Justice League: War Blu-ray Review

The 1080p/AVC-encoded video presentation of “Justice League: War” offers a largely commendable experience, though not without a handful of technical complications. Banding remains the most prominent issue, particularly notable in scenes involving gradient lighting or sky backgrounds, a trait consistently observed in many of DC Universe's animated releases. Occasional aliasing and intermittent softness also arise, often due to artificial enlargements and zooms intrinsic to the animation itself rather than flaws in the encoding. Minor incidences of macroblocking and pixilation may be noticed upon close inspection but do not heavily detract from the overall viewing experience.

On the positive end, the film's color palette is both subdued and satisfying, with primary colors exhibiting a striking pop and black levels achieving an impressive inky depth. Details are solid throughout, and the animation's inherent smoothness and clarity are successfully preserved. The lines around characters remain smooth, avoiding the jagged edges sometimes seen in animation of this nature. However, certain shots may present a hazy quality, occasionally blurring the action to impart a more cinematic feel, though this sometimes diminishes visual appeal. Overall, seasoned viewers of DC's animated titles will find “Justice League: War” consistent with prior releases, showcasing polished animation with few significant detriments.

The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track for "Justice League: War" offers an exhilarating experience, particularly if you're drawn to high-octane action. The audio is laden with explosive sequences that resonate through the LFE channel, capturing every heat-vision-induced explosion, earth-shattering punch, and collapsing building. Dialogue remains clear and intelligible throughout, ensuring that even amidst the chaos, every line is comprehensible. Directionality and dynamic range are impressive, allowing for a well-balanced and immersive soundstage.

Despite minor drawbacks such as occasional imprecise directionality and a slightly low mix for spoken words, the overall audio performance is robust and engaging. The DTS-HD track is active and glitch-free, devoid of dropouts, cracking, or hissing, ensuring a seamless listening experience. Additional Dolby 5.1 tracks in Spanish and French are available, along with subtitles in English SDH and French, providing accessibility options that enhance the viewing experience.

In summary, while the 5.1 DTS-HD MA track might not rival a theatrical superhero outing like "Man of Steel," it certainly excels within its domain. Loud, clear, and packed with action, this audio presentation captures the high-energy essence of "Justice League: War," making it one of the standout tracks among DC animated releases. This is a must-crank track that promises to deliver a powerful and rock-solid auditory experience.

The extras on the "Justice League: War" Blu-ray disc offer a robust and insightful exploration of the film's creation and related DC Universe content. Director Jay Oliva and artist Jim Lee lead the commentary on pivotal scenes, offering detailed analysis of the differences between the original comic series and its animated adaptation. Fans of Jim Lee will appreciate an in-depth documentary showcasing his career and influential artwork. Additionally, viewers can gain insights from the animation process with storyboard-to-pencil test featurettes and enjoy a sneak peek of the subsequent DC animated film, "Son of Batman." The disc also includes various episodes from notable DC Comics animated series and a selection of promotional trailers, providing comprehensive entertainment for DC enthusiasts.

Extras included in this disc:

• Deconstructing JL: War: Director Jay Oliva and artist Jim Lee discuss key scenes and differences between the comic arc and animation.
• Creating Heroes: The Art and Life of Jim Lee: A documentary featuring interviews and insights into Jim Lee's career.
• Act D: From Animatic to Pencil Test: Jay Oliva discusses storyboarding and animation stages.
• Sneak Peek: Son of Batman: Preview of the upcoming DC animated film.
• From the DC Comics Vault: Episodes from Justice League Unlimited, Batman: The Brave and the Bold, and Young Justice: Invasion.
• Trailers: Various promotional trailers for related content.

"Justice League: War" is a bold and action-packed reimagining of the Justice League's origins, drawing directly from Geoff Johns and Jim Lee’s 'Justice League: Origin' arc from the New 52 reboot. This film offers a fresh start for DC's iconic characters, making it an accessible jumping-on point for new viewers. The narrative kicks off when Green Lantern teams up with Batman to investigate alien Parademons, leading to a broader battle against the formidable Darkseid. The Justice League members are reintroduced with significantly altered personalities—Superman exudes arrogance, Green Lantern provides comedic relief, and Wonder Woman takes cues from Thor, all while Batman remains the most consistent in character.

The movie excels in its relentless action sequences that span its swift 79-minute runtime, with a standout being the climactic showdown against Darkseid. However, this focus on action means that character development is sometimes sacrificed for spectacle. While Cyborg receives a well-crafted origin story, other heroes like Flash and Shazam remain underdeveloped. The film's pacing is one of its main strengths and weaknesses; it moves quickly, often feeling like a relentless, extended action sequence, but this leaves little room for deeper storytelling or emotional resonance.

Despite its flaws, "Justice League: War" manages to be an entertaining ride filled with comedy and dynamic interactions between the heroes. The voice cast, particularly Justin Kirk as Green Lantern and Jason O'Mara as Batman, bring strong performances that bolster the film's appeal. Ultimately, while purists might find the changes jarring, casual viewers and new fans are likely to appreciate the fresh take and thrilling pace of this animated feature. This movie provides a glimpse into the potential for future Justice League projects on the big screen.

"Justice League: War" offers an engaging adaptation of the New 52 origin story for the Justice League. Character development dominates the first half of the film, successfully setting the stage with strong, reimagined versions of familiar heroes. However, the latter half pivots heavily towards action, which may feel overly extended to some viewers. This structure, though somewhat uneven, still provides a substantial introduction to the new continuity that DC Entertainment is cultivating in its animated universe.

The Blu-ray release of "Justice League: War" stands out with a notable audio-visual presentation. The DTS-HD Master Audio track delivers an impressive auditory experience, capturing the film’s dynamic range and action sequences effectively. Conversely, the video quality is slightly less consistent, with some scenes appearing less refined than others. The supplemental features are plentiful but not deep enough to provide lasting engagement beyond a few hours – a minor drawback for dedicated collectors and fans.

Where does "Justice League: War" fall on the spectrum of DCU animated original movies? Every comic and DCU animation fan will walk away with a different answer. And debate will continue to rage as long as DC Entertainment sticks with The New 52. Being introduced to new incarnations of familiar characters can be exhilarating, particularly when creators are given the freedom to play. It can also be a frustrating experience, fraught with pitfalls and wrong turns. As a launch pad for the DCU's newly announced plans to develop a shared continuity among its animated movies, "War" plants plenty of intriguing seeds and serves as a decent origin tale. Its flaws are pretty glaring, though, and it's more divisive than most. Warner's Blu-ray release isn't exactly reliable either. Its DTS-HD Master Audio track is excellent, but its video presentation is a bit too problematic and its supplemental package can be exhausted too quickly. Still, it's an entertaining flick and a solid disc. Rent it if you need to be sure. Otherwise, take advantage of the low price point and enjoy the latest DCU animated original movie, flaws and all.