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The World’s Finest Reviews Justice Society: World War II

REVIEWS

Justice Society: World War II
Studio: Warner Bros. Animation
Runtime: 84 minutes
Rating: PG-13
Release Date: April 27, 2021 – Digital; May 11, 2021 – 4K Blu-ray, Blu-ray

Synopsis: Justice Society: World War II finds modern-day Barry Allen – prior to the formation of the Justice League – discovering he can run even faster than he imagined, and that milestone results in his first encounter with the Speed Force. The Flash is promptly launched into the midst of a raging battle – primarily between Nazis and a team of Golden Age DC Super Heroes known as The Justice Society of America. Led by Wonder Woman, the group includes Hourman, Black Canary, Hawkman, Steve Trevor and the Golden Age Flash, Jay Garrick. The Flash quickly volunteers to assist his fellow heroes in tipping the scales of war in their favor, while the team tries to figure out how to send him home. But it won’t be easy as complications and emotions run deep in this time-skipping World War II thriller.

Stana Katic and Matt Bomer, who made their DC Universe Movies debuts as Lois Lane and Superman in the 2013 film Superman: Unbound, return to the popular animated film series in the lead roles of Wonder Woman and The Flash for Justice Society: World War II. The star-studded cast includes Geoffrey Arend as Charles Halstead/Advisor, Armen Taylor as Jay Garrick, Elysia Rotaru as Black Canary, Liam McIntyre as Aquaman, Omid Abtahi as Hawkman, Matthew Mercer as Hourman, Keith Ferguson as Dr. Fate, Darin De Paul as Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Ashleigh LaThrop as Iris West, and Chris Diamantopoulos as Steve Trevor.

Jeff Wamester directs Justice Society: World War II from a screenplay by Meghan Fitzmartin and Jeremy Adams. Producers are Jim Krieg and Kimberly S. Moreau. Butch Lukic is Supervising Producer. Sam Register is Executive Producer.



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Justice Society: World War II Animated Feature Review
By James Harvey

Packed with one legitimate surprise after another, and some unexpectedly hard-hitting emotional moments, Justice Society: World War II is another winner (albeit an imperfect one) for the DC Universe Movie line. With its strong pace and great character work, and some real tear-jerker moments, this animated feature is a novel and bold showcase not only for one of comicdom’s first super-teams, but also for the creative possibilities of Warner Bros.’s DC Comics-based animation projects.

As usual, spoilers will be kept as light as possible, though some material shown in the film’s trailers will be covered.

Directed by Jeff Wamester from a script written by Jeremy Adams and Meghan Fitzmartin, Justice Society: World War II throws the spotlight on one of DC Comics’ premiere super-teams, the Justice Society of America (if that wasn’t clear enough from the movie title)! Not only do we get to see them in action at their prime, but also we get to see their influence and impact on the wider universe first established (possibly and looking likely) in Superman: Man of Tomorrow. Not only does the fabled team play key roles in the story’s many twists and turns, but they also act as catalysts for some major decisions that The Flash, aka Barry Allen, has to make. It’s a slick way to make their impact matter to more than just what’s happening at that moment, but for events that they might not even be around for. It utilizes the team in a way that’s respectful to their four-color origins and heritage.

Justice Society: World War II is driven by it’s eclectic and fairly big cast of heroes, and nearly all of them get their moment to shine in one respect or the other. Sure, some members of the Justice Society of America (JSA) don’t get as much screen time as the others, but each make their presence known in pretty memorable ways, both in terms of great action beats and poignant character moments. The differing impact each JSA member has on “future boy,” aka the modern-day The Flash, feel both earned and actually relevant to how events play out as the film speeds toward its climax.

The Flash and Wonder Woman lead the film and get the lion’s share of the movie’s 84-minute runtime, naturally, with the roles admirably performed by Matt Bomer and Stana Katic, respectively. Bomer effortlessly embodies The Flash’s curious, intelligent, and positive demeanor, and even gets some meaty dramatic moments, while Katic brings to life the determined, unflinching warrior aspect of Wonder Woman with ease, turning in a stand-out performance as the Maid of Might. Her work opposite Chris Diamantopoulos’ Steve Trevor is especially worth noting, and those two together clearly give the film its heart. Be ready to get a little misty-eyed.



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The rest of the cast turn in solid, admirable work, too. Omid Abtahi brings a sense of calm and wisdom to Hawkman, while Armen Taylor’s Jay Garrick/The Flash brings a comforting but light-hearted presence to the team, with Matthew Mercer juggling the duality of Hourman, nicely channeling both the calm and chaotic attitudes of the character, and Elysia Rotaru bringing out Black Canary’s tough edge and attitude. The entire team syncs together perfectly, in part due to the film’s impressive cast, and the undeniable chemistry between them.

These great performances are not just fueled by the wise, guiding hand of voice director Wes Gleason, but also courtesy of the film’s intriguing and totally game script. Adams and Fitzmartin keep the story rolling by consistently raising the stakes in new ways, creating set pieces that feel unpredictable and fresh for each terrible situation the JSA find themselves in. Thankfully, the film also finds time to slow down between each piece to allow for the characters to breathe, digest and prepare for the next onslaught. Justice Society: World War II does a great job at balancing the character work with the action, inevitably paying off in the film’s climactic battle in some really satisfying ways.

And as thrilling as Justice Society: World War II‘s story may be, there are unfortunately some aspects that are unexplained or underdeveloped, which impact the film’s enjoyment factor. No explicit details will be spoiled, but there are multiple characters who appear that aren’t clearly named or identified (at least initially for some), which ends up making things occasionally confusing. When these characters are involved in key plot moments, not being entirely sure who’s on the screen can make things hard to follow and hinder key developments. This unfortunately directly impacts Aquaman’s role in the film, and some aspects of the film’s last act, though to say more would dip into spoiler-territory.

What never fails to impress, however, is the film’s incredible action. After Justice Society: World War II‘s opening action sequence – which is definitely not what you think it’ll be – each successive beat is more thrilling and larger in scale than the one preceding it. Nothing feels repetitive or boring, but instead engaging. Showcased heavily in the movie’s promotional materials, one of the movie’s earlier set pieces involving Wonder Woman is absolutely thrilling and incredibly staged. You feel every single strike, every single blow, and it’s a stunner to watch. And while the action can get really intense, it never feels excessive or unnecessary, but vital to the plot. Wamester does solid work behind the camera, handling not only the film’s many action sequences with ease, but also the quiet moments. Whether it’s something humorous or emotionally stirring, Wamester is able to really get in there and make those scenes click.

Thankfully, nearly each of those moments in Justice Society: World War II are supported with strong animation. Whether it’s an exhilarating action sequence or a quiet moment between teammates, the animation rarely falters. The character and background designs are also top-notch, and legitimately help in building the film’s feel and tone. Stilted and jumpy movements are minimal, with only a handful of times when the film’s budget clearly impacts the film’s overall quality.

Lastly, it’s worth once again singling out the stellar work of composer Kevin Riepl, here following up his stint on 2020’s Superman: Man of Tomorrow. Once again, Riepl turns in an intriguing piece, going against the expectations of what one would expect a typical DC Universe Movie title to create something truly memorable. Ideally a soundtrack release is coming in the near future.

Oh, also, did anyone else notice the “World War II” part of the movie’s logo uses the same font design commonly used for Wonder Woman products? A very neat touch.

Overflowing with great action and a stellar cast, Justice Society: World War II is a rousing and exciting installment of the DC Universe Movie line. Despite a couple missteps, it’s an overall thrilling adventure and a fantastic introduction to the Justice Society of America. Anchored by compelling and beloved classic characters, Justice Society: World War II is yet another testament to the wealth and depth of DC Comics’ roster, and long-time fans will enjoy seeing their favorites realized in such a rewarding fashion. While some under-developed aspects of the film’s story may impede the viewing experience for some, this animated jaunt to the past is a journey well worth taking. Recommended!



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