Official Synopsis: When the Thanagarians visit Earth, Hawkgirl is
forced to choose between loyalty to her people and love for her friends
on her adopted planet Earth. This is the one battle that could rip the
World's Greatest Super Heroes apart forever!
Justice League: Starcrossed - The Movie Review
By Zach Demeter
The Justice League series premiered two and a half
years ago with an invasion against Earth and only the might of seven brave
heroes could defeat it. Now, with the DVD release of Justice League:
Starcrossed the Movie, another interstellar invasion brings the Earth to
its knees and it's up to those same seven heroes to save it. However,
there's something a bit different, more personal, to this new threat.
This movie, originally a three-part episode which aired in May on Cartoon
Network, wraps up the series with an exciting adventure and its dire
consequences.
When a Thanagarian armada descends upon Earth, the Justice League turn to
Hawkgirl for some answers. But their questions multiply when they discover
she has been living among them as a spy. Green Lantern is devastated. As the
Thanagarian visitors reveal their true intentions, Hawkgirl is forced to
choose between loyalty to her people and the love for her friends on her
adopted planet Earth. The choice takes the series in a surprising direction
that will end up ripping the League apart.
As previously mentioned, "Starcrossed" aired in its original format, as
episodes #50 - 52, back to back in May, but WB Home Video has spruced up the
DVD release. The episodes are edited together, cutting out the episode
recaps, title, and closing credits. The DVD version also gets a longer title
credit sequence with a somber, darker version of the show's theme.
The new title credits consist of clips from the previous shows playing with
a blue tint as the cast and crew credits are listed. The title credits
fittingly come to a close with a clip from the final moments of "Wild
Cards," as Green Lantern and Hawkgirl finally express their feelings. A nice
touch by the creative team.
What follows after the new credit sequence is what played out on Cartoon
Network months ago. The same action sequences, the same dramatic moments,
and the same tragic aftermath. For a review of the three-part episode, or
"movie" according to this DVD, go here for a full review and here for
further feature discussion.
The DVD features both the widescreen and fullscreen version of "Starcrossed."
Both transfers are nearly flawless and look radiant. The only problem is
some slight shimmering and minor edge enhancement that can be seen at the
odd moment. Aside from that, fans should get a real kick over how well the
picture quality is.
And to clarify, viewing "Starcrossed" widescreen is the correct way. While
the packaging and the DVD menu may say differently, this story was obviously
animated in widescreen. Just quickly check out any scene in both aspect
ratios, and it will be clearly evident.
The audio for both the widescreen and fullscreen is the best you can get for
this type of release.
The extras are also a nice addition to this already fine package. The
deleted scenes clock in at just under five minutes and are pretty much
extensions to scenes already in the "movie" aka three-part episode. There
are new scenes added to the League's escape, GL's fight with "Hawkman,"
Martian Manhunter's mindprobe, and Batman's suicide run. The last two are
animated storyboards and are pretty good overall. While these add nothing
substantial to the episodes, it's a nice extra tidbit to see what else was
being planned.
The featurettes are better than the previous releases, but still nothing
over spectacular or excessive. "Tour the Watchtower" is essentially
glorified clip segments, with storyboard art thrown in, and a narrator
telling us information we already know. And given what happens to the
Watchtower in "Starcrossed," this featurette is pretty pointless overall.
The "Hawkman: From Comics to Cartoon" featurette is great, albeit brief.
It's a nice insight into the struggle to get Hawkman to the small screen,
and even has a surprise appearance from Alex Ross. Dawyne McDuffie, James
Ticker, Rich Fogel, and Bruce Timm are also interviewed.
"Watchtower" runs around four minutes, "Hawkman" under eight minutes.
The DVD also contains character bios which are repeated from a previous
Justice League DVD release.
Trailers included on the DVD feature Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman,
Superman: Last Son of Krypton, Samurai Jack: Season One,
Aloha Scooby-Doo!, and Justice League: Starcrossed. The
previously announced trailer for Batman: The Animated Series - Volume One
is not included.
Overall this DVD is simply the best way to see "Starcrossed," a thrilling
adventure in itself and definitely worth picking up. It's a good DVD release
and probably the best one for the Justice League DVD series so far. Here's
hoping the October release of the Justice League: The Brave and the Bold
DVD can top it. The story itself is one of the best to come from the Justice
League series, and a great way to bring the series to a close.
