if you like comics and super-hero movies you can’t go wrong with DC’s latest animated film, Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths. It’s a terrific translation of classic comics stories to film with a contemporary flavor.
Set during the early days of the League when they’re constructing their space station (pre-Justice League Unlimited). For the sake of this discussion, they live on Earth One. Meanwhile, on a parallel earth (known as Earth Three in the comics) there is another Justice League that’s the opposite of the one on JLA’s World. In this world, the villains are the heroes and visa-versa. Superman is a criminal thug named Ultraman. He runs a mob called the Crime Syndicate which is made up of evil versions of the Justice League. But the Justice League of that world is run by Lex Luthor and is composed of good versions of the villains in Earth One.
The good Lex Luthor has just stolen something from the Crime Syndicate. He escapes to Earth One using a device that allows him to travel between quantum realities. He needs the Justice League’s help in defeating the Crime Syndicate which has killed all the remaining heroes on his world. The Justice League questions why they should try to save a world other than Earth when they have so many problems to deal with here. But they know they can’t refuse.
Lots of fun ensues.
The Crime Syndicate is like a mob family composed of super-villains. Ultraman is the Capo with Owlman (Batman’s evil analog) and Superwoman (Wonderwoman’s counterpart) as the main lieutenants.
The animation is great. It blends computer and cell animation provides a smooth and delightful translation of comics to film. The film is produced by long term DC animation producer Bruce Timm. Written by Justice League Unlimited’s Dwayne McDuffie who is also a long time comics writer. Voice actors are great: Mark Harmon as Superman, James Woods as OwlMan, Gina Torres as Superwoman, Chris Noth as Lex Luthor. Alas, Clancy Brown didn’t do Luthor as he usually does. But this is the good Luthor, so that is understandable.
The story is spot on, lacking any of the moral relativism and nihilistic nonsense from so many movies today (except maybe in the villain the Owlman’s plans). It’s full of old fashioned good vs evil and the fights are epic.
Watching the Justice League in action against the Crime Syndicate is entertaining enough, but coupling it with the pleasure of trying to figure out which evil analogues in Earth Three go with their Earth One counterparts is fun for us comic book geeks. The movie is shot through with plenty of in jokes and easter eggs.
While the movie isn’t based on any comics in particular, unlike say Superman/Batman: Public Enemies, Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths is largely inspired by classic stories from the old Justice League of America comics from the 1960s. But updated to the current styling of today.
The beauty of these animated superhero films (Marvel is making some as well) is that they aren’t aimed at just kids. They are enjoyable for all ages.
I can remember back in the ’80s talking to friends in the animation business, who were all comics fans. They were frustrated that they couldn’t do animated super-heroes without them being dumbed down and camped up by TV censors and producers. Those days are thankfully behind us. This film and many of the others today are faithful to their origins and do the comics justice. It’s great to see it finally happen.