Did Warner Bros. Miss The Point?

[Jawn]

Reading all this about how WB wants to vamp up the superheroes they own and make their films "darker" because of TDK just reminds me of what the comics industry did after TDKR. TDK had themes and messages, and wasn't just violence for the sake of darkening it up. Also, not every character fits the darkness inherent in the Batman story. Superman stories deal with a lighter, most nostalgic tone. The Flash and Hal Jordan should also, I believe, have a lighter feeling, if simply because of their characters. This is not to say they cannot be deep or even be dark in their own ways -- but they do not and should not (in my opinion) be as dark as TDK.

 

[The Major]

I agree.

WW would work with a darker edge, but she isn't emo or evil.

GA is another possible candidate since he can work in that tone, too.

GL is as far from dark as Superman.

 

[TheComicbookKid]

Maybe the WB should figure out how to write a Wonder Woman movie before going dark with it.t:

What the hell happened to Shazam?

 

[The Major]

Maybe the WB should figure out how to write a Wonder Woman movie before going dark with it.t:

There is some darkness with WW. She is a warrior who will kill as a last resort, after all.

She balances that side with her compassion.

What the hell happened to Shazam?

I'd like to know, as well.

 

[TheComicbookKid]

I was referring to Joss Whedon's comments about the PTB not knowing what they wanted in the Wondy script.

 

[The Major]

I was referring to Joss Whedon's comments about the PTB not knowing what they wanted in the Wondy script.

Okay.

 

[November Rain]

bats didn't work because it was dark, it worked because it was anchored. they need to make anchored films with solid storylines and not necessarily care to much about making homages every ten seconds.

when a film is anchored, it can have elements of escapism as long as they are themselves based around the anchoring, (two face for example and his look).

the only thing dark has is the ability to deal with an older crowd but it certainly does alienate the family demographic.

 

[phoenixflight]

To answer your thread question...No I don't think they miss the point. And here's why I think so.

The article states "exploring the evil side to characters" and "going to try to go dark to the extent that the characters allow it". I think this is a really good thing and a sound approach to character development.

The villains in these movies MUST take it to that next level in order for our heroes to be triumphant and victorious. What made 'The Dark Knight' so great was the performance of Heath Ledger gave and how he brought that character to life.

I don't think DC means that their heroes are going to have a 'dark side' but rather they have to make tougher choices and truly explore what it means to be a hero.

It's adding an element of realism to a very unrealistic universe.

Congratulations DC, I approve of your formula!!!

 

[The Major]

The article states "exploring the evil side to characters" and "going to try to go dark to the extent that the characters allow it". I think this is a really good thing and a sound approach to character development.

The villains in these movies MUST take it to that next level in order for our heroes to be triumphant and victorious. What made 'The Dark Knight' so great was the performance of Heath Ledger gave and how he brought that character to life.

I don't think DC means that their heroes are going to have a 'dark side' but rather they have to make tougher choices and truly explore what it means to be a hero.

It's adding an element of realism to a very unrealistic universe.

Congratulations DC, I approve of your formula!!!

If you're correct it is a very good development indeed.

 

[donk70]

This is a good point and a good topic. I do hope that the exec's at WB are reading this.

Superman should not be dark and gritty. And please, do not screw with the look of the suit. It's the most iconic in all of comics.

Wonder Woman- There's a lot of room to work with here. Does she need and edge? Yes. Does her movie need to be dark and dreary, a'la TDK? No. As for her suit, it could stand to have a bit of a update.

Green Arrow- The Super Max idea sounds interesting, but I think that it would better if WB established the character 1st with a origin/background movie and then do the Supermax as a sequel.

Green Lantern- I'm all for this. I wouldn't think that it would need to be dark, but I'd like to see it made in the vein of a Sci Fi flick

 

[The Major]

Wonder Woman- There's a lot of room to work with here. Does she need and edge? Yes. Does her movie need to be dark and dreary, a'la TDK? No. As for her suit, it could stand to have a bit of a update.

I agree.

 

[DarkSuperman]

Reading all this about how WB wants to vamp up the superheroes they own and make their films "darker" because of TDK just reminds me of what the comics industry did after TDKR. TDK had themes and messages, and wasn't just violence for the sake of darkening it up. Also, not every character fits the darkness inherent in the Batman story. Superman stories deal with a lighter, most nostalgic tone. The Flash and Hal Jordan should also, I believe, have a lighter feeling, if simply because of their characters. This is not to say they cannot be deep or even be dark in their own ways -- but they do not and should not (in my opinion) be as dark as TDK.

Yes, they did miss the point. The first thought that popped into my head after reading todays news was "NOOOOOOOOOOOO" every super hero doesn't need to be dark. In fact, the majority of them aren't dark at all!

Superman, The Flash, Green Lantern, especially...these characters are all about hope and overcoming the impossible.

In no way shape or form should they take the Dark Knight approach and try to make them brooding or depressing. It worked spectacularly well for batman because he's BATMAN! He lives in that world! In fact he's on the Justice League primarily so that the happy hopeful guys like Superman don't have to get their hands dirty with murdered hookers and stuff.

THATS WHY HE'S THE DARK KNIGHT! Superman, Green Lantern, and The Flash are the white knights of the DC Universe! Their role is essentially super powered versions of what Harvey Dent was in TDK. They're not meant to be crying, but to give us hope.

I hope this is just a error in semantics and that what they mean by darker is "Deeper" because I can get behind that.

To answer your thread question...No I don't think they miss the point. And here's why I think so.

The article states "exploring the evil side to characters" and "going to try to go dark to the extent that the characters allow it". I think this is a really good thing and a sound approach to character development.

The villains in these movies MUST take it to that next level in order for our heroes to be triumphant and victorious. What made 'The Dark Knight' so great was the performance of Heath Ledger gave and how he brought that character to life.

I don't think DC means that their heroes are going to have a 'dark side' but rather they have to make tougher choices and truly explore what it means to be a hero.

It's adding an element of realism to a very unrealistic universe.

Congratulations DC, I approve of your formula!!!

Dude, I sincerely hope so. Heroes are only as good as their villains. As compare and contrast with Fantastic Four and The Dark Knight will show you. I'm all for DC upping their villain game by actually have them test the heroes in profound ways. Like when The Reverse Flash made The Flash's wife have a miscarriage then took him back in time and replayed it so he could witness it over and over again...That was profound evil. Then when Uncle Barry comes to the rescue and ultimately ends up saving the babies in the past and the future...that's what heroes like Superman are all about, snatching victory and hope from the villainous jaws of evil.

 

[phoenixflight]

Where in the article did it say that the Heroes will be 'dark'? The story and movie will have a darker tone...that doesn't mean the Heroes per say.

 

[The Major]

Here you go:

Like the recent Batman sequel -- which has become the highest-grossing film of the year thus far -- Mr. Robinov wants his next pack of superhero movies to be bathed in the same brooding tone as "The Dark Knight." Creatively, he sees exploring the evil side to characters as the key to unlocking some of Warner Bros.' DC properties. "We're going to try to go dark to the extent that the characters allow it," he says. That goes for the company's Superman franchise as well.

 

[The Helix]

Superman wasn't loosing popularity cause he was too light hearted. He's loosing popularity in the movies cause their screwing with the story and making him do things out of character.

If they want to "astound" us using CGI, how about a villain who can actually take Superman on physically. IE Parasite or Metallo.

 

[The Major]

Superman wasn't loosing popularity cause he was too light hearted. He's loosing popularity in the movies cause their screwing with the story and making him do things out of character.

Agreed.

If they want to "astound" us using CGI, how about a villain who can actually take Superman on physically. IE Parasite or Metallo.

Agreed.

Superman's got a huge rogues gallery full of characters like that.

Bring on Metallo, Parasite, Cyborg Superman, Darkseid etc.

They need to back this up with a good story. Not go to extremes.

 

[The Helix]

Agreed.



Agreed.

Superman's got a huge rogues gallery full of characters like that.

They need to back this up with a good story.

Bring on Metallo, Parasite, Cyborg Superman, Darkseid etc.

Yeah, they don't understand why Batman does so well, so they decide to copy the ideas they used for him.

No. Batman is doing well cause they are sticking to the comics and making it as a spin off from it. The key to other superheroes popularity isn't copying what makes Batman good, it's about using the source material for the characters and doing it right.

 

[DarkSuperman]

I'd love to see Darkseid. That whole arch they did with him in TAS was phenomenal. It showed that Superman wasn't about beating the crap out of bad guys (though he does do this) but that he inspires Earthlings to become Supermen themselves, even in the face of unrelenting evil and wicked Gods.

[YT]vCqJmmDONgU[/YT]

 

[The Helix]

That battle was awesome. Darkseid is the one villain who can make Superman loose it.

 

[DarkSuperman]

That battle was awesome. Darkseid is the one villain who can make Superman loose it.

Yeah, they definitely need to start taking inspiration from TAS and comics. Darkseid could be the anti-superman villain we've all been waiting for. I like him even better than Doomsday because he's intelligent and evil.

In some ways he's the intergalactic version of Ledgers Joker. Spreading chaos and destruction across the cosmos.

 

[The Helix]

Yeah, they definitely need to start taking inspiration from TAS and comics. Darkseid could be the anti-superman villain we've all been waiting for. I like him even better than Doomsday because he's intelligent and evil.

In some ways he's the intergalactic version of Ledgers Joker. Spreading chaos and destruction across the cosmos.

You make a good point. Doomsday is only good for one movie. The reason he was so good in the comics was cause you didn't know where he came from, what he was, or why he was here. When they started revealing more about him in comics that came soon after, I lost interest. In fact, it got so bad...they just killed Doomsday's concept all together.

But, yeah. If WB wants successful movies, use the comics as the background or basis for the script. That's what the fans want, and that's what the audience love.

 

[The Major]

Yeah, they definitely need to start taking inspiration from TAS and comics. Darkseid could be the anti-superman villain we've all been waiting for. I like him even better than Doomsday because he's intelligent and evil.

Agreed.

Doomsday's more like an obstacle then a villain. That's why he never seemed that interesting to me.

Darkseid may be the most dangerous but Superman's rogues all have great potential in film.

Love to see Hank Henshaw screwing up Metropolis.

In some ways he's the intergalactic version of Ledgers Joker. Spreading chaos and destruction across the cosmos.

True.

Only their goals are the opposite. Darkseid wants order above all else, Joker just wants pointless anarchy.

 

[Spidey-Quad]

Reading all this about how WB wants to vamp up the superheroes they own and make their films "darker" because of TDK just reminds me of what the comics industry did after TDKR. TDK had themes and messages, and wasn't just violence for the sake of darkening it up. Also, not every character fits the darkness inherent in the Batman story. Superman stories deal with a lighter, most nostalgic tone. The Flash and Hal Jordan should also, I believe, have a lighter feeling, if simply because of their characters. This is not to say they cannot be deep or even be dark in their own ways -- but they do not and should not (in my opinion) be as dark as TDK.

My feelings exactly, TDK works because that's what makes the Batman the character he is. If Warner wants success with their DC properties they should just allow writers that KNOW each character actually write the screen plays.

It really is as simple as that.

 

[The Major]

My feelings exactly, TDK works because that's what makes the Batman the character he is. If Warner wants success with their DC properties they should just allow writers that KNOW each character actually write the screen plays.

It really is as simple as that.

Understanding the characters and actually having the proper skills to execute them to their full potential are needed.

You can't have one without the other.

 

[Lobo]

Reading all this about how WB wants to vamp up the superheroes they own and make their films "darker" because of TDK just reminds me of what the comics industry did after TDKR. TDK had themes and messages, and wasn't just violence for the sake of darkening it up. Also, not every character fits the darkness inherent in the Batman story. Superman stories deal with a lighter, most nostalgic tone. The Flash and Hal Jordan should also, I believe, have a lighter feeling, if simply because of their characters. This is not to say they cannot be deep or even be dark in their own ways -- but they do not and should not (in my opinion) be as dark as TDK.