Cover Art for Superman/Batman Apocalypse DVD - Gary MiereanuHeroes on TV and in movies often have a buddy to share his/her adventures, joys, and hardships, to banter with, to watch the hero’s back, and to take the hero to task if he/she goes astray. Sharing in that friendship humanizes the hero for the audience and allows the audience to care and bond with the hero in a way one doesn’t get out of saving strangers. This, however, is intrinsically a problem with superheroes, as by definition, they are larger than life heroes, using extraordinary powers to take on extraordinary dangers that their human friends and colleagues cannot. Hence, they become solitary crusaders.
Nevertheless, the DC Universe is populated by more than one superhero. In the latest DC Universe animated original PG-13 movie DVD release, Superman/Batman: Apocalypse, Superman and Batman pair up to save Superman’s cousin Kara from the evil Darkseid. From the moment Superman tells Batman that Kara may be his only living blood relative, and Batman says it is not ‘you’ going after the abducted young woman but ‘we’, the animated movie becomes more than just a series of gripping fights and daring feats. It becomes personal to the audience who is buying into the rescue of someone Superman cares deeply about and Batman cares about because of his friend. What ensues is not only an exciting adventure, but a glimpse into the rare friendship between two superheroes and the fun of superhero bantering. In my earlier article about the release of this DVD, Private Practice’s Tim Daly (the voice of Superman) and China Beach’s Kevin Conroy (the voice of Batman) give their takes on their characters’ friendship.
In this ninth DC Universe animated movie adventure, a Kryptonian spaceship splashes down in Gotham City Harbor, carrying the amnesiac cousin of Superman, Kara (voiced by Serenity/Firefly’s Summer Glau). Kara might not have any memory of anything past her father putting her into the spaceship, but she hasn’t forgotten her powers, which she quickly reveals to the audience in her escape from all authorities other than Batman. When Superman learns of his ‘only remaining blood relative’, he quickly takes her under his protection to teach her Earth ways, despite Batman’s suspicions of her motives, and dog Krypto’s hostility.
However, archenemy Darkseid (voiced by Men of a Certain Age and Homicide’s Andre Braugher) sees Kara as a way to destroy Superman and quickly has his henchman Granny Goodness (Ed Asner) abduct and bring her to Apokolips, where she is brainwashed to follow Darkseid’s bidding. Superman and Batman solicit the aid of Wonder Woman (Susan Eisenberg) and Big Barda (Julianne Grossman), and the four take the fight to Darkseid’s homeworld where each superhero’s unique abilities are tested and utilized in an apocalyptic encounter.
What’s interesting and appealing about this foursome is that aside of the necessity of having four superheroes to justify the huge scope of the battle, the way the four combine strengthens the friendship between the two male superheroes, because the women don’t seem keen on participating in the rescue until convinced by Batman. In fact, Wonder Woman strengthens the concept of the solitary superhero, despite her leadership of the Amazons because she shows she doesn’t play well with others in her method of gaining the guardianship of Kara.
Superman/Batman: Apocalypse has a good story, with a poignant personal connection that allows for insight into the major characters and often absent character development. It gives pleasing glimpses into a powerful friendship rarely seen, without taking anything away from the solitary lone wolf nature of each superhero. The script by Academy Award-nominated screenwriter Tab Murphy is well-written because Superman and Batman are not thrown together for the heck of it, but because each has a role in the rescue that only he can do and which the other cannot, due to the character make-ups of both men.
Superman/Batman vs Supergirl Titles
The only disappointment is that the rescue is not the climax of the movie and Batman and Superman go back to their lone superhero adventures before the climactic battle, in which Superman and Supergirl battle Darkseid by themselves. Granted that the movie is based on the DC Comics series/graphic novel “Superman/Batman: Supergirl” by Jeph Loeb, Michael Turner & Peter Steigerwald, in which the introduction of Supergirl is of primary importance. But this movie is called Superman/Batman, not Supergirl, so one could reasonably expect Batman to not disappear two-thirds into the movie and miss the climactic action.
Still, it’s a solid movie, well worth seeing, as the animation is excellent and the action well done. Of course, this would be expected for a movie produced by animation legend Bruce Timm, directed by Lauren Montgomery, and voiced by the fine actors assembled here.
In terms of extras on the DVD, the Animated Short about Green Arrow is exciting and in stark contrast to the main movie, except for the nice ending. However, I suspect the ending is of more interest to the female half of the audience rather than the male. Apparently the DVD comes with several extras, but they didn’t seem to be on the screener sent to me so I can’t comment on them.
Superman/Batman: Apocalypse Animated movie DVD is produced by Warner Premiere, DC Entertainment and Warner Bros and is distributed by Warner Home Video.
For further information, go to SupermanBatmanApocalypse.com.
Read more at Suite101: Warner Home Video Releases Superman/Batman: Apocalypse DVD http://www.suite101.com/content/warner-home-video-releases-supermanbatman-apocalypse-dvd-a290863#ixzz121rgWLWx
View the original article here
This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.
No comments:
Post a Comment