All Star Superman (2010/Warner Blu-ray + DVD w/Digital Copy)

 

Picture: B/B-     Sound: B/B-     Extras: C-     Film: B-

 

 

After series like Batman the Animated Series, Justice League, Superman the Animated Series, and Batman Beyond I demand a certain level of depth and continuity from my superhero series/films.  All Star Superman is the latest DC/Warner straight to home video release (one of many) and does a pretty good job at highlighting what makes the man of steel series so great.  This addition to the Superman catalog is considered cannon and surprisingly is not just another mindless entry.

 

The story starts out the same as ever, with Lex Luthor planning for world domination by ridding himself of the man of steel.  The problem this time, however, is that he succeeds.  Lex Luthor has poisoned Superman with a dose of toxic solar radiation and he only has weeks to live.  As he life is coming to a close Superman sets out to right wrongs, save the world, and even reveals his true identity.  It is a race against time and with his powers fading fast Superman has no time to play Mr. Nice-Guy.

 

The film is based on the All Star DC Comic series circa 2005.  The comic series was hailed as one of the best Superman stories of all times, so animators/voice actors had a big job at hand with this one.  Whereas direct to Home Video feature films were rare in the past for DC/Warner, now it seems like we are getting one a month; which is not always a good thing.  All Star Superman, however, stands out as a solid title with a great storyline and creative art direction.  It is nice to see the DC/Warner team venture out of their comfort zone and it actually work.  At times they are too creative for their own good to the point of distracting, or the on the other side of the spectrum with nauseatingly bad detail absent animation.  The film is well balanced (which I can not say the same for other films) and doesn’t feel rushed.  There is a level of substance here that is not always in the DC films and Bruce Timm with his team managed to turn the 320pages of All Star Superman catalog material into a great 76minute animated film.

 

The technical features on this Blu-ray are adequate, but fall far below what a new animated feature should.  The picture is presented in a 1080p AVC encoded MPEG-4 1.78 X1 Widescreen that demonstrates a great color palette and solid blacks.  The level of detail is lacking mostly due to artistic choice, but even with that moments of blurriness and edge enhancement arise.  The sound is a DTS-HD Master Audio (MA) 5.1 lossless that does utilize the surrounds but comes heavy from the front at times.  There is a solid soundscape and when faster music and action sequences kick-in that becomes that most apparent.

 

Extras are present, but do little to excite.  Bonus features include  Creative Flow: Incubating the Idea with Writer Grant Morrison; Filmmaker Commentary with Bruce Timm; All Star Superman Digital Comic Book; Superman Now which explains how Superman was overhauled for modern audiences; Green Lantern: Emerald Nights Trailer; Superman/Batman Apocalypse Trailer.  Probably the most exciting part of this bonus material is Bruce Timm Presents 2 Bonus Cartoons, which are two episodes from Superman the Animated Series.  The other shining moment of the extras is Bruce Timm’s commentary, but he is always a joy to hear.

 

 

-   Michael P. Dougherty II