Changing the characters personalities is unacceptable.
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gabeuhr — 12 years ago(January 31, 2014 11:13 AM)
I agree that the characters and their relationships in New 52 are not as deep nor as interesting as what we've seen in the modern pre-52 comics and the JL/JLU animated series. I especially hate what they've done to Hal Jordan (even though Justin Kirk is so talented that he managed to get laughs with a version of Hal that is antithetical to the classic character).
I saw War last night and the director described it as a "popcorn movie," which I think is the best way to put the latest DC animated film in perspective. Unfortunately, War comes on the heels of JL: Flashpoint Paradox, which is arguably the best animated DC film yet.
If you compare War to the "Secret Origins" arc of Justice League (2001), it doesn't shine. Both are invasion/origin stories, but JL (2001) has the unmatchable voice cast and clean, dynamic animation. In contrast, War feels like the bastardized reboot that came too soon, missing most of the soul and trading deep characters for style and action; it's the popcorn flick version.
Even if you don't like the reimagined characters, War has its moments and a surprising amount of comedy, but the animation is uneven. Sometimes Superman's head is a pumpkin, sometimes it looks more anime influenced, and sometimes he just looks like Steve Carrell.
From the Q&A that followed the film, the team revealed that this New 52 series will continue on the animated side and expand into its own continuity. Personally, I would rather see new continuity develop on the TV side and use the animated films to tell one-off and alternate reality stories (like Elseworlds).
In closing and only slightly related: WB/DCU deliver on roughly one out of of every four of these films, and it's a terrible shame that WB cancelled Young Justice, which was excellent in all regards. -
leoric21 — 12 years ago(February 09, 2014 11:33 AM)
yeah i cant believe they cancelled young justice. it was the only thing in the history of DC make aquaman cool. seriously aquaman has never been cooler then in young justice.
can you imagine?
an imaginary menagerie manager
imagining managing an imaginary menagerie? -
KyleQuest — 12 years ago(January 31, 2014 01:17 PM)
Completely agree OP. I can point a couple of fingers, preferably the middle ones, to a select few in DC whom made these changes. They need to be removed/fired so DC can get back to making respectable characters with virtues.
For DC animations, I haven't like any of them since "Justice League Unlimited" ended. The quality of writing and artistic style just aren't there anymore. -
jsmitty01 — 12 years ago(February 03, 2014 11:52 PM)
I agree as well.
In this movie, Green Lantern is an arrogant hothead who doesn't come off as intelligent.
Flash isn't his usual wise-cracking, flippant self. He's one of the more mature superheroes.
Wonder Woman is a corny, fish-out-of-water character.
Shazam is no longer a boy scout but a selfish brat.
Superman and Wonder Woman punching in unison? Lazy animators?
And what is with all the swearing? How necessary was it to the story?
Bottom line is that the script seems as if it was written by teenagers. While not completely horrible, it could have been much, much better. -
DIguana — 12 years ago(February 09, 2014 01:33 PM)
Flash isn't his usual wise-cracking, flippant self. He's one of the more mature superheroes.
That's actually one thing that this movie got right. This is Barry Allen, not Wally West. Barry's always been one of the more level-headed characters in the DCU.
Hulk want hug kitties
But they so easy to squish
Hulk live in cruel world -
Hiragana_Kanji — 12 years ago(February 04, 2014 07:49 PM)
I agree with you. Superman is a true hero, but he was nothing more then a meat head here. And Captain Marvel was the nicest person in DC. Once in the comics everyone lost there powers and were freaking out, sans Billy. He kept trying to help people as Billy Batson, and no way would he steal from a guy he looked up to .
I know I know this is the Nu52, but that doesn't make it feel any better. It is like the 90s all over, when they felt to make a character better they just had to make them jerks .
Insults are the arguments employed by those who are in the wrong. -
dtcrocbattle — 12 years ago(February 05, 2014 05:31 AM)
As someone who has lived in the foster care system, a lot of older kids (preteen on up) act like Billy does in the comics. It's more of a defense mechanism, to always put this tough face up in front of everyone.
Also, in the comics they show Billy as having a loving and protective core on the inside which is why he was chosen to be SHAZAM (formerly Captain Copyright Infringement
)
I can't really speak on Barry Allen simply because he was dead by the time I started reading comics and Wally West was The Flash. Though in later comics he never really came off as a joker.
For the rest of characters one does have to keep in mind that the movie is about an early event. A lot of the heroes are still in their Year One. These characters will grow to be better heroes.
Superman - They gave him the personality of a normal guy with powers and morals. Yes he's a cocky jerk. Most people would be if they couldn't be hurt, but he is still a hero to the core. He does protect people and save them and he still doesn't kill.
Wonder Woman - has always been a warrior first diplomat second. She is, after all, Amazonian. However, here lines in this movie were delivered in a painful way.
Green Lantern - Hal Jordan has never been depicted as the guy who takes things seriously. I have always seen him depicted as a hot shot, lady's man, flyboy. The Hal Jordan that a lot of young readers know is the legendary veteran and hero. This Hal is a young fresh-on-the-beat Green Lantern.
No Number is best. 3 builds better than 2. 2 loves better than 1 and 1 mind is better than 3. -
Hiragana_Kanji — 12 years ago(February 05, 2014 08:31 AM)
You pointed out the issue many people have with these guys.. Billy and Sups being "normal" in the way they acted. The reason that they are heroes is due to them being not being normal. For most people people the draw of a superman goes beyond that he is super powerful but the person he is. Billy isn't loved due to him being powerful he if loved so much due to his power to stay good over all the bad stuff that happen in his life.
Insults are the arguments employed by those who are in the wrong. -
dtcrocbattle — 12 years ago(February 05, 2014 09:48 AM)
1st - A hero is anyone who stands up against evil regardless. So yeah, they're still both heroes.
2nd - Billy root character is good. He defended his foster siblings from bullies, he feeds a pet tiger at the Zoo, and he really cares when he hurts people feelings. All they did was make him less happy-go-lucky and more bad boy with a heart.
As far as Superman goes you're right in regards that he should be a beacon of hope, but Billy is just a normal human kid (teenager).
And if we are judging heroes based on their personality, then Batman would be out of the running as a hero. He's completely nuts and always has been.
No Number is best. 3 builds better than 2. 2 loves better than 1 and 1 mind is better than 3. -
preachcaleb — 12 years ago(February 05, 2014 09:27 AM)
Superman came off as an arrogant a-hole in this.
GL was most definitely whiny and very weak. The fact that Batman refers to him and himself as the "normal" ones solidifies this. GL should be up there with the rest in terms of power. Certainly above Cyborg.
Wonder Woman was nowhere near the regal princess she should be. She came off like a frat boy.
Straightedge means I'm better than you. -
dtcrocbattle — 12 years ago(February 05, 2014 09:55 AM)
The fact that Batman refers to him and himself as the "normal" ones solidifies this. GL should be up there with the rest in terms of power. Certainly above Cyborg.
What Batman meant is that without the ring, Green Lantern would just be Air Force test pilot Hal Jordan. They are the only ones who are not meta-humans or actually have any powers.
Batman says "We are among an alien, an Amazonian warrior, a speedster, a cyborg, and a living lightning bolt." (note that I'm paraphrasing here.)
No Number is best. 3 builds better than 2. 2 loves better than 1 and 1 mind is better than 3. -
preachcaleb — 12 years ago(February 05, 2014 10:19 AM)
I understood what he meant. It's just faulty.
The the same would apply to most of them if you take away the source of their powers. Without the speedforce, Flash is just a normal guy. Without his cybernetic parts, Cyborg was just a football player. Without the magic word, Shazam is just a kid. None of them were born with their powers.
It was a really weak and insulting description of a guy who can travel through space and create solid objects with just his mind.
Hal should've told him, "Speak for yourself, Bats," and flown away.
Straightedge means I'm better than you. -
hyperbolic_time_waster — 12 years ago(February 07, 2014 08:14 PM)
I couldn't agree more. Superman was a mega-douche and an arrogant idiot. He killed the guy who was trying to convert him into a Reaper in such a dark way! Earlier in the movie, Batman said Superman didn't kill and Superman confirmed! No! I understand why Supes killed Zod in Man of Steel, but he didn't have to kill that one guy in this movie.
Wonder Woman was justwow. Super cheesy and campy; I cringed at the ice cream scene and the awkward intimate moments she had with Superman.
Green Lantern annoyed me too; as did his voice. Why not get Nathan Fillion or Adam Baldwin again?
Captain Marvel was bad too. But wait, didn't he always have lightning powers? Doesn't the "Z" in SHAZAM stand for Zeus? To me, that says that lightning powers are implied.
"Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici." -
SilentOne92 — 12 years ago(February 08, 2014 02:16 PM)
Agree somewhat. This film seems to be written for a much younger audience but not with much that would have an older audience really enjoying it. It is an okay animated move. I think if it was written a little more for adults, it would have been extremely good
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pillsdude7 — 12 years ago(February 09, 2014 12:02 AM)
Don't compare these guys to the Watchmen characters they are nothing alike. That is like comparing Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet to Stephenie Meyer's Twilight books because it deals with two lovers from two different worlds. The characters in this movie definitely have problems but they aren't designed that way in a break down of the superhero it was to make them darker or edgier for new readers basically Ultimate DC. There really was no deep thought into making the New 52 DC it was just another reboot about the 5th to 6th time they have done it through the years and probably in another 10 they will reboot the DC universe again.