GasBandit
Staff member
It gets better. AND THEN IT ENDS >_<
[Movies] The DC Cinematic Universe - The David Zazlav Dumpster Fire.
Coulda been the three or four sword thrusts, I don't know, but look at the shape he's in.
--Patrick
Beside the fact that she too old to be Babs, i'm pretty sure someone calls her Minerva at one point!
Yes.
"This neurotoxin will kill you in seconds."
"Oh thank God, neurotoxin. The only thing that can get me sloshed."
I'd like it to be different, but often it takes something really serious like that to permanently shape a person's attitude in the future.
Spidey had Uncle Ben. Walt Disney accidentally killed an owl when it scared him as a kid. Everyone has their moment of formative trauma.
--Patrick
Superman was doing just fine without that trauma before. In fact, it further showcases the kind of character he is. He's not motivated by tragedy. He's motivated by doing the right thing.
EDIT: Of course, one will argue he lost his entire planet. But he wasn't aware of any of that until long after living on Earth and considering himself human. It's rarely what motivates him to do the right thing because he was doing the right thing as Clark long before he became Superman.
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GasBandit
Staff member
Ah, you're right. I don't know why I thought she was Barbara before.
He did lose his father. And to a heart attack, one of the few things he couldn't fight against. But this didn't make him a good person, he already was one. It did, however, further shape his values.
Depends on the canon, but you're right. It's like when people say he's learning to be Superman. He was ALWAYS Superman, just not always in name or costume. He's Clark Kent, first, either way.
I feel like that's what the movies always forget, at least the new ones. Unlike Batman, who is defined by his costume and what he does as a hero (putting nearly no value on his life as Bruce Wayne), I've always thought that if Supes had the choice he'd hang up the tights for good and just live as Clark on a farm forever.
My ideal version of Clark would love that. He's Superman because he's needed and it's the best use of his abilities. It's his responsibility with the powers that he's been granted.
Interestingly enough, though, I think my ideal version of Lois - the mostly cynical, military brat, career-driven city girl - would HATE farm living. And there's an interesting story in that, I think.
Keeeeeeeeeeeeeent Acres is the place to be
Faaaaaaaaaaaaarm livin' is the life for me
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The Earth, spreadin' out so far and wide
Take my Metropolis, just gimme dat countryside
--Patrick
That's one of the more subtle things about Christopher Reeve's performance. His Superman is just a little awkward and a hint too earnest. Sure, he plays up this aspect of himself when he is maintaining his secret id, but it's always a part of him. Even in costume, he's a farm boy trying to figure out how to fit in in the big city.
So, "For the Man Who Has Everything" Justice League Unlimited episode. I think that and "Perchance to Dream" from Batman TAS should be required viewing for anyone writing either character, so they can understand where they'd be if they weren't superheroes. Someone on another forum pointed out what a stupid idea the Fortress of Solitude can be when treated like it's Superman's home instead of just a place he keeps stuff. In his freetime he'd be more apt to hang out with Lois, or visit his mom in Smallville. But I also know there was a time, like during the George Reeves show, where Clark Kent was treated as just an unimportant alias Superman took on, in a different time when people didn't bother letting this stuff get three dimensional.
Which is part of why I have issues even with Justice League. They seem like they're up there a lot of the time in the cartoons, but when I've glanced at it in comics, like the Sandman for example, it seems there's only a few supers and staff actually on the satellite and then they'll take shifts. In the cartoon, everyone's up there, all the time. It stretches credibility, especially the idea that Batman would leave Gotham when there wasn't an international emergency that absolutely needed his presence.
That's not to say I didn't enjoy JLU, but it seemed to forget the heroes' lives at times, which isn't something that would happen on the other animated shows (besides Teen Titans).[DOUBLEPOST=1466889539,1466889506][/DOUBLEPOST]
Even as a human, he's an alien to his environment.
I feel like ordering food and watching that movie tonight. It always puts a smile on my face.
Yeah I enjoyed JL/JLU, but those were always more about straight-up hero adventures than the suit-and-tie lives of the members. Superman's solo cartoon was much better about that.
I think one of the writers or producers on JL/JLU said they didn't focus on each member's personal lives (or even identities, since they barely mentioned their alter egos) because they treated the team and their stories less like friends and more like co-workers. So we're seeing them on the job for the majority of their adventures together. I think that's a good approach for stories about 7 of the most powerful people on the planet. It'd be difficult to juggle all of that on a regular basis. I imagine they'd each get a similar treatment as Batman and Superman did if they had their own solo shows.
Speaking of which, it's a damn shame we never got a Flash or Wonder Woman solo animated series. They both have such rich mythos that they could easily make at least 3 seasons like Superman.
Speaking of which, it's a damn shame we never got a Flash or Wonder Woman solo animated series. They both have such rich mythos that they could easily make at least 3 seasons like Superman.
Not to mention being such great characters on JL/JLU. I still think Flash beating Lex Brainiac and the aftermath is one of the best scenes in all of DC animation.
This was my personal favourite moment. I actually threw my arms in the air and cheered when this happened.
Wife and I both squee'd at that moment
.I totally get that, but it ended up feeling less personal to me (especially when the villains would refer to themselves as evil or villains, felt much more comics code era than what I was used to). Most of my favorite JLU episodes were the ones that focused on the heroes on the less-revered heroes, like the Booster Gold episode. My wife thinks the Question is the funniest/coolest guy in the DCU.
That said, the Flash steals the show so many times.
You wanna talk about episodes that every Superman writer should watch, how about Comfort & Joy (the Christmas episode). Clark takes J'ohnn back to Kent Farm for Christmas and you finally, FINALLY see the real Clark: totally relaxed, smiling, still believes in Santa Claus, being a big kid for Christmas to the point that the Kents have to wrap his presents in lead so he doesn't peak.Wife and I both squee'd at that moment
I totally get that, but it ended up feeling less personal to me (especially when the villains would refer to themselves as evil or villains, felt much more comics code era than what I was used to). Most of my favorite JLU episodes were the ones that focused on the heroes on the less-revered heroes, like the Booster Gold episode. My wife thinks the Question is the funniest/coolest guy in the DCU.
That said, the Flash steals the show so many times.
"That's why I love coming home for the holidays. I can just relax and be myself."
People on Tumblr have informed me (in a rude way, which is entirely unnecessary yet expected) that James Wan is still directing Aquaman.
Rumor right now is we'll see a Wonder Woman clip for SDCC, though I have a feeling WB's main focus will be on Suicide Squad, while DC Comics will continue promoting Rebirth.
Rumor right now is we'll see a Wonder Woman clip for SDCC, though I have a feeling WB's main focus will be on Suicide Squad, while DC Comics will continue promoting Rebirth.
Sweet merciful Kirby, they really do bond over their mothers' names. Fuck this movie.
I get what they were going for with this scene, but it seems like it handles its shit so backwards.
First, it feels like the audience won't remember that's Batman's mother's name from earlier. That could've been left to just Affleck's reaction.
Second, the part that feels like it could use some explaining or visual presence, is that Lois saying that makes him realize Superman has a mother, he's not some alien from a pod, he has a mom, he's worried about saving his mom, he's a person.
So they feel the need to spoon feed the audience the obvious part, but leave the more complex part to Affleck's reaction, which can lead to the interpretation that it's just "whoa, both our moms' names are Martha" instead of the reasons that make more sense. So as with many things in this movie, not a terrible idea, but terrible execution. I feel like a lot of this movie is "I get what they were going for, but they did it badly."
A lot of people are changing their tunes after seeing the extended version. Some of them being reasonable, pointing out how certain scenes fix plot holes or improve the pacing and flow of the film. Others are taking the approach that it's time to worship the movie. I saw one video where the guy's "it sucks" opinion turned into "every single thing in this movie is amazing." There's shit that adding scenes can't fix, dude. If you were just hating on it because that's the majority opinion before and just looking for an excuse to love it, well, that's dumb. Just have your opinion. You're allowed to like something most people shit on, same as you're allowed to shit on something most people like.
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Now that it's out on video, I might "legally obtain" it and finally watch it. Not gonna lie. I'm kind of afraid to. I watched a few other clips after this one and it didn't sell me.
I'm curious too. It's easier to sit through three hours of crap at home than 2 hours and 20 minutes of it in a theater.
At the same time, not sure how inclined I am to watching this grunting dumpster fire.
Sometime soon I'm going to do a double feature of Batman: The Movie and Batman visits Superman. 50 years of Batman!
I just watched 66 Batman yesterday to celebrate it's nearing 50 years old. It's still wonderful. Wore the tape out so much as a kid that my little brother's first words, and this is a true fucking story, were, "Na na na na na na na na, Batman." Me and the kid that lived across the street watched it so much we compiled a list of every one of Robin's holy blank sayings (it was an entire looseleaf page long). As an adult watching it for the first time in a decade or so, my absolute favorite line of the movie that made me laugh my ass off was when Penguin and Catwoman were dustpanning up their first batch of dehydrated henchmen, Penguin remarks, "Careful, careful, every one of them has a mutha, waaack waaack."
Everyone should watch Batman 66.
Everyone should watch Batman 66.
Holy tonal whiplash, Batman!
So this movie's first course serves us with a dream sequence, sprinkled with minced flashback. I think I might save this for another day, actually.
I literally just finished watching it. I've come here to warn you not to, that it is as bad as they say. I would say more, but after sitting through that shitshow, I don't want to think about it anymore.
Ok, a bit more...
This movie is too long. They could cut an hour and it would flow better. Plot points don't go anywhere, scenes will set up something and then have it reversed immediately off camera. What's really painful, though, is that the movie isn't without talent. Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman is amazing. She gets a super badass intro and is quickly established as a powerhouse. She only has maybe 10 minutes of screen time, but seeing her in this makes me really excited for a Wonder Woman stand alone movie.
Jesse Eisenberg is so much shit. He's absolutely awful, his plot doesn't make any sense, his motivations are questionable, he has no backstory, and his performance is complete ass. I've seen him act his ass off in other movies and show how good he can be, I have to assume he is an actor that needs good direction to really perform, and just didn't get it.
Ben Affleck, on the other hand, acts like he's directing himself in a much better movie. I'm totally down with this depiction of Batman, who is a complex, obsessed and haunted character, and the subtle hints dropped in the movie about what could have lead him to this point are very well done, and entirely contrasting with the rest of the film, where everything is as blunt as possible.
This movie is too long. They could cut an hour and it would flow better. Plot points don't go anywhere, scenes will set up something and then have it reversed immediately off camera. What's really painful, though, is that the movie isn't without talent. Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman is amazing. She gets a super badass intro and is quickly established as a powerhouse. She only has maybe 10 minutes of screen time, but seeing her in this makes me really excited for a Wonder Woman stand alone movie.
Jesse Eisenberg is so much shit. He's absolutely awful, his plot doesn't make any sense, his motivations are questionable, he has no backstory, and his performance is complete ass. I've seen him act his ass off in other movies and show how good he can be, I have to assume he is an actor that needs good direction to really perform, and just didn't get it.
Ben Affleck, on the other hand, acts like he's directing himself in a much better movie. I'm totally down with this depiction of Batman, who is a complex, obsessed and haunted character, and the subtle hints dropped in the movie about what could have lead him to this point are very well done, and entirely contrasting with the rest of the film, where everything is as blunt as possible.
Just for clarity, is this the regular version or the ultimate edition?