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Reviews - Film
Justice League: The New Frontier
Original Release Date - February 26th, 2008 (DTV Only)
Inspired by the best-selling graphic novel by Darwyn
Cooke and produced by the multiple Emmy® award winning animation legend,
Bruce Timm, The New Frontier is the epic tale of the founding of the
Justice League. Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman are all here of
course, and so are Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter and Flash - whose
incredible origins will be told for the very first time. Strangers at
first, these very different heroes must overcome fear and suspicion to
forge an alliance against a monster so formidable, even the mighty
Superman can not stop it. If they fail, our entire planet will be
“cleansed” of humanity.
Reviews by Zach Demeter and James Harvey
Reviews contain spoilers for the film.
Credits:
Creative Consultant Darwyn Cooke
Voice Direction Andrea Romano
Music by Keven Manthei
Editor Elen Orson
Written by Stan Berkowitz
Additional Material by Darwyn Cooke
based on the DC graphic novel by Darwyn Cooke
Executive Producer Bruce Timm
Line producer Kimberly A. Smith
Supervising Producer Michael Goguen
Directed by David Bullock
Executive in Charge of Production for DC Comics Gregory Noveck
Animation Services Dongwoo Co., LTD. |
Voices:
David Boreanaz as Hal Jordan aka Green Lantern
Miguel Ferrer as J'onn J'onzz / Martian Manhunter
Neil Patrick Harris as Barry Allen / The Flash
John Heard as Ace Morgan
Lucy Lawless as Wonder Woman
Kyle MacLachlan as Clark Kent / Superman
Phil Morris as King Faraday
Alan Ritchson as Aquaman
Kyra Sedgwick as Lois Lane
Brooke Shields as Carol Ferris
Jeremy Sisto as Bruce Wayne / Batman
Joe Alaskey as Bugs Bunny
Jeff Bennett as Sportscaster
Corey Burton as Abin Sur
Townsend Coleman as Dr. Magnus
Keith David as The Centre
Sean Donnellan as Haley
Robin Atkin Downes as The Guardian
Shane Haboucha as Robin
David Hunt as Harry
Lex Lang as Rick Flag
Vicki Lewis as Iris West
Joe Mantegna as Crooner
Vanessa Marshall as Amazon Woman
Jim Meskimen as Slam Bradley
James Arnold Taylor as Captain Cold
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Review (Zach Demeter)
Well…holy crap. I must say after the mediocre first attempt with Superman
Doomsday, I was already wondering if this DC Universe line was going
to take off at all. Then I watched The New Frontier footage and I
began to get some hope again. Sure, we’ve seen the Justice League in
animation before, but nothing like The New Frontier was going to
be. This was going to be a return to the silver age, with gosh and golly
gee’s thrown in for good measure. My reading of the original comic only
furthered my excitement for the title and by the time the film arrived
in my hands, I could hardly wait to throw that disc right into the DVD
player.
In The New Frontier our Justice League has disbanded after
questioning from the government over their tactics. While Superman and
Wonder Woman still ally themselves with the US Government, other heroes
like The Flash and Batman become vigilantes, despite their instance on
doing good. It’s not until the advent of a new Green Lantern and the
coming of a dark evil known as the Centre arrives on Earth do we see our
heroes join forces once again to defeat the forces of darkness. With
near a dozen heroes making appearances throughout, The New Frontier
has set a stage for the DC Universe DTVs that I wonder if will ever be
met again.
There’s so much to talk about with The New Frontier that I hardly
know where to begin. My mind is racing, trying to remember every detail,
every glorious detail, that is sprinkled throughout the film and
even after three viewings I still don’t feel like I’ve had enough. The
New Frontier is the first animated feature in a long time that I’ve
felt completely satisfied while walking away from. With years of
mediocre “adult animated” efforts by western studios that have very
little pay off from what they hope to accomplish, I’m very happy to say
that The New Frontier obliterates any feature length superhero
film I’ve seen in recent years.
From the start you get the feeling that you’re into something special
with The New Frontier. With a storyboard type intro that’s
treated as if it were comic book panels being drawn and colored before
our eyes, the film does sacrifice the original comics dinosaur island
intro, but as stated on the commentary, it would have added quite a
chunk of runtime to the film had it been included. Regardless of what
was left out in the film, either from the beginning, middle or end, The
New Frontier ultimately remains faithful to the original comics in
more ways than one. There’s just something about the films intro with
the still panels and the like that just makes for a rousing intro to the
world we’re about to experience for the next hour and twenty minutes.
Without a doubt the films strongest points reside in the character
designs and animation that accompany them. While I found Wonder Woman to
break model to the point where she just seemed overly awkward at times,
everyone else remained dead on throughout. The costumes worn throughout
are really a treat to see in animation and I can’t explain what makes
them so wonderful—it’s just a beautiful sight to see after seeing the
same old animation styles repeated and reused for superheroes in the
past decade or so.
One thing that I truly enjoyed about the film was that it earned its
PG-13 rating not because of the violence or language but because the
story was more adult. It wasn’t like Superman Doomsday where
Superman had the snot kicked out of him and that was the extent of the
“adult” areas of animation. With The New Frontier, there’s
politics involved and the mention of presidents and just a general sense
that what we’re viewing isn’t meant for little kids. Although there’s
nothing too objectionable in the film that little kids wouldn’t be able
to see, it’s just refreshing to be able to watch an animated superhero
film that feels like its written for an older audience. That’s
the benefit that the DC Universe DTV line has—if it continues to adapt
strong and mature storylines such as The New Frontier (and not
something like Superman/Doomsday) then it has a good chance of
being able to be entertaining as well as thought provoking.
Of course the film manages to pack in its fair share of brutal mayhem
and destruction. Amid the adult themes with Superman and Lois and the
moral struggle that Hal Jordan struggles with in and out of the Korean
War, The New Frontier drips with action that is bolstered by the
films use of animation that is more impressive than anything I’ve seen
as of late. At many times in the film it felt panels from the comic book
and the way the film plays with the shadows is simply astounding to me.
Moving on past the eye candy we also have one of the strongest array of
voice actors I’ve ever heard. Despite being so used to certain voice
actors portraying the superheroes we see in this film, I didn’t have any
real adjustment to make while listening to these guys talk through these
avatars that I’ve seen used so many times before. Kyle MacLachlan’s
Superman sounded perfect from the start and Jeremy Sisto’s Batman
created a deep and dark voice that I never imagined possible for The
Dark Knight. While Batman did take me by surprise a bit, by and large
everyone pretty much nailed their roles from the start. Neil Patrick
Harris as The Flash and Lucy Lawless as Wonder Woman were no-brainers
and Miguel Ferrer and Keith David’s bass filled role as Martian
Manhunter and The Centre respectively made for an aural delight through
and through.
If there were any flaws to be found in The New Frontier it would
be the films rapid cutting between scenes. Occasionally we would be
given a random sequence with Martian Manhunter then cut to another hero
for whatever reason. It was done to keep us updated on each of the
heroes as the story progressed, but it just felt odd at times to
transition so fast. There were also times it felt like we were supposed
to have a commercial break, which made for a weird sensation as well. I
don’t know if it’s leftovers from working in TV animation for so long or
what, but those were the only two real hindrances I saw the film
struggle with. I realize a lot of the cuts were done because there was
so much story to tell, but I’m struggling to write a review that isn’t
just simply filled with a slew of positive things to say.
Where would a movie be without its soundtrack? The New Frontier
has such a terrific and monumentally awesome score by Kevin Manthei that
captures the spirit of the film in remarkable fashion. I’ll wait to
expand on the score in the review for that when the soundtrack hits
(March 18th), but I will say that I can definitely foresee myself
listening to it fore a couple weeks at least.
The thing with The New Frontier, however, is that even in its
weakest moments it simply obliterates anything like it. While I
absolutely love Justice League and Justice League Unlimited,
there are things in The New Frontier that are simply new and
fresh feeling. It’s a truly terrific film that I simply love—it will
likely be one of the best animated efforts for all of 2008, although
with another DC DTV still on the horizon for this year, it may encounter
some competition.
I wish there was more I could say about The New Frontier, but I’m
afraid if I start wandering through the plot piece by piece I’ll be here
for another twenty pages. There are moments in animation that stick out
to me, however, and the portrayal of Hal Jordan and the voice work that
David Boreanez does for that character will remain in my mind for a long
time. Combined with the Kennedy speech closing of the film with
absolutely beautiful stills that again look like they were lifted from
the comic book, The New Frontier is something that will stay in
your mind long after you shut the DVD player off. Highly
Recommended.
Review (James Harvey)
As the movie opens, you know Justice League: The New Frontier
will be something different. Whether you've read the graphic novel that
inspired the film or have no idea what to expect, the opening scene is
something special. The movie opens with a beautiful sequence showing the
creation of a children's book, a rather ominous children's book, telling
about the coming of The Centre, and its plans to eradicate all life from
the Earth? As the author finishes the book, we see him put down his art
utensils and reach over for a gun. Cue the gunshot and then cue the
beautifully rendered opening credits. How's that for an opener? And it
only gets better from there.
Justice League: The New Frontier takes viewers on an
action-packed adventure, exploring the origins of the Justice League. DC
Comics legends Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman are all featured in the
film, as well as Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter and The Flash, as they
band together to form the legendary super team. Strangers at first,
these very different heroes must overcome fear and suspicion to forge an
alliance against a monster so formidable, even the mighty Superman
cannot stop it alone. If they fail, the entire planet will be "cleansed"
of humanity.
So there we go. That's the gist of the plot right there. Now, for those
who have read DC: The New Frontier, you already know how
everything is going to turn out. For those who are newbies to the story,
you're in for a surprise. This is not the kind of Justice League
story you'd fine on Justice League Unlimited. It's a movie with a
tone all it's own, completely different than what we've seen before in
both the level of maturity presented and even the content. While some
may call Superman Doomsday a product of juvenile excess, this
movie is a product of maturity. This movie approaches the topic of
superheroes, and the subsequent ramifications, with such a level of
maturity not seen before in animation. Maybe comparable to some of the
live-action stuff, but nothing before in animation . . . at least the
animation I've watched.
I have to hand it to both Stan Berkowitz's script and director Dave
Bullock's steady hand for helping to achieve that level of
sophistication here. Whether it's Berkowitz bringing together the
abundance of plot lines or Bullock keeping the camera still so we can
actually watch the scene develop, both manage to create a fascinating
experience for this movie. There are also some scenes in here that have
just a huge impact thanks to the excellent marriage of the script and
the directing. There's the tense scene between Wonder Woman and
Superman, and there's a touching moment between Superman and Lois, The
absolutely crushing scene where Lois breaks down during a news report or
the amazing scene where Batman faces down Detective John Jones. I could
go on and on, but there's just an abundance of great scenes to be found,
and both Berkowitz and Bullock deserve a lot of praise for them. Of
course, those two can't take all the credit. There's a whole crew here
that deserves a huge heaping of praise, and I'm going to get to them.
Now, I'm not saying this movie is perfect, as I do have a grunt or two
about it, but this is one of the best Direct-To-Video efforts I've seen.
No lie.
What I really appreciate about this movie is the attention to detail.
Whether it's the little cameos peppered throughout, the use of the
actual "New Frontier" speech by John F. Kennedy, or the simple nuances
in each character, this movie pays attention to every little detail.
There's a short cameo by Robin. Jimmy Olsen appears. We get a quick
visit to Themyscira. Hal and Carol kissing before he leaves for his
mission. A boy being scared of Batman. The dead-on recreation of the
1950s. I could go on about all the little touches and scenes here and
there, but I don't want to spoil the entire movie. All of these touches
(and more), some from the original graphic novel and others original to
this movie, really make the ideas of this one big universe housing all
these characters believable. Not only that, but it helps to cement the
time frame of the movie, too. I have to make note of the color palette
and absolutely amazing design work done for the film. Everything here
was done by scratch, and you can tell. Everything looks fresh and new,
and the designs are just beautiful looking. The clothes look authentic,
the cars look awesome, and the film just drips that 1950's class.
Justice League: The New Frontier is really ambitious, and you can
tell that by how they approach the look of the film. The movie has huge
set pieces, wardrobe changes, character flares, all of it. It all works.
Toss on a really excellent script by Berkowtiz, who does an amazing job
at squeezing a rather large graphic novel into a 75 minute run time, and
some superb direction by Bullock, and you have a movie that, overall, is
excellent. Again, I mentioned this above, but I feel that it warrants
mentioning again, and that is Bullock's directing. I want to
specifically point out two instances. There are two sequences, one a
fight between Batman and a bunch of cult members, and the second being
the huge aerial battle at the end between the good guys and The Centre.
Instead of rapid cuts, Bullock lets the camera sit and watch the action
unfold. We don't get a bunch of quick cuts, but we get to see the action
unfold naturally and gracefully and it really seems . . . old-fashioned.
Movies today are filled with quick cuts and rapid-pace editing, but
here? No, Bullock lets the camera linger to allow the scene to unfold
and it works beautifully. Hats off on Bullock's superb directing choices
(and his amazing work on the film's opening credits).
Now, thankfully, Berkowitz and Bullock are in good company for Justice
League: The New Frontier. Not only is the creative team sharp, but
the voice talent is just top quality. And, before I go any further, I
want to say that Bruce Timm was right. Jeremy Sisto was just amazing as
Batman. Not only him, but the rest of the cast are top-notch. Neil
Patrick Harris brings the perfect sound to the Flash, mixing youth and
doubt. Miguel Ferrer is pitch-perfect as the Martian Manhunter. He
brings such a quality to his performances that you feel for the Martian.
He really added depth to a character that could have been easily
overlooked. Lucy Lawless is great as Wonder Woman, absolutely flawless.
She really brings a commanding presence to the role that I haven't heard
anywhere else before. Kyle McLaughlin and David Boreanez are superbly
cast as Superman and Green Lantern, and get the most face time among the
big-name heroes. McLaughlin has this quality about is voice that makes
his Superman sound classic while Boreanez really brings a 1950's-vibe to
Lantern. Keith David's brief role as The Centre is also very
exceptional; his voice really commands the presence of a deadly threat
that will eradicate everyone on a whim. Overall, the casting is sharp
across the board. And before I forget, Brooke Shields and Kyra Sedgwick
deserve special shout-outs for their roles as Carol Ferris and Lois
Lane.
It's this superb casting, the excellent directing and script, the
amazing attention to detail that help Justice League: The New
Frontier overcome a couple of its flaws. And I suppose, in a way,
it's even a bit unfair to call these flaws, but more like limitations
pushed onto the creative team of the movie.
The first one, and probably the most damning, is the limited running
time. Like Superman Doomsday before it, here we get 75 minutes,
including credits, to tell a rather large tale. And, yes, it does hinder
the movie. I think whether you've read the book or not, you're going to
notice that some scenes or characters were very truncated in the film.
And due to the running time, a lot of the story from both DC: The New
Frontier and the actual movie had to be cut down. As I recall Timm
stating in the commentary track, it came to the point where if they
included on extra scene, another would have to be excised, and you can
tell in the final product. Now, I could be seeing this through biased
eyes, as I've read DC: The New Frontier, but I think it's
something that even casual viewers may be able to notice. However, it's
not as damaging as one may think. The story still flows, very briskly at
times, and everything manages to wrap itself nicely, but some
relationships are cut down to the bone. There are moments where I wish
they could've just let the scene stay for a couple more beats.
Thankfully, in one way or another, Berkowitz was able to at least
reference a lot of the cut material. Whether it's through newspaper
headlines or news reports, we do get references to some of the material
from DC: The New Frontier that just can't completely fit into the
movie. A lot of the stuff wasn't necessary to the plot of the animated
movie, but did expand upon the era and the characters, so it is a shame
to lose. It does cut back a bit on the character development for the
movie, but I can understand why it cut. However, it's all in the book
so, after checking out this movie, go read the books if you haven't
already. I can only imagine how difficult it was to trim and alter the
material to make it fit within the 75 minutes running time and I applaud
Berkowitz for making it work. Still, I can't help but wonder what those
extra few minutes may have brought.
My other complaint is that, sometimes, the animation does seem a bit
average. Now, mind you that this is few and far in-between, but there
are moments where it's not strong, and it's even noted from time to time
in both commentaries. Now, again, this is something that is generally
out of their control so I can't really slight them; they do try to fix
up the odd mistake, but there are a couple moments that I thought really
could've used some stronger animation. Thankfully, it is only a handful
of moments. The two that seem to distract me are Superman's arrival for
an outer-space rescue and Green Lantern dispatching something into outer
space. Those really stood out to me, for one reason or another, but it's
just minor quibbles. Personally, I can be overly picky so I don't know
if people will notice these or not, but these are just a couple that
jumped at me. Overall, the animation is still gorgeous and a few scenes
are absolutely breathtaking.
At the end of it all, I can't praise this film enough. Like I said, my
complaints are really minuscule, small, but that doesn't stop this from
being a great film. It's a really well done movie and probably one of
the greatest Justice League stories ever told (and it's technically not
even a Justice League tale). It's such a different approach to these
characters in animation. It's gutsy, you have to admit. There's no way
this story could have worked if they contemporized it, and I'm glad they
didn't. The setting is a crucial aspect to the story and they really
sell it, making the setting of the movie just as important as the main
characters.
When you add the truly excellent creative team behind it, with Bullock
directing from a Berkowitz script, a brilliant voice cast, an amazing
score, and a host of brilliant professionals working behind the scenes,
you have a movie that really shows how much everyone cares for the
source material. And with Darwyn Cooke stepping in to help (he worked on
the script and storyboarded a few sequences), it's obvious what everyone
set out to accomplish here and they succeed in spades. Justice
League: The New Frontier is my favorite film of the year so far, and
it comes Highly Recommended for fans of both the comics and the
DC Animated Series. Justice League: The New Frontier is probably
the best direct-to-video effort to date, and it's one that all fans
really should check out. There's just something really special about
this movie, something that helps it overcome any of its flaws, something
that really pushes and makes it something special. There are moments
from Justice League: The New Frontier that will stay with me for
some time. |
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