Posts tagged dc
REVIEW: ‘Superman’ is bright, hopeful and jam-packed. Almost to a fault.
REVIEW: ‘Superman’ is bright, hopeful and jam-packed. Almost to a fault.

On a meta level, Gunn’s movie is an announcement of its own. He and his newly reset DC Universe of movies and TV shows need a standard-bearer, and that role naturally falls to the so-called Big Blue: the most powerful hero in the lineup and the one mainstream audiences know the best. And as certain toxic fans out there will be quick to tell you, Gunn wants everything about this new era of stories to be different. He wants a brighter, more uplifting tone (at least for Superman) and less grungy realism compared to the DC Comics-inspired movies of the last 20-odd years. By wiping the slate clean and starting again, there’s a lot to set up, and much of that falls on the shoulders of this new movie.

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Film, New ReleasesRobert Snowsuperman, david corenswet, nicholas hoult, rachel brosnahan, nathan fillion, james gunn, dc, dcu, 2025, movies, reviewComment
REVIEW: 'Birds of Prey' (and the less-than-fantabulous reception of one critic)
REVIEW: 'Birds of Prey' (and the less-than-fantabulous reception of one critic)

I had all the ingredients for a brisk, 109-minute ride of joy – a wonderful pastel palette, funny characters, well-choreographed action – but I was also thrown into each and every one of its numerous directions at dizzying speeds, and by the end of it I felt like it was, for the most part, a hit.

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Film, New ReleasesJason Chenbirds of prey, harley quinn, fantabulous emanicipation, margot robbie, mary elizabeth winstead, jurnee smollett-bell, dc, cathy yan, ewan mcgregor, movies, film, reviewComment
REVIEW: 'Shazam!' - DC has a hit
REVIEW: 'Shazam!' - DC has a hit

Yet, it’s Shazam! that’s the first DC film to really explore this idea of a family, of how there really is a home for everyone and going solo isn’t always so cool. A large portion of the (pretty good) subplot deals with Billy’s attempts to find his birth mother, but when he finally begins to forge a new relationship with his foster family, it’s incredibly uplifting.

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Film, New ReleasesJason Chenshazam, shazam!, zachary levi, billy batson, asher angel, mark strong, marvel, dc, comics, comic books, superhero, film, movies, reviewComment
REVIEW: ‘Aquaman’ is suitably silly, and better than it should be
REVIEW: ‘Aquaman’ is suitably silly, and better than it should be

But because Aquaman mostly steps around the broader story that occupied the previous film, it becomes more fun as a result. It’s an often ridiculous experience, but charmingly so. We get space-opera-style battles between undersea navies, kaiju-like monsters, and some fleeting examples of chemistry between the cast members.

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Film, New ReleasesRobert Snowaquaman, 2018, review, justice league, jason momoa, dc, comics, superhero, marvel, black panther, movies, film, cinemaComment
REVIEW: ‘Wonder Woman’ is a striking meditation on war wrapped in a solid superhero package
REVIEW: ‘Wonder Woman’ is a striking meditation on war wrapped in a solid superhero package

Happily (despite persistent rumours to the contrary) Patty Jenkins’ picture is a sturdy, involving piece of work on its own merits. It uses the broader DC universe as a stage for a reflection on the causes of war – is it something inherent in human nature, or something we can struggle to avoid? And it does so from the unique perspective of a woman being introduced to real combat (and the 20th century) for the first time. While Wonder Woman isn’t immune to the usual genre tropes (uninspiring villains, a messy climax), it’s still a great place to start; not just for female-led comic-book movies, but for the DC franchise as a whole.

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Film, New ReleasesRobert Snowwonder woman, 2017, movies, cinema, film, superhero, comic book, dc, warner bros, review, criticism, superman, batman, gal gadot, chris pine, patty jenkinsComment