Originally posted by Kazenji
Sure currentlyWell that's in the past, DC/WB's glory days.
Well They need to do better. Cant rely on one offs anymore.Last few years even when they had one off successes like WW, Aquaman, Joker, the sequels seem to fail. (Btw I caught Aquaman 2 recently and actually thought it was decent).
Gunn may be their last hope. But it cant just be Superman, it has to be a few films and a couple of sequels that hit it out of the park, otherwise they will just have to switch off for like 10 years.
Originally posted by Darth Thor
Seems like it might flop as well.Seems DC don't do well with sequels.
Waits for someone to remind me of the TDK trilogy.
That said, Shazam 2 and Aquaman 2 I didn't find too bad for what they were; there was just no reason for people to go out and see them when they already knew that universe had its plug pulled, but they were enjoyable in a similar vein to their first films.
Other than that, it may be for the best that the Pattinson Batman sequel got put on hold, aside from having the Penguin show to tide people over in the meantime. Truth be told though, I enjoyed Joker 2019 more than The Batman (2022).
I was looking forward to Joker 2 up until release, but settled easily for Deadpool 3 as my R-rated blockbuster of the year. Far as Joker Folie a Deux itself... Can't say the writer/director of the first one didn't warn us. He knew he wouldn't be able to outdo himself from 2019, but WB made him try anyway.
It's telling too how a lot are saying how Joker 2 went was on purpose and the director telling the audience "F you". I understand this. He wanted to do a standalone but with the combined might of the internet and WB blinded by money hounding him, there was no escape and the only way to get out was a box office bomb.
In any case, the 2019 film is still an interesting character study of the Joker and how the pitfalls of society can lead to someone like him, and nothing can take away from that; not a middle finger sequel that'll be forgotten in the grand scheme of things, nothing; on top of Joker 2019 still being extremely culturally relevant years afterward and for years to come. 🙂
Originally posted by Patient_LeechHonestly? Not really and when I saw it knowing how poor the reception was I was kind of baffled.
So is this as bad as reviews seem to indicate?I'm not going to bother seeing it in the theater, that's for sure.
The film is definitely a lot less structurally-sound and doesn't hit as hard as the first film. But is it a drastic departure in tone or experience from the first film? No, and the people acting like it's a massive swerve in that regard from the first film and "made to shit on fans of the first film" are ****ing insane schizo incels.
I do want to get this out of the way: if you have an aversion to musicals (and I know you do) this movie will probably annoy you. But does it being a musical really go against what we saw in the first film? I'd argue no. Fleck has always been portrayed as a delusional man prone to fantasies who borderline lives in his own head, and was established to be a huge fan of showbiz and showtunes, and the songs tend to be from his POV and portrayed as his fantasies. Under that context it is perfectly on-brand. And IMO only one song really detracts from the emotions a scene is trying to convey, namely the "Joker" number in the courthouse which detracts from the discomfort the scene was doing a good job of showcasing.
Like I said, it's definitely weaker than the first movie but it was all right. Phoenix and Gaga both did a good job with the material and probably the highlight for me was how it handled the Joker/Harley dynamic, namely by
Spoiler:
flipping the script and portraying Joker was being the one corrupted by Harley's bad influence, when it's normally the other way around. I felt that was fairly novel, though apparently Telltale's Batman game did something similar.
The scene with Gary the dwarf in the court room was also quite good and cool for letting Leigh Gill show off his dramatic acting chops; a rarity for a dwarf actor.
The infamous
Spoiler:that got so much attention in memes and everything was also not nearly as overt as I expected from all the hullabaloo to the point I nearly missed it.
rape scene
I don't really regret seeing it in theaters personally.
Originally posted by Ridley_Prime
It is amusing how that's still the last time they did well with sequels or didn't have some kind of sequel curse with them. Nolan just had it all together mostly, even with Dark Knight Rises being the worst received out of his trilogy. For all the faults we can easily point out with it, a failure it was not; not like every DC movie sequel that's been had after.
Yeah although TDKR was the worst of the trilogy, it was still a decent ending to that saga.
Originally posted by Ridley_Prime
That said, Shazam 2 and Aquaman 2 I didn't find too bad for what they were; there was just no reason for people to go out and see them when they already knew that universe had its plug pulled, but they were enjoyable in a similar vein to their first films.
I actually enjoyed Aquaman2 when I finally got around to it. Maybe because my expectations were really low. Shazam 2 was fine, but defo a step down from the first.
Shows it's always best to watch and see for ourselves. That said if reviews can save you money at the Theatre then it's not unreasonable to let them influence when and how to watch it.
Originally posted by Ridley_Prime
Other than that, it may be for the best that the Pattinson Batman sequel got put on hold, aside from having the Penguin show to tide people over in the meantime. Truth be told though, I enjoyed Joker 2019 more than The Batman (2022).
Yeah I found The Batman overrated as well. But no doubt it was overall received well and was a success. But I won't hold my breath for the sequel being equally successul. DC sequels seem to be cursed for now.
Originally posted by Darth ThorWbut
I actually enjoyed Aquaman2 when I finally got around to it. Maybe because my expectations were really low. Shazam 2 was fine, but defo a step down from the first.
Me too. I can't believe some people are saying The Marvels is better and should hsve made more money than them. The Marvels actually made me think I was gonna die of cringe, along with the bad guy played by an actress who imho had one of the worst acting ever in Hollywood.
Originally posted by Darth ThorYeah I found The Batman overrated as well. But no doubt it was overall received well and was a success. But I won't hold my breath for the sequel being equally successul. DC sequels seem to be cursed for now.
I think people liked it because they finally got the tone right for what people expected of a Batman movie. Somber but with bombastic action scenes and a bit feel good, ray of hope ending.