Crisis on Earth-X

So much fun! From the perspective of someone who doesn't regularly watch the Arrowverse (a bit too heavy on the soap opera side for my tastes) but has had a lifelong love for these characters from the comics, I really appreciate Bob's distillation of the big event episodes to make them more easily palatable to casual viewers. A previous review seems to miss some of the character bits that have been removed, while if anything I still felt some parts were a bit too soapy (what worked for me character-wise? The poignant Jax/Stein subplot and the Snart/Ray moments that help paint a bigger picture of life under the Earth-X Nazi tyranny. The rest... not really so much), so your mileage may vary.

I also admit that I initially found this to be a bit of a slow starter. Up until the end, I was thinking that it should have opened with the wedding, as there's where it really kicks in. But the ending proved me wrong: you absolutely need those early scenes to make the ending work. In any case, once I kicked it I was glued to the screen all through. So very compelling, exciting, and energetic! By the point Supergirl gets to say a certain iconic line associated to her cousin (let me thank the show for the reference) I actually cheered. Felt like going out there myself to punch some Nazis!

Gotta thank Bob for giving me the opportunity to enjoy all the likable characters (and likable they are) and the energy with less soap opera. Keep 'em coming! The mid-credits sequence with two certain classic characters (one from an earlier TV incarnation, one from a milestone comic book) got me all nostalgic and excited for the next one already!

Bob does it again with this DC edit. I’ve not seen the original X-Crisis since it first aired, but watching this made me happy to see how much this event still holds up. The action is great, the character interaction is wonderful, & a certain swan song still got the waterworks going

Moreso, this edit specifically is great in that it manages to ever so slightly condense the plot with not a lot missing. That said, some things do still stick out. When Sara & Alex decide to go to the wedding, I still feel there needs to be a fade from the breach portal to transition to Earth-1. From then on, the edit does have anything that stands out until the final part of the crossover.

You can tell because once Ray Palmer rescues Supergirl, you can see the words “Special Guest Star” in the lower right-hand corner. I also find the cut to black after Stein dies, only to then cut back to the scene & then transition to a montage of the League mourning the loss of Stein. It might be better if Jax crying once Stein dies is at the start of the montage, with Sara mourning him placed right before Jax sees Stein’s family.

The last pacing thing that bugged me is when after Supergirl (or was it Sara?) says “let’s go kick some ass” on the Waverider, it cuts to the Reichrider firing guns on the people of Central City. The problem is that since both ships look alike, it almost comes across like the Waverider our heroes are on is firing on the citizens, which just feels weird. Maybe pull in an establishing shot of Central City from another episode to slow the pace down.

Lastly, Sara & Alex. I understand that with fanedits, especially tv-to-movie edits, you need to kill your darlings, but their development from the original event was just unique. Watching two characters who’d otherwise never meet get to have such a fun dynamic was a delight (“How’s your butt,” anyone?), & I hope we get an “Ultimate Edition” of this edit that inserts their scenes back in.

Regardless, this edit is great, & everyone should watch it.

What can i say? BionicBob knocks it out of the park once again. i have watched the Arrowverse since the beginning so i absolutely love the Arrowverse. how can this universe get any better? Let BionicBob get ahold of it and fix some pacing and put it together in a way that it doesn't take watching 5 hours of television for the crossovers but 2+ hours and watch it in a movie form. It is an enjoyable watch, don't think twice, just eat some popcorn and enjoy the show. It is worth every minute of it.