8.6 | / 10 |
Users | 4.5 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Flash traverses time to right a violent, decades-past crime against his mother, but the ripples of his good intentions prove disastrous, as a fractured, alternate reality now exists in place of the familiar one. Stumbling through this twisted reality where even Superman is nowhere to be found, The Flash seeks the trusted wisdom of Batman, only to find a grittier, more violent Dark Knight in his place. Together with the help of Cyborg, they race to restore the continuity of Flash's original timeline while this new world is ravaged by a fierce war between Wonder Woman's Amazons and the Atlanteans, led by a battle hardened Aquaman.
Starring: Justin Chambers (I), C. Thomas Howell, Michael B. Jordan, Kevin McKidd, Dee Bradley BakerComic book | 100% |
Action | 78% |
Sci-Fi | 64% |
Fantasy | 63% |
Adventure | 57% |
Animation | 56% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.78:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
French: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps)
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps)
English SDH, French
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
UV digital copy
DVD copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A, B (C untested)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 3.5 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Count yourself among Flash's loyal legion of fans? You'll have a blast with The Flashpoint Paradox, and walk away with a few complaints. Love all things DC Comics but consider Flash a peripheral hero to your little slice of the DCU? You'll have a blast, and walk away with a few complaints. Rarely pick up a DC comicbook but greedily gobble down any films or series populated by the denizens of the DC universe? You'll have a blast and... detect a pattern? The latest DCU original animated movie has something to offer DC fans of all stripes, speedsters and non-speedsters alike. And the reason is simple. For better or worse, The Flashpoint Paradox is a Justice League movie first, an Elseworlds tale second and, trailing at a distant third, a solid Flash story last. Fortunately, the alternate timeline heroes and villains -- each one more deliciously dark than the last -- help make up for the unintended slight until, by movie's end, Flash narrowly inches ahead and proves he can hold his own in the race. JLA or no JLA.
Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox features a reasonably impressive but inherently flawed 1080p/AVC-encoded video presentation; one that suffers from several issues that will be instantly familiar to anyone who's ever evaluated a DCU animated release with any level of scrutiny. Unfortunately, these issues appear at a higher frequency and with more troubling severity than in recent DCU presentations, even though it should be noted that most, if not all, trace back to the animation and digital source rather than Warner's high definition encode. Aliasing, mild to moderate banding, faint macroblocking, fine line pixelation and other anomalies abound, and in the dark timeline especially, with shadow-draped shots of Thomas Wayne bearing the brunt of the burden. Tricks of the animation trade are largely to blame -- artificial zooms and pans tend to take a toll on the crispness and clarity of the image, while dramatic lighting overlays bring with them stair-stepping and other eyesores. For those willing or able to overlook such imperfections, the presentation will be more than satisfying. For those sensitive to the disruptions and distractions, the presentation is a bit too problematic for a higher score.
Even so, all is not lost. Not only does the Blu-ray edition run circles around its DVD counterpart, it does so with an array of grim but confident colors, deep primaries, inky blacks, and consistent contrast leveling. Detail is notable as well, with (generally) clean line art, painterly background textures, and a faithfulness to the nuances of the original animation. Does The Flashpoint Paradox deliver the best of the DCU animated presentations? No, it falls more towards the middle. Do the problems that arise amount to a deal-breaker? Again, no. So long as you're willing to put up with the usual bumps and bruises, nothing about the presentation, good or evil, should come as a surprise.
Warner's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track is the highpoint of the disc, with enough punch and power to leave a lasting mark. The LFE channel throws its weight behind every sonic boom, Atlantean weapon of destruction, Amazonian ground assault, heat blast, atomic explosion and Speed Force surge The Flashpoint Paradox deploys. The rear speakers get it on the chaos too, even though the resulting soundfield isn't as full or enveloping as a big screen DC adventure. It makes for a suitably furious action-oriented experience, with enough directional assertiveness to make each clash of the super titans an exciting, multi-channel battle. A prevailing front-heaviness accompanies quieter conversations, but voices are always clean, clear and nicely prioritized in the soundscape, no matter how restrained or aggressive the mix grows. All told, The Flashpoint Paradox couldn't sound much better.
Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox isn't the definitive, be-all end-all animated movie Flash purists have been patiently waiting for, but JLA junkies with a soft spot for Elseworlds-esque tales will enjoy all the alternate timelining, from its deviously dark heroes and villains to the climactic battles to the death that litter the fray. Striking Studio 4°C animation, terrific voice casting and performances, and a smart adaptation of Geoff Johns and Andy Kubert's "Flashpoint" comic crossover event further overshadow the movie's problem areas, making Paradox an entertaining but flawed entry in the DCU animated canon. Warner's Blu-ray release has a few issues of its own, although none that completely spoil the proceedings. With a solid video presentation, excellent DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track, a decent selection of extras, and a low pricepoint, The Flashpoint Paradox is an easy one to recommend to DCU fans, shortcomings and all.
DCU / with Figurine
2013
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