Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths, Part One
Studio: Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment
Runtime: 93 minutes
Rating: PG-13
Release Date: Digital – January 9, 2024; 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, Blu-ray, Digital – January 23, 2024
Synopsis: Produced by Warner Bros. Animation, DC and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, the action-packed DC animated film features some of DC’s most famous Super Heroes from multiple universes including Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman, who come together to stop an impending threat of doom and destruction. Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths, Part One is available to purchase exclusively on digital and on 4K UHD in limited edition steelbook packaging and Blu-ray.
Special Features
4K, Blu-ray and Digital
-Crisis Prime(r): The filmmakers reveal in detail their intricate plan to create a comprehensive animated universe across seven films, concluding with the events of the three-part adaptation Justice League Crisis on Infinite Earths.
-The Selfless Speedster: Explore The Flash’s legendary role in the “Crisis on Infinite Earths” comic series, the creative process that brought him to life in the animated adaptation, and the vocal performance behind his heroic and romantic story.
-Digital Only: Silent Treatment – Film Clip from Justice League Crisis on Infinite Earths, Part Two
By James Harvey
Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment brings Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths – Part One to home media and, yet again, the movie itself looks fantastic. However, and unsurprisingly, bonus content is still pretty light in terms of quantity though what’s here is solid material that fans will enjoy. While this will be a no-brainer purchase for many, those on the fence might not be won over to scoop up a copy right away.
The audio and video quality on the 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray release of Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths – Part One offers the best presentation for the animated movie, hands down. The movie looks fantastic, and the transfer is as crisp and smooth as can be. The colors really pop off the screen, which really help to sell some of the film’s major “anti-matter wave” moments. That blacks are nice and deep as well and, really, there’s not a single issue to be found with the 4K release.
As for the movie’s audio transfer, it’s just as commendable as the video. The DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio mix features some great channel work and sounds full and weighty. The major action beats sound adequately big and boisterous throughout and the film’s quieter, more character-driven moments come through as crystal clear as can be.
Comparatively, the quality on 4K is significantly and noticeably better than the digital 1080p transfer, which is fine but suffers from noticeable compression issues and hollow audio. It’s a fine alternative for those not picky about an optimal visual presentation, definitely, but the 4K Ultra HD edition can’t be beat when it comes to wanting the best experience.
Moving to the special features, the studio has tossed on a couple small featurettes offering a closer look at both the animated feature and its continuity as well as the original Crisis on Infinite Earths comic event. Up first is “Crisis Prime(r),” running 9:39 minutes and covering how every in-continuity title since Superman: Man of Tomorrow (aka the “Tomorrowverse”) has been building up to the Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths three-parter. Director Jeff Wamester, producer/writer Jim Krieg, executive producer Butch Lukic and DC Comics’ Mike Carlin quickly run through the titles, noting easter eggs and how the role each title played in the lead up to Crisis.
Neat tidbits including introducing Lobo and Martianhunter in Superman: Man of Tomorrow for use in Justice League: Warworld, establishing multiple earths in Justice Society: World War Two, and including Adam Strange in Green Lantern: Beware My Power to set him up for Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths. Also notable is that Justice League: Warworld was meant to be a “red herring,” to trick people into thinking that movie was the big “event” the other titles were teasing, but news of a Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths animated movie leaking early likely derailed those plans.
The other featurette is “Selfless Speedster,” which runs 8:02 minutes and gives a closer look at The Flash and his pivotal role in the original Crisis on Infinite Earths comic event. It’s a solid look at The Fastest Man Alive, the original comic event and why it resonated so much. Crisis comic writer Marv Wolfman also makes an appearance here and rocks the coolest Nightwing jacket ever, along with Jim Lee, Jerry Ordway and Robert Greenberger from DC Comics. The featurettes also includes some of the film’s creators – specifically Wamester, Lukic and Krieg – and even actor Matt Bomer, the voice of The Flash in Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths – Part One, shares a few thoughts.
Outside of the above, and a digital copy of Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths – Part One, that’s it for the extra features. Given that Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths – Part One kicks off a trilogy of movies effectively wrapping up this current iteration of the DC Universe Movie line, it’s a little (but not entirely) surprising there’s not at least teaser for Part Two, but there’s nothing like that here. Even Part One‘s digital edition was supposed to include a clip from Part Two, but the clip is nowhere to be found. It’s disappointing to keep seeing scant bonus material on these titles, but it’s become par for the course at this point.
For those picking up Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths – Part One on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, please note the movie is only available in “collectible” Steelbook packaging. There’s no regular edition 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray available as of yet, so be aware when scouring retail shelves. This also means any packaging designs from the previous DC Universe Movie titles, like imagery on the spine, etc., aren’t carried over. The Blu-ray is available in regular, standard packaging, however.
It’s a tiny, tidy little release that Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment has put together for Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths – Part One, but it’s a little underwhelming given the iconic nature of the source material and the lofty goals of its three-part adaptation here. While it’s really nothing new at this point, it doesn’t excuse the skimpy nature of the release and could deter some from picking up a copy of Part One to hold off instead for a more complete release down the line. Still, the 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray edition here provides the best experience for this massive animated outing, and for those who want to own the movie now it’s no doubt the way to go. Recommended!
Hold up, the review isn’t done just yet! Click the link below to read the Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths, Part One animated feature review!
Please note a 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray copy of Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths, Part One was provided by Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment for the purpose of this review. The author also purchased an iTunes edition of the film for comparison and completion purposes.
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