Cartoon Network to air "Brainiac Attacks"

[JME2]

From Superman Homepage:

Cartoon Network has announced that they'll be airing "Superman: Brainiac Attacks", the up-coming animated film from Warner Bros. Animation, before the DVD is released on June 20th.
Fans will be able to catch "Superman: Brainiac Attacks" on Cartoon Network on Saturday, June 17th at 7:30pm, 3 days before the DVD's release.

So, we'll have a three day head start to see if it was as bad as that teaser trailer a few months bag indicated it was going to be....

[JME2]

A friendly reminder to any DCAU fans; if you want to see it and/or save $20 (and based off the reviews being posted at ToonZone, that latter is probably a good bet), Superman: Brainiac Attacks airs tomorrow on Cartoon Network at 7:30 P.M.

[Majin Gojira]

Not even Toonami's nifty intros can make it look good...

Set faces for "disapointed"!

[Ice]

From the Duane Capizzi interview:

Well, that's a tall order -- will Superman fans take my word or that of your reviewer? For the die-hard fans of S:TAS, presumably the bulk of your readership, let me first say that the movie is not intended to be in continuity with the Timm-verse, despite utilizing those character and background designs. Similarly, the depiction of Lex Luthor was intentionally modeled after Gene Hackman's performance in the Donner films, to dovetail with Luthor's depiction in the upcoming Bryan Singer film. If a die-hard fan goes into 'Brainiac Attacks' with this in mind, it should be a smoother ride -- and hopefully an entertaining one.

The plot involves a classic alliance between the two big Superman rogues, Lex Luthor and Brainiac, while catching Superman at a crucial juncture: he comes to feel he's living a lie with Lois Lane, and must decide whether or not to reveal his true identity to her. While Superman juggles these heroic and personal aspects of his life, the two intersect when Lois becomes critically injured. Superman goes to the ends of the Earth and then some to save her: it's as if we took the end of the first Donner film and made it the dramatic center of our entire story, played for high emotional stakes. It's an intimate story, yet at the same time very epic.

From the sounds of it, they seemed to be going for a Superman story more in line with the films than STAS itself.

[Jim Raynor]

From the Duane Capizzi interview:

Well, that's a tall order -- will Superman fans take my word or that of your reviewer? For the die-hard fans of S:TAS, presumably the bulk of your readership, let me first say that the movie is not intended to be in continuity with the Timm-verse, despite utilizing those character and background designs. Similarly, the depiction of Lex Luthor was intentionally modeled after Gene Hackman's performance in the Donner films, to dovetail with Luthor's depiction in the upcoming Bryan Singer film. If a die-hard fan goes into 'Brainiac Attacks' with this in mind, it should be a smoother ride -- and hopefully an entertaining one.

The plot involves a classic alliance between the two big Superman rogues, Lex Luthor and Brainiac, while catching Superman at a crucial juncture: he comes to feel he's living a lie with Lois Lane, and must decide whether or not to reveal his true identity to her. While Superman juggles these heroic and personal aspects of his life, the two intersect when Lois becomes critically injured. Superman goes to the ends of the Earth and then some to save her: it's as if we took the end of the first Donner film and made it the dramatic center of our entire story, played for high emotional stakes. It's an intimate story, yet at the same time very epic.

From the sounds of it, they seemed to be going for a Superman story more in line with the films than STAS itself.

That's good. I've already read The World's Finest's review, and damn would this movie suck ass if it was supposed to be in continuity.

SPOILERS

As soon as he arrives back, he sees Brainiac attacking and decides to go stop him before giving Lois the cure (despite being right next to the damn hospital, it would have taken him about five seconds). This is where we enter the incredibly annoying and long final fight, which seemed to go on forever. If you thought the previous fight between the two was long, this one was about eight times the length. After Lex in his Lex-o-suit has been stopped from exploding by Superman, Lex and Superman are on top of each other (how and why are they on top of each other?). At this moment, Lex says the stupidest damn thing I’ve heard out of this entire film: "Rootin' for ya, my maaan!"

Yeah, there's no way that can be in continuity.

[Andrew J.]

Thanks for the reminder. I'd totally forgotten.

[Trogdor]

Not terrible, but far from great. Luthor's different voice and more goofy personality was annoying, but the story was pretty decent. The Jimmy Olsen bits seemed both unneeded and were mildly cringeworthy. The Phantom Zone looked nothing like it did in STAS, and it would've been nice if Supes had bumped into General Zod or his Timm-verse equivilent there (can't recall his name) but I guess it wasn't really neccessary to the story. The illusion was nice, if unorginal, touch, IMHO. And I wasn't aware that Metropolis had a nuclear plant...

[RogueIce]

I'm not a fan of goofy Luthor. I didn't really like him in the first Superman movie and i didn't like him here, either.

On the whole it's not too bad, and works as a simple standalone movie for the kids, but certainly not in the STAS universe. Which it isn't in, thankfully.

And I have to agree with the World's Finest in that these lines really did seem pretty flatly delivered. I'm normally not one to be critical of that sort of thing but it's really noticiable here IMO.

[RogueIce]

Damn, I meant to say this above. Ah well.

How does anyone in Metropolis afford insurance?

[Batman]

Damn, I meant to say this above. Ah well.
How does anyone in Metropolis afford insurance?

How does anyone in the DCUA (and to some extent the DCU) afford insurance, period?

[Cej4096]

I forgot this was on, but caught most of the last ten minutes or so. One big question I have that I would appreciate an answer to:
[size=0]Did Superman's kiss that revived Lois have an explanation, or was it like the movies where he would come up with powers as needed?[/size]

[RogueIce]

I forgot this was on, but caught most of the last ten minutes or so. One big question I have that I would appreciate an answer to:
[size=0]Did Superman's kiss that revived Lois have an explanation, or was it like the movies where he would come up with powers as needed?[/size]

I suppose it could be that his orange tears were what did it. Or that he just became the element for a bit and managed to revive her since he started glowing orange first.

[Soontir C'boath]

I'm not a fan of goofy Luthor. I didn't really like him in the first Superman movie and i didn't like him here, either.

Even if they were trying to catch the likeness of Luthor in the movie, he still wasn't that great. I especially cringed at the beginning when Luthor was in his car and gave a stupor look and whimpering about the crap that happen outside. God, that was bad.

[Cej4096]

I suppose it could be that his orange tears were what did it. Or that he just became the element for a bit and managed to revive her since he started glowing orange first.

Like I said, I only saw about the last ten minutes, so that doesn't really make any sense to me. I'll take your word for it that there was at least some kind of explanation.

Thanks for the reply though.

[RogueIce]

I suppose it could be that his orange tears were what did it. Or that he just became the element for a bit and managed to revive her since he started glowing orange first.

Like I said, I only saw about the last ten minutes, so that doesn't really make any sense to me. I'll take your word for it that there was at least some kind of explanation.

Thanks for the reply though.

Ah, right. The orange bit is a side effect of whatever element it is that he went into the Phantom Zone to get that would cure him (he was sick earlier) and Lois from Brainiac's poisoning.

This element glowed orange, was orange in it's capsule thingy, and made Superman glow orange when he took it. So I suppose the theory is that Superman either "channeled" it or his glowing orange tears could heal Lois, as he started glowing and then she did too.

[JME2]

I'm not a fan of goofy Luthor. I didn't really like him in the first Superman movie and i didn't like him here, either.

Even if they were trying to catch the likeness of Luthor in the movie, he still wasn't that great. I especially cringed at the beginning when Luthor was in his car and gave a stupor look and whimpering about the crap that happen outside. God, that was bad.

And the fun part is that it's Powers Boothe (Grodd on JL/JLU) voicing him for the film; it doesn't even sound like him. Hell, even Tim Daly, reprising Supes for the first time since the STAS series finale (or the Superman: Rise of Apokolips video-game if you want to get specific) sounds terrible (and further reinforcing why I like George Newburn better for JL/JLU).

[RogueIce]

Hell, even Tim Daly, reprising Supes for the first time since the STAS series finale (or the Superman: Rise of Apokolips video-game if you want to get specific) sounds terrible (and further reinforcing why I like George Newburn better for JL/JLU).

Yes, it's sad, since I do recall seeing that as a reason that people were excited about this movie.

Granted the only real experience I have with Tim Daly is the World's Finest DVD (the rest of STAS I saw far too long ago to really remember) and "grew up" with Newburn, he still sounded pretty dead in this one. He was far more "alive" in World's Finest, for instance, and I'm sure in the rest of STAS as well.

Though maybe it's because they didn't use Andrea Romano as their voice director, someone who I consider to be as much a mark of it being "real" DCAU as Bruce Timm's name in the credits (as more than just character design).

[Stark]

Holy shit Powers Boothe did Grodds voice? That's so cool.

[JME2]

and it would've been nice if Supes had bumped into General Zod or his Timm-verse equivilent there (can't recall his name) but I guess it wasn't really neccessary to the story.

Jax-Ur (a minor Kryptonian criminal not seen since COIE in mainstream DC). However, whether or not he would have bumped into Jax-Ur would have depended on where the film would have been set in STAS continuity, specifically before or after the events of "Absolute Power" (After being freed and then imprisoned during the two-part "Blasts from the Past", he and Mala were freed when an event horizon tore into the Phantom Zone. They took over a nearby alien world, prepared to invade Earth, only to be foiled by Supes and flung into the singularity).

[RogueIce]

and it would've been nice if Supes had bumped into General Zod or his Timm-verse equivilent there (can't recall his name) but I guess it wasn't really neccessary to the story.

Jax-Ur (a minor Kryptonian criminal not seen since COIE in mainstream DC). However, whether or not he would have bumped into Jax-Ur would have depended on where the film would have been set in STAS continuity, specifically before or after the events of "Absolute Power" (After being freed and then imprisoned during the two-part "Blasts from the Past", he and Mala were freed when an event horizon tore into the Phantom Zone. They took over a nearby alien world, prepared to invade Earth, only to be foiled by Supes and flung into the singularity).

Except this isn't in STAS continuity.

If it's aiming at the movie continuity (though I'm pretty sure Pa Kent should be dead then), I thought that all three were in the Phantom Zone between 1 and 2?

[Hades]

It seems completly pointless to me to use the series designs, even use some of the same voice actors and yet NOT set it in continuity.
Why not try to be inovative and do new designs and hire a completly different cast, at least that way they wouldnt confuse/anoy people so much.

[RogueIce]

It seems completly pointless to me to use the series designs, even use some of the same voice actors and yet NOT set it in continuity.
Why not try to be inovative and do new designs and hire a completly different cast, at least that way they wouldnt confuse/anoy people so much.

Because look at what happened with The Batman?

In fairness, it is getting better. Even if Riddler is some weirdo Goth freak and the Joker is just plain shit.

At any rate, it may well have been an attempt at trying to draw in the Old Crowd, although the resulting product doesn't exactly live up to expectations. Still, it could serve to bring in the younger set (who would probably enjoy this outing) into the rest of STAS and the Timmverse as a whole.

[Steve]

He's so happy, so very very happy!

God, my brother was actually cringing in pain whenever Boothe-Luthor was talking crazy. I can't even begin to imagine Clancy Brown-voiced Luthor having that expression.

[RogueIce]

[snip Happy Luthor]

He's so happy, so very very happy!

God, my brother was actually cringing in pain whenever Boothe-Luthor was talking crazy. I can't even begin to imagine Clancy Brown-voiced Luthor having that expression.

Indeed. Seriously, if you wanted to try to shoehorn this into STAS, you'd have to say that Luthor was on some pretty damn good drugs at the time, and then quit shortly thereafter.

I'd also love to know how Lois pulled off that hospital-gown-into-streetclothes trick at the end of the movie.

[Jim Raynor]

Here's some sound clips from the movie.

"I'm soo...happy!"

"Rootin' for ya, my ma!"

Thank God they came out and said this was out of continuity.