Ultramarines: A Warhammer 40,000 Movie Blu-ray Review

The video presentation of "Ultramarines: A Warhammer 40,000 Movie" on Blu-ray falls short of delivering a high-end visual experience. The 1080p transfer exhibits a generally washed-out appearance, with less-than-stellar black levels that often come across as a perpetual light haze. Detail retrieval can be quite inconsistent; while there are occasional instances of fine wear and tear on weapons and armor, and some adequately detailed close-ups of characters, overall sharpness is lacking. The color palette is fairly subdued and fails to offer any vibrant or robust hues, largely relying on blue armor and muted earth tones. Moreover, mild noise and shimmering are noticeable, further detracting from the visual quality.

The underlying issues with the animation itself are exacerbated by the marginally average video presentation. The textures are rudimentary, bearing a resemblance to video game graphics from an older generation. This leaves the entire movie looking more like a cutscene from a PlayStation 2 game rather than a contemporary animated feature. The visuals display a grimy, unfinished aesthetic throughout the runtime. Moreover, banding is a prevalent issue; gradients and fades frequently exhibit conspicuous color bands, which is symptomatic of a less refined production process.

In summary, while "Ultramarines: A Warhammer 40,000 Movie" manages to be passable, it certainly won’t impress viewers seeking top-tier video quality. The dull color representation, lack of sharpness, and evident banding all contribute to a rather lackluster viewing experience.

"Ultramarines: A Warhammer 40,000 Movie" boasts a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack that is nothing short of aggressive. The audio presentation kicks off with an intense battle sequence, delivering a relentless auditory assault through every speaker. Such a setup ensures the viewer is immediately immersed in an environment filled with booming low-end sonics, as gunfire and explosions dominate the scene. The thunderous bass is particularly noteworthy, bringing a physicality that rumbles the listening area. However, this comes at a cost: dialogue clarity suffers amidst the cacophony, often getting lost under the high-octane effects.

The music and overall ambiance are commendably spaced, with surround speakers consistently engaged throughout action sequences. Yet, this persistence can become overwhelming. The rear channels aptly handle ambient sound, and there's an admirable directionality in how effects pan across the listening space. Unfortunately, the mix leans towards an overzealous presentation where louder equates to better, leading to instances where sound effects are ear-piercingly loud. This disparity detracts from the listening experience as the lower-mixed dialogue struggles to make an impression amongst the barrage of high-volume effects.

In summary, while the soundtrack delivers a thrilling and invigorating experience with its deep bass and immersive directionality, it sacrifices dialogue intelligibility for sheer volume. The mix tends to favor aggressive sound effects over a balanced auditory presentation, which could be seen as a double-edged sword, depending on listener preference for high-adrenaline audio versus coherent narrative delivery.

The Blu-ray of "Ultramarines: A Warhammer 40,000 Movie" offers a robust and insightful selection of extras, providing a comprehensive look into the film's creation and its Warhammer universe. The centerpiece is a detailed thirty-minute documentary broken into five sections, covering story development, character building, preproduction processes, and audio design. Additional features explore the Space Marines' lore, the intricacies of character and Daemon design, and include an animated graphic novel prequel that enriches the narrative further. The extras are well-structured, providing fans and newcomers with deep dives into both technical and creative aspects.

Extras included in this disc:

• Into the Void: Making 'Ultramarines': A comprehensive five-part documentary.
• Between Chaos and Darkness: The World of the Space Marines: Insights on setting, character design, and universe specifics.
• Creating the Daemon: Concept to screen transformation.
• Animated Graphic Novel: 'Ultramarines' Prequel: Short film based on Dan Abnett and David A. Roach's graphic novel.
• Trailer: The official movie trailer.

"Ultramarines: A Warhammer 40,000 Movie" attempts to bring the vast and intricate Warhammer 40,000 universe into the realm of feature-length CGI animation. For many fans of the expansive Warhammer franchise, known for its richly detailed tabletop games and video game adaptations, this cinematic endeavor seemed a natural progression. Set in the war-torn 41st millennium, the narrative follows the UltraMarines, elite space marines donned in imposing armor and armed with formidable weaponry. As they engage in relentless combat against chaos daemons and otherworldly threats, viewers unfamiliar with the expansive lore may feel overwhelmed by the rapid exposition and dense backstory. Indeed, the movie's reliance on prior knowledge of Warhammer's universe could alienate newcomers.

From a technical perspective, "Ultramarines: A Warhammer 40,000 Movie" suffers from significant shortcomings in its animation quality. The CGI is notably lackluster, reminiscent of early video game cutscenes. Character animations are stiff, with lifeless eyes and barely moving mouths, lending the film a dated and unengaging visual style despite its 2010 release. The overly dark and hazy aesthetic further detracts from the visual appeal, casting a dreary, near-monotonous tone over what should be dynamic battle scenes. While the sound design's loud gunfire and intense bass add to the action's visceral feel, they can't completely overshadow the clichéd dialogue and predictable plot progression.

Despite these criticisms, some elements of "Ultramarines" manage to shine through. The characterization of the UltraMarines as modern knights, bound by a deep sense of honor and duty to their emperor, provides an intriguing narrative layer. Their ritualistic combat oaths and spiritual bonds echo themes of medieval chivalry, bringing a unique flavor to their futuristic warfare. However, the promise of these intriguing dynamics is often undermined by repetitive battle sequences and a linear storyline, leading to an experience that feels flat rather than epic, a missed opportunity given the rich potential of its source material.

"Ultramarines: A Warhammer 40,000 Movie" presents a mixed bag, particularly when viewed through a technical lens. The animation quality is notably subpar, lacking the sophistication that modern audiences might expect, ultimately rendering the visuals somewhat challenging to endure for the full 77-minute duration. Plot development is practically non-existent, and the repetitive action sequences do little to enhance the viewing experience. However, the film does manage to inject some moments of disquiet and explores character dynamics within the group, albeit superficially. Key standout characters bookend the narrative, adding a modicum of depth to an otherwise indistinguishable ensemble cast.

Technically speaking, Anchor Bay's Blu-ray presentation is decent but far from exceptional. The video quality is fair, adequately capturing the grim aesthetic of the Warhammer 40,000 universe without impressing on any particular level. On the audio front, the mix is aggressive and immersive, providing an engaging auditory experience that complements the action-heavy sequences. Additionally, the Blu-ray includes a smattering of extras, most notably a thirty-minute documentary that offers some behind-the-scenes insights.

In conclusion, "Ultramarines: A Warhammer 40,000 Movie" is undeniably geared towards existing fans of the game. Those unfamiliar with the lore will likely find themselves lost in this dense universe. While hardcore enthusiasts may derive some enjoyment from recognizing familiar elements, newcomers are advised to consider a rental before making a purchase. Despite its flaws, the movie serves as passable mindless entertainment for those willing to overlook its technical imperfections.