Justice League War
Genre: Action/Superhero
Director: Michael Bay
Writers: APJ, D.R. Cobb, John Malone & Chad Taylor
Based on DC Comics characters
Cast: Mahershala Ali, Tom Cruise, Alexandra Daddario, Dave Franco, Jake Gyllenhaal, Vanessa Kirby, Taylor Kitsch, Chloe Grace Moretz, Aidan Turner, Giancarlo Esposito, Glenn Close, Lachy Hulme, Jake Weary, Camila Mendes, Martyn Ford
Plot: Following the attacks of Darkseid's Elite on Star City and Metropolis, the clean-up process has begun and the cities have slowly begun to heal. J'onn J'onzz / Martian Manhunter (Mahershala Ali) hovers above the Earth in a meditative state. He suddenly jolts back to life. He flies down to Earth, rendezvousing with Bruce Wayne / Batman (Jake Gyllenhaal) atop a Gotham rooftop. He tells Batman that the time has come to carry out his plan. Batman nods and asks J'onn to rally the troops.
Batman stands at the central console in the Batcave. Massive screens flicker in the darkness with images of Apokolips and Earth. While the rest of the Justice League listens, Batman explains that his deep space imagery shows that Darkseid (Giancarlo Esposito) appears to be reorganizing another army of Parademons to attack Earth. Clark Kent / Superman (Aidan Turner) steps forward, reminding the group that if Darkseid succeeds in obtaining the final piece of the Anti-Life Equation, he could dominate all sentient life across the universe. Batman brings up a tactical display, two columns of team members forming holographically in mid-air. He explains that he has a plan to strike Darkseid on Apokolips with himself, Superman, Diana / Wonder Woman (Alexandra Daddario), Hal Jordan / Green Lantern (Tom Cruise), Martian Manhunter, and Barry / Flash (Dave Franco), all making the trip to Apokolips, while Kara / Supergirl (Chloe Grace Moretz), Dinah Lance / Black Canary (Vanessa Kirby) and Carter Hall / Hawkman (Taylor Kitsch) will go to Themyscira to protect the Anti-Life Equation tablet with the help of the Amazons. Flash clears his throat, offering to stay on Earth as well. Batman glares at him without a word. Flash explains that he usually deals with bank robbers and the occasional talking gorilla, not intergalactic warlords on fiery hell-planets. Green Lantern asks Flash if he's afraid of a little off-world jog. Batman cuts them both off, insisting that Flash's powers are essential to his plan. Flash relaxes slightly due to Batman's confidence in him. Supergirl steps up, mildly annoyed that she's sidelined on Earth in Batman's plan. Superman turns to her, letting her know that he would feel more comfortable with her on Earth in case any of Darkseid's forces reach here.
The two teams split up as Batman activates the Boom Tube taken from the wreckage in Metropolis. Before the team heading to Apokolips steps through the Boom Tube, Martian Manhunter senses that Darkseid could be anticipating their arrival. Supergirl and Hawkman take off to the skies, using their powers to make the trip toward Themyscira, leaving Black Canary confused on how to get to the mythical island. Batman offers her his Batwing. Black Canary informs him that she doesn't know how to fly a jet, but Batman jokes to her that the Batwing has autopilot. The remaining heroes step into the Boom Tube, vanishing into the portal of swirling energy.
The Boom Tube's portal deposits Batman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, Martian Manhunter, Superman and Flash out into the oppressive atmosphere of the alien world of Apokolips. The sky is a mass of dark, swirling clouds veined with crimson lightning. Rivers of molten lava wind through the cracked terrain. Batman immediately activates sensors on his cowl, scanning the terrain for threats. Martian Manhunter tells the others he can telepathically feel Darkseid's presence in the distance as it weighs heavily over his domain. The ground beneath them trembles and lava spits from the cracks as they reach a large ravine. Green Lantern uses his ring to create a glowing green bridge for the team to cross over. They spot a towering black citadel in the far off distance. Flash comments on how terrifying the structure looks, betting that must be Darkseid's hideout.
Deep within the walls of his fortress, Darkseid (Giancarlo Esposito), sits upon his throne. Before him stands what remains of his trusted Elite: Steppenwolf (Lachy Hulme), Kalibak (Martyn Ford), and Granny Goodness (Glenn Close), each awaiting their master's command. Darkseid informs them that he can sense that the Justice League has arrived on Apokolips. He laughs at the idea that they think they can defeat him. Kalibak vows to crush them himself, but Darkseid preaches patience. Darkseid states that Earth's heroes are foolish to think they can confront him on Apokolips and leave Earth defenseless. He orders Granny to go to Earth with her Furies and seize the last piece of the Anti-Life Equation. Darkseid muses that the Justice League thinks they have brought the fight to him, but he has already won the war.
Hawkman, Supergirl and Black Canary all arrive in Themyscira where they meet with Donna Troy (Camila Mendes) and Jason (Jake Weary) with Pegasus. Along with a cavalry of Amazon warriors, they stand guard over the vault holding the Anti-Life Equation tablet. While Hawkman and Supergirl patrol the skies above the island for any sign of invasion, Black Canary stays on the ground and gets to know her fellow defenders. She discovers that Jason is Wonder Woman's twin brother, possessing many of her abilities, which makes her feel better about their team if anything should happen.
On Apokolips, the team enters a canyon. The walls on either side tower over them, etched with alien glyphs that glow faintly. Martian Manhunter informs the others that he senses Parademons nearby - dozens of them. Before the team can even react, a swarm of Parademons descends from the canyon cliffs, unleashing energy blasts at the team. Superman takes to the air, counterattacking with his heat vision. Wonder Woman deflects incoming fire with her bracelets. Martian Manhunter winces at the flames passing by him, briefly flashing back to the destruction of his home planet. He snaps back to reality and uses his telepathy to disrupt an enemy group, making them attack each other. Green Lantern generates a massive green shield to protect the team. After they defeat the swarm, Batman urges the team to continue through the canyon, insisting it is the quickest route to Darkseid's fortress.
The calm before the storm breaks and the sky above Themyscira turns red. Suddenly from dark storm clouds, Granny Goodness' monstrous Furies emerge through a massive Boom Tube - grotesque female Parademons with dark, leathery wings. Granny Goodness leads the charge, ordering her Furies to tear apart the Amazons. Supergirl is the first to rise, shooting into the sky like a missile into the storm of Furies, blasting through the first wave with her heat vision. Jason, atop Pegasus, grips his sword as he charges into the fray, slashing at the Furies. Hawkman joins the aerial battle, soaring upwards, smashing his mace into the nearest Fury, sending it spiraling into the dirt below. He calls out to keep the Furies away from the vault holding the tablet. Supergirl continues darting between enemies with incredible speed, her punches landing like thunderclaps, sending shockwaves through the air. Below, Black Canary and Donna Troy hold the ground. Black Canary unleashes her Canary Cry, sending a devastating sonic wave that shatters the eardrums of a group of nearby Furies. Donna's lasso whips through the air, wrapping around a fury and yanking it down from the sky with a mighty tug, slamming it into the earth. Jason continues battling in the air atop Pegasus, but the Furies are relentless as several swarm him. Pegasus neighs in panic. Hawkman flies in behind him, swinging his mace through the Furies, giving Jason a chance to calm his steed.
As the team continues moving through the canyon on Apokolips, Flash stops, confessing he is afraid to continue. Green Lantern notices Barry's unease and approaches him. Flash confesses that he's feeling out of his depth, admitting that the scale of their mission terrifies him. Green Lantern tells Flash about the yellow fear entity and how he became a Green Lantern. He tells Flash that courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the ability to act despite it. Barry absorbs Hal's words. Martin Manhunter is tuned out of the conversation as he experiences another flashback, though this appears to be a vision reuniting him with his wife and daughter. Wonder Woman notices this and asks him if he is alright. He silently nods and she nods back. Batman signals to the team that they need to continue pushing forward.
The team on Apokolips emerges from the canyon onto a vast, desolate plain. They find themselves in front of the massive gates of Darkseid's citadel. Suddenly the massive gates at the base of the citadel swing open. From them two imposing figures, Steppenwolf and Kalibak, emerge, weapons in hand. Wonder Woman and Superman step forward. Without a word, Wonder Woman leaps toward Steppenwolf, their weapons colliding in a clash of steel and sparks. He swings his axe at her, but she deflects the blow. The two circle each other, exchanging blows that send shockwaves across the battlefield. Superman and Kalibak launch themselves at each other. Kalibak hurls Superman into the dirt, but Superman retaliates with his heat vision. They rise into the air, trading punches above the scorched surface of Apokolips.
Another swarm of Parademons emerge from the citadel gates, descending on the team. Green Lantern takes flight, summing missile constructs with his ring that streak through the air and explode among the enemy. On the ground, Flash races through the chaos, weaving between the Parademons with blur of movement, disarming them. Martian Manhunter glides through the shadows, phasing through rock formations and re-emerging behind enemy lines. He releases a psychic pulse that scrambles the Parademons' minds. Batman moves with precision, flinging explosive Batarangs, at the swarm.
Back on Themyscira, Amazon warriors clash with the monstrous, winged Furies. Supergirl darts through the stormy sky, crashing into the nearest Fury. The creature spirals into the ground, disintegrating into dust on impact. High above the battlefield, Hawkman soars through the swarm, his mace sending enemies tumbling from the sky. Below, Jason rides Pegasus, slashing at the Parademons with his sword. As the defenders push the Furies back, the storm clouds part, and Granny Goodness joins the fray. With the wave of a hand, a new swarm of Furies emerge from a Boom Tube. While the other heroes fight off Furies, Supergirl eyes Granny. They shoot at each other in midair, colliding with a crash, exchanging blows that crack like thunder. Supergirl uses her heat vision, but Granny deflects the blast and swings her staff at Supergirl, sending her crashing through an ancient marble column. Granny Goodness begins to taunt Supergirl about the destruction of Krypton at the hands of Darkseid.
Back on Apokolips, the battlefield has grown bigger and more chaotic. Superman continues fighting Kalibak, while Wonder Woman is still in a violent duel with Steppenwolf. Superman slams Kalibak through the citadel gates, knocking him unconscious. Wonder Woman dodges Steppenwolf's axe, before thrusting her Godkiller sword into his chest. The team stands victorious as the last of the Parademons fall. Just as they begin to regroup, Darkseid appears, the ground trembling beneath his feet as he steps forward. Martian Manhunter steps forward himself, instructing the others to destroy the Anti-Life Equation in Darkseid's throne room while he holds him off. Wonder Woman asks him if he is sure. With a confidence, he nods and tells her telepathically that he is. She is hesitant at first but eventually nods back. Flash and Superman split up, both sprinting through the citadel at super-speed, frantically searching. Martian Manhunter floats toward Darkseid, who launches his Omega Beams at the Martian, who creates a psionic shield around himself, using every ounce of his power to hold the tyrant in place. Superman and Flash both come back empty-handed just in time to witness as the Omega Beams overtake Martian Manhunter's defenses as the Darkseid's powers consume him. Martian Mahunter psychically tells the others to make sure his sacrifice is not in vein. He then unleashes one final psychic attack on Darkseid, rendering the Apokoliptian warlord unconscious. Martian Manhunter then falls back to the ground, lifeless.
The Justice League pauses to regroup with Darkseid temporarily incapacitated and the death of Martian Manhunter weighing on them heavily. Batman informs the others that the only way to stop Darkseid for good is to use the Anti-Life Equation, the very source of his power, against him. Wonder Woman and Green Lantern both question the idea. Batman turns to Superman, announcing to the others that Superman is the only one strong enough and decent enough to wield the power and resist succumbing to it. Superman feels his nerves tighten, but agrees to carry out Batman's plan to stop Darkseid.
Batman activates a Boom Tube portal. He gives Flash a pat on the back, asking him to bring back the Anti-Life Equation tablet from Themyscira as he is the only one fast enough to get in and out. Barry takes a deep breath before sprinting into the portal. A heartbeat later, Flash is spit out on the shores of Themyscira where Granny Goodness and Supergirl are still locked in an epic battle, while Hawkman, Jason, Donna and Black Canary continue fighting off the onslaught of Furies. Flash taps into the Speed Force. The world around slows to a crawl. Heroes and monsters alike are frozen mid-strike. He moves like a blur through the battlefield, weaving between the action. Up ahead he spots the vault where the Anti-Life Equation tablet is hidden. He slips through the entrance as the massive doors creak open in slow motion, passing Amazonian guards. Flash reaches the tablet. Without a second to breathe, Flash grabs the tablet and bolts back through the battlefield. With a crackling burst, Flash reappears in the citadel on Apokolips, clutching the Anti-Life Equation tablet in his hands. Superman's gaze fixes in on the ominous artifact in Flash's hands.
Supergirl becomes enraged by Granny Goodness's taunting and attacks in a violent fury. Granny Goodness recovers and asks if that is all Supergirl has in her arsenal. Suddenly Hawkman dives from the sky, his mace smashing into Granny's shoulder with a crunch. Granny staggers, but before she can recover, Jason, riding Pegasus, swoops in and slashes his sword across her other shoulder, cutting through her armor. She stumbles. Black Canary unleashes a powerful Canary Cry that sends Granny skidding across the earth. Granny slams her fist into the ground to steady herself. Donna swings her lasso, catching Granny's arm. They continue trading attacks on Granny Goodness, weakening her. Granny coughs, dripping blood from her mouth. She cackles that Darkseid will burn Earth to ash. Supergirl lands one final punch to Granny Goodness's chest. Granny collapses, her eyes wide and empty. Her lifeless body slumps to the ground, blood pooling beneath her shattered armor.
Darkseid begins to stir back to consciousness. His massive figure rises, eyes glowing red. He fires his Omega Beams at the Justice League, the deadly energy twisting and bending through the air. Wonder Woman charges at him with her sword, but she is sent reeling by the impact of the beams. Green Lantern constructs a massive shield, but Darkseid's beams tear through it effortlessly. Flash zips through the room, hoping to disorient the enemy, but Darkseid, moving faster than expected, knocks Barry off his feet with a backhand. Batman throws several explosive Batarangs at Darkseid, but he merely brushes them off. Superman grips the Anti-Life Equation tablet as the energy of the Anti-Life Equation begins to surge through him. His eyes glow black for a moment. The entire citadel quakes as the power courses through his veins. The twisted architecture of the citadel seems to bend to Superman's will, the walls shifting and glowing. Darkseid steps back - fear in his eyes for the first time. Superman floats up into the air, the power of Anti-Life swirling around him. With the flick of his hand, he bends the molten rivers beneath Apokolips, reshaping them into glowing restraints that wrap around Darkseid's body, pinning the god in place. With a final surge of power, Superman lifts Darkseid into he air as the molten chains rip him apart as the tyrant roars in pain.
Superman hovers above the others. The rest of the Justice League watches in tense silence. They start to fear that Superman may have already become corrupted by Anti-Life based on the look of anger on his face. Superman's gaze shifts toward his teammates. For a moment, there's no recognition in his eyes - only the cold, indifferent look of someone holding infinite power. The Anti-Life energy glows brighter around Superman as he slowly descends back to the ground. His eyes now glow red. He lifts his hand in the air, and all of the Anti-Life Equation tablets appear around him, suspended in the air. For a heartbeat, the League fears the worst. Batman's jaw tightens. Wonder Woman raises her sword slightly. Green Lantern summons a glowing shield around his fist. Flash instinctively hides behind the others. Then, just as the power seems to consume him completely, the Anti-Life tablets begin to disintegrate, turning to dust. Superman takes a breath. He tells the others that nobody should ever wield such power. The team gathers around Superman, the moment settling in.
The Justice League stands together on Apokolips. They collect the remnants of Martian Manhunter. Wonder Woman picks up J'onn's burnt cloak and hands it to Superman. She asks if he can take J’onn back to where he belongs. Superman nods Flash is upset that Martian Manhunter didn't live to see them defeat Darkseid. Green Lantern pats Flash on the back, saying they all owe a credit to him saving a planet he wasn't even from - Earth. Flash whispers to himself that he was part of the plan. Batman activates a Boom Tube. The team leaves Apokolips through the portal, returning to the Batcave. Superman picks up J’onn’s remains and returns him to Mars.
The sky over Metropolis is clear and hopeful. The battle with Darkseid is over, and the world is at peace - for now. Construction crews work tirelessly at the site of a grand new structure: the Hall of Justice. The Justice League - consisting of Batman, Flash, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, Hawkman, Superman, Supergirl and Black Canary - stand together on the foundation, watching the construction unfold, a beacon of hope.
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