It was reported yesterday via The Hollywood Reporter that Zack Snyder’s “Justice League 2” has been pushed back to make room for Ben Affleck’s “The Batman” movie, which is yet to solidify a release date.

After wrapping Justice League, Snyder is not tackling Justice League 2, as was the initial plan, but rather is focusing his attention on his long-in-development thriller The Last Photograph.

Snyder is still intent on directing Justice League 2, but that movie has been pushed back to make room for Ben Affleck’s Batman stand-alone movie. The move left an opening in Snyder’s schedule for a production that is smaller-scale, at least compared to massive superhero tentpoles he has been working on of late.

This news isn’t really earth-shattering as we all knew that the original plan for “Justice League 2” was scrapped in response to the poor critical reviews of “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.” Right now, everything is solely predicated on what happens with “Wonder Woman” and “Justice League” and if these two upcoming films are both financialyl successful, and the critics/audiences embrace the new direction of the DCEU under Geoff Johns, then we should begin to hear that other films in the DCEU will get the green light, i.e. Justice League 2, Man Of Steel 2, Green Lantern, Teen Titans and many more.

The only confirmed movie post “Justice League” is “Aquaman.” Yes we know that the upcoming “The Flash” film is somewhere in that mix, but without a director and no news on that front, it is a safe bet that the movie’s release date is more than likely going to be pushed back.

So where does this leave Zack Snyder? Will he be back in the chair to make “Justice League 2” after helming his long gestating project “The Last Photograph?” Like it was said previously, everything is predicated on the success of both “WW” and “Justice League”, and if the latter is successful at the box office and the critics love it, then yes, we here at Shanlian On Batman believe that Snyder and company will be back in the director’s chair with JL2. If these films are not successful, then Zack Snyder will remain on in some sort of Executive Producer role. There were many casualties at the studio after “BvS” tanked hard with the critics and the studio tried a quick course correction. Remember Charles Roven? He was the producer who helped produce The Dark Knight Trilogy, Man of Steel and BvS and was just a few of the people who had the keys to the DCEU taken away.

For some of you that think that Snyder wants these movies to tank, let me fill you in on something that needs to be known for you all: Snyder’s Cruel and Unusual Pictures helps co-finance these films in the DCEU they put up their own money to help produce these movies. So that means the rate of return for the Snyder’s is predicated on the success of all of these films. So if the film is successful the Snyder’s and the studio is successful as well. So it is in their best interest to put out the best product that they can, so when we hear that Snyder is just throwing things on the wall to see what sticks is nonsense, trust us, these guys want all these films to be successful both commercially and critically.

So what does this mean for the upcoming solo Ben Affleck Batman film? For starters, Batman is the crown jewel of the superhero film genre and a sure fire box office juggernaut for the studio so getting this film into theaters quickly is something that the studio really wants. It wouldn’t be the biggest surprise to see that film pop up July of 2018 now that the “Aquaman” film was pushed back a few months to October of 2018. For purely sentimental reasons, it could pop up in July 2018 as that would be the 10 Year anniversary of The Dark Knight. That would be great cross promotion for a future “10 Year Anniversary” Blu Ray/DVD release to co-incide with the release of “The Batman” as well. Now that is simply a pipe-dream for us, but who knows stranger things have happened.

So let’s recap, Batman is being pushed up and JL2 is waiting on the successes of “Wonder Woman” and “Justice League” so now that 2017 is almost upon us, it will be an interesting year to see how everything pans out.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

By

John McGee

Welcome one and all! Time for the epic annual Gotham Halloween episode. Every year we get something pretty special given the nature of the show. We’ve seen eyeballs get ripped out of skulls and throats get bitten open. Time to get into the freaky spirit of the year.

The good news:

Tetch is giving Jim impossible choices in order to try and drive him mad. Jim chooses to save the child about to be run over by a truck rather than the newly married couple jumping off the building. Interesting fact: Jim would have been crushed by the couple. He had no time to call the fire department and he can’t catch them. So he really made the only choice he could in the situation. The couple was doomed from the beginning, pretty clearly.

It turned into a fun goose chase of sorts ending with the ultimatum: the two women in Gordon’s life, Vale and Lee, threatened by the Mad Hatter. Tetch’s plan was to shoot the woman Jim loves, so Jim told him to “kill Lee” knowing Tetch would shoot Vale. Jim just gets darker and darker these days.

Vale (other than getting shot) didn’t play a huge role here. She was mostly just the catalyst to Jim to possibly wake him up. Other than hounding Lee about Alice Tetch’s blood she didn’t have much of a stake here.

Alice’s blood is really starting to affect the captain. What’s next for this guy? He really needs to find a cure before it’s too late.

Nygma met a girl!! She’s basically a reminder of his former love lost, whom he killed (mostly by accident). She’s a quiet sweet librarian who believes in love and second chances. What a sweet story.

Honorable mention: the teaser for next week’s Halloween episode, The Red Queen looks fantastic!

The bad news:

I disagree with this Penguin subplot. It doesn’t make much sense that just because Ed helped him out and believed in him that suddenly we have love. Penguin is far more affectionate than he was in the past. Maybe he’s growing soft since he’s mayor? I dunno. But I find it really odd that this is how Gotham represents LGBT: only the utmost psycho on the show (and that’s quite a competitive field) experiences such feelings. I don’t think Penguin is the right man for the job. On top of that, Penguin being denied something he wants (remember Nygma is straight and in love with this librarian lady) sending him off on a murderous tantrum is going to become a Gotham cliché if they keep it up.

Gordon needs to really wake the heck up. He’s getting so far off track that he’s just moping around crying for himself. The teaser for next week shows that this might improve though.

Great episode! We’re getting back. Usually Gotham picks up on/after/around Halloween, and damn is that the case this year again.

9/10

By

John McGee

“Did everyone see that because I will NOT be doing it again.” –Captain Jack Sparrow

That sums up how I felt watching this week’s Gotham episode.

The good news:

We got some classic underground mafia Gotham deal-cutting. Season 1 had high ratings for a reason. Not just because it was novel, but it took the hearts of millions with its clever storytelling and excellent characterizations…and its great power structure struggle. We haven’t seen the likes of that since Season 1.

Ivy made another appearance and teased Selina about it. Finally seeing her again was fun.

Nygma made his return to the GCPD in an entertaining albeit completely clichéd manner. “I’ve missed all of you so much.” Barnes: “What are you DOING here, Nygma?” Cliché. But still, we got a crack about Harvey’s fear of razors.

Penguin has pretty much turned to Nygma now (who wants to betray Penguin and take Gotham for hisself…oh for pete’s sake).

The bad news:

Butch engineered the return of the Red Hood gang (because there’s literally no other idea in Gotham for gang names apparently). And he did so just so that he could kill them all and make himself once again #1 in Penguin’s eyes. However Nygma uses this against him and forces him to try and take out Penguin before thwarting the attempt to make HIM look like #1 before THAT blew up and Butch almost killed Nygma for tricking him…are you tired yet? It makes sense if you really think about it…all Butch really had to do was tell the truth and how Nygma engineered everything and tried to take over Gotham. But no, let’s choke the guy instead. Now Nygma is still #1 in Pengin’s eyes and Butch is on the run. What a mess.

Vale is back and in the sack where the writers pretty much intended for her to be…constantly, as she and Jim openly admit. Until she finally leaves to interview a man for a story…that Jim waltzes in and interrupts. Because NEITHER of these two people can function without constantly harassing the other. Now it’s merely reversed: he’s harassing her. It’s the most pathetic love interest I’ve ever seen on screen. It causes pins and needles just suffering through their scenes. Good grief.

Apparently Jim is giving Lee the ultimate middle finger for her leaving him. He knew she was with a Falcone…she knows the consequences of being with a Falcone…and doesn’t care. Jim doesn’t care. Granted, she did bring it up to him in an argumentative manner. She wants Jim to be worried about her. But kudos to him for not caring. But seriously Lee…leave the man alone. He’s moved on. He hasn’t seen Vale in at least half an hour and you’re delaying his rush back into bed with her.

Also Lee takes the Falcone name and punches Nygma in the face with it. Good girl. Except for the fact that you’re flaunting this Falcone “power” which is the name of an old man who has none anymore before you’ve even married a Falcone. Don’t get cocky in Gotham, girl.

David Mazouz would only help the show at this point by leaving. I’m sorry, but it’s true. Recasting would be less hurtful/weird than his continued agony of being there. He can’t really act at all. Bruce Wayne needs to be played, not filled. You don’t just slug around through Hamlet, and the same goes for Bruce at any age past that of 8 years. He has never once contributed a performance that I’ve been able to say was any good. Even for TV. I’m not saying he needs silver screen standards, but having standards at all would help the kid. Maybe an acting class? Please, just do something. He’s hurting Camren’s Selina Kyle, who he just told “I like you…as more than a friend.” It felt like nails were scraped across cardboard, then a chalkboard, then slowly pulled off by pliers. Please please please replace him with the kid who played young Bruce in Batman v Superman. That kid at least knew how to show emotion. Good grief.

This was one of the more tripped up episodes I’ve seen. Ever. But hopefully the track will right with the reemergence of Jervis next week.

6/10

By

Andrew Kiess

The Last Laugh is the fourth produced episode of Batman the Animated Series. It was the fifteenth episode to air, and made its debut on September 22^nd, 1992. This episode once again stars Kevin Conroy as Batman, Mark Hamill as the Joker, Bob Hastings (although, not in his usual role as James Gordon—this time as an armored car diver), and introduces Efrem Zimbalist, Jr., as Alfred Pennyworth.

It’s April Fool’s Day in Gotham, and the city cannot stop laughing! The culprit of this case of the giggles though is due to Joker’s latest plot against the city. Joker has commandeered a garbage barge laced with his signature joker toxin, which while floating around the city, is covering Gotham in laughing gas. Batman (wearing goggles in a pre-Zack Snyder’s Nightowl world, by the way) is working in the cave when a commotion upstairs catches his attention. The laughing gas has reached Wayne Manor and Alfred has been infected. Batman heads out in the batboat to confront the clown and put a punchline on the Joker’s scheme.

This episode may be one of the more “child friendly” episodes of the series. Mark Hamill once suggested on Kevin Smith’s podcast that many of the decision in this episode were attempts to get around Broadcast Standards and Practice. Batman has a violent fight with a non-talking robot called Captain Clown. Joker’s toxin does not lead to death, but just insanity. These things highlight the tightrope that the creators had to walk between some of the more serious themes and kid friendly content. The director of The Last Laugh, Kevin Altieri, did this well. Altieri also directed Two-Face, Feat of Clay Part II, and P.O.V, as well as Harlequinade and Harley’s Holiday.

While some may see the child friendliness of this episode as a draw-back, I think that it gives this episode a unique signature and makes it a fun watch. This feel coupled with Shirley Walker’s fun rock-and-roll with a twist of polka mania score, The Last Laugh is a very enjoyable entry of Batman the Animated Series. Episodes like this, however, will later see improvement when Joker is teamed up with someone a little more interesting than Captain Clown.

By

John McGee

What a week! Good to be back, folks! Today I’m gonna give you the rundown of the “one that got away.” No really, this episode was highly entertaining. Jarvis’ scheming is coming to a head, and the best part is next week we seem to be getting a little break from him. He’s mysterious as ever. Now, moving on:

The good news

Selina pretty quickly identified Five as an imposter Bruce (even though they’re identical) which leads him to run off after a conversation with Bruce. Basically the writers are putting Bruce and Selina together and it’s pretty damn awkward to see David Mazouz struggling to look like he feels feelings, but Camren is doing as great as ever in the Selina role.

Gordon is still trying to kill himself every time he hears a clock ticking. Thanks to the Captain for concussing him before the bullet went through his head. Jervis is just fun to watch at this point, and don’t look now, but the creepy creep got Alice…

Meanwhile, the controversy over the candidacy of Oswald Cobblepot is at its peak. Butch is paying off campaign officials to buy the election, but Nygma takes the money back from them in the name of Oswald the night of the election, and Oswald still wins—leading his affections to shift from Butch to Nygma. Think Toy Story with Buzz taking over for Woody.

At the big Jervis showdown, the Mad Hatter lost Alice (because Alice hated him and tried to escape) as she fell and impaled herself by mistake on a pipe. There’s a bad news section on this part below, but I’m leaving this part here because the battle of wits and defeat (for now) of Jervis was well done.

The bad news

The Court of Owls kidnapped Five, meaning they’re probably going to use him against Bruce in the latter episodes. They shouldn’t even be dipping their toes in this acid. It drives me insane that they’re stooping to such low levels but I suppose I’ll have to live with it. No one has yet justified their prominence or even existence to me yet, so I’ll just trudge on and keep yelling at the writers until they realize their error.

Jervis showdown issue: now we’re dealing with the stereotypical “oblivious crazy person.” It’s so funny that just because someone is “mad” on TV they are oblivious to people saying “no” or “you’re wrong.” Ok. So? So why on earth does he converse with Jim Gordon, his enemies, the Sirens, anyone else normally, but when it comes to his sister Alice he doesn’t even listen to her? He listens to his enemies and debates with them, but ignores his own sister when she says things like “go the hell away” “you’re a monster” and “no.” It’s so stupid and a huge cop out.

It’s safe to say that the good news far outweighs the bad this time around, and I’m glad to be back and well. Expect another review your way soon! We’ve had a couple exciting weeks of Gotham!

8.5/10

By Andrew Kiess

Nothing to Fear is the third produced episode of Batman and premiered tenth on September 15, 1992. This episode was written by Henry Gilroy and Sean Catherine Derek, and was directed by Boyd Kirkland. It stared Kevin Conroy as Batman, Bob Hastings as Gordon, Clive Revill as Alfred, Robert Costanzo as Harvey Bullock, Mari Devon as Summer Gleeson, and Henry Pollic II as the Scarecrow.

I am fear incarnate. I am the terror of Gotham. I am the Scarecrow!

Nothing to Fear opens with an encounter between Dr. Long, a Gotham University professor, and Bruce Wayne. Dr. Long criticizes Wayne for failing to live up to his father’s name. While Summer Gleeson assures Bruce that Dr. Long was just blowing off steam because of a recent crime wave at the University, Bruce seems unconvinced, and is hurt by the comments. Later, he discovers the criminal responsible for the crimes, The Scarecrow, and attempts to put a stop to his reign of terror. However, Scarecrow has other plans in mind. Gassing Batman with his signature fear toxin, Batman begins to hallucinate about his greatest fear: failing his parents. Investigating the toxin, Bruce discovers the identity of Scarecrow to be a disgruntled professor of psychology, Dr. Jonathan Crane, and enters into his most personal battle yet.

I am vengeance. I am the night. I am Batman!

While the first two episodes of Batman had their bumps, Nothing to Fear is one of the series’ most iconic episodes. Most remember it for the quote above, this episode is the introduction of many of the elements that make Batman who he is. It is a succinct origin story wrapped around an exciting battle with one of Batman’s more unique adversaries. In many ways, this is Batman at its finest, and is the first of many to expand on the pathos of the characters that inhabit Gotham City.

Credit undoubtedly needs to go to director Boyd Kirkland, who would later go on to direct many fan favorite episodes, including Joker’s Favor, Joker’s Wild, Harley and Ivy, and It’s Never Too Late. Throughout many of Kirkland’s episodes, characters find themselves in positions that they normally would not face. Yes, this episode is “A Scarecrow episode”, but the real villain is Bruce’s insecurities, which is what makes it soar.

From a production stand point, Nothing to Fear is the first major success of Batman, and is the first in a long list of classic stories yet to be told. The camera work is precise and quick, the animation style continues the tradition of the Fleishcer 1940s Superman cartoons, and in many ways, emulates the look better than the episodes before it, particularly in the early scenes with Bruce and Dr. Long with the Art Deco design of the set. Overall, this is a classic episode and is what we as fans expect to see when we sit down to watch an episode Batman—quality storytelling, a compelling villain, and a hero overcoming obstacles in between him and the safety of the city and people he cares about.

Warner Bros. Pictures has finally released our first look of Mera in the upcoming film Justice League! Mera who is played by the ever so talented Amber Heard is supporting a really awesome looking costume, which was designed by Michael Wilkinson!

So what do you think of the new look? Like it? Love it? Hate it? Let us know in the comment section below.

 Look Into My Eyes

Ahead of time I must apologize for the change in format. I have been down with a pretty bad flu of late and as a result had to hurry this on a bit. Gotham is off the hook for week 3 but I’ll be back in week 4 with all the honest praise and criticism the show deserves. Thanks for understanding.

At Sirens Nightclub, Jervis Tetch performs a hypnosis show to the audience. He selects a man of the audience to be his volunteer thanks to his guess regarding the man’s wealth. After performing the hypnosis on the man, he whispers something to him before freeing him. Barbara questions whether people can do anything he says to which Tetch explains, “Only things they secretly wish to do.” This was easily one of the best moments of the episode. The Mad Hatter is played excellently by Benedict Samuel. Thankfully we did not have to sit through an hour long “introduction/origin/explanation/justification” of his character. He’s introduced in the actual story by the events of the plot. That’s good storytelling, something many millennials have completely lost sight of. There’s a flawed call for “character development” which can be translated as “lazy explanations coupled with bad rehashing of exposition that ultimately wastes story time.” I don’t know what they taught you folks, but your sense of character development is insane. We don’t need prequels and solo films/series to develop one character. We just need a good writer.

On Wayne Manor, Bruce’s doppelganger reveals to Bruce and Alfred that he’s named “514A” but “5” to be short and that he awoke in Indian Hill over a year ago and they performed tests on him. So basically he’s the girl out of Stranger Things. Bruce decides to let him stay with them although Alfred is worried about him. Turns out Alfred is…drumroll…bum bum bum! Once again right! 5 learned to imitate Bruce, cut his hair and up and left! He completed the task he was created for! If it comes out of Indian Hill, let’s have a slumber party, cos that’s gonna end well. Having slept with Valerie (who THANK GOD goes away and actually does her job today) Gordon goes to the GCPD to collect his bounty. He runs into Lee (predictably) who was being offered by Barnes to return. She explains that she is moving permanently to Gotham with her fiancé, who is a doctor in head trauma in the Gotham General and she is seeing to join the GCPD again.

Tetch goes and kills the guy he hypnotized the night before with hypnosis. Already he’s more dangerous than his comic counterpart. Turns out his sister Alice (you smarties) has poisonous blood, which is why she hides from people and torches them if she accidentally infects them. The Mad Hatter wants Gordon to find her, so the price is hefty thanks to his new source of income.

Obviously the funniest part of the whole season, Mayor James announces to the press that he plans on continuing on his position as mayor. However, Cobblepot and his ubiquitous mob interrupts the press to criticize the “corrupt” system and Mayor James and announces that he will run for mayor in the new elections. Cobblepot’s campaign is pretty much something right off the Donald Trump show. It’s obvious but it’s also funny. Who said TV cannot reflect the hilarity of the times? MAKE GOTHAM SAFE AGAIN.

5 has Selina in a car by the way. Even though she notices how different “Bruce” appears. Just thought you should know.

Cobblepot displayed a moment worthy of Season 1. He met with the former mayor James in a café. And the mayor has 5 or so gunmen turn on Oswald the moment he gets snippy. Powerful, sure. Until the entire population of plain citizen eaters stand up and turn guns on the mayor and his paltry gunmen. What a fun moment to watch.

Tetch performs again in the Sirens but almost gets killed by Barbara when he hypnotizes her to believe he does not love her. “She has a problem with rejection.” Gordon confronts Tetch about Alice so he takes him to the rooftop to talk but Tetch hypnotizes Gordon and sends him to climb on the ledge to fall to his death. Alice arrives and stops him. Tetch tries to talk her down but she shoots him in the shoulder, causing Gordon to awake from the hypnosis. Alice saves him from falling from the roof, afterward, he handcuffs her. What a dirty rat. Turns out that guy Lee is fianceing is Mario Falcone. Mario honking Falcone. They have dinner with Carmine Friggin Falcone and he gives them his blessing. When you gotta leave Jim there’s always the HEIR APPARENT TO A STINKING GOTHAM MAFIA GROUP. Why’s Lee even back on this show anyway? She was supposed to be the doctor not Mario. We’ll see how this turns out. Usually not pretty.

The episode was better than the last one. Easily. Many of the problems they had through the first couple were either not there or played a very small part.

8.5/10