Barely satisfactory - Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths Part 3

The 'Crisis on Infinite Earths' is arguably one of the greatest story arcs to have come out of DC comics. Not only did the storyline bring about a new generation in the history of Justice League, it also gave us some of the most memorable characters and events by utilising the concept of the multiverse almost perfectly. 

So, when that story arc was adapted into a three-part animated adaptation, expectations were pretty high.

While the film is satisfactory as a conclusion to the story, it still leaves much to be desired, especially for the franchise's most dedicated fans — the readers of its comics. 

It succeeds at giving viewers closure with no loose ends. However, the well-known franchise embarrassingly stumbles with poor visuals, underdeveloped subplots, and the rare moments it deviates from the story.

The movie mostly sticks to the source material but takes certain creative liberties. These moments would have been justifiable if they improved on the original story, or helped it translate better on screen, but it fails to do so.  

For example, introducing an army of Anti-Monitors instead of him being a single entity takes away from the threatening aura he had on paper. 

Furthermore, replacing The Flash with John Constantine as the catalyst of the plot did not sit well with viewers. The Flash brings a whole different personality to the scene, like time-travelling. John Constantine does not fill the void The Flash left in Part 3.

When the original comic story was written, the goal was to unify all of DC's parallel universes. The movie satisfies expectations in that regard as it ties up all of the loose ends in the multiverse and effectively starts what is known as the 'Tomorrowverse.' 

The movie attempts to evoke deep emotions, particularly through Supergirl (Meg Donnelly), by highlighting the heavy burdens these heroes carry — not just for every world, but also from their own pasts, mistakes, and fears. 

However, due to limited screen time, Supergirl's arc feels underdeveloped, more like a series of obligatory events rather than a fully realised story.

But Part 3 has an easier time with its pacing. The previous instalments spent their first two hours just establishing the three key characters who would end up playing pivotal roles in the story. 

While the time spent on those characters is vital to the plot, it also takes away from the momentum of its pacing. But it set the stage for Part 3, allowing the movie to plunge headfirst into the action. 

The endearing bond between characters

Although Part 3 is more action-packed than the previous two instalments, the real heart of the story lies in the relationships between specific groups of heroes, particularly those from Earth-1 and Earth-2. These relationships are beautifully portrayed in a well-crafted script by screenwriter James Krieg. 

The film begins by introducing the second Black Canary, Dinah Laurel Lance, and her romantic connection with Oliver Queen, also known as Green Arrow. 

Alongside the playful interactions between heroes from the two Earths, the younger Black Canary also has a poignant moment where she grieves the loss of her mother, Dinah Drake (the original Black Canary), following the destruction of Earth-2 by the Anti-Monitor.

'Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths - Part 3' effectively concludes its story on an emotionally uplifting note, bolstered by a strong script and excellent performances from the voice actors. 

Disappointing visuals 

However, the film's animation quality falls short. The visuals are often inconsistent, with some characters' outlines appearing jagged and unclear. 

These flaws are less noticeable during action scenes, where the fast-paced movement and dim lighting help to mask the imperfections.

However, in brightly lit scenes where warm colours dominate and in close-up shots of the characters, the jagged edges become more apparent. This issue is particularly noticeable in the final act of the movie, where the heroes are mostly stationary against a vibrant background. 

Although the inconsistent visual quality does not significantly detract from the overall enjoyment of the film, it can be distracting during the emotionally charged moments. 

The concluding movie of the story was released in July and is available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video.