Seven Games Played. Seven Games Enjoyed.

Been ages since I spoke about video games and I've played some beauts, so here goes...

                                                       Rise of the Tomb Raider
The previous game in the series had come in for some stick when, in a trailer, people were worried Lara might be on the end of a sexual assault. This, of course, turned out to be absolute bollocks. Nothing of the sort took place and Lara spent most of her time kicking ass! It was gritty effort by TR standards though and that template continues here.

This latest effort is a slight improvement over the previous game. It's more sure footed and our heroine, as the title suggests, finds out more about her past while raiding tombs and murdering the scum of the earth. It's never too taxing (this is not a complaint) but if you're the kind of person who absolutely must collect every single item and complete every combat challenge then you will be tested. I had planned on getting 100% trophies but the game wore me down. I enjoyed the story, the side quests, the levelling up and I think I enjoyed it a little bit more than Uncharted 4 which is high fucking priase indeed. But I just couldn't be arsed getting all of the combat challenges. But that's just me. Plenty of people love this stuff.

One of the side quests involves hunting a witch, which was absolutely riveting and it is in the side quests that the game shines. The main plot is the usual nonsense. It's a race between Lara and a bunch of over funded assholes called "the Trinity" to find a maguffin of immortality but you pretty much know that going in. It looks great and there's a comforting familiarity to proceedings. I just wish they'd taken a little bit of a risk with some facets of the game. Alas, it's all perfectly safe. But then, if it ain't broke... and Tomb Raider certainly ain't broke. Trophy count: 70% Score: 8.5/10.

                                                        Valkyria Chronicles

By the time I'd finished Tomb Raider, this remastered piece of PS3 brilliance had dropped in price on the PS4 and I jumped on it. It is a turn based, role playing game with an emphasis on strategy. Now, that would usually be enough to make me avoid this game but the reviews were too strong and the graphics too gorgeous to ignore. I remember picking it up on PS3 because I wanted to try something a bit different and having loved it on that console, I felt like playing it again on PS4.

The first thing that strikes you about Valkyria Chronicles is just how beautiful the whole thing looks. The in game beauty is matched by the appeal of the main characters. They're all lovable. The music is also great adding to the excellent production value of this memorable game.

So what is the story? You're in an alternate earth fighting and alternate WW2. Simple. The main difference though is there is magic afoot in this world and it plays a big part in the latter part of this magnificent game. As mentioned before you get to know and care for your crew. This is crucial to the story and the game even deals with racism on the way to its conclusion. It doesn't get too bogged down in this but it is to the game's credit that it's in there at all...

For the most part, gameplay consists of you picking your team to get the mission done. Pick wisely, snipers (if needed) at the back. Tank at the front.... you get the drift. Your movement is turn based in a capture the flag type of scenario and it can be excruciating standing there hoping the enemy misses you from close range. After each mission you are given a score for your efficiency and you use the spoils of war to improve your equipment. The better the score, the more spoils at your disposal. It is satisfying and not a chore like some strategy games.

Valkyria Chronicles is a terrific game. It looks great. It gets harder as you go along but if you've been upgrading and completing training missions you will enjoy the challenge. As for trophies: You won't get near 100% on your first playthrough. But it is a game you'll probably go back to. I know I will.
Trophy count: 17% Score: 9/10.

                                                        The Last Guardian
Originally planned as a PS3 game, the Last Guardian entered its 10th year in production before finally being released last year. Was it worth the wait? Yes, but that is a qualified yes. From the team that brought you Ico and Shadow the Colossus, The Last Guardian tries to use elements of both to bring you a unique gaming experience. So what's the what? A boy wakes up in a seemingly abandoned castle. Beside him is a huge creature which looks like a cross between a cat, a rat and a bat lays trapped and wounded by spears beside him. 

Named Trico, the creature wakes up and is immediately hostile. However the boy (you) removes the spears from Trico's body and from there the creature warms to you. A bond quickly grows between the two. This is the most important part of the game and it is handled beautifully. Trico sort of does his own thing but does follow instructions as you get to know him.

There is a combat element to the game and when your enemies attack Trico with spears it is upsetting. Trico handles these assholes with minimum fuss but they do injure him and it is up to you to remove spears and clean the wounds. This again builds the bond between boy and beast.

I don't want to get too into the plot, to do so will ruin the whole experience, but as with Ico and Shadow of the Colossus, it is an emotional journey with a twist or two before the end.

Problems? Well, yes. Sort of. As mentioned before, Trico does tend to sniff walls and explore the surroundings which is all well and good but when you've worked out a route or puzzle and you want to get it done Trico doesn't always co-operate right away. This adds a bit of realism to the proceedings but it can be a bit frustrating too. The other issue isn't with the game but with the previous games this developer has made. They are two of the very best games ever and The Last Guardian, while thoroughly engaging and absolutely beautiful, doesn't quite meet that standard. It does come close but you will be reminded of those two superior games...

Trophy wise, you won't get near maximum of your first play through. Will I go back again? Probably not.
Trophy Count: 16% Score: 7.5/10

                                                          GTA San Andreas
Picked this up for €6 or something on the PS Store. I had such great memories of playing this on PS2 and I wanted to relive those days. Did it deliver? Yes. GTA's best not-so-secret weapon is the music. As you drive around the city and the music kicks in, nostalgia does its thing and boom, it's 2004 again! And bear in mind, the music is already retro so you end up with nostalgia on top of nostalgia.

GTA turned 3D on the PS2 and everything changed. Sandbox games took over and GTA were the best of the lot. San Andreas was the third 3D GTA game and after the brilliance of GTA: Vice City it needed to be bigger, crazier and more violent. It managed all these things but whether its a better game than its predecessor is a subject of much debate.

So how does it hold up on PS4? Pretty fucking well actually. Graphical limitations aren't really an issue when playing as the game is so enjoyable. GTA has always been a little bit awkward to control but you do get used to it and blowing shit up becomes second nature after a little patience.

Plot wise, you play a guy called CJ and you've just come back from the east coast to find your 'hood is in shit. Its been taken over by rival gangs, drugs are everywhere and crooked cops own both you and your family. Samuel L Jackson voices the worst of these cops and he does a superb job. Later in the game you end up running errands for "an organisation". The guy you work for is voiced by James woods and he's fucking hilarious! Peter Fonda also turns up playing a hippy who grows weed and hates the government. Also hilarious.

Missions vary brilliantly. There are plenty of standard "go in here and kill everyone" missions as well as drive bys and the usual GTA blow shit up fare. But where the game truly excels is in the more bonkers levels. Jet packs feature. YES! There's a level where you have to burn a weed field and another one where you've to speed onto a plane via motorcycle (see pic), plant a bomb, grab a parachute, dive off it and push a detonation button out of range. It's incredible!

You will start in the city, go to the countryside and "Vegas" features largely too. There's an Area 51 setting which has a huge army presence. So if you're looking for a quick 5 star chase that's the place to go. As you gain money and power you soon turn your attention to saving your 'hood. Brilliantly, the "LA" riots are worked into the plot and GTA ends triumphantly as a reminder of how fucked up things are in the world as well as being a fantastically violent video game. 

Shortcomings? Well it is 14 years old and given the graphical leaps in that amount of time, you'll either be impressed by how good it still looks or you'll find it all a bit quaint. I'm firmly in the former camp. The usual GTA combat gripes are present but they never got a handle on that in later games either.

Trophy count: 100% Platinum. Score: 8/10

                                                       Wolfenstein The New Order

Like Doom, the word Wolfenstein is legendary in the gaming world. In fact, one could argue without Wolfenstein there would be no Doom. But that's for another day. Both franchises have released current generation games and while Doom was a spectacular triumph I was less sure about this one. So I put it on the long finger and sort of forgot about it. Then Donald Trump refused to speak out against a Neo Nazi march (he actually endorsed it) and suddenly my, "kill Nazi" gland was twitching again. Incredibly, I bought this game on the PS store for €5!!! A fiver! Reviews were strong but I was still sceptical. I needn't have worried...

Once again we are in an alternate earth where the Nazi's have won WW2. Set in the 1960's you have your work cut out for you as hordes of Nazi's have the world by the throat. And they haven't been resting on their laurels either. They've built all manner of mech beasts, robot dogs and weapons of such destruction you can't help but be impressed by their ingenuity. They've even been to the moon! Don't worry, you get to go too! Of course the aforementioned weapons, in the right hands (yours) can do immeasurable damage. And the good thing about having loads of Nazis about is that there are loads of Nazis to kill (see pic above). And kill them you will. As first person shooters go this one is a fucking doozie! Endlessly entertaining and a decent challenge for most gamers, the game also looks great.

Gripes? Well once again there's not much originality but it delivers on its promise. You may even end up caring about some of the characters within.
Trophy count: 65% Score: 8/10.

                                            Horizon Zero Dawn and The Frozen Wilds

I honestly do not know where to start with this fucking masterpiece. HZD is a futuristic game in which humanity has been all but wiped out. As usual it was all self inflicted and "the machines" are the enemy. Of course there's an intelligence behind it all with a few twists and turns along the way.

Our main character, Aloy, is raised by a guy called Rost. He's a hardy soul and has been banished from his clan. He is an "Outlander" so Aloy is an "Outlander". This all seems rather petty given where the game ends up but it sets Aloy up as someone who must overcome all manner of prejudice before she can even begin to help save the fucking world. She is a hero you see and her obvious physical attributes are nothing compared to her mental strength.

Graphically, the game is an utter triumph. It leaves the likes of Uncharted 4 in the dust (high praise indeed) and the size of the game is, at first, intimidating. But then you realise you can play it in such a way that it doesn't overwhelm you. You do have the option to just play the storyline and complete the game, this however was simply not an option for me. I had to do it all.

Gameplay is a joy too. Aloy is a huntress and hunting is a huge part of the game. You have a vast array of weapons to master and develop. Finding which weapon works best for each creature isn't essential until the latter part of the game but I would recommend getting a head start and experimenting. Again you don't have to master every weapon, but getting proficient with a few will be a big help. This is easier in practice than is sounds and also very enjoyable.

Horizon Zero Dawn came in for some stick from Dia Lacina (a Native American writer) wrote that using terms like "braves" or "tribes" while not disrespecful was "not afforded due consideration given their historical connotations for Native Americans." Lacina's point was even tempered and made for an interesting read. However, you must never underestimate the misplaced guilt of your average social justice keyboard warrior and by jaysus did they pile on. The game's director was forced to respond: "with the kind of culture of the internet that we have right now, it's impossible to predict what it is that may offend. Certainly we were not intentionally being insensitive, or trying to offend in any manner." Lacina's article and the full response are readily available online. Both make for good reading.

Despite this minor incident, HZD was an enormous and deserved success. It has won countless awards and it is the epitome of current gen gaming. It was only a matter of time before the DLC landed and when it did, I jumped on it. By the time I'd finished HZD, the Forzen Wilds DLC was on sale. Yoink. As you'd expect, you'll spend your time in navigating through deep blizzards helping the Banuk tribe (some of whom don't want your help) overcome a dangerous AI that has infected machines and driven them mad. It has even managed to create new machines. I won't spoil the surprise here but the toughest of these do not fuck around and you'd better be ready when the fight comes, which it fucking does. There are side quests and challenges as you'd expect and it's all terrific fun.

Gripes? None. Come on G, there must be something? Nope. Seriously? Yes.

Trophy Count: HZD: Platinumed. Frozen Wilds: 100%  Score: 10/10.

                                                    Alex Kidd in Miracle World
Variety is indeed the spice of life. And having played the absolute masterpiece of current gen gaming that is Horizon Zero Dawn, it was only fitting that my wife decreed that we should make Friday night, game night (ahem) in our house and our first game would be the old Sega Master System classic Alex Kidd in Miracle World. Thankfully I kept my PS3 where it was available for under a fiver.

For those of us of a certain vintage the nostalgia factor this game brings with it cannot really be quantified. Back in 1986 Alex was Sega's answer to Nintendo's Mario. And while he never quite managed to reach the heights of success our little Italian busy body managed, his game was for many of us vastly superior. As you'd expect it's a 2D side scrolling platformer, filled with colour and levels ranging from hugely enjoyable to extremely challenging. While mostly on foot, Alex will occasionally have to swim (see pic), take a motor bike, a helicopter or even a boat through levels. How good you are will depend on how good your hand eye co-ordination is. Back in the early 90's when I was playing it, I was pretty good. Today, it took a bit of getting used to and it seems to run a little faster. Or maybe I'm slower...

The plot is the usual bollocks. Evil guy (Janken the Great) has beaten up the King, kidnapped the Prince and Princess and taken them to his castles. Alex must free the kidnapped couple and face Janken in , yes, a Janken mattch to the death in order to restore the kingdom to its former glory.

Alex Kidd was released to rave reviews back in the mid 80's and every time it gets released on later consoles, notably the Wii and PS3 the reviews remain strong. It's an absolute belter of a platform adventure and comes highly recommended.
Trophy Count: We got all but one. We missed the letter in Janken's second Castle... Guess we'll have to play it again :) Score: 8/10.

Happy gaming!

Cheers,

G.

Inspirational Speeches in Movies

Oh we love a good "pick the troops up" speech in a movie, don't we! Also known as the St. Crispin's Day speech, my favourite one is actually a very quiet affair in the excellent but ignored, Serenity. But I want to start with an actual St. Crispin's Day Speech delivered by the amazing Billy Zane in Tombstone.
Background: Billy and his acting troupe have landed in the ominous and aptly named Tombstone to entertain the locals. Unfortunately for him, the locals include one of the most notorious gangs of the wild west, The Cowboys, who are just as likely to shoot you as they are to poke fun at you. Zane's courage and delivery wins them over. Well done Billy:

Gotta have some Aaron Sorkin. When it comes to speeches, the man is a master. I don't know if this is his best one (his television shows are an embarrassment of riches) but given the current climate (and President) I think this needs to be in here.

Background: President Andy Shepard (Michael Douglas) has seen his numbers drop in recent months because he started dating lobbyist Sydney Ellen Wade (Annette Bening). The Republican candidate, Bob Rumson (a brilliantly smarmy Richard Dreyfuss) has been scoring points with "judgemental America". Sydney has just dumped The President because, in order to keep his job he's thrown her job under the bus. He realises he was wrong and sets about making it right.

Next up, Alien 3. Now, you probably hate this movie (if you do, you're wrong) but you cannot deny the delivery here.
Background: After Ripley crash lands on Fiorina 161 she is rescued by the locals. Sadly for her the locals are prisoners and they are all terrible. Dillon (Charles S. Dutton) is the leader of the pack and when an Alien starts picking them off, Ripley formulates a plan to kill it. Unfortunately for her, most of the inmates hate her. Fortunately for her, Dillon has her back...



Return of the King. This one doesn't get enough love. It's an odd one because it's in one of the most successful movies ever made and it's a fantastic piece of acting by Viggo Mortensen. Well I'm happy to give it some love here.
Background: Frodo and Sam are deep in Mordor trying to destroy the one ring. Gandalf, Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli lead their troops to the Black Gate of Mordor to call out the Dark Lord. It's all a ruse to by Frodo time. The numbers are against them, they cannot win. Nobody told Aragorn!

This next speech is more motivational than inspirational but I think it deserves a spot on my list because of the wonderful delivery and dark humour.

Background: O-Ren Ishii (a brilliant Lucy Liu) has taken over "the council" and one of her peers is less than happy. She listens to his concerns before responding in deadly fashion. Truly memorable stuff:

Let's up the cheese factor, shall we. Independence Day isn't a great movie but when it landed in the mid 90's it was the absolute bollocks! It hasn't aged very well though and when you read the dialogue of this speech you'll wonder how it made it to final draft. It's to Bill Pullman's credit that he, almost, makes it work.

The movie, Pearl Harbour is an abject lesson in how NOT to do inspiration because if you thought Bill Pullman's effort above was risible well you ain't seen nothing yet. Endurance points if you make it to the end of this puke-fest:

                                     
Did you make it? :)

Moving on. Sports movies generally have their speeches right before the final fight or match, depending on the sport and they're generally pretty good. Some of them are low key affairs but the best ones start out quiet with the speechmaker adding something human to the mix, usually personal loss or failings and it all ends with a defiant "yes we can" moment from all involved. The best of these is delivered by Al Pacino in Any Given Sunday. Enjoy:

How do we top that one? Well, I think most people recognise this next one is the best one. I saw this in the cinema back in the 90's and the place went nuts. It's the only time I went to a movie where there was a standing ovation when it was over and the moment it went from enjoyable romp to cast iron classic was when Mel delivered this speech. It's absolute perfection and the fact that it's wormed its way into popular culture (along with Freeedooooom) is no surprise.
Background: The English have been butchering the Scots for long enough. William Wallace thinks he can take them but he needs the Scottish army to stick together. I nearly signed up for the fuckin' 'RA when I heard this:

And finally my personal favourite. I love this because of how it's delivered. No shouting. No chest beating. Just a steely determination and total commitment to his beliefs. Yes, I love the characters far too much but I'm able to dial that back and analyse it without bias and I think Nathan Fillion's delivery is top notch. I also adore the writing. The lighting on our hero isn't bad either.
Background: The crew of Serenity have uncovered a government secret that could potentially take down The Alliance... if they can survive a suicide run against impossible odds to deliver the message:

Feel free to share your favourites!

Cheers,

G.

What is the Problem with Superman?

When Bryan Singer wrestled control of Superman Returns from Brett Ratner in the mid 2000's we all rejoiced. Singer had just made the excellent X-Men 2. Ratner was (and remains) a paint by numbers director. He took over X-Men 3. Most of us felt like Superman's gain was very much X-Men's loss. As it turned out, both movies are noteworthy for being very well made but missing something.

When I went to see Superman Returns in 2006 I was excited beyond belief and the movie started quite well. There's a simply incredible rescue scene early on which I hoped would be a tone setter. Check it out:

That ranks right up there with the very best Superman action sequences and Brandon Routh, while clearly channelling Christopher Reeves, did a great job in the movie... except for one thing. A thing that wasn't his fault. A thing that just doesn't sit well with me or anyone else to be honest. Despite all the thrilling heroics in the movie, Superman straight up creeps on Lois Lane. You could argue he has always done this but listening in on conversations between Lois (Kate Bosworth) and her partner Richard White (played by professional safety net guy James Marsden) was just gross... and Superman should never be gross.

Meanwhile Kevin Spacey did his best to dislodge Gene Hackman as the greatest Lex Luthor ever. He came up short. It's not that he was bad, it's just he seemed to be trying very hard to be evil. Hackman just played the character with ease. All of this was compounded by the fact that Superman Returns is a hard remake of Superman 1978 to the point that they added unused footage of Marlon Brando from the '78 movie and what it gains in some incredible technical wizardry carried out by the CGI team it loses in the charm stakes. There's no "you've got me, who's got you" moments here. And how could there be, especially with a kid in danger. This utterly brilliant scene showcases magnificent special fx and I do enjoy it very much but it is caught in that awkward spot between fun and actual genuine terror...

Again, that's just a showstopper of a moment and everyone concerned should be very proud of themselves.

Some people hated the idea that Lois and Superman had a baby. I didn't mind it. Might it have been shit in later movies? Yeah it might have been but we'll never know because Superman Returns was a box office failure. With a production budget of $270m Superman Returns only managed to pull in $391m. That doesn't even include advertising expense which was substantial but let's assume advertising cost fuck all, you might think that $120m is a decent return on investment? You'd be mistaken. Warner Bros don't put $270m into a production to cover expenses and get a few quid back. They throw that kind of money out there to make mega bucks and this movie did not deliver mega bucks.

Superman Returns opened to pretty good reviews and a reasonable opening weekend. So why did it fail to capture the mass imagination? Creepy Superman? Maybe. It's a remake of the first one? Maybe. Or is it that the character just isn't as engaging as he was in 1978? Hard to know. My feeling is that it was all of these things. I actually enjoy the movie on a surface level, I just wish it had cut ties with the 1978 movie. Clearly something needed to change and WB took their time before opting for a complete overhaul.

Enter Zack Snyder!

I went to see Sucker Punch and thought it was appalling. It looked great but, seriously, it was fucking stupid. Apparently everyone else thought it was terrible too as it took a critical mauling and bombed at the box office... big time! It had previously been announced that the director of this movie would be helming the new Superman movie... I was not impressed. But I couldn't argue that the man had a way with a camera. His movies looked fucking beautiful. Box office wise he was a mixed bag. He'd had some success with his well received Dawn of the Dead remake (I hated it) and 300 was a huge hit (wasn't a fan of that either) but he'd stumbled badly with Watchmen though it was received well enough by fans of the books... so this was a risk.

Man Of Steel was announced and Henry Cavill was cast as everyone's favourite Kryptonian... Nobody had a problem with this:

He really is a beautiful man! When the clip came out we all lost our shit. This looked INCREDIBLE. Look at that cast. Look at Costner's delivery of "you are my son". Again, check it out:

And so I went to the cinema to watch this. Despite Snyder's involvement I was excited and hopeful. And I must be 100% honest, I left utterly satisfied. To this day I still like the movie and happily view it from time to time. But we're getting away from the point.
Initial reviews were good. Initial fan reaction was also good but after a few weeks came an enormous backlash from fans who hated the movie. I'll come back to that but nobody could have a problem with the first half of this movie.
Starting on the doomed planet of Krypton we see Russell Crowe pulling off all manner of heroics (surrounded by beautiful and unusual visuals) to get his son off planet so he can survive. It's a fun watch. As is all the stuff leading up to Superman facing off against Zod. This is where the divide happens.

People were unhappy with the level of destruction in the movie and were even more upset by Superman's lack of respect for humanity. "Why wasn't he saving more people?". "This feels more like a Tranformers movie"... you've heard all the gripes. Later, people jumped on the hate wagon and started on the look of the movie. Apparently it wasn't bright enough... Fuck me, everyone's an expert these days!
For me, I thought it looked great and enjoyed that Superman was out of his depth against three fully trained Kryptonian's. There was always gonna be casualties. My one problem with the movie is where Superman and Lois Lane decide to kiss. It's surrounded by rubble where thousands of people have died and it just feels fucking weird. But that's my only issue. I'd rate it as good as something like Age of Ultron and I liked that Superman straight up kills Zod at the end. Again, many didn't like this. "Superman should never murder enemies". Well, I disagree. Zod left him no choice and it was an interesting take on the character. Then again, I don't read comics so maybe that's why I didn't care.

Man Of Steel cost $225m and pulled in $668m. While this was an improvement on Superman Returns, it was still less than WB had hoped for. Once again, Superman just wasn't connecting with audiences the way the studio had hoped he would.
They didn't like Superman Returns because it was too similar to Superman '78 and they didn't like Man Of Steel because it was too different... So what now?

Surely these two heavyweights going head to head would be irresistible to genre fans. Well it definitely caused a stir. Many wanted a standalone Bat movie to lead into BvS and suggested that this was happening too fast. They might have had a point. Ben Affleck was announced as the caped crusader and the internet went nuts. A lot of people hated the idea but there was a lot of support for him too. As it happened nobody need have worried about "Bat-fleck" he was, and is, a rock solid Batman. After more build up than I can ever remember for a super hero movie BvS landed and was immediately pummelled by critics.

Plot: After the destruction caused by Superman in his battle to save earth from Zod and his merry friends, Bruce Wayne decides the earth doesn't need this shit and decides to take matters into his own hands. Meanwhile Lex Luthor (Jesse Eisenberg) is planning to play the Bat against the Man of Steel. He also brings to life a "Doomsday" creation out of Kryptonian tech and the blood of Zod. Why? Well, he's nuts.

Whatever. We all went to see the face off and when it finally happens, it is brilliant. While Superman could have ended the fight pretty early on, he underestimates The Bat, who has procured Kryptonite and isn't afraid to use it. He quickly deploys it and kicks seven shades of shit out of Superman and is about to kill him only to be stopped by the fact that their mother's share the same name... no really. I still don't get it. But the movie carries on to its conclusion and Wonder Woman steals the show. Check out her intro:

What a moment that is! And moments are what Zack Snyder does well. That's why his clips look fucking amazing. It's the in between where he fumbles. In some cases his fumbling is movie ruining. Having said that, aren't super hero movies all about moments? Perhaps I'm defending him because I quite enjoyed BvS. But once again, it didn't hit the heights expected at the box office. BvS with a $250m budget reeled in a decent $874m. By no means a disaster and certainly made a few quid, WB would have been hoping for a billion. No question.
Since then, Wonder Woman has gone on to become the jewel in the DC crown with a superb movie of her own and a huge box office return. Can we apply her blue print to Superman? No, no we can't. He's already had his origin movie but what we can do is have Patty Jenkins more involved in future Superman movies. She is the best director DC have used so far and seems to have her hand on the pulse when it comes to what the public wants from these kinds of movies.

There were rumours that Mathew Vaughn would take on Superman. He certainly did a great job with X-Men First Class (the best X-Men movie in my humble opinion) and I could get behind this but again I'd love to see Patty Jenkins take a shot. DC should be in a better place and with names like Patty Jenkins, Joss Whedon and Mathew Vaughn hanging around one must be optimistic.

Justice League came out recently and has flopped... big time. Unfortunately the movie never really stood a chance. Snyder had to leave the project due to a family tragedy and Joss Whedon came in to "finish" the movie. As you can imagine, it's a bit of a mess. An enjoyable mess but a mess all the same. With a cost of €300m the movie has only pulled in $652m and with stiff competition in the cinemas now (Jan '18) it won't pull in much more. Those numbers simply are not good enough but the movie did something perfectly: Superman. All moustache bollocks aside (I didn't notice while I watched) Superman is a delight in the movie. After the stupid resurrection scene (I hate resurrections in movies) he is understandably pissed off, particularly with Batman. He singlehandedly beats the shit out of the Justice League before Lois Lane calms him down and he starts to come round. He shows up to save the League from certain destruction at the hands of Steppenwolf and he is both funny and charming while doing so. He also saves a fuckton of people and is just in great form. This, one has to assume is the Joss Whedon influence...

If Superman is to reclaim his place at the top of the superhero food chain, a couple things need to happen. Patty Jenkins should be heavily involved and having Joss Whedon around couldn't hurt either. Cavill has shown he can do this and do it well so he should be trusted to continue. As regards tone, some people would like a more Marvelesque tone, others enjoyed the "darkness" of Snyder's movies. I just think a good story with likable and enjoyable characters is the most important thing. The tone is dictated by the fucking story, not the other way around and if the movie is good you won't care whether it's dark or light.

Of course, given how badly JL has performed at the box office, some thought WB might pull the plug on the whole thing but this would be a mistake. In Wonder Woman they have a bonafide box office super star for this generation. They also have an Aquaman movie deep (ahem) in post production. They will be hoping James Wan (a great director) can work some magic there. If he does and with Wonder Woman 2 on the way, DC might just rescue this whole thing. But it needs a strong Superman. We all do...

Cheers,

G.