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Legion Of Super-Heroes 4K UHD Review

“Legion Of Super-Heroes”  does not fly high. 

“Legion Of Super-Heroes” is the latest animated DC film from WB. In this adventure, the plot revolves around Kara Zor-El (AKA Supergirl) arriving on Earth after the devastating destruction of Krypton. Supergirl is having trouble fitting in, controlling her powers and is rather reckless in fights. Wanting to help her, Superman takes her to the 31st Century to the Legion Of Super-Heroes Legion Academy. While there she meets trainees such as Mon-El, Dawnstar, Brainiac-5, Bouncing Boy, Invisible Kid, Triplicate Girl, Phantom Girl, and Arm-Fall-Off-Boy who are looking to become Legionnaires. Unfortunately, her training becomes interrupted by the cult The Dark Circle who are looking to steal a weapon from the Legion vaults. Who is the criminal mastermind behind The Dark Circle and can his fiendish plot be stopped? 

Given the huge James Gunn DC slate news that dropped today, it seems only fitting to be reviewing a new DC movie. Alas, director Jeff Wamester and writer Josie Campbell’s “Legion Of Super-Heroes” is a largely forgettable animated feature.

First of all, why is this even called “Legion Of Super-Heroes” when the movie is largely Supergirl centric. Sure, you are introduced to a bunch of Legionnaire trainee characters (which is appreciated), but their screen time is limited to a few scenes at best. Only Brainiac-5 has a major part here and everyone else is just a plot device or a background character. Characters like Phantom Girl, Invisible Kid, Triplicate Girl and even Legionnaires like Timber Wolf and Chemical King are all ripe for exploration and more exposure. The characters deserve better than this. 

Secondly, the depiction of Supergirl is lackluster at best. Instead of focusing on her strengths, Josie Campbell really leans into the teen angst element alongside a very fan-fictiony dynamic with Brainiac-5. This is one of those stories where the two characters clash, find common ground, bond, become allies, and eventually develop romantic feelings for one another in a short amount of time. This all might appeal to some viewers, but after notable comic runs and even the “Supergirl” TV series that give the character a great deal of depth, it feels like a step backwards.

The story itself feels slapped together and contains far too many overly telegraphed plot twists (enemies become allies, a traitor, someone back from the grave, etc.). There’s just nothing fresh about this story. 

Video/Audio:

Presentation: 1.78:1 2160p. How does it look? The animation shines in 2160p.

Audio Track: 5.1 DTS-HD MA. How does it sound? Although it’s a shame there wasn’t a higher quality audio track for the 4K, this 5.1 track still packs a Kryptonian punch (especially during action scenes). 

Extras (on the Blu-ray):
* Blu-ray copy
* Digital copy
* “Superman: The Animated Series” episodes “Little Girl Lost” Parts 1 and 2.
* Trailers for “Justice League Vs. The Fatal Five” and “Superman: Man Of Tomorrow.”
* “The Legion Behind The Legion”- Jim Krieg and Josie Campbell talk about bringing this story to life. Meg Donnelly also briefly chats about voicing Supergirl.
* “Down To Earth: The Story Of Supergirl”- A rundown of Kara’s arc in this movie.
* “Meet The Legionnaires”- An overview of the characters featured in the film.
* “Brainiac Attack: The Intellect Behind The Super-Villain” is all about Brainiac-5 and his family.

January 31, 2023 - Posted by nicklyons1 | 4K UHD Review | Brainiac, Brainiac-5, DC, DC Animated Movie, Legion Of Super-Heroes 4K UHD Review, Supergirl, Superman