14 Problems Nobody Wants To Admit About The DC Extended Universe
14. It Doesn't Know What It Wants To Be
It's no secret that the DCEU has a huge tonal problem: Man of Steel was criticised for being an overly gloomy reinterpretation of Superman, while Batman v Superman took things even darker and more miserable.
Then Wonder Woman came along and opted for a far lighter tone, more in line with what audiences typically expect from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It also ended up being the DCEU's only critically-lauded film to date, sending Warner Bros. into something of a tailspin as they began to wonder quite what tone these movies should really strike.
Following the BvS backlash, Justice League is being designed as a more comedic, Avengers-esque romp, and though it's possible that most of the DCEU's movies will follow this mood from now on, it seems doubtful that Matt Reeves' The Batman is going to play ball in that regard.
Say what you want about the MCU being overly safe, but at least there's a consistent tone throughout and Kevin Feige has a clear vision of what it should be. The DCEU by contrast seem so much more slapdash and hastily assembled, darting from one stark mood to another.
As such, don't be surprised if tonal issues continue to confound fans and critics in future movies.