Superman - Doomsday (2007)

The most shocking showdown in Superman history! When Lexcorp accidentally unearths the intergalactic serial killer Doomsday Superman battles the creature head on in the fight of his life...literally. The world collectively mourns their fallen hero; humanity realizes it will never feel truly safe again. Superman's enemies rejoice all but Lex Luthor who grieves the loss in his own demented manner setting off a chilling chain of events that even he couldn't have foreseen. Inspired by the bestselling graphic novel of all time DC Comics' The Death of Superman this feature-length animated adventure boasts exciting action sequences that rivals anything you've ever seen starring the Man of Steel!Running Time: 135 min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: SCI-FI/FANTASY UPC: 085391108313 Manufacturer No: 110831 Product Description

Great Idea, Bad Execution

The animation is very similiar to the justice league dvd. I thought this would be very similiar to the comic but it wasn't even close, and it was a summarized version of the comics. It didn't even involve the other supermen...

It wouldn't be bad if i hadn't read the comics, which i suggest over this... September 1, 2008

Well told story, TERRIBLE animation!

I wonder, is the reason they keep putting out movies with this caliber of animation because somewhere, some big-wig still thinks of most animation to still be for kids? Even in this day and age of a growing number of "Mature" viewers who rememeber all of these stories from our youth, do the makers of the movies still think that they are only for kids on Saturday morning? This telling of the demise of argueably the most popular super hero of all time was disappointment and heart breaking because of the typical Saturday morning animation. I think that they should have used some of the animators from Batman: Gothem Nights. With its cutting edge, Japanese animation genious, the 6 stories seemed to flow together seemlessly and made for a much better view than Doomsday. The same could be said for The New Frontier the telling of how the Justice League was founded. I just hope the new Wonder Woman movie is not done in the same manner. August 24, 2008

"SUPERMAN DOOMSDAY" is indeed a winner. Highly recommended!

It has been 15 years since the release of the "Death of Superman" comic books which was one of the coolest storylines to come from DVD comics and also to pump some needed energy into the Superman comic book series.

The storyline featured the intergalactic serial killer known as Doomsday. With super strength, virtually indestructible and the embodiment of evil, not even the Justice League could defeat him. That was until the bloody battle between Superman and Doomsday came to a head and in the end, Doomsday was defeated but Superman sacrificed his life to protect Metropolis and paid for it with his life.

With the release of the DVD of "SUPERMAN DOOMSDAY", the first animated Superman movie, is based on the popular battle.

Although the storyline of the animated movie is not exactly the same as the comic book series, the animated film manages to capture the essence of Superman and the bloody battle.

In this film, Superman and Lois Lane have been dating for six months. Lois wants to know more about Superman and she has a hunch that possibly he may be Clark Kent.

While the two are having a romantic vacation, Lex Luthor is still scheming on how to beat Superman and his corporat Lex Corp finds what may be an alien vessel (which turns out to be an imprisonment for whatever is inside). Of course, Lex Luthor authorizes the research team to open the alien vessel and Doomsday is unleashed.

Although the film focuses on the battle between Superman and Doomsday, the storyline goes in much deeper by focusing on the emotions of Lois Lane, Martha Kent and the people close to Superman post-death and that includes Lex Luthor who is so upset that he was not the person to stop Superman and feels cheated.

But all of a sudden when Metropolis needs a hero, a man with the blue tights and red cape is back. But is it really Superman?

So, the storyline is top notch and I wouldn't expect anything less from Bruce Timm, Lauren Montgomery and Brandon Vietti. Bruce Timm has worked on the awesome "Justice League" and "Batman" animated series and the storyline definitely delivers, thankfully to the cool screenplay by Duane Capizzi.

I must admit that I was not liking Superman's character design, since I was used to the animated series version and got so used to the "Justice League" animated series and to see Superman have lines around the cheek bones and a John Travolta style chin...(fortunately, not too Jay Leno) took some time getting used to.

As for the voice acting, Adam Baldwin did a great job as Superman and at first I was not too sure about Anne Heche's voice acting as Lois Lane. It was very different but as the film progressed, I got used to it and I admit, it was kind of unique for her character.

As for special features, the DVD comes with 70 minutes of special features including the "Documentary and Rebirth: Superman Lives!" which is an informative and awesome look of how the comic book creators came up with the "Death of Superman" back in the early 90's. I was impressed that they actually had a lot of video footage from the planning stages to the promotion. This feature alone is sure to be "golden" among Superman fans and readers who followed the "Death of Superman" series.

Also featured is a commentary by Bruce Tim and Duane Cappizi, voice director Andrea Romano and executive producer Gregory Noveck.

Also an exclusive sneak peak at DC Universe's "Justice League: The New Frontier", "Behind the Voice" featurette and "Superman's Last Stand Challenge".

I purchased my DVD from Wal-Mart and that comes with a bonus CD which features the actual "Death of Superman" comic book.

Although I tend to review mostly Japanese animation, when it comes to certain creators and people behind an animated series or film in the US, I have come to expect quality.

For me, Bruce Timm brings quality to DC characters and "SUPERMAN DOOMSDAY" does not disappoint one bit, although loosely based on the comic series of the "Death of Superman", the storyline that they came up with for this animated film is still just as emotional and awesome as the storyline that ran in the comic books.

I was among the comic book readers who highly anticipated the comic book release back in 1993, in fact, I bought 4 bagged and 4 regular, the collector's card series and collected the whole run. That is how hardcore I was into the series. I loved every issue and admit I was skeptical about the animated film, because I knew that there would be no Doomsday vs. the Justice League, nor will there be the funeral which featured nearly every major super hero from the DC universe, nor the four who tried to take on Superman's legacy.

But I do trust Bruce Timm and he has not disappointed me once with the animated television series, so needless to say, after watching this DVD, I enjoyed every minute of it.

It's interesting because Marvel has released several cool animated films within the past two years but DC's first animated film since the "Batman" animated film years ago, with "SUPERMAN DOOMSDAY", this release is a grand slam.

Great storyline, awesome special features and featuring one of the most popular heroic icon in American culture, "SUPERMAN DOOMSDAY" is indeed a winner. Highly recommended! August 8, 2008

~Superman Doomsday~

Ok, I got this the first week it came out, I've watched it about 3-4 times. I watched it last night. I'd say after viewing this a couple times, It's a good film. I'd give it 4/5 stars. Though I do not know much about the comics and if they just completely ruined it or not. I know the JL was suppose to appear at Superman's funeral and they weren't there, though. Theirs alot of action in this, and Doomsday doesn't really have much to say in this movie (he literally says nothing.) Though, the marks on Superman's face bugs me, they're pretty unnecessary. I'd say check this film out, give it a shot at least. I'm not even really a big fan of Superman and enjoyed it.

August 4, 2008

Good, but not as good as the WB series

I wonder what's up with DC. The recently released Batman: Gotham Knight, Justice League: New Frontier, and now Superman: Doomsday all seem to push limits and go for a PG-13 rating by adding gore and profanity and a high body count. I guess they're trying to be edgy and attract older viewers, but I think this may put off some fans. I would not let anyone under 12 or 13 watch these movies. Gotham Knight actually pushes an R-rating with its bloodshed.

But at least Gotham Knight had Kevin Conroy from the WB's animated Batman/Batman Beyond/Justice League reprise his role in all six shorts. In this Superman film, on the other hand, all the voices have been recast and the characters are drawn differently, so it barely resembles the superior Superman WB series. Instead of Tim Daly, we get Adam Baldwin as Superman, Anne Heche instead of Dana Delaney as Lois Lane, and James Marsters (who plays Brainiac on the WB's Smallville) as Lex Luthor. Baldwin, Heche, and Marsters do a competent job, but Daly, Delaney, and Brown were much better in these roles. (Powers Boothe was ok as Lex in Superman vs. Brainiac.) Swoozie Kurtz is good as Mrs. Kent, but where is Mr. Kent? In the WB series, he was alive.

This is an entertaining film, with a thrilling battle between Doomsday and Superman at the beginning of the movie, and then another clash between Superman and his dark double at the movie's finale. But it's just not as good as the WB series.

I never actually read the Death of Superman comic, but after watching the documentary extra chronicling the source material, I think maybe the movie would have benefitted hewing closer to the original storyline. I think seeing the four Supermen would have been pretty cool!

I would recommend this movie, despite its flaws, but it could have been better with the original voice cast and without all the violence and hinted at sexuality. Not for little kids, that's for sure. July 25, 2008

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