DVD TITLE: SUPERMAN DOOMSDAY
COMPANY: WARNER PREMIERE
RATED: PG-13
DVD INFO: 75 minutes, widescreen version presented in a matted widescreen format. The aspect ratio of its original television exhibition enhanced for widescreen TVS.
It has been 15 years since the release of the “Death of Superman” comic books which was one of the coolest storylines to come from DVD comics and also to pump some needed energy into the Superman comic book series.
The storyline featured the intergalactic serial killer known as Doomsday. With super strength, virtually indestructible and the embodiment of evil, not even the Justice League could defeat him. That was until the bloody battle between Superman and Doomsday came to a head and in the end, Doomsday was defeated but Superman sacrificed his life to protect Metropolis and paid for it with his life.
With the release of the DVD of “SUPERMAN DOOMSDAY”, the first animated Superman movie, is based on the popular battle.
Although the storyline of the animated movie is not exactly the same as the comic book series, the animated film manages to capture the essence of Superman and the bloody battle.
In this film, Superman and Lois Lane have been dating for six months. Lois wants to know more about Superman and she has a hunch that possibly he may be Clark Kent.
While the two are having a romantic vacation, Lex Luthor is still scheming on how to beat Superman and his corporat Lex Corp finds what may be an alien vessel (which turns out to be an imprisonment for whatever is inside). Of course, Lex Luthor authorizes the research team to open the alien vessel and Doomsday is unleashed.
Although the film focuses on the battle between Superman and Doomsday, the storyline goes in much deeper by focusing on the emotions of Lois Lane, Martha Kent and the people close to Superman post-death and that includes Lex Luthor who is so upset that he was not the person to stop Superman and feels cheated.
But all of a sudden when Metropolis needs a hero, a man with the blue tights and red cape is back. But is it really Superman?
So, the storyline is top notch and I wouldn’t expect anything less from Bruce Timm, Lauren Montgomery and Brandon Vietti. Bruce Timm has worked on the awesome “Justice League” and “Batman” animated series and the storyline definitely delivers, thankfully to the cool screenplay by Duane Capizzi.
I must admit that I was not liking Superman’s character design, since I was used to the animated series version and got so used to the “Justice League” animated series and to see Superman have lines around the cheek bones and a John Travolta style chin…(fortunately, not too Jay Leno) took some time getting used to.
As for the voice acting, Adam Baldwin did a great job as Superman and at first I was not too sure about Anne Heche’s voice acting as Lois Lane. It was very different but as the film progressed, I got used to it and I admit, it was kind of unique for her character.
As for special features, the DVD comes with 70 minutes of special features including the “Documentary and Rebirth: Superman Lives!” which is an informative and awesome look of how the comic book creators came up with the “Death of Superman” back in the early 90’s. I was impressed that they actually had a lot of video footage from the planning stages to the promotion. This feature alone is sure to be “golden” among Superman fans and readers who followed the “Death of Superman” series.
Also featured is a commentary by Bruce Tim and Duane Cappizi, voice director Andrea Romano and executive producer Gregory Noveck.
Also an exclusive sneak peak at DC Universe’s “Justice League: The New Frontier”, “Behind the Voice” featurette and “Superman’s Last Stand Challenge”.
I purchased my DVD from Wal-Mart and that comes with a bonus CD which features the actual “Death of Superman” comic book.
Although I tend to review mostly Japanese animation, when it comes to certain creators and people behind an animated series or film in the US, I have come to expect quality.
For me, Bruce Timm brings quality to DC characters and “SUPERMAN DOOMSDAY” does not disappoint one bit, although loosely based on the comic series of the “Death of Superman”, the storyline that they came up with for this animated film is still just as emotional and awesome as the storyline that ran in the comic books.
I was among the comic book readers who highly anticipated the comic book release back in 1993, in fact, I bought 4 bagged and 4 regular, the collector’s card series and collected the whole run. That is how hardcore I was into the series. I loved every issue and admit I was skeptical about the animated film, because I knew that there would be no Doomsday vs. the Justice League, nor will there be the funeral which featured nearly every major super hero from the DC universe, nor the four who tried to take on Superman’s legacy.
But I do trust Bruce Timm and he has not disappointed me once with the animated television series, so needless to say, after watching this DVD, I enjoyed every minute of it.
It’s interesting because Marvel has released several cool animated films within the past two years but DC’s first animated film since the “Batman” animated film years ago, with “SUPERMAN DOOMSDAY”, this release is a grand slam.
Great storyline, awesome special features and featuring one of the most popular heroic icon in American culture, “SUPERMAN DOOMSDAY” is indeed a winner. Highly recommended!