“This was supposed to be special”.
Walking out of the theater after watching Justice League, this was the first thing that came to mind. Not just the movie itself but all of it. A fully realized DC Cinematic Universe. A universe where Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and the rest of the Justice League finally coexist. Instead, the last five years have been divisive, controversial and worst of all…disappointing.
This is just one DC fan’s point of view. No, not all DC fans are happy with the DC Films universe. There are DC Fans and there are DC Films Fans. Both groups love DC characters but the latter is a passionate fanbase loyal to director Zack Snyder. They’ll defend every choice he’s made thus far. The former sees this “Extended Universe” and believes these properties deserve better. And that’s where this is coming from. Because these characters do deserve better. Much better. And so do their fans.
It would be easy to start laying blame now. When things go terribly wrong, it’s human nature to look for someone to fault. But that’s not what this letter is about. No finger pointing or ranting about studio interference. This is about frustration. Because for decades DC Comics has set a bar. A gold standard. A standard the films haven't come close to meeting.
From Man of Steel to Justice League, this DC Universe has been mediocre at best. Sure, they’ve made money. This whole endeavor has obviously been about making as much money possible as quickly as possible. And the properties have suffered because of it. The source material is taking a backseat to directors, A-list stars and executives. Box office has become a higher priority than faithfulness.
DC Films fans can insist the DCEU has been faithful and “accurate” but, from the very beginning, the filmmakers on MoS called their take a reimagining. (It even says that on the blu-ray case). It’s all a different take on classic characters. And that’s a problem. Because these “different takes” aren’t who generations of fans fell in love with. The names are familiar but it’s all new. They’ve been tweaked to fit a unique vision. These aren’t the characters fans grew to idolize and adore over the last 60, 70 or 80 years.
This hurts.
It didn’t always. Or maybe it did and the realization hasn’t set in until now. Since MoS the DC Films universe has been the butt of jokes, a consistent source of mockery and a punching bag for critics and audiences alike. Fan petitions, conspiracy theories, departing directors, extensive reshoots - there’s just as much drama behind the scenes as there is onscreen.
It felt okay to laugh at the jokes, memes and gifs before but now…yeah, this really hurts. Not the teasing but rather the fact this is where we are. It’s 2018 and we aren’t praising the DC cinematic universe, we’re trying to figure out how to fix it. Fans shouldn’t feel the need to defend a movie featuring the Trinity on screen together for the first time. Posts about DC movies shouldn’t devolve into juvenile bickering.
We deserve better than this. It’s DC f*cking Comics!!
All due respect to Spider-Man, the Avengers and the X-Men but DC characters always felt closer to the Greek Gods of Mount Olympus. It’s Batman. It’s Wonder Woman. It’s Superman, the greatest hero of them all. The Justice League - an all star team where, at one time, every member had their own ongoing title.
Their films should be worldwide phenomenons. The moment the first DCU movie opened it should’ve put the rest of Hollywood on notice.
“Well, people’s expectations are too high”.
Yes and rightfully so.
Expectations don’t come from nowhere. DC set a bar of excellence over the years. They gave us compelling storytelling and diverse characters. In the past they've set standards and met them. DC Animation consistently delivered with shows for Batman, Superman, Green Lantern and Young Justice. Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins reinvigorated the big screen Batman franchise after Batman and Robin all but killed the Caped Crusader.
Why wouldn’t fans expect the same from DC Films?
IN CLOSING
Snyder loyalists will undoubtedly disagree with all of this. That’s understandable. No one is saying they’re wrong for loving Man of Steel, or Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice or Wonder Woman. There’s nothing wrong with supporting Snyder’s vision. And if you feel like blaming WB and Joss Whedon for “ruining” Justice League, let ‘em have it.
But this universe isn’t worthy of DC Comics.
Anyone who has convinced themselves that everything is fine is being delusional. By all means, enjoy the DCEU. That’s everyone’s right. But if a film strikes out critically and doesn’t break $1B at the box office when it should, maybe it’s not the audience's fault. It’s easy to say “audiences didn’t get it” or “the material is too smart”. What’s difficult, especially if you’re passionate about them, is considering the possibility these films aren’t as rich and thought provoking as their fans claim they are.
The thing is, DC Comics weren’t made for a specific, rabid fan base. Their characters and stories aren’t meant for one niche demographic. DC never said “We make comic books for this particular group of readers”. The label wouldn’t have lasted as long as it has if it was run that way. They thrived by making comics anyone can read. They lasted because they told stories for everyone. They appealed to children and adults alike. So should their movies.
Forget about reimaginings and “modernized” versions of these characters. Trust the source material and give the audiences the characters they expect to see - the characters they care about. Have faith in the property, hire filmmakers who can capture what makes this universe so special and the rest will take care of itself.
How do you feel about the big screen DC Universe? Are you happy with it? Disappointed? Should Warner Bros reboot the whole thing or try to right the ship? Sound off below and, as always, thanks for reading!