SUMMARY: RUNNING TIME: 1 Hour, 1 Min.
Released by Warner Bros. Home Video in 2007, this animated film is three Superman: The Animated Series episodes edited together. Specifically, Season 2’s Episodes 16-18 entitled “World’s Finest, Parts I-III,” were first televised on October 4, 1997.
In Gotham City, the Joker and Harley’s Quinn’s brazen theft of an antique jade dragon leads Batman to realize that this glowing antique is composed of radioactive kryptonite. The Joker soon prods an opportunistic Lex Luthor into swapping arch-enemies for a ‘bargain’ price.
Arriving in Metropolis, Bruce Wayne senses the Joker’s likely new accomplice is Lex Luthor. He soon feigns a tentative working partnership with LexCorp to probe Luthor’s involvement. Complicating matters further, Bruce’s judgment is compromised by an unexpected love affair with The Daily Planet’s Lois Lane, much to Clark Kent’s chagrin. With Superman & Batman now public rivals amidst the Clark-Lois-Bruce love triangle, the villains launch a nefarious strike. To make amends, Batman must put his guarded trust in the Man of Steel.
A game-changing discovery occurs, after Lois decides her romantic destiny lies in Gotham City as the presumably future ‘Mrs. Wayne.’ Unless the World’s Finest Duo settle their personal differences fast, Luthor, the Joker, & Harley Quinn edge closer to scoring ultimate victory. With Luthor’s nefarious power grab unleashed, Superman will need the Dark Knight’s ominous help to save Metropolis in time.
Clark Kent / Superman: Tim Daly
Lois Lane: Dana Delany
Bruce Wayne / Batman: Kevin Conroy
Lex Luthor: Clancy Brown
The Joker: Mark Hamill
Harley Quinn: Arleen Sorkin
Alfred: Efrem Zimbalist Jr.
Mercy Graves: Lisa Edelstein
GCPD Commissioner Gordon: Bob Hastings
GCPD Detective Harvey Bullock: Robert Costanzo
Perry White: George Dzundza
Dan Turpin: Joseph Bologna
Notes: As of this writing, this title hasn’t been released separately on Blu-Ray. Instead, it is included in various DVD and Blu-ray sets, including Superman: The Animated Series – for Season 2 and The Complete Series set. It’s also available digitally as either a film or as three separate episodes.
REVIEW:
Given its time constraints, this standard-screen, animated super-caper offers solid all-ages DC entertainment. Exploring the intriguing premise of Lois Lane dumping perpetual suitor Clark Kent for Bruce Wayne, the storyline’s various twists are good as one might hope for.
In that sense, the plot infers that the DC Animated Universe was inching towards 2001’s Justice League/Justice League Unlimited animated series. Bolstered by reliable voice acting, the TV animation still holds up relatively well. In particular, some close-ups (i.e. Lois wistfully contemplating a rose from Bruce) are unexpectedly stellar.
As compared to a similar three-part team-up opening The Batman: Season Five, the kid-friendly action sequences are of essentially equal caliber. However, The Batman/Superman Movie prevails on both its welcome storytelling depth and clearly higher-quality animation.
In the end, the practicality for buying this rudimentary DVD is a bargain price. Otherwise, there’s multiple superior viewing options now to choose from (per the above note).
BONUS FEATURES:
Available languages are English, French, & Spanish, with subtitles presented in English or Spanish (at least, for the main feature). The extras consist of: How to Draw: Superman; How to Draw: Batman; “The Joker’s Challenge Game;” basic cast and crew information, and some obligatory trailers.
PACKAGING:
The DVD has a standard casing, Of its advertised contents (per the backside of the case), the only item this reviewer couldn’t find was a musical montage. Otherwise, the DVD’s selection menu confirms it has what the case claims.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 5½ Stars
