Gotta say, I love how fast the DC
Universe Animated Original movies reach my country now. A while ago,
I'd have to wait several months for the latest movie. Today's movie,
Superman Vs. The Elite, not even one month. Fingers crossed The Dark
Knight Returns Part 1 gets a speedy release, too. But let's focus on
the here and now.
Based on the one-shot story from Action
Comics #775 What's So Funny About Truth, Justice And The American
Way, the story features four British superpowered beings meeting
Superman (once again voiced by George Newbern); Coldcast (Catero
Colbert), a manipulator of electromagnetism; Hat (Andrew Kishino), a
man of magic; Menagerie (Melissa Disney), who controls symbiotic
alien beasts; and their leader, Manchester Black (Robin Atkin
Downes), an incredibly gifted telepath. The four of them call
themselves The Elite and have decided that Superman's way of
crimefighting is old fashioned and want to install themselves as the
new order of hero. Naturally, Superman is not one to take this lying
down and strives to show the four that his way still works.
Now, I haven't read the original story
(unfortunately for me), so anything I has to say will largely regard
the movie, with possibly references to the Superman in the comics.
Animation-wise, as solid as ever from
the DCUAO range, though one thing I find is distracting is the lower
half of Superman's face. Sometimes it looks out of proportion,
especially with a huge freakin' chin, only to revert back to normal
soon after. Maybe I'm the only one who noticed it, along with his not
quite so vibrant eyes (if that makes any sense). Otherwise, the
palette is lovely and colourful, with great scenery in Britain.
Voice-wise, George hasn't put a foot
wrong yet, being to Superman what Kevin Conroy is to Batman. His
Superman is a kindly fellow, but when you wrong him, oh Lord have
mercy on you.
Pauley Perrette provides the voice of
Lois Lane and I was pleased that the movie kept Lois and Clark as a
married couple, I think the only other film in ANY continuity to
acknowledge the relationship combined with Lois knowing that Clark is
Superman is Superman: Doomsday (I haven't seen Brainiac Attacks, so I
can't vouch for that). Voice-wise, she does pretty good, but a little
note to the animators: you should have made her smile more.
Best voice-work, however, goes to Robin
Atkin Downes. Black is so colourful, so full of swagger, it's hard
not to be won over. Even when he does a semi-face heel turn, he's so
charismatic. He's wrong (I'll get to that) but he's full of
conviction and doesn't go mad with power. While it turns out his
backstory isn't as sympathetic as he'd like us to believe, it almost
seems like he believes it. Maybe he does, actually. He's probably
convinced himself that at one point, he was the victim (that part I
won't deny) and that once he gained power, he was the one to reshape
the world (the part I contest).
This would probably as much praise for
the original comic as it is the film, but what I like best are the
themes. These themes aren't uncommon for Superman, they're among the
most reoccurring, the themes of “Why can't Superman do so much more
with his great power” and “Those with greater power should be in
control of the world and decide the fates of every individual on the
planet”.
As the plot synopsis covers, The Elite
fancies themselves as the new breed of champions for the world, they
want to see the end of the old order and be the instigators of the
new. And in their order, there is no tolerance for terrorists,
warmongers or general madmen. They are judge, jury and executioner
(often skipping straight to the executioner part). Superman, of
course, has always held the belief that while he has great power, he
has no right to put himself above the law and is just as accountable
as anyone else. Despite the overwhelming popularity of The Elite and
their methods, Superman steadfastly sticks to his guns, insisting his
way works.
Taken on another level, it's also a
response to the readers/viewers who have been wanting their
superheroes to be more extreme and hardcore (isn't that what The
Authority is? I mean, they have Batman and Superman expies that kills
don't they?). Superman is timeless, and we don't want him to suddenly
be all “I'ma kill every mutha in this room!” If we wanted that,
we have Superman: At Earth's End for that (and we don't want that, it
can stay in the fire).
I'm of the opinion that if a character
doesn't want to kill, for whatever reason, that is their decision and
should not be questioned, and the same applies in real life. Taking a
life is not the same as it is in a video game (not speaking from
personal experience obviously but come on, it's not like I can take a
life and be all hunky-dory, that's to be expected) and it's not
something you can take lightly. If heroes like Superman and Batman
refuse to take a life, regardless OF that life, who are we to condemn
them? If both were real, wouldn't we be complaining they need to obey
the letter of the law the same as the rest of us?
Superman believes in the goodness of
humankind, that we can rise above what we are. We have the capacity,
but we lack something to show us the inner light. And that is also
the reason he doesn't solve all the world's problems; he believes we
can, and that we need to, to prove how we are wonderful. Superman is
like the loving but stern father, and the planet Earth is a child
with limitless potential that just needs to realize it.
That's not the end of it, either. Think
about the world today, all the disasters and horrific acts that
happen. A lot of us are calling for heads to be rolled, for lynch
mobs to form, along with the handing out of pitchforks and torches.
But would we approve of someone doing this on our behalf? Where does
the line end? Would even the smallest of crimes be met with a swift
death? Really, the story is relevant in both forms as an exploration
of 'do the ends justify the means' and 'is there one right way to
fight crime?
So, once again, another fine addition
to the DCUAO stable. But we have one more looming on the horizon, and
there's every chance it could be the best of the bunch... in any
case, a 4/5 for this one.
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