Justice League Unlimited Seasons One and Two: Must have for JLU Fans.

Jerome Grate · 04-16-2007, 11:12 AM

It takes alot to get me to purchase a TV show on DVD, but when I saw JLU available I said I picked this up. Well let me tell you, this was clearly one of the better purchases I made to my collection. I haven't looked at the special features yet, but yesterday (Sunday) during the Noreaster we did a complete JLU marathon my 6 year old son and myself. The package is matted widescreen but anamorphic nonetheless and the picture is beautiful. It's in Dolby Surround but Logic 7 on the HK does a real good job with the sound presentation. We watched season one and will do season two this coming weekend. JLU Fans you are going to love the set. It's a shame that they only did two seasons, because the stories are very well done, and at one point my wife was interested in some of the episodes. Definetly a must have.

Sam Favate · 04-16-2007, 12:04 PM

Actually, they did three seasons, each consisting of 13 episodes. For some reason, the first 26 were packaged together and called "Season 1," while the final 13 were packaged as "Season 2."

Matt Lucas · 04-17-2007, 12:40 PM

Hello all---

I just wanted to add my two or three cents as well. These two sets are a LOT of fun, particularly for a reformed comic geek like myself. There are lots of tips of the hat to longtime fans, but don't let that stop you from checking these shows out. You don't have to know much of anything about these heroes to enjoy the shows. In fact, I would say that, if you liked THE INCREDIBLES, you'd probably like JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED as well.

The characterization is surprisingly well-done, particularly for charcters like Green Arrow, Green Lantern, Supergirl, and others. The stories are snappy and move along at a strong pace, but they also pause to take a breath when it's needed.

The writers also have a wicked sense of humor, and many sly jokes and great script exchanges are included for the benefit of the parents out that like me. For example:

Quote:

The Question [a serious conspiracy theorist]: Reaching back to Ancient Egypt, there's been a single cabal of powerful individuals directing the course of human history. But the common man prefers to believe they don't exist, which aids their success.
Supergirl: Global warming? Military upheavals in the third world? Actors elected to public office?
Green Arrow: The spread of coffee bars? Germs outpacing antibiotics? And boy bands? Come on! Who would gain from all this?
The Question: Who indeed?

Hawkgirl: That's fast.
The Flash: Yeah, fastest man alive.
Hawkgirl: Which might explain why you can't get a date.

Stargirl: Ugh, my dad.
Supergirl: I know - Superman tried to keep me on the farm. Made me hide there for three years.
Stargirl: Big deal. I've still got a curfew. Enough cosmic energy to trash a city and I can't stay out past ten.
Supergirl: Three years. On a farm. In Kansas.

...and the voice actors are out of this world. There is talent on this show's crew from top to bottom. Producer Bruce Timm and his group, all of whom share credit for the success of the many series that they've created, are moving into the realm of direct-to-video. I look forward to their first two productions, which supposedly concern "The Death of Superman" story that was published about 10 years ago and a new Justice League ["The New Frontier"] story that takes place in the past. See the link below for more information:

http://www.worldsfinestonline.com/WF/news/030307.php

mattl

Jerome Grate · 04-17-2007, 12:53 PM

Matt, reading your post confirms my feelling about how it's a shame that they stop making the series. Last night I was watching the episode mentioned with Egypt and the best line in the episode was when Green Lantern

Spoiler:

Hilarious.

Matt Lucas · 04-17-2007, 04:35 PM

Hello all---

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jerome Grate

Matt, reading your post confirms my feelling about how it's a shame that they stop making the series. Last night I was watching the episode mentioned with Egypt and the best line in the episode was when Green Lantern

Spoiler:

Hilarious.

That was a great line! Those kinds of simple off-the-cuff responses during the course of an episode really make the show for me. There was an episode where the main members [Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Flash, etc.] were going to turn themselves in to the government as an act of good will because the JL had been framed for a horrible attack. Anyway, when they call up Batman to tell him to surrender---a guy who has always been clear that he considers himself a part-timer---his immediate response is a quick, terse, "You want me to WHAT?!?" It's exactly what you'd expect his response to be.

I crack up every time I see that one. My seven-year-old does a great impression of Bats.

Speaking of sharing the show with your kids, my son absolutely loves the show, but there are episodes that I think are a little too heavy in terms of subject matter or mood for little kids. There are certainly some of the episodes that I don't let him watch. But some of the lighter ones are fine for all ages, I think. My four-year-old daughter absolutely loves Supergirl and Wonder Woman.

But the stories are just plain great. The whole Cadmus storyline was amazing.

mattl

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Sam Favate · 04-17-2007, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt Lucas

The whole Cadmus storyline was amazing.

Yeah, that was my favorite thing they ever did. Some great writing in that arc, and the writers weaved together a story using so many varied characters. It was probably the crowning achievement of the Bruce Timm DC animated shows. There's a cool bonus feature on the Cadmus arc on the Season 2 set (ironically, not the set that includes the Cadmus arc). Worth checking out.

Jerome Grate · 04-18-2007, 08:56 AM

Quote:

but there are episodes that I think are a little too heavy in terms of subject matter or mood for little kids.

Defintely, a while back I had to dance around my son's question when Hawkgirl made the comment about The Flash being the fastest man on earth and why he doesn't have a date. Also when I was watching the Epilogue with my son and Supergirl was fighting her older clone, my son blurted out "Chick Fight". I laughed and gave him a look and he said oops "Cat fight". I couldn't stop laughing. I corrected him later but it was one of those father son moments that made the day a nice one.

Matt Lucas · 04-18-2007, 09:28 AM

I know what you mean! Luckily, most of the more adult-geared comments sort of fly over my son's head. I try to restrain my own responses and laughter, because, unless I crack up, he doens't really know anything special has been said. It's just that sometimes it's hard...!

Some of the Darkseid-related episodes seemed a little intense for smaller kids, just because the guy is so evil and doesn't have a problem killing people with no remorse. And the couple of episodes that take place in the super-hero fight club were a little weird to show a small child. He didn't really understand at first why heroes were fighting heroes and why people would want to watch that and bet on it.

Luckily, these types of things are the exception, not the rule.

mattl

Harpozep · 04-18-2007, 09:51 AM

My little girl loved watching them on TV with us. I though some were a bit too intense as well, but she turned to me and said " Fighting is the wrong thing that you sometimes have to do!' Kinda cool for a then five year old to say......

She had already seen a couple of seasons of Teen Titans ( another great show if you can get used to the character design ).

These days she plays Marvel Alliance like there's no tomorrow and paints pictures of Storm, Electra, and MS Marvel !

SHe does wonder though why Wonder Woman and Hawkgirl are not part of Marvel Alliance. I explain that is it like the Disney Channel and Cartoon Network. Each has its own shows and they do not crossover.
Of course I think I'll confuse her when I do show her all the DC/Marvel crossovers in the trade paperbacks at our store. Oh yes, we own a comic store!
And today is new book day, so I'm off to put out the goodies! Katy will be with me too since she has the week off from school and is reading voraciously.

For comics she found the Archies all on her own and has taken to them with gusto, even putting all the ones we have in order!

She still reads Teen Titans Go as well.

I look forward to seeing all the JLU episodes as we now have them on DVD as well. Time for that marathon

Mikel_Cooperman · 04-19-2007, 12:06 AM

I love the show too and watch them while I am on the treadmill. Nothing like good motivation then watching Superheroes, with big muscles and great strength, in action.