Sunday, October 25, 2009

Superman/Batman Public Enemies 2009



This week I will review the latest DC Universe film Superman/Batman Public Enemies. It is the sixth film from the DC Universe original films. It features an array of hero's and villains that go up against Superman and Batman. It stars the voices of Tim Daly, Kevin Conroy and Clancy Brown, each provided the iconic voices of Superman,Batman and Lex Luthor in the 1990's Batman The Animated Series and Superman The Animated Series.


The plot starts off with the collapse of the global economy and with the election of Lex Luthor of the President of the United States. Gradually things start getting back to normal, that is until a meteor made of kryptonite is discovered heading towards earth. Lex decides that he needs Superman's help to destroy it. However when Superman meets up with Luthor, he decides to frame Superman for the death of Metallo. With the help of Batman he has to clear his name and stop the meteor from destroying the planet. Lex announces a bounty on Superman in the amount of 1 billion dollars. With that every super villain decides to cash in on the Man of Steel and his partner in crime Batman. This film was once again produced by Bruce Timm. It features most of the DC universe characters. It is mostly an action packed 67 minutes. It is rated 12's not due to the nature of the story but of the fight sequences that take place. It doesn't let the audience catch their breath and all of the 67 minutes is used up greatly. It features amazing voice acting by the three actors I mentioned above and great action scenes. There is also the bonus of seeing the robot that is a mixture of the designs of Batman and Superman. I give this film 9/10 overall. Next week I will be reviewing The X Files Movie.

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Justice League The New Frontier


This week I will be doing a review of the second animated film from the DC Universe Original Animated Movies Justice League The New Frontier 2008.

This story is set in the 1950's and 1960's. It features an array of superheros including Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, J'onn Jones and The Green Lantern.
The plot revolves around as mysterious physic force known as The Centre who plots to wipe out humanity. It is fairly plot heavy but that doesn't take the enjoyment out of this film. The character designs go back to the originals as Superman goes back to his 1940's style costume, Batman goes back to his as well. It is mostly the Flash and Green Lanterns movie as it has Green Lanterns origin built in.
The film also has an air to the McCarthy era of extreme paranoia in the USA of the communists. He handles this subject matter extremely well. The animation is fantastic, it is fairly bloody like the other films such Superman Doomsday and Batman Gotham Knight but is none the less enjoyable. Lucy Lawless is cast as the voice of Wonder Woman who brings a hard edge to the character. Once again this film is rated 12's in Ireland and the UK for violence. It deserves this rating as they would never have gotten away with this on kids TV. I give this film 10/10. Next week Superman/Batman Public Enemies.

Monday, October 12, 2009

Batman Mask of the Phantasm


Batman Mask of the Phantasm
This film stars Kevin Conroy as Batman, Dana Delany as Andrea and Mark Hamill as the Joker.
It deals with the appearance of a mysterious vigilante who is killing Gothams top gangster bosses but Batman is blamed and must clear his name. It also see the return of Batmans ture love Andrea Beaumont.
This film is excellent, it has everything going for it. Top voice acting, amazing visuals and a fantastic score. It features Batman going up against the Joker and his battle to clear his name. It is really a story about how Bruce Wayne became Batman and how he almost give it all up for love. I give this film 10/10.

Monday, October 5, 2009

Superman Doomsday 2007






Here is a review of the first DC Universe Animated Movie Superman Doomsday.


This is the first film of the DC Universe films. It is based on the Death of Superman comic books which featured the death of the Man of Steel. It stars the voices of Adam Baldwin as Superman, Anne Heche as Lois Lane and James Marsters as Lex Luthor. This film is rated PG in Ireland and 12 in the UK and it deserves it. It seems like the creators were given a chance to be more violent and were not hampered by TV censors. I think its a good thing that are not being dictated to by the censors as we get the most graphic portrayal of Superman to date.


It begins with a voice over by Lex Luthor stating that "there comes a time when even gods must die." Superman and Lois are in a relationship together and she wants to know what his real identity is (even though she already knows.) He wont tell her as it might endanger her. Meanwhile Lex Corp have discovered the remains of alien ship that holds the monster known as Doomsday inside. The crew accidentaly release the monster which begins its destruction by killing the crew and bambi.























It soon brings its destruction to the city where the army are useless against the monster. Superman arrives but finds that the alien has nearly the same strength as he has. Superman has his head smashed in the pavement. He is punched several times until he coughs up blood. The final stray comes when Doomsday attempts to kill a child. He grabbed by Superman who flies him up to space to suffocate up. The two hit the ground with the force of a comet leaving must of the city destroyed. Superman dies in Lois Lanes arms.


With the death of Superman the city falls in chaos Perry becomes an alcoholic, Jimmy starts working for a rag. The city is in ruin after the death of Superman even Luthor mourns him in his own demented manner. When Toyman kidnaps a group of school children Lois decides to help but is caught by Toyman who proceeds to through her of the roof until she is rescued by Superman.


The city rejoices as the Man of Steel seemingly returns from the dead. But all is not well with Lois as Clark hasn't come back and his mother hasn't heard from. It turns out Lex cloned him from blood left at the epic battle. The new is Superman seems to be working out fine until he hears that Toyman killed a young girl. Intercepting the police Superman he kills Toyman which sets off a chain of events that lead to the resurrection of the real Man of Steel.

Meanwhile Lois and Jimmy discover that Lex is creating a clone army to take over the world. The clone arrives and destroys all the clones. He then proceeds to follow Lex to the red solar room when Lex tries to kill him with a gauntlet made of kryptonite but the room is thrown to the streets by the clone.



It turns out the real Superman's heart rate slowed to a crawl to enable him to heal better.Superman is rescued by the robot that maintains the fortress of solitude and using solar energy to restore his strength goes to fight the clone. He is then given a gun with a kryptonite bullet to kill the clone. While the military try to stop the clone, the clone uses his heat vision to stop the military before they even get a shot at him. As the clone rejoices in his victory the real Superman arrives but the kryptonite gun is knocked away from and what ensues is a vicious fight when Superman fighting for his life. The clone questions when Superman is trying to stop and that he is his reflection if he were strong. The fight takes them to superman memorial park when superman beaten by his own clone is ready to killed when Lois gives him the gun and after knocking over a oil tank the cartridge sticks to the clones suit and Superman melts the kryptonite realizing a toxic gas to the clone. The clones final words to Superman are "protect the people" Superman replies "Its why I'm here."

The film ends with Superman revealing his identity to Lois and the city celebrating his return. Meanwhile a heavily bandaged Lex leaves with another voice over "It would seem that you cannot be destroyed after all Superman, it would seem."

Overall I give the film 10/10. It has amazing visuals and the fight between Superman and Doomsday is unforgettable as is the final battle between the clone. The story is excellent. I hope that Warner Brothers keep this quality for all the films that they are making.