“It doesn’t matter.” —Owlman
Today’s quick review: Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths. Lex Luthor (Chris Noth), the last survivor of the Justice League, travels to an alternate Earth to enlist its heroes to fight the Crime Syndicate, the villains who have conquered his world. Superman (Mark Harmon), Batman (William Baldwin), and Wonder Woman (Vanessa Marshall) set out to stop the Syndicate before they can construct a bomb capable of destroying every possible universe.
Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths is an animated superhero movie that pits the Justice League against their villainous counterparts from an alternate universe. Ultraman (Brian Bloom), Superwoman (Gina Torres), and Owlman (James Woods) lead a brand new team of villains with lofty ambitions and a weapon that threatens all of reality. Crisis on Two Earths takes a simple premise and executes it well, whipping up a fun adventure with plenty of action.
Crisis on Two Earths is the superhero genre at its purest. The premise is a clear-cut conflict between good and evil with a classic sci-fi setup. The script is rock-solid, working in plenty of characterization without slowing down the main plot. The tone hits a sweet spot: mature enough to have real stakes, but light enough to be a breezy watch. The whole thing is topped off with well-choreographed action that shows off each character’s skills.
Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths is an excellent pick for fans of the superhero genre. It is a self-contained adventure that shows off the heroism, the creativity, and the action of the DC Universe. Critics of the genre may find it a little simplistic, but anyone willing to suspend their disbelief will be treated to a well-told story that’s easy to follow and has a good payoff.
For an alternate version of the Justice League in a darker story, try Justice League: Gods and Monsters, Superman: Red Son, or Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox. For more bread-and-butter superhero action, check out Justice League: War or Justice League: Throne of Atlantis.
7.3 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 to 7.5 for great fundamentals.