New Frontiers...
'We stand today on the edge of a new frontier...' These words are the start of the end coda to Justice League: New Frontier, and they sum up all of the post-war optimism and 1950's zeitgeist that exudes from every pore of this animated movie. It's the latest instalment of the DC universe animated movie franchise and really captures the feel of that yesterday era, both in tone and animation style.
I have to admit, I was a little at odds with the retro stylings, so faithful to the Darwyn Cooke graphic novel on which this abridged version of the story is based, at first. I'm a child and devoted fan of the early 90's Batman era from the visionary Bruce Timm, Paul Dini, Alan Burnett et al. Timm and co are involved in this retelling of a classic, too, and the slightly minimalist deco feel of those 90's Batman cartoons (and later, the Justice League) comes through.
My initial reservations were soon torpedoed as I settled down to a wonderfully dark and prophetic opening as spoken by the voice of the 'Centre'. This compelling introduction revealed our antagonists fear of humankind, of their contamination of the globe with their exponential species growth and propensity for war and self destruction. It's a classic narrative: man as the parasite that needs to be wiped out for the earth, and it's gaia, to survive.
Let's be clear, this is an origin story. Possibly, THE origin story of the Justice League and of man uniting against a common foe (in this case the alien 'Centre', which has a rather disturbing knack of influencing and controlling weak-minded humans into acts of sabotage, suicide and even homicide). It's a theme echoed in Watchmen, whereby all the ills of man need a common cause to fight against, in order to rally them so as to put aside their differences. Anything less would only serve to guarantee a slow and inevitable road to extinction.
There's evidence of Cooke's narrative in other super hero narratives, too. Take 'Secret Origins' for example, the initial three-part 'movie' episode of the Justice League series. Given that Bruce Timm was involved with both this and New Frontier, it's plain to see the influences. Though the tone of the story was different, less weighty but more dramatic in some ways but not others. There's less politics for a start and more Saturday morning cartoon action to woo and wow at. But there are some clear similarities: the global threat of an alien invader, the introduction and subsequent capture by the military of the Martian Manhunter (who is, incidentally, my girlfriend's favourite character), the realisation of a band of heroes that by working together and putting aside their differences, they can achieve so much more than when working alone (a message that never quite gets through to the Batman, archetypal loner that he is).
Speaking of the Batman, albeit in parenthesis, his appearance is somewhat delayed in the story of New Frontier, which focuses primary on the Green Lantern (the first GL that is - Hal Jordan, and not John Stewart as he appears in Justice League and Justice League Unlimited). The first time we see the Dark Knight isn't until about a half hour or so into the movie, kicking the butts of some cultists driven mad by the 'Centre', and who are about to sacrifice a young boy for their cause. Told you it was dark. He looks a little wacky, truth be told, a little like the first appearance Batman from Detective Comics and as illustrated by Bill Finger. A pretty cool homage, though. The Bat's appearance changes a little further on as he dons the 60's/70's cowl, scalloped cape and serrated gloves.
Anyway, I'm digressing in Batman fan mode a little here, so let me get back on track. Justice League: New Frontier is a 75 minute presentation, with some pretty darn cool extras. It certainly bears repeat viewing and there's a great feel to the whole show. My only critique was that it wasn't long enough. I'll be honest, I haven't read Darwyn Cooke's graphic novel, but I'd be interested to see what was left out and how much more of a role certain well known members of the Justice League had in it. Aquaman, for instance, though rendered gloriously on the cover, only appears right at the end of the piece and gets a couple of lines of dialogue. A shame, as I would have liked to have seen more of the man from Atlantis (my favourite interpretation of which, incidentally, is the bearded, spear-fisted, barbarian from the Justice League series - the two-part episode 'The Enemy Below' is one of the most dramatic and powerful in the entire four seasons for me).
In spite of that, I loved it. A fantastic movie that is certain to delight fans of all eras. The political subtext is wonderful and the end coda (which I've already mentioned at the start) is truly uplifting, as spoken by JFK. For me, this was the best moment of the entire movie, replete as it was with images of the JLA's future battles and their endless struggle to ensure the safety and freedom of all. Truly epic stuff!
I have to admit, I was a little at odds with the retro stylings, so faithful to the Darwyn Cooke graphic novel on which this abridged version of the story is based, at first. I'm a child and devoted fan of the early 90's Batman era from the visionary Bruce Timm, Paul Dini, Alan Burnett et al. Timm and co are involved in this retelling of a classic, too, and the slightly minimalist deco feel of those 90's Batman cartoons (and later, the Justice League) comes through.
My initial reservations were soon torpedoed as I settled down to a wonderfully dark and prophetic opening as spoken by the voice of the 'Centre'. This compelling introduction revealed our antagonists fear of humankind, of their contamination of the globe with their exponential species growth and propensity for war and self destruction. It's a classic narrative: man as the parasite that needs to be wiped out for the earth, and it's gaia, to survive.
Let's be clear, this is an origin story. Possibly, THE origin story of the Justice League and of man uniting against a common foe (in this case the alien 'Centre', which has a rather disturbing knack of influencing and controlling weak-minded humans into acts of sabotage, suicide and even homicide). It's a theme echoed in Watchmen, whereby all the ills of man need a common cause to fight against, in order to rally them so as to put aside their differences. Anything less would only serve to guarantee a slow and inevitable road to extinction.
There's evidence of Cooke's narrative in other super hero narratives, too. Take 'Secret Origins' for example, the initial three-part 'movie' episode of the Justice League series. Given that Bruce Timm was involved with both this and New Frontier, it's plain to see the influences. Though the tone of the story was different, less weighty but more dramatic in some ways but not others. There's less politics for a start and more Saturday morning cartoon action to woo and wow at. But there are some clear similarities: the global threat of an alien invader, the introduction and subsequent capture by the military of the Martian Manhunter (who is, incidentally, my girlfriend's favourite character), the realisation of a band of heroes that by working together and putting aside their differences, they can achieve so much more than when working alone (a message that never quite gets through to the Batman, archetypal loner that he is).
Speaking of the Batman, albeit in parenthesis, his appearance is somewhat delayed in the story of New Frontier, which focuses primary on the Green Lantern (the first GL that is - Hal Jordan, and not John Stewart as he appears in Justice League and Justice League Unlimited). The first time we see the Dark Knight isn't until about a half hour or so into the movie, kicking the butts of some cultists driven mad by the 'Centre', and who are about to sacrifice a young boy for their cause. Told you it was dark. He looks a little wacky, truth be told, a little like the first appearance Batman from Detective Comics and as illustrated by Bill Finger. A pretty cool homage, though. The Bat's appearance changes a little further on as he dons the 60's/70's cowl, scalloped cape and serrated gloves.
Anyway, I'm digressing in Batman fan mode a little here, so let me get back on track. Justice League: New Frontier is a 75 minute presentation, with some pretty darn cool extras. It certainly bears repeat viewing and there's a great feel to the whole show. My only critique was that it wasn't long enough. I'll be honest, I haven't read Darwyn Cooke's graphic novel, but I'd be interested to see what was left out and how much more of a role certain well known members of the Justice League had in it. Aquaman, for instance, though rendered gloriously on the cover, only appears right at the end of the piece and gets a couple of lines of dialogue. A shame, as I would have liked to have seen more of the man from Atlantis (my favourite interpretation of which, incidentally, is the bearded, spear-fisted, barbarian from the Justice League series - the two-part episode 'The Enemy Below' is one of the most dramatic and powerful in the entire four seasons for me).
In spite of that, I loved it. A fantastic movie that is certain to delight fans of all eras. The political subtext is wonderful and the end coda (which I've already mentioned at the start) is truly uplifting, as spoken by JFK. For me, this was the best moment of the entire movie, replete as it was with images of the JLA's future battles and their endless struggle to ensure the safety and freedom of all. Truly epic stuff!
posted by Nick Kyme at
10:51
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