Justice League of America (TV movie)

Infobox Film
name = Justice League of America


image_size =
caption =
director = Félix Enríquez Alcalá
producer = Lorne Cameron
David Hoselton
Scott Shepherd
Larry Rapaport
writer =
narrator =
starring = Miguel Ferrer
David Krumholtz
Kimberly Oja
David Ogden Stiers
music = John Debney
James Raymond
cinematography = Barry Wilson
editing = Ed Rothkowitz
distributor =
released = 1997
runtime = 82 min.
country =
language = English
budget =
gross =
preceded_by =
followed_by =
website =
amg_id =
imdb_id = 0118365

"This article is not to be confused with the upcoming Justice League film."

"Justice League of America" is an unsuccessful 1997 TV-pilot produced by CBS [cite web|url=http://www.roguecinema.com/article1036.html|title=Rogue Cinema - Justice League of America (1997) - By Jonathon Pernisek|publisher=www.roguecinema.com|accessdate=2008-01-08] 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.

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, an alien spacecraft hidden underwater. 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.

Cast

*Kimberly Oja as Tori Olafsdotter/Ice, a meteorologist working at Dr Eno's Meteorological Institute.
*Miguel Ferrer as Dr. Eno/The Weatherman, has his own meteorological institute and is also the terrorist known as The Weatherman.
*Kenny Johnston as Barry Allen/Flash, unemployed and has trouble keeping a job down.
*Matthew Settle as Guy Gardner/Green Lantern, his relationship with his girlfriend is in a constant state of unrest.
*Michelle Hurd as B.B. DaCosta/Fire, a struggling actress.
*John Kassir as Ray Palmer/Atom, a science teacher.
*David Ogden Stiers as J'onn J'onzz/Martian Manhunter, the leader of the JLA. Critics felt Stier's weight affected his portrayal of the character. [cite web|url=http://comics2film.com/jlarev.shtml|title=Comics2Film: JLA Review|publisher=comics2film.com|accessdate=2008-01-08|first=Stax] [cite web|url=http://thetinytitan.blogspot.com/2007_11_01_archive.html|title=The Atom: November 2007|publisher=thetinytitan.blogspot.com|accessdate=2008-01-08]
*David Krumholtz as Martin Walters, a fellow actor of B.B. and has a "crush" on her.
*Ron Pearson as Dr. Arliss Hopke, one of Tori's work colleagues.

Production

The film's plot is based on the "Justice League" comic era of Keith Giffen & J. M. DeMatteis (writers). [cite web|url=http://www.revolutionsf.com/article.html?id=1311|title=: RevolutionSF - Justice League of America: The Unaired Pilot : Review|publisher=www.revolutionsf.com|accessdate=2008-01-08]

Reception

Reviews of the film have been mixed at best. Common complaints are of the plot holes, poor special effects, [cite web |url= http://www.headinjurytheater.com/article24.htm|title=Man, I just can't understand why CBS didn't want to put this in Prime Time....Oh wait. It Sucks.|accessdate=2008-01-06|author=Jared von Hindman] bad costumes and that the league members deviated heavily from their source characters. [cite web |url=http://www.revolutionsf.com/article.html?id=1311|title=Justice League of America: The Unaired Pilot |accessdate=2008-01-06 |author=Joe Crowe] Critics have also said the movie tried to be like "Friends with superpowers" [cite web|url=http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/review?oid=oid%3A74750|title=The Austin Chronicle: Screens: Review - Justice League of America|publisher=www.austinchronicle.com|accessdate=2008-01-08] Established JLA writer Mark Waid said the movie was, "80 minutes of my life I'll never get back." [cite web |url= http://www.badmovies.org/othermovies/justiceleague/index.html|title=JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA |accessdate=2008-01-06|author=Stefan Robak]

Distribution

"Justice League of America" has never been aired in the U.S. [cite web|url=http://www.miguelferrer.com/miguel/spotlight/justice/index.htm|title=The Justice League of America|publisher=www.miguelferrer.com|accessdate=2008-01-08] However, it has been shown on television in the U.K. (Channel 5), [cite web |url=http://www.ntk.net/2001/08/24/#GEEK_MEDIA |title=GEEK MEDIA|accessdate=2008-01-06|author=NTK] [http://www.wapa.tv/ WAPA-TV] Puerto Rico Channel 4, Brazil, Germany and Israel. [cite web |url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118365/releaseinfo|title=Release dates for Justice League of America|accessdate=2008-01-06|author=IMDB] Bootleg copies have been distributed through conventions, websites and file sharing networks. [cite web|url=http://www.beyondhollywood.com/justice-league-of-america-pilot-1997-tv-review/|title=Justice League of America: Pilot (1997) TV Review | BeyondHollywood.com | Asian, Foreign, Horror, and Genre Movie Reviews and News|publisher=www.beyondhollywood.com|accessdate=2008-01-08] [cite web |url=http://www.antimattermultiverse.com/products/justice-league-of-america-pilot-movie-dvd|title=Justice League of America [1997 TV Pilot] (DVD)|accessdate=2008-01-06|author=Antimatter Multiverse]

See also

* "Aquaman"
* "Birds of Prey"
* "The Fantastic Four"
* "The Flash"
* "Legends of the Superheroes"

References

External links

*imdb title|id=0118365|title=Justice League of America
* [http://www.antimattermultiverse.com/products/justice-league-of-america-pilot-movie-dvd Trailer & Screenshots]