I have no real argument to make here, so I'll just list my thoughts on Zack Snyder's Justice League below.
1. It's definitely better than Joss Whedon's version. The plot makes more sense, the characters are better developed, and the story unfolds at the right speed. Could Justice League have been shown as two movies? I don't think so. Sure, that battle in the sewers takes place around the two hour mark, but ending the story there would have felt weird.
2. Darkseid could have been a cool villain. Too bad we'll never see him again. At least not that version. I like how the both he and Desaad looked in the movie, even though he comes off feeling a little too similar to Thanos. This isn't a criticism of Justice League, since it could be argued that Thanos is something of a Darkseid clone.
3. Man, did Joss Whedon ever butcher that ending. In the Snyder Cut the Flash isn't racing around trying to save some random family in harm's way, Superman and Steppenwolf never really fight, and both the Flash and Cyborg have a lot more to do. I thought the "Unity" idea was kind of silly, but even so the ending is MUCH better than what Whedon did.
4. The Flash is less irritating in the Snyder Cut, less deliberately quirky. The bit where he saves Iris on the road was my favorite part of the movie. I still don't like the costume, I'm still not an Ezra Miller fan, but the character makes more sense now.
5. For that matter, Cyborg has more reason for being in this movie. More of his backstory is included, and he's central to the story. Placing his origin right after Flash's rescue of Iris felt a bit redundant, and his father's explanation of his abilities wasn't necessary, but Cyborg had more of a personality in Snyder's version.
6. Wonder Woman straight killed that dude in the beginning. Not sure if she needed to do that or not. Oh well, water under the bridge.
7. Batman's motivation for forming the League? I get it now. In Whedon's version he just seemed like some dude wandering around and stumbling into things. His comments on faith and owing a debt to Superman made sense after BvS.
8. Superman? I still feel like Justice League failed to use Superman properly. He's the ace up the League's sleeve, but it's hard to get any feeling of him as a person, or of the emotions he's going through. I get that he has amnesia for part of the movie, but it doesn't feel like he has much reason for being there.
9. Maybe too much Paradise Island? The war that took place in ancient times looked cool, but all that narration distracted from the main thrust of the movie. As a viewer you want this movie to get going, and there are way too many scenes on Paradise Island.
10. Marian Manhunter didn't need to be in this movie. Including him felt like checking off a box.
11. Removing Aquaman from Justice League in favor of Shazam/Captain Marvel might have been fun. What does Aquaman actually do in this movie anyway? What does he contribute? Seeing Shazam's reactions to what was going on would have been more entertaining.
12. Steppenwolf looks a lot better in this version. The cgi used in Whedon's cut was terrible.
13. Jared Leto could have been a great Joker. All this talk about him ruining the character is nonsense. The guy has been excellent in so many films. We'll never know what happened with Suicide Squad, and executives at Warner Bros. are already denying that an Ayer Cut exists, but blaming Leto for that hot mess of a movie is dumb.
With various DC movies in various stages of production, I've decided to shorten this list. It begins with Batman Begins. For still older movies (and yes, I've seen them all!), look here.
****
Excellent!Had to see it twice!
***
Good movie with a few flaws.
**
Not bad, but not great.
*
I’d watch it once if I was bored enough.
[no stars]
Just terrible.
@
So bad it’s kind of good.
2000s
18. Batman Begins (2005) ****
Hell yes. This was a movie Batman as we always wanted to see him. Not the neurotic guy with all the gadgets, but the kind of guy who could kick your ass. The scarecrow is awesome here. 19. V for Vendetta (2005) ***
Great film, made by the Wachowskis of Matrix fame. Hugo Weaving is fantastic, and even if they dumbed down the source material it's still worth your time. 20. Superman Returns (2006) **
Not as bad as some people make it out to be. Yeah, Superman does come off as a stalker, and I don't know why they had to do so many of his flying scenes in CGI, but the part where Kevin Spacey and co. deliver a beatdown is excellent.
21. The Dark Knight (2008) ****
Still hands-down the best superhero movie ever made. And yes, I liked The Avengers. The plot is complex, the performances are amazing, and the direction is first-rate. How could Nolan have ever topped this one? 22. The Spirit (2008)
Fuck this movie is bad. I saw Sin City so many times I had the lines memorized, and with The Spirit I was hoping for something similarly classic. Unfortunately Frank Miller isn't quite as good in the absence of Robert Rodriguez.
23. Watchmen (2009) ***
Two problems with this movie: the actors are too pretty, and way too much kung fu fighting. Aside from these two problems, it is faithful to the comic book and works on many levels. Snyder might have bungled Sucker Punch, but this movie gave me hope for Man of Steel.
2010s
24. Jonah Hex (2010) *
Josh Brolin stars as an ex-confederate soldier who can talk to dead people. John Malkovich is the villain. It was almost a good movie, but the soundtrack ruins the better moments and it gets pretty corny near the end.
25. Green Lantern (2011)
This movie had everything going for it. I'm not even a big fan of Green Lantern, but when I heard about the director and the cast I got really excited. Unfortunately the road to Green Lantern is paved with good intentions.
26. The Dark Knight Rises (2012) **
This movie bored me. It's over three hours long, and Bane is unintentionally hilarious at times. Anne Hathaway makes a great Catwoman, but that's all I can say in favor of this film.
27. Man of Steel (2013) **
Half of a great movie, and half of a Michael Bay movie. It starts out well, even though some of the details surrounding Krypton don't bear thinking about. Henry Cavill is a great Superman, but Zack Snyder was trying too hard to please too large an audience.
28. Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice ***1/2
I don't care what the critics say - this is a great f*&king movie. I was unimpressed by Man of Steel - but this? This was the one I'd been waiting for. Probably a bit slow - or even too dark - for some, but I loved it. An extra 1/2 star for the Ultimate Edition, which improves upon the theatrical cut. This is DC done well.
29. Suicide Squad (2016)*
I was disappointed by this movie. There is WAY too much backstory and many of the characters are underdeveloped. Harley Quinn seems entirely too sane to have earned her reputation, and as a character Deadshot is unconvincing. Joel Kinnaman does a valiant job of keeping the whole thing together, Viola Davis and Jared Leto give memorable (if brief) performances, but there's just not enough script to hang a whole movie on.
30. Wonder Woman (2017)**
The Good News: 1) It's better than Suicide Squad, and 2) Gal Gadot is a good enough actress to carry this movie. The Bad News: 1) There are moments where this movie stops dead in its tracks, 2) the villain is completely undeveloped, and 3) parts of this movie bear an unfortunate resemblance to Captain America: the First Avenger. The best bits are those in which the characters reflect on the differences between our world and Diana's. I'm sad to say, however, that these moments are sandwiched between two halves of an action movie that doesn't quite work.
31. Justice League (2017)**
I would put it above Wonder Woman, Suicide Squad, and Man of Steel. It will at times remind you a lot of the Avengers, but certain similarities were unavoidable given both the superhero team-up format and the fact that Joss Whedon was involved. I'd like to see Aquaman further developed in his solo film, and I'm still waiting for that Flashpoint film. Definitely worth seeing, though I doubt it will rock your world.
On the Way
NOTE: There are a TON of DC movies in various stages of development, but Warner Bros. plans change often and their statements regarding these projects are often contradictory. What's listed below is what's listed on the Wikipedia article for the DCEU.
33. Aquaman (2018)
Jason Momoa stars as Aquaman, with Patrick Wilson appearing as his brother Orm, the Ocean Master. With director James Wan at the helm I (and a lot of other people) have a lot of confidence in this movie, though it will be a long wait until December of next year.
34. Shazam (2018)
David F. Sandberg is directing, with Zachary Levi (Fandral in Thor: the Dark World) starring as the World's Mightiest Mortal. At the time of writing Mark Strong is in negotiations to play the villain, Dr. Sivana. I think it has the potential to be a really fun film, but we'll have to see how it all plays out closer to the release date.
35. Wonder Woman 2 (2019)
After the thundering success of the first Wonder Woman this sequel was an inevitability. It's taking over Justice League 2's release date, with all the important people returning for this second round of Amazonian goodness. Setting this film in the modern day will be a welcome change.
36. Cyborg (2020)
Ray Fisher will reprise his role as Cyborg, though little else is known about this movie. I'm hoping that in the sequel they can dispense with some of the cgi in favor of practical effects. I doubt, however, that this will happen. Tackling some of the character's psychological aspects might make for an interesting movie, but an action blockbuster will probably be the order of the day.
37. Green Lantern Corps (2020)
This movie's been announced, and Warner Bros. seems firm on the release date, but aside from that it's a mystery. Some Green Lanterns appear in one of the flashback scenes in Justice League, so at least we have some idea what they might look like.
38. Other Projects That May or May Not Ever Get Made
Batgirl, The Batman, Flashpoint, Nightwing, Lobo, Man of Steel 2, and a bunch of other movies might get made, but at this point who really knows? I mention six movies by name because they seem the most likely to end up in local multiplex... BUT with the reception awaiting Justice League uncertain, we'll just have to wait and see. A Flashpoint movie is particularly dependent on how Justice League does at the box office.
Holy Jesus! Justice League came out today! Is it really in theaters now? Have I really seen it? Or was it all a dream? 1. One Paragraph Summation of the DCEU Thus Far: In the Beginning, Superman's dad saves Superman (and Krypton's DNA thingy) from Michael Shannon by shooting his infant son to Earth in a shoddily constructed rocket. Superman grows up - rather sulkily - and after months in the gym and experiments with weight gain powders he finds out about his dad just as Michael Shannon arrives on Earth looking for that DNA thingy. THEN SH*T GETS REAL. Fighting, fighting, fighting. Punching, punching, punching. Cities are destroyed, Michael Shannon is killed - yay? All is right with the world, except for the fact that broody Superman has unwittingly killed all those people who weren't Zod. Then Batman shows up, tries to kill Superman, but forgets about the whole thing because of either the oft-reiterated "Martha" episode or because a giant supermonster created by Lex Luthor is about to destroy civilization as we know it. With Wonder Woman's help, Batman and Superman kill the supermonster, but only after Superman has sacrificed his life for the sake of furthering his image as a latter-day Jesus. Meanwhile, in a city whose name I'm either forgetting or repressing, a team of supercriminals band together to stop an ancient Central American demon - or something - all the while eluding Gangsta Joker's attempts to get his girlfriend back. But wait! Before all of THAT happens there's this island of stunningly beautiful women in the Mediterranean, and one of them goes to Europe to make World War One slightly less unpleasant. And hurray! She lives over a hundred years, long enough to help out Batman and Superman with that whole supermonster problem. Thus leading to...JUSTICE LEAGUE, MOTHERF**KERS!!!
2. Thoughts on Individual Characters Before Actually Seeing the Movie 2a. Superman You know he's not really dead, right? Like Jesus, he's coming back on the third day, or at least his third film. One imagines that he'll be less broody this time, because four out of five people polled have requested that the next Superman be "less broody." Messianic? Sure. But not broody! 2b. Batman I get why Affleck is cagey about how long he wants to play Batman. He put his heart and soul into Batman v. Superman, and the critical reactions to that movie were probably hard to take. Even so I think he's the best Batman ever, and hopefully his attitude will change if Justice League is better received. 2c. Wonder Woman I have no problem with Gal Gadot being Wonder Woman, even if I was underwhelmed by her first solo outing. She's beautiful, she can act, and she was convincing in fight scenes. I just wish they'd complicate her backstory a bit. It would make the character more compelling. 2d. Aquaman Hate the costume, but Momoa can certainly carry a movie. With all the great Aquaman costumes we've seen over the years, I don't know why they went with that green/gold thing. 2e. The Flash Hate the costume even more. What's with this "armored Flash" thing they're doing? The Flash has one of the most screen-ready costumes ever, and it would require little tweaking to make it look good in a movie. I think Ezra Miller will make a good Flash, I just wish he looked less like a character from Jojo's Bizarre Adventure. 2f. Cyborg (a.k.a. "the black guy") I've been deliberately avoiding the latest trailers, but hopefully they improved the cgi used for Cyborg. In the earliest trailers he looked amazingly fake. And why do him in cgi anyway? They've been doing live-action cyborg characters since 1987's Robocop. 2g. Green Lantern? Odds are he'll (she'll?) show up, even though I'd much prefer a look at Captain Marvel (a.k.a. Shazam). I've never liked Green Lantern. His/their powers are stupid, and even though Hal Jordan was kind of cool as Parallax, I wish they'd leave the Green Lantern Corps out of the DCEU. 2h. Steppenwolf (a.k.a. "the bad guy") He looks somewhat retarded in the trailers, but he's not much worse than Ares from Wonder Woman or Enchantress's brother from Suicide Squad. Having Steppenwolf as the bad guy was a strange choice, but perhaps it'll make sense in the film.
3. Thoughts on the Director(s) of This Movie I like Zack Snyder. I think he's a great director when he has a good script to work from. He obviously slaved over Batman v. Superman, and I don't think he deserved the knee-jerk reactions that movie engendered from Marvel drones. If he directs the Justice League sequel I'm fine with that. Joss Whedon, the guy called in for reshoots, is keeping a low profile after allegations of sexual harassment. For the record I liked (didn't love) The Avengers, and (to a lesser extent) Age of Ultron. Hopefully he didn't make Justice League too jokey.
4. I Just Saw the Movie! What Did I Think? 4a. The Story In the wake of Superman's death, Steppenwolf arrives on Earth, trying to bring the three mother boxes together so he can turn our world into a mirror of his own. In order to stop him, Batman assembles a team consisting of Wonder Woman, the Flash, Cyborg, Aquaman, and a resurrected Superman to do battle with this otherworldly threat. After Steppenwolf unites the three mother boxes somewhere in Russia, the Justice League battles and ultimately defeats him. The movie closes with Batman, Alfred, and Wonder Woman surveying a possible "Hall of Justice" where they'll meet in the future. Mid-Credits Scene: The Flash and Superman begin a race to see who's faster. Post-Credits Scene: After escaping prison, Lex Luthor meets Deathstroke to discuss forming "a league of our own." 4b. My Reaction First off, relax. It's actually pretty good. Not an instant classic by any means, but a solidly put together action movie that only drags a little bit near the middle. Whedon's touches are fairly obvious, in particular a scene in their headquarters that brings the first Avengers to mind. My major complaint about this movie is Steppenwolf. He's about as forgettable as Ares from Wonder Woman, and he looks VERY stupid. As villains go he's about as generic as they come. The story's fairly solid and the characters' actions seem consistent with their personalities. The tone shifts slightly after Wonder Woman talks with Batman at the lake - almost as if Whedon jumped in at that point, saying, "Alright, now it's MY turn!" One wonders what Zack Snyder and writer Chris Terrio might have done in the absence of Joss Whedon, but such speculations will, I imagine, lead nowhere. The Flash is my favorite character in this film. As for the rest, they're either playing upon developments in previous movies or they weren't given enough screen time to be as interesting. Jason Momoa is a good Aquaman - he just isn't in as much of this movie.
5. Looking Further Ahead... It will be a LONG wait for the next DCEU movie, December 2018's Aquaman. In April 2019 we'll finally get a look at Shazam, and during November of that same year Wonder Woman 2 will hit theaters. Cyborg and The Green Lantern Corps are still on the schedule for 2020, but very few names are attached to either project. The fate of films like Flashpoint and Man of Steel 2 is even less certain, though I'm sure that if Justice League is a big success they'll move into production sometime soon. I know fans find it frustrating, but I think Warner Bros. is smart not to announce too many movies in advance, and to have pulled back from their ambitious plans a bit. After the likes of Justice League and this summer's Infinity War, the public might well begin to turn away from the big superhero franchises. Being tentative is smart.
I have omitted Stamp Day for Superman,
which was produced by the US Government, and cannot be classified as a
feature film. There are also a few "DC imprint films" (Road to Perdition, A History of Violence, Stardust, The Losers, Gen 13, RED, and RED 2 that are not here for various reasons.
And there are also the "novelty" superhero films such as "Indian Superman." These movies are/were
exercises in copyright infringement, and never saw theatrical release
outside of their countries of origin. Many of these films are good for a
few laughs, and can be seen in part or in their entirety on YouTube.
****
Excellent!Had to see it twice!
***
Good movie with a few flaws.
**
Not bad, but not great.
*
I’d watch it once if I was bored enough.
[no stars]
Just terrible.
@
So bad it’s kind of good.
1950s, 1960s, 1970s
1. Superman and the Mole Men (1951) *
You
can watch this whole movie on YouTube. It is, by some accounts at
least, the first feature film featuring a DC or Marvel superhero.
2. Batman (1966) @
You
can also watch this one on YouTube. I've read that at the time this
came out, the two stars of the show were banging just about anything in a
skirt. Good times!
3. Superman (1978) ****
This
film is classic, and is STILL one of the best superhero films ever
made! The scene where Lois "dies" really freaked me out when I was a
kid.
1980s
4. Superman 2 (1980) ****
This
one might be even better than the first Superman. Terrence Stamp was
fantastic as General Zod, the plot was well thought out, and many scenes
in this movie are iconic. See it if you haven't already.
5. Swamp Thing (1982) **
Wes Craven directed this before he rose to fame with A Nightmare on Elm Street. As a child it was one of my favorite films, though I can't say I like it quite as much now. Adrienne Barbeau was HOT.
6. Superman 3 (1983) **
Not
quite as good as the first two Superman films. Also quite jokey, but
Richard Pryor was in it, so what could you expect? Gotta love the "bad
Superman" sequence.
7. Supergirl (1984) @
Supergirl,
one of several kryptonians who survived the destruction of Krypton by
fleeing to "inner space," does battle with an evil sorceress. The
actress that plays Supergirl is hot, but this movie makes almost no
sense from beginning to end.
8. Superman 4: The Quest for Peace (1987) **
A
lot of people like to go on about how terrible this one is, but it's
not really trying to be a good film in the first place. Christopher
Reeve takes his last run at being Superman, and the whole thing is
predictably silly. Would have been cooler if "Nuclear Man" had been
Firestorm.
9. Batman (1989) **
Tim
Burton's 1989 movie phenomenon. This is the movie that revived the
genre after years of stagnation. Pretty slow compared to more recent
films, but a lot more like Bob Kane's original Batman comics. In some
ways, Michael Keaton is still my favorite Batman. Fun Trivia: for the
three weeks Jack Nicholson spent filming his scenes as the Joker he
earned $6 million, in addition to a percentage of the box office gross,
which amounted to something between $60 and $90 million!
10. The Return of Swamp Thing (1989) **
A
surprisingly watchable movie. More humorous than the first one, and
Swamp Thing looks less rubbery. It's too bad they never made a third
one, because the run Alan Moore did on the comic book would have
produced some really trippy movies. Fun Trivia #1: Heather Locklear is
in this. Fun Trivia #2: The actress that played Faora in Superman II is Dr. Arcane's mistress.
1990s
11. Batman Returns (1992) *
This
didn't seem so much a movie as an excuse for a toy line. By 1992 I was
already sick of Tim Burton and his quirkiness, and this movie did
nothing to change my opinion of him. Yeah, Michelle Pfeiffer was a damn
sexy Catwoman, but that fact alone did not save this film.
12. Batman Forever (1995) *
This
is where Joel Schumacher stepped into the Batman franchise, and the
results are unsuprising. It's a shiny, pretty movie star world that
proves unbearably dull. It would have been bad enough, but Jim Carrey's
overacting makes it so much worse. Fun Trivia #1: Bruce Wayne breaks a
henchman's neck after Two-Face disrupts the circus. Fun Trivia #2:
During a subsequent discussion, Wayne mentions to Dick Grayson/Robin
that "The circus must be halfway to Metropolis by now." Fun Trivia #3:
Jon Favreau, who would go on to direct both Iron Man and Iron Man 2, is
in this movie for about a second.
13. Batman and Robin (1997)
Gluttons
for punishment would have seen this in the theater. I was probably
next door, watching a better film. Seeing the apocalyptic performance
Arnold Schwarzenegger gives as Mr. Freeze, one marvels that BatmanBegins ever got made at all.
14. Steel (1997)
Shaq
plays John Henry Irons, an ex-soldier who develops a suit of armor and
then sets out to rid the inner city of high tech weaponry. Some
terrifically bad puns in this movie. It was aimed at kids, and the plot
makes little sense.
2000s
15. The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003) *
No
wonder Alan Moore wants nothing to do with Hollywood. Movies such as
this one prove his point. This movie lacks the sense of irony that made
the comic book so good, and one wonders what the hell Sean Connery was
thinking.
16. Catwoman (2004) @
Halle
Berry plays Catwoman, Sharon Stone plays the villain, and Benjamin
Bratt plays the most clueless detective in the world. The DC comic book
character in name only. That scene where the cats bring Halle Berry
back to life is hilarious. So bad it's good!
17. Constantine (2005) ***
This
oft-overlooked movie is worth your time. It might not be classic, but
it's a solidly put together film with an interesting protagonist. The
guy that plays the devil near the end is great.
18. Batman Begins (2005) ****
Hell yes. This
was a movie Batman as we always wanted to see him. Not the neurotic guy
with all the gadgets, but the kind of guy who could kick your ass. The
scarecrow is awesome here. 19. V for Vendetta (2005) ***
Great
film, made by the Wachowskis of Matrix fame. Hugo Weaving is
fantastic, and even if they dumbed down the source material it's still
worth your time. 20. Superman Returns (2006) **
Not
as bad as some people make it out to be. Yeah, Superman does come off
as a stalker, and I don't know why they had to do so many of his flying
scenes in CGI, but the part where Kevin Spacy and co. deliver a beatdown
is excellent.
21. The Dark Knight (2008) ****
Still hands-down the best superhero movie ever made. And yes, I liked The Avengers.
The plot is complex, the performances are amazing, and the direction is
first-rate. How could Nolan have ever topped this one? 22. The Spirit (2008)
Fuck this movie is bad. I saw Sin City so many times I had the lines memorized, and with The Spirit I
was hoping for something similarly classic. Unfortunately, Frank
Miller isn't quite as good in the absence of Robert
Rodriguez.
23. Watchmen (2009) ***
Two
problems with this movie: the actors are too pretty, and way too much
kung fu fighting. Aside from these two problems, it is faithful to the
comic book and works on many levels. Snyder might have bungled Sucker Punch, but this movie gave me hope for Man of Steel.
2010s
24. Jonah Hex (2010) *
Josh
Brolin stars as an ex-confederate soldier who can talk to dead people.
John Malkovich is the villain. It was almost a good movie, but the
soundtrack ruins the better moments and it gets pretty corny near the
end.
25. Green Lantern (2011)
The
movie had everything going for it. I'm not even a big fan of Green
Lantern, but when I heard about the director and the cast I got really
excited. Unfortunately the road to Green Lantern is paved with good
intentions.
26. The Dark Knight Rises (2012) **
This
movie just bored me. It's over three hours long, and Bane is
unintentionally hilarious at times. Anne Hathaway makes a great
Catwoman, but that's all I can say in favor of this film.
27. Man of Steel (2013) **
Half
of a great movie, and half of a Michael Bay movie. It starts out well,
even though some of the details surrounding Krypton don't bear thinking
about. Henry Cavill is a great Superman, but Zack Snyder was trying
too hard to please too large an audience.
28. Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice ***1/2
I
don't care what the critics say - this is a great f*&king movie. I
was unimpressed by Man of Steel - but this? This is the one I've been waiting for. Probably a bit slow - or even too dark -
for some, but I loved it. The extra 1/2 star is for the Ultimate Edition, which improves upon the theatrical cut. This is DC done well.
29. Suicide Squad (2016)**
I was disappointed by this one. There is WAY too much backstory, and many of the characters are underdeveloped. Harley Quinn seems entirely too sane to have earned her reputation, and as a character Deadshot is unconvincing. Joel Kinnaman does a valiant job of keeping the whole thing together, Viola Davis and Jared Leto give memorable (if brief) performances, but there's just not enough to hang a whole movie on.
On the Way
30. Justice League (2017)
Having
set up the general premise in Batman v. Superman, Warner Bros. will
introduce this superhero team to the big screen. Confirmed
members are Batman, Superman (?), Wonder Woman, Cyborg, the Flash, and Aquaman. Word around the campfire is that Steppenwolf will be the villain.
31. Wonder Woman (2017)
To
me the idea of this movie is a no-brainer - a
female superhero(ine) with a great backstory. Patty Jenkins is
directing, and Gal Gadot will reprise her role from Batman v. Superman. The trailer looks great and I'm looking forward to it.
32. The Flash (2018)
Ezra Miller will play the Flash. He's already appeared briefly in both Batman v. Superman and Suicide Squad (and also the Justice League footage). I can't wait.
33. Aquaman (2018)
Jason Momoa will play Aquaman. James Wan is directing. He has stated that it will be more "fun" than Batman v. Superman.
34. Shazam (2019?)
The
Rock (OK, Dwayne Johnson) has already been cast as Black Adam. Word is
that this film will exist outside the main DC cinematic continuity.
35. Justice League Part 2 (2019)
So
not only are we getting the second Avengers film, but we're also
getting a second Justice League film in the same year. It boggles the
mind.
36. Cyborg (2020)
Ray
Fisher has already been cast as Cyborg. He appears in Batman v.
Superman for a moment. A scientist creates him with the aid of a mother
box.
37. Green Lantern Corps (2020)
Some conceptual art for this film appeared at the SDCC. As for the rest, your guess is as good as mine!
I figured it's time for another round of comic books. I started reading about how bad Marvel's "Ultimatum" series was, and that led to me to some other comics. Those comics led me to still other comics, and, well, you know how it goes.
What follows is the first half (or maybe the first third - who knows how many comics I'll be reading?) of the comics I found. The other half will be presented as Comic Book Interlude 6.
Black Magick 1-3 (2015)
I realize that I'm not the intended audience for this comic, but it really rubbed me the wrong way. A witch/policewoman battles supernatural foes. The art is good, but the dialogue and plot are little more than a series of movie cliches.
Bloodshot: Reborn 1-3 (2015)
Also tedious, but better than Black Magick. Valiant's pseudo-Japanese assassin copes with his past after his "nanites" have been removed. The art is great, but the story is forgettable. It might get better after a few more issues.
Justice League 46-49 (2016) Part of the Darkseid War series. I'd have to go back to earlier issues to make any sense of it. Something about the Anti-Monitor and the Injustice Society, then Superwoman somehow gives birth in the middle of a battlefield without taking off her pants. Mostly a lot of punching and things exploding.
The Mighty Thor 1-6 (2016)
Jane Foster takes over as Thor. A lot of comic fans were up in arms over this one, but the idea of a woman Thor doesn't bother me. My only problem with it is that she's just not an interesting character. Even worse, most of the 6th issue features a story involving the "classic" Thor, and one gets the feeling that Jane Foster will be discarded as soon as it becomes convenient to do so.
Monstress 1-2 (2015)
This comic is FAR better than any other mentioned in this entry. Humans struggle with magical beings called "arcanics." The author is American, and the artist is Japanese. Right now I'd say it's violent and pretty good, but given a few more issues it might be violent and pretty great.
Ms. Marvel 1-19 (2014-2015)
I was surprised by how much I liked it. Kamala Khan, the newest Ms. Marvel, gets her powers from the Terrigen Mists. You might think that having a 16 year old, Pakistani-American girl as Ms. Marvel represents the worst kind of political correctness, but she's an engaging character and this comic is often very funny.
Negative Space 1-4 (2016) Hadn't heard of this one until recently. An evil corporation is harvesting people's emotions, and a suicidal loner uncovers a conspiracy. The first issue is good, but the last three are just mindless violence.
Ed Brubaker, writer of the "Captain America: Two Americas" discussed below, also wrote this noir comic for Image. It's more H.P. Lovecraft than Sin City, and I'm looking forward to reading Book Two. The art isn't flashy, but it does a good job of telling the story. Daredevil by Mark Waid: Volume One
Great run of Daredevil comics by Mark Waid and various artists. As of this telling, most of Hell's Kitchen knows that Matt Murdoch is Daredevil. The story about DD stranded in the snow with a group of blind children is head and shoulders above the rest, but they're all good. Justice League: Rise and Fall
After a couple of supervillains lay waste to Star City, both the Green and Red Arrows seek revenge. The Green Arrow's story arc is a bit too similar to something that happened to the Flash in the 80s, while the Red Arrow's story is much better. All in all it's not bad, but not great. I couldn't help but think there were some real, human emotions here that could have been used to greater effect. Moon Knight (TPB: #1-7)
Moon Knight, Marvel's answer to Batman, was so much less interesting before he went crazy. Brian Michael Bendis has a lot of fun with this character, and the combination of his writing and Alex Maleev's art makes for a compelling comic book. In this installment, Mark Spector attempts to track down L.A.'s newest crime lord. I highly recommend it. Flash Volume 3: Gorilla Warfare
The Flash squares off against Gorilla Grodd and a band of criminals. The layouts are amazing, though the story is just average. I really wish DC would do away with this "speed force" concept, but I suppose it's become an accepted part of the character. Fear Itself
It's the Marvel Universe and it's the end of the world - again. This time around Odin's brother has returned from wherever he was before, and Thor finds himself caught between his loyalty to his father and his love for his adopted world. It's entirely predictable, but the art is great. Jack Kirby's Fourth World Omnibus - Volume 2
I'm having difficulty articulating just how weird and awesome this comic series is. After leaving Marvel, Kirby went on to create DC's New Gods and their "Fourth World" in 1970. This self-contained universe was shared between four titles - Mister Miracle, The New Gods, The Forever People, and Superman's Pal Jimmy Olson. It's a wild ride through some wonderfully strange characters and concepts, and lends credence to the idea that it was Kirby (and not Stan Lee) who made Marvel Comics the pop culture phenomenon that it continues to be.
This seems to be how Warner Bros. is conceptualizing its DC properties. But is dark and gritty really necessary? I realize that dark and gritty is a way of setting DC films apart from Marvel films, and Nolan's Batman trilogy was undoubtedly darker and grittier than anything Marvel, Sony, or Fox have yet done, but Marvel has also done dark and gritty.
The part in the first Iron Man where he's held prisoner in the cave? Dark and gritty. The part in Winter Soldier where Nick Fury almost gets killed? Also dark and gritty. Marvel is just as capable of getting dark and gritty, but they realize that dark and gritty gets old after a while. It's an easy fit for Batman, but not such an easy fit for Kryptonians, or guys running around in red and yellow tights.
We'll see if Warner Bros. can get past dark and gritty. I certainly hope so, because if all that sets DC films apart from Marvel films is dark and gritty, then we're going to see those DC films fail. Setting the right tone for a film (or a cinematic universe) is important, but it's not everything. Dynamics are also important. A bit of humor is important. Superheroes that don't always take themselves seriously is important. Batman does dark and gritty well. But Shazam? Green Lantern? Not so well at all.
With this in mind I offer my thoughts on the proposed additions to DC's cinematic universe. Here's hoping that they don't suck.
March 2016: Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice
Marks Against It: I never had a big problem with Ben Affleck as Batman, though I would have preferred Josh Brolin. Josh Brolin could have easily played the kind of Batman they're striving for, and he's a great actor besides. One persistent criticism of this movie (which we have yet to see!) is that it might be overkill to introduce Batman, Wonder Woman, and Cyborg in one movie. I tend to agree with this point of view, though maybe they can overcome this obstacle.
How to Make it Not Lame: My feeling is that this movie will be good, but not great. It will probably get bogged down in its own subplots, especially since they're trying to introduce Lex Luthor and Metallo at the same time. If it's great it will set the stage for the DC Cinematic Universe in the same way those Marvel post-credits set up the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but if it's only good it will probably burden the entire enterprise with unanswered questions and unsatisfied desires. I'm hoping they focus at least 90% of the movie on the relationship between Batman and Superman. This is the plot point that really needs to be "sold," and this is also a crucial relationship within the DC Universe. I'm hoping they limit the involvement of Lex Luthor, Wonder Woman, and the other characters. Man of Steel should have been a much simpler, more focused film, and hopefully Zack Snyder has learned a thing or two since then.
August 2016: Suicide Squad
Marks Against It: I can't think of any so far. I actually think this is a fantastic idea for a movie, and far different from anything Marvel has attempted. If you're not familiar with the Suicide Squad, they are a group of supervillains coerced into serving the government.
David Ayer has been linked to the project, and in my opinion he is the perfect choice for a movie like this. In the case of Suicide Squad, dark and gritty is necessary, and movies such as End of Watch, Training Day, and the underrated Dark Blue are all movies that capitalize on dark and gritty.
How to Make it Not Lame: Bring out the big guns. I'm not talking about Deadshot here, but about the real star supervillains of the DC universe. Put Joker on the team. Put the Reverse-Flash on the team! Anticipating villains from future DC films would be an even bigger draw. DC has always had more interesting villains than Marvel, and there is a lot of material to draw from.
July 2017: Wonder Woman
Marks Against It: Gal Gadot. She looks nothing like Wonder Woman. Call me sexist if you will, but really. She looks nothing like Wonder Woman. We need a woman who really looks like an Amazon. We need a woman with curves. Wonder Woman has always been about sex and gender, and that part of the character needs to be embraced. To further confuse the issue, Warner Bros. is apparently going with the New 52 backstory, which largely eliminates Paradise Island and the Amazons. This seems like such a shame to me. The contrasts between Wonder Woman, "Man's World," and the Amazons could have made a very compelling movie.
How to Make it Not Lame: Recast. I really don't care what kind of actress she is. You wouldn't cast Robert Downey Jr. as Thor, would you? Bringing the battle of the sexes into a Wonder Woman movie would also be important. Wonder Woman works best when she is challenging male ideas of what women can do. Her sex appeal is also part of the character.
November 2017: Justice League Part 1
Marks against it: Zack Snyder is directing. I liked Watchmen, but this guy is starting to irritate me. Also, Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman. No. Just no. How to Make it Not Lame: This one's a tall order. By the time this film gets released, we will have seen TWO Avengers films, not to mention a boatload of X-men films, one of which features Apocalypse. Finding an original threat for DC's superfriends to face is going to be difficult, especially since Marvel has largely co-opted Darkseid in the form of Thanos (a Darkseid clone). Recent rumors suggest that Braniac will be the villain. If so, this is unfortunate, because Braniac is going to come off as an Ultron clone, even though Braniac predates Ultron by over a decade. One idea worth exploring is the multiverse-type storyline that DC has always done better than Marvel. Give us a window into different universes, and even different versions of established characters. This is something Marvel hasn't attempted yet, and moreover something that might lead to a lot of interesting contrasts between universes.
March 2018: The Flash
Marks Against It: This movie is still far away from production, but one drawback might be the Flash TV show, which features one of the worst Flash costumes ever. If that show continues until 2018, then a Flash film might have trouble forging its own identity.
Super speed has also been done before. We've already seen Quicksilver in X-men: Days of Future Past, and we'll see him again in Avengers: Age of Ultron. Yes, Quicksilver started out as a Flash clone, but it's going to be hard to erase those two characters from the public consciousness. How to Make it Not Lame: Make Flash more godlike than either version of Quicksilver. Make him equal (or even superior) to Superman. There is really no way to explain the Flash's powers in the absence of super strength, so throw physics out the window. His powers CAN'T be explained, so don't bother. His only really interesting foe is Professor Zoom/The Reverse-Flash, so use him from the start. Also, get the costume right. That costume in the TV show is just BAD.
July 2018: Aquaman
Marks Against It: I've heard people groan about this one, but I think Aquaman could be a winner for DC. Marvel Studios has yet to do anything with Namor, and Aquaman has a somewhat volatile personality as well. Volatile personalities always make for more interesting movies.
Jason Momoa has also been cast as Aquaman, and I think he's a great choice. How to Make it Not Lame: Push the ecological angle. And no talking to fish. Make him an environmental crusader, opposed to the damage mankind has inflicted upon the oceans. Pitting him against an industrial magnate like Bruce Wayne would also provide a compelling conflict within the ranks of the Justice League.
April 2019: Shazam
Marks Against It: "Dark and gritty" and Shazam don't go well together. Making this movie more kid friendly would be the easiest route to take, and is in line with roles that Dwayne Johnson (already cast as Black Adam) has done before. Billy Batson and the element of wish fulfillment make Shazam a potentially more interesting character, but people are probably going to expect something more "adult" from DC. How to Make it Not Lame: Make it a period film. Yes, this has already been done for Captain America, but I think Shazam was only really interesting when he was fighting Nazis, alongside the rest of the Marvel Family.
June 2019: Justice League Part 2
Marks Against It: None. I'm sure I'll have some reservations after I've seen Justice League Part 1. How to Make it Not Lame: 2019 is a long way away from now, and by the time this hits theaters we might have already seen Avengers 3, which might even get released alongside Avengers 4. By then the idea of a super team will be old hat, and a new set of tropes will either have to be acknowledged or overcome.
April 2020: Cyborg
Marks Against It: Deathlok has been done in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Not that it matters all that much. How to Make it Not Lame: The "is-it-a-machine-that-thinks-it's-a-man-or-a-man-who-thinks-he's-a-machine" angle from the Robocop remake could be explored, especially since it was wasted on that movie. Cyborg has always been a bit player in the DC universe, and this lack of visibility could either be the movie's downfall or its salvation. Hopefully it won't bring to mind the movie version of Steel.
June 2020: Green Lantern
Marks Against It: I'm sorry but Green Lantern is just a lame superhero. He has a ring that can basically do anything. Where do you go with that?
How to Make it Not Lame: A more compelling adversary for a start. It would also be good to see the existing cinematic version of Green Lantern, and then do everything opposite. I'm assuming this will be a reboot of the character. If so, perhaps they'll give his ring some kind of convincing limitation. The Hal Jordan seen in DC's New Frontier might be a good place to start.
Anyone who's read this blog more than once probably recognizes my fondness for both superheroes and superhero films. In this I am like many other guys my age. Ever since Man of Steel came out, there's been talk of its sequel, which we now know will also feature Batman. Who's in it, who's not in it, who's directing it, who's writing it, etc., etc., etc. I've been doing my best to stay abreast of the rumors (and most of them are just that, rumors), and I have a few thoughts on the subject that I'd like to share. 1. The General Premise So soon after Marvel's The Avengers, a Justice League movie would be too much to absorb. We need an interim movie to bridge the gap. If they can find a believable, interesting Batman to go with the Superman they've already created, we'll have a movie that very effectively leads us into the Justice League.
As great as Christian Bale was in Nolan's Dark Knight Trilogy, I don't think his particular take on Batman would work in the context of Superman. For "Batman Vs. Superman", we need the kind of Batman that created Brother Eye, the kind of Batman who keeps secret files on EVERYONE, and the kind of Batman who is smart enough to stay several steps ahead of everyone else. 2. How it Relates to Frank Miller's "Dark Knight Returns" The earliest announcement of this movie featured a cast member from Man of Steel, quoting a line from Frank Miller's Dark Knight Returns. As comic book fans everywhere are aware, The Dark Knight Returns was perhaps the most celebrated comic book series of the 1980s, and moreover a series that redefined Batman as a character.
The use of the quote leads one to think that Batman and Superman will be at each others' throats in some fashion, with an older Batman outsmarting Superman near the end. While I would love a movie adaptation of one of my all-time favorite comic books, they are obviously going to adapt elements of Miller's story to the world already established in Man of Steel. Miller has been called in to advise on this project, so I am hopeful that any elements from his comic book will be handled well. 3. Zack Snyder Zack Snyder just isn't as consistent a film maker as Christopher Nolan. This point should be fairly obvious. I thought Watchmen was great, I liked the Dawn of the Dead remake, and I even thought 300 had certain points in its favor. For all his decent films, however, there is Sucker Punch.
At his worst, he is all style and very little substance. Man of Steel had a good first half, but the second half of the movie degenerated into a WWE Smackdown. Altogether it was OK, but it could have been a lot better. I think that if we get the careful "Watchmen Snyder" we'll get a good movie. If we get the flashy "Sucker Punch Snyder" then this thing will be a disaster. 4. David Goyer Yes, he wrote the Dark Knight Trilogy. But yes, he's written a lot of bad films. I think his presence is largely irrelevant. If the director handles his script well, it will be good. If the director handles his script badly.... 5. Henry Cavill
He's a good actor, and a great Superman. I'm happy he's coming back for the sequel.
6. Ben Affleck
My first thought was: "Really? The guy from Daredevil?" But he has directed and starred in some good films since, so maybe it won't be as bad as all that. He's certainly a good actor, and if the story's solid I'm sure he will make a convincing Batman.
I just find it strange that he's involved with this project. After Daredevil bombed, wasn't he quoted as saying that he wouldn't even consider a project unless the script is solid? This movie doesn't even have a script yet!
7. The Possibility of Robin Appearing
Please no. Robin is a relic of a time when all superheroes needed to have younger sidekicks, or stand-ins for an adolescent readership. Believing in a grown man who dresses up as a bat is hard enough. But a younger boy at his side, dressed up as a bird? In a pair of speedos?
8. Cameos by Other Superheroes
Some speculate that Wonder Woman might appear in this movie. It would be difficult to make such a cameo work, and Wonder Woman is the one superhero(ine) who really, really deserves her own movie. I'm hoping they don't waste her on this one.
If Warner Bros. is really going ahead with The Flash film, then it is also possible that he might appear in this movie as a teaser. Given the Flash's alter-ego as "police scientist," this might be more in keeping with an attempt at realism. Any display of his powers, however, would be distracting.
Either way, I doubt that either character could be easily incorporated into the film. Batman is so grounded in "realism," and bringing him into contact with a Superman will be a feat in itself. Why complicate the issue with other superheroes?
9. Potential Villains (If There are Any)
Lex Luthor is inevitably mentioned. But why? In the presence of a supersmart Batman - the kind of Batman that this movie needs, Lex Luthor seems redundant.
I can't see how a villain is necessary for this movie, and I think it would be better to let the audience take sides. This element - moral ambiguity - is one element from the Nolan films that ought to be preserved.
10. How Successful it Might Be
That's the big question, isn't it? I'm thinking that it will be moderately successful, but far from earth-shatteringly so. The novelty is going to sell a lot of advanced screening tickets, but the script and especially the direction will need to be really, really good if we're going to see a blockbuster. My guess is that it will enjoy a huge opening weekend, but lack the staying power that The Avengers is STILL enjoying.
11. What it Might Bode for the Future DC Cinematic Universe
Of course if it does moderately well we'll see that Justice League movie, possibly with Ben Affleck or Zack Snyder directing. If it tanks? I predict that The Flash will either be scaled down or disappear altogether, and that Warner Bros. might just decide that the superhero movie game is best left to Marvel, Fox, and Sony. I hope it does well, just because I am dying to see a Flash movie.
12. Marvel, Fox's X-men, and Sony's Spider-man
Let us not forget the competition. This movie is due out in 2015, when several other superheroes are also due to hit theaters. By that time "Batman Vs. Superman" will be squaring off against The Avengers: Age of Ultron, Ant-Man, and a rebooted Fantastic Four... which, by the way, will exist in the same film universe as the X-men films. Sony's Spider-man will sit 2015 out, though a third (sixth?) film is scheduled for 2016.
Which is not to mention the Star Wars sequel, a movie that will be rocking our worlds the same year. 2015 is a big year for movies, and "Batman Vs. Superman" will be facing some stiff competition.
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