If Justice League: Gods and Monsters proves anything, it's that we should never take the talents and ingenuity of Bruce Timm for granted. Frankly, he's been entertaining and surprising me for 23 years now and was practically the driving force behind the definitive shows of my childhood. Therefore, it was highly disappointing when he chose to step away from the gruelling task of overseeing the DC DTV line (and boy, has his absence been noticeable). He's teased us with a few smaller projects over the last two years, but now he's back, ''he's tanned, he's rested'' and he's ready to give DC fans another mind-blowing adventure.
Justice League: Gods and Monsters introduces us to a whole new world where anything is possible and nothing is as it seems. This isn't merely evil versions of our beloved Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman, but rather a fresh and exciting new take on decades old mythology. Timm and Burnett have retained the moniker/gimmick of the classic trinity and thrown everything else out. Initially, I wasn't sure how I felt about this, but the beauty of it all is that it gives Timm/Burnett complete freedom to craft a story that I found intriguing, exciting and, above all, emotionally involving.
Gods and Monsters is basically an action-packed mystery thriller that wonderfully sprinkles the back stories of our ''heroes'' into a very tight 75 minute runtime. While Superman felt very short-changed, I honestly can't pick a favourite back story between Bekka and Kirk. The detour to Apokolips was exquisite, full of emotion, surprises and engaging characters. It showcased a backdrop that could have supported a 75 minute story in its own right. Batman's origin, obviously, impacted the overall story more and simply tugged at my heart strings. It honestly had me... I really liked Will Magnus as a character and found the triangle believable and poignant, which made the ending all the more heartbreaking.
I have to commend Alan Burnett for taking what could have been an enormous, unwieldy story and managing to present it to the audiences in such a short space of time. My small criticism is, as mentioned above, how Superman came across as a little uninteresting for the most part. Yes, his origin was the basis for this new world, but I feel we needed a little more from him in order to make a stronger connection. Perhaps a look at his home life or even a scene with his sister (as seen in the comics).
The animation was simply joyous. Timm's Batman: Strange Days last year left me salivating for more 2D animation in his style and this was worth the wait. The design work was obviously given alot of thought in order to distinguish it from the DCAU as much as possible, while still retaining the flavour and I feel like they pulled it off. The backgrounds, while bland for the cityscapes, suited the story and completely shone during the Apokolips sequences. There was a few shaky moments, suggesting MOI animation had to rush through the process, but overall I loved it.
The cast was impeccable from top to bottom, with my two favorites being Michael C Hall and Tamara Taylor. Andrea Romano rarely lets us down and this was another fine example of her talents and dependability. Also, it was nice hearing Carl Lumbly's voice once again and I have to give a shout out to Grey Griffin who was fantastic in the role of Tina. The score was spectacular and once again Frederick Weidmann delivered in spades. I'll definitely be buying the soundtrack once La La Land releases it.
I simply cannot praise this movie enough. This is exactly what the DC DTV line needed, a complete and utter shot to the arm, showing that original stories is where the line should be headed. After 23 movies and 8 years of production, it's time to be bold and take a few risks... risks like Justice League: Gods and Monsters. I don't know how this thing will sell, but I certainly hope people get behind it and WB happily greenlights a sequel. Who wouldn't want more adventures with these characters? I'll certainly be supporting the endeavour by buying the comics, action figures and anything else WB/DC throws out.
I know you didn't exactly leave, but, welcome back Mr Timm... DC animation has missed you.
