In Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox, years have passed since Nora Allen’s death, and her son, Barry Allen is still hurting. When he was a child, Barry came home from school to discover his home had been broken into and his mother had been murdered, and this is something which continues to haunt him today.
Decades on, and even though it wasn’t his fault, Barry carries a great deal of guilt over his mother’s death. He feels that if only he had run home from school to get back a little earlier, then things would be different.
The pain has eaten him up for years, but it has only worsened since he became the super-fast super-hero, The Flash. These days he has the power to run at incredible speeds, so he could easily have saved his mother, if only the events would play out again today.
But what Barry doesn’t know, is things are about to change. Following an intense mission involving the Justice League, Barry wakes up to discover the world as he knows it has dramatically altered.
A war between the Amazons and the Atlanteans has devasted the planet; Barry’s powers have disappeared; and no one has ever heard of the Flash. And to his complete shock and bewilderment, Barry’s mother Nora is still alive.
Confused about the situation he finds himself in, Barry heads to stately Wayne Manor, in the hopes that Batman can provide some answers. However, when he arrives, he discovers Wayne Manor is a derelict building, and the man wearing the cape and cowl is not his old friend, Bruce Wayne.
Can this new Batman help Barry put right what has gone terribly wrong, or will he be trapped in this nightmare reality forever? And what caused the world to turn upside down in the first place?
Directed by Jay Oliva, and based on the Flashpoint comics by Geoff Johns and Andy Kubert, Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox is an animated DC movie featuring the vocal talents of Justin Chambers, C. Thomas Howell, Kevin McKidd, and Sam Daly (amongst MANY others). The film was released back in 2013, and this year celebrates its 10th anniversary.
And that 10th anniversary just happens to coincide with the upcoming release of the live-action movie, The Flash, which will be landing in cinemas in June. I mention this because both Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox and The Flash are based on the same source material, they share similar themes and ideas, and if you plan on watching one, then you should probably watch both.
This isn’t me merely suggesting you double-dip because the two films are thematically linked, it is my way of saying if you’ve still not watched Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox, then now is the time to give it a go. And with this film hitting an anniversary milestone, there really is no excuse not to stick it on your playlist.
From Green Lantern, Grifter, The Shazam Family, and Ocean Master, through to the death of Bruce Wayne, and the slow destruction of the world, Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox features a wealth of characters and plot points, all neatly packed into an 81-minute film. This isn’t just any old run-of-the-mill animated movie, it is a huge epic which spans all the corners of the DC Universe, and throws everything at the screen, including the kitchen sink.
You want to see lesser-known DC heroes, alternate world events, a very different take on Superman, and an Obama-inspired US President? You got ’em!
Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox brings all of this and much more. It is relentless in what it offers up and barely stops to take a breather.
Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox also boasts beautiful crisp animation, a great soundtrack from composer Frederik Wiedmann, and an excellent voice cast. This voice cast includes a strong performance from lead actor, Justin Chambers as the Flash, along with some very familiar voices including the late (great) Kevin Conroy, Dana Delany, and Nathan Fillion.
To say this movie is packed to the rafters is an understatement. It is filled with story beats, cameos, references to DC lore and so much more.
And where normally this would be far too much for one film to contend with, director Jay Oliva and writer Jim Krieg, keep it altogether masterfully. Not only is Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox an expertly handled adaptation of the Flashpoint comics, I’d argue to it is actually better than the original story.
It retains the core emotional weight of the source material, while offering up plenty of action and drama. Plus, you don’t have to watch or read countless stories to get something out of this movie – everything you need to know comes from the 81 minutes of screen time.
I will say that Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox is quite brutal in places, so expect a dash of blood here and there, as well as a number of character deaths. I’m sure this won’t faze anyone above the age of 12, but it is worth highlighting.
Due to the nature of the story, this is end-of-the-world stuff, with big stakes a-plenty and an apocalypse on the way, and this means anyone and everyone is expendable. Just keep this in mind if you are sitting down to watch this movie with very young children, as some of the death sequences may catch you off guard.
Should you wish to check out Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox, the movie is widely available on DVD, Blu-ray, and digital download from all major retailers. You’ve probably seen it sat on a shelf at HMV or Walmart for the past ten years, or have scrolled past the film on Amazon or iTunes without paying it much attention.
Well, now that it has clocked up ten years, don’t you think you should give it a watch? I’ll answer that question for you with a resounding ‘yes’.
Warner Bros. Animation and DC Entertainment have produced some truly brilliant animated DC movies over the years, and Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox is one of them. So, find the time, give it a watch, and enjoy!
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Thank you for taking the time to read this review on It’s A Stampede!. For more reviews, check out the recommended reads below.
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