Board Thread:DC Universe Discussion/@comment-1038387-20130724070008

The latest DC Universe Animated Original Movie, or whatever the call them now. Loosely based on the event, of which I had only read the core issues and the major series.


 * I liked the designs. Phil and Jerome were involved, so they recycled a lot of YJ and DCUAOM designs with some changes. They're slightly less sharp, which is weird at first, but not jarring.
 * Several changes were made, I think for the better.
 * What I never liked about the miniseries was that Aquaman and Wonder Woman were being played by Orm and Penthesilea, who fueled the war and sabotaged any effort for peace. Luckily, they removed it in the movie. The thought that these two noble characters, Orin and Diana, could go so far off on their own makes the altered timeline only more alien and dark. It's a change that payed off. Their history is simplified too, from an arranged marriage that was cancelled with murder to an affair during peace talks.
 * They also toned down on traitors, female heroes and villains joining Diana. Removing Vixen, Hawkgirl, Cheetah and Huntress works. Ignoring the betrayals of Miss Hyde and Enchantress also cleans up the story a bit, and enhances the alien feel.
 * Captain Atom's role is changed a lot, for the better. Capturing him can mean a doomsday weapon, more than Geo-Force. That they had to replace him in the Green Lantern stories with General Lane was no big loss, though that character was a bit flat.
 * Deathstroke's got a purpose now. His miniseries was one of those that kinda stuck out, made little sense. I liked how they kept most of his crew. Icicle, Clayface, Tattooed Man, the Eel, Scavenger, Sonar, Fisherman, even Jenny Blitz and Briggs. Adding Luthor works. Luthor is the big absentee in the story, being killed as a child in the Project One mini. You can do that in the comics, but in a movie, you have to include your aces.
 * On aces: they removed Hila, who was only included in the story because she was big during Brightest Day. Kaldur, Tula and Garth are way more popular now.
 * Voice work: some very good ones (C. Thomas Howell, Kevin McKidd) and some less (Justin Chambers's voice just seemed dead to me at times). Sam Daly did a good job, sounded a lot like his dad. For the rest, it's a pity we didn't get to hear that much of Ron Perlman. Or Danny Huston.

Overall, big thumbs up. Like Under the Red Hood, better than the comic. 