Trailer Rant- Batman v Superman SDCC Trailer

Been a while since I did a trailer rant. Wasn’t planning on even doing one again until I saw this trailer. But there was so much to talk about on this one I couldn’t help myself. Let’s begin.

First off, it is made very apparent that DC is doing the same things as Marvel where their cinematic universe is separate from their comic universe. I am not surprised at all, in fact it is very much expected. What I didn’t expect, however is the lengths to which they are altering the traditional stories of these characters. It seems from this trailer that they are changing Batman’s backstory to be that he had a wife and kids that died in a building collapse that led him to don the cape and cowl. While this maybe different in the actual movie, right now it looks a lot like that they altered the classic backstory of Batman that every kid and their dog knows. I’m not sure I’m a fan of that. If not that, it looks like the building collapse (which, in fact, is from Man of Steel) drove him out of retirement.

Lex Luthor has hair. I’m sorry, that just bothers me. I’m assuming that he loses it somewhere in the movie or it is just a wig the character wears based on the promo picture that they released in which he was bald. A Luthor with hair is like the Doctor without a companion, it just doesn’t feel right. However, I can say that I really like Jesse Eisenburg as the character; I think he’ll make a good Luthor. But, I do feel that he needs better lines than “The red capes are coming.”

Perry White’s line “Nobody cares about Clark Kent taking on the Batman,” at 1:17 is so full of irony that it actually hurts.

The Kent house at 1:30 almost reminds me of the farmhouse from Interstellar.

Also, at 1:37, how does the entire rocket blow up except for the part that would contain people? Oddly convenient I would say. If someone out there more sciencey than me could explain that I would appreciate it greatly. It just doesn’t seem plausible.

The Robin suit at 2:00 indicates that Robin may be a character they introduce somewhere down the line. The writing on the suit indicates that it is possibly Jason Todd’s old costume, after he was beaten to death by the Joker. If they do choose to introduce Robin as a character in later movies, it would have to be either Tim Drake, Damian Wayne, or a new Robin if they choose to do so. I would guess that they would do Tim Drake to save themselves the pain of describing Damian Wayne’s long backstory…but who really knows. This would also leave them available to bring in Dick Grayson as Nightwing if they so choose.

2:27…we interrupt your superhero movie to bring you a wild west movie. Because screw you, we’re DC.

And of course, they have to have the arbitrary Kryptonite at 2:48 because how else would you expect Batman to beat Superman? Magic? Miniature red suns in the tips of his gloves? Prohibiting Superman’s exposure to the yellow sun? No? I guess they couldn’t afford to be creative. We’ll see when the movie comes.

My thoughts for this trailer overall are that it seems like DC is trying way to hard. That’s just the vibe I’m getting off of all of this. It seems like they are pushing everything that they think you want at you and it just seems excessive. It’s like they’re like “Oh, you like the Marvel movies? Well we can give you more explosions, more characters, more CGI stuff, more witty one-liners than they can. Come see our movie please please please come see it!” Unfortunately, it seems so excessive that it is almost silly to me. Feel free to let me know if you feel the same or not.

I really hope this movie is not complete utter garbage because DC cannot afford another failure at this point after the Green Lantern movie. I really enjoy their comics and I hope that they can get to the Marvel cinematic level. But after this trailer, my hopes are not high.

Stay cool and keep dreaming

ThePhilosophicalFangirl

Marvel vs DC, Who Will Win the World’s Heart?

Please take note that most of the things I refer too will be within the last fifteen years, discussing only more recent developments for both companies.

Ever since the two comic companies were created decades ago, they have been rivals. Which begs the question, who will eventually win? Who will beat out the other to monopolize the comic industry? The obvious answer is, neither. Each will have their own strengths and weaknesses. Each have their own legion of fans to support them. But, with Marvel’s ever increasing strangle-hold on the cinemas, and DC’s increasing presence on television, one may wonder, what happens next?

Obviously both are comic book companies, and the comics are still popular, but in recent years a transition to other forms of media have been necessary for both companies’ survival. This article will focus mostly on these other forms.

Marvel holds an increasing power in the movie industry. With two movies a year regularly, fans are easily sated. DC has tried to strike back, with Man of Steel and The Dark Knight Rises, but neither one of those made as much money as The Avengers. Even the movie Iron Man, which was one of Marvel’s first in this new generation of movies made more than Man of Steel which came out five years later. Marvel also has the X-Men movies, which created many Marvel fans in the early 2000’s.

In contrast to that, DC holds more power in the television aspect. They have four adult shows out at the moment, Arrow, Constantine, The Flash, and Gotham, all running simultaneously. Marvel countered with Agents of Shield and the short series Agent Carter, but neither have been doing as well. Arrow, DC’s longest still-airing show has a higher rating on IMDb than Agents of Shield, Marvel’s longest still-airing show, with the scores being 8.2 to 7.5.

As for children’s television, Marvel has more series out at the moment in this aspect, but DC has a richer history of animated children’s shows. Some of the most successful for DC include Young Justice, Teen Titans, and the still-airing Teen Titans Go! which is a comedic spin on the Teen Titans. Marvel has Ultimate Spiderman, Avengers Assemble, and Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. airing at the moment. If you compare these shows however, there is one major difference that could be an advantage to DC in the future years.

This difference is the lack of a younger generation of characters in the Marvel universe. DC shows like Teen Titans and Young Justice have younger characters that are more relatable to children and teens. I myself was an exclusively Marvel fan until I discovered the Teen Titans. Although this is a children’s show, I found myself drawn to it even as a teen because the characters are more relatable. Their angst and issues are much easier for me to identify with than those of adult heroes. Although Marvel does have quite a bit of younger characters in the X-Men movies, the fact that they weren’t the main characters made that aspect basically null. This lack of a younger generation of characters in Marvel universe could lead to a decreased fan-base in the next generation.

So if anyone out there reading this is a higher-up in Marvel or DC, here’s my advice.

DC- Lighten up on the TV shows and focus more on making movies. Do not lighten up too much on television, however, but don’t make too many shows. The ones you have now should suffice. (Except please make a Titans TV show, I still really want to see that.) Attempt to challenge Marvel in the movie industry by making movies on what they lack, younger characters. Exploit this weakness. A good idea would to make a Teen Titans movie, because many of the original fan-base is older, and would go see a PG-13 Titans movie, while you still have a younger fan-base due to the Teen Titans Go! who will come see it too. (If their parents let them.)

Marvel- Fix your weakness in the lack of a younger generation. Make teen characters more prevalent in your movies and television shows. Up your game in the television industry as well, these various Agent shows won’t cut it. You need a show featuring a more major hero. Perhaps do what DC did and make shows for characters that don’t yet have movies, like what they did with Arrow. Maybe a show for The Wasp or something. A Young Avengers show couldn’t hurt either.

Well that’s all for my nerd rant for now. Let me know in the comments what you think, and which you lean more too, Marvel or DC.

Until later, stay cool and keep dreaming

ThePhilosophicalFangirl

Trailer Rant- Insurgent Official Trailer 1

Here’s the link if you want to watch the video before reading this post- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IR-l_TSjlEo

My first impression- What the actual?

First off, and most importantly, there’s no box in the book. Jeanine was hunting down Divergents only because they were aware under simulations, and she wanted a simulation that could bring everyone under control. They were a threat to that dream. She was especially hunting down Tris because Tris was very Divergent and very aware under simulations. There was no mysterious box that could only be opened by a Divergent. That just seems very preposterous.

Secondly, the leader of the Factionless is Tobias’ mom, Evelyn. She was also Marcus’ wife. She is first seen at 0:48 in the video. To me, she looks a bit too young. Tobias is eighteen in the book, and even older looking in the movie. Evelyn should be, at the very youngest, early forties, if she had Tobias in her early twenties. She looks much younger in my opinion.

One thing I did like was Tris’ new hair cut. It kind of shows her more dangerous side and I like it.

At 1:47, she fights herself. While this did occur in the book, it occurred when she was trying to break into Jeanine’s office. Not in a lab with Jeanine watching.

1:57 Please let this movie be PG-13. That shot in itself isn’t enough to make it R, but if continued… Also, just a quick reminder, Tris is sixteen.

If I had to rate just the trailer on the PJ Scale, it would be around a 1. (For more information on the PJ scale, check out my other post here- https://thephilosophicalfangirl.wordpress.com/2014/12/27/the-pj-scale/ ) However, because it is just a trailer and not the actual movie, this cannot be a completely accurate reading.

Hopefully the movie will be higher on the PJ Scale, but even if not, I just hope it’s a decent movie.

Until later, stay cool and keep dreaming

ThePhilosophicalFangirl (Phil-fa)

Teen Titans Live-Action Television Show to be Shot in 2015

Yes, all you Teen Titans fans, there is a live-action version to be shot in 2015 entitled Titans. For some of you this maybe old news, but I wanted to post my opinions and what information I know. The show will feature the Titans in their 20s. (so they will no longer be the Teen Titans). It will air on Syfy, and the only characters confirmed to be in the series are Raven, Starfire, and Dick Grayson as Nightwing.

So what about Beastboy and Cyborg? Well, apparently Cyborg has been showing up less and less in the recent Titans comics. It is rumored that Cyborg maybe showing up in the new Superman vs Batman movie. DC is pretty much phasing him out of the Titans by this point. Cyborg has been present in many Justice League events, which means he kinda outgrew the Titans. There is no confirmed evidence that Beast Boy will be in the show, but I could imagine some pretty angry fans if he was not. However, due to the age gap between Beast Boy and the other Titans, it is possible they will not include him because if the others are set in their twenties, Beast Boy would still be in his teens.

Also, the show may include some Titans that were fundamental in the comics, but not present in the Cartoon Network show due to licensing issues. Characters such as Superboy and Wonder Girl. Aqualad was seen in the Cartoon Network version, but played a more minor role than he did in the comics. Perhaps there will be more of him as well.

One thing that is uncertain is the continuation of the Teen Titans Go! on Cartoon Network. There maybe some licensing issues between networks that could involve the cancellation of this show.

It will be directed by Akiva Goldsman, who received an Academy Award for his work on A Beautiful Mind.

I personally hope they bring in Terra. I think she was an under-developed character in the cartoons that really has potential to be interesting. I also really hope they bring in Slade, or Deathstroke as a major villain. He was my favorite villain because he was so mysterious.

Let me know in the comments who you want to see on the show and your thoughts on the show!

Stay cool and keep dreaming!

ThePhilosophicalFangirl (Phil-fa)