SUPERMAN - DOOMSDAY

Some years ago, I got the audio version of The Death Of Superman with the full voice cast...and let me tell you, it was great...and really rose to surpass the printed comic book itself. The sound effects and voice performances...as well as the overall production was brilliant.

Truly, this was the finest Superman production since the original film...and in some ways, content wise, surpassed it.

Anyway...I rented Superman: Doomsday via Blockbuster Online but there is a long wait posted on the DVD...so I guess I am going to have to wait to review it...but I'll tell 'ya something, if they had used the audio version script of The Death Of Superman as the filming script of Superman Returns, people would be calling SR a film classic right now!!! Too bad, they blew it.

This movie is mediocrity personified. It is really "loosely" based on the original material. The animation is not all that, the voice acting is just terrible on all sides; with the biggest offenders being Anne Heche and especially Adam Baldwin. It's like the voice director just had them phone in their diaologe on a cold read or something. This has to be one of the biggest disappointments out of Warner Brothers animation after having such good runs with the animated Batman and Superman series. This is not worth a B, not even close. The only decent thing about this movie is the 10-15 minute brawl between Superman and Doomsday...and that the DVD evetually ends. I'm afraid I'm going to have to put up a review later today. This reviewer has a flawed approach to this film...and I mean that in whatever way you want to take it. It's almost like you saw a completely different movie than everyone else. This is not even as good as the worst episode of the Superman animated series. Stay away from this movie and the review. My suggestion for all would be to use the reader reviews as the basis for judging this movie and not this flawed attempt at a review. Treat this movie like kryptonite people!

Honestly, WB and the producers of SUPERMAN: DOOMSDAY, could've gotten away with doing it as a 2-hour animated movie, and done in the style of 90's animated Superman series (which I felt was the best). It would have been cool if there were TWO chapters, following the comic books...Meaning: First two hour animated movie on DVD, concentrated on Death of Superman, then resurrect him for the second chapter (another 2-hour animated movie for DVD), Reign of the Supermen.

Superman: Doomsday wasn't so bad for being 75 minutes, the animation could have been better...What is up with this cutting-edge, artsy, anime style!? Don't get me wrong, anime is cool for some things, but not for DC comics...Then again, I don't have the financial blessings of WB and the okays from DC comics... Still, Superman: Doomsday is a must-have for any Superman aficionados.

Blockbuster online has it? Interesting since the Blockbuster I visited didn't bring the film for rent only for sell.
I couldn't get it on Netflix since I was already getting Smallville that same day and now the movie has a long wait. So, I had to buy the film.
Animation could've been better. I didnt' like those scar lines on Superman's face. I would've liked to see some other of the DC heroes at Superman's funeral or just popping up for a cameo in other scenes. Anyway, the movie wasn't bad, haven't checked out the documentary yet though, now I will.
Oh, there's this funny line in the film about a Gian Spider needing to be in a Superman movie delivered from a character that resembles Kevin Smith. It's funny cause of what Smith had said,in an Evening with Kevin Smith, about his encounter with Peters back when Smith was writing the Superman Lives script.
Anyway, check it out if you manage to rent it.

"The one aspect of the film that most disappointed me was the part Lex Luthor played in it. While Lex had little to do with the story in the comics, here’s he’s given a central role. We’ve had five big screen Superman films and now one animated film and Lex Luthor has played a main role in all but Superman III. In as much as an animated film is going to appeal much more to a core comic fan audience, I would have liked to have seen the writers be a little more creative than falling back on Lex Luthor as the main villain again."

And lets not forget that you could have swapped Gene Hackman for Robert Vaughn's character and it would have been essentially the same.

One great fight scene. One so-so. And a lot of boring filler. I give it a C-. Rent... don't buy.

lobenzoD...first of all you're a moron. It seems from the other comments that the readers agree with my review. Did I say it was a great movie at any point? I said the animation was inferior to the TV series...Did I not say that the writers made a poor choice by making Lex the main villain...did I not say I was disappointed by the lack of the JLA making an appearance.

The movie was about a C or C- with the bonus features bringing the grade up a bit. My review as based on the entire package...not just the film. What movie did I see???? What review did you read????

perhaps a little less talking and a little more listening might do you some good.

tjanson, I don't agree with your review either, I wouldn't assume readers agree with your review, there are only 5 other posts on here. And why are you calling one of your readers a moron? Pretty harsh coming from a columnist, I guess that's why I love this site.

Well I bought it . . .

And I LOVED it!

Ok, lets start with the opening, The Music for me was its only weakness. the animation was VASTLY superior in terms of fludity and action than the 96-98 Cartoon series. It took me a LONG time to get use to both Adam Baldwin and Anne Heche as the leads, but over time they had some cool lines. (That WAS Kevin Smith verbally ripping about a Spider, watch the credits people . . . )

James Marsters was great as Luthor, and you know what, Lex WAS a big player in the comic book, but he was a clone passing himself off as "The Son" of Lex Luthor.

Yes I wish they would have had the Justice League get pounded so that only Superman could stop this "Doomsday Machine", but the set up was quick, and we got to some cool action.

When "Superman Returned" this obvious Clone was actually the amalgamation of only 2 characters, the Eradicator and the Cloned Superboy. The Cyborg Superman element was not even in the Evil Superman's character. In Fact in the Comic, Cyborg Superman was the only one totally acting like Superman, the only tip off for Lois that he was not real was the fact that he never mentioned his alter ego to her, and their love.

But I digress.

Overall I thought this was a great presentation of what I beleive to be a great story.

I stopped buying comics before Superman died, and I started buying comics when the REIGN OF THE SUPERMEN story started.

Whatever their motives were, which to me I nevered cared about, they did 2 things, they revitalized a great comic Icon and brought him back to the Mainstream. (They killed him off WAY before LOIS AND CLARK went on the air, then when that show was popular, they changed Lois' Hair style to match Teri Hatchers from the show.)

Yes this comis book sold a LOT, hence why i stil see people trying tp pawn off their sealed copies of "The Death of Superman" and I just laugh. it has no value, 4.3 million were sold in 3 days!

But as it rocked the comic book world, it created a bubble that we all knew was going to burst. Marketing these comics as "Collectibles" almost brought the industry down, with the eventual Bankruptcy of Marvel itself. (Yes this event forced Marvel to do big events which bombed, Clone Saga anyone?)

Whew, quite the Rant here.

I say BUY this DVD if you are a Superman Fan, it is a great re-imagining of a wonderful time in comic book history.

BUT I would so have loved to have seen this as an action packed LIVE ACTION film . .

I am faster than the speed of light
I am more powerful than a nuclear Explosion
I can leap large planets in a Single bound.

I am . . .

Lazerman

tjanson: Okay seriously, with all the childish name calling aside, you did mention that you were disappointed that the JL was not in it...only because you didn't get to see Booster Gold get beaten? You seriously wanted to see the JL in the movie for that? Nevermind that they could actually provide some more cohesion to the already messy story. I'm not saying you didn't claim any of the things you said in your review. Your review is as self explanatory as it is flawed. I mean I just stated an opinion here...which is what I though columnists like you understood. If you got insulted then I'm sorry buddy, I wasn't attacking you on a personal level or anything; I'm sure you're a peach of guy.Once again I just find that your review of the movie is flawed; and this little attack of yours doesn't really serve a purpose Janson. You never did say that the movie was "great", again I find that you can't give a whole letter grade based solely on the documentary. You said the movie was a flat out C or C- in your opinion, but later you say "the movie is good...but not great" and that the DVD package is worth it based solely on the historical documentary. That just doesn't cut it. What kind of person recommends a disc based on a good documentary accompanied by a less than stellar movie. Unless you're the type that weighs special features with equal weight as the film. That's not right, we're getting the disc for the movie, the special features should compliment the film. If' I'm going to spend my money on a movie I want to know where it is going. Unfortunately, this isn't the case here.The movie is not good in any respect, you're call on Adam's Baldwin performance is flawed as well, you said the voice talent was good with Baldwin and Marsters standing out. I agree with you on Marsters, but not Baldwin....unless you're like the president of his fan club or something(that would explain a lot). I felt that Balwin had a really weak performance backed by some tacky lines. Let's not talk about Anne Heche either(that's what my review is for), I'm sure you thought she was freakin "good" as well, even though you never really mention her at all. Which is odd to me because she was the worst performer of them all....hence my comments about you watching the same movie. No matter how big of comic book fanboy you are dude, that documentary does not save dvd as a whole nor does it merit a 'B' grade. The historical aspect was nice and there was some thought in it. But I'm just wondering why that kind of effort wasn't put into the film. Time constraints aside, the movie was obviously bogged down with problems and was rushed out, either you chose to ignore that or it didn't bother you as much. Was the documentary better than the movie? I would say so. Obviously we differ in opinion Janson and that's cool. Isn't that why we're all here for? To like, you know share opinions with each other? So if it makes you feel better, call me whatever you want Janson, after all you're the professional here. My review speaks for itself. If you want to exchange ideas based on that, then I'm all for it. Until then have a good one.

LobeznoD