World Finest, Trinity, or The Justice League?

World Finest, Trinity, or The Justice League?

Which would translate into a better movie?

Editorial Opinion
By Thanos005 - Apr 12, 2012 02:04 PM EST
Filed Under: Other

There are all kinds of different combinations for Worlds Finest, but for the sake of this editorial, the team will be Superman and Batman. The Trinity is Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman. And While the Justice League has more members than a small government, for the sake of this editorial let us assume the roster will be Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern(Hal Jordan), Flash (Barry Allen), and Aquaman.

A quick assumption to make would be "The more, the merrier" and while this is true for many things, it may not be as easy for this situation.



A Justice League movie would likely be nothing short of jumbled and crammed unless it were handled like the Avengers, with each major member having their own movie to introduce them to audiences and provide a concrete origin. Handling it the same way as The Avengers however would take many years. Assuming each year two members had their own movies, it could take at least four years to culminate into the Justice League. And people as a whole are an impatient bunch.

Which brings us to Worlds Finest.



Batman and Superman are arguably the biggest names to ever come from comic books. The draw that comes from their names alone is tremendous. And assuming that the upcoming Man of Steel and Batman reboot are tied to the same universe, it could be a fairly quick, and relatively cheaper venture. The obvious drawback is that it would be Superman and Batman and only Superman and Batman. While this may not be a problem to many (it certainly isn't a problem to me), some could feel like it was just a quick means of cashing in on the hype surrounding superhero crossovers started by the Marvel cinematic universe, but that Worlds Finest would only be a watered down version, since it has a much smaller roster. This is only a theory, and would be very unlikely to affect the actual movie, but people are also a fickle bunch.

Now regarding the Trinity.



Most everything that applied to Worlds Finest, also applies to the Trinity. Smaller Roster, could be completed sooner, and would be less expensive than a Justice League movie. However, one major upside to Trinity is the addition of Wonder Woman. This would be a major improvement over Worlds Finest for a number of reasons. There would be another huge comic book name attached to it. Also, it would be Wonder Womans big screen debut, and even though she would have to share the screen with Batman and Superman, this works to her favor because the general interest in Wonder Woman outside of comic books is minimal at best, so a movie with only her would likely be a financial disaster, but with Batman and Superman carrying her, perhaps everyone else will see how badass she can be. Lastly, another reason this would be an improvement over Worlds Finest would be that there is a strong female lead in a comic book movie, however this would only be an improvement if she was actually portrayed as a strong character. Portraying Wonder Woman as a damsel in distress would only hinder interest in her further.

Arguably there has not been a single strong female lead in a comic book movie ever. The best portrayal yet has been Hit-Girl from Kick-Ass. So this could be a chance to showcase that while comics are indeed a male dominated genre (much like everything else) there is a strong female presence as well.

And they can kick just as much ass as the men.
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TonyChu
TonyChu - 4/12/2012, 2:43 PM
Worlds Finest. By doing a Worlds Finest movie, DC can use two of the biggest known superheroes of all time and lead up to a Justice League movie. By doing this route they can also stray away from what Marvel did to lead up to the Avengers.
GOTG
GOTG - 4/12/2012, 3:00 PM
doesnt matter cos AVENGERS FTW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
GOTG
GOTG - 4/12/2012, 3:00 PM
doesnt matter cos AVENGERS FTW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DocHorrible
DocHorrible - 4/12/2012, 3:28 PM
As weird as it sounds, I feel like a World's Finest film would be a great way to end the Nolan Batman series and begin the Superman saga.

Imagine if the World's Finest film picked up right after The Dark Knight. The police are hunting Batman and a general distrust of vigilantes runs rampant.

Taking down Batman is what inspires Clark Kent to become Superman, but after finding out who he is and what really happened he decides to help out Batman.

All the while a new Batman villain emerges as does a Superman villain, such as Brainiac or Metallo. Of course Lex Luthor will be in it, but more of a puppeteer, rather than a front and center villain.

I know Nolan said his Batman lies in a different universe, separate from the other heroes, but I think this would be a great way to introduce Superman without re-treading over ground that is widely known to audiences.
Devilhunter318
Devilhunter318 - 4/12/2012, 3:31 PM
HEY DE4DPOOL!!!! GUESS WHAT!! THIS ARTICLE IS ABOUT DC CHARACTERS!!! I'm excited for the Avengers too, its gonna be amazing, but your comment added nothing to what may have been an intelligent discussion (which, by the way, I agree with TonyChu)
Coloso
Coloso - 4/12/2012, 9:57 PM
Too bad Joss Whedon never got a chance to do his Wonder Woman movie. If anybody could have made a succesful film of that character it would have been him.

Oh well, it worked out for him in the end :D

Avengers Assemble!
BIGBMH
BIGBMH - 4/12/2012, 10:29 PM
Screw Trinity. No offense to Wonder Woman, but I don't really care much about her and I think that's just an awkward middle ground. Seeing Batman and Superman together has so much power to it because of the contrast and how iconic they are. Wonder Woman thrown in there is like adding a third lead to Rush Hour, Lethal Weapon, or Men in Black. There's just something special about two character's playing off each other.

World's Finest would be monumental, so they need to do it before doing Justice League. If they do it after, it's not as amazing because they've been on screen together before. DC really did mess things up by letting Marvel make Avengers first. I'm not sure if World's Finest can have the same impact post-Avengers. It would still be big, but it misses out on the honor of being the first superhero crossover film.
incrediblesuperbatspider
incrediblesuperbatspider - 4/12/2012, 10:31 PM
Let's see:
2013
Man of steel

2014
If they get started on wonder woman this year(we still have 8 months left in the year) wonder woman is possible in 2014

2015
The flash

2016
Justice league...if the film follows the same pattern as justice league:new frontier, it will be a success. They would only need to introduce martian manhunter and perhaps a small cameo by aquaman..martian manhunter could be the anchor of the film, he could also be what brings everyone together
incrediblesuperbatspider
incrediblesuperbatspider - 4/12/2012, 10:32 PM
Batman reboot could be that same year 2016 but released in May where a how movie would be released July
marvelguy
marvelguy - 4/13/2012, 12:15 AM
I think DC should do the opposite of "The Avengers." Start with a JLA movie, then do spinoffs. If they introduced Wonder Woman and John Stewart similarly to the "JL" cartoon, they would be perfectly built for their own movies--Flash as well.
6of13
6of13 - 4/13/2012, 9:14 AM
While I think a Wonder Woman movie could work, I actually agree with BIGBMH regarding the chemistry between the two leads. A World's Finest might be a good way to set off a united DC cinematic universe that leads to a JLA movie. If DC were clever, then they could actually begin to lay subtle lead-ins within a World's Finest e.g like shadowy hints to Darkseid or Brainiac. Even using Lex or John Jones (Detective)as a common denominator would work. In fact, since I doubt that DC would make a solo Martian Manhunter movie, then why not use the character of Detective John Jones in minor way? At least that way when he does appear in a JLA movie his presence fits within the whole notion of a united DC cinematic universe and a JLA movie. I think that way it might be a tad easier doing it that way than him just suddenly being in a JLA movie. If he is introduced in that manner in a World's Finest, then I imagine that Batman would immediately have feelings of mistrust.

Getting the whole unified DC cinematic universe started with a World's Finest movie is a brilliant idea. Then have solo movies for The Flash (Barry Allen) and Wonder Woman. Also, Green Lantern is going to need a sequel. The suggestion of rebooting GL for a JLA movie is no good. If WB did then it would just show that they have no confidence in what they doing with their comic book movies. In all honestly, they need a committed director who is not a WB puppet. He must be like Nolan and use his own creativity and ideas to drive a GL sequel. A single vision not influenced by the WB execs is how a GL sequel needs to be approached. Then use the same formula for World's Finest.

Therefore, this is how I think the slate of films should be:

2013
Man of Steel

2014
World's Finest
Wonder Woman

2015
The Flash
Green Lantern sequel

2016
Justice League
6of13
6of13 - 4/13/2012, 9:21 AM
On some re-consideration, perhaps there should be a Wonder Woman movie before World's Finest. A movie about WW could become difficult to adapt successfully - if a World's Finest was released and if it was monumental, and then if a Woman Woman movie was released after that and if it was not as good, then it might be a bit of a let down - i.e to go from a brilliant World's Finest movie to a less than stellar Wonder Woman movie. Therefore, go with Wonder Woman movie first and then World's Finest. That way, whatever happens with a Wonder Woman movie, a World's Finest can surpass it and be better and more epic.
BIGBMH
BIGBMH - 4/13/2012, 11:06 AM
I'd actually like to see Batman rebooted before putting him next to Cavill. Let's assume the new Superman movie is great. If you don't reboot Batman before putting them together, the feeling will be "Hey! It's Superman and...that's not Christian Bale. Who the heck is this guy?!" The new actor needs a chance to establish himself on his own in order to break out of the shadow cast by Bale and be able to stand next to hold his own next to Cavill.
6of13
6of13 - 4/13/2012, 12:19 PM
^^^Very true.
gamecreatorjj
gamecreatorjj - 4/13/2012, 3:15 PM
@maevelite that sounds great but i dont think my heart could stand 5 years of anticipation for JL
incrediblesuperbatspider
incrediblesuperbatspider - 4/13/2012, 3:15 PM
I don't see green lantern being rebooted in 2014...if u look at history...it takes at least 5 years for a property to be rebooted....

2007 spiderman 3
2012 amazing spiderman

2003 hulk
2008 incredible hulk

Supes17
Supes17 - 4/13/2012, 6:28 PM
TRINITY
Wonder Woman needs to be on the BIG SCREEN
Zarog
Zarog - 4/13/2012, 8:50 PM
How about Man of Steel, Batman reboot, then a World's Finest story that pushes into a Trinity story which would essentially launch the DCCU allowing for the introduction of Martian Manhunter, Aquaman, Flash, and the reintroduction of Green Lantern. Then culminate in a Justice League Movie. Would be a long process, but if you could get through the first phase (through Trinity), it would seem doable.
Thanos005
Thanos005 - 4/14/2012, 2:47 AM
"Couldn't Peggy Carter be classed as a strong female lead in TFA?"

Yes. But she wasn't a "hero" character. And at the end of the day she was a love interest first and foremost. Nothing is wrong with love interests. But every woman in a comic book movie, or even movie in general needs to be a love interest. Diana certainly doesn't need one.
Thanos005
Thanos005 - 4/14/2012, 2:48 AM
But *NOT* every woman in a comic book movie, or even movie in general needs to be a love interest.
golden123
golden123 - 4/14/2012, 7:10 AM
I thought Gwyneth Paltrow was really good as Pepper Potts.

Anyways, I don't really want to see a Justice League film. I don't really want to see a connected universe for DC. If they do a Justice League film, then it should be in 2020 or after. I would like to see a JLA film, maybey, after more DC superheroes get films and sequels. Also, I think it would be interesting if the different DC franchises were on different Earths, and the Justice League of America movie brought the universes together in a crisis. That would be way better than another alien invasion since The Avengers already did that. Not to mention alot of JLA villains are aliens. Despero, Starro, the White Martians, Kanjar Ro, and Darkseid are all aliens.

Having the Justice League be an indendent team of heroes as opposed to working for the government would be another route I would like the movie to take. A Justice League film should take a superhero team up in a different direction. The cinematic version of the Avengers is led by an agent working for the government. The Avengers line-up includes two more secret agents, and a former US soldier. I see superheroes as people who take the law into their own hands, so it's only natural that out of the two big superhero team ups, I would like one of them to work independently.
Tainted87
Tainted87 - 4/14/2012, 10:36 PM
Trinity was a TERRIBLE run, an unnecessary cash-in from 52.

Truthfully, the fewer characters - the greater the movie's potential to be successful. Suppose the audience was divided on the characters. I know a lot of people who saw X-Men didn't like Rogue, didn't like Iceman, would have preferred to have seen Gambit, or were simply at odds with how the story progressed with the characters who were involved.

BUT...

I myself enjoy an ensemble cast. If it's an action or a thriller or a horror film, it makes the movie more interesting by equalizing the characters when there is no leader, no true command structure. You get the feeling that anything can happen to these characters.

Unfortunately, that just isn't possible with a Justice League film, and less so with the Trinity. Superman will always lead, and although Wonder Woman is a warrior, she trusts her friends too much to second guess them to the extent that Batman or Superman's ideas would be overshadowed by hers (unless of course, they just gave it to her because she's a woman).

BIGBMH is right of course, Wonder Woman would be the uncomfortable third wheel that no one cares about, and it'd be a waste of time having her because she surely cannot compete with the likes of Batman or Superman in popularity.

I'm going to go right out and say it - a CGI animated theatrical release would be a great way to sell the Justice League to a massive audience. I'm not talking about George Miller and that failure, but something a bit similar. As it would already have that fantastical media going for it, the hurdle to squeeze the larger than life characters in with the somewhat more grounded would be much smaller and easier to jump over. The characters would be portrayed as they are, not by what the actors have in mind for them or what they can only accomplish with those hypothetical actors. Also, voice actors are much easier to replace, and I'm certain (potential future tv spin-offs aside) that a follow-up of any kind would be live-action depending on the film's success. It would be a very expensive commercial, perhaps, but one that would likely pay off and be fun to watch at the same time.
6of13
6of13 - 4/15/2012, 3:50 AM
An animated CGI movie is an interesting idea. I am supposing it would be the same level of CGI as in Beowulf.

One of the main issues with a JLA film, as pointed out above, is of course the screen time for all the main characters concerned. It has been suggested that a JLA film follow a LOTR multiple narrative strategy. In fact, what if a JLA film was kind of like LOTR meets Watchmen style? It would probably require at least one sequel which would then need to be filmed immediately after or at the same time as the first movie ala LOTR or POTC. The incorporation of a Watchmen style could allow the use of flashbacks and therefore a bit of character origin story whilst simultanesouly focusing on that specific character. In that way, each character gets a fair share of screen time. The split narrative structure also gives the opportunity to do this and the plot can function without being dominated by Superman or Batman. In addition, this strategy might also help eliminate the need for solo run-up films to a JLA movie.

But all that of course implies that WB have a plan, a road-map that their slate of films could follow. Unfortunately, it does not seem like they have that type of formula at all. Hopefully, The Avengers could inspire WB to announce something soon.
Tainted87
Tainted87 - 4/15/2012, 10:04 AM
That's the tricky part. These aren't all characters who have acquired their powers through some lab accident or form of gadgetry. You have to give some explanation and detail a bit of their origins at one point in the movie if they haven't already been introduced.

The Martian Manhunter, for instance, is a displaced alien, and is the last (sort of) of his kind. While that sounds like Superman, if it was just proclaimed in some off the wall "I'm a Martian, the last of my kind" statement, it would sound like Earth was a dumping ground for aliens.

Aquaman is the king of Atlantis. That COULD be skipped over, I suppose, but there's a whole race of undersea dwellers? Who knew?

Flash is an accident, he could just be running around as an already established superhero - no origin needed here.

Wonder Woman is not like Aquaman. While she is the princess of Themiscyra and part of a race of warriors, she comes from Earth. She looks human, but she was born... well, sculpted into an Amazon. Where is this island of exotic warriors? Why does this population decide to appoint an emissary NOW after all this time? She needs a backstory and some establishment.

I think, however, that this could be run over in a credits sequence, very much like The Incredible Hulk and what Iron Man 2 did as a recap of Iron Man. We know of Batman, we know of Superman, we more-or-less know of Green Lantern.

Let's say that while a slow but building dramatic theme plays, Hippolyta is on the beach shaping her daughter next to the name of the actress who is playing Diana. For J'onn, a grieving Martian is depicted walking the ashes of Mars and then is suddenly transported to Earth. If need be, have a lightning bolt strike the lab Barry is working in. For Batman, have Bruce's parents gunned down in a brief flash - zip to Bruce's traditional training montage where he is seen lifting weights (or, since that is overly generic, some kind of ninja practice) then studying something under a microscope.

The more I think about it, the more I'm inclined toward the cg movie. I'm also considering something a LOT like New Frontier, but without it being a period piece.
golden123
golden123 - 4/15/2012, 10:16 AM
@Tainted87: If it's CGI, then why do they half to go over the origins? Why can't the team be already established?
Tainted87
Tainted87 - 4/15/2012, 10:26 AM
They could, but this would be a theatrical release - meaning old people who go shopping at Wal-Mart on Sundays will be in the auditorium going: "que?"

Little kids might be wise to the characters, and us geeks obviously know quite a bit, but I don't want to sit in a theater full of people who whip out their phones to go wiki these characters in the middle of the movie. It happened the first time I saw Hunger Games, and I think the ushers were too tired to care.
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