Superman vs. The Elite

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Superman vs. The Elite
SupermanvsElite coverart 2012.jpg
Blu-ray cover
Directed byMichael Chang
Written byJoe Kelly
Based onSuperman by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster
Produced bySam Register
Bruce Timm
Alan Burnett
StarringGeorge Newbern
Pauley Perrette
Robin Atkin Downes
Catero Colbert
Melissa Disney
Andrew Kishino
Edited byChristopher D. Lozinski
Music byRobert J. Kral
Production
companies
  • Warner Premiere
  • DC Entertainment
  • Warner Bros. Animation
  • Telecom Animation Film (Animation services)
Distributed byWarner Home Video
Release date
  • June 12, 2012 (2012-06-12)
Running time
76 Minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Superman vs. The Elite is an animated superhero film based on the comic book story "What's So Funny About Truth, Justice & the American Way?" in Action Comics #775 (March 2001). Adapted by Joe Kelly who also wrote the comic book story and directed by Michael Chang. The film featured the return of George Newbern as Superman and David Kaufman as Jimmy Olsen reprising their roles from the DC animated universe.[1] Released on June 12, 2012,[2] it is the 14th film of the DC Universe Animated Original Movies.

Plot[]

Superman delivers a speech at the United Nations which emphasizes both the folly of lawless violence and the greater good that is found within everyone. Superman's speech is interrupted, however, by the leaders of Bialya and Pokolistan, who, blaming each other for the violation of a peace treaty, declare war on each other. Arriving in Bialya, Superman witnesses the deployment of a Pokolistani bio-weapon which attacks and destroys most of the Bialyan military forces. As Superman attempts to remove the Bialyan soldiers from danger, the Elite arrive and aid Superman in destroying the bio-weapon.

The Elite consist of Manchester Black, a British telepath and telekinetic of incredible power who acts as the group's leader; Coldcast, an African-American man who can emit tremendous amounts of electrical energy; Menagerie, a woman who is symbiotically bonded with a number of demonic-looking beasts; and Hat, a magician whose magical abilities are centered upon his fedora.

Superman returns to Metropolis to report the news and further investigate the Elite. The Elite and Superman rescue civilians on a subway train trapped underwater due to a terrorist attack, but the terrorists are nearly killed by Manchester's attempt at interrogation. Superman begins to be concerned about the motives of his newfound friends.

Manchester broadcasts a message to the planet, informing the world that the Elite intend to deal with villains lethally. After the broadcast, Superman travels to Bialya, where he is inadvertently hit by a Coldcast-generated neutrino pulse that greatly weakens him. Superman is saved by the timely intervention of the Elite, and teleported to their base of operations - a sentient macro-organism named Bunny. Superman's attempt to convince the Elite that killing is unnecessary falls upon deaf ears, and he is unceremoniously teleported back to Earth.

Atomic Skull breaks out of prison and is challenged by The Elite with little success. Superman arrives, and begins to coordinate an attack with the Elite, but Atomic Skull is executed by Manchester. The Elite inform Superman that, in the interests of peace, they have also killed both the Pokolistani and Bialyan leaders, and regard Superman's adverse reaction as a declaration of war.

Superman informs the Elite that he is willing to fight them, but away from the civilian populace. Bunny teleports both parties to the Moon, and broadcasts the fight worldwide. While Superman is able to withstand and counter the attacks of Coldcast, Menagerie and Hat, he is brought to his knees by Manchester's telekinetic attack. Coldcast unleashes a massive blast of electromagnetic energy, seemingly obliterating Superman. Moments later, the disconcerted voice of Superman begins to taunt the Elite, stating that he has finally been convinced that he needs to start killing villains - beginning with the Elite.

Reappearing in a blur of movement, Superman begins to take out the Elite one by one; first, he injects Menagerie with a poison before suffocating The Hat with a super-speed generated whirlwind. Against Coldcast's wishes, Manchester teleports them to Metropolis, hoping to use the innocent civilians as cover.

Reappearing before an increasingly desperate Manchester, Superman is once again attacked, but the assault fails to harm the Man of Steel, who uses his vision powers to lobotomise Manchester.

Believing his death to be seconds away, Manchester tells Superman that the world knows he is no better than they are and thus unable to be trusted. However, Superman reveals that The Elite were not killed but transported to the Fortress of Solitude and stripped of their power. The people of Earth realize that violence and killing were incompatible with the tenets of justice, and ultimately accept that Superman's methods are in the best interests of all of mankind.

Voice cast[]

  • George NewbernClark Kent / Kal-El / Superman
  • Pauley PerretteLois Lane
  • Robin Atkin DownesManchester Black
  • Catero Colbert – Nathan Jones / Coldcast[3]
  • Melissa DisneyMenagerie[3]
  • Andrew Kishino – The Hat[3]
  • Dee Bradley BakerJoseph Martin / Atomic Skull[3]
  • Ogie Banks – Terrence Baxter[3]
  • Grey DeLisle – Young Manchester Black[3]
  • Paul EidingPa Kent[3]
  • Troy Evans – Pundit[3]
  • Jennifer Hale – Kid Playing Superman[3]
  • David KaufmanJimmy Olsen[3]
  • – Abigail[3]
  • Jeff LaPensee – Falling Man[3]
  • Marcella Lentz-Pope – Vera Black[3]
  • Dave B. Mitchell – Shocktrooper[3]
  • Sumalee Montano – Newscaster[3]
  • Laraine Newman – Newscaster #3[3]
  • Nolan North – Pokolistani Ambassador[3]
  • Henry Simmons – Efrain Baxter[3]
  • Stephen Stanton – Bialyian Ambassador, Cartoon Superman, Manchester Black's Father[3]
  • Tara Strong – Young Vera Black[3]
  • Fred TatasciorePerry White[3]
  • Bruce Timm – MI-5 Agent[3]
  • Julie Wittner – Cowering Woman[3]
  • Rick Zieff – Desiccated Man[3]

Production[]

The film was first announced at San Diego Comic-Con 2011, during the screening of Batman: Year One, as one of the films from the DC Universe Animated Original Movies line for 2012, by producer Bruce Timm.[4] Joe Kelly, writer of Action Comics #775, "What's So Funny About Truth, Justice & the American Way?," adapted his own work into the film. He was quoted as saying, "The story tackles themes that go way beyond a typical superhero story...politics, the price of power and America's place as a force in the world are all viewed through the lens of the DC Universe. Even if fans aren't paying close attention to these issues, they're all over the media. You can't escape them. So with the state of affairs being what it is, I can't think of a better time to see Superman confront these themes...I'm a big fan of taking real world issues and working them out through our "superhero" stories—but this one goes beyond strict allegory. Like the original comic story, the film is thought provoking without being preachy and really delivers a punch." He also said that, in terms of expanding the comic book issue into an animated film, and the differences between the two, that he "Alan [Burnett] helped me cut to the heart of the story and personalize it for an audience who might not have known the original comic...the original story was about anti-heroes and comic fans and trends in the industry that were disturbing to me when it was written. For the story to work as a film, we needed to get beyond that while keeping the core of the story: that Superman serves a purpose and his moral code is relevant even in the modern world. This is where the expansion into "world politics" really helped."[5]

Theme music[]

Superman vs. the Elite utilizes the same musical main theme that was composed by Robert Kral for the previously released animated film Superman: Doomsday.

Reception[]

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an 80% score based on five reviews, with an average rating of 7.2/10.[6]

Superman vs. the Elite earned $1,815,269 from domestic DVD sales and $1,394,884 from domestic Blu-ray sales, bringing its total domestic earnings to $3,210,153.[7]

Home media[]

Superman vs. The Elite was released on DVD and Blu-ray with a combo pack. Features include: a sneak peek at Part 1 of the animated film version of The Dark Knight Returns, two featurettes "The Elite Unbound: No Rules, No Mercy" and "Superman and the Moral Debate", audio commentary, two episodes of Superman: The Animated Series, and Action Comics #775 as a digital comic.[8] The combo pack was released on June 12, 2012.[9]

It is the final film by Warner Premiere, as Warner Home Video shut the company down two months later. Though, titles still continued to be released under the Warner Premiere label until 2013.

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Harvey, Jim (29 May 2012). "George Newbern Talks Playing Superman, New Media From "Superman Versus The Elite"". World's Finest. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
  2. ^ JIM HARVEY (2012-04-23). "DC Entertainment Rebrands Warner Home Video's DC Universe Animated Original Movie Line". The World's Finest. Retrieved 2012-06-28.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x Harvey, Jim (5 June 2012). "Complete Cast And Crew Details For Upcoming Animated "Superman Versus The Elite"". World's Finest. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
  4. ^ Harvey, Jim (28 February 2012). "Cast And Crew, "Superman Versus The Elite" WonderCon World Premiere Updates". World's Finest. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
  5. ^ Goldberg, Lesley (March 14, 2012). "Joe Kelly Previews DC/Warner Home Video's 'Superman vs. The Elite'". The Hollywood Reporter.
  6. ^ "Superman vs. The Elite". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2015-03-05.
  7. ^ "Superman vs. The Elite - DVD Sales". The Numbers. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  8. ^ Harvey, Jim (28 June 2012). ""Superman Versus The Elite" Animated Feature Makes Fine Debut On Home Video Market". World's Finest. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
  9. ^ Burger, Dennis. "Superman vs. the Elite Flies onto Blu-ray June 12". Technologytell. www.technologytell.com. Retrieved 2012-03-19.

External links[]

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