Fueled by hatred and jealousy, Lex Luthor masterminds an elaborate plot to kill the Man of Steel — and it works. Poisoned by solar radiation, Superman is dying. With weeks to live, he fulfills his life’s dreams — especially revealing his true identity to Lois Lane — until Luthor proclaims his ultimate plan to control the world with no alien hero to stop him. Powers fading, Superman engages in a spectacular deadly battle with Luthor that could truly trigger the end of Earth’s Greatest Protector. This startling and gripping DC Universe Animated Original Movie stars the voice talents of James Denton, Anthony LaPaglia, Christina Hendricks and Ed Asner.
Editorial review of All-Star Superman, courtesy of Amazon.com
Based on the award-winning graphic novel series by Grant Morrison, this DC Universe Animated Original Movie posits the ultimate question for Superman fans–how would the Man of Steel spend his final days on Earth?–in a unique and genuinely thought-provoking feature film. Exposed to solar radiation by Lex Luthor (voiced by Anthony LaPaglia), Superman (James Denton) learns that he is dying, and devotes his remaining time to Lois Lane (Mad Men’s Christina Hendricks), to whom he grants 24 hours of super powers. Their bittersweet finale is interrupted by a host of villains, including the Parasite and the supercomputer Solaris, as well as Luthor himself, who uses Superman’s own powers against his archenemy in one final battle.
The action is plentiful and sprawling against a densely plotted backdrop, but what sets All-Star Superman apart from other DCU features is what made Morrison’s source material so special: how does one man–even one as invincible as Superman–seek to define his life and legacy? The late Dwayne McDuffie’s script addresses the subject in mature and fulfilling terms, while the vocal cast, which includes Ed Asner (as Perry White), Arnold Vosloo (Bar-El), and Frances Conroy (Martha Kent), present a range of performances that compare favorably to the Tim Daly/Dana Delaney-led cast of Superman: The Animated Series. The single-disc edition is light on extras, with only previews of DCU’s Green Lantern: Emerald Knights and Superman/Batman Apocalypse on the disc. —Paul Gaita
Special Features for All-Star Superman DVD
- Sneak Peek at Green Lantern: Emerald Knights
- Featurette: — Superman Now — — In a moment of inspiration, Grant Morrison was provided an opportunity to revamp the Man of Steel into something modern, something more relevant for today’s audience. This is the story of All-Star Superman — where it all started, and what it came to be
- Two bonus episodes from Superman: The Animated Series handpicked by Bruce Timm
- Featurette: — Incubating the Idea — — A conversation with Grant Morrison
- Audio Commentary: Bruce Timm and Grant Morrison
- All-Star Superman Virtual Comic Book
Movie quotes from All-Star Superman
Lois Lane (Christina Hendricks): My birthday gift’s wearing off. I can’t see radio waves anymore. I can’t hear the stars singing. I’m tired and sore all over, like I’ve been dancing all night. Thanks for letting me spend a day in your world.
Superman (James Denton): You know, I do other things. I mean, besides being Superman.
Lois Lane (Christina Hendricks): You do a great Clark Kent impersonation. You almost had me fooled. Wait till I tell him about this.
Final confrontation with Lutor
Lex Luthor (Anthony LaPaglia): Did you ever think that it would end like this? Me looking down on you?
Superman (James Denton): Actually, I had the whole thing figured to end pretty much exactly like this.
Nasthalthia: Are you okay?
Lex Luthor (Anthony LaPaglia): Better than okay. I can see the entire electromagnetic spectrum and those must be atoms, little clouds of possibility. Einstein couldn’t connect the gravitational force to the other three, but if he could have seen this! It’s so obvious.
Nasthalthia: Uncle Lex?
Lex Luthor (Anthony LaPaglia): The fundamental forces are yoked by consciousness. Everything’s connected. Everyone. And this how he sees things all the time. Every day.
Nasthalthia: I don’t know if I should be worried or mortified.
Lex Luthor (Anthony LaPaglia): It’s a cruel joke. The mechanistic clockwork of reality hinging on a precious impossible defiance of entropy, on life. And the clockwork doesn’t care. It’s like – Like it’s all just us, in here together. We’re all we’ve got.
Nasthalthia: You are embarrassing me beyond therapy.
Superman (James Denton): You’ll have to forgive him, Nasthalthia. He just figured out how everything works.
Lex Luthor (Anthony LaPaglia): Give it back. I saw everything. I saw how to save the world, I could have made everyone see. If it wasn’t for you, I could have saved the world.
Superman (James Denton): If it had mattered to you, Luthor, you could have saved the world years ago.
Lex Luthor (Anthony LaPaglia): You’re right.
Superman overloaded with color energy
Lois Lane (Christina Hendricks): Oh, your poor face.
Superman (James Denton): No one can repair the sun but me, Lois. I’m turning into pure energy and I only have one chance to save the world.
Lois Lane (Christina Hendricks): That’s all you’ve ever needed.
Superman (James Denton): I love you, Lois Lane, until the end of time.
Jimmy Olsen: Are you sure don’t want to speak at the memorial service? Thousands of people are there paying their respects.
Lois Lane (Christina Hendricks): He’s not dead. He’s up there fixing the sun. And when he’s done, he’ll be back. And I’ll be here waiting for him.