DVD Review: Superman Doomsday by CD

Title: Superman: Doomsday
Starring: Adam Baldwin, Anne Heche, James Marsters
Directed By: Lauren Montgomery. Bruce W. Timm
Produced By: Bruce W. Timm
Genre: Animation/Action/Adventure and Drama
Release Date: September 18th, 2007 (wide)
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for action violence.
Distributors: Warner Home Video


When LexCorps accidentally unleash a murderous creature, Doomsday, Superman finally meets his greatest challenge as a champion. Based from the award-winning "The Death of Superman" trilogy. -IMDB.com

Unfortunately that synopsis by IMDB is pretty much it. 70 mins wasn't long enough, this film just felt rushed. Throw in how Superman looks, the fact that Anne Heche is one of the worst Lois Lanes ever and the almost homosexual attraction that Lex Luthor seems to have towards Kal-el and this movie quickly becomes a steaming pile.

The main stuff happens in the films first 20 mins, Doomsday attacks after being released. Superman flies in and tries to save the day, alas he ends up being killed bin the fight. Metropolis mourns and then we begin to see the inner workings of this story. Which, I am sad to say, is less complex than the inner workings of a finger puppet.

Superman has these severely pronounced cheek bones. It almost makes him look older than Mrs. Kent. He appears to have been on the losing end of a face caving contest. It just doesn't look right. Anne Heche falls flat as the fast talking ace reporter Lois Lane. She just isn't up to par with the Lois I have come to expect in Bruce Timms stories. Usually I watch the Justice League on DVD and I have grown to like Dana Delany's interpretation of Lois. So that may be why I can not enjoy this performance. Finally we come to Lex....who as I mentioned above...seems to be in love with the man of steel. in a catty drag queen type of way. James Marsters plays Lex well...I think it was just the script that was the problem.

My say on this film....If you have the trilogy to read, don't bother with this one.

The only cool extra on this DVD is a Sneak Peek at Justice League: The New Frontier. Pulling from the DC Comics miniseries DC: THE NEW FRONTIER by Darwyn Cooke, Justice League: The New Frontier takes us back to the 1950s, Centering around test pilot Hal Jordan (Green Lantern) and the Martian Manhunter. The movie will also including Barry Allen (the Flash), Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman. I think it great that they will be showing some lesser known heroes from that age of the DC Universe. “Who?” You may ask....I'll never tell.


-C. Robert Dunham
C.Robert Dunham