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Justice League Dark: Apokolips War

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Justice League Dark: Apokolips War
Ultra HD Blu-ray cover
Directed by
  • Matt Peters
  • Christina Sotta
Screenplay byErnie Altbacker
Mairghread Scott
Story by
  • Mairghread Scott
Based onCharacters
by DC Comics
Produced byJames Tucker
Starring
Edited byChristopher D. Lozinski
Music byFrederik Wiedmann
Production
companies
Distributed byWarner Home Video
Release date
Running time
90 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Justice League Dark: Apokolips War is a 2020 American adult animated superhero film produced by Warner Bros. Animation and distributed by Warner Home Video. The film is directed by Matt Peters and Christina Sotta, while Ernie Altbacker and Mairghread Scott wrote the screenplay.[2] It stars an ensemble cast including Rosario Dawson, Jerry O'Connell, Jason O'Mara and Matt Ryan. In the film, members of the Justice League, Justice League Dark, Teen Titans and Suicide Squad join forces against Darkseid to save Earth.

Based on the comic book storylines "Darkseid War" by Geoff Johns, "Final Crisis" by Grant Morrison, and elements of "Futures End", it is the 40th overall film of the DC Universe Animated Original Movies as well as the fifteenth and final feature film set in the first half of the DC Animated Movie Universe (DCAMU), generally marking the continuity's conclusion.[3] The film was released digitally on May 5, 2020, and in 4K/Blu-ray/DVD on May 19. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and fans alike.[4]

Plot

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Following Darkseid's failed attempts at conquering Earth,[a] the Justice League devise a plan to defeat him by infiltrating Apokolips while leaving the Teen Titans to defend Earth. Unbeknownst to them, Darkseid spies on the League through Cyborg. The League is overwhelmed and defeated by Paradooms — hybrid creatures made from Parademons and Doomsday using Superman's Kryptonian DNA—and a majority of the heroes from both the League and the Titans are killed. Those who survived are placed into Darkseid's slavery while others have escaped and are in hiding.

Two years later, Darkseid has placed devices known as "Reapers" which mine the planet's core. Superman is forcibly depowered after Darkseid tattooed his chest with liquid kryptonite, but is released by Darkseid so he can spend the rest of his life knowing that his failed plan cost his teammates' lives. He leaves Apokolips and reunites with Raven, who has been struggling to maintain her father Trigon's imprisonment.[b] They seek John Constantine for a location spell to track Damian Wayne. Although reluctant to help at first, considering himself a coward for fleeing during the initial attack on Darkseid and leaving his wife Zatanna to die, Constantine locates Damian Wayne at a League of Assassins outpost. Clark explains to Damian they need him to help free his father Batman from Darkseid's control. Damian reluctantly agrees to join the group.

The group travel to Stryker's Island in Metropolis and meet with Clark's wife Lois Lane who has recruited the Suicide Squad to their cause, now led by Harley Quinn.[c] Clark and Lois reveal their plan to infiltrate LexCorp and use a boom tube to return to Apokolips and kill Darkseid. Meanwhile, the remaining heroes attack the Reapers but are overrun and killed by Paradooms. At the building, Lex Luthor confronts them, revealing he was working with Lois to gain intel on Darkseid. The group splits into two with Clark, Damian, Raven, Constantine, and Etrigan the Demon going to Apokolips and Lois, Luthor, and the Squad remaining at the building to defend the boom tube. Batman informs Darkseid of Luthor's betrayal, and sends Paradooms and the newly converted Furies after the heroes.

Upon arrival, Clark's group is attacked by the Furies, consisting of cybernetic versions of Wonder Woman, Mera, Hawkman, Starfire, and Martian Manhunter. Wonder Woman kills Etrigan, but Constantine manages to break her free using her Lasso of Truth. She decides to stay behind to fend off the other Furies as the group head on. They also rescue Flash from a treadmill powering Apokolips; Constantine learns that Flash had previously altered the timeline in the past in a "flashpoint".[d] Shortly thereafter, Cyborg, who has integrated into the planet's network, confronts them. Constantine frees him from Darkseid's control, which also frees the remaining Furies. Darkseid orders Batman to kill Damian but he hesitates when he is reminded of his parents' death, which breaks him free of Darkseid's control and he injures Darkseid. In a fit of rage, Darkseid tries to kill Batman but Damian intercepts him, getting mortally burned and dying in Batman's arms. Damian's death overwhelms Raven, the two having confessed their love for one another earlier on Striker's Island, and her sudden emotional instability frees Trigon. Constantine offers his body as a vessel for Trigon, but he refuses and takes Clark's body instead, purging the kryptonite from his body, restoring his powers, and breaking Constantine's neck, killing him. Now possessing Clark, Trigon attacks Darkseid. Zatanna briefly visits Constantine in the afterlife, revealing she used a compulsion spell to manipulate and force him into fleeing back to Earth as part of a backup and contingency plan prepared by Batman when she died. Simultaneously, Raven and Zatanna revive Damian and Constantine.

Back at LexCorp, Paradooms surround Lois' team, prompting them to initiate a self-destruct. Lois transmits a goodbye message to Apokolips with Cyborg's assistance. Her death shocks Clark back to his senses and frees him from Trigon's possession. Free from Trigon, Superman battles Darkseid. Constantine and Raven combine their magic to give Trigon a physical body so he can continue fighting Darkseid. Cyborg sacrifices himself to drag Darkseid, Trigon, and the Paradooms into a void boom tube with no destination at all. Trigon prevents Darkseid's escape as they are dragged into oblivion along with Apokolips.

Despite their victory, Batman reveals that the Reapers have drained 31% of Earth's magma, the planet's rotation was compromised, and billions of people will die before the League can potentially find a solution. As a result, Constantine convinces Flash to run back in time and reset the timeline again despite knowing that the world will never be perfect or the same as before, it still has to be better than theirs. Flash eventually agrees, and the remaining heroes watch as he makes another flashpoint, resetting the timeline.

Voice cast

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Voice actor Character
Matt Ryan John Constantine
Jerry O'Connell Kal-El / Clark Kent / Superman
Taissa Farmiga Rachel Roth / Raven
Stuart Allan Damian Wayne / Robin
Tony Todd Uxas / Darkseid
Ray Chase Etrigan
Jason O'Mara Bruce Wayne / Batman
Rosario Dawson Diana Prince / Wonder Woman
Rainn Wilson Lex Luthor
Rebecca Romijn Lois Lane
Camilla Luddington Zatanna Zatara
Christopher Gorham Barry Allen / Flash
Shemar Moore Victor Stone / Cyborg
Hynden Walch Harley Quinn
Liam McIntyre Digger Harkness / Captain Boomerang
John DiMaggio King Shark, Trigon
Sachie Alessio Lady Shiva
Roger R. Cross John Stewart / Green Lantern, Alec Holland / Swamp Thing

Production

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The film was first announced in July 2019 at San Diego Comic-Con.[5] Several voice actors from previous DC Animated Movie Universe films reprised their respective roles.[6]

Release

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The film was released on digital platforms on May 5, 2020, and on 4K/Blu-ray/DVD on May 19.[7] It features a showcase animated short based on Adam Strange.[8]

Reception

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Critical response

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On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 100% based on 18 reviews, with an average rating of 7.5/10.[9] Jesse Schden of IGN said: "This film takes full advantage of the fact that it's the final chapter in a 15-movie arc. Its narrative veers into some very surprising and compelling directions, and somehow it manages to pay off on loose ends from across the DCU".[10]

Revenue

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The film earned $5,661,974 from domestic Blu-ray sales.[11]

Future

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In spite of Justice League Dark: Apokolips War being confirmed as the last film in the DCAMU,[3] screenwriter Ernie Altbacker teased the possibility of a new project related to that continuity. He said that "the way we ended it ... it's really like a tough balancing act: It ends something on a bittersweet yet hopeful note, and I'll just say, people who are saying, 'Oh man, we're not going to get anymore of these!' ... you're not losing something, you're gaining something new ..."[12]

The DCAMU's second phase occasionally references events from the first phase.[13] In May 2022, Constantine: The House of Mystery was released. The short film deals with the aftermath of Apokolips War, setting the plot of the Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths film trilogy.[14]

Notes

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  1. ^ As depicted in Justice League: War (2014), The Death of Superman (2018), and Reign of the Supermen (2019).
  2. ^ Having imprisoned him in the prison gem adorning her forehead during the events of Justice League vs. Teen Titans (2016).
  3. ^ As a result of Amanda Waller dying from cancer after the events of Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay (2018).
  4. ^ As depicted in Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox (2013).

References

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  1. ^ "Justice League Dark: Apokolips War Release Date, Box Art, Info, Trailer". Cosmic Book News. 4 March 2020. Archived from the original on 17 June 2020. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  2. ^ Burwick, Kevin (March 2, 2020). "Justice League Dark: Apokolips War Trailer Unites DC All-Stars Against Darkseid". movieweb. Archived from the original on March 4, 2020. Retrieved March 4, 2020.
  3. ^ a b Barnhardt, Adam (March 29, 2020). "Justice League Dark: Apokolips War Will Be the Last Film in the DC Animated Movie Universe". ComicBook.com. Archived from the original on April 10, 2020. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
  4. ^ "Justice League Dark: Apokolips War". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on 2021-05-09. Retrieved 2020-05-07.
  5. ^ Lovett, James (July 20, 2019). "Justice League Dark: Apokolips War Movie Announced". comicbook.com. Archived from the original on July 20, 2019. Retrieved March 4, 2020.
  6. ^ Bernaschina, Michael (February 26, 2020). "Justice League Dark: Apokolips War's Massive Voice Cast Revealed". cbr. Archived from the original on March 4, 2020. Retrieved March 4, 2020.
  7. ^ Mancuso, Vinnie (March 4, 2020). "'Justice League Dark: Apokolips War' Trailer Reveals an R-rated DC Comics Epic". Collider. Archived from the original on March 5, 2020. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
  8. ^ Aune, Saun. P (March 6, 2020). "Justice League Dark: Apokolips War release date and prices announced". batman-news. Archived from the original on March 20, 2020. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
  9. ^ "Justice League Dark: Apokolips War (2020)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Archived from the original on 2021-05-09. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
  10. ^ Schedeen, Jesse (May 5, 2020). "Justice League Dark: Apokolips War Review". IGN. Archived from the original on May 11, 2020. Retrieved May 14, 2020.
  11. ^ "Justice League Dark: Apokolips War (2020) The Numbers Listing". The Numbers. Archived from the original on October 26, 2020. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  12. ^ Stone, Sam (May 12, 2020). "Justice League Dark Writer Eulogizes the DC Animated Universe". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on May 22, 2020. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
  13. ^ Nair, Rupesh (June 16, 2022). "Supernatural Star Jensen Ackles Could Play Batman Again in Upcoming DC Title". IGN India. Archived from the original on 2023-02-21. Retrieved 2023-07-24.
  14. ^ "Constantine: The House of Mystery Exclusive Trailer - IGN Fan Fest 2022". YouTube. 19 February 2022. Archived from the original on 2023-08-01. Retrieved 2022-02-20.
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