Justice league Gods and monsters. It's not your grandparents, or your parents, or even your older siblings justice league. It's a new vision of the Justice league herald by the vision of the ever legendary brainchild of the DC animated universe Bruce Timm ( Batman the Animated series, Superman: the animated series, Batman Beyond, Static Shock, the Zeta Project, Justice League, Justice League Unlimited, Green Lantern: The animated series). The film kinda reminds me a lot like the old DC Wildstorm imprint Era of The Authority comics series, but it's really got some good heart in a cold world, yet despite similarities, has obvious differences.
With that said, It's one my fave animated justice league films and possibly one of my fave animated films. Bruce Timm , Alan Burnett (another contributor to the DC animated universe) and Director Sam Liu, did one hell of a job crafting this Elseworlds tale. If you know your DC comics history or have. knowledge of it (beyond batman that is) , the little Easter eggs are a Treat. Easter eggs such as Hints at Cyborg, through the Stone family name, Ray Palmer the Atom, The mysterious government secret Fair-Play, which is reference to Justice Society of America's Mr Miracle and of course, the ever so evident Metal Men Easter eggs , are enough to snicker about. It's a good animated piece of work and story telling, and a interestingly different take on the Justice league than any interpretation before it. The voice cast is pretty solid, and the action is probably one Bruce Timm's best crafted work of animation yet, or by far the best. Just when I thought that Bruce Timm's stuff was about to get a little rusty, it proved me wrong with how smooth and fluid his animation style flies across the screen, from Superman (Zod's son in this universe) fighting with enormous strength, Bekka (Wonder Woman of this film, not Diana Prince) skilled swordsmanship, and Batman's (Kirk Langstrom, other wise known as ManBat in the mainstream DCU) truly shockingly (at times) Brutal Fighting prowess (more brutal than Bruce Wayne's cough cough), it really cements Bruce Timm's vision and take on the JL, making sure that while it may bare some resemble nice, that it's far from your usual mainstream DC universe. One quick mention I'd like to make is the interesting origins of the DC trinity shown in this film, mostly, Wonder Woman Bekka. I know most people (and some extreme feminists) might hate the widow of Orion background , but I liked the depth of her character in terms that she kinda has those aspects of her then husband Orion in terms of the thrill of fighting things head on. I like the complex nature of Superman, knowing that he can overthrow the planet, but chooses not to, and although he's not too different from the Mainstream DCU Kal-El /Clark Kent/ Superman, he still manages to be like his father Zod and managed to still be much more different than any of his kryptonian predecessors. Interestingly enough is the fact that this Superman is an alternative take of Chris Kent , Zods son in the pre 52 DC universe. He's powerful, intelligent, brutal and cocky, but at the same time, has some heart and humanity. Personally for me, Kirk Langstom was very interesting as Batman, especially with his relationship with His college friend Professor Magnus in this world. Most interestingly is how there is a duality between the cold calculated killer (similar to Elseworlds tale Red Rain) in terms of his bloodlust, but how evidently different he is from Bruce Wayne as Batman. But hilariously enough, if there is one thing that these characters have in common with there Mainstream counter parts, is in their mannerisms: Batman (Bruce and Kirk are both cold and calculating), Superman (Clark and Chris in terms of sorting out their purpose and power within society), WonderWoman ( Willing to fight whatever promises harm). In addition, the other interesting factor is taking other DC characters from the DC universe : Langstrom, Bekka and Chris Kent, and putting them in the shoes of the DC Trinity.
Now, with all of the brutal action and violence (far from bloodshed anime), it's not a kid friendly movie (Obviously stated by the producers). It's animated film for a mature audience (obviously), and no, as stated prior, it's not like any of the mainstream DC animated universe (obviously). Its like Injustice, or Dark Knight Returns, it's based in an alternate universe, so things are largely different. What I love the most about this film is how you don't even know what happens next, because you don't expect things until the end obviously. But I love this different take. One pint Justice league, 2 pint Justice Lords, and 3 pints Authority, 2 pint Watchmen, with another pint of Justice League to balance the Cold World that these characters reside in, that in other cases mirror our own (minus superpowers and such).
All in all, it might not be anyone's cup of tea since the mainstream isn't so used to alternative takes on the now modern mythological Comicbook characters and stories that they've grown up loving. But if you've grown up a a kid reading Marvel Comics What If stories (much like what they're doing with all these Secret Wars 2015 tie in titles), or DC comics Elseworlds books (Red Sun, Dark Knight Returns, Gotham by Gaslight to name a few), then you will most likely like this take. All in all, I liked it a lot.
left to right: Anthony Andujar (Prop artist), Alienated actor George Katt, Director of the Short film : Lili[s] Jumai Yusef and my friend and illustrator Fei Xhi
The cast in a Q&A at the Chain Theatre. left to right: Producer Princton Holt, Director and Writer Brian Ackley, Actress Jen Burry , Actor George Katt
