Movie Review: The Death of Superman (2018)

Based on the DC Comics storyline of the same name, The Death of Superman is a 2018 animated superhero film. The 11th film in the DC Animated Movie Universe sees Superman (Jerry O’Connell) and the Justice League, including Wonder Woman (Rosario Dawson) and Batman (Jason O’Mara), face off against a monstrous creature from deep in space. Through this all, Superman, as his civilian identity Clark Kent, must deal with his personal relationships, with ally and lover Lois Lane (Rebecca Romjin) and long time enemy Lex Luthor (Rainn Wilson).

+ this entire sub-90 minute film accomplishes everything that Batman v Superman attempted, and it does so better, easier and sets so much more up to follow. I understand the need for “Hollywood” action, and IRL actors cost more than voice actors, and CGI versus animation and blah blah blah, but dammit, “Superman versus big monster” shouldn’t be a hard sell
+ as we reach a dozen animated film in this DCAU, it is no surprise that Jerry O’Connell, Rosario Dawson and Jason O’Mara have perfected their voice work as Superman, Wonder Woman and Batman, respectively. The biggest surprise is Rainn Wilson as Lux Luthor, who toes the line between “hey I know that voice” and genuinely menacing perfectly (in the same vein as Arrested Development’s Tony Hale as The Joker in Batman Ninja)
+ there is some good action, and some legitimately unnerving violence from the bad guy (we all know who it is, but I am not saying because maybe someone doesn’t). The way the creature evolves as the move plays out was fantastic, and really highlights its alien presence

– I completely understand why they do this, but a movie once again featuring the big guns of the Justice League (particularly Batman) is just getting silly at this point. Maybe DC could have other fan favourites if they didn’t milk dry the one they already have

Should you see this film: By fitting into the same universe as has been since Justice League: War, this retelling and updating of the same story from Superman: Doomsday stays faithful to the comics story whilst adding a few new twist and turns. I enjoyed this, much more than many of the recent offerings.