Superman Unbound Details Released
The trailer for this May’s release was missing from The Dark Knight Returns Part 2 but was subsequently released online. Now come the complete details of the next direct-to-DVD film from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment.
The fun vocal casting takes television stalwarts from popular genre series and uses them in other iconic roles. Here is the complete press release.
BURBANK, CA (February 21, 2012) – A destructive force is devastating planets across the galaxy – with Earth next in its sights – and even Superman may not be capable of halting the terror in SUPERMAN: UNBOUND, the next entry in the ongoing series of DC Universe Animated Original Movies. Produced by Warner Premiere, DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. Animation, the all-new, PG-13 rated film arrives May 7, 2013 from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment as a Blu-ray™ Combo Pack ($24.98 SRP) and DVD ($19.98 SRP), On Demand and for Digital Download. The Blu-ray™ Combo Pack will include UltraViolet™*.
Based on the Geoff Johns/Gary Frank 2008 Action Comics storyline “Superman: Brainiac,” SUPERMAN: UNBOUND finds the Man of Steel aptly handling day-to-day crime while helping acclimate Supergirl to Earth’s customs and managing Lois Lane’s expectations for their relationship. Personal issues take a back seat when the horrific force responsible for the destruction of Krypton – Brainiac – begins his descent upon Earth. Brainiac has crossed the universe, collecting cities from interesting planets – including Supergirl’s home city of Kandor – and now the all-knowing, ever-improving android has his sights fixed on Metropolis. Superman must summon all of his physical and intellectual resources to protect his city, the love of his life and his newly-arrived cousin.
The film’s stellar voicecast is led by Matt Bomer (White Collar) as Superman, John Noble (Fringe, The Lord of the Rings films) as Brainiac, Stana Katic (Castle) as Lois Lane and Molly Quinn (Castle) as Supergirl. Additional voices in the cast include Golden Globe Award winner Frances Conroy (Six Feet Under) as Ma Kent, Wade Williams (The Dark Knight Rises) as Perry White, Diedrich Bader (The Drew Carey Show, Office Space) as Steve Lombard, Stephen Root (Boardwalk Empire, Justified) as Zor-El, and Alexander Gould (Weeds) as Jimmy Olsen.
Supervising Producer James Tucker (Justice League, Batman: The Brave and the Bold) also directs the film from a script by Bob Goodman (Warehouse 13, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns).
“SUPERMAN: UNBOUND adds an all-new chapter to the growing legacy of animated films featuring the Man of Steel and his epic challenges to maintain peace on Earth,” said Mary Ellen Thomas, Warner Home Video Vice President, Family & Animation and Partner Brands Marketing. “Matt Bomer’s voice epitomizes the All-American hero that is Superman, and John Noble counters that tone with a commanding, chilling delivery for Brainiac. A superhero is only as good as the depths of his opposition, and Noble brings out the best in his villainous portrayal of Brainiac.”
SUPERMAN: UNBOUND Blu-ray™ Combo Pack has over 4 1/2 hours of exciting content, including:
- Standard and high definition versions of the feature film
- UltraViolet™*
- Sneak Peek at Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox, the next DC Universe Animated Original Movie
- Featurette – “Kandor: History of the Bottle City” – An all-new featurette. Kandor: a peaceful scientific community dedicated toward the preservation of all that is good on Krypton, the home world of Superman. That is, until the city was ripped from its world and placed into a small glass bottle! This is the short story highlighting the shrunken city of Kandor. Its history just as fascinating as it is unique, here is how it ties in directly with the Man of Tomorrow.
- Featurette – “Brainiac: Technology and Terror” – An all-new featurette. Mostly machine, but part sentient being, Brainiac steals cities and destroys worlds. Is he the most vile of Superman’s villainous foes? Experience the Brainiac mythology and find out why Superman barely stands a chance!
- Audio Commentary – Featuring members of the creative team: Mike Carlin, Bob Goodman and James Tucker.
- Four bonus episodes from Superman: The Animated Series (“The Last Son of Krypton, Part 1”; “New Kids in Town”; and “Little Girl Lost, Parts 1 & 2”), all handpicked by producer Alan Burnett.
- Digital Comic – Excerpt from the graphic novel Superman: Brainiac by Geoff Johns and Gary Frank.
* Spuerman: Unbound UltraViolet offer is a limited time offer. Restrictions and limitations apply. Go to ultraviolet.flixster .com/info for details.
DC has gone the way of the wuss!
This is probable one of the most ridiculous storylines I have ever read from DC.
=====Spoiler Alert==== (This spoil should be more of a Godsend than a warning)
What happened to the days when Superman was a man and Lois was a woman? I miss those days. The days when you could escape into a world where women didn’t hate men and men weren’t attracted to women who do. I have watched most, if not all, of DC animation movies and this one was so bad I had to research its origin.
The story is written by Geoff Johns. Now, I haven’t read his other works so this could be just a whiffed swing at the plate, but I did have to check his gender because he writes more feminine than masculine.
Let’s start with Lois. Man-hating-feminists-of-the-world-unite! When did Lois move from spunky reporter to man hater? Nearly every scene she was in made me literally sick to my stomach. She was so bitter and nasty that it was hard to focus on the plot when she spoke. I guess the author wanted to make her tough sounding, but he only succeeded in making her sound like a cat-loving old hag in training. This is one reason why I am forced to preview Marvel/DC animation movies before/if I allow my kids to watch them. Sad.
Now let’s talk about Brainac, one of Superman’s most powerful enemies, brought down by getting dirty….literally. The author has Brainac incapable of handling getting muddy. This was such a feminization of Brainac; it would not have felt out of place if he broke down in tears during the final fight because he broke a fingernail. Seriously? When did writers become so lazy that “dirt” becomes the plot key?
Next let’s look at Kara, a very wholesome looking girl who is mad at the world. When Superman goes off, she wages a world war on crime, which is fine, but the author gives the impression that she is doing this to either prove something or blow off this huge amount of anger that she has. The author tries to hide this by lines like, “she’s the typical teenager” and other similar thoughts. I have never seen a girl this angry. “Doesn’t know her own strength”? I have never encountered a girl that could physically hurt someone on accident. Boys yes; girls no. They just don’t have the upper body strength. Now Geoff can say that she is Supergirl, but then you can’t call her the “typical” teenager. Contradictions like this indicate the author is pushing some kind of agenda, not logic.
Last but not least, let’s address Superman, the punching bag for Lois’s sharp tongue. It’s not that Lois has to fawn over Superman, but a thank you would be nice. The author shrouds her anger in some kind of boundary issue that she states, but, if Wonder Woman saved me, I don’t think I would hesitate to say thank you. If my wife spoke to me this way, I would have serious reservations about her mindset towards our marriage. Common courtesy is a foundation. Lois is not only rude, but she implies that Superman’s rescues are mandatory. And he sits there and takes it. No, “Hey Lois, a thank you would be nice.” Nothing. No man that I know of is going to sit and take a tongue lashing just to appease someone else, female or not. Of course there are “males” that do act as doormats, but then again, they’re not really men now are they?
I don’t know if the author is planning a coming out party or not, but if this is how his other stories are written, then I’d say don’t waste the money on a party, it’s already evident. I hope that in the future DC will write stories where men as men and women are women. Neither needs to be subservient to the other, just have a little respect for each other.
To end on a positive note, the animation was decent. Obviously anime inspired but not overly done. Of course the graphic nature of the opening scene and one or two other scenes means it’s a no-no for kids but besides that it was pretty good.