I recently saw the latest straight-to-DVD movies from DC and Marvel (Superman Doomsday and Doctor Strange, respectively), and here’s what I think:

Superman Doomsday - It’s a gazillion times better than Superman Returns. Seriously. The Superman-Doomsday fight scene was awesome (Doomsday powerbombing Superman brought tears to my eyes). Doomsday is genuinely scary. He wasn’t entirely focused on Superman during the fight. He tried to kill everything that was moving every time he got the chance. And what makes him more menacing is he doesn’t speak. He’s just an unstoppable killing machine. Love it.

I expected disappointment when I first heard about the lack of other superheroes in the film, but the supporting characters kept my attention long enough to never notice the absence of other costumed characters while Doomsday was wrecking Metropolis and murdering its citizens. The Jimmy Olsen here is the only version of the character that’s not annoying. This movie’s Lois Lane is the hottest version of Lois Lane EVAR. And its Lex Luthor? The most sadistic assistant-killing, Superman-cloning, Lois-kissing version of Lex Luthor I’ve ever seen.

The animation is just an improved version of the Justice League Unlimited style, which isn’t really a bad thing. The story isn’t bad, but it would’ve been better if the movie’s a lot longer. Things just felt rushed during the middle of the film. Nevertheless, it’s definitely more satisfying than that emo crapfest called Superman Returns. So, yeah. The first 1/3 of the movie is so predictable and bordering on boring for the geeks, but the rest of the movie is a brand new kind of awesome.

Doctor Strange - Here’s a lesson for you comic book straight-to-DVD movie enthusiasts: When Marvel says they’re doing something no one has ever seen before, they mean no one except those who have seen their last straight-to-DVD movie (in this case, The Invincible Iron Man). Pacing, cinematography, even the voice acting. It all seems very familiar. Not that it’s crappy, which it isn’t. It just feels formulaic, not to mention Saturday morning cartoon-like. Sure, there may be some adult themes, but it all feels shallow.

And what’s up with Dormammu? When did he become a sissified cartoon version of a Balrog? His voice is kinda off for me. He sounds like a big villain cliche. Which he actually became after saying “No! This… isn’t… possible!”

It also doesn’t fit with how I envision Doctor Strange in my mind. I think he should be more psychedelic. I also feel cheated because there are no out-of-this-world trippy phrases like “By the Hoary Hosts of Hoggoth!” and “By the Fangs of Farallah!” It all seems too superheroey to me, especially with the addition of anonymous sorcerers and sorceresses.

It’s a decent animated movie… for kids. And after watching Superman Doomsday, it just feels so blah and meh. Which brings me to a conclusion: Marvel rules the big screen, but in the small screen world of TV shows and straight-to-DVD movies, DC reigns supreme.

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