'Justice League' Logo, Plot Synopsis Revealed

I don't count myself among the supporters of Zack Snyder's Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, but I also refuse to believe that Warner Bros. won't make a concerted effort to address the film's criticisms in Justice League, scheduled to hit theaters on Nov. 17, 2017.

The Snyder-helmed project is now reportedly a standalone movie instead of a two-parter and, earlier today, Warner Bros. released an official logo for Justice League (above) and the following plot synopsis: 

Fueled by his restored faith in humanity and inspired by Superman’s selfless act, Bruce Wayne enlists the help of his newfound ally, Diana Prince, to face an even greater enemy. Together, Batman and Wonder Woman work quickly to find and recruit a team of metahumans to stand against this newly awakened threat. But despite the formation of this unprecedented league of heroes — Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Cyborg and The Flash — it may already be too late to save the planet from an assault of catastrophic proportions.

I love that this is a redemption story for Ben Affleck's Batman, who was a mere shell of a Dark Knight in BvS and, having not seen the DC Cinematic Universe's Caped Crusader in his prime, it was impossible to see how far he'd fallen from grace. At the very least, the Batman in this film won't be a hard-drinking, gun-toting, murderous psycho, which is a definite step in the right direction. Plus, does anyone else get a Silver Age vibe from the logo? That's a great sign.

Ben Affleck to Helm Solo Batman Film

Ben Affleck is a fine director, and his portrayal of the Dark Knight was actually a bright spot in the otherwise dim Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. So, it was good news when Warner Bros. Chairman and CEO Kevin Tsujihara confirmed at CinemaCon in Las Vegas that Affleck would direct a standalone and untitled Batman film based on a script that he wrote. The speculation, according to The Hollywood Reporter, is that the film will either be released on Oct. 5, 2018 or on Nov. 1, 2019. Those are two dates that are listed on DC's release slate that do not yet have films attached to them.

With the Caped Crusader seen violently branding and even killing criminals in Batman v Superman, showing us a Batman who's reached his breaking point, I'm hoping that Affleck shows us an version of Bruce Wayne in this universe that is, dare I say it, more heroic than homicidal. Color me optimistic, because I honestly think Affleck wants to do right by Batman, regardless of how BvS director Zack Snyder chooses to tell his story in this universe.

Batman next hits the big screen in Suicide Squad, in theaters Aug. 5. For my full review of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, click here.

'The Red Capes Are Coming': New 'Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice' Trailer Debuts

I'm not gonna lie: I haven't been impressed by anything we've seen about Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice thus far. But then I saw the trailer that premiered at San Diego Comic-Con. I'm sold.

I like that the over-the-top destruction in the final battle of Man of Steel serves as a catalyst for Bruce Wayne's mistrust of Superman, and I actually dig Jesse Eisenberg's Lex Luthor a LOT more than I thought I would. Love it or hate it, but Zack Snyder has just given the geek world much to debate, dissect and possibly even get excited about.

Watch the Leaked Trailer for 'Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice' While You Can

The full teaser trailer for Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice (with Portuguese subtitles) has leaked before the scheduled theatrical unveiling on Monday, telling a story about a society that's fearful of Superman and the power he wields. It also introduces us to Ben Affleck's Batman who, confronting The Man of Steel, boldly growls, "Tell me: Do you bleed? You will."

Affleck looks right at home in the Batsuit(s) from the little we see here, and if you've been hoping for a superhero showdown that matches the tone and visual style of Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns, this might be the movie you've been waiting for. If not, you've probably made up your mind already.

 

Here's Your New Lex Luthor

Ahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!

Oh man, that’s good. You know what? I’m not even angry. Let’s just cast Jonah Hill as Ra’s Al Ghul or something and get this over with. Warner Bros., you’re…. something.

In addition to the 30-year-old Jesse Eisenberg being confirmed as Lex Luthor in the unnamed Superman-Batman film, Jeremy Irons will play Bruce Wayne’s (Ben Affleck) faithful butler Alfred Pennyworth. At least that’s somewhat reasonable, but then again, I’m a huge Die Hard with a Vengeance fan.

For the full story, head over to Deadline.com.

Why Ben Affleck as Batman Isn't the Worst Thing Ever

Well, that escalated quickly, didn’t it?

Mere moments after Variety reported that Ben Affleck would be donning the cape and cowl for an as-yet-unnamed 2015 Superman/Batman team-up flick, the Internet was awash in hateful comments as discontented DC fanatics mashed their keyboards and pounded their smart phones in outrage. From lambasting Warner Bros. for their apparently poor grasp of the filmmaking business to snarky Gigli and Daredevil remarks, geeks were quick to criticize the casting choice. Why not spend the dough to lure Christian Bale back to the character or, better yet, choose a less established actor to move this franchise toward Warner Bros.’ inevitable Justice League film? Such questions plagued innumerable comic book fans as they tossed and turned in their beds whiile visions of Armageddon danced in their heads.

This isn’t the first time DC fans have wildly criticized a casting decision at this scale. Hell, about a decade before Heath Ledger proved the haters wrong with an Academy Award-winning turn as The Joker in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight, a pre-Internet fanbase cried foul when Warner Bros. cast Michael Keaton as Batman in Tim Burton’s groundbreaking 1989 film. Both times, those critics were proven wrong. Although it’s clearly too early to say whether or not Affleck is the right choice to play Bruce Wayne in the Man of Steel sequel, it also might be too early for us to get bent out of shape about it. Relax, guys. Affleck can be an incredibly talented performer under the right conditions (see Argo, The Town, Hollywoodland or even Chasing Amy for examples).

And to those still asking why Bale isn’t back in the suit, consider that Nolan’s trilogy is a closed story, and that bringing his version of Batman into a world of aliens and red capes doesn’t  make all that much sense. This is a new universe with a new story and, yes, a new Batman.

For the full story from Variety, click here. And to check out my thoughts on Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel, read the review.

'Man of Steel' Packs Punch

Though I take many of my hairstyling tips from Lex Luthor these days, once upon a time I was a huge Superman fan. One of my most cherished toys growing up was a Kenner “Super Powers” version of The Man of Steel, I had Superman II memorized word-for-word and I even had Superman pajamas with a cape attached at the shoulders. No, I don’t still wear them.

Like many geeks — though certainly not all — my interest in Ol’ Supes waned with age. Batman’s fight against crime without the luxury of superhuman abilities interested me as I approached my teenage years, and the edgier, more youthful heroes that populated the Marvel Universe were infinitely more relatable than a nigh-invincible being from a dead planet.

It was not until the lead-up to Superman Returns back in 2006 that I had rediscovered my childhood fascination with Kal-El, a hero that represents a godlike ideal and an oft-overlooked burden: Superman can save just about anyone, but not everyone, all the time.

Bryan Singer’s Superman Returns touched on The Man of Tomorrow’s weaknesses that don’t come in the form of glowing green rocks (that would be Kryptonite), and in many ways it succeeded at humanizing one of the most superhuman characters in literature. Yet, it was Singer’s unfettered reverence toward the original Richard Donner films — the very movies that entranced me as a youth — that ultimately prevented it from finding an audience.

Flash forward seven years to the release of Man of Steel, Zack Snyder’s reboot of the dormant Superman franchise that aims to do for DC Comics’ blue-and-red boy scout what Batman Begins did for The Caped Crusader. The “gee whiz” tone of Donner’s lighthearted universe has been replaced with the “oh, s***!” spectacle of the modern Hollywood blockbuster, just as John Williams’ sweeping, romantic themes have been replaced by Hans Zimmer’s driving, percussive score.

It’s loud, it’s dark and it’s loaded with enough explosions to make Michael Bay blush. It’s also the best Superman film since 1978.

Snyder (Watchmen, 300) has gone on record in saying that he didn’t craft Man of Steel with the Donner films in mind. Rather, with Dark Knight veteran Christopher Nolan overseeing the project, the film takes us through a brazen re-telling of Superman’s origin that assumes we’re already fairly familiar with the character’s early years. Sure, we get glimpses of Clark Kent’s Smallville upbringing, but what we really want to see is Superman punching things, right? For once?

Fortunately, Snyder gives Kal-El (Henry Cavill) plenty to pummel in the form of General Zod (Michael Shannon) and his Kryptonian soldiers. You see, Superman’s dad Jor-El (Russell Crowe) sent his infant son to Earth with a codex that could preserve the Kryptonian race. Naturally, said codex is of particular interest to Zod’s forces, who were freed from imprisonment in the Phantom Zone when Krypton exploded. The bad guys make their way to Earth and intend to use the codex to rebuild Krypton, terraforming the planet and killing its current inhabitants (us) in the process.

There’s much to be said about the tremendous cast in Man of Steel, from Amy Adams’ impetuous Lois Lane to Shannon’s sneering Zod, but it’s Cavill’s Superman who truly shines. Never once doing a Christopher Reeve impression, Cavill embodies what we like about the character — namely his undying sense of duty — without trying to imitate any prior on-screen versions of the character.

Man of Steel isn’t short, clocking in at 143 minutes, but it seldom drags nor does it linger on sentimentality. The intense final act of the film is nearly nonstop action, as Superman battles Zod in a skyscraper-toppling final battle unlike anything we’ve ever seen in a superhero film. Just as Donner made us believe a man can fly, Snyder makes us believe a man can fly, punch people through buildings and level entire city blocks with his heat vision … if he wanted to, of course.

It is the conclusion of that final battle that has spurred much controversy among some circles who disagree with the way in which Kal-El ultimately deals with Zod. Without venturing into spoiler territory for those of you who haven’t seen the film, I’ll simply state that Superman does what is necessary for the greater good, and makes a difficult decision he didn’t want to make. For a character reviled for being godlike, don’t we want to see him at his most human?

Man of Steel might offend purists for its overwhelming emphasis on action and certain creative liberties taken with the character, but we’ve wanted a fresh cinematic take on Superman for decades and Snyder has finally delivered. Up, up and away.

First Look: Henry Cavill as Superman!

This Man of Steel publicity still of Henry Cavill wearing Superman’s iconic threads has been making comic book geeks lose their mind all day, and deservedly so. Judging by the shot, director Zack Snyder’s going to be putting a lot more emphasis on action this time around, which should be a welcome change of pace after Bryan Singer decided to make The Last Son of Krypton mope around for about 30 minutes too long in 2006’s Superman Returns.

Now, Cavill as Superman? He certainly looks the part, even though Superman’s iconic “S” spit curl seems to be missing and the suit looks like it might have more of a scaled texture to it than the spandex we’re used to. However, this graphic—with all of its sparks and twisted metal and unnatural light—suggests that Snyder is still giving in to his excessive stylistic urges. This means we’ll likely see an abundance of slow-motion action scenes and CGI environments which, after his polarizing Watchmen and his bizarre Sucker Punch, might not be received all that well by casual audiences. We’ll see.

Man of Steel is scheduled for release on June 12, 2013.

Michael Shannon Cast as General Zod in ‘Man of Steel’

It looks like Superman will face General Zod in Zack Snyder’s forthcoming franchise reboot, Man of Steel. The studio confirmed that Michael Shannon (Revolutionary Road, 8 Mile, Boardwalk Empire) will be playing the role of the maniacal Kryptonian supervillain.

In a Warner Bros./Legendary Pictures press release, which you can read in full at Superhero Hype, Snyder said that “Zod is not only one of Superman's most formidable enemies, but one of the most significant because he has insights into Superman that others don’t.”

He continued, “Michael is a powerful actor who can project both the intelligence and the malice of the character, making him perfect for the role.”

Zod first crossed paths with Kal-El in the pages of Adventure Comics back in 1961, but the character garnered mainstream recognition following his appearance in Richard Donner’s Superman (1978) and, most notably, Superman II (1980). In the Donner films he was played by Terence Stamp, who ordered the world to “kneel before Zod” while Kal-El traded his sun-enhanced abilities for a chance at a normal life with Lois Lane. Various iterations of Zod—most of which have been influenced by the film version—have appeared elsewhere, including Superman: The Animated Series and Smallville.

Bryan Singer’s Superman Returns (2006) has been ripped to shreds for its laborious tribute to Donner’s films, and I was under the impression that Snyder was going to approach Man of Steel as if no Superman films came before it. Why, then, is he going after the one memorable villain from the original series that wasn’t Lex Luthor? Furthermore, will Snyder and Shannon be able to resist the urge to mimic Stamp’s iconic performance? Is there any chance we won’t hear the “kneel before Zod” line at least once in this flick? Am I asking too many questions?

Man of Steel hits theaters in December 2012.

A Wort Report Double Feature: ‘Sucker Punch’ and ‘Your Highness’ Reviewed

Sucker Punch

Although I saw Sucker Punch during its debut weekend—on the night of March 27 to be exact—I’ve held off on posting my definitive opinion of it. This delay is partly because of a hectic work schedule over the past few weeks, but it’s also because I frankly wasn’t even sure if I liked it or not. Yes, the visuals are astounding, which is pretty much expected from Zack Snyder (300, Watchmen) at this point. However, I feel that the core narrative robs the viewer of the opportunity to enjoy much of what they see on screen. It’s cool to watch hot chicks in lingerie fighting steam-powered zombies, orcs, dragons and robots, but when the battles exist on a plane that’s two planes of existence removed from the film’s version of reality, there’s little reason for the viewer to get excited about any of it.

Sucker Punch revolves around Baby Doll (Emily Browning), a girl who is institutionalized by her abusive father and is scheduled to be lobotomized in five days. Once she’s locked inside the confines of a mental asylum, Sucker Punch shifts to another level of reality, where the girls are instead dancers in a sleazy bordello. When Baby Doll and her fellow inmates seek out each of the five items that will grant them their liberty, the film shifts perspective yet again, taking the viewer to outlandish fantasy settings ripped straight from your favorite video games.

If all of this sounds confusing, that’s because it is. Sucker Punch is hardly the “turn-off-your-brain” popcorn flick its trailers would have you believe. As vignettes, each of the film’s battle-torn dreamscapes is a testament to Snyder’s ability to dive into the brain of the average 13-year-old male and give them exactly what they want. However, these set pieces are packaged in such a dire narrative wrapper that we’re never really able to sit back and soak up the manic spectacle.

It’s hard for me to outright recommend Sucker Punch to the average viewer, yet I do think Snyder should be commended for trying something different. The film borrows from a variety of sources—including Japanese anime, video games, comic books and several other sci-fi/fantasy films—but all of these influences are pieced together in a wholly original way. Sucker Punch isn’t a sequel, a reboot, a prequel or an adaptation, and even though it was hardly a box-office success, it takes risks in a genre that has become increasingly dependent on built-in audiences. We should appreciate that.

Your Highness

Speaking of built-in audiences, sophomoric fantasy farce Your Highness opened this weekend. A medieval take on the stoner comedy, this film was helmed by Pineapple Express director David Gordon Green, who reteams with James Franco and Danny McBride to mix swords and sorcery epics with dick and fart jokes. If you’ve seen and loved the red band (R-rated) trailers for the film, there’s no reason why you won’t enjoy Your Highness. It doesn’t approach any comedic high water marks by any means, but I think we all need some filthy, low-brow humor once in a while. I paid $11.25 for my ticket, and I feel as though I got my money’s worth.

Starring alongside Franco and McBride is the Black Swan herself, Natalie Portman, who flexes her comedic muscles once again after the surprisingly good No Strings Attached. The Oscar-winning actress is showing a lot of range as of late, and I can’t wait to see her in Marvel Studios’ Thor, which hits theaters March 6.

Amy Adams Is Lois Lane

Wow, what an alliterative casting announcement!

Amy Adams (The Fighter) has been cast as crack Daily Planet journalist Lois Lane in Superman: Man of Steel, Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures have revealed. Adams stars opposite Henry Cavill in Sucker Punch director Zack Snyder’s anticipated reboot of the Superman movie franchise.

It’s interesting that Warner Bros. has gone with a redhead to play Kal-El’s iconic raven-haired love interest, but, as noted by Snyder in a statement, Adams “has the talent to capture all of the qualities we love about Lois: smart, tough, funny, warm, ambitious and, of course, beautiful.”

Can’t argue with him there. For more on this huge casting news, visit The Hollywood Reporter.

Zack Snyder's 'Superman' Reboot in Crisis?

Apologies in advance for the complete and total lack of updates over the last seven days. If you know where I work, you know my life’s been crazy since Monday night. If you don’t, well, let’s just say my week has been “electrifying.” You smell what I’m cooking? Rock on.

Sports-entertainment aside, there has been a great deal of nerd news breaking online this week, including word that Warner Bros.’ faith in Superman reboot director Zack Snyder—whose previous Warner Bros. projects include the under-performing Watchmen and The Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole—has been shaken. New York Magazine’s Vulture blog reports that Snyder’s forthcoming action spectacle Sucker Punch is testing extremely poorly. One insider is quoted as saying “It was bad ; like, really bad. They’re [Warner Bros. execs] really not happy with it over there.”

This isn’t the best news for Superman fans who just recently celebrated the casting of British actor Henry Cavill as the Man of Steel. Insiders also note that the script for the unnamed reboot suffers from some devastating third-act problems, which have likely induced some studio hand-wringing as the project nears its 2013 deadline. If a Superman film isn’t in production at that point, Warner Bros. must re-license the rights to the franchise from the estates of Superman creators Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster.

Additionally, Vulture reports that Snyder’s 300 sequel, Xerxes, has been re-assigned to Sherlock Holmes director Guy Ritchie. Could his Superman film fall into another director’s hands if Sucker Punch doesn’t deliver a knock-out blow when it hits theaters on March 25? Stay tuned, Wortmaniacs.

Brandon Routh Won't Return as Superman

Well, this was expected. Deadline.com is reporting that Brandon Routh—the actor who played Superman/Clark Kent in Bryan Singer’s Superman Returns—won’t be returning for Zack Snyder’s upcoming franchise reboot.

Instead, Warner Bros., Snyder and producer Christopher Nolan are casting a “wide net” when it comes to casting the new Man of Steel. According to Deadline’s Nikki Finke and Mike Fleming, the next actor to don the iconic blue and red costume will be within the age range of 28-32 and will be a relative unknown.

Synder’s film is scheduled to begin production in June. For the full story, click here.

Zack Snyder’s ‘Superman’ Reboot Will Be “Different”

Wow, Zack Snyder’s having a good week. First, the trailer for his upcoming action flick Sucker Punch is dropping jaws all over the blogosphere, and now his recent interview with Empire (via Digital Spy) has comic book geeks buzzing about his anticipated reboot of the stagnant Superman franchise.

Man of Steel fans who were disheartened by the “been there, done that” narrative of Superman Returns—Bryan Singer’s painstakingly dull homage to Richard Donner’s 1978 classic—can rest assured that this new film won’t be a retread.

“It’s a different story,” the Watchmen director told Empire of the script penned by Batman Begins/The Dark Knight scribe David Goyer, quick to clarify that the film will not play fast and loose with Supes’ core mythology. “I won’t say there’s a break from the canon or anything like that, but there is definitely an approach that makes you go, ‘Okay, that's a way to get at it.’”

As for the rumors that Superman II villain General Zod will be the Last Son of Krypton’s adversary next time around, Snyder quipped that “the Internet has no idea what’s going on.”

The 'Sucker Punch' Trailer Hurts Real Good

Regardless of how you feel about director Zack Snyder, you have to admit that his films—which include his Dawn of the Dead remake, 300 and Watchmen—look phenomenal. Therefore, it is with great excitement that I present you with the trailer for his high-octane action film Sucker Punch, which hits theaters next March.

The film centers around a young girl who, after being institutionalized by her sinister father, creates an over-the-top alternate reality for herself to aid in her escape from confinement. Dragons? Check. Ninjas? Check. Robots? Check. Gunfire? Check. Smoking hot women kicking ass? Check and mate.

I officially cannot wait to see what Snyder does with his Superman reboot, which is still in the early stages of production.

Check out the Sucker Punch trailer below.

Watchmen: Director’s Cut Arrives on DVD and Blu-ray

Most comic book aficionados have had July 21 marked on their calendars for some time now. If you haven’t, and if you’ve somehow missed all of the television and online banner ads, Watchmen: Director’s Cut arrives today on DVD and Blu-ray disc. This version features 24 minutes cut from the theatrical release along with a few video journals and a featurette called The Phenomenon: The Comic That Changed Comics.

However, if you’re a completionist (as most geeks surely are), there’s the Watchmen Ultimate Collector’s Edition on its way in December. That 5-disc set will include the director’s cut with the animated Tales of the Black Freighter woven in, as well as new commentary by Watchmen artist Dave Gibbons and film director Zack Snyder. It will also include Under the Hood—a faux documentary featured on the standalone Black Freighter disc already on shelves—as well as the complete Watchmen motion comic. If you haven’t purchased any of the supplemental Watchmen material released thus far, this seems to be the better deal.

While it performed poorly at the box office, I think Snyder should be commended for bringing this hard-to-film story to the big screen. It’s not perfect, but it’s a stirring deconstruction of superhero mythology that’s worth seeing whether or not you’ve read the graphic novel.