Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths

Based on the 1964 storyline “Crisis on Earth-Three!” and the 2000 Grant Morrison-penned JLA: Earth 2 graphic novel, Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths tells a story in which the Justice League are the supervillains on one Earth and Lex Luthor leads the Justice League. Luthor, as the only surviving member, launches himself into the normal DC universe and asks for their help. What follows is a beautifully animated film that features a taunt script and some nice vocal work. Chief among of the standout performances is James Woods as Owlman, a nihilistic version of Batman who doesn’t possess Batman’s fractured and gray moral compass. Gina Torres, Jonathon Adams and Vanessa Marshall also deliver good work as Superwoman, Martian Manhunter and Wonder Woman, respectively. The only truly distracting voice work is done by James Patrick Stuart as Johnny Quick, the Earth 2 version of the Flash, who comes armed with a cockney accent so clichéd and atrocious that the phrase “Fancy a shoe shine, guv’nah?” is expected to come out of his mouth at any moment. While intended as conclusion to the Justice League animated series, and shelved due to budgetary and production restraints, this retains only the flimsiest and loosest of connections to that series. Like the rest of these direct-to-DVD films, this is a stand-alone storyline. But, oh, what could have been! As is, it’s really impressive and highly entertaining.