Synopsis: This animated feature is set in the 50s during the era of cold-war paranoia with a population that doesn't trust superheroes and a government that doesn't trust anyone. There is a malevolent force which has watched humanity grow in strength and violence and it has decided it has to eliminate it. Also included in the plot are shortened versions of Martian Manhunter and Green Lantern's origin stories.

This film's setting is really used to great effect and the heroes have a classic Golden Age look about them (though their attitudes remain anachronistically modern, especially Wonder Woman). I'm sure there references to many of the other DC characters that I'm just not very familiar with.

Overall the main story was fairly routine. There may have been just too many characters and the story tried to do too much. Aquaman got one line and I don't think Green Arrow even got that. Even though I liked it I think it's going to mainly be one for the comic book fans

There's a lot to like about Justice League: The New Frontier, but I'm afraid all of that is counterbalanced by one of the silliest stories I've ever seen in animation.

Set mostly in the 50s and featuring the DC hero fashion of that period the paranoid US government have blackballed all superheroes, claiming that they have something to hide beside their identities and dismiss them as Commies. The Flash is even ridiculed because of his RED costume. But soon they will have to come together again to fight a common enemy when (and I'm not kidding) a large floating, living island of dinosaurs called The Center plans to wipe out humanity.

I've read hundreds of comic books in my life and that is seriously the dumbest crap I have ever heard. Every other part of JL: TNF is far superior to this 'Center' nonsense, so it's such a shame that the main plot drags it down. I especially like the story about the Martian Manhunter and the Flash. Most of the JLA get a look-in but these two have the most substantial plots.

The animation style will be familiar to those who are fans of Warner/DC cartoons such as Batman and the 50s production design creates a nice atmosphere.

But that idiotic plot...

I've always loved superheroes and superhero movies. Justice League was always interesting to me, and this did seem like a good movie to watch. And it was a good movie on the whole. But a great movie? I am not so sure. There are some undeniably good things, but it also fell short. The film is too short and it also felt rushed. There are many characters, perhaps too many, and the film other than introducing them and giving some motivations and some scenes and lines apiece didn't quite do enough to develop them properly. Jeremy Sisto is not bad as Batman, but has very little to do. However, the animation is absolutely wonderful, the backgrounds and character designs have so much detail while the colours and shadings have a lot of atmosphere. Add to that a haunting score, intelligent writing and a very compelling story with intriguing sub-plots and you have a good movie. The characters I didn't think were developed enough, but they were interesting to spot and have enough intriguing presence. The voice acting is dynamic and well-delivered, Sisto is underused for my liking but the likes of Miguel Ferrer and Neil Patrick Harris are used much better and do well to maintain interest. On the whole, a good movie but not a great one. 7/10 Bethany Cox