Is DC even going to try to compete with Marvel on the big screen?

[Jim Thompson]

a Justice League movie of truly epic proportions is within the realm of possibility imo... that could give The Avengers a run for it's money.

Or it could viewed as a second-rate take-off. The trouble, for DC, is any Justice League movie will now be compared against The Avengers -- which seems to be getting a very good reception from fans and critics alike so far. This isn't to say it can't be done; the Star Trek relaunch shows it's possible to be compared against something and come off looking good.

[Mr. Holmes]

You may be seeing his brains and brawn diminished by Zack Snyder's helming of the project. I'm already looking forward to washed-out visuals, and 'stylistic' slow motion brawls.

What do visuals have to do with Superman's brains and brawn? I'm actually down for slow motion brawls. The one thing I liked about Smallville action scenes.

[Jim Thompson]

What do visuals have to do with Superman's brains and brawn? I'm actually down for slow motion brawls. The one thing I liked about Smallville action scenes.

I don't know about him, but the technique is one that, I think, is starting to be in danger of being over-used.

[Ian Pressman]

This summer will give us a better idea of who's got a possible advantage at the box office. The Avengers and The Dark Knight Rises are, I think, going to be pretty good indicators of what people are willing to support. The good news, however, is I think both movies will be successful, and lead to continued translations of DC and Marvel properties to film.

Both films are guaranteed to be successful just because they're opening 60 days apart. I wouldn't like Rises chances if it were going head-to-head with the avengers.

[Jim Thompson]

Both films are guaranteed to be successful just because they're opening 60 days apart. I wouldn't like Rises chances if it were going head-to-head with the avengers.

That would be a pretty interesting match-up, I agree. I'm not sure The Avengers would have such an easy time over The Dark Knight Rises, though.

[carabas]

a Justice League movie of truly epic proportions is within the realm of possibility imo...

So far there is absolutely nothing that even slightly suggests that this is even a remote possibility.

[crossbones]

Or it could viewed as a second-rate take-off. The trouble, for DC, is any Justice League movie will now be compared against The Avengers -- which seems to be getting a very good reception from fans and critics alike so far. This isn't to say it can't be done; the Star Trek relaunch shows it's possible to be compared against something and come off looking good.

exactly.

So far there is absolutely nothing that even slightly suggests that this is even a remote possibility.

all i'm saying is that it could be done

you'd need boatloads of money, a killer script, the perfect director and the cast would have to be spot-on... maybe go the George Miller route where you cast the movie with up-and-coming fresh faces... big things could be achieved.

[Mr. Holmes]

I think JL is trickier to adapt than Avengers. I know Avengers has Hulk and Thor, but it still is relatively more grounded team compared to the Justice League. They're like superpowered secret agents to SHIELD. I don't know how the whole pantheon thing with the JL could be adapted to live action. Maybe they should just do a Pixar-like animation, but treated seriously with a huge budget.

[BrotherUnitNo_4]

I don't know about him, but the technique is one that, I think, is starting to be in danger of being over-used.

It was overused by the time 300 came out, and that's all Snyder knows. :(

[Mr. Holmes]

If we get scenes like this, except with the real Superman costume, I'm down.

[Jim Thompson]

I think JL is trickier to adapt than Avengers. I know Avengers has Hulk and Thor, but it still is relatively more grounded team compared to the Justice League. They're like superpowered secret agents to SHIELD. I don't know how the whole pantheon thing with the JL could be adapted to live action. Maybe they should just do a Pixar-like animation, but treated seriously with a huge budget.

They have a couple of other challenges now, I think. One is one of the major level threats they have to face, Darkseid, might now seem like a rip off of Thanos to an audience. Also, I don't know that I think Justice League is a more "grounded" team. The Avengers have Hulk and Thor, sure, but most of the movie team have no special powers like most potential members of the Justice League. Compare and contrast for a second:

Superman/Thor
Wonder Woman/Hulk
Batman/Captain America
Green Lantern/Iron Man
Flash/Black Widow
Aquaman/Hawkeye (though they could, I suppose, go with Green Arrow instead, but I now think that runs the risk of being called a copy)

Justice League seems, in terms of raw power and abilities, far less grounded than The Avengers, I think. Not that that's a bad thing; just a different dynamic to have to execute.

[Jim Thompson]

It was overused by the time 300 came out...

Oh, I disagree. I think the effect was well utilized in 300.

[Mr. Holmes]

If they use Darkseid, they can execute the more complex themes. He's basically a cosmic version of Big Brother. That should distinguish him enough from Thanos, who's basically Death's bitch.

[Darrell D.]

Oh, I disagree. I think the effect was well utilized in 300.

It really threw the pacing of the film off, for me in any case.

[Jim Thompson]

If they use Darkseid, they can execute the more complex themes. He's basically a cosmic version of Big Brother. That should distinguish him enough from Thanos, who's basically Death's bitch.

Again, I think it can be done, but Marvel getting their villain out there first in live action may make it a lot more challenging to use Darkseid.