DC Cinematic Universe ( The James Gunn era)

[Christopher]

It made money but reception was never that great. Man of Steel did fine but Batman v Superman was not well received, Suicide Squad was ridiculed and introduced an atrocious Joker. Wonder Woman was pretty good and then the DCEU fell flat on its face with Justice League.

I would't call that moving from strength to strength especially when a lot of that money came from the MCU having created a lot of hype for shared comic universes and DC still benefitting from the Nolan Batman trilogy's success. The DCEU would have fizzled out even sooner had it not been for other people creating a lot of goodwill for comic book movies.

I feel that, aside from Wonder Woman, the DCEU didn't really start working until after Justice League (although I actually thought JL was pretty entertaining despite its flaws). Once all the Snyder mess was past, they just put out a bunch of very individual, mostly standalone movies that weren't trying too hard to build a shared continuity but were free to have their own distinct voices and styles, with the shared universe as merely background texture. Which felt to me like the one shared cinematic universe besides the MCU that was doing it right. Not every film worked for me, but their individuality and loose association meant that one disappointing film didn't affect the others. I also liked that they offered a contrast to the growing interconnectedness of the MCU rather than just trying to copy it like so many other attempted franchises.

 

[Takeru]

I feel that, aside from Wonder Woman, the DCEU didn't really start working until after Justice League (although I actually thought JL was pretty entertaining despite its flaws). Once all the Snyder mess was past, they just put out a bunch of very individual, mostly standalone movies that weren't trying too hard to build a shared continuity but were free to have their own distinct voices and styles, with the shared universe as merely background texture. Which felt to me like the one shared cinematic universe besides the MCU that was doing it right. Not every film worked for me, but their individuality and loose association meant that one disappointing film didn't affect the others. I also liked that they offered a contrast to the growing interconnectedness of the MCU rather than just trying to copy it like so many other attempted franchises.

Post Justice League there are exactly three movies I liked and would watch again, Shazam, Birds of Prey and Blue Beetle. Not a great average but better than nothing I guess.

 

[Christopher]

Post Justice League there are exactly three movies I liked and would watch again, Shazam, Birds of Prey and Blue Beetle. Not a great average but better than nothing I guess.

I thought Aquaman was pretty good, and I think I liked the sequel okay. And I felt Black Adam was better than its reputation. I felt Shazam was flawed by dwelling too much on Billy/Shazam abusing his powers recklessly before belatedly learning responsibility, and Zachary Levi was too obnoxious as the lead (apparently reflecting his real on-set behavior), but I agree that BoP and BB worked fairly well.

But the point is that they didn't all have to work, because they wisely chose to focus on making each film its own individual entity rather than subsuming it to a greater whole. Even if I didn't like each individual movie equally, I liked it that they were all wildly different from one another. It's not desirable for every film to be equally appealing to any single audience member, because different audience members have different tastes, so it's good to offer a range of different styles and approaches so that there's something for everyone.

 

[Takeru]

I felt Shazam was flawed by dwelling too much on Billy/Shazam abusing his powers recklessly before belatedly learning responsibility, and Zachary Levi was too obnoxious as the lead (apparently reflecting his real on-set behavior), ...

I should say that I like Shazam despite Levi. Asher Angel as Billy was really good, I loved his performance and his relationship with his foster family, that's what I watch the movie for. Levi's performance I tolerate.

 

[Christopher]

I should say that I like Shazam despite Levi. Asher Angel as Billy was really good, I loved his performance and his relationship with his foster family, that's what I watch the movie for. Levi's performance I tolerate.

Part of the problem is that Shazam is supposed to be Billy in an adult body, but he doesn't act anything like Billy. (Also, what happened to the "wisdom of Solomon?" He was more like Hazam.)

 

[ichab]

This goes for all the comic book heroes/characters really. It's why I will never understand people complaing that *insert version of any hero* isn't correct because they're not like the comics.
Sure, fine. Which version from the comics? So yeah, I like most of the Batmen from animation and live action. For different reasons. Same goes for Superman. Or Spider-Man. Or..... I could go on.

I think its different for everyone because of what versions they are comfortable with. I grew up with the Christopher Reeves Superman films and watched the old Batman TV show on reruns. I didn't read comics so to me, that was Batman until Tim Burton completely shattered the mold with Batman 89. After that, I couldn't imagine Batman in any other way and the TV show seemed outdated in comparison. I'm sure there's dark versions of Superman in comics, but to me, his films should always be like the Donner or Gunn versions. Hope and optimism. Not dark and dreary.

 

[Mage]

I think its different for everyone because of what versions they are comfortable with. I grew up with the Christopher Reeves Superman films and watched the old Batman TV show on reruns. I didn't read comics so to me, that was Batman until Tim Burton completely shattered the mold with Batman 89. After that, I couldn't imagine Batman in any other way and the TV show seemed outdated in comparison. I'm sure there's dark versions of Superman in comics, but to me, his films should always be like the Donner or Gunn versions. Hope and optimism. Not dark and dreary.

When it comes to Batman, I'm the same. I started getting into the Dutch translated comics we could get in the Netherlands after the Burton movies. As for Superman.... I know this is heresy for many, but I feel the Donner movies only really took the American Dream version of Superman. Heresy, I know.
Hope and optimism was at the very core of the Snyder MoS movie. Just not the 'my life is jolly because I can safe people' version of it.
To me, the 'dreary' part of Snyder's take on Superman was that he realized that despite everything he can do, he can never safe everyone. I can understand people saying there were other ways to stop Zod. I know that. But the concept was that Superman needed to realize that despite his near godlike powers, he can't safe everyone. And even though saving Zod was a priority, if the choice came between someone willing to kill others or saving innocent people, it would be the innocent.
Now, again.... yes ( and I know this part will be left out when the anti-Snyders quote me), he could have just grabbed Zod and fly away.
To where? Where could he put Zod that would stop him from killing others? Nowhere. In a split second, he realized that and knew that it was killing him or letting him go. Lesser of two evils.

 

[Ovation]

He was also very inexperienced and untrained compared to most other versions of Superman. That played into the choices he made.

 

[Mage]

He was also very inexperienced and untrained compared to most other versions of Superman. That played into the choices he made.

Indeed. In the Donner movie, he had been training and learning for 12 years before he donned the cape. That wasn't part of the Snyder version of the character.
Which, ofcourse, will bring out the 'that means it's the wrong version of the character' crowd. Which is bullshit, because, again, there have been many reboots and versions of Superman in the comics.

 

[Anwar]

I'm adding the the Heresy, I think the only actually good Reeve movie was the very first one. Superman 2 had too many questionable actions from the leads and 3 onwards...well, you know.

Even the first has some issues (to me), like Hackman going full on Camp.

 

[Nerys Myk]

I started reading comics in the 1960s around the time Batman '66 came out. So including reprints, I've seen every version of Batman (And Superman). I'll admit to being a Batsnob and poopooing '66 when I "grew up" preferring the "Darknight Detective" from O'Neil & Adams and the "Dark Knight" by Miller. Grim, serious and for adults. Eventually I got tired of that. Now I'm looking for a more balanced approach and a Batman who shaves once a day

 

[Mage]

I'm adding the the Heresy, I think the only actually good Reeve movie was the very first one. Superman 2 had too many questionable actions from the leads and 3 onwards...well, you know.

Even the first has some issues (to me), like Hackman going full on Camp.

I tried rewatching it a few years ago... I appreciate the cult impact it had and has. But it's just not for me.

 

[Mudd]

Alex Proyas defends Milly Alcock amid Supergirl backlash

 

[JoeZhang]

As much as I love comics, I find most superhero films are average - I can count on one

Alex Proyas defends Milly Alcock amid Supergirl backlash

And he's right to do so - excellent quote worth reprinting:

The attacks on Milly Alcock are sickening. Far be it from me to defend any caped-crusader franchise slop, let alone a failed one, but this is not about the film. It is about the human being. She has been subjected not only to fabricated ideological outrage, but to the oldest, ugliest reflex of fandom: endless commentary on her looks. Much of it comes from fans who confuse entitlement with criticism. More depressing is seeing pundits, and some women too, join the pile-on. It is remarkable any young performer survives this diseased media culture with grace, let alone at all. I like her. Thumbs up from me.

 

[Turtletrekker]

I would never say that Snyder's version of Superman was "wrong" per se, but it did not resonate with me in the slightest or convey how I felt the character should be portrayed.

That said, I liked Henry Cavill and bemoan the fact that he was never given a decent script.

 

[JoeZhang]

I would never say that Snyder's version of Superman was "wrong" per se, but it did not resonate with me in the slightest or convey how I felt the character should be portrayed.

That said, I liked Henry Cavill and bemoan the fact that he was never given a decent script.

I watched it again the other week haven't not seen it in years - there are elements in here that I sort of like and some of the design is excellent but it leaves me cold overall.

All the actors are excellent with what they have to work with.

 

[Mudd]

I would never say that Snyder's version of Superman was "wrong" per se, but it did not resonate with me in the slightest or convey how I felt the character should be portrayed.

That said, I liked Henry Cavill and bemoan the fact that he was never given a decent script.

The first movie was somewhat okay. Snyder's vision of superheroes was puerile crap.

Seriously - name a cinematic version of Batman as plodding and unimaginative and dull as Snyder's imitation of Miller's.

 

[Mage]

The first movie was somewhat okay. Snyder's vision of superheroes was puerile crap.

Seriously - name a cinematic version of Batman as plodding and unimaginative and dull as Snyder's imitation of Miller's.

Including me, I know of atleast five live long Batman fans that love Batfleck. You're doing that silly thing again you always do; thinking your opinion is fact.
Because I also know atleast five Batman fans that didn't like Batfleck. So, yeah... Although I am willing to admit your comment as an opinion, it's not a fact.

Also....

George Clooney.

 

[theenglish]

I'm adding the the Heresy, I think the only actually good Reeve movie was the very first one. Superman 2 had too many questionable actions from the leads and 3 onwards...well, you know.

Even the first has some issues (to me), like Hackman going full on Camp.

I was younger than 10 when I first saw this movie, but I read Superman in Action Comics at the time and even I knew Luthor was portrayed incorrectly (and understood that the Earth spinning in reverse was just a representation of Superman flying back in time.

 

[theenglish]

Including me, I know of atleast five live long Batman fans that love Batfleck. You're doing that silly thing again you always do; thinking your opinion is fact.
Because I also know atleast five Batman fans that didn't like Batfleck. So, yeah... Although I am willing to admit your comment as an opinion, it's not a fact.

Also....

George Clooney.

Clooney played the best Bruce Wayne.

I agree with you about Affleck's Batman. The Batman man we're introduced to in the Superman film is not that Batman we see at the end of the film and the character is his real self by the time we see him in Justice League and Suicide Squad. Affleck's scene in that movie with Viola Davis in one of my favorite scenes in the Snyderverse movies.