Board Thread:DC Universe Discussion/@comment-5624498-20150203172736

My thoughts on the latest Justice League entry from DCAU:

Positives:


 * I liked the idea of an Aquaman-centric storyline and going a different direction than what the comic title took.


 * Some good voice acting from Matt Lanter, Sumalee Montano, Sam Witwer and Sirena Irwin.


 * Rosario Dawson is a much better choice for Wonder Woman... she was surprisingly good and gave more of a sense that Diana has a good heart.


 * Shemar Moore continues to do very well with Cyborg, and Jason O'Mare and Christopher Gorham continue to do well as Batman and Flash.


 * The first half of the film generally does a good job exploring the background of Arthur Curry. Honestly, I didn't mind the scene where a drunk Curry is talking to a lobster, as it does foreshadow his ability to talk to marine life.


 * I know character designs were re-used from YJ and it doesn't mean anything regarding what happens in future releases, but I like to think the crew using Cassie's YJ design in the scene with Diane Prince was a wink at YJ fans. :)

Negatives:


 * The second half of the film really gets rushed. They had a whole bunch of plot points they were doing in the first half of the film, then they have to try to pull everything together in the second half and it becomes a mad dash to the end, leaving you wondering, "That it?"


 * The inclusion of Black Manta was entirely unnecessary. Why is Orm trusting someone who isn't Atlantean? Why is Manta, a surface dweller, even around in Atlantis to begin with if nobody there trusts surface dwellers? You could have just placed a generic Atlantean who shares Orm's views and made it work... it might have also made Orm a stronger character.


 * On one hand, Superman has a little better material. On the other hand, Jerry O'Connell's voice work for Superman was incredibly dull. Was Sam Daly not available, if your intent is to move on from Tim?


 * They focused too much on relationships between the Justice League members that were already established in War. Exploring the relationship between Cyborg and Batman would have been good, but it doesn't get the treatment it should. Cutting down on the time spent with relationships that were already established (Batman-GL, Cyborg-Billy Batson, Superman-Wonder Woman) would have allowed more time to properly develop Aquaman and his relationships.

Overall, a better effort than War, but still missing plenty. Kind of like Justice League: Doom, in which they had a good concept on paper, but the execution wasn't good enough. 