Review of Justice League: Gods and Monsters (2015) by Jeff N — 21 Nov 2016

When the short clips started to be released from the upcoming Justice League: Gods and Monsters characters, I was intrigued. I loved seeing the return of Bruce Timm's animation, but I have never been a big fan of alternative universe stories, even when it includes beloved characters.

I began watching the full-length film with moderate expectations that were quickly exceeded. Bruce's animation is simply stunning. If I were DC/WB, I'd never use anyone else unless I absolutely had to.

Ever since Batman: The Animated Series, no one has portrayed DC characters better. Visually, it's obvious, but the teams he puts together to tell these film-quality stories never ceases to impress.

Benjamin Bratt as this world's Superman is exquisite. As the son of Zod, not Jor-El, he has a darkness to him never seen, with a unique backstory to match, which didn't include Lois Lane featuring an adorable pixie cut, voiced by Paget Brewster.

Wonder Woman isn't from Paradise Island, but New Genesis as a member of Kirby's New Gods, which has never been done well by anyone but Timm. Bruce captures Kirby's block/angular drawing style perfectly, even in the costumes.

It's as though Jack himself is drawing the scenes on Apok0lips. The last member of the Trinity, Batman, voiced by Dexter's Michael C. Hall, is an actual vampire, transformed by Will Magnus, voiced by C.

Thomas Howell. Without spoiling the plot, the story brilliantly unravels like a mystery with Sentinel-like creatures, seemingly copied from X-Men, framing the Justice League for brutal crimes they didn't commit.

The violence is pretty harsh, but it works, with battles culminating in a surprising revelation. The casting, for the most part, was superb, though I didn't quite enjoy Michael C. Hall's Batman.

There seemed to be too much Dexter melancholy in him. Overall, though, the emotions work, the story flows well and, along with Bruce's flawless animation, was finally a DC/WB animated movie worth watching in years.