Justice League: New Frontier

A totally top film. Go buy it. Now. And then watch it. Then amaze at it's glory. Possibly cry at its wonder. Then watch it again and let your jaw drop. Again.

So, that's the short review.

The long(ish) review now ensues...

So, I managed to finagle an early copy of Justice League: New Frontier on DVD about a month ago. Don't ask how, I just did. And boy, was I a happy chappy.

A couple of years ago, I got back into comics in due part to Darwyn Cooke's wonderful 12 part mini. I went to Forbidden planet in London, picked up issue 4 and was hooked. I scoured ebay for issues 1-3, and then put in my order @ Gosh comics. I did not regret it, and got back into comics. The book was wonderfully written, and had a great 1950s feel to it - something I'd not really gotten in reading a good comic book since the a Martian Manhunter series (1993, I think) set in the 1950s - can't remember the name though of it, but it was top.

Last year, I turned 30 and asked Miss P to get me the New Frontier Absolute edition, and was again blown away. The artwork, the story - everything about it was wonderfully nostalgic in an upbeat manner.

And all of this has been captured wonderfully in this new animated movie. When I first heard Warners was making this I was psyched - totally (dude). I heard the names bandied out for casting, such as Lucy Lawless and David Boreanez (sp?) and was a bit disheartened. I didn't think having Angel, Xena or Special Agent Cooper would capture the spirit of the film. I was amazingly wrong. They did a great job in portraying an unsure Green Lantern, a scary Wonder Woman and pansy Superman. The voice acting makes the film. The animation was never going to be a problem. Warners get DC universe animation - they have the comics talent to provide the framework for the artists, and they take it and run with it. It is like watching the comic book.

The characters are very much like the comic book. I'm not going to ruin much, but the only bit I didn't thing I didn't like was that Batman didn't break the priests hands like he did in the comic book. You'll have to read it then watch it to get what I'm saying. But then, I'm not complaining. The story of the film is 90% that of the book. They've removed some of the adult content (breaking of the hands, along with the gratuitous crunching sound) - but then, it's a cartoon and has to appeal to kids too.

And that's my review. I can't be arsed to write anymore now - mainly cos a good bit in MI: 3 is on and needs more concentration than 4 IPA's can give me...!

(GO AND BUY THIS ON BLU-RAY - cos HD's dead)