Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths, Part Three
Studio: Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment
Runtime: 95 minutes
Rating: PG-13
Release Date: 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, Blu-ray – July 16, 2024; Digital – July 23, 2024
Synopsis: Produced by Warner Bros. Animation, DC and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, some of DC’s most famous Super Heroes from multiple universes including Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman come together to stop an impending threat of doom and destruction in the action-packed conclusion of the three-part DC animated film Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths – Part Three. Fans of this superhero adventure will also be able to indulge in a range of bonus features including interviews with the filmmakers on how they created a comprehensive universe across seven films. Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths – Part Three is available to purchase on digital and on 4K UHD in limited edition steelbook packaging and Blu-ray.
Special Features
Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths – Part Three – Physical and Digital
-A Multiverse of Inspiration – Dive into the iconic DC animated adaptations that inspired the filmmaking team’s choices for infinite Earths featured in the film.
-Jon and John: Stewart and Constantine – Explore the comic book origins and unlikely pairing of Green Lantern’s John Stewart and Hellblazing John Constantine in Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths.
Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths Trilogy (Digital only)
-An Epic Challenge: Crisis in Comics and Animation – The history and creation of DC’s original universe-spanning event series is detailed, and the approach to the animated adaptation is revealed.
By James Harvey
As with the first two installments, Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment has put together another great presentation for Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths, Part Three, but once again the included supplemental material is a shade lacking. While it’s not a surprise the bonus content is a little light, and no matter how good it may be, the lack of pageantry surrounding the adaptation of such a major comic book event here is a bit disappointing. Still, if fans want to experience Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths, Part Three in the best conceivable fashion, the studio’s 4K Ultra HD release is the way to go.
Looking first at the video quality of this 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray release of Part Three and, unsurprisingly, the feature looks fantastic. There’s nary a blemish to be found and the video transfer is as sharp and crisp as can be. Colors are full and vibrant, blacks are deep and dark and everything looks absolutely on point.
Moving over to the audio quality and, yeah, it’s a also predictably strong showing here. The hefty DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio mix makes good use of the channels and rattles the walls during whenever the film’s action kicks up. Dialogue sounds crisp and clear and, at times, the transfer can be quiet immersive thanks to solid use of environmental sound effects and low frequency work.
Just to note, the digital edition of Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths, Part Three features a fine audio and video presentation, though the audio sounds expectedly a shade hollow and the video appears not as vibrant in comparison. It’s not the best presentation, but it makes for a fine alternative for fans not interested in owning a physical copy of the DC Universe Movie title.
When it comes to the bonus content, the 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray includes a couple enjoyable extras, with first on the list being “A Multiverse of Inspiration (runtime: 9:24 minutes).” Featuring commentary from DC Comics writer Geoff Johns, executive producer Butch Lukic, director Jeff Wamester, producer/writer Jim Krieg, DC Comics editor Katie Kubert, and DC Comics archivist Benjamin LeClear, participants sound off on the inspirations for and worlds featured in Part Three, showcasing clips from other DC Universe Movie titles and cartoons (such as Batman: The Animated Series, Justice League, Teen Titans and Super Friends), assorted comic pages, why certain nods were chosen, and how those decisions were made.
It’s worth noting this featurette also includes a very cool (albeit quick) look at the production art for Super Friends and Batman: The Animated Series, and they briefly discuss the work behind integrating those character designs for those series into Part Three. Lukic also confirmed this is the last time viewers will hear Kevin Conroy voice the beloved and iconic Batman: The Animated Series-iteration of the Dark Knight.
Up next is “John and John: Stewart and Constantine (runtime: 8:21 minutes)” and Johns, Krieg, Kubert, LeClear, Lukic and Wamester all return to quickly walk us through the backgrounds of both characters, how they differ from each other, and their respective roles in the Tomorrowverse and Part Three. As with the other featurette, there are some heavy plot spoilers in here for the Crisis trilogy, especially some of the film’s later reveals.
For the 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray release, with the exception of the packaged-in bonus digital copy, that wraps up the bonus content for Part Three. However, for those who own Part Three digitally, in addition to the other two Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths entries – or purchased the digital-only Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths Trilogy collection – those editions come with the exclusive featurette “An Epic Challenge: Crisis in Comics and Animation (runtime: 20:00 minutes).” With appearances by Kubert, Johns, DC Comics President, Publisher, and CCO Jim Lee, DC Comics (and Crisis on Infinite Earths) writer Marv Wolfman, former DC Comics editor Mike Carlin, DC Comics Associate Editor Robert Greenberger, Krieg, DC Comics creator (and Crisis on Infinite Earths inker) Jerry Ordway and Wamester it’s a legitimately fantastic dive into the history of the original DC Comics event and of DC Comics’ continuity at the time and the challenge of adapting the story into other mediums. The featurette also wisely dedicates time to the hard work of the creative team behind Crisis on Infinite Earths, including artist George Perez’s artwork and Wolfman’s challenge in writing the actual event.
With a little luck, perhaps a future physical home media release of Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths Trilogy will include the “An Epic Challenge” digital-exclusive featurette. It’s a significant look into the Crisis on Infinite Earths comic event, and the three-part animated adaptation, that really should’ve been included on the Part Three physical release. While I understand the incentive to encourage more consumers to pick up the digital edition, it’s a bit of a slap to physical media collectors to not include such a key bonus feature on at least the film’s 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray edition, and completionists will need to spend more money just to get the complete Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths experience.
As with Part One and Part Two, it’s worth reminding that Part Three on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray is available only in “collectible” Steelbook packaging. There’s no regular edition 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray available, as of yet, but there is for the Blu-ray.
The 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray release for Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths, Part Three from Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment lines up with the studio’s previous efforts for Part One and Part Two. The bonus extras are once again fine though modest, even moreso when you consider the Trilogy‘s exclusive digital extra, but at least the presentation here is second-to-none. For those looking to add Part Three to their collection, the 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray offers the superior overall experience, but the digital edition makes for a fine substitute. Recommended but with reservations.
Hold up, the review isn’t done just yet! Click the link below to read the Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths, Part Three animated feature review!
The author purchased both the 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray and iTunes editions of the film for comparison and completion purposes.