Today’s quick review: Superman vs. The Elite. With conflict escalating around the globe, Superman (George Newbern) begins to question his soft treatment of criminals. The debate is sharpened by the appearance of the Elite, a quartet of powerful heroes who have no qualms about killing. As the world falls in love with Manchester Black (Robin Atkin Downes), the Elite’s cocky leader, it’s up to Superman to show that superheroes are not above the law.
Superman vs. The Elite is an animated superhero film based on DC Comics characters. Superman vs. The Elite offers straightforward superhero action wrapped around a classic moral question of the superhero genre. However, its animation quality and writing are a step down from the typical DC animated feature, making it more of a violent, extended Saturday morning cartoon than a full-fledged movie.
Superman vs. The Elite takes aim at one of the core conceits of the superhero genre: that superheroes are not killers. The movie explores the moral ramifications of letting villains live as opposed to executing them on the spot. But the conflict it sets up lacks nuance, and the movie fails to come up with any clever or satisfying answers. The result is a superhero conflict that has a fair amount of action but isn’t particularly insightful.
Give Superman vs. The Elite a shot only if you are a superhero fan in the mood for a light diversion. As a self-contained dose of Superman, it’s fine, but it’s outclassed by the other animated offerings from DC. For an animated superhero movie that deals with similar themes in a more interesting way, check out Justice League: Gods and Monsters.
7.1 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.0 to 6.5 for passable action but little real interest.