I think the problem with the Watchmen film is that it felt like it took place in the deep future instead of 1985. It felt like Battlestar Galactica and not at all like the Watchmen graphic novel. The graphic novel actually felt like it was a product of its time. The movie felt like it was Duck Dodgers in the 241⁄2th Century mixed with Pluto Nash.
As for DC's other film properties, I personally don't think we'll see any development with The Flash, Green Lantern, or Wonder Woman. I feel like these projects are dead for at least another 6 or 7 years. Especially if they have to build these characters from the ground up and then combine them into a Justice League movie. It's just not going to fly successfully... not yet anyway.
The thing they should definitely start with now is combining Batman and Superman and giving us World's Finest first. If they can do that and not screw it up, then I'll trust WB to throw in more characters. But so far, I trusted them with one character (Green Lantern) and it turns out that I shouldn't have trusted them. Shame on all of you for thinking that they'll combine five of the most recognized superheroes into one movie. Get real.
And instead of rebooting Superman yet again, just use Henry Cavill and Zack Snyder's world for World's Finest. Just put the new Batman in Henry Cavill's universe. That is, if WB and Snyder don't screw that up either. But the important thing to remember about Man of Steel is that Jonathan Nolan, David Goyer, and Christopher Nolan are all involved in the screenplay and story, while Chris came up with the story with Goyer, and Chris is producing the film. All that alone is a huge deal, regardless of who's directing it.
But yes, certainly, it's a pretty crummy time to be a DC fan right now. Now that Nolan's Batman is ending, I genuinely fear for the future. Especially with Batman. If they don't get a respected director in the same league as Nolan, like David Fincher or Darren Aronofsky, there might be a serious crisis on our hands.
As far as Man of Steel goes, I just don't see that movie failing. It CAN'T fail. Not when you've got the Nolans and David Goyer involved. Christopher Nolan and David Goyer came up with the story, while Goyer and Jonathan Nolan wrote the screenplay. AND Christopher Nolan and his wife Emma Thomas are producing it.
Not to mention that Amy Adams, Russell Crowe, Kevin Costner, Diane Lane, Julia Ormond, Laurence Fishburne, and Michael Shannon ALL AGREED to be in this movie.
The biggest name Superman Returns had was Kevin Spacey, and that was pretty much the only thing that movie had going for it.
I just don't see how it's possible that ALL OF THESE TALENTED PEOPLE agreed to be in this film, UNLESS it's actually going to be the real deal. The script and story from Nolan and Goyer must've been truly stellar.
If Man of Steel ends up being terrible, or ends up following the same path as Green Lantern, all of these people should be embarrassed and ashamed for YEARS like George Clooney and Uma Thurman were for Batman & Robin. For these reasons, I just can't imagine this movie being bad. It must be incredible. I mean, almost none of these people have ever been in a superhero movie before, and Russell Crowe and Amy Adams don't seem like the "superhero movie type." Same with Michael Shannon. This is a group of people who are interested in Oscar movies and not comic book movies.
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