SUPERMAN/BATMAN: APOCALYPSE Review

The DC Universe Animated Original Movies are some of the best direct-to-DVD movies that involve some of the best super heroes. From Superman to Batman to the entire Justice League, these movies are not only for the hardcore fans but also in depth enough and not overwhelming to bring in some casual movie goers into the comic book and hero scene. With that being said, this movie features the two most well-known super heroes ever Superman and Batman and introduces some not so well known characters.

The movie starts in Gotham City with a meteorite crashing into the harbor. Batman is quickly on the scene to investigate to find out it was not a meteorite but a crashed space ship with fragments of kryptonite and Kryptonian writing on the inside. During his observation, a lost and confused Krypotonian is making a mess of the city as a result of her new powers. Superman shows up, he and Batman discover that the person causing all this trouble is Superman’s cousin, Kara Zor-El. Having no where else to go, Superman teaches her about her past and what kind of future she’ll have here on Earth. After not being able to control her powers, Kara is sent away to live with Wonder Woman and the Amazons and learn to control her powers in a remote location away from any danger. But it wasn’t long until word got out about another surviving Kryptonian. When Darkseid got wind of this news, he devised a plan to capture and make Kara apart of the Female Furies. Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman team up with (Big) Barda to infiltrate Darkseid’s warzone that is Apokolips. It all leads up to the final show down between Superman and the brain-washed Kara for her freedom from Darkseid’s control.

Now as excited and impressed I was with the newest Batman cast they had for Batman: Under The Redhood, it was nice to hear the familiar Tim Daly as Superman and our very talented Kevin Conroy as Batman again. Susan Eisenberg played Wonder Woman like she has before in the Justice League and Justice League Unlimited TV series. Our Supergirl was voice by a familiar face among many fanboys…fanboyz. Summer Glau, has been Joss Wheldon projects such as FireFly and Serenity. She’ll also be playing Supergirl again for the DC Universe Online video game which is due late this year. Andre Braugher (House, Salt, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer) voice Darkseid. Edward Asner (Carl Fredricksen from Up) voice Granny Goodness.

Special edition DVDs and Bluray versions of this movie contain a DC Showcase short featuring the Green Arrow. As an added bonus get 2 additional episodes from Superman The Animated Series, hand picked by Bruce Timm himself. And finally, an exclusive sneak peek at DC Universe’s next original animated movie.

Superman/Batman: Apocalypse will be out September 28th on DVD, special edition DVD and Bluray.

In the end, I personally did not like this movie. I’ve never been a fan of the Superman/Batman tie-ins, I feel they are too different to work together well. Batman didn’t really fit in the movie, I don’t think he was a really necessary character. Another thing that didn’t fit with this movie was the trailer, it’s completely misleading. The trailer leads you to believe Darkseid came to Earth to take it over when that is not at all what happened. I think the movie title could have easily been changed to something that included Supergirl, like the title they used for the featurette on the DVD – Supergirl: The Last Daughter of Krypton. The movie just seemed really slow to get to the point – the girl is Supergirl. Like Superman/Batman: Public Enemies, I would say rent it or just pass all together. Now if you like Superman then perhaps you won’t agree with me.