Top 10 DC Comics Movies: Part 1

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is about to hit theaters soon! And while DC Comics' film adaptations might not be nearly as vast as Marvel's collection of films, DC actually produced the first massively successful superhero film in Superman (1978). Sure, there were superhero serials shown and the old Adam West Batman film, but Superman was the first film to really take things seriously, or at least mostly seriously. For this list, DC's popular collection of Direct-to-DVD animated films will not be included, with a focus on any theatrically released films, animated or not. Also, I am not a DC hater. The Dark Knight is one of my favorite films ever, and, as always, I have not seen every film.

10: Man of Steel

More or less placing tenth by default, Man of Steel is Zack Snyder's attempt to launch the DC Cinematic Universe. Did he succeed? Well, we will have to wait and find out when Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice hit theaters. But as a film on its own, Man of Steel is a moderately fun action flick with dull, lifeless characters, and cool special effects, even if the wanton destruction is disregarded.

9: Watchmen

Another Zack Snyder flick, Watchmen is an interesting film. Based on the legendary graphic novel of the same name, Watchmen is a deconstruction of the superhero, and the source material featured deep commentary on the genre, human characters, and an enthralling narrative. On the other hand, the film contains the shell of the fascinating themes contained within the original story. First, I watched the movie and found it to be decent, yet nothing remarkable, although the sexual content was extreme. Then I read the graphic novel and realized just how incredible the story should have been. But on the flipside, Watchmen serves as a visually stunning adaptation of the graphic novel that accurately adapts many of the visual aspect, while leaving the story and characters mostly wooden. Here’s hoping for that miniseries adaptation of Watchmen!

8: Superman II

Due to creative differences, the director of the original Superman film, Richard Donner, left the project and Richard Lester took the helm. Years later, a second cut of the film, titled "Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut," was released using a combination of deleted scenes and the original footage. While I have not seen that cut, the original Superman II is still a fun film. General Zod is an entertaining, theatrical villain, and Christopher Reeve is an exceptional Clark Kent/Superman.

7: Batman

While Superman launched superhero films onto the big screen, Tim Burton's Batman effectively proved that the genre wasn't dead after two failed Superman sequels. Michael Keaton also proved that he was more than "Mr. Mom" as he played a competent Bruce Wayne and Batman. But of course, Jack Nicholson stole the show as The Joker in his iconic turn as the character. Certain elements of the film might not hold up today, but Tim Burton's gothic style was the perfect fit to bring Batman back to the masses! And who can forget that iconic Danny Elfman score!

6: Road to Perdition

Did you think all comic book movies had to be about superheroes? Well, Road to Perdition is an Oscar winning mobster film starring Tom Hanks and directed by Sam Mendes, the man behind Skyfall and Spectre. Road to Perdition is ultimately a story of father and son bonding with the backdrop of a 1930s mobster revenge tale. Mendes' cinematography is stunning, and Tom Hanks' performance is reliably exceptional as expected. If you like crime dramas and want to see one of the more unique comic book films, give Road to Perdition a watch.

Are these any of your favorites? Please comment below and let me know!

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Batman v Superman Trailer Review/Breakdown

After the ridiculous amount photos and posters, the teaser trailer for Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is here, and it is presents some interesting things to discuss. 

Opening with a narration by Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor and others that discuss how Superman is a savior, and maybe someone like him is too powerful to be allowed free reign. For one, Eisenberg's voice starts out different than expected, but as he talks more, all I can see is the usual Eisenberg that we have seen so many times. At this point, I need to see him in action before I make my judgment. 

The more interesting aspect of the trailer is the Superman statue. Sure, Superman is virtually an all powerful being, but he is responsible for countless deaths in Metropolis, which Man of Steel completely glossed over. So, are the masses praising Superman out of fear or out of gratitude? Or maybe both. Thematically, the movie raises an interesting idea of Superman essentially being worshiped. The comparison to others with power that people follow, like Hitler or Stalin, presents potentially fascinating ideas. However, considering how poorly Man of Steel implemented its themes, I have a feeling that the movie is going to turn out to be a pretentious mess, thematically at least. Of course, the DC fanboys will praise it for being "dark" and "edgy" but it will just fall flat on its face. On the other hand, you never know, maybe the movie will surprise us. 

Another issue I have is that Superman as a character is painfully bland. He lacks any charm or relatable humanity. Watching this trailer made me realize just how unlikable this version of Superman is. I am not the type of Superman fan that complains about changes to the comic book, but I do like the character in the general. Unless Kal-El is developed quickly, there will be no reason for the audience to care about him or his fight against Batman. Even though I know very little about this version of Batman, I am already on his side. 

Ultimately, do I think this is going to be a amazing movie? Probably not, unless the script is a significant improvement over Man of Steel, but it should at least be a good movie that is fun to watch. If Zack Snyder is good at one thing, it is action sequences (even if they are repetitive).

Ironically, I am more excited about the new episodes of Arrow and The Flash this week than I am for this movie. With that said, I still want to see if BvS crashes and burns or rises up the ashes. Below are screenshots with my commentary.

My guess that this is Mexico, which makes it seem like Superman goes on tour.

Something about the special effects here look off. Hopefully it will be fixed in the film.

Now this is an interest picture. It is difficult to see, but if you look at the shoulder patches on the soldiers, you will see Superman's "S" logo. Now this is an exciting idea, because Superman appears to have a task force specifically for him, and maybe he did not even want it in the first place.

Who is that looking up at Superman? Is he just a random guy that Superman saves or someone important?

Now this is where the trailer gets really interesting. Superman being worshiped is an intriguing idea. While I have my doubts about the execution of the concept, it is very reminiscent of The Dark Knight Returns in certain respects, although Superman is almost portrayed as villainous.

*Broody Ben Batfleck is brooding.* Could Affleck look any more brooding? With that said, I am on board with Affleck as Bruce Wayne. He definitely has the jawline and the actin talent.

Since Superman has his own task force, this gives Batman some lackeys to fight, and that is exactly what this shot looks like.

Our first look at Batfleck in the normal Batman suit. As expected, this is heavily inspired by The Dark Knight Returns' version of Batman. I assume Affleck's costume is majorly bulked up because he is not nearly that big in real life.

The classic Batman looking over the city. However, this is another failed effects shot. It looks too stiff, and the cape is just wrong.

"I am Iron Bat!" Bruce Wayne takes a page out of Tony Stark's book by creating a mechanical suit to battle a superpowered being. Also, his voice changing tech is exactly what Batman needed, which is similar to CW's Arrow.

"Tell me, do you bleed? You will." Now this is the money shot of the trailer. The big confrontation of between Batman and Superman. Somehow, the movie must introduce a reasonable explanation for how Batman is going to fight Superman. Superman can move faster than the speed of sound to the point where he can dismantle Batman's mechanical suit before Batman even realizes it. Without Kryptonite or a similar plot device, Batman stands no reasonable chance. Maybe, they are going to have a brooding contest to see which of these emo guys can be more depressed (just kidding).

My impression of the logo is kind of meh. It looks too fat, but it is fine.

What did you think of the trailer? Please comment below and check back tomorrow for the final part of my Top 10 Villains list.

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Batman v. Superman Full Teaser Trailer

The full official Batman v. Superman Teaser Trailer is here! And it is interesting to say the be least. Due to it being leaked, DC decided to just go ahead and release, which is not a terrible idea, except for the fact that everyone is raving about how awesome the Star Wars trailer is. Hopefully, by Monday, I will have a full trailer breakdown with screenshots, commentary, and my thoughts. However, I will say that it has some good elements.

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Batman v. Superman Teaser Trailer

Update: The full teaser trailer is now released. Check it out by clicking here!

A new teaser has been released for Batman v. Superman, and it is literally 20 seconds of us looking at the Batman and Superman costumes. Apparently, the first real teaser trailer is set to be released in IMAX screenings with an internet release surely on the way. Despite how dull the film is likely to be with Snyder at the helm, I am interested in what the movie is going to look like, and if it actually going to be as colorless as we all joke about. The full trailer is said to have been leaked online, but as with any leak, it has been taken down, so we will just have to wait for the official release. What do you think of the teaser? Please comment below and let me know.

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

New Batman v Superman Lex Luthor Picture

Yet another picture from Batman v Superman has been released, and this time it is of a bald Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor. Considering the lack of color in all of these promotional images, either Jack Snyder is color blind (I would not be surprised) or the movie is being filmed in black and white. In all seriousness, this new picture is yet another instance of what we have come to expect from this film. Well, at least Lex is bald now, but I still do not see Eisenberg as the character. What do you think? Please comment below and let me know, and check back tomorrow for a movie review.

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Jason Momoa as Aquaman Official Picture

The first official pictures of Jason Momoa as Aquaman in DC's upcoming films, presumably Batman v Superman, is here! Yes, I realize that this is old news, but I had a cold for the last week, so I am behind on all this stuff. Anyway, this looks more or less like we would expect a Jason Momoa as Aquaman would turn out. It is kind of a hybrid of the 90s and early 00s Aquaman from my era combined with Momoa's role in Game on Thrones (well, somewhat). Of course, the colors are washed out and dull, while that may just be because of the filters used on the picture, DC is trying their hardest to make the most visually dull and uninteresting heroes possible, and they are certainly succeeding in that respect. However, of all the costumes revealed thus far, this is my favorite since he does look bad*ss. Ever since watching Jason Momoa in Stargate Atlantis, I have always liked the actor, so out of the casting choices DC has made, he is also my favorite. Sure, this Aquaman bears little resemblance with most comic book incarnations, but to paraphrase Jeremy Jahns, how many people are actually Aquaman fans? Ever since the Super Friends, he is essentially a joke, so it will take a lot to make him cool, and DC is trying just that. Also, to be clear, until I either watch Batman v Superman or see a mind-blowing trailer, nothing will make care all that much about these upcoming DC films. We already know that they will likely be dull, colorless, and lacking in any of the charm that Marvel, or even DC's shows like The Flash and Arrow, contain, so we will just have to wait and see. Please let me know what you think of the Aquaman costume in the comments below!

Current Aquaman.

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

DC Announces 10 Upcoming Movies!

Breaking news, DC Announces 10 Upcoming Movies! After rumors, DC has finally confirmed their upcoming movie lineup with ten movies between 2016 and 2020. DC tries yet again to get everyone's attention with news of their crazy plan. At this point, my opinion of DC is just to wait and see. 

For one, there is going to be a Flash movie that has no connection to the current Flash TV series, and even though I am still trying to catch up on Arrow season two before watching the Flash TV show, I am sure it is going to be at least good. So, having two different actors playing the same character at the same time is going to confuse the general public and make a lot of us think that the TV is better (unless the movie rocks). 

Out of all these films, Suicide Squad is the one that I am most excited about oddly enough, since it features Harley Quinn (or at least it should), and she is one of my favorite villains ever. Even though I have yet to finish season two of Arrow, isn't the Suicide Squad already hinted at as well? 

Wonder Woman and Shazam were already announced for the most part, so those were not a surprise. Rebooting Green Lantern would be great, although I am hoping for a John Stewart Green Lantern movie, and the Cyborg is not even worth speculating about until after the Justice League movie. 

Speaking of the Justice League movie, why are they designated Part 1 and 2? With so many movies in-between the Justice League films, what is the point of splitting it into parts? Maybe it just means a sequel. Unfortunately, Zack Snyder is directing both, so that means great visuals and terrible characterization. Hopefully the script will help him out.

Most surprisingly, we are actually getting an Aquaman feature film. Yep, it's happening, the most joked about character in the DC universe, Aquaman, is getting his own movie. While he is cool in the comics at times, if the creators can pull off all of the underwater filming the movie could turn out well, especially with Jason Momoa attached to star. Oddly enough, there are no plans for a Man of Steel sequel, which is probably for the best.

Below are all of the upcoming films.

• “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,” directed by Zack Snyder (2016)
• “Suicide Squad,” directed by David Ayer (2016)
• “Wonder Woman,” starring Gal Gadot (2017)
• “Justice League Part One,” directed by Zack Snyder, with Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, and Amy Adams (2017)
• “The Flash,” starring Ezra Miller (2018)
• “Aquaman,” starring Jason Momoa (2018)
• “Shazam” (2019)
• “Justice League Part Two,” directed by Zack Snyder (2019)
• “Cyborg,” starring Ray Fisher (2020)
• “Green Lantern” (2020)

What do you think of the upcoming DC movies? Please comment below and let me know!

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

The Rock is Black Adam in Shazam

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson has officially been cast as Black Adam in the Shazam feature film. Black Adam is Shazam's main villain in the comics, and the Rock fits the well, although considering his comedic roles, he might have been better suited for Shazam (formerly known as Captain Marvel). Either way, he is a good fit for either role. What do you think of the news? Please comment below and let me know. Do not forget to check out the new promo trailer for Agents of SHIELD season two by clicking here.

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Wonder Woman Costume Revealed

Gal Gadot's Wonder Woman costume for Batman V Superman has been revealed, and I have to say that it could have been much worse. I'll start with the positives first. Well, Gal looks cool in the costume, at least while she is standing still. I am glad she is wearing a battle skirt thing opposed to pants to keep with the Geek aesthetic, and the Tira looks alright. The sword is cool, and the breastplate looks functional and keeps with the classic design to a degree. On the negatives, it kind of has the look of a costume that you buy at a costume store. The gauntlets do not look heavy enough or like metal, and the overall look of the costume doesn't seem heavy enough. Marvel has done an excellent job with costumes based on ancient designs like the Asgardians in Thor, so why can't DC do it as well? Also, her Lasso of Truth is barely visible and should probably stand out more. Overall, not bad. Gadot might actually have what it takes, and maybe it will look better on film. What do you think? Please comment below and let me know.

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

DC's Upcoming Movies Revealed

According to reporter Nikki Finke, DC's upcoming movies have been revealed, and there are a few major surprises. We already knew about Batman v Superman in May of 2016, but it now appears that DC is going to go release a Shazam movie and the Sandman movie that Joseph Gordon Levitt has been working on for a while will be coming out that December, as well as a Wonder Woman movie after the Justice League. For one, DC is obviously copying Marvel's strategy, which is not a bad thing since Marvel has essentially perfected the mega-movie-franchise formula. Of course, the lineup is not official, but reports suggest that DC might announce this during Comic-Con. The biggest positive with this entire situation is that so many movies in production, hopefully David Goyer and Zack Sndyer will have a lesser impact on the Justice League spinoffs. 

May 2016 – Batman v Superman

July 2016 – Shazam

Shazam is about an orphan boy named Billy Batson, who gains the power to turn into Captain Marvel with powers like super strength, speed, and other powers inspired by Greek mythology. Due to the similarity in name with Marvel's Captain Marvel, the character's name has recently been changed to “Shazam!” which is the word that Billy shouts when he wants to change into his hero form. Also, Captain Marvel/Shazam was the first superhero to get his own theatrical film, even before Superman. Of the upcoming movies, Shamaz seems like the oddest one since it is about a kid, which kind of clashes with DC's supposedly "dark and gritty" tone. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is said to be attached to play the villain Black Adam. My concern other than the fact that a child or young teen will star in the film, is that Shazam's power set is essentially the same as Superman and Black Adam is basically General Zod, which make for another snooze fest of ho hum action set pieces that are way too reminiscent of “Meh of Steel.”

Dec 2016 – The Sandman

The Sandman (no relation to Marvel's character) is a popular comic book series by Neil Gaiman that is more intellectual dark fantasy than superhero. Unlike the rest of the films in production, The Sandman comics are published by Vertigo Comics, which is owned by DC and is used to publish the more mature "R" rated titles like Constantine. While not confirmed, I assume the film will not be set in the main DC universe since the character is a standalone feature as far as I am aware of in the comics. Joseph Gordon Levitt is set to direct, which gives me hope since he is a great actor. 

May 2017 – Justice League

July 2017 – Wonder Woman

Of the upcoming movies, I am most concerned about Wonder Woman. While having the character finally receive her own movie is great in concept, considering how poorly DC has done thus far, we will have to wait and see what will happen. Considering Zack Sndyer is awful at making movies with movies with decent female leads like the horribly dull Lois Lane or Silk Spectre's role being limited in Watchman, I think she is not going to be looking so good coming out of Justice League in terms of character development. However, with the right talent behind the camera, maybe the movie won't suck. 

Dec 2017 – Flash and Green Lantern team-up

As expected, the likelihood of TV's Flash and Green Arrow making to the big screen is looking ever smaller with a Flash and Green Lantern team-up movie in the works. Honestly, I am not sure what to think of this until I see more of their movies, but it is certainly different. Hopefully the John Stewart version of Green Lantern will be the one featured in the DC universe since the terrible Green Lantern movie already ruined the original Hal Jordan Green Lantern.

May 2018 – Man of Steel 2

To my surprise, a real Man of Steel is actually in the works, even if it is five years after the original. Maybe after hearing all of the fan outcry for Superman being cheated of a true sequel, DC decided to give him one years later. Can't say I am excited about it, but it is four years away.

That's it for DC's upcoming lineup. What do you think? Are you the slightest bit interested in anything DC is doing right now? Please comment below and let me know.

One last thing, this was too hilarious not to post! And please check back tomorrow for the continuation of my Top 100 Movies List.

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.