DC
League Of Super-Pets 4K
(2022/4K Ultra HD Blu-ray w/Blu-ray)/Naomi:
The Complete Series
(2022/Blu-ray set)/Krypto
The Superdog: The Complete Series
(2005 - 2006/DVD Set/all DC Comics/Warner)
4K
Ultra HD Picture: B+ Picture: B/B+/C+ Sound: B+/B+/C
Extras: C/C/D Main Programs: C-/C+/C+
Here's
the latest DC Comics releases on video....
Jared
Stern's DC
League Of Super-Pets 4K
(2022) is a big disappointment, one of the poorest theatrical
animated releases in years, has more cliches in it than I could count
and proves that name actors who are not necessarily good at
voice-overs and bad directing of them with an ultra-formulaic
screenplay proves that the Superhero genre is not invulnerable and
can do wrong.
Krypto
(Dwayne Johnson for some reason and doing more than one voice here,
sadly) and Batman's dog Ace (an out-of-his-element Kevin Hart) have
to step in when the entire, human Justice League are kidnapped
(!?!?!?!) so since Jimmy Olsen, other humans and characters from
other worlds (but certainly NOT other comic book companies) are
nowhere to be found, the Super-Pets will save them! What!!!???!!!
I
like actors Kate McKinnon, Keanu Reeves, John Krasinski, Thomas
Middleditch, Diego Luna and Ben Schwartz much more than these 'leads'
and yet, even they come across flat in this project that happens a
few decades as the child-friendly/child-only Krypto
TV series (see below) and this project that should have gone straight
to streaming and video tries to make it both funny and then, way too
serious for the setting and insanely silly set up. In the end, it
plays like something that was made based on some kind of checklist
pumped pout by a computer program designed to sell toys and other
tie-ins.
The
result is a cynical sellout that is almost the nadir of any DC Comics
tie-ins (this makes the original SuperFriends
series in its early seasons play like Akira!)
that is as awful as the 1950s Superboy
pilot, the even more bizarre Superdog
pilot from the same producers and 1967 Diana
Prince
pilot, all of which were thankfully not put to series. This is down
there with Superman
III,
Superman
IV,
the underrated Helen Slater in the unfortunate Supergirl
and misguided Steel
film with Shaq. Add all the bad Marvel movies pre-Blade
with Wesley Snipes and you see the genre only started getting good in
recent decades. This animated film is a throwback of the worst kind.
Unless
you are really, really, really, really, really, really, really,
really interested in seeing this one, don't!
Extras
are few and
include:
How
to Draw Krypto
Behind
the Super Voices
Super-Pets
Animation 101
Find
the Easter Eggs
The
World of Super-Pets
Deleted
Scenes
Naomi:
The Complete Series
(2022)
lands on Blu-ray from Warner Bros. and DC Comics. Based on the
critically acclaimed comic series from Brian Michael Bendis, Jamal
Campbell, and David F. Walker, Naomi (Kaci Walfall). A seemingly
normal high school teen, who was adopted, is obsessed with Superman
and even has her own fan-site dedicated to him. As she navigates
high school, we learn that she is a smart and star student and
certainly popular amongst her peers. But when a bizarre incident,
which involves the Man of Steel, happens down the street from her,
she feels affected by the atmosphere surrounding it and soon feels
different after said encounter. She then begins a journey of self
discovery and learns that she is actually an alien with super human
abilities - a superhero herself. As she embraces her powers, she
faces off against the people responsible for bringing these new found
abilities to light.
The
series also stars Cranston Johnson, Alexander Wraith, Mary-Charles
Jones, Mouzam Makkar, Daniel Puig, Camila Moreno, Will Meyers, Aidan
Gemme, and Barry Watson.
Naomi:
The Complete Series contains 13 episodes spanning three Blu-ray
discs which includes Don't Believe Everything You Think,
Unidentified Flying Object, Zero to Sixty, and Enigma on Disc
One. Disc Two includes Shadow Ridge, Homecoming, I Am Not A Used
Car Salesman, Fellowship of the Disc, and Keep Your Friends
Close. Disc Three includes Fallout, Worst Prom Ever, Ready or
Not, and Who Am I?
Naomi
is a fine superhero drama for young kids or teenagers and has a lot
of modern music and skits that are made to appeal specifically to
that audience. The characters aren't bad, but it all feels kind of
been there done that and has a lot of predictable plot points that
unfold. Kaci Walfall does a nice job as the lead and is a relatable
character that you kinda feel for at times. Having not read the
source material, I cannot say how close it was for the comics series,
but I don't think the older comic movie audiences will really
gravitate towards this.
Special
Features (on Disc 3):
Naomi:
From Page to Screen
A
Hero Will Rise: Kaci Walfall
and
The Adaptation of a Hero
Naomi
is fine for what it is, but will most likely appeal mainly to a young
/ teenage audience more than it will some of the fans of the more
adult oriented DC properties.
Last
but not least, we have Krypto
The Superdog: The Complete Series
(2005 - 2006) which was the first to take the various 'DC Family'
pets (inspired by the Shazam!/Captain Marvel/Fawcett Comics of the
1940s) and give them both talking voices and comedy. That was an
approach absolutely is aimed to be for young children and not for
serious, older kid and adult DC fans. The result was a moderate hit
with some decent tie-ins and is fine for what it is. I also like its
animation moire than the DC
League Of Super-Pets
feature film with its forgettable CGI animation (as reviewed above).
Sometimes
charming, 39 episodes (with two tales a piece) have their moments and
the show has some heart, but even the makers had to understand this
would only be able to continue so much and they ended it before it
could have gone as wrong as the recent feature film. The unknowns do
good voiceover work and has human characters with its
Superman-origins-like similarities that do not hurt the show. Nice
it is on disc for young and new fans and it is not bad.
There
are sadly no extras.
Now
for playback performance. The 2160p HECV/H.265, 2.35 X 1, HDR (10;
Ultra HD Premium)-enhanced Ultra High Definition image on League
is barely better than the 1080p 2.35 X 1 digital High Definition
image on the regular Blu-ray because it is not a full 4K production,
so the 4K disc is upscaled, though I liked its slightly better
clarity and color. Both discs have lossless
Dolby Atmos 11.1 (Dolby TrueHD 7.1 mixdown for older systems) that
has a few good moments, but is nothing special otherwise, save being
professional at best.
Naomi
is presented in 1080p high definition on Blu-ray disc with an MPEG-4
AVC codec, a widescreen aspect ratio of 1.78:1 and an English DTS-HD
MA (Master Audio) 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit) lossless mix. The show has a
polished more cinematic look and feel than most of the DC shows that
were seen on the CW. It feels more like a long movie, but has at
times some questionable digital effects moments. Still, for what it
is, the end product looks and sounds fine on Blu-ray disc.
And
the anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1
image on the Krypto
episodes have good color and look good for the format. Fans will be
happy, though it should get a Blu-ray version at some point. The
sound is lossy Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo and it is a bit weak, making
one wonder why no 5.1 mix or is it just the show was not produced
that way? Either way, its well-recorded for what it is and that work
does hold up.
-
Nicholas Sheffo (animation) and James Lockhart
https://www.facebook.com/jamesharlandlockhartv/
