Review of Justice League: The New Frontier (2008) by Omar A — 08 Mar 2008

I know, I'm a geek, but all that aside, I must say this movie was a lot better than I thought it would be.

It wasn't some half-assed attempt to get some trademarked logos, but rather a legitimate telling of an epic story. We're shown the origin of one of the greatest superhero teams of all time, and it's done in the 1950s, an era that's never used when adapting Marvel/DC characters. I also like how they got the Modernist look down pat. Right down to the lettering.

As for the characters, they're actually deeper than some of the more recent, bigger budgeted, wide released movies. I like how Superman is NOT the star and some of the more established characters are in a supporting role to the up-and-coming heroes.

It was refreshing to see a character other than Superman save the day in the end, and I like the angle they used for Batman and how he transitioned from "the Batman," a man so dark, brooding, and serious, he scares anyone he meets to the more kid-friendly character that dominated the pages for well over thirty years. Robin's introduction makes so much more sense, and we see WHY Batman made the change. I like the Barry Allen Flash, and I got a kick when they kept his gimmick of hiding his costume in a ring.

All in all, it's a great movie for a DC fan, but more importantly, it's got heart, an excellent storyline, and a satisfying ending...basically all the things a good movie should have.