Let's Talk January: Superbat Movie Thoughts

[mithen]

mishagirl asked about my opinions about the upcoming "Superman versus Batman" (I believe it's been stated that is not the title) movie. I haven't said much about it, mostly because my thoughts are so very conflicted, but I shall try to tease them out a bit here!

Well, I'm glad it's getting made at all, to begin with! Even if it's not good, I would never turn up my nose at more exposure for the pairing. Other scattered thoughts:

I'm not thrilled with Ben Affleck--not so much for his own sake, but because he's a solid 15 years older than Cavill and it sounds like he might be played even older. I greatly prefer Clark and Bruce to be played as similar in age and experience, in part because it upsets the delicate balance of their equality if one of them is much older. Both Cavill and Affleck are very good actors--I was very impressed with Cavill's Superman and I look forward to seeing his Clark--but the writing is important too. The fact that they keep stressing a Milleresque feeling to the project makes me uneasy, but I can take a fair amount of punchy-punchy and growling in the middle as long as it ends with at least respect between the two.

I have terribly mixed feelings about Diana being in it, although I think the casting of Gal Gadot looks excellent. I hate the idea of her being overshadowed by Clark and Bruce, and I dread seeing people ragging on Clark and Bruce's characters if they are allowed to shove her to the side, more or less. I really hope they don't go with any kind of romantic angle between any of them--not so much because it gets in the way of my slash OTP, but because canonically I'm much more a fan of Clark/Lois and Bruce/Selina. But I do hope the movie does well enough that DC gets their collective act together and makes a Wonder Woman movie or tv show!

In short: great (if slightly inexplicable in the case of Affleck) cast, nervous about the tone and direction, happy it's being made at all. :)

Comments

[mekare]

I agree that Ben Affleck is a weird choice but I'll hold my breath until I see him act.

I greatly prefer Clark and Bruce to be played as similar in age and experience, in part because it upsets the delicate balance of their equality if one of them is much older.

Yup. I wonder if they thought they needed to balance out the power difference with age? Hmm, I can also see an appeal in Bruce helping a young Superman, a sort of mentor-like relationship (which I don't see as canon but never mind that).

I've never seen Gal Gadot in anything (I steer clear of movies like Fast and Furious) so I'll let her surprise me.

I really hope they don't go with any kind of romantic angle between any of them

I really really hope for that, too! (btw this reminds me that Trinity is still on my buying list - I loved the scans you posted ages ago :-))

[mithen]

Yup. I wonder if they thought they needed to balance out the power difference with age? Hmm, I can also see an appeal in Bruce helping a young Superman, a sort of mentor-like relationship (which I don't see as canon but never mind that).

That does make sense, that they thought he needed to be older and savvier--that makes me sad that they don't have more faith in Batman to hold his own, though! :)

Trinity was a lot of fun (canonical threesome marriage, whoo!), but there wasn't enough Clark, Bruce, and Diana in it, that made me kind of sad!