Justice League: Doom Review

I have been a Justice League fan for some time now and have also been loving the DC Universe Animated movies and was wanting to watch this one for ages (due to it not being out in the UK had to get a US import which took a while). Although I have never read JLA: Tower of Babel I was still able to enjoy this film and might now consider buying this book.

Plot

The Justice League (Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Flash, Martian Manhunter) along with Cyborg have discovered that Royal Flush Gang are trying to steel industrial diamonds from a bank, using equipment that allows them to walk through walls to help them. After defeating the Royal Flush Gang Mirror Master as a hologram sneaks into Batman's cave whilst he's not there. Whilst there he downloads data from Batman's computer onto a device from LexCorp on the orders of a man named Vandal Savage. The data is in fact contingency plans that Batman has created to neutralize the Justice League if any of the members ever turned rogue. Savage along with his Legion of Doom (Bane, Metallo, Cheetah, Star Sapphire, Mirror Master, and Malefic) use these plans to take the Justice League out of the picture whilst Savage initiates his bigger plan.

Review

I really enjoyed this film and one of the best DC Animated films I have seen to date. I love how it starts with action with the Justice League stopping the Royal Flush Gang, and liked how this was actually part of the bigger story and not just a big action scene to draw you into the film. It was nice to see Dwayne McDuffie's last piece of work be as good as it was and is a very fitting tribute to his memory, thank you sir.

The way the characters were introduced at the start of the film was brilliant and I loved how during the opening fight between the Justice League and the Royal Flush Gang all the characteristics and power skills of each member is shown of, so newer fans don't have to wait ages for the team to be introduced. I also liked how each character got the same amount of screen time during the film and that all of the members were treated equally, besides maybe Batman who was the person behind the events happening.

I also thought the cast chosen to voice the characters was brilliant and loved how Kevin Conroy and Tim Daly voiced Batman and Superman respectfully as I grew up with them voicing these characters in the Animated TV Series whilst I was growing up and have always felt they are the two best people to have voiced each character. I have also enjoyed hearing some newer voice actors like Nathan Fillion reprising his role as Hal Jordan from Green Lantern Emerald Knights and although I haven't seen Emerald Knights I thought he did a great job of voicing Hal and you could really see the arrogance show on him throughout the film. I was also happy to see the return of Susan Eisenberg, Michael Rosenbaum, and Carl Lumbly reprise there roles as Wonder Woman, Flash (although this time Barry Allan and not Wally West) and Martian Manhunter from the Justice League Animated TV Series as they did a brilliant job on that series and have brought the exact same to this film.

I loved how most of the villains in this film weren't the top villain of their respective hero and that some of the lesser known villains get some time to shine on film. I also liked how the personal connection between the villains and heroes was shown and that the villains react when they realise that they finally get to bask in the glory for a change. I especially liked Bane and Cheetah in this film and thought their respective quarrels with Batman and Wonder Woman during the film were brilliant. I was also happy to see during the fight between Batman and Bane the mention of Bane breaking his back as this is probably the most notable point in Bane's history so was nice to see mentioned. I also enjoyed how Savage was introduced into this story and thought his back story was brilliant, and liked how he's been around since the time of cavemen forever trying to shape the world into what he wants it to be.

Cyborg was a brilliant addition to this film and I loved how he was in a sideline role, helping the Justice League whilst hoping to eventually get a spot on the team. I also liked how due to the fact he isn't a member there is a hero in this film that isn't effected due to Batman's contingency plan.

The action throughout this film was brilliant and whether it be the one in one battles between the selected villain and hero or the group battles they were all great and visually stunning. I also liked that despite the fact there were brilliant fight scenes they didn't take away from the brilliant plot helping the story move at a better pace.

I also loved the contingency plans themselves and thought they were very clever (I won't spoil what happens to them). Having read up on the story since watching this film I noticed that the methods of neutralizing the Justice League members were different in this film than they were in the book and this isn't necessarily a bad thing. It's nice to have a change from time to time and it makes the film more exciting and surprising for fans who have read the book thinking they know what will happen to these characters whilst finding out they don't.

Final Verdict

This was a brilliant film and a great addition to anyone's animated collection. This film has a tremendous plot and brilliant action. I would highly recommend it and hope that DC's animated films are as good as this in the future.

Rating: 5/5