DC Universe Animated Original Movies Part Seven

DC Universe Animated Original Movies Part Six

Batman: Year One

The film is an adaptation of Frank Miller's story "Batman: Year One" from 1987 in the main Batman title, featured in issues #404–407. It is co-directed by Sam Liu and Lauren Montgomery. Everyone should know this story. Frank Miller’s writing is pure gold. I find this very hard to write a summary for this, mostly because this is a well-known book.

Cast:

Benjamin McKenzie as Bruce Wayne / Batman

Eliza Dushku as Selina Kyle / Catwoman

Bryan Cranston as Lieutenant James Gordon

Katee Sackhoff as Detective Sarah Essen

Alex Rocco as Carmine "The Roman" Falcone

Jon Polito as Gillian B. Loeb

Saratoga Ballantine as Skeevers' Attorney

Jeff Bennett as Alfred Pennyworth

Steven Blum as Stan, News Reporter Tom (uncredited), SWAT Member (uncredited)

Roark Critchlow as Hare Krishna

Grey DeLisle as Barbara Eileen-Gordon, Vicki Vale (uncredited)

Keith Ferguson as Jefferson Skeevers

Danny Jacobs as Flass' Attorney

Michael Gough as Driver

Nick Jameson as Merkel

Liliana Mumy as Holly Robinson

Robin Atkin Downes as Harvey Dent

Pat Musick as Louisa Falcone

Andrea Romano as Obstetrician

Stephen Root as Brendon

James Patrick Stuart as Henchman

Fred Tatasciore as Detective Arnold John Flass, Johnny Vitti (uncredited)

Bruce Timm as Thug #1

Bruce Wingert as Guard

Released Date: October 18, 2011, the same day as Batman: Arkham City.

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Justice League: Doom

Justice League: Doom is a loose adaptation of Mark Waid's JLA story arc, "JLA: Tower of Babel" wherein the Legion of Doom is formed to eliminate the Justice League using protocols created by Batman to take down the group should its members ever go rogue. The movie was adapted and written by Dwayne McDuffie shortly before his death in February 2011, and is directed by Lauren Montgomery.

The film revolves around Vandal Savage's plot to exterminate the greater part of the human population and start a new civilization. To ensure that the Justice League is unable to stop him, Savage hires Mirror Master, who hacks into the Batcomputer and steals contingency plans devised by Batman to incapacitate his League teammates should they ever go rogue. Savage assembles a group of supervillains with personal vendettas against the heroes and pays them richly to simultaneously attack the members of the League using these plans, albeit altered to be lethal.

The villains each do their part to take out the Justice League:

Batman is informed by Alfred Pennyworth that the bodies of Thomas and Martha Wayne have been exhumed and are missing. When Bruce Wayne arrives at his parents' graves, he is ambushed by Bane. The emotional distraction is enough to grant Bane the upper hand and render his adversary unconscious. Bruce is then placed into his father's coffin which is reburied. He wakes up to the horrifying prospect of dying of asphyxiation next to his father's corpse.

The Martian Manhunter (in his human identity of John Jones) is celebrating his birthday with his colleagues from the police force. He receives a drink from a mysterious woman (who is actually Ma'alefa'ak in disguise). The drink is laced with magnesium carbonate, which is poisonous to Martian biology. The Manhunter's body is capable of curing itself, but only by sweating out the magnesium which is highly flammable. Ma'alefa'ak uses a lighter to set his enemy on fire (J'onn's only weakness), leaving him to burn alive without the possibility to extinguish the flames.

Wonder Woman is attacked by Cheetah who scratches her arm, sending nanomachines into her bloodstream. The microscopic machines attach themselves to her brain stem and begin broadcasting directly into her visual and auditory sensors. This fools Wonder Woman into thinking that everyone she sees is a duplicate of Cheetah. The illusion is designed to exploit her competitive nature, by sending her into a never-ending battle. Since she would never surrender, she will force herself to fight until her body gives out, thanks to the drugs the nanomachines were carried in, causing her to suffer an epileptic seizure or a heart attack.

The Flash is lured into a trap by Mirror Master who pretends to be robbing a train. The villain then uses a hologram of an elderly woman to create the illusion that he had a hostage. The whole scenario is only intended to trick the Flash into placing his arm into a booby trap that attaches a bomb to his wrist. The bomb will explode and kill everyone within three miles if the hero tries to remove it or if he does nothing. The only way to prevent the explosion is to run and never decelerate, but even the Flash cannot run forever.

Green Lantern is called upon by the FBI to deal with a group of terrorists who have taken hostages into a salt mine. However the truth is that both the terrorists and the hostages are sophisticated androids. The entire setting is part of a complex deception that fools Green Lantern into thinking that innocent lives are lost due to his overconfidence. The hero is also exposed to a synthesized version of the Scarecrow's fear gas that undermines his will. Finally, Star Sapphire shows up and exploits his fears convincing him that he does not deserve the power he wields. Green Lantern renounces his ring without which he cannot escape from the collapsed salt mine. The weakened hero resigns to his fate.

Superman is lured to the roof of the Daily Planet by a disillusioned former employee named Henry Ackerson, who aims to commit suicide by either jumping off or shooting himself. Superman tries to talk him out of it, and appears to have succeeded, when Ackerson unexpectedly shoots the hero instead. It is then revealed that the suicide ploy was meant to trick Superman into lowering his guard, that the former employee was being impersonated by Metallo, and that the bullet was made of Kryptonite, the only material that can harm Kryptonians. A fatally wounded Superman falls from the top of the building.

Cast:

Kevin Conroy - Bruce Wayne / Batman

Tim Daly - Clark Kent / Superman

Susan Eisenberg - Princess Diana / Wonder Woman

Nathan Fillion - Hal Jordan / Green Lantern

Carl Lumbly - J'onn J'onzz / Martian Manhunter (credited), Ma'alefa'ak J'onnz / Ma'alefa'ak (uncredited)

Michael Rosenbaum - Barry Allen / The Flash

Bumper Robinson - Victor Stone / Cyborg

Carlos Alazraqui - Bane

Claudia Black - Barbara Ann Minerva / Cheetah

Paul Blackthorne - John Corben / Metallo (credited), Henry Ackerson (uncredited)

Olivia d'Abo - Carol Ferris / Star Sapphire

Alexis Denisof - Sam Scudder / Mirror Master

Phil Morris - Vandar Aag / Vandal Savage

Dee Bradley Baker - Officer in Charge

Grey DeLisle - Lois Lane, Queen (uncredited)

Robin Atkin Downes - Alfred Pennyworth (credited), Jack (uncredited)

Brian George - Mayor

David Kaufman - Jimmy Olsen

Juliet Landau - Ten

Jim Meskimen - King

Andrea Romano - Batcomputer Voice

Bruce Timm - Ace

Danny Jacobs - Special Agent Porter

Released Date: February 28, 2012

This Film was dedicated in memory of McDuffie.

DC Universe Animated Original Movies Part Six

DC Universe Animated Original Movies Part Six

All-Star Superman

All-Star Superman is an adaptation of Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely's 2005–2008 comic book All-Star Superman. It was written by writer Dwayne McDuffie and directed by Sam Liu. Now this was one of the last things that Dwayne McDuffie worked on before he passed away. It took me a long time to sit down and watch this one. Mr. McDuffie was a great writer and I still miss his work.

Alright, plot summary, All-Star Superman, like I said is based off Morrison and Guitely’s book. From what I remember of the comic it’s pretty close. Now while saving the crew of the first ever mission to the sun, Superman is poisoned by the solar radiation. Well that sucks. Now he’s dying he decides to fulfill his lifelong dreams, while saving the Earth from various threats. Wow, the bad guys will not leave the dying man alone. When Lex Luthor reveals his latest plot to control the world, Superman must remaining strength to stop him. Superman can’t get a damn break. 

Cast:

James Denton as Kal-El / Clark Kent / Superman

Christina Hendricks as Lois Lane / Superwoman

Anthony LaPaglia as Lex Luthor

Edward Asner as Perry White

Obba Babatundé as Judge, Bibliobot (uncredited)

Steven Blum as Atlas, General Sam Lane (uncredited)

Linda Cardellini as Nasthalthia "Nasty" Luthor

Cathy Cavadini as Floral, Cat Grant (uncredited)

Frances Conroy as Martha Kent

Chris Cox as Lead Agent

Alexis Denisof as Dr. Leo Quintum

John DiMaggio as Samson, Ultra-Sphinx (uncredited)

Robin Atkin Downes as Solaris

Michael Gough as Parasite

Matthew Gray Gubler as Jimmy Olsen

Finola Hughes as Lilo

Kevin Michael Richardson as Steve Lombard

Fred Tatasciore as Krull

Arnold Vosloo as Bar-El

Release Date: February 22, 2011

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Green Lantern: Emerald Knights

Green Lantern: Emerald Knights, similar to Batman: Gotham Knight, is an anthology film that tells a series of stories featuring various members of the Green Lantern Corps, including Abin Sur, Sinestro, Kilowog, and Mogo. While not a direct sequel to First Flight, the film uses the same character designs and includes a cameo by Ch'p, who had a speaking role in the previous film. Now there are six parts to this movie, like Batman: Gotham Knight, and seeing as I’m not a huge Lantern fan I was be doing a short summary for each. Summaries contains spoilers.

The summary for the main plot line is as follows: As the home planet of the Green Lantern Corps faces a battle with an ancient enemy, Hal Jordan prepares new recruit Arisia for the coming conflict by relating stories of the first Green Lantern and several of Hal's comrades.

The First Lantern

Now with that being said Hal starts to tell Arisia the story of the Green Lantern, a scribe to the Guardians, is chosen by one of the first four power ring despite having no skill as a warrior, Avra. After the death of one the Lanterns Avra uses his imagination and willpower as a writer to continue a battle. Thanks to that Avra the Lantern’s win a war. Avra rises in prestige among the Green Lantern Corps, and after his death his ring is passed down until it eventually becomes Abin Sur’s and then Hal Jordan’s.

Kilowog

Sgt. Deegan trains a rookie Kilowog and others by removing their power rings and putting them in deadly settings. Kilowog confronts Deegan and accuses him of a reckless training method and having no value for the lives of his trainees. Sgt. Deegan is then called to act with his recruits when a nearby planet comes under attack. Deegan purposefully drops Kilowog’s ring before departing with the other recruits. In the battle Deegan orders the rookies to protect the refugees as he deals with the invaders. As Kilowog catches up, Sgt. Deegan is mortally wounded. Kilowog destroys the army and goes to Deegan's side. Deegan tells Kilowog he never would have let his rookies die and that he did what was best for their training. He passes superiority to Kilowog who then takes up completing the mission.

Laira

Once a princess, Laira is sent on her first solo mission to her homeworld to deal with charges that her people are attacking other nations unprovoked. Standing in her way, Laira quickly defeats her father's mistress and her belittling brother. But when she faces her father she is saddened to learn that the recent war crimes were his own decision. He has been driven into rage by the loss of honor that Laira's ring chose her and not him. Laira is ultimately able to defeat her father who admits she has truly earned her adulthood. He then commits ritual suicide to maintain his honor.

Mogo Doesn't Socialize

Bolphunga the Unrelenting seeks to fight and destroy all the most powerful warriors in the universe and is told he will never defeat the Green Lantern Mogo. Bolphunga’s computer contains no information on Mogo but tracks his whereabouts to a mysterious green planet. There Bolphunga spends weeks tracking Mogo's power signatures but never finds the elusive Lantern. Bolphunga sets explosives all over the planet to flush Mogo out but is horrified when the planet extinguishes all the bombs and Mogo is revealed to be the entire planet.

Abin Sur

Hal Jordan's predecessor Abin Sur fights Atrocitus, alien criminal speaking dark prophecies. Abin Sur is assisted by Sinestro in capturing the alien. Sinestro and Abin Sur then have a conversation relating to the warnings that Atrocitus spoke and Sinestro insists that he does not believe in destiny. Parting ways, Abin Sur takes the criminal to a prison planet where Atrocitus again speaks on Abin Sur's imminent death. He also warns Abin that Sinestro will rise against the Green Lantern Corps and create his own lantern corps built on the power of fear. Abin Sur however refuses to believe his friend would betray his Green Lantern duties.

Emerald Knights

Krona finally arrives from the Oa Sun. All the Green Lanterns fight swarms of Shadow Demons as Krona, an enormous figure, rises from the sun. Many Green Lanterns are killed and all others fall back. It is Arisia who devises a plan: if Krona is made of anti-matter then an equal or greater amount of matter will destroy him on contact. The Green Lanterns fall behind the planet Oa and push it at Krona. Krona uses Shadow Demons to push back and the Corps finds itself stymied while taking casualties. However, Mogo the Living Planet arrives and uses its own mass and Lantern Power to assist his comrades. Oa and Krona are forced into the sun and both are annihilated. The prophecy of Oa's destruction is fulfilled, but Krona is destroyed and the Corps is saved.

Cast:

Nathan Fillion as Hal Jordan

Jason Isaacs as Sinestro

Elisabeth Moss as Arisia Rrab

Henry Rollins as Kilowog

Arnold Vosloo as Abin Sur

Kelly Hu as Laira

Tony Amendola as Kentor, Appa Ali Apsa (uncredited)

Steven Blum as Kloba Vud, Palaqua (uncredited), Ranakar (uncredited), G'Hu (uncredited), Additional Voices

Grey DeLisle as Ree'Yu, Ardakian Trawl (uncredited), Boodikka (uncredited)

Michael Jackson as Ganthet

Peter Jessop as Salaak

David Kaufman as Rubyn

Sunil Malhotra as Bolphunga's Ship

Roddy Piper as Bolphunga

Andrea Romano as Abin Sur's Ring, Deegan's Ring (uncredited)

Jane Singer as Wachet

James Arnold Taylor as Tomar-Re

Bruce Thomas as Atrocitus

Mitchell Whitfield as Avra

Wade Williams as Deegan

Gwendoline Yeo as Blu

Bruce Timm as Galius Zed (uncredited)

Release Date: June 8, 2011

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So yeah, I’m behind in posting. That’s my bad. Next is Batman: Year One and Justice League: Doom.

I’ll be starting my review for Fallout: New Vegas and the DLCs soon.

Maybe even do a top list for the video games for 2011

Take it easy,

Ace