Hello, friends. With the release of the Flash, which is by all accounts the closing chapter of the DC Extended Universe and fittingly released on the tenth anniversary of Man of Steel --the beginning of the DCEU, I figured we'd have retrospective thread to reflect on what I think can be easily labeled as the craziest, most divisive film franchise in movie history.
Built to compete with Marvel Studios' MCU, the DCEU was inorganically built out of Man of Steel which was intended to just be the start of a singular Superman trilogy. But in the afterglow of The Avengers' massive success DC entrusted Zack Snyder to build out the Justice League--and quick. And what followed were a series of massively divisive films that pleased some, angered some, or made some indifferent.
But whats interesting is even after Zack Snyder's departure after the infamous JL debacle, DC's filmmakers just could not seem to make four quadrant hits that pleased audiences, critics, fans and generated lots of money at the box office like Marvel seemed to effortlessly do. Some were successfully financially but were critically panned, some were critical darlings but flopped at BO, some did OK (Shazam) all around. To date, only Wonder Woman 2017 seems to be the most clear cut four quadrant winner out of the 14 film bunch.
So what are everyone's thoughts on this universe overall looking back? What went wrong? Was it all Zack Snyder's fault? Is it Warner Bros' fault? Are the problems deeper rooted? Why couldnt the filmmakers post-Snyder seem to make this work still? Do you even care? Are you like me and enjoyed this wacky, chaotic universe for the crazy niche experiment that it was? Lets reflect on this crazy-ass cinematic universe.
It's funny how much my perspective has changed over the years. Back when these films were first coming out, I was so hyped for them. So. So. Hyped. Seeing what Marvel was doing and then applying that formula to my favourite comic book characters was like a wet dream come true. As they continued to pump out under-performing film after under-performing film, I was increasingly defensive of them. Hell, apathetic to critical response. But now, as I look back at these films, I find I'm just indifferent. There are things that I do still love about them, but I'm increasingly realizing that I was defensive of these films because I wanted them to be something they weren't.
There's such a goldmine of opportunity here. WB/Gunn have been blessed with an abundance of interesting, fun, nuanced characters who (if utilized properly) could firmly populate the minds and imaginations of theatre-goers for years to come.
I think there are a number of lessons that should be taken away from the DCEU:
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Have a unified vision - It's been well documented that Snyder didn't fully intend on having a shared universe model. Instead, he had a handful of films that were meant to round out his vision while solo films and other movies were sort of just shoved into the timeline to match WB's desire for a Marvel-esque universe. Because of this, you end up with underdeveloped characters (ex. The Flash), continuity errors, abandoned plot points, and general audience confusion. That vision needs to be shared from the top down, regardless of who is directing. Think of it like a road system. Curbs and lines exist for a reason: to contain and organize the flow of traffic. It doesn't matter which street you take, so long as you stay on the road, start at Point A, and end up at Point B. There can be flexibility in the voyage, but the rules of the road still apply.
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Be adaptable - WB's stubborn refusal to hit pause and re-evaluate the Snyder-verse (post SS, pre-JL) led to them doubling down on movies that divided fans and continued the growing indifference/sad sack reputation of the DC movies. It didn't help that Marvel was firing on all cylinders. The contrast in quality was clear, and DC was a distant 2nd.
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Quality over Quantity - in a world where superhero burnout is bandied about, one thing has emerged as an absolute certainty: if it is good, the people will pay to see it. Spending time to plan and get each movie right is imperative. We don't need a slate of 40 movies announced. We need a handful of great films that leave us fulfilled while keeping us excited for what's next. Feed the present to grow the future.
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Thoroughly vet your actors - Ezra Miller. That's it. That's the message.
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Story first, Spectacle Second - Everyone wants to see a great looking movie, but that doesn't matter if it's not in service of the story. Do away with CGI filled third acts, or at the very minimum make sure they look great and have a purpose within the story. Give us character development and new and interesting takes on these characters. Why should we race back to the theatres to see them after years of disappointment? The Batman is a great example of this being done right. Snyder was great at making these characters feel god-like. What he (and others) failed to do was give us characterizations that helped us relate to these characters, despite their grandiose statures.
I'm sure there are more lessons, but those are the major ones that stick out in my head. If they can follow those lessons then DC fans will be eating good for years to come imo.
