Superman: Unbound
(2013) – These DC Universe Animated Original Movies have been hit or miss
(even though, I concede, I’m a bit biased, albeit with high expectations), and
such has especially been the case with the Superman entries; most recently, All-Star Superman was a win, while Superman vs. the Elite left something to
be desired. Adapting a stellar Geoff
Johns story (but without attempting to replicate Gary Frank’s detailed artwork
as All-Star Superman did with Frank
Quitely’s technique), Superman: Unbound
finds control freak Superman (Matt Bomer) facing off against Brainiac,
collector of worlds (John Noble), with a little help from plucky cousin
Supergirl (Molly Quinn). The film takes
a lot of liberties with the source material, and to mostly good effect;
unfortunately, Pa Kent’s moving role in the book is reduced to an unfortunate
punchline here, but as a result Supergirl gets a bigger part in the movie. I wouldn’t mind seeing more of Quinn’s
Supergirl on the big screen, since it’s an engaging portrayal of the Maid of
Might, heroic but frustrated, invincible yet incorrigible; indeed, her
character arc from frightened princess to empowered heroine is in some ways
more compelling than Superman’s epiphany that he doesn’t need to protect
everyone. But it gets Superman to a
fantastic conclusion which takes his relationship with Lois Lane (Stana Katic)
to a wonderful place that the New 52 can only dream of. The voice cast is entirely unoffensive,
though no one really distinguishes themselves beyond effective; sorry, folks –
Tim Daly and Dana Delaney really spoiled me.That does it for this week’s edition of “Monday at the Movies.” We’ll see you here next week!
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