Superman/Batman: Apocalypse (2010)

I watched this movie with my little niece the other day. I'm a big comics fan and I thought it wasn't bad. There was some good action, a bit of humor and pathos, and the animation wasn't mind blowing but it did the job. All in all, this is a decent if not memorable movie. That's my take on it.

My niece on the other hand loved it. She's in her pre-pre-teen years and while she loves animation (she still calls them cartoons) what she really likes are stories with strong female leads. She likes it when girls are the heroes. I think that's why she loved this movie.

You have a few cute scenes with Super Girl (Kara Zor-El) palling around with Clark Kent when she first arrives on Earth. You have some great fight scenes involving Super Girl, Wonder Woman, Big Barda, the Female Furies and an entire nation of Amazon Warriors. This movie showcases tough, capable women warriors as well as a strong, tough-minded teenage girl. My niece ate it up. She can't wait for more like this. She is even getting into the comic books. Seeing "girl superheroes" on an even footing with "boy superheroes" made a big impression on her. I hope the studios produce more like this one. So does my niece.

I say that because that's really what this story is about. It isn't really about Superman/Batman Vs. Darkseid as it is more about them (along with Wonder Woman and former Darkseid soldier Bertha) fighting over the fate of Kara Zor-El, better known as Supergirl.

Kara comes to earth and is lost when Batman finds her. Superman and Batman both argue over what to do with her while Wonder Woman enters the fray and takes her to train with her on Themescyra. Meantime, Darkseid has been monitoring the events and decides to make Kara one of his new lieutenants!

What comes is an all out battle over the fate of Kara. Will she become one of earth's newest saviors or one of their biggest threats?

Also included is 4 episodes from the 90's Superman series that centers around Darkseid (Apokolips....Now! pts. 1 and 2) and Supergirl (in her own two parter). You also get a 10 minute short featuring Green Arrow and some behind the scenes extras mainly discussing Darkseid and the mythology behind him, Mr. Miracle, Orion and New Genesis. All created by the late, great Jack Kirby!

Overall, a good use of $20 if you have that to spend!

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Well, we have Superman, Batman, Wonderwoman, Darkseid, and some step characters really expressive, like Barda, the furies and a solid story. And, introducing Kara Zor-el, the Supergirl, back from the death!!! Lots of extras, including the old Kara story, back from the beginning till her tragic death on Crisis on Infinite Earths, best DC saga ever!!!! Really this is a must have on the fans collection, the animation is beautiful, and, whoever likes Superman or Batman, or even Wonderwoman, will enjoy a really good time watching this pic.

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I received it within two days after testing out the special order links item. I thought the movie wasn't bad but I expected more conflict in the story. Plus there wasn't much of a fight on Earth with Darkseid unlike the TV version when he had control of the whole planet. Supergirl first showing up in Gotham in a ship didn't make sense to me and why would Batman and Krypto not trust her just because she's not used to her powers? Why was Krypto even in the story? I thought the plot was rushed and thrown together so the studio could get it out. Maybe when I watch it again I might like it more. Anyway, I gave it three stars for effort. For the price it wasn't bad.

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I'm a big fan of Bruce Timm's DC Animated Universe, which includes The Animated Series installments of Batman and Superman. When I discovered that Kevin Conroy would return as the voice of Batman and Tim Daly as Superman I couldn't resist. Yes, technically this is not set in the Animated Universe, but with both of the actors voicing their respective characters it's the next best thing. "Best thing" might be too strong a phrase for this animated movie, however.

Let's get a few things straight: This movie is actually about Supergirl. Batman isn't in it a whole lot. Wonder Woman features prominently. And although Darkseid appears to liven things up, it's basically a story about the familial relationship between Kal-El (Clark Kent/Superman) and Kara (Supergirl).

The film starts our promising as we see Gotham through Kara's eyes. She's a gorgeous superpowered teenager who can fly, shoot beams out of her eyes, and is superstrong, but without the grounding of a small town life. After a series of misunderstandings nearly cause a city-wide disaster, Kara is carted off to live with the island of Themyscira, where gorgeous Amazons lounge in white shifts and fight each other all day. Superman's not happy about the arrangement, convinced he can raise Kara himself. The argument becomes moot when Darkseid kidnaps her, convinced that Kara will lead his honor guard, the Female Furies.

Our three heroes put aside their squabbling to rescue Kara from Darkseid. One way you know that Batman is out of his league is when he brings a jetpack. If Bats brings a jetpack, he's facing supervillains greater than he can handle with wits alone. He pulls a twist in the end, but if you don't know the DC Universe very well or how things work on Apokolips it seems a little too convenient.

The animation is superb. The fight scenes are glorious to behold. There's no punches pulled in presenting the universe in all its wacky glory, complete with Krypto the superdog (who puts a cape on a dog?), Amazons living on an island wielding only swords, and an honor guard named after Greek myth by a guy who doesn't seem to have anything to do with Greek myth. You either embrace all this stuff or you don't this film is clearly for DC fans only.

Unfortunately, Darkseid is curiously defanged in this incarnation. He stoops to physical combat in a way that can only be described as being beneath him. His legendary tactics are nowhere in evidence; by the end of the movie he is no more than a thug who resorts to his fists. Not very becoming of an all-powerful godly despot.

There are further twists the film dangles a rematch and then delivers but it doesn't make up for the awkward argument over who gets to be Kara's parents. At heart, this is a movie about a father-figure (Superman), a mother-figure (Wonder Woman), and a wicked stepfather (Darkseid) in a battle over custody of their child (Supergirl). It's essentially Kramer vs. Kramer with superpowers.

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