New to digital from Tuesday 9th January, and on 4K and Blu-ray from Monday 29th January is the animated action-adventure movie, Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths – Part One. The film – directed by Jeff Wamester – features the voice talents of Matt Bomer, Jensen Ackles, Matt Lanter, Stana Katic, Darren Criss, and Zachary Quinto, and is the first in a three-part story.
Set in the Tomorrowverse, and based on the classic 1985 DC Comics storyline, Crisis on Infinite Earths, Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths – Part One is the first entry in a sprawling tale featuring a whole host of iconic characters. From Superman, Batman, and Green Arrow, to Vixen, The Question, and Mr. Terrific, a cavalcade of heroes are thrown into the mix to tell a multiverse saga where the end of reality is at stake.
In the film, Barry Allen aka the Flash is suffering from a problem he can’t quite fathom. He keeps bouncing back and forth through different worlds, and at different points in time, and in each reality he sees danger.
On one Earth, Barry should be attending his wedding to Iris West, while on another he is battling Lex Luthor and the android, Amazo. Meanwhile on another Earth, he comes face-to-face with the villainous Crime Syndicate.
But this is just the beginning of his problems. Barry soon discovers that every Earth in existence is in terrible danger, and it will take the combined forces of various heroes from across the multiverse to save the day and stop every world from dying.
As highlighted above, Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths – Part One is the first of three movies. Part One is out this week, while Parts Two and Three are due out later in the year.
This initial entry is about setting up the premise of the multi-part story, and establishing the Flash as a key player. The film largely revolves around Barry Allen, and how he is brought into a battle to save the multiverse, while highlighting the devastation which lies ahead should the Flash and his friends fail.
As an opening entry, I’ve got to say Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths – Part One is a bit of a mixed offering. Some of it works fine, other parts do not, but none of it is particularly amazing.
The film spends far too long dithering around during the first half of the picture before the main plot kicks in. As a result, those who are new to the Crisis storyline might find everything a little confusing, while long-time fans may find themselves a tad bored.
Once the film hits the midway point, and the Flash starts to meet up with all of the other heroes, things start to become a little stronger, but at no point does it get very exciting.
Maybe it is the sign of the times, where superhero saturation is at its peak, but seeing so many DC characters on screen should be something magical. Yet, the magic just isn’t here, and Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths – Part One feels like it is largely going through the motions with characters who lack any real depth.
When you can’t get a great deal of personality out of the main players, you know something is wrong. Batman gets a couple of witty lines, but almost everyone else is dead-on-arrival.
There are few bright spots in the movie: Some of the voice cast are OK, the visuals are decent enough, and there is a touching scene involving an aged Barry Allen and Iris West, but that’s about it. If I didn’t already know this was a big epic storyline, requiring three chapters to to fit it all in, I’d be quite surprised more was on the way.
While Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths – Part One goes big with its reality-ending ramifications, it just comes across as very flat. It also struggles to end on a dynamic cliffhanger that makes you want to come back for more.
Of course, I will come back for more, as I like DC animated movies, but will it convince casual audiences to care? I’m not so sure.
Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths – Part One is watchable, and some DC fans may enjoy what is on offer, but the whole thing feels far too underwhelming (and padded) for its own good. This is a big story in the DC pantheon, and one which should be reserved for top-notch adaptations only, and based on this first instalment, I’m concerned about what is to follow in Parts Two and Three.
I wanted this film to draw me in, get me energised, and keep me hooked, like the animated equivalent of Avengers: Infinity War, but unfortunately when the credits began to roll I was mostly uninterested. The next two instalments are going to have to work overtime to get things on track, because for now, this is a mid-level animated feature that should be better than it is.
__
__
Thank you for taking the time to read this review on It’s A Stampede!. For more reviews, check out the recommended reads below.
It's A Stampede! 
Leave a comment