Not the first time Affleck drives a Batmobil in a movie people hate.
I think I saw a cover from the silver age like that somewhere
[Movies] The DC Cinematic Universe - The David Zazlav Dumpster Fire.
Except that's today audience who think 8/10 is an insultingly bad score and that anything that's good needs to be 10/10 or it sucks. I'd give more trust to critics who do this for a living and understand that there's more to a quality scale than "Complete load of shit" and "movie of the year!"
@ThatNickGuy Its a reference to this series of images. I recommend reading them all because they're hilarious.
Oh riiiiiiiight. I remember this. Thanks.
So, I just saw Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Let me get some good out of the way: there are some solid performances in it. Jeremy Irons is of course a natural fit for Alfred Pennyworth, and Ben Affleck works well as this more burnt out Batman worn down from years of fighting crime. In fact, most of the actors do solid work, with the exception of the awkward and annoying portrayal of Lex Luthor that Jesse Eisenberg has chosen.
Now, if only these actors had good material to work from.
This is a grim, mirthless affair. This is a film where Superman is glum about the use of his powers and overexerts them against criminals several times when he could have pulled back. This is a film where Batman brands criminals with a mark that gets them killed in prison and, on several occasions, he uses guns. Attempts to build up a DC Cinematic Universe feel disjointed from the main story, most obvious through elements like what I presume is a psychic nightmare because it is never properly explained. Stupid decisions are made throughout, solely to build up false drama. Areas that could have been explored, like Lois and Clark's relationship, are instead cast aside for grim and bitter attitudes.
If this is the leg on which Warner Bros. intends to build their DC Cinematic Universe, then this is a poor leg indeed.
Now, if only these actors had good material to work from.
This is a grim, mirthless affair. This is a film where Superman is glum about the use of his powers and overexerts them against criminals several times when he could have pulled back. This is a film where Batman brands criminals with a mark that gets them killed in prison and, on several occasions, he uses guns. Attempts to build up a DC Cinematic Universe feel disjointed from the main story, most obvious through elements like what I presume is a psychic nightmare because it is never properly explained. Stupid decisions are made throughout, solely to build up false drama. Areas that could have been explored, like Lois and Clark's relationship, are instead cast aside for grim and bitter attitudes.
Most of all, in their efforts to create drama, they decide to kill Superman. Not only kill Superman, but have the last shot suggest he may already be regenerating and recuperating from his death. At least DC Comics had the decency to wait for his body to be cold and in the ground for a while before even suggesting his return.
If this is the leg on which Warner Bros. intends to build their DC Cinematic Universe, then this is a poor leg indeed.
Makes me almost want to give Affleck a hug.
So now that this movie's apparently a major let-down, I don't feel as bad about thinking Suicide Squad might be lame, too. The trailer looked okay, but yet another set of blurbs from David Ayer about Leto/Joker has surfaced and I swear if Ayer hasn't started licking the ground Leto walks on yet, he's at least started rolling around in his dirty laundry.
Suicide Squad could still be good though. They seem to want to tell a story, as opposed to set-up a bunch of sequels, regardless of how batshit the director is over Jared Leto.
I'm not saying it will be good, but I wouldn't toss it yet just over Bull vs Shit.
I'm not saying it will be good, but I wouldn't toss it yet just over Bull vs Shit.
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Meh
Spoilers incoming
This didn't have to be a bad movie. There are kernels of good things in here. At its core, this could have been a really good superman movie, with Batman as a supporting character and antagonist. Everything wrong with this movie comes down to time, and having to shoehorn in the beginnings of a justice league movie.
As much as I loved finally seeing wonder woman on the big screen, she was pointless in this movie. She's there for like a minute. She should have been cut and given her own movie, I really think Gal Gadot could kill it in her own Wonder Woman film.
Batman needed more development. Ben Afflec gives a wonderful performance for what there is, but I wonder how much of his performance got left on the cutting room floor. I could accept the new, murderous Batman had he been given more time. There are little glimpses. We see Wayne Manor in ruins, we see Robin's vandalized suit, we see tiny images to show how Batman got to where he is, but we needed more. We needed to see what broke the Bat, what lead to him being alone, everyone he cared about dead, and totally burnt out and no longer adhering to his code. You can go grim dark on Batman, he fits well there, and the image of this once hero fallen so far could have been the catalyst that the Superman introduced in Man of Steel needed to become the big blue boyscout. Batman could have succeeded in teaching supes what not to do, and would have fit Batman's paranoia, afraid of what superman could become because he knows what he became.
Doomsday? No, save that for a death of superman movie. That should have been your justice league movie.
Spoilers incoming
This didn't have to be a bad movie. There are kernels of good things in here. At its core, this could have been a really good superman movie, with Batman as a supporting character and antagonist. Everything wrong with this movie comes down to time, and having to shoehorn in the beginnings of a justice league movie.
As much as I loved finally seeing wonder woman on the big screen, she was pointless in this movie. She's there for like a minute. She should have been cut and given her own movie, I really think Gal Gadot could kill it in her own Wonder Woman film.
Batman needed more development. Ben Afflec gives a wonderful performance for what there is, but I wonder how much of his performance got left on the cutting room floor. I could accept the new, murderous Batman had he been given more time. There are little glimpses. We see Wayne Manor in ruins, we see Robin's vandalized suit, we see tiny images to show how Batman got to where he is, but we needed more. We needed to see what broke the Bat, what lead to him being alone, everyone he cared about dead, and totally burnt out and no longer adhering to his code. You can go grim dark on Batman, he fits well there, and the image of this once hero fallen so far could have been the catalyst that the Superman introduced in Man of Steel needed to become the big blue boyscout. Batman could have succeeded in teaching supes what not to do, and would have fit Batman's paranoia, afraid of what superman could become because he knows what he became.
Doomsday? No, save that for a death of superman movie. That should have been your justice league movie.
In fact, here's an idea. After the conclusion, the final shot of the movie should have been a sudden sonic boom. A bloody and beaten Flash appears, but he's slowing down. He literally can't run anymore and starts to collapse. He's still traveling at Mach speed when superman catches him, asking what happened. Flash looks up, terrified, and whispers "Doomsday is coming"
It is more plausible than my Earth-3 hypothesis.
Minor spoiler, but they kill off a pretty significant Superman supporting character during the movie. Not Lois.
http://www.hitfix.com/news/outrage-...rman-shocker-has-fans-screaming-bloody-murder
It's more Snyder's response that pisses me off: "We didn't have room for him in this universe, but we can have fun with him, right?"
"Fun" for him is the character eating a bullet to the head.
FUCK. THIS. MOVIE.
http://www.hitfix.com/news/outrage-...rman-shocker-has-fans-screaming-bloody-murder
It's more Snyder's response that pisses me off: "We didn't have room for him in this universe, but we can have fun with him, right?"
"Fun" for him is the character eating a bullet to the head.
FUCK. THIS. MOVIE.
There are people planning to see this multiple times, not out of enjoyment, but because they know WB is a super knee-jerk company with no guns to stick to, and they're worried all the planned projects will get cancelled.
I see where they're coming from, but if BvS is successful, it's not going to improve future films. Either it flops and WB thinks people don't want DC comics movies, or it succeeds and they think people want this kind of movie. Unfortunately there's no way to buy a half-ticket.
I see where they're coming from, but if BvS is successful, it's not going to improve future films. Either it flops and WB thinks people don't want DC comics movies, or it succeeds and they think people want this kind of movie. Unfortunately there's no way to buy a half-ticket.
As just a popcorn movie, it's not bad. It's big on flash and spectacle, and it looks really good. Anyone who doesn't know or doesn't care about the characters will probably find it enjoyable.
Fuck this movie. Double fuck Snyder. Triple fuck WB. Quadruple fuck DC.
I'd rather watch the Clark vs Dirty Superman junkyard fight from Superman III on loop for 2 hours. At least it has a more uplifting ending.
I will say this for Snyder: his work is almost always visually impressive. Watchmen was gorgeous, and included many shots which looked straight out of the comic. I can say that Man of Steel was visually impressive. The guy knows how to make stuff look great. It's everything else that's a problem.
It's a classic case of style over substance.
Wait, that was supposed to be...
...You know, as terrible as all of this has been, I don't feel any anger. I just feel disappointment that this is what they've decided to do with some of the most iconic characters in comic book history.
Seriously, the only DC-related film I'm excited for now is The LEGO Batman Movie.
So, you're fucking WB 7 times?Fuck this movie. Double fuck Snyder. Triple fuck WB. Quadruple fuck DC.
I'd rather watch the Clark vs Dirty Superman junkyard fight from Superman III on loop for 2 hours. At least it has a more uplifting ending.
This actually shows the difference between the way that WB runs their companies and the way that Disney runs theirs.Just listened to Cinema Snob review and it really underlines the question "Who was the movie for?"
If you're a fan, it's problematic for many listed reasons.
But Cinema Snob didn't have much interest in DC purity (ex: no problem with Batman killing people), and comments that stuck out were
- movie feels like it's missing reels of film
- half of it following Man of Steel, the other half setting up Justice League
- scene order could be swapped around and would be just as lacking in cohesion
- Jesse Eisenberg: scene ruiner
So if it's not for fans and it's not for non-fans, who the fuck cares?
The only positive takeaway being that Ben Affleck was a solid Batman (even if written badly) and the solo Batman film should be good so long as Zack Snyder doesn't touch it.
If you're a fan, it's problematic for many listed reasons.
But Cinema Snob didn't have much interest in DC purity (ex: no problem with Batman killing people), and comments that stuck out were
- movie feels like it's missing reels of film
- half of it following Man of Steel, the other half setting up Justice League
- scene order could be swapped around and would be just as lacking in cohesion
- Jesse Eisenberg: scene ruiner
So if it's not for fans and it's not for non-fans, who the fuck cares?
The only positive takeaway being that Ben Affleck was a solid Batman (even if written badly) and the solo Batman film should be good so long as Zack Snyder doesn't touch it.
FILM CRIT HULK's defense of Captain America from a couple of years ago, provides an interesting counter arguement:
GasBandit
Staff member
Ok, so, here's basically my thoughts on the movie, spoiler free.
As I said, 4/10. Ben Affleck actually delivers a decent performance, Jeremy Irons killed as Alfred. The movie was actually rather impressive, visually speaking, and could have been decent, if not for 3 things, listed from worst to least bad -
1) 3 points off for Jesse Eisenberg's Lex Luthor. Awful shit. Near unwatchable. Bad casting, bad writing, bad acting, bad dialogue. His contribution alone would have turned a perfect movie into ah "ehh, it's ok" movie.
2) 2 further points off for various nerdgripes. Batman's frequent use of guns, since when is gotham so close to metropolis that you can see the bat-signal, other plot things that I won't say because they're spoilery.
3) 1 more point off for the shoehorning of Wonder Woman and the "Metahuman" stuff (exacerbated by the fact that I just don't care for Gadot and still think she was a bad casting decision) into the movie and especially for the last half second of the movie before the closing credits. Made me groan out loud. The former felt "tacked on because we gotta" and the latter I shouldn't even have to explain.
I'm just glad we caught a matinee.
Anyway, the friends I went to go see it with thought the movie was really good. They had no familiarity with the source material nor have they been following the nerdpress/blogwhines all this time, so to them it was pretty neat and they enjoyed it.
They also reacted positively to the Suicide Squad trailer before the movie, so whatcha gonna do.
As I said, 4/10. Ben Affleck actually delivers a decent performance, Jeremy Irons killed as Alfred. The movie was actually rather impressive, visually speaking, and could have been decent, if not for 3 things, listed from worst to least bad -
1) 3 points off for Jesse Eisenberg's Lex Luthor. Awful shit. Near unwatchable. Bad casting, bad writing, bad acting, bad dialogue. His contribution alone would have turned a perfect movie into ah "ehh, it's ok" movie.
2) 2 further points off for various nerdgripes. Batman's frequent use of guns, since when is gotham so close to metropolis that you can see the bat-signal, other plot things that I won't say because they're spoilery.
3) 1 more point off for the shoehorning of Wonder Woman and the "Metahuman" stuff (exacerbated by the fact that I just don't care for Gadot and still think she was a bad casting decision) into the movie and especially for the last half second of the movie before the closing credits. Made me groan out loud. The former felt "tacked on because we gotta" and the latter I shouldn't even have to explain.
I'm just glad we caught a matinee.
Anyway, the friends I went to go see it with thought the movie was really good. They had no familiarity with the source material nor have they been following the nerdpress/blogwhines all this time, so to them it was pretty neat and they enjoyed it.
They also reacted positively to the Suicide Squad trailer before the movie, so whatcha gonna do.
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I don't even blame Eisenberg for accepting the role. Anyone would have wanted to get in on the ground floor of a major franchise. Robert Downe Jr. is making a mint off of the Marvel movies.
Well, that seals it. This movie was not made with fans in mind.
Kris was apparently not too keen on it, either.
--Patrick