Previously intended to be a movie that connected the DC Animated Universe Justice League and Justice League Unlimited TV series entitled Justice League: Worlds Collide, Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths was rewritten by Dwayne McDuffie who made it a standalone movie. It takes from the Justice League of America #29–30 story “Crisis on Earth-Three!” by Gardner Fox and JLA: Earth 2 by Grant Morrison to present a multiverse story that sees the Justice League of Earth-One fight against their Earth-Two evil counterparts, the Crime Syndicate.
Buy Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths DVDA heroic variation of Lex Luthor steals the Quantum Trigger, a bomb detonator, and travels to Earth-One to seek the help of the Justice League against the villainous Crime Syndicate, whose main five are Ultraman, Superwoman, Owlman, Johnny Quick, and Power Ring. While the names make obvious the parallels to comic book fans, even those new to DC characters will soon figure out the connections.
There’s a great fight sequence when Luthor and League members go to Earth Two and first encounter Syndicate members. In fact, many of the fight scenes are well executed throughout the movie. It’s good to see evenly matched characters battle and figure out how to defeat their opponents. Interesting to see Batman in this story indifferent to killing, even if his decisions are understandable.
The President on Earth-Two is the counterpart of the villain Deathstroke of Earth-One. He has long been resigned to the fact his world isn’t strong enough to fight the Syndicate beyond nuclear war, which doesn’t seem a good alternative. His daughter Rose speaks out against the Syndicate, which puts a target on her. Martian Manhunter protects her, and they fall in love, which seems to happen awfully quick.
Amidst the fighting, the heroes and villains discover Owl Man’s plan, which is rather insane. He determines the location of Earth-Prime and he intends to destroy it, in turn destroying all of reality. With the help of Johnny Quick’s speed, Batman sets off to take on Owl Man.
Crisis on Two Earths is a very enjoyable comic book movie. The story is well written and has good plot twists, even if I don’t understand how Owl Man conceived his nihilistic plan. The action is well executed by the animators and the geography of the combatants is always clear. The vocal talent, which features more familiar names than usual for casts of these movies, such as William Baldwin as Batman, Mark Harmon as Superman, Chris Noth as Lex Luthor, Gina Torres as Superwoman, and James Woods as Owlman, do a great job evoking the characters. Recommended no matter what Earth you currently reside on.
