In this edition of DC animated movie reviews, I cover films from 2020. This was a big year for DC animated movies as it marked the end of a ten plus movie universe as well as covers the “what if” one of the greatest superheroes landed somewhere other than Kansas. One movie goes back to its origin roots and puts the fate of a character in the viewer’s hands. Check out my review for all the DC movies from 2020 below.

Superman: Red Son (2020)*****

Starring: Jason Isaacs, Amy Acker, Sasha Roiz

This was a different kind of superhero alternate universe movie. Instead of evil versions of our beloved heroes, the film instead focuses on “what if” Superman’s space pod landed in Soviet Russia and he grew up to eventual lead Russia. The film takes the audience through his life starting in 1949 and progresses through the decades into his adulthood. It is odd seeing everyone grow older around him and he doesn’t have any visible signs of aging after he hits a certain age in adulthood. Batman, Wonder Woman and the Green Lantern Corp. are the only Justice League members to make an appearance in this movie and they all stay true to their characteristics. While Superman progresses into a tyrant with good intentions, there is one true underlying villain that is introduced fairly early in the movie that I was always suspicious about. Very fun and refreshing movie and would recommend it if you need a new style of animated movies. 

Justice League Dark: Apokolips War (2020)*****

Starring: Matt Ryan, Taissa Farmiga, Jason O’Mara

What I love about this movie can fill a whole page. It’s dark, bloody, and really paints the heroes in a new angle. It hits the ground running with an amazing opening scenes prior to the title card and really sets up the audience up for what is to come for the remainder of the movie. While the plot and character development is absolutely stellar, I had a problem with Rainn Wilson’s  Lex Luthor and still wasn’t completely sold with Tony Todd’s Darkseid. Both Rainn Wilson and Tony Todd’s voices were just too high for the roles they were given. Scripts were great for both characters but I loved hearing their voices having a lower and darker tone similar to what they were in the Superman Animated Series. As this movie serves as the final one in this continuity, the heroes had to go through immense hardship and pain and that really sticks with the audience well after the movie is finished. 

Deathstroke: Knights & Dragons: The Movie (2020)*****

Starring: Michael Chiklis, Sasha Alexander, Colin Salmon

This is the second film to come out since the completion of the main continuity of films from DC. With this new approach to DC movies, making Slade Wilson (Deathstroke) an antihero really drew me into the movie. It’s a new view on a well created villain and it was very well done by WB animations studio and DC. In the live action series “Titans”, Rose Wilson and Jericho Wilson are in the show and their powers are present as well. Going into this movie, I knew of these characters and their abilities but for the writers to dive more into their story and how Slade and Adeline Wilson failed as parents made them relatable and likable. The new animation does give it more of a comic book vibe. With the film centering around Deathstroke, the blood and gore was greatly vamped up. 

Superman: Man of Tomorrow (2020)*****

Starring: Darren Criss, Alexandra Daddario, Ryan Hurst

This movie was different. After over 10 films of the same animated style, story telling, character developments, this movie wasn’t bad but took a little bit to get used to. The pace of the movie also went on a different speed as it was more subtle than right in your face. The villain of the movie is the energy vampire known as The Parasite and the character’s most recent appearance was in season two of Supergirl (2016 – 2017). Rudy Jones’ Parasite helps a newly named Superman, and a young Clark Kent, develop his problem solving approach with his emotions and appealing to the human side to any inhuman villain versus using his brute strength. There were a few moments in the movie where I could see WB Animations laying the foundation for another connected film universe. The introduction of the alien bounty hunter Lobo is an example of a spinoff they can do. Ryan Hurst is the perfect actor to continue growing the Lobo character and expanding his story. 

Batman: Death in the Family – DC Showcase: Animated Shorts (2020) *****

Starring: Bruce Greenwood, Vincent Martella, Gary Cole and various others 

This one was tricky to review. This movie was made to be interactive and give the audience the chance to decide how the events of Batman: Under the Red Hood (2010) play out. I couldn’t get a hold of the interactive movie but the non-interactive version of this movie was very well done. Despite it being a compilation of clips from the Red Hood movie, Greenwood’s Bruce Wayne added commentary does give it another layer. There is an issue of the voice being the same when he is Batman as when he is Bruce Wayne. I was able to find clips from the interactive edition of the movie and wow, just wow. The combination of the same animation with a new path for Jason Todd was fun and interesting to see. All paths did lead him to killing people but how he killed people was shocking. Once this short was done, there were three more short films and those were shocking, interesting and engaging in their own way. The last one titled “Death” is one that I would definitely recommend to watch.