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The LEGO Batman Movie - Blu-ray Review

4 stars

Leave it to LEGO to get Batman right. 

Forget DC’s cinematic universe of disappointments, man, because at this point in the game all they have is Wonder Woman.  Will Arnett’s vocal characterization of The Dark Knight is exactly what the stalled franchise needs after the two fumbles that have been Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice and Suicide Squad.  Full of great gonzo action, hearty laughs, and well-placed emotional beats, The LEGO Batman Movie is no joke.

Directed by Chris McKay and buoyed by a hysterically clever vocal performance from Zach Galifianakis as The Joker, The LEGO Batman Movie proves that The LEGO Movie was not simply an anomaly.  The quick-witted antics continue as Batman (Arnett) discovers just how unique the bond is between himself and the villains he, night after night, chases down.  Satire never sounded so fresh to the ears than with the LEGO series of movies.  

The creative team behind this installment knows exactly what works.  Surrounding the typically stoic Batman – who continues his man of few words routine with a subtle hilarity that is uncharacteristic of Arnett – are recognizable voices like Ralph Fiennes as Alfred, Michael Cera as Dick Grayson/Robin, Rosario Dawson as Barbara Gordon/Batgirl, and Héctor Elizondo as Commissioner James Gordon, and that’s just the good guys. 

The villains include voice parts for Jenny Slate, Billy Dee Williams, Riki Lindhome, Eddie Izzard, and a spot for cameos by Godzilla, King Kong, and the Eye of Sauron.  All of this characterization to deal with the ever-inflating ego of the caped crusader and, as it just so happens; the man in black could use the lesson.  He’s got it into his bat-head that he’s the only person who truly matters in this world. 

Even Superman, voiced by Channing Tatum, gets in on the fun.  And why not?  If Gotham City is EVER going to be able to defeat The Joker then Batman is going to have to learn the meaning behind TEAM.

Written by Seth Grahame-Smith, Chris McKenna, Erik Sommers, Jared Stern and John Whittington, this computer-animated superhero comedy is all about putting The Joker in Superman’s notorious Phantom Zone while saying one step ahead of all the other villains out there. It is both original and scathingly hilarious in its treatment of the ongoing comic book craze and the caped characters involved.  The banter between Cera and Arnett – as Robin tries desperately to make Batman his father – is spot-on and ripe with hilarity.

Part of the fun in watching this film comes from the sheer amount of pop culture references that are hurled at the screen throughout the brightly-colored adventure.  You seriously need to have a solid attention span to catch all of them.  They zip by with the energy of a toddler.  Articulated with spot-on Batman knowhow, there’s not a single version of the comic book character that remains untouched by the humor.  This is some seriously righteous animated entertainment.

The LEGO Movie’s first spinoff is a certifiable hit of irreverent fun.

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The LEGO Batman Movie - Blu-ray Review

MPAA Rating: PG for rude humor and some action.
Runtime:
114 mins
Director
: Chris McKay
Writer:
Seth Grahame-Smith, Chris McKenna
Cast:
Will Arnett, Michael Cera, Rosario Dawson
Genre
: Action | Family
Tagline:
From the team that assembled The Lego Movie.
Memorable Movie Quote: "Iron Man sucks."
Theatrical Distributor:
Warner Bros.
Official Site: http://www.legobatman.com/
Release Date:
February 10, 2017
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date:
Own The Lego® Batman Movie on Ultra HD Blu-ray, 3D Blu-ray, Blu-ray and DVD on June 13 or Own it Early on Digital HD on May 19!
Synopsis: In the irreverent spirit of fun that made “The LEGO Movie” a worldwide phenomenon, the self-described leading man of that ensemble—LEGO Batman—stars in his own big-screen adventure. But there are big changes brewing in Gotham City, and if he wants to save the city from The Joker’s hostile takeover, Batman may have to drop the lone vigilante thing, try to work with others and maybe, just maybe, learn to lighten up.

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The LEGO Batman Movie - Blu-ray Review

Blu-ray

Blu-ray Details:

Home Video Distributor: Warner Bros.
Available on Blu-ray
- Own The Lego® Batman Movie on Ultra HD Blu-ray, 3D Blu-ray, Blu-ray and DVD on June 13 or Own it Early on Digital HD on May 19!Screen Formats: 1.85:1
Subtitles
: None
Audio:
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit); English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (48kHz, 24-bit)
Discs: Blu-ray Disc; Two-disc set (1 BD-50, 1 DVD); UV digital copy; Digital copy; DVD copy
Region Encoding: Locked to Region A

This might be the best-looking blu-ray presentation of an animated film released yet.  Warner Bros. gave this wonderfully fun movie an equally wonderful treatment.  The bright transfer is simply superb.  The 1080p video presentation, complete with a rich color palette, is awesome.  The transfer captures the vivid life of the candy-colored characters.  The amount of detail in the LEGO blocks that you can see in a single shot of will make this Blu-Ray a favorite for all the members of your family.  For frame analysis freaks out there, know this: every second is filled with sumptuous color, depth and detail.  The Dolby Atmos Audio track somehow matches the video quality in terms of quality.  It’s an immersive, engaging mix that never ceases to impress.

Supplements:

Commentary:

  •  The fun and informative feature commentary by the film’s director and its crew is pretty awesome.

Special Features:

The film comes with many special features. It seems like less and less mainstream movies have good special features these days, and it’s great to see such a good and fun movie have so many cool special features about the making of the movie, including Deleted Scenes.  The bevy of bonus material is interesting and includes some cool Batman-themed animated shorts.  There’s even a LEGO Ninjago Short to whet appetites.  A DVD Copy and a Digital Copy is also included with the purchase of the Blu-ray.

  • Original Animation Shorts (Dark Hoser, Batman is Just Not That Into You, and Cooking with Alfred)
  • Movie Sound Effects: How Do They Do That?
  • The Master: A LEGO Ninjago Short
  • Deleted Scenes
  • One Brick at a Time: Making the Lego Batman Movie
  • Social Promos
  • Rebrick Contest Winners
  • Trailers

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The LEGO Batman Movie - Blu-ray Review

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