Legion Of Super Heroes (Animated Film)

One of the only good things about having zero positive expectations for the DC Universe Animated Movie line is a decent one can come along and pleasantly surprise you out of the blue. Nothing in the movie's description or the history of these movies suggested I would EVER like this outing. And yet, I did. Weird.

I do have mixed feelings about Brainiac 5. I like that Superman accepted him at the end, but I prefer projects like Justice League Unlimited or the old Saturday morning Legion Of Super Heroes cartoon where he's a valued and appreciated member of the team, rather than this movie's take as an outsider nobody trusts, and who may secretly be evil. The idea that a future Brainiac is respected and loved by his friends makes me happier than this delving deeply into his dirty family history.

I will say this: No disrespect intended towards Corey Burton, who will always be MY Brainiac. But truthfully, this guy I never heard of (Darin De Paul) just delivered the single greatest performance of the character I have ever heard. How the HELL did that happen? Where has this guy been this entire time? He needs to be DC's new House Voice on that character from this point forward.

This might have been a better thing to bring up during The Long Halloween, but I think Jensen Ackles is miscast as Batman. And it's only really something I notice when they go back to him. The problem with Ackles is that he doesn't really have a great, memorable, or iconic speaking voice that voice-over acting can really take advantage of. And while there are no shortages of Batman actors who voice the character crappily (see the awful "Batgrowl" popularized by Christian Bale and Ben Affleck) I think there's a middle point between that garbage and casting a rando CW hunk without a gravelly voice. Somewhere in between exist folks like Kevin Conroy, Troy Baker, and Diedrich Bader.

Supergirl's fight with Solomon Grundy was great. For the record, Supergirl, his name only doesn't rhyme with Monday if you refuse to put in the effort. The poem itself is sound whenever a new version of Grundy invariably recites it.

I don't like this take on Timber Wolf. He's too much like Wolverine. And I don't think that's what the character should be.

I feel like the movie was maybe 15 minutes too long. As it was wrapping up, I felt it should have been wrapping up quicker and sooner. But that's a small quibble.

The movie would have deserved a PG rating if not for the Brainiac stuff at the end. That was surprisingly gruesome, and also refreshingly understated in what was actually shown. The movie earned the PG-13 there, but also didn't go overboard with it either.

Did not expect to dig that, but I did, and I'm glad I saw the movie. ****.