Justice League Blu-ray Review

The video presentation of the Blu-Ray release of "Justice League" is an exemplary showcase of high-definition imagery, spotlighting both the strengths and limitations of modern digital intermediate processes. Originally shot on traditional 35mm film by Fabian Wagner, the film aimed to evoke a brighter, more hopeful tone than previous DC Universe entries. The 1.85:1 framing aids in capturing the ensemble nature of the superhero team, allowing sufficient space for characters to share the screen without feeling cramped. The film underwent extensive digital effects and was completed on a 2K digital intermediate, resulting in an AVC-encoded 1080p master for the Blu-Ray. While a slight fall-off in detail is noticeable in CG-heavy scenes, primarily those involving greenscreen inserts, the overall image clarity and sharpness remain impressive for a contemporary big-budget film.

The Blu-Ray encoding, averaging a bitrate of 22.034 Mbps, deftly handles the visual complexity of "Justice League." Primaries burst forth with vividness, as crimson reds, sparkling blues, and vibrant greens energize every scene. Secondary hues like bright yellows, fiery oranges, and purplish magentas remain distinct, without any color bleeding. Viewers will appreciate the remarkable level of detail visible in almost every frame: from the intricate patterns on Wonder Woman’s outfit to the tiny moving parts of Cyborg’s CG metal body. Notably, the facial complexions offer lifelike textures, and environments such as Batman's Gotham imbue a neo-noir aesthetic characterized by deep shadows and robust contrast. The minutiae extend to settings as diverse as Aquaman's underwater kingdom and Clark Kent's Kansas cornfields, each rendered with appropriate tonal variation.

Despite some roughness in CG elements like Steppenwolf's manifestations, the Blu-Ray remains a display-worthy example of high-definition video mastering for contemporary films. The combination of traditional 35mm film origins and modern digital enhancements results in a presentation that balances classic cinematic elements with cutting-edge visual effects, making it one of the standout HD presentations of the year.

Warner's Blu-ray edition of "Justice League" offers both Dolby Atmos and DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtracks. However, the Dolby Atmos mix is less remarkable compared to other high-profile Blu-ray releases. While it contains the expected dynamic range and deep bass, it lacks the more immersive off-screen effects typically associated with Atmos. The mix tends to prioritize on-screen action, which limits the off-camera audio elements that would enhance the viewer's spatial awareness. For instance, The Flash’s rapid relocations could utilize more directional audio to amplify his speed, but this is underplayed. The Parademon swarm's winged assaults around the Russian family's house and other action sequences are effectively captured, supporting the frenzied pace and distinct superpowers showcased throughout the film. Dialogue clarity is maintained amidst the chaos of battle, and quieter moments are faithfully preserved.

Elfman's score notably integrates his iconic theme from Tim Burton's Batman, infusing these nostalgic elements effectively into "Justice League". The soundtrack also features Sigrid's beautiful rendition of Leonard Cohen's "Everybody Knows" that opens the film, adding a layer of contemporary appeal. Additionally, an ironic cover of The Beatles' "Come Together" plays over the end credits, juxtaposing its title with the movie’s theme of scattered heroes uniting to fight a common threat. Overall, while "Justice League" delivers solid audio performance on Blu-ray, it doesn’t fully exploit Dolby Atmos' potential for creating an enveloping soundscape, leaning more on traditional surround techniques and effective yet straightforward use of musical scoring.

The extras of the Blu-ray for "Justice League" provide a compelling blend of promotional content, technical insights, and behind-the-scenes footage, appealing to both casual viewers and die-hard fans. Although there is a notable absence of key contributors such as Joss Whedon and Chris Terrio, the features lean heavily on the contributions from producers, DC representatives, and the technical crew. Highlights include an extended interview with costume designer Michael Wilkinson and a comprehensive fifty-year history of the Justice League across various media. Snyder's on-set footage is present, adding crucial depth to the production perspective. The collection emphasizes DC's brand history while providing detailed technical breakdowns of elements such as superhero technology and costume design.

Extras included in this disc:

• The Return of Superman: Deleted scenes involving Superman's reemergence.
• Road to Justice: A fifty-year history of the Justice League.
• Heart of Justice: Focuses on Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman.
• Technology of the Justice League: Insights into superhero tools.
• Justice League: The New Heroes: Focus on new members hosted by Ray Fisher.
• Steppenwolf the Conqueror: Feature with actor Ciarán Hinds.
• Scene Studies: Includes Revisiting the Amazons, Wonder Woman's Rescue, Heroes Park, The Tunnel Battle.
• Suit Up: The Look of the League: Costume design by Michael Wilkinson.
• Introductory Trailers: Ad for Justice League VR and promo for 4K discs.

"Justice League" on Blu-ray is a visually arresting, albeit narratively inconsistent, superhero film that struggles with predictability and a subpar villain. The reshaping of Zack Snyder's original vision by Joss Whedon introduces a disjointed storytelling style, vacillating between Snyder's grandiosity and Whedon's disciplined narrative craftsmanship. This blend results in generic blandness despite the film's abundant CG wizardry. Key sequences, like Superman's revival, lose impact due to heavy promotion and trailer spoilers. The film maneuvers through rapid plot points and subplots involving core characters Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Aquaman, Cyborg, and the newly reborn Superman, leading to a climactic battle against the underwhelming Steppenwolf.

Steppenwolf, voiced by Ciarán Hinds, epitomizes the film's deficiencies, emerging as a two-dimensional villain with unoriginal goals and poorly realized CGI. The character's motivations for Earth’s destruction remain unclear and are exacerbated by subpar motion-capture effects. Like previous DC antagonists, his plan feels rushed and devoid of any unique evil that could make him a memorable foe. The narrative is bogged down by numerous minor characters making brief appearances with little contribution to the plot, resulting in congestion and lack of deeper development. However, Ezra Miller's portrayal of Flash stands out as a beacon of potential, offering comic relief and an interesting character dynamic amid the formulaic progression of events.

"Justice League" brings together Batman, Wonder Woman, and Superman, while introducing new players such as The Flash, Aquaman, and Cyborg. The ensemble cast adds a new layer of camaraderie and humor that elevates the entertainment factor of the film. However, the movie suffers from pacing issues, unusual tonal shifts, and an underwhelming antagonist, which might diminish its appeal for some viewers.

Despite these narrative shortcomings, the Blu-ray edition stands out with its superior technical attributes. The video quality is impressive and serves as a reference point for future releases. Additionally, the Dolby Atmos soundtrack enhances the viewing experience with exceptional audio clarity and depth. The supplemental content, though somewhat limited, provides valuable insights and is worth exploring.

In one of his many rueful pronouncements, Alfred says to Bruce Wayne that one misses the days when one's biggest concerns were exploding wind-up penguins. The line is a reference to Tim Burton's 1992 Batman Returns, and I happen to agree with Alfred, though for far different reasons. Burton's Batman films created a Dark Knight who was both threatening and fun and a Gotham that felt both dangerous and perversely inviting. Warner and DC have been trying to recapture some of that magic ever since, but they keep cutting back on the fun while accentuating the bleakest elements of the DCU's mythology. Christopher Nolan managed to make something memorable out of this turn to the dark side, but Zack Snyder's trilogy has reduced darkness to empty posturing. Justice League, thanks to its extensive post-production tweaking, at least has the virtue of being intelligibly plotted and efficiently paced, which makes it the best of Snyder's trilogy—but that isn't saying much. It's time for something new. As a film, JL is disposable, but the Blu-ray is recommended on its technical merits.