For a long time DC characters made better movie characters, because the comic book characters were very simple and translated well to film. I know there are exceptions, but the Batman and Superman franchises speak for themselves... even if some of them were horrible. They are easy to script. Marvel has always had more complex characters with problems that everyone can relate to, so writing scripts for them is more difficult. If there are too many missed details, fanboys go insane. The other factor is, DC has had great success with individual films. If they can make a ton of money churning out decent individual films without having to spend more money to coordinate, why would DC drop extra millions on more scripts and delays and directors? The key is the old phrase "keep it simple, stupid".

@Zeeguy91: I'm an avid Marvel comics fan and I'd have to say that I disagree with you 100% about masses not knowing who Ironman and Thor were,and to support that fact. You have to look at life as though it was running in circles. the same haircuts, clothing, dances, and cars just keep coming around in cycles they just get updated , you know 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, etc...... That being said people that were born in the 60's,70's and 80's are the ones that grew up in era where comics were in many households. if you were born in this chances are you were introduced to these characters at some point or another by somebody,I even knew gang members in Chicago that knew these characters and loved my illustrations of these characters. A little later down the line transformers ,gi joe , voltron ,thundercats,etc.... came along. The kids such as I and others grew up on these characters and we are now in the 30's 40's and 50's and have been waiting for these characters to hit the big screen forever,they neede no introduction, but it didn't hurt to bring the Avengers together piece by piece in the movies. Coming from the era as a parent now, I've left plenty of residue for my 12 yr old to pick up on, in other words he can go into my closet and get a eye full of Thor and Ironman from my childhood era and now. I'm sure you knew who Thor was when you were a kid, even before you learned he was a Norse God. Don't get me started on the Iron bottle-Ironman, he was the reason you learned as kid that it wasn't cool to drink, before all those don't drink adds came out! These characters had cartoon shorts back in the 60's that played until the 80's and beyond in places. Don't dare say nobody knew Thor or Ironman.

I think a JL movie is no where near ready to go. I do have to DC has 6 of the top 10 most recognizable heroes on Earth but overall Marvel has more heroes that are well known than DC. If you had some non comic fan name heroes from both companies they'd probably come up with more Marvel names. Not saying either company is better it's just that Marvel seems a bit more willing to give more characters the spotlight where as in DC they seem to revolve everything around the same 6 characters.

Joss Whedon did nothing more than his job. At least he didn't screwed them up.

@Zeeguy91: And also you should wanna see any comic book adaptation of a movie suceed rather than being biased about Marvel characters or Dc, you should wanna see them all suceed so true comic book fans can finally get their fix regardless if it's plasticman, rocket racoon, or even the Penguin does Paris, who cares, just let work and support it.

@CaioTrubat: Joss Whedon was the perfect choice for directing a comic book film and The Avengers owe a lot to him. He might have done "nothing more than his job" but no one else could have done "his job" to the standard he did. Having written astonishing x-men and numerous others as well as great films like toy story to dealing with such big casts of characters in Buffy and Angel. The film needed a comic book fan who was an amazing storyteller/director. I dont think anyone else could have done the film justice.

@evilvegeta74: Dude, you're talking about comic fans, not the general public. And I hate to say that in the 1970s and 80s, comics were still suffering from the stigma given to them in the 1950s. Most people viewed comics as being for nerds, and while I disagree with that assessment, it is true that people see it that way. People who grew up in the sixties are probably going to be more familiar with them than people who grew up in the 80s and 90s my generation. Hell, I'm a comic book reader and even I wasn't that familiar with Iron Man was before the movie came out. My friends who don't read the comics but watch the movies admit that the 2008 movie was their introduction to the character. That's not a bad thing. In fact, its pretty much that way for any hero that's not Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, The X-Men, or Spider-Man. Was Iron Man a great comic book movie? Yes. and I love it to this day, but that doesn't change the fact that before his movie came out, a lot of people didn't know who he was. Even less people in the general, non-comic-book-reading audience knew who Thor was as a comic character. I'm not dissing the Marvel characters if that's the impression you're getting. I'm just saying that they were only known to comic book readers.

Coming from the era as a parent now, I've left plenty of residue for my 12 yr old to pick up on, in other words he can go into my closet and get a eye full of Thor and Ironman from my childhood era and now.

I'm glad that you have done that. I think that comics provide such better role models for kids to follow than the celebrity role models that are currently in pop culture. However, the majority of people and parents really don't do that for their kids. My dad grew up in the era you did and he didn't leave behind any comics for me to read. I didn't even get into comics until I was in my late teens. My dad says that he was admittedly a fan of Superman and read his comics occasionally, but other than that he says he was not into comics that much and he definitely didn't leave any for me to look at. I only know one person who had the experience of reading comics with his father.

I'm sure you knew who Thor was when you were a kid, even before you learned he was a Norse God.

No, actually I didn't. In fact, it wasn't until my teens that I learned who Thor was as a comic book character.

And also you should wanna see any comic book adaptation of a movie suceed rather than being biased about Marvel characters or Dc, you should wanna see them all suceed so true comic book fans can finally get their fix regardless if it's plasticman, rocket racoon, or even the Penguin does Paris, who cares, just let work and support it.

I do. I'm not saying Avengers won't be good for me. On the contrary, I'm happy for Marvel and I'm pumped to see Avengers. Unfortunately I can't this weekend :(. I'm just trying to disprove the notion that people here seem to have that DC couldn't pull of a JLA movie in the style that Marvel is doing with Avengers. If they actually committed to a project and got good writers and directors, I think they totally could.

I think the biggest thing that The Avengers and the other related films prove is that you can keep to the comics and make the films that please fans without changing them for the mass audience. I have been disappointed with most comic movies for changing things. Fox messed up The X-men totally missed the whole wolverine/sabretooth history and then changed their own history with X-men Origins Wolverine. Then changed Xavier walking in X-men 3 to losing his ability to walk alot earlier in X-men First Class?? and why is there 3 versions of William Striker there is just no consistency with Fox films. Every Superman film except the original I have found to be boring because they just have Superman against Lex Luther again and again why not do the doomsday story that would be such a great film and more entertaining. I think the Michael Turner run in Superman/Batman with the return/arrival of Supergirl and with Darkseid and Wonder Woman would be the best team film DC could do.

DC doesn't make there movies. Geoff Johns or anyone else has as much imput as WB wants them to, that's the reason why adaptions of DC characters haven't been as successful.

@Misterwizz said:

DC doesn't make there movies. Geoff Johns or anyone else has as much imput as WB wants them to, that's the reason why adaptions of DC characters haven't been as successful.

Too true, too true.

The bigest diference between Marvel movies(even bad ones) and DC movies(except Nolan ones) is that they have an angle, they are not only a bunch of random elements from the original source material narrated in a congruent story. Blade wasn't just the daywalker killing vampires, it was a guy who hates himself and hates even more those who made him this way, the same way you see a group of people who are diferent trying to gain aceptance and no a group of superheroes who casually have a common origin, a group of people who gain super powers and try to adapt their lives to this situation, a teenage boy who remorses for wanting to use his new powers for selfish purposes, a genious inventor who understans what his work has been used to, another who figths to control a monster inside him while hiding from the army who wants use the monster as a weapon, a prince fallen from grace who must gain his status back, and now a group of diferent people who must work together or the world goes to hell.

Superman returns was about how much Bryan Singer liked the Richard Donner films and Green Lantern had two half plots that didn't bond well together and the only angle was that being brave doesn't being fearless...but wait, being fearless is the whole poin of any green lantern.

Besides, Amanda Waller doesn't have anything to do whith Hal Jordan, having Angela Basset plying her has obviouslly the intention of make a conection between movies like Nick Fury in the DC movies. Maybe we see her in Man of Steel, or maybe whith the drop that was Green Lantern they renunce to the idea.

I think that Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, and Flash could easily have their own solo films that pave the way for a live-action JLA film, while Wonder Woman, Martian Manhunter, and Aquaman could be easily introduced in the JLA film itself. Still, I'd much rather wait until WB gets serious with their superhero films than get a half-assed JLA film that's only just as good as the Catwoman solo-film. In my lifetime, hopefully I'll see a JLA movie that could potentially blow Avengers out of the water (which I'll be seeing for the first time tonight :D). Right now, however, I'm willing to wait.

Saw the movie last Saturday, it was incredible.

I still think Scarlet Witch or The Wasp (esp. The Wasp) should have been in this movie. Scarlet's hot, but I'm thinking they should have pulled a "Chris Evans/Human Torch turn into Captain America" and just made her Janet Van Dyne.

@midnightmare said:

.

Superman returns was about how much Bryan Singer liked the Richard Donner films and Green Lantern had two half plots that didn't bond well together and the only angle was that being brave doesn't being fearless...but wait, being fearless is the whole poin of any green lantern.

I thought the point of a Green Lantern was to have the willpower to resist the fear, not "being fearless".

this is the same as the comics themselves. DC's main characters (batman and superman) have always seemed to have more followers individually (except maybe spider-man), but DC has always had less of a "universe" feeling and epic battles. some people say thats the downfall of marvel, the stories are always working towards one huge battle and it gets old, but when it comes to film this is something exciting that hasn't been done before and could eventually lead into a civil war movie or things like that.

I watched that Morgan Spurlock movie "The Greatest Movie Ever Sold" and I learned that it's possible that the Avengers is already profitable even before it came out. That's because they will sell advertising to everyone and anyone.

See a character use a phone or a car in the movie? Yo, the Avengers is getting paid for that. What I was suprised to learn is actually how much they actually make.

Being fearless is the main requeriment to be selected as a green lantern.

@Stormultt said:

You know if DC gets their sh*t all the way together with the JL movie it's going to SMASH as hard as avengers WW.

They need to come completely correct though.

And people enjoyed this so much because this is one of the first movies to bring forth big named superheroes all in one plus it was well executed action wise and acting wise. Kids are loving it and adults are. It's opening up a whole new realm of possibilities for future marvel movies. I'm happy for Marvel.

You seem upset...

I think Geoff Johns is right by saying that D.C.'s heroes are bigger than Marvel's. He isn't trying to belittle anybody, but he is saying that a Justice League team dynamic would be much harder to portray on screen than an Avenger's dynamic is. Batman thinks he doesn't need any help, Superman actually doesn't need any help at least when it comes to the cinematic universe.

Have you guys noticed that WB and DC have been pretty careful to not create a competition between The Dark Knight Rises and The Avengers? I'm pretty sure when the floodgates finally open DC will realize what they need to do, and I believe they'll do it... or we'll get another Batman origin movie in four years.

The Avengers movies are so great because they're made by Marvel, that's all that DC really needs to take away from this.

@Deadcool said:

@Stormultt said:

You know if DC gets their sh*t all the way together with the JL movie it's going to SMASH as hard as avengers WW.

They need to come completely correct though.

And people enjoyed this so much because this is one of the first movies to bring forth big named superheroes all in one plus it was well executed action wise and acting wise. Kids are loving it and adults are. It's opening up a whole new realm of possibilities for future marvel movies. I'm happy for Marvel.

You seem upset...

What about my post gives off any indication of me being upset?

@Stormultt said:

What about my post gives off any indication of me being upset?

Nevermind, I didn't read the whole comment...

@Stormultt said:

@GothamRed: Agreed entirely, Hopefully they step up.

@RigorMortis: Marvel needs to take notes from DC animation-wise and DC from marvel movie-wise.

Batman Begins and The Dark Knight are both individually better than anything Marvel has ever done.

The Avengers is far and away the best Marvel movie, but it's not as good as the Batman movies.

MAN I saw it yesterday, and it was AMAZING, the story was so well made that I felt I was watching a moving and real life comic and a very good written one; everyone had a good time on screen and I didn't felt someone was left out, they even have a time for some Black Widow backup story, short but pretty cool and didn't felt forced.

I don't have any idea how TDKR or Amazing Spiderman are going to beat that....... seems SO impossible.

And yes, sorry Dark Knight but The Avengers is the BEST SUPERHERO MOVIE I have ever seen, DK takes second place :P

@midnightmare said:

Being fearless is the main requeriment to be selected as a green lantern.

That's what I hated of Green Lantern, they tried to make Hal more "human" or "realistic" but that isn't the Hal we know >:(, HE F*CKING FEARLESS U WANT IT OR NOT, ......DC you had my disprove

I'm gonna see it on Saturday, but Friday can't come any sooner!

@The Mast said:

@Stormultt said:

@GothamRed: Agreed entirely, Hopefully they step up.

@RigorMortis: Marvel needs to take notes from DC animation-wise and DC from marvel movie-wise.

Batman Begins and The Dark Knight are both individually better than anything Marvel has ever done.

The Avengers is far and away the best Marvel movie, but it's not as good as the Batman movies.

That's your opinion so ok.

Did you say that GL was a great movie? Lame! Ryan Reynolds should have made the Deadpool movie instead that hot garbage.

When I went to watch it, I was like bah, im here for the action. shows how much i know.

There's only one way to get DC/Warner to change their minds--replace those holding these 'gambles' back.

maybe because its written by joss whedon ??? he is the master :D

Even though I was never really into the Avengers, I like when movie adaptions are true to the comics and the fact that Spiderman and Wolverine have nothing to do with this movie kind of ruins it for me. (also while i'm on the subject, they need a new actor for Wolverine. It's been over 10 years. Get somebody who actually knows how to fight)

Marvel has done quite well producing movies (with the exception of The Punisher films---all of them) so I'm expecting The Avengers to be enjoyable when I finally get to see it. Can't really say the same for DC. Burton and Nolan's first Batman films were good and that's about it. DC has long depended too much on Batman and Superman. It is promising to finally see a Green Lantern film though.

I've seen it twice in 5 days and loved it both times! I think it was actually a really smart move to keep Loki as the only villain, as opposed to multiples even tho we've got six superheroes. I think maybe in the future once they've fully established their characters and really stabilized them they could put them up against the Master of Evil, tho it'd be even harder.

I would really kill for a Justice League movie as long as the right actors are used, good script, solid plot, and good action. If DC wants to stay tied or at least on equal par with Marvel, they need to get moving on a good Superman movie, good Wonder Woman, maybe a Flash or another Green Lantern and then introduce Manhunter and somebody else in one of those movies.

Here's the thing G-man, The Avengers work because they made the characters in the same level, the tone, the mythos, everything. While on the other hand for Justice League, not so much. I mean you have a really dark Batman, a fun Green Lantern, probably a little grounded Superman, and interpretations for Flash I would say more fun because you can't really make a dark flash movie and Wonder Woman can a little dark than fun, and Aquaman can go either way depending on how they want to portray him

Pretty much everyone that I know that's seen a superhero movie is hyped about this, myself included. They've done a helluva job just throwing the little teases in there, such as Thor's hammer or even Tony Stark messing with Cap's shield. Nick Fury's first appearance made me go... "seriously, they're gonna try to do this?" The fact that it's supposed to be really good at least makes the hype seemed justified.

But a Marvel Ultimate Alliance movie? That's the next, most ridiculous step. Unless we get Marvel vs. DC, or at the very least Marvel vs. Capcom or Mortal Kombat vs. DC.

The usual problem is that when directors, writers, and studios make these movies, they treat it like they are making a movie. The first 5 movies of the Avengers franchise were treated as just a little bit more than a movie while all the other hero movies are just treated as movies. But what Joss Whedon did with the Avengers is that he treated it like a comic book and then had some actors portray it instead of an artist draw everything. And that is what made it work and that is what made it awesome.

This is my suggestion for the DC movie front: They need to let the Batman trilogy end how it will end but then make a fourth where its not a craptastic film but a way to move Batman forward into a hero-filled world. The Superman movie has to be the Iron Man of the Justice League universe. It needs to start it off the same way Superman did in the comics. Batman 4 has to fit in that universe as well as Green Lantern 2. Those 3 movies will set it in motion but then after that, the plan should be to film the next three movies at the same time, similar to what they did with Matrix 2 and 3. They need to do a Wonder Woman movie and a Flash movie along with the Justice League movie. Put about six months between all six movies and you might have something good. Only thing is, you really need to put comic book creators at the helm of these movies instead of just random movie writers, directors and studios. That is the key to it. It has to be written and created like a comic book that just happens to be a movie instead of on paper. Also, use the Justice League movie to introduce Aquaman and Martian Manhunter because they really don't need their own movies to tell their origins.

They also need to make a DARK KNIGHT PRESENTS movie line where they introduce secondary Batman characters that deserve their own stories but will potentially never get their own movies. Like Nightwing, Azrael, and the Birds of Prey.

I like at the end when Sinestro appears

Hopefully Avengers success will make DC/WB realise that they need to work towards a JL film ASAP.

@The Stegman: I totally agree about a wonder woman movie, the plot in the animated film would work perfectly for a live action film. I think the costume is ok . it may be something like this:

This other costume is just fine. But the skirt and the sandals look more impractical in real battle than the bikini and the boots.

This article is quite lame. Instead of making a bold prediction of the Avengers success years ago as Marvel started to roll out their films, you wait until The Avengers is already breaking box office records to call it a success. Well, obviously the film will do well. That is hardly an insight at this point.
 
Also, I start reading the article just to find out it's actually about criticizing DC Entertainment for not having done what Marvel has been doing these past few years (forgetting that DCE was only established in 2010). Will DC/WB ever make a Justice League film, and should they do it in the same manner as Marvel's/Disney's Avengers? Maybe. But to criticize them for not having done what Marvel has done, when no one had ever done what Marvel has done or knew it would be this successful is quite unfair.

Well as only a few hours away from see it cant be more pumped. I just hope thor does not have a storm planned. Since the weather has been pretty crazy around here as of late.

Here's trying to convince the Calculus teacher to take us (yeah right. Still, worth a shot.)

@The Mast said:

@Stormultt said:

@GothamRed: Agreed entirely, Hopefully they step up.

@RigorMortis: Marvel needs to take notes from DC animation-wise and DC from marvel movie-wise.

Batman Begins and The Dark Knight are both individually better than anything Marvel has ever done.

The Avengers is far and away the best Marvel movie, but it's not as good as the Batman movies.

Agreed that Nolan's Batman movies are FAR and beyond the height of superhero movies, but Batman and Superman are seemingly all DC can pull off cinematically. But that's most likely because those properties are so well known to non-comics fans that any decent writer could write at least a passable script for them. Lesser known characters require someone who knows the material more intimately. Marvel knows this. It's plainly seen from the get go of their film branch. Iron Man? Who besides Marvel fanatics knew who the hell Iron Man was? Green Lantern was more or less a way to test the waters for future ventures into more obscure DC territory and that tanked. Big time. and it's because they outsourced the work that only they themselves could do right. And until they understand that, their lesser properties are going to fail.

Its no Nolan Batman but it was very entertaining and could sat there for hours watching.

@TheMess1428: I like what you had to say here. :)

SHADOWLAND FILM!

DC will never get a solo-leading into- JUSTICE LEAGUE film because DC cant seem to do any successful films with its characters besides BATMAN and SUPERMAN...and even they have had their sketchy films. WONDER WOMAN is a mainstay in development hell and GREEN LANTERN was "crap with untapped potential."

MARVEL makes better live films and DC makes better animated films.