Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths

• Directed by Lauren Montgomery and Sam Liu
• February 23, 2010
• Based on the abandoned direct-to-video feature Justice League: Worlds Collide

Voice Cast

• Bruce Wayne/Batman-William Baldwin
• Clark Kent/Superman-Mark Harmon
• Lex Luthor-Chris Noth
• Superwoman-Gina Torres
• Owlman-James Woods
• Ultraman-Brian Bloom
• J’onn J’onzz/Martian Manhunter-Jonathan Adams
• Flash, Aquaman-Josh Keaton
• Princess Diana/Wonder Woman-Vanessa Marshall
• President Slade Wilson-Bruce Davison
• Rose Wilson-Freddi Rogers
• Johnny Quick, The Jester-James Patrick Stuart
• Hal Jordan/Green Lantern, Power Ring-Nolan North
• Captain Super, Archer-Jim Meskimen
• Model Citizen, Black Canary-Kari Wührer
• Uncle Super, Captain Super Jr.-Bruce Timm
• Breakdance, Secret Service Agent-Carlos Alazraqui
• Firestorm, Black Power, Black Lightning-Cedric Yarbrough
• Mister Action-Richard Green
• Watchtower Computer, Reporter-Andrea Romano

A heroic Lex Luthor crosses the multiverse to get the aid of the Justice League to stop the Crime Syndicate.

Much like Gods and Monsters, what this does is use alternate realities to switch things up. Here though we get something that can be found in the comics in the comics. The Crime Syndicate contains evil versions of the Justice League currently featured in the comics depending on the era. Some here require knowledge of the source material while others need just a little bit of thinking like the nods to Shazam and the Shazam Family.

The heroic Lex is not that far removed from the Lex Luthor we are familiar with. Intelligent and given to complex plotting. But he does it for the all the right reasons rather than dreams of domination over humanity if not the galaxy. The same goes for the other major variation we see which is Owlman. The paranoia and hyper analytical nature of Batman is present but twisted. He is a nihilist of the most severe kind while Batman has virtually no faith in humanity.

There are acknowledgements of the physical comics themselves such as Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen. It was a long running series that (I think) has had types of revivals since the mid-70s. It is noted in a casual line by Other Lex calling Other Olsen ‘Ultraman’s pal.’ Worth a chuckle,

As an action movie Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths is fantastic. There are battle scenes of physics defying combat. Much of the movie is just the heroes and villains beating each other up. The realities of a superpowered crime syndicate and how they function get passing references but do not play much into the story. Then again this would have needed more than 76 minutes to get into that.

This does not move into something a bit different than smash the villains until one of the characters decides to use a bomb to destroy every Earth in the multiverse by destroying the FIRST Earth. Despite the short runtime they do manage to up the ante in the quick switch and bring into focus a few things dropped in casually earlier.

Flash is convinced Batman doesn’t like him. Yet knowing that what was needed to save the day would kill The Flash he sets up the evil Flash to do it instead. While it did demonstrate that Batman cared about Flash it maybe accidentally denoted a complete indifference to those that Batman has no emotional connection with. It is no secret Batman has issues but that shows a whole other level of messed up.

My only noteworthy gripe is a trope from my youth involving alternate reality stories. And that is things being backwards as indicative of alternate worlds. There is the instance Superman quickly determines that the Lex Luthor they’re dealing with is from another reality because his organs are on the opposite sides of his body. Great shortcut to get to the next leg but brings into question facts that are established later in the film.

Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths keeps things tight and doesn’t make any serious mistakes. It’s exciting and entertaining and just fun. If you like DC animated then you will love this.