New Superman Trailer Has Us Looking Up

 It seems as though my last blog post was in regard to the first Superman trailer.  Either I don't post enough, or I must really like Superman.  I think it's a lot of both.  Today the newest trailer for James Gunn's Superman movie dropped online.  This film will help kick off the new DC Comics shared TV & film universe; or DCU.  A lot is riding on this film.  Gunn is not only directing the film but is also head of DC Studios along with Peter Safran.  The ending of the DCEU left a lot of fans disappointed as the films slowly made less and less money.  This film has to bring back "hope" for the DC characters, and in the DC brand.  It has to silence the Snyder fans who think this movie sucks before they even see it.  It has to be good enough to help make the next film, Supergirl, a success.  And it has to help Warner Bros get out of the financial hole it's in.  Everyone is counting on the Man of Steel to save the day.

As this trailer opens, we see Lois interviewing Clark as Superman. We know this film isn't an origin story, but I'm curious if Lois knows Clark's secret identity when the film starts.  They discuss a situation where Superman stopped a war, but not everyone is happy about it.  This idea was present in the DCEU as well, most notably Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice.  Superman wants to help people, but in the modern political landscape a person cannot just cross borders and do as they like, regardless of how many people they save.  Clark seems to be upset that Lois is pressing him, but I think we all know Lois is just trying to prove a point as to how some people see him.

This also makes me think about other shots like Rick Flagg Sr. and members of The Authority arresting Superman.  The most interesting shot in the trailer to me is Superman being beaten in a cell with Metamorpho behind him.  We also see another person in the cell next to them, and another view shows many cells.  My guess is that any metahuman who doesn't want to take orders from the government is in a cell.  So, I can only dream of all the DC characters that are in there!

We see Lex and the Engineer enter the Fortress of Solitude and destroy some robots and get into a fight with Krypto.  So God help me, if anything happens to that dog!!  I'm curious to know who the guy in the golden armor is.  With some kind of blast, that might be heat vision, he could possibly be another Kryptonian, whether he/she is from this reality, I can't say.

We get a few shots of his parents, Ma and Pa Kent, who were probably the most lackluster part of the trailer for me.  I'm used to Smallville's John Schneider and Annette O'Toole being a big part of Clark's story.  I think they'll serve their purpose, but maybe not a big part in the film. I also don't think either of them will die, at least in this movie.  

We see shots of Cat Grant taking a selfie during a fight, Jimmy and Clark messing around, and Guy Gardner bitch slapping some soldiers.  Remember, this film takes place in world that superheroes have been around for a while, and most have become cynical.  Superman is coming in to show them the light and bring hope to the world. Another shot shows a citizen coming to help Superman after he fell out of the sky, perhaps inspiring people to help others.

The part of the trailer that hook me was when he said "Hey, eyes up here," and took off.  While Superman isn't a funny guy, he likes to keep things light.  One of my pros for the theatrical version of Justice League was Superman post-resurrection.  He had a happy attitude instead of brooding.  As he said, he "liked being alive."  This also makes me think Superman was trying to get the bad guy away from people where they could be hurt, another thing the DCEU never really addressed.

A big thing this trailer told me is what James Gunn has said, this film is very much focused on Superman AND Lois.  Rachel Brosnahan and David Corsenswet's chemistry looks like it'll be good.  We just had four seasons of show about Superman and Lois, and it ended too soon in my opinion. We heard John William's theme, and even got the classic Superman fonts swooshing in to let us know July 11 is gonna be awesome!!! 

 

MY THOUGHTS ON THE DCU'S SUPERMAN TEASER TRAILER

To start off, I wasn't a fan of the electric guitar John Williams theme.  I just felt like they are trying to fool audiences into thinking this movie is "cool" with an electric guitar.  But the first shot we get is Superman bleeding.  This is great, because a lot of general audiences think Superman is too perfect or powerful.  But the first thing we see is this powerful hero beaten and bleeding.  So, who beat him?  Well, in this trailer we see him fight a fire-breathing monster, we see him about to face some kind jelly fish-looking orb while having a moment with Lois, but my money's on the baddie he is fighting on the Metropolis Meteors field.  Who is this villain taking on the Man of Steel?  I don't know, but I don't care to know right now.  This movie is 7 months away, we got no plot details or dialogue in this trailer; except Superman asking his dog to take him home.

Speaking of Krypto, I showed this trailer to a co-worker who said they weren't a big Superman fan, but when Krypto comes racing through the snow he said, "Oh they got his dog in this?  I'm down for the dog."  Proof that everyone loves a faithful, furry, companion.  We also get a shot of the Kent farm and Clark with his father, probably having a heart to heart.  Not a big farm, or what I'd think to see, but maybe there is a story behind that too.  Again, I don't need to know now.

We see shots of Superman and Lois working at the Daily Planet, and we also see newpapers, which suprised me.  I know newpapers exist, but I'm curious if the debate of print media vs digital will be a slight topic for these journalists.  Or maybe even modern journalism in general will be a topic of the film.  While we're on Lois (I wish) I'm "super" excited to see Rachel Brosnahan has Lois Lane.  Based off her previous work I think she'll make a great Lois.  There are several shots of Lois kissing both Clark and Superman in this trailer.  This makes me think Lois knows, or finds out, that Clark is Superman in this film.  One thing I've enjoyed in modern interpretation of Superman like Man of Steel and My Adventures with Superman, is that Lois knows Clark is Superman, and they don't have to make the world's greatest reporter seem clueless.

In this movie we know we are getting other superheroes.  James Gunn says in this DCU that superheroes, or meta humans, have been around for a while.  We see Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner looking like he's holding back a mob so Superman can have a moment to himself.  Not a fan of Fillion's hair, but look at Guy Gardner in the comics.  That's his hair.  Plus, his character is know for his overconfidence, so maybe the comic-accurate hairstyle is a gag. 

We see Isabela Merced fly through the air as Hawkgirl, and Edi Gathegi use his super brain to protect someone as Mister Terrific.  The most interesting thing about that shot for me is that the armored gunmen colors are green and purple.  These colors are most associated with Lex Luthor's armored suit.  Finally, we had a close-up shot of Anthony Carrigan as Metamorpho.  I didn't realized that's who that was until I noticed his purple shoulder.  Another Metamorpho easter egg is the sign "Stagg Industries" in the background in one shot.  Simon Stagg is an advesary of Metamorpho in the comic books.

Nicholas Holt shows up in several shots as Lex Luthor, one of them he appears injured, and in another he is holding a gun, with perhaps a kryptonite bullet in it?  We'll see.  We don't see in the trailer Superman staple characters like Perry White and Jimmy Olsen (though we did see Jimmy with the Daily Planet staff in the teaser to the teaser) and I'm ok with that.  Again, the movie is 7 months away, and this teaser is just to give us a feel of the movie.  And Superman getting stuff thrown at him by an angry mob definitely envokes feelings.  

The last few shots I want to mention are ones of the Fortress of Solitude and world politics.  Superman is crouching over a robot in one shot that looks like he is in the Fortress of Solitude.  Is that his Fortress robot Kelex?  The only other words in the trailer besides Superman talking to his dog, is a boy in trouble, calling to Superman, and holding a flag with the shield on it.  Another shot shows a television with the headline "Boravian Troops Amassing At Borders."  This goes into a modern covnersation about superheroes.  The conversation in Captain America: Civil War asks if enhanced individuals have the right to interject in conflicts that have geo political consequences.  "What if this panel sends us somewhere we don't think we should go? What if there's someplace we need to go and they don't let us?  We may not be perfect, but the safest hands are still our own."  This DCU is said to be a more cynical society and Superman is a light of hope that comes in with opposing views on how things should be happening.  It's the kind of discussion topics I'm looking forward to most in this film, and in the DCU.  

The most important things about this film is that it will be released on my birthday.  A new Superman film that appears to be looking good, and kicks off a new DC Comics Cinematic Universe. Happy Birthday to me!  This film also has a lot riding on it.  It's Warner Bros first outing to try and win back the audiences after the previous DCEU films declined critically and financially with every film.  This film doesn't need to make $1 billion, but it does need to be good to try and win back some hearts and minds.  Otherwise, "hope" may be lost for WB and the DC superheroes on the silver screen.

Dayspring Discussions: May 19, 2024: X-Men '97 Season 1 Review

Star Trek: Strange New World's Strange Sophomore Season

I always start off talking Star Trek by saying I don't consider myself a Trekkie. I like Star Trek, but if I'm watching something ST it's a movie with Chris Pine or the Next Generation crew, or a TV show that Jack Quaid has been on.  Strange New Worlds just finished its second season on Paramount+. The Discovery spin-off came out with a great freshman season.  We saw some characters we already knew on this Enterprise crew before James T Kirk becomes its Captain, and we met new characters not from the original series as well.  What keeps me coming back to watch this series is its characters.  Any great movie or TV show has characters you care about and get invested in.  Pike is cool, and relatable to me.  Spock is awkward and funny.  Uhura is innocent and smiley.  I like going back onto the Enterprise and hanging out with its crew.  The other reason I like Strange New Worlds is its production. They've updated ideas from the 1966 to 2022. I try to watch each episode on my big 4k TV, with all the lights off, and in total darkness, because each episode is movie quality.

I think a lot of long-time Trekkies were in an uproar when a musical episode was announced at San Diego Comic Con, the same day they announced the Star Trek: Lower Decks crossover episode was dropping on Paramount+ in a few hours. With animated crossovers, musicals, and an episode where Spock becomes full human, but still has to pretend to be Vulcan, I can see how some Star Trek fans could see these things as gimmicky and be turned off by them.  But I believe that some people take their fandom too serious.  I'm a big Star Wars fan, but I know I will not like everything Star Wars. I understand Star Trek is a franchise that is filled with metaphors about humanity, and our own modern problems being twisted into a sci-fi context.  I get it. But sometimes, it's good to just have some fun and be silly.  We had those serious episodes like the season finale, and then the episode before it, everyone was singing.  While I'll probably skip Subspace Rhapsody in future rewatches, I'm ok that it was made, and it put a smile on my face as I watched it.

One of the things I enjoyed about season 2 was the growth of the characters.  We got more into the history of Dr. M'Benga and his issues with Klingons.  Nurse Chapel and La'an had some great character moments in this season as well.  Plus, Erica Ortega finally got to go on an away mission, and might not come back from it.  We'll see. We also got what some might call fan-service cameos.  James T. Kirk was in this season so much, people thought he was a crew member. But in the 4 episodes Paul Wesley played him in the series, the true Kirk has only been in 2 out of 20 episodes. I also loved seeing James interact with Sam, and their relationship is something I want to see more of.  In the season 2 finale we got a young Scottie, which means we've met four out of the seven TOS crew members in SNG. I can see how it might be a little too cheeky and shrinks this universe, but again, it's fantasy. Just try to enjoy it for what it is. 

I mentioned above the modernization of original Star Trek concepts like the better special effects and cooler looking props and sets, and also aliens.  We were teased the Gorn last season as almost xenomorph type creatures that were similar to those in Alien.  It's a far distinction from the rubber reptile suit we saw in the 60's. But in the season finale we got a better understanding of how these beings can seem so formidable.  The Gorn start as little creatures, gestating in a warm body, then become these four-legged predators.  In Hegemony, we finally see an adult Gorn, which instantly made me think of Slithe from Thundercats and how badly I want a movie of that childhood cartoon.   The Gorn seem to have mastered space-travel, but up to this episode, we've only seen them as wild beasts. This adult Gorn I think has given us still only a fraction of the true threat they cause to the Enterprise and the Federation.  I see them as the opposite of the Borg.  Instead of being merciless opponents who are very "robotic", the Gorn seem to be primal, but still intelligent at a mature age.  Their more vicious nature I think will set them apart from other Star Trek villains like the Klingons, the Borg, and the Romulans. 

Overall, I enjoyed this second season of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds because of its variety.  It has serious episodes, and silly episodes.  It had drama, action, and comedy.  And I'm a fan when I can get all three of those things in one show.  As to when we will get the next season, I don't know due to the continuing writers and actors strikes going on. But until then, I will enjoy discussing with people their thoughts on this season, and what choice they think Captain Pike will make, knowing his own fate is set, but his decision will affect everyone else's fate.

Superman & Lois Continues To Be The Superman We Need

 The fanboys were in a tizzy this week as it was announced that David Corenswet will play Superman in James Gunn's upcoming Superman: Legacy. People online debated whether Henry Cavill should have stayed or whether audiences will even turn out to see this newest interpretation of the Man of Steel on the big screen.  Meanwhile, on the small screen, we have continued to get a solid Kal-El for three seasons in the form of Tyler Hoechlin on Superman & Lois.

The CW series was on the rocks as to whether it would return for a fourth season. The show is CW's #1 show, but also its most expensive. With The CW cancelling shows, and knowing an integrated DC Universe was coming, I knew this series would not have a long run, but I was hoping for another season before we get a new live-action Superman in Corenswet. And then word came down from high that we will get a shortened season four with a smaller budget, and possibly losing some supporting characters because of the money constraints. No matter what, I am excited for this show to return for one more season. Since the season one episode where Clark tells his son about the struggle he faces every time he puts on that suit, and the complete control he must have every time he does, I knew the people making this series get what Superman truly is, and where the character's strengths lie. 

Season 3 gave us a great Superman story. People say the character isn't interesting because he's too powerful and perfect.  But that is what makes a good Superman tale. In this season, his wife, Lois Lane, is diagnosed with cancer.  This isn't some villain trying to take over the world or destroy Metropolis. This is something Superman can't fight.  The most powerful being in the world is helpless to save his wife. That is a good Superman fable. You give him something he can't fight, like his father having a heart attack.  You make this alien human.  And then you have a scene where his sons argue with him about using Kryptionian technology to help, but come to find out Lois and Clark have made the decision not to use it, because it wouldn't be fair to all the other millions of people who have cancer.

My favorite scene this entire season was the diner scene. Clark is frustrated with his wife being sick and comes to find out a man hit his son and pulled a gun on his wife. He walks into that diner, knowing he could kill this man with his pinkie.  But he doesn't. He barely touches him. The control Clark has to have in that moment is remarkable. 

As good as season three is, it does have a few faults for me. Lex Luthor came into the season with two episodes left.  Instead of focusing on Bruno Mannheim most of the season I thought Lex should have been brought in sooner. Although the idea of a man just trying to save his wife from cancer by using any means at his disposal was interesting. The new actor playing Jonathan Kent took some getting used too. But now I think I like this actor better than the other. As for Jordan, well, I've always thought Jordan was a little bitch, and when he started to disobey his parents, I would have taken him to the Fortress of Solitude and put him in a crystal like in Superman II until he gained some perspective. John Henry and Lana hooking up I called back in season 2, and I could care less about Kyle and Chrissy.

They brought back Bizarro in the season finale and did something interesting. The season two premiere saw a beast coming out of the ground, which I thought was Doomsday, and I thought it was too early to bring that character into the series. But the creators tricked us when under the suit was Bizarro. But now, they've almost walked that deception back, and turned Bizzaro into Doomsday. Honestly, I'm not thrilled with it. I think fighting a newly brain-washed Bizarro would have been sufficient. Plus, less costly to the budget. But that last shot of the two characters about to rumble on the moon was cool. My favorite live-action version of Doomsday is still from the Syfy series Krypton.

This season of Superman & Lois gave us a very human story. And that's what this series continues to do. It tells the tale of a man who is burdened with being the most powerful being in the world, but can't save everyone, even those closest to him. Clark is constantly being told by people what he should do but tries to continue to do what he feels is right, and protect all life, not matter how hard it is. I'm going to miss this Superman, and I can only hope James Gunn is going to give us one who, as Mark Waid once wrote, doesn't make the 'Super' more important than the 'man'.

The Flash Can't Seem To Find It's Footing

I like the character The Flash. I'm a big fan of Geoff Johns time writing the character, and one of the storylines he wrote being Flashpoint, the book this film is based on. I was also a fan of The Flash TV series, which, like a lot of TV shows, continued way longer than it should of.  Flashpoint was a way for DC Comics to do one of their patented reboots of their universe, and with the upcoming regime change at DC Studios, I expected this film to kind of do the same for the DC film universe. This movie was originally supposed to be released in 2018.  It was announced during the first season of The Flash and now being released after a nine-season run of The CW series has ended.  This film went through several writers, several directors, and a lot of personal trouble from the film's star, Ezra Miller. Some thought The Flash was never going to be released.  But now that it has, was the marathon it took to get to this finish line worth it?

The last time we saw Ezra Miller on the big screen as Flash was 2017's Justice league.  Miller was the comic relief in a film that had it's own production drama. I didn't mind Miller's character in the film, but I thought he in no way represented who Barry Allen is. Grant Gustin plays it a little closer to Barry's personality on The CW show, however, Miller's Flash entertained me, and that's the most important thing. In The Flash, Barry is supposed to have been the Flash for over two years now, and still acts like a newbie. Granted, he knows how to do a few things, but his attitude as a hero is ridiculous. Which comes to a head when he talked to Bruce about going back in time and changing reality, warning him of the consequences. In the original storyline, Barry goes back in time to save his mother in a moment of weakness, out of nowhere, but Batman just told Barry not to do it, and then five minutes later he does it. 

So Barry puts a can of tomatoes in a shopping cart, and causes a ripple effect in time that evidently made Ben Affleck turn into Michael Keaton. In the original Flashpoint story, Barry's actions cause time ripples like Kal-El's ship not landing in Kansas, or Bruce Wayne dying instead of his parents in that alley. But I'm not sure how a person gets a completely different look. I knew Keaton was put in the film just as a nostalgia cash-grab, but he just logically seems out of place. Had they knew they needed a Batman, and found Keaton's from another reality, I would have accepted that better than, "well we wanted Michael Keaton back as Batman. So we just did it."

Sasha Calle plays Kara Zor-El in this film, aka Supergirl.  Though, her look is more like Lara Lane-Kent, the multiversal daughter of Clark Kent and Lois Lane. To me, Supergirl was the standout in this film with little actual screen time. In the original Flashpoint, Kal-El's ship landed in Metropolis instead of Smallville. It killed thousands of people, and he spent his entire life as a lab rat, and never became Superman. Kara Zor-El left Krypton as a teenager, allegedly charged to look after baby Kal when they both got to Earth. In this film, Kal was intercepted by Zod, who killed him, and Kara was captured by Russians and tortured for 30 years.  So why is she still a teenager?  Also, wasn't Zod supposed to be trapped in the Phantom Zone when their ships left Krypton?  I know you can say "multiverse" as your plot hole, but at least tell us if Canon is different. Kara is also allegedly in possession of the Codex, the thing Zod was looking for in Man of Steel. The McGuffin of the entire first DCEU film, that has stll led to nothing after 10 years of stories.  

The conclusion of this film is finding out this new reality's Barry is the bad guy, or Savitar.  And basically, that is what this film comes down to for me.  This film has had a long road with multiple creatives working on it for years, and it just feels like a blend of all these ideas that never meshed. The film was at constant war with its plots and characters.  I've not only seen Flashpoint in the comics, but also I've seen it on TV and in an animated movie. This was the worst version. I've seen Barry Allen in live-action for years.  I've even seen future Barry try to fight past Barry as Savitar. And I know, a lot of general audiences didn't watch The Flash TV series, and don't have these comparisons, but I can't watch the Ben Affleck Daredevil film because the Charlie Cox version is so superior. I can't watch Val Kilmer or George Clooney as Batman because I feel they are inferior to other versions. That's the life we live as fans of properties that have been around for generations.

And as I just said above, this film just seems inferior to what it could have been. They made CGI pictures of past DC film characters, when just images from those films and series I think would have been better. Actually, put CGI characters of possible future films and let audiences see that. A Michael B. Jordan Superman project has been rumored. Show a fake version of that and let people go nuts wondering if it will ever come to fruition.  This film looked back when it should have looked forward.  The Clooney cameo was a fun, cheeky, laugh.  It was a waste of scene between Bruce and Barry where Barry tells him about all the possible multiverses out there, one of which could be describing the forthcoming DCU cinematic universe. The post credit scene with Jason Momoa could have got people excited for the upcoming Aquaman sequel, a film that needs all the good buzz it can muster, but instead it was a pointless scene that made Arthur Curry look like a drunken idiot rather than King of the Seven Seas. 

I always believe you should judge a film on what it is, and not what you want it to be.  But within this film I saw the sections where they could have done something different and chose what they chose, and thus made it a lesser film. And maybe that's because I've seen other versions and have seen what is possible with the Flash and Flashpoint. When I boil it down this film is another good idea that wasn't executed properly.  And so, it never gets a chance to reach its top speed. 

  

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 SPOILER Review: James Gunn's Goal To Make You Cry Any Way He Can

It's 2012 and Kevin Feige has announced that the Guardians of the Galaxy are coming to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and everyone said, "who?"  I had heard of the Guardians, Rocket Raccoon and Groot, but never read the title before.  But after Kevin said a film was in development, I decided to check out these soon-to-be live-action heroes. So, I went and investigated the 2008 series by Dan Abnett, and then started reading the 2013 series by Brian Michael Bendis. By then, I couldn't wait for this movie to come out.

Cut to the first trailer. I'm sitting in the theater with my wife when the teaser is played and she says, "we don't have to see that, do we?" Cut to the morning of opening day for Guardians of the Galaxy. I'm at work, getting the store ready to open, listening to my iPod, dancing through the sales floor.  Cut to the opening titles in the movie. I laugh my ass off and immediately feel a connection to Christ Pratt's Star-Lord. Cut to the closing credits of the film. My wife asks if we can go see the movie again.

Aside from the Captain America films, Guardians of the Galaxy has been my favorite property in the MCU. The characters are whacky, and a mess, and so much fun to watch. I had every faith that James Gunn was going to stick the landing for several reasons. First, before he was fired (and then rehired) by Disney, Kevin was setting Gunn up to take control of the MCU's galactic division. Second, Gunn proved he could do more than just Guardians when I saw The Suicide Squad. And finally, the entire Guardians cast rallied around Gunn when he was let go from Marvel, proving how much they love James Gunn, and how much fun they have making these movies.

From the early reviews I was expecting a film that was going to be a tearjerker with a lot of deaths. Especially since it was the last film Gunn was doing before switching teams to DC, and a lot of the cast said they were not planning in doing any more in the MCU.  I was very surprised none of the Guardians died. The one that came closest (besides Rocket) was Peter, and in that moment, I remember Chris Pratt being the only cast member in interviews saying he'd come back for more films.  I thought those quotes were a visaed to make us think Star-Lord was the only safe character, but then kill him. For several seconds, I thought Marvel was pulling off a great "gotcha" moment. But they weren't.

Some of the weak points in the film for me were the villain and the slow motions shots. I'm not saying Gunn is as bad as Michael Bay, but slow-mo I think is most effective when you only have it in one or two points in the film to show the importance of that scene. Any more than that, I think it loses its emphasis. The MCU isn't known for great villains, and the High Evolutionary wasn't a bad villain, but he also wasn't that menacing to me.  He wanted Rocket back, to create new life, and he spazzed out when things didn't go his way. He's nowhere near top MCU villains like Thanos, Loki, or Vulture in my eyes.

The things that stood out to me in this film were obviously the music, and the relationships. Between the hallway scene and The Marvels trailer, the MCU has got me relistening to the Beastie Boys music on my iTunes.  The first film brought this group of misfits and loners together.  The second film solidified them as a found family, and this film showed us what that family meant to each of them. The Guardians did everything they could to save Rocket, without hesitation. And like the rest of the MCU, the heroes shined enough that you didn't mind that the villain wasn't as strong. I was expecting a little more out of Adam Warlock, but I think this is a good start for the character with lots of potential to grow. 

As for Peter and Gamora. I think that went exactly how it should. This Gamora never tried to steal the orb from Peter on Xandar. She never traveled to Nowhere with them to see The Collector, and never refused to leave Ego without Peter on board. I wasn't expecting them to get together, and they may never do so, especially with Zoe Saldana saying she's done playing Gamora, but the one sound that is louder than "no" is "cha-ching" and a dump truck full of money.

The film ended with Rocket leading a new team of Guardians that I'm curious to see, but no really excited for as some of favorite Guardians are no longer on the team. However, I do expect to see those former members show up in other MCU projects. But, the new additions of Adam and Phyla-Vell (who has a connection to Captain Marvel) could lead to some interesting storylines.  I think the success of this film also has to do with its disconnection to The Multiverse Saga. You can go straight from Avengers: Endgame to this film and be fine, unless you want to watch the Holiday Special on Disney+, which you should have already done!

Confession Time. There are several sad moments in this film that made the people I saw it with cry. But my tears came at a time I did not expect and had only a little to do with the movie. The morning I was about to see Vol 3 my Facebook Memories were of my grandfather's funeral 8 years ago. So, with that on my mind, when I saw Peter hug his grandfather after decades apart, I lost it.  I started to sob like it was Happy and Morgan Stark on the porch 4 years ago. 

I think James Gunn showed everyone in the entertainment industry looking to adapt comic properties that you can take unknown characters and make them popular by highlighting why they have endured and making a great movie around them. Batman, Superman, and Spider-Man are great, but I can't wait for people to meet Kyle Rayner or Ben Reilly!