WTF? Fridays...The Justice League: Doom Edition...7/5/2013

It's been clear for over twenty years that DC has dominated the animation medium with their comic-based characters, going all the way back to Batman: The Animated Series.

(Which I loved by the way, and am trying to get Adorkification to watch...unless I can find the Blu-rays for under $20...)

So on a morning before work, I saw this available on Netflix and gave it a shot. (Spoiler Warning!)

It was good...

...really good.

There was Nathan Fillion as Hal, Michael Rosenbaum as Barry, Tim Daly as Kal-El, Carl Lumbly as J'onn, Kevin Conroy as Bruce and Susan Eisenberg as Diana.

Talk about a reunion...

I hadn't read the comics that this was based on, but I knew there were changes - like Ra's al Ghul being replaced here by Vandal Savage. Why this change? I have no idea.

I also knew that in the comics, Batman was voted out of the League, where here Bruce opts to leave before the voting starts...which made sense. There will always be a debate about whether or not Batman should be a Leaguer, and to me he's always seemed like a Reserve Member - someone who can be called in for a given situation but doesn't attend weekly meetings and shift rotations.

The biggest problem I had with this (probably because I've seen more live-action stuff than animation recently) was how things were resolved in the end.

In the beginning, it made sense that each hero faces their given villain when they get trapped based on Batman's plans, and they each find a way out...with Batman's help.

But in the final showdown, Batman faces a pumped-up Bane and gets tossed around, while Superman deals with Metallo and gets weakened by the android's Kyrptonite heart.

Couldn't they just switch?

Batman can easily deal with Metallo, and Bane is no match for Superman. Wonder Woman would wipe the floor with Mirror Master, and Flash can take Cheetah.

And why can't Green Lantern take Ma'alefa'ak while Martian Manhunter go after Star Sapphire?

It was hard for me to see the heroes "bear down" so to speak and defeat their opposite numbers.

As for Superman giving Batman the Kryptonite bullet, that happened in a different comic story altogether. Why would Superman give Batman the means to kill him after he betrayed the league? I don't have a problem with Kal-El trusting Bruce with the thing, but not after all that happened here.

But being animation geared toward younger viewers, I guess having things all tied up in a bow is the way to go.

As for live-action, wouldn't Doom be a great plot for the Justice League film?

Dear DC Comics, For Your Consideration...

...may I offer an alternative to your Justice League movie concept.

We all know that you're in desperate need for a cinematic franchise. One that can start an avalanche of - well - multiple franchises following single characters introduced in the planned Justice League film.

Sort of the opposite way Marvel Studios took, and that's okay.

But there are problems...

Batman's already been a franchise...twice.

Superman's been re-introduced once so far, and another attempt is coming with Man of Steel in 2013.

We're not even going to discuss Wonder Woman and Green Lantern.

But you've had some success on television with Smallville and now Arrow, where you've got sort of a "grass roots" approach to major characters as they develop their abilities in their respective hometowns while throwing in significant cameos to appease the fans. It works.

So let's recap...

What you need is a single film that will open up franchise potential for many characters, while introducing viewers to a brand new DC movie universe, yet manages to avoid the "been there, done that" trappings of your Big Three.

Let. Me. Think.

What a great way to get movie goers new and old (re)interested in an expanding DC movie universe.

Let's go over the selling points:
* There's no need to feature Superman, Batman of Wonder Woman at all, while still being able to mention and/or reference them.
* You'll be able to present "brand new to the screen" DC characters.
* It would allow you to establish the world in which future movies would exist...movies that include the Big Three (or Four if you count GL).
* Oh yeah - it would allow you to introduce the multiverse concept, which would include every single f**king film you've made going back to Superman: The Movie...including Steel.

Now, this series was a major project that lasted an entire year, and had a lot going on. I'm not suggesting you squeeze the entire scope into one two-and-a-half hour film.

I'm saying pick one or two stories, like Elongated Man and Booster Gold's, and use those.

Maybe start with the Question and the Religion of Crime, have a few spin-off films, and then regroup people for 52 The Sequel, where you get into the Lady Styx story.

My point - there's a lot of story there to use, and a lot of characters as well.

I know what you're thinking: "But what about all the stuff that happened before 52, like Elongated Man's wife and Blue Beetle's death?"

Well DC - That's what prequels are for.

So that's my idea. Hope you've paid attention and take it to heart. Because while Marvel Studios is currently kicking your a$$es at the box office...and despite my entire childhood spent as a Marvel Zombie...I'd love to add some excellent DC Comics film franchises to my growing Blu-ray bookshelf.

Friday is now WTF? Day!!!

Today in WTF? news...

...Ben Affleck was in talks to direct Justice League. Ben didn't ask them, WB pursued Affleck!!! Fortunately he turned it down, but still...

...There's no way around it. To get Raiders, Temple and Last Crusade on Blu-ray, we'll have to swallow Crystal Skull like Belloq's fly.



...



I meant the bug...



...

...The 48 frames-per-second Hobbit is getting some good press thanks to post-production. Buuut Warner has decided to limit the release of the film to major locations like LA and NY. I hope WB is only talking about the "special" version of the film. 'Cause if my wife has to travel to see Part One (of Three) of The Hobbit she is gonna be pissed!






And a special WTFN? award goes to...

Marvel Studios and Joss Whedon for signing up to "do it all again" in Avengers 2!

Now who could Whedon kill off in this one...




...I don't know...




...Let me think about it...


...Hmmmmm


But I will say, if anyone can put Ant-Man and ol' Rocky in the same film - it's Joss.




In Marvel Studios I Trust

Poor...Poor...DC...

Apparently nobody over there at DC or Warner Brothers took my advice about how to get their movies going because they've gotten talent from such works as Gangster Squad...and Green Lantern...to (re-)write the Justice League and Wonder Woman projects.

W...T...F...?


Look guys...as I've said before...just focus on getting one really good movie made. Maybe tie it in with GL, maybe not. Just do one goddamn movie right! (Outside of Nolan's work.)


I still believe that DC and WB should part ways. There's at least five different film projects at various stages of development over there right now...not including JL and WW.


SLOW YOUR GODAMN ROLL!!!

I'll give you the fact that Marvel Studios were rushed somewhat to get The Incredible Hulk out...Kevin Feige said as much...but it did what it had to do, and was a better movie than it probably should have been.

But you haven't even gotten to THAT point with Green Lantern.


DC...say goodbye to Warner. Warner...say goodbye to DC. Just cut your losses and move on...