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Posted on July 28, 2023 by Neil Cole
"Justice League: Warworld" is the latest entry from the DC Universe Animated Original Movies series and the 10th animated feature to take place within the Tomorrowverse storyline.
The film focues on Justice League team members Batman, Wonder Woman and Superman who find themselves transported to Warworld, a place of unending brutal gladiatorial combat, with no memory of how they arrived there and only vague recollections of their true selves.
Divided into three distinct shorts, the first storyline sees Wonder Woman transported to the old West where she faces off with Jonah Hex and various outlaws in a quest to save the local townspeople. The animated gore that takes place throughout this segment is certainly cranked up to a 10 with numerous headshots featured throughout.
Up next is a storyline featuring Batman who is transported back to the era of the Dinosaurs. The Dark Knight is transformed into a character resembling Conan the Barbarian and brandishing a large sword while he battles the villains Warlord and Deimos. Freash off her visit to the old West, Wonder Woman arrives to aid in the fight and also add some storyline elements to the overall plot of the film.
The final short involves Superman transported to world set within the classic 1920's film noir genre. Alongside special Agent Faraday, the Man of Steel - disguised as Clark Kent - are notified of the arrival an alien visitor on earth with plans to destroy the entire world. Following a series of events that keep the overall storyline of the film moving forward, Wonder Woman and Batman eventually reunite with Superman and the black and white of the film noir world reverts back to a color-filled one ala "The Wizard of Oz". The finale sees the primary antagonist of the entire "Warworld" fiasco revealed and the iconic superheroes returned back normal.
"Justice League: Warworld" features a stellar cast of actors including Ike Amadi (Mortal Kombat: Onslaught) as Martian Manhunter/J'onn J'onzz, Troy Baker (The Last of Us, BioShock Infinite) as Jonah Hex, Matt Bomer (Doom Patrol, American Horror Story) as Old Man, Roger R. Cross (Coroner, Dark Matter, 24) as Machiste, Brett Dalton (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Chicago Fire) as Bat Lash, John DiMaggio (Futurama, The Super Mario Bros. Movie) as Lobo, Robin Atkin Downes (Batman: The Long Halloween, The Strain) as Mongul, Frank Grillo (Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Billions) as Agent Faraday, Rachel Kimsey (Justice League Action, The Young and the Restless) as Mariah Romanova, Damian O'Hare (Pirates of the Caribbean 1 & 2) as Deimos, and Teddy Sears (The Flash, Chicago Fire) as Warlord. Additional voices include Trevor Devall (F is for Family, Guardians of the Galaxy), David Lodge (Naruto: Shippuden) and Kari Wahlgren (Rick and Morty, DC Super Hero Girls).
The film's art style remains consistent with that of previous DC animated films set within the Tomorrowverse with bright colors and a heavier emphasis on deep, dark outlines and toned-down proportions to the characters which, in the past, always seemed to feature over-the-top muscular frames that came across as ludicrous at times.
While a majority of the DC animated films have received a PG or PG-13 rating, "Justice League: Warworld" certainly earns a well-deserved R rating due mostly to the fact of the aforementioned extreme gore as well as a good dose of over-the-top violence and adult language that past DC animated films have steered away from.
Two Special Features are also packaged with the film including:
• Illusions on Warworld (New Featurette) - Go behind the scenes and inside the process of designing and creating three distinct genres for the Justice League to inhabit on Warworld.
• The Heroic, the Horrible and the Hideous (New Featurette) - Dive deep into the origins and histories of the key players on Warworld and learn how the filmmakers brought them to life.
Overall, "Justice League: Warworld" is a welcome entry in the DC Universe Animated Original Movies series and developing Tomorrowverse storyline. With it's R rating, the film is certainly targeted to the more adult crowd and will keep viewers entertained from start to finish.
"Justice League: Warworld" is currently available to purchase from Amazon Digitally and on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Combo Pack and Blu-ray.