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Fawbish - I agree with you a lot on the DC movies up to this point.
Like I said earlier I thought Suicide Squad started strong but ran out of gas and is a very inconsistent movie. Do I think it was a good movie? Not really but it's not the worst I've seen either. I'm not trying to elevate the public perception of DC movies because I read DC growing up I just think the criticism has reached the "mob" mentality level and taken on a life of its own. As to the tone of the DC movies I don't have a problem with them, I don't need to see boy scout Superman or Batman year one again, it's been done already and I don't need to see it again right now. I like the fact they're exploring the effect a man who can fly and is nearly indestructible has on the world. I like the older bitter Batman in BVS who is on the verge of finally going totally overboard and becoming the thing he has been fighting against. I agree that Man of Steel and BvS are highly consistent in tone and are a good beginning.
Just in case anyone thinks I hate Marvel let me say I've enjoyed the crap out of most of the Marvel movies. My point is that Marvel has had their failures as well. I thought the first X-Men movie was dull as hell, I actually like the second one a lot but it's still not the most exciting thing I've seen. Daredevil, Ghost Rider 1 and 2, The Fantastic Four not once but three times (four if you count the 1994 movie), X-men Origins: Wolverine, and Electra are not really good movies but no one said Marvel should stop and never make a movie again.
I will continue to support the DC franchise, I'm sure it will hit its stride. I just wish the studio executives would stop second guessing the people creating the films and let them do their work.
It sucks that we have to preface our opinion with qualifiers nowadays, but I suppose its nice that we all chat openly about it and have differing viewpoints.
I will also support the DCEU (not blindly, Suicide Squad was a slight personal disappointment, because I was expecting a bit much perhaps) because I absolutely love most of the interpretations so far. I love how much I've started to explore film in general because of these films, Man of Steel specifically, as that led onto listening to really interesting deconstruction/apologist podcasts, watching thesis' on it about certain themes that people have extracted etc. It's really made me appreciate just what goes into passion projects for film making and directing etc, and I think that is why I tend to have a more sympathetic viewpoint when it comes to mistakes or missteps. Reading that Snyder doesn't love a certain character over and over again is a pet peeve of mine.
Just FYI, you probs already know this but when people say Marvel nowadays they are almost definitely referring to MCU, which excludes your list of not great films (I agree with all, but I actually love the first Fantastic Four movie. It's terrible, but it was a COMIC book on the screen, and I have a soft spot for it) so just thought I'd mention that - sorry if thats condescending! Not my intent.
I completely agree that there is something in the mob mentality nowadays - not just against DC of course. I think its more a case of opinions are becoming so, so binary? You really have to LOVE or HATE something now, its insane. Nothing is allowed to be serviceable or "yeah, enjoyed that". Don't get me wrong, we all want amazing films time after time, but we also have to be realistic dont we! MCU doesn't produce ground breaking films again and again. It produces good to great movies that resonate well with the general audience, casual fans, and some hardcore fans alike - Jon Favreau is, I think, absolutely responsible for the consistent tone that was set for the MCU. Iron Man hit all the right notes. It just smashed it out of the park. From that point onwards, Feige (who was probably involved with discussions on tone and such with Favreau) knew that is where his audience was, that was his billion dollar check right there. And even with all that in house knowledge, they've still made duds. So how hard must it be to create an original comic book movie nowadays, with all that, have a unique identity and still make bank, without being MCU?? Insane. Thats not an excuse at all, but I'm happy with the tone and interpretations of the DCEU, because it's taking a good hard look at the characters, and giving us genuine interpretations within the real world. As we go along, we'll become more fantastical, and by the virtue of the story that is being told, our characters will become more and more classic as we go, whilst still retaining the original take. It won't be a smooth ride always but I'm enjoying it.
I'm looking forward to seeing Squad again just so I can start to get a better feeling for it. Nothing is going to save that final act for me though.
One thought I did have - Squad was very, very much like an actual comic on the screen. The exposition, the way the dialogue flowed - it was almost corny in some points - and yet that is exactly what I see in a good chunk of comics. Not corny writing, but its not always realistic, and its exposition heavy to get the story across. It might have been coincidence of course, but it resonated afterwards for me.