Justice League of America (TV movie)
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| Justice League of America | |
|---|---|
| Image:JLA Live Intro.JPG | |
| Directed by | Félix Enríquez Alcalá |
| Produced by | Lorne Cameron David Hoselton Scott Shepherd Larry Rapaport |
| Starring | Miguel Ferrer David Krumholtz Kimberly Oja David Ogden Stiers |
| Music by | John Debney James Raymond |
| Cinematography | Barry Wilson |
| Editing by | Ed Rothkowitz |
| Release date(s) | 1997 |
| Running time | 82 min. |
| Language | English |
| IMDb profile | |
This article is not to be confused with the upcoming Justice League film.
Justice League of America is a 1997 unsuccessful TV-pilot produced by CBS[1] and directed by Félix Enríquez Alcalá, based on a team of fictional DC Comics superheroes from the comic of the same name. The film centers on a female meteorologist who gains superpowers and on her subsequent induction into the "Justice League" (JLA), whilst the city of New Metro is held to ransom by a terrorist armed with a "Weather Control Device".
The film is interjected with mock-interviews of various members of the Justice League, speaking about life as a superhero in a past tense, preceding the events of the film.
The pilot never aired on U.S. television, but has since become distributed in unauthorized versions.[2]
Contents |
[edit] Plot
The film begins with an introduction to the protagonist Tori Olafsdotter, a meteorologist working at the Eno Meteorological Institute who will later become "Ice". New Metro is then attacked by a Tornado being controlled by a terrorist calling himself The Weatherman. "Flash" diffuses the Tornado using his speed whilst the other members of the JLA use their powers to save civilians.
Tori inadvertently stumbles upon a hidden device in the lab where she works. Whilst investigating its use, she spills water on it and it strikes her with strange blue electricity. She is unharmed and leaves the lab for home freezing everything she touches. En route she sees a man drowning, when she attempts to rescue him the water freezes around her. That night she is abducted by the JLA and interrogated, believing her to be The Weatherman. They release her and Tori believes it was all simply a bad dream.
The JLA suspect that Tori's timid work colleague Arliss Hopke is The Weatherman. New Metro is then attacked again, this time by Golf ball sized Hailstones, but "Fire" melts them all. The JLA infiltrate a party at the Eno Meteorological Institute looking for evidence that Arliss Hopke is The Weatherman. Tori then discovers that it is in fact her boss, Dr Eno who is The Weatherman.
Tori takes this knowledge to the JLA and they in turn take her to their secret command centre the Watchtower. The JLA's leader J'onn J'onzz introduces himself to Tori and the other members of the League reveal their secret identities. At this point Tori discovers that "Atom" is actually a man whom she has been flirting with. The JLA attempt to train Tori to hone her freezing powers with not much success.
The Weatherman issues a demand of $20 million or he will engulf New Metro in a Tidal Wave. He then attacks the Watchtower using a "Heat-Ray". The JLA escape and devise a plan to stop the wave, leaving Tori behind. The JLA's attempt to stop the Tidal Wave is unsuccessful and it is in fact Tori who stops it by turning it into ice.
The film ends with The Weatherman already hatching his escape from prison and Tori joining the JLA.
[edit] Cast
- Barry Allen/Flash, unemployed and has trouble keeping a job down. Gets evicted from his apartment at the start of the film and eats large amounts very quickly due to his "fast metabolism". He eventually gets a job as a councillor at a children's home. He gained his powers from a "lab accident". Played by Kenny Johnston.
- B.B. DaCosta/Fire, a struggling actress, who has in the past dated her JLA team-mate Guy Gardner (Green Lantern). She embarks on a friendship with a younger man (Martin) over the course of the film. She was born with her powers. Played by Michelle Hurd.
- Dr. Arliss Hopke, one of Tori's work colleagues. He exhibits strange behaviour and the JLA suspect that he was The Weatherman at first. Played by Ron Pearson.
- Dr. Eno, has his own meteorological institute and is also the terrorist known as The Weatherman. He is driven by financial gain and is seen escaping at the end of the film. Played by Miguel Ferrer.
- Guy Gardner/Green Lantern, his relationship with his girlfriend is in a constant state of unrest. Played by Matthew Settle.
- J'onn J'onzz/Martian Manhunter, the leader of the JLA. He is a refugee from Mars because Martians do not have the freedoms that human beings take for granted. He has vowed to protect those freedoms in exchange for his time on Earth. He has Shapeshifting abilities, but can only spend limited time in human form. Played by David Ogden Stiers.
- Martin Walters, a fellow actor of B.B. and has a "crush" for her. He discovers her secret identity by noticing that a pair of earrings Fire was wearing are the same as B.B's. However, J'onn uses his shapeshifting abilities to convince Martin otherwise. In the end, he gets a girlfriend his own age. Played by David Krumholtz.
- Ray Palmer/Atom, a science teacher who gained his powers by discovering a compelling radioactive rock while conducting research out in the desert. As his condition developed he became a social outcast before being recruited to the league. He now is in a relationship with Tori Olafsdotter (Ice). Played by John Kassir.
- Tori Olafsdotter/Ice, a meteorologist working at Dr Eno's Meteorological Institute, who gains her powers through an accident with a weather control device. She is in a relationship with Ray Palmer (Atom). Played by Kimberly Oja.
[edit] Reception
The film has generally received poor reviews, scoring 3.6/10 on IMDb. Common criticisms are of the costume design and how the heroes' secret identities are portrayed.[3] Established writer for the JLA comics, Mark Waid referred to the movie as "80 minutes of my life, I'll never get back"[4][5]
[edit] Distribution
Justice League of America was never aired in the U.S,[6] but has been shown on Channel 5 in the U.K.[7] and German television[8]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.headinjurytheater.com/article24.htm
- ^ http://www.revolutionsf.com/article.html?id=1311
- ^ Michael Hutchison. "Justice League of America: The Movie", http://www.monitorduty.com/mag/fanzing09/feature3.shtml, retrieved on 29/04/07.
- ^ Stefan Robak. "JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA", http://www.badmovies.org/othermovies/justiceleague/index.html, retrieved on 29/04/07.
- ^ JasonLeeSmith. "Why Did I Like This", http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118365/usercomments, retrieved on 29/04/07.
- ^ http://www.antimattermultiverse.com/products/justice-league-of-america-pilot-movie-dvd
- ^ http://www.ntk.net/2001/08/24/#GEEK_MEDIA
- ^ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118365/releaseinfo
[edit] External links
| Justice League | |
|---|---|
| Creators | Gardner Fox |
| Characters | List of Justice League members |
| Related teams | Justice League Elite | Justice Society of America | Outsiders | Super Buddies | Teen Titans | Young Justice |
| Headquarters | Secret Sanctuary | Justice League Satellite | Justice League Watchtower | The Hall |
| Current series | Justice League of America (vol. 2) | JLA: Classified | Justice League Adventures / Justice League Unlimited |
| Previous series | Justice League of America | Justice League International | Justice League Europe | Justice League Quarterly | Justice League Task Force | Extreme Justice | JLA | Justice |
| Other media | Cartoons: The Superman/Aquaman Hour of Adventure | Super Friends | Justice League | Justice League Unlimited Live Action: Legends of the Superheroes | Justice League of America |
