DC continues to outshine Marvel in the film department, both on the big screen and directly-to-video in your home. With the new “Justice League: Crisis On Two Earths,” DC has put forth its second full-length feature starring members of its premiere super team. The mandatory trio of triumph: Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman, head up the team along with favorites like Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter, Flash and others. The good (and not so good) thing about the movies is that they look to satisfy fans of both the comic and the television shows. The JL cartoon on Cartoon Network used Jon Stewart as the Green Lantern, while the new movie uses Guy Gardner who is the more popular and arguably the best of the (Earth) Green Lanterns. I am guessing that the recent GL movie which showed Gardner’s origin may have had something to do with this choice as well. Anyway, the story is quite the classic one, having been dealt with on a smaller scale in an episode of Batman: The Brave And The Bold, another DC cartoon from Cartoon Network.
The story opens on an alternate Earth with Lex Luthor and The Trickster (alternate Joker) pulling off what appears to be a crime. They steal a small device and try to make their escape as the “good guys” are clearly in pursuit. The Trickster stays behind to buy time for Luthor and is confronted by Hawkgirl and Martian Manhunter, only it’s not so much the heroes we know as hawkgirl runs Trickster through with her sword (not mace). Luthor manages to teleport to the Earth we know and asks the Justice League for help (and he does it buttnaked, no really). I will leave the rest for you to see as there is plenty of action and fighting to keep you entertained. This movie, more so than her own, is proof positive that you do not wanna piss Wonder Woman off….ever.
The voice acting, while top notch, always puzzles me in these films. I never understand why they choose to use talent other than the well established voices for Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and the Flash. Still, Andrea Romano always puts quality inot the voice direction and it is the minor gripe of a fan of the television shows. The art direction was incredible and I cannot wait to watch this again on blu-ray. While not exactly the same, this is probably the closest that any of the movies have come to the look of the original JL cartoon, which was always a joy to watch; fans will not be disappointed. The story is probably not as deep as some of the other DC movies, but I would forgive that because any story touching on infinite Earths has to be done very carefully; this was a plot line that almost destroyed the DC universe because it got too out of control for the writers.
Crisis On Two Earths releases on DVD and Blu-Ray next week on Feb. 23 and if you have enjoyed any of the last five DC movies then you will love this one. The only one I personally liked more was Public Enemies and that is because that is the only one that was probably the most mature of all the DC movies. This is definitely one that you want to have in your collection. Wonder Woman vs Superwoman, Batman vs Owlman, Superman vs Ultraman, Green Lantern vs Power Ring, Flash vs Johnny Quick; who will win? Check this flick to find out.
