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Title: Watchmen: The Complete Motion Comic, Media: Blu-ray Disc and DVD (Sold Separately), DVD Region: One, Genre: Superhero Noir Drama, Narrated By Tom Stechschulte, Voice Direction By Kelly Ward, Based On The Graphic Novel “Watchmen” Co-Created By Dave Gibbons And Published By DC Comics, Produced And Directed By Jake Hughes, MPAA Rating: Not Rated, Home Video Distributor: Warner Premiere Digital Through Warner Home Video, Blu-ray Languages: English Dolby TrueHD 5.1 Surround Sound and Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound, DVD Languages: English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound, Running Time: 325 minutes, Reviewer: Mark A. Rivera
After decades of waiting, a film based on the Hugo Award Winning Graphic Novel Watchmen will finally make its live action theatrical debut on Friday, March 6, 2009 here in the States. Among the many tie-ins released or to be released on home video to celebrate this highly anticipated theatrical release is the March 3, 2009 day and date release of Watchmen: The Complete Motion Comic on Blu-ray Disc and DVD. Originally these 12 semi animated episodes were released as video on demand installments on services such as I ‘Tunes and the Sony PlayStation Store among other outlets, but as a companion to reading the graphic novel itself, Watchmen: The Complete Motion Comic is a highly effective and entertaining tool that despite whatever limits may exist with animating the actual graphic novel cells itself, the experience is more than successful because it simply works and carries the viewer away within minutes after viewing. Before I knew it I felt like I was watching something fully animated and the existence of the dialogue bubbles had no effect upon my enjoyment. Tom Stechschulte does a terrific job at providing voices for all the characters and narration. The episodes can be viewed individually or in sequence.
I would not have thought a graphic novel adaptation of Watchmen would make much of a difference whether it is on Blu-ray or DVD because this is not a fully animated feature though again I must state that after awhile it didn’t matter. Great storytelling is great storytelling and that is the major strength Watchmen has going for it in any form. Both versions present the series in 16 by 9 (1.85:1) with the Blu-ray benefiting from a more vibrant array of colors through its native high definition 1080p resolution and VC-1 encoding. Even with animated comic cells, the Blu-ray Disc offers superior picture quality. The Blu-ray version also features an English Dolby TrueHD 5.1 Surround Soundtrack that is much deeper in tone quality than the English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Soundtrack found on the Blu-ray Disc as an option and on the DVD. English Subtitles for the Deaf and Hearing Impaired are encoded onto both versions as an option. Both versions also include a sneak peek at DC Universe’s Animated Wonder Woman DVD release (10:25).
Exclusive to the DVD version is a letterboxed trailer for Watchmen on disc one and a trailer for Watchmen: Tales Of The Black Freighter & Under The Hood DVD and Blu-ray Disc release, which will be released on March 24, 2009 from Warner Home Video. The DVD splits up the animated motion comic into two discs with six episodes on one disc and the remaining six episodes on the second disc. The menus on both DVD discs are standard interactive still frames that are easy to navigate.
Within the packaging of both the Blu-ray and DVD versions are $7.50 off movie money coupons and an insert with advertising for the Watchmen graphic novel and Watchmen: The End Is Nigh downloadable videogame.
Exclusive to the Blu-ray Disc is the Watchmen Production Diaries #4: Dave Gibbons (2:47), which is presented in high definition and features Gibbons touring the set and discussing the rich detail from the graphic novel that has been brought to life for the live action feature film. There will also be additional BD-Live features for users with a BD-Live enabled Blu-ray Disc Player or Sony PlayStation 3. At the time I had logged in, the BD-Live site still seemed to be a work in progress with only trailers available for viewing. This should be opened officially very soon if not already by the time one reads this. Also exclusive to the Blu-ray Disc day and date release is a DVD containing a digital copy of the complete Watchmen Motion Comic. The menus on the Blu-ray are standard for a Warner Home Video BD release and are easy navigate.
Watchmen: The Complete Motion Comic will debut on Blu-ray Disc and DVD on Tuesday, March 3, 2009 at retailers on and offline courtesy of Warner Home Video.
© Copyright 2009 By Mark A. Rivera
All Rights Reserved.
Buy The Blu-ray Disc Or DVD Edition By
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