Justice League MOS vs BvS vs JL

[routhman]

At an artistic/technical/rewatchability level: BvS > MoS >> JL
At a popcorn-movie level: MoS > BvS >> JL

 

[idiot09]

At an artistic/technical/rewatchability level: BvS > MoS >> JL
At a popcorn-movie level: MoS > BvS >> JL

Agreed.

 

[DieSmiling]

I think Man of Steel is fantastic, and one of the better superhero movies ever.

BvS is a unique movie -- I can see why people hate it but it's interesting and ambitious despite being flawed, bloated and misshapen. I'm a fan, and you can see what they're going for. But it never fully quite works.

Justice League is fine. I don't think it's bad. But it's not special. It's just kind of there -- some CGI action, some one liners. It's basically a below average marvel movie, TBH, which is pretty depressing, but I can definitely see why it would work better for some people that BvS, which is kind of a mess.

 

[Tra-El]

At an artistic/technical/rewatchability level: BvS > MoS >> JL
At a popcorn-movie level: MoS > BvS >> JL

Spot on.

 

[Grommers]

B vs S still needs more movies to add to its depth, and JL did it no favours. Easily MoS.

 

[Osiris-Rex]

I enjoyed Justice League the most but from a purely craftsman point of view Man of Steel was the best made. I just didn't care for the characters or story in MoS, while I liked the the characters
more in Justice League and the story was easier to follow, probably because there wasn't much of a story. Basically Justice League was Suicide Squad with heroes instead of villains.

 

[random_havoc]

Justice league they finally got superman right, so that one

 

[Tra-El]

Superman is ripe for the taking at the moment. Though they didn't get him 100% right for the obvious reasoning in JL, he's in prime position for a director that has TLC for the character with a distinct vision. Once a director signs onto Superman with a clear vision, the characterization will follow seamlessly. I believe Henry's Superman is in good positioning.

 

[heatvision38]

1) BvS: I think it's a beautiful movie that got completely under my skin. There aren't many movies that I have thought about or enjoyed discussing as much as this one. It's not perfect, I get there are issues. I've seen a few people call it a beautiful mess, and I think that is apt. It's just a different style than we are used to and Snyder is very show-don't-tell and I appreciate that, especially if I am able to feel what the characters are feeling and get a sense of a larger world that goes beyond what's even on the screen. It reminds me in that way of a Grant Morrison story come to life.

2) MOS: Was a little disappointed the first time I saw it in theaters. I thought it would be epic, I did get a little fatigued during the battles at the end, I thought it tried to ape Batman Begins a bit too much and the flashback scenes didn't fit as well narratively as they did in BB... I did not like the kissing scene and banter after all that destruction and that as soon as the climax ended, it doesn't show people's reaction to this new super being or all the destruction that was caused, going right into the downed drone scene and what are you going to do when you're not saving the world. However, after seeing it a second time a few days later, the music clicked in, the movie's strengths showed more and I was more accepting of the things I did not like, I liked the way this Superman spoke, a quiet confidence (eg, the interrogation scene when he speaks up to those behind the one way glass-- I love that he surprises them with knowing everything behind the glass). I've loved it more each time I've watched it.

3) JL: While I somewhat enjoyed it when I first saw it as it was great to see these characters together, and there were some standout moments (Superman vs. the League, the Amazon sequence, most of the tunnel sequence), overall, it felt like a shell of what it was supposed to be. This does NOT feel like the completion of the Superman arc which is so disappointing. It's pretty shallow and it does not pay off on the themes set up in its own movie let alone the previous movies. Felt like such a drop off and it's the movie that has me most concerned about DCEU's future because, like, what the hell man? Who's in charge here? This will still be a movie I can enjoy when it comes on on cable if I shut my brain off, but man, what it could have been. It's pretty bland and mostly forgettable which should never be for a JL movie.

 

[RomanticPenguin]

would be cool to see faora again

 

[Detective Conan]

MoS was essentially War of The Worlds meets Batman Begins with a smidgen of Terence Malick thrown in for good measure. In a way it was a superhero first contact film with elements of a disaster film in its final act(taking cues from Alan Moore's subversive Miracleman run).

BvS is more a operatic, somber film with a grandiose feel amped up from Man Of Steel. It's basically the reverse Dark Knight Returns; BvS is The Man Of Steel Returns--Superman's actions and his impact on society are juxtaposed with commentators in the media discussing/debating the merits of Superman much in the same way TDKR did with Batman. Superman is the polarizing figure that sparks controversy warranting both skepticism and adulation. Superman dies at the end, while Batman lives--which is a reversal of the TDKR ending in which Batman was the one to 'die' and Superman visits Bruce's funeral.

BvS exemplifies Snyder's unvarnished vision freed from the shackles of Nolan's touch. I argue it's much more a Snyder film than MOS with a lot more to say but I still love MOS though(it's flawed). Can't decide since both are very risky, bold films that pull no punches. Though I might give a slight edge to MOS ultimately.

And the less said of Justice League the better: It's not a bad film per se but it is a bland film that feels neutered; depriving a lot of the gravitas and epicness that Snyder injected in both MOS and BVS in favor of a safe, forgettable popcorn film. It's utterly bereft of identity whereas with MOS and BvS I felt the distinctive voice of the director JLA in contrast feels so achingly voiceless as well as kind of pointless. And it never rises above mediocrity.

 

[_Superman_]

MoS was essentially War of The Worlds meets Batman Begins with a smidgen of Terence Malick thrown in for good measure. In a way it was a superhero first contact film with elements of a disaster film in its final act(taking cues from from Alan Moore's subversive Miracleman run).

BvS is more a operatic, somber film with a grandiose feel amped up from Man Of Steel. It's basically the reverse Dark Knight Returns; BvS is The Man Of Steel Returns--Superman's actions and his impact on society are juxtaposed with commentators in the media discussing/debating the merits of Superman much in the same way TDKR did with Batman. Superman is the polarizing figure that sparks controversy warranting both skepticism and adulation. Superman dies at the end, while Batman lives--which is a reversal of the ending of TDKR in which Batman was the one to 'die' and Superman visits Bruce's funeral.

BvS exemplifies Snyder's unvarnished vision freed from the shackles of Nolan's touch. I argue it's much more a Snyder film than MOS with a lot more to say but I still love MOS though(it's flawed). Can't decide since both are very risky, bold films that pull no punches. Though I might give a slight edge to MOS ultimately.

I really like your view on SvB. I never really looked at it that way but now that you said it I have to agree.

 

[Tra-El]

would be cool to see faora again

yessssss.

 

[kguillou]

MoS was essentially War of The Worlds meets Batman Begins with a smidgen of Terence Malick thrown in for good measure. In a way it was a superhero first contact film with elements of a disaster film in its final act(taking cues from Alan Moore's subversive Miracleman run).

BvS is more a operatic, somber film with a grandiose feel amped up from Man Of Steel. It's basically the reverse Dark Knight Returns; BvS is The Man Of Steel Returns--Superman's actions and his impact on society are juxtaposed with commentators in the media discussing/debating the merits of Superman much in the same way TDKR did with Batman. Superman is the polarizing figure that sparks controversy warranting both skepticism and adulation. Superman dies at the end, while Batman lives--which is a reversal of the TDKR ending in which Batman was the one to 'die' and Superman visits Bruce's funeral.

BvS exemplifies Snyder's unvarnished vision freed from the shackles of Nolan's touch. I argue it's much more a Snyder film than MOS with a lot more to say but I still love MOS though(it's flawed). Can't decide since both are very risky, bold films that pull no punches. Though I might give a slight edge to MOS ultimately.

And the less said of Justice League the better: It's not a bad film per se but it is a bland film that feels neutered; depriving a lot of the gravitas and epicness that Snyder injected in both MOS and BVS in favor of a safe, forgettable popcorn film. It's utterly bereft of identity whereas with MOS and BvS I felt the distinctive voice of the director JLA in contrast feels so achingly voiceless as well as kind of pointless. And it never rises above mediocrity.

Completely agreed, dude. BvS is pure "unvarnished" Snyder like you said, kind of like Sucker punch, except Snyder had a good script writer like Terrio to keep the narrative controlled and coherent (in the UE version, of course). And thats precisely why I love, it is the first mainstream superhero film to go for such an epic, dark, ambitious scale. A movie thats not for everyone and perhaps not the one that the world wanted at the time, but i'm thankful we got it as they'll never be another of its kind again.

 

[idiot09]

MoS was essentially War of The Worlds meets Batman Begins with a smidgen of Terence Malick thrown in for good measure. In a way it was a superhero first contact film with elements of a disaster film in its final act(taking cues from Alan Moore's subversive Miracleman run).

BvS is more a operatic, somber film with a grandiose feel amped up from Man Of Steel. It's basically the reverse Dark Knight Returns; BvS is The Man Of Steel Returns--Superman's actions and his impact on society are juxtaposed with commentators in the media discussing/debating the merits of Superman much in the same way TDKR did with Batman. Superman is the polarizing figure that sparks controversy warranting both skepticism and adulation. Superman dies at the end, while Batman lives--which is a reversal of the TDKR ending in which Batman was the one to 'die' and Superman visits Bruce's funeral.

BvS exemplifies Snyder's unvarnished vision freed from the shackles of Nolan's touch. I argue it's much more a Snyder film than MOS with a lot more to say but I still love MOS though(it's flawed). Can't decide since both are very risky, bold films that pull no punches. Though I might give a slight edge to MOS ultimately.

And the less said of Justice League the better: It's not a bad film per se but it is a bland film that feels neutered; depriving a lot of the gravitas and epicness that Snyder injected in both MOS and BVS in favor of a safe, forgettable popcorn film. It's utterly bereft of identity whereas with MOS and BvS I felt the distinctive voice of the director JLA in contrast feels so achingly voiceless as well as kind of pointless. And it never rises above mediocrity.

First of all

A really good post I've enjoyed reading. Do post more. And a happy new year!

BvS is more a operatic, somber film with a grandiose feel amped up from Man Of Steel. It's basically the reverse Dark Knight Returns;

Another example, if I may add, is how they invert the political leanings of the two characters. Grant Morrison said it well :

For a long time, Superman was seen as quite boring because he was a “Boy Scout” and he stood for kind of American rightwing values rather than the leftwing values he’d been created with. And for a long time, he was seen as sort of a policeman figure, or a father figure, this patriarchal idea.

Now what we’re seeing is a Superman who slightly embodies the alien a little bit more(in MOS or BvS), who stands for counter-culture or what remains of the opposition — because there’s not a lot of opposition in the world that we now live in, to the monoculture; now everyone’s under surveillance, everything’s under control, they know what we’re doing and they’re watching our emails. So strangely enough, Superman has oddly mutated again into this kind of progressive figure who’s fighting our battles on behalf of us with his incredible strength.

Because Frank Miller positioned Superman very much as a Republican figure. He was working with Ronald Reagan, and he was absolutely in the pay of the American government in The Dark Knight Returns. But in this movie we’re seeing a Superman who is not on anyone’s “side,” and it’s Batman who seems to be the figure of “old money” and the idea of being the rich man with all of the weapons who stands for America itself, and suddenly Superman is the outlaw.

Its truly a brilliant move from Snyder and Terrio, and one I'm thankful for. BvS being the reverse TDKR is pretty genius imo.

 

[Lantern Venom]

BvS clearly had the most problems, but all 3 films are quite enjoyable.

 

[the last son]

Mos is one of my favorite comic movies ever. I've grown to appreciate bvs more after how bad justice league was. At least bvs tried to be something more than marvel fluff thAt justice league was.

 

[STARMAN]

I take MOS with all it's flaws far over BvS and JL.

 

[Erzengel]

Years ago I wouldn't believe I'd be voting for a Superman movie over a Batman versus Superman and a Justice League movie.

 

[heatvision38]

Which film did you like best?

BvS.

 

[RomanticPenguin]

Years ago I wouldn't believe I'd be voting for a Superman movie over a Batman versus Superman and a Justice League movie.

what you trying to say about superman?

/s

 

[GothamBat]

I'd have to go BVS > JL > MOS personally

BVS is kind of overstuffed and way too long but I see/saw the DCEU at that point as a long form narrative type saga like Harry Potter so I don't mind it not being concise and tidy. It's ambitious, stylish, favors character over spectacle and there's so much to unpack and appreciate

JL is kind of strange beast. I'll never be able to separate the disappointment of my first viewing from my perception of the film. Not seeing so much of the footage I was dying to see... footage we were promised in trailers and stills even just in October, a month before the film hit theatres, was such a mood dampener. Aside from that though, it feels way too shallow. Most of what we did get felt like just stuff we've seen already in promotional footage with slightly more added to it. There was no real discovery involved. If it had been Snyder's cut, we would have discovered this scene:

or this one:

I was ready to see the world react to Superman's death and subsequent return, I was ready for Bruce to traverse Iceland on horseback and maybe have a vision or a dream sequence, I was ready for slow, meaningful character moments, lots of surprises, tons of insane action and an epic scale. Instead we got a light, condensed, little movie that was basically as shallow as an MCU entry and we all know how I feel about those.

Man of steel is kind of an ugly movie to me. Way too many hand-held shots without any steadicam make it awkward and unsightly. The colors are too muted, Superman doesn't seem the slightest bit concerned about wrecking metropolis and killing people with falling debris... ect. But I appreciate the world building and the grounded-ness quite a lot.

 

[Erzengel]

what you trying to say about superman?

/s

That as a Batman fan, there has to be something wrong with BvS and JL for me to choose a movie strictly about Superman.

 

[Micromind]

I'd have to go BVS > JL > MOS personally

BVS is kind of overstuffed and way too long but I see/saw the DCEU at that point as a long form narrative type saga like Harry Potter so I don't mind it not being concise and tidy. It's ambitious, stylish, favors character over spectacle and there's so much to unpack and appreciate

JL is kind of strange beast. I'll never be able to separate the disappointment of my first viewing from my perception of the film. Not seeing so much of the footage I was dying to see... footage we were promised in trailers and stills even just in October, a month before the film hit theatres, was such a mood dampener. Aside from that though, it feels way too shallow. Most of what we did get felt like just stuff we've seen already in promotional footage with slightly more added to it. There was no real discovery involved. If it had been Snyder's cut, we would have discovered this scene:

or this one:

I was ready to see the world react to Superman's death and subsequent return, I was ready for Bruce to traverse Iceland on horseback and maybe have a vision or a dream sequence, I was ready for slow, meaningful character moments, lots of surprises, tons of insane action and an epic scale. Instead we got a light, condensed, little movie that was basically as shallow as an MCU entry and we all know how I feel about those.

Man of steel is kind of an ugly movie to me. Way too many hand-held shots without any steadicam make it awkward and unsightly. The colors are too muted, Superman doesn't seem the slightest bit concerned about wrecking metropolis and killing people with falling debris... ect. But I appreciate the world building and the grounded-ness quite a lot.

Haven't seen the first pic. By excluding most of the footage filmed in Iceland, the movie felt small.

I wanted to see this sign board of Central City as well.

 

[the last son]

That as a Batman fan, there has to be something wrong with BvS and JL for me to choose a movie strictly about Superman.

Agreed. They managed to damage the Batman brand in my opinion with those last two movies.