FILM REVIEW: SUPERMAN DOOMSDAY
BIG SPOILER BELOW
LAST CHANCE!
The new era of DC Animation begins with a insanely long line. I mean damn, what a line! I hate lines but I love
Superman so I grin and bear it (as do several thousand others).
As you know this story is based off the 90's story line, The Death of Superman. It was a big huge event that made
all the news to the point where every big comic death is compared to it (justly or unjustly). This is not an exact
port over from the comics which is fine with me since the "Death" story line could use the some tweaking and in
animated form where they only have 75 minutes to make a solid story so you can't fully and realistically expect all
that to be shoe-horned in this movie.
It took a second to get used to this new, non-JLU Superman. he's not a part of any league (according to Bruce Timm
in the post movie panel, Superman is the only Super hero out there) Pa Kent is dead and Lois Lane doesn't know
Clark Kent and Superman are one in the same - yet she'd been dating Superman for six months, and most of Metropolis seems to know (thanks to the tabloids). Like I said, a different but not unfamiliar Superman in a different
setting. Adam Baldwin does a very good job as Superman. He's probably the best I've ever heard animation wise (Tim Daly is a bit too stiff for me and George Newburn, while good is missing that authoritative presence that I think
Superman has). Bruce Timm mentioned in an interview that Baldwin's Superman is the one he's been looking for since the mid-90's when he first worked on Superman: The Animated Series. When Baldwin's Superman says "I'll taker care of it.", you believe him.
Some may have a problem with Superman's facial design because of his cheek bones. I personally don't as it reminds me of the way Walt Simonson would draw Superman but hey, to each his or her own.
Lois Lane (Anne Heche) is bright, daring and independent. Not much different from the Dana Delany Timm-verse Lois. While happy in her relationship with Superman she is frustrated with the fact that she doesn't know much about him and after six months she feels she's entitled to know more. Heche did a great Lois and I thought she would have been the best ever if not for her crying scene. That scene didn't come off very well. In fact the audience was mocking her attempt at grief when Superman laid dead in front of her. She's great at everything else however. Lois is tough and very brave (the AC/DC opus "She's got balls" comes immediately to mind). I wouldn't mind seeing more of this Lois Lane in the future.
Lex Luthor (James Marsters) in this movie is a JOY to behold. While Clancy Brown has become for me, the definitive
Lex Luthor, Marsters does a fine Lex and easily carves his own niche in that role. Again Lex in this one is a high
-rolling business mogul who's vindictive, slimy, disingenuous and dare I say he's got a "thing" for Superman. This
Lex is more obsessed with Superman more than any other screen version I've seen. Freud would have a field day with this Lex as there is a lot to take in with Lex's personality. Regardless of how you want to interpret his character it can't be denied that his presence commands attention. He chews up scenery but is far from camp and this Lex takes full advantage of the movie's PG-13 rating.
The other title character Doomsday is walking death. That's it, nothing more really needs to be said. He kills everything in his path. Civilians, soldiers, animals (Bambi no!), Kryptonians - all dead. This OVA Doomsday is different from the JLU version we've seen. The movie Doomsday is of an alien origin while the JLU one is a Cadmus
creation. There are some little things that I won't include about him but all you need to know is that he exists to kill everything.
The actual fight between Superman/Doomsday is probably the best U.S. animated fight scene I've seen. America has come along way when it comes to animation and I think they've turned a corner with Superman/Doomsday. It was fast, brutal, bloody, destructive and every blow felt as if it hurt. It's what you'd want and expect to see in a fight between these two titans and in my opinion the fight succeeds with flying colors.
Outside of Lex there was one other character that was really... really fun to watch.
The "Dark" Superman is a riot. He blends in a couple of the origins from "Reign of the Supermen" storyline (I won't
say which but you'll be able to figure it out when you see it). He's compassionate yet as the story develops has a
harsh sense of Justice. He's blunt, brutal, murderous (!), a bit arrogant and intelligent. Why? Because he's the
Goddamn Superman that's why!
Oh yeah, it's like that (keep an eye out for a scene where Dark Superman rescues an old lady's kitty from a tree.
It's awesomely creepy)
Normally I would spill some more plot intensive beans but I'll pull back on this one. The joy is in seeing it for yourself and trust me, you'll thank me later.
However I would like to wrap this up by saying that DC's new direct to video, Warner Premier animation line has
gotten off to a great start in Superman/Doomsday. DC's President & Publisher Paul Levitz said at the premier that they (WB/DC) are very proud of this movie and they should be.I always wondered to myself how, "How can they top JLU?" Well, this line is what could top it and it looks like they eventually will.
Oh. One more thing.
Ever hear of a little diddy called New Frontier? Yeah that's next and the trailer for it knocks it out of the park!
MSRP: $19.98
Street Date: 9/18/07
*Give me some major props because I was going through a bad, bad case of food poisoning as I saw this. So in case anyone asks you can tell them that "Gatack says getting sick at SDCC sucked."
