Justice League Dark: Apokolips War Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.5

Justice League Dark: Apokolips War Blu-ray Movie Review

Resistance is Not Futile.

Reviewed by Randy Miller III May 22, 2020

Although it sounds like a direct sequel to 2017's outstanding Justice League Dark, Matt Peters and Christina Sotta's Justice League Dark: Apokolips War wraps up an interlinked series of some fifteen direct-to-video animated productions beginning with 2013's The Flashpoint Paradox and last explored during 2019's Wonder Woman: Bloodlines. Needless to say, this is not something you can just casually plop down and watch -- in fact, you might need a spreadsheet handy just to keep track of everything that happens during this densely packed but ultimately rewarding film.

For my thoughts on the film, please refer to my separate review of the 4K edition, which also includes a Blu-ray disc. Also available is this Blu-ray/DVD combo pack, which offers a slightly scaled-back visual presentation but that same great audio mix and collection of bonus features. You'll get a well-rounded package either way.

Justice League Dark: Apokolips War Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Warner Bros.' Blu-ray presentation falls in line with many recent DCAU features, offering a very good 1080p transfer that plays to the film's visual strengths. Apokolips War pushes the limits of WB Animation's house style, with clean and simple character designs that feature light shading and somewhat stiff but serviceable movement. Backgrounds are more detailed in direct comparison, but still largely smooth with a vaguely minimalist design. Color layers and lighting establish most of the mood, from the cold blues of a meeting inside Big Ben (above) or the hot orange and red hues of Darkseid's home planet. Most scenes without stylish lighting often lean towards a muted palette, giving most of the production a suitably drab atmosphere. Skin tones and costumes seem authentic within these boundaries, although stray moments of banding on harsh gradients -- quite common for the format, and less pronounced on the separate 4K release -- and occasional compression artifacts can be seen along the way. Image detail is very smooth but not waxy, while contrast levels and shadow detail are both more than acceptable in all but the darkest scenes. It really is a nice-looking disc overall, and one that should certainly be good enough for modest home theater setups.

Justice League Dark: Apokolips War Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Apokolips War is sonically similar to past DCAU releases as well, sporting a DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track that packs a wallop during its most aggressively over-the-top moments. These are obviously not few and far between, which means that the wide majority of this 90-minute production features a solid amount of surround activity, channel panning, deep LFE hits, and an overall presence that feels weighty and dynamic. Scaled-back moments sound great as well including dialogue, quiet echoes, and more subtle sections of the original score by Robert J. Kral (Justice League Dark). Specific highlights include the invading Paradooms, liquid Kryptonite injection, Earth-conquering flashbacks, stray explosions, and basically the last 40 minutes, which is basically a wall of hard-hitting battles and revelations.

Optional subtitles, including English (SDH), are offering during the main feature and several key extras. These are formatted nicely and, like the audio track, do not contain any obvious defects or sync issues.

Justice League Dark: Apokolips War Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This two-disc release arrives in a keepcase with terrific cover art, a matching slipcover, and a Digital Copy slip.

• DC Showcase: Adam Strange (16:05) - This animated short follows the titular space adventurer -- now a drunken bum -- during his extended stay on an asteroid mining colony, while his much more heroic earlier life is revealed during a few flashbacks. It's a pretty compelling little sci-fi adventure with solid visual design and features the voices of Charlie Weber, Kimberly Brooks, Fred Tatasciore, and more, with a story by J.M. DeMatteis (Constantine: City of Dreams) and direction by Butch Lukie (Batman: Unlimited franchise).

• Darkseid: New God / Evil Classic (14:57) - This enjoyable featurette explores the infamous supervillain, the New Gods, Jack Kirby, and a general overview of godlike beings and ruthless conquerors present in classic and modern fiction. Featured participants include directors Matt Peters and Christine Sotta, writer/comic historian Mark Evanier, DC Daily host Hector Navarro, executive producer James Tucker, and others.

• Audio Commentary - Directors Matt Peters and Christine Sotta, executive producer James Tucker, and screenwriter Ernie Altbacker sit down for a full-length track full of candid insight and trivia. Featured topics include maintaining continuity in the "Tuckerverse", Constantine and Zatanna, visual design, development vs. the finished product, the use of color, storyboards and composition, green-eyed Superman, favorite character moments and plot twists, killing off major characters, "left turns every scene", and much more.

• Sneak Peek: Superman, Man of Tomorrow (8:35) - A quick preview of this upcoming direct-to-video feature, based on an original story and due out later in 2020 (hopefully). Key members of the voice cast and crew also offer a few brief thoughts on characters, new components, and...hey, there's Lobo. Sweet!

• Previews: Justice League Dark and Batman & Harley Quinn (17:21) - Short featurettes hyping both direct-to-video features...or hey, just read the linked reviews if you're interested in either one.

• From the DC Vault (44:21 total) - Three related adventures are included here: "Zombie King" and "Abate and Switch" from the first volume of Justice League Action (only available on DVD), as well as "Nevermore" from the first season of Teen Titans (recently released as a complete series Blu-ray set from Warner Archive).

Justice League Dark: Apokolips War Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Expansive multi-part epics aren't my favorite thing, but DC's fifteen-film saga (beginning with The Flashpoint Paradox) had plenty of highlights and this final chapter wraps things up nicely. With an all-star cast of characters, high stakes, plenty of action, and an almost unreasonable amount of major deaths, this over-the-top conclusion offers enough chaos and closure to satisfy DC's most demanding fans. Warner Bros.' Blu-ray offers a pleasing A/V presentation and decent bonus features, but those with newer setups may want to opt for the 4K edition instead.