booms the voice of one Steppenwolf, Apokoliptian general and uncle to the powerful Darkseid. With his speech alone the DC extended universe has expanded. In this giant playground they’ve built, we now know the elite Green Lantern Corps exists and are already well known in this universe. Their reveal should happen soon. It took a while, but i think DC has finally caught their footing. Their identity is now set. They know who they are, and what types of films they want to show. On top of the over the top action spectacle, and well intentioned but critically maligned ‘character studies’ they started off with, they’ve now injected some humor and what seems to be a hint of actual story. A winning combination. It just works. I was fully engrossed in this latest trailer, and at no point was i like “urgh, what am I watching?”
In a world without Superman, the criminals come out to play. Starting off with what i think is a clear nod to the beginning of Nolan’s ‘Dark Knight’ movie, we have what appears to be some sort of heist. But this is just small-scale, we see DC/WB’s new saviour, the current flag of feminism herself, Wonder-Woman easily dispatching of los bandidos. (Not their actual DC name i would think, but spanish sounds really cool when placed at the end of a sentence.) Whether this incident will have future implications, i doubt it, but hey do your thing, Gal Gadot. From there the large-scale happens. Steppenwolf and his horde of parademons are invading earth and the league needs to stop them. Can they do it? Man did you not see how this dude swung that hammer down like Sauron and destroyed almost everything around him?!?! Lol, i do not see it being easy bro. DC has an epic on their hands. The fate of the earth is on the line and it’s gonna take a lot of heroics. I cannot wait to see how it unfolds.
Favorite parts of the trailer.
1. Alfred’s self-aware remark to Bruce when he says “One misses the days when one’s biggest concern were exploding wind-up penguins.”
2. Flash not getting the memo that you’re supposed to disappear when the police commissioner turns his back. Superhero 101 bro.
3. Flash undervaluing himself and not yet realizing he is one of the most powerful people in DC. “It’s really cool you guys seem ready to do battle & stuff, but i’ve never done battle. I’ve just pushed some people & run away.” I bet Batman will reply with “okay Barry, then just push some people and run away.”
4. DC not completely spoiling the reveal of how Superman will come back from the dead. Subtlety done right.
Comic-Con 2016 is upon us and with that comes very early and exclusive looks at some major tentpoles from the big name studios; WB, Disney, Legendary Pict., Sony, etc. Usually those not in attendance would have to settle for a cam-recorded look at whatever footage was shared with those in attendance in the famous Hall H. But alas, it seems this year DC has gotten tired of their products being leaked out early before they’re ready for general public viewing. The reason being that this early in the game, the effects aren’t where the studio wants them to be but they still want to reward the faithful few who pilgrimaged to San Diego (german for “whale’s v*gina”), with a preview. But if there’s a leak, bad word of mouth could ruin the financial potential of a movie that was never meant to be seen by the public at large in the first place. Which is what happened last year, a crappy version of the suicide squad trailer leaked, and DC/WB taking no chances, grudgingly uploaded the ‘Suicide Squad Comic-Con trailer’ to YouTube, a lot earlier than expected. So as to not have their product judged prematurely and unfairly. Personally I know better than to judge something by it’s unofficial trailer, but i also like getting an early look at titles of interest. It just so happens that i can’t make it to San Diego (german for “whale’s v*gina”). So it was quite the surprise today when i woke up to OFFICIALLY released Justice League and Wonder Woman footage. I really thought it was a hoax, like “oh, maybe what they mean is that some bloke will give a trailer description of the footage that was shown in Hall H.” But nope, WB/DC has released the first official look at the JUSTICE LEAGUE, all in one freaking movie. Without further ado, feast your eyes.
Justice League
and that was not the extent of DC/WB’s generosity. We also have the first trailer for the solo Wonder Woman movie.
Wonder Woman
and lastly, a remixed trailer of old, and new footage of the Suicide Squad movie with the movie’s amazing soundtrack on display. This is looking like it will be the best DC movie yet. The best addition to the new trailer personally, is Captain Boomerang’s dialogue. Seems like the aussie will be hilarious and the comedic gem of this movie. Thank SQUAD the wait is almost over!
Suicide Squad
In summary all these movies seem a lot more fun than BvS was, like this is something you can seriously enjoy with a group of friends. It finally looks like people are having fun making DC movies. Also if you haven’t already, check out the extended version of Batman v Superman, which for me is the definitive version of that movie. Hit us up in the comment box for any suggestions or questions about the DC Universe or anything we’ve discussed before.
Fan-goggles – fictional vision-occluding goggles that keep the impassioned but affable fan from thinking clearly & using logic to see that a massive pile of crap is being formed right before his/her very own eyes. Usually makes the wearer oblivious to cash-grabs.
“I’m not a monster, i’m just ahead of the curve”
Zack Snyder has successfully killed the Superman (not in the cool way the movie would have you believe)…and resurrected his Bizarro version instead (actual DC character for those who don’t know, quick google search). Anyone that knows me, or has read a few of my past articles knows where my heart is when it comes to DC. I love DC. Read a few of the comics, watched a lot of their animated universe, and grew up idolizing a majority of their heroes. The Flash, Static Shock, Batman, Superman, Captain Atom, Jon Stewart’s Green Lantern, Cyborg, Robin and that entire Teen Titans roster. These are characters that I cherish and hold dear. I understand that some people actually liked this movie and didn’t think it was “that bad”. I am not one of them, I did not like this movie at all. I admit I enjoyed a few bits and parts, about a handful, seeing the Flash ripping through space and time to deliver his warning to Bruce Wayne was nice. Besides that, this was one of the worst films I have ever seen especially in the way that it was put together. If we judge this movie simply on it’s merits as a movie, and without the bias of it being a comic book movie then this movie is atrocious. With all due respect to any fans that are still defending this movie, I implore you to stop. You are allowing DC/WB to send us back to the campy nonsensical dark ages of the Joel Schumacher ‘Batman Forever’ and ‘Batman & Robin’ days.
Admittedly had this been a Marvel movie, I wouldn’t be as high-strung. I couldn’t care any less than I do now what Marvel does with its characters. They could plot-no-jutsu their hearts out and resurrect Coulson after killing him in Avengers and I just wouldn’t care. Heck they could even resurrect Uncle Ben for good in ‘Civil War’ and it would be all good. I’m not passionate about Marvel characters. To all the fanboys that feel like critics are just hating on DC because it’s not Marvel, think. We (lol char: labeled myself as a critic now) are fans just like you, we care about these stories being told, and we just wish the studio that some of y’all are still defending, would do the same.
Respect the source, adapt anew
A friend of mine told me “how could you not like it? It was taken exactly from the comics!” Therein lies the problem with the film Zack Snyder and Co. have given us. It’s one thing to use the source material; that is what we fans want and are always in arms about.To see the big battles we envisioned in the comics and animated shows on the big screen but adapted in a fresh and fitting way. It’s another to take from the source with little understanding and no respect (in the case of Zack Snyder, ‘misunderstanding of the characters and some respect for the source’) and haphazardly copy and paste, then splice a few things together and hope for the best. That is how you get the mess called Batman v Superman (BvS henceforth). BvS uses two of the most iconic and revered story lines of each character. These were supposed to be impactful moments in the characters lives but after my suspension of disbelief was killed by the beginning of the 2nd act, I felt nothing but disbelief. No awe, or joy at what I was seeing. Just disbelief that this was how WB/DC decided to play their hand at the cinematic universe game.
In trying to figure out what the heart of those stories were and how best to put them on screen, Zack and Co. started out with good intention, but ended up plastering Batman and Superman’s most famous stories onto the big screen in an unrecognizable form. DC just threw anything at the screen because it worked in the comics without giving it more thought. Why did it work in the comics? What is the significance of that particular story? How do we maintain it’s integrity? Instead you forced pieces into a puzzle that didn’t fit, and when a new problem arose from this attempt, you stuffed another piece on top to hide your mess. Your narrative was ambitious but ultimately fell flat and took a back seat to spectacle. You abused plot device for the sake of plot. The actions of your character’s made little or no sense at all. And you crammed way too many characters in to one movie whom with a little more investment might have had a more meaningful role. Also it seems you have no qualms with killing secondary characters. Such that the character of Mercy Graves was was completely wasted all to advance a plot thread that no one really cared about. By the time ‘Justice League Part Two’arrives, the DCEU will be composed strictly of superheroes and villains, no normal people left for these gods to interact with it seems.
All of these concerns have been raised by other people, but why are your Superman and Batman so dang gullible? Why is Lois always in the middle of the action? How haven’t people not named Lex figured it out that Superman has a thing for Lois Lane? Why exactly do Lois and Clark love each other? With the universe you’ve established, other than the fact that she’s one of the only people who knows his secret, they have no chemistry. Though you did sprinkle some intriguing ideas into the movie. I particularly enjoyed Lex Luthor’s ‘angels and demons’ painting and why he felt it was best left upside down. That was interesting. Also seeing the destruction of Metropolis from Bruce Wayne’s perspective was a nice touch. It was all wasted in the 2nd half of the movie though when things became super-campy and happened for the sake of happening. No logical explanation why, but “come on, just go along with it!” In case you were wondering I didn’t. I ended up being sour at this point. Couldn’t believe how bad this movie was.
Nothing was organic anymore, just pure plot-no-jutsu. A giant leap backwards in terms of the quality of DC Movies. It became a brainless smash-em-up. It ventured into Transformers: Whatever the New One is Called-territory. Even the now heralded Wonder Woman scene is ruined because of everything that followed and preceded it. I only remember that one seductive look Gal Gadot gave when she was knocked down, that’s about it. Now to the general audience that has no prior exposure, this might seem alright, and I might just seem extremely nitpicky. But as someone who’s seen it done before, and in a more cerebral and satisfying way, I find it difficult to sit idly and just take this bastardization. For Batman it’s Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns that was chosen, w/c is one of my personal faves, the graphic novel and movie. And for Superman they used the Death of Superman story line (which itself was a cash grab), i’m not really big on Supes in the comics but I still know what Superman represents and respect who he is and who he should be. He’s the big blue boy scout. A constant. Even in Marvel’s sunny universe, or DC’s monochromatic universe, the core of that character is the same. He is someone of sound judgement; a moral example that represents truth, bravery, and all good qualities you can think of. Regardless of whether he was originally intended to be that way, Superman is now/was(thanks Snyder!) an allegory of Jesus, like Aslan (Robot Chicken reference; quick youtube search). One of the best lines in Man of Steel is delivered by Jor-El, Superman’s father when he explains to his son what he hopes he will make of his life…
Now what Zack Snyder has given us, is not Superman. I don’t think he intended to, but he has successfully undone every good that he did in introducing a contemporary Superman that fits this modern time in his prior movie Man of Steel. Instead his version of superman, bootleg-superman, has about as much depth as a pareidolic potato that looks like John Cleese, is impulsive and goes on Sasuke-level soul searches, and acts dumb. Superman is a genius in the comics. Now he’s also someone who is now okay with murder. Big middle finger to you, Jor-El. There was a scene in BvS that I just couldn’t believe. After Lex revealed his master plan on how he was going to force the two heroes to face each other, which was ridiculous, Superman runs into Lois and tells her concerning the Batman/Bruce Wayne; “I have to convince him to help me, or he has to die.” Like what the f…? I couldn’t believe what I had just heard. How are those your only two choices? Why is the latter even an option? Whaaaat? That was it for me, the fan-goggles were completely off. Have you ever been so shocked, then disappointed for a little bit that you just end up laughing? That was me the rest of the movie. I realized what I was watching was crap, (neatly decorated crap with mediocre visuals at times, but crap nonetheless) and I just laughed the rest of that movie. It was hilarious.
DC has at the time-being abandoned everything Christopher Nolan did for them in establishing a grounded and cerebral comic universe and has gone for the brainless-and-spectacle approach instead. WB/DC tried to make a big deal about how the trailers didn’t spoil the doomsday fight but i disagree. Exactly how the third act played out, is how i predicted it would sans the death of Superman. Which you saw fit to reverse since everyone bought it that your most sacred character really bit the dust #sarcasm. You did surprise me though, I didn’t think it would be as terrible, I thought maybe the big fight might save the movie. Nope, that fight scene was unremarkable. Just a bunch of messy CGI clutter and slow-mo cam. As for their new Batman, i’ll try to keep this short. I like certain aspects. The suit, Ben Affleck’s acting, and the ‘design’ of the Batmobile; it looks terrible in action btw and i’ll explain why. Disclaimer: this is a nitpick. Look upon this scene of Chris Nolan’s batpod in action from The Dark Knight and bask in the magic of practical effects.
Now I know the car chase scene in BvS might not be fresh on your mind still. But if you happen to rewatch BvS, take note of how unrealistic that cgi-filled scene is. That was so bad that if it was placed in 1997’s Batman & Robin, it would fit right in. As for the man himself, Snyder and Co. have perverted the Batman. As much as I was for the fight when i saw the trailers and assumed the reason behind it was as legitimate as Frank Miller’s graphic novel…
“I want you to remember, Clark…in all the years to come…in your most private moments…I want you to remember…my hand…at your throat…I want you to remember…the one man who BEAT you!”
Snyder’s version of that fight was comical, extremely dark (which i’m usually okay with) and revealed something to me. Seeing xenophobic branding-iron Batman pick up a sink, and then a spear to smash and cut Superman was no longer what I wanted to see. These weren’t heroes anymore having a minor disagreement. They were now super powered murderers…in flowing capes. Zack Snyder’s Batman is an invincible video game hack, that somehow still manages to be useless in the final boss battle. Gone are the days of Christian Bale’s human batman. Zack Snyder has effectively killed superheroes in the DC Extended Universe. I expect Flash to pickpocket old ladies because he needs the money to score drugs. No longer do Batman and Superman have moral codes and ideals, but they’re now okay with murdering people. At this rate we won’t be able to distinguish between good and evil come Suicide Squad time.
Stop before it’s too late
This entire exercise felt like self-sabotage brought on by greed. We get it, Marvel makes a lot of money making shared universe movies. Warner Bros.you want a big piece of that pie too and unsurprisingly feel like you deserve it. This is fine…but WB/DC you can’t keep putting out this mediocre work, your fanbase is not juvenile and will wisen up. Don’t think there won’t be consequences in the long run. You will kill the current superhero market. As a fan this is not something I expected to say, but you are bad for business. You’re not reinventing and helping the market grow, you’re just leeching…aggressively. People will stop looking forward to your event movies. My suggestion? Nada, I am not qualified. I just have my opinion, which is that Zack Snyder and his ‘visually-arresting’ self (pfft!) need not be involved as director anymore. I can’t imagine how bad Justice League will be under his helm. Whatever you decide to do, sadly I don’t care anymore. But as a fan of the comics and your past work, Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy, I want you to do better. A lot better. You have a plethora of interesting characters in your hands with stories ready to be told. You just have to do it the right way. Don’t worry about playing catch-up to Marvel. They have every right to be ahead at the moment, they started a lot earlier than you. To quote the King of L’s 2015 Meek Mill, “there’s levels to this…” You guys can’t skip levels, bad things happen when you do. Bide your time for a bit and release quality products. Don’t rush man. You guys were the cool kids on the block doing what you needed to do when you needed to do it in 2005-2012. That worked for you. Don’t try to “out-Marvel” Marvel, just do you. Be DC, craft intense story lines that fit your characters. No more forcing things. If you continue with the direction you’re headed in right now, know that i’m NOT coming along. I’ll let Charles Xavier explain…
ANIME TAKEOVER 