5 Reasons Why The DCEU Could Still Be Great

Marvel movies now have their established formula, and it works for them, but DC are trying to tackle more mature themes. It can come off as overly gloomy at times, but the hard edge and grit of the DCEU can be a nice change of pace to Marvel's "clean" and "synthesised" product. Remember when Edgar Wright left Ant-Man? It was because as an auteur, he felt restricted by what the studio was pushing him to produce.

Now, I don't see Marvel and DC as "rivals" in the traditional sense, I think that they appeal to very different markets. Marvel are the undisputed kings of hyperbolic, sensational characters who can allow us to escape from the real world. DC enjoy grounding their characters in more introspective, hard-nosed neo-noirs.

Is it so bad that the DCEU can offer something different to its primary competitor?

The DCEU directors are being given more free reign, established filmmakers with distinct styles who aren't being moulded by what Warner Bros. want in their movies. We can still go to see our Marvel movies and enjoy them, but we can also indulge in something with a little more crunch, and that's okay. You're allowed to like apples and oranges, we don't live in an Orwellian society (not yet, anyway).

We're lucky to live in a world when we get Avengers movies and Justice League movies at the same time. Hell, it may be wishful thinking, but one day we may even see a crossover between the two, and at that point they will officially take all of our money.