Good day my friends! NBAFANaddict here with a little (figuratively at least) article. This article will deal with why I believe that something along the lines of this:
While epic looking, needs to wait a couple of years.
Want to make sure I point this out first: None of the pictures you see on here are my creations. All credit goes to the various artists:
Daniel Morpheus
http://www.daniel-morpheus.deviantart.com/art/Justice-League-Movie-Poster-269215975<> />
DiamondsDesignhd
http://diamonddesignhd.deviantart.com<> />
Josh McMahon
http://joshwmc.deviantart.com/gallery/<> />
Benoit Penaud
http://oroster.deviantart.com<> />
Matt Ferguson
http://cakes-and-comics.deviantart.com/gallery/?rnrd=17863<> />
Tommy Sindu
http://tomzj1.deviantart.com<> />
Jonathan Bridges
http://superdude001.deviantart.com<> />
I did edit a picture on here. However, its from a popular meme, so technically....yeah, I did absolutely nothing except write this article. Well, enough blabbering. On with ze show!
"You're are answer to are we alone in the universe"
How ironic that Pa Kent says this to young Clark. For the answer as to whether the heroes in DC Universe well be alone or connected seems to be contingent on the success of "Man Of Steel. And BO numbers seem to suggest we'll soon be seeing the DCCU brought to fruition. I personally saw Man Of Steel yesterday, and thought it was a good movie (and I find myself to be more of a Marvel maniac myself). WB/DC has previously said that if MOS was well-recieved, then a Justice League film would follow. With Man Of Steel seeming to be completing that objective, fans are in pure bliss, and are hoping for DC to appear at the San-Diego Comic-Con to announce cast, director, and start the countdown till the movie is released. And while I would be ecstatic for a JL film (love, love, loved the animated series), I don't think that putting a JL film out right after Man Of Steel is the best route for WB/DC to go. And I have (what I believe) are four valid reasons as to why DC needs to say no to a JL movie. For now at least.
1. First Lets Have A Successful Non-Batman or Superman Film.
Fans are hoping for announcements at comic-con that will produce something like this:
Or this:
And does this not get you hyped up?
For my money though, I think we need announcements that for these things first:
Why? In the entire history of DC Universe comic films, there has not been one movie has that has been one non Batman or Superman movie that was a critical, and/or financial success (aside from Swamp-Thing, V For Vendetta and Watchman) Supergirl, Green Lantern, Steel, Catwoman, Jonah Hex. All failures in their own regard (box office, or critics wise). WB/DC need to focus on making a successful film that doesn't include Supes or Bat(Like, oh, I don't know.... a Wonder Woman film). If they go straight into an ensemble of seven (maybe eight) people, and have only shown to be able to do a couple of the characters right, it has a chance to be "Worlds Finest...And Some Other Chumps". Once they nail down one, or two other characters, then i think they would be better ready to handle the JL. Before they go for the big enchilada, they should work on the little tacos.....supposed to be a metaphor.....similar food....different...size.....yeah, it sounded better in my head.....
...Your right Tony, lets just move on....
2. General Audience Awareness
When it comes to the main members of the JL, Superman and Batman are the most well-known when it comes to villains, backstories, and allies. When it comes to the rest (while not as unknown as the Avengers), the general public isn't as knowledgeable about them. Wonder Woman IS well-known. but she is in a similar position to Captain America: You've heard of both of them, but they are known not as much for their character, as more as other things (WW because she was the first female superhero, and Cap because of the ties America). If you asked someone who WW's archenemy was, I doubt they would answer Cheetah. If you asked them who the main Lantern is, just as many people would say John Stewart, as would say Hal Jordan. I don't think most people know that there were other Flashes. And I am almost dead-certain nobody would know who J'onn Jonzz, or Martian Manhunter is. And Aquaman is laughingly known for being able talk to guppies. Marvel's solo films weren't just for building to Avengers, but also to introduce lesser known characters to the general audience, which helped them to start their own franchises. If after Iron Man, they went straight into Avengers, do you think it would've been the smash hit that it was? I'd say no, but lets get a second opinion: What say you "Doctor Who"?
The Doctor agrees...
People were invested in the characters in Avengers because they had gotten to know them; heroes who they before, were not aware of. That's why I hope WB/DC gives out solo films for each character (sans J'onn. Don't know how he would do by himself), and then bring them all together. Familiarity breeds...well yes contempt, but also a sense of comfort. You know the character, and are more excited to seem them, as opposed to if you are seeing them for the first time. To put it in the most basic terms:
Thank you Boromir....On to the next point.
3. There's No Build-Up
"If you make your films more, than just a film, if you dedicate yourself to building them toward something even bigger, and if the fans support you, then you make your movie something else entirely."
"Which is?"
"An event, WB executives..an event!"
(Couldn't help it..)
Thats what Avengers was. It wasn't just a movie: It was an event. It was something that had never been attempted, not only in CBM's, but in movies in general. When Marvel first announced their plans, I don't think people really grasped how excited they would get. But Marvel smartly turned the after credit scenes into one of the their go-to must-see scenes. Nerds flipped out when Samuel L. Jackson graced the screen, eye-patch wearing, announcing he was S.H.I.E.L.D director Nick Fury and wanted to talk to tony about "The Avenger Initiative". They nearly burst a gasket when when they saw Mjolnir at the end of IM2 And, slowly after every movie (even IM2...), the buzz got bigger, and bigger. By the time Avengers came out, it was a bonanza. It wasn't just a regular movie anymore. Everyone was talking about it. And lets step back for a second and remind ourselves of one thing: Apologies to die-hard comic book Avengers fans, but this was the Avengers we were talking about here! A team of B-list/C-list heroes who together were maybe a B+/A- list team. And now there the talk of the town, and their movie is raking in dough like leaves in the fall?? (See the joke is funny because raking...and...and leaves....Ok. i'm stopping now). Can you imagine the insanity and hype that would arise if they built up toward a Justice League film? We would be approaching (if not surpassing) Phantom Menace style hysteria. Let's go off track for a sec; DC could announce plans (hypothetically) at comic con this year for Wonder Woman and Flash films in 14', followed by a Batman reboot and a Aquaman movie in 15'. Yes, your competing with A2, but Batman could hold his own, and Aqauman is a different sort of hero than we've seen, so people will be intrigued by that. End it in 16' with a Incredible Hulk-style sequel/reboot for Green Lantern, and in 2017 bust the doors down with JL. I'm not saying that's how they SHOULD do it (or even how I would do it). I'm just arguing that there are ways they can make Justice League even bigger than a normal movie. If they rush straight into it, it would lose the potential traction it has to be a film of monumental impact.
4. Too Fast!!
If WB isn't careful, they could end up bad. Picture WB as Nate Robinson (#4) and Paul Pierce (#34) as Man Of Steel. This is what could theoretically happen:
Obviously this isn't whats going to happen to WB if they do make a JL film (I just wanted to use this hilarious gif) but this represent what could transpire if WB moves too fast (again however, it wouldn't be to this hilarious effect) Similar to Pierce nailing a game winner, Man OF Steel was a game-winner (over $135 weekend, and likely going to be even more) And similar to Nate, WB is hoping to piggy-back on its success by putting out a Justice League film that will make Avengers-like dough. But this kind of brings me back to third point: The Avengers was a four-year process, with a plan, and an understanding of where they wanted to go. I'm not seeing that mindset from WB. It seems like there rushing it out in order to compete with Marvel. That doesn't seem to be conducive for success. While I enjoyed Man Of Steel (the final fight between Supes and Zod is easily in my top two CBM fight scenes ever along with Spidey V Doc Ock in SM2) And if they just try and push out a film on MOS heels, it could (like mister Robinson) while not blow up in there face, not give them the expectations they're looking for. Slow and steady win the race. Yes, that statement is ironic when your team has a super-speedster, but work with me. Take a deep breath, fight the urge to compete with Avengers 2, and focus on building your world. All of us on this site will still flock to the theaters to watch it.
Well those are my thoughts and reasons why the proposal for JL to come right after MOS needs to have the same thing done to it as what happens to this guys shot
REJECTED! :)
Now, before I leave thee, let me reiterate as strongly as I can. I. WANT. A. JUSTICE. LEAGUE. MOVIE. Not only would I love to see some my favorite characters on screen (I'll still see it even if it does come right after MOS), but then a true competition would brew between Marvel and DC's movie franchises. And the winner of competition is always the fans. But I don't want a decent Justice League film. I want a great Justice League film. And that is why I would like for WB to wait until they have a viable plan, and not just jump into the fray. Who knows. Maybe at SDCC, they will announce this bullet point plan, and this article will look completely stupid. But until something like that, I'm sticking by my guns.
Well thanks to all who sat through this gif-overloaded-bad joke-ridden article. If you enjoyed it, be on the lookout for more articles from the NBAFANaddict. If you did not enjoy it...well....then don't be on the lookout for more articles from me. Either way, to every one who made it through the article, I thank you. Comments are more than welcome. You know where to sound off. Tell me what you thought of it. I enjoy debate, so don't feel afraid to criticize (respectful as can be please) And with that, I bid thee adieu!
(Had to put one more in there ;)