The Batman (2018)

[slik]

Ben Affleck is out of the director's chair and Matt Reeves (Cloverfield, War of the Planet of the Apes) is in! Good choice IMO. Affleck will still star as Bats.


http://collider.com/the-batman-director-matt-reeves/

[Destor]

Dunno how Affleck being out can be seen as good. He's an excellent director.

[Damian Rey 2.0]

Well at least they picked a good director with a solid reputation. I very much liked Dawn of the planet of the apes, and I loved Let Me In.

My issue here is that D.C. has burned any good will after releasing 3 clunkers to start their film universe, with the offerings seemingly getting worse. I also have no faith in the script.

I wonder if Affleck decided to drop out after his Live by Night received less than desired reception, and decided he would rather act and not take on the rigors of directing

[Seanny One Ball]

This was mentioned in the megathread and I do think it has to be down to his reticence to be the fall guy for any critical failings it has.
He was going to be solely responsible in many people's eyes as the writer, producer and director. That is not a manageable workload anyway. The amount of stress the fan hype would cause him is unfathomable.

No matter how well you adapt these things the fan base is rabid from the get go. Christopher Nolan brought some credibility back and look how much shit there was about some of his decisions.

[JimmyMess]

I don't think they were clunkers.

I feel the expectations are insane. And in my opinion, jumping into Justice League was nuts. Before Avengers we had what Iron Man in 2008. Then Hulk, Thor and Cap and Iron Man 2 and then avengers we all probably agree that it was a great slow build

DC went SUPERMAN then basically went JUSTICE LEAGUE FUCK YOU GO SEE IT lol.

I personally love the DC movies. but their flaws are blatant, and it sucks major donkey nuts.

[Damian Rey 2.0]

I respect that you acknowledge they're flawed even though you enjoy them. Yes the hype is unreal, but Marvel seems to continually come thru, and even Fox has a good record with most of the X-Men movies and now deadpool.

D.C. just isn't producing any quality, which is sad because they have great characters

[Ruien]

Wait, did Justice League come out already?

[Damian Rey 2.0]

Nope. Sometime next year. Not sure when

Honestly really pulling for Wonder Woman.

[Destor]

Wait, did Justice League come out already?

Yeah but the called it BvS for some reason

[Seanny One Ball]

I was watching The Killing Joke on Blu ray the other night and it was pretty good but what the tits was the first half hour all about?

Mark Hammill still does the best maniacal laugh on the planet hands down. There's no question about it.

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

Will it be a sequel to the shit movie or is it before the shit movie? How will they not make this one shit?

[Damian Rey 2.0]

This is definitely following bvs

[RP]

I just read a few things that said Affleck wants out of Batman completely.

[BigCrippyZ]

I just read a few things that said Affleck wants out of Batman completely.

Is he only now realizing what a cluster fuck and disappointment the DC films have been?

[Destor]

I just read a few things that said Affleck wants out of Batman completely.
That's not official but would ruin DCEU completely if it comes to pass

[Seanny One Ball]

I rewatched BVS last night and I don't remember it being as terribly stupid as it was but I must have immediately blacked that out.

[BigCrippyZ]

I rewatched BVS last night and I don't remember it being as terribly stupid as it was but I must have immediately blacked that out.

Watched the director's cut a while back. Wasn't as bad as I remembered the original but I was also drinking so that may have made it seem better.

[Seanny One Ball]

I should have gotten the Blu Ray with all the trimmings because there's a lot of deleted scenes but I fear it would get no better.
The thing that pisses me off about all of this is that Henry Caville is almost the perfect Superman but he hasn't been given anything to prove it.

[Simple Fan]

Only thing that bothers me about BvsS is Lex finding out who both Batman and Superman were without any explanation. Other than that I thought it was a great story.

[ClockShot]

And Matt Reeves has left the project before it begins.

http://www.ign.com/articles/2017/02/17/the-batman-director-matt-reeves-exits-negotiations-after-talks-break-down?abthid=58a7888b19a58c9242000016

[RP]

Doubt this happens. Especially when Affleck leaves.

[Rammsteinmad]

Lol DC.

In retrospect, could any of this have been avoided if they hadn't taken so long getting all this stuff moving? I can't help but feel that maybe the "general public" are just burnt out on Batman movies? Probably just me, though.

[Lock Jaw]

DC movie verse could have been saved if they made Superman Returns a good movie

[Seanny One Ball]

No you're probably right there.
I have some doubt that the third incarnation of Spider-Man in the last 15 years is going to be appreciated any more.

Let's do the numbers:
3 Spidermen in the last 15 years.
2 Supermen in the last 10 years.
5 Batmen in the last 27 years.
3 Hulks in the last 13 years.

ONE Wolverine

That is ridiculous really. No wonder people care more about the Avengers. Iron Man, Thor and Captain America are all fresh by comparison. The others have been done to death.
I haven't seen any of the Avengers movies properly yet. I'm rarely in the mood for that sort of thing. I remember the first one was on and I pretty much did anything but look at the screen. I don't choose to feel this way but I really don't have any interest in grotesquely expensive blockbusters.
I feel the same about James Cameron's Titanic and Avatar. I refuse to spend 3 hours watching what amounts to an advert.

[Damian Rey 2.0]

It would've been fine had they just focused on one thing at a time. MoS was flawed but good enough to reboot the universe in a different style than Marvel.

But instead of building on that world and building up Superman over the course of a few films, and giving him at least one sequel before introducing Batman, they rushed to try and get thru 2 or 3 movies worth of story packed into one and now find their movies to lack critical acclaim and production issues galore. Had they just mapped everything out piece by piece, things may have worked out better.

Right now everything is a cluster fuck. Wonder Woman already had rumors of production issues, BvS and Suicide Squad were critically murdered, and now D.C.'s most marketable hero the least 10 years has a movie in limbo because its star and backed out of directing, and is rumored to want out all together.

Oh what could've been

[Bobholly138]

I was watching The Killing Joke on Blu ray the other night and it was pretty good but what the tits was the first half hour all about?

Mark Hammill still does the best maniacal laugh on the planet hands down. There's no question about it.

That first half hour was because one of the guys behind BTAS has a Batgirl fetish. Cut out all the added crap and the DTV The Killing Joke is damn good. And so far the second best Alan Moore comic to get adapted to tv/movie.

[Bobholly138]

The only one of the new live action DCU films I have seen is Suicide Squad. I loved the 80s comic. And love Deadshot. But hate Will Smith.

And wow that film was not good. Smith was his normal bad acting self. The lady playing Harley was bad. And am I the only one tired of modern films having unneeded classic rock soundtracks. Suicide Squad really felt like DC wanted to capture audience Guardians of the Galaxy had. But at least in GoG the classic rock soundtrack was there for a reason.

It is odd,the DC tv shows and live action films have been almost all bad. But their DTV animated stuff has been pretty good.

[Lock Jaw]

I swear that Suicide Squad's soundtrack almost sounded like it was replaced "last minute" with all the classic rock because:

- They used a classic rock song in the trailer and people loved it
- Guardians of the Galaxy did it and people loved it

In the end, the music just felt "out of place" a lot of the time.... and sometimes they had the same song from the trailer with the same scenes/shots from the trailer and that just seemed weird/lazy.......

[Seanny One Ball]

Suicide Squad should have been full of Cradle Of Filth

[Kalyx triaD]

If The Batman fails the DCEU is dead.

At this rate they should, and I'm being serious, let Marvel Studios produce DC movies.

[Damian Rey 2.0]

I honestly think they're going to continue on regardless. They'll find someone to direct the Batman, maybe even have Snyder direct it, and keep pushing forward with their forced universe. The movies will still make money and there's almost no turning back now.

[Simple Fan]

Yeah there is no turning back now. I liked Dawn of Justice and Suicide Squad just because they were different from typical super hero movies. They announced a lot of movies and then once Suicide came out they started making plans for more like the Harly Quinn and Deadshot movies. I think Wonder Woman will be good and I'm really looking forward to Aquaman. The Flash movie should have more of a Marvel feel to it as that character is a lot more light hearted than a lot other DC heros. Absolutely hate this Cyborg though, looks like shit and I really hope they don't make a Cyborg movie. As for The Batman I hope Affleck stays on because I really like his Batman.

[Lock Jaw]

I have hopes for Wonder Woman, even though it still seems really weird to me that it is a WWI period piece.....

Aquaman looks like s***, not really looking forward to Aquaman at all.

[Damian Rey 2.0]

James Mangold just hit another homerun with Logan, critically. Throw money at him.

[Simple Fan]

I have hopes for Wonder Woman, even though it still seems really weird to me that it is a WWI period piece.....

Aquaman looks like s***, not really looking forward to Aquaman at all.

Aquaman looks bad ass I think. Really looking forward to what they do with Atlantis. I know it's not the usual looking Aquaman but I think that's a good thing.

[Damian Rey 2.0]

I like the Pacific islander Aquaman. I honestly like the whole cast. Its just the films they're being given that's the problem.

[Lock Jaw]

Aquaman looks bad ass I think. Really looking forward to what they do with Atlantis. I know it's not the usual looking Aquaman but I think that's a good thing.

I think there's a balance to find..... Mera looks alright, close enough to the comics but in line with the dark and gritty movies too.....

Feel like a more traditional looking Aquaman would look more badass.....

[Seanny One Ball]

More badass than Jason Freakin Momoa?! :wtf:

[Seanny One Ball]

Also WTF at Jason Momoa being married to Lisa Bonet...
She's getting old brother.

[Damian Rey 2.0]

Hey, if he's happy why not.

[Seanny One Ball]

Don't be so immature.

[JimmyMess]

Matt Reeves is out as director.

[Seanny One Ball]

Joel Schumacher deserves another crack at this.
Bat nipples are a good thing...

[Damian Rey 2.0]

No thanks.

So that's two directors who've dropped out of this movie. Not a good look for WB right now. Batman and the Flash have lost directors.

Snyder is getting the boot after JL, Mel Gibson is being courted for Suicide Squad 2, which means David Ayer is out.

Everything is a God damn mess with this universe right now.

[Seanny One Ball]

I knew it wouldn't be long before they all came crawling back to Mel.
As if Mel Gibson wants to do Suicide Squad. If he does it it will be because of ridiculous money and some unparalleled contract incentives.

If he does it they'll let him film a billion dollar movie about whatever he wants and he'll get full creative freedom or something.

I don't think he needs the money and I sincerely doubt he would prostitute himself for an asinine sequel to a critical disaster.

[Kalyx triaD]

I wouldn't call SS a disaster.

[Seanny One Ball]

It absolutely was a critical disaster.

Have you read any of the critics reviews?

[Destor]

I really wish i had walked out on SS and gotten my money back.

[Emperor Smeat]

No thanks.

So that's two directors who've dropped out of this movie. Not a good look for WB right now. Batman and the Flash have lost directors.

Snyder is getting the boot after JL, Mel Gibson is being courted for Suicide Squad 2, which means David Ayer is out.

Everything is a God damn mess with this universe right now.

Seems like DC still hasn't learned or figured out why Marvel was very successful with their cinematic universe.

Marvel was a lot more slower and more careful building their universe on all fronts prior to the big film (Avengers) while DC is rushing more and using weaker/poor films to be the basis of their universe going into their big one (Justice League).

[Ruien]

I thought SS was decent enough. Being compared to Marvel movies will keep DC down though.

[Kalyx triaD]

It absolutely was a critical disaster.

Have you read any of the critics reviews?

Rarely read movie reviews. But if they're saying it was a disaster I would tell them to stop being dramatic.

[Destor]

Rarely read movie reviews. But if they're saying it was a disaster I would tell them to stop being dramatic.
Average critic rating was 4/10. Average Viewer rating was 6/10.

[Seanny One Ball]

Why would anyone question the veracity of a statement that they don't actually understand?

[Damian Rey 2.0]

People don't like critics because they tell them they're wrong for thinking a movie they like is good. Critic reviews are helpful in determining what to expect in a movie.

Suicide Squad was a mess. Terrible villain. Terrible story. Terrible character development outside of 2 cast members. I didn't need the critics to tell me that after seeing it. They just confirmed my feelings after seeing it


It was a disaster in that the studio scrambled to do reshoots, it was critically destroyed, the director of the film admitted he made a mistake in how the movie was done, and the fall out of it with D.C. films being in limbo after its release.

Nothing dramatic about it.

[Seanny One Ball]

That was a top post.

[Seanny One Ball]

I do like film critics and believe they add a little extra to great films with their work but I don't think there's a single one who's opinion would stop me from seeing something that looked good to me.

We've all seen them make terrible mistakes and recant them either immediately upon seeing the general consensus is in disagreement or years later after repeated viewings.
Roger Ebert and Leonard Maltin were both pretty bad for that.
Ebert gave Speed 2 a glowing review and tore into Alien. Unforgivable.
Mark Kermode is the best currently but he thinks The Exorcist is a perfect movie and rates it as the best of all time so he's not much use to me.

Basically critics are just a form of entertainment in their own right. Not to be taken as gospel truth.

Ten points to anyone who knows the biggest link between The Exorcist and Speed 2.

[Damian Rey 2.0]

Critics are not much different from other movie goers except that, like a lot of us with wrestling or sports, have a deep passion for them as well as a knowledge of how they work and what makes them good.

Sometimes they are wrong. Doesn't mean they're not a valuable source of info. The fact that a site like Rotten Tomatoes routinely appears on sleeve covers with the certified fresh logo shows how strong a marketing tool critical acclaim can be.

[KIRA]

Seriously Marvel just let you know they were slowly building a universe

DC I love you but its like watching a bunch of people all try get through a door at once

[Lock Jaw]

Matt Reeves officially announced as director.

[McLegend]

Lol sounds about right.

[Damian Rey 2.0]

Best news they've had in ages. Hopefully this'll signal a turn around in the quality of films

[Seanny One Ball]

Nothing is official. Ever.

Not in the film industry.

[Lock Jaw]

Keep reading this thread title in the voice of Cillian Murphy saying "The Batman"........

[Damian Rey 2.0]

I love you, Lock Jaw.

I have a tough time seeing Reeves walking away, again, after coming back. Whatever he was holding out for was probably honored. I hope he pulls it off.

[Rammsteinmad]

With all the hoopla behind this film, and the overall failure that is thus far the DCEU, I really want this film to be a huge flop.

And I like Batman. But the drama behind every DC movie these days is more entertaining than the movies themselves.

[Destor]

With all the hoopla behind this film, and the overall failure that is thus far the DCEU, I really want this film to be a huge flop.

And I like Batman. But the drama behind every DC movie these days is more entertaining than the movies themselves.
The Batman brand wont flop outright. Instead you'll probably se diminished returns across the DC brand. Each one performing less and less overtime. the brand is too strong to fail outright currently. Same reason suicide squad had big week 1 numbers. The Joker brand is really strong. But the word of mouth fromt he film gave dimished returns once the quality was known.

[BigCrippyZ]

Even if I hear or think it's going to be bad, I'll always take more Joker, just out of curiosity for the character. Really wished we could've seen the stuff that Leto alleges was changed/cut from the film and/or original script. It may not have been any better or "saved" Suicide Squad, but sadly, we'll never know.

[Damian Rey 2.0]

I'm hoping this'll be good, because I love Batman, and because having Fox, D.C. and Marvel succeed is only going to keep these movies going

I agree on the diminished returns. Batman is going to draw a large opening, it will create a ton of hype, and fans will eat it up thru its first weekend. Word of mouth will take it from there.

[Kalyx triaD]

With Matt Reeves on it and Affleck very likely shadow directing and having a good of his input taken seriously with 100% no Snyder involvement this could salvage the DC movieverse and quell whatever feelings Ben has of leaving.

[Swiss Ultimate]

I recently watched Batman v Superman and didn't hate it. Ben did such a good job as Batman too.

[Destor]

I recently watched Batman v Superman and didn't hate it. Ben did such a good job as Batman too.

His performance is a real glimer of hope coming out of Warner right now

[Destor]

Possibly the only but im hopeful about Wonderwoman

[Swiss Ultimate]

I remember being skeptical that he could pull off Batman too, although him as Bruce Wayne worked pretty well in my mind.

I also like him killing bad guys.

[Lock Jaw]

Possibly the only but im hopeful about Wonderwoman

I have also gone on the record about being hopeful.......

[Destor]

I have also gone on the record about being hopeful.......

"Cautiously optimistic"

[Damian Rey 2.0]

I hate that he killed bad guys. I also hate that he was seemingly so short sighted and did zero homework on Superman.

But none of that is Ben's fault. Every scene he was in was gripping, particularly his scenes with Irons, were great. The scene where Bruce comes clean about the kryptonite and his intention and Alfred's attempt to reason is prob my favorite in the movie, and sold me on them, especially Affleck, going forward.

[Malfeitor]

I didn't mind him killing the bad guys. He's been Batman for 20 years. He has seen some shit. I'm guessing it's the death of Jason Todd that pushed him over the edge. The "criminals are like weeds" line as well as the "turns good men cruel" line establish that he's okay with taking that extra measure. That's what I got out of them, anyway.

[Swiss Ultimate]

Rorschach is my favorite superhero.

[Damian Rey 2.0]

I guess it's just preference. They can salvage his characterizion.

Batman fan site Batman on film reported that it wasn't money so much as it was creative control over the direction of that film that caused Matt Reeves to step away and eventually come back.

[Seanny One Ball]

I doubt anyone thought it had to do with money.

Huge blockbuster productions tend not to skimp on things like that so much as they interfere with the concept(from direction to production) itself.

[Damian Rey 2.0]

I think it can only be a good sign that Reeves came back should creative freedom be the actual reason.

I seem to remember Warner being aggressively hands on with the production of bvs and suicide squad, as well justice league.

That works for Marvel since they have a well thought out and plotted game plan well before they start production on their films.

However, it doesn't work when you're going it on the fly or after test screenings, or during the middle of filming. Hopefully the move to bring Reeves in is a sign that they'll step back and allow the director to execute his vision, for better or for worse.

[Kalyx triaD]

Ben Affleck is totally not doing this and it's not going to be written as if in the DCEU.

[Destor]

What a joke

[Damian Rey 2.0]

Yes it is. Reeves already took to Twitter to confirm it's in the and universe. It just won't be connected to JL in terms of its story or have any cameos. It'll be exclusively a Batman movie. Much like Wonder Woman is strictly a WW movie.

Whether Affleck is in it is the question.

[Rammsteinmad]

DCEU is such a joke. :lol:

[Rammsteinmad]

Which, for the record, genuinely is a huge shame.

[Destor]

Yes it is. Reeves already took to Twitter to confirm it's in the and universe. It just won't be connected to JL in terms of its story or have any cameos. It'll be exclusively a Batman movie. Much like Wonder Woman is strictly a WW movie.

Whether Affleck is in it is the question.

If it has no cameos, no seriel aspects, and a different lead its not DCEU no matter what their hype man wants to sell you

[Lock Jaw]

I haven't heard about Affleck not being in it. Well, I have heard it, then I heard it debunked. Then I heard it again, then debunked again.

I have heard about it being "standalone", but still in the DCEU. Which it still can be, the hype man is correct.

It doesn't need cameos or to build a larger world. That's like saying a Batman comic book isn't part of the DC Universe because Superman (or whoever) wasn't in it and they didn't acknowledge stuff happening in some other comic book.

[Destor]

Its shaping up to be a glorified what if

[Lock Jaw]

Dunno, maybe you are hearing more news then I am...... haven't heard really anything "definite"

Other than it is going to be a "Noir"ish detective story, that may or may not be set slightly earlier in his career.

[Destor]

Exactly. A story with no stakes or consequences. I.E. every what if ever

[Lock Jaw]

The difference being "What If"s usually are outlandish out of character scenarios. Whereas there are plenty of Batman limited series or one-shots that are not an "alternate reality", just someone telling a good Batman story.


ALTHOUGH on the subject of "What If"s, I have heard about a possible Superman: Red Son movie.

[Kalyx triaD]

Affleck's brother let slip that he was out, and that's on top of a lot of rumors about him leaving. In this case I won't trust the obvious spin control with JL so close to coming out and it may hurt the box office. Ben himself simply refuses to confirm he'll stay Batman and deflects with how nice it's been to be Batman and how nice JL will be. But we're hearing a lot of the same things from different sources and experience tells me that it may be the case.

A Batman movie with no ties to the DCAU isn't a WW standalone situation, there has been MCU movies with less connection to their universe. The Batman was rewritten, tossing away Affleck's script which I'd bet acknowledged the wider universe. Having his script set aside after dealing with an introduction is a polarizing movie, and then doing a JL movie with hangups on its own, all point to Ben quitting making sense.

[Destor]

The difference being "What If"s usually are outlandish out of character scenarios. Whereas there are plenty of Batman limited series or one-shots that are not an "alternate reality", just someone telling a good Batman story.


ALTHOUGH on the subject of "What If"s, I have heard about a possible Superman: Red Son movie.

Totaly qualifies ;p