Just under a year and a half ago, when Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice was announced, with it’s sketchy cast, and details in bits in pieces at best, we didn’t have a great opinion of the movie. Maybe it was coming fresh off the Avengers movie, maybe it was the cast, or maybe the Man of Steel movie, whatever it was, we thought Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice will suck.
Of course since then and now, over 500 odd days have passed, and there have been numerous announcements and cast additions, with teasers, reveals and what not to keep the interest in the movie going. Of course fans are eating it up, because, why not? Super hero movies are huge, and it’s a childhood fantasy to see some of these characters come alive on the big screen. The Avengers did a great job, and by the looks of it Avengers: Age of Ultron, looks like it’s going to do pretty well for itself. Of course, we could be wrong, but Marvel has sorted out it’s Super hero formula for the big screen. The past year giving us great successes like Guardians of the Galaxy, Winter Soldier, Dark World etc. each of these movies have been very impressive, and done very well for themselves.
Now, all said and done, where does DC stand with Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice?
Let me start off by saying that, they’re trying something different, they’re trying to do the Avengers, and then branch out into little movies. Firstly, let me tip my hat to DC for trying something different. There’s no success formula just yet for franchise movies, and maybe DC may be taking up to a new level. With Man of Steel, they gave us a glimpse of what to expect, and honestly, Man of Steel though impressive visually, it didn’t have a lot going for it from a story line perspective. Marred by above average performances, they relied heavily on Cavil’s character to take the movie by storm. It was a hit for some and a miss for some others, but overall, not very impressive.
Having said that, you have to keep in mind that Marvel’s first set of movies apart from Iron Man and Hulk, didn’t do that well either. Captain America: First Avenger wasn’t that great, neither was Thor. But they ensured the next movie was up to snuff. DC is putting a lot of eggs in one basket with Batman v Superman, and that’s what worries me. We put together a graph depicting what movies that came out from Marvel and DC in the recent past and how they’ve fared, vs. what DC’s expectations are.
The ability for a movie to make a quantum leap is not unheard of. I mean think about Batman & Robin to Batman Begins, right? It’s all possible. However, for Batman v Superman, the quantum leap that DC is hoping it make is almost impossible for 2 main reasons:
1. The Cast
Aside from Ben Affleck, and maybe Henry Cavil to some extent, there’s really no one else there to carry the movie. Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman, well, could have had a better choice, but we’re not going to nit pick on that, because there’s enough being said about her small frame and boobs. While that isn’t the main criteria for success as Wonder Woman, we think her acting might be the biggest let down. Time will tell. Then you have all of these characters who have been announced, Jason Mamoa as Aquaman…I can’t foresee what he’s going to do in the movie. Is it just a cameo? If it is, these things need to be under wraps, and then blow the audience mind in the theaters. The tag line for him “unite the 7”, we know it’s not the seven seas. So, where’s the rest of the Justice League?
Jesse Eisenberg as Luthor, is going to be like a damp cloth. He’s neither got the acting chops nor the looks to play a villain. I could be wrong, too early to tell, yes, those disclaimers still stand, but you got to admit, he’s still a little raw for the part based on all his roles so far. We’ve already detailed out why Jesse Eisenberg is going to suck as Luthor, and will not comment further on that. Again, with Ray Fisher as Cyborg. Where’s he going to fit in? My worry is there’s just going to be too many moving parts, and not enough of those focused on character development. Like Hawkeye in Avengers. Sure, they’re developing him a bit further in Civil War, but that’s still sometime away.
Then there’s the angle of getting Ezra Miller as The Flash. We’ve seen what Flash can do on the TV show, and that’s impressive. Although I have to admit, I’m super excited to see what Ezra Miller can do as The Flash, provided the rumors are true. Lastly, Jena Malone playing Robin. If it’s true, then we know the storyline is going to be centered around Frank Miller’s graphic novel The Dark Knight Returns. While I’m open to watching a female Robin, not sure, how well it’s going to go down with the rest of the DC fans.
2. High Standard Set by Marvel
Now, whether you like it or not, Marvel has set the standard for what a superhero movie ought to be like. Forget Dark Knight and all of Nolan’s movies, and forget Man of Steel, look at only Marvel for a second, they’ve done such a commendable job from a production standpoint for comic book fans and non fans, that it’s an amazing treat to watch.
In terms of box office numbers Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, is bound to succeed, the names “Batman” and “Superman” in the same title are enough to make anyone go to the cinema and buy a ticket. But if the movie itself isn’t “good”, then we’re left in an awkward position. Man Of Steel was a bit of a disappointment at the box office, that’s no secret. Man Of Steel had a great opening week but after that, poor word of mouth got the better of it. The movie needs to be good enough to appeal to all fan types and non-fans too. That’s why Guardians Of The Galaxy was so successful, no one ever really heard of these characters before, yet because the comic fans who saw it opening weekend told everyone how good it was, it started to spread around like the plague, untill everyone was talking about the movie.
What happens to DC if Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice Fails?
Is it back to the drawing board? or do they proceed with their plans? I don’t know for sure, but I do know one thing – I want Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice to succeed. The Wonder Woman movie, and Suicide Squad movie at some level hinge on the success of Batman v Superman. Let it be a success because I really want to watch these.
However, it’s looking a little bleak right now.