Sleight of Film

Today’s quick review: Batman Unlimited: Mechs vs. Mutants. Enraged by the drilling at his Antarctic hideaway, Mr. Freeze (Oded Fehr) teams up with the Penguin (Dana Snyder) and four Arkham inmates to engineer giant monsters that will freeze Gotham. Batman (Roger Craig Smith) joins forces with the new Robin (Lucien Dodge), Nightwing (Will Friedle), Green Arrow (Chris Diamantopoulos), and the Flash (Charlie Schlatter) to fight back.

Batman Unlimited: Mechs vs. Mutants is a family animated superhero movie, the third and final in the Batman Unlimited series. Mechs vs. Mutants scales up the action by pitting Batman and his allies against giant-sized foes. The movie features a serviceable plot, kid-friendly action, and a giant monster-themed niche that’s nearly unique in the Batman franchise. However, a shallow story and a contrived premise hold it back.

Mechs vs. Mutants is where the world of Batman Unlimited comes into its own. The cast overlaps with Animal Instincts, giving the series a nice sense of continuity. The character dynamics feel comfortable on both the hero and villain sides. And while the monster gimmick feels forced, the movie commits to it fully, making Mechs vs. Mutants more consistent than its predecessors and opening the door for some fun, destructive battles.

The shortcomings of Mechs vs. Monsters are similar to the other movies in the series. The movie takes a grab bag approach to its world, dropping the moody atmosphere of Gotham for a menagerie of colorful characters. The story is driven by the need to show off new vehicles, weapons, and character designs as much as anything. Finally, the script has very little going on besides the main conflict and some light banter.

Batman Unlimited: Mechs vs. Mutants puts forth a more credible effort than its predecessors, but it will still struggle to capture the attention of older viewers. Anyone willing to relax, have fun, and let the movie take liberties with the rules of Batman’s universe will have a good time. But anyone looking for a fully developed plot or a hook that is more in line with typical Batman stories may want to steer clear.

For a Batman movie that toys with similar ideas, try Batman Ninja. For family superhero adventure with a similarly freewheeling attitude, try The Lego Batman Movie. For mechs versus giant monsters in a better-developed world, try Pacific Rim. For another Batman adventure with mechs, try Superman/Batman: Public Enemies.

[5.9 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5896146/). I give it a 6.5 for fun action coupled with a shallow story.

Today’s quick review: Batman Unlimited: Monster Mayhem. Batman (Roger Craig Smith) has his hands full when the Joker (Troy Baker) and a group of fearsome villains try to take over Gotham. Batman teams up with Cyborg (Khary Payton), Green Arrow (Chris Diamantopoulos), Nightwing (Will Friedle), and Red Robin (Yuri Lowenthal) to stop the Joker’s plan, only to hit a wall when the Joker unleashes a computer virus that disables their technology.

Batman Unlimited: Monster Mayhem is a family animated superhero movie. Like its predecessor Animal Instincts, Monster Mayhem features a futuristic version of Gotham, an emphasis on vehicles and technology, and a thematic cast of villains. The movie earns points with its light tone, fun banter, and freewheeling action. However, the kid-friendly nature of the movie and some unsatisfying choices undermine its strengths.

Monster Mayhem polishes some of the better aspects of Animal Instincts. The futuristic technology is less obtrusive and better calibrated to the strengths of the heroes. The lineup of villains—Silver Banshee (Kari Wuhrer), Solomon Grundy (Fred Tatasciore), Scarecrow (Brian T. Delaney), and Clayface (Dave B. Mitchell)—is a hit, providing fun interactions between them and unique challenges for the heroes. The setup is promising.

But Monster Mayhem has a harder time sticking the landing. The computer virus has little resemblance to the Joker’s usual schemes and no connection to the monster theme of the movie. The supporting villains are gradually sidelined in favor of computer hijinks, and by the end of the movie, the rules are completely arbitrary. The story jettisons cohesion in favor of spectacle and ends up in a very different place from where it started.

Batman Unlimited: Monster Mayhem is a fun pick for younger audiences, and it holds some charm for older ones as well. Seeing the characters interact is a joy, and the action is entertaining for what it is. But Monster Mayhem fails to tell a satisfying story, and so it ends up squandering the good will it builds up early on. Approach with caution.

For an animated Batman movie that goes off the rails in similar ways, try Batman Ninja. For a family adventure taking place in a virtual world, try Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over. For a more mature movie from DC featuring a cast of eccentric villains, try Suicide Squad: Assault on Arkham or Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay.

[5.7 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4729754/). I give it a 6.0 to 6.5 for likable characters and decent action let down by poor plot work.

Today’s quick review: Batman Unlimited: Animal Instincts. In a futuristic Gotham, Batman (Roger Craig Smith) teams up with Nightwing (Will Friedle), Red Robin (Yuri Lowenthal), Green Arrow (Chris Diamantopoulos), and the Flash (Charlie Schlatter) to investigate a series of high-profile robberies. After clashing with a group of animal-themed villains, the heroes uncover a plot by the Penguin (Dana Snyder) that puts the entire city in danger.

Batman Unlimited: Animal Instincts is a family animated superhero movie set in a futuristic take on the DC Universe. Fitting the movie’s ties to a Batman toy line, Animal Instincts shows off new costumes, new gadgets, and a new trio of robotic animals controlled by the Penguin. The light sense of adventure, the expansive cast, and the grab bag of sci-fi elements all serve Animal Instincts well, but it remains a shallow watch.

Animal Instincts’ best feature is that it is proactive. Instead of playing coy with its world or its characters, the movie dives straight into the action, assembling a cast of roughly ten heroes and villains. The science fiction setting works well, putting a technological spin on the classic superheroes. And while the character designs are not fantastic, they are fresh enough to set the movie apart from other takes on Batman.

Animal Instincts has the expected limitations of a kids’ movie. The story is simple, a series of robberies culminating in a master plan by Penguin. There is next to no character drama or growth. The writing only stretches itself as far as quips by Flash and Red Robin; everything else is focused on the various elements of the Penguin’s plan.

Batman Unlimited: Animal Instincts will not have much to offer older viewers, but it does manage to tell the story it sets out to. The combination of a new setting and an eager approach to using characters like Green Arrow and the Flash gives the movie a fresh quality that other incarnations of Batman tend to lack. However, the shallow approach to storytelling and world-building severely limits what the movie can do.

For another family-friendly superhero adventure from DC, try Lego DC Comics Super Heroes: The Flash. For a Marvel counterpart, try Iron Man & Captain America: Heroes United or Iron Man & Hulk: Heroes United. For a television series featuring Batman in a similar future, try Batman Beyond.

[5.8 out of 10 on IMDB.](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4437640/) I give it a 6.0 to 6.5 for plain but enjoyable family-friendly action.

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.