All Star SuperMan Review

All Star Superman, you either loved the book or hated it. Most Superman "Fans" hated it. Why? Cause most "fans" of Superman want to see him shoot things with his "laser eyes," lift heavy stuff or punch people into space. When you delve into what makes Superman a "Superman" the "Fans" say it sucks its too slow or there's not enough action. Thats why most people hated Superman Returns and why Superman is so hard of a character to pull off in movies and in books. Alas this rant is for an editorial and not a review so moving on.....

ALL STAR SUPERMAN
A DC Universe Animated Original Movie
Running Time 76 minutes
Rated PG

All Star Superman starts off with the first manned space mission to the sun. Lex Luthor is working for the government and somehow is involved in this mission. Que. Lex's evil plan, monster on mission ship controlled by Lex. people in danger, yadda yadda yadda. Superman saves day, all is well, or so everyone thinks. It seems that being so close to the sun has overloaded Superman's cells, and is turning him into pure energy. His power level has tripled but given time he is going to "die". Now comes the meat of the story. What would Superman do if he only had limited time to live?

I really liked the book this movie was based on its probably in my top ten. Grant Morrison is usually hit or miss, but he hit the mark with this one. If you have read the book and liked it you will love the movie plain and simple. Its has its problems but if you're a fan of the book its safe to say you're going to like the movie. I compare it to Planet Hulk, In that they take the basic plot of the "whole story" and condense it down so it fits into and hour and fifteen minutes. I will never understand why Marvel and DC make these movies so short. You have already put the effort and money into making this "film" why not go and make it and hour and a half to two hours. Its supposed to be for the fans right well I'm a fan and I would love a two hour All Star Superman or Planet Hulk you could get more of the story in and make it that much better. And that is where the problem lies with this film. Its too dam short! The condensing of the original material makes it lose its soul. If it were even just fifteen minutes longer and they could have gotten in the Bizarro World story arc or the death of Pa Kent, it would have been DC's best movie yet. For some reason the stick to seventy-five minutes. Their must be a reason for this but who knows.


If you have never read the series, the movie is solid entry into DC's animated line up. The animation is not top notch its "janky" in places, but the voice acing is right up there with Under The Red Hood. Lex is the stand out. Anthony LaPaglia pulls off an evil genius Lex, with the cockiness of a gangster. He's just so sure of him self you actually fell for him a little. He must have read the Luthor trade to prep for this and if YOU did not read that book go do so right now!!!
James Denton is a decent Superman his voice is missing that assuredness though. Christina Hendricks also is a well cast Lois Lane but in the end, my mom could have read the lines and no one would have cared.
What this film is, is really a primer to get you to read the book. They put just enough in to get you interested and then it leaves you wanting more.
Hmmm maybe I just answered my own question

Rating
7.5 out of 10