Relax On the Smashy Smash Smash
This is the real issue here. Beyond Synder, beyond Nolan, Superman or any director, we need to cool it with the Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots. BvS was essentially a kid picking up a toy of Batman, a toy of Superman, and smashing them together as his bedroom burned down. Not quite what I was after and I know many feel the same way. There are many films that do this, many blockbusters that think of their characters as indestructible punching bags to punish as much as possible. Story in these films is an afterthought, just a bridge to the next punch up, to the next explosion, noise to fill in the gaps before audiences get to turn off their brains and watch messy violence ensue.
Violence in films is fine; it happens all the time and can be very entertaining — if done well. The smashy smash smash of BvS was not done well, that final fight between Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman and Doomsday was a big ball of flaming garbage. It was fun in the way that watching two hockey players throw down their gloves and awkwardly sling fists into each other faces is fun, but with a film of this size, surely we can ask for more. A little restraint wouldn’t have gone amiss. A little style wouldn’t have been unwelcome. Future DC flicks need to remember this. Less is more. Violence is more impactful when it’s infrequent. And if we must have explosions and carnage galore, have it be for a reason that makes sense. Character motivations are important, why anyone was doing anything in BvS was beyond me. That final battle was just bizarre and completely avoidable. The fact that it looked so poor just added to its nonsensical flavour.
Going forward, these films need to stay away from max volume as much as possible, only going to ten when the situation requires it and if they can pull it off technically. Wish washy “I’m doing this because of stuff and things” isn’t going to fly. Its lazy, it’s boring and I don’t want to watch it. I have money to give you, but you need to give me a reason to open my wallet. I won’t do it for smashy smash smash. I will for stylish, well choreographed action that feels deserved, that comes at a time that makes sense for story, character and themes. Not because the kids in the back row are falling asleep.
Want To Be the Anti-Marvel? Be the Anti-Marvel
It’s weird, it’s weird because DC was unique for so long when Nolan was around, it was the anti-Marvel for the short time that they and the MCU overlapped, and then Nolan left and they looked at what Marvel was doing and decided they wanted a piece of that pie. But they still desired to be different — sadly, they are not. DC’s thing, apparently, is to be the antithesis of Marvel while still doing what Marvel are doing with their larger universe of connected characters. But what they have gone and done is made a Marvel film with a slightly duller colour pallet and a couple less jokes. Batman v Superman is no different from any of these other superhero films. It’s just loud noises. BvS is no worse (except for Guardians of the Galaxy) than really any Marvel movie, but it’s all the same stuff. It’s all ice cream, just maybe without the multicoloured sprinkles.
If DC wants to be the anti-Marvel, then be the anti-Marvel. It’s not that hard and this is what — it seems — the majority of DC fans want. So why not give it to them. Make your films the stark opposite of everything that Marvel is. Give people a real alternative; make the difference inalienable to DC films very make up. Forget that you had already achieved this once and be different again. People are bugging you about jokes? Say “fuck you”, here’s a serial killer Riddler that leaves grisly death traps for Batman to solve before the victims are dismembered. Audiences are getting tired of seeing Marvel’s uber bright Avengers compile as many set pieces into two hours as humanly possible? Deliver on to us a dialogue heavy meditation on what it means to be a hero in a world that deems inaction as the only course to fight evil. Cinema goers are getting fatigued at seeing three superhero movies a year? Make your fans ravenous for your content and release a movie once every two years, leaving them frothing at the mouth for more of this thing that couldn’t be more in contrast to the snarky snark snark and tepid joke telling of Marvel’s quarterly bubble gum parties.
You want to be the anti-Marvel, DC? Then be the anti-Marvel! It’s not hard, the blueprints to building this house are obvious, what needs to be done isn’t nebulous. This is the journey that is exciting. This is the road to carving your own unique section of the superhero market. Be different. Don’t be a sheep. Be a wolf. Don’t just make movies. Make films. Tread your own path. You’ll get your money. You’ll get your rewards. You’ll get my money.
Samuel Brace
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https://youtu.be/b7Ozs5mj5ao?list=PL18yMRIfoszEaHYNDTy5C-cH9Oa2gN5ng
Originally published April 2, 2016. Updated April 15, 2018.
