Superman vs. The Elite (Review)

Superman vs. The Elite

Superman vs the Elite
2012
Written by Joe Kelly
Based on “What’s So Funny About Truth, Justice & the American Way?” from Action Comics #775 by Joe Kelly, Doug Mahnke, and Lee Bermejo
Directed by Michael Chang

Superman vs the Elite
Superman has been a cultural icon for 80 years, he’s survived several waves of popularity of comic books, multiple reboots and revisions to his story and character, and still remains popular world wide despite the world being far different than the one he was introduced to. In fact, one of the major things people write about Superman is how he seems to be a character from another time. Back when things seemed simple and a super powered guy could just punch his way to the right answer. Now things are complicated, because we think about the consequences of actions and about the causes of problems, so just punching things is usually out. This is helped in part by characterizations of Superman by people who don’t really know what to do with him, turning him into a boy scout tool of the government or a deadbeat dad. One of the plot points of Superman Returns was Lois Lane winning a Pulitzer for an article basically saying the world didn’t need a Superman.

Where some media interpretations of Superman has failed, he has gained a pretty solid characterization in the numerous animated projects from DC comics, across tv and dtv films. The Superman presented is a man who does his best to balance power and responsibility while stopping threats of immense power (and they usually have to be, because Superman is just invincible otherwise!)
Superman vs the Elite
So it’s natural that the animated DC movies would cover What’s So Funny About Truth, Justice & the American Way? from Action Comics #775. Written by Joe Kelly (with pencils by Doug Mahnke and Lee Bermejo), it’s a story about how the world seems to have changed, how heroes that are willing to kill (a line Superman doesn’t cross) have gained traction, and just how much Superman holds back in the hope of inspiring people to be better. Superman takes his responsibility as a role model seriously, and holds himself to the highest moral standard. Some of the themes are also present in the awesome Kingdom Come story (another tale I hope gets the animated treatment!)

The Elite is a team consisting of four members. Manchester Black is the leader, he has a Union Jack tattooed over his chest (I thought it was just a shirt until it was specifically pointed out!) The Hat is an Asian mystic who can do magic tricks and summon supernatural creatures thanks to his magic hat. He’s also constantly drunker as the movie goes on. Menagerie has some sort of alien biosuit that allows her to turn into creatures. Coldcast is a large man wearing chains that has electromagnetic powers. Aside from Manchester’s long tragic flashback, the other three Elite don’t get much in the way of characterization and pretty much follow Black’s lead.
Superman vs the Elite
Continue reading

Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups is the gift that keeps on giving…

[adrotate banner=”1″]If there is one film franchise that deserves to continue forever, it’s definitely not the Air Buddies. But that’s what we’re working with here, so once again let’s jump into the fire of the Air Buddies, for we’re getting a sequel to their prequel spinoff that features a whole new crew of puppies! Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups features a foursome of puppies, and three of them are girls in a good counter to the male-centric Air Buddies (sort of, the boy puppy is still the leader for some reason.) Let’s take a look at the PR buzz:

In the film, the North Pole has a new litter of playful pups! However, when the frisky foursome — Hope, Jingle, Charity and Noble — practically destroy Santa’s Workshop with their mischievous gamboling, they realize the best way to prove that they’re responsible enough to become Santa’s Helpers is to show how well they can spread the Christmas spirit all by themselves. With help from a magic crystal, they start granting everyone’s wishes. But their good intentions backfire when one unhappy boy asks that Christmas go away forever! With his wish impetuously fulfilled, and the joyous spirit quickly disappearing from the planet, Mrs. Claus and the pups have to find a way to reverse the spell — or risk losing Christmas forever!

This cute litter consists of three female pups and one male pup: Hope is the daring tomboy who wears a backwards red cap and rarely looks before she leaps; Jingle is the diva with a bell on her collar who loves to sing, but can’t carry a tune; Charity is the girliest and most self-centered of the pups, with a mistletoe barrette, who has yet to learn the meaning of her name; and Noble is the mischievous only brother and self-appointed leader who is distinguished by a cheeky black spot around his eye.

Will these pups save Christmas and make everyone jingle their bells and shoot their eyes out? Of course! Uh..spoilers.

Starring Cheryl Ladd, Danny Woodburn, Pat Finn, Kaitlyn Maher, Josh Feldman, George Newbern, and Obba Babatunde, with voices by Marlowe Peyton as Jingle, Tatiana Gudegast as Hope, Aidan Gemme as Noble, and G. Hannelius as Charity. Directed by Robert Vince and written by Robert Vince and Anna McRoberts.

This is the 13th film in the Air Bud franchise, the prior films are: Air Bud (1997), Air Bud: Golden Receiver (1998), Air Bud: World Pup (2000), Air Bud: Seventh Inning Fetch (2002), Air Bud: Spikes Back (2003), Air Buddies (2006), Snow Buddies (2008), Space Buddies (2009), Santa Buddies (2009), The Search for Santa Paws (2010), Spooky Buddies (2011), and Treasure Buddies (2012)

Just wait until we get Marvel Buddies, where all the puppies team up in super hero costumes to fight alien puppies with the power of love. You know it will happen. You know it.

Santa Paws 2 Santa Pups

Next year will be The Krampus Pups!

Source – StitchKingdom via @rwmead