Review: "Batman: Year One" is a Dark Knight That Actually Rises

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 92 (of 2012) by Leroy Douresseaux

Batman: Year One (2011) – straight-to-video
Running minutes: 64 minutes (1 hour, 4 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for violence, and for some sexual material
DIRECTORS: Lauren Montgomery and Sam Liu
WRITERS: Tab Murphy (based upon the story by Frank Miller and the characters created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger)
PRODUCERS: Lauren Montgomery
EDITOR: Margaret Hou
COMPOSER: Christopher Drake

ANIMATION/SUPERHERO/SCI-FI/ACTION with elements of drama

Starring: (voices) Bryan Cranston, Ben McKenzie, Eliza Dushku, Jon Polito, Alex Rocco, Katee Sackhoff, Jeff Bennett, Grey DeLisle, Fred Tatasciore, Steve Blum, Robin Atkin Downes, Keith Ferguson, Stephen Root, and Michael Gough

Batman: Year One is a 2011 direct-to-video superhero animated film from Warner Bros. Animation. Starring the DC Comics character, Batman, this is also the 12th feature in the DC Universe Animated Original Movies line. Executive produced by Bruce Timm, this film is adapted from the “Batman: Year One” story arc written by Frank Miller (300) and drawn by David Mazzuchelli and originally published in the comic book series, Batman #404-407 (February to May 1987 cover date).

As the film opens, Bruce Wayne (Ben McKenzie) returns to Gotham City after a 12-year absence from his hometown. Meanwhile, policeman detective James Gordon (Bryan Cranston) and his pregnant wife, Barbara (Grey DeLisle), move to Gotham from Chicago. Gordon quickly discovers how corrupt the Gotham City Police Department is after meeting his new partner, Detective Arnold Flass (Fred Tatasciore), who savagely assaults civilians and accepts bribes from the mob. Commissioner Gillian B. Loeb (Jon Polito) seems more like a kingpin of crime than a police commissioner.

Bruce Wayne has decided to fight the street crime that took his parents lives and to put an end to the corruption of the city’s elites. Wayne’s first mission in his war on crime goes badly, but he is soon inspired to put on a weird costume that strikes fear into the hearts of criminals. Soon, the media is calling this mysterious vigilante figure, “The Batman.” Inspired by The Batman, Selina Kyle (Eliza Dushku), a prostitute, puts on a costume and becomes The Catwoman.

After watching the first 10 minutes of Batman: Year One, I didn’t hold out much hope that it would amount to much. However, it turned out to be a very entertaining film. The animation is good, not great, but the script is excellent. The writing captures the motivations of the characters and hits the conflicts dead center. It makes clear the reasons for disputes and the consequences that will result depending on how these clashes are settled. The conflicts, personal strife, and internal battles drive the drama in Batman: Year One.

When it comes to Batman: Year One, the Dark Knight rises, indeed.

7 of 10
B+

Sunday, July 29, 2012

"Green Lantern: Emerald Knights" Good Space Opera

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 91 (of 2012) by Leroy Douresseaux


Green Lantern: Emerald Knights (2011) – straight-to-video
Running minutes: 84 minutes (1 hour, 24 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for sci-fi action violence throughout, and for some language
DIRECTORS: Lauren Montgomery, Chris Berkeley, and Jay Oliva
WRITERS: Alan Burnett, Eddie Berganza, Todd Casey, Dave Gibbons, Michael Green, Marc Guggenheim, Geoff Johns, and Peter Tomasi
PRODUCERS: Greg Berlanti, Donald De Line, and Lauren Montgomery
EDITOR: Margaret Hou
COMPOSER: Christopher Drake
ANIMATION STUDIO: Studio 4’C

ANIMATION/SUPERHERO/SCI-FI/ACTION with elements of drama

Starring: (voices) Nathan Fillion, Jason Isaacs, Elisabeth Moss, Henry Rollins, Arnold Vosloo, Grey DeLisle, Kelly Hu, Michael Jackson, Bruce Thomas, and Roddy Piper

Green Lantern: Emerald Knights is a 2011 direct-to-video superhero animated film from Warner Bros. Animation. Starring DC Comics characters, Green Lantern and the Green Lantern Corps, this is also the eleventh feature in the DC Universe Animated Original Movies (DCU AOM) line. Executive produced by Bruce Timm, this film is adapted from DC Comics’ Green Lantern mythology.

Green Lantern: Emerald Knights is not a direct sequel to an earlier DCU AOM film Green Lantern: First Flight, but both films use the same character designs. Emerald Knights is, like Batman: Gotham Knights, an anthology film, and it tells six stories (about various Green Lanterns) structured inside a larger, framing story. That framing story focuses on the Green Lantern Corps and their battle with an ancient enemy. While the Corps awaits that enemy, a new recruit hears stories about various Green Lanterns, including a story about the unlikely very first Green Lantern.

Green Lantern: Emerald Knights is set on and around the Green Lantern home world, Oa. The planet’s sun is about to become the gateway for Krona, an anti-matter, alien evil that the Guardians of the Universe (essentially the creators of the Green Lanterns) banished ages ago. While they wait for the epic battle to begin, Hal Jordan, the Green Lantern of Earth (Nathan Fillion), helps a Green Lantern rookie, a young woman named Arisia Rrab (Elisabeth Moss), by telling her stories about legendary Green Lanterns and about pivotal moments in the history of the Green Lantern Corps.

Some of the stories include “The First Green Lantern,” which tells the story of Avra, an unlikely Green Lantern who actually was not the first person to get a Green Lantern ring. “Kilowog” tells the story of the Green Lantern drill sergeant, Kilowog (Henry Rollins), and Sgt. Deegan (Wade Williams), who was Kilowog’s drill instructor. In “Abin Sur,” Hal Jordan’s predecessor, Abin Sur (Arnold Vosloo), hears a dark prophecy from Atrocitus (Bruce Thomas), an alien criminal he captured.

Green Lantern: Emerald Knights has excellent visuals. I would describe this movie as the hand-drawn animation equivalent of the computer-animated series, “Star Wars: The Clone Wars.” In fact, the action is on par with the Star Wars animated series, and the voice acting here has range, quality, and emotional resonance.

However, some of the action is laughable, ridiculous, and way too over-the-top even for superhero/space opera fantasy. The framing sequence has a paper-thin plot and story. I’d say that the writers should be embarrassed about this, but I bet they didn’t even notice. Still, the anthology part of this is pretty good, so I’d recommend Green Lantern: Emerald Knights.

7 of 10
B+

Sunday, September 16, 2012

Review: "All-Star Superman" is Not All-Star

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 74 (of 2012) by Leroy Douresseaux

All-Star Superman (2011)
Running time: 76 minutes (1 hour, 16 minutes)
MPAA – PG for sequences of action and violence, language including brief innuendo, and some sensuality
DIRECTOR: Sam Liu
WRITER: Dwayne McDuffie (based upon the comic books by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely and the characters created by Joe Shuster and Jerry Siegel)
PRODUCERS: Bobbie Page and Bruce Timm
EDITOR: Margaret Hou

ANIMATION/SUPERHERO/DRAMA

Starring: (voices) James Denton, Christina Hendricks, Anthony LaPaglia, Edward Asner, Obba Babatundé, Steve Blum, Linda Cardellini, Alexis Denisof, John Di Maggio, Matthew Gray Gubler, Kevin Michael Richardson, Fred Tatasciore, and Arnold Vosloo

All-Star Superman is a direct-to-DVD animated film from Warner Bros. Animation. Starring DC Comics’ beloved superhero, Superman, this film is based on the 12-issue comic book series, All-Star Superman, written by Grant Morrison and drawn by Frank Quitely and published from 2005 to 2008. All-Star Superman is also the 10th feature in DC Universe Animated Original Movies series.

All-Star Superman begins with Lex Luthor’s (Anthony LaPaglia) successful plot to expose Superman (James Denton) to massive amounts of solar radiation. This overdose of solar radiation gives the Man of Steel new powers, but the radiation is also slowly killing him. Superman is left with only weeks to live and with his extraordinary powers deteriorating. As he prepares for his demise, Superman attempts to settle his affairs with Lois Lane (Christina Hendricks). However, before he dies, Superman must stop Luthor’s diabolical scheme to drastically change the world and then rule it.

Watching All-Star Superman, I could not help but be impressed by how many characters and subplots the film’s screenwriter, the late Dwayne McDuffie, managed to stuff into a movie that runs a little more than 70 minutes. Sadly, most of it really isn’t dramatic or exciting, mainly because much of this material needs to get more screen time than it ultimately does. Honestly, All-Star Superman is at its best whenever Lex Luthor (superbly voiced by Anthony LaPaglia) is onscreen, which he isn’t nearly enough.

Some of the voice performances are bad. Matthew Gray Gubler is terrible as Jimmy Olsen. Ed Asner is just wrong as Perry White, the editor-in-chief of the Daily Planet, the newspaper where Clark Kent/Superman works.

The animation and character design is quite good. All-Star Superman is pretty to look at, but it is too bad that the entire film is such a chore to watch.

5 of 10
C+

Sunday, September 16, 2012

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"Superman/Batman: Apocalypse" Rocks the House

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 65 (of 2012) by Leroy Douresseaux


Superman/Batman: Apocalypse (2010) – straight-to-video
Running time: 78 minutes (1 hour, 18 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for violence and brief sensuality
DIRECTOR: Lauren Montgomery
WRITERS: Tab Murphy (Based upon the graphic novel by Jeph Loeb and Michael Turner and characters created by Bob Kane (Batman), Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster (Superman), William Moulton Marston (Wonder Woman), and Jack Kirby (Darkseid and The New Gods)
PRODUCERS: Lauren Montgomery, Bobbie Page, and Bruce W. Timm
EDITOR: Margaret Hou

ANIMATION/SUPERHERO/ACTION

Starring: Andre Braugher, Kevin Conroy, Tim Daly, Susan Eisenberg, Summer Glau, Julianne Grossman, Edward Asner, and Rachel Quaintance

Superman/Batman: Apocalypse is the ninth in Warner Bros. Animation’s line of DC Universe Animated Original Movies. It is a sequel to the animated film, Superman/Batman: Public Enemies (2009), and is based on “The Supergirl from Krypton,” a storyline in the Superman/Batman comic book series from DC Comics. Superman/Batman: Apocalypse focuses on a mysterious teen-aged girl with super-human powers, her connection to Superman, and a villain’s diabolical plan to control her.

While investigating the wreckage of a spaceship that landed in Gotham City Harbor, Batman (Kevin Conroy) discovers that the ship had a passenger. It is a young woman who raises all sorts of havoc with her apparent super human powers, but Batman manages to subdue her. It is Superman (Tim Daly), however, who discovers that the young woman is Kara Zor-El (Summer Glau), his biological cousin, and like himself, a refuge from Krypton. Kara has little memory of her past, and her powers make her dangerous. Wonder Woman (Susan Eisenberg) steps in and takes Kara to her home, Themyscira, the island home of the Amazons.

They are not the only ones interested in Kara. On the planet, Apokolips, its lord, Darkseid (Andre Braugher), has learned of Kara and desires her to lead his honor guard, the Female Furies, so he kidnaps her. To rescue Kara, Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman must recruit the former leader of the Furies, Big Barda (Julianne Grossman), but even her help may not be enough to overcome Darkseid, a god.

What I like about Superman/Batman: Apocalypse is that it gets everything right. First, the writing is strong. Screenwriter Tab Murphy efficiently presents the characters: their personalities, quirks, motivations, conflicts, and relationships. It all comes across as genuine – from Kara’s confusion and struggle to adjust to a new world to Superman’s almost desperate yearning to both protect Kara and to connect with someone from the world of his birth. Also, the action of the story is gripping, from the first moments to the tear-the-roof-off-the-mutha, battle royale featuring Superman, Kara, and Darkseid.

The animation is also good, not as good as feature film animation, but the characters look good during the action and fight scenes, which is what counts in these direct-to-DVD movies based upon superhero comic books. The animation’s design style is based on the art of the artist who drew “The Supergirl from Krypton, the late Michael Turner. This movie’s designers and animators capture Turner’s quirky style and his graceful approach to drawing women. Kara’s hairdo certainly reflects Turner’s sensibilities.

All in all, Superman/Batman: Apocalypse is one of the better DC Universe Animated movies, and is one I’d watch again.

8 of 10
A

Sunday, July 29, 2012

"Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths" is Twice the Fun

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 59 (of 2012) by Leroy Douresseaux


Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths (2010) – straight-to-video
Running minutes: 75 minutes (1 hour, 15 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for action violence
DIRECTOR: Sam Liu and Lauren Montgomery
WRITER: Dwayne McDuffie
PRODUCERS: Bobbie Page with Bruce Timm
EDITOR: Margaret Hou
COMPOSERS: James L. Venable with Christopher Drake
ANIMATION STUDIO: Moi Animation Studio

ANIMATION/SUPERHERO/SCI-FI/ACTION with elements of drama

Starring: (voices) William Baldwin, Mark Harmon, Chris Noth, Gina Torres, James Woods, Jonathan Adams, Brian Bloom, Bruce Davison, Josh Keaton, Vanessa Marshall, Nolan North, Freddi Rogers, James Patrick Stuart, and Cedric Yarbrough

Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths is a 2010 direct-to-video superhero animated film from Warner Bros. Animation. Starring DC Comics’ ultimate superhero team, the Justice League, this is also the seventh feature in the DC Universe Animated Original Movies line.

The film’s premise borrows from two DC Comics stories, “Crisis on Earth-Three” (Justice League of America #29-30, 1964) and the 2000 graphic novel, JLA: Earth 2, by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely. Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths follows the Justice League as the team helps a good version of the arch-villain Lex Luthor from a parallel Earth where evil versions of the Justice League dominate the planet.

While rebuilding the Watchtower, their headquarters that orbits the Earth, the Justice League: Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter, and Flash are surprised to learn that supervillain Lex Luthor insists on having a meeting with the team. But wait! Isn’t Luthor in prison? This Lex Luthor (Chris Noth) hails from an alternate universe where evil counterparts of the Justice League rule over earth.

On Luthor’s Earth, Superman is Ultraman, Batman is Owlman, Wonder Woman is Superwoman, Green Lantern is Power Ring, and Flash is Johnny Quick. They form the Crime Syndicate. Now, the Justice League must help Luthor free his Earth from the Syndicate’s tyranny, but a certain Syndicate member is hoping to set a more diabolical plan in motion.

I thoroughly enjoyed watching Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths. Why do I like it? Of all the straight-to-DVD superhero films I’ve watched, this one offers the most bang for the buck that is my viewing pleasure in terms of fights. Superheroes and supervillains fight, and Crisis on Two Earths doesn’t deny the viewer, as we see every combination of battle possible. It seems as if every member of the Justice League gets a shot at every member of the Crime Syndicate and vice versa – from battles of entire squads to skirmishes of smaller groupings of characters.

This story is also surprisingly dark – from Owlman’s (James Woods) fanatical cynicism and narcissism to Batman’s (William Baldwin) cold-blooded and calculated decision making. The characters also make blunt assessments about each other, as Rose Wilson (Freddi Rogers) does of her father, President Slade Wilson (Bruce Davison). Also, the frank nature of the relationship between Owlman and Superwoman (Gina Torres) is not glossed over for the sake of younger viewers.

The voice-over performances by the voice cast bring to life the excellent character writing from television animation writer/producer, the late Dwayne McDuffie. The direction by Sam Liu and Lauren Montgomery is marvelous, especially in the framing of the action and fight scenes. Moi Animation Studio, the studio that produces the actual animation, does itself proud. This is a pretty movie that captures the color and energy of classic, four-color, superhero comic books. Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths – Encore! Encore!

8 of 10
A

Saturday, July 14, 2012

Review: "Superman/Batman: Public Enemies" is Friendly to the Viewer

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 50 (of 2012) by Leroy Douresseaux

Superman/Batman: Public Enemies (2009) – straight-to-video
Running minutes: 67 minutes (1 hour, 7 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for sequences of sci-fi action violence
DIRECTOR: Sam Liu
WRITER: Stan Berkowitz (based upon the graphic novel by Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuinness)
PRODUCER: Michael Goguen and Bobbie Page
EDITOR: Margaret Hou
COMPOSER: Christopher Drake
ANIMATION STUDIO: Lotto Animation

ANIMATION/SUPERHERO/SCI-FI/ACTION with elements of drama

Starring: (voices) Clancy Brown, Kevin Conroy, Tim Daly, Xander Berkeley, Corey Burton, Ricardo Chavira, Allison Mack, John C. McGinley, CCH Pounder, Calvin Tran, Mark Jonathan Davis, and LeVar Burton

Superman/Batman: Public Enemies is a 2009 direct-to-video superhero animated film from Warner Bros. Animation. Starring DC Comics characters, Superman and Batman, this is also the sixth feature in the DC Universe Animated Original Movies line.

The film is adapted from the opening story arc of the Superman/Batman comic book series. The storyline was entitled “The World’s Finest” (Superman/Batman #1-6, October 2003 to March 2004) and was produced by writer Jeph Loeb and pencil artist Ed McGuinness. Bruce Timm acted as the film’s executive producer.

At the beginning of Superman/Batman: Public Enemies, Lex Luthor (Clancy Brown), Superman’s nemesis, uses a severe, nation-wide economic crisis to get himself elected President of the United States. Then, he uses the threat of a kryptonite meteor on course to strike Earth as a rationale to frame Superman (Tim Daly) as a mad criminal. Luthor hires cyborg villain, Metallo (John C. McGinley), to kill Superman, but Batman (Kevin Conroy) rescues the Man of Steel. Luthor uses the video footage of that battle to frame Superman, and he also places a one billion dollar bounty on his head.

An army of supervillains look to collect the bounty on Superman, and Luthor also sends a small group of government-employed superheroes, led by Captain Atom (Xander Berkeley), to arrest Superman. Can Superman and Batman escape their hunters, save Earth from Luthor’s plot, and stop a killer meteor?

When I first started watching Superman/Batman: Public Enemies, I didn’t like it. For one thing, the filmmakers had copied the cartoony drawing style of Ed McGuinness, who drew the comic book upon which this film is based, in their character designs for this film. I didn’t think that worked. However, McGuinness’ drawing style is a traditional one closer to the comic books published in the 1950s and 60s, and this clean style is also friendlier to adaptation as animation than other more detailed or photo-realistic comic book art styles.

So that is my way of saying that visually, the design style and graphic aspects look right for this film. They capture the physicality of the characters and the colorful and quirky costumes and armor. As for the story, it’s very fun with lots of big fights and plenty of sci-fi, save-the-world action.

I have to also say that this DC Universe Animated Original Movie has excellent voice performances from top to bottom. Clancy Brown is ominous and also melodramatic in the vein of an old movie serial villain as Lex Luthor. Tim Daly and Kevin Conroy are a magnificent team as Superman and Batman, respectively. They sound as if they belong together. I am pleased to be pleasantly surprised by Superman/Batman: Public Enemies. As this movie ended, I still wanted more.

7 of 10
B+

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

"Green Lantern: First Flight" Struggles on the Runway

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 42 (of 2012) by Leroy Douresseaux


Green Lantern: First Flight (2009) – straight-to-video
Running minutes: 77 minutes (1 hour, 17 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for sequences of sci-fi action violence
DIRECTOR: Lauren Montgomery
WRITER: Alan Burnett
PRODUCER: Bruce W. Timm
EDITOR: Rob Desales
COMPOSER: Robert Kral
ANIMATION STUDIO: Telecom Animation Film Co., Ltd.

ANIMATION/SUPERHERO/SCI-FI/ACTION with elements of drama

Starring: (voices) Christopher Meloni, Victor Garber, Tricia Helfer, Michael Madsen, John Larroquette, Kurtwood Smith, Larry Drake, William Schallert, Malachi Throne, Olivia d’Abo, Richard Green, Juliet Landau, David L. Lander, and Richard McGonagle

Green Lantern: First Flight is a 2009 direct-to-video superhero animated film from Warner Bros. Animation. Starring DC Comics character, Green Lantern, this is also the fifth feature in the DC Universe Animated Original Movies line. The film is adapted from the DC Comics’ Green Lantern mythology.

Hal Jordan (Christopher Meloni) is the ace test pilot at Ferris Aircraft, but when the dying alien, Abin Sur (Richard McGonagle), summons him, Hal’s life changes. Hal becomes a Green Lantern and a member of the Green Lantern Corps, an intergalactic police force whose power comes from green rings powered by the great Green Lantern battery. Jordan is whisked off to Oa, the home of the Guardians of the Galaxy, the creators of the Green Lantern Corps and the Green Lantern battery.

The Guardians place Hal under the supervision of a respected senior officer, Sinestro (Victor Garber), who is searching for Abin Sur’s murderer, Kanjar Ro (Kurtwood Smith), an alien criminal. Ro has come to possess the yellow element, the one substance that can defeat the great Green Lantern battery. But Hal Jordan finds himself caught in a great conspiracy that threatens the very existence of the Green Lantern Corps.

One positive thing that I can say about Green Lantern: First Flight is that the animation is good. The character movement here is smooth, almost liquid, and the character design is inventive and imaginative, as good as that found in animated films with bigger budgets. The problem with Green Lantern: First Flight is that the lead character, Hal Jordan/Green Lantern, is a mostly flat character. Hal Jordan disappears early in the movie, and the story focuses on his alter-ego, Green Lantern. However, there is little development of Green Lantern’s character; he’s mostly a cog in an action movie. In fact, Sinestro, the antagonist, is far more interesting, and the film spends more time developing Sinestro’s personality, conflicts, and motivations than it does Jordan’s.

The script takes for granted that Hal Jordan’s Green Lantern is the hero, so there isn’t much of an arc of development of Jordan as a novice who learns his craft on the way to his ultimate triumph. The film portrays Jordan as a champion from the beginning, so his ultimate victory doesn’t feel as rewarding as it would if he actually had to really struggle to become the big dog – the hero.

Green Lantern: First Flight offers some impressive action movie set pieces, and the second half is non-stop action that is surprisingly riveting. The first half is awkward, at a time when the script should spend developing the lead character and doesn’t. I think Green Lantern: First Flight is like the 2011 Green Lantern live action movie. Both focus on fanboy tropes instead of both revealing the arc and discovering the heart of a hero.

5 of 10
B-

Saturday, April 21, 2012

Animated "Wonder Woman" Thunders

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 30 (of 2012) by Leroy Douresseaux

Wonder Woman (2009) – straight-to-video
Running minutes: 74 minutes (1 hour, 14 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for violence throughout and some suggestive material
DIRECTOR: Lauren Montgomery
WRITERS: Michael Jelenic; from a story by Michael Jelenic and Gail Simone (based on characters created by William M. Marston)
PRODUCER: Bruce W. Timm
EDITOR: Rob Desales
COMPOSER: Christopher Drake
ANIMATION STUDIO: Moi Animation Studio

ANIMATION/SUPERHERO/SCI-FI/ACTION with elements of drama

Starring: (voices) Keri Russell, Nathan Fillion, Alfred Molina, Rosario Dawson, Virginia Madsen, Vicki Lewis, Marg Helgenberger, Oliver Platt, and Skye Arens

Wonder Woman is a 2009 direct-to-video superhero animated film from Warner Bros. Animation. Starring DC Comics character, Wonder Woman, this is also the fourth feature in the DC Universe Animated Original Movies line. The movie pits the most famous comic book super-heroine, Wonder Woman, against Ares, and is loosely based upon the stories by acclaimed comic book writer/artist, George Perez.

Wonder Woman begins during an epic battle between the proud and fierce race of warrior women, the Amazons, and the forces of Ares (Alfred Molina), the Greek god of war. After Amazon Queen Hippolyta (Virginia Madsen) defeats Ares, the gods force a peace. The Amazons are granted an island, Themyscira, where they can be eternally youthful and isolated from men, but Ares will also be imprisoned on the island.

Over a 1000 years later, United States Air Force pilot, Colonel Steve Trevor (Nathan Fillion) crashes on Themyscira. Modern man’s trespass of the island also leads to events that enable the imprisoned Ares to escape with the help of an Amazon who betrays her sisters. Princess Diana (Keri Russell), daughter of Hippolyta, wins the right to return Trevor to his world and to also recapture Ares. However, Ares plans to not only regain his former powers, but also to bring total war to Earth. Will Princess Diana triumph and become Wonder Woman?

First, I must say that I am surprised at the amount of violence in Wonder Woman, and I’m not just talking about standard science fiction and fantasy violence. Although it is not explicitly depicted, murder and killing are prominent in the film from beginning to end. That doesn’t offend me, but does surprise me, and I thought that I should mention it.

Anyway, this is a terrific movie, and although I have many films to go in the series, I think this is the best of the DC Universe Animated Original Movies I’ve seen. The animation is good, but even better is the action. Wonder Woman’s action set pieces are like having the Lord of the Rings films and the 2007 hit, 300, turned into animation for our viewing pleasure, and it’s pleasurable, indeed. The writing is solid, especially the character development, which emphasizes the relationship between Diana and Steve and also allows both characters to go on a journey of growth.

The voice acting is good; you know that voice acting is good when you see the animated character and voice actor as one. I know that not all DC Universe Animated Original Movies are going to be as good as Wonder Woman. How could they since Wonder Woman is so good.

9 of 10
A+

Wednesday, February 01, 2012

Review: "Batman: Mask of the Phantasm" is Better Than Some Live-Action Batman Movies (Happy B'day, Kevin Conroy)

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 239 (of 2004) by Leroy Douresseaux


Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993) – animated
Running time: 76 minutes (1 hour, 16 minutes)
MPAA - PG for animated violence
DIRECTORS: Eric Radomski and Bruce Timm
WRITERS: Alan Burnett, Paul Dini, Martin Pasko, and Michael Reeves; from a story by Alan Burnett (based upon characters appearing in DC Comics and Batman created by Bob Kane)
PRODUCERS: Benjamin Melniker and Michael E. Uslan
EDITOR: Al Breitenbach

ANIMATION/SUPERHERO/ACTION/MYSTERY with elements of drama

Starring: (voices) Kevin Conroy, Dana Delany, Mark Hamill, Hart Bochner, Stacy Keach, Jr., Abe Vigoda, Dick Miller, John P. Ryan, Efrem Zimbalist, Jr., Bob Hastings, Robert Costanzo, and Marilu Henner

Batman: Mask of the Phantasm is a 1993 animated superhero feature film. It is a spin-off from the Batman: The Animated Series, the Emmy Award-winning television series that ran from 1992 to 1995.

There is a new killer in Gotham City, a costumed murder dubbed The Phantasm (Stacy Keach, Jr.) who murders a group of crime bosses. Because of the killer’s dark appearance, he is mistaken for Batman (Kevin Conroy). An ambitious city councilman, Arthur Reeves (Hart Bochner), sends the Gotham police force after Batman. Implicated in the murders, the Dark Knight must solve the mystery of The Phantasm’s identity.

However, a complication arrives in the life of Batman’s civilian identity, Bruce Wayne (Conroy), when a former fiancée, Andrea “Andi” Beaumont (Dana Delany), comes back to Gotham. How she is connected to The Phantasm’s killing spree and how Bruce Wayne’s past figures into the case are just a few questions Batman must answer… and the Joker’s (Mark Hamill) in town gumming up the state of affairs.

Batman: Mask of the Phantasm is the best Batman feature film to date, and it’s probably the least seen movie version of the venerable comic book character because the film is animated. Truthfully, animation is usually the best medium with which to adapt a comic book. Animation lends itself to the exaggeration and color fantasy settings in which comic book characters and worlds work best.

Based upon the popular animated television series, “Batman” – best known as Batman: The Animated Series” – which began in 1992, Mask of the Phantasm has all the creative talents who made the TV series so popular (and honored) behind it. In fact, the film was originally planned to be a direct-to-video release. Thus, it lacks the punch of a theatrical film, as the filmmaker’s didn’t have enough time to rework it and throw in the pyrotechnics movie audiences expect of theatrical films. However, Mask of the Phantasm is highly entertaining, and its dark and moody atmosphere is more genuine than any other Batman theatrical release. The drama is moving, and the mystery is palatable, absorbing, and suspenseful, certainly more so than that of the other Batman live action films. While appropriated for most children six and above, the film’s storytelling is mature enough (without being vulgar) to intrigue older viewers.

The quality of the animation wasn’t close to that of the best theatrical releases from Disney (or the many animated films directed by Don Bluth from the late 80’s to mid 90’s), but it was some of the best animation on TV for its time. The program’s color palette and art deco design made it a favorite among both animation and comic book professionals and fans. All of that carries over to the film, so Batman: Mask of the Phantasm is as good as the animated TV series. Since the film is longer, that makes it a special treat.

7 of 10
B+

Review: "Batman: Gotham Knight" is Batman New and Different

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 95 (of 2011) by Leroy Douresseaux

Batman: Gotham Knight (2008) – straight-to-video
Running minutes: 76 minutes (1 hour, 16 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for stylized violence, including some bloody images
DIRECTORS: Yasuhiro Aoki (segment "In Darkness Dwells"); Yuichiro Hayashi (segment "In the Darkness Dwells"); Futoshi Higashide (segment "Crossfire"); Toshiyuki Kubooka (segment "Working Through Pain"); Hiroshi Morioka (segment "Field Test"); Jong-Sik Nam (segment "Deadshot"); and Shojirou Nishimi (segment "Have I Got a Story For You")
WRITERS: Stories by Jordan Goldberg; screenplays by Josh Olson ("Have I Got a Story); Greg Rucka ("Crossfire"); Brian Azzarello (“Working Through Pain”); Alan Burnett ("Deadshot"); Jordan Goldberg ("Field Test"); and David Goyer ("In Darkness Dwells"); based on Batman created by Bob Kane
PRODUCERS: Toshi Hiruma; executive producers: Benjamin Melniker, Emma Thomas, Bruce W. Timm, and Michael E. Uslan
CINEMATOGRAPHERS: Michiya Katou, Kenji Takehara, and Kôji Tanaka
EDITOR: Joe Gall
COMPOSERS: Christopher Drake, Robert J. Kral, and Kevin Manthei

ANIMATION/SUPERHERO/SCI-FI/ACTION with elements of drama

Starring: (voices) Kevin Conroy, Corey Burton, Gary Dourdan, Ana Ortiz, Kevin Michael Richardson, and Jim Meskimen

Batman: Gotham Knight is a direct-to-video superhero animated film from Warner Bros. Animation. Starring DC Comics character Batman, this film is an anthology of six animated short films inspired by anime – Japanese animation. Batman: Gotham Knight is also the third feature in the DC Universe Animated Original Movies line. This film is meant to act as a bridge between the live action movies, Batman Begins (2005) and The Dark Knight (2008), while delving into Batman’s past and his troubled psyche.

In these six stories, Batman (Kevin Conroy) faces new villains and old ones. In the opening story, “Have I Got a Story for You,” street kid, B Devil, meets his three friends Porkchop, Meesh, and Dander, at a skate park. Each tells B Devil a wildly different story about Batman’s battle with the Man in Black, a high tech criminal. The second story, “Crossfire,” focuses on Crispus Allen (Gary Dourdan) and Anna Ramirez (Ana Ortiz), two members of the Gotham City Police Department’s Major Crimes Unit. They get caught in the crossfire between rival crime lords and their gangs. Batman, whom Allen detests, comes to their rescue.

In the third story, “Field Test,” Lucius Fox (Kevin Michael Richardson) creates a new technology that will protect Batman from bullets, but is it too powerful? “In Darkness Dwells,” Batman travels deep below the streets of Gotham City to rescue a Catholic cardinal kidnapped by Killer Croc, who serves The Scarecrow (Corey Burton).

“Working Through Pain” finds Batman wounded and trapped in the city sewers, while his mind flashbacks to the mysterious woman who taught him to manage pain. Finally, in “Deadshot,” Floyd Lawton (Jim Meskimen), the assassin known as Deadshot, targets James “Jim” Gordon (Jim Meskimen) for assassination. Can Batman stop this killer that can pull off practically any shot?

“Have I Got a Story for You,” “Crossfire,” and “Field Test” are nice, interesting experiments in animated short films as storytelling, but they are more interesting than good. “In Darkness Dwells,” is better than those. “Working Through Pain” and “Deadshot” are by far the best pieces in Batman: Gotham Knight. The last three films are both good Batman stories that are executed exceptionally well.

While Batman: Gotham Knight is an American movie production that is written by Americans, the animation or anime is directed, designed, executed, and produced by Japanese animation studios: Bee Train (the .hack franchise), Madhouse (the Trigun television series), Production I.G. (the Ghost in the Shell franchise), and Studio 4°C (Tekkon Kinkreet). These studios present lots of visually interesting elements, here and there, throughout the film. Most of the sets, set decoration, art direction, and background elements are unique and eye-catching, but none of it ever comes together to make something that is entirely outstanding as a whole.

This ain’t no Akira, but Batman: Gotham Knight is, compared to a lot of animation that is offered to American audiences, exceptional.

7 of 10
B+

Monday, November 21, 2011

"Justice League: The New Frontier" Simply a Rousing Adventure

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 91 (of 2011) by Leroy Douresseaux

Justice League: The New Frontier (2008)
Running time: 75 minutes (1 hour, 15 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for violent content/images
DIRECTOR: Dave Bullock
WRITERS: Stan Berkowitz with Darwyn Cooke (based upon the comic book by Darwyn Cooke)
PRODUCERS: Stan Berkowitz, Darwyn Cooke, Michael Goguen (supervising), Gregory Noveck (executive), Sander Schwartz (executive), Kimberly Smith (line), Bruce W. Timm
EDITOR: Elen Orson
COMPOSER: Kevin Manthei

ANIMATION/SUPERHERO/DRAMA

Starring: (voices) David Boreanaz, Miguel Ferrer, Neil Patrick Harris, Keith David, Lucy Lawless, Kyle MacLachlan, Lex Lang, Phil Morris, Kyra Sedgwick, Brooke Shields, Jeremy Sisto, Corey Burton, and John Heard

Justice League: The New Frontier is a direct-to-video superhero animated film from Warner Bros. Animation. Starring DC Comics’ beloved superhero team, the Justice League of America, this film is based on the 6-issue comic book miniseries, DC: The New Frontier, written and drawn by Darwyn Cooke and published from 2003 to 2004. Justice League: The New Frontier is also the second feature in the DC Universe Animated Original Movies line.

Set in a period from 1953 to 1960, Justice League: The New Frontier begins with an unknown entity called The Center (Keith David). It has witnessed the evolution of life on Earth and has now decided to destroy all humans on the planet. Slowly, superheroes, costume heroes, and adventurers band together to save the world from the Center. The story features Superman (Kyle MacLachlan), Batman (Jeremy Sisto), and Wonder Woman (Lucy Lawless), among others. However, much of the story focuses on the sagas of Hal Jordan, who would become the Green Lantern (David Boreanaz); J’onn J’onzz of Mars, who would become the Martian Manhunter (Miguel Ferrer); and the speedster known as the Flash (Neil Patrick Harris).

I read Darwyn Cooke’s DC: The New Frontier several years ago, and I was also skeptical when I first read that it would become one of DC Comics’ straight-to-video films. I am happy to say that my skepticism was smashed. Justice League: The New Frontier is an excellent animated superhero feature. I wish it were an actual television series rather than just a movie barely over 70 minutes in length (in terms of actual story).

The animation is good, but it’s the character and production design that really shines in terms of the film’s visuals. The designers and animators retain the Jack Kirby-influenced art of Cooke’s New Frontier comic book art, with its clean lines and art deco styling. The story is good, and the action of the various subplots satisfactorily rises and falls as the overall story builds to a crescendo. The only disappointing thing is that the last 20 minutes, while exciting, looks like an animated version of some Michael Bay nonsense.

The voice performances are all good, but I’m particularly partial to Jeremy Sisto’s Batman. In fact, I love this film’s interpretation of the character, and I wish Warner Bros. would make an entire animated film built around Sisto’s Batman. Thus far, I’ve found DC Universe Animated Original Movies to be average, but Justice League: The New Frontier is a hit. I wish there would be a sequel.

7 of 10
A-

Friday, November 04, 2011

Review: Animated "Superman: Doomsday" is Not Super

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 90 (of 2011) by Leroy Douresseaux

Superman: Doomsday (2007) – straight-to-video
Running time: 74 minutes (1 hour, 14 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13
DIRECTORS: Bruce Timm, Lauren Montgomery, and Brandon Vietti
WRITERS: Duane Capizzi; from a story by Bruce Timm and Duane Capizzi
PRODUCER: Bruce Timm
EDITOR: Joe Gall

ANIMATION/SUPERHERO/ACTION/DRAMA

Starring: (voices) Adam Baldwin, Anne Heche, James Marsters, John Di Maggio, Tom Kenny, Swoosie Kurtz, Cree Summer, Ray Wise, and Adam Wylie

Superman: Doomsday is a 2007 direct-to-video animated superhero film. It is based on “The Death of Superman,” a 1992 storyline that ran through DC Comics’ various Superman comic books, which culminated in the death of Superman in Superman (Vol. 2) #75. Superman: Doomsday is the first release in the DC Universe Animated Original Movies from Warner Premiere and Warner Bros. Animation.

Lex Luthor’s (James Marsters) company, LexCorp, unleashes a powerful alien monster known as “Doomsday,” from his burial place deep in the earth. Doomsday then goes on a murderous and destructive rampage. It’s up to Superman (Adam Baldwin) to defend the Earth, but at the apparent cost of his life.

Later, after his burial, Superman appears to have risen from the dead. Lois Lane (Anne Heche), his secret lover, is suspicious. With the reluctant assistance of fellow Daily Planet reporter, Jimmy Olsen (Adam Wylie), Lois seeks the truth and discovers that Lex Luthor is behind this risen Superman, who certainly doesn’t seem like his old self.

Bruce Timm is known as one of the minds behind the popular animated TV program, “Batman: The Animated Series.” He wears many hats in the production of this straight to video film, Superman: Doomsday, although the look of the animation in this film is different from Timm’s earlier work. In fact, the character design is streamlined with crisp line work, and the art direction emphasizes rich, dark colors. Technically, the animation is quite good (although the movement of the characters is often a bit awkward and stiff), which is essential in a film with so many extended, elaborate fight sequences and scenes of destruction and explosions that rival big-budget Hollywood sci-fi and action movies.

The problem is the story and voice acting. Not only is the narrative’s mood very dark, but the film is often violent, shockingly so, as Doomsday often kills humans – sometimes ever so slightly off screen. That’s not really a problem, except for very young viewers. The problem is the leaden pacing and flat mood in what should otherwise be an exciting and riveting movie. Superman’s death and resurrection just doesn’t have the emotional impact they should have.

Superman: Doomsday is a picture show of pretty and quality animation. It just doesn’t live up to its potential as an epic story.

5 of 10
C+

Thursday, November 03, 2011

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