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.

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It’s the last week of September and probably the finest looking for Blu-ray releases. We might not be seeing the glut of titles from weeks past but the discs hitting the shops today are some of the best you’ll see all year, including some essential catalogue titles and one of the biggest blockbuster hits of this past summer. Here we go!

1. THE THIN RED LINE

If you ask me, everything director Terrence Malick touches becomes pure cinematic gold. But I totally understand that his metered, poetic style of storytelling isn’t for everyone. So this, my strongest recommendation of the week, is really a recommendation for those who can appreciate this film: a thoughtful look at war and the toll it takes on the men who fight the battles, where the camera watching them occasionally gets lost in a slow shot of a leaf, or lingers on a long sunset over a white beach. That’s Malick. Making profound statements through a collection of deliberate, meditative images. The Thin Red Line is one of the most moving and unique war films ever made. And now, it’s one of the most visually arresting Blu-rays produced, thanks to Criterion. This is one of the best high-def presentations of the year. Highly recommended!

SPECIAL FEATURES:

• New, restored high-definition digital transfer, supervised and approved by director Terrence Malick and cinematographer John Toll with DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack
• New audio commentary by Toll, production designer Jack Fisk, and producer Grant Hill
• Interviews with several of the film’s actors, including Kirk Acevedo, Jim Caviezel, Thomas Jane, Elias Koteas, Dash Mihok, and Sean Penn; composer Hans Zimmer; editors Billy Weber, Leslie Jones, and Saar Klein; and writer James Jones’s daughter Kaylie Jones
• New interview with casting director Dianne Crittenden, featuring archival audition footage
• Fourteen minutes of outtakes from the film
• World War II newsreels from Guadalcanal and the Solomon Islands
• Melanesian chants
• Original theatrical trailer
• PLUS: A booklet featuring an essay by film critic David Sterritt and a 1963 reprint by James Jones

Amazon: $29.49

2. MERRY CHRISTMAS MR. LAWRENCE

What’s that, you say. Another new Blu-ray disc release from Criterion? That’s right, folks. Two new Criterion discs in one week. And this is another gem. Director Nagisa Oshima‘s Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence has time and place in common with Malick’s Line but focuses not on the fields of war but instead on a P.O.W. camp. Starring David Bowie in a rich leading role that pits him against his captor, Ryuichi Sakamoto (yes, the composer, who not only stars in the film but crafted its amazing score!), Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence also features a young Takeshi Kitano (yes, the famed actor/writer/director/Takeshi’s Castle host!) in his first dramatic role!

Special Features:

• New, restored high-definition master with DTS-HD Master Audio
• The Oshima Gang, an original making-of featurette
• New video interviews with producer Jeremy Thomas, screenwriter Paul Mayersberg, actor Tom Conti, and actor-composer Ryuichi Sakamoto
• Hasten Slowly, an hour-long documentary about author and adventurer Laurens van der Post, whose autobiographical novel is the basis for the film
• Original theatrical trailer
• PLUS: A booklet featuring an essay by film writer Chuck Stephens and a 1983 interview with director Nagisa Oshima by Japanese film writer Tadao Sato

Amazon: $29.49

3. KING KONG (1933)

Speaking of must-have discs, the new Blu-ray edition of the original King Kong is out in shops today! Warner Home Video presents this bad boy in a gorgeous hardcover digi-book and includes all the incredible special features from the excellent 2005 DVD release. The transfer isn’t going to blow away the casual viewer, as the source material isn’t in sparkling, pristine condition. But if you’re a film fan of any sort, or if you just love the 1933 version of Kong, you’re going to fall in love with this high-def presentation. It’s very, very true to the film and an unquestionable improvement over the previously issued DVD. Though, not to the extent that I would recommend those with smaller screens (40″ or less) make the upgrade – outside of some additional clean-ups and a more robust grain structure, and unless you have a very keen eye, I’m not sure you’ll notice much difference on a smaller display. Nevertheless, this is great release. Very highly recommended!

Special Features:

• Commentary by creature creator Ray Harryhausen and visual effects artist Ken Ralston, with archival sound bites from Merian C. Cooper and Fay Wray
• I’m Kong: The Exploits of Merian C. Cooper (2005 TCM documentary)
• The Making of Kong, Eighth Wonder of the World (7-part documentary)
• The Lost Spider Pit Sequence
• Creation Test Footage with Commentary by Ray Harryhausen
• Trailers

Amazon: $24.99

4. IRON MAN 2

Oh, Iron Man 2. I had such high hopes for you. But alas, the genius of your original cinematic outing wasn’t to carry over to your sequel: a sequel that replaces carefully crafted moments featuring strongly motivated characters acting within the logic of the film, with ridiculous, over the top scenes that come out of nowhere, and force out-of-character action to serve plot contrivances. Or to service Marvel‘s eventual Avengers superhero team film.

I’m not saying I didn’t enjoy Iron Man 2. I just know it could have been better if director Jon Favreau had been left to his own devices and not forced to shoehorn Venom into the film. Oh wait…

Amazon: $24.99

5. BATMAN/SUPERMAN: APOCALYPSE

Gahhh!! Another DC Comics animated feature film, direct to Blu-ray (and DVD, if you’re still into those old SD platters.) I didn’t receive my review disc yet so, having not seen it, I can’t recommend it on its own merits. But if past entries in this series are any indication, Superman/Batman: Apocalypse is going to be a shit-ton of fun!

Amazon: $19.99

SPECIAL MENTION: Private Eyes

Oh. Em. Gee. I had completely forgotten about The Private Eyes. I used to love this film when I was a kid. I don’t recall much about it now, in my old age, outside of the fact that my younger-self believed it to be a very Scooby Doo-like live-action film, both funny and spooky, with a great mystery and a couple of daring sleuths (Don Knots and Tim Conway) at the heart of it. Sigh…I miss going to Saturday matinees at the old Park Cinema in Welland…

I haven’t seen the film in years and know nothing of the track record of the studio releasing the Blu-ray so proceed with caution. But if you do pick it up, please let me know what you think!

Amazon: $26.49

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:

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