Justice League of America (TV movie)

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Justice League of America
Directed by Félix Enríquez Alcalá
Produced by Lorne Cameron
David Hoselton
Scott Shepherd
Larry Rapaport
Starring Miguel Ferrer
David Krumholtz
Kimberly Oja
David Ogden Stiers
Music by John Debney
James Raymond
Cinematography Barry Wilson
Editing by Ed Rothkowitz
Release date(s) 1997
Running time 82 min.
Language English
IMDb profile

This article is not to be confused with the upcoming Justice League film.

Justice League of America is an unsuccessful 1997 TV-pilot produced by CBS[1] and directed by Félix Enríquez Alcalá, based on a team of fictional DC Comics superheroes from the comic of the same name. The film centers on a female meteorologist who gains superpowers and on her subsequent induction into the "Justice League" (JLA), whilst the city of New Metro is held to ransom by a terrorist armed with a "Weather Control Device".

The film is interjected with mock-interviews of various members of the Justice League, speaking about life as a superhero in a past tense, preceding the events of the film.

Contents

[edit] Plot

The film begins with an introduction to the protagonist Tori Olafsdotter, a meteorologist working at the Eno Meteorological Institute who will later become "Ice". New Metro is then attacked by a Tornado being controlled by a terrorist calling himself The Weatherman. "Flash" diffuses the Tornado using his speed whilst the other members of the JLA use their powers to save civilians.

Tori inadvertently stumbles upon a hidden device in the lab where she works. Whilst investigating its use, she spills water on it and it strikes her with strange blue electricity. She is unharmed and leaves the lab for home freezing everything she touches. En route she sees a man drowning, when she attempts to rescue him the water freezes around her. That night she is abducted by the JLA and interrogated, believing her to be The Weatherman. They release her and Tori believes it was all simply a bad dream.

From left to right Atom, Fire, Flash, Green Lantern and Ice.
From left to right Atom, Fire, Flash, Green Lantern and Ice.

The JLA suspect that Tori's timid work colleague Arliss Hopke is The Weatherman. New Metro is then attacked again, this time by Golf ball sized Hailstones, but "Fire" melts them all. The JLA infiltrate a party at the Eno Meteorological Institute looking for evidence that Arliss Hopke is The Weatherman. Tori then discovers that it is in fact her boss, Dr Eno who is The Weatherman.

Tori takes this knowledge to the JLA and they in turn take her to their secret command centre, an alien spacecraft hidden underwater. The JLA's leader J'onn J'onzz introduces himself to Tori and the other members of the League reveal their secret identities. At this point Tori discovers that "Atom" is actually a man whom she has been flirting with. The JLA attempt to train Tori to hone her freezing powers with not much success.

The Weatherman issues a demand of $20 million or he will engulf New Metro in a Tidal Wave. He then attacks the Watchtower using a "Heat-Ray". The JLA escape and devise a plan to stop the wave, leaving Tori behind. The JLA's attempt to stop the Tidal Wave is unsuccessful and it is in fact Tori who stops it by turning it into ice.

The film ends with The Weatherman already hatching his escape from prison and Tori joining the JLA.

[edit] Cast

[edit] Production

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Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion.

The film's plot is based on the Justice League comic era of Keith Giffen & J. M. DeMatteis (writers).[4]

[edit] Reception

Reviews of the film have been mixed at best. Common complaints are of the plot holes, poor special effects,[5] bad costumes and that the league members deviated heavily from their source characters.[6] Critics have also said the movie tried to be like "Friends with superpowers"[7] Established JLA writer Mark Waid said the movie was, "80 minutes of my life I'll never get back."[8]

[edit] Distribution

Justice League of America has never been aired in the U.S.[9] However, it has been shown on television in the U.K. (Channel 5),[10] Brazil,[citation needed] Germany and Israel.[11] Bootleg copies have been distributed through conventions, websites and file sharing networks.[12][13]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Rogue Cinema - Justice League of America (1997) - By Jonathon Pernisek. www.roguecinema.com. Retrieved on 2008-01-08.
  2. ^ Comics2Film: JLA Review. comics2film.com. Retrieved on 2008-01-08.
  3. ^ The Atom: November 2007. thetinytitan.blogspot.com. Retrieved on 2008-01-08.
  4. ^ : RevolutionSF - Justice League of America: The Unaired Pilot : Review. www.revolutionsf.com. Retrieved on 2008-01-08.
  5. ^ Jared von Hindman. Man, I just can't understand why CBS didn't want to put this in Prime Time....Oh wait. It Sucks.. Retrieved on 2008-01-06.
  6. ^ Joe Crowe. Justice League of America: The Unaired Pilot. Retrieved on 2008-01-06.
  7. ^ The Austin Chronicle: Screens: Review - Justice League of America. www.austinchronicle.com. Retrieved on 2008-01-08.
  8. ^ Stefan Robak. JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA. Retrieved on 2008-01-06.
  9. ^ The Justice League of America. www.miguelferrer.com. Retrieved on 2008-01-08.
  10. ^ NTK. GEEK MEDIA. Retrieved on 2008-01-06.
  11. ^ IMDB. Release dates for Justice League of America. Retrieved on 2008-01-06.
  12. ^ Justice League of America: Pilot (1997) TV Review. www.beyondhollywood.com. Retrieved on 2008-01-08.
  13. ^ Antimatter Multiverse. Justice League of America [1997 TV Pilot (DVD)]. Retrieved on 2008-01-06.

[edit] External links

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