Green Arrow

Loved a short glimpse of arrow in this. Characters and everything make it so perfect.

It has been said many times and it will be said again, director Joaquim Dos Santos is a brilliant animation director and having less than 12 minutes to tell a story is totally limiting what he can do. As usual with other DC showcase short films, this here Green Arrow short does a great giving both newcomers and long time fans an insight into the titular character.

Though not an origin story, at least this one is a pivotal event in Green Arrow's life unlike the previous "Jonah Hex" animated short which was pretty much a "just another day on the job" kind of thing. The story starts with Oliver Queen, aka Green Arrow, at the airport waiting to pick up his girlfriend Dinah. While figuring out how he is going to propose to her, Oliver spies his old nemesis, the assassin Merlyn, at the airport. Coincidentally a young and very important foreign princess is arriving and Oliver does not take long to put two and two together.

What follows is almost like Die Hard 2 with a twist. Hero in the right place at the wrong time saving someone at an airport. What could have been a standard superficial actioner gains more depth through its portrayal of Green Arrow as a very "human" superhero. He is just a guy who can shoot a bow and arrow real well;no "peak of human physical perfection" and not trained in every form of martial arts. Basically, he is not Batman and does fight a retreating battle to protect the princess, getting his butt handed to him a couple of times in the process. Bring in an explosive showdown with Merlyn on the runway, a frantic fist fight on conveyor belts and the dreaded Count Vertigo too, what could have been a romantic little night with Dinah just became the fight of Oliver Queen's life.

"Dc Showcase: Green Arrow" would have been the most awesome Dc showcase ever if its animation were as stylish as the previous two. Alas, it is pretty good looking movie standard fare, but standard nonetheless. It did not have a unique feel like The spectre's grindhouse film noir visuals or Jonah hex's stylish sun drenched colors. The animation was very fluid except in one particular running scene which looked weird and a little stiff in the way the characters' hands move as they ran. But that is a tiny nitpick that only appears once. The rest of the animation is highly professional and easily gives some of the best Japanese anime a run for their money.

Nonetheless, this animated short that accompanies the "Superman/Batman: Apocalypse" OVA movie is sure to entertain. One can also pick up the "Superman/Shazam!: The Return of Black Adam" DVD or blu-ray to watch a extended version with added footage (or so they claim).

It may only be 11 minutes long, but it manages to capture the essence of Green Arrow in no time at all. At to that a plot with is simple but very effective. Green Arrow must protect a princess from assassins at an airport. DC may be screwing up their live action films, but at least this shows that not all hope is lost. The animation is fairly standard, but the action scenes are fluid and easy to follow. There's a lot of tension for only 11 minutes, and I kind of wish this had been a climax to a live action blockbuster. Could be a super-hero Die Hard movie. But then again, Green Arrow has too many similarities with other superheroes, unless he is directly compared to them by being in their same universe.

DC Showcase shorts are a great idea, though I would argue that perhaps Green Arrow is well known enough not to need one.

In this little over 10 minute effort we see our hero attempting to foil an assassination attempt and we see the likes of Vertigo, Merlyn and Black Canary join him for the ride.

Hardly original and feels more like a Saturday morning cartoon, but could have been considerably worse.

Another decent enough little short, if Green Arrow isn't going to be getting a feature movie anytime soon then this will have to suffice.

The Good:

Well written

The Bad:

Paint by numbers stuff

Things I Learnt From This Short:

Finally someone has acknowledged he's a Robin Hood ripoff

DC Comics always knows how to make the most of the great potential that many of its characters have in worthwhile animated productions. Having great moments and contributing a bit more about their adventures. The DC Showcases are very good and entertaining, far surpassing major productions in just a few minutes.

Director Joaquim Dos Santos surprises with this short film of Green Arrow, capturing his essence, skills, and abilities perfectly. A simple story but well executed from the beginning, adding its touch of comedy which makes it more feasible and enjoyable. It took just 12 minutes for an exceptional production.

It has very good animation, with a significant change compared to animated films of the time. I could even say that it is better crafted; the progress and evolution of that animation are clearly visible. The level of detail in the drawing outlines is excellent, maintaining that quality and increasing the fluidity in a good way. The choreographies and those approaches reflect that when a character is truly valued, they are given proper credit. The color tone is sublime for what our arrow friend represents; that saturation and focus on green is admirable, along with the contrast with the battle surroundings.

Green Arrow is one of those characters who has great adventures and street battles that deserve a chance every time; this was no exception. A very good short film, frantic, engaging, and very entertaining. The character has good skills and makes the most of each of his combat abilities, in addition to embodying the symbol of justice and the protection of children.

The reflective message about the care of minors, teamwork, hope, revenge, love, and personal growth is memorable.

Despite having few moments on screen, it's interesting to see Merlyn the Magnificent and Count Vertigo from the Green Arrow's catalog of villains.

Black Canary will always be a beauty; even I would propose to her.