Green Lantern: Emerald Knights Blu-ray Review

The 1080p/AVC-encoded presentation of "Green Lantern: Emerald Knights" delivers a visually compelling experience with only minor shortcomings. The 1.78:1 transfer showcases strikingly powerful colors; the primaries are vibrant and engaging, providing a captivating visual feast. The animation’s sleek style ensures lines are crisp while green glows, space debris, and erupting suns exhibit impressive detail. Contrast remains bold and bright with deep, inky black levels that enhance the visual depth, making the Blu-ray presentation a significant improvement over its DVD counterpart.

However, the presentation is not without flaws. A persistent issue with banding disrupts the otherwise pristine visuals, most notably affecting skies, backgrounds, and light sources. Though this issue is common in many DCU animated releases and suspected to stem from the original animation itself, it detracts from the uniform excellence. Minor aliasing and infrequent pixelation are present but minimally impactful. Despite these faults, the climax effectively leverages the strengths of the animation, showcasing detailed and dynamic scenes of the Lanterns in combat that highlight the robustness of the visual transfer.

Overall, despite persistent banding and minor technical flaws, the video presentation of "Green Lantern: Emerald Knights" remains impressive, with rich colors and excellent contrast that immerse viewers into its vibrant world.

Warner's "Green Lantern: Emerald Knights" Blu-ray features a dynamic DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track along with additional language options in French, German, and Italian Dolby Digital 5.1, and Spanish and Castilian Dolby Digital 2.0. The audio presentation impresses with its crystal-clear dialogue prioritization and sharp fidelity in sound effects. Directionality is engaging, if not entirely precise, enveloping the listener in the midst of intense battle sequences and immersive soundscapes. Despite being somewhat front-heavy during quieter moments, the low-frequency effects (LFE) channel excels during action scenes, providing a welcomed kick and liveliness to the experience.

The sound design, while not as intricate as high-budget live action films, remains solid with a good dynamic range. Christopher Drake's musical score, although subdued in some parts of the soundscape, integrates well without overpowering other elements. The surrounding speakers actively contribute to the action-packed sequences featuring power rings, alien warships, energy blasts, and explosions, delivering a satisfying auditory experience. While some minor issues trace back to the original sound design, overall, the mix achieves a well-balanced harmony between dialogue, effects, and background score, ensuring listeners remain thrilled from start to finish.

The Blu-ray edition of "Green Lantern: Emerald Knights" boasts an impressive array of special features, offering deep dives into the Green Lantern universe through engaging interviews and insightful commentary. Geoff Johns and Dan DiDio lead an informative and lively audio commentary, adding depth to the film's storyline and character history. Two substantial documentaries explore bravery in the Green Lantern Corps and Geoff Johns' impact on the series. Additionally, fans are treated to sneak peeks of other DC animated projects, enhancing the disc’s value.

Extras included in this disc:

• Audio Commentary: An insightful discussion by Geoff Johns and Dan DiDio.
• Only the Bravest: Tales of the Green Lantern Corps: Examination of bravery and fear in the Green Lantern universe.
• Why Green Lantern Matters: The Talent of Geoff Johns: Analysis of Johns' work on the series.
• From Comicbook to Screen: Transformation of Abin Sur and Laira Omoto.
• Bruce Timm's Picks: Selected episodes from Batman: The Brave and the Bold.
• Batman: Year One Sneak Peek: Behind-the-scenes look at an upcoming DC animated film.
• All-Star Superman Sneak Peek: Preview of the previously released film.
• Virtual Comic Book: Excerpt from Johns' Green Lantern comic series.
• Promos: DCU Application and Matty Collector trailers.

"Green Lantern: Emerald Knights" is an engaging animated anthology that captures the essence of the Green Lantern mythos with precision and flair. This collection of shorts, tied together by the overarching threat of Krona's resurgence, deftly balances storytelling and action. It opens with "The First Lantern," which sets the tone with a compelling origin tale about Avra, the unassuming scribe who becomes the first ring bearer. The story’s dynamic pacing, vibrant battles, and Nathan Fillion's spirited narration ensure that even departures from comic lore do not detract from its impact.

Kilowog's segment stands out for its character-driven narrative, exploring his early days under the stern tutelage of Sergeant Deegan. This vignette foregoes narration, relying instead on robust voice performances and intense training sequences that culminate in Kilowog’s triumphant rise. "Laira" presents a deeper emotional arc, as Laira confronts her past while embracing her role as a Lantern. Despite altering some comic book details, this story excels with its rich character exploration and dramatic conflict.

Not all segments are equally strong; "Mogo Doesn't Socialize," while well-crafted, falls short due to its predictable plot. The final narrative spotlight, "Abin Sur," penned by Green Lantern revitalizer Geoff Johns, delves into themes of loyalty and foreboding as it depicts Abin Sur and Sinestro's partnership before betrayal looms. Strong performances by Arnold Vosloo and Jason Isaacs bring depth to this darker, more introspective story.

The film concludes with an ensemble effort to thwart Krona's menace. While the climax may underwhelm in its inventiveness, "Green Lantern: Emerald Knights" impresses with its consistent animation quality and cohesive storytelling. This makes it superior to previous DC animated anthologies such as "Batman: Gotham Knight." Visually distinctive with a blend of traditional and CG animation, and featuring strong voice acting led by Nathan Fillion, this film is both a tribute to loyal fans and an accessible entry point for new viewers.

"Green Lantern: Emerald Knights" is an admirable anthology of cosmic narratives that delve into the essence of heroism. The Blu-ray offers a significant visual improvement over its DVD counterpart, even though it is marred slightly by instances of banding. The DTS-HD Master Audio surround mix stands out, delivering a robust auditory experience that enhances the energetic and action-packed sequences. The narrative structure effectively introduces and expands upon the Green Lantern mythology, making it an essential precursor for the character’s theatrical debut.

The supplemental package is a notable highlight, featuring an audio commentary by Geoff Johns and Dan DiDio that sheds light on the creative process. Additionally, the inclusion of two high-definition documentaries provides further context and enriches the viewing experience. This package ensures that both long-time fans and newcomers will find something to appreciate. Despite minor shortcomings, the quality of content and presentation is a solid testament to Warner's commitment to high-caliber animated releases.

In conclusion, "Green Lantern: Emerald Knights" isn't a genre-defining anthology, but it succeeds in delivering an entertaining and engaging experience that should satisfy comic and film fans alike. With strong audio-visual elements and a wealth of special features, this Blu-ray is recommended for anyone looking to explore the Green Lantern universe ahead of the live-action film.