On February 13th, fans who were fortunate enough to obtain special VIP tickets to get an advanced screening of "Justice League: Doom" were stunned in shock and awe by the great scale and magnitude of this movie. In attendance were voice director Andrea Romano, Phil Morris (Vandal Savage, Smallville's Martian Manhunter, Seinfeld's Jackie Chiles) and Kevin Conroy (THE Batman). After the screening of the film, we all took part in a hour long panel featuring these guests.
First and foremost, I must say this. While this movie is based on Mark Waid's "JLA: Tower of Babel" storyline, the movie does take quite a few creative liberties, but in a VERY good way. "Justice League: Doom" was written by Dwayne McDuffie and was his last work before his untimely passing last year. While words cannot begin to do justice to the great works he contributed to comics and animation over the years, "Doom" is definately a true testament to his writing/story telling skills and his over life's work. While the story's main plot focuses on Vandal Savage and his Legion of Doom trying to "cleanse" the earth by destroying half of it, the most entertaining and dstressing part of the movie is the fact that Savage is able to implement his plans without interference from the Justice League because he has stolen secret files from the Batcomputer which expose Batman's confidential contingency plans for if any member of the League should ever go rogue. There is a beautiful scene/montage as each of the JLA members are being taken down that really makes you appreciate just how great of a writer McDuffie was. You could not ask for a better writer with a better understanding of all these characters to write this script. The story is built up of the perfect distribution of humor and comedy with drama and action.
I'm sure that most of us grew up watching Batman: The Animated Series and Justice League The Animated Series, so when you see this movie and you hear all of these original voice actors reprising their roles, you truly feel like you're watching the REAL Justice League. Tim Daly reprises his role as Superman from "Superman The Animated Series", Kevin Conroy returns as Batman, Susan Eisenberg as Wonder Woman, Michael Rosenbaum is The Flash, Carl Lumbly is Martian Manhunter, and Phil Morris is back as Vandal Savage. While the voice work on all of these DC Universe Animated Original Movies is always top notch, I, as a fan, am always so much happier and pulled more into the story when I hear all these original voice actors coming back to reprise their roles. For example, when Tim Daly voices Superman, I hear Superman. However, when Adam Baldwin voiced Superman in "Superman: Doomsday", I heard Adam Baldwin. It was just very nice and nostalgic to hear these familiar voices for the characters we all know and love. *One thing I should mention, as I'm sure fans will be intersted to hear this: Even though Michael Rosenbaum portrayed the Wally West version of The Flash in the Justice League Animated Series, in "JL: Doom" he portrays the Barry Allen incarnation of The Flash.
In each of these animated movies, I find that the action always gets turned up a notch in each progression, and "Justice League: Doom" is no different. Directed by Lauren Montgomery, who did Superman/Batman Apocalypse, Green Lantern First Flight, and Wonder Woman, she delivers once again. The action in this movie is INTENSE. It's Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, Flash, Wonder Woman, Martian Manhunter, and Cyborg versus their most deadly adversaries, including Metallo, Bane, Star Sapphire, Mirror Master, Cheetah, M'alah F'lach, and Vandal Savage, with the extra added bonus of a huge fight scene in the very beginning between the JLA and the Royal Flush Gang. This movie has it all, from Superman being shot with a Kryptonite bullet and slamming into the concrete street from the roof of the Daily Planet, to Bruce Wayne have to dig his way out of a buried coffin, to Flash reliving his own version of the movie "Speed" where he can't slow down or else a bomb that's been bolted to his wrist will explode. It's non-stop, adrenaline pumping action from start to finish that is worthy of the Justice League and will leave you on the edge of your seat, dying to see what will happen next.
For those of you fans of the tv show "Young Justice", you will be very happy with this movie as the character designer on YJ also did the character designs on Justice League: Doom. The animation style is a bit different than what we've seen in the more recent animated movies, but it is still gorgeous. The character designs portray the iconacy and epicness of these characters and will not leave you disappointed.
In the end, this was a fantastic movie that is worthy of all the hype it's been getting. It is definately in my top three favorites of all the DC Animated Movies. When watching this movie, you really feel and believe the relationships between these heroes, and the emotions that are conveyed. To see and hear the anger and feeling of betrayal by one of their own is so strong and almost palpable. "Justice League: Doom" does more than justice to what we all loved from the animated series.... It surpasses it. I honestly cannot say enough good things or put into words just how good this movie was and how much I loved it. All I can tell you, without spoiling anything for anyone with plot reveals and EPIC scenes from the movie, if you were ever a fan of any of the animated series or just a Justice League comic book fan, you will want to buy "Justice League: Doom". It is by and far the ultimate animated story for the team and will leave you wanting more. "Justice League: Doom" will be available on Blu Ray combo pack, DVD, and Digital Download February 28th!! Be sure to pick up your copy.