Man of Steel v Arrow: Dawn of the 2 Justice Leagues

It was a typical Thursday night back in January 2007.  My friends and I had purchased some beer and pizza and were about to watch the newest episode of Smallville before heading out to our usual bar for some karoke.  On that Thursday night we were a little more excited that usual to watch Smallville. In this episode Clark was teaming up with Green Arrow, Impulse(Flash), Aquaman, and Cyborg in an episode called 'Justice'.  After twenty years of reading superhero comic books it was the first live-action Justice League I had ever seen.  I still haven't seen the TV movie done years ago, and I plan to keep it that way.  Skip ahead to present day. We are about to get two different Justice League teams within the next five years.  One on the small screen, and one on the big screen. But which one will be better?

 In it's second season, Arrow introduced Barry Allen, and even showed him being struck by lightening.  The show has already featured Black Canary and will bring in Ray Palmer, the future Atom, and Arsenal in season three.  Meanwhile, Barry is about to zoom over to his own Flash series and Firestorm is set to make an appearance.  This will make six Justice League members in The CW television universe that started on Arrow.  It was also announced that Arrow and The Flash co-creator, Greg Berlanti, is pitching a Supergirl series next.

 Over on the Warner Bros set another DC Comics team is slowly being assembled.  In 2016 the world will see Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice that will feature Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Victor Stone(Cyborg), and a rumored Aquaman.  Man of Steel director, Zach Snyder, is directing this film, and has already said he's directing a Justice League film that has not gotten a release date yet.  Most speculate though that the release of Justice League will not be too far off from Batman v Superman.

 WB and DC executives have already said that the television and film worlds will not connect like Marvel Studios is doing.  This means eventually audiences may have two Flashes, or two Barry Allen's, at the same time that have nothing to do with each other.  I bring up the Scarlet Speedster as an example because he is one of the dominant Justice League members just behind the Trinity, but with his own TV series about to debut, and hopefully be a hit, will he be featured in Snyder's upcoming film?  The smart thing would be to have another Flash besides Barry(such as Wally) in the film.  But so far evidence supports that Snyder and WB aren't that smart.  Besides the Flash, most of the other Arrow heroes are B to C stringers(love it) which wouldn't come to a fan boys mind when you name off their top five or seven key Justice League members. But given that Cyborg wasn't an official JL member till just a few years ago he wouldn't be on my A-team either. 

 What about Green Lantern?  The Ryan Reynolds film failed to start the DC Cinematic Universe so WB jumped off with Man of Steel.  But he's also another A-lister.  Do you just skip GL or replace him with another member of the Corps and give the Hal Jordan stench more time to dry out? By the time these questions in DC's film universe will be answered I feel like The CW will have already had their own Justice League multi-series crossover event.

I can't hide my opinion that I am way more excited for what is happening on my TV than at my local cinema.  As a big Superman fan I had quite a few issues with Man of Steel, Zach Snyder, and the vision of the DC Cinematic Universe so far.  Arrow creators are crafting a long narrative by getting to know the characters quite well. Meanwhile, Snyder and his film makers are just rushing to catch-up with Marvel Studios. 

I feel like WB still doesn't get why they've fallen behind in this comic book movie race.  The strength of the Marvel Media Universe is that everything is connected!  Bruce Banner can pop-up at the end of Iron Man 3, or Lady Sif can appear on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. It's all a pay-off for someone who follows it all.  I don't watch Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. However, if I did I would have enjoyed Captain America: The Winter Soldier that much more because of the tie-in and vice versa.  But I didn't have to catch the television series, or any other Marvel franchise movie, to enjoy Cap 2.  So why would I pay $12 to see another Flash when I already love the one I get for free on my TV? Minus the better special effects I'm sure it would only disappoint. Basically I'm saying what Marvel has done is brilliant.

 My hope is that Warner Bros has already answered all the questions I have posed in this article and I'm just going to eat my words later.  And while I am excited for comic book properties kicking ass in every medium, and seeing another a live-action Justice League back on my screens, I continue to be disappointed how Warner Bros is handling these modern day Gods in film.They are trying so hard to be different from Marvel that they are being different; they're sucking.  So for now, I'm with Team Arrow.

DC's Potential Cinematic Disaster

A few weeks ago a rumor was leaked online as to the release dates of Warner Bros/DC Comics cinematic universe.  This is just speculation for now, though this was suppose be announced at next month's San Diego Comic Con.  In any event, this rumor has sent geeks everywhere in an uproar.  Every fan boy has their opinion about this news, and this fan boy is no different.

Marvel Studios has been kicking DC's ass in the movie making competition with each film getting better and better.  Meanwhile, DC has only mustered up Man of Steel after Green Lantern wasn't good enough to kick-start to their DC cinematic universe.  If this announcement is real then Warner Bros wants to pump out seven films in almost three years.  Marvel Studios has been putting out two films a year, adding to the Spider-Man and X-Men films Fox and Sony are putting out sporadically.  This whole schedule seems like Warner Bros is trying to overcompensate for them running behind in the race.  But not only is this rushed, but also, bad ideas!  Here's why:

Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice (May 2016)

Anyone who knows me knows I have serious issues with Man of Steel.  However, I do believe it does have some redeeming qualities that could carry over well to a sequel.  But of course we will never know, at least not for a while, because this is not the MoS sequel we thought we were getting.

When Ben Affleck was added as Batman we thought he would just make a decent cameo, but felt the focus was still going to be on the Last Son of Krypton.  Then Gal Gabot was cast as Wonder Woman, Ray Fisher as Cyborg, and Jason Momoa as Aquaman; allegedly.  This whole film started to sound like just a set-up for a Justice League movie.  Then the title came out.  Dawn of Justice confirms it is just a set-up for a Justice League movie and that it's officially not a MoS sequel.

This disturbs me.  Warner Bros couldn't go two films without their cash-cowing Dark Knight, and to me that says that they have no faith in any other DC property; no even Superman.  But the problem isn't the characters, it's who's behind the properties.  But I'll get to that.

Shazam (July 2016)

Out of all the rumored upcoming DC movies this is the one I have the most faith in.  Shazam is better known as Captain Marvel.  Little Billy Batson gains the powers of a god by saying "shazam" and becoming a superhero who rivals even Superman.  I think this film will work because it's a little boy who becomes a superhero.  What kid won't want to see this film?  However, Shazam can not be another sad and destructive Man of Steel.  For this film to work it has to be more Hook and less Passion of the Christ.  This is a story of a kid and it needs to target kids for it to work.  Any Disney executive knows if you make a kid movie then you get twice the ticket money because the parent has to take the kids to see the movie!

The ol' Zach Snyder style won't get it done on this one.  But with Warner's faith in the Goyer/Snyder duo I'm a little worried.  However, I'll hold off judgement until I see who they'll get to direct.  I'd just better not see Quentin Tarantino's name on the short list.

The Sandman (Christmas 2016)

The only thing known about this film so far is that Joseph-Gordon Levitt is set to star.  I'm not too familiar with this DC/Veritgo property except that I know it's the farthest thing from a Justice League tie-in.  It has to do with dreams, reality, and a lot of other trippy things that will be a nice break from the superheroes Warner Bros will be ramming down our throats for the next few years.

Justice League (May 2017)

It took Marvel Studios five films and four years to get to The Avengers.  Warner Bros is looking to get to Justice League with two films in four years.  This is a HUGE mistake!  No disrespect to Black Widow and Hawkeye but the Justice League has much better characters than just Batman and Superman.  You can't introduced Green Lantern, Flash, and Aquaman in a team film.  They all have complex and deep origin stories that deserve their own film first.  Granted, Hal Jordan has had his own film, but we all know Ryan Reynolds has about as much to do with Justice League as Eric Bana has to do with The Avengers.  Without knowing their origins this film will fall apart; especially since we know the film will just be about Batman and Superman. Well, just about Batman anyway.

Wonder Woman (July 2017)

I love Gal Gadot.  I loved her when she starred in....ummm.  Then she was great when she won an award for....ummmm.  Well, she had more than ten lines in....ummm.  The point I'm trying to make is that Gadot hasn't proven herself as an actress in ANYTHING.  The only thing I've seen her in is the Fast and Furious films and even then I was unimpressed.  Wonder Woman is one of the most iconic female characters in fiction history.  Her portrayal on screen has to be iconic.

Gal Gadot has not shown me, and many others, that she is worthy of carrying the Wonder Woman mantle.  We have yet to see her play Diana in Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice.  Given Warner Bros rumored schedule a Wonder Woman movie will be already in the production when audiences first see Gadot appear in Dawn of Justice.  If she is bad then the Wonder Woman movie could be put on ice and not see the light of day for many, many years.  Plus I feel that it could possibly ruin the entire DC cinematic universe.

Now don't get me wrong.  I really want Gadot to be good.  I am rooting for her to be good.  But I have yet to see anything that would show me she'll be good.  I hate to say this, but the future of movies based on DC Comics(except Batman) may hang in the balance with Gadot and Wonder Woman.

 Flash and Green Lantern team-up (Christmas 2017)

As much as I've griped about the other possible film this one has me the most worried.  Now, these two characters do go together.  They even had their own comic book; The Brave and the Bold. Hal Jordan and Barry Allen are good friends, so it would make sense that they'd have their own buddy-cop movie.  But we don't know that we're getting Hal Jordan and Barry Allen.  Warner Bros is trying to wipe away any stink of Green Lantern, which may include not having Hal Jordan as GL, but maybe the popular John Stewart instead.  Meanwhile, Barry Allen is already going to be the Flash in an upcoming television show on The CW.  Do you think they're really going to have one Barry on TV and one on the big screen?  They might as well go with Wally West as the Flash.

If course in changing who will be the new GL and Scarlet Speedster you've changed the relationship.  John and Wally have nothing to do with each other except that they're both Justice League members. No matter what characters they choose these two heroes are way to important to not get their own film; regardless of who is in the costume.   

Man of Steel 2 (May 2018)

So after all the other films, and five years after the original MoS came out, they're finally going to get to a sequel?  I can't decide if I'm disappointed or kind of OK with that.  Man of Steel was a let-down for me so I'm in no rush to see a sequel.  However I'm also of the mind set that Superman should have gotten his due sequel before Justice League.  Iron Man, the character who started the Marvel cinematic universe, got two films in before The Avengers.  Why can't Superman?  I actually like Henry Cavill and am interested in seeing more of his performance as Clark Kent.

With Zach Snyder directing Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice AND Justice League I wonder if he'll come back to do the Man of Steel sequel?  I hope not. Snyder's vision was main part of what was wrong with Man of Steel in my opinion and after several recent comments writer David Goyer made about a certain Martian I'm not sure I want him writing for the Man of Tomorrow either; or any DC property.  As a long-time Superman reader I was worried from Snyder right out of the gate, and i feel like I was right.  Superman is about hope, and Man of Steel had none.  And as of right now I don't see any for this DC cinematic universe.
But don't get the wrong idea.  They'll still get my $10 with every film and a little voice inside me saying, "please be good, please be good, please be good."  I'm just surprised that a Batman film isn't in this slate.  But I'm sure we'll find out next month in San Diego when Warner Bros confirms or denies this potential cinematic disaster.

The Butler and The Billionaire Join The Bat and The Boy Scout

Over a week ago it was announced that Jeremy Irons and Jesse Eisenberg will join the untitled Man of Steel sequel as Alfred Pennyworth and Lex Luthor. Months ago Ben Affleck was announced to play Batman/ Bruce Wayne in this film as nerds and geeks everywhere exploded in one way or another.  These recent casting choices haven't stirred quite the forum that Affleck did but has added fuel to the fire to a film that is being called the "Batman vs Superman" movie.

It was announced at the San Diego Comic Con that the sequel of Man of Steel would feature Batman as Warner Bros and DC Entertainment try and get their own cinematic movie universe started.  The first piece of big news came when it was announced that Ben Affleck would be playing a "seasoned and tired" Batman.  Most bloggers and tweeters first reaction was anger due to Affleck's last try as a superhero, Daredevil, which was not well received.  I always tell those people to watch the director's cut to see a better version of the film, and that Ben Affleck is a good actor and director.  I was thrilled to see Affleck was being added to this film, although I don't quite yet understand the benefit for his career at this point, having just won Best Picture at the Academy Awards for a film he directed, Argo.  Why play a superhero that could tie him up for the next decade?

 Not too long ago it was announced that actress Gal Gadot of the Fast and Furious franchise was cast as Wonder Woman.  This again sent nerds and geeks into a frenzy, many questioning if Gadot can carry a Wonder Woman franchise.  Then, it was reported that the film, which was set to be released in summer 2015, is being pushed back to 2016.  The studio said they want to make the best picture possible and needed more time, some say the film makers dropped the ball somewhere, and some believe Warner Bros has no idea what they're doing when it comes to copying what Marvel Studios has seemed to perfected.  Finally, this film has created more to discuss with these two new casting choices.  For me, it all depends on what story and version of these characters Zach Snyder and David Goyer decide to tell.  Unfortunately, Man of Steel disappointed me so much I question everything about this sequel, Warner Bros handling of DC property, and DC Comics all together.

No one can deny that Jeremy Irons is a phenomenal actor.  Most of us who grew up in the 1990's will always remember him as the voice of Scar from The Lion King, and he's also a multi-Oscar winner.  I remember him best from films like Die Hard: With a Vengeance and The Man in the Iron Mask opposite Leonardo Dicaprio.  I've always thought of him as a hard-ass.  Which doesn't make me picture him slipping into a role similar to what Michael Caine just did in the Dark Knight trilogy.  But then I thought of a recent re-telling of Batman's origin, Batman: Earth One.  In this graphic novel, written by Geoff Johns, Alfred Pennyworth was an ex-military bad ass who saved Thomas Wayne's life at one point.  When the Wayne's are murdered Alfred raises Bruce and teaches him how to fight and essentially what he needs to become Batman.  This is the kind of Alfred I see Jeremy Irons being.  Don't get me wrong, I have enough faith in Irons to pull off any part, given that his director doesn't lead him astray.  This is just the version of Alfred I picture when I think of Jeremy Irons as Alfred the butler.

The casting of Lex Luthor has been a subject of much debate.  The top 3 names I heard most frequent were Michael C. Hall, Mark Strong, and Brian Cranston.  And I was comfortable with any of those actors portraying Superman's arch-nemesis.  I first saw Jesse Eisenberg in a little film called The Squid and the Whale opposite Jeff Daniels.  I continued to watch him throughout the years and enjoyed The Social Network and Zombieland.  That being said, I can see why he was cast as a young Lex.  He has played cold and distant characters, which most would call neurotic.  I have no doubt seeing him pull off a diabolical plan to take down the Last Son of Krypton, but it's his screen presence I question.  

Hall, Strong, and Cranston all have an incredible presence in any scene they do.  That's what Lex Luthor should be.  He's evil, egotistical, and really does believe he's going to save to the planet from an alien threat; Superman.  Former Lex Luthor's include Gene Hackman, Michael Rosenbaum, Kevin Spacey, and all have stolen the spotlight from their own Superman while the camera is rolling.  I just don't see Eisenberg having that commanding, sinister, presence with his high pitched voice.  He just doesn't scare me like a good villain should.  Now I may be wrong, and maybe Eisenberg will show me something of his I haven't seen yet, and he'll be a great Lex Luthor.  I was surprised by Heath Ledger as the Joker and Chris Evans as Captain America; so it's possible.

 I really want to like this movie.  I really hope all these casting choices turn out well. And I really want to get this DC cinematic universe going and thriving, but if Man of Steel is a representation as to how it will proceed then I may have to start carrying a box of tissues with me to see DC films, or a bag full of tomatoes.  For god sakes Snyder, not killing is the core to who Superman is, how could you screw that up!

The Man Without Fear is The Dark Knight?

So the decision has been made people.  The contest that has raged on for the last few months has finally ended, and a Hollywood star has come out on top.  Ben Affleck has been chosen to play Batman/Bruce Wayne in the next film adaptation of the character in Batman vs. Superman.  The film will be a sequel to this year’s Man of Steel and have actor Henry Cavill returning as the Last Son of Krypton.  Zach Snyder will also return to direct.  Social media has been a buzz and everyone has their opinion about this casting choice.  I’m more worried about the film itself.

A while ago I wrote a blog about the rollercoaster ride that is Ben Affleck’s career.  He started out winning an Oscar for Best Screenplay with his friend, Matt Damon.  Then we went on to do films that critics didn’t seem to enjoy like Reindeer Games, Pearl Harbor, and playing the Marvel character Daredevil.  Reindeer Games was mind-numbing entertainment and I liked Pearl Harbor, but anyone who criticizes Daredevil has only seen the theatrical cut.  Watch the director’s cut. I have it on blu-ray and totally redeems itself.  Affleck slowly rose from the ashes and ended up winning an Oscar again this year for directing the film Argo.  

That last part seems the most curious for me about Affleck’s agreement to play the Dark Knight.  He’s just now making name for himself as an accomplished director in Hollywood, so why would he play a superhero, possibly for the next few years?  That leads me to the second half of my worry.  I know Snyder and Warner Bros. were looking for an older, more seasoned Batman, similar to The Dark Knight Returns Batman, but didn’t they even think about the franchise?  When Marvel Studios signed Chris Evans to play Captain America he signed up for 3 Captain America films and 3 Avengers films, which will take up almost 10 years of his life.  I don’t think Affleck as made the same commitment, like Warner Bros. should have been looking for in an actor. They need an actor who will be Batman for the next decade, and play him in the upcoming Justice League movies Warner Bros. has planned. Of course I don’t believe Batman and Superman belong in a Justice League movie, at least not the first one.  But that’s a totally separate ramble for another time.

To me this announcement isn’t about Ben Affleck’s acting abilities.  I have always thought Affleck was a good actor and I think he’ll make a good Batman/Bruce Wayne, but about Warner Bros. and DC Entertainment not thinking long-term like their rival, Marvel Studios. Warner Bros. is trying to do what Marvel has done and make their own DC movie universe, but they’re f%cking it up!  They’re going for star power and thinking about each film, not how it will all flow together in the grander design.  They need an actor that is willing to make the signature of his career, and life, on being Batman.  That isn’t Affleck, at least not at this point in his career.  If DC and Warner Bros. was smart they’d take this older Batman idea and then turn it into a Batman Beyond movie; which they won’t.

Of course I had worries about this film long before yesterday’s announcement.  I’ve read quite a few Batman comics books in my day, but would never call myself a big fan of Batman.  Anyone who knows me knows I’m a big Superman fan, and if Man of Steel is the starting point for Batman vs. Superman then it’s in trouble from the starting block.  I did like Henry Cavill has the new Man of Tomorrow but I did not like Zach Snyder and David Goyer’s interpretation of the character. I  felt like they dragged Superman down in the dirt to satisfy a modern audience instead of making him the light in the darkness we should all aspire too be.

Affleck will now join the prestigious ranks of Ryan Reynolds and the late Michael Duncan Clarke who will have played both a DC and Marvel character on the big screen. So to kind of summarize this whole ramble, I think Ben Affleck will make a great Batman, but for the film and the future of the character on the big screen I don’t believe this is the right choice.  Now if you’ll excuse me I’m going to have a Ben Affleck marathon.  I just can’t decide between Armageddon or Jersey Girl?   

Why I Think the Justice League Movie Won't Work

Last weekend the highly anticipated Man of Steel was released in theaters and it has now surpassed the $200 million dollar mark.  I think Warner Bros. still spent more money than that upon making the film, but with it still being released in other countries I'm sure they'll get their money back. The studio was so pleased with the opening weekend numbers they've already planned a sequel to be released as early as next year.  Then a Justice League movie is set to be released as early as 2015.

Man of Steel seems to have done what Warner Bros. wanted it to, which was jump start the DC movie universe much like Iron Man jump started the Marvel movie universe.  DC was supposed to get their start with Green Lantern, but after it supposedly "bombed" at the box office Warner Bros. had to re-evaluate what they were doing with their DC properties because Marvel was already six films ahead of them. The Avengers set box office records and made $1.5 billion world wide. The only thing that was working for Warner Bros. was their Batman movies, and that was because of writer David Goyer and director Christopher Nolan.  After the success of the Dark Knight trilogy Warner Bros. decided to give these men a shot at Superman, and now it seems the entire DC franchise.  So can Warner Bros. catch up to Marvel and make their films as popular, and profitable, as The Avengers?  I'm gonna answer that question as gently as I can; NNNOOOOOOOO!

For years the rights to making Marvel films were owned by 20th Century Fox studios.  They made Spider-Man films, X-Men films, Daredevil, The Punisher, etc. Spider-Man and X-Men have done well and Fox continues to drain blood from those hollow stones(thank god for Sam Raimi and Bryan Singer).  After making their cut of the money Marvel decided to form their own studio and use the characters they still had the rights to for their movies.  Iron Man, Thor, and Captain America films all went on to do great at the box office, which lead to The Avengers.  Marvel Studios achieved something no other studio thought could ever happen and every comic geek dreamed would happen; they made movies like they make comic books. The films all interacted with each other and fed off one another for the next installment. 20th Century Fox lost the rights to Daredevil and Punisher, which Marvel Studios gladly claimed, but still owns the Spider-Man and X-Men movie rights so long as a film is made every couple of years.  

So what's this got to do with the Justice League movie?  Warner Bros.is a movie studio who owns all of the DC character movie rights, and just like 20th Century Fox, they don't have the talent to bring out what is great in their characters.  Did you see Superman kill General Zod?  I mean, I used to give David Goyer some credit as a good writer and fan boy, but no person who read Superman, and loves the character, would write that scene and think it was a good idea; at least not in the origin film.  Warner Bros. and crew said they want to make their universe more realistic?  Batman is a mortal man but Superman is an alien who looks human, flies, and shoots heat from his eyes; and you want something that's realistic?  Their excuse for Man of Steel is to make the character more modern.  Guess what Warner Bros.? The character worked for ten years on TV starting in 2001, it was called Smallville, watch it and get back to me.

Warner Bros. executives probably haven't read a comic book (if they ever did) since they were kids.  Comic books are fun and exciting to read. Their were barely any jokes or even smiles in Man of Steel. Just two hours of CGI fights(which were well done) and a bunch of talk about a Codex.  Marvel Studio films made money because they embraced their comic book roots.  The films had explosions as well as laughs.  They're fun to watch!  Man of Steel was just depressing and this what they want to try and build a billion dollar franchise off of?  Marvel Studios has actual Marvel comic book writers in their meetings advising them about what works for the character, what would this character act like, and what would they do when their back is against the wall.  Yes, they have taken some liberties, but we fan boys forgive and look past them because the core of the hero(es) is still intact. Joss Whedon said he has read every Avengers comic made.  Even though I feel like that may be bullshit I'm still curious; how many Superman comics has Zach Snyder read?

I think everyone knew from the get-go that Warner Bros. was going to fight an uphill battle after The Avengers did so well, and we all knew they couldn't follow the exact same formula, but wanted the same result.  I like to think of them as Coca-Cola and Pepsi.  Anyway, so they're going to try and make a Justice League movie first.  That film will introduce Wonder Woman, Flash, Aquaman, and maybe a new Green Lantern and Batman.  Then of course they will each have their own film; presumably.  Pretty much a reverse Marvel formula.  But unless they get the right people behind these films it won't work.  The director of Thor was known for his Shakespearean films like Henry V and Hamlet.  The director of Captain America: The First Avenger was known for making vintage films like October Sky and The Rocketeer.  Snyder was known for making stylistic, serious, films that are a little too violent and edgy.  Does that sound like Superman to you, or Flash, or Aquaman?  Baskin Robbins doesn't have 31 flavors that all taste like their best seller do they?  I'm just saying Warner Bros. is trying to make everything feel like Batman because that's what has been working for them.  But these characters have been around for decades because each character has their own fan base of flavor, and Warner Bros. has to find out what each character's taste is and why it works.

I really want to see a Justice League movie; I really do.  But the direction and speed Warner Bros. is taking the DC properties are going to lead the Justice League to a train wreck.  Man of Steel couldn't even hold down the #1 spot in theaters for one week.  There's your blinking yellow light.  I'm going to go get some ice cream now.

(found this fan art online an loved it! Notice how Cobie Smulders is in both of these pictures)