"In his recent Newsarama interview, the writer of the original comic and of the animated adaption, Joe Kelly, described part of his inspiration being the perception that Superman, as a character and a heroic archetype, was that “he’s lame and he’s outdated,” and that is just the impression that the movie gives viewers right at the offset. Immediately framed as corny and old-fashioned by an in-universe childish animated depiction of the hero and his morals, a short string of loving put-downs by an in-the-know, affectionate Lois and even by the clever pop-art style credit sequence that cuts together clips of pre-90s era Superman cartoons, this Man of Steel nevertheless exists in a more ‘realistic’ world as the movie starts to earn it’s PG-13 rating with an attack by the Atomic Skull who is trying to get the hero’s attention by gruesomely disintegrating people at random. One block wrecking brawl later, a debate on the seemingly useless process of incarcerating such villains is interrupted by the outbreak of war between some stand-in Middle Eastern nations. While battling one side’s giant bug monster bio-weapon, Superman is aided by a new group of heroes that will come be known as The Elite: potent telepath and telekinetic Manchester Black, the energy manipulator Coldcast, Menagerie, who controls a legion of symbiotic alien creatures inside her, and The Hat, a powerful conjuror. Initially the five of them work together well, but The Elite’s aggressive attitude and willingness, almost eagerness, to cross moral lines when crime-fighter that Superman is not comfortable with start to concern the Man of Steel and fire-up Lois’ reporter instincts. This new conflict leads events cumulating in a scene that might have been, if not for the nature of the participants, the most graphic ever depicted in superhero animation, a crisis of confidence for and of Superman and the public leading to a high-stakes 4-on-1 battle royal."

"The key difference between the new DC Universe Animated Movie: Superman vs. The Elite and its source material, Action Comics #775, “What's So Funny About Truth, Justice & the American Way? ” has nothing to do with the animation style, the voice direction or any of the hundreds of little changes that are necessary when adapting a printed work for the screen, instead it’s all about timing. The comic bears the publication date of March 2001, and even if you do not subscribe to the notion that ‘everything changed after 9/11’ it is impossible to see this new release without contextualizing its story of extreme answers to extreme situations without the events of the intervening decade in mind."

"All in all, Superman vs. The Elite is a Superman flick that's actually interesting to watch for intellectual reasons, but won't blow you away in terms of visual splendor or action. In that sense it's an easy recommend to those who maybe haven't been able to connect with the character in a long time (Batman crowd, looking at you); though it may be less satisfying to the hardcore fans, who already know why they love Big Blue."

"[first lines, about Superman] Just look at him. So sleek. So powerful. So... beautiful, like some great golden god made flesh. Of course, any sensible god would demand absolute obedience in return for his favor. But, no, our Man of Steel protects us, with no strings attached. The people? Hmph. They practically worship him anyway. Enjoy your reign while you may, Superman. For surely as night follows day. There comes a time when even gods must die."

"Robot: The subject in question was biologically engineered to be the ultimate soldier. Precise, clinical, unstoppable. But its creators came to realize, could not distinguish between friend and foe. Thus, this doomsday machine lives to extinguish any and all life forms, because it must."

"They say I'm brave, but I'm bulletproof. Ordinary men and women who put their lives on the line, they're the real heroes."

"[last lines] If history has determined that gods can die, it is also proven that they may return from the dead. It would seem you cannot be destroyed after all, Superman. It would seem. [Luthor smiles]"

"My rumpus room also comes equipped with red solar lamps and, of course, kryptonite. Red and green, the colors of Christmas. And you are on the naughty list!"

"Hettie Lynn Hurtes - Newscaster"

"Townsend Coleman - Drill Operator"

"Kevin Smith - Grumpy Man"

"Kimberly Brooks - Murphy"

"James Arnold Taylor - Officer Tucker"

"Chris Cox - Damon Swank"

"John DiMaggio - Winslow P. Schott/Toyman"

"Tom Kenny - The Robot"

"Ray Wise - Perry White"

"Cree Summer - Mercy Graves"

"Swoosie Kurtz - Martha Kent"

"Adam Wylie - Jimmy Olsen"

"James Marsters - Lex Luthor"

"Anne Heche - Lois Lane"

"Adam Baldwin - Kal-El/Clark Kent/Superman and Superman Clone"

"Lex Lang as Rick Flag"

"Phil Morris as King Faraday"

"Lucy Lawless as Wonder Woman"

"Kyle MacLachlan as Superman"

"Jeremy Sisto as Batman"

"Neil Patrick Harris as Barry Allen/The Flash"

"Miguel Ferrer as J'onn J'onzz/John Jones"

"David Boreanaz as Hal Jordan/Green Lantern"

"Townsend Coleman as Dr. Will Magnus"

"Corey Burton as Abin Sur and Ray Palmer"

"Keith David as The Centre"

"Kyra Sedgwick as Lois Lane"

"Brooke Shields as Carol Ferris"

"John Heard as Ace Morgan"

"John F. Kennedy as Himself (Archive sound)"

"Alan Ritchson as Aquaman"

"Jim Meskimen as Slam Bradley"

"James Arnold Taylor as Captain Cold"

"Vicki Lewis as Iris West"

"Shane Haboucha as Robin"