Justice League vs. The Fatal Five (review) at Forces of Geek
Justice League Vs. the Fatal Five, DC Animation’s 34th feature film, shines a spotlight on The Fatal Five (comprised of Tharok, Emerald Empress, Validus, Mano and the Persuader), traditionally utilized as villains of the Legion of Super-Heroes.
Read More‘Reign of The Supermen’ (Animated Movie Review) at Forces of Geek
It has been six months since the events of The Death of Superman and four new Supermen are in town to pick up the slack in Reign of the Supermen.
Both films are to replace 2007s Superman: Doomsday, an earlier adaptation of the 90s comics.
Read More‘The Death of Superman’ (review) at Forces Of Geek
The first part of DC’s The Death of Superman takes you to the titular moment in a way that will almost make you forget the more pallid versions we’ve been given from the live action universe.
Read More'Batman Ninja’ (review) - at Forces of Geek
Batman Ninja is the latest DC Animated Movie and this one takes Batman to a completely stylized anime universe.
Read More‘Batman and Harley Quinn’ (review) at Forces of Geek
In a world without Mr. J, Harley Quinn has teamed up with Batman and Nightwing in the latest animated DC movie. Confirmed by writer and producer Bruce Timm as part of the DC Animated Universe aka Timmverse,Batman and Harley Quinn is the first PG-13 installment in the universe.
Cussin’, fartin’, raunchy boudoir humor and a bizarre Batusi musical segment complete with a 70s rarity “Don’t Pull Your Love” followed by Harley Quinn blasting out Blondie’s “Hanging on the Telephone” puts a little spike in the punch of your typical Batman: The Animated Series adventure. Batman & Harley face off against Poison Ivy and Jason Woodrue a.k.a. The Floronic Man. Batman Kevin Conroy and Nightwing Loren Lester reprise their roles from the original series with Melissa Rauch voicing Harley. Even Mr. Timm gets in an off-camera cameo as Booster Gold!
Those familiar with recent New 52 lore will recognize the force of The Green as the supernatural swamp energy running the world. Poison Ivy and Plant Master are going all in to combat the destruction of the Earth and The Green by putting a plan in to place that will turn all living creatures into plants. An Inconvenient Truthindeed! In order to sway Pam from making this green-thumbed gaffe, Nightwing and Batman track down Harley who has gone off the grid for a bit. Not only that, but also in line with current DC continuity, she has gone straight. I mean, Joker’s dead, right?
‘Teen Titans: The Judas Contract’ (review) at FORCES OF GEEK
The classic Wolfman/Perez Teen Titans story, The Judas Contract has been updated and fit into the current DCAU by director Sam Liu. While there are some key elements to the story and an overall respect for the source material throughout, this is very much a 2017 DC Comics Animated movie.
The team differs from the original Titans, an additional time frame and a sinister vibe and double-cross from the movie’s villains Brother Blood (Gregg Henry) and Deathstroke (played by the late, great Miguel Ferrer) add another layer to the dense story of betrayal from inside the team. Our animated Titans are led by Starfire (Kari Wahlgren) and the red-Bat New 52 Nightwing (Sean Maher).Beast Boy (Brandon Soo Hoo) returns as a major star in this one as he faces off against his crush and newly initiated team member Terra / Tara Markov (Christina Ricci).
Noticeably absent, likely for Justice League reasons is Cyborg, but Raven (Taissa Farmiga) and Blue Beetle / Jamie Reyes (Jake T. Austin) round out the roster.
JUSTICE LEAGUE: GODS AND MONSTERS (review) at FORCES OF GEEK
Doomed planet.
Desperate scientists.
Last hope.
Kindly couple.
Superman.
— Grant Morrison, All-Star Superman
Grant Morrison is most certainly capable of distilling Superman down into a few words, especially when introducing what has since become considered one of the greatest stories of all time of the iconic character.
Another master of the DC Universe is Bruce Timm, the mastermind behind Batman: The Animated Series, Superman: The Animated Series, Justice League and Batman Beyond (to name a few).
Timm is back in with his latest project, an alternate reality version of Justice League with Justice League: Gods and Monsters, which debuted on Machinima last month with three shorts and has been released this week as a feature length animated movie.
These new interpretations include Superman / Hernan Guerra (Benjamin Bratt, 24, Modern Family), the spawn of General Zod and Lara Lor Van’s DNA (in vitro, you pervs) raised by a Mexican farming family.
Batman is the creature of the night we know in our world as Man-Bat, Kurt Langstrom (Michael C. Hall, Dexter).
Rounding out the un-holy trinity is Bekka, granddaughter of Highfather from New Genesis aka Wonder Woman (Tamara Taylor, Bones, Lost).
With a reimagined DC Universe including dozens of Easter Eggs and a President Amanda Waller calling the shots, Alan Burnett (Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, Batman Beyond) and Timm’s PG-13 alternate reality gets a little racier thanThe Animated Series ever could. A member of the new guard for DCAU Sam Liu (Batman: Year One, All-Star Superman) directs.
[READ MORE AT FORCES OF GEEK]
EARTH PRIME TIME: BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS – PARTS 1 & 2
Frank Miller’s 1986 genre defining and milestone graphic novel, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns has been adapted in the latest installments of the DC Universe Animated Original Movies. The extended storyline demanded that the story—initially broken into four chapters—be broken up into two parts. The highly anticipated last chapter was made available on Blu-Ray, DVD or Download on January 29th. The Dark Knight Returns as a comic defined the look and tone of Bruce Wayne’s alter-ego for a generation, twisting both tropes of the comic book page and the media’s 24/7 news cycle down to their aging knees while all the while inexplicably breathing new life and reflection on both. We’re hard pressed to find fault with DC attempting to share the story with a new audience in a new medium, and aside from dyed in the wool fanboy nit picks, we’ve gone in depth comparing and contrasting the original art form with the movies to be mostly satisfied with the result. Peter Weller (Robocop, Star Trek: Into Darkness) stars as the aging Batman, eventually facing the maniacal Joker voiced by Michael Emerson (Ben Linus onLost, Person of Interest).
Both the movie and the book start out with a moustachioed and retired Bruce Wayne (Earth-31) totaling his racecar over the finish line in the Ferris 6000 motor race. After cheating death, Bruce meets up with outgoing Commissioner Jim Gordon for more than a few drinks and then a solo stroll through Crime Alley. He is confronted by some of the Mutant gang and scares the boys away. A restless night and a trip to Batcave after the encounter with Gotham’s new string of baddies motivates Batman back into the cowl, to the chagrin of our faithful Alfred Pennyworth. Sound familiar?
Christopher Nolan (and Tim Burton, for that matter) have a lot to owe this book for characterization and major plot points.
Another animated property, Batman Beyond owes it’s entire existence and frequently nods at this touchstone of future Bat-legacy.
[READ MORE at DIGBOSTON.COM]
EARTH PRIME TIME: SUPERMAN VS. THE ELITE
Superman vs. The Elite is the latest DC Comics Animated Universe movie released last week. Written by Joe Kelly (Ben 10, I Kill Giants) for the first time in Action Comics #775, the story pushes The Man of Steel to the breaking point of his strong moral fiber. Can new and violent superhero team The Elite defeat Superman, and does the public want a less tolerant but more permanent solution to dealing with the bad guys? The Action Comics issue was called, “What’s so Funny ‘Bout Truth, Justice, and the American Way,” published just months before the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center.
[READ MORE at DIGBOSTON.COM]
EARTH PRIME TIME: SUPERMAN VS. THE ELITE by clay-fernald
