Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice Film Review

Director: Zack Snyder
Cast: Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Jesse Eisenberg, Amy Adams, Gal Gadot
Series: DC Extended Universe
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Length: 151 Minutes

The CGI Action Figure Slaparound of the Century!

Here it is...

I remember being a child and hearing they were going to make a Batman versus Superman movie. I was excited. What comic fan wouldn't be? The two most legendary of all heroes, testing their prowess against one another. Of course, as a kid, I wasn't worried about what bullshit reason would need to be conceived in order for these titans to get in the ring, I just wanted to see, on a movie screen, a version of what I saw in my head when I took my Batman toy and my Superman toy and bashed them into one another again, and again. Apparently, Zack Snyder felt the same.

Superman IV: The Quest for Peace Film Review

by The World Weary

Director: Sidney J. Furie
Cast: Christopher Reeve, Gene Hackman, Margot Kidder, Mark Pillow
Series: Superman
MPAA Rating: PG
Length: 90 Minutes

 

Nuclear Powered Bitchslap

(Spoilers for the previous three Superman films are below).

After the flop that was Superman III, Christopher Reeve felt the series was becoming too campy and chose to shy away from doing another sequel. However, after being given the power to help shape the story, he quickly changed his mind. With Lawrence Konner and Mark Rosenthal, Reeve developed a story fit for a Man of Steel adventure as well as something that would appeal to the fans. Unfortunately, the studio didn’t have the same reverence for the film and barely supported it throughout filming and post. The result is a unfinished, unsatisfying mess of a film.

Superman and Wonder Woman: Power Couple Comic Review

by The Wanderer

Authors: Charles Soule

Illustrators: Tony S. Daniel and Paulo Siqueira

Publisher: DC

Genre: Superhero

Series: Superman and Wonder Woman New 52 Volume 1

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I believe there’s an old saying that goes something to the tune of “worse than a comic book romance.”  Well whether that is an old saying or not, this comic lives up to that moniker.  Power Couple embarrasses itself along with two of DC’s longstanding veteran heroes as it tries to forge a romance that isn’t even remotely believable, and one that challenges the longtime Lois Lane/Clark Kent relationship that’s become a staple of Superman comics.

Superman: Red Son Comic Review

by The World Weary

Authors: Mark Millar

Illustrators: Dave Johnson

Publisher: DC

Genre: Superhero

Series: Superman

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Red Son Ascendant

Superman: Red Son is a fascinating and dark look at an Earth where the Man of Steel didn’t crash land in Kansas, but instead was discovered in the Soviet Union. The book draws upon decades of lore and remains faithful, while at the same time creating something totally fresh. With beautiful art and brilliant writing, this is an alternate take on Superman that is not to be missed.

Superman is as American as you can get. His earnest vow to uphold, “truth, justice, and the American way” has cemented him in our history and culture as a symbol of what we as a nation strive for. So what happens if Superman didn’t land in the United States? What if he landed in Stalin’s U.S.S.R.? This is the question that writer Mark Millar answers in his unflinchingly dark take on the Man of Steel’s legacy.

All-Star Superman Comic Review

by The World Weary

Authors: Grant Morrison

Illustrators: Frank Quitely

Publisher: DC

Genre: Superhero

Series: Superman

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The All Star

(This article contains spoilers for The Death of Superman).

All Star Superman is the single greatest Superman story ever told. With rich characters, fantastic storytelling, truly beautiful art, and a strong emotional core, this is the best experience I’ve ever personally had reading comics.

Superman has died before. In 1992 DC Comics ran the Death of Superman arc, where the Man of Steel was bested by the demonic Doomsday. Naturally, it turns out Superman wasn’t dead, but instead in a coma like state. He was awakened and promptly returned to being the end all badass. Where some might find that arc lacking emotional impact, those who read All Star Superman will find the opposite.

Superman: The Movie Film Review

by The World Weary

Director: Richard Donner
Cast: Christopher Reeve, Margot Kidder, Gene Hackman, Marlon Brando
Series: Superman
MPAA Rating: PG
Length: 143 Minutes 

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You’ll Believe

Everybody knows the story. Little Kal-El of the planet Krypton is launched in a ship away from his home by his wise father Jor-El as the planet explodes. Years later the boy lands on Earth and is discovered by Jonathon and Martha Kent. The Kents take the boy and raise him as their own. As the boy grows, he discovers that the sun’s rays give him super strength and speed.

Upon his 18th birthday, and after Jonathon suffers a fatal heart attack, Kal-El finds a mysterious crystal that grows into a giant fortress. Inside the fortress, Jor-El has gathered all the knowledge of the 28 known galaxies and imparts that alongside a healthy dose of paternal wisdom to his son. Twelve years later, Kal-El tasks himself with the protection of his new home and it’s inhabitants. Thus, was Superman born.

Superman Returns Film Review

by The World Weary

Director: Bryan Singer

Cast: Brandon Routh, Kate Bosworth, Kevin Spacey, James Marsden

Series: Superman 

MPAA Rating: PG-13

Length: 154 Minutes

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Return to Form

Superman fans were never really given a great follow up to Superman: The Movie. Superman II had the epic showdowns, but ruined it with lame comedy and weak subplots. Superman III and IV were more or less the same in the fan dissatisfaction department. Superman IV did so bad with fans and critics alike that it caused the franchise to go into a 19 year hiatus. During this time, Christopher Reeve became paralyzed in a tragic accident, forever spoiling plans to bring him back for a fifth film. After many failed attempts to bring the legendary hero back into the cinemas, Bryan Singer finally brought one project to fruition.

Man of Steel Film Review

by The World Weary

Director: Zack Snyder
Cast: Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Michael Shannon, Kevin Costner, Laurence Fishburne
Series: DC Extended Universe
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Length: 143 Minutes

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Hope for Tomorrow

Superman films have had a rocky history. Looking at the Christopher Reeve films it’s hard not to see why. Superman: The Movie embodied everything that people loved about the All American superhero, but the sequels were each more disappointing than the last. Then came the extremely under appreciated Superman Returns. Now, Zack Snyder, the director of Watchmen and 300 steps up to the plate to attempt to reboot the weakened franchise.

Superman III Film Review

by The World Weary

Directed: Richard Lester
Cast: Christopher Reeves, Richard Pryor, Robert Vaughan, Annette O'Toole
MPAA Rating: PG
Length: 125 Minutes

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Superlame

(Spoilers for the previous two Superman films are below).

Superman II was a sloppy and uneven film, primarily because of the change in directors after the original director, Richard Donner, had already filmed most of the movie. The new director, Richard Lester, filled in the blanks with some lame slapstick comedy and ultimately ruined the film. Soon, after the success of Superman II, Lester was invited back on for Superman III, and with him he brought David and Leslie Newman, the writers that Donner originally replaced because of their lame humor. With this shit cocktail of a production team, Superman III was sure to be a slap in the face.

Superman II Film Review

by The World Weary

Directors: Richard Lester, Richard Donner

Cast: Christopher Reeves, Morgot Kidder, Gene Hackman, Terrence Stamp

Series: Superman (Original)

MPAA Rating: PG

Length: 127 Minutes

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Kneel!

(This article features spoilers for Superman: The Movie).

Superman II is a film that tries to capture the fun and grandeur of the original and winds up coming short. Several gags and some bad plot twists mar what could have been an awesome film. The villain’s three antagonists take center stage and occupy most of the films best scenes. The direct continuation of the story from Superman: The Movie is another one of the stronger suits of this movie, but it quickly loses momentum.