#i wanna find some story about batman saving some villain who at first glance seemed horribly evil but is actually just

[loverboybrightsideghost]

bruce the batman wayne is something that can be so personal

[bigyack-com]

After Birds of Prey, a definitive ranking of the DC Extended Universe films - hollywood

It is unclear what is more dramatic: the tragic derailment of the DCEU, or the manner in which Warner Bros has attempted to bring the superhero franchise back on track. What began as a hungry move to replicate the success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe has turned into a textbook example of crisis resolution in the film industry. No other film franchise in this current era - not even Universal’s laughably bad Dark Universe - has been scrutinised with such passion, and passionate hate. It is almost as if a certain section of fandom - and not necessarily Marvel fandom; there are detractors even in the DC camp - is willing the DCEU to crash and burn. A couple of years ago, Warner Bros made the excuse that while the DC films had received a critical drubbing, the studio gauged success on the basis of how the audience received the movies - and the solid box office performance of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Suicide Squad was proof that critics were out of touch with the general public. The release of Wonder Woman seemed to reassert this notion. The film became the first in the series to receive a ‘fresh’ rating on the review aggregator site, Rotten Tomatoes, and for a brief moment in time, everything was OK in the DC universe. But around the same time as Wonder Woman was having a game changing theatrical run, news about a massively troubled Justice League began brewing. Justice League went into production a few weeks after BvS’ release - far too late in the day for any sort of major change to be made in the same dour tone that director Zack Snyder had set for his answer to Marvel’s Avengers. When Snyder turned in an assembly cut - not a director’s cut, but merely an ‘assembly’ of usable footage - it was the final straw. Warner Bros set up a committee to oversee the film, and to provide feedback. One of the members of this committee was Joss Whedon, director of Avengers and Avengers: Age of Ultron, who’d had his own, very public falling out with Marvel Studios. In May 2017, Snyder stepped down from the film - the reason given at the time was personal, but it has since been rumoured that he was made to leave - and Whedon was hired to finish work on the movie. Justice League is essentially a film that was shot twice, inflating its budget like venom inflates Bane’s muscles. The final result was a hodgepodge of conflicting ideas and tones, a feeble attempt at putting together a team movie, lacking any sort of personality. Say what you will about BvS, at least it looked and felt like a Zack Snyder movie. All this context was crucial to the story of Aquaman - the most successful DC film, and perhaps one of the last to retain the core stars, who were all cast by the long-gone Snyder. Aquaman can serve as a bridge between the DCEU’s misguided past, and its refreshing future. This march continued with Shazam!, which is perhaps as far removed from the dour Snyder movies as can be possible. Suddenly, the DCEU finds itself on a winning streak, a streak that it will want to continue with this week’s Birds of Prey, the first R-rated film of the franchise. Here’s a ranking of the films, from worst to best. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

Batman v Superman is not so much a superhero movie as it is a story about two mamma’s boys measuring the length of their capes, finding that they disagree, and proceeding to poke each other with threats of ‘you wanna go first?’ for a solid two-and-a-half hours. This obsession with moms is a running theme in the DCEU, and forms the emotional core of Aquaman and Shazam!. BvS was clearly a compromised vision - the ‘ultimate edition’ that was released a few months later is an infinitely better film, and were it to be ranked on this list instead, it would find itself at a much higher position. Justice League

Justice League is the sort of movie that can be excruciatingly dumb at any given moment; with forced jokes that have the hit rate of a drunk stormtrooper, jaw-droppingly inane plotting that often pales in comparison to the original DC animated series, but it can also make a houseful crowd of excited fans positively palpitate with pure joy. It continued the DC Extended Universe’s bizarre trend of producing films that are direct reactions to their immediate predecessors. And for all its faults – an ugly third-act show down that looks like a mid-2000s PlayStation 2 video game, Danny Elfman’s instantly forgettable (and shamelessly rehashed) musical score, one of the most unimaginative (and cheap-looking) main villains in recent memory – Justice League wasn’t as terrible as it could so easily have been. Suicide Squad

All it took was one scene. One scene transformed Suicide Squad. It wasn’t necessarily the best scene – in fact, in any other movie, it would barely merit a second glance. But for Suicide Squad it was a godsend. It came nestled in the heart of the film - following an hour or so of jarring, time-hopping, clumsy storytelling – and preceding another hour of more of the same. Not only was it the first time our characters resembled real, relatable human beings, it also proved, however briefly and despite what we’d seen so far, that Suicide Squad has a heart. It sent our characters, all dressed in their ridiculous costumes, drenched in water and blood, to a bar. No explosions, no fistfights, no Joker - just the quietest member of the Squad, El Diablo (Jay Hernandez), telling a story. It’s the scene that cemented the gruffly sentimental relationship between these characters and saved the film. Aquaman

James Wan’s Aquaman actively distanced itself from the heavy metal take on the character that Snyder had originally envisioned. And with more time on his hands, Jason Momoa took Arthur Curry in surprising new directions. It was quite a wonderful big screen experience - Atlantis looked stunning, as did the creatures and Wan’s affectionate world-building - but it was the earnestness with which the film treated its characters that is its most endearing quality. Man of Steel

Without any doubt, my favourite single moment of any DCEU movie comes in Man of Steel. Snyder is clearly someone who understands the iconography of superheroes better than anyone else - that teaser trailer alone was a work of art; the one in which a child put his hands on his hips and the whole world suddenly realised what they were watching. But for a brief second in Man of Steel, Snyder accomplished - in my opinion - what he was going for all this while, a deconstruction of myths, a grounding of gods. Alone and misunderstood, Clark Kent goes from town to town, taking up odd jobs, convinced that his father - Pa Kent - was right; to reveal his powers to this cruel world would only bring trouble. And so he drifts, between dive bars and oil rigs, unsure of himself. We see him walk on a highway, his back to us, the evening sky slowly welcoming darkness. Clark turns around, sees an incoming truck, and sticks out his thumb, hoping for a stranger to show kindness. The truck doesn’t stop. And Clark keeps walking to wherever the road will take him. I think about this moment very often. This is Superman. So vulnerable, so alone. No one to help him. And yet, he dedicates his life to helping others. This one moment perfectly captures the flawed brilliance of Snyder’s DCEU. Birds of Prey

Birds of Prey is essentially the story of Harley Quinn emerging from under the Joker’s shadow, and the DCEU distancing itself from its past. It has virtually no bearing on the larger series, but as a standalone adventure, it’s a terrific showcase for Robbie’s talents as an actor. It’s interesting to note how, in the span of just over a decade, the pendulum has swung from Joel Schumacher’s lurid Batman films to the gritty realism of Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy, and back again. Shazam!

Shazam! was an altogether different experience - both in tone and in scope - from previous DCEU entries, and this includes the largely beloved Wonder Woman and the box office smash Aquaman. It was, at the risk of invoking the wrath of fans on both sides, to the DCEU what Thor: Ragnarok and Spider-Man: Homecoming were to the Marvel Cinematic Universe - lighter, less angry, and positively delightful. Under the unlikely direction of Swedish filmmaker David F Sandberg, Shazam! was as magical as its title suggested; heartfelt, humorous and burdened by none of the hubris of Batman v Superman and Man of Steel. Wonder Woman

Wonder Woman is the sort of movie that makes you forgive things it got wrong solely on the strength of everything it got right. And it got a lot of things right. It was the first film in the DC Extended Universe that was worthy of its iconic character, and it did what both Batman and Superman couldn’t do: It gave us hope for what’s to come. It was still crippled by the influence of Zack Snyder in its CGI slugfest of a final act - an annoying trend that for some reason James Wan chose to honour in Aquaman - but it was so much more than just a great film. Wonder Woman was perhaps the defining superhero movie of a post-Trump era - what Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy was to a post-9/11 world. It’s an earnest film, which often feels too pure for this horrid world. And that no man’s land sequence is right up there with The Master’s ‘don’t blink’ scene as one of the greatest of the decade. Follow @htshowbiz for more The author tweets @RohanNaahar Read the full article

[puppyeoll]

Devil in Disguise

Joker!Baek (some good visuals in his tag for this particular piece)

AU list

word count: 4054 (ohmyyy!)

Fate had not been so kind. Or maybe this was for the best and it was only you who thought it to be unkind. That night on patrol was just another boring night; no special appearance by the Joker, or anyone for that matter. When Batman joined you later that evening to finish the watch, he commented on your seemingly low mood. It took you a moment to maintain composure so he wouldn’t suspect anything but in the end you tell him it was just another boring night. He laughed, and you sensed his relief that this was the worst of your problems at the moment, or so he thought. He never asked how you spent that afternoon and you made no effort to tell him of those few hours you spent with the Joker. Those few hours starting to feel like a dream and not a distant memory.

It’s been weeks since that day and you haven’t seen or heard of the Joker since. You were starting to think that maybe the boy you spent time with that day wasn’t him at all. Of course, that couldn’t be true because he told you things only he would know, but that didn’t stop the seed of doubt from growing. And then, the worst possible thing started to happen.

You were worried about him.

Worrying about a boy who had been taken in by a fiend made of living nightmares. A boy who was bred to strike fear into others with the devil’s grin. A grin so beautiful, you couldn’t find it within yourself to call it evil. And it was possible he wasn’t all evil. You had never even witnessed him do anything evil. Besides the fight you had when you first met, he’s been off the grid. But you couldn’t forget that certain gleam in his eyes that was an obvious sign that his moral compass was broken. What started out as defense slowly turned into a craving for that rush of adrenaline.

I wont hurt you… because I like you, little bird.

He said those words to you. In his struggle to not tip the delicate balance that was his mental state, he said he didn’t want to hurt you. Your biggest debate was whether you wanted to believe it was a true promise.

Batman called you down to the batcave one morning for a briefing. When you entered, he waited by the table with two very odd things. An elegant dress and a slip of paper in his hand.

“It’s about time you show some appreciation for me.” you say. He actually cracks a smile.

“As much as I do owe you, Robin, this is not for fun.” he walks over to hand you the paper.

“An invitation? I didn’t know the Batman goes to fancy parties.”

“He doesn’t. But he shows up when he needs to.”

“And Robin?” you ask, reading over the invitation. Judging by the name of the host, this was going to be a big deal.

“Let’s Batman know if he needs to crash the party.”

You give him an amused look, but as he stared back at you, he knew your thoughts.

“I’ll be there with you, don’t worry.” he turns around back to the table and from behind the chair, he pulls up a three piece tuxedo.

“As excited as I am to see this, what’s the real reason we’re going. I don’t remember the last time the heir of Kim Enterprises made an appearance without an ulterior motive.

He gave you an approving nod. “Perceptive as always, Robin. I have reason to believe the Joker will also make an appearance here.”

“The old and dead one, or the boy who was so lucky to inherit his title.”

“Doesn’t matter.” Batman said.

“Yes it does! They are two different people. Two different levels of destruction. Mind you, one isn’t even alive.”

“We don’t know that.”

You give an exasperated sigh. Batman had every reason to be paranoid that the Joker didn’t truly perish, but no news is supposed to be good news. And as you’ve thought about before, the new Joker didn’t seem like a true villain.

Getting dolled up was a lot more fun than expected, especially since being a vigilante wasn't always the most glamorous job. As you went about your day, you couldn’t help but have this terrible inkling in the back of your mind. Something was going to go horribly wrong. No matter how hard you wished for it to go away, the thought made a permanent stain amongst your thoughts. The faux date that was a couple hours of ice skating with the Joker couldn’t quell the impending storm you felt was coming.

The limo pulled up to the grand building where the event took place. The host was a new up and coming architect and wanted to show off what he could do. So far you were impressed, which meant the inside could only be that much more incredible. At the entrance was a bouncer, to which your invite was given to.

“Name?”

“Kim Junmyeon, and guest.” your partner spoke. The bouncer skimmed his list and checked off the name, motioning that you two could go in.

“And guest? Really?” you poke at him.

“You’re much more than that. You know that.” he soothed. You hated how he always knew what to say.

As he led you further into the building, you gripped his arm a bit harder, which didn’t go unnoticed by him. The interior was just a stunning as the exterior, putting you in awe as you made your way in further. Aside from the building, all the guests were stunning as well. Floor length gowns adorned all the women with the brightest and shiniest of jewels hanging from their necks and ears. Men were in tuxes of varying color, depending on who was sporting them, but still all equally handsome. You couldn’t help but pay special close attention to them because, just maybe, the Joker was amongst them. It was no doubt a recipe for trouble but it was still a thought in your head.

“Looking for someone?” Junmyeon whispered, noticing your glances around the room.

“Nope. Just admiring all the beautiful guests.”

He too looked around, nodding his head in agreement.

“Feel free to mingle. But be discreet.”

“You mean don’t tell them I’m Robin.”

He instantly pulled you closer, giving you a warning. Before he could say more, someone approached the two of you. You smiled widely.

“Minseok!” Junmyeon happily greeted. The other man smiled equally wide and shook both your hands. “Glad you could make it.”

“I couldn’t miss out on such a party.” he replies, pushing his glasses up higher on his nose.

“We’re always happy to have you visit.” you tell him. He gave you a wink, easily making you blush.

“Hopefully tonight will be just for fun.”

You turn to Junmyeon, looking puzzled.

“Did you call him?” you immediately deducted.

“I… told him it would be good to see him and asked if he was interested in joining us here.”

You give a skeptical look to Minseok.

“I can’t say no to Batman.” was his answer.

“Yeah okay. I don’t even wanna know what window you came through to get in here.”

They both laughed, so you took your cue to leave the heroes to talk business while you scoped the place out.

The party went on just as expected. You mingled a bit, keeping your story short since you hadn’t had much time to prepare much of a profile other than being an assistant to the Kim Junmyeon and working at Kim Enterprises. Other than that, nothing else seemed out of place. The host and star of the night gave a speech, explaining his story and then gave a toast to great company and gratitude for the great turn out. He was a young and genuine man. You were kind of hoping to get a moment to talk with him and at least congratulate him on his accomplishment. But of course, he was the popular guy tonight so getting him alone was proving to be difficult.

You went to get a drink, just some water after you noticed Junmyeon have a glass or two of wine. Someone had to be the sober one. As you pour yourself a glass, a sudden feeling takes over you. Someone was watching you. Casually, you look over your shoulder but see no one was within a few feet of you and most people had their backs turned. You turn around and lean against the table, feigning boredom, as you scan the crowd. People were mingling, dancing in the center under a grand chandelier, walking around admiring the building like it was a museum. But no one in particular paid you any attention. You shrug and sip your water. To your left, someone clears their throat. It spooked you a bit, still feeling on edge and the person laughed.

“I’m sorry,” they begin. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”

You turn your head and notice it was the host of the night. He was tall, handsome, and his voice was a very pleasant sound. Hearing him up close, only speaking to you was much different than how he sounded over a microphone addressing a crowd. His voice enveloped you in a warm embrace, and you just wanted to get closer to hear him speak more.

“I was just lost in thought, is all.” you explain. His smile was equally warm like his voice.

He opens his mouth speak but the lights suddenly dim. First slowly, and then they were nearly out save for a few spotlights focused at the top of the stairs. You were the first to look away, placing your attention to where the spotlights shined. The host stepped forward to get a closer look, but you instinctively grab his arm and pull him back. He doesn’t question your action as you step ahead of him and move into the crowd to get a closer. Your heart begins to race, sending chills over you as you shake away horrible thoughts. He couldn’t be here. He wouldn’t do any harm. But you knew it was too good to be true. It was the perfect event where nearly the whole city was gathered in one place. If he had a message to send, there was no better place than here. You scan the crowd but Junmyeon and Minseok were nowhere to be seen; which was hopefully a good sign. You near the edge of the crowd right in front of the stairs, looking up to the top and meeting that familiar stare. His face was neutral, but when his eyes locked onto yours, that devilish smirk lit up his face. A gasp is released from the crowd.

“It certainly is a beautiful night to have such an extravagant party.” the Joker says. “I’m a bit offended I didn’t get an invitation.” he pouts, bottom lip turned out and eyes glistening.

“Who are you?” the host asks. He really must be new to town because everyone else in the room clearly knows who the party crasher is.

“I’m so glad you asked!” the Joker replies excitedly, jumping onto the railing and sliding down expertly. It was your cue to get out of there to change but you were held in place by the Joker’s stare. He landed perfectly at the bottom of the landing, waltzing right into the crowd right before you could make your escape, his eyes on you the entire time. He walked passed you like he didn’t know you while the rest of the crowd parted like the sea for him as he walked to the center. As he gave his grand introduction, you ran to the north end where the foyer was. The bathrooms were off to the side and you slipped in unnoticed. You Robin gear was stashed in the supply closet, courtesy of Batman, and you changed faster than you ever had. By the time you entered the main room, the Joker was only just starting his act. Surprisingly, Batman was nowhere to be seen.

Staying close to the walls, you aim your grapple to the top floor and fly up to land perfectly at the top of the stairs. Just as you replace the tool in your belt, Batman joins you at your side.

“Oh! Batman, you weren’t invited either? Seems like the host isn’t very generous to those unlike him and all these other mundanes.”

You felt Batman seething next to you, but he was calculating. Striking too early surely wouldn’t end well, so he let the Joker babble on and wait for a more opportune moment.

“But you aren’t the real Joker, are you?” the host spoke up. He maybe be a genius designer and architect, but not so smart when it came to handling villains.

“No, I’m not.” the green haired boy answered, swinging his cane in his hand. “I’m what’s left of him after his demise. I may not live up to his title, but I can try.”

“I don’t think you’ll live long enough to succeed.” Batman interrupted. You look at him, unable to conceal your shock. What he said was extremely dark, even for him.

“Play nice, Batman. I haven’t even begun what’s in store for tonight.” the Joker aims his cane upwards and shots exploded. What came out were small fireworks, lighting up the dome ceiling. The crowd gasped but everyone was in a small state of awe. The Joker opened his suit jacket and took a handful of something and stuffed it into his cane. He began shooting again but this time, confetti came out, though not the good kind. The confetti flew high up but as it floated down, they began exploding and noxious fumes began filling the air. Batman immediately raced down the stairs, nearly flying to begin evacuating the guests. A few windows shattered and you didn’t need to look to see what caused it.

“It’s Superman!” people began to shout. Just in time, he used his powerful lungs to suck up the toxic fumes and then flew out the window to release them where they wouldn’t cause harm.

You kept your eyes on the Joker the entire time, waiting for him to do worse. And he did. Clearly unhappy how his plans were being foiled, he loaded his cane and aimed at Batman. You cry out to warn him, but it was too late. A sticky bomb landed on the Dark Knight, rendering him immobile and sending him to the ground. You leap down the stairs to tell people to keep calm and evacuate, but an explosion stops the traffic. The two columns near the foyer entrance lay in a pieces, blocking the way out. You then tell people to find safety at any place they can.

As they rush passed you, you make your way to the Joker, ready to take him on. Quickly looking to Batman, he gives you a nod before he goes back to freeing himself from his sticky prison. With staff in hand, you swing it and hit the Joker’s cane, knocking it loose.

“Little Bird, I’m glad to see you here.”

“But why are you here?”

“If Superman can be invited, when he doesn’t even live here, then why am I to be left out?” he retrieves his cane and leans on it casually.

“Because you’re here to hurt people.”

“No one has to get hurt unless they’re in the way. I just thought this party could use more entertainment!” he throws his arms up in a grand gesture, more confetti and streamers flying out of his sleeves. They explode high in the air, but not as pretty fireworks like before. The gathering of smoke in the room finally sets off the sprinkler system, effectively drenching everyone on the room.

The struggle you felt within you, to fight or not to fight was fading. No one may be hurt, but he was endangering the people and he must be stopped. You flew at him with your staff raised high, striking him hard.

“It doesn’t have to be like this, Robin.” he says coolly.

“No one is impressed with your tricks!” you again aim for his cane but he fights back, defending from your hits and even landing some onto you. In the back you hear Superman return and help Batman up. Together they try to create a new escape route for the guests.

“If you all leave, no one will see the grand finale!” the Joker exclaims. He breaks away from your fight, running towards the stairs with you in hot pursuit. He detaches the flower that was pinned to his suit and presses its center. Each of the five petals fly in different directions, some high and some low. They attach to other columns and two go up to the chandelier.

“No stop!” you cry.

There were still too many people running around. If the chandelier falls, there’s no way it won’t be without casualties. You run back to divert people away from the impending crash. Screams grow louder as the petals begin exploding. From the corner of your eye, you see the host on the ground, nearly getting trampled by the stampede of guests. You go to help him up, but something strikes you hard, making you collapse on the ground. It was a piece of the chandelier beginning to shatter. Batman is at your side in an instant to help you up. The damage wasn’t dire, you were still able to move without too much trouble. Superman flies high to go after the Joker but you call out to him to help the people instead.

“Batman, please find another escape, I can handle him.”

Through his cowl, you knew he was looking at you with extreme concern. But he trusted you. So he listened and left you to prove yourself. You turn to see the host getting up, giving you a slight smile.

“I’m fine, just get him out of here.” he tells you.

Before you could say anything, another explosion grasps your attention. The Joker marches down the stairs as smoke and fire are left in his wake.

Anger fueling your being, you dispatch all your batarangs and throw them at the Joker, but he expertly deflects them with his cane.

“I know all your moves, little bird. There isn’t much you can do to stop me.”

He runs at you, cane raised and you fight again. Parring off each others hits, you wonder if the battle will ever end. The pain in your back from the hit earlier begins to weaken you. The Joker hits an opening and you fall to the ground. He presses the end of his cane to your chest, pinning you there.

“Why are you doing this?” you ask, finally exhausted.

He leans closer to you. A crease in his brow reveals his frustration. The sweat beading at his temples show just how tired he is too. “I have yet to prove myself. I can’ let him take away anything else from me.” he whispers.

“What?”

His face softens, but you don’t hear his response as he gets knocked over by Superman swooping down, scooping you up in the process.

“What did he say!” you cry. “Put me down!”

“The building is collapsing, I’m evacuating everyone as fast as I can. That means you too!” he yells back. You squirm out of his arms so quickly he almost drops you. He gets you down safely behind turned over tables, far away from the center of the room. Surveying the room, through the mist of water and smoke you see the Joker standing in the middle under the chandelier. You notice his tired stance, leaning on his cane like it was his only support with his head down and hair covering his face. He lifts his hand straight up and something flies out, landing on the only remaining light in the room directly above him.

“Baek, no!” you shout.

He looks up and meets your gaze. His expression mirrored yours. Surprise, mixed with the slightest hint of hope.

The chandelier explodes, raining down in millions of tiny little pieces. You hop over the table and race to him. The entire sprint there, all you could think about was why did you call him that, and why in the world did it feel so familiar. You run straight into him, pushing him out of the way of the falling remains of the chandelier that would have killed him.

The entire room is in smoke and the rain still falling from the sprinklers. You lay in a heap with the Joker, but it seems the impact has knocked him unconscious.

“Please wake up.” you whisper to him as you shake him. Looking around, the building was nearly empty. You could hear coughs and a few cries from people as they look for their companions who remained unseen. Batman and Superman haven’t found you yet, so you took the opportunity.

Dragging the Joker’s limp form, you find a crawl space in the rubble of the columns and go through there. It eventually led to the outside, where the air was cool but dry. People were scattered all over the entrance, still exiting the building or looking for others. Police, firetrucks, and ambulance were already on the scene, but you didn’t want to get caught. Sticking to the shadows, you escape into the first alley you find. Halfway down, you feel the Joker come to, coughing and struggling to move.

“I’m fine. Let me up.” he says, and you do as so. He straightens but immediately trips forward.

“You’re hurt.” you acknowledge, throwing his arm over your shoulder so he could lean on you. He turns to look at you, blood dripping down the side of his face, but a smile was on his lips.

“Turn left when we get to the end. I know a place we can rest.”

You follow his instructions, where he eventually led you to an abandoned pastry shop. He took a key out from his pocket and got you two inside, locking up afterwards. It made you nervous, but only slightly.

“No more tricks up my sleeves. Please don’t be scared.” he says, collapsing into a booth that still had the seat intact. You make your way to him slowly, but then give in and fall into the opposite seat. You were exhausted.

“You know my name.” he finally mentions.

“I do.”

He looks at you curiously. “How?”

“I don’t know.” you admit. “I think I’ve said it before.”

The Joker leans back, contemplating your words. “Not since we’ve met.”

“No. Some time, long ago.” you muse. You couldn’t remember for the life of you why you knew his name. There was just an inkling that you’ve said it before, in a situation similar to this.

“I’m sure the Batman is looking for his Robin. You must go.” he says, breaking your contemplation. Looking up at him, his face shows just how torn he is to say that. He was in a rare moment where he was thinking clearly, and thinking of others well being.

“But-“

“Contrary to your belief, I can take care of myself.” he smiled. And it was the most convincing smile ever.

“If you’re sure.”

“Don’t come looking for me. You’ll see me soon enough.” he gave you a wink too.

“Don’t throw all your charm at me all at once.”

He leaned forward, resting his chin in his hand. “I knew you found me charming.”

“A discussion for another time.” you say, standing up to make your way out.

“Goodnight, little bird.”

“Until next time.” you mimicked him with a grand bow, only to remember your back was in excruciating pain.

“There’s only room for one of us to be like that.” he joked.

You both stared at each other a moment longer, engraving this moment into your memories, along with the one that haunted you from so long ago. Just before you stepped out, you turned to ask him about that moment.

“A discussion for another time.” he repeats to you, easily knowing what you wished to ask.

You smile, leaving on that note.

Some more action for y’all! Did you like my batman and superman reveal? Any guesses on who the host is?? (or suggestions, since I’m still deciding).  I was listening to the entire Beauty and the Beast soundtrack while I wrote this (aka it took me a really long time!) Any comments or critique is always appreciated :) thank you for taking time to read this <3 

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After Birds of Prey, a definitive ranking of the DC Extended Universe films - hollywood

It is unclear what is more dramatic: the tragic derailment of the DCEU, or the manner in which Warner Bros has attempted to bring the superhero franchise back on track. What began as a hungry move to replicate the success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe has turned into a textbook example of crisis resolution in the film industry. No other film franchise in this current era - not even Universal’s laughably bad Dark Universe - has been scrutinised with such passion, and passionate hate. It is almost as if a certain section of fandom - and not necessarily Marvel fandom; there are detractors even in the DC camp - is willing the DCEU to crash and burn. A couple of years ago, Warner Bros made the excuse that while the DC films had received a critical drubbing, the studio gauged success on the basis of how the audience received the movies - and the solid box office performance of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Suicide Squad was proof that critics were out of touch with the general public. The release of Wonder Woman seemed to reassert this notion. The film became the first in the series to receive a ‘fresh’ rating on the review aggregator site, Rotten Tomatoes, and for a brief moment in time, everything was OK in the DC universe. But around the same time as Wonder Woman was having a game changing theatrical run, news about a massively troubled Justice League began brewing. Justice League went into production a few weeks after BvS’ release - far too late in the day for any sort of major change to be made in the same dour tone that director Zack Snyder had set for his answer to Marvel’s Avengers. When Snyder turned in an assembly cut - not a director’s cut, but merely an ‘assembly’ of usable footage - it was the final straw. Warner Bros set up a committee to oversee the film, and to provide feedback. One of the members of this committee was Joss Whedon, director of Avengers and Avengers: Age of Ultron, who’d had his own, very public falling out with Marvel Studios. In May 2017, Snyder stepped down from the film - the reason given at the time was personal, but it has since been rumoured that he was made to leave - and Whedon was hired to finish work on the movie. Justice League is essentially a film that was shot twice, inflating its budget like venom inflates Bane’s muscles. The final result was a hodgepodge of conflicting ideas and tones, a feeble attempt at putting together a team movie, lacking any sort of personality. Say what you will about BvS, at least it looked and felt like a Zack Snyder movie. All this context was crucial to the story of Aquaman - the most successful DC film, and perhaps one of the last to retain the core stars, who were all cast by the long-gone Snyder. Aquaman can serve as a bridge between the DCEU’s misguided past, and its refreshing future. This march continued with Shazam!, which is perhaps as far removed from the dour Snyder movies as can be possible. Suddenly, the DCEU finds itself on a winning streak, a streak that it will want to continue with this week’s Birds of Prey, the first R-rated film of the franchise. Here’s a ranking of the films, from worst to best. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

Batman v Superman is not so much a superhero movie as it is a story about two mamma’s boys measuring the length of their capes, finding that they disagree, and proceeding to poke each other with threats of ‘you wanna go first?’ for a solid two-and-a-half hours. This obsession with moms is a running theme in the DCEU, and forms the emotional core of Aquaman and Shazam!. BvS was clearly a compromised vision - the ‘ultimate edition’ that was released a few months later is an infinitely better film, and were it to be ranked on this list instead, it would find itself at a much higher position. Justice League

Justice League is the sort of movie that can be excruciatingly dumb at any given moment; with forced jokes that have the hit rate of a drunk stormtrooper, jaw-droppingly inane plotting that often pales in comparison to the original DC animated series, but it can also make a houseful crowd of excited fans positively palpitate with pure joy. It continued the DC Extended Universe’s bizarre trend of producing films that are direct reactions to their immediate predecessors. And for all its faults – an ugly third-act show down that looks like a mid-2000s PlayStation 2 video game, Danny Elfman’s instantly forgettable (and shamelessly rehashed) musical score, one of the most unimaginative (and cheap-looking) main villains in recent memory – Justice League wasn’t as terrible as it could so easily have been. Suicide Squad

All it took was one scene. One scene transformed Suicide Squad. It wasn’t necessarily the best scene – in fact, in any other movie, it would barely merit a second glance. But for Suicide Squad it was a godsend. It came nestled in the heart of the film - following an hour or so of jarring, time-hopping, clumsy storytelling – and preceding another hour of more of the same. Not only was it the first time our characters resembled real, relatable human beings, it also proved, however briefly and despite what we’d seen so far, that Suicide Squad has a heart. It sent our characters, all dressed in their ridiculous costumes, drenched in water and blood, to a bar. No explosions, no fistfights, no Joker - just the quietest member of the Squad, El Diablo (Jay Hernandez), telling a story. It’s the scene that cemented the gruffly sentimental relationship between these characters and saved the film. Aquaman

James Wan’s Aquaman actively distanced itself from the heavy metal take on the character that Snyder had originally envisioned. And with more time on his hands, Jason Momoa took Arthur Curry in surprising new directions. It was quite a wonderful big screen experience - Atlantis looked stunning, as did the creatures and Wan’s affectionate world-building - but it was the earnestness with which the film treated its characters that is its most endearing quality. Man of Steel

Without any doubt, my favourite single moment of any DCEU movie comes in Man of Steel. Snyder is clearly someone who understands the iconography of superheroes better than anyone else - that teaser trailer alone was a work of art; the one in which a child put his hands on his hips and the whole world suddenly realised what they were watching. But for a brief second in Man of Steel, Snyder accomplished - in my opinion - what he was going for all this while, a deconstruction of myths, a grounding of gods. Alone and misunderstood, Clark Kent goes from town to town, taking up odd jobs, convinced that his father - Pa Kent - was right; to reveal his powers to this cruel world would only bring trouble. And so he drifts, between dive bars and oil rigs, unsure of himself. We see him walk on a highway, his back to us, the evening sky slowly welcoming darkness. Clark turns around, sees an incoming truck, and sticks out his thumb, hoping for a stranger to show kindness. The truck doesn’t stop. And Clark keeps walking to wherever the road will take him. I think about this moment very often. This is Superman. So vulnerable, so alone. No one to help him. And yet, he dedicates his life to helping others. This one moment perfectly captures the flawed brilliance of Snyder’s DCEU. Birds of Prey

Birds of Prey is essentially the story of Harley Quinn emerging from under the Joker’s shadow, and the DCEU distancing itself from its past. It has virtually no bearing on the larger series, but as a standalone adventure, it’s a terrific showcase for Robbie’s talents as an actor. It’s interesting to note how, in the span of just over a decade, the pendulum has swung from Joel Schumacher’s lurid Batman films to the gritty realism of Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy, and back again. Shazam!

Shazam! was an altogether different experience - both in tone and in scope - from previous DCEU entries, and this includes the largely beloved Wonder Woman and the box office smash Aquaman. It was, at the risk of invoking the wrath of fans on both sides, to the DCEU what Thor: Ragnarok and Spider-Man: Homecoming were to the Marvel Cinematic Universe - lighter, less angry, and positively delightful. Under the unlikely direction of Swedish filmmaker David F Sandberg, Shazam! was as magical as its title suggested; heartfelt, humorous and burdened by none of the hubris of Batman v Superman and Man of Steel. Wonder Woman

Wonder Woman is the sort of movie that makes you forgive things it got wrong solely on the strength of everything it got right. And it got a lot of things right. It was the first film in the DC Extended Universe that was worthy of its iconic character, and it did what both Batman and Superman couldn’t do: It gave us hope for what’s to come. It was still crippled by the influence of Zack Snyder in its CGI slugfest of a final act - an annoying trend that for some reason James Wan chose to honour in Aquaman - but it was so much more than just a great film. Wonder Woman was perhaps the defining superhero movie of a post-Trump era - what Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy was to a post-9/11 world. It’s an earnest film, which often feels too pure for this horrid world. And that no man’s land sequence is right up there with The Master’s ‘don’t blink’ scene as one of the greatest of the decade. Follow @htshowbiz for more The author tweets @RohanNaahar Read the full article