Superman: Doomsday

Please note the rating. The PG-13 is not a misprint. This made-for-DVD adaptation of The Death of Superman, the 1993 crossover event that revitalized the Superman franchise and rocked the comic book world, is not your grandfather's, father's, or perhaps, even your Superman. When I was growing up, you never saw a toweled Lois Lane (Anne Heche laying it on a bit thick) emerge from Superman's shower; and you certainly never saw the platonic couple snuggling! Superman (solidly voiced by Adam Baldwin) meets both his match and his fate in Doomsday, “the ultimate soldier” unwittingly unleashed on Metropolis by Lex Luthor's (James Marsters) minions while seeking a new energy source. What follows is chaos, catastrophe, and clones, with action scenes that are intense and violence that is both sudden and shocking (Luthor shoots a loyal female assistant in cold blood). The dialogue is by turns deft and ham-handed, as witness Superman's shout-out to our troops: “I'm bulletproof. The ordinary men and women who put their lives on the line; they're the real heroes.” Recommended. (D. Liebenson)[Blu-ray Review—Nov. 25, 2008—Warner, 78 min., PG-13, $28.95—Making its first appearance on Blu-ray, 2007's Superman: Doomsday sports a decent transfer with Dolby TrueHD 5.1 sound. Blu-ray extras include audio commentary (by producer Bruce Timm, writer Duane Capizzi, voice director Andrea Romano, and executive producer Gregory Noveck), the 44-minute production documentary “Requiem and Rebirth: Superman Lives!” a half-hour “When Heroes Die” making-of featurette, “The Clash of the Juggernauts” segment (13 min.), an 11-minute sneak peek at the 2009 animated version of Wonder Woman (featuring the voice of Keri Russell), a teaser featurette for Justice League: The New Frontier (11 min.), a “Behind the Voice” featurette (5 min.), four bonus episodes from Superman: The Animated Series and trailers. Bottom line: a fine extras package for a solid Superman animated film.]