Dumb Things We All Ignore In The DCEU

In 2013, Warner Bros. launched the gritty interpretation of Superman titled “Man of Steel,” echoing the style of Christopher Nolan’s “Dark Knight” series. This came during a time when Nolan’s movies were extremely popular and happened to coincide with Phase 1 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as “Batman Begins” and “Iron Man” both hit theaters in the same year. The year before, “The Dark Knight Rises” concluded Nolan’s trilogy while the MCU was gaining momentum with the release of “The Avengers,” demonstrating how teaming up superheroes from individual movies could result in massive box office success.

The point is that DC characters arrived fashionably late to the party. Instead of making another standalone Superman movie (starring Henry Cavill), Warner Bros. rushed into producing “Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice” to match up with Marvel. This movie packed in Batman (Ben Affleck), Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot), and other heroes, but the storyline felt overly complex. This pattern continued, with many films in the DC Universe receiving mediocre reviews from critics at best. Some of these movies were money-makers, but for a long time, DC was outshone by Marvel on the big screen.

Looking back on it now, the DCEU proves to be quite intriguing, yet upon revisiting the films, there are numerous perplexing choices made. It’s not just DC who’s been guilty of this; Marvel has had its fair share of questionable decisions too. Fingers crossed that the revamped DC Universe from 2025’s “Superman” onwards will learn from the past and minimize such missteps.

Man of Steel: Clark totally could’ve saved Pa Kent

In the film “Man of Steel,” Superman (Clark Kent) strives to maintain a human-like existence while possessing extraordinary powers gained from the sun. His parents, fearful of the potential consequences if the world discovers his abilities, often caution him. While their apprehension is somewhat reasonable, it doesn’t make their actions any less puzzling, such as when Jonathan Kent reprimands Clark for rescuing a bus full of children. Perhaps one of the most questionable moments in “Man of Steel” occurs when Jonathan sacrifices himself by allowing a tornado to strike him instead of letting Clark save him, ensuring that his son’s identity as an alien remains hidden.

Jonathan’s choice seems quite unwise, given the circumstances. He frets about the world discovering Clark, but with Clark having rescued a bus full of children without anyone connecting the dots, it’s hard to understand his anxiety. Considering Clark’s super speed and agility, it’s plausible he could swiftly whisk his father away to a remote location before anyone realizes what’s happening. The approaching tornado might just serve as a handy distraction in this situation.

In the comic books, it is often Jonathan who suffers a fatal heart attack. This is an issue that not even Superman can resolve, demonstrating that there are boundaries to whom he can and cannot rescue. However, in this situation, Clark had the ability to intervene but chose not to.

Batman v Superman: Why didn’t Batman kill Joker?

In the movie “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,” after losing his partner Robin, Batman exhibits a ruthless approach to justice that includes using firearms and taking lives – actions usually against his principles. This shift in character was controversial for some viewers as it seemed to deviate from the traditional Batman persona, but let’s assume this change can be justified. Since his son was murdered, Batman becomes unhinged. Now, if we accept that the Batman portrayed in “Batman v Superman” tolerates killing, one might wonder why he doesn’t kill the Joker (played by Jared Leto) instead of capturing him. This is a question that arises due to the change in Batman’s character in this film.

In the Batcave, Robin’s suit is still hanging, defaced with “Joke’s on you, Batman” as graffiti. Since the Joker was the one who killed Robin, wouldn’t it make sense for him to be at the top of Batman’s list if he were to give in to his murderous urges? The 2010 animated movie “Batman: Under the Red Hood” is intriguing because despite enduring such a tremendous loss, Batman struggles immensely not to violate his principles and take the Joker’s life. It becomes even more puzzling that Batman agrees to work alongside the Joker in the Knightmare sequence of “Zack Snyder’s Justice League.

As an ardent admirer of the Dark Knight, I can’t help but recount his relentless pursuit of justice. He doesn’t hesitate to take down countless minions who dare cross his path. Initially, he harbors a desire to confront Superman, fearing the possibility of him straying from the righteous path. Yet, the Joker, an embodiment of chaos and evil, is left untouched by Batman’s vigilance.

Batman v Superman: Superman needed to learn how to use his words

We’d like to revisit, in a more relatable manner, the debate about the “Martha” scene from “Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice.” To put it mildly, this scene doesn’t quite hit the mark. It showcases an idea with great potential but falls short due to poor execution. The aim here was to make Batman perceive Superman as a fellow human, despite his extraterrestrial origins. After all, they both have a shared desire to protect their mothers – Superman wanting to save his mom, just as Bruce Wayne would if his mother were still alive. However, the execution feels out of place because Superman simply says “Save Martha,” which doesn’t resonate with Batman, leading him to exclaim, “Why would you say that name!?”

The intention behind the “Martha” scene was to show that Superman and Batman are alike in their desire to save their mothers. But the way it was carried out seems strange because saying “Save Martha” doesn’t make sense to Batman, causing him to wonder why it was said.

From the get-go, it seems that Superman might have employed his words earlier in the situation. Granted, Batman wields a Kryptonite spear, but perhaps Superman could have reasoned with him about how Lex Luthor (Jesse Eisenberg) had taken hostage Diane Lane’s character, Martha Kent. This approach would have made it crystal clear to Batman just how much family means to Superman. Moreover, one may question whether Batman was supposed to know which specific Martha to attempt rescuing. After all, there are quite a few Marthas out there, so it seems reasonable to wonder where exactly Batman should start his search for the right Martha.

This encounter raises an intrigue about whether Bruce Wayne responds similarly whenever he hears the name “Martha” in unscripted situations. Could viewing “The Martha Stewart Show” potentially set him off?

Suicide Squad: Why did Amanda Waller need a clown to beat a witch?

2016’s “Suicide Squad” offers a multitude of humorous targets, ranging from excessive song placements to awkward dialogues such as, “Are we some kind of Suicide Squad?” The central plot concept is somewhat questionable, but it’s almost forgettable amidst these issues. In the film, Amanda Waller (played by Viola Davis) creates Task Force X, a team of supervillains tasked with government assignments. When Enchantress (Cara Delevingne) seizes control of Midway City and poses a global threat, the squad is dispatched to rescue Waller. However, they decide to take independent action to defeat Enchantress instead.

If Waller found herself in trouble, it might have been wiser for her to summon additional military personnel rather than relying on dangerous criminals. Moreover, it wasn’t clear what strategy the team had in place to tackle Enchantress, and since there seemed to be no other help arriving, if the team persisted in their self-centered actions, Enchantress might have caused even more destruction.

As a die-hard fan, I’d say The Suicide Squad thrives in undercover operations where survival isn’t the priority. Given their shady activities that the government prefers to distance itself from, it seems more logical for Amanda Waller to summon conventional forces or true superheroes when faced with challenges like dealing with Enchantress.

Even if Waller insists on using Task Force X, one might question her choice of recruits. El Diablo (Jay Hernandez) is the sole member with actual powers, while Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie) wields a mallet and Deadshot (Will Smith) shoots exceptionally well. Captain Boomerang (Jai Courtney), as his name suggests, excels in boomerang throwing.

A more balanced team would have included characters like Killer Frost or Poison Ivy to level the playing field.

Wonder Woman: Does Ares control war or not?

In the storyline, Ares (portrayed by David Thewlis) serves as a formidable adversary for Wonder Woman, given her mission for global harmony, while he represents conflict. Upon Steve Trevor’s (Chris Pine) revelation about the Great War, Diana becomes convinced that Ares is the instigator and sets out to stop him. However, when they eventually clash, Ares claims innocence regarding war, stating that he merely influences human nature, which is inherently dark and prone to fighting regardless of his presence. This perspective on morality complicates Wonder Woman’s beliefs, but the outcome of their confrontation seems to contradict this nuanced interpretation.

Following Diana’s slaying of Ares, soldiers miraculously rise from the debris, eager to abandon their war-torn mentality. This suggests that Ares may have had a manipulative influence over these soldiers, and with his demise, the supposed “curse” was lifted. However, this quick transition from battle lust to surrender seems too convenient, implying an excessive leniency towards the soldiers’ actions. Instead, it could be more realistic for soldiers to emerge from the debris, initially eager for combat, but Diana must once again persuade them to leave their violent inclinations behind. This scenario would demonstrate humanity’s inherent capacity for both darkness and redemption.

Justice League: Batman didn’t need to use himself as bait

2017’s movie release titled “Justice League” appears disjointed and confusing, with a number of issues worth questioning. One peculiarity stands out: Batman, in the face of enemy Steppenwolf (played by Ciarán Hinds), seemingly decides to put himself in harm’s way without any apparent reason. In this scenario, as the Justice League prepares to confront Steppenwolf, Batman concludes that there are too many parademons for everyone to tackle. He then plans to lure these parademons away using himself as bait inside the Batmobile, allowing the rest of the Justice League a chance to focus on Steppenwolf.

Instead of being so renowned for strategic acumen, this seems like a significant blunder by Batman. To begin with, the Justice League would intervene to save Batman regardless, as expected. However, their intervention results in them losing the element of surprise. Steppenwolf becomes aware of the League’s presence, allowing him to prepare for their moves more thoughtfully than if they had attacked him head-on initially.

Despite appearing logical at first glance, why was Batman so ready to sacrifice himself in this situation? With Superman absent, the League is already down to five members, and losing Batman would have left only four. This choice appears reckless, causing one to question if Batman truly deserves his reputation as a genius after all.

Aquaman: No continuity between Arthur and Mera

In the intricate web of shared movie worlds, it can sometimes be challenging to keep details straight among various filmmakers. While some discrepancies are inevitable, there’s a significant continuity issue between “Justice League” and “Aquaman,” resembling the size of Atlantis itself.

As a die-hard fan, I can share my take on the events unfolding in “Justice League.” Steppenwolf launches an assault on Atlantis, seeking one of those enigmatic Mother Boxes. This, of course, propels Aquaman (played by Jason Momoa) to embark on a journey there. It’s evident from the interactions between him and Mera (portrayed by Amber Heard), that they share a bond beyond just teammates.

However, if we delve into “Aquaman,” the story unfolds a year after the tumultuous events in “Justice League.” At first glance, it appears as though Arthur Curry, our beloved Aquaman, has never set foot in Atlantis before. Yet, glimpses of his childhood reveal that he was schooled by Vulko (Willem Dafoe), but it’s only through Mera’s guidance that he navigates the Gateway into Atlantis, acting as though it’s his inaugural visit.

In the movie “Justice League”, Aquaman (Arthur Curry) was already familiar with Atlantis and its ways. However, a year later in the film “Aquaman”, it appears that he needed Mera to guide him there, which seems unusual since he had previously left Atlantis voluntarily in “Justice League”. Furthermore, after escaping from Orm (Patrick Wilson), Aquaman finds himself lost within the city despite having willingly departed. This situation suggests that Aquaman may be experiencing some memory loss or confusion regarding his past experiences in Atlantis, which creates a plot inconsistency. Essentially, the storyline seems disjointed as “Aquaman” attempts to present an origin story while “Justice League” has already established Arthur Curry as a known figure in Atlantis, leading to this continuity error.

Shazam: Mister Mind goes nowhere

The post-credit scenes in the “Shazam!” films were disappointing given the anticipation, and the ones shown are particularly hard to forgive. In the first movie, Sivana (Mark Strong) is left in a cell, only to meet a talking caterpillar named Mister Mind afterwards. Logically, this encounter suggests that Sivana might serve as the main antagonist for “Shazam! 2,” but regrettably, such a plotline seems too sensible for the series.

In the release of “Shazam! Fury of the Gods”, the villains were changed to Hespera (played by Helen Mirren) and Kalypso (portrayed by Lucy Liu), who are daughters of Atlas. This shift emphasizes the Greek mythological aspect in the DC Extended Universe, offering an explanation for the peculiar Wonder Woman appearance at the movie’s end. However, Mister Mind did not make an appearance in the main film as anticipated; instead, he was mentioned in the post-credits scene of “Shazam! 2”, where he continues to boast grandly but remains inactive once again.

As a gamer, I was eagerly anticipating the release of “Fury of the Gods” within the DC Universe (DCU) after the announcement of James Gunn and Peter Safran’s reboot. To my disappointment, “Shazam! 3” wasn’t included in their upcoming lineup for the new franchise. Given this, it seemed like the end of the road for this version of the character, especially since a potential Mister Mind mayhem storyline was left unfulfilled, knowing that it would likely never see the light of day.

Wonder Woman 1984: The wish rules make no sense

The film “Wonder Woman 1984” presents the Dreamstone, an item that grants a person’s desire, but with a catch: it takes something else away from them. This is similar to the concept in the story of the Monkey’s Paw. However, as the movie progresses, the rules surrounding the Dreamstone become more complex. For instance, Diana makes a wish for Steve Trevor, who perished in World War I, to return. He does appear, but it’s not the original Steve – his spirit inhabits another man’s body, causing the host to enter a sort of limbo state while Steve is present. So, technically, her wish isn’t fulfilled because Steve doesn’t truly come back. Furthermore, Diana starts losing her powers as she continues using the Dreamstone. Thus, the Dreamstone fails to grant her wish, yet it still takes something valuable from her – her powers – regardless.

Although the Dreamstone can only fulfill one wish for a single individual, Barbara Minerva (played by Kristen Wiig) manages to make two wishes. Her initial wish is to embody strength, attractiveness, and style similar to Diana, and later, she desires to be at the top of the food chain – a somewhat unusual way of expressing power; however, it seems that she had to phrase her second wish in this manner to transform into Cheetah.

The narrative can become complex when magic is involved, especially if the rules aren’t clearly defined. It seems reasonable that granted wishes should come with a cost, yet Diana and Barbara’s wishes seem to go against this principle, adding confusion rather than clarity to the storyline.

Black Adam: Why does Black Adam pick a fight with Superman?

In the movie “Black Adam” (played by Dwayne Johnson), the character Black Adam is portrayed as a multifaceted comic book figure who sometimes acts morally when it benefits him, but isn’t hesitant to commit villainous deeds. Essentially, in this film, he can be considered a protagonist who eliminates his adversaries. However, the intriguing post-credits scene of the movie becomes perplexing since Black Adam is working for Kahndaq and attempting to do what’s right for them.

In the climax of “Black Adam,” the main character aspires to govern Kahndaq as a guardian rather than a tyrant, which initially appears benevolent. However, he does not show any signs of desiring to dominate other territories. Yet, Amanda Waller is still adamant about keeping him confined within Kahndaq, and her persistence takes an ominous turn when she dispatches a drone as a warning. The threat seems to imply potential repercussions, which appear to be Superman, who makes an entrance with the intention of subduing Black Adam.

In simpler terms, it seems unusual for Black Adam to clash with Waller when his main goal is to mind his own business and protect Kahndaq, which Waller appears to be fine with. If only Black Adam had communicated this intention clearly, the conflict could have been prevented. It’s also puzzling why Superman appeared at that specific moment. Could it be that he’s working with Waller? Or perhaps there’s another explanation for his timely arrival. If everyone would simply leave Black Adam in peace, he poses no threat.

The Flash: He never learns a lesson

2023’s “The Flash,” which had a 10-year journey to the big screen, turned out to be an average movie, tainted by some cringe-worthy CGI sequences. Despite its flaws, one might overlook them if the narrative were captivating. Regrettably, the film concludes without Barry Allan failing to grasp the key lesson from the “Flashpoint Paradox” storyline.

In the film, Barry Allen (portrayed by Ezra Miller) journeys back in time to save his mother, a decision that causes a chain reaction resulting in General Zod (Michael Shannon) menacing a world without Superman. He comes to understand that safeguarding the planet necessitates him ensuring his mother’s death, a poignant instance of Barry choosing the greater good over his personal desires. However, during the dramatic finale, he briefly deviates to arrange for his father’s image to appear on security cameras at a grocery store. This allows his father to be exonerated, as it provides an alibi that keeps him out of prison for the murder of Barry’s mother.

The main idea behind “The Flash” is that although you might yearn for a chance to change the past, it’s essential to appreciate what you have now. However, Barry Allen disregards this notion in order to have one parent in his life. This decision also alters things significantly because the new Batman in his universe resembles George Clooney rather than Ben Affleck. It appears that he’s content living in this altered reality despite its similarities, but it undermines the movie’s underlying message.

2025-04-29 14:33