Whoa! Deathstroke Is In JUSTICE LEAGUE?

Interesting piece of news flooding the Internet today after Ben Affleck (Batman) tweeted the following:

https://t.co/0NsNzCtGip

— Ben Affleck (@BenAffleck) August 29, 2016

Deathstroke? Sure looks like him! Here's how Wikipedia describes him: "Deathstroke (Slade Joseph Wilson) is a fictional character who appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by Marv Wolfman and George Perez. He is a mercenary and assassin who first appeared in The New Teen Titans (vol. 1) #2 (1980). Wizard magazine rated him the 24th greatest villain of all time. Also, in 2009, Deathstroke was ranked as IGN's 32nd greatest comic book villain of all time. Originally the archenemy of the Teen Titans, writers have developed him over the years as an adversary of other heroes in the DC Universe. Parallels have been established between him and Batman, and he has a deep-seated grudge against Green Arrow. The character has been substantially adapted from the comics into multiple forms of media, including several Batman related projects and the Teen Titans animated series. Slade Wilson/Deathstroke later appeared on The CW's live action TV series Arrow, where he is portrayed by Manu Bennett."

If you'd like to read more about Deathstroke - here you go. I'm not including his deeper bio here in case some of you want to discover him (and any studio changes) first in the movie.

We already know that Steppenwolf will be the main villain in JL, so all signs point to Deathstroke being a secondary attraction. Looks interesting and if I do say so myself an awesome adversary for Batman. They both do not have any super powers.

JUSTICE LEAGUE is slated for release on Nov 17, 2017.

Batman & Robin (1997)

Genre

Action | Fantasy

Director

Joel Schumacher

Country

USA

Cast

George Clooney, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Chris O'Donnell, Uma Thurman, Alicia Silverstone, Michael Gough, Pat Hingle, John Glover, Elle Macpherson, Vivica A. Fox, Robert "Jeep" Swenson, Vendela Kirsebom, Elizabeth Sanders, Jesse Ventura, Patrick Leahy, Jack Ingle, Eric Lloyd

Storyline

Mr. Freeze (Arnold Schwarzenegger) plans on taking Gotham City hostage by freezing the town into a permanent winter. In the meantime, a new seductive villainous, Poison Ivy (Uma Thurman), has appeared to cause a rift in the partnership of Batman (George Clooney) and Robin (Chris O'Donnell). While all this is happening, faithful butler Alfred is dying.

Opinion

Right when I thought no film could be worse than "Batman Forever" here's something to prove me wrong. I know I might have said this several times before but "Batman & Robin" is the worst comic book film ever made.

There is no real plot, it's just a little of this and a little of that, and the pitiful "story" a, is too family friendly - this is Batman, the Dark Knight, not the Colorful, Funny Knight - and b, drowns completely with all those characters poorly used. The writers basically threw in every single character that came into their minds, ripped their origins, and used them for some nonsense.

Let's have a look at Bane, for example. When I saw that kind of dumb bodybuilder whose only purpose in the movie was to be Poison Ivy's bodyguard I was shocked. Tom Hardy's Bane came back to my mind, and after that I felt sorry for comparing Nolan's film with this thing.

The screenplay is basically nonsense over nonsense, filled with utterly stupid dialogue and action scenes that makes no sense. Also, it delights us with a tremendously awful opening sequence where Batman & Robin suit up - I won't spoil it because it's hilarious to watch.

And at last but not least the cast. Every single actor manages to be dreadful and unwatchable. No matter how good some of those people usually are, they all manage to give absolute shit performances.

Batman Forever (1995)

Genre

Action | Fantasy

Director

Joel Schumacher

Country

USA

Cast

Val Kilmer, Tommy Lee Jones, Jim Carrey, Nicole Kidman, Chris O'Donnell, Michael Cough, Pat Hingle, Drew Barrymore, Debi Mazar, Elizabeth Sanders, René Auberjonois, Joe Grifasi, Ofer Samra, Ed Begley Jr.

Storyline

Batman (Val Kilmer) must battle Two-Face (Tommy Lee Jones) and The Riddler (Jim Carrey) with help from an amourous psychologist (Nicole Kidman) and a young circus acrobat who becomes his sidekick, Robin (Chris O'Donnell).

Opinion

Seeing Tim Burton's name in the opening credits tricked me into thinking this film would have been good. But like I just said, tricked me, because the utterly ridiculous "Batman Forever" is a disgrace to the Batman franchise.

I'm not even sure the film has a plot. Every single thing that happens is dull and extremely predictable, and nothing does really happen other than villains teaming up to fight Batman and Robin. There's also a pointless romantic subplot whose only purpose is to have a beautiful woman in the film.

But the plot isn't the only problem, no sir. The characters are a complete disaster as well. The villains, Two-Face and the Riddler, are both terrible, and instead of being menacing and threatening like villains are supposed to be, they are always trying to be funny, which would have been totally fine if the film was a comic book movies parody. But it's not.

Among the good guys, the Dark Knight's character is a complete disaster as well, but Robin's is definitely standing out. An orphaned acrobat turned crimefighter that never quite convinces of his struggle between darkness and light, and that ninja stuff he pulls off, absolutely stupid.

The film also feature a bloody awful Gotham City made of neons, psychedelic and flashy lights that are nothing like Burton's gothic atmosphere of the previous films, and awful costumes.

But if you're thinking it can't get any worse, you're wrong, there is the cast. Who even cast these people? Val Kilmer isn't convincing at all as Batman as he looks like a piece of driftwood the waves drag to the beach, Tommy Lee Jones frankly sucks as Two-Face, Jim Carrey is unwatchable as the Riddler, and Nicole Kidman, just like her character, is just a pretty face.

Batman Returns (1992)

Genre

Action | Fantasy

Director

Tim Burton

Country

USA

Cast

Michael Keaton, Danny DeVito, Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken, Michael Gough, Pat Hingle, Michael Murphy, Vincent Schiavelli, Andrew Bryniarski, Cristi Conaway, Rick Zumwalt, Anna Katarina, Paul Reubens, Diane Salinger

Storyline

After successfully defeating the Joker, Batman (Michael Keaton) must stop crooked businessman Max Schreck (Christopher Walken) and the grotesque Penguin (Danny DeVito) from taking control of Gotham City. Meanwhile, the Catwoman (Michelle Pfeiffer) also emerges with her own agenda in mind. 

Opinion

24 years ago Tim Burton, the great man behind the original "Batman" and other amazing films, brought to us "Batman Returns", a thrilling ride from start to finish that is worthy of its excellent predecessor.

The first thing you will notice in the film is Tim Burton's dark style, from set design to makeup - especially the Penguin's -, to the atmospheres, and the story he presents us certainly does not differ.

The director focuses on the characters of the Penguin and Catwoman, turning what could have been just a banal superhero flick into a sort of dark fairy tale that studies the torments of human soul, and to do that uses people that are different. While the Penguin is outcasted by society because of the way he looks, Selina Kyle aka Catwoman is because of her bland personality.

Unfortunately, once again happened what happened with "Batman", the villains are so well made, wonderfully written and amazingly portrayed by Danny DeVito and Michelle Pfeiffer, they end up obscuring the true protagonist of the film, the dark knight, once again overshadowed by the above mentioned characters. But that certainly isn't a good reason to hate on a film, and I sure do not hate on "Batman Returns".

The choice to focus on the Penguin's story is quite brilliant to be honest. It gives the film that melodramatic touch that needed, and it certainly adds emotional depth to balance the great action sequences - they are occasionally absurd though.

Michael Keaton reprises his role of Batman, and he still does a good job. Danny DeVito is simply spectacular as the Penguin, delivering the sinister character to perfection. Michelle Pfeiffer was the perfect cast for Catwoman, she delivers the character amazingly and, as much as I love Halle Berry, she is much sexier and cat-like than her. Christopher Walken deserves a special mention, he is brilliant as the megalomaniac Max Schreck.

Batman (1989)

Genre

Action | Fantasy

Director

Tim Burton

Country

USA | UK

Cast

Michael Keaton, Jack Nicholson, Kim Basinger, Robert Wuhl, Pat Hingle, Billy Dee Williams, Michael Gough, Jack Palance, Jerry Hall, Tracey Walter, Lee Wallace, William Hootkins, Hugo E. Blick, Charles Roskilly, David Baxt, Sharon Holm, Garrick Hagon, Liza Ross, Adrian Meyers

Storyline

When Jack Napier (Jack Nicholson) is transformed into the evil, Joker, he promises to take over Gotham City it is up to Batman (Michael Keaton) to stop him in his tracks before it is too late.

Opinion

After going through some tough weeks with the Superman franchise, I've made it to the first Batman film, the only DC Comics superhero they seem to be able to bring justice to - okay, forget about Joel Schumacher's films.

Dark, broody and charming, "Batman" is a spectacular achievement for superhero flicks and the credits goes to Tim Burton and a spectacular leading duo.

Tim Burton leaves behind the parodistic Batman TV series of the 60s and presents us a dark, terrifying yet fascinating Gotham City that is almost a character unto itself, and a human Bruce Wayne/Batman, sparing us the typical opening with Wayne's parents being killed - even thought it's shown later in the film - because after all this is not an origin film.

The story, concerning Batman as he faces his arch enemy, the Joker, is more than solid and it's elevated by top class storytelling, and is just a tiny part of a brilliant script that also features great dialogue, authentic comic style, and wonderful characters, Bruce Wayne/Batman, like I mentioned before, and the Joker.

Michael Keaton's Batman is a mysterious, enigmatic, threatening but at the same time fragile man, and he, before all, has managed to give the character that credibility that is often missing in superheroes. Then there's the Joker, Jack Nicholson's Joker. And I'm actually going to complain here, because he is so tremendous, he too often overshadows Batman. He arguably is the perfect cast to play the Joker, and brings to the character cruelty, mercilessness, still he manages to be gloomy and poetic.

Let me see what's left... the action! Though action isn't exactly what comes to your mind when you think of Tim Burton, he did an admirably job here. The action scenes are impressing but measured. Burton, as the great director he is, knows how not to overdo.

A suggestion? See this movie, it truly is a gem.

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)

Genre

Action | Sci-Fi

Director

Zack Snyder

Country

USA

Cast

Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Jesse Eisenberg, Diane Lane, Laurence Fishburne, Jeremy Irons, Holly Hunter, Gal Gadot, Robin Atkin Downes, Tao Okamoto, Ray Fisher, Jason Momoa, Ezra Miller, Michael Shannon, Harry Lennix, Christina Wren, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Lauren Cohan

Storyline

Fearing the actions of Superman (Henry Cavill) are left unchecked, Batman (Ben Affleck) takes on the man of steel, while the world wrestles with what kind of a hero it really needs. With Batman and Superman fighting each other, a new threat, Doomsday (Robin Atkin Downes), is created by Lex Luthor (Jesse Eisenberg). It's up to Superman and Batman to set aside their differences along with Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) to stop Lex Luthor and Doomsday from destroying Metropolis.

Opinion

My excitement was so high I went to the cinema on Wednesday night, even though that meant staying awake until almost one in the morning to see the whole thing. Big challenge for me considering the poor outcome of "Man of Steel", but, and I can't believe I'm actually saying it, Zack Snyder did a good job for once, and I haven't miss a single frame despite being tired as hell. Without further ado, here's my thoughts on one of the most anticipated films of 2016.

A great piece of entertainment, "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" is a solid foundation for the DC Cinematic Universe.

The opening sequence was not what I expected but it shows Snyder's visual creativity and wowed me for the first time that night: while the opening credits rolls in, in a dream-like sequence, is told the murder of Bruce Wayne's parents, without mince words since we all know the story, later to move the action in Metropolis, while it is being destroyed by Zod, this time shown from Batman's point of view.

I won't spoil anything, but the film goes on showing a series of actions that will bring the two superheroes, Batman and Superman, to the fateful clash, that eventually turns out to be nothing more than the outcome of a series of misunderstandings.

This first part is beautifully done, it is so well made that the idea of Zack Snyder making it won't even cross your mind for a second. Simply spectacular.

In the second part, the good old Zack just couldn't resist to the temptation, and indeed loaded it with a lot of action. While this was a major issue with "Man of Steel", in "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" the action is appropriately dosed and has really improved since 2013. The fight between Batman and Superman is quite amazing.


Despite one terrible scene - you'll know what I'm talking about when you'll see the film -, the CGI is actually good. Doomsday was frightening, threatening, all I wanted to see in such a character.

Unlike in the previous film, Snyder did not use action and special effects to compensate the lack of a good story. Actually, overall, the story is well written, it has the right amount of twists and a good amount of humour enough to be compelling and very entertaining. To be honest, though, there are some plot holes, and the story could have been developed a little better in the second part of the film.

The film also features quite beautiful cinematography, colours and atmosphere as well as a thrilling score from Hans Zimmer and  Junkie XL.

Something I was worried about was Ben Affleck playing Batman and Jesse Eisenberg playing Lex Luthor. While Christian Bale will always be my favourite Batman, Affleck did a wonderful job, he was intense, and played beautifully both the aged Bruce Wayne and Batman, and he can finally shake off "Daredevil". Jesse Eisenberg's casting was questionable, and I was worried he was going to kill Lex Luthor. Well, I've never been so happy to be wrong. He is quite a villain, deceiving, and convincing, a true devil. He still played Jesse Eisenberg, but really had something new this time. Gal Gadot is the other member of the cast standing out. Eff the haters, because she owned the role of Wonder Woman in every possible way, and she also nailed it as Diana. And now the other side of the coin: Henry Cavill. If he didn't convince you in "Man of Steel", he won't convince you neither here. As if looking like a piece of wood was not enough, he has also lost charm.

Overall, "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" is a great improvement on "Man of Steel", but it is not as good as Christopher Nolan's "The Dark Knight". Not even remotely.

Warner Bros. Letting It Ride On 3D: FINAL DESTINATION, DC Comics Library, ALL Major Tentpoles In Fact!!

Jim here. Vegas is all about having the kahunas to bet big and Warner Bros. was in the right town for their gung ho announcement at ShoWest.

Alan Horn (Warner Bros head) gushed about 3D almost as much as we do right here! It was a pleasure to listen to him pontificate about it. Michael and I were practically high fiving every few seconds (ok not really, but MENTALLY we were).

So what properties are Warner Bros considering for next gen 3D catalog? How about ALL OF THEIR TENTPOLES? Yes. He said that. Remember that I predicted that a major studio would go all S3D a while back? Well... this is darn close. He also indicated that they will be replacing the cash cow HARRY POTTER with the DC Comic catalog.

Individually we are looking at: THE GREEN LANTERN, THE FLASH, potentially BATMAN, SUPERMAN... and...

The fourth iteration of FINAL DESTINATION was not all that final! So says Alan Horn. FINAL DESTINATION 5 will be reaping more lives very soon. I am all for this announcement too. There are plenty of folks out there that will speak out against the franchise, but I for one - LOVE them. Bring it on.

You know what guys? I was actually expecting Disney to be the first studio to up the ante and say that all of their movies will be in 3D from now on. Warner Bros. really surprised me - but am I happy? Darn right. And at the rate these guys make money - it will only mushroom from here in 3D. :-)