Flashpoint, as we all know is a major event in the DC universe that leads into New 52 era with new costumes, and many ret-cons in some complicated histories of our favourite heroes, and this film seems to launch the animated features into the same direction.
Story wise, it follows the comic just as well as the Dark Knight Returns animated films had done, with only little changes made to help those who have had no previous knowledge of the DC universe, at all, to understand what’s going on a bit better, a neat intro of the Justice League show casing each of their powers and personalities was a great way to set up the film, as we then witness just how much they change later on.
And change they do, even more so than what they do in the comic book as some become even more brutal and ruthless, this is mainly Wonder Woman and Aquaman as we see in graphic detail what they do while fighting this war.
What was surprising was in this film however is that Reverse Flash is almost an afterthought, he still makes his dramatic entrance in the war for London, but he is mainly there to just explain that Barry is the real reason for this happening and had nothing to do with his mother’s death that he hinted at the beginning, the best line he has is when he sarcastically asks Flash who is the real villain which I found brilliantly done, as Flash watches quite a few of his friends die when it happens.
What is really well done is when Flash experience’s the new events in the timeline, it gets into vivid detail showing a young boy being shot with his parent’s opposite reactions to the event, and then to an iconic rocket flying past a Kansas couple as they watch it land in the middle of Metropolis. The best moment is when he sees what started the war between Atlantis and Themyscira as we clearly see that it is entirely Aquaman, and Wonder Woman’s fault.
But what really lets the film down is the animation itself as some of the character designs are really fugly, Aquaman, and Superman are the prime examples of just how bad it can get with Aquaman looking as though he has a triple chin in some shots. But when the action starts it definitely improves, especially with Flash and Zoom’s fight near the end as well as Aquaman’s and Wonder Woman’s as it flows really well.
What is really surprising is that this is, without a doubt, the most brutal and graphic DC animated flick they have ever released, it rarely pulls any punches when it comes to violence and it works, as I was really shocked seeing well known heroes killing, stabbing and shooting each other. One part that stuck out most for me was when Wonder Woman stabs and kills Billy Batson after forcing him out of being Captain Thunder, the stab happens off screen, but you hear and see the aftermath of what she had done.
The voice work is really great and each actor defiantly suits the characters in this film, Carry Elwes (Aquaman) and Vanessa Marshall (Wonder Woman) really do great jobs on showing a more ruthless militant side of the iconic characters, as well as Sam Daly who fits his father’s shoes quite comfortably voicing big blue.
Kevin McKidd stole the show in my opinion as he just nails Thomas Wayne’s Batman, and I would love to see him voice Bruce in another animated film.
Overall it is a solid animated film, and hints at great things to come, it is a shame though that the animation and designs let it down slightly. Be sure to check out the preview for Justice League: War at the end.
8/10