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Your 14-year-old self would love this Batman/Superman movie
One of the featurettes on the new Blu-ray for Batman/Superman: Public Enemies reminds viewers that the two superheroes were first paired in the 1960s, "when comics were for kids," and it's probably an important detail to remember when actually watching this latest straight-to-video feature from Warner Premiere. Because despite a PG-13 rating and subject matter that hints at more mature ideas, Public Enemies offers the kind of storytelling that kids will find more effective and engaging—which is why it may not register as strongly with adults as previous entries in this animated series.
Borrowing from the Jeph Loeb graphic novel of the same name, Public Enemies follows the adventures of super-BFFs Batman (Kevin Conroy) and Superman (Tim Daly), who now live in a world where no less than Lex Luthor (Clancy Brown) has become president of the United States. Thanks to their longstanding rivalry, Superman refuses to acquiesce to Luthor's control of all costumed heroes, but Batman's natural distrust of authority figures puts them both at odds with the new regime.
But when Luthor frames Superman for the death of Metallo (John C. McGinley), the two crime fighters find not only the commander in chief but all of America against them. With a $1 billion bounty on Superman's head, he and Batman race to find a way to stop Luthor, even as a gigantic kryptonite meteor descends upon Earth, threatening to wipe out the entire planet if they don't stop it in time.
While audiences should naturally expect a slightly broader depiction of their favorite heroes in these animated movies, Public Enemies skews significantly younger than other installments in the series, particularly given the (comparatively) austere maturity of this summer's Green Lantern installment. As a result, the friendship between Superman and Batman is often overstated, primarily through their war/buddy-cop movie banter, but also through transparent character-building sequences where the two take turns being hurt and strong after teaming up to defeat a common foe.
Also, in spite of the film's frequently subversive political commentary (Luthor is essentially a genius-level chickenhawk), a lot of the plot points are driven by simplistic conflicts or otherwise unfold in a way that seems a little too convenient. Power Girl, a skeptical member of Luthor's superhero task force, seems to believe almost anything she's told, and is all but completely useless as a crime fighter, ultimately falling prey time and again to attack and deception that Batman and Superman have to rescue her from. Worse yet, while the film makes an understandable decision to separate Batman and Superman in the end, heightening the stakes for both the story and their relationship, the circumstances that lead to that development are hastily and ineffectively explored.
That said, the film offers a virtual who's who of C- to Z-grade supervillains, all of whom come out of the woodwork to claim that reward for Superman's capture, and whose appearance expands the universe of the film to be more comprehensive than previous ones, at least in the sense that there's a real rogue's gallery that regularly challenges these heroes rather than just one or two super-baddies who threaten them. Not to mention the appearance of a host of other iconic heroes, such as Captain Atom, Hawkman and Captain Marvel, who inadvertently comment on the breadth of the DC universe even as they provide suitably formidable foes for Batman and Superman to fight en route to their final showdown with Luthor.
The Blu-ray looks terrific and really enhances the animation, which, like that of its predecessors, changes the profiles of the characters ever so slightly to reflect the uniqueness of this particular story. Additionally, the disc features a typically solid slate of bonus materials, including "A Test of Minds," a surprisingly thoughtful analysis of the literal mindsets of Batman and Superman, an extended preview of Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths, Warner Premiere's next animated movie from DC Universe, and "Dinner With DCU," a conversation with the DC Universe creative team also attended by voice actor Kevin Conroy.
But overall, this particular story feels slighter and less successful than others in the DC Universe series, both because it seems designed as a single-serving adaptation of its source material and because its alternate-reality storyline leaves less of a possibility for a follow-up—at least in comparison to the promising franchise launcher of Green Lantern: First Flight. But certainly as a stopgap for folks wanting new adventures for either (or both) of the heroes, Batman/Superman: Public Enemies fulfills all that's required or desired and then some. And even if you're not quite kid enough to let its superficial digressions into best-friendship win you over, you'll certainly feel like one when the film's encyclopedic use of the DC Universe makes you want to explore other characters almost as much as the two in the title.
By Obi Window Washer at 10:15 AM ON 10/14/09
I liked all the DC animated Universe titles (Superman: Doomsday, Batman Gotham Knight, Wonder Woman, Justice League, Green Lantern) but this had to be my favorite. The Superbatman Robot was a little much, but either than that it was a worthy addition to a growing series. Can't wait for the next based on "Crisis on Infinite earths" and "Teen Titans: The Judas Contract".
By Grenadier at 10:36 AM ON 10/14/09
First teamed in the 60's huh? Guess DC better burn all those 40's issues of World's Finest. Not to mention JSA stories in All-Star Comics (1941).
I don't blame SyFy for not checking their facts on this, but don't make up facts to cover your lack of research.
By General Zod at 12:36 PM ON 10/14/09
just a little to Obi Window Washer, next film is crisis on two earths, its preveiwed on the bkue ray and looks awesome.
judas contract, while a fan and one of my personal faverites, has been but on hold becausewarners have said its story is not known generally.
what a great film, pity - dark knight and watchmen aside - DC can't get their live action versions to hit the mark like the animated versions. i do hear that all thats about to change with DC's new head of feature film developement.
By SMDrPepper at 1:01 PM ON 10/14/09
Watched this at my tattoo parlor and noticed something about it.
Brought to my attention by one of the artists, the whole thing looked like an Archie comic.
Story was crappy, bad animation. Very much a letdown.
Kinda obvious rip off of the Marvel comics too. Can you say "Civil War"?
Where went the creativity?
By DustMan at 3:09 PM ON 10/14/09
Batman/Superman Public Enemies is based a a comic storyline from 2003, 3 years before Marvel started their Civil War storyline.
By old news again at 7:43 PM ON 10/14/09
Again, scifiwire is about a month behind the curve.
By daget at 7:57 PM ON 10/14/09
I thought the story was good, the animation was a bit different but not horrible, could be i was just really distracted by power girls huge boobs but i think it was a solid movie.
By Sanga at 9:16 PM ON 10/14/09
Hey for the snapperheads at scifi yes it really is scifi. Superman/Batman was adapted from the first story arc in the dc comic series of the same name. And nowhere to go look at the next story line in the series where it introduces supergirl yes the real supergirl not powergirl. Who was brought to earth inside the Kryptonite metoer batman stopped from hitting the earth. And there are hundreds of Superman/Batman stories from the past dare I say 70 years to draw on. Also the next instalment isn't based on the infinite crisis. It deals with the Crime Syndicate an evil version of the Justice League who rule a parralell earth. And scifi writers try using I dont know wikipedia or something to check your facts. you make less mistakes.
By CHaynelightning at 10:44 PM ON 10/14/09
This, like Superman/Doomsday was kinda a let down for me.
What they adapted, they rocked on, when they went off script, it was weak.
I did hate the Power Girl character - Allison Mack would not have been my first choice, Katie Sackhoff has always been the voice in my head when I read the character (and a decent choice if they ever decide to go live action with the character) And the character was just - well, not powerful.
I understand the ending - having Batman and Superman pilot the Robot (which is straight out of the comic) instead of Captain Atom (who did it in the comic) because you need your title characters be the heroes... but it was kinda a let down.
A shared universe is a hard thing to animate in a single movie...
7 for 10
And Sanga - I am not sure if the article has been edited yet - and removes any mention of Infinite Crisis that you are talking about -
By crichton007 at 1:06 AM ON 10/15/09
I've now seen this and this is the worst of the Warner Premiere animated shows. It's not even worth the time spent watching it. I recommend watching the Green Lantern movie again.
By davis at 1:12 AM ON 10/15/09
If it was made exactly like the comic, with the voices you wanted and the whole nine, what would you all complain about. Since i know people on these sites would complain if you won $10 million dollars, i am positive you would find something.
By Aberzombie at 7:59 AM ON 10/15/09
I own or have seen most of the Warner Premiere animated films (all but the Justic League and Wonder Woman films), and I've enjoyed each one. Regarding this one, I liked the comic version much better, but this was still really enjoyable. Can't wait for JL: Crisis on Two Earths.
By lindyxmjh at 4:14 PM ON 10/15/09
Scifi, what do you mean there's no room for a follow up because this is some "alternate reality" story? Public Enemies wasn't a stand alone graphic novel, it was the first chapter of the Superman/Batman comic, and actually takes place in the current DC Comics canon.The book is even still going with almost 70 issues now. If DC Animated wants to do a sequel, they've got a lot stories to chose from.
Anyway, I do agree that my 14 year old self would have loved this movie, since my 27 year old self did as well. I've liked all of the movies so far except maybe Wonder Woman's (wasn't bad just tried to be too adult and too epic in a run time that was really just too short for it all). But Public Enemies so far is my favorite, and I feel this movie is what the DC Animated line should use as a template for future installments, taking great and popular stories from the comics, make a few minor changes to make it work as a stand alone movie, then make it happen.
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lindyxmjh:
Scifi, what do you mean there's no room for a follow up because this is some "alternate reality" story? Public Enem...More »