Review: Justice League Dark: Apokolips War

 

 

Overview:

Darkseid has begun moving pieces to invade and overthrow Earth. The Justice League puts together all of their forces to stop the siege before it takes place. The results leave the League, and the Earth defeated and lost to Darkseid and Apokolips.

Two years later, there is not much left to the Earth after the devastation. An angry and drunk John Constantine may be the only hope of the last survivors of the Justice League. A crippled Superman leads him, Etrigan, Damian Wayne, and Raven in assembling a resistance before the world lost completely.

With an army of super-villains at their side, the heroes develop a plan to blow up Apokolips. But, before they can win the day they will have to face off against brainwashed and mutated versions of their old friends including Wonder Woman, Cyborg, and Batman.

 

Our Take:

If you are a fan of the DC Animated Movie Universe and you are considering skipping this sequel, then you need to reconsider now. For starters, the original Justice League Dark is arguably one of the greatest films to come out of the modern DCAMU. More so, this is not your standard DC film.  Justice League Dark: Apokolips War is the culmination of everything we have seen thus far from the DCAMU as far back as the Flashpoint Paradox. 

And, this 90-minute film is bigger than you would ever suspect.

Before the opening credits even begin to role our heroes collaborate, execute, and lose their most epic battle against Darkseid and his minions. Much like a particular Avengers movie, Apokolips War kicks off with half of Earth and half of our favourite hero’s dead and gone. What’s left is a makeshift crew of resilient warriors desperate to win the war that is all but lost.

Characters from all across the DC Universe come to play their own part in the final battles. Members of the Justice League Dark roster are just the beginning. Damian Wayne has a significant role after the multiple films that have touched on his relationship with his father. The Teen Titans are a vital part of the plan after reaching a standstill in Teen Titans vs Justice League. The Suicide Squad, Wonder Woman, and a well-stocked Justice League all make their appearances. While the film deals with most of the aftermath of the Death and Reign of Superman

All of the animated films that we have loved are a piece of the puzzle that brings the Apokolips War to the frontlines.

What’s more, is many of these overpowered heroes have fallen to Darkseid and brainwashed into doing his bidding. Batman leads the enemy assault as Darkseid’s number two. While Wonder Woman, Martian Manhunter, Hawkman, and more are mutated to become killing machines. The odds are not in favour of powerless Superman and his ragtag crew of leftover characters.

John Constantine is the game-changer. The little-known character managed to prove himself to fans in Justice League DarkThis time around as a full-fledged member of the Justice League, Constantine is an integral part of the resistance. A badass the whole way through, it is no wonder this is considered a sequel to Justice League Dark, and not merely titled after the main squad. Because Constantine saves the day time and again, and without his abilities, this war would have been lost from the get-go.

If seeing all of your favourite DC characters isn’t enough to get you to download this film, then there is one more ace up the sleeve in the form of the most epic conclusion. 

Darkseid may be the biggest tough guy around the DC Universe. Still, there is another overpowered villain that should not go forgotten: Trigon. This fantastic film ends with a blowout between these two gods, and it’s everything you could hope for. Throw in some Superman, and this ending was as big as they come.

An over-the-top storyline. Unbelievable action. A star-studded cast. And, every hero you could want. The only thing that will keep Justice League Dark: Apokolips War a hidden gem is the fact that it is animated. Live-action, this movie holds up against the heaviest hitters Marvel can throw at it. But, apparently, many fans do not like a media that can pull off more elaborate action and incorporate more characters in half the amount of time. This movie and all the predecessors that lead up to it are fantastic films that deserve much more credit. I cannot wait to binge everything back to 2013s Justice League: Flashpoint Paradox. Fifteen animated movies each more epic than the last culminating in this work of art.