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PLEASE NOTE: Michael D's is currently in READ ONLY MODE. Anything submitted will simply not be written to the database.
Lots of stuff is still broken, but at least reviews can now be looked up and read.
Transformers: Prime-Weapons of Choice (2013)

Transformers: Prime-Weapons of Choice (2013)

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Released 6-Nov-2013

Cover Art

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Details At A Glance

General Extras
Category Animation None
Rating Rated PG
Year Of Production 2013
Running Time 110
RSDL / Flipper Dual Layered Cast & Crew
Start Up Menu
Region Coding 4 Directed By None Given
Studio
Distributor

Madman Entertainment
Starring None Given
Case Amaray-Transparent
RPI ? Music None Given


Video Audio
Pan & Scan/Full Frame None English Dolby Digital 5.1
English Dolby Digital 2.0
Widescreen Aspect Ratio 1.78:1
16x9 Enhancement
16x9 Enhanced
Video Format 576i (PAL)
Original Aspect Ratio 1.78:1 Miscellaneous
Jacket Pictures No
Subtitles None Smoking No
Annoying Product Placement No
Action In or After Credits No

NOTE: The Profanity Filter is ON. Turn it off here.

Plot Synopsis

     Transformers: Prime is the latest animated TV series in the ever-increasing Transformers empire. It is now in a second series and this disc represents the 11th to 15th episodes of that second series.

     The Transformers brand has been phenomenally successful over the last 25 or so years, starting as an animated TV series and a set of toys, developed by Tomy in Japan and Hasbro in the US. Over the years there have been many animated television shows and recently extremely successful live action movies, which have created a whole new generation of Transformers fans. To capitalise on this success Hasbro decided to develop a new animated series, with a bigger budget and higher quality animation than the most recent previous series, Transformers Animated. This new show is a big step up from there with higher quality animation than many animated features, exciting storylines and some great sound design.

     The concept of this series is that a small group of Autobots are on Earth protecting it from the Decepticons whilst also trying to avoid being noticed by humans. In the first episode of season 1 we were introduced to the main set of Autobots, Optimus Prime, Ratchet, Arcee, Bulkhead and Bumblebee who form the nucleus of the team here. The Decepticons have a revolving cast of players but Megatron and Starscream are as usual front and centre. One thing which makes this series a little different is that the Autobots are discovered by and subsequently team up with three teenagers, Jack, an older boy, Miko, a Japanese exchange student, and Raf, a younger, geeky boy. The second series began with Optimus Prime having forgotten who he is and having reverted to the pre-Prime state, as a Decepticon archivist called Orion Pax. These episodes continue the story.

     This is a really high quality animated children's series, with interesting stories, great voice acting, humour and all the kids’ favourite characters. The animation is a cut above most television animation with surprising detail and clarity which really helps to indicate the obvious quality on display.

     Transformers fans will love this new entry into the canon.

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Transfer Quality

Video

     The video quality is very good.

The feature is presented in a 1.78:1 aspect ratio which is the original aspect ratio. It is 16x9 enhanced.

  

       The picture was nicely clear and sharp throughout, without quite being as good as the best modern feature animation transfers. Shadow detail was excellent throughout.

     The colour is excellent with no issues to report.

     There was a little motion blur at times.

     There are no subtitles.

Video Ratings Summary
Sharpness
Shadow Detail
Colour
Grain/Pixelization
Film-To-Video Artefacts
Film Artefacts
Overall

Audio

     The audio quality is excellent for a TV show.

     This disc contains an English soundtrack in Dolby Digital 5.1 and an alternate Dolby Digital 2.0 track.

     Dialogue was clear and easy to understand throughout.

     The score by Brian Tyler and Matthew Margeson is exciting and memorable, really driving the series.

     The surround speakers were very well used with good surround effects and lots of atmosphere especially in action sequences.

     The subwoofer was also used noticeably supporting the music and action sequences.

Audio Ratings Summary
Dialogue
Audio Sync
Clicks/Pops/Dropouts
Surround Channel Use
Subwoofer
Overall

Extras

    No extras are included.

Menu

    The menu featured music and allowed for episode selection.

Trailers

R4 vs R1

NOTE: To view non-R4 releases, your equipment needs to be multi-zone compatible and usually also NTSC compatible.

    This specific release in not available in Region 1.

Summary

    An excellent new animated series from the Transformers franchise continues.

    The video quality is very good.

    The audio quality is very good.

    The extras have reverted to their non-extra state.

Ratings (out of 5)

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall

© Daniel Bruce (Do you need a bio break?)
Monday, December 23, 2013
Review Equipment
DVDSONY BDP-S760 Blu-ray, using HDMI output
DisplaySharp LC52LE820X Quattron 52" Full HD LED-LCD TV . Calibrated with Ultimate DVD Platinum. This display device is 16x9 capable. This display device has a maximum native resolution of 1080p.
Audio DecoderBuilt into amplifier. Calibrated with Ultimate DVD Platinum.
AmplificationMarantz SR5005
SpeakersMonitor Audio Bronze 2 (Front), Bronze Centre & Bronze FX (Rears) + Sony SAW2500M Subwoofer

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