Warner Bros. // 2001 // 70 Minutes // Not Rated
Reviewed by Judge Bryan Pope (Retired) // March 23rd, 2005
"Sometimes it takes more strength not to fight."
It's been a good 28 years since I first darkened the doorstep of the Hall of Justice. That was back in the late '70s, when Gleek was the team mascot and the Superfriends were busy outwitting Mr. Mtzlplk or teaching schoolchildren not to stick their fingers in electric mixers. As evidenced by Justice League Unlimited: Saving the World, times have changed.
Saving the World includes three episodes from Justice League Unlimited:
* "Hawk and Dove"
The country of Kaznia is being torn apart
by paramilitary groups, and supervillain Ares has fanned the flames by
commissioning a giant robot capable of massive destruction and selling it to one
of the warring factions. Princess Diana (Wonder Woman) attempts to restore peace
with the help of fellow Justice Leaguers Hawk and Dove, two brothers who have
radically different approaches to conflict resolution.
* "Initiation"
The Justice League, which until now has
consisted of a small alliance of superheroes, has opened its doors and invited
superheroes from around the globe to join the order. The response is
overwhelming, with only a few holdouts. Green Arrow is especially reticent,
preferring instead to fight evil independently. But when Green Lantern, Captain
Atom, and Supergirl are dispatched to stop a giant, nuclear-powered creature
that is wreaking havoc near the city of Chiang Mai, Thailand, Green Arrow tags
along and learns the value of working as a team.
* "Kids' Stuff"
Mordred, the rebellious son of dark
sorceress Morgain Le Fey, steals an amulet that enables him to banish all adults
to a shadow realm, leaving him to rule Earth. Helpless while imprisoned in the
shadow realm, Batman, Superman, Princess Diana, and Green Lantern reluctantly
agree to let Le Fey turn them back into children so that they can return to
Earth, destroy the amulet and overthrow Mordred.
I've been a fan of Justice League for some time now. This disc marked my first time out with them since they expanded and mixed up their roster, and I had a good ol' time. Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman may have given Aqua Man and the Wonder Twins the pink slip, but they've recruited some cool faces. J'onn J'onzz (Martian Manhunter), Green Lantern, and Green Arrow are particular favorites of mine. The episodes included on this disc provide action that is fast and furious, and stories that are smart, topical, and grounded in reality juuuuuust enough to make the fantastical elements, um, fly.
This is especially true of "Hawk and Dove." Its ripped-from-the-headlines plot about warring factions in a third-world country receives much-needed comic relief from the actions-before-words Hawk and pacifist Dove. The Wonder Years brothers Fred Savage and Jason Hervey provide lively, amusing vocal performances, giving their characters' familial banter a rascally, frat-boy spark.
Like 1999's The Iron Giant, "Initiation" harkens back to '50s-era sci-fi with its story about a destructive, nuclear-powered monster. But unlike Hogarth's metal friend, this character is most assuredly a gun, and one that doesn't hesitate to open fire on panic-stricken civilians. After "Hawk and Dove," "Initiation"'s heroes-versus-behemoth action sequences may seem familiar, but they do give a different set of DC heroes the chance to strut their stuff.
Purists may get their tights in a wad over the inconsequential "Kids' Stuff," but it gives the core group of heroes a chance to spread their comedy wings. Once Batman, Superman, Princess Diana, and Green Lantern revert to their younger selves, all sorts of secrets come flying out of the closet. Green Lantern has poor vision and must wear ultra-nerdy glasses. Superman is a clueless doof. Princess Diana has the hots for Batman. The story bypasses high-octane action in favor of goofy fun, but it works.
Justice League Unlimited zips effortlessly between action, comedy, and drama, and it gives its superhuman characters very human qualities. Green Lantern, for instance, is irritated by the rookies, who act on impulse rather than fleshing out a plan of action. This is especially true of loose cannon Green Arrow. Other newbies worth noting are Captain Atom, who has the ability to absorb nuclear energy, and Supergirl, who, along with Princess Diana, brings grrrrrrl power to this boys' club. Finally, there's Ace and Gary...I mean, Hawk and Dove. Indeed, these characters bear more than a passing physical resemblance to Saturday Night Live's Ambiguously Gay Duo, with their form-fitting, coordinating outfits. One keeps expecting Hawk to send Dove into action with a playful slap on the butt.
Justice League Unlimited: Saving the World receives a crisp full-screen transfer. The colors are vibrant and eye-popping, and the picture looks flawless. Little surprise, really, since Warner Brothers treats most of their titles with great care. According to Amazon.com, some viewers were disappointed that the disc didn't preserve the show's original widescreen format. I can't recall whether the series was in widescreen or full screen, but the packaging for this disc states that the full-screen format preserves the show's original aspect ratio.
The Dolby 2.0 surround is dynamic and exciting. Justice League Unlimited's many action sequences rely heavily on strong sound effects, and this disc handled them beautifully. Dialogue and effects are nicely balanced, making for an exceptional listening experience. English, Spanish, and French subtitles are included.
The most entertaining extra on the disc is the bonus cartoon, "Keepin' Up with the Joneses." This fun cartoon shows what you would get if you crossed Pixar's The Incredibles with Disney's The Proud Family. Other extras include the Justice League Watchtower Database (character profiles for Green Arrow, Captain Atom, Supergirl, Hawk, and Dove), Save Gorilla City (a frustrating and forgettable interactive game), and a preview for the upcoming direct-to-video cartoon Tom & Jerry Blast Off to Mars.
For a kids' cartoon, Justice League Unlimited does an exceptional job of establishing a colorful and complex universe of fantastic, yet still believable, superheroes and supervillains. How disappointing, then, to not have entire seasons of this show on DVD so that we can experience the vast scope of the DC universe in its entirety. For now, I guess we'll have to make do with compilation discs such as this one.
Kids love superheroes, and these energetic, intelligent stories showcase a classic crew. Priced at less than $15, Justice League Unlimited: Saving the World is a bargain.
In the interest of truth and justice, the Justice League is free to go.
Review content copyright © 2005 Bryan Pope; Site layout and review format copyright © 1998 - 2012 HipClick Designs LLC
Scales of Justice
Video: 90
Audio: 90
Extras: 70
Acting: 85
Story: 85
Judgment: 85
Perp Profile
Studio: Warner Bros.
Video Formats:
* Full Frame
Audio Formats:
* Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround (English)
* Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround (Spanish)
Subtitles:
* English
* French
* Spanish
Running Time: 70 Minutes
Release Year: 2001
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Distinguishing Marks
* Justice League Watchtower Database
* "Save Gorilla City" game
* Keepin' Up with the Joneses (bonus cartoon)
* Tom & Jerry Blast Off to Mars preview
Accomplices
* DC Kids
http://www2.warnerbros.com/web/dckids/index.jsp
* Official Site
http://www.cartoonnetwork.com/tv_shows/jlu/
* IMDb
http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0275137/combined
* DC Comics
http://www.dccomics.com/