Chương 888: Chapter 888: Martha's Appearance!
In July, the summer's most anticipated blockbuster hit theaters, DC's 'Batman v Superman'. With all the buzz surrounding it, the film quickly became the center of attention, even in an era when two 'Avengers' movies had already graced the big screen. Despite Marvel's growing dominance, Superman and Batman remained two of the top three most popular superheroes in North America.
The day of the premiere was a spectacle in itself. The famous Avenue of Stars was overflowing with excited fans, some dressed in Superman's iconic red briefs, others donning Batman's sleek black cowl. The streets around the Dolby Theatre were packed, and the energy was palpable as people gathered to witness the epic showdown on the big screen. The media presence was equally overwhelming, with hundreds of reporters jockeying for position, trying to get the latest scoop.
Martin, a prominent director, arrived at the red carpet amidst this sea of enthusiasm. As he made his way down, cameras flashed, and a chorus of voices called out to him. Just as he paused to greet fans, a reporter approached with a probing question: "DC doesn't recognize your 'Joker' as part of their cinematic universe. How do you respond to that?"
The tension between Martin's 'Joker' film and DC had been simmering for a while, and this moment was as good as any to address it head-on. With a hint of frustration, Martin responded candidly, "I don't know what DC is thinking. Hamada has these strange ideas and says some inexplicable things."
The crowd murmured in response to his boldness. After all, 'Joker''s promotion was still dependent on Warner Bros., but everyone knew that the studio head, Daniel, had already turned his back on the project. Martin, standing firm, continued, "Hollywood has always prided itself on diversity and inclusiveness. We have room for all kinds of films, Marvel does it with their different styles. So, what's the harm in DC having films that take a different approach?"
The journalists eagerly scribbled down his words, their cameras capturing every moment of his frankness.
Once inside the Dolby Theatre, Martin spotted Daniel and walked over. The two exchanged pleasantries, heading towards the screening room. As they walked, Daniel casually remarked, "I caught the internal preview. The director's personal touch is all over this film."
Martin nodded, unsurprised. "Zack Snyder. That's not unexpected," he said with a slight pause. "His visual style is... something. I actually like it."
Daniel smirked, shaking his head. "Yeah, but the slow-motion scenes? There's way too much of it. And don't even get me started on the narrative. Did you know the original cut Zack submitted was four and a half hours long?"
Martin raised an eyebrow, surprised but not entirely shocked. "Four and a half hours? That's practically a mini-series."
"Exactly," Daniel sighed. "No theater can handle that, and how many people would even sit through it? We had to trim it down to two and a half hours. The final cut's just shy of 140 minutes."
As they found their seats and settled in, the theater began to fill rapidly. The audience, a mix of die-hard fans and curious onlookers, buzzed with anticipation. Most of those attending the premiere were deeply entrenched in the world of Batman and Superman, familiar with the comic lore and decades of animated adaptations. For them, this wasn't just another superhero film, it was an event.
When the lights dimmed and the movie began, it became clear that Zack Snyder's signature style was front and center. The film's slow-motion sequences, dramatic oil-painting visuals, dark tones, and apocalyptic aesthetic were everything Snyder's fans had hoped for. As the story unfolded, there were constant callbacks to classic comic book moments, references that left many in the theater cheering with excitement.
For the comic book enthusiasts, this was a treasure trove. Each scene seemed to evoke memories of legendary storylines like 'The Dark Knight Returns', 'The Death of Superman', 'Injustice', 'Red Son', and 'Crisis on Infinite Earths'. The excitement in the room was tangible, with fans audibly reacting to moments only they could fully appreciate.
However, for those less familiar with DC's deep lore, including Martin, the experience was far more confusing. The narrative seemed disjointed at times, and several plot points appeared to lack proper setup. One moment in particular left the entire audience, fans and newcomers alike, stunned: the infamous "Martha" scene. The name hung in the air, reverberating through the theater, causing a mixture of bewilderment and awe. Some gasped in shock, while others struggled to grasp its significance.
By the end of the film, it was clear that Snyder had created something divisive. For the fans, 'Batman v Superman' was a bold, visually striking homage to the comics they loved. But for many others, it was a challenging, often confusing experience that required a deep knowledge of DC's vast history to truly appreciate. As the credits rolled, the conversations in the theater reflected this divide, some thrilled, others perplexed.
Martin, sitting in his seat, couldn't help but feel that while the film had its flaws, it was undeniably unique. And in the ever-competitive world of Hollywood, that was something worth noting.
DC fans certainly had an easier time navigating the complexities of 'Batman v Superman', but for those who hadn't read the comics, the film left them baffled. One moment, Batman and Superman were at each other's throats, and the next, they were suddenly friends, just because of the name "Martha." It was a turning point that left non-comic readers scratching their heads.
Zack Snyder and DC loyalists could list countless reasons why that scene made sense, passionately defending the emotional significance behind it. But no amount of reasoning could stop "Martha" from becoming an internet meme, dragging down the film's reputation and reducing what should have been a pivotal moment to a punchline.
As the movie progressed, the action sequences were undeniably impressive, especially in the final act. Snyder carried forward the high-intensity, world-ending destruction that had been a hallmark of 'Man of Steel'. The battle between Superman, Wonder Woman, and Doomsday had all the earth-shattering momentum of a clash between gods. But as the stakes soared higher, Batman, despite being the world's greatest detective, felt sidelined, playing more of a supporting role as a mere mortal among superhumans.
When it came to showcasing intellect, the film completely glossed over Batman's reputation as the Justice League's strategic mastermind. His renowned problem-solving skills were nowhere to be seen. And then there was Lex Luthor, the film's main villain, whose motivations and actions left viewers scratching their heads in confusion. His character felt erratic, almost nonsensical at times, with little explanation to justify his behavior.
For die-hard DC fans, though, none of this really mattered. Lex Luthor was Superman's nemesis, and that alone was enough for them. But for the casual viewer, it felt like a series of inexplicable events, Batman and Superman start fighting for unclear reasons, stop fighting for even less clear reasons, and then team up against an equally out-of-nowhere Kryptonian monster.
The climax, of course, was Superman's tragic death, leaving a clear setup for the upcoming 'Justice League'. As Batman told Wonder Woman to start gathering more heroes, the end credits rolled, wrapping up the film with an emotionally charged conclusion that set the stage for the next installment.
Inside the packed Dolby Theatre, the reaction was overwhelmingly positive. The theater, which could hold 3,500 fans and media personnel, was filled with applause. Most of those in attendance were either passionate Zack Snyder devotees or dedicated DC followers, and both groups had found something to love. The Snyder fans were once again mesmerized by his signature visual style, while the DC fans relished the comic book references, which felt as refreshing as an ice-cold drink on a hot summer day.
Martin, sitting amidst the applause, couldn't help but admire certain aspects of the film. Though he found the narrative disjointed and the comic references elusive, he had to admit that the action scenes were masterfully done. The final battle, in particular, had captivated him. "That was a battle of gods on Earth," he thought to himself, impressed by the sheer scale and visual grandeur of Superman, Wonder Woman, and Doomsday going head-to-head.
As the applause died down, Zack Snyder and producer Charles Roven took the stage with the rest of the cast and crew, offering a bow to the crowd. The night had been a success in terms of enthusiasm, but the future of the film was uncertain.
As the theater began to empty, Daniel and Martin walked out together, still mulling over the experience. Daniel, always one to cut to the chase, leaned in and asked quietly, "So, what did you really think of it?"
Martin paused for a moment before replying honestly, "The action scenes were top-notch, especially the final battle. Watching Superman, Wonder Woman, and Batman team up against Doomsday was like watching gods collide. It was breathtaking."
Daniel nodded, but there was a hint of concern in his eyes. "Yeah, the action was solid. But what about the box office?"
Martin smiled knowingly. "Don't forget, this is the first time we've ever seen Batman and Superman together in a live-action movie. That alone will bring people in droves. The opening week? Not a problem."
Daniel, however, wasn't so easily reassured. "Sure, the first week will be huge, but it's what comes after that I'm worried about. You've seen the movie, there's a high barrier to entry. Most viewers won't have the background knowledge to understand half of what's going on. How can we expect the average moviegoer to have read all those DC comics? And with a production cost of $250 million, if the global box office doesn't hit at least a billion, DC will have a tough time explaining that to the higher-ups."
Martin thought back to the movie, trying to recall the box office figures it had reached, but his mind kept wandering back to the "Martha" moment and Wonder Woman's impressive debut. While he couldn't predict the exact box office outcome, he had a nagging feeling it wouldn't cross the billion-dollar mark.
"Yeah," Martin admitted finally, "it's going to be close."
As Daniel stepped out of the Dolby Theater's side door, his phone rang. After a brief conversation, he turned to Martin, who was waiting by the curb. "Just got off the call with Warner Bros.," he said. "They conducted an internal survey. The premiere audience gave the movie an average score of A."
Martin nodded thoughtfully. "That's a good sign. It shows the fans are on board, and we won't have any trouble with the first-week box office."
Daniel, who oversaw the film's distribution, looked less optimistic. "Yeah, but I'm not feeling confident about the general audience's word-of-mouth after that. The fan base might be happy, but what about everyone else?"
Martin sighed, running a hand through his hair. "That's the thing with Zack Snyder. His visuals are incredible, there's no denying that, but his storytelling? It's always hit or miss. Makes you love and hate him at the same time."
Daniel leaned in, his tone more serious. "If the general audience starts tearing this movie apart and it doesn't meet Warner's expectations, but your 'Joker' keeps performing well, you need to pay attention to what happens with DC. They might shift direction."
Martin saw his car pulling up and gave Daniel a quick wave. "I hear you. I'll keep an eye on it."
As Martin got into his car and drove off, Daniel stayed behind, deep in thought. Despite the rivalry within the company, Daniel was still responsible for Warner Pictures' distribution, with the board of directors and Time Warner itself watching his every move. He couldn't afford to slip up, his future depended on it.
The next morning, the real test began as the public reactions to 'Batman v Superman' started pouring in. However, the reception was a mix of extremes. Over on IMDb, where early viewers, mostly dedicated fans, were gathering, the film received an overwhelmingly high average rating of 9.2. At first glance, it looked like the movie was shaping up to be a massive commercial hit.
But the story was different on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics were far less impressed, dragging the film's score down to a mere 32% fresh rating. And it wasn't just the critics, the MTC website, which compiled scores from major professional media outlets, showed an even more dismal result, with the film averaging just 44 points.
Warner Bros. and DC quickly shifted into damage control mode. Their PR team spun the narrative, claiming the film's reception was simply "polarized," assuring the public that while critics were split, audiences were loving it. And initially, the box office seemed to support that claim. On its first day in North America, 'Batman v Superman' raked in a hefty $70.2 million, a promising start by any measure.
But it didn't take long for the cracks to show. As more people saw the film, the audience score on IMDb took a nosedive, dropping from 9.2 to 7.7 in just a day. Worse still, the film's box office numbers followed suit, North American revenue dropped by a staggering 40% on the second day alone.
By the end of its opening weekend, the film had grossed $132 million in North America. On paper, that sounded impressive, but it was far below DC's expectations, which had hoped for at least $180 million, given the massive $250 million production budget. The excitement from the fans at the premiere was starting to feel like a distant memory.
The downward spiral continued. In the following weeks, audience word-of-mouth deteriorated further. IMDb ratings fell to 6.2, and the Rotten Tomatoes score dipped to a bleak 28%. Instead of improving as time went on, the movie's reputation plummeted.
Online, die-hard fans were trying to defend the film with in-depth analyses and theories, explaining how the references and subtle details tied into the larger DC Universe. But for most casual viewers, these explanations fell flat. The average moviegoer didn't care about intricate comic book lore, they just wanted to enjoy an action-packed blockbuster. For them, 'Batman v Superman' felt like a confusing mess of plotlines, with little payoff and too many questions left unanswered.
The fans' lengthy analyses and breakdowns were largely ignored by the broader audience, who simply weren't invested enough to dive that deep. The reality was clear: most people had gone to the theater expecting a fun superhero showdown, but what they got left them disappointed and, in many cases, frustrated.
No amount of fan explanations could save a film that had failed to connect with the general public. And as the weeks passed, it became evident that 'Batman v Superman' was not the game-changing hit DC and Warner Bros. had hoped for, it was a polarizing experience that couldn't bridge the gap between hardcore fans and casual viewers.
The producers behind 'Man of Steel' were none other than the powerhouse couple, Christopher Nolan and Emma Thomas. With Nolan's directorial expertise and their combined leadership, the film was polarizing in terms of reception, but overall, it was considered a success. However, the relationship between DC and Warner Bros. was far from smooth, and a series of creative differences and behind-the-scenes issues eventually led to Nolan stepping away from the Justice League movie universe. His departure was a blow to the studio, as he even declined Martin's personal invitation to direct 'Joker', choosing instead to focus on an Oscar campaign.
Without Nolan's steady hand, the burden of 'Batman v Superman' fell squarely on Zack Snyder, whose visual prowess was often hampered by his struggle with storytelling. Add in Warner Bros.' constant meddling, and it became clear that the film was heading down a difficult path. Veteran producer Charles Roven did what he could to salvage the project, but even his experience wasn't enough to lift the movie beyond its narrative flaws.
Many media outlets were already sharpening their knives, predicting that 'Batman v Superman' would be a top contender for next year's Golden Raspberry Awards. The most troubling sign for the studio was the film's lack of staying power at the box office. During its second weekend in North America, the movie's earnings plummeted by 70%, raking in only $39.05 million, a record-breaking drop for a DC superhero movie. Even notorious flops like 'Batman & Robin' and 'Catwoman' hadn't seen a drop-off this steep.
On top of that, Cinemascore, which had been quiet after the film's premiere, finally released their audience score. It was a "B" not bad, but not the glowing endorsement Warner Bros. had hoped for. And while the North American box office had crossed $260 million, the film was underperforming based on expectations. With the massive $250 million budget, and the heavy burden of launching DC's cinematic universe, anything less than runaway success felt like a disaster.
Sure, 'Batman v Superman' wasn't an outright financial flop, it would likely turn a profit with international earnings and home media sales, but the real issue was the reputation it left behind. Fans were quick to voice their disappointment, flooding social media with criticism. One comment echoed loudly across the internet: "This isn't just a polarizing movie, it's a flop!"
Audiences who hadn't read the comics felt alienated. "It's like Zack Snyder made this movie 'for' comic fans and no one else," a frustrated viewer remarked. And, of course, the infamous "Martha" scene quickly became the butt of countless jokes. "If I'm ever robbed, should I just yell 'Martha' and expect the mugger to stop?" was a typical sarcastic remark circulating online.
Even though most viewers eventually understood that "Martha" was both Bruce Wayne and Clark Kent's mother's name, it didn't stop the ridicule. The scene's poor execution became symbolic of the film's larger storytelling issues.
---
Meanwhile, at Walt Disney Studios, inside the 'Joker' production office, Martin skimmed through the latest box office statistics for 'Batman v Superman' during his lunch break. Across the table, Saoirse Ronan, his lead actress, was reading the same numbers in a newspaper. After a few moments, she looked up and said, "The box office for this movie seems solid, so why is everyone bashing DC?"
Martin sighed, setting the paper down. "Because this isn't just about one movie. 'Batman v Superman' was supposed to carry the weight of the entire DC universe, especially with that 'Dawn of Justice' subtitle. The stakes were huge. If the film's reputation collapses, it could drag the 'Justice League' down with it, and DC's chance to catch up to Marvel might be gone for good."
Saoirse frowned. "Will our movie be affected by all this?"
Martin shook his head. "Remember, DC's execs publicly distanced themselves from 'Joker' a month ago. They went out of their way to say it's not a part of their universe."
She nodded, recalling the controversy. "Right, they said 'Joker' isn't a DC movie."
Martin was prepared for this situation. He picked up his phone and dialed his marketing lead, Jessica. "It's time to build some momentum," he said. "Start pushing 'Joker' in the media and online. Highlight the fact that we've had no interference from DC."
Jessica, always quick to respond, was already on it. "I'll get on it right away."
Martin checked the clock and turned to Saoirse. "Break's over. Let's head back to the recording studio and finish the dubbing."
Saoirse had been working on a voiceover for her character, whose dialogue needed re-recording in certain scenes to match the tone better. The challenge of altering her voice wasn't easy, but by the afternoon, they had successfully wrapped up the session.
---
The next day, new headlines about 'Batman v Superman' flooded the internet. Commentators and analysts began drawing comparisons between the film's struggles and DC's broader failures. "DC already messed up 'Green Lantern'," one article declared. "Now they've botched 'Batman v Superman'. They're not just ruining the 'Justice League' plan, they even went after Martin Davis's 'Joker', a movie that DC should've been proud to have. And you know what? Since DC didn't interfere, 'Joker' might just be a hit!"
Other analysts chimed in. "In the last decade, the most successful DC movie was 'The Dark Knight', and the standout character wasn't even Batman, it was the Joker. It's clear that DC's leadership doesn't understand how to adapt their properties for the big screen. The people who 'do' understand? Nolan and Martin."
The buzz surrounding 'Joker' was growing, fueled by both the disappointment in 'Batman v Superman' and the anticipation for something different. As Martin watched the chatter unfold, he couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. The road ahead was still uncertain, but if DC was faltering, it was his chance to shine.
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