Justice League: The New Frontier Blu-ray Review

"Justice League: The New Frontier" is presented in 1080p with a VC-1 encoded 1.78:1 transfer, and it’s truly a feast for the eyes. From the opening moments to the conclusion, the film bursts with rich, vivid colors that make even the more mundane scenes visually engaging. Primary colors, particularly blues, reds, and greens, are deeply saturated and offer an almost tangible vibrancy. Especially notable are scenes like the flames during Superman's arrival in Indo-China and the luminous skyline of Las Vegas. The astonishing green of Hal Jordan’s transformation captures attention instantly. Contrast levels are consistently outstanding, with deep blacks providing a solid foundation for night-time scenes and shadowed settings such as Martian Manhunter’s apartment and Batman's Bat-Cave.

The clarity and saturation of the colors lend the imagery a vivid and entrancing quality. Despite the animation style not being universally appreciated, the transfer itself is robust and artifact-free, maintaining sharp lines and firm detail throughout. Any minor issues with banding and pixelation, frequent in non-Pixar animated films, are minimal and do not detract from the overall viewing experience. Slight banding occurs in specific scenes but is transient and not distracting. Line detail is exceptionally clean, capturing every subtlety from city observatory dials to debris from Hal Jordan’s shuttle explosion.

In summary, "Justice League: The New Frontier" boasts superior animation quality compared to similar Blu-ray offerings from Marvel Comics. High-definition scrutiny does reveal some minor flaws, such as random pixelation around tight line work and banding effects. Nonetheless, these imperceptible distractions are far outweighed by the overall impressive quality of this 1080p Blu-ray presentation. The rich palette, stunning contrast, and exceptional clarity make this a must-see for fans of traditional cel animation and superhero films alike.

Justice League: The New Frontier features both a lossy Dolby Digital 5.1 mix and a stunning lossless Dolby TrueHD 5.1 mix. The latter offers a brilliantly dynamic and immersive listening experience that elevates the animated feature's aural presence. The Dolby TrueHD track stands out with its sharp clarity, bombastic impacts, and superb directionality, all of which enhance the sense of space and dimensionality. Explosions and LFE-enhanced rumbles are particularly well catered-for, delivering deep, gut-crunching impacts that will leave your subwoofer battling for supremacy. While the big rocket lift-off doesn't pack as much punch as expected, the overall use of all speakers, including discrete channelization effects, ensures an engaging soundfield.

Voice acting is pristine, primarily contained in the front channels, but also benefits from aggressive rear-channel support that helps convey a convincing sense of spatiality. The sound effects are meticulously placed throughout the mix, enhancing the film's sequences with precise panning from channel to channel. Notable moments include the detailed audio of nuts popping on a cockpit canopy and Flash whizzing by bemused onlookers. While some sound effects may occasionally feel flat or centralized, these minor imperfections don't detract significantly from the overall audio quality.

Despite some inherent limitations stemming from its 2D animation roots, the Dolby TrueHD mix of Justice League: The New Frontier delivers a lively and energetic audio performance that complements its action-packed narrative. Superior to its Dolby Digital counterpart, this mix is rich with consistent surround activity and impressive fidelity, making the high-def Blu-ray version a justifiable upgrade for fans seeking an elevated audio experience.

The Blu-ray edition of "Justice League: The New Frontier" provides an exceptionally robust set of extras that comic aficionados will find indispensable. Highlights include two engrossing Audio Commentaries, one from the filmmakers featuring insights into the animation process and casting, and another from Darwyn Cooke, the creator of "New Frontier," who provides a candid, reflective look at the adaptation. Two comprehensive documentaries, "Superheroes United" and "Legion of Doom," offer in-depth explorations of Justice League history and villain psychology, enhanced by interviews with industry heavyweights. Additional features include a visual commentary, "Homage to The New Frontier," which juxtaposes comic panels with animated scenes; a captivating "Sneak Peek" at the forthcoming "Batman Gotham Knight"; and three bonus episodes from the Justice League Unlimited series. This extensive suite of extras makes this release a treasure trove for DC Comics fans.

Extras included in this disc:

• Filmmakers Commentary: Insightful discussion by the production team.
• Commentary with Darwyn Cooke: Creator of "New Frontier" discusses adaptation challenges.
• Super Heroes United: The Complete Justice League History: Comprehensive Justice League history documentary.
• Legion of Doom: The Pathology of the Super Villain: Deep dive into DC's iconic villains.
• Comic Book Commentary: Homage to The New Frontier: Visual comparison of comic and animation.
• Sneak Peek: Batman Gotham Knight: Behind-the-scenes featurette.
• Justice League Bonus Episodes: Includes Dark Heart, To Another Shore, and Task Force X.

"Justice League: The New Frontier" serves as a compelling animated adaptation of Darwyn Cooke’s acclaimed graphic novel, blending classic Silver Age storytelling with mid-20th century socio-political themes. The narrative captures the transition from Golden to Silver Age superheroes amidst a backdrop of Cold War tension. Featuring an impressive voice cast including Kyle MacLachlan, Lucy Lawless, and Neil Patrick Harris, the film explores the origin stories of Green Lantern (David Boreanaz) and Martian Manhunter (Miguel Ferrer), while interweaving plotlines involving Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman. The visuals stay true to Cooke’s art style, reminiscent of Jack Kirby’s iconic design work fused with the dynamic fluidity of Bruce Timm's animation.

Despite its strengths, "The New Frontier" does suffer from pacing issues. The film’s 75-minute runtime is tightly packed with interlocking storylines and multiple characters, resulting in a somewhat rushed second half where characters are hurriedly introduced just before the climactic battle against the Centre. Some meaningful subplots from the original graphic novel, such as John Henry’s racially charged story and the Suicide Squad’s backstory, are noticeably absent, which dilutes the narrative depth and political nuance inherent in Cooke's work. Additionally, while most voice actors deliver commendable performances, key figures like Superman and Batman occasionally lack the gravitas their characters demand.

Technically, "Justice League: The New Frontier" excels with high production values for a direct-to-video release, showcasing a seamless blend of traditional cel animation and more contemporary stylistic elements. The action sequences are visually thrilling and maintain a brisk pace that captivates the viewer. However, some actors' lackluster voice portrayals and the film's truncated story arc may leave fans of the original graphic novel longing for a more thorough exploration of Cooke’s intricate and layered narrative. Nonetheless, this film stands as a nostalgic homage to an era of optimism and ideological conflict, making it a noteworthy addition to Warner Brothers' animation portfolio.

"Justice League: The New Frontier" on Blu-ray delivers an exceptional audio-visual experience that is both technically impressive and intensely engaging. The animation, while not universally appealing in style, offers instances of ingenuity and notable action sequences that elevate its presentation. The video transfer is striking, with vibrant colors that practically melt off the screen, and the TrueHD audio track brings an immersive and dynamic soundstage to life. Although some moments feel rushed or slightly underdeveloped given the ambitious scope crammed into a relatively short runtime, the feature remains a lot of fun thanks to incredible voice talent and a clean, appealing animation style.

The comprehensive set of extras included in this release truly enhances its value. Two insightful commentaries provide depth, and the pair of documentaries are compelling in their exploration of the film's creation. Additionally, a preview of "Gotham Knight" and a trio of "Justice League Unlimited" episodes keep the superhero fervor alive for fans seeking more content. The "Homage To The New Frontier" feature stands out, effectively showcasing the influences and creative vision behind the original work.

In conclusion, despite a few narrative shortcomings, "Justice League: The New Frontier" Blu-ray is a top-notch release for comic book aficionados and animation enthusiasts alike. The film’s exhilarating animated action encapsulates the spirit of its characters, while the impressive video and audio quality make for a satisfying viewing experience. Coupled with an array of substantial extras, this package is one that no Justice League fan should miss. Highly recommended!