“Justice League x RWBY – Superheroes & Huntsmen” – Part Two
Directed by: Kerry Shawcross, Dustin Matthews & Yssa Badiola
Written by: Meghan Fitzmartin, Eddy Rivas & Monty Oum
Starring: Troy Baker as Batman/Mirror Master, Travis Willingham as Superman/Weather Wizard, Laura Bailey as Wonder Woman,
David Dastmalchian as The Flash
Review by Max Byrne
Justice League x RWBY – Super Heroes & Huntsmen Part Two is a certainly a faster paced, more action packed movie than its predecessor. Considering the first instalment was full of action to say the very least, this is no mean feat! Throughout the majority of its 75 minute run time, the action never lets up. Whilst at times this does sideline plot progression and nuance, it’s still highly satisfying.
The aforementioned action scenes are wonderfully choreographed. The direction of Kerry Shawcross, Dustin Matthews and Yssa Badiola is eye-catching, bombastic and hard-hitting. As a hardcore comics fan, seeing the major players of the DC Universe in full flow against a litany of otherworldly monsters is always a thrill. This creative team fully understands the physical attributes of the characters in battle; Superman is pure power, Batman is agile and tactical in his approach and The Flash mixes humor with his awesome speed.
The script is flipped in this sequel. The first move saw the JL travel to the world of Remnant, which saw them change appearance and powers. In this part, the opposite happens. I much prefer this, as it presents the DC big hitters as they are meant to be seen, not de-aged and unfamiliar. As I am not very familiar with the RWBY franchise, the change of those characters, which may be jarring to devotees, didn’t matter too much to me.
The plot, whilst light, involves the two titanic teams coming together to combat the forces of the delightfully named villain Kilg%re, an electro-mechano-organic intelligence that was originally created back in 1987 in the pages of The Flash Vol.2 #3. Depicted here as a creature so monstrous that it takes the combined might of the two titular teams to overcome him.
As with the first film, the team up works well. There’s a nice chemistry between the two sets of heroes that allows for some snappy moments of dialogue that stand out amongst the barrage of action. Should the fates allow for further crossover adventures between the two worlds in the future, there’s certainly still a lot more mileage there.
Conclusion
Justice League x RWBY – Super Heroes & Huntsmen Part Two is a enjoyable watch. Whilst the plot might not be multi-layered or particularly engrossing, the action certainly is. Visually it’s stunning and also has an entertaining musical score. The more casual fan of both franchises might find it a tough watch at times, but there’s certainly enough there to keep the audience engaged throughout.
Justice League x RWBY – Super Heroes & Huntsmen Part Two is available now on all digital providers and is also released on Blu Ray from October 30th.
Review Copy and Images Courtesy of WB UK
