Welcome once again to FoulENT's 30 Days of Stuff! Whilst the 1st of May means outdoor fucking to some people, to us it's the start of another crazy month of non-stop content, every single day for 30 days. Check back every day this month for a new piece of content!
Similarly, welcome back to Pop Culture Club, where we over-analyse and fanboy over nerd and pop culture and film-making. Whilst there has been no lack of superhero media for these first few months of 2016, there has been a lack of PCC coverage. This was partially intentional, because of this simple observation: The biggest superhero movies and TV this year all based on heroes fighting each other.
Similarly, welcome back to Pop Culture Club, where we over-analyse and fanboy over nerd and pop culture and film-making. Whilst there has been no lack of superhero media for these first few months of 2016, there has been a lack of PCC coverage. This was partially intentional, because of this simple observation: The biggest superhero movies and TV this year all based on heroes fighting each other.
This years big movies read more like a superhero WrestleMania than they do a film slate. So far, three big matches have gone down without any written review from us. That changes today. With the recent release of Civil War, the bill has been completed and our fight night is ready to get under way. Let's take a look back at the years grudge matches and rank them, worst to best!
WARNING: The following post will contain MAJOR SPOILERS for Daredevil Season 2, Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice and Captain America: Civil War. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.
WORST: Batman Vs Superman (Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice)
Image Credit: collider.com
The Review
What more can be said of this absolute train-wreck of a superhero movie? Not only does it fail to give us a memorable fight between the two biggest DC Comics characters, but it also fails in most areas of film-making in general. In it's over two and a half hour run time, the movie attempts to juggle five different plot threads, as well as acts as a launching pad for the DCEU. The dialogue is mostly terrible, the motivations for characters is laughable, the performances are some of the worst since Fant4stic and the decisions for the plot will leave people tearing their hair out in frustration. Only about 10 or so minutes of this movie show promise, and all of them are based around Batman (Ben Affleck). Easily the weakest superhero movie this year and a contender for the worst overall movie of 2016.
For a longer review, we've got an episode of PopScorn right here.
For a longer review, we've got an episode of PopScorn right here.
The Fight
The fight itself is just about salvageable. There are some fun portrayals of the fight scene from Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns comic, with the inclusion of Batman deploying a number of gadgets and a mechanised suit of armour to combat the godly strength of the Man of Steel. The problem is that, in retrospect, there's very little to remember about this fight, and considering that the movie is being sold on this very premise, and that's why it ranks at the bottom. There are some cool moments that show genuine promise, such as the shot where Batman's punches become increasingly less effective on Superman (Henry Cavill) as the effects of Kryptonite wear off, but these moments are too few and far between. Utterly awful moments like Batman's Kyptonite subwoofers, anything involving the Kyrptonite spear, or the fact that the fight is suddenly ended with Bruce and Clark bonding over having the same name for their mothers, ala Step Brothers, make this long awaited throw-down one of the worst we've seen.
The Verdict
The actual versus element of this movie was meant to convey so much; a clash of ideals as well as fists. But the reality is that three years of build up to this supposed clash of titans was a colossal waste of time and a disappointment to all those who love and enjoy these characters. If you want the best of the World Finest, you're better off with the Bruce Timm animated world.
RUNNER UP: Daredevil Vs Punisher (Daredevil Season 2)
Image Credit: comingsoon.net
The Review
After an excellent first series, the second outing for Daredevil (Charlie Cox) and co was a resounding success, diving deeper into the ever expanding MCU version of Hell's Kitchen. The new players in the show carry enough of their own weight and story to justify their inclusion, and the continued evolutions of our returning cast make for gripping, binge-able viewing. This version of the Punisher (Jon Bernthal) may genuinely be the best yet and even though we've had 13 hours with these characters, this series left us craving more. Despite minor flaws here and there in the pacing, overall this series is an improvement on the first. And yes, they do manage to one-up the hallway fight. Twice.
Again, if you want a bigger, more detailed review, there's a PopScorn for that.
Again, if you want a bigger, more detailed review, there's a PopScorn for that.
The fight
The actual showdown between these two happens in parts over the opening four episodes, and for the most part it's pretty damn incredible. What this fight does better than Batman V Superman, however, is clearly showing that this fight is due to a conflict of ideals. The Punisher is a revenge fuelled machine who intends of ending the lives of those who wronged him by any means necessary and Daredevil is a man who believes in dispensing justice when the system fails, leading a double life dangerously teetering the line of the law. This has no better been explored than in this series. The actual 'fight' as it were is a fun clash of fighting styles, with Punisher favouring tactical take-downs and gun-play and Daredevil countering with acrobatics. The idea that Punisher can also stun or halt Daredevils extrasensory abilities with close-up gun shots is also very cool. And of course, the epilogue in the graveyard where the two agree not to fight any more is one of the most satisfying resolutions of conflict we've seen this year, with a truly powerful performance from Bernthal. It could stand to have a bit more flash and flair, but equally it fit the tone of the series and left us wanting more from both parties. A class act for sure.
The Verdict
The characters are at their absolute best in this showing, with some of the best chemistry between adversaries-come-allies in recent memory. Whilst the actual face-off arc only lasted four episodes, the continuing clash of ideals and reluctant co-operation of Daredevil and Punisher kept the pairs relationship fresh and each of their interactions very memorable. It left us wanting to see more of Matt Murdock's continuing battle against injustice, and an even greater desire to see Frank Castle tackle the world with his new found arsenal and purpose. And if they ever cross paths again, we would kill for a round two.
BEST: Team Cap Vs Team Iron Man (Captain America: Civil War)
Image Credit: hungrygeeks.ph
The Review
Civil War had a lot riding on it's shoulders. It's simultaneously a sequel to Winter Soldier, a follow on from Age of Ultron, an adaptation of the Civil War comic story (amongst others), as well as a set up for Phase 3 of the MCU, a re-introduction to Spider-Man and a set up for the Black Panther movie. Sounds like an utter mess, right? You couldn't be more wrong. Civil War is an absolute master-class of the superhero genre. Where Batman V Superman struggled to tell you the motivations of just two conflicting heroes, Civil War succeeds with FIFTEEN heroes and villains. Captain America (Chris Evans), Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr), Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), Black Widow (Scarlett Johannson), Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen), Vision (Paul Bettany), War Machine (Don Cheadle), Winter Soldier (Sebastion Stan), Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman), Spider-Man (Tom Holland), Falcon (Anthony Mackie), Ant-Man (Paul Rudd), Agent 13 (Emily Vancamp), Zemo (Daniel Bruhl) and Crossbones (Frank Grillo) are ALL given enough time to have their motivations, thought processes and emotions to come through. It's simply staggering how good this movie dealt with its characters. And then, of course, we get to the action...
(By the way, there isn't a PopScorn review for this yet, but when there is, I'll link it here!)
(By the way, there isn't a PopScorn review for this yet, but when there is, I'll link it here!)
The Fight
Out of the three extended fight scenes in the movie, there was no competition as to which I was going to pick as the best. Put simply, the airport fight scene is the best superhero fight scene put to screen. Better than the Battle of New York, better than the Battle of Sokovia, better than anything we've seen from any of the three big studios. The airport scene is a politically and emotionally motivated grudge match, pitting friends and against friends and acting as the culmination to the team's tension that was first explored in 2012's The Avengers. Whether it's the team tactics of Iron Man and co or the slight of hand of Cap and his team, there are moments of absolute genius on display. And again, everyone has a moment to shine; Ant-Man becoming Giant-Man as a last minute surprise tactic is as hilarious as it is satisfying, Spider-Man taking on Falcon, Winter Soldier, Captain America and Giant-Man is an excellent showcase of what to expect from the character, Black Panthers acrobatic triple kick is a great adaptation of the characters agility and the money shot sequence of the two teams engaging each other in a flurry of face-offs is literally everything you have dreamed of in a superhero movie. And there are many, many more moments that make this scene just so utterly wonderful. It's a sure fire contender for my favourite scene in any superhero movie. Oh yes, it's that good.
The Verdict
No question about it, this fight isn't being topped for a good while. I don't wish to jinx myself in the rare case that Suicide Squad or Doctor Strange have an absolutely mind melting fight scene, but I'm fairly confident that the airport fight is, at least until the ultimate fight against Thanos, the best that a superhero fight can be. It's wonderfully paced, beautifully layered, has great motion and momentum, comedy, drama, shocks and thrills. It is everything to all people. Civil War is made all the better for it, and it is in itself one of the best movies in the MCU canon. If you can only watch one fight on this list, make it this one. If you can only watch two of the three fights on this list, watch this one twice. Just breathe it all in. It genuinely doesn't get any better.
There we have it. Our superhero fight night has concluded, and it only took about three months. Long bloody night. Whilst the contrived nature of making heroes fighting each other does seem like an aversion tactic for the lack of any substantial villain characters, it does for sure make for some great visual spectacles and character analysis opportunities. They make us care about the characters we side with most or question our own ideals when two of your heroes come to blows. This year isn't even half over and we've had some of the best and worst superhero stories in years. But now that's over, we can get back to fighting evil, right?
Oh wait. X-Men Apocalypse isn't out. Bloody hell...
There we have it. Our superhero fight night has concluded, and it only took about three months. Long bloody night. Whilst the contrived nature of making heroes fighting each other does seem like an aversion tactic for the lack of any substantial villain characters, it does for sure make for some great visual spectacles and character analysis opportunities. They make us care about the characters we side with most or question our own ideals when two of your heroes come to blows. This year isn't even half over and we've had some of the best and worst superhero stories in years. But now that's over, we can get back to fighting evil, right?
Oh wait. X-Men Apocalypse isn't out. Bloody hell...
By Mike Owen
@ThatMikeOwen
The Editor in Chief of Foul Entertainment, Mike edits most of what you see on the site. He runs the production of our podcasts, and currently pens Pop Culture Club and The Death of Video Games
@ThatMikeOwen
The Editor in Chief of Foul Entertainment, Mike edits most of what you see on the site. He runs the production of our podcasts, and currently pens Pop Culture Club and The Death of Video Games