Quickie Movie Review: "The Batman Superman Movie"

Rated: TV-PG (US) / PG (Canada)
Starring: Tim Daly, Kevin Conroy, Dana Delany, Clancy Brown, and Mark Hamill
Released: 1997

Synopsis: Batman's main nemesis, the Joker, is in a funk; he recently lost pretty much everything he had thanks to the Caped Crusader.  To regain his fortune, the Joker, along with his gal pal Harley-Quinn, travel to Metropolis to meet Lex Luthor, making him an offer with a "jade" statue that is really made of Kryptonite...the one thing that can defeat Superman.  Batman and Superman join forces to defeat Lex and the Joker...but, will even their combined forces be enough? It's twice the heroes, twice the villains, and twice the action!
From Superman: The Animated Series.

My Review: Notice the last line of the synopsis? Instead of being an original production, like most of Warner Bros.' direct-to-video Scooby-Doo movies, this is merely a two-parter from a previously released series.  Though those unfamiliar with Superman's cartoon adventures will find this new and interesting, most superhero fans will likely have already seen this.  If you're a casual DC Comics fan and need something to whet your appetite before the next big-screen adventure comes out, this would be a good rental; however, everyone else should stick with the DVDs of the entire TV series.  The good news is that this film isn't as hard-edged as some of the newer DC Comics Animated Universe movies.

Content Concerns:

• Sex: One kiss, and one reference to "making ha-ha". 4/5
• Nudity: Shirtless guys, and women in short skirts, both made less sultry thanks to the animation style. 4/5
• Language: Mostly name-calling, though there is one misuse of God's name. 4/5
• Violence: People are shot at, thrown, hit, kicked, etc., throughout this movie.  A blast is said to have killed someone.  Robotic enemies are torn apart.  An explosion tears a hole in a big boat. All of it is bloodless. 2/5
• Drugs: The Joker uses gas to make people laugh uncontrollably. 4/5
• Frightening/Intense Scenes: A plane is hijacked in one scene; in another, an aircraft just misses hitting a big building.  Both scenes may be too reminiscent of 9/11 for some viewers. 3/5

Score: 2/5