Batman v Superman Latest News

[MIB41]

^Snyder was contracted to deliver a PG13, but the R for BRay is appears to be deliberate marketing. That's where the "unrated" or even "director's cut" title comes into play. Studios will use that so the film doesn't have to pass the ratings aboard again.

I think we speculated a second theatrical release due to the time between BvS and JL, and it was indirectly confirmed at one point. I could see the R with new prologue getting that shot.

Is it just me or do you feel like this movie has already been out for a month and the subject's getting old? I've never seen a movie so top heavy with speculation because of the Studio's nonstop loud speaker of announcements. First it seem like a centrally focused movie about the two heroes facing off. Then we see Wonder Woman; Then we see Doomsday; Then we hear stories of a slew of other heroes showing up in one form or another for cameos; Then we hear about the Justice League spin off starting up weeks after this release. Now we get this odd announcement to expect a rated R version on DVD. I'm waiting to see the variant X-rated cover. Oh... there's still a movie we need to see?! It's just crazy. The worst part? It's STILL almost a month away!! Dear Lord... I imagine we'll have the specs for the Justice League toys and a working title for it's sequel before we even get to this opening. It's time for someone to tell the suits to zip it and let this movie speak for itself. If I ever weighed the merits of the suits being nervous before, all of this grandstanding has got me convinced they are now.

My brother and I went to a movie and got some pizza afterwards last night and he asked me, " What is that Batman vs. Superman movie all about? It doesn't make any sense to me. Why would those two be fighting?" That told me everything I need to know about the marketing of this movie. My brother is 57 and while we are only separated by five years difference, he does watch movies in this genre, but he's not informed about their history like me who grew up immersed in it. So I think the marketing has definitely stayed focused on just the fan base and not really pulling in the general public who have really no idea there was this feud in graphic novels and comics. And now with the Studio saying there will be a rated R version, that could easily get dissimulated (as all information often is) and get misunderstood as a rating for the theatrical release. Not good for parents who might keep the kids back. I think the marketing department should have put out a poster that not only has the blended Batman and Superman emblems, but a question mark in front of all that. That's how this movie is feeling....lost.

[Earth 2 Chris]

^I've gotten a lot of that from coworkers. I've been asked repeatedly "why are they fighting?" DC would probably make a lot more money if they went their own path and embraced their Super Friends heritage a bit more, based on all the head-scratching the basic premise of the movie is causing among the muggles.

Chris

[MIB41]

^ I agree Chris. I think a big part of what has this movie hitting soft is there is no real villain here. Yeah we know Lex is in the mix (again) and then we have Doomsday. Lex, as a comic relief character is so written out, he's painfully predictable. Doomsday just looks like a big CGI character from the Incredible Hulk. And whatever he does to Superman, they can't really kill Superman with the Justice League starting sooooo....Let me guess... he loses? I'm sitting for two and half hours on a ungodly predictable story that really has no thrills in it. Batman and Superman work out their differences, likely after Doomsday nearly kills Supes, and the two realize they need Wonder Woman and a few of these other super beings to protect the earth. Ahem... Can we just skip this one and get to the Justice League? If it's just going to be a two and half hour set up, without a great antagonist that you hate, it's hard to root for the superheroes. For me there needs to be contrast. Something tremendous to fight against. All the trailers really do is showcase this big pow-wow between Supes and Bats. Then what? I think that's why the general public is kind of lost.

[hedrap]

^
It really is all about the "How do we differentiate from Marvel" obsession. Marvel's big money, like Star Wars, came from 5-12 year olds. Older fanboys are gravy as we're either the ones bringing the kids or going on our own.

WB looked at what is their hottest superhero sellers and it's TDK and undoubtedly the games division. So overtime, we've gotten this constantly changing in-development project that literally went from being a big screen version on Dini/Timm's World's Finest S-BTAS episode, to a Rocksteady adaptation of Frank Miller's Injustice. I'm telling you, if you haven't played the games, the color palette Snyder used is near-identical to Injustice and Arkham. For the younger crowd, they instantly get the visual reference.

So for us, it seems bizarre to start with a fight because comics build to that kind of confrontation. But fighting games are all about the fight from the drop.

[RickD]

nobody has seen the movie yet and most are writing it off. It is just silly

Forget the critics, forget the articles, forget all the crap you are reading and listening to and go see it for yourself.

Make your own determination.

[mego maniac mark]

^^Amen!
I can't wait for this movie. Too much crap being talked and nobody has seen it

[emeraldknight47]

nobody has seen the movie yet and most are writing it off. It is just silly

Forget the critics, forget the articles, forget all the crap you are reading and listening to and go see it for yourself.

Make your own determination.

I would be inclined to agree with you on this point. Movies, like music, food and beauty, are very subjective. Everyone's going to have an opinion on the movie and those opinions are going to be fairly polarizing, either for the positive or negative, and you'll have gradations in between. Am I expecting this movie to be the blockbuster that WB/DC hopes and prays it will be? Likely not, but with any luck, it won't be a giant suckfest either.

[MIB41]

nobody has seen the movie yet and most are writing it off. It is just silly

Forget the critics, forget the articles, forget all the crap you are reading and listening to and go see it for yourself.

Make your own determination.

We're talking about how this movie has been marketed and thus how it looks. Obviously if we were not FANS, we would not be this invested. If we're being objective, we have to express what we like and what we don't like. I have expressed both throughout this campaign. When I see the movie, I'll have an opinion about that too. If YOU want to write it off that is YOUR opinion. I might end up loving this movie, but it won't change my mind about this marketing train wreck. There are people who have capacities to wear more than one hat on the subject. Just as with the movie, take the good with the bad on these discussions, and form your own opinion on the trailers and reports. If you don't want to share those thoughts, then please don't criticize those of us who have no problem speaking freely about it. Opinions CAN evolve and I PROMISE I'm not out to get this movie. You can lower the national threat alert on this film. Movie merchandise available at a commercial chain near you.

[phil]

I already have low expectations for this movie and the more I read about here the lower my expectations get.

[Hector]

nobody has seen the movie yet and most are writing it off. It is just silly

Forget the critics, forget the articles, forget all the crap you are reading and listening to and go see it for yourself.

Make your own determination.

Thank you...

Now excuse me, while I bash The Avengers franchise again...especially the two most horrible flicks ever, Avengers 2 and Iron Man 3...

[MIB41]

Thank you...

Now excuse me, while I bash The Avengers franchise again...especially the two most horrible flicks ever, Avengers 2 and Iron Man 3...

Hector is that party before or after your Green Lantern bash?!

[Hector]

[emeraldknight47]

Thank you...

Now excuse me, while I bash The Avengers franchise again...especially the two most horrible flicks ever, Avengers 2 and Iron Man 3...

[enyawd72]

Here's my take on it. You have two very similarly themed movies...Batman versus Superman, and Captain America versus Iron Man.
The difference? The build up. We've had 4-5 movies each to get to know Cap and Iron Man. We are intimately acquainted with them and we've seen their personalities clash already. We've seen them overcome that and become teammates...become friends. We understand why this feud between them is inevitable, and in a way even tragic. It always is when two friends turn on each other.
With Batman versus Superman, there is no such buildup. The confrontation seems forced, like you're paying to see two boxers who can't stand each other for no apparent reason except it's their job to beat the crap out of each other. We don't know Cavill's Superman all that well, and don't know Affleck's Batman at all. There's no emotional investment in the characters, so their feud seems pointless...hence, the "Why are they fighting?" sentiment that seems to pervade.

[madmarva]

I don't know how BvS will turn out, but you don't need five movies to set up a feud. Even in this day of sequels and reboots, most films aren't set up by five other films to establish conflict. If the movie is bad, that choice won't be the reason.

You have one character that seeks to inspire and another who uses fear as a weapon against crime/evil. You have conflict right there.

I hope and think the story will be about them coming to understand and respect one another and then become allies if not friends.

The idea that the only way to make episodic films is the Marvel way is like saying there is only one way to tell a story. It's just not so.