Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox Review

Have you ever wondered what would’ve happened if Bruce Wayne was the one who got shot instead of his parents? How about what the world would be like without Superman? The newest animated movie from the DCU, Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox, tackles these thought-provoking questions, and many more. Based on the 2011 graphic novel Justice League: Flashpoint by Geoff Johns and Andy Kubert, the movie centers around everyone’s favorite speedster, the Flash (voiced by Justin Chambers of Grey’s Anatomy fame). When the “Fastest Man Alive” awakens in an alternate timeline where everything and everyone has changed for the worse, he must prove that the word “hero” means the same thing in any world. I will go over some of the key points in the film, the good and the bad, and as usual will try to keep the spoilers to a minimum.

1. The Story

Okay I’ll admit, I have not read the graphic novel (heck I’m still trying to get through No Man’s Land and Fear Itself) and therefore was in no way prepared for what I was about to see. Don’t get me wrong, I’m no stranger to alternate timelines. I’ve read both Crisis on Infinite Earths and the Marvel Zombies/Marvel Apes stories. Not to mention all the times the Justice League wound up in another dimension or time in the critically-acclaimed cartoon series. I’m a lifelong comics fan (especially the Big 2) and the whole “let’s change everything without changing anything” mentality is as familiar to me as a Superboy-Prime donkey punch. None of that prepared me for a gun-toting, alchoholic Batman though, and that was the least shocking.

2. The Animation

Call me old-fashioned, but I still miss the barrel-chested, squared-chin style of animation that was the calling card of Bruce Timm and Paul Dini (who both work for Marvel now). Now I’m not saying that the animation in Flashpoint Paradox wasn’t up to par (though some of the guys looked like a super soldier experiment gone wrong), I guess I’m just spoiled to the style I grew up with. Then again when you consider that the Timm/Dini team were behind the cartoons for Batman, Superman, Batman Beyond, and the Justice League it’s easy to see how one might grow partial. Nitpicking aside, the animation was fluid, definitive, and superb. The slight bend towards realism does help out with my next point.

3. The Violence

Just like in the last few animated movies, this one was rated PG-13. Unlike the others, this one really pushed the envelope on that rating. I haven’t seen this much gore in a cartoon since watching Akira (name drop for you anime buffs). Seriously though, there are several wtf moments where you will find yourself involuntarily gasping and/or covering your mouth. From the Punisher-esque Batman I mentioned earlier to a Wonder Woman who wouldn’t look out of place in fighting the Persians, this movie will shatter (or at least shake) your preconceived notions of these iconic heroes. This is one animated movie that you may want to watch after the little ones go to bed. Nothing screams “lost innocence” quite like seeing Batman blow someone’s brains out.

4. The Cast

Overall, the voice-overs were great in this film. Joining the aforementioned Chambers, we have Call of Duty darling Kevin McKidd pulling double duty with Kevin Conroy as Batman, up-and-comer Michael B. Jordan (Friday Night Lights, Chronicle) as Cyborg, and PonyBoy himself (if you don’t get that reference then you’re too young) as the film’s chief villian Professor Zoom/Reverse Flash. Several other geekworthy actors round out the cast as Cary Elwes (Saw, the Princess Bride), Nathan Fillion (Firefly, Castle), and Ron Perlman (Hellboy, Sons of Anarchy) lend their voices to the movie. Like I said, nothing  bad can be said of the cast (except maybe that Fillion and Perlman should’ve be given more prominent roles).

5. In Closing

All-in-all I’d have to say that Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox is thoroughly enjoyable and a must-watch for anyone who is a fan of DC Comics. True, this movie does pave the way for the New 52 to makes it presence felt in the DC Animated Universe (with the release of the upcoming Justice League: War), the complexity of the story and the shock of the new characters (plus lots of gratuitous violence) make that pill a lot easier to swallow. With a great story, good animation, and an all-star cast I give Flashpoint Paradox 4 1/2 out of 5 stars. Keep up the good work DC.