Necessary Evil: Super-Villains of DC ComicsYear of Release: 2013
Directed By: uncredited
Starring: Christopher Lee (narrator)
Genre: Documentary
Overview:THE JOKER, LEX LUTHOR, CATWOMAN, DOOMSDAY, BANE.
What makes them so thrillingly watchable? So terribly wonderful? So extremely vital to our super heroes and their worlds? This new feature-length documentary explores these questions across seven decades of DC Comics' hallowed Rogues' Gallery of infamous evildoers. Narrated by esteemed film villain Christopher Lee, Necessary Evil examines the tortured psyches of your favorite animation, comic book, game, TV and feature film baddies – both from the past and into the future – against the backdrop of culture, history and society. Insights from famed creators and storytellers, including Zack Snyder, Guillermo del Toro, Jim Lee, Geoff Johns and Richard Donner, shine a fascinating light on those malevolent, charismatic characters who thrive in the dark.
My Thoughts:This is a reasonably interesting documentary that will seem in-depth to the casual fan of DC and a rudimentary skimming of the surface to the serious comic fans. Christopher Lee is a fabulous choice for narration, and the interviewees are excited and enthusiastic about their subject. The most interesting part is its talk about the nature of super-villainy and what makes a good super villain. But for a documentary with the subtitle of "Super-Villains of DC Comics" it only talks about the biggest and most well known names, not about any of the B-list or C-list villains. There is some in-depth talk about what makes certain villains who they are, but it doesn't go nearly far enough for a it to have any re-watch value to a hardcore comic fan.
Bechdel Test: N/A
Overall: 3/5
