Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox is a DC animated film that was released in July, 2013. It is based on the Flashpoint comic book that was released in 2011. Initially I thought that the Dark Knight Returns part 2 was going to be the best DC animated film of the year, but I was proven terribly wrong. Flashpoint became my overall favorite comic book movie this year. I believe that the story line that the movie contains needs to be brought to life in a live action format.
The Flashpoint plot took advantage of the time travel aspect. It gave us a deeper understanding of the Flash as a superhero. I always saw the Flash as fun and corky character, but this movie gave him a much more serious demeanor. In the movie we not only got to see his origins, but we also his current struggle. He has a choice of whether or not to save his mother from death or to let her die for the greater good. Having the power to choose something of that magnitude would drive me insane.
The movie gives us introductions to multiple characters. The two primary antagonists are Wonder Woman and Aquaman. In a live action format this would be a great way to introduce these two characters. Neither one of them has their own individual movie and it doesn’t seem like they will in the near future. I say just introduce them in the same fashion that film does.
Flashpoint presented a lot of interesting relationships. Seeing Lex and Deathstroke fight and work together to save the world was cool. Aquaman working with Black Manta was also an interesting relationship, because they are enemies. The movie showed different characterizations of characters. We had an underdeveloped and weak Superman that never got over his fear of being accepted by the world. When I saw a skinny Superman my jaw dropped. Superman is arguably the greatest super hero of all time and they made him both weak mentally and physically. We had a batman and Joker that were different as well. Bruce Wayne’s father became Batman and his mother the Joker. I liked the fact that the Flashpoint story changed so many set in stone mythologies, because it made things a lot more interesting. I wanted to know more about these alternate characters. I think seeing scenes of this nature on the big screen would be big.
Creating a live action movie with a story this rich could be a game changer. DC is behind when you compare it to Marvel. With this kind of introduction to a character they could set a new standard for solo films. At this point DC can’t afford to take baby steps. Batman vs. Superman is definitely a step in the right direction. Now I want to see more risks being taken. My biggest worry is that X-men Days of Future will beat them to the punch. Only time will tell now.