If you are like me and have been out of the Ben 10 game for a bit, you may find yourself looking at the television lineup and marvel that the series is still running strong after fifteen years. The truth of the matter is a bit more complicated. Yes, a series known as Ben 10 is currently airing, but it is not the same show I was watching as a teenager. That show ended after four seasons before spawning a sequel series…then a few more sequel series. The franchise has been an important part of the Cartoon Network schedule since it launched, and history reveals no signs of it ending anytime soon. The current iteration of Ben 10 is something of a reboot of the original series, but, as far as I can tell, given the lighthearted Teen Titans Go! treatment with manic energy and rounder, stylized animation. This version of Ben 10 has remained a hot commodity for the network throughout its four seasons, so it only makes sense that it was granted a special movie to tell one of its most epic tales yet. Ben 10 vs. The Universe: The Movie just aired on Cartoon Network mere weeks ago, but it is already here to make your collection complete.
The original Ben 10 was the story of ten-year-old Ben Tennyson and his cousin Gwen, as they traveled across the U.S. one summer with their grandfather. Along the way, Ben encounters an alien watch that allows him to transform into a multitude of different alien creatures that really help with saving the world. A lot of the fun of the series was derived from the youthful exuberance of Ben, who would often use his newfound power to accomplish typical young boy business, but he was always ready to come through when it counted. While the series was one you could come and go to quite easily, it did feature Ben expanding his abilities and tackling new threats as the story progressed. With this latest version of Ben 10 (2016), the narrative stays largely the same with some small changes in style and tone. If you are like me and have not kept up with the series, do not feel scared away from jumping into this new film. Even those who have never seen the show should find this an interesting story that is easy to sink into.
Ben 10 vs. The Universe: The Movie throws viewers into the deep end with young Ben right in the middle of yet another fight. In life, nearly anything can become tedious after you have done it for a while, and apparently the same goes for vanquishing villains. Ben has become accustomed to dispatching with these foes in a succinct manner, and the experience just doesn’t offer the thrills it used to. What we view as an exciting action sequence filled with cool aliens and pulse-pounding combat, Ben sees it as just another day at the office. Ben wants adventure, and he soon gets more than he bargained for when he attempts to stop an impending meteor but gets taken prisoner on a spaceship by the Incurseans. His captors believe him to be the dastardly villain Vilgax in disguise, but the truth is that the impending meteor was actually Vilgax on a destructive mission to Earth, where Gwen, Grandpa, and dark soul Kevin must try to protect humanity in Ben’s absence.
While not a complicated narrative, the slightly immature Ben will use his unfortunate imprisonment to grow up somewhat with the help of some newfound mentors to better understand his powers and grow as a person. This type of realization is essential to any hero’s journey, and this film executes it quite well. The film moves along with the frantic energy of a highly caffeinated child, but this suits the character of Ben perfectly. Things may move fast, but this film still finds time to showcase some nice character moments among the hilariously unhinged situations that keep building to a very busy finale. Ben 10 vs. The Universe: The Movie is not reinventing the wheel, but it offers up something different enough from a typical episode to justify its existence. The series works because of the characters that inhabit it and the different aliens at Ben’s disposal, and this film offers up an adventure in which these elements shine. If it has been a while since you have engaged with Ben 10, or if you are a complete newbie, this new feature-length film is an easy entry point into the universe that is worth your time.
Video Quality
Ben 10 vs. The Universe: The Movie comes to DVD with a 480p transfer that looks quite good despite the lack of a HD option. This disc lacks the definition that a Blu-Ray would provide, but it does avoid an abundance of digital anomalies such as artifacting and digital noise. The film features a lively color palette throughout most of the runtime, but it lacks a visual pop off the screen due to format limitations. The disc provides fairly deep black levels for a clean viewing experience free of crush. The animation style of the film is quite fetching, and line detail remains appropriately strong throughout with only occasional instances of blurring along edges. The DVD presentation is an enjoyable experience, but I would have loved to have seen this one on Blu-Ray.
Audio Quality
This release boasts a Dolby Digital 2.0 track that feels a bit restrained when taking into account the action that is happening on screen. There is a fair amount of weight in the mix when the chaos of fighting aliens comes to life, but it does not hit you in the chest like you wish it would. Dialogue is rendered pretty clear with no issues of clipping during more active moments. The track does as good of a job as possible to put you in the thick of the action, but the uninspired sound design does not help matters. Warner Bros. has done a decent job with this audio track, but don’t expect to be blown away. There are optional subtitles including English SDH on the disc for those who desire them.
Special Features
- Animatics: Seven sequences totaling eight minutes are provided in early-stage animatics. It is fun to see how these sequences evolved in their final form.
- Image Gallery: A two-minute collection of images from the film including landscapes and alien designs.
Final Thoughts
Ben 10 vs. The Universe: The Movie is a fun and exciting entry into the Ben 10 franchise that is able to be enjoyed by die hard fans and newcomers alike. The film has a nice character arc, a few laugh out loud moments and a compelling villain, which is about all you can ask for these days. Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has offered up a DVD with a good A/V presentation and a couple of special features. Fans of the series should consider this a safe purchase.
Ben 10 vs. The Universe: The Movie is currently available to purchase on DVD and Digital.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the DVD.
Disclaimer: Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
