Justice League: The New Frontier

Justice League: The New Frontier

Two-Disc Special Edition DVD cover art
Directed by Dave Bullock
Produced by
Written by
  • Stan Berkowitz
  • Darwyn Cooke
Starring
Music by Kevin Manthei
Production
company
Distributed by Warner Home Video
Release dates
  • February 26, 2008 (2008-02-26)
Running time
 75 minutes
Language English
Box office $5.3 million[1]

Justice League: The New Frontier is a 2008, direct-to-video, animated, superhero film adapted from the DC Comics limited series DC: The New Frontier. The film was written by Stan Berkowitz and the story and visual consultant was Darwyn Cooke. [2]

The film received a rating of PG-13 for violent content and images, and was released on February 26, 2008.[3] It is the second film in the series of DC Universe Animated Original Movies released by Warner Premiere and Warner Bros. Animation; the first release was Superman: Doomsday and the next film in the series is Batman: Gotham Knight. The film had its broadcast premiere on October 18, 2008 on Cartoon Network.

Plot

An unknown entity (Keith David), after witnessing the evolution of life on Earth, has decided to eradicate mankind due to its capacity of violence.

At the end of the Korean War, United States Air Force pilot Hal Jordan (David Boreanaz) and his wingman, Kyle "Ace" Morgan (John Heard), are attacked by enemy pilots but survive. In Gotham, J'onn J'onzz (Miguel Ferrer)—the last survivor of the Green Martian race— is teleported to Earth; unable to return, J'onn disguises himself. In Las Vegas, Iris West (Vicki Lewis) is on the telephone with her fiancé Barry Allen—known as Flash—(Neil Patrick Harris) at a casino when Captain Cold (James Arnold Taylor) arrives to commit robbery; he races from Central City to confront Cold. Flash finds the six bombs hidden by Cold and captures him, before Cold is possessed by an entity.

After two years, J'onn (as John Jones) is a detective with the Gotham City Police Department. A doomsday cult that worships "The Centre" has kidnapped a child for a sacrificial ritual; J'onn and his partner Slam Bradley (Jim Meskimen) join Batman (Jeremy Sisto) in battling the cult, but a fire renders J'onn powerless until it is extinguished. The cult leader is possessed by the entity, who identifies itself as "The Centre", and warns of impending judgement. Hal trains under Col. Rick Flag (Lex Lang) at Ferris Aircraft for a project commissioned by the U.S. government, as explained by Carol Ferris (Brooke Shields), to build a spacecraft for travel to Mars. Special agent King Faraday (Phil Morris) oversees the project.

Batman suggests to J'onn that they work together in investigating the The Centre-worshiping cult. The Flash defeats a robotic duplicate of Gorilla Grodd; after being targeted by the government, he announces his retirement. J'onn interrogates former Ferris employee Harry Leiter, who tells them about the launch to Mars and when Faraday arrives, J'onn briefly glimpses into his mind to learn the truth. Seeing the contemptuous public response to the Flash's announcement, J'onn gives his research to Batman and plans to hide on the rocket. J'onn and Faraday fight on the launchpad; the rocket is damaged and malfunctions after leaving Earth's atmosphere. Hal wants to attempt a landing but Flag reveals weapons of mass destruction are on board, intended to destroy any life on Mars. Hal is ejected from the cockpit and saved by Superman (Kyle MacLachlan); Flag detonates the rocket as J'onn is held prisoner.

On Paradise Island, Wonder Woman (Lucy Lawless) trains with Mala before being attacked by The Centre. Abin Sur (Corey Burton) was injured entering Earth's atmosphere; he gives his ring to Hal and tells him of The Centre, which is described as a monstrous creature that seeks the destruction of humans. Superman and Batman review J'onn's research as Lois Lane (Kyra Sedgwick) reports that a giant pterodactyl is attacking Cape Canaveral. Superman arrives and quickly defeats it; Wonder Woman's invisible jet crashes and she warns that The Centre is coming. J'onn decides to help save Earth after his hope for humanity is renewed. The Centre, a massive flying island with an army of mutant dinosaurs to guard it, begins attacking Florida. The Flash, Green Arrow, Adam Strange, the Challengers of the Unknown, and the Blackhawks work with the soldiers on the base; Superman reconnoiters The Centre but is defeated. Moved by his efforts, the heroes plan to use Ray Palmer's reduction ray to destabilize the island along with a frontal assault and bombing mission.

The aerial assault is nearly outmatched and a herd of dinosaurs ambush Faraday's ground forces. The Centre's psychic force briefly overwhelms J'onn. Faraday is captured by a dinosaur and both perish after Faraday sets off hand grenades. Hal and Ace shoot their way into The Centre's core but a hallucinogenic attack disorients them; a thick red fluid jams their weapons and almost suffocates them. Hal's ring relays instructions from the Guardians of the Universe (Robin Atkin Downes) on its use. Ace detonates his payload before Hal rescues him. The Flash races across the ocean, leaps onto The Centre's surface and covers it on foot. The Centre begins to shrink; Hal envelops the island in green energy, towing it into space where it explodes.

The world celebrates The Centre's defeat with a ceremony and public opinion about superheroes is changed. The film ends with a montage of various heroes and villains, including the birth of the Justice League set to the titular John F. Kennedy speech.

Voice cast

Music

Justice League: The New Frontier (Soundtrack from the DC Universe Animated Original Movie)
Film score by Kevin Manthei
Released March 18, 2008
Genre Score
Length 56:93
Label La-La Land
Producer Kevin Manthei

Like Superman: Doomsday, Justice League: The New Frontier had a soundtrack released by La-La Land Records on March 18, 2008. The music was composed by Kevin Manthei, the track listing is as follows.[4]

No. Title Length
1. "Main Titles"   2:01
2. "The Centre / Hal Shot Down"   2:50
3. "J'onn J'onzz Arrives"   0:51
4. "Wonder Woman Recounts / J'onzz Watches TV"   2:11
5. "The Flash Saves Las Vegas"   3:32
6. "J'onn Becomes John / Church Brawl"   3:12
7. "Carol & Hal Banter"   0:22
8. "Driving to Ferris / The Real Ferris"   1:34
9. "Hal's Mission Revealed / Batman Surprises J'onzz / The Flash Fights Gorilla"   2:52
10. "Crazy Scientist"   1:37
11. "J'onzz Contemplates / J'onzz Is Leaving"   1:18
12. "To Space"   1:27
13. "Mars Mission Mess"   4:13
14. "New Green Lantern"   3:56
15. "Superman Ties It Up / J'onzz Bonds"   2:41
16. "Island Revealed / Superman Down"   5:22
17. "Plan to Action"   2:35
18. "Thick of Battle"   4:32
19. "The Flash vs. Centre / Last Bit of Business"   3:37
20. "Victory"   3:09
21. "End Credits"   3:01

Critical reception

Justice League: The New Frontier received mostly positive reviews. Screener copies were sent to website reviewers a month before the DVD's official release. Most of the reviews were positive and geared up the film's release even more. Newsarama reviewed the film, saying that it was "one of the best things to ever come out of [Bruce] Timm's stable", and said that the acting was exceptional.[5] The World's Finest, a fansite dealing with DC Animations, said that it was "the first animated feature in a long time that I've felt completely satisfied while walking away from." A reviewer from Ain't It Cool News said that it was "my favorite film of 2008", and that it was "everything I had hoped for."[6] Mainstream websites made similar comments; IGN gave the film and DVD a total score of 8.0,[7] ENI said it was enjoyable,[8] and DVDTalk.com said it was "recommended".[9] The New Frontier was nominated for an Emmy in the category of Outstanding Animated Program (for Programming One Hour Or More) in 2008.[10]

Home video

Justice League: The New Frontier is available in single and two-disc editions. The cover of the single disc includes the panoramic image from the film, while the two-disc, HD DVD and Blu-ray editions have an image of Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman above the title logo with other characters below it. Best Buy had an exclusive deal which included a Green Lantern action figure from DC Direct with the DVD package.[11] Wal-Mart had an exclusive single DVD package with "The New Frontier Green Lantern" CD-ROM Comic Book inside. The single, two-disc and Blu-ray editions were released on February 26, 2008, with the HD DVD edition released on March 18, 2008.[12]

The special features include a documentary on the forty-seven year history of the Justice League, commentaries, a documentary on the early mythological villain archetypes in the Justice League stories, a featurette on the themes, elements from the comic to film versions of New Frontier, three episodes of Justice League Unlimited and a 10-minute preview of the animated film; Batman: Gotham Knight.[12] Variety said that pre-orders for The New Frontier were greater than expected at that time.[13]

References

  1. ↑ "Justice League - The New Frontier - DVD Sales". The Numbers. Nash Information Service. Retrieved 2011-03-31.
  2. ↑ Gustines, George Gene (July 21, 2007). "Epic Comic Book Miniseries Is Animated for DVD". The New York Times. Retrieved September 16, 2016.
  3. ↑ "Justice League DVD news: Release Date for Justice League: The New Frontier". TVShowsOnDVD.com. Retrieved 2011-01-02.
  4. ↑ Harvey, Jim (February 2008). ""Justice League: The New Frontier" Soundtrack Cover Art, Track Listing". Worldsfinestonline.com. Retrieved September 10, 2016.
  5. ↑ "Animated Shorts: Justice League: The New Frontier Review - Newsarama". Forum.newsarama.com. Retrieved 2011-01-02.
  6. ↑ "Harry discovers Justice League: The New Frontier!!!". Ain't It Cool News. February 2, 2008. Retrieved September 11, 2016.
  7. ↑ Moro, Eric; Monfette, Christopher (February 15, 2008). "IGN: Justice League: The New Frontier Review". IGN. Retrieved September 11, 2016.
  8. ↑ Jay (February 7, 2008). "Entertainment Reviews - Justice League: The New Frontier". ENewsI.com. Retrieved September 11, 2016.
  9. ↑ Rich, Jamie S. (February 15, 2008). "DVD Talk Review: Justice League - The New Frontier". DVD Talk. Retrieved September 11, 2016.
  10. ↑ "60th Emmy Awards Nominees and Winners". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. 2008. Retrieved September 11, 2016.
  11. ↑ Harvey, Jim (February 2008). "Hi-Res Look at "Justice League: The New Frontier" Best Buy Exclusive". Worldsfinestonline.com. Retrieved September 11, 2016.
  12. 1 2 "Warner Home Video Releases 'Justice League: The New Frontier' On February 26, 2008!" (Press release). Burbank, CA: Warner Bros. November 27, 2007. Retrieved September 11, 2016.
  13. ↑ Thielman, Sam (December 21, 2007). "Direct-to-DVD movies growing in popularity". Variety. Retrieved September 11, 2016.
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