Justice League: War - Review

Background:
Justice League: War stems from the relaunch of the entire DC Universe: The New 52 comic series, which began in 2011. In this adventure, heroes unite for a common cause: protect the planet from the evil Darkseid.

Obviously, with the relaunch of an entire series there comes change, and where there's change, controversy follows. This is especially true for characters that have been around for nearly an entire century like Superman and Batman.

If you're watching this film simply for enjoyment, I would say that Justice League:War fulfills that purpose. There were detailed and realistic action scenes, it was visually pleasing, and many of the heroes that we know and love from the DC Universe were there...or maybe not exactly as we know and love them...


Wonder Woman: 
For one thing, I would say that Wonder Woman's new wardrobe is definitely an improvement. While it's very different from the original, it still stays true to the character and gives her a more modern look.

On another note, there are some characterization changes that do not do her any service. Wonder Woman has always been a strong independent woman, with staunch opposition to misogyny. I mean she was born and bred in an island where only strong (mentally and physically) women are allowed, and men are strictly prohibited.

In many ways, this character has been the symbol for women's rights and equality in the DC Universe (but then again, some may disagree). Read more about Wonder Woman and American Feminism in The Stockton Post Colonial Studies Project. In Justice League: War, she's not only objectified by her male counterparts, but she welcomes Superman's assertiveness when he "claims" her for himself. And yes, I am aware of the romance with the two in The New 52, but it just wasn't developed in this movie.

Speaking of Superman:
Is that really you, Clark? For the record, I'm not the biggest Superman fan in the world, but I've learned to appreciate the character more by understanding the complexity of his actions, and inactions. He symbolizes hope, justice and restraint. You ever wonder why the strongest dude in the DC Universe is always getting whooped? Is it because he's not good enough, not powerful enough, or is it because of his incredible restraint? He inhibits himself to protect others, always worrying that his power will hurt those around him.

Umm...not so much in this movie. The new Superman seems arrogant, careless and pretty ruthless. That's him (above) smiling after choking Batman out. At one point during the action sequence with Superman I was actually worried for Batman. It seemed like a completely different person decided to stamp that "S" on their chest. I was unpleasantly surprised with this version of Superman.

Shazam!:

There aren't too many major differences with this character, except for his name, of course. Formerly known as Captain Marvel, the thunder-wielding magical hero is now known only as Shazam! However, this change is mainly due to trademark battles between Marvel and DC, not the release of the new 52.

Aside from the name, the cape now on both shoulders and the slight change in the symbol, the one thing that stuck out at me was how much of a selfish little jerk Billy Batson was. For those who don't know, Billy is the little boy that transforms into the adult-sized hero when saying the magic word: "Shazam." He's an orphan, he's bullied, but he always finds a way to help others, and treat people as he would like to be treated. This is one of the reasons he's originally chosen to be Captain Marvel. I wondered if this was still the case after watching this film.

Cyborg:

Alright, I realize I'm bashing the movie a little bit, but it wasn't my intention, honestly. So here's positive: Cyborg. Cyborg is one of the few characters in the film which I liked (of course Batman is included, are you kidding me?). He is probably the only character in the film with some character development. It was a good origin story, especially for the time allotted.

The main reason I liked Cyborg was because I actually got to know what the person behind the mask (err..robot plate?) was going through emotionally. Ironically enough, you only see it with a guy who's half human and half robot.



Final Verdict:
If you're just looking to watch something for fun, I say go ahead and watch it. If you're a true DC fan, I say go ahead and watch it also, but as seen above, you may come away not liking a few things. I believe this revamp of the Justice League has some potential, but it also has some major character flaws. I'm interested in seeing where it goes, but deep down inside I'm not too happy with the changes.

Here's the trailer if you haven't seen the movie yet. What do you guys think? Let me know in the comments.

Link for those in mobile devices: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3F9ASSsHUk.

Batman The Court of Owls: Comic Book Review

Bats make up a quarter of all mammal species, yet they're probably the last mammal you'll ever come across. They are masters of secrecy, hidden, but always watching. Feeding in the night...owning the night. But what happens when the owl, a natural predator of the bat, is introduced into the bat's environment? Or rather, what's a bat to do when the owls were nesting in the bat's habitat the entire time...hidden, but always watching....

The Court of Owls is an organized crime society which has secretly existed in Gotham city for over 100 years. They kidnap child performers, raise and transform them into highly skilled assassins known as Talons, in order to shape and influence the city through their eyes.

While fairly new to DC Comics, this story is beautifully and seamlessly executed and introduced by Scott Snyder, Greg Capullo and Jonathan Glapion. All of the twists, turns and intricate details of each character and Batman's overall history make this a completely engrossing comic book series. Unlike other introductions of characters or groups, you won't doubt the authenticity of this story for one second, despite the outrageous revelations of the character we all know.

Now the artwork. Ahh, the artwork. What's not to love? Because a comic book without great art is just a book with drawings.The use of color, shadow and even symbolism is so important when divulging into such a dark history for Batman, Nightwing (aka Dick Grayson), and Gotham City as a whole.

Another thing to note is how fluid the transition from Batman: The Court of Owls to Nightwing: Traps and Trapezes is. The latter follows the same story, but through Nightwing's eyes instead of Batman's. I highly recommend reading both versions of the series simultaneously.

So take a look at Volume 1, and let me know what you think. I'm sure you won't be disappointed.

Don't forget to follow Metta-X on Twitter at @MettaXReview.