JUSTICE LEAGUE: CRISIS ON TWO EARTHS (2010), dir. Sam Liu, Lauren Montgomery
SITE ARCHIVE! (REGULARLY UPDATED)
This review was originally published at Cinemaspy.
By now, the Justice League cartoon show has been in syndication and on home video long enough that fans know what to expect: iconic heroes like Superman, Wonder Woman and Batman; threats to human life on a planetary scale; and a serious tone overall. While the new Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths doesn't necessarily exist in-continuity with the previous Justice League cartoon, it does feature a similar art style and storytelling approach in an original adventure that should please longtime fans, even if it may not wow them.
The plot is similar to the Justice League cartoon episode "A Better World" which introduced an alternate universe version of our heroes called the Justice Lords, who declared martial law over Earth in order to protect mankind from itself. Once again, Superman and company cross dimensions and face-off against different doppelgangers; but this time, the antagonists are the Crime Syndicate, who aren't well-meaning-but-misguided so much as mobsters with superpowers. They run illicit enterprises across their world, keeping governments in check by threatening to kill millions.
On this world, familiar Justice League arch-enemies were superheroes until they were systematically wiped out by the Syndicate. Now Earth's only hope rests with Lex Luthor, who as befitting a mirror dimension uses his intelligence for good, not evil. After leaving his world for ours, he convinces the League to follow him home and help liberate his planet. What no one expects, however, is for members of the Crime Syndicate to eventually pay the League's Earth a visit, thanks to an important device this Luthor has hidden at the heroes' headquarters.
That's more than enough plot to sustain a feature-length Justice League adventure. Writer Dwayne McDuffie, a veteran comic book scribe who previously wrote for the Justice League cartoon as well as the monthly "Justice League of America" title, fashions a scenario that suitably requires the combined efforts of the world's greatest heroes. In theory, the league is battling itself, so fans expecting action, action, and more action aren't likely to be disappointed. McDuffie leaves enough room for a little character development as well; however, with an ensemble of more than a dozen protagonists, not everyone gets equal screen time.
Overall, the art and animation exceed the Justice League cartoon: colors look rich and saturated, and character movements are exceptionally fluid (indeed, Wonder Woman appears so dynamic in one pivotal fight sequence that she drew cheers from the preview audience). The action is well-paced and occasionally-inspired—though one could argue none of the principals get to use their abilities in any unique fashion. Highlights include an aerial battle with realistic-looking cloud effects; and there’s a certain wit having the League encounter versions of B-list heroes from their world when they first arrive in alternate Earth, then having the same thing happen to the Crime Syndicate when they cross the breach in the reverse direction.
Another way the Justice League movie possibly surpasses the cartoon is the quality of the voice acting. While some of the cast’s big names seemingly get lost in the shuffle — in hindsight, the producers probably didn’t need Mark Harmon for Superman, since he doesn’t get all that much to do — there are plenty of standouts. William Baldwin makes for a brooding and effective Batman, although he seems to be channeling Christian Bale more than mimicking legendary Bat-vocalist Kevin Conroy, and Gina Torres does good work as the Crime Syndicate’s Superwoman, whom she appropriately plays as Wonder Woman with a seductive side. And James Woods is in a class by himself as Owlman, who might best be described as the Dark Knight minus a human side. An actor known for his feral intensity, Woods dials himself back considerably, and the result is the most memorable villain of the lot.
If I had any qualms with Crisis on Two Earths, they stemmed from how little the Syndicate actually resembles its League counterparts. Sure, their powers are similar: the evil Green Lantern sports a power ring; Ultraman can fly, is really strong, and can shoot lasers from his eyes like Superman, etc. But there’s already no shortage of comic book villains with similar powers as their heroic counterparts, but who have contrasting morals. Flash has the Reverse-Flash; Green Lantern has Sinestro; and the Man of Steel has Zod, among others.
In hindsight, what gave "A Better World" a sense of poignancy is how the alternative universe League of that episode, despite being totalitarian, wasn’t all that removed from our own; they just took the mission of protecting mankind a step too far. But because the members of the Crime Syndicate look and sound so different from Superman, Batman, etc., that aspect is missing here, and with the exception of Owlman and Superwoman, they’re just another bunch of anonymous baddies deserving of a super-slugging. Nevertheless, if you’re looking for a fun escapist yarn (as I often am) or you’ve been waiting for more Justice League cartoons (as I always am), you could do far worse than Crisis on Two Earths.
This review was originally published at Cinemaspy.
By now, the Justice League cartoon show has been in syndication and on home video long enough that fans know what to expect: iconic heroes like Superman, Wonder Woman and Batman; threats to human life on a planetary scale; and a serious tone overall. While the new Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths doesn't necessarily exist in-continuity with the previous Justice League cartoon, it does feature a similar art style and storytelling approach in an original adventure that should please longtime fans, even if it may not wow them.
The plot is similar to the Justice League cartoon episode "A Better World" which introduced an alternate universe version of our heroes called the Justice Lords, who declared martial law over Earth in order to protect mankind from itself. Once again, Superman and company cross dimensions and face-off against different doppelgangers; but this time, the antagonists are the Crime Syndicate, who aren't well-meaning-but-misguided so much as mobsters with superpowers. They run illicit enterprises across their world, keeping governments in check by threatening to kill millions.
On this world, familiar Justice League arch-enemies were superheroes until they were systematically wiped out by the Syndicate. Now Earth's only hope rests with Lex Luthor, who as befitting a mirror dimension uses his intelligence for good, not evil. After leaving his world for ours, he convinces the League to follow him home and help liberate his planet. What no one expects, however, is for members of the Crime Syndicate to eventually pay the League's Earth a visit, thanks to an important device this Luthor has hidden at the heroes' headquarters.
That's more than enough plot to sustain a feature-length Justice League adventure. Writer Dwayne McDuffie, a veteran comic book scribe who previously wrote for the Justice League cartoon as well as the monthly "Justice League of America" title, fashions a scenario that suitably requires the combined efforts of the world's greatest heroes. In theory, the league is battling itself, so fans expecting action, action, and more action aren't likely to be disappointed. McDuffie leaves enough room for a little character development as well; however, with an ensemble of more than a dozen protagonists, not everyone gets equal screen time.
Overall, the art and animation exceed the Justice League cartoon: colors look rich and saturated, and character movements are exceptionally fluid (indeed, Wonder Woman appears so dynamic in one pivotal fight sequence that she drew cheers from the preview audience). The action is well-paced and occasionally-inspired—though one could argue none of the principals get to use their abilities in any unique fashion. Highlights include an aerial battle with realistic-looking cloud effects; and there’s a certain wit having the League encounter versions of B-list heroes from their world when they first arrive in alternate Earth, then having the same thing happen to the Crime Syndicate when they cross the breach in the reverse direction.
Another way the Justice League movie possibly surpasses the cartoon is the quality of the voice acting. While some of the cast’s big names seemingly get lost in the shuffle — in hindsight, the producers probably didn’t need Mark Harmon for Superman, since he doesn’t get all that much to do — there are plenty of standouts. William Baldwin makes for a brooding and effective Batman, although he seems to be channeling Christian Bale more than mimicking legendary Bat-vocalist Kevin Conroy, and Gina Torres does good work as the Crime Syndicate’s Superwoman, whom she appropriately plays as Wonder Woman with a seductive side. And James Woods is in a class by himself as Owlman, who might best be described as the Dark Knight minus a human side. An actor known for his feral intensity, Woods dials himself back considerably, and the result is the most memorable villain of the lot.
If I had any qualms with Crisis on Two Earths, they stemmed from how little the Syndicate actually resembles its League counterparts. Sure, their powers are similar: the evil Green Lantern sports a power ring; Ultraman can fly, is really strong, and can shoot lasers from his eyes like Superman, etc. But there’s already no shortage of comic book villains with similar powers as their heroic counterparts, but who have contrasting morals. Flash has the Reverse-Flash; Green Lantern has Sinestro; and the Man of Steel has Zod, among others.
In hindsight, what gave "A Better World" a sense of poignancy is how the alternative universe League of that episode, despite being totalitarian, wasn’t all that removed from our own; they just took the mission of protecting mankind a step too far. But because the members of the Crime Syndicate look and sound so different from Superman, Batman, etc., that aspect is missing here, and with the exception of Owlman and Superwoman, they’re just another bunch of anonymous baddies deserving of a super-slugging. Nevertheless, if you’re looking for a fun escapist yarn (as I often am) or you’ve been waiting for more Justice League cartoons (as I always am), you could do far worse than Crisis on Two Earths.
Labels: ***, 2010, animated, Batman, Justice League, Superman
posted by Phil | 6:44 AM
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