DC Films – Are they on the right track?

Someone recently asked me, as a film reviewer, whether or not I felt DC Films had finally hit their stride? My initial answer was absolutely, but when you really look at their complete track record, with the exception of Batman and a Kryptonian with daddy issues, they really do not have much in the way of success on the big screen. Yet somehow, since Man of Steel and Dark Knight Rises, this notion has been floating around the internet as if it were fact. A notion I instinctively bought into initially. Which prompted me to contemplate another question: Do you ever feel bad for DC Films?

Marvel has felt the pain in the past, sure. During the ’80s, DC Films made Marvel feel like the bastard stepchild. This was a time when Superman and Batman were the most well-realized celluloid superheroes; actually, they were the ONLY successful superheroes on film. While Marvel had to settle for ‘timeless’ revelations such as a Dolph Lundgren Punisher and a live-action Howard the Duck (Yes, ‘Murica, both Marvel and Lucas are both to blame for that one), DC was laughing all the way to the bank.

Then the ’90s happened and superheroes found their kryptonite. People became disinterested in Comic Book films altogether. They wanted wounded, but down-to-earth heroes. More John McClane and less God-like men or mopey billionaire daredevils. Comic Book films, with the rare exception, had effectively died.

Then Marvel finally figured it out in the ’00s.  Take their existing properties, put talent that loves the material behind the camera and put real money behind it.  The market exploded.  Hit film after hit film – all from Marvel’s cannon. Spider-Man, X-Men, Daredevil, Fantastic Four (I never said they were all good), culminating of course with the triple hit of Iron Man, Captain America: The First Avenger, and Thor. If ever a studio created a license to print money, it was Marvel.

Meanwhile, over at DC Films, they had Watchmen and…the same Kryptonian and billionaire they had before. That is not taking away from those successes, not at all. Man of Steel is a great reimagining and The Dark Knight Trilogy is one of the greatest accomplishments in genre storytelling.  The problem is, outside of their more mature titles (V for Vendetta, Road to Perdition), that is all they have managed to grow.

Catwoman, huge flop.  Green Lantern, flop.  Jonah Hex, jury is still out as to what that even was. Meanwhile, their numerous other properties have done little to spurn a production assault.  Where is our much talked about, yet never materializing, Wonder Woman movie? How about you stop trying to spin-off Flash with another squandered CW show and finally launch his own film franchise? Heck, I’d settle for a well-thought out Aquaman film at this point.

For all of the clamoring and demanding of a Justice League movie, all that notion does is scare me stupid.  Look deeply at DC’s history, recent or otherwise, and take fanboy love out of it…Are you really sure that you want that?  If you take Christopher Nolan’s name out of that history, now how scared are you? I am not quite confident that a company so ill-equipped to elevate their second-tier characters to the forefront should be trusted to ensure a dream project like the Justice League comes together, not just yet.  Therefore my answer to my own question is: Yes. I do feel bad for DC Films.

Who at Warner Brothers is handling the creative end of DC and why can they not seem to emulate the same inspired filmmaking choices they have made with Supes and Wayne, extending them to their other titles?  Marvel has done it, and they have done it SEVERAL times. DC Entertainment President Diane Nelson recently commented that Wonder Woman is a very ‘Tricky’ character to get right. Really? So was Tony Stark, Logan, Black Widow and Steve Rogers and we are still raving about those choices on forums worldwide on a daily basis. Anyone still talking about Martin Campbell’s Green Lantern?

If Affleck the right Batman? It’s too early to tell, and we’re talking about all of the OTHER DC characters, so BenFleck can have the rest of the internet. For the rest of DC, put the right people in place, people who love the source material, and you too can have the same astronomical success as Nick Fury and friends.  But you have to get a better grip, DC.  You have to be able to accomplish this on your own as Chris Nolan will not be around to save you every step of the way.

I want my big-screen Justice League. I just want it when the time is right, not just because the economics are there. Show us you can handle more than the company staples. Perhaps even take a few chances (Who hasn’t wanted a Harley Quinn origin story?). Show us just one single other character you can bring to life on a larger canvas, so I can go forward dread-free to that Justice League midnight showing.

It is time to stop feeling bad for you, DC.  It’s your move.  The material is ripe and the audience is waiting.

 

Aaron Peterson
The Hollywood Outsider Podcast

*This article was originally written for GeekLeagueofAmerica.com