Justice
League
The Savage Time
Original Airdate - 11/9/02
To make
up for a few weeks of repeats, this weekend the Cartoon Network
gives us a "full-length movie" starring the Justice League.
However you want to categorize it, The Savage Time
is worth watching.
As the
Justice League (minus Batman) returns to Earth from an outer
space mission, they witness a flash of light above Earth and
suddenly the Watchtower and Batman are gone. When they land
on Earth, they discover the world they know has changed.
The Allies
lost World War 2, Batman's parents weren't killed by robbers
and Vandal Savage is the sole ruler of Earth (and the Nazi
party). In order to repair the time line, the Justice League
must travel back in time to foil Savage's plan for world domination.
The
Savage Time isn't really a movie. It's definitely three
half-hour episodes of Justice League combined into
one extravaganza, but as episodes go, it's one of the best.
All seven
heroes have engaging plotlines and clearly defined characters.
The writers didn't have to tone down their powers for the
sake of drama. Bullets bounce off Superman's chest with ease
and Flash is a hundred times faster than he ever is on the
regular TV show. Even Green Lantern manages to look cool.
As with
most alternate Earth stories, familiar DC characters make
cameo appearances with new looks and new histories. The Blackhawks,
Steve Trevor (Wonder Woman's Pre-Crisis boyfriend) and Sgt.
Rock and Easy Company all play key roles.
What's
most enjoyable about the movie is that it could easily have
been a blockbuster live-action movie. It would be the second
movie in a Justice League franchise. The explosions and fight
scenes are bigger and better. Wonder Woman gets a love interest.
One of the Justice League members is rendered powerless in
the past.
If it
were a live action film with Jude Law as Superman and Michael
Keaton as Batman, the drooling Fanboys would have eaten it
up. Cast Owen Wilson as The Flash and Eddie Murphy as Green
Lantern and it could be the comedy hit of the year. Animation
gives storytellers the opportunity to showcase what's possible
without the big budget, but also gives us a glimpse of what
we really want to see on the big screen.
Though
tremendously entertaining, The Savage Time has its
faults. First off, there is not nearly enough Batman. The
Batman from the altered present could have traveled back in
time with the rest of the Justice League to fight Savage.
If he died trying to erase his timeline, all the better. It
makes the happy ending all that more happy.
Vandal
Savage isn't given a backstory, and the writers only vaguely
allude to his immortality. If anything, this should set up
a return appearance for Savage in future Justice League
episodes.
Also
notable is that the members of the Justice League all kill
enemy soldiers. Sure, the sniper John shoots could have just
been grazed and the pilots of the planes that Superman destroys
could have ejected safely, but those telltale kid friendly
signals are nowhere to be seen.
War is
hell and the Justice League has taken off the kid gloves.
The standards
in voice acing remain high for The Savage Time. In
addition to the regular cast, Phil Morris does a great job
giving voice to Vandal Savage. Patrick Duffy plays Steve Trevor
with enough suave cockiness that you can see (or, er, hear)
why Wonder Woman falls for him. Other guest voice talent includes
Dave Thomas as Ernst, Star Trek Voyager alum Robert Picardo
as Blackhawk and Fred Dryer of Hunter fame giving voice
to Sgt. Rock. Even the voice casting begs for a big screen
version. Fred Dryer as Sgt. Rock would…rock.
Justice
League: The Savage Time debuts on Saturday, November 9,
at 7pm on Cartoon Network. An encore showing is scheduled
for Sunday, November 11 at 10am.
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