'Justice League: War' is based on the best selling comic book story arc: 'Justice League: Origin'. It's a tale that feels like a big summer movie in comic form, so it seems only natural that it would be the basis for its own animated release. While some may judge 'War' on the basis of its straight to video release, the story stands up pretty darn well despite its budgetary constraints.
The film centers around the major players like Batman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, Flash, and Superman, but it also incorporates two lesser known characters with Cyborg and Shazam in the battle against Darkseid; however, by the end the whole group feels like a cohesive team. The film really shines in the genuinely funny interplay between the characters and a real sense that each member feels useful in the apocalyptic situation they find themselves in. Certain characters who need no introduction are thrown right into the action while others who need a bit of back story are given the right amount of an origin story.
The action is superb, and it's pretty obvious that most of the animation budget went towards it. Wonder Woman slices enemies up in fitting Amazonian fashion, Green Lantern's otherworldly constructs are spectacular and fluid, Superman's immense strength is in full force, Cyborg's constant morphing looks awesome, and Flash's super speed is used in some fantastically innovative ways. The only character who lacks the same kind of punch is Shazam who spends quite a lot of the movie throwing lightning bolts at enemies to little effect.
In fact, Shazam is the weakest part of the film with very little to do until the end of the film. This is likely a result of him taking Aquaman's place from the comic's story line. Where Aquaman was very deliberately placed to do specific things in the original story, Shazam feels like a placeholder character, a shame since his origin is ripe for a DC Animated film all its own. Speaking of which, Shazam could have benefited from some more background in the final cut of the film but doesn't get it. It wouldn't be necessary to compare the film to the comic in this way if Shazam had felt like a meaningful addition to the lineup, but as it is, he seems to only be here because someone on the creative side of the film thought Aquaman too unmarketable.
Still, the film isn't ruined by the appearance of one character in favor of another; this is a Justice League movie after all, and it excels at being a great popcorn flick for the home video market. DC Animation continues to knock these releases out of the park or at least get a solid base hit.
The film centers around the major players like Batman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, Flash, and Superman, but it also incorporates two lesser known characters with Cyborg and Shazam in the battle against Darkseid; however, by the end the whole group feels like a cohesive team. The film really shines in the genuinely funny interplay between the characters and a real sense that each member feels useful in the apocalyptic situation they find themselves in. Certain characters who need no introduction are thrown right into the action while others who need a bit of back story are given the right amount of an origin story.
The action is superb, and it's pretty obvious that most of the animation budget went towards it. Wonder Woman slices enemies up in fitting Amazonian fashion, Green Lantern's otherworldly constructs are spectacular and fluid, Superman's immense strength is in full force, Cyborg's constant morphing looks awesome, and Flash's super speed is used in some fantastically innovative ways. The only character who lacks the same kind of punch is Shazam who spends quite a lot of the movie throwing lightning bolts at enemies to little effect.
In fact, Shazam is the weakest part of the film with very little to do until the end of the film. This is likely a result of him taking Aquaman's place from the comic's story line. Where Aquaman was very deliberately placed to do specific things in the original story, Shazam feels like a placeholder character, a shame since his origin is ripe for a DC Animated film all its own. Speaking of which, Shazam could have benefited from some more background in the final cut of the film but doesn't get it. It wouldn't be necessary to compare the film to the comic in this way if Shazam had felt like a meaningful addition to the lineup, but as it is, he seems to only be here because someone on the creative side of the film thought Aquaman too unmarketable.
Still, the film isn't ruined by the appearance of one character in favor of another; this is a Justice League movie after all, and it excels at being a great popcorn flick for the home video market. DC Animation continues to knock these releases out of the park or at least get a solid base hit.
