"Injustice" Animated Movie Review

"Injustice" is the latest next entry in the popular series of DC Universe Movies and adapts elements from both the 2013 "Injustice: Gods Among Us" video game from NetherRealm Studios and its prequel comic book series.

On Earth-22, the Joker and Harley Quinn kidnap Lois Lane, kill Jimmy Olsen, and steal a nuclear weapon, which they connect to a heart rate monitor surgically attached to the former's heart. Batman orders all Justice League members to find Lois. The Flash finds the Scarecrow dead in his lab and his supply of fear toxin missing, before being killed by a trap set by the Joker. Superman eventually finds the Joker and Harley hiding on a submarine, but when he confronts them, he is attacked by Doomsday and proceeds to punch the monster into space. As the other heroes arrive and apprehend the Joker and Harley, Batman realizes that they used the fear toxin, mixed with Kryptonite, to make Superman hallucinate that he is fighting Doomsday; in reality, he beat Lois to death. Batman tries to warn Superman, but it is too late; Lois' heartbeat stops, and the nuke detonates, destroying Metropolis and killing millions of people. As Batman questions the Joker over his motives, the latter reveals that, tired of his losing battle against Batman, he sought to try and corrupt Superman instead. Moments later, Superman arrives and, acting out of grief and rage at the loss of his wife, unborn child, and city, murders the Joker.

While Green Arrow takes Harley to his hideout to protect her from Superman's wrath, Superman reveals his identity before the United Nations and announces his intentions to put the Earth at peace, by force if necessary. The Justice League is left divided over Superman's actions, as some members, such as Wonder Woman, believe in his cause to eliminate violent criminals, while others, including Batman, keep their no-killing vow. Some heroes, such as Aquaman, refuse to pick a side and leave the League.

From this point, the film deviates quite drastically from the source material. While the overall storyline is still that of a corrupt and brutal Man of Steel, iconic moments from the video game and comic book are dramatically shortened, glazed over, or completely ignored with the film falling short when it come to connecting key plot points. In addition, while there are lines Superman will not cross in "Injustice: Gods Among Us" and the prequel comic book series, the film portrays him as a killer of innocents without remorse.

The animation features characters that look like they are steroid addicts and is done in the same style that was featured in "Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge" and "Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms" which were also produced by Rick Morales and Jim Krieg. While the characters are shaded well with a nice blend of colors and tones, the background art is very muted and looks as though it was thrown together rather quickly in order to meet deadlines.

A positive point of the film is the stellar voice cast which features such acting talents as Justin Hartley (Superman), Anson Mount (Batman), Laura Bailey (Lois Lane, Rama Kushna), Zach Callison (Damian Wayne, Jimmy Olsen), Brian T. Delaney (Green Lantern), Brandon Micheal Hall (Cyborg), Andrew Morgado (Mirror Master soldier), Edwin Hodge (Mr. Terrific, Killer Croc), Oliver Hudson (Plastic Man), Gillian Jacobs (Harley Quinn), Yuri Lowenthal (Mirror Master, Flash, Shazam), Derek Phillips (Nightwing/Deadwing, Aquaman), Kevin Pollak (Joker, President, Jonathan Kent), Anika Noni Rose (Catwoman), Reid Scott (Green Arrow, Victor Zsasz), Faran Tahir (Ra's Al Ghul), Fred Tatasciore (Captain Atom), and Janet Varney (Wonder Woman).

"Injustice" also includes the special featurette, "Adventures in Storytelling – Injustice: Crisis and Conflict" which features the film's storytellers discussing how all the intense drama and unabashed action was brought to life. Also included are two bonus cartoons from the the DC Vault, "Justice League – Injustice For All, Part I" and "Justice League – Injustice For All, Part II".

All-in-all, "Injustice" is certainly not one of the better additions to the DC Universe Animated Original Movies series. That being said, the studio does deserve praise for attempting to condense such a broad storyline into an 80-minute long film but, sadly, the adaptation unfortunately falls short.

The film is now available on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Combo Pack, Blu-ray and Digital from Warner Bros. Animation, DC and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment.





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