Synopsis
Having been recaptured by the government at the end of the previous season (not to mentionalmost killed), Max (Jessica Alba) breaks loose at the start of this season. Also freed are otherexperiments, mutants who are very visibly mutants (their DNA was crossed with that of animals,for instance), ultimately leading to some very X-Men style battles with human prejudice. JamesCameron himself comes in to direct the final episode.
Audio
An energeti… 2.0 mix is on offer here. Sure, one can miss the extra separation that 5.1provides, but that option is so rare on TV discs that there’s not much point complaining aboutits absence here. The surround sound effects are quite impressive all the same, with a fairlyconsistent environmental creation. There are, however, occasional inappropriate surrounddialogue moments. These aren’t too serious, I should add. They aren’t anything like what youget with mono remixed to stereo.
Video
The transfer is superb, head and shoulders above so many other TV products out there. Thereis no grain, and the image is very sharp. The flesh tones are natural, the blacks are profound, andthe contrasts are very strong. The aspect is, as you would expect, fullscreen. All in all, the showlooks as good as one could hope.
Special Features
Not a huge number of extras, but there are some. A hefty batch of the creative team docommentary on the first and last episodes of the season (There may be other commentarieselsewhere in the set, but the screener under review gives no hint as to which episodes, if any,these might be). “Max: Resurrected” is a 15-minute featurette on the season. Some of the footageis promotional, but there are some interesting retrospective comments too. “Making theManticore Monsters” is a short make-up featurette. “Manticore on the Loose” is just an actionmontage, more a trailer than anything else. The extras are rounded out by a fairly dull blooperreel. The main page of the menu is animated and scored, while the second-level pages arescored.
Closing Thoughts
Given that this is it, as far as Max’s adventures go, a more hefty bundle of extras wouldn’thave been amiss. The transfer, though, is excellent.
Special Features List
- Audio Commentary for Select Episodes
- “Max: Resurrected” Featurette
- “Making the Manticore Monsters” Featurette
- “Manticore on the Loose” Montage
- Blooper Reel
