Justice League vs the Fatal Five (2019) User Reviews

An unsatisfying origin story

[kmchahine · 5/10 · 7 April 2019]

Unlike its recent days predecessor movies of the DCAU, this movie appears more related to the Justice League series of our childhood. If that movie came out in their era, no doubt it would be a satisfying feature-length film. Being produced in a time post the Doomsday film, its criticism might seem more harsh.

*** Then on, potential spoilers ahead ***

CHARACTERS: Let's face it, though the title of this movie is "Justice League vs the Fatal Five", its main role was to introduce Jessica Cruz as part of the Green Lantern Corps. As such, using the JL in this plot only served to make them a reference for her power and shies the attention away from her.

Star-Boy was really a useless character after-all, lame, no real lessons to take from. The story of his ring wasn't really clarified either and his obsession over Limelight really didn't live up to the expectation.

Jessica Cruz had poor character development and follows the standard evolution of any new hero: Being afraid, then needing to overcome their fear, then messing up, and finally becoming a hero. Though this can sometimes be well plotted, her character was poorly scripted to be admired as more than 90% of the movie she's just terrified and all over the place.

The Fatal Five were unfortunately the most unappealing villains to ever reach the animated screen. Their superpowers seemed too imaginative and not well elaborated. Their plan as well was too short-sighted and rash.

PLOT: As mentioned earlier, the plot pertaining to Jessica Cruz/Limelight's development was pretty cliché and uninteresting. With regards to the entire movie, the plot was similarly lame: rarely were we excited to see what happens next and whenever a building or mountain or planet collapsed (and yes there were many of these), the heroes just happen to miss the debris and walk out untouched and minimally injured.

ANIMATION: The animation was JL animated series style. Though my personal preference has evolved to the current DCAU style, I will not hold any bad marks on this. It remains satisfying and the PG13 counterpart of nowadays' DC animated films.

*** End of Spoilers ***

SUMMARY: All in all, the movie is no doubt separate from the DCAU universe we have grown passionate of in recent years. Although the title and movie includes our most desired members of the JL (e.g. Wonder Woman, Batman and Superman), it is really far from being a JL movie. A more accurate title would probably be: "Jessica Cruz: First Flight."

Boring, bland and nothing new.

[rogertang-39880 · 5/10 · 29 April 2019]

DC makes some of the greatest animated movies; Under the Red Hood to name for one.

Their top titles all had something in common - good story arc, characters with depths, and good action.

This movie however lacked quite a number of those elements. The characters were very two-dimensional, and I'm surprised DC managed to paint Batman in such a dull light, considering DC's previous successful Batman animated titles (I mean, did he even do anything at the parking lot?).

The animation was also very poor, and will soon be DC's animated features demise if they don't up their stakes. One of their recent ones - Batman and Harley Quinn, was animated with the Batman animated series/childish look, however it was fluid, had a great theme, great action and the characters had plenty to offer - so it's not that I don't like childish style, it's the execution.

Another point I'd like to make is how they portray their heroes in combat. This animation is really slow, so a lot of the times they have static characters looking at an incoming blaster/object, and just take the hit. There's no new intuitive combat being choreographed, and quite frankly, in real life these heroes will be fighting much better than shown.

I had higher expectations

[armandomedinadelgado · 5/10 · 9 April 2019]

Being DC the creator of animated masterpieces like Mask of the Phantasm, Under the Red Hood, Gods and Monsters, the Dark Knight Returns, Crisis on Infinite Earths and a long etc, I was letdown by this. Sure, it had a lot going on, specially the classic animation of the Justice League, the greatest superhero cartoon show only second to the original Batman the animated series. But this was this film's only redeeming quality. I enjoy marvel films on the big screen, and without being a hardcore DC fanboy, I know DC has the best story telling in the supehero genre. Too bad DC hasn't been able to bring that success to the big screen (with a few exceptions like the first classic Superman film and Nolan's Batman trilogy). But animated films were Dc's strongest point. Except this time with this bland film. Not the worst, but very bad in comparison to most of it's predecessors. I don't hate it, but it sure was a letdown not even worth discussing.

Decent animated fare

[Java_Joe · 7/10 · 31 March 2019]

I make no secret of my love for the Timmverse when it comes to the DC animated features. The TImmverse, for those not in the know, is the name given to the series started by Bruce Timm namely "Batman: The Animated Series" back in the 90's. It's where we got Kevin Conroy's iconic Batman. From there they did a Superman series, a Justice League series and several others including movies and even video games. Some were better than others but on the whole, I really liked them.

So when I hear of this I needed to see it. It takes some of the core members of the Justice League cartoons, adds in a couple lesser known heroes and brings in my favorite villains from the future namely the Fatal Five. If you watched the Legion of Superheroes cartoon back in the day, or followed the comics, they should be familiar to you. If not they're a group of five villains from the future with various powers and abilities. They've come to the past to rescue the two most powerful members of their cabal and this is where the movie takes off.

The animation is great, the voices of Batman and Superman are again voiced by Kevin Conroy and George Newbern making it feel nostalgic and the story is... okay. It focuses a little more on some of the new characters like the new Green Lantern Jessica Cruz a.k.a. Limelight and as well as the Legionnaire from the future Star Boy. But that's to be expected. After all, it's their movie as well and the rest of the Justice League are there more for backup, exposition and nostalgia.

It could have been better but I'm satisfied with what they did.

It's a good one

[oiseauman · 7/10 · 11 April 2019]

I really enjoyed this movie. I always shed a little tear for the green lantern motto. But I just have a comment on the ending sitation that is attributed to Martin Luther King while according to my research it would be Winston Churchill.

This is pretty good

[juzer03 · 6/10 · 3 April 2019]

I like the DC animation/cartoon movies. This one was good. I wish the movies were as good as the these.

Lots Of Action and fun 6.7/10

[penguin_holmes · 6/10 · 7 October 2019]

Justice League Vs The Fatal Five is all about action. During the beginning of the movie, you are shoved right in the middle of action.

A very basic story elements are touched upon and then it's right back to action again. There is some time spend in developing the relationship between "Starboy" and the "Green Lantern Girl", but it's very short.

The main focus remains of the 2 new characters (which is good), while the Justice League stays in the background for some action.

The ending was totally heartfelt, would have maximised the effect more if there was a little bit more time spend with knowing the characters more.

All in all a good action movie, if you are looking for some depth in story and the characters, this movie is not it, but it's still worth a watch as a DC animated universe movie.

Certain things prevent me from giving it a solid 7 out of 10, so I'll settle with 6.7/10.

Nostalgic train ride

[amerulaidil · 8/10 · 31 March 2019]

Plot writing was great. For those who's not familiar with the animated series,you still gonna enjoy it. This movie include three new main character which is very likeable and feel connected to audience. This movie is more to PG13 style so don't expect it to be another episode from the animated series. The animation was great. Bruce Timm's animation style still flawless after all these years. Overall, it's a great and enjoyable DC animated movie

Good old 90's feel

[IamRage7 · 7 April 2019]

Personally i feel, they should have stick to this type of animation from the start instead of what i saw in batman ninja, and other new justice league animated movies. They just made those characters look bad in the name of improvement.

Mah

[doctorevil-20284 · 6/10 · 31 March 2019]

Reminiscent of some of the earlier DC shows. It's not something I thought needed to be done. What happened to all the green lanterns. Do we really need another green lantern of earth.

Throw back to the old Animated series

[gixyawgmoth · 5/10 · 16 April 2019]

The animation style is the same as it was the JLU TV series and sadly in order to really enjoy and understand this new movie from DC animation, you would have had to be atlest a little familiar with the show and would also help if you had watched or remembered the episodes that this movie draws from.

As a stand alone film the story starts out good but then rushes to the finish. The 2 main characters arcs are cut short and left with a feeling that you missed a chuck of the movie. Ms Cruz and Star Boy both had a lot of potential and were very relatable but I guess time got in the way and the growth of those 2 was cut short. A real shame, otherwise this should have been a mini series or something.

In short, a swing and a miss.

Nice mixture of old and new

[redn_path01 · 8/10 · 2 April 2019]

Known settings and characters meet some of the newer qualities found in characters that were expressed in the more recent DC Universe movies.

Though, overall way less graphic and violent than the things of recent times. It is enjoyable to see a new green lantern getting some screen time as well, the character is quite likeable.

The villains are a tad bit one-dimensional (aren't they always?) but the writing is good and the overall vibe one is left with after watching it is a positive one, so this movie earned its 8 stars from me.

Stop Time Travel!

[BamBamxxxx · 6/10 · 1 April 2019]

First of all, does the Green Latern Corps have ANY oversight? They are an intergalactic police force, but don't have the slightest bit of officer oversight? They entrust mentally unstable officers with powerful energy rings?

Secondly, on a minor note, Miss Martian didn't notice the bombs attached to the news room lunatic's chest when she decided to confront him? Pretty stupid for a telepath if you ask me.

Lastly, why couldn't The Legion have shown up way BEFORE Star Boy died? I mean, they are using time machines, right? This is why I hate the use of time travel in media.

Story doesn't make sense

[malinhwin · 4/10 · 12 April 2019]

I don't know much about the Green Lantern girl, and I'm not a super comics fan, but from a movie perspective, I really found this movie laughable. How does this girl who is a shut-in just suddenly become this all-powerful Green Lantern that beats several of the Fatal Five, which even the Justice League had trouble with? I don't get it...

There is no lead up; it just suddenly happens. I was most curious to see how Jessica would grow into the powerful Green Lantern she was hinted to be at, and I personally liked that she was a person with real problems. She was relatable, but then she just suddenly got cured, without any explanation. I chalked up to being "Oh, maybe perhaps the situation was so severe, she reached her end point, and pushed herself farther than she ever could before..." But even that was weak. That ruined the whole movie for me.

The people who think this movie is good probably are only looking at the animation, the nostalgic value, the fact that not well-known superheroes are on the screen, etc. But the deep issue is the story is just not very well put together. This reminds me of the moment when Rey suddenly was able to lift boulders into the air, even though she had no Jedi training whatsoever from Luke.

Basically DC Animation

[black_yellow · 7/10 · 2 April 2019]

Classical DC Animation. Mostly Action and Not Bad Scenario.

It's ok

[wadejesen · 6/10 · 28 October 2019]

As a casual fan who's never watched the justice league tv show I don't think it's really worth your time

This feels like what is happening with Marvel Comics right now

[geekoutmetal · 6/10 · 6 April 2019]

I still don't know what happened to Martian Manhunter or the flash or Green Lantern. Maybe I missed something but why aren't they part of this story. I mean they are the Justice League. Pretentious line given to the amazing Wonder Woman " I broke a nail." when she could have been given a better way more empowering line. Maybe it was meant to be funny but wasn't cos, thats not what my highly intelligent niece would crack up over. It just seemed tired.

We want more blood

[bsm-09852 · 30 January 2020]

Add more killings and blood pls, the villians were very cool.

An ok final outing.

[OliverJoya1998 · 6/10 · 14 February 2022]

This wasn't the amazing return to this universe that I was expecting. It wasn't terrible, and I would even say the end result is good, but oh man, it could have been a lot better.

The animation is bland and uninspired. I like the character designs and a couple of shots here and there, but the overall presentation is lackluster.

The story feels like just another episode, not like a big event that needed a movie to be told.

Superman and Batman feel wasted. The two greatest superheroes of all time don't have a lot to do in this movie but to be backup to the other heroes. That is just awful.

At the end of the movie Jessica Cruz says that with all due respect the Justice League members are not her heroes. Ouch.

Despite all that there are other elements that do work. The villains are great, the action sequences do have a sense of fun, the cast does a great job reprising their iconic roles, and Wonder Woman was just awesome.

It is an above average DC animated movie but not the grand return to this universe that we, the fans deserved. I recommend not taking this movie too seriously, just go in and have some fun.

Bruce Timmverse is still flawless

[veinctor · 10/10 · 31 March 2019]

DC had some bad cartoons lately, such as "Batman Ninja", "The Killing Joke", "Batman and Harley Quinn" and "Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay".

The DC animated universe is what made me like Batman and Superman in the first place. These iconic characters are so well defined in those cartoons, that makes most (if not all) live action movies pale in storytelling.

25 years after Batman the animated series, we still get interesting stories full of action, new character introductions and character build. I remember not liking the simplistic art style back then, but I ended up loving it.

This movie gives you a glimpse of the far future of the JLA and shows a new hero overcoming a trauma event, self sacrifice for the greater good, what is to be a hero and actually gets very emotional near the end.

The villains had a pretty solid plan which is rare in superhero movies. Usually when time travel is involved you can simply say "I will go to a previous time and fix everything". But here the villains would have destroyed everything in the future, so, I'm glad there is no loophole in the movie's logic.

The villains also remind me of a stronger Avangers team, since they have a Hulk that shoots lasers and a Thor with an axe that cuts everything in half.

There is only one thing I didn't like. I wanted to know more of the villains' arc and motivations, but when an animated movie is 1.5h long, you know they only had so much time to present backstories.

This is one of the best examples of DC's animated movies. I hope they never stop making such good movies.

Disappointing

[fareedahmad9336 · 6/10 · 11 August 2021]

I had higher expectations from this movie but after only 10-15 minutes, I started losing interest Star Boy was only good thing which kept me watching the whole movie. Action is good but story is weak. Still watchable coz it is only 1h 17m long.

This film can not stand up with dcau nostalgia alone

[erosdil · 5/10 · 18 October 2020]

Personally I think The dcau already had a perfect ending and I don't consider anything released after Dwayne McDuffies death to be cannon

Fatel five was boring and unnecessary, the villains are not memorable or interesting and we've seen them before, Miss Martian is here and they never explain how that's possible since in this universe all the Martians are dead except J'onn, the only reason she's in the film is because the plot calls for a telepath

Jessica's story doesn't fit within the movie as it seems she goes from basket case to badass way to quickly, probably because in the comics she is forced to ware the ring of volthoom and that is where she develops he courage to accept the green lantern ring. I'm disappointed that we don't see things like her meeting john, getting the ring for the first time or training

starboy was the only character who I actually got into and I understand why they put him in the film even if he has a very minor roll in the comics

Its better that Batman and Harley Quinn, but the only two reasons its getting praise is because of nostalgia for the dcau and the fact that it mentions social issues- things that do not automatically ad to the films quality It wasn't terrible but with the baffling character choices it also has no reason to exist

Nostalgic!!

[rodolfocastelo · 9/10 · 21 April 2019]

Love it!!! The old and great Justice League I used to watch every morning on the TV (I miss that sooo much), one of my favorites cartoons now it's back, I hope there is more to come.

About what you'd expect

[ksdouglas-23618 · 6/10 · 11 April 2019]

Apart from nostalgia, this JL offers little at the plate. It's good, but not great.

It's a lukewarm installment, you won't see anything spectacular in the story outside of a few new and old faces entering the mix.

Justice League vs. the Fatal Five: Saturday morning cartoon turned feature

[Platypuschow · 4/10 · 31 March 2019]

This one flew under the radar for me, I've only just learned of it's existence so there was no build up or excitement.

It tells the story of villains from the future traveling through time for an unscrupulous plot and the Justice League stepping up to stop them.

So basically what I'm trying to say is it's pretty generic stuff with absolutely no surprises. Wait that's not entirely true, it's full of very odd choices from the DC Universe. I mean seriously, a big character in this is Mr Terrific.............Mr..........Terrific! I understand them wanting to broaden peoples horizons but this seems like a weird way of doing it.

Animated in the kiddie friendly Saturday morning style it's basically exactly that. A tad more violent and with one single expletive that isn't enough to separate it from what you'd see during kiddie time on the weekend. It's essentially like a 2 parter episode, and not a very interesting one at that.

Sure this isn't the worst, in fact it's not even the worst they've made lately but that's pretty much because they played it safe and made something so generic it's hard to call it bad.

Watchable for big animated DC fans but nothing to rush to see.

The Good:

Meh

The Bad:

Stock scream

Interesting choice of characters

Generic, cliched, did I mention generic?