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Terry Hooper-Scharf

Friday 11 September 2015

Everyone Is A Childish Moron In Hollywood. Zack Snyder Takes A Swipe At Marvel And Ant-Man

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‘Batman V Superman’ director Zack Snyder has dropped a few catty remarks aimed at rival comic book movie studio Marvel.

The DC movie helmsman singled out ‘Ant-Man’ for his criticism, one of the least successful superhero movies for Marvel thus far.


Speaking to the Daily Beast, he was asked about Steven Spielberg’s recent remarks, in which the movie legend said 'there will be a time when the superhero movie goes the way of the Western’.
Snyder said: “I feel like he’s right. But I feel like Batman and Superman are transcendent of superhero movies in a way, because they’re Batman and Superman.
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“They’re not just, like, the flavour of the week Ant-Man — not to be mean, but whatever it is. What is the next Blank-Man?”


Admittedly, Ant-Man, which starred Paul Rudd as the diminutive hero, didn’t do amazing business for Marvel.


Not widely known outside the comic book community, it brought in $384.8 million (£250 million) on a $130 million (£84 million) budget, meaning that after promotion and marketing, it can’t have been a great money spinner for the studio.


There was also turmoil in its production, when Marvel jettisoned original director and writer Edgar Wright after a protracted period of development.


But thus far the rivalry between DC Comics and Marvel in the movie business has been pretty cordial.


Maybe that’s set to change.
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Snyder, who’s also directed comic book properties like '300’, Alan Moore’s classic 'Watchmen’, and 'Man of Steel’, will also helm the forthcoming 'Justice League’ movie, which will take on Marvel’s 'Avengers’ franchise pretty much head on.


'Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice’ starring Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill and Jesse Eisenberg, is due out March 25 next year.

Image credits: Getty/Disney/Warner Bros

4 comments:

  1. Tend to agree with Snyder and Steven Spielberg on this - personally I have really enjoyed most of the Marvel characters output for years . I thought the Avengers films were great romps and loved Ant Man (being one of my all time favourite characters) but its starting to get a bit "samey" now all special effects and less and less character development / story, No doubt there are limitations to the characters that can maintain their own film / franchise but I see why they went with Ant Man (novelty value) but they could lose their shorts if they put too many lesser know character out there (ie the Green Lantern awful film and a little known character to the general public ) Dr Strange is another of my all time favourite characters and his film is a gamble and could go either way (I suspect straight to DVD) - Looking forward to Superman v Batman though

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  2. Yes. I agree with all that. We really need more movies that have character development - it is, after all, the characters that make any story bareable. For example - although I'm not a great fan - I'd say that this is born out by the 'Sherlock' character Cumberbatch ( is that right ? ) plays and his match up with Martin Freeman. It is their characters and how they develop and change that makes it watchable. For my money on a future movie project - I'd go for a Black Widow stand-alone; the story could really get to grips with all kinds of good/evil/ dark/light elements and have a more nuanced narative, simply due to the characters ex-Russian spy back story. Think sexy female James Bond, and you've got a movie ! Anyway. I babble. Outahere.

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  3. If you're thinking sexy female James Bond, then why not Modesty Blaise? I wonder who owns the movie rights for her? In 2004 it looks they belonged to Miramax.
    If not that, then how about the Baroness (created by Donald Moffitt, writing as Paul Kenyon)?
    Thanks,
    Darci

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  4. Darci. Loved the Monica Vitti Blaise with Terrance Stamp as Willie. But maybe a bit of the 1960s "camp" about it? Dirk Bogarde crawling through sand "Champagne....champagne!" The 2004 My Name Is Modesty: A Modesty Blaise Adventure had a way too thin Alexandra Staden as Modesty though I enjoyed it as a non MB! Lots of female characters in Penny Dreadfuls etc., to be "exploited"!

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