If you were an avid comic collector in the
1970s and 1980s, the coolest thing to ever hit theaters at the time
(besides Star Wars) was Superman. It was a monumental
achievement in storytelling and special effects, especially on the big
screen because most other iconic superheroes existed through cartoons (Superfriends,
Spiderman and His Amazing Friends). Anything with live-action
at the time was relegated to the small screen as a hokey series (Batman,
The Incredible Hulk, Flash) or TV movie (Spiderman, Captain America).
By the late 80s and early 90s, Hollywood began to truly recognize the
potential worth of bringing comic characters to the big screen beginning
with its take on Batman. Though the Superman franchise was run into the
ground (1987), Batman did pretty well, surviving a change in its lead
actor (1995), even if the third time (1997) wasn't a charm. Before
audiences could even mourn the decline of the Batman and Superman
franchises, along came X-Men (2000), closely followed by Spiderman
(2002). Thanks to the care taken to fully develop its characters, the
wonderfully crafted story lines, and the amazing CGI, it was as if
Hollywood finally got it. And if it hadn't been for the success of these
two previous franchises, there would have been no Fantastic Four, no
restart of the Superman franchise, no Hulk movies, and especially no
Batman movies by Chris Nolan.
In the wake of Polar Express, the Golum of Peter Jackson's movies, Beowulf,
and the last two Hulk pictures, it's time for Hollywood to take the same
caring approach to an all-CGI film when transferring comic heroes from
page to screen. Why? The reason is simple: the cartoon form of yesterday
looks tired and old. Perhaps this reviewer has been spoiled by Pixar's
beautifully rendered movies; perhaps it's also anime films such as Appleseed:
Ex Machina that have me, as a viewer, yearning for something more
spectacular for the superheroes I grew up with.
Justice League: The New Frontier was a masterstroke of
storytelling. Set in the 1950s, the story is taken from Darwyn Cooke's
2004 DC miniseries. Though the film could have been even longer to
incorporate that much more from the original storyline, all the necessary
elements are present to show how these super beings came together to form
the Justice League. And its message of coming together to work towards a
common goal, regardless of differences, resonates throughout the picture.
The artwork of the original series in print echoed the Silver Age of
comics. If only that same motif could have transferred more successfully
to the film adaptation. Admittedly, especially when it comes to
storytelling about beings with super powers, the story can be told much
easier (and cheaper) in cartoon form. But now it's time to take that
medium to a whole other level. It's time to give it some super powers of
its own. |
