7.7 | / 10 |
Users | 4.2 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.2 |
The New Frontier takes viewers on an action-packed adventure, exploring the origins of the Justice League. DC Comics legends Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman are all featured in the film as well as Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter and The Flash – as they band together to form the legendary super team. Strangers at first, these very different heroes must overcome fear and suspicion to forge an alliance against a monster so formidable, even the mighty Superman cannot stop it alone. If they fail, the entire planet will be cleansed of humanity.
Starring: David Boreanaz, Jeremy Sisto, Miguel Ferrer, Neil Patrick Harris, Keith DavidComic book | 100% |
Action | 81% |
Animation | 72% |
Fantasy | 71% |
Sci-Fi | 70% |
Adventure | 69% |
Video codec: VC-1
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.78:1
English: Dolby TrueHD 5.1 (48kHz, 16-bit)
English: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps)
English SDH
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region free
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 4.5 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Everything old is new again. X-Men: First Class reimagined the Cold War in the light of the early relationship between Charles Xavier and Erik Lehnsherr, putting a revisionist spin on the Cuban Missile Crisis that was spectacularly entertaining if not, well, exactly historically accurate. But years previously another superhero franchise had visited something along this same idea, though Justice League: The New Frontier actually deals with a somewhat broader timeframe than the most recent X-Men film. Over an appealingly graphic-novel inspired prelude, we hear sonorous if slightly foreboding narration from the self-described The Centre, some sort of entity who seems at the very least quasi-Godlike in its abilities. The Centre then apparently turns out to be the character in the graphic novel we have seen being written (and/or illustrated), a novel whose author then just as apparently commits suicide. So much for writer’s block. We’re then whisked off into an aerial sequence that is taking place on the last day of hostilities in the Korean War, in which pilots Hal Jordan (voiced by David Boreanaz) and Kyle “Ace” Morgan (John Heard) soon discover that not all of the Koreans have gotten the news flash. The second storyline involves the last of the Green Martians, the wonderfully named J’onn J’onzz (Miguel Ferrer), who is mistakenly teleported to Earth through the scientific investigations of Dr. Erdel. Seeing the Martian leads to a fatal heart attack for Erdel, but luckily (for J’onzz, anyway), the Martian is a shape shifter who is able to immediately assume Dr. Erdel’s physical form. (In a funny running gag, J’onzz watches television back at Erdel’s apartment and briefly assumes different forms he’s watching, including everything from Warner icon Bugs Bunny to the old Native American who used to be on the “end of broadcast” test screens that used to air overnight on early broadcast television). The third plotline involves Superman (Kyle McLachlan) tracking down Wonder Woman (Lucy Lawless) in 1954 Vietnam (then still called Indo-China), taking her to task for some war atrocities which Wonder Woman didn’t do anything to discourage. Back in the United States, we have reporter Iris West (Vicki Lewis) in a Las Vegas casino, but talking on the phone to her boyfriend Barry Allen, AKA The Flash (Neil Patrick Harris) when a nefarious villain named Captain Cold (James Arnold Taylor) breaks in to rob the place. Also in the casino are ex- pilots Hal and Ace. As this brief summary may indicate, Justice League: The New Frontier is nothing if not packed to the gills with various characters, plot elements and interlocking storylines, frankly perhaps too many for its relatively brief running time.
Justice League: The New Frontier is presented on Blu-ray with a VC-1 encoded 1080p transfer in 1.78:1. While no one would ever accuse this outing of being incredibly innovative from an animation standpoint, it has many, many good things to recommend it, notably the great graphic novel inspired prologue as well as a kind of funny-silly climax that sees two of our heroes engulfed by some wacky hallucinations. Colors are fairly bursting from the screen with robust saturation, and line detail is sharp and firm throughout the enterprise. There are some very minor banding issues on a couple of scenes, but they're extremely transitory. Otherwise, this is an artifact free presentation that pops very nicely and should please lovers of traditional cel animation, not to mention fans of the various heroes on display in the film.
Justice League: The New Frontier sports both a lossy Dolby Digital 5.1 mix as well as a lossless Dolby TrueHD 5.1 mix. The lossless mix is astoundingly effective at times, not just by dint of the fact that superior voice actors are offered in abundance but also due to the fact that the film is a virtual nonstop riot of impressive sound effects. From the opening portentous narration to the first battle sequence in Korea to the climactic showdown between the alien entity which turns out to be a sort of dinosaur island (don't ask), Justice League: The New Frontier offers superb fidelity, extremely consistent and immersive surround activity and more than abundant LFE. As has been mentioned, all of the voice work is excellent, and the sound effects are extremely well placed throughout the soundfield, and include any number of great panning and discrete channelization effects.
There's simply a little bit too much going on throughout Justice League: The New Frontier for it all to be able to be crammed into little more than an hour's running length. Ambition is certainly to be lauded, but there has to be enough structure in the running time to support it all, and in that regard this feature feels a little rushed and underdeveloped. It's also all pretty silly at times, especially the dinosaur-laden climax. But taken as a whole, Justice League: The New Frontier is a lot of fun, with incredible voice talent and a very clean and appealing animation style. Bolstered by outstanding video and audio, and a full slate of good to excellent supplements, this release is Recommended.
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2008
Commemorative Edition
2008
Commemorative Edition | with Movie Money
2008
DC Universe Animated Original Movie #7
2010
DC Comics Classic Collection
2001-2002
DC Universe Animated Original Movie #9
2010
DC Universe Animated Original Movie #4
2009
2011
DC Universe Animated Original Movie #18
2013
DC Universe Animated Original Movie #19
2014
DC Universe Animated Original Movie #13
2012
DC Universe Animated Original Movie #1
2007
DC Universe Animated Original Movie #11
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DC Showcase Animated Shorts
2010
DC Universe Animated Original Movie #8
2010
DC Universe Animated Original Movie #5
2009
DC Universe Animated Original Movie #6
2009
Commemorative Edition
2015
2009
DC Universe Animated Original Movie #26
2016
Season Two / Warner Archive Collection
2012-2013
DC Universe Animated Original Movie #14
2012
Warner Archive Collection
2004-2006