The presentation is frankly not very good. The opening title music is overbearing at reference volume. It is also unkempt, ungainly, and uninteresting. Fidelity suffers, spacing is weak, and it's not an enjoyable experience. With the volume tuned down a little, it's more manageable and comfortable on the ears. The core content is also lacking all but the most cursory of clarity. Sound effects range from garbled to tinny with no real effective clarity to be heard. Dialogue does image well enough to the center, but once again there is not much in the way of lifelike definition at work. This is certainly little more than a novelty.

The original Japanese tracks are also included and fares better even if it's still very lacking; please click here for a full audio review for the original Japanese audio.

Ultraman: Secrets of The Rise of Ultraman Collection Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Unlike most other Ultraman releases, Ultraman: Secrets of The Rise of Ultraman Collection contains a five-part making-of. This release also ships with a small, stapled booklet with introductory matter, an episode guide, and advertisements for other Ultraman merchandise. No DVD or digital copies are included with purchase. This release does ship with an alternative artwork slipcover.

• Secrets of the Rise of Ultraman - Part 1 (1080i, 8:30): Looking at how the new Marvel comic connects to the original TV shows.
• Secrets of the Rise of Ultraman - Part 2 (1080i, 8:27): This piece explores issue 2's story and its connection to the content from the original Ultraman TV show.
• Secrets of the Rise of Ultraman - Part 3 (1080i, 7:59): Yet another piece that explores the links between the TV show and the comic, this time focusing on the comic's third issue.
• Secrets of the Rise of Ultraman - Part 4 (1080i, 8:39): Another supplement that explores the story behind the comic's fourth issue and its connections to the previous screen adventures of Ultraman.
• Secrets of the Rise of Ultraman - Part 5 (1080i, 8:15): This final installment explores, yes, the fifth issue of the Marvel comic series and its connection to Ultraman's illustrious screen history.

Ultraman: Secrets of The Rise of Ultraman Collection Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

There's some fun here for the hardcore Ultraman franchise fan with this release, including the English dubs and the supplements which offer around 40 minutes of exposition on the comic book series. Yet the quality of the new audio isn't all that great, the video is the same as the previous release, and...there's not much else to say. It will be a fine companion piece that serious collectors will enjoy, but this is probably not a release for casuals or newcomers, save, perhaps, those who want a taste of the franchise without, one, committing much money into it and, two, who might want to ease in with a few episodes in English before diving fully into the Japanese audio tracks on the full season releases.