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Justice League: Gods and Monsters

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  • Title: Justice League: Gods and Monsters
  • IMDb: link

Justice League: Gods and MonstersI was ecstatic when I heard Bruce Timm was returning to DC for a new animated feature. One of the creators behind Batman: The Animated Series and Justice League Unlimited, the animated DCU just hasn’t been the same since his departure. When I heard the premise of the movie, however, I was more skeptical. It turns out I need not have feared that Bruce Timm might be corrupted by the grit of the New 52 that’s turned so much of DC’s comic and video output to shit. Timm certainly delivers a darker and more adult story than expected but it’s still grounded in a profound understanding and love for these characters that is far too often lacking in much of DC’s current output.

Although the word Elseworlds doesn’t appear in its title that’s exactly what Justice League: Gods and Monsters is: a story set in an alternate version of the DCU vastly different from the any we know. The result is as unexpected as it is enjoyable. It may not be classic Timm, but the man certainly hasn’t lost his knack for characters, design, or storytelling.

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2000 – Bring It On

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  • Title: Bring It On
  • IMDb: link

“I am a choreographer.  That’s what I do.  You are cheerleaders.  Cheerleaders are dancers who have gone retarded.  What you do is a tiny, pathetic subset of dancing.  I will attempt to turn your robotic routines into poetry, written with the human body.  Follow me, or perish, sweater monkeys.”

bring-it-on-posterReleased on or around this date 15 years ago, here’s a look back at 2015’s Bring It On. Torrance Shipman (Kirsten Dunst) gets her dream when she becomes the captain of the Fighting Toros cheerleading squad, only to find her world go downhill faster than a cheerleader on the football captain.

On her first day one of her teammates is injured (Bianca Kajlich) causing a mad search for a replacement.  Torreance, against the wishes of most of her teammates, chooses new transfer, punk girl Missy (Eliza Dushku), who has the gymnastic background but not the usual cheer spirit.

Torreance’s world gets even crazier when Missy informs her that the award-winning cheers the Toros are using were stolen by the former captain of the Toros (Lindsay Sloane) from a nearby urban high school (led by Gabrielle Union).  An attempt to use a choreographer (Ian Roberts) to create the team a new routine blows up in her face, and her cheating and unsupportive college boyfriend (Richard Hillman) destroys he confidence and prevents her from acting on her feelings for Missy’s brother Cliff (Jesse Bradford).

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Mr. & Mrs. Smith

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  • Title: Mr. & Mrs. Smith
  • IMDb: link

Mr. & Mrs. SmithOriginally released in theaters 10 years ago, Mr. & Mrs. Smith stars Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie who, unbeknownst to each other, are rival spies for competing spy organizations. Doug Liman‘s 2005 film has held up pretty well over the past decade. Pitt and Jolie are fun together in a script that allows them to play off each other and, when called for, kick each other’s ass in one hell of a prolonged action scene that leaves their suburb home destroyed.

Most notable for its action set pieces, Simon Kinberg‘s script also has its share of humor (including a Fantasy Island joke that never fails to tickle my fancy no matter how many times I see the movie). It’s not a great film by any standard, but it still works well as a mostly-entertaining action flick (especially the first hour). Released several times on both DVD and Blu-ray, the new version includes pre-released extras and a digital copy of the film but sadly the Blu-ray only includes the theatrical cut of the film as the unrated extended version isn’t available on this release.

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Scandal – The Complete Fourth Season

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  • Title: Scandal – Season Four
  • wiki: link

Scandal - The Complete Fourth SeasonScandal‘s Fourth Season begins with Olivia (Kerry Washington) being pulled back from island paradise into the political intrigue of Washington D.C. and ends with her quest to destroy B613 and see her father (Joe Morton) behind bars. In-between Abby (Darby Stanchfield) will grow into her role as the White House Press Secretary, Huck (Guillermo Díaz) will reconnect with his family, Mellie (Bellamy Young) will begin her own political career, Maya (Khandi Alexander) will wreak havoc, the Vice President (Jon Tenney) will attempt a coup, Fitz (Tony Goldwyn) will fight for re-election, and Olivia will spend several episodes held for ransom halfway around the world.

For those enjoying the series’ longer arcs the season delivers. For those of us preferring to see Olivia and company in their roles as fixers we’re mostly out of luck as broader storylines continue to derail Olivia & Associates from making an honest living. The season certainly has its share of memorable moments, such as the return of a familiar face, but I wouldn’t rank it as my favorite.

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Superman: Doomsday

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  • Title: Superman: Doomsday
  • IMDB: link

When I heard that Bruce Timm and the folks who brought us Justice League were planning a DVD movie of “Death of Superman” I was stoked. Sadly what emerged was more than a little disappointing and foreshadowed other such entries to DC Animation’s line-up. 

”The Death of Superman,” “World Without a Superman,” and “Reign of Supermen,” storylines which spanned issues and years, are all condensed into 75 minutes.  We get Doomsday, Superman and Lois’s tearful goodbye, and Superman’s return in a black suit.  We don’t get Steel, Suberboy, Cyborg Superman, or the Eradicator.

There are several things which bug me about this movie.  First off, rather than use actors who had been used for Justice League or Superman: The Animated Series, every part is recast, most unnecessarily.  Some come off okay, Adam Baldwin is a passable Clark/Superman and Swoosie Kurtz is not too shabby as Martha Kent, but others, including Anne Heche as Lois Lane, come off just short of disaster.

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