Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox

I just finished the movie minutes ago and couldn't wait to write a review.

The acting is superb.

The writing excellent.

The music is great.

The animation is fresh.

Oh, and for those of you who like their stories with a little darkness to them, hold onto your seats because this is movie delivers.

If you are ANY sort of DC fan and have not seen this movie, go NOW.

GO!

Thank me when you're done.

Amazing reboot of a very important but slightly forgotten DC History. The animation is far from how good the history was adapted, even if there were a few modifications about the comic one. It comes in a very good moment as a preparation for the Justice League movie that is getting planned for the forthcoming years. This parallel world vision makes you see another side of these powerful heroes and the how the reality can be changed by minimum touch of the history. It also makes you understand the power of those we tend to think are secondary characters of the Justice League but also how the lack of the most important ones make a huge difference.

I know men and women(!) from all walks of life who watch DC Animated shows/movies religiously. A lot of us were expecting a Flash-specific movie after the awesomely climatic culmination of events at the end of the JLA series season 4 (Divided We Fall)... which pretty much told us DC fanatics what we already knew all along... that the Flash is probably the most powerful superhero in the DC universe, period. So why don't we know more about him? This movie serves three amazing purposes, each executed to perfection; first, bring the DC animated movie series to an even darker, more violent, mature place and audience; second, give us a glimpse into the Flash's personal back-story, top villains, and character development; and third, to showcase a period in DC comic book history that is crucial to further plot developments. But really, its just a beautiful film and great opportunity to showcase some of the newest animation tactics, and to give the animators some freedom to be a little more 'adult' in their drawings. This is definitely the best of the DC animated movies thus far, (that's saying a LOT, btw), and is truly one to get excited about watching. New Earth is portrayed hauntingly as a gritty, sullen place to exist... Aquaman is finally given full credit and accurately shown as a nigh-invulnerable multi-powered heavyweight... the Amazonians are beautiful and fearsome... and for the first time ever I was actually a little creeped out by the true alien that Superman is. But you'll get a little creeped out by all the characters, and that's the point (except the Flash, of course!). It was great to see the interpretation of the New Earth variants well voiced and drawn, especially Slade and Black Manta. Also huge kudos to the producers for making Yo Yo's voice the same as Harley Quinn's. I totally agree.

Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox is the newest film from DC animation studios based on the comics crossover event Flashpoint by Geoff Johns and artist Andy Kubert. There are a handful of deviations from the comics but the animated film ranks among the best of DC's animated movies. The voice cast is spot on with many familiar voices returning to their respected roles such as Kevin Conroy as Bruce Wayne/Batman and Nathan Fillion (the people's Hal Jordan) as Green Lantern. The film has a very epic, cinematic feel to it and the action scenes are amazing. This is some of the best on screen Flash action sequences ever and its about time we get a film feature of another character than Batman or Superman. This film also further proves that Barry Allen is an interesting, deep character that can be used on the big screen. On the downside, I'm not too keen on the animation style. Over the past few films, DC animation has been sliding more and more to modern anime styles. Which is fine but some of the character designs don't fit with the rest of the DC universe. Wonder Woman looks a little odd and Aquaman should have a neck (just saying). There are a lot of side plots that are introduced such as the world of the new Thomas Wayne Batman that is explored in the spin off comics, but never utilized in the film. Feels a bit like a missed opportunity. I think the movie gets a bit overly violent at times. There are a lot of brutal things in the book but I think the film overdoes it a little (i.e the fate of Grifter). Despite the questionable title, Justice League: Flashpoint (which is what it should of been named) ranks among the best of the DC animated movies and should most definitely please fans of the material and characters. I would also recommend it as a solid introduction to the Flash character, for those curious or unfamiliar.

And there are some great ones out there, all of them are worth watching in some shape or form even if they don't completely work. Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox does work and brilliantly, for this viewer it's one of the better animated straight-to-video superhero films. There is very little to criticise it, except that some of it did feel a little rushed, Superman could have been fleshed out more and Professor Zoom was defeated too easily. The anime-inspired animation is wonderful though, if you enjoy the animation style of Young Justice- I do- you'll enjoy the animation here. The atmospheric colours and fluidity are simply remarkable. The music is haunting and beautiful at the same time, giving intensity to the action scenes and giving weight to the more emotional and dramatic scenes. While the dialogue is really smart and intelligently written and the story is hugely compelling right up to the end and packs a real emotional punch. The action sequences have an epic intensity to them, the moral ambiguity seen in the characters and story is interwoven very well and the complexity of the characters- they are much more than what they seem- is to be admired, especially Flash- especially in the final 10 minutes- and a more bad-ass Aquaman(loved that). There are lots of familiar characters that pop up every now and again, which comic book and superhero fans will really appreciate. And of course the voice acting is superb, with Justin Chambers really making us identify with his character, having Kevin Conroy back as Batman is a huge plus and there's also the suavity and command that Cary Elwes brings to Aquaman. C. Thomas Howell also shines in one of his best, maybe even his best, film in recent years(considering that he's been in a lot of bad movies, especially from The Asylum, lately that's saying a lot)- he is menacing and very malicious as Zoom, his taunting of Flash is subtly chilling and one of the high points in the writing. Overall, while not entirely perfect Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox is fabulous. 9/10 Bethany Cox