Superman/Doomsday (2007) (V)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Directors:

Lauren Montgomery
Bruce W. Timm

Writers:

Duane Capizzi (writer)
Bruce W. Timm (writer)

Release Date:

18 September 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Action | Adventure | Drama

Tagline:

Where were you the day Superman died?

Plot:

When LexCorps accidentally unleash a murderous creature, Doomsday, Superman meets his greatest challenge as a champion. Based on the "The Death of Superman" storyline that appeared in DC Comics' publications in the 1990s. |

Plot Keywords:

Superman | DC Comics | Cloning | Skirt | Based On Comic Book

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Adam Baldwin	...	Clark Kent / Superman (voice)
Anne Heche	...	Lois Lane (voice)
James Marsters	...	Lex Luthor (voice)
John Di Maggio	...	Toyman (voice)
Tom Kenny	...	Robot (voice)
Swoosie Kurtz	...	Martha Kent (voice)
Cree Summer	...	Mercy Graves (voice)
Ray Wise	...	Perry White (voice)
Adam Wylie	...	Jimmy Olsen (voice)
Chris Cox	...	Damon Swank (voice)
Hettie Lynne Hurtes	...	Newscaster (voice)
James Arnold Taylor	...	Officer Tucker (voice)
Townsend Coleman	...	Drill Operator (voice)
Kimberly Brooks	...	Murphy (voice)
Kevin Smith	...	Grumpy Man (voice)

Also Known As:

The Death of Superman (USA) (working title)
La muerte de Superman (Spain) [es]
O thanatos tou Superman (Greece) [el]

Runtime:

USA:75 min (approx.)

Country:

USA

Language:

English | English | Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Certification:

USA:PG-13 | Singapore:PG | Australia:M

Company:

Warner Bros. Animation

Trivia:

Kevin Smith appears animated as himself with one line: "Pff, like we really needed him to bust up the mechanical spider right? Lame!" This is a reference to the requirement made by producer 'Jon Peters', that Kevin Smith include a giant spider in the film ‘Superman Lives’, to be given the position of director (the project was canceled, in favor of Superman Returns). Kevin Smith wanted to use the same basic plot of ‘Superman: Doomsday’ for ‘Superman Lives’.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Lex Luthor: Just look at him. So sleek. So powerful. So... beautiful, like some great golden god made flesh. Of course, any sensible god would demand absolute obedience in return for his favor. But, no, our Man of Steel protects us, with no strings attached. The people? Hmph. They practically worship him anyway. Enjoy your reign while you may, Superman. For surely as night follows day, there comes a time when even gods must die.

Movie Connections:

References "Superman" (1996)

Not perfect, but pretty damn good.

For having to squeeze so much info into such a short amount of time, this DVD is a success. Of course the comic purists are going to complain and obsess over every little detail that has been changed. But for those of us who have the ability to accept a little change to benefit the masses, it is extremely enjoyable.

The animation is very similar to most DCAU (DC Animated Universe) incarnations, but a little sharper. They changed the look of a few characters...Lex's head looks like Brainiac's and James Marsters doesn't even come close to the masterful voice work of Clancy Brown, although he's not bad. Lois looks more like Kristen Kreuk's Lana now than Lois and Anne Heche's voice work isn't nearly as enjoyable as Dana Delaney's, but again she's not bad. Adam Baldwin does sound similar to past versions of Superman...that is probably the smallest change in the voices, although the way they draw his cheekbones in this version make him look old and decrepit. That was certainly a bad move, but you get over it.

The real deal is the fight between Superman and Doomsday. It is hard hitting, ultra violent and very intense. They change the way Supes finishes him off from how it happened in the comics, but the new way was really cool in my opinion. This is a more graphic cartoon and the way Doomsday kills some people will shock long time DCAU fans. You have never seen brutality like you will in this film.

The story goes way off the beaten path after Superman's death, but I think Bruce Timm's re-imagining was very well done. I don't think any logical person would expect them to follow the original story. It would have been a 6 hour movie. All in all, it's worth buying if you are a Superman fan. Some things could have been better, but in the end another great interpretation by Bruce Timm.