Monsters
Vs. Aliens: Cloning Around
(2013/DreamWorks/Fox DVD)/Phineas
& Ferb: Mission
Marvel
(2013/Marvel/Disney DVD)
Picture:
C/C+ Sound: C+ Extras: C-/B- Main Programs: C+
Here
are two decent action children's releases...
Monsters
Vs. Aliens: Cloning Around
(2013) is a single DVD sampler of the TV spin off of the hit
DreamWorks CGI feature with about 3 hours worth of shows and it is
not bad, but I have to say unless you liked the original feature, you
might be lost or at least have a sense of disconnection. Still, this
is quality programming, but it can get silly, though it fits into the
Nickelodeon TV family from where it is broadcast. It is good, but
not great, though fans will like it.
Extras
include a Game App, Digital
HD Ultraviolet Copy for PC, PC portable and iTunes capable devices
and previews for other DreamWorks products.
Not
much better is Phineas
& Ferb: Mission Marvel
(2013) in which the cast of the hit Disney TV show meets four of the
top Marvel Comics superheroes: Thor, Hulk, Iron Man and Spider-Man in
a sometimes very funny spoof of both with the world in the balance
and more than a few in-jokes. The main show is well done, but only
runs 44 minutes. Fans will get a kick out of it and should consider
it worth a look, but even non-fans will laugh.
Extras
include a Comic Book and Pull-Out Poster inside the DVD case, plus 8
adventures from the original series.
The
anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 image on both DVD releases should be
decent for new productions, but
Cloning
is a little softer throughout than I would have liked. The lossy
Dolby Digital 5.1 on Cloning
and lossy Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo on Marvel
are more even than expected as the former's 5.1 mix is lacking.
-
Nicholas Sheffo
