The extended version was still terrible. Just a lesser degree of bad.

Perfectly timed.

Also, the hype train for this crap is surely already dying. I can't even get excited about it, and I'm a batman fanboy.

Let's say Man of Steel was actually the movie we were all hoping it'd be. Same basic plot / set-up, kicking off this brand new world / cinematic universe, just slightly better and not directed by Snyder. Or, say it was even the exact same movie, except the studio didn't panic and skip straight to Batman v Superman. Here's how I would have loved to see it go down, staying within the very broad confines already executed/planned...

2013: Man of Steel

2015: The Batman
Instead of BvS, an Affleck "prequel" set 10 or so years prior that gives us a seasoned Batman, lets us see the death of Robin, the Joker captured and put in Arkham, etc. Point is, we at least get one solo movie with Affleck/Batman before Superman changes everything.

2016: Wonder Woman
Prequel as-is, same WWI setting, just comes out a year earlier. Only THIS is our introduction to the character. End with a modern-day setting/scene, though, hinting at her eventual (and much later) appearance in...

2017: Man of Steel 2 / Batman v Superman Hybrid
Same opening as BvS, with a modern day Wayne witnessing the end of Man on Steel from his perspective. Nearly everything else is different/better, though, as Wayne isn't as psychotically bent on taking down Superman. Rather, he's simply cautious, if not a bit distrusting, and monitors Superman as much as he can. His story is more in the background, though, with far more screen time devoted to Superman, a much cooler Luthor, with either the Justice League villain Steppenwolf, or whoever they're planning on using in MoS 2, arriving and "preparing Earth" for Darkseid. Wayne fully comes around in the end, helps Superman, and Wonder Woman shows up in much the same way as she did in the BvS final battle to defeat Steppenwolf. So... all three heroes come together in the end, but it's not against Doomsday, and Superman doesn't die. The core team is assembled, and Superman leaves earth on a recon mission of sorts to either learn more about Darkseid or try and head him off at the pass.

2018: The Flash
With Superman away, an origin story that ends with the Flash being recruited by Wayne / Wonder Woman.

2018: Aquaman
Wither Superman away, ends with Aquaman being recruited by Wayne / Wonder Woman.

2019: Justice League Part 1
Superman returns ahead of Darkseid's arrival. I don't know the details, but the team is finally/fully assembled now and faces off against Darkseid. Darkseid prevails, Superman dies, and his absence paves the way for...

2020: Green Lantern Corps
We meet either Green Lantern or the GLC in a semi-solo movie, set a year or two before, not on Earth, but he/they come to ultimately fill the Superman void on Earth for the Justice League by film's end.

2021: Justice League 2
Picking up basically right where Part 1 left off, the new team faces off against a seemingly unbeatable Darkseid, Superman is resurrected, and the JL ultimately prevails.

Granted, I know next to nothing about Darkseid or the GLC, and I'm sure there are better ways to weave this all together and not rush it like they did. That, and there's got to be a way to have the Joker show back up, introduce a couple other heroes as well, and maybe even squeeze in another movie or two in between. I just thought'd be fun to throw out an initial framework.

Honestly, I would have preferred if they just kept popping out batman movies every year or two, styled like the Arkham game series, but set earlier in Batman's timeline. Flesh out that Batman universe and perhaps give us spin off movies set in that universe every other year (a better suicide squad, nightwing, batman beyond, batgirl, a better cat woman, etc.)

Everyone loves Batman. His villains beat Marvel's. You can occasionally have other DC universe heroes show up if you want, but you don't need them.

They also proved that they can take those same characters that you love, and turn them into unlikable jerks.

But for real, DC/WB needs to focus on making good movies first. Marvel did that with Iron Man, who was a B-List hero before 2008, and now he is one of the most recognizable heroes. No excuse for Superman or Batman to play second fiddle to Iron Man and Captain America.

I think the last two posts pretty much illustrated how it's all about the writing.

4 years ago, would anyone have predicted Guardians of the Galaxy outperforming Man of Steel at the box office?

quote:

---

Suit looks brighter too, but that may be just the lighting.

---

Don't worry, Snyder will fix that in post.....

For those of us who haven't read the books, what's different about Superman when he wears the black? Has he sworn an oath to take no wife, hold no lands, father no children, wear no crowns and win no glory, live and die at his post? Is he the sword in the darkness, the watcher on the walls, the shield that guards the realms of men?