The Blu-ray Blog » Bruce Timm

Batman: Year One Blu-ray announced and detailed

Brenden — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 05:41:33 +0000

The Batman: Year One animated film premiered to rave reviews at the San Diego Comic Con over the weekend. Shortly before hand, Warner announced the full details of the Blu-ray disc, which will be released everywhere this coming October. If the reviews and the trailer above are any indication, this is going to be one hell of a Batman film.

BATMAN: YEAR ONE
(October 18, 2011 – MSRP $19.99)
Video: 1.78:1 1080p
Audio: TBA

SPECIAL FEATURES:

Feature film
Sneak Peek at Justice League: Doom, the next DC Universe Animated Original Movie
DC Showcase Animated Original Short – Catwoman: This all-new entry to the growing canon of DC Universe animated shorts features the first first solo tale centered around Catwoman. The felonious feline’s adventure takes her through the seedy streets of Gotham City. Catwoman is voiced by Eliza Dushku (Dollhouse, Tru Calling).
Featurette “Heart of Vengeance: Returning Batman to His Roots”: “The Dark Knight Returns” provided the denouement of Batman’s life. Frank Miller’s next seminal work would provide his near-mythic origin in “Batman: Year One.” This documentary uncovers the contemporary genius of Miller and the audience that was poised to appreciate the depths of his work.
Featurette “Conversations with DC Comics”: The Batman creative team at DC Entertainment discusses the personal influence of “Batman: Year One” on their careers. Batman producer Michael Uslan leads the chat amongst well-known writers, editors and artists of the Batman lore, focusing their dialogue on the darker, realistic interpretation of Batman’s origins by Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli
Audio Commentary with Alan Burnett, Sam Liu, Mike Carlin and Andrea Romano
“Batman: Year One, Chapter 1” Digital Comic Book
Two bonus episodes from Batman: The Animated Series, handpicked by Bruce Timm
Standard and high definition versions of the feature film
Digital copy on disc of the feature film compatible with iTunes and Windows

[VIDEO] Animated Batman: Year One Blu-ray trailer

Brenden — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 13:12:37 +0000

Get More: Movie Trailers, Movies Blog

We saw a tease for Warner‘s upcoming direct to video Batman: Year One animated film on the Green Lantern: Emerald Knights Blu-ray a month or so back. As is par for the course in those pieces, there wasn’t much in the way of finished animation in the clip. Just a lot of design work, storyboards and interviews. With the release of the trailer above, we can finally get a sense of how this thing is going to look when it hits Blu-ray on October 18th. The animation doesn’t accurately reflect David Mazzucchelli‘s stunning artwork to me (the film is an adaptation of a Mazzucchelli illustrated Frank Miller comic book) but it seems pretty slick all the same.

Outside of the fact that the disc will contain a Catwoman short film, no disc details are known at this time. But rest assured, I’ll get them posted up here as soon as the studio gives us the heads up.

[VIDEO] Green Lantern: Emerald Knights Blu-ray Trailer

Brenden — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 18:24:52 +0000

[See post to watch Flash video]

Warner‘s summer sci-fi/action tent-pole film, Green Lantern, starring Ryan Reynolds as the titular hero, hits theatres on June 17th. In anticipation, the studio will be releasing an animated anthology starring characters from the big-screen incarnation. The Green Lantern: Emerald Knights Blu-ray disc will on store shelves on June 7th starring the voice talents of Nathan Fillion as Hal Jordan, Elisabeth Moss as Arisia Rrab, Jason Isaacs as Sinestro, Kelly Hu as Laira, Henry Rollins as Kilowog, Roddy Piper as Bolphunga, Arnold Vosloo as Abin Sur, Wade Williams as Deegan, and radio commentator Michael Jackson as Ganthet. Disc details have yet to be announced but it’s a safe bet that Warner will include a fair amount of publicity for the live-action film as well as a preview of the follow-up animated release, Batman: Year One due on Blu-ray this fall.

Top 5 New Blu-ray releases for the Week of February 22

Brenden — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 02:21:46 +0000

I probably could’ve finished this Top 5 list on time yesterday, but for some reason I had a hell of a time deciding which disc should end up in the number one slot this week! I know, that’s a ridiculous reason to hold an article but… well, you’re right. That wasn’t the only hold up. I also had a long day in the office that kept me from it. Never a dull moment in the world of journalism.

So, here it is now, this week’s Top 5 list, a day late but hopefully still useful to you in deciding which Blu-ray discs to pick up this week. As always, clicking the Blu-ray package art will zip you over to Amazon where every purchase make through our links helps this site stay on its feet. We appreciate every single click and thank you again for continuing to read The Blu-ray Blog.

1. GET LOW

“Academy Award winner Robert Duvall (1983, Best Actor, Tender Mercies) is Felix Bush, the “Hermit of Caleb County,” a man so haunted by his secrets that he has lived in quiet desolation in the Tennessee backwoods for over 40 years. Realizing that he is near his own mortality, Bush decides to have a “living funeral party,” inviting people to tell their stories about him. Enlisting the help of Frank Quinn (Golden Globe winner Bill Murray, 2004, Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, Lost in Translation) and Buddy Robinson (Lucas Black, Legion), Bush goes through a process of self-discovery, allowing him to deal with his past secrets, including ones involving old flame (and new widow) Mattie (Academy Award® winner Sissy Spacek, 1980, Best Actress, Coal Miner’s Daughter). ”

Get Low really came out of nowhere for me. Until seeing a trailer for the film on an earlier Sony Blu-ray disc, I had no idea it existed. It’s the feature film debut of director Aaron Schneider, who previously won an Academy Award for his 2003 short film Two Soldiers, and it’s one hell of an effort. For starters, this thing looks gorgeous. And I guess it should, seeing as how Schneider comes from a background of cinematography. Add to that a brilliant, nuanced script (apparently based on a true story) and a cast that’s beyond reproach and you’ve got a real winner on your hands. One of the best films I’ve seen in ages. And a film that will probably float under the radar, eclipsed by more high-profile releases. What a shame.

Sony affords Get Low a damn-near perfect Blu-ray presentation with rich colours, deep blacks and tons of detail. I can’t get over how beautiful this Blu-ray is. And it sounds just as nice, with a clean, crisp DTS- HD Master Audio 5.1 track that won’t rattle the china but provide a pleasant, well-defined sound stage.

Highly recommended!

SPECIAL FEATURES:

Commentary with Robert Duvall, Sissy Spacek, Director Aaron Schneider & Producer Dean Zanuck
The Deep South: Buried Secrets
Getting Low: Getting Into Character
A Screenwriter’s Point of View
Cast & Crew Q&A
On the Red Carpet

AMAZON: $24.99

2. 3 from Criterion: FISH TANK, SENSO, SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS

Yeah. Three new Criterion Blu-ray discs in one day. What more is there to say? You’re about to break your bank account.

Fish Tank is a modern masterpiece by British director Andrea Arnold (contender for the number one slot this week) and one of the finer films to be released on Blu-ray so far this year. Senso is far from Visconti‘s best film but you’ll want to take in the luscious visuals via this lush Blu-ray transfer. And Sweet Smell of Success is awash in neon-noir city landscapes, painted with biting, smart dialogue from Burt Lancaster and Tony Curtis, looking better than ever on Blu.

All three are highly recommended.

AMAZON: $24.99 each

3. ALL -TAR SUPERMAN

“Fueled by hatred and jealousy, Lex Luthor masterminds an elaborate plot to kill the Man of Steel – and it works. Poisoned by solar radiation, Superman is dying. With weeks to live, he fulfills his life’s dreams – especially revealing his true identity to Lois Lane – until Luthor proclaims his ultimate plan to control the world with no alien hero to stop him. Powers fading, Superman engages in a spectacular deadly battle with Luthor that could truly trigger the end of Earth’s Greatest Protector. This startling and gripping DC Universe Animated Original Movie stars the voice talents of James Denton, Anthony LaPaglia, Christina Hendricks and Ed Asner.”

I’ll have a full review of this disc up shortly. In short, if you’re a fan of Superman or DC Comics superheroes or animation in general you owe it to yourself to pick up a copy of All-Star Superman. Not only is it a brilliant story that gets to the heart of the character but the disc is packed with some of the best features WHV and DC have conjured up for their line of straight-to-video animated specials thus far.

AMAZON: $17.49

4. MEGAMIND

““A smart, funny and original treat,” Michael O’Sullivan, The Washington Post, Megamind puts a whole new hilarious twist on the superhero movie. Packed with high-flying action and non-stop laughs, the smash hit starring Will Ferrell, Brad Pitt, David Cross and Tina Fey will debut in DreamWorks Animation’s Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack which includes the all-new comedy-adventure MEGAMIND: THE BUTTON OF DOOM, plus hours of bonus features and exclusive interactive Blu-ray features including picture-in-picture storyboards, behind the scenes footage, interviews, music videos, the lost scene, a comic book creator, an insider tour of Megamind’s Lair, interactive games, and so much more. ”

Megamind actually doesn’t hit the shops until this Friday, February 25th. We’ll be giving away a copy of the Blu-ray disc in the next couple of days so keep your eyes open!!

AMAZON: $19.99

5. BIRDEMIC: SHOCK AND TERROR

“It is a tender love story. A graphic horror shocker. An urgent ecological warning. And around the world, it became the must-see midnight movie sensation of the year: From writer/producer/director/visionary James Nguyen The Master Of The Romantic ThrillerTM comes the story of a sexy lingerie model (Whitney Moore) and a successful software salesman (Alan Bagh) on a weekend getaway to a quaint Northern California town. But when the entire region is attacked by millions of homicidal birds, their picturesque paradise becomes a winged hell on earth. Can mankind now survive the avian onslaught of BIRDEMIC? Hollywood legend Tippi Hedren of Hitchcock’s THE BIRDS co-stars in the global cult movie phenomenon that Videogum says might end up being the greatest film of all time! ”

I haven’t seen Birdemic for myself but it looks like a barrel of fun. The perfect modern late-night film to share, intoxicated with your best pals. I can’t wait to check this one out!

AMAZON: $16.49

ANIME OF THE WEEK: FLCL: COMPLETE COLLECTION

“When the three powerhouse creators of Eden of the East, Gurren Lagann and Neon Genesis Evangelion bumped heads, they spawned the series that broke all the rules – then broke the mold. Naota is a detached sixth-grader afflicted by the pangs of puberty. He’s fooling around with his brother’s ex-girlfriend when a crazed girl on a motor scooter runs him over, brains him with a bass guitar, and moves into his house. This pink-haired girl, Haruko – who claims she’s an alien – hurls Naota into the middle of a mega-corporation’s secret agenda. Oh, and now giant battling robots shoot from his skull. Mix in mind-bending animation and tunes that echo through your cerebellum to top off the trip that will have you falling hard for FLCL. ”

Outside of Macross and the animation of Studio Ghibli, FLCL is the absolute best that Japanese animation has to offer. It’s wild, imaginative and always stunning to look at. There’s more heart and more creativity in each frame of this short 6-episode series than any other I’ve seen in my last twenty-five years of anime viewing. Sadly, I understand this Blu-ray presentation is another up-conversion from FUNimation and far from the most impressive high-def image we’ve seen on Blu. I’d like to see the results for myself before making on the call on the discs but I’ll stand behind the series itself as one of the best ever.

AMAZON: $24.99

ALSO AVAILABLE ON BLU-RAY THIS WEEK
Clicking an image will take you to Amazon.com where you can learn more about and purchase the Blu-ray disc:

Blu-ray Holiday Gift Guide 2010: Animation on Blu

Brenden — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 03:01:42 +0000

All right, time is running out to get these Blu-ray gift guide recommendations posted so let’s get back to it! I’ll keep the commentary to a minimum here, in order to hasten the process.

Next up: Classics on Blu-ray

MORE GIFT IDEAS:

* GIFT & BOXED SETS
* TV ON BLU
* CLASSICS
* THE BEST OF THE YEAR

Animation just doesn’t get any better than the work of Hayao Miyazaki. His latest film, Ponyo is also his first on Blu-ray. This is not only a perfect gift for kids and animation fans but also for film fans of all ages.

Highest possible recommendation!!

Top 5 New Blu-ray releases for the Week of November 9

Brenden — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 22:15:19 +0000

The last couple of weeks have been absolutely overwhelming with scads of killer Blu-ray releases that have been making my head spin (and my eyes exhausted from all the hours of viewing time I’ve been cramming in, outside of the hours of monitor viewing I cram in as part of my daily office grind.) This week is a bit more manageable for we Blu-aholics but, thanks to a couple of A-list films and a few surprises, it’s absolutely just as enjoyable.

1. ANTICHRIST

I know that the films of Danish auteur Lars Von Trier aren’t for everyone but I kind of worship the ground the man walks on. It’s pretty tough to effect me on any level with film these days but Von Trier seems capable of touching some kind of nerve in me with every one of his works. I wouldn’t call any of his films perfect, by any means. But they’re all masterworks of the medium hewn by one of the finest craftsmen working in the business today. His latest opus, Antichrist might be the most raw and effecting of anything he’s released to date. And it is, without question, the most incredible Blu-ray released today. But if your stomach is easily turned or if you have no taste for a little “art” in your “film” then you’ll most likely want to skip Antichrist.

Special Features:

New, restored high-definition digital transfer, approved by director Lars von Trier and supervised by director of photography Anthony Dod Mantle with DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack
Audio commentary by von Trier and professor Murray Smith
Video interviews with von Trier and actors Willem Dafoe and Charlotte Gainsbourg
A collection of video pieces delving into the production of Antichrist, including interviews with von Trier and key members of his filmmaking team as well as behind-the-scenes footage
Chaos Reigns at the Cannes Film Festival 2009, a documentary on the film’s world premiere, plus press interviews with Dafoe and Gainsbourg
Three theatrical trailers
PLUS: A booklet featuring an essay by film scholar Ian Christie

Amazon: $29.49

ALSO AVAILABLE:

If the premium Criterion Collection edition of the film profiled above is a little beyond your budget, eOne films is also releasing a more affordable version of Antichrist on Blu-ray today. No word on how the transfers of the two discs compare but the special features look relatively similar.

The Visual Style of Antichrist from eOne Films on Vimeo.

Special Features:

Feature Commentary with Director Lars von Trier and Journalist Murray Smith
The Antichrist Test (English subtitled)
Antichrist – Chaos Reigns at the Cannes Film Festival 2009
Confessions About Anxiety
Eden – Production Design
The Sound and Music of Antichrist (English subtitled)
The Three Beggars – The Animals of Antichrist
The Make-Up Effects and Props of Antichrist
The Evil of Woman
The Visual Style of Antichrist (English subtitled)
Interviews

Amazon.ca: $19.99 CDN

2. SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD

It’s almost half-way through November and I still haven’t seen Scott Pilgrim yet. Sigh…I’m starting to believe it’s never going to happen. Honestly, I have pals who’ve seen it three, four times already and I’m still waiting for the chance to have my Pilgrim-cherry popped. I won’t have any time to run out and grab this disc any time this week, so I’ll be waiting to hear what you think of it. Do you think it’s been worth the wait? Does the disc live up to the film itself?

Amazon: $24.99

3. SHERLOCK

I love Sherlock Holmes mysteries in any form. I guess it was only a matter of time before some genius had the idea of taking those famous tales by Arthur Conan Doyle and giving them a modern spin. But as wonderful as the script-work of Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat happens to be, the real breakout star for North American audiences is going to be the electrifying Benedict Cumberbatch in the title role. Martin Freeman, our future Bilbo Baggins is also wonderful as faithful partner Watson.

Amazon: $27.99

4. DC SHOWCASE: ANIMATED ORIGINAL SHORTS

If you’ve been reading our reviews of the last number of DC Animated Blu-ray releases, you’ll note that no matter the quality of the main feature, one of the aspects of the discs that stands out as truly spectacular time and again is the DC Showcase short film. This new release from the studio collects the last number of shorts and adds a brand new, exclusive Superman/Shazam team-up to the mix. This is some of the best stuff that Warner animation has created in years, if not ever and definitely worth a look.

Amazon: $19.99

5. OCEAN’S 11

This is the classic. The real-deal. The good stuff. Sinatra and all his boys making trouble and messing things up in Vegas. This new 50th Anniversary Blu-ray edition of Ocean’s 11 from WHV isn’t going to blow your mind if you’re not already a fan but will certainly impress those who’ve been longing for a little Rat-Pack in HD. The image is clean and clear with vibrant, if not slightly unstable colours and more detail than you’ve ever seen in the film before. The DTS-HD Master Audio Mono mix isn’t very modern but will no doubt delight fans of the film. An excellent commentary track from Frank Sinatra Jr. and Angie Dickinson is the highlight of a collection of special features that also packs in a couple of trailers and a bunch of vintage clips.

Amazon: $19.99

6. CIRCUS

Boy, did this show ever take me by surprise (and no, it’s not because it’s number six in our Top 5 list this week!) Circus is a new reality show from PBS following the Big Apple Circus from the inception of one of its yearly productions through to their “350-show tour – an epic, unforgettable journey from town to town and stand to stand, from the big top to “backyard” where the trailers are parked and the heart of the circus beats.” It seems to have just debuted on the network last week but the entire 6-episode series is already available on Blu-ray today. It’s unfortunately shot and transferred in 1080i, which only impacts the image a handful of times (an unfortunate “ghosting” effect.) Otherwise, this is a great looking high-def representation of a beautifully photographed reality show.

Recommended!

Amazon: $31.49

ALSO AVAILABLE ON BLU-RAY THIS WEEK
Clicking an image will take you to Amazon.com where you can learn more about and purchase the Blu-ray disc:

Superman/Batman: Apocalypse Blu-ray Disc Review

Howard — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 15:15:31 +0000

SUPERMAN/BATMAN: APOCALYPSE (2010, Blu-ray released September 28, 2010 – MSRP $29.99)

This latest release from Warner Bros. Animation has the World’s Finest heroes facing a danger that hits close to home in a film that nicely illustrates the dichotomous teaming of Superman and Batman. The crime crunching curmudgeon and the big, blue Boy Scout work together once again in Superman/Batman: Apocalypse.

The production values appear higher; the animation smoother and cleaner. As a follow up to Superman/Batman: Public Enemies, the DC Animation studios and Warner Bros. have adapted another story from the Superman/Batman comic series to create a new animated adventure that tells a story about relationships and trust. Batman is suspicious of a teen girl he finds while cleaning Kryptonite out of Gotham Bay. Superman believes that there is no reason to doubt her. In fact, he is all too ready to welcome her. Batman believes him to be too accepting. Could she be who she claims to be, or is this an elaborate trap set to ensnare the last son of Krypton?

Without giving anything away, the story includes a visit to heavenly Themyscira, home of the Amazons and Wonder Woman, as well as a trip to the hellish planet Apokolips, home of the rock-faced, villainous despot, Darkseid. Both places are filled with warriors fighting for very different ideals—and fight they do. We are treated to epic battle scenes with wonderfully animated action sequences.

You can’t talk about an animated film featuring iconic characters without discussing character design. Based on the original art of (the late) Michael Turner, animators portray the signature characters as longer, leaner and meaner. The style is well-suited to the story. Also excellently matched is the voice talent. Voice director Andrea Romano has returned to her oft-cast, reliable stable of superhero actors to portray the iconic roles in the piece, as they have many times in the past – Kevin Conroy (Batman), Tim Daly (Superman) and Susan Eisenberg (Wonder Woman) are joined this time around by Summer Glau as the mysterious female lead and Andre Braugher, who delivers a slightly less gruff than some may be accustomed to, but no less menacing, Darkseid.

The transfer is excellent. It’s in 1080p and it is the best looking animated release from DC so far. There was none of the digital noise that has appeared on a couple of the older releases. The dts-HD MA 5.1 surround sound and the soundtrack are great—even with modest budgets, these DC releases still pack some punch in the sound department.

As is the norm with DC’s Blu releases, there are a bunch of extras. Included are episodes of Superman: The Animated Series that feature Darkseid, featurettes delivering background on Darkseid and the histories of other characters from the New Gods pantheon, as well as a piece on the journey of another beloved DC character…but I won’t ruin the surprise.

Along with trailers for other Warner Bros. releases, there is a “Sneak Peek” at the anticipated next release from the DC Animation studios: All-Star Superman. It’s due out Spring 2011 and, even as a Bat-fan, I am looking forward to it.

The featured short included on the Blu-ray disc is Green Arrow and it’s a bulls-eye. This 11-minute animated piece delivers a fast-paced action story that still gives us a good sense of the characters involved. It’s a lot of fun to watch. In my opinion, DC and Warner should consider using their second-tier superhero characters in exactly this fashion in their live action franchises. Who’s to say you can’t release a 95-minute live-action Green Lantern movie with a half-hour Green Arrow short? –Something to think about….

If I had to say anything “negative” about the Superman/Batman: Apocalypse (Combo pack) release, it would be to criticize the lack of the insightful commentary tracks of discs past and the lack of standardization in formatting of their trailers and features (standard-def, high-def, anamorhic, non-anamorphic – c’mon guys, pick one and go with it!) But, that is nowhere near a deterrent. Superman/Batman: Apocalypse is a worthwhile purchase. I would even call it a must-have if you’ve already enjoyed the other titles from this studio. It tells a really good story with depth, in an extremely entertaining way, that is true to characters that have existed for several decades.

Batman: Under the Red Hood Blu-ray Disc Review

Brenden — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 15:00:44 +0000

BATMAN: UNDER THE RED HOOD (2010, Blu-ray released July 27, 2010 – MSRP $29.99)

Man, I love these DC Comics animated films! As much as I’m dying to see Warner and DC branch out and tackle more obscure characters and story-lines from their vast universe of super-hero properties, Batman: Under the Red Hood is a welcome addition to a growing library of wonderful animated adventures based on the dark, gritty world of the caped crusader. And a perfect compliment to the live-action Christopher Nolan films of the last number of years!

Right out of the gate, you know that Under the Red Hood means business. The film opens with Batman rocketing toward an abandoned warehouse to save his young partner who is being savagely beaten by the dark knight’s arch nemesis, crazed madman the Joker. Savagely beaten. On screen. With a crowbar. This is a violent, more realistic portrayal of these characters than we’re used to seeing animated and as such is not meant for innocent eyes. This cartoon is for the more mature fans of the comics and films.

The story is typically dark, and deeply psychological, examining Batman’s relationships with his partners in crime-fighting through the years, and his failure to live up to the role of their guardian and father figure. Neil Patrick Harris is perfectly cast as Nightwing, the first hero to go by the name of Robin and former partner to a Batman wonderfully portrayed by Bruce Greenwood. They’re trying to track down and stop the Red Hood (Jensen Ackles), a new figure in Gotham’s underworld who’s taking over the city in a reign of violence and murder. But the Red Hood is connected to Batman’s past. To bring him down, the dark knight will be forced to face his mistakes and his demons, not to mention the Joker (John DiMaggio), head on.

Under the Red Hood is another visual triumph for the Warner animation department, resulting in a high-def tour-de-force on Blu-ray. The 75-minute film is created on a tight budget that is only sometimes apartment in the movement of characters or their occasional slip off-model. The transfer onto Blu looks great here, exhibiting vibrant colours and deep blacks. Occasional compression hiccups – banding, aliasing, noise – keep this from being amongst the best looking of the DC animated Blu-ray discs. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, on the other hand, is an explosive picture of dynamic perfection that will give your LFE channel that workout it’s been clamouring for.

This Blu-ray disc features a killer selection of extras including a short Jonah Hex film written by Joe R. Lansdale and Justin Gray that easily bests its live-action counterpart which bombed in cinemas only a couple of months ago. The dark, 12-minute western-horror stars Thomas Jane as our scarred, gun-slinging hero, with co-stars Michael Rooker, Michelle Trachtenberg and Linda Hamilton filling out the cast. The animation is moody and breathtaking punctuated by an amazing score by Jeremy Zuckerman and the Track Team. If not for the short run-time, Jonah Hex would be the best thing on the Blu-ray disc.

Other extras include a couple of half-hour featurettes, each focusing on one of the characters who went by the name of Robin, a 12-minute “First Look” at WHV’s upcoming Superman/Batman Apocalypse disc, four of the finest episodes of the Batman Animated Series from the 90′s (“Robin’s Reckoning, Parts 1 & 2,” “Mad Love,” and “The Laughing Fish“) and a handful of trailers.

Animated Batman: Under the Red Hood Blu-ray Details, Trailer

Brenden — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 18:23:12 +0000

[See post to watch Flash video]

I’ve been waiting for more news regarding the next DC Universe animated offering from Warner and finally, here it is! A press release outlining the details of Batman: Under the Red Hood just hit my inbox and I’ve got to tell you, I’m excited as hell about this film. These animated offerings from Bruce Timm and his crack team of 80-minute storytellers just keep getting better and better. And I’m sure this one will follow the pattern of providing the tightest superhero stories with the tightest animation this side of anime.

Because I’m a little short on time here (still haven’t had a chance to get the Top 5 list for the week written and posted!) I’m going to cut the commentary short and let this press release speak for itself.

UPDATE: Blu-ray package art!!

GOTHAM CITY MEETS A NEW VIGILANTE WITH A MYSTERIOUS, VIOLENT TWIST IN

BATMAN: UNDER THE RED HOOD

STELLAR VOICE CAST FEATURES BRUCE GREENWOOD, JENSEN ACKLES & NEIL PATRICK HARRIS IN
ALL-NEW DC UNIVERSE ANIMATED ORIGINAL MOVIE
FROM WARNER HOME VIDEO ON JULY 27, 2010
SPECIAL EDITION BLU-RAY AND 2-DISC SPECIAL EDITION DVD INCLUDE DC SHOWCASE SHORT, JONAH HEX

BURBANK, CA (April 27, 2010) – Batman confronts new enemies, old foes and painful memories when a powerful vigilante with a penchant for violence comes to Gotham City in the intense graphic-novel-come-to-life Batman: Under the Red Hood, the next entry in the popular ongoing series of DC UNIVERSE Animated Original PG-13 Movies coming July 27, 2010 from Warner Premiere, DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. Animation. The full-length film will be distributed by Warner Home Video as a Special Edition version on Blu-Ray™ and 2 disc DVD for $29.99 (SRP) and $24.98 (SRP), respectively, as well as single disc DVD for $19.98 (SRP). The film will also be available On Demand and for Download.

The stellar voice cast has Bruce Greenwood (Captain Pike in the 2009 blockbuster Star Trek) donning the famed cowl as the voice of Batman. Supernatural star Jensen Ackles is Red Hood, and Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother) voices Nightwing. John DiMaggio (Futurama) and Jason Issacs (the Harry Potter films) round out the main cast as The Joker and Ra’s Al Ghul, respectively.

Batman: Under the Red Hood is scripted by award-winning comics writer Judd Winick and based on his popular 2005 comics storyline and subsequent comics graphic novel of the same name. Animation guru Bruce Timm returns as executive producer, as he has for all eight DC Universe animated original movies. Director is Brandon Vietti, who served as co-director of Superman Doomsday and was responsible for the first one-third of that film, including the fatal battle between the two title characters.

In Batman: Under the Red Hood, Batman faces his ultimate challenge as the mysterious Red Hood takes Gotham City by firestorm. One part vigilante, one part criminal kingpin, Red Hood begins cleaning up Gotham with the efficiency of Batman, but without following the same ethical code. Killing is an option. And when The Joker falls in the balance between the two, hard truths are revealed and old wounds are reopened.

Fans will be treated to an incredible package of DC Universe storytelling as the Special Edition Blu-Ray and 2-Disc Special Edition DVD include the second animated short in the all-new DC Showcase series – which features the popular DC Comics character, Jonah Hex. The short is scripted by renowned author Joe Lansdale and stars the voices of Thomas Jane (Hung), Linda Hamilton (The Terminator), Michelle Trachtenberg (Mercy, Buffy the Vampire Slayer) and Michael Rooker (Days of Thunder).

Batman: Under the Red Hood – 2 Disc Special Edition DVD will have more than two hours of fascinating bonus features, including:

• Featurette – Robin’s Story – It was decided it was time to add a fresh face into the story mix, which turned out to be Dick Grayson, aka Robin. This is the story of Dick Grayson and how he transformed into Robin, with Batman as his father-figure role model.
• Extended Sneak Peek at the next DC UNIVERSE Animated Original PG-13 Movie.
• Widescreen (1.78:1)
• Two title-themed episodes from of Warner Bros. Animation’s 20-year history of Batman television series, hand-picked by animation legend Bruce Timm.

Batman: Under the Red Hood Special Edition Blu-Ray will have more than three hours of bonus materials, including all the great extras from the 2-disc Special Edition DVD as well as:

• Featurette: Death in the House of Batman – The story of how DC Comics heard the fans’ cry that the new Robin was not going to fit the cape, and how the Boy Wonder was scheduled to die.
• Two additional bonus Batman-themed episodes personally selected by Bruce Timm
• Digital copy

“Batman: Under the Red Hood is another terrific entry in the groundbreaking series of DC Universe animated movies, a shining representation of the adult storytelling that comics-turned-to-film has to offer, and further evidence of the combined creative power within the collaboration of DC Entertainment, Warner Premiere, Warner Bros. Animation and Warner Home Video,” said Matt Bierman, Senior Vice President Production, Warner Premiere.
“Judd Winick’s and Doug Mahnke’s story of a Robin gone wrong introduced Batman’s most personal enemy to date. It’s unbelievably cool to see it brought to life like this,” said Geoff Johns, Chief Creative Officer of DC Entertainment.

“With each exciting new chapter of the DC UNIVERSE films, fans have come to expect more – and Batman: Under the Red Hood delivers with an action-packed tale of mystery and emotional struggle brought to animated life by an outstanding filmmaking crew and voiced by the all-star talents of Bruce Greenwood, Jensen Ackles, Neil Patrick Harris and John Dimaggio,” said Amit Desai, WHV Vice President of Family, Animation & Partner Brand Marketing.

“In his feature length solo directorial debut, Brandon Vietti has brought this dark, psychological thriller to the screen with all the action and emotion of a great Batman story,” said Sam Register, Executive Vice President, Warner Bros. Animation. “

Superman/Batman: Public Enemies Blu-ray Disc Review

Brenden — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 14:50:16 +0000

SUPERMAN/BATMAN: PUBLIC ENEMIES (2009, Blu-ray released September 29, 2009 – MSRP $29.99)

You know I’ve got a soft spot for these DC Comics animated adaptations. I’ve given fairly positive reviews to the two previous efforts in the series – Wonder Woman and Green Lantern: First Flight. So you’re probably expecting more of the same from my review of Superman/Batman: Public Enemies on Blu-ray disc. And you’d be right! In fact, I think it might be the best of the bunch!

From what I can tell, that’s probably not the popular opinion. I got my copy of the Blu-ray disc quite late and so had the opportunity to browse other reviews kicking around internets. While the disc itself would be constantly highly rated, reviewers seemed unanimous in slamming the simplistic story. I felt like the simplicity really worked in this case!

Superman/Batman: Public Enemies is essentially a one-hour fight scene. There isn’t much character or story. But plenty of excitement. And, at the end of the day, isn’t excitement what draws us to a superhero adventure? Here’s the setup, in a nutshell – Lex Luthor has swindled his way into becoming the president of the US and declares Superman and Batman public enemies. Villains and heroes alike hunt them down and try to beat the crap out of them. Awesome! That’s pretty much all there is to it. But you know what? With such a a short runtime, that’s okay. What drags the production down for me is the character designs. Superman/Batman: Public Enemies is an adaptation of a DC Comics miniseries (I didn’t read it so I can’t comment on how faithful the script is to the original Jeph Loeb story.) As such, the filmmakers attempted to mimic the character designs of the comics’ artist, Ed McGuinness. To the productions detriment, if you ask me. The designs, while looking a whole hell-of-a-lot like McGuinness’ are too chunky and muscled and despite some champion work by Lotto Animation, the characters don’t animate very well. Give me the old, simplified Bruce Timm models any day!

The Blu-ray looks fantastic! Really well done. Probably the best looking disc of all the DC Comics adaptations that Warner has released thus far. And, despite the lack of an uncompressed soundtrack, it sounds strong and pretty dynamic! Where the Blu-ray fails for me is in the bonus feature department. Aside from the requisite collection of trailers and six Bruce Timm best-of-Justice-League episode picks (all looking better than ever compressed with the VC-1 codec, I might add), the only extra materials on the disc are a short featurette exploring the relationship between Superman and Batman, and a sit-down dinner with the actor who performs the voice of Batman. Don’t get me wrong, what we’re given is pretty cool. I can take or leave the featurette but the dinner chat, running almost an hour long, is really great. Just like the Green Lantern: First Flight disc, however, Superman/Batman: Public Enemies is sorely lacking in any detail on the production itself! One again, we’re robbed of a commentary track, or making-of featurette. Come on, guys! As cool as it is to hear Kevin Conroy chat about his almost twenty years voicing Batman, I’d rather know something specific about the film I just watched. How about an interview with Sam Liu? If this Newsarama interview with the director is any indication, he has a lot to say about the production. What about Stan Berkowitz? Having adapted the comics to screen, he most likely has a few insights to share. Urgh…It’s so frustrating to feel like nobody at the studio cares about this end of things anymore. Here’s hoping they rethink their position of avoiding production docs and commentaries for next years Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths Blu-ray Disc release.

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