7 Things To Expect From Man Of Steel 2 If Matthew Vaughn Directs
3. Violence, But With Consequences
There's an absolute ton of violence in comic-book movies, but very rarely does it ever mean something, say something about our characters or have any lasting consequences after all the gunfire, punching and kicking has died down.
Look at the DCEU's two latest offerings. The Trinity (along with Doomsday) completely leveled the part of the city in which they fought, but it wasn't addressed further. It just happened, and then it ended. The same could be said of the widespread destruction caused by Enchantress in Suicide Squad, as well as the faceless, deformed thugs Deadshot and the gang ploughed through.
You don't think about it because the movie doesn't ask you to, but those were real human beings with lives and families, transformed into grotesque monsters and mercilessly slaughtered by a jovial band of so-called 'heroes' - isn't that something that's worth mentioning, or exploring?
The concept of violence occurring in a bubble is hardly exclusive to the DCEU, but it is noticeable within it. What's great about Vaughn, however, is that his action is always meaningful and he's careful to show that hostile acts, even those committed by our heroes, affect the characters involved.
Look at the end of X-Men: First Class. Moira doesn't pull out a gun, shoot Magneto and save the day - she attacks him, inadvertently injuring Charles and almost getting herself choked to death in the process.
This one single act has repercussions for the entire X-Men timeline, including Professor X's immobility and reinforcing Magneto's distrust of 'normal' humans, and Vaughn is also careful enough to show the pain on Charles' face as he realises he cannot move.
This is consistent across everything the director touches - Kick-Ass getting stabbed and sent to hospital on his first 'heroic' mission is another good example - but something we haven't seen much of in the DCEU so far.