Justice League: The New Frontier
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| Justice League: The New Frontier | |
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| Directed by | Dave Bullock |
| Produced by | Darwyn Cooke Stan Berkowitz Sander Schwartz Gregory Noveck Bruce Timm |
| Written by | Stan Berkowitz Darwyn Cooke |
| Starring | Kyle MacLachlan Jeremy Sisto Lucy Lawless Neil Patrick Harris David Boreanaz Phil Morris Miguel Ferrer Brooke Shields Kyra Sedgwick |
| Music by | Kevin Manthei |
| Distributed by | Warner Home Video Warner Bros. Animation DC Comics |
| Release date(s) | February 26, 2008 |
| Language | English |
Justice League: The New Frontier is a direct-to-video animated film adaptation of the popular DC comic DC: The New Frontier limited series. The film was written by Justice League writer Stan Berkowitz, with Darwyn Cooke serving as story and visual consultant.
The video has received a rating of PG-13 for violent content/images and was released on February 26, 2008.[1] It is the second in the line of DC Universe Original Animated Movies released by Warner Premiere and Warner Bros. Animation; with the first release being Superman: Doomsday and the next release being Batman: Gotham Knight.
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[edit] Plot
The film begins with an unknown entity explaining how it has witnessed the evolution of life on Earth. Seeing the destruction which humanity has wrought, this entity concludes that their race must be eliminated. This is shown being written by a mysterious person who then shoots himself.
The film cuts to the end of the Korean War, where United States Air Force pilot Hal Jordan and his wingman, Kyle "Ace" Morgan, are attacked by enemy pilots not yet informed of the cease-fire. Hal is shot down in the ensuing conflict, and forced to kill a Korean soldier after ejecting to safety. The trauma of this event leads Hal to a mental ward within a hospital for two years before he goes on to join the space program working for Ferris Industries.
Elsewhere, on Gotham Observatory, the last survivor of the Green Martian race, J'onn J'onzz, is inadvertently teleported to Earth by a scientist, Dr. Saul Erdel. Unable to return to Mars, he disguises himself as a human, first taking the identity of Dr. Erdel then assuming the identity of John Jones. J'onn joins the Gotham City Police Department, and with his integrity, cunning analytical skill, and telepathy, quickly rises to the ranks of detective in just two years. Superheroes in general are becoming feared by the populace, bringing a decline to the first generation superhero team, the Justice Society. Some, like Superman, attempt to ease the government's fears, while others, like Batman, continue fighting crime in spite of it. After investigating a kidnapping of a child which was later discovered to be part of a sacrificial ritual for a cult, J'onn and his partner meet Batman for the first time as he is also investigating the kidnapping. Afterward, when Batman attempts to free the boy from his bond, the child is terrified at the sight of the demonic figure wearing a stark black cape and cowl over his black and gray body armor. J'onn arrives to calm the boy down and then he and his partner free the child themselves. Later, the Dark Knight reveals his knowledge of J'onn's true nature in his apartment, as he is able to find a way to shield his mind from J'onn's telepathy, and suggests that they should form an alliance as they are both investigating the cult that is rising thoughout the world. J'onn's demonstration of kindness toward the boy led Batman to believe that he can be a trusted ally. As the film moves through the various battles, a recurring theme arises: "The Centre", and its upcoming judgment.
Hal Jordan is given a top-secret mission to travel to Mars, a response to J'onn J'onzz's appearance on Earth. J'onn J'onzz learns of the launch and attempts to stow away on the rocket so that he may return home. Before leaving, he arrives in Batman's headquarters, the Batcave, revealing that he's been aware of Batman's secrets, including his identity as billionaire Bruce Wayne, for quite some time, (using his cunning detective skills instead of his telepathy), and gives him the last of his research on The Centre. J'onn reveals to Batman that he's losing faith in humanity, as he sees that there's too much hatred, ignorance, and conformity within the people around him, which made him decide to leave Earth. While attempting to board the ship, J'onn is seen on camera by King Faraday, the project leader, who confronts J'onn and fights him on the launchpad.
J'onn is able to beat Faraday, but saves him from the rocket exhaust by flying him to a platform and collapsing. The rocket is damaged and malfunctions shortly after exiting the atmosphere. Hal wants to attempt a landing, but his co-pilot, Col. Rick Flagg, reveals that the rocket is loaded with weapons of mass destruction, and as such he won't risk it. After a brief struggle, Hal is ejected from the cockpit. Though he is saved by Superman, the distraction allows Flagg to detonate the rocket.
In Central City, the Flash is being targeted by government agents, as they attempt to capture him in an effort to learn the secret of his powers. This experience leads the Flash to consider retiring from his crimefighting career.
J'onn J'onzz is now held prisoner by Faraday, which Superman points out is entirely J'onn's decision because he can escape at any time using his powers. Jordan is later found by Abin Sur, the Green Lantern. The destruction of the rocket badly wounds him as he enters Earth's atmosphere, so he instructs his ring to find a worthy replacement. He leaves his ring with Hal, and tells him of The Centre, which is a monstrous creature that fears humans and seeks their destruction.
Faraday eventually becomes a friend of the alien being who saved his life, and occasionally plays chess with J'onn. J'onn reveals to Faraday that he decided to stay on the agent's base willingly because of the upcoming battle with The Centre, wanting to beat Faraday on their chess match, and had telepathically looked into the agent's mind during their battle at the platform. J'onn found that Faraday believes that one day the world won't be living in fear and hate. Finding that within Faraday, J'onn has renewed hope for humanity and decides to participate in the battle to save Earth. Before leaving with Faraday, J'onn adapt a new Martian/human superheroic hybrid form as the Martian Manhunter, believing it is honest to his heritage with a friendly appearance to human perception.
In the Batcave, Superman reviews J'onn's research with Batman and meets Robin for the first time. Batman has altered the design of his suit so it won't frighten an innocent, but is still able to strike terror in the heart of a criminal. Following this, the Centre begins its attack in earnest at the coast of Florida. After Batman and Superman learn of the attack from the Batcave, Superman flies toward the battle only to find the injured Wonder Woman on site. Taking the form of a massive flying island, with an army of mutated dinosaurs to guard it, Superman falls before the Centre's might. Moved by his single-handed attempt to defeat it, the rest of Earth's superheroes and military forces band together to defeat the Centre. J'onn is overwhelmed by the psychic impact from The Centre and is rescued by Faraday, who is shortly thereafter captured by a mutant dinosaur. As he is about to be eaten by a tyrannosaurus, Faraday grabs two hand grenades and pulls the pins. The dinosaur swallows Faraday and immediately afterwards its head explodes from the grenade detonation, killing both it and Faraday. Flash is outfitted with Ray Palmer's incomplete miniaturization device and manages to destabilize its outer shell. Hal Jordan uses his newfound powers as Green Lantern to throw it into orbit after an unsuccessful attempt to fly nuclear weapons into the core of the monster.
The entire world celebrates the Centre's defeat. As many participants in the battle attend a ceremony, Hal celebrates the victory his own way by pursuing his lifelong dream: flying through space with the aid of his new power ring. During the celebration, Superman is revealed to be injured but still alive, saved by a man named Arthur, who is wearing orange and green armor and claiming to be from an underwater kingdom. He and his subjects treate Superman's wounds during the battle with the Centre.
This monumental victory and display of teamwork changes public opinion about superheroes, and a montage of various heroes and villains (with cameoes by Black Manta, Brainiac, Darkseid, Doctor Light, Doctor Sivana, Gentleman Ghost, Harley Quinn, Joker, Key, Monocle, Ra's al Ghul, Riddler, Star Sapphire, Two-Face, and Ultra-Humanite) as well as the birth of the world's second generation superhero team: Justice League, is shown just before the film ends.
[edit] Cast
[edit] Comparisons from comic to film
Because of time constraints, much of the comic book source material was cut from the DC: The New Frontier graphic novel to make the Justice League: The New Frontier movie. The following was either cut or altered.
- The beginning of the comic showcased The Losers' last mission in 1945 on Dinosaur Island, later known to be the Centre. This was removed in the movie version, and instead focused more on the origins of the Centre to flesh out the movie's villain. Also, a shot of the Losers in the cave from this sequence was shown as a photo in a type of easter egg by Batman in the Batcave. Plus, the death of the "John Cloud" character from the Losers was used as King Faraday's death in the movie.
- Following the Losers sequence; there is a scene set in 1948 where a young Hal Jordan meets his hero in Chuck Yeager. This scene is cut from the movie version. In the "Comic Book Commentary" on the DVD; Darwyn Cooke says that cutting this scene out was a "technical error".
- A newspaper article is shown, written by Iris West, detailing the history of the world up to 1952, before the main story begins. Shown here is Hourman chased by, and killed by, the cops, all of whom fall to their death from the rooftops. Because of the McCarthyism outlawing superheroes, the Justice Society of America disband themselves. Ordered by the government, Superman fights and is defeated by Batman, and the Suicide Squad becomes Task Force X, run by Col. Rick Flagg. This newspaper article, along with other certain painted panels from the comic, as well as the covers, make up the opening credits to the movie. The Superman/Batman fight and Task Force X are omitted from the opening credits.
- Originally, in the 1953 sequence of the end of the Korean War; Hal is knocked unconscious after ejecting from his plane, after it is destroyed by Korean fighter planes. Ace Morgan ejects from his plane to reach Hal and pulls Hal's zip cord for his parachute to open. Hal wakes up when he lands on the Korean soldier. In the movie version, what Ace doesn't pull Hal's zip cord as Hal is conscious when he ejects. Hal still lands on the Korean soldier, due to the fact that he couldn't change his course in landing. In the movie version, blood is shown after Hal shoots the Korean soldier in the face.
- In the movie version, Lois Lane seems to be a radio reporter in 1953, as well as a newspaper reporter and a television reporter like she is in the New Frontier comic. In the comic, it is just a television reporter that she becomes later in the story. In the comic a helicopter containing Lois and Jimmy Olsen picks up Hal after he kills the Korean soldier.
- While the Superman/Wonder Woman scene remains intact from comic to movie, there is additional dialogue Diana says from the comic where she deeply compares how she is handling the Indo-Chinese women in regards to what America would have done.
- Smoking is seen in the comic, whereas it is all omitted in the movie version despite its PG-13 rating.
- The movie version of the scene where the Martian Manhunter, aka John Jones, watches television and morph into what he sees has him becoming Detective John Jones in a separate scene, rather than after he'd morphed into an Indian.
- Certain scenes that aren't in the movie are: Dwight D. Eisenhower on his second term in office, Hal Jordan and Carol Ferris at an auto show, Wonder Woman receiving a medal but moved away from the microphone when she begins to talk how she wants to help and change America, and some others.
- The scene from the comic where Diana and Superman talk above Paradise Island was cut. But some of the lines Diana says are now said by Lois Lane in a new scene from the movie where she and Superman talk above the Daily Planet.
- The boxing fight between Ted Grant and Muhammad Ali (a boxer named "Cooke" in the movie version) is more focused on in the comic version. Also, Iris West reports on the fight in the comic rather than interviewing a Frank Sinatra-type crooner in the movie. Other differences include: Bruce Wayne, Lois Lane, Oliver Queen, Selina Kyle and Dinah Lance at the fight, with Selina being in a relationship with Grant. Whereas in the movie version, Bruce and Selina are seen together in the casino when Captain Cold appears, while the others aren't seen anywhere.
- In the comic, Ace and Hal arrive at Nellis Air Force Base where Ace reveals that he got Hal a job interview with Carol Ferris of Ferris Aircraft. In the movie version, Ace directs Hal to where Ferris Aircraft is.
- In the comic, the Challengers of the Unknown are featured as part of the story. In the movie version, they are all cut into cameos, with Ace Morgan being the only exception.
- A character named John Henry is featured in the book in a civil rights type storyline where he faces off against the KKK, and dies soon thereafter. While this plotline was cut from the story several references where made to it. A newspaper clipping is stuck to John Jones' wall and the television reporter comments on it before being interrupted by the Flash.
- Task Force X is focused on in the comic version, but are not included in the movie version.
- In the comic version, before he and Batman meet in his apartment, John Jones watches a Martian movie in a theater where he mistakes it for a comedy. Plus, before the movie, a Superman cartoon (based from the look of the Fleischer Superman cartoons, particularly The Magnetic Telescope) is shown.
- Faraday is the man who almost shoots Flash in the middle of the city to capture him in the comic version. In the movie version, an unnamed man replaces Faraday in that same scene. Because of this change, Flash doesn't have a grudge against Faraday when they finally meet at the Florida Air Base.
- The Batcave is seen in the movie, whereas it is never seen at all in the comic version. It is seen when John Jones reveals that he is leaving to go back to Mars, unlike the comic version where this happens on the G.C.P.D. rooftop. And when Superman meets with Batman and the recently debuted Robin to discuss the upcoming Centre threat, instead of outside Gotham City in the comic version.
- The mission to Mars is completely different between the comic and movie versions. In the comic version, Task Force X is involved, but Hal's attitude gets him kicked off the project. Thirty hours later, the Flying Cloud rocket faces trouble, and while the Challengers of the Unknown go to save them, Faraday calls Superman. But Superman is too late to save them when Flagg and his lover, Karin, die in the rocket explosion. In the movie version, because Task Force X is never in the movie, it is just Flagg and Hal, who is not kicked off the mission. Once the Flying Cloud reaches orbit, it then faces trouble, which leads to a fight between Hal and Flagg to either glide it back home or destroy it. Flagg ejects Hal, and Hal almost gets burned by the atmosphere until Superman saves him. But Superman is too late when Flagg dies in the explosion. Afterward, Hal returns to the base where he and Carol embrace.
- In the comic, Superman has a Secret Service codename of Bishop Six. This is not the case in the movie version. When Faraday calls Superman in the movie version, he just refers to him as the "big guy".
- Just like the comic version, the movie version shows Hal getting the Green Lantern ring from Abin Sur in a style very similar to his origin. But after that, in the comic version, Hal tries it on and has some fun with it like lifting a mountain and almost going into space. This is not the case in the movie version, because Bruce Timm reveals in one of the commentary tracks that it would not make any sense for Hal to do all that and not to be Green Lantern during the final battle with the Centre.
- In both versions, Diana and a blonde Amazon woman do sword training together. Unlike the comic version, the movie version adds a bit of antagonism when the blonde Amazon questions Diana's place as their leader.
- There is a small difference as Martian Manhunter wears a blue suit with King Faraday in the comic, whereas he doesn't in the movie version.
- Nate Adams is seen in the comic version, and becomes the third pilot who goes with Hal and Ace when they enter into the Centre, and Captain Adams later dies inside. He is cut in the movie version.
- In the comic version, the Sea Devils join the fight against the Centre while Batman decides not to fight. In the movie version, the Sea Devils aren't seen, and Batman decides to join the fight.
- The Spectre, Phantom Stranger, Zatanna, Doctor Fate and Billy Batson have cameos in a scene from the comic version, but are cut from the movie version, except for Billy Batson as Captain Marvel in the pan shot with all the heroes at the end of the movie.
- In the comic, it is Adam Strange who picks up Ray Palmer and his shrinking machine, to use them against the Centre. In the movie version, it is Batman.
- In the epilogue with President John F. Kennedy's New Frontier speech, some panels were not seen in the movie version: some kids handshaking Kennedy, Wonder Woman reading to children, Aquaman and the rest of the Justice League of America at the United Nations, an homage to the cover of Detective Comics #69, an African American kid walking past a bathroom that reads "White Only", and Ray Palmer becoming the Atom. Also, the movie version has the shot of the JLA fighting Starro as one of the panels during Kennedy's speech. In the comic version, it is actually the final scene of the book.
[edit] Critical reception
Justice League: The New Frontier received mostly positive reviews. Screener copies were sent to those who reviewed them on websites a month prior to the DVD's official release. Even then, most of the reviews were positive and geared up the film's release even more.
Newsarama reviewed the DTV before its Feb. 26th release, saying that it was "one of the best things to ever come out of [Bruce] Timm’s stable." Commenting also that the acting was exceptional.[2] The World's Finest, a fansite dealing with DC Animations, started the review of New Frontier with "well...holy crap" and continued to say that it was "the first animated feature in a long time that I’ve felt completely satisfied while walking away from." A reviewer from Ain't it Cool News said that it was "my favorite film of 2008" and also said that it was "everything I had hoped for."[3] Other sites, including some non-fansites, had similar reactions. From IGN giving the film and DVD total an 8.0 [4], ENI saying it was enjoyable [5], and DVDTalk.com labeling its advice as "Recommended".[6]
Entertainment Weekly, talking about direct-to-videos and Superman Doomsday, revealed that pre-orders for The New Frontier were tracking further ahead than expected.[7]
[edit] DVD
Justice League: The New Frontier is available in both single and two-disc editions. The cover of the single disc includes the pan shot from DC: The New Frontier with the heroes going forth, while the two-disc, HD DVD and Blu-ray editions includes Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman above the title logo with Martian Manhunter, Green Lantern, Flash and others below it. Best Buy had an exclusive with a Green Lantern action figure from DC Direct with the DVD package. [8] This Green Lantern figure stands under 3 inches tall. Wal-Mart had a single DVD package exclusive with "The New Frontier Green Lantern" CD-ROM Comic Book inside. The single, two-disc and Blu-ray editions were released on February 26th, 2008, with the HD DVD edition released on March 18th, 2008.[9]
The special features range from a documentary on the forty-seven year history of the Justice League, commentaries, a documentary on how the early mythological villain archetypes were adapted into the Justice League stories, a featurette on the themes, elements from the comic to film versions of New Frontier, three episodes of Justice League Unlimited and finally a 10 minute preview to the next animated film; Batman: Gotham Knight.
[edit] Soundtrack
Like Superman: Doomsday, Justice League: The New Frontier had a soundtrack released by La La Records on March 18, 2008.[10] The music was composed by Kevin Manthei, the track listing is as follows.[11]
- "Main Titles" (2:01)
- "The Centre / Hal Shot Down" (2:50)
- "J'onn J'onzz Arrives" (0:51)
- "Wonder Woman Recounts / J'onzz Watches TV" (2:11)
- "The Flash Saves Las Vegas" (3:32)
- "J'onn Becomes John / Church Brawl" (3:12)
- "Carol & Hal Banter" (0:22)
- "Driving to Ferris / The Real Ferris" (1:34)
- "Hal's Mission Revealed / Batman Surprises J'onzz / The Flash Fights Gorilla" (2:52)
- "Crazy Scientist" (1:37)
- "J'onzz Contemplates / J'onzz is Leaving" (1:18)
- "To Space" (1:27)
- "Mars Mission Mess" (4:13)
- "New Green Lantern" (3:56)
- "Superman Ties It Up / J'onzz Bonds" (2:41)
- "Island Revealed / Superman Down" (5:22)
- "Plan to Action" (2:35)
- "Thick of Battle" (4:32)
- "The Flash vs. Centre / Last Bit of Business" (3:37)
- "Victory" (3:09)
- "End Credits" (3:01)
[edit] References
- ^ Justice League DVD news: Release Date for Justice League: The New Frontier | TVShowsOnDVD.com
- ^ Animated Shorts: Justice League: The New Frontier Review - Newsarama
- ^ Harry discovers JUSTICE LEAGUE: THE NEW FRONTIER!!! - Ain't It Cool News: The best in movie, TV, DVD, and comic book news
- ^ IGN: Justice League: The New Frontier Review
- ^ Entertainment Reviews - Justice League: The New Frontier - ENewsI.com
- ^ DVD Talk Review: Justice League - The New Frontier
- ^ Direct-to-DVD movies growing in popularity - Entertainment News, Weekly TV, Media - Variety
- ^ The World's Finest
- ^ The World's Finest
- ^ The World's Finest
- ^ The World's Finest
[edit] External links
- Justice League: The New Frontier Official Movie Site
- Justice League: The New Frontier at the Internet Movie Database
- Justice League: The New Frontier Myspace page
- Justice League: The New Frontier @ The World's Finest
- First article releasing on the DTV
- Justice League: The New Frontier Press Release
- Justice League: The New Frontier Trailer Trailer (Windows Media)
- Justice League: The New Frontier Trailer Trailer (Quicktime)
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