Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox

"The Flashpoint Paradox" redirects here. For the comic book story arc, which this film is based upon, see Flashpoint (comics).
Justice League:
The Flashpoint Paradox

Home video release cover art
Directed by Jay Oliva
Produced by James Tucker
Written by Jim Krieg
Based on
Starring
Music by Frederik Wiedmann
Edited by Christopher D. Lozinski
Production
companies
Distributed by Warner Home Video
Release dates
  • July 30, 2013 (2013-07-30)
Running time
 81 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Box office $4,535,680[1]

Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox is a direct-to-video animated film adaptation of the 2011 comic book crossover "Flashpoint" by Geoff Johns and Andy Kubert. It is scripted by Jim Krieg and directed by Jay Oliva. The film stars Justin Chambers as Barry Allen / Flash, C. Thomas Howell as Eobard Thawne / Reverse-Flash, Michael B. Jordan as Victor Stone / Cyborg, and Kevin McKidd as Thomas Wayne / Batman. The film also sees actors reprising roles from other DC Animated properties; actors including Kevin Conroy as Bruce Wayne / Batman, Nathan Fillion as Hal Jordan / Green Lantern, Ron Perlman as Deathstroke, Dana Delany as Lois Lane, Vanessa Marshall as Princess Diana / Wonder Woman and Dee Bradley Baker as Etrigan. It is the 17th film in the DC Universe Animated Original Movies series.[2] It was released on July 30, 2013, then re-released on September 10, 2013 as a 2-disc special edition.

Plot

While visiting his mother's grave, Barry Allen, known as the Flash, is alerted to a break-in by Captain Cold, Captain Boomerang, Heat Wave, Mirror Master, and the Top at the Flash Museum. Defeating the Rogues, he discovers that they have been hired by his archenemy Eobard Thawne, aka Professor Zoom, as part of a plan to destroy Central City. With the help of the Justice League, Flash foils Professor Zoom's plot, but Zoom's taunts over the death of his mother still haunts Flash as he departs.

The next day, Barry discovers that the world has radically changed: his powers are gone, his mother is alive, his wife Iris is married to someone else, and the Justice League does not exist. Aquaman and his Atlantean forces have sunk most of Europe, while Wonder Woman has led the Amazons in conquering the United Kingdom, and both forces are now at war after an attempted alliance between them led to an affair between Aquaman and Wonder Woman, and the latter murdering Aquaman's wife Mera after a confrontation. Cyborg has assembled a team to eliminate both parties and approaches Batman to join them, but his refusal leads the government to scrap the plan, and instead recruit Hal Jordan to pilot an extraterrestrial spacecraft to bomb the Atlanteans.

Barry visits Wayne Manor, but is attacked by Batman—who he realizes is not Bruce Wayne but his father Thomas Wayne. Attempting to explain things to the elder Wayne, Barry retrieves his costume from his ring, but a Professor Zoom costume appears, causing Barry to believe Professor Zoom is responsible for the timeline alteration. Barry convinces Batman to help, and Batman helps him recreate the accident that gave him his powers, but Barry is severely burned.

In London, Steve Trevor attempts to extricate reporter Lois Lane, but is discovered by the Amazons and killed. The Amazons hunt down Lane, but the local resistance rescues her. Meanwhile, in the remains of Paris, Deathstroke and Lex Luthor are attacked and killed by Aquaman's forces while tracking the energy trail of Aquaman's new weapon, which is powered by the captive Captain Atom.

At the Batcave, after realizing that his memories are changing, Barry asks Batman to recreate the accident again. The second attempt results in success and Barry's powers are restored and he alters Professor Zoom's costume to match his own. Testing his speed he discovers he cannot travel through time because Professor Zoom is also using the Speed Force. Flash recruits more allies, beginning with Superman, who is a prisoner of the U.S. government after his ship crashed into Metropolis. With the aid of Batman and Cyborg, they liberate Superman, who is empowered by Earth's yellow sun for the first time, then flies off in fear and confusion. Flash collapses as his memories continue to change.

Flash is taken to Billy Batson's home to recuperate, learning Hal Jordan's attack has failed, resulting in his death, and that the final battle between the Amazons and Atlanteans has begun. Flash convinces the superheroes to help stop the war and they depart for England aboard Batman's jet, only to be shot down upon arrival. Billy and his siblings combine into Captain Thunder to fight Wonder Woman, while Flash, Cyborg and Batman occupy Aquaman. While Batman is wounded, Professor Zoom reveals himself and explains that Flash is responsible for this alternate timeline: Flash traveled back in time to save his mother, fracturing the fabric of reality. Wonder Woman uses her lasso to force Captain Thunder back into Batson and kills him; Superman arrives but is too late to stop Aquaman from killing Cyborg. Wonder Woman ambushes and kills Aquaman, who remotely detonates his Captain Atom-powered bomb before dying, killing Captain Atom in the process. As the explosion tears across the landscape, killing everyone in its path, including Wonder Woman and Superman, and threatening to completely destroy the entire planet, Professor Zoom continues to mock Flash, but is killed with a gunshot to the head by Batman. Before he dies from his injuries, Batman urges Flash to run, giving him a letter addressed to his son. Flash races back in time and stops his past self but again fractures time, creating another alternate timeline.

Barry awakens at his desk and finds that reality is apparently back to normal. After spending a moment with Iris at his mother's grave, Flash visits Bruce Wayne to tell him about everything that occurred. Barry gives Bruce the letter from his father, and Bruce thanks Flash by saying "you are one hell of a messenger". Flash then runs off.

In a post-credits scene, a boom tube opens in space above Earth and a horde of Parademons emerges.

Cast

Soundtrack

Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox (Soundtrack from the DC Universe Animated Original Movie)
Film score by Frederik Wiedmann
Released September 10th, 2013
Length 59:04
Label La-La Land Records

The soundtrack to Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox was released on September 10, 2013. The music was composed by Frederik Wiedmann.[3]

Track list

Reception

Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox received very positive reviews. The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 100% approval rating based on 5 reviews.[4]

Critics and audiences said that the film stays true to its source material. It is generally praised for its mature story line and the way Flash obtains justice, but criticized for its excessive violence and use of blood that exceeds the comics it is adapted from. Some questioned its PG-13 rating because of the graphic nature of Professor Zoom's death, and the gruesome deaths of other characters, including children.[5]

IGN gave a Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox 8.5/10, and said it has outdone its source material. It called the style "sleek and hard-hitting", praised C. Thomas Howell's voice acting which it said brought "unnerving dread", and stated that it is the "most hardcore DC animated movie to date", although it also warns against the level of violence and said the numerous cameos "detract from the main story".[6]

See Also

References

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