REVIEW

Blu-ray Review: TMNT

Written by Matt Paprocki
Published August 03, 2008

While it’s not a perfect return to form, the latest and, as of this writing, final Ninja Turtles outing satisfies. While longtime fans will mourn the loss of key villains being replaced by generic aliens, the tone and animation are spot on. It’s not deep, but it’s loaded with incredible visual spectacle, including a rooftop fight in the rain that could be one of the best things to ever happen to the Turtles in their long history.

Read the full review.

Warner releases the Blu-ray edition with the same encode as its HD DVD counterpart. In other words, it’s perfect. Every bit of detail in the texture work is visible, whether the shot is a close up or a long one of the city. Colors are perfectly saturated, and compression is never evident. Black levels create a stunning contrast that makes for a 3-D effect without any glasses.

The TrueHD mix is flawless all around, much like the video. This is amazing sound design, excelling in both subtle atmosphere and high end surround use. Positional audio hits every speaker, and the subwoofer receives a workout. Battle scenes are obviously a highlight, but it’s those little sounds when the Turtles are in their sewer lair that tend to get overlooked. This disc doesn’t miss anything.

Extras are equal across all formats. A director’s commentary with Kevin Munroe focuses on the animation process and little touches the audience might miss. There’s plenty of talk on deleted scenes as well, appropriate given what’s coming next.

Numerous deleted scenes (including an alternate opening and fleshed out ending) fill the special features menu separately instead of being contained in their own section. They’re in various forms of completion. Oddly, there’s no option to view them without Munroe offering a commentary over them. He discusses the dialogue, and you can’t even hear it.

Monsters Come Alive is a storyboard comparison from one of the monster attacks, and again, has full commentary with no option to view the piece with it turned off. Donny’s Digital Data Files discusses the animation process in a brief two minute piece. TMNT: Voice Talent is, obviously, a look at the actors taking on the roles and their feelings on the characters. At five minutes, there’s not much to see. Finally, an Internet reel is a teaser trailer narrated by Laurence Fishburne.

Japanese actor Mako, who voiced Splinter in the film, was announced to be playing the character at Comic Con in 2007. A day later, he passed away of cancer. Most of his work was completed however.

Matt Paprocki is the former reviews editor for Digital Press. The deep game collection, which spans nearly 30 systems and 2,000 games, lines his walls for research purposes. Matt strives to bring credibility to video game journalism, and to aid the industry in becoming respected with all forms of entertainment media. He currently freelances for GameArgus.com and MultiPlayerGames.com.
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Blu-ray Review: TMNT
Published: August 03, 2008
Type: Review
Section: Video
Filed Under: Video: Action, Video: Animation, Video: Blu-ray, Video: Fantasy
Part of a feature: The Wild Blu Yonder
Writer: Matt Paprocki
Matt Paprocki's BC Writer page
Matt Paprocki's personal site
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