I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed this film. It has faults but is a definite improvement and by far a huge step up from the past few entries, including Superman/Batman Public Enemies to which this is a direct sequel.
While both Public Enemies and Apocalypse are clearly meant to showcase DC characters and fun scenarios I feel Apocalypse gives more purpose to its showcased characters than Public Enemies did. While I always wish they’d try to take character further in these features, (remember the old Batman:TAS days?) here they at least attempt to go further than the source material and I say they succeed.
My only real issue with the entire project, besides wishing they’d pushed character further in the writing, is that while I enjoyed the voice acting it did seem cold all around. I remember Conroy and Eisenberg bringing more heart to their characters in the Justice League Series, though I suppose most watch these for the epic brawls more than the attention to character.
Fight scenes are, for the first time in a while, interestingly choreographed and actually hold my attention.
This feature definitely has 5 star production values and the DVD itself contains more than enough relevant and interesting content to merit 5 stars.
The writing takes the story from the source and enhances it without intruding on it, but I do feel they still could have pushed character further and worked harder on dialogue.
The other downside for me was that the characters came across somewhat cold and stale on account of poor voice direction. That said this was by far the best effort to be put out by DC/Warner Premiere in a while. It not only does service to fans of the sourcework and fans of DC in general but this time they made a film that I can say I would watch as a standalone.
I give it 7 stars overall because it’s a beautiful and shiny effort but is void of a certain depth I’m still waiting to see in these features. I also want to leave DC/Warner room to improve on these because I believe they can and will in the near future.
In the Superman/Batman: Apocalypse (Two-Disc Amazon Exclusive Limited Edition with Litho Cel) version you get:
- A first look at the next installment of the DC Universe movie
- DC Showcase Short Film: Green Arrow
- Supergirl: The Last Daughter of Krypton vintage featurette
- Bonus episodes handpicked by Bruce Timm: Superman The Animated Series -”Little Girl Lost Parts 1 and 2″
In the Superman/Batman: Apocalypse Two-Disc Amazon Exclusive Limited Edition with Litho Cel [Blu-ray] you get these special features:
- A first look at the next installment of the DC Universe movie
- DC Showcase Short Film: Green Arrow
- The New Gods featurette: chronicles the tale of Darkseid and why he reigns supreme as one of the most brilliant, and toughest challengers the Super Heroes must face, and what his threat for tomorrow could bring
- New Gods: Mr. Miracle pod
- New Gods: Orion pod
- Supergirl: The Last Daughter of Krypton vintage featurette
- Bonus episodes handpicked by Bruce Timm: Superman The Animated Series -”Little Girl Lost Parts 1 and 2,” “Apokalips Now! Parts 1 and 2″
Good job DC, keep them coming like this and keep improving them. Like another reviewer said, I’d love to see an attempt at Jeph Loeb’s The Long Halloween, but maybe they best start with making a simpler storyline work well first (maybe Hush or Haunted Knight).
Thanks and I hope this was genuinely helpful to those on the fence about purchasing or viewing this release.
This review was made by ReconnectingTMC. Read the full review here
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“Playboy Britt Reid (Seth Rogen) becomes the new publisher of Los Angeles’ “The Daily Sentinel” after the sudden death of his father. Britt’s party life is about to change when he and his driver and kung fu expert, Kato (Jay Chou), stop a robbery. Britt Reid decides to become a crimefighter with the help of Kato. He takes the identity as The Green Hornet.
“Tony Stark is the complete playboy who also happens to be an engineering genius. While in Afghanistan demonstrating a new missile, he’s captured and wounded. His captors want him to assemble a missile for them but instead he creates an armored suit and a means to prevent his death from the shrapnel left in his chest by the attack.
