Superman vs. the Elite

Movie review by Jeffrey Anderson, Common Sense Media
Superman vs. the Elite Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 14+

Strong violence countered by positive messages, good story.

PG-13 2012 74 minutes
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Parents say

age 10+

Based on 2 reviews

Kids say

age 13+

Based on 8 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

Stands out for and .

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Superman vs. the Elite is one in a series of feature-length animated DC Comics superhero movies that have been released direct-to-video. Like the others, it's filled with fantasy and comic-book violence, though the movie's ultimate message is one of tolerance and fairness. Language is fairly frequent without being terribly strong and includes many British slang words, like "bugger" and "wanker," as well as several uses of "ass" and "damn." There's some sly but frequent sexual innuendo, and one major character seems to have a drinking problem.

Community Reviews

AVeryConcernedParent
AVeryConcernedParent Adult
June 15, 2012
age 2+

Great Movie

I think the guy with a drinking problem is a fact of life, what will our kids be if they are ignorant? And as for the sexual innuendos, they are very funny! My 11 year old thought it was hilarious! Violence is a part of life and we should not hide that from our kids, this is a great movie for all! As for swear words, they will hear them later on in life, why not start now? Great movie.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Too much violence
Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much consumerism
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
TinyToya
TinyToya Adult
June 13, 2012
age 18+

This is one film I wouldn't watch with the kids...

The premise of the movie is pretty good. Superman is ever the boyscout believing people to be inherently "good" while The Elite are willing to kill the enemies and do whatever else for the sake of humanity. The movie is well-paced, but I find myself unhappy with all the innuendo and cursing. Why can't a superhero flick cut all that out and be what it's meant to be? You should be able to watch superhero movies with your kids and enjoy them. The makers think they're keeping up with the times and whatnot, but they're just lowering the quality of the films. I do not need to see Lois Lane in a nightie. I do not need to hear Menagerie say very sexually explicit things EVERYTIME she is around Superman (SPOILER ALERT: A character actually has to tell her "keep it in your pants"). Also, the cursing is just repugnant and could be X'ed out completely. SOMETHING TO NOTE/SPOILER ALERT: I found the the climax of the movie to be pretty disturbing and almost scary. It involves a bloody and corrupted-looking Superman...That scene could give little kids nightmares.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

After a destructive battle with the Atomic Skull, people begin to wonder why Superman (voiced by George Newbern) simply arrests such dangerous types, rather than destroying them. Enter the Elite, a new super-team consisting of Manchester Black (Robin Atkin Downes), Menagerie (Melissa Disney), Coldcast (Catero Colbert), and The Hat (Andrew Kishina). In a darker and more complex world, as a war rages between the two nations of Bialya and Pokolistan, the Elite pleases the public with their uncompromising methods, torturing and destroying the terrorists, while Superman's belief in tolerance and justice begins to seem increasingly outmoded. Is Superman obsolete, or can he find a way to apply his old values to a new situation?

Is It Any Good?

Like All-Star Superman before it, SUPERMAN VS. THE ELITE is an exceptional animated superhero movie. It's violent and has some adult subject matter, but it also has a strong, thoughtful story and worthwhile messages. It's based on a comic book from 2001, which brilliantly reinvents Superman, explores his mythology, and takes him into a dark, complex new time. This movie proves that Superman's legend is timeless.

Director Michael Chang uses the film's 75 minutes wisely, balancing tense action scenes with character-driven moments while never losing pace. The background work, ranging from big cities to the surface of the moon, is effective without being dazzling, and the voicework is outstanding. Newbern returns as Superman, bringing doubt and humanity to the Man of Steel's voice, and Pauley Perrette -- famous as tattooed goth chick Abby Sciuto on NCIS -- makes a terrific Lois Lane, gritty and gravely and ready for action.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about violence. How much of it is necessary to demonstrate Superman vs. the Elite's themes about tolerance and justice as opposed to anger and revenge? Is it ironic that the movie's message about not using violence is filled with violence?

  • Why does the character The Hat drink so much alcohol? Does it affect his performance in battle? What are the real-life consequences of heavy drinking?

  • Are there real-life cases or incidents in which the Elite's methods are preferable to Superman's methods? Why or why not?

Movie Details

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