Justice League: Throne of Atlantis (2015) – Video
Running time: 72 minutes (1 hour, 12 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for sci-fi violence and action throughout
DIRECTOR: Ethan Spaulding
WRITER: Heath Corson (based on the comic book by Geoff Johns, Paul Pelletier, and Ivan Reis)
COMPOSER: Frederik Wiedmann
EDITOR: Christopher D. Lozinsk
ANIMATION STUDIO: Moi Animation Studios
ANIMATION/SUPERHERO/ACTION/FANTASY
Starring: (voices) Matt Lanter, Sumalee Montano, Sam Witwer, Jerry O'Connell, Jason O'Mara, Rosario Dawson, Nathan Fillion, Christopher Gorham, Shemar Moore, Sean Astin, Sirena Irwin, Matthew Yang King, Jay Johnson, and Larry Cedar
Justice League: Throne of Atlantis is a 2015 straight-to-video animated superhero film from Warner Bros. Animation. It is the 21st film in Warner's line of DC Universe original animated movies. The film features DC Comics' top superhero team, the Justice League, with a focus on Aquaman.
Justice League: Throne of Atlantis is loosely based on the 2012-13 comic book story line, “Throne of Atlantis.” Written by Geoff Johns and drawn by artists Ivan Reis and Paul Pelletier, “Throne of Atlantis” was published in Justice League (2011) #15-17 and Aquaman (2011) #14-16. Throne of Atlantis the animated film pits Aquaman against his half-brother for the throne of Atlantis, as the Justice League tries to stop a war between the humans on the surface and the people of underwater kingdom of Atlantis.
Justice League: Throne of Atlantis opens with a mysterious attack against the S.S. California, a United States Navy submarine, in the Marianas Trench. The attack is the first salvo in a war that Orm (Sam Witwer), a prince of the underwater kingdom of Atlantis, wishes to declare on the surface world. His mother, Queen Atlanna (Sirena Irwin), seeks peace with the humans on the surface. Atlanna sees her half-human/half-Atlantean son, Arthur Curry (Matt Lanter), as the key to this peace, and she sends a trusted warrior, Mera (Sumalee Montano), to protect Arthur and to inform him of his royal heritage.
Meanwhile, the Justice League: Superman (Jerry O'Connell), Wonder Woman (Rosario Dawson), Batman (Jason O'Mara), Green Lantern (Nathan Fillion), Flash (Christopher Gorham), Shazam (Sean Astin), and Cyborg (Shemar Moore), does not really function as a unified group of superheroes protecting the world. Only Cyborg has remained dedicated, but after he is attacked while investigating the attack on the S.S. California, he forces the issue with his erstwhile teammates. Can the Justice League unite in time to defeat the plans of Orm and his partner, Black Manta? Can Arthur Curry rise to the occasion and become the hero known as “Aquaman?”
Justice League: Throne of Atlantis is neither an exceptional “DC Universe” animated movie, nor is it a particularly special Justice League animated film. Personally, there wasn't enough Batman in it to suit me, although, to be honest, most of the DC Comics animated films either star Batman or feature him in a prominent role.
Throne of Atlantis is entertaining, and I wouldn't have minded if the film lasted longer; of its 72 minutes of run time, barely 65 minutes features actual story and action. This film's version of Atlantis is intriguing, but the movie doesn't reveal much about this underwater kingdom other than that its citizens are ready to kill surface dwellers with little provocation. I must say that the creatures, armor, and machines of war for Atlantis are strikingly designed. A longer film could have shown us more sides of Atlantis and not just the martial side.
Of note, Nathan Fillion delivers an uninspired voice performance as Green Lantern, but Shemar Moore shines as Cyborg. I have to be honest with you, dear reader, I am always up for watching a DC Universe animated film, so Justice League: Throne of Atlantis pleased me and did leaving me wanting more, simply because it is fun to watch.
7 of 10
B+
Sunday, July 12, 2015
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