Justice League:Doom
Year: 2012
Genre: Animation
Runtime: 76mins
Rating: PG-13
IMDB Score: Awaiting 5 votes
Director(s): Lauren Montgomery
Writer(s): Dwayne McDuffie
Plot/Synopsis:
An adaptation of Mark Waid’s “Tower of Babel” story from the JLA comic. Vandal Savage has Mirror Master steal confidential files Batman has compiled on the members of the Justice League and learns all their weaknesses.
Forethought(s):
This is a DC Animation movie and they all tend to be at least decent so this one shouldn’t be too bad.
Fun Fact/Trivia:
Kevin Conroy,Susan Eisenberg,Carl Lumbly and Michael Rosenbaum all reprise their roles from the Justice League cartoon.
Sad Fact: Dwayne McDuffie (the writer of this movie) died Feb 21st 2011. He was a great in the comic world. He will be missed.
The Breakdown:
The voice talent for the Justice League
Nathan Fillion
Michael Rosenbaum
Tim Daly
Kevin Conroy
Carl Lumbly
Bummper Robinson
Susan Eisenberg
The Voice talent for the Legion of Supervillains:
Paul Blackthorne
Claudia Black
Olivia d’Abo
Carl Lumbly
Carlos Alazraqui
Phil Morris
Alexis Denisof
I never read the story arc that this movie is loosely based on but I have read about it and it seems similar but it’s also similar Alex Ross’ Justice. So if you’re going into this as a comic fan who’s read the Tower of Babel storyline you may be disappointed but if you’re going into as a fan of story telling then you should enjoy yourself as long as you don’t mind animation.
Let’s talk a bit about the animation. I will be the first person to tell you that I don’t know how to draw or how things in the animation world work but what I can tell you is that this animation is smooth. I have seen animation (Green Lantern:Emerald Knights) get a bit choppy when the action on screen gets to be more than just a few characters fighting or some really large set pieces are used. Fear that not with this movie for even an all out brawl with the JLA and the LoS, the fluidity is seamless.
If you’re wondering just how much fighting there is let’s just say a good amount. It pretty much starts right from the beginning with Bats walking in on the Royal Flush Gang and soon after the JLA shows up to put a hurting on the bad guys. Then maybe five minutes later we get one on ones with each hero fighting their villainous counter parts.
Now with animation a big thing for me is just how well the characters are designed. And for the most part these characters look just like what you would think/want them to. There is however some not so pretty outfit designs going on but I know that’s just the fanboy in me nit picking.
The Verdict:
The writing captures who these characters are and tells a really good story about safe guards. While the action is top notch and the animation is smooth I feel if you have young ones (young 10) you may not want them watching this due to some violent scenes and some light swearing. If you’re a comic fan trust me when I say it’s good.
I give this movie 4 Earths out of 5(2) <— DC joke.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0MSuTJNDdc
Super
Year: 2010
Genre: Action/Comedy/Drama
Runtime: 96mins
Rating: R
IMDB Score: 7/10 (9,200+ Votes)
Director(s): James Gunn
Writer(s): James Gunn
Plot/Synopsis:
After his wife falls under the influence of a drug dealer, an everyday guy transforms himself into Crimson Bolt, a superhero with the best intentions, though he lacks for heroic skills.
Forethought(s):
I really don’t know what to think about this one. It sounds like it could be a very much like Kick-Ass. I have heard it is twisted and I really hope that’s true.
Fun Fact/Trivia:
This movie only opened in eleven theaters.
The Breakdown:
Holy shit I do not know where to start with this one. This movie is all kinds of crazy. Crazy acting, crazy over the top yet realistic effects, crazy non-realistic visuals, and crazy ass writing. It’s just a bunch of crazy ass craziness. It’s crazy.
Bitch be running wild.
The cast is crazy as well, just look at this line up, Rainn Wilson, Ellen Page,Liv Tyler,Kevin Bacon,Michael Rooker,Andre Royo,Sean Gunn,Nathan Fillion, Gregg Henry and some cameos. Hands down the two best actors in this movie are Rainn Wilson,who plays a cross of Big Daddy and Kick-Ass should at the very least get an Oscar nomination for this role in this movie. The only stuff I have seen him in he does lots of dead pan and in this well he shows a whole new side of him. Ellen Page is all kinds of intense in this movie, unlike any other role she has done. I’m not sure I like her in this type of role. Maybe for the right story say like Hard Candy but she didn’t really have any story in this one. But I was nice to see her step out of the type of roles she is known for. Maybe that’s just because she “fingers” herself in the movie and gets off pretty face. Hey Ellen, you’re a shorty and I have a short one, twit me up @Justin_TheBuck, I know we can have some fun. Kevin Bacon and Nathan Fillion both have smaller parts in this movie but do one heck of a job. Fillion plays a holy superhero while Bacon (greatest name next to Cox) plays a smooth talking drug dealer. Andre Royo (Bubbles from The Wire) does not have enough screen time. This dude can act and should have some bigger role if you ask me. Michael Rooker does what Michael Rooker does best. If you don’t know what he does best go get some movies with him in them.
The effects and visuals in this movie really took me by surprise. The movie does not have a huge budget but pulled together C.G work, animation, bombs/bullets and good old fashion practicals. If I told you that this movie has not only henti in it but semi live action henti in it as well would you call me crazy? Maybe,but it is the truth. Rainns’ character gets the old tentacle loving on his brain by none other than the finger of god (voiced by Rob Zombie). If that wasn’t enough this movie has more blood and guts in it then the last three horror movies I have watch and that is no hyperbole. People get their head split open more times that I frat in a day. Hell, in the first few minutes of the film the lead takes a lot poker and rams it into some druggies neck and blood starts squirting all about like a porn star. Bodies get blown up like this was a 70′s action double feature matinee.
So sad.
Any movie that gets Ellen Page to “finger” herself on screen and say it’s all gushy down there then forces (rapes) herself onto a dude who is 2-3x her size to only finish in like 17seconds (I need a chick like that) is aces. I told you this movie is all types of crazy. If that’s not crazy how about a scene where a man and women get bludgeoned due to cutting in line? How about talking about walking into a food joint with cum on ones beard? A scene where Pages’ character runs into a bad with a car and gets out and starts sounding like Hit Girl from Kick-Ass, that crazy enough for you? Trust me this movie is indeed crazy.
The Verdict:
Fun,violent,unpredictable and crazy are all words that describe this movie to a tee. Other than a small pacing problem there wasn’t a damn thing wrong with the flick. The soundtrack was sparse but I think that was a wise move and the directing was average.
I give this movie 5 head busting wrenches out of 5.
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Green Lantern:Emerald Knights
Year: 2011
Genre: Action/Adventure/Animation/Sci-Fi
Runtime: 84mins
Rating: PG-13
IMDB Score: 7.2/10 (40 Votes)
Director(s): Chris Berkeley,Lauren Montgomery & Jay Oliva
Writer(s): Eddie Berganza,Alan Burnett,Todd Casey,Dave Gibbons,Michael Green,Marc Guggenheim,Geoff Johns & Peter Tomasi
Plot/Synopsis:
As the home planet of the Green Lantern Corps faces a battle with an ancient enemy, Hal Jordan prepares new recruit Arisia for the coming conflict by relating stories of the first Green Lantern and several of Hal’s comrades.
Forethought(s):
A Green Lantern take on Batman:Gotham Knight ? Yes please.
Fun Fact/Trivia:
Green Lantern the comics are based off of E.E Smiths book series Lensman.
The Breakdown:
Well, the only things this had in common with Batman:Gotham Knight was the fact that it told different stories (hell all the stories were being told via flashbacks by Jordan. Gotham Knight was a bunch of stories being told by mostly street level folk in the here and now) plus all the different writers telling different stories.
The animation was very smooth and all the same through out the movie so I do not know if they picked different artist,like Gotham Knight did, to do the animation or just one. I would have to guess just one. And you know what? It really worked unlike Gotham Knight where every story had a different artist.This way you felt like you were watching one movie as opposed to six different shorts.
I’ve said it with the last few animation flicks I’ve watched and I will continue to say it, I hate talking about the acting in the movie. Acting is more than just voices;it’s about body language and how you say things. In an animated movie you don’t get the body language and it does take a bit away from the experience. There is none thing worse than watching any type of media that has bad voice work in it and I’m glad to say there was none in this movie at all. There were some characters that you’d like to sound different but for the most part they all work. Now I’m sure bunch of you Brown Coats will bitch at me but over all I did not like Fillion as Hal. He was able to pull off the smug and dryness that Hal is known for but a lot of time I was asking myself if Caleb from BtVS was Hal. Yes people I know he played Caleb but the way he talked from time to time reminded me to much of Caleb. Then you have Elisabeth Moss who most of you may know from Mad Men (I don’t since I’ve never seen the show) and she is spot on for the character she plays. I mean it’s creepy how much I can see her character Arisia sounding like that. Good on the casting director. Finally we have veteran voice actor Steve Blum who has over 400 credits to his name. If you’ve watch any cartoons or played the more popular video games from the last 20+ years then I’m sure you know who this man is. Just look at his imdb page http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0089710/ Isn’t that crazy? I have seen/heard a lot of his stuff and I still have a hard time picking him out. He does a lot of different types of voices. A real talent.
The stories are engaging to the point that even non-comic book fans would like this movie. Fear my fellow comic dork/geeks/nerds there is plenty in there for those that know more about GLs than the normal person. In fact they even put in some red rage for us. The one is question was not yet raging but it was fun to see that character interact with others while without the red ring. On the other hand they were missing some key and cult GLs like: all the humans (my fav Gardner) other than Hal and G’nort. We did get a story about Mogo and lets be honest no GL history telling would be complete without Mogo. So they made it watchable for non GL fan and more watchable for the GL fans.
The Verdict:
Over all a good movie that is worth your time. It’s not worth a buy so just rent it or wait for it to hit Netflix.
I give this movie 3 power batteries out of 5.
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