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I saw it - My review on All Star Superman (Contains spoilers)

posted 14 years ago by DoctorModernMan
20 replies | jump to latest

All Star Superman was uploaded on YouTube today and I couldn't help myself.
Yeah, I'll be kicking myself in the head later for giving into the temptation but it was just too hard to resist.

I'll be out buying it anyway. I did the same with SUPERMAN/BATMAN: Apocalypse. Saw it online, bought it anyway.

Now, if you have a lot more strength then I did to resist the temptation and wait for the DVD, I suggest you read no further until 9 days later. There be spoilers about.

As a MOVIE, it may have been a little too "Episodic" in nature and pacing for those who are unfamiliar with the comic. The parts that were adapted directly from the comic was split up in segments and played out very much the same.
I was really bummed to see that the whole Zibarro part was cut out along with the Kandorians relocated to Mars and the people were used to cure sick children and every other part I loved so much about the comic.

But I can see why as it was either irrelevant to the Luthor plot going and would extend the running time. This is why I hate the fact that they HAVE to be under 75 minutes when by just adding maybe 15 more, they could have had a decent adaptation of the full comic.
But you know what really made me sad? They got rid of the scene where Superman stops that young girl from committing suicide! That was one of the best parts of the comic!

But for what they did adapt, they were pretty much spot on in tone and animation. I LOVED THE animation. It was like Frank Quitely's art in style without being over goofy. The story, apart from the stories cut out like the cubed world of Bizarro, the alternate universe Superman creates (Earth Q I believe it was called which happens to be OUR world), the fate of the Kandorians etc. etc. was almost word for word, panel for panel exactly like the comic.

And I can't blame them for doing that - because the comic was just THAT good that any changes made to it would be inferior. Still, for those unfamiliar with it, this movie may seem more or less like a TV mini series edited into a full movie. But at least it keeps your attention - it's highly entertaining.

In fact, it's probably THE most entertaining of all the DC Direct movies so far. I wasn't bored for a second and I mean that 100%. I was afraid that the PG rating as opposed to the usual PG-13 rating of all these animated films would hurt this movie. Much to my surprise, it didn't. And even when it did, it was very minor.
In fact, I'm glad they went this route instead of as opposed to trying to alter the story to make it more "gritty" and dark.

The voice acting was suitable for the most part. There were times where it fell flat and you could hear some wooden performances. Most notably Superman's voice which, definitely sounded like I would imagine ALL STAR SUPERMAN's voice would sound like but... The actor sounded kinda bored when reading the lines at times.

The acting wasn't amazing but it was suitable. Music was good as well.
Overall, this is definitely one to pick up. Definitely one of the better DC animated films.

I'd dare to rank it up there with UNDER THE RED HOOD for sheer enjoyment value and the feeling of awesomeness it had when it hit all the right notes that made the comic so excellent.
It was WAAAAAAAAYYY Better then Superman/Batman: Apocalypse.

[–] Devilx264 14 years ago

I just finished watching it and I thought it was awesome, granted not reading the comic series, I did enjoy it rather much, exceeded my expectations completely, and I will be buying this on Blu-ray for sure. I wish the movies were longer but thats what happens. I hope these movies never stop coming out, they seem to be much better than the crap hollywood keeps throwing out as movies.

[–] bacci40 14 years ago

someone at dc entertainment is gonna be in hot water

how in the world does something get leaked 10 days before its release?

this is gonna hurt sales...that is for sure

i dont like that they cut out so much from the comic....which caused the overall story to lose its edge....you kinda forget that supes is slowly dying

and i really has a prob with the voice acting

paglia was great as luthor....and when he finally realized what made supes...supes, i felt a tear running down my cheek

[–] DoctorModernMan 14 years ago

Apparently, some people actually get EARLY DVD's like reviewers. One of them might secretly spill the beans.

Also, this is not the first time this has happened. APOCALYPSE last year was leaked like a full month before the movie actually was released on DVD.

[–] Eric_The_Merciful 14 years ago

Yeah ive watched every DCU movie except Superman Doomsday before they were officially released.You use to only be able to find them about a week before release but with the last few its been up to a month before

Formerly Eric_The_Great

[–] devo_uk 14 years ago

Sounds like they butchered the comic.

I want your heart, I want to eat his children. Praise be to Allah.

[–] Eric_The_Merciful 14 years ago

Not really,They got all the important stuff.And like the comic it's still lacking any heart

Formerly Eric_The_Great

[–] devo_uk 14 years ago

The comic had a lot of heart. Everything about the movie sounds like a mess with 70% of the comic cut out.

I want your heart, I want to eat his children. Praise be to Allah.

[–] DoctorModernMan 14 years ago

70% is saying too much. Not THAT much was cut out. They adapted roughly 8 issues directly from the comic into the movie and skipped over the other 4.

[–] DoctorModernMan 14 years ago

Upon letting it sit in a bit, I think my appreciation for what the movie has done has gone up.

Initially, being such a big lover of the comic, I was probably a bit too harsh on it because some of my favorite parts were cut out for time constraint - But I can see that the cubed world of the Bizarros and Zibarro, the only "Insane" Bizarro living on the planet may be a bit out there along with the zany, silly, cross-dressing but hilarious Jimmy Olsen storyline (He still wore a dress in the movie to which got a laugh from me - By the way, that's part of the fun of this Jimmy Olsen. He's all the stereotypes from the character such as "Oh, he's gay" and he does dress "Gay" but he isn't because he's dating Lucy Lane. Completely ignorant of what he's doing because he's just goofy - LOVE IT! But I digress).

What I do think was actually an improvement from the book is how they handled the ending. Lex Luthor, through gaining the powers of Superman and finally seeing the world through his eyes, finds redemption in his last few days to live before being executed (again).

The fact that it is HE who gives Leo Quintum Superman's genetic DNA as opposed to Superman doing it because of how much he "trusts" Leo to do what's right is an interesting twist and definitely surprisingly well handled.
Especially if they had to cut out the Bizarro world among others (I still miss it along with such things as Earth Q being our world that Superman creates and especially Superman saving that girl from committing suicide!!! HOW COULD YOU CUT THAT OUT?! But I digress), it makes more sense for Luthor to give Leo Superman's DNA code instead of Superman because in the little time they had to condense the story, Leo is sadly underdeveloped unlike the comic and given little to do.

So in the end, I like this movie more than I did upon first watching it but the comic still remains superior.

[–] Eric_The_Merciful 14 years ago

I agree that the ending was better in the movie.Its less of a downer.But I still think more stuff should have been cut.Most of the Lois stuff is annoying and I cant for the life of me figure out why they left the Samson stuff in.Really the story would have worked better as a 20 minute showcase short

Formerly Eric_The_Great

[–] DoctorModernMan 14 years ago

It's not really particularly "Better". Just the part where Luthor gives Leo the genetic code to Superman and that he finds some redemption in the end. It's already hinted at in the comic that Luthor takes no pleasure from Superman's "death" and appears to be repentive towards his last days alive.

I'm glad that they kept as much stuff in as possible to be able to fit the 75 minute runtime. The Samson stuff was all in good fun and it was relevant to the story because it showcases Superman's last good times with Lois.

As opposed to the AWESOME Zibarro stuff... I'll admit that as much as I loved it, that it was sadly ultimately irrelevant to the overall PLOT of the movie which centers on Superman, Lois, and Luthor.
I still wish they kept in the suicide girl scene because it was awesome and sent out a strong message. That was absolutely unnecessary to cut.

[–] Eric_The_Merciful 14 years ago

what was the Zibarro stuff? was that the other planet crap? god I hated that part.the first and last issue are about all you need.I do like the Lex prison stuff but that part didnt actually work as well in the movie as it did in the comic

Formerly Eric_The_Great

[–] theElion 14 years ago

Just saw it. Enjoyed it. For being a adaption, they kept a lot more then I thought they would. Usually, the term loosely adapted is, well, loosely. And the best was that they chopped the idea I thought they should anyways. Like that Superman-wearing-a-Clark-Kent-disguise

Great animation. I'm pretty sick of that half-n-half manga-style they've been using. Good voices. Anthony LaPaglia did a great job as Lex.

One of the bad things was over-powering Superman again. I know it fairly common to compare Superman to God, but for me, it doesn't work and sorta takes out the excitement. Like Wolverine being unkillable.

Overall, good flick and it seems like they are learning to adapt from the comics instead of just having the same title

____________________
Is it a bird?
Is it a plane?

Nah, it's just a man in tights and a cape.

[–] DoctorModernMan 14 years ago

That's the idea. Superman is SUPPOSED to be overpowered. It's part of the fun in the story. The ironic part is that he's so overpowered but he's dying from it.

That's what makes it so good.

[–] superturbo4 14 years ago

RealModernMan, do you think going by your review that "All-Star Superman" would've worked a whole lot better as a TV series instead? A 12 issue comics series condensed into a movie like this was always bound to get a ton of elements cut out of it. So why didn't Warner Brothers try for something like a 'mini-series' at the very least, or go for the more hands on approach if they wanted to cover everything by making it as a series instead!

Your thoughts on this?

ST4

Virtua Fighter 5-FS For X-Box360 Console Segahttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETrdHIauxVs

[–] DoctorModernMan 14 years ago

I would have LOVED a TV mini-series. 12 episodes - Each one a half hour long covering each individual issue. That would have been awesome.

Yeah, much better idea. But still - It's not like a movie out of it was impossible. They were doing pretty well until it became obvious lots of storylines got cut due to lack of time.

[–] 14 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Eric_The_Merciful 14 years ago

honestly its just as random in the comic too

Formerly Eric_The_Great

[–] cavnative 14 years ago

It's a good movie. The voice acting and pacing was great. (Some asking if he is really gone.) When they were looking through the time telescope. She said that the Superman of the future looks kind of like her dad.
The guy getting into the car near the end of the movie. With the DNA information inside the pages of the book that Lex had just given him. Then the guy saying out loud that they always wanted to have children. The foreshadowing doesn't let the idea of him being gone per say fade away.

[–] packro 14 years ago

You guys need to rate this movie. As of now, it has no rating...

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