Superman/Batman: Public Enemies Blu-ray

Superman/Batman: Public Enemies

 (2009)

Action | Animation | Fantasy



A desperate solution for a troubled country: Lex Luthor for President with the Justice League in the service of the government. Only Batman and Superman stand against the new regime – and their disloyalty proves to be exactly what Luthor intended. Using their outcast status to instigate a scandal against Superman, Luthor finally tastes a victory in his vendetta against The Man of Steel.

For more details about Superman/Batman: Public Enemies on Blu-ray, see the Superman/Batman: Public Enemies Blu-ray Review

Superman/Batman: Public Enemies Blu-ray, Video Quality

 


Superman/Batman: Public Enemies swings onto Blu-ray with a satisfying 1080p/VC-1 transfer that showcases the film's vibrant palette and sharp lines. Even though the action largely unfolds beneath night skies and amidst heavy shadows, the bold primaries of Superman's costume and the inky blacks of Batman's cape and cowl are as beautiful as they come. Splashes of green and purple evoke Ed McGuinness' original art even further, infusing the picture with enough compelling color to propel it through its most dreary sequences. Detail is equally impressive... albeit to a fault. Striking as it may be, the presentation's unforgiving clarity reveals every flaw in the tight lineart and every pixelated edge that pops up throughout the film (and believe me, there are quite a few). While it serves as a testament to Warner's technical transfer, it also leads to some distracting anomalies, some of which may yank videophiles out of the experience. Thankfully, the image is a treat despite such inherent shortcomings. A handful of faint, arguably negligible artifacts make appearances (typically in areas where splashes of color meet the animators' fine lines) and some moderate banding haunts the skies, but severe macroblocking, ringing, noise, and other digital issues are nowhere to be found.

Ultimately, Public Enemies isn't quite as refined as Green Lantern: First Flight, but it's yet another strong showing from Warner and DC Animation that thoroughly thrashes its DVD counterpart.

Superman/Batman: Public Enemies Blu-ray, Audio Quality

 


Sadly, the Blu-ray edition of Superman/Batman: Public Enemies stumbles with a bland and bulky Dolby Digital 5.1 surround track (640kbps); one that combines the shallow, subpar sonics of Green Lantern: First Flight with the sort of standard lossy mixes that have plagued Warner's recent direct-to-video releases. But this isn't Scooby Doo! The Mystery Begins... this is an explosive, action packed animated flick that would really benefit from a TrueHD or DTS-HD Master Audio track. Dialogue is clean and intelligible, but isn't nearly as crisp or clear as I hoped it would be. Likewise, LFE output is sometimes strong (particularly when Batman takes control of a towering robot) but often pudgy (as it is during the duo's clash with a parade of second tier super-villains), the rear speakers are rarely tasked with anything substantial, and directionality is as two-dimensional as the hand-drawn animation it accompanies. While it amounts to an adequate sonic experience, I frankly expect much more from a high definition release. Warner's Dolby Digital track doesn't capitalize on Public Enemies' potential nor does it enhance the film's chaotic battles. At best it's a passable offering; at worst it's a major disappointment.

Superman/Batman: Public Enemies Blu-ray, News and Updates

• Today on Blu-ray - September 29th - September 29, 2009


• Superman/Batman Team-Up Comes to Blu-ray - July 1, 2009

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