By Comparison, DC Will Not Be Like Marvel, But It Might Be Like...

[Binker]

Ever since the DC Films officially started, everyone wanted it to be equal to, or shine above Marvel. While the latter was never going to be the case, the comparisons to Marvel were present for better or for worse. After three movies though, ignoring the studio interference of the last two, the critical reactions hasn't been great. Because of the Marvel comparisons that were there, alot of people have been hit hard with DC Films so far for a variety of reasons.


It has always been compared to Marvel, and only Marvel. However, are we comparing it to the wrong franchise?


Ever since last year, I had wondered what the other scenarios would be if the DCEU wasn't equal to Marvel as others had wanted it to be. I had come up with the worst case, and that was Transformers. Thank god it's not that. But given the respect for the beloved characters, and audience approval regardless of critics reviews, I think I have an answer.


The DCEU is not like the Marvel Films at all, it is like the Fast and the Furious franchise.


First of all, both series have an edgy style that fits expected summer blockbusters. Secondly, an article that listed 8 reasons why the franchise is so beloved shows that the Fast and the Furious is respected: outsiders being heroes (which are the superheroes here in the DCEU, even villains), divisive cast, characters facing moral themes while doing immoral acts, the freedom to be who and what you want, strong characters with neither gender overshadowing the other, redemption, and more. Third, and possibly one of the biggest connections the DCEU may have with this series: with the exception of the last one, and even then I think that was because of Paul Walker's death, neither film has had great critical responses. In fact, each film has been given lower 20-40% approval ratings from critics. But hey, like John Campea said about DC Films not making movies that win over critics but win over audiences, the Fast and the Furious series does the same thing.


Look, I know this is unexpected, and people will be somewhat, or overly defensive about this. But I thought this was a better comparison because, simply put: DC IS NOT GOING TO BE MARVEL. Hell, before Man of Steel was released, I said to people that DC/WB don't have to look at Marvel for large team ensemble films. They had one already, and it was called Ocean's Eleven. With this, it just shows they can work and be successful by being their own thing. And you know what, with this information, I felt happier about DC Films, an feel that in the long run, we're going to be okay.


Thoughts?

 

[FeedOnATreeFrog]

Na I'd say Transformers is still more appropriate considering the similarities in budgets, fanbase of source material, expectations and anticipation, reception, box office, etc.

Fast and Furious was just some street racing movie that no one ever expected to be a successful franchise. It wasn't until Fast Five's surprising success that any sense of anticipation was brought to the franchise.

But if DC movies start to get good like the recent FF films, then sure, there's that aspect that would be similar.

 

[Binker]

Na I'd say Transformers is still more appropriate considering the similarities in budgets, fanbase of source material, expectations and anticipation, reception, box office, etc.

Fast and Furious was just some street racing movie that no one ever expected to be a successful franchise. It wasn't until Fast Five's surprising success that any sense of anticipation was brought to the franchise.

But if DC movies start to get good like the recent FF films, then sure, there's that aspect that would be similar.

I realized FF meant Fast and Furious. Not Fantastic Four. I was like "what?!" lol

I still don't think of DC compared to Transformers, even with what you said. I don't think they have the same connection with the general public compared to like Batman & Superman. Even after the third Transfomers film, people wanted change, or the series to end. After BvS and SS this year, people cant wait for next year, and still want more DC and beyond afterwards.

 

[FeedOnATreeFrog]

Even after the third Transfomers film, people wanted change, or the series to end. After BvS and SS this year, people cant wait for next year, and still want more DC and beyond afterwards.

That's true.

However, those first four F&F movies did not have this^^^. No one cared about F&F at that point.

It wasn't until 5,6,7 that people cared. But these three movies actually were critically well-recieved, so it's basically the same as the Marvel comparison in this regard.

 

[Erzengel]

I realized FF meant Fast and Furious. Not Fantastic Four. I was like "what?!" lol

I still don't think of DC compared to Transformers, even with what you said. I don't think they have the same connection with the general public compared to like Batman & Superman. Even after the third Transfomers film, people wanted change, or the series to end. After BvS and SS this year, people cant wait for next year, and still want more DC and beyond afterwards.

If you are talking in terms that the characters are more over than Transformers, I agree with you.

In terms of box office, the TF have almost been banking since 2007. With two 1B movies, and honestly that's something WB couldn't even match even with their 2 biggest hitters in the same movie. Maybe that's because there aren't other movies about transforming robots, while there is a bit of a saturation of CBM. But, TF are on their 5th movie even with terrible reviews and diminishing domestic returns because they are making it up in foreign grosses.

 

[Binker]

If you are talking in terms that the characters are more over than Transformers, I agree with you.

In terms of box office, the TF have almost been banking since 2007. With two 1B movies, and honestly that's something WB couldn't even match even with their 2 biggest hitters in the same movie. Maybe that's because there aren't other movies about transforming robots, while there is a bit of a saturation of CBM. But, TF are on their 5th movie even with terrible reviews and diminishing domestic returns because they are making it up in foreign grosses.

Its sad because everyone hates them, and $1B in BO gives people the impression that they're perfect films for grossing that high.

And I still believe, like with everyone else, that BvS didn't make a $1B because the 3-hour cut wasn't released, and thus everyone got affected by the missing scenes that affected their watch of the film. I want to know how far SS will reach in its total BO, tbh.

 

[Erzengel]

Its sad because everyone hates them, and $1B in BO gives people the impression that they're perfect films for grossing that high.

And I still believe, like with everyone else, that BvS didn't make a $1B because the 3-hour cut wasn't released, and thus everyone got affected by the missing scenes that affected their watch of the film.

Serious question for you, what would necessarily make it different from Transformers? How does everyone hate the TF movies, but they are still doing gangbusters but if BvS made $1B it's different?

I understand that a lot of people rank the Ultimate edition higher than the theatrical edition but from what most people are saying it's better but only a few ticks better. (Say a 3 to a 5 or for fans of the theatrical a 8 to a 9).

 

[Batmannerism]

Well, right now it does seem DC's big films are on the same level (well slightly better maybe) as Transformers. Big, stupid films that are visually impressive but hollow - with arguably less sense of fun.

Damn, I hope the next wave of DC films take themselves less seriously, give their characters a bit of charm (so we give a **** about them) and keep the spectacle.

Marvel deserves all the praise it gets, and right now in terms of quality superhero films, there is no comparison ( that's coming from a hard core DC fan, so that ain't easy to say).

Personally, I've stopped caring if DC films are as good as Marvel or better - I just want them to be good in their own right, something we can enjoy.

 

[scarlet-witch]

Na I'd say Transformers is still more appropriate considering the similarities in budgets, fanbase of source material, expectations and anticipation, reception, box office, etc.

I agree that Transformers is a better comparison. The 2nd and 3rd Transformer movies were considered worse than the first one, like BvS and SS are being compared to MoS (all subjective, obviously, but for sake of comparison)

Yet people still want Transformers and they're still going at it and trying to be better, much like DC will.

 

[BlZARRO]

It won't? Thank god.

 

[Binker]

Serious question for you, what would necessarily make it different from Transformers? How does everyone hate the TF movies, but they are still doing gangbusters but if BvS made $1B it's different?

I understand that a lot of people rank the Ultimate edition higher than the theatrical edition but from what most people are saying it's better but only a few ticks better. (Say a 3 to a 5 or for fans of the theatrical a 8 to a 9).

That's a hard question to answer.

For me, I only liked the action scenes, but hated the fact that they took out the scenes, and the overall execution of BvS TC. The BvS UC has a far better execution because it is a Superman movie with Batman as a key character; given the story from beginning to end, that's far better.

Also, BvS and what we're hearing from SS, are far better than the TF films for a bigger reason based on the audience and overall BO. TF is what it is: a dumb action movie that is so bad, yet they make $1B in the BO. And that is very dangerous, because studios think that's what we want bottom of the barrel crap, and they'll continue to give us that, and overshadow anything else of quality. I know people will point out Marvel, but for me, Marvel is just there; also, I don't "care" about the movies. I'll put it to you like this: the ending to CW is WHY I prefer BvS, and if that was different, they would've been equal, maybe. BvS and SS never made that much, but their reasons were the fact that they had the sad fate of being compromised by the studio. The BvS that was released in theaters wasn't really the film Snyder wanted to give us; it only became that way due to studio interference and fear. And if anyone says differently on Snyder over this, I will fight back because I know the UC being announced before the TC's March release date was his doing.


Honestly, BvS vs TF feels like TF vs Pacific Rim. Regardless of how you feel about PR, you gotta agree that things happen for a reason, and there isn't a final battle in the city, but in PR's case, in another dimension that is connected to our world. Transformers has been always feeling like the same old, same old. Big robots, explosions, cities blow up; the only thing that was different was the new cast in TF4, but even then their stories and actions feels cliche. Now granted, MOS had the Battle of Metropolis, but that entire battle from the start with the Black Zero to the end of the Superman/Zod fight made alot of sense of what happened, and why. PR had the same thing with it making sense, and the what and why. TF doesn't have that, but instead has a why for "why are you doing this?!" lol.

But yeah, seriously: compared to TF, the DC Films obviously are doing something different: MOS had an alien invasion, a Batman/Superman fight, villains who are more deadlier than Guardians, and when was the last time WWI was in a movie, even a superhero one? TF5 is said to be different, but that was said for TF4, so I won;t hold my breath.

Hopefully I answered the question.

 

[Doctor Octopus]

Na I'd say Transformers is still more appropriate considering the similarities in budgets, fanbase of source material, expectations and anticipation, reception, box office, etc.

Agreed. Also no story or good characters lol.

 

[Spider-Aziz]

It's maybe between Fast & Furious and Transformers movies.

 

[CaptainWagner]

Personally, I don't believe it needs to be compared to anything at all. This sort of comparing to other successful franchises only results in the type of executive interference that wrecked BvS and Suicide Squad.

That said, it's certainly better off than franchises like Transformers or F&F just on the sheer level of creative talent. They have some brilliant actors giving outstanding performances, but being crippled sometimes by the material and sometimes by the editing room.

 

[Doctor Octopus]

I don't think they have any outstanding performances yet. Only some good ones like Harley.