Would give you up TDK trilogy for a successful DCEU?

[samsnee]

Let’s turn back the clock. Everyone agrees that the TDK trilogy was incredibly successful both financially and critically. But knowing what you know now, would you have forgone that if it meant WB/DC started building their own cinematic universe earlier, instead of now trying to play catch-up and throw whatever sticks approach?

This isn’t to say they would have created a universe like Marvel in terms of tone and style. But instead of feeling the need to compete against the high box office bar of Marvel, would they have had time to actually flesh out better ideas and not rushed things?

 

[psylockolussus]

Yup. Mor films, more characters to witness.

 

[Iceman]

Interesting question. If we're talking a DCEU with consistently good films and a long term future, then yes.

 

[Mandon Knight]

Yes, in a heartbeat.

 

[Dark Raven]

TDK could've been part of the DCEU if they had tweaked things a bit, and if Bale and Nolan were willing to play ball with others. Yes, it started off very realistic and didn't seem to allow room for the fantastical. But Iron Man started off in a similar way too. Look at his 2008 film compared to the kinds of films he is in now, or even the Avengers in 2012. Iron Man was more like a military thriller which was grounded in the real world.

TDK trilogy could've progressed as it went along, adapting and changing its world view.

But it's not just TDK trilogy that we need to consider. Imagine if they made a successful Superman film in place of Superman Returns. I'm not saying to imagine if Superman Returns was successful, because it had a weak foundation to start with, and I wouldn't want it based on Bryan Singer. But imagine if we got a brighter and more hopeful Superman film that didn't try to emulate Batman in place of that. It wouldn't have been SR nor Man of Steel but something different and hopefully better.

If we still somehow got Batman vs Superman, that Batman wouldn't have seemed to have come out of nowhere. He would have a backstory that we'd have all seen and experienced. And Superman would've also been someone we could all get behind. It would be more like Civil War where we've seen these characters for a while now and enjoyed and supported their films.

 

[Iceman]

Even if Nolan had stepped off and they could have had access to the actors, that would have been enough to start the DCEU off with a much stronger foundation.

 

[OutOfBoose]

Nope. Finite stories > cinematic universes.

 

[Elayis]

Nope. The quality of TDKT far surpasses practically every other superhero film ever made.

 

[samsnee]

It’s a tough call for me. I liked that Begins finally gave us a Batman movie where Bruce Wayne is the main character. Obviously Ledger’s Joker.

But then I see the mess that DC is now and I still want a modern amazing Superman movie which seems even more out of reach now than before Man of Steel.

 

[OutOfBoose]

And quality of BB and especially TDK - cream of the crop of the genre. Quality over quantity 24/7/365.

 

[Elayis]

It’s a tough call for me. I liked that Begins finally gave us a Batman movie where Bruce Wayne is the main character. Obviously Ledger’s Joker.

But then I see the mess that DC is now and I still want a modern amazing Superman movie which seems even more out of reach now than before Man of Steel.

What are the chances that these potential DCEU films would be anywhere near the quality of BB or TDK? Even given its unparalleled financial success, the MCU rarely comes close to being that good.

 

[samsnee]

That’s debatable but this isn’t supposed to be a MCU vs DC debate.

Just curious for those who would keep the TDK trilogy, would you consider yourselves DC comics fans or just film fans or even just Batman fans?

 

[Elayis]

I wasn't trying to do that, just pointing out that the best case scenario of a cinematic universe working well (the MCU) still struggles to reach the creative heights of a single filmmaker telling a finite story, imo.

If I had to pick I'd say I'm a film fan first, but I'm also a regular DC/Batman comic reader too. I will say that TDKT probably kickstarted my interest in Batman as a property, as I was 13 when BB came out and not a major comics fan before that.

 

[Boom]

**** no.

Not to short-change the trilogy as a whole, but I wouldn't give up Heath Ledger's all-time performance for anything.

 

[Mandon Knight]

I said yes, because, ultimately I'm a comics fan overall more than specifically a Batman fan. Plus, and as it turns out, Superman has been ridden into the dirt (my favourite all time character) with or without TDK trilogy ironically.

 

[Spider-Fan]

Absolutely not. Shared universes are great, but TDK is one of the best CBMs. I would never discard it.

 

[Flash525]

Honestly, I've never thought TDK trilogy was as epic as some people seem to think it is, so to substitute that for a working DCEU, hell yeah, I'm on board.

 

[Zarex]

I think WB/DC should have sacrificed TDKR in order to get the DCEU off the ground. The third film in the Nolan Trilogy should have been a jumping point for a larger connected universe, even if that meant bringing in a replacement director. Give Bale a blank check to stick around as cranky old (But not murdery!) Batman, and build the DCEU off of DC's most successful film series.

 

[FunkMiller]

Nope. Finite stories > cinematic universes.

This.

 

[Brother Jack]

Absolutely not. It wasn't Nolan's fault that WB learned all the wrong lessons from his films.

 

[Ninjablade]

**** no.

Not to short-change the trilogy as a whole, but I wouldn't give up Heath Ledger's all-time performance for anything.

This. While I would love for more good and successful DC films, I wouldn't trade Ledger's Joker for them.

 

[Herofan]

Let’s turn back the clock. Everyone agrees that the TDK trilogy was incredibly successful both financially and critically. But knowing what you know now, would you have forgone that if it meant WB/DC started building their own cinematic universe earlier, instead of now trying to play catch-up and throw whatever sticks approach?

No way. Though I didn't love the second and third Nolan films they had moments and I'll gladly take them for the first, finally getting a good Batman origin film and pretty good modern version.

Furthermore I don't like that superhero movies have gotten so crossover-y, I'd like to see a lot less of that and not have had it earlier. The first two movies, aside from the ending of the second, were already good building of a cinematic universe in regard to establishing Batman, other heroes, villains and references thereto could have come later.

 

[Herofan]

Just curious for those who would keep the TDK trilogy, would you consider yourselves DC comics fans or just film fans or even just Batman fans?

I do like Batman (and Superman) a lot more than DC overall or teamups and I think it's an important part of a film being good that someone can watch it and understand, get into, enjoy it without even having read the comics, let alone a lot of the comics, and not feel overwhelmed.

 

[FunkMiller]

Just curious for those who would keep the TDK trilogy, would you consider yourselves DC comics fans or just film fans or even just Batman fans?

Hardcore DC comics fan... particularly Batman. Have been reading for over twenty five years.

 

[OutOfBoose]

Just curious for those who would keep the TDK trilogy, would you consider yourselves DC comics fans or just film fans or even just Batman fans?

I'm probably just a Batman and films fan. I don't think I'm a fan of any other DC property outside Batman. I did read various graphic novels, Batman and non-Batman. European stuff too. My first comics were TMNT, Elfquest and Gen13. I didn't read a single Batman graphic novel till mid 00s and was basically a fan of Batman films, games and cartoons. When it comes to comics, I'm somewhat more interested in non-superhero stuff. The only caped superhero I love is Batman. Otherwise it's Danger Girl, Blacksad and so on.

So yeah, you probably can dismiss my opinion on the matter, lol. I just don't think you need to be a fan of the seven to appreciate singular visions like Raimi's trilogy or Reeve's Superman.