MovieChat Forums > The Flash (2023) Discussion > Why DC movies flop

Why DC movies flop

posted a year ago by KCurmudgeon (263)
7 replies | jump to latest

I've been pondering this for a while, and I think the biggest issues are the following. DC heroes are either absurdly over-powered (Superman/girl) thus lack dramatic tension/credible threats OR have power that are incredibly lame... running fast, talking to fish, etc. so basically have to add random powers or make logical leaps on things that their lame powers are able to accomplish (looking at you WW84 and your lariat that can do everything and anything the script writers need or think might be cool). Also, unlike many Marvel superheroes, there's no way for audiences/readers to identify with/aspire to them. I'm not suddenly going to wake up and realize I'm from Krypton or Paradise Island, become a billionaire, or breathe underwater. BUT my dormant mutant genes just MIGHT become active or I MIGHT actually be an inhuman buy haven't been exposed to terragen yet or get bitten by a radioactive spider or be injected with super-soldier serum. I.e. I *could* be one of those superheroes. Yeah there are Marvel exceptions to this like Tony Stark and Thor but they're the exception not the rule. DC comics and heroes were from a simpler time and just don't translate well to modern audiences.

[–] ackmondual (206) a year ago

"Eh"... I feel X-men super heroes have become a dime a dozen. Frankly, I'm fine with skipping parts or much of those "discovery phases" if it means keeping the movie trimmer, and to the more relevant parts.

[–] R_Kane (15828) a year ago

Yeah, being able to CONTROL THE OCEAN—you know—70 percent of our planet—is a really lame power.

I’d almost ask what’s wrong with you, but your answer would bore me.

[–] KCurmudgeon (263) a year ago

TBH I only watch what I thought was the fairly lame Aquaman movie once so I don't remember. Did that add actually controlling the water in the ocean as a power in the movie, vs. just talking to/controlling marine life? As to whether it's lame or not, as soon as humans live 100% in the ocean, yeah it would probably be useful. As it is, anyone can just go far enough inland or up in a plane/balloon/whatever and shout "nyah nyah you can't get me." So, yeah, lame.

[–] DoctorThirteen (13920) a year ago

I wouldn't call being able to move at the speed of the Flash lame. And gaining super-speed from a lightning strike probably ranks alongside gaining super strength, agility, and the ability to stick to any surface from a radioactive spider bite, rather than, y'know, dying. Batman and Iron Man are pretty level on the believability scale. Same goes for Wonder Woman and Thor (I know you mentioned Thor), or Superman and Captain Marvel.

I honestly think it's down to studio/production management. Burton, Nolan, and Reeves all knocked it out of the park with Batman. Wonder Woman's and Aquaman's first movies were massive (Aquaman - freakin' Aquaman - is the highest grossing DC movie ever). It's not the characters.

[–] KCurmudgeon (263) a year ago

Or maybe it's just portrayed lamely? Like Quicksilver in the Pentagon scene in Days of Future Past was a good depiction of how it could be useful. But just adding made up stuff up like going back in time because you can run really fast....? Uh no.

[–] DoctorThirteen (13920) a year ago

Flash has been time-travelling and dimension-hopping through his speed for many, many years in the comics. He's kinda DC's poster child for that type of storyline.

[–] Aries (827) a year ago

Marvel is mostly people trying to be gods while DC is gods playing people.

DC's biggest problem is the writers and the producers that are in charge of the cinematic universe. DC's animations are awesome, really well made and blow Marvel's out of the water, which is why they are very successful and well received.

You don't have to necessarily identify with a character for the movie to succeed. If you did, then Godzilla movies would be a flop. DC heroes and heroines exist and operate as "normal" humans in the same world that they save from the baddies. Being OP isn't a problem, as long as there is an equal (more or less) and opposite character or team to pose a challenge (e.g. Thanos vs the Avengers).

DCU's movies have failed because WB has failed DC, by making a clusterfuck out of the incredibly popular and talented pool they had to dip into, via re-shoots & re-edits, subpar writers & directors, changing players midway through projects and failing to put out polished end products. They should've followed their own playbook and taken their time to establish the Cavill Superman + Affleck Batman + Gadot WW team, instead of getting confused early on and trying to copy Marvel's formula unsuccessfully.

Cavill's SM and Affleck's BM could've been way more popular than anything from Marvel (or at least tied it for the worst case scenario), but WB dropped the ball and here we are today.