There has been a huge leak of info regarding the upcoming Justice League of America movie. It’ll never be clear if it’s the real deal or not until I’ve paid my money and am sitting stone-faced in the theater, ready to be disappointed, but still… you gotta dream.
The leaked details are good… very good, in fact.
So good, that I wager the script is a fake, but only because I’m a terrible grumpy cynic.
The script seems to be written by someone with a deep understanding for each member of the League and what makes them work. The script includes nods to Kingdom Come (a super hero themed diner) and to the recent Countdown to Infinite Crisis (Brother Eye and the OMACs both feature heavily) along with an opening scene of Barry Allen having a meal with his wife, Iris.
It’s a classic comic book fan’s dream come true.
The script also wastes no time introducing the viewers to the characters which is the way to go here.
The last thing anyone wants to see is a ‘secret origin’ story of the JLA (despite the spectacular job by Bruce Timm and Co.). The X-Men trilogy could take its time introducing the viewers to Wolverine, Rogue and the rest because each character carried a heavy emotional story. Unless Mark Waid is writing the script (and it is very good, so… nah) I cannot see how a writer could find an emotional ‘in’ for the Flash, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, Martian Manhunter and the other two guys. They are impenetrable icons.
This is the meat of the DC/Marvel debate. DC Comics characters are icons, Marvel characters are flawed ‘people.’ You can have fun with both, but it’s very difficult to make an icon work as a movie. You only have to look at the numerous failed DC Comics films to see that.
Justice League of America, as created by Gardner Fox and Mike Sekowsky, were walking/talking idioms that kids were encouraged to imitate in their backyards with towels wrapped around their necks.
Writers such as Mark Waid and more recently Jim Krueger have delved deeper into their psyches with the aforementioned Kingdom Come and Justice to name a few, but these superheroes simply come out the other end even more statuesque.
If this movie works at all, it has to be air-tight.
And what was the last air-tight super hero movie you saw?
Correct… Batman Begins.
Fingers crossed, everyone.
Suggested reading/viewing:
Showcase Presents: Justice League of America, Vol. 2
JLA: Liberty and Justice
Kingdom Come
Justice, Vol. 1
Justice League Unlimited – Season Two (DC Comics Classic Collection)
