Some Advice for the DC Movie Franchise

Warner Bros. recently released the trailer for the R-rated Ultimate Edition of Batman Vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice to coincide with the film's Digital HD release on June 28^th and Blue-ray release on July 19^th. Although we see several brief clips of what was not in the original version, will an extended edition make the film any better or (pardon the pun) do it justice? After being lambasted by a majority of critics, Warner Bros. is certainly hoping so.

I wouldn’t go as far as some critics that filed Dawn of Justice under one of the worst superhero movies ever made. Sure it was a blah and sometimes confusing movie that started out slow, ran a little too long, and had too many unnecessary sub spots, but I would much rather sit through Dawn of Justice again than 1997’s Batman & Robin or 2007’s Ghost Rider. Give me more time and I could probably rattle off at least half a dozen more (including the recent X-Men: Apocalypse). And as pessimistic as I originally was, Ben Affleck didn’t ruin Batman. It was the script and plot that did that.

So where did director Zach Snyder, and Warner Bros for that matter, go wrong? With Dawn of Justice the DC Universe movie train has already left the station, and will continue in August with Suicide Squad. If history tells us anything it’s that comic book movies are generally successful, and there’s no telling how far DC will ultimately go. What could have the team at Warner Bros. done differently to receive a warmer reception out of the gate and secure a more optimistic future? Most of the following scenarios would have been highly unlikely, but as a fan it’s always fun to speculate.   

Don’t Go So Dark

Most superhero movies aren’t all bright and shiny, mostly because things are blowing up and complete cities are being destroyed. However some of the Marvel films provide a slight bit of comic relief. None of that is evident in Dawn of Justice. If you’re going to make a straight Batman movie, go as dark as possible. Batman’s whole existing is to thrive in the shadows and not to be seen. He lives in the dark and uses it to impose fear, which Christopher Nolan didn’t shy from in the Dark Knight Trilogy. Superman was always the perfect good ol’ boy that could do no wrong by helping everybody, and adding Wonder Woman into the mix is a recipe for a lighter tone. Hell even Christopher Reeve made Clark Kent a harmless goofball. The R rating of the Ultimate Edition certainly isn’t going to brighten the mood.

Speaking of Christopher Nolan…

Throw a Ton of Money at Christopher Nolan

What the average fan might not know that along with being a producer, Christopher Nolan is given a writing credit for Snyder’s Man of Steel (a decent, re-watchable movie), while only being an executive producer on Dawn of Justice. Now I’m not saying that Snyder isn’t a capable director, by why not offer Nolan a lucrative amount of money to write/produce/direct the franchise? We all know what he did with his Batman reboot and its widely positive critical and fan reception. When you’re budget before marketing costs is roughly $250 million, what’s another $20 million to reel in a director. Plus if Nolan’s on board, maybe throwing similar money at Christian Bale might convince him to once again don the bat suit. One can only wonder.

Utilize the DC Television Universe

Zach Snyder said in an interview before the release of Dawn of Justice that he would never use Grant Gustin as The Flash. For readers that don’t know Gustin plays the speedster on The WB Network’s successful television show. The reason Snyder wouldn’t cast Gustin:

“I just don’t think it was a good fit. I’m very strict with this universe, and I just don’t see a version where … that (tone is) not our world.”

Pretty much Snyder is saying the tone of the show is too soft. If he took my advice in my first point, maybe Gustin would work. The Flash television show, while sometimes corny, focuses a lot on friendships and personal relationships. But maybe that’s why the show, and its counterpart Arrow about Oliver Queen as The Green Arrow (also a member of the Justice League at one time in the comics), have built up such a cult following. To take it one step further, the network’s DC’s Legends of Tomorrow include the characters Hawkman, Hawkwoman, the Atom and Firestorm, all of who have also been members of the Justice League in the old comic book universe. I understand the new DC films are focusing on the modern Justice League (in the comics I read growing up Cyborg was a Teen Titan), but all of the television characters have identities and backstories that many fans know and would want to see in the films somewhere down the line. I know I would.

And finally…

Take a Page from Marvel’s Playbook

Marvel’s Avengers is pretty much their version of the Justice League. Before the 2012 film Marvel set the groundwork with 2008’s Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk, 2010’s Iron Man 2, and 2011’s Thor and Captain America: The First Avenger. Marvel’s universe continued to expand with more sequels and characters, but the foundation was established with the original films. So far DC has given us Man of Steel before forcing Dawn of Justice on us. Besides Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman going solo next summer, the remaining members of the Justice League won’t be the subject of their own films until after next November’s Justice League: Part One (and honestly, does Aquaman really need his own movie? Can’t he be like Black Widow and Hawkeye where we know he’s there and he’s important, but just not important enough to substantiate his own film?). Marvel’s blueprint was successful, so why wouldn’t DC take it’s time, introduce us to the essential characters and establish a narrative before bringing them all together? It would seem to make sense. Again these are all what if and what could have been scenarios, and maybe Warner Bros. plan will work out when all is said and done. One thing is certain is that if the general reception of Dawn of Justice is a sign of things to come, then any Marvel vs. DC debate will be over before it began.