Search - Superman: Brainiac Attacks - (Original Movie) on DVD

Quite possibly the single worst animated film of all time.

scarywarhol | Wilmington, DE | 05/27/2006

(1 out of 5 stars)

"Unlike previous reviewers, I have actually gotten to see this mess, and let me just say that it is truly a disgrace to Superman: The Animated Series, and even writer Dwayne Capizzi's (of The Batman) other work.



When this was announced, and when the word came out that it would feature the original voice tallents for Superman and Lois (Tim Daly and Dana Delaney), fans of Superman and especially that wonderful and under-rated 90's cartoon show were estatic. Finally, this great version of Superman was getting his own animated movie!



Or so we thought.



As more details poured in, fans got more and more skeptical. Fan-favorite villains Lex Luthor and Braniac (Clancy Brown and Corey Burton) were recast. It was to be written by Dwayne Capizzi, of The Batman, an almost universally reviled anime-inspired version of the Dark Knight. What little pleasure that show ever had for me was in its kinetic animation, the writing was always atrocious and simplistic.



This is ten times worse. How this man can type out some of the lines in this movie is amazing. Lines like Lex Luthor saying "I'm happy! Oh, wait, no...I'm saaaaad!" or even telling Superman as he battles Brainiac "I'm rooting for you, my man!" is incredible. It's ten times more kiddie and stupid than any awful episode of The Batman.



The animation is rubbery and, for the most part, poor. Characters rarely look the same way in different scenes.



This DVD has been cropped to Fullscreen for some inexplicable reason since it was made in widescreen for a direct-to-video release.



I wont spoil details of the story for those who care, but suffice it to say that it makes the infamous movie "Batman and Robin" look absolutely brilliant.



All in all, this is not a movie, but a corporate product, perhaps an ad for the upcoming "Superman Returns" movie. Luckily, that film looks much better than this pile of garbage.



This is probably the last time that this version of Superman will be animated. Given the result, it makes it that much more sad."

Kicking a good man...

M. Christian | Greenup, KY United States | 06/20/2006

(1 out of 5 stars)

"Not to jump on the band-wagon here, but I would have to agree with the other reviewers. Had I purchased this instead of waiting for the "free view" on Cartoon Network I would be of all men, most miserable. I absolutely love Batman, Batman Beyond, Superman and Justice League and this production was a huge disappointment. The Luthor and Braniac voices were awful...the story was weak...buy the second season of Justice League instead."

Questions and Answers for DC Animated Universe Completist

Matt Zimmer | Mass. | 06/23/2006

(1 out of 5 stars)

"You know who you are. You are the kind of person who is going to buy DVDs related to to Bruce Timm's DC Animated Universe to have a complete collection of everything DCAU. Here are some questions that completists who have not seen Superman: Brainiac Attacks yet may ask themselves when thinking about whether or not to buy this DVD.



If you are not a geek feel free to ignore this review.



Q: All the reviews say it's really bad, but internet critics are ALWAYS unnessecarily harsh. Is it really THAT bad?



A: Yes, it is. Static Shock's "Hoop Squad" has always been widely considered the single worst thing to come out of the DCAU ever. This is only marginally related to the DCAU and it is roughly twenty times worse. Sixty if you consider it's 22 minute running time one of "Hoop Squad"'s virtues. It is a pile of dried monkey vomit.



Q: But I want a complete DCAU collection!



A: The movie only uses character designs and some of the voices from the old Superman cartoon but it flatly contradicts things that have come before in the DCAU. Lex Luthor and Brainiac act INCREDIBLY out of character (buffoonish and melodramatic respectively) and the movie is at complete odds with how the Fortress of Solitude and Phantom Zone are portrayed on the old show.



Q: CAN it fit into the DCAU if I REALLY tried to make it?



A: I suppose you could come up with explainations for everything and wedge it into it if you really wanted to but it fits about as well as Teen Titans and Krypto the Superdog. Only those two cartoons are cool.



Q: Is Bruce Timm or any of the major creative forces of the DCAU involved?



A: None of the major creators are involved. It is written by Dwayne Capizzi of The Batman fame.



Q: Is it considered official canon by the fans or the creators?



A: The is a near-consensus of DCAU fans who don't believe it can fit. The DTV's writer, The Batman's Duane Capizzi has stated in an interview that it is NOT in continuity with the DCAU, probably in a desperate attempt to get people to keep an open mind about this abomination. Or as I said, monkey vomit.



Q: Well, even if it ISN'T DCAU I plan to buy every single cartoon DVD related to a DC property ever so where should I put it on my priorities list?



A: After The Batman season sets, Superfriends season sets, and the movie Scooby Doo Meets Batman but BEFORE The Batman or Superfriends single disc releases.



Q: Hey, The Batman isn't THAT bad. In fact, Duane Capizzi wrote The Batman versus Dracula and that was pretty cool.



A: Any talent Capizzi showed in the Dracula movie is missing here. Brainiac Attacks is worse than almost every episode of The Batman.



Q: Does the DVD at least come with any interesting extras?



A: Only a batch of trailers that can be found on both the superior Superman: The Animated Series Volume Three and Justice League Season Two sets. You'll be better off buying those.



Q: Sigh. Well, shouldn't I buy this anyways? Justice League Unlimited has been cancelled and there are no new real DCAU projects in the pipeline. Won't skipping this just send a message to Warner Bros. Animation that nobody ever wants to see new DCAU material again?



A: There is no easy answer for this. It's the ultimate no-win scenario for DCAU fans. If we DON'T buy it we may never see any new DCAU stuff again. If we DO buy it, it sends a message to Warner Home Video that they can release sub-standard DCAU related stuff with no imput from the creative forces that made it great. I reccommend using your money to buy the season sets of Batman, Superman, Batman Beyond and Justice League. It will tell WHV there is still a huge audience for this franchise without letting them think they can get away with quicky cheap-o releases designed for four year olds who frankly have much better children's programming options. And to be honest, if the only new "DCAU" projects we get in the future are on the same level as Brainiac Attacks I would just rather not see anything new from this franchise."

This movie is really....bad

Richard Hadley | St Louis Park, MN USA | 08/03/2006

(1 out of 5 stars)

"I've got to agree with other reviewers on how bad this is.

It's so bad I feel compelled to write my first review just to warn people away!



Like so many others here, I enjoy "Batman: the Animated Series", "Superman: the Animated Series", and "Justice League" in all its incarnations, so it makes me very sad to say: There is just nothing to like about this movie.



The characters are very poorly written: Lex Luthor is portrayed as a clown (and not even a scary one!). Superman doesn't seem to have any idea how to fight an enemy other than fly at him and try to smash him.



The plot takes bizarre twists out of nowhere, such as a trip to the Phantom Zone, and a wholly unnecessary sub-plot featuring Jimmy Olson(!) in a fight with Luthor's leggy limo driver.



And don't start me on the voice work. While I respect Lance Henriksen, he just doesn't work for Brainiac. Brainiac sounds like he smokes cigarettes here, for crying out loud.



If you're thinking of buying this movie, do yourself a favor and buy "Justice League" or "Superman: the Animated Series" instead."