9.4 | / 10 |
Users | 4.5 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Comic book | 100% |
Animation | 63% |
Action | 61% |
Sci-Fi | 52% |
Adventure | 52% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.78:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
English SDH
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Three-disc set (3 BDs)
Region A, B (C untested)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 2.5 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
There was a time, really not all that long ago, when if you asked a generalist comic book fan to name their favorite DC imprint, they’d almost invariably choose either Batman or Superman. Similarly, many Marvel fans would have probably opted for Spider-Man, despite the fact that Marvel, much like DC in fact, had a pretty “deep bench” of other characters trotting through various publications. Not to state the obvious, but times have changed, and in fact they have been changing for several years now. Think about the glut of Marvel characters who have had their own films, with both the aforementioned Amazing Spider-Man and The Incredible Hulk getting more than one version of their stories to cineplexes, and any number of other franchises, some inextricably linked, offering an almost ungainly array of various superheroes. While certain DC characters have fairly recently made it to the small screen (Supergirl, (Green) Arrow), aside from current phenomenon Wonder Woman, DC’s big screen outings have tended to be limited to those two caped characters (crusaders or otherwise) mentioned a bit earlier as DC icons. For a kind of supermarket of DC characters, though, there’s probably no better place to start than Justice League Unlimited, the retooled version of the earlier animated series Justice League: Season One and Justice League: Season Two. My Justice League: Season One Blu-ray review gives a little background on Bruce Timm and some of the creative decisions that went into the first iteration of Justice League, and some brief but interesting supplements on this current disc under review feature Timm and others discussing how they wanted to rejigger the existing format as Justice League became Justice League Unlimited, with one of their prime motivations being the chance to give screen time to a wider variety of DC superheroes. “Wider variety”, as generic as it is, may be a bit of an understatement nonetheless, as Justice League Unlimited juggles what some may describe as, well, an ungainly array of various characters traipsing through three seasons’ worth of episodes. As with the original Justice League, there are both more or less standalone episodes as well as longer story arcs that play out over the course of several episodes. While the continually changing focus on this or that DC character may cause some to experience whatever the viewer version of attention deficit disorder might be called, Justice League Unlimited is actually a surprisingly involving and satisfying series, one whose occasionally too brief visits with individual characters are probably offset simply by dint of the fact that so many lesser recognized DC heroes are in fact part of the story.
Justice League Unlimited: The Complete Series is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of the Warner Archive Collection with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.78:1. While the 3.5 I'm giving this is not that much different from the 4.0 grade I gave to Justice League: Season One, even this lowered score comes with one major caveat: there is repeated line detail instability sprinkled at odd moments throughout various episodes that is noticeable if never downright distracting. This gives at least some isolated moments an upscaled look, something that kind of boggles my mind, especially due to the fact that the odd thing is this is a transitory issue that often only accrues on straight lines (or at least is most noticeable on them). Otherwise, the transfer looks nicely sharp, with an especially well saturated palette. There are occasional "special effects" shots where, for example, a spaceflight encounters turbulence and things are intentionally blurred to indicate that (see screenshot 18), or moments in various attack scenes where things can look relatively soft (see screenshot 15). Some of the CGI is also not especially convincing (see screenshot 5). The bottom line here is there's noticeable quality variances throughout any given episode, and individual tolerances will probably result in equally variant reactions to how problematic this is. Therefore, some fans who are more troubled by these variances may feel even 3.5 is too generous, while those who can overlook these anomalies may feel 3.5 is too harsh.
Justice League Unlimited: The Complete Series' audio has both good news and bad news. While the series doesn't have the same lossy audio that the first season did, it also doesn't have even that season's surround track, nor does it have the full bore DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track that the second season had. Instead a serviceable if arguably improvable DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track is included. Separation is very good, but low end is a bit anemic at times, especially during action sequences. Midrange and highs (like Black Canary's ear splitting birdcall) sound nicely full, and some of the effects have decent force, but some audiophile fans will certainly be wishing a lossless surround track had been included on the discs.
Disc One
Justice League Unlimited is a lot of fun, and even occasionally maybe even meaningful, and it certainly offers screen time to a bunch of DC characters whom even longtime fans may not be that familiar with. With the one major caveat regarding the oddly variant video quality on this release, which may in fact cause some viewers to take this off a "must buy" list, Justice League Unlimited comes Recommended.
2010
DC Comics Classic Collection
2003-2004
Season One / Warner Archive Collection
2011-2012
2014
DC Universe Animated Original Movie #7
2010
DC Universe Animated Original Movie #9
2010
Commemorative Edition | DC Universe Animated Original Movie #4
2009
2007
DC Universe Animated Original Movie #18
2013
DC Universe Animated Original Movie #13
2012
DC Universe Animated Original Movie #19
2014
DC Universe Animated Original Movie #26
2016
2015
Commemorative Edition | DC Universe Animated Original Movie #2
2008
Commemorative Edition
2015
1975-1979
DC Showcase Animated Shorts
2010
2003
DC Universe Animated Original Movie #8
2010
2016