Tag: DC

Superman: Red Son – Review (Spoiler Free)

Superman: Red Son which is directed by Sam Liu adapts the famous work of Mark Millar and is the latest entry into the DC Animated Universe. Being a fan of Liu’s previous DC work with titles such as Wonder Woman: Bloodlines, Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay and The Death and Return of Superman I was going into this with high expectations. Not only due to Sam Liu’s involvement, but because Superman: Red Son just happens to be one of my favourite graphic novels ever. And I’m happy to report that for the most part Superman: Red Son met those expectations. Is it perfect? No, it definitely has its issues which I will get into later on. But throughout the 80+ minute runtime, even though I knew what was going to happen I found myself invested every step of the way until the climax.

For this review I will not be going into details about the comic itself or what happens in the movie because I want to try keep this as spoiler-free as possible. If you haven’t read the comic I would highly recommend you pick it up either before or after watching this adaptation.

Story

Superman: Red Son can only be described as the ultimate ‘what if?’ story. Instead of superman’s pod landing in a farm in Kanas. This time it lands on the other side of the world…in Russia. So not only is this Superman raised by different parents, he’s also raised up in a totally different environment and this helps shape him as an entirely different Superman than the one we’re so used to seeing. This is why I love the comic so much. I find twists like these to iconic characters so fascinating and Superman: Red Son is no different.

Seeing how Superman operates in 1950s Russia is refreshing when it comes to the character because part of what makes this setting so different is the political climate of the country at the time. And while he tries his best to help the people judging by what side of the fence you’re on you can actually see this Superman as either the hero or villain of the story. What I liked about this adaption of the story is how it tries to humanise Superman more than in the comic. I could still sense the essence of Superman in version of the character with how he dealt with issues. Whether you agree with him or not you could always see that he was trying his best to better the lives of others.

Action

The action in Superman: Red Son is definitely its strongest aspect. Fight scenes are shot well and are straight up brutal at times. This is certainly the case when Batman gets involved. Batman is another depiction of a character which I love when it comes to this movie. Plus, I don’t care how many times it happens or what iterations of the characters they are. I will never get tired of watching Superman and Batman go toe-to-toe for a couple of minutes. The inclusion of the Green Lantern Corps was much needed too as with their Lantern Rings they bring an entirely different dynamic which helped bring some variety to the fight scenes.

Animation

One of the major complaints when it comes to the DC Animated movies is the quality of the animation. Now, usually it doesn’t bother me that much. But with Superman: Red Son it actually did. For a story that was set in the 1950s of Russia it sure didn’t look or feel like it. It’s kind of hard to explain, but it felt like I was just watching another DC Animated movie and a lot of that has to do with the animation style. This might be because I’ve spent the last week watching all of the DC Animated movies in preparation for Justice League Dark: Apokolips War. But those movies should look and feel the same because they are part of the same universe. I just wish the studio changed up their animation style when it came to the Elseworlds movies to further help differentiate them from the current timeline.

Ending

I haven’t gone into much detail about the changes and similarities from the source materials. Going into the movie like with previous adaptions I wasn’t expecting a full adaption. I knew there was going to be a few changes. And for the most part I was happy with those changes. However, when it comes to the ending of the movie this is where I have my biggest issue. Not that anything was changed, something was left out. A major twist in the final panels of the comic which I love. Honestly, it’s my favourite part of the story. I still remember that jaw-dropping moment as I was turning those final pages. I just don’t see what was gained by leaving out that final twist from the comic. Once again, if you haven’t picked up the comic I highly recommend you do for that twist alone.

Closing thoughts

Overall, while Superman: Red Son is far from perfect I still believe that it is a solid and warranted adaptation of the source material. Regardless of my issues with the ending and some other changes from the source material there is still enough here that should keep you entertained especially, when it comes to the story and the action. I would also say that there are parts of the movie which are done better here than in the comic itself. That’s why I’m always open to adaptations like this. I love to see a creators take on a fellow creators work and with Superman: Red Son Sam Liu does a solid job at adapting one of the greatest comics stories ever made while adding his own touch to it.

Superman: Red Son – 4/5

Superman: Red Son is available on Digital Download now, and Blu-ray™& DVD on March 16, 2020.

Click here for a chance to win a copy of Superman: Red Son on Blu-ray™

WIN SUPERMAN: RED SON ON BLU-RAY™

As stated in my previous post I would be running a giveaway for you to possibly win your own copy of Superman: Red Son on Blu-ray™, thanks to the people at Warner Bros. All you have to do is answer the question in the comment section down below:

Which of the following characters has Jason Isaacs, the voice of Superman in Superman: Red
Son, voiced for DC Universe Movies?
a) Sinestro
b) Ra’s al Ghul
c) Lex Luthor
d) All of the above
Superman: Red Son is available on Digital Download now, and Blu-ray™ & DVD on March

*You must be located in the UK to qualify for the giveaway*

Good luck!

This competition will close on the 16th March, 2020

Superman: Red Son

What if the Man of Steel was raised behind the Iron Curtain? So begins DC’s acclaimed Elseworlds story, Superman: Red Son, now the next entry in the popular series of DC Universe Movies. Produced by Warner Bros. Animation and DC, the feature-length animated film arrives – along with a new DC Showcase animated short, Phantom Stranger – from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment on Digital Download from February 25, 2020, and on Blu-ray, Blu-ray Mini Fig, Blu-ray Steelbook and DVD on March 16, 2020.

Superman: Red Son – Out Now!

The latest instalment into the DC Animated Universe is here! With the huge event of Justice League: Dark Apokolips War on the horizon. It’s time for another Elseworlds story in the meantime to hold us over until then. Superman: Red Son (by Mark Millar) has been given the animated treatment by the ever present Sam Liu. If that name doesn’t ring a bell to you, it certainly should. Liu has made a huge contribution towards the DC Animated Universe with his previous works such as All Star Superman, Teen Titans: The Judas Contract and most recently, last year’s Wonder Woman: Bloodlines.

I have been looking forward to this movie so much because not only is Superman my favourite comic book character, but this is also one of my favourite storylines ever. I’ve always loved the Elseworlds approach on certain characters and Superman is one of them. Because while he is rooted in Metropolis seeing him grow up and operate in an entirely different environment was fascinating when I first picked up the comic.

If you’re new to Superman: Red Son, here’s a brief summary of the story:

“In Red Son, Superman‘s rocket ship lands on a Ukrainian collective farm rather than in Kansas, an implied reason being a small time difference (a handful of hours) from the original timeline, meaning Earth’s rotation placed Ukraine in the ship’s path instead of Kansas. Instead of fighting for “… truth, justice, and the American Way,” Superman is described in Soviet radio broadcasts “… as the Champion of the common worker who fights a never-ending battle for Stalin, socialism, and the international expansion of the Warsaw Pact.”

Via. Fandom

Superman: Red Son is already available to purchase on Digital download as you read this. But if you’re like me and you love your physical media, you’re going to have to wait until 16 March, 2020 to purchase it on Blu-ray™/DVD.

You might be tempted to purchase the limited-edition gift set which comes with your very own figure of the Soviet Superman himself.

(see pictures below)

Be sure to keep a look out for my review of course, and for a chance to win a copy of Superman: Red Son (courtesy of Warner Bros.)

Superman: Red Son is available on Digital Download now, and Blu-ray™& DVD on March 16, 2020.

Wonder Woman: Bloodlines – Review

This review will contain mild spoilers

The DC Animated universe is back with its latest installment, Wonder Woman: Bloodlines. It’s about time the Amazon warrior got the attention she deserves. Wonder Woman: Bloodlines marks the second animated movie based on Wonder Woman since 2009. And while Wonder Woman: Bloodlines retreads a lot of the steps seen in both the 2009 animated movie and most recently Patty Jenkins’ Wonder Woman (2017) it does it with a fresh twist leeaving you wanting more at the end.

Story

Wonder Woman: Bloodlines is described as an origin story, but I honestly don’t see it as that. The origin aspect of the story only takes up the first 10 minutes of the movie. After that you get a time jump where Wonder Woman has become accustomed to life outside of Themyscira. But she eventually finds herself having to go back home to fight against potential world ending invasion. So the origin aspect of the movie isn’t as bad as some people have been making it out to be. As someone who considers themselves as a casual Wonder Woman fan I didn’t mind the retelling of her origin. After all, when it comes to characters like Batman I feel like I’ve seen his origin over a hundred times. With Wonder Woman: Bloodlines I like the way her origin is handled. Not much is changed about it making her story easy to follow. It’s great for people who are new to the character and once the story moves along it feels like its own separate graphic novel/arc which should appease most fans who love the character.

Voice acting

The movie is well-acted throughout as Rosario Dawson plays a kind, but powerful Diana Prince at the same time. Her chemistry with Jeffrey Donovan who plays Steve Trevor was one of my favourite aspects of the movie. You get a sense that their relationship is genuine and it’s one where you actually want to see them together because they play-off each other so well. Every one else is the movie is fine, but these two as to be expected, do most of the heavy lifting. In general, the voice acting is something I find myself always praising when it comes to these DC Animated movies, it’s become one of their staples. They have yet to disappoint me when it comes to this department in their movies.

Great action

The action in Wonder Woman: Bloodlines was one of the strongest elements of the movies. As it should be with a character like Wonder Woman. It shows just how powerful and brutal she can be in combat compared to her male counterparts such as Batman and Superman. It caught me off-guard in certain situations, especially during the final act. It definitely pushes the boundaries of the ’12’ rating and it’s refreshing to see. Although it was short, I really liked the fight between Diana and Cheetah. It just made me more excited about what their showdown is going to look like in live-action next year in Patty Jenkins’ Wonder Woman 1984.

One issue I did find during the fight scenes (especially the ones in the city) is that they kind of felt lifeless. This wasn’t the fault of the action itself, but more to do with how the environment was portrayed. The cities for the most part outside of the scenes in Themyscira are empty. You don’t see any civilians or cars driving past while Wonder Woman is fighting on the streets. It would have been nice to have seen a populated city in potential danger as Wonder Woman was fighting. I think it would have added a lot more stakes to the fights.

Overall, Wonder Woman: Bloodlines is another solid entry into the DC Animated universe. Not only is it a great standalone movie but it just shows how much potential this character has. Rather than see her team up with the rest of the Justice League in future animated movies I would love to see Wonder Woman receive her own trilogy of animated movies instead. As for Wonder Woman: Bloodlines being an origin story it’s a great reintroduction for both new and old fans. But they only scratched the surface here. There are so many more stories that they can tell and I cannot wait to see where they go next with Wonder Woman.

Wonder Woman: Bloodlines 8/10

Huge thank you to amazing people at Warner Bros UK for providing me with an early copy to review.

Wonder Woman: Bloodlines is out on both digital and Blu-ray today

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Joker Spoilers Review/Discussion

So after I uploaded my spoiler free review for joker last week I decided to make a spoiler version too since I love the move so much. Feel free to check it out my review below. I would love to hear any feedback whether it be positive or negative. I’m still learning (I think the audio should be a lot better this time)

🙂

Joker: Review (video)

If you haven’t noticed I haven’t been posting that much on here lately. Writing has kind of taken a back seat for me. However, I still love talking about comic books/comic book movies. So I decided to start my own YouTube channel and talk about what I love over there. I started with my review of Joker! It took a lot of personal courage to upload this (I hate the sound of my own voice lol) But I had to give it a try. If I make a fool of myself then so what? At least I tried. So please feel free to check out my first review down below. If you do ending up checking it out please feel free to give me any feedback wether it be positive or negative. I would love to hear your thoughts on it and the movie in general.

Thanks again! 🙂

Official: Robert Pattinson to Play Batman

FINALLY! After months on speculation we finally have our new Batman. Earlier this month Deadline reported that the search for the new Caped Crusader had dwindled down to Robert Pattinson and Nicholas Hoult. Yesterday, it was reported by The Wrap that both actors were doing screen tests for the role. And today, it looks like we got the results of those screen tests with Pattinson winning the role. This is amazing news, but the thing that got me most excited about this story is how Deadline in their report confirmed Pattinson will be the face of Matt Reeves’ trilogy. What a time to be a Batman fan! To have a trilogy directed by Christopher Nolan and Matt Reeves is truly a blessing. I also want to spare a thought for Nicholas Hoult for missing out because this is a role of a lifetime. However, since he done screen tests I wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up playing a different role in the movie. Clearly Matt Reeves and the studio think highly of him. Either way I’m finally happy we got confirmation. It was also reported the project is set to start filming at the start of next year. So keep your eyes peeled this summer. I think we’re going to be hearing a lot more casting news for The Batman

The Batman is set to be released on 25 June, 2021

Robert Pattinson to Play Batman in Matt Reeves’ ‘The Batman’?

Just an hour ago social media exploded when Variety dropped a bombshell on us. They finally gave us what we have been waiting for. Who will be taking over the mantle from Ben Affleck as the caped crusader? Variety are pretty confident Robert Pattinson will be stepping into the iconic role. They claim a deal hasn’t been made yet, but Matt Reeves had him in mind while writing the script. While I was just taking in this news Deadline also released their own report on the potential casting. Both outlets agree that a deal hasn’t been made final yet. But where they differ is Deadline claiming that Robert Pattinson isn’t the only person in contention for the role. Deadline states that both Robert Pattinson and Nicholas Hoult are at the top of Warner Bros. list. However, Deadline’s report does seem to imply that Pattinson is the favourite for the role by claiming “the bat suit isn’t filled yet and that they like both guys, with Pattinson holding the edge”. This is a bit frustrating isn’t it? We finally get the news we wanted, but nothing has been confirmed yet. I guess we gotta sit tight and be patient, as if we haven’t already been doing that for several months. I have a feeling it will end up Robert Pattinson taking the role. But you never know with Hollywood.

Let me know what you think of these potential castings

Michael Rooker in Talks to Play King Shark in ‘The Suicide Squad’

The cast for James Gunn’s upcoming ‘The Suicide Squad’ movie is all but completed now. Just in the last couple of minutes The Wrap have reported that Michael Rooker is in talks to play King Shark. This shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone since Michael Rooker and James Gunn have a great relationship from their work together on the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise. Now it looks like that relationship is going to further blossom DCEU. Rooker is going to be joining the likes of Margot Robbie, Joel Kinnaman, Jai Courtney, Viola Davis, John Cena and Idris Elba in the newly formed Suicide Squad. I’m Just surprised we haven’t heard anything about Dave Bautista joining the cast yet.

James Gunn’s ‘The Suicide Squad’ is set to be released on August 6, 2021

Who is Shark King?

After making a brief cameo in “Superboy” Vol. 4 #0 in late 1994, Karl Kesel’s creation made his first full appearance in “Superboy” Vol. 4 #9. Born in Hawai’i as Nanaue, the humanoid shark that would become known as King Shark is actually the son of a shark god, who is in turn known as “The King of All Sharks.” Early on, his supernatural origins were doubted and King Shark’s appearance was dismissed as a particularly aggressive mutation, one that also gifted him with superhuman strength and endurance, regenerative tissue, and shark-like physiology. (He’s been designed with both Great White stylings and that of a humanoid Hammerhead, the latter seen in The New 52.)

Via. Collider

Shazam! Sequel Already in The Works

It looks like Warner Bros./New Line Cinema already new they had a winner on their hands with Shazam! before the movie’s release. Yesterday the movie made a strong debut at the box office by making over $53M in its opening weekend. Now, it seems Warner Bros. are pushing already planning ahead for the sequel. The Wrap reported earlier today that writer of the movie Henry Gayden, will be returning to pen the script for the sequel. This is great news for me because I personally thought the script was the strongest aspect of the movie. And why change something that isn’t broken? Hopefully, this also means director David F. Sandberg will also be returning for the sequel. Warner Bros. seem to be on a role now. Earlier in the year they gave us a release date for an Aquaman sequel and now the wheels are being put in motion for the Shazam! sequel. It’s nice to see the universe growing without the likes of Superman and Batman at the forefront. Each character is big enough to hold their own.

Let me know your thoughts on this news down below.