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Batman Unlimited: Monster Mayhem Blu-ray Review

“Batman Unlimited: Monster Mayhem” is an entertaining, but exhausting animated feature.

After putting out the decent “Batman Unlimited: Animal Instincts,” Warner Bros. and DC Entertainment have released a brand new follow-up titled “Batman Unlimited: Monster Mayhem.” The story finds Batman, Red Robin, Nightwing, Green Arrow, and a young video game programmer trying to stop Scarecrow, Solomon Grundy, Silver Banshee, Clayface, and the Joker from taking over the world with a laughing virus that allows the Joker to control all technology (including Cyborg himself). The nasty experiment kicks off in Gotham City which allows the Joker to essentially takeover the city with ease. Can the laughing virus be contained or will the Joker’s plan for world domination come to fruition?

From the opening minutes, “Batman Unlimited: Monster Mayhem” proves to be a fast paced Batman story that is set in a pre “Batman Beyond” timeline. While the plot is pretty light, I don’t think many DC fans will complain as the film is essentially a series of long battles between heroes and villains. Now, you’re probably thinking that most of the film is just Batman vs. the Joker, but that’s actually not the case. Each character gets valuable screentime here which I found to be refreshing. It’s not often that you get to see someone like Silver Banshee all that much.

As exciting as the numerous action sequences may be, the movie does become a bit tiring as the final act approaches. It doesn’t help that writer Heath Corson puts in some seriously over-the-top moments involving a Joker mecha, an Iron Man esque Joker flying suit, and a robotic dinosaur (which is on the cover). It’s all a bit much and is generally unnecessary in the grand scheme of the story.

Video/Audio:

Presentation: 1.78:1 1080p. How does it look? The animation looks sharp in hi-def.

Audio Track: 5.1 DTS-HD MA. How does it sound? This is a busy track as the film is filled with action-packed set pieces.

Extras: * Warner Bros. trailers. * Digital copy and DVD copy. * A “Batman: The Brave and the Bold” episode titled “Emperor Joker.” * 10 DC Nation Shorts that include the characters Shazam!, Green Arrow, Riddler, Deadman, and Animal Man. These are all stylized lighthearted takes on the characters. Make of that as you will. * “Gotham of Tomorrow: Designing A Future World”- A featurette on the look of Gotham City for “Batman Unlimited.”

August 21, 2015 - Posted by nicklyons1 | Blu-Ray review | Batman, Batman Unlimited: Monster Mayhem Blu-ray Review, Green Arrow, The Joker