“Justice League x RWBY – Superheroes & Huntsmen” – Part One
Written by: Meghan Fitzmartin
Starring:
Nat Wolff as Batman/Bruce Wayne
Chandler Riggs as Superman/Clark Kent
Natalie Alyn Lind as Wonder Woman/Diana Prince
Tru Valentino as Cyborg
Jeannie Tirado as Green Lantern
Review by Max Byrne
Justice League x RWBY – Superheroes & Huntsmen Part One is a crossover animated film that will undoubtedly please fans of both universes.
Crossovers can sometimes be a risky enterprise, as the possibility of alienating either fan base is very real. In order to avoid that, you have to get the tone spot on, be faithful to the world you are trying to create, and do justice to both sets of characters. Does the creative team get it right in this film? I would have to say, yes!
I must confess that my level of fanaticism for all things DC Comics is equaled only by my complete lack of knowledge concerning the world of RWBY. However, complete newbies like me can certainly hit the ground running when watching this. Yes, established fans of the world of Ruby, Weiss, Blake, and Yang will certainly be better equipped to enjoy the proceedings but with careful attention and an open mind, everybody can immerse themselves and enjoy the ride.
The plot in a nutshell – Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Cyborg, Green Lantern, and Vixen are transported to the strange world of Remnant and find themselves turned into teenagers. Meanwhile, Remnant heroes Ruby, Weiss, Blake, and Yang must combine forces with the Justice League to uncover why their planet has been mysteriously altered, before a superpowered Grimm destroys everything. To delve more into the intricacies of the plot would be far too spoiler heavy, not to mention hard to explain. My advice is to watch it and make sense of the delicious chaos.
Changing the members of the Justice League into teenagers was a masterstroke on the part of writer Meghan Fitzmartin. Taking established, experienced characters in their prime and taking them back to their youth provides a lot of scope for humor, something that sometimes can be lacking in DC movie properties. Seeing the normally taciturn Bruce Wayne become borderline excitable is a rare treat indeed!
As is always the case with any DC animated property, the voice cast is in top form. The Walking Dead alumni Chandler Riggs voices the younger version of Superman with aplomb. He manages to carry the sense of authority that comes from the Man of Steel but is tempered with the callow nature of youth. Riggs has the character down in a pitch-perfect fashion.
Natalie Alyn Lind, no stranger to the world of DC following her stint on Gotham as Silver St.Cloud, treads a similar path to Riggs with her portrayal of Wonder Woman, as indeed, do all the JL cast members. Credit must go to the casting director for assembling young actors that understand the role and what they need to bring to the table.
One thing that truly leaps out during this movie is the score. David Levy has created something that is equal parts heavy metal, opera, electronica, and anything else you can care to mention. Always engaging, always attention-grabbing, but critically, always appropriate to the onscreen action. The kitchen sink mentality works here, as the film is anything but subtle. It requires bombast and grandeur, something that Levy supplies in extremis!
Conclusion
Justice League x RWBY – Superheroes & Huntsmen Part One is an eventful, eye-catching, crazy ride of an animated movie. It moves at a breakneck speed with little respite and should make fans of both genres very happy with what they see. With a real cliffhanger ending that leaves the appetite well and truly whetted for part two.
Images and Bluray Review Copy Courtesy of WB Entertainment