What In The Name Of God Was Warner Bros. Thinking When It Gave Zack Snyder The Superman Keys?
So, let's say you're Warner Bros. studios. Despite being an anthropomorphic conglomeration, life is pretty good for you. Your massively profitable Harry Potter series is about to come to a conclusion, but you've got a lot of bullets left in your gun: After making one of the highest grossing movies in the world with Dark Knight, Christopher Nolan made you money AND prestige with Inception -- and he's about to make another Batman movie. You've got a possible new superhero franchise with Green Lantern. And you own the movie rights to Superman, possibly the most iconic character in history behind Mickey Mouse and Jesus Christ -- so why would you give it to the man who keeps cranking out hyperkinetic failure after failure?
The critical and popular failure of Sucker Punch makes three disappointments (if not outright bombs) in a row for Zack Snyder: Watchmen and Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole fill out his CV of failure. And with each film, the disappointment grew deeper and more profound until it cratered into the creative abyss that he called Sucker Punch.
Audiences only learned about the depth and breadth of Sucker Punch's terribleness this weekend, but presumably Warner Bros. executives have known just how bad the film is for months now. How could they not? If they have eyes to see and ears to hear, how could they ignore the steaming freight train of unfathomable failure that had just pulled in front of them? So, if this is this case, why would they hand off potentially the most lucrative arrow in the quiver to a man of such diminishing returns?
Warner Bros was clearly under the gun; under a 2009 ruling, if production on a new film was not begun by 2011, the studio could lose the rights to Superman. And clearly in their eyes, any port in a storm was a friendly berth indeed. But in what possible world was Zack Snyder the best choice to shepherd a probable billion-dollar franchise into creation?
With a reported $82 million budget, it will struggle to make back its costs. The reviews have been apocalyptic. After seeing such an inept, inartful, whirring, clanging catastrophe, can anyone really be looking forward to what he'll do with the Man of Steel? No matter what good news the casting might be, Warner Bros. has managed to make the first thought that many had for the new Superman movie be "Oh, God! What the hell is Zack Snyder going to do to Superman??"
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Comments
I can't believe people are giving sucker punch bad reviews. Under all the girls and guns, there is a lot of symbolism.
I went and watched the movie with a friend who studies film. And he said you will have to look at the inside of the story and not what it puts straight out in front of you. There is a lot of meaning of self sacrifice, escaping reality, abuse, etc. that is implied underneath that movie.
If you haven't watched this movie, go watch it. It has a great story once you analyze what Snyder is really trying to tell (and the girls and action are just a bonus)
When I saw you use the word God in your title I was deeply offended. Then I gave up after I realized you were not going to say a single thing about the Lord Almighty Satan. Embrace the hatred of Our Lord and walk into the Darkness. Also, play a Led Zeppelin album backwards.
Satan's Little Helper
Landon, I told you to get off that computer and get back into bed with the Pastor and me!
I agree. A person becomes a critic when he/she can't do the thing they want to do - so they become a critic of it. Making a movie is hard, even if the movie turns out to be bad. Writing what you think about a movie is easy.
I liked Watchmen. What I don't like is Snyder saying his Superman will have nothing to do, and could never fit, into the Justice League movie universe. No Snyder, don't screw with the general public by forcing there to be two different guys playing Superman at the same time.
What's wrong with you guys? Face it, Snyder is an idiot. All his movies are crap. 300 was at least a little bit entertaining. His "amazing visiual style" makes every one of his films look like a cheap video game trailer. His total lack of taste and realism cannot be good for a bright icon like Superman. So why do some of you criticize the author for being afraid that this jackass will ruin Superman? Even if the movie will earn money, it's still a possible creative failure.
"You're an idiot... Sucker Punch was amazing. It's easy to be a douchebag critic who couldn't do any better isn't it?"
Just as easy as it is to be a douchebag that attacks others personally on the internet when they don't agree with you, yeah.
Maybe Zack Snyder will direct Justin Bieber's next film. Haven't seen Sucker Punch, looked painfully stupid from the trailer. I did like Watchmen and found 300 tolerable.
I am so glad that some one is actually blogging what I have been thinking all along! This is the worst director ever! I fell asleep during 300. And The Watchmen was such a fail!
Getting really tired of this new hatred for Zack Snyder. Whoopty shit. So Sucker Punch sucked. Maybe because Snyder is a garbage WRITER. He is however and awesome DIRECTOR, especially with his "snyder-motion" stuff. I think Superman needs his style. And with David S. Goyer writing and Chris Nolan godfathering, it should be at the very least decent.
Amen!
Amen once again!
I agree.....God and Christ Jesus (two separate entities btw....the trinity is where true fiction comes into true Christianity) are not to be trifled with. But, you went a little overboard. lolol... I digress; Zack has done a good job thus far if you ask me.
The reason i'm not worried is because Zack Snyder is a awesome director and Chris nolan is overseeing the project with his writing and producing team. I dont know why Zack Snyder is getting so much flak, you can't say his films are horrible because they are not it's just your opinion. He brings something new to the table, just accept his films for what they are, it's down to personal taste but you can't say his films are rubbish.
What a dumbass writer. Watchmen and Legend of the Guardians may not have made a lot of dough but they were great, stunning films.
It is vanity to resort to Christianity bashing. I am one who believes in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, but this is hardly the ideal venue or time to launch into tirades. I loved the Guardians of Ga'hoole! My kids and I bonded over that film as we saw it during a particularly bad time in our lives! Ive heard that Watchmen did well as well. I think the critic here is suffering from the "jealousy" factor. What more can be said? If we all humble ourselves to see things from other viewpoints for a moment, we can find empathy. We wont always agree but we can be and should be as kind as possible to all people, even critics and agnostics.
Why is no one talking about The Owls of Ga'Hoole? Has no one seen it? Granted, it was a children's movie and had a cliched storyline, but that's how all children's movies are (and it wasn't bad). But more importantly, it is one of the most visually stunning movies I have seen. I think it was the best IMAX 3-D experience next to Avatar and am sad I will probably never get to see it again.
Sucker punch has a very negative sense of life. I left the movie theater beaten down after watching it - I wanted my money back. And yes, any fool can criticize as Dale Carnegie famously put it. Loser criticize, winner create.
As iconic a character as Superman is, let's be honest, he isn't the deepest, most contemplative character out there. He is very much the antithesis of the darker, kore emotional Batman, whose character attributes are what current comic book movies favor. So, the only way to make a Superman movie work would be to make him deeper (stalking Lois in Superman Returns wasn't cool) or hyperstylize the film to make it as 'cool' and 'awesome' a movie as possible. This is why Guillermo Del Toro was WB's original choice and why they chose Zack Snyder thereafter. Personally, I thought Sucker Punch was a sensory masterpiece with an interesting narrative and a very daringly morbid tone that most studios would frown upon. I think most of the criticisms aimed at it are completely misdirected and unfair. With a few script tweaks, I think Sucker Punch could have been, dare I say, a modern Hollywood masterpiece. As it stands, it was a great film that will surely become a cult classic. Anyway, all in all, Zack is definately the right choice to helm Supes.
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