#haven't been online much and this got buried in my inbox;;;;;

[sirfrogsworth]

As a possible distraction from the stress you've had lately, I wanted to talk movies! I heard my brother and his friend discussing this conspiracy theory they have about Marvel vs DC films. His friend believes that The Suicide Squad is doing poorly in terms of earnings, despite being made by the same guy who did Guardians of the Galaxy, with a comic book group that has a roster befitting his style, allowing him to pick from a number of characters to get his style on screen without issue. Neither of them have talked to anyone who saw the movie who didn't love it as much as GOTG and they have seen a ton of glowing reviews for the movie. So they believe that reviews are all biased toward Marvel's superhero movies because people will call them great even when they have some huge flaws. They feel like people are willing to overlook things like that in Marvel movies,but not DC and this HAS to be because Disney pays all the reviewers to give DC movies bad reviews. It sounds paranoid to me, but I was curious what your take was, as someone who likes movies and posts about them a fair bit. Do you think this theory holds any water? Do you think there's some kind of conspiracy to bury DC movies under bad reviews while creating a Pro-Marvel bias? To me it seems like a lack of confidence in DC movies. I feel like IF the numbers aren't looking great for The Suicide Squad, which looks great to me, it might be because people do not have faith in a Suicide Squad movie after the last one, but I hear nothing but glowing reviews from people I see online that saw it. Sorry for the lengthy ask, also.

Don't ever apologize to me for a lengthy ask because I will drown you in words because I haven't been succinct in my life. I have written 3 paragraph emails to my parents when all they asked is what I want from McDonald's. I'll give them my philosophy on who makes the best chicken nuggets and a thesis on why air frying french fries even when they are recently cooked makes them much more tasty.

NO MORE LIMP FRIES FOR MEEE, MICKEY D'S!

So... yeah... be verbose in my inbox if you like.

I'm about to unload a bunch of superhero movie opinions. If anyone isn't into that, please feel free to skip this one.

First, I kinda think the entire debate is moot because it is impossible to compare the financial success of The Suicide Squad due to the pandemic. The emergence of the Delta variant just kept people from going to the movies as much. Plus, it got a 91% on Rotten Tomatoes, so Disney must have forgotten to send the checks out this time.

So, I guess I could end it there.

NAHHHHHH.

Here's a few thousand more words! (Sorry in advance.)

Beyond that, R-rated movies always have trouble at the box office. Guardians of the Galaxy was PG-13, just like the rest of the Marvel films, so there is a bevy of teenagers who don't have to buy tickets to Paw Patrol and sneak into The Suicide Squad.

There is also the fact that James Gunn purposely chose lesser known characters that even some comic book fans were unfamiliar with. So I think some folks wanted to see how the movie was perceived before they took a chance on it. It's harder to sell tickets without Batman or Superman in the mix. Not impossible, but that is almost free marketing with more well-known characters.

As far as Marvel movies having flaws... all good movies have flaws. Flaws do not necessarily make a movie bad unless they completely ruin the experience or immersion. I think people make way too big a deal of flaws and plotholes. Much more so than in the past.

The world has started nitpicking movies to death because of social media. Some folks feel compelled to have their hot takes ready to go as soon as the movie is over. Plus, tweets about the bad stuff are much more compelling and get more attention than tweets about the good stuff.

Not enough people digest content and let it sit in their brain for a day or two.

There is also the issue of people seeking out external group opinions and having their own feelings and opinions usurped. I thought it was so damn peculiar how everyone had *exactly* the same complaints about The Last Jedi.

Like, almost word for word.

I was so scared of spoilers that I avoided any discussions of TLJ, so I watched it knowing almost nothing beforehand. I was soooo excited that Leia finally got to use the force and be a badass saving herself from the vacuum of space.

But then all of reddit was like "HOW STUPID WAS MARY POPPINS?"

After that, I realized how powerful mob opinions could be so I made an effort to wait 2 days before reading anyone else's feedback of media just to make sure my opinions were not influenced. I honestly think some people changed their minds and hated TLJ because other people convinced them otherwise.

And then there is the tragic inability of some people to just turn off their brains and absorb content. Flaws are much more apparent if you spend every second of the movie looking for them.

One side is hyperanalyzing moment by moment to make sure there isn't anything too "woke" or "political."

And, if I'm being honest, my fellow progressive friends often hyperanalyze in the moment to make sure media isn't too problematic.

Movies are usually going to have both of those things. I know from personal experience it is challenging to create content and take every single variable into consideration. Some jokes I've had to apologize for. Others I've just had to accept that some people couldn't connect with them even when I feel my intentions were clear. It's not possible to please everyone all the time.

I always try to take what I learn and do better, but I understand that is a journey that does not end. So I think forward progress is what people should be seeking rather than a bar of perfection few could ever meet.

While I think the people scared of too much "wokeness" can fuck right off, I do wish everyone would let themselves escape their brains for a bit. We need distractions from the world. We need escapism.

I mean, unless the problematic-ness is off the chart and blatant or extremely triggering without warning, I think it's best to enjoy the movie as it is in the moment and do the critical analysis of what could be better *after* viewing. Or do it on a second viewing.

I want movies to be less problematic and more inclusive. And I don't want them to make people feel uncomfortable or insulted. But the thing Anita Sarkeesian always said that many ignored was...

"It's both possible, and even necessary, to simultaneously enjoy media while also being critical of its more problematic or pernicious aspects."

I think if the original Star Wars trilogy came out today, people would be crapping on the Ewoks and how they defeated stormtroopers with exceptional log stratagems. Or how Luke made out with his sister. They would say that guy who was gay for the Rancor was social justice run amok. They would say Leia was too feminist and bossy. Han was too creepy. They would think the saber fight between Obi-Wan and Vader looked a bit... geriatric.

Star Wars was riddled with flaws, but people didn't care because it had lasers and spaceships and wizards and puppet wizards and it was fun as heck. No matter what age people were, that movie was seen through the eyes of a child.

Many people have forgotten how to turn off their brains and just enjoy a damn movie. I know some folks have valid reasons for that, but the rest of us need to learn how to reclaim that childhood ability or there may come a point where no content can satisfy our standards.

I love Marvel movies despite their flaws and I think a lot of others feel that way too. Not everyone—some have very valid reasons to dislike Marvel content. While I think they do make that forward progress I talked about... it is definitely *slow* progress. And I can understand if that is frustrating.

But for me, it's about the overall experience. I know when I watch a Marvel movie I'll get some laughs, some good action, a little bit of drama, and I'll have fun. They aren't trying to make masterpieces and, unlike many of the DC movies, they don't take themselves too seriously.

They are my comfort blanket movies.

They take me away from reality and distract me from the world for a bit. They are just serious enough for the drama to impact me and give me feels, but not so realistically serious that I end up in a deep depression for a week. They have made some of the best casting decisions of any franchise so that you fall in love with the characters and want to root for them. And they have been able to maintain a fairly consistent quality all while making the universe seem like an interconnected tapestry of stories. Marvel movies make me feel like I am part of something and that goes a long way to supersede most flaws. I mean, even in the lesser movies I still just enjoy spending time with these characters I have developed parasocial bonds with.

After the success of Nolan's Batman movies, DC decided to go all-in on the darkness. But Zack Snyder is not Christopher Nolan. And Superman isn't Batman. Disney did not have to pay reviewers to dislike DC movies. They just had to encourage Warner Bros. to stick with Zack Snyder's "vision." I know some people passionately enjoy his deal, but his appeal just isn't as broad as Marvel's.

All that said, I do think The Suicide Squad will have cult success in the long run. I think people will be watching and talking about this movie for years to come. It will have a legacy. (And hopefully a few sequels.) It's a different kind of success, but I think it is just as valid and possibly more special than straight-up financial success.

I'd also like to add... I really don't like the DC vs Marvel mentality.

Why does it need to be a competition?

I love superhero movies. Period.

I want *all* of them to be great.

Batman and Superman have been my favorite characters since I was a tadpole because when I came home from being bullied at school, the Batman and Superman cartoons were on the TV waiting for me. (Superman: TAS was underrated but you can watch it in 1080p on HBO MAX right now.)

So I really want to love any movies with those characters in them. I am rooting for these movies. I could give a shit about Marvel vs. DC.

I think the DC Animated movies are wonderful. Some of my favorite Batman material is from the animated stuff. Under the Red Hood was great. And The Dark Knight Returns voiced by RoboCop was a different kind of cool. They're not all winners *looks squarely at The Killing Joke* but I love how many creative risks they take with the animated stuff. I mean, they just did a Bruce Lee-style 70s Kung Fu movie with Batman. And I'm pretty sure he literally went to hell in that one.

I think because the financial stakes are lower, they aren't afraid to make a few turkeys in order to give the creators more freedom to create. And because things are animated, you can still create on a similar or greater scale than a live-action flick.

Whereas Marvel's attempt at animation has been a giant mixed bag. There was a series called The Spectacular Spider-Man that I thought was almost as good as Batman: TAS, but they cancelled it after 2 seasons. There was also a short movie called Hulk vs Wolverine that was fantastic and deserved a series, but nothing more ever happened with it.

So Marvel isn't always winning this imaginary, needless competition.

But much of the recent DC live action movies up until now have kind of broken my heart. I think they all had potential but many of them just had too much gritty, grimdark Zack Snyder juice on them.

He needs a good writer. (Perhaps one that thinks Ayn Rand is a hack.) I think if someone else took control of the narrative stuff, he'd be seen as a less divisive figure and a better director.

Man of Steel had some of the best superhero action I've ever seen. I think it is the first live action movie to do fighting while flying in an exciting way. Even Marvel has struggled with that.

But the story was just... weird.

Superman is supposed to be optimistic.

He wears hope on his chest but doesn't seem to have any in his character?

Henry Cavill is such a fun, affable, ripped-as-fuck nerd and they just had him be sad all the time. That seems like such a waste.

I literally yelled at my screen when a tornado ate Pa Kent for no good reason. I mean, one little adjustment and that could have been a powerful scene. What if Pa Kent was in a situation that Clark was unable to save him from? (Like the heart attack in 1978 Superman.) What if Clark learned that even with all his power, he still can't save everyone?

Or what if Pa told Clark to save strangers *instead* of him?

That scene was more than a flaw. More than a nitpick. And an example of why DC movies have struggled more than Marvel movies.

Disney need not pay anything to get reviewers to criticize "MARTHAAAAA!"

And then Lex Luthor went and Jar Jar'd all over the sequels.

I believe DC has earned their mixed bag reputation in live action. Wonder Woman was great (reviewers thought so too), but then they stumbled on the sequel. Shazam was decent (reviewers thought so too), but it didn't feel connected to anything else, so I don't think it helped the expanded universe. I really liked The Suicide Squad but, like Shazam, I don't know if it can lift the universe up on its own.

Perhaps if DC is committed to darker, grittier content, they should go all-in with the R-rated movies. An R-rated Batman would be great.

Quit half-assing the darkness.

So, no... I don't think there is any conspiracy. Marvel is self aware. I think people underestimate the power of self awareness. They don't try to go beyond what they promise. They don't try to win Oscars. They don't try to reinvent the superhero wheel. They just do what they do as best as they can do it. And I have found the Rotten Tomatoes scores in line with how much I enjoyed the Marvel movies.

They don't always get perfect Rotten Tomatoes scores either. My least favorite (but still enjoyable) movie was Thor: The Dark World. It got a 66%. Maybe a little high, but it has Darcy in it so I always add 10% for Kat Dennings calling the hammer Mew-Mew.

And Iron Man 2 got a 72%. Again, maybe it was a little inflated even if I still enjoyed it. I think it probably deserved a low 60%. The first Iron Man set a very high bar.

And on the flip side, I find the critics' reviews in line with how much I enjoyed Zack Snyder's efforts as well. I gave him credit for the Snyder Cut. I happily concede it was a much better movie than I expected. I was sure it would suck when people first started talking about the secret vault with the *true* version. It got a fresh rating of 71%. Which I think is very good considering it was a mulligan and people had seen a lot of the footage already and it was like 48304389 hours long.

But Zack really really thinks he's a genius and ends up making a lot of cringe because of it. He does not have the all-important self awareness that Marvel does. I'm positive he thought MARTHAAAA!!! was so goddamn clever and impactful. He was patting himself on the back for weeks after thinking of that idea—probably pestering his close friends like, "Did you ever notice Batman and Superman both have mothers with the same name? Eh? EHHH? I AM SO SMART TO HAVE NOTICED THIS COINCIDENCE!"

If I were Warner Bros, I would pay whatever it takes and hire James Gunn to be their Kevin Feige. James has said GotG 3 will be his last Marvel film. Let him make a weird, funny, R-rated DC universe.

I better stop here. I can talk about superhero movies forever.

Hopefully I have debunked this conspiracy theory enough.

And hopefully I also lobbed some interesting opinions for people to digest and disagree with completely.

All opinions are my own and it is totally cool if you have different ones.

[onlythegentle-survive]

hello! pwmov anon here! I hope you're doing alright!

So, you asked me if I had been reading something recently. Well kinda. My mom got me a book that i asked her to buy me one (mostly bc the bookstores near me are far away and i craved books and this was at sam's club) so i picked up a book that was fantasy and it sounded very interesting. But thing is after i bought it i looked up the warnings and the author left a post on Goodreads saying the book has a lot of gore. And i tried reading it but I'm not sure I'll continue it :/. $15 down the drain. I was thinking that maybe if i were to read fantasy maybe i should stick to young adult fantasy. Not like whole adult fantasy. So in reality i haven't really read anything. I've been sticking to fanfics and I've been reading for new characters from my fandoms (marvel and star wars) and it has been fun. Until i have money again and maybe i can buy a book or whatever.

Okay so i wanted to talk to u about something else. Remember how we talked about the future and what we wanted to do with our lives in the studying/work kinda thing. Well. I had this idea. And that was, to open up a bookshop.

I live in the Caribbean, so basically, an island. And there's not much bookstores that sell stuff i may like. There's literally 3 (all from the same name/company/whatever). And yesterday i got recommended a book store from here that i had never heard before and i got so excited. Sadly it's 2 hours away. But i got so excited for them bc i felt like i was watching my dream live out in them. Bc my dream was also theirs. (They opened the other day legit)

But i did felt a bit jealous. Bc for the past months I've had this thought of what if what if what if i opened up a bookstore.

I know people read here but they mostly buy online. But opening up a store would be so cool and entertaining bc i would be surrounded by stuff i love. Which is books.

This is a thought i have but idk if it will happen. I feel like i day dream a lot about stuff. Especially about my future. What would my apartment be like when i live alone, if i will have the same car i have now, will i still be living in the island?

I kinda wanna stay here tho. I like it here. I feel comfy here.

But i get so sad that we don't have a lot of bookstores. And libraries are no good bc all they have are books for education. Not for example romance which is a genre i like.

Anyways, seeing those people open up a bookstore that sells books that are interesting to me, all by themselves made me think: "if they can, so can i".

I hope i can go to their bookstore sometime even if it's so far away.

For now. I'll just keep daydreaming and thinking about my future.

Have a nice day! 💖

I am so sorry this is so delayed. It got buried under a few other asks/replies in my inbox. I hope you've been doing well, my friend!

I understand completely about not wanting to continue a book because of specific things/triggers. It's always so frustrating/disappointing. Did you end up continuing?

A bookstore would be a great job to have, especially if you own it yourself! That's such a lovely dream to have (and it's one that I've considered as well) :)

Have a nice day, too! 💜