Month: August 2024

Today’s quick review: Batman: Under the Red Hood. Five years after the Joker (John DiMaggio) killed Batman’s (Bruce Greenwood) sidekick Jason Todd, the Red Hood (Jensen Ackles) begins taking over Gotham’s criminal underworld by force. As Batman races to catch the Red Hood and stop the killing, he realizes that he is up against a twisted version of himself: a resourceful man who wants to rid Gotham of crime but embraces violence to do so.

Batman: Under the Red Hood is an animated superhero movie based on a story from DC Comics. Under the Red Hood shows the aftermath of one of Batman’s greatest failures: the death of Jason Todd, the second Robin. Faced with a foe who can match his tactics and fighting ability, Batman is reminded of Jason, whose acrobatic talents and zeal for crime-fighting were offset by a darker tendency towards violence.

Under the Red Hood shows off some of the best features of Batman and his universe. The Batman seen in the movie is brooding and obsessive, kept from falling into the abyss only by his strict moral code and the help of those around him. Red Hood makes for a perfect foil: aggressive, cunning, and all too willing to cross the line. Their conflict takes place against the backdrop of a Gotham that’s just as sprawling and corrupt as it should be.

Under the Red Hood backs up its central conflict with solid storytelling. Batman’s investigation into the Red Hood is interspersed with flashbacks to his past, including his fights with the Joker and key moments from Jason Todd’s career as Robin. These flashbacks expand the world and characters without derailing the main story. Other clever touches include Alfred (Jim Piddock) and Nightwing (Neil Patrick Harris) as two voices of reason.

Under the Red Hood also has plenty of spectacle. Red Hood’s fighting style combines acrobatic hand-to-hand combat with the brute force of guns and explosives. His fights with Batman are far-ranging and dynamic; Red Hood’s cunning and aggression give him an edge that Batman’s gadgets can only partially compensate for. Finally, the animation hits a sweet spot between modern levels of detail and the exaggerated motions of classic cartoons.

Batman: Under the Red Hood is the quintessential animated Batman movie, and its quality makes it a strong pick for series fans and newcomers alike. Some viewers will find details to nitpick, such as some storytelling choices or the exact style of the animation, but fans of the genre will appreciate its blend of dynamic action, meaningful conflict, and a well-structured story.

For an animated Batman movie with a similar mystery, try Batman: Hush. For one that explores the relationship between Batman and Robin, try Son of Batman or Batman vs. Robin. For another animated adaptation of an iconic DC Comics storyline, try The Death of Superman. For one that features a similar clash of crime-fighting ideologies, try Superman vs. the Elite.

[8.1 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1569923/). I give it a 7.5 for rock-solid quality and one of the better takes on Batman.

Today’s quick review: Freedom Fighters: The Ray. Fatally wounded by Overgirl (Melissa Benoist), the Ray (Russell Tovey) escapes from Nazi-controlled Earth-X to Earth-1. Before dying, he bestows his powers on Ray Terrill, his alternate universe self, and entrusts him with intelligence that must be kept out of Nazi hands. Now Ray must become the superhero he was always meant to be to protect the Freedom Fighters of Earth-X from Overgirl.

Freedom Fighters: The Ray is an animated superhero movie with ties to the Arrow and Flash television shows. The movie follows Ray Terrill, a public servant with a strong sense of justice, as he learns to use his superpowers, overcomes challenges in his personal life, and finishes the work left by his alternate self. Promising plot elements are undermined by weak character work and a story that focuses too much on the wrong things.

Freedom Fighters: The Ray’s main problem is Ray. Ray makes for a mediocre hero. His powers are flashy enough, and he immediately takes to fighting crime, but he lacks the best qualities of a superhero. His efforts as the Ray are halfhearted, he regrets but rarely learns from his mistakes, and his personal arc has more to do with coming out to his parents than anything involving his superhero alter ego.

As a result of this character imbalance, the rest of the movie suffers. The early portion of the story leans too heavily on generic superhero ideas in an attempt to establish Ray’s credentials. His character arc is static, spending most of the movie in the same holding pattern. Worst of all, the movie all but ignores the Earth-X plot until the finale, sidelining what is easily the most unique aspect of the story.

Freedom Fighters: The Ray still has a few redeeming qualities, including superhero action and a new way to drop its protagonist into the chaos. But the movie does a poor job of handling its conflicts, both personal and heroic, and that keeps it from living up to its potential. Approach with caution.

For a more robust superhero origin story set in the same continuity, try Vixen. For another animated superhero movie about a totalitarian version of the Justice League, try Superman: Red Son, Injustice, Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths, or Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox.

[6.1 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9293522/). I give it a 6.0 for a superhero origin story that fails to capitalize on its strengths.

Today’s quick review: Vixen. While investigating her birth parents, Mari McCabe (Megalyn Echikunwoke) discovers that the necklace they left her is actually an Anansi totem which allows her to channel the abilities of any animal. Mari puts her powers to use as Vixen, the protector of the streets of Detroit. But she soon finds herself targeted by Kuasa (Anika Noni Rose), a woman who wants the power of the totem for herself.

Vixen is an animated superhero movie based on the DC Comics character and set in the same universe as the Arrow and Flash television shows. Vixen follows the eponymous heroine as she connects with her roots, learns to master her powers, and establishes her own identity as a crime-fighter. The movie boasts impressive animation and a solid origin story, but its choppy character arc and episodic nature leave it somewhat uneven.

Vixen hits a sweet spot with its heroine, her powers, and the art style it uses. Mari makes for a balanced protagonist, tough enough to hold her own but not invincible. Her powers are a perfect fit for the animated medium, animal-like feats of strength and acrobatics that are varied enough to keep the action fresh. The art also works quite well, realistic enough to take seriously but dynamic enough to give the action some impact.

Vixen runs into a couple of hurdles whne it comes to its story. Due to its origins as a web series, the story feels episodic. Mari goes through two or three separate challenges that are stitched together, with only her growth as a heroine to tie them together. The script also takes a few shortcuts to get Mari to where she needs to be. Her arc has just about everything it needs, but crucial moments of growth are brushed past.

Fans of DC Comics or the superhero genre in general would do well to give Vixen a shot. Its ties to the Arrowverse do not give it quite the free rein seen with other DC animated movies, but the combination of good fundamentals and excellent action make it a fun watch. Just be aware that Vixen is not structured the same way as other stories, robbing it of some of the impact it could have had as a more cohesive whole.

For a less compelling animated superhero movie about a young woman with shapeshifting powers, try Mosaic. For another animated superhero origin from DC, try Batman: Year One, Superman: Man of Tomorrow, or Wonder Woman.

[6.5 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6945882/). I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for polished action and a decent story.

Today’s quick review: Injustice. After the Joker (Kevin Pollak) kills Lois Lane (Laura Bailey) and nukes Metropolis, Superman (Justin Hartley) snaps. He breaks his oath against killing and, urged on by Wonder Woman (Janet Varney), sets out to rid the world of crime by any means necessary. Faced with the rise of an all-powerful tyrant, Batman (Anson Mount) gathers his few remaining allies and tries to turn Superman from his destructive path.

Injustice is an animated superhero movie based on the Injustice video games and the associated comics. Injustice offers a much darker take on the DC Universe, where the collapse of Superman’s ideals turns him from a heroic paragon to a violent oppressor. The movie takes advantage of its darker tone with shocking action scenes and sharp setbacks. Not everyone will like what Injustice has to offer, but it is a solid pick for the right viewer.

Injustice features violent action scenes, makes creative use of DC’s expansive cast of characters, and goes a step farther than the superhero genre’s usual musings on the nature of power. The plot works well, driving a wedge between Superman and Batman that only widens as Superman commits to his skewed vision of justice. Meanwhile, the quality of animation, voice acting, and dialogue are all on par with DC’s other animated work.

Injustice also has a few points against it. The graphic violence and bleaker tone will be a dealbreaker for sensitive viewers. While the story covers all the ground it needs to, it could have used another half-hour to explore other parts of the setting and set up a more fulfilling finale. Finally, Injustice suffers from the fact that it is not the first movie of its kind; there are several others that explore the DC Universe from a darker angle.

How much you get out of Injustice will come down to taste. The overt violence and high body count are going to be a big ask for some viewers, and there are other DC movies that explore similar themes with more tact. But for anyone willing to dive in, Injustice has an engaging story that can take bigger risks than usual, and it backs it up with a large cast of heroes and villains whose powers are important to the plot.

For a similarly violent take on the DC Universe, try Justice League Dark: Apokolips War. For a more sober examination of Superman as a dictator, try Superman: Red Son. For another alternate world where the Justice League has fallen apart, try Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox. For a similar fall from grace of a powerful hero, try Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith.

[6.3 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5012504/). I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for an interesting but risky story.

Today’s quick review: Justice League: Gods and Monsters. Superman (Benjamin Bratt), Batman (Michael C. Hall), and Wonder Woman (Tamara Taylor) are the Justice League, the Earth’s greatest protectors, but their violent tactics and lack of official oversight have earned the distrust of the public. When someone frames the Justice League for a series of murders, Batman leads the investigation to find the real murderer and clear their names.

Justice League: Gods and Monsters is an animated superhero movie from DC Comics. Gods and Monsters takes place in an alternate universe where the Justice League is less idealistic and openly uses violence to keep the peace. The story is a superpowered murder mystery that shows off alternate takes on classic DC characters. Solid plotting, interesting characters, and a fair amount of action make Gods and Monsters a worthwhile pick.

Justice League: Gods and Monsters gets most of its appeal from its setting and its story. The world strikes a nice balance between the optimism of the regular DC Universe and the violence of its darker incarnations. The result is a world where the heroes are still ultimately good, but their actions are more forceful. The challenges this produces for the League are a reliable source of tension for the movie.

The plot is a nicely constructed murder mystery where Batman takes point. The murder of several scientists kicks off a winding investigation that unearths old conspiracies and runs up against new threats, including a trio of robots that can copy the League’s powers. The mystery also has a personal angle for Batman: The victims are his colleagues from back in university, before the experiment that gave him his vampiric powers.

The one major caveat is that Gods and Monsters is not a movie about Clark Kent, Bruce Wayne, or Diana Prince. Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman bear a superficial resemblance to their namesakes, but their civilian personas are cut from whole cloth. Fans who go in looking for direct variants on the familiar stories will be disappointed, but those who go in with an open mind will find that the movie does interesting things with its cast.

Justice League: Gods and Monsters is a solid pick for DC fans looking for a change of pace. The movie keeps the expansive world and large-scale action of the classic DC Universe, but it experiments with new characters, increased violence, and an original mystery. Anyone familiar with the DC mythos should give it a shot. New fans would be better off with one of the other Justice League movies.

For another animated superhero movie about a darker version of the Justice League, try Superman: Red Son, Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths, Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox, or Injustice. For a more conventional tale of superheroics, try Justice League: War, Justice League: Throne of Atlantis, or Reign of the Supermen. For another superhero murder mystery, try Batman: Hush, Batman: The Long Halloween, or Watchmen.

[7.0 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4324302/). I give it the same for an interesting variation on the DC Universe.

Today’s quick review: The Condor. Tony Valdez (Wilmer Valderrama), a promising young skateboarder, has everything taken away from him when his parents are killed by Nigel (Michael Dobson), their corrupt business partner. Tony’s friend Sammi (Kathleen Barr) helps him get back on his feet using the technology his parents were developing, giving him the tools he needs to protect the innocent and bring his parents’ killer to justice.

The Condor is an animated superhero movie about a man who fights crime with the help of cybernetically enhanced legs and a rocket-powered skateboard. The movie follows Tony as he overcomes his selfishness and fights to keep his parents’ research from falling into the wrong hands. But although it has the elements of a decent superhero origin story, The Condor fails to weave them together into a cohesive whole.

The Condor struggles with the basics, starting with its lead. Tony makes for an unsympathetic hero. His altruistic instincts are drowned out by an abrasive personality and a tendency to squander the gifts he’s given, and the movie’s attempts to redeem him come too late to seem sincere. His career as a superhero is just as forced. Tony takes up crime-fighting with no training whatsoever, and his powers are not suited to interesting combat scenes.

The story also struggles to get traction. Getting Tony to become the Condor requires a very specific setup involving a young skateboarder, parents who are pioneers in the field of robotics, a hostile takeover of their company, mind-controlled skateboarders, and an attack that leaves Tony crippled but not dead. The payoff is not worth the effort the movie puts in, and the problem only gets worse with extraneous subplots that don’t go anywhere.

The Condor might be an interesting curiosity for fans of the superhero genre, but it lags far behind the best the genre has to offer. Mediocre action, a jumbled and unfocused story, and a hero who only goes through the motions of character growth all undermine what could have been an entertaining story. There are still glimmers of potential for an eager viewer to find, but most viewers would be better off looking elsewhere.

For a live-action movie about a superhero powered by nanobots, try Bloodshot. For a better character arc from self-interesting to heroism, check out Spider-Man. For another animated superhero movie in the same series, try Mosaic.

[4.9 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0993750/). I give it a 5.5 for a patchwork plot and an unimpressive hero.

Today’s quick review: Mosaic. Maggie Nelson (Anna Paquin), a high school drama student, undergoes a remarkable transformation when she is exposed to a mystic artifact her father (Garry Chalk), an Interpol agent, recovered from Manikin (Ron Halder), a shapeshifting criminal. Imbued with chameleon-like abilities, Maggie teams up with Mosaic (Kirby Morrow), a member of an ancient race of chameleon people, to stop Manikin from achieving absolute power.

Mosaic is an animated superhero movie with a story by Stan Lee. Mosaic follows an ordinary teenage girl who suddenly gains the ability to transform into other people, turn invisible, climb walls, and more. The movie blends elements of several different types of superhero origin stories, relying on Maggie’s chameleon-inspired powers to set it apart. However, a jumbled premise and lackluster character work keep it from shining.

Mosaic is complicated in the wrong way. The inciting incident involves a thief, a detective, two mystic artifacts, a possible alien posing as a guard, another shapeshifter, and a young actress who gets dragged into it all by chance. Some exposition later on eventually ties up the loose ends, but the complexity adds nothing to the plot. Mosaic also gets caught between the sci-fi and fantasy traditions of superhero origins, hurting its credibility.

As for its heroine, Mosaic is mediocre at best. Maggie is a wisecracking teenager with a minimum of character development and no emotional depth. Her reaction to the events around her is wry amusement, lowering the stakes and making the story even harder to take seriously. The supporting cast fares no better. Manikin has a thin personality even for a supervillain, and Mosaic himself exists mainly as a source of information for Maggie.

The one real point in the movie’s favor is that it comes up with a few creative uses for Maggie’s powers. The ability to turn into anyone or become invisible gives Maggie a flexible problem-solving toolkit, while her physical powers give the movie some options for its action. Unfortunately, these powers only take Mosaic so far. With limited budget and a plot that’s not conducive to subtlety, Maggie’s full potential goes untapped.

Mosaic goes through the motions of the superhero genre, but it fails to stand out from a crowded field. The story is a jumble of ideas that do not fit together well, the heroine never grows, and the most original aspect of the movie is not used to its fullest. Mosaic is a passable pick for dedicated superhero fans or younger audiences, but it is outclassed by even the lesser offerings from Marvel or DC. Most viewers should skip it.

For a superhero movie that puts its animated medium to more creative use, try Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. For another animated superhero movie in the same series, try The Condor.

[6.0 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0942896/). I give it a 5.5 for middling execution of a weak story.

Today’s quick review: Superman: Doomsday. Superman (Adam Baldwin) meets his match when Lex Luthor (James Marsters) unearths Doomsday, an invincible alien bent on absolute destruction. Superman stops the creature at the cost of his own life, leaving Lois Lane (Anne Heche) in mourning and Metropolis unprotected. But when Superman seemingly returns from the dead with a new, violent personality, it falls to Lois to investigate what’s going on.

DC Comics brings another of its comics to the screen with Superman: Doomsday, an animated superhero movie loosely based on The Death of Superman. The movie depicts Superman’s last stand and its aftermath, emphasizing the impact has on his girlfriend Lois Lane and his nemesis Lex Luthor. Superman: Doomsday features high-stakes action and a decent mystery, but neither its character work nor its sense of drama take full advantage of the setup.

Superman: Doomsday gets the basics of the story right. The fight with Doomsday is suitably cataclysmic, a distilled version of the city-threatening brawls Superman is known for. Luthor’s schemes are a useful hook going into the second half of the movie. Lois carries a lot of the narrative weight, both acting as the emotional heart of the story and driving the investigation into Superman’s reappearance.

However, Superman: Doomsday makes a few mistakes that keep it from hitting as hard as it could. The setup is rushed, with only time for a couple of character introductions before Doomsday reaches Metropolis. The balance of the story is peculiar, with the biggest fight up front. Finally, Superman himself does not have as much personality as some of his other incarnations, and his muted reactions undermine some of the drama.

How much you get out of Superman: Doomsday will depend on your taste in superhero movies. Fans of clean storytelling with the classic versions of the characters will enjoy it the most. But fans who prefer more stylized versions of the characters or more emotionally laden drama may find that the movie is missing the spark it needs.

For a more complete adaptation of the same comics storyline, try The Death of Superman and Reign of the Supermen. For an animated Superman movie that deals with similar themes, try Superman vs. the Elite.

[7.0 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0934706/). I give it a 6.5 for a decent story that’s missing some punch.

Today’s quick review: Green Lantern: First Flight. Hal Jordan (Christopher Meloni), a cocky test pilot, finds a higher calling when he is chosen to become a Green Lantern, part of an alien police force that keeps the universe safe from a variety of threats. Training under Sinestro (Victor Garber), one of the top Lanterns, Hal’s skills are put to the test when he learns that Sinestro is planning to betray the Green Lantern Corps.

Green Lantern: First Flight is an animated superhero movie based on the DC Comics character. The movie tells the origins of Hal Jordan as the Green Lantern, as well as introducing the audience to the Green Lantern Corps and longtime villain Sinestro. First Flight is a fairly basic adaptation of the source material, but dynamic animation, a well-developed setting, and some good moments for Hal will make it an enjoyable watch for superhero fans.

First and foremost, Green Lantern: First Flight gets the basics of Hal’s story right. It glosses over the details of his life on Earth and skips some of the finer points of his powers, but it embraces both his fearless attitude and the wide swath of the Universe he is assigned to protect. Hal also has a nice character progression, advancing from unskilled rookie to respected leader largely on his own merits.

Other aspects of the movie are a mixed bag. The dynamic animation style lends itself to action scenes quite nicely, but the cartoonish alien designs would be more at home in Osmosis Jones or Men in Black than the DC Universe. The plot has almost nothing to do with Hal’s civilian identity or his life on Earth. And while Sinestro makes for a fine villain, the story could have benefited from a complementary external threat.

Green Lantern: First Flight is a solid pick for fans of the superhero genre and a worthy introduction to the character of Hal Jordan. The main points against the movie are its miscalibrated aliens and the repetition of a story DC fans should already be familiar with. But for anyone willing to put up with these minor quibbles, First Flight offers a healthy mixture of spacefaring action, sci-fi world-building, and heroic character development.

For a live-action take on the same basic story, try Green Lantern, starring Ryan Reynolds. For a different variation on the character’s origin, try Justice League: The New Frontier. For a sci-fi anime adventure with some of the same feel, check out Space Adventure Cobra. For a more down-to-earth crime drama about a rookie cop with a corrupt mentor, try Training Day.

[7.1 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1384590/). I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for good fundamentals.

Today’s quick review: Justice League: The New Frontier. In the 1950s, heroes like Superman (Kyle MacLachlan), Wonder Woman (Lucy Lawless), and Batman (Jeremy Sisto) contend with a public that distrusts them and a government that keeps them on a short leash. As a new generation of heroes searches for its place in an increasingly hostile world, a series of cryptic clues point to the arrival of an immensely powerful being known as the Center.

Justice League: The New Frontier is an animated superhero movie that reimagines the DC Universe against the backdrop of the 1950s. Characters like Hal Jordan (David Boreanaz), Barry Allen (Neil Patrick Harris), and John Jones (Miguel Ferrer) wrestle with the scars of war, government secrets, and the barbs of a skeptical public. This ambitious premise yields rich characters and a broad world but comes at the cost of a fragmented plot.

The New Frontier has a few points in its favor. The historical setting opens up some interesting conflicts, testing the characters in ways that they rarely have been. The selection of characters complements the themes of the movie nicely; the origins of Green Lantern, Flash, and Martian Manhunter play into the tensions between idealism and disappointing reality. All of this gives the movie a deeper set of ideas than many superhero adventures.

However, these elements come with a price. The New Frontier has a loosely connected story that has a hard time balancing its large cast. Mainstays like Superman, Wonder Woman, and Batman dip in and out, while the new crop of heroes takes a long time to see any action. To make matters worse, the central mystery is a weak one. There is little the heroes can do to prepare for the Center, and when it arrives, it ends up being a blunt instrument.

How much you get out of Justice League: The New Frontier will depend on how willing you are to follow it down winding paths. The number of characters and the odd way the movie uses them can make the story difficult to follow, even for dedicated DC fans, and the movie has trouble weaving its ideas into a satisfying whole. But viewers willing to overlook these issues will get something out of its themes and character work.

For a somewhat darker superhero movie with a 20th-century setting and similar themes, try Watchmen or Superman: Red Son. For a family superhero adventure that looks at the relationship between superheroes and the people they protect, check out The Incredibles.

[6.9 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0902272/). I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for engaging ideas attached to a peculiar plot.