Talking to kids about mental health can be a difficult task. Recent films like Inside Out are thankfully making broaching the subject easier for parents. Another franchise that has featured mental illness recently is Power Rangers. The 2017 Power Rangers film includes two autistic characters. Justice League vs The Fatal Five hopes to help kids and adults alike to understand and cope with mental illness, and encourage discussions eliminating the taboo that surrounds it. Based on what we know, it will certainly help.
Justice League v. Fatal Five Tackles Mental Illness
In this film two characters, Starboy and Green Lantern Jessica Cruz, suffer from their own different diagnoses. On the one hand, Jessica’s battle with anxiety has made her a role model for those with the same mental illness. Conversely, Starboy suffers from schizophrenia that he manages with medicine from the 31st century. Unfortunately, the same medicine is not found in our time. Sumalee Montano tells us that the Elyes Gabel and Diane Guerrero in their respective portrayals will bring people to tears. Likewise, according to Montanto, the relationship between Thom Kallor and Jessica Cruz is both endearing and genuine.
After reading DC’s Justice League v. The Fatal Five script, director Sam Liu immediately felt an emotional connection to this project. Consequently. It compelled him to show a different path of the hero’s journey. In doing so, Liu depicted Starboy and Jessica overcoming the personal battles they fought inside themselves. Those battles, of course, are just as important as the physical battles with the Fatal Five. in fact, they may be more so.
The final product was a very emotional story. We get to watch two characters help each other after connecting through their mutual social awkwardness. If that’s not inspiring, I don’t know what is.
