Seldom do we see a DC Animated Universe movie that polarizes and divides the fanbase to such an extent. Injustice is the latest entry into the DC Animated Universe. But unlike it’s recent peers like The Long Halloween movies, it isn’t as critically acclaimed. In fact, it may be one of the worse entries into the DCAU roster. The movie, as fans and critics claim, is so full of holes in its plot it might as well be called swiss cheese. The outrage amongst the DC fans is evident. We believe WB Animation and DC Films could have easily avoided this mishap had they not been greedy. Instead of a high budget movie, Injustice would have been better served had it been an animated series adaptation.
Here’s how.
SPOILER ALERT: Major Spoilers For injustice Up Ahead. Enter At Your Own Risk….
The movie begins just like it did in the acclaimed video game series and in the comics. The Joker manages to trick Superman into killing his pregnant wife Lois Lane and the whole of Metropolis. The Man of Steel, now unhinged, realizes he was holding on to foolish ideals. Joker’s actions turn him into a tyrant and he joins forces with other heroes and villains to start the Regime – a global fascist empire headed by Superman. Batman, who doesn’t agree to Superman’s ideals, starts the Insurgency. A planet-wide civil war erupts and thus start the events of Injustice.
The Number Of Characters & Sub-Plots In Injustice Is Too Big For A Movie
When you try to chime in too many characters into a movie, it ends up becoming an abomination. We have seen it happen in way too many superhero movies already. X-Men: The Last Stand and X-Men: Apocalypse for example, had so many characters and so many sub-plots going on simultaneously it ended up ruining the movie.
Many Key Story Arcs Were Underplayed
This is a direct result of cramming in so much and condensing such a massive story into a single feature length movie. Injustice has so many key events in the games and comic books. We may see none of that ever happening in the DCAU movie. Maybe a future Injustice movie could have expanded on those events. But the way the movie was received by fans and critics, there’s little to no chance of it happening.
For instance, Wonder Woman’s redemption arc – her tale of siding with Superman and then eventually betraying him for the greater good, was never shown in all its glory in Injustice. When Wonder Woman finally turns on Superman, he just punches the Amazonian Princess away. Other instances like the death of Flash and Green Lantern losing his Power Ring are some key arcs that were underplayed. Shazam and Spectre, who played major roles in the actual story, sat this one out.
Injustice: A Massive Missed Opportunity
The 90 minute run-time does not leave any leg space for the animators and story-writers to come up with a viable script. And that is exactly what the DCAU should have avoided at all costs. In their quest to etch their names in the DCAU Hall of Fame plaque, the people who came up with the movie ended up forever tarnishing its image. We will probably never see this iconic storyline in the DCAU anymore all thanks to the way it was mishandled.
