comic book writer Grant Morrison has many supporters and detractors, and although I am one of the first ( The Invisibles is my favorite comic book series), I understand the latter. The exuberant and excessive Morrison style can get frustrating and incomprehensible ( anyone said "Final Crisis" ?), But I tend to think that in the middle of the comic is better to have a writer with genuine enthusiasm and wealth of ideas (perhaps too) instead of half a dozen mercenaries "yes-men" regurgitating the hits of the past. However, that fertile creativity can be counterproductive when it challenges the "status quo" of a super-hero, and to exasperate the most devoted followers continuity established by DC Comics from seven decades ago. For better or for worse, many people considered the mini-series All-Star Superman like one of those challenges. Undoubtedly had good sales and received many awards, but the re-interpretation of the most iconic super-hero in the world did not sit well with some purists who denounced it as a whim "pop" with purely commercial view (duh!). The funny thing is that, in my humble opinion, Morrison did not rule out the rich history of the character, but used it as food for your fevered imagination, resulting in unusual stories but respectful of the legacy of Superman . I mention all this as preamble for the animated adaptation All-Star Superman I found an excellent movie that dares to escape the universe "normal" tapes of previous animated DC Comics. Thus it may be a bit inaccessible for those not familiar with the printed version, but for readers of the comic is a unique experience, although not free of problems. The argument begins with an accident on board the first manned spacecraft closely studying the sun. Superman (voiced by James Denton) arrives on time, rescue the scientists, and incidentally discovers that his eternal enemy, Lex Luthor (voiced by Anthony LaPaglia), planned sabotage. However, the real purpose of Luthor is much more sinister, knowing that by saturating Superman's body with radiation, will start a chain reaction at the molecular level that killed him. Then, when Superman realizes that his end was near, decided to use the time left to resolve some personal issues while continuing his tireless defense of Earth against enemies of the past, present and future. But, above all, reveal his secret identity to the person you love ... No, not Jimmy Olsen, but Lois Lane (voiced by Christina Hendricks).
Like its print version, All-Star Superman contains moments of great wit, narrative skill and emotional impact (the conversation between Lex Luthor and Clark Kent is just brilliant). But by compressing many "mini-stories" in a short film of eighty minutes, until the strongest elements tend to be weakened and lost in the avalanche of ideas, characters and conflicts that remain in the air, or that are resolved too quickly. Must have been very difficult for the recently deceased writer Dwayne McDuffie (veteran of Marvel and DC) to discard some notable sub-plot of the miniseries (where is Krypto ?) And altering others to have some narrative cohesion start to finish, yet the animated adaptation of All-Star Superman feels so saturated and chaotic as Superman's Kryptonian molecules. But ... somehow makes sense. One of the best attributes (or worst, depending on taste) of DC's animated films that are aimed at readers of comics and their creators assume some knowledge by the viewer and not waste time in establishing the context of character or history. The problem is that this strategy works best in relatively self-contained, as the remarkable Batman: Under the Hood Red or Superman / Batman: Public Enemies . In the case of a semi-anthology as All-Star Superman , occasionally hear the sound of the gears to try to impose an integral flow in a fragmented narrative.
Having said that, All-Star Superman seemed outstanding in all aspects. The character design is perfect (no wonder it is attached enough to the lines of great artist Frank Quitely ), the special effects are used judiciously, and even the quality of the animation than the more rugged and cheap treatment that we saw in Wonder Woman or Green Lantern : First Flight . My only complaint would be with some of the voices supporting roles are perfect (including Anthony LaPaglia as Lex Luthor, Frances Conroy lending his voice to Martha Kent and Ed Asner as inevitably grumpy Perry White). But James Denton and Christina Hendricks as Superman and Lois Lane, respectively, seemed a bit soft. Perhaps because "real" actors and not accustomed to the work of "voice over" lack the experience necessary to print more personality to their voices. On the other hand, the general tone All-Star Superman is much more human and less heroic than the DC universe, so maybe it was right to select voices that went against what we had seen in other animated works. I do not know ... perhaps the second or third time you see it (and I assure you I will do) will stop "jumping" that detail.
Then I can enthusiastically recommend All-Star Superman ... but I think the experience will be more satisfying for readers of comic that casual viewers looking for simple super-hero action. Grant Morrison injected new energy and vitality to a character than seventy years has been re-worked and re-invented many times, and did so without the typical "clean slate" that is so popular in the middle. His work was both inspired and elegantly simple. And while the film All-Star Superman moved many of the main aspects of the author (and artist), I do not work as well as its print counterpart. Still, it has become my favorite animated movie from DC Comics ... after Justice League: The New Frontier . It is difficult for the preemption, at least until someone dare to make a faithful adaptation of The Invisibles .
Rating: 9
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