DC vs. Marvel: Choose Your Side In The Battle!

Ah, superhero movies, probably one of the best things cinema has to offer nowadays, and maybe one of the reasons why I'm saving money this Christmas. It all started with a certain comic-book company known as Marvel Comics, a creative team that gave us Spider-Man, Iron Man, the Hulk, the Avengers and other legends that has always played part in our dearest movie memories. Marvel has announced their latest entries into their media kingdom, with not only movies to offer, but television programs as well. With their announcements making us teasing for more, another comic-book publisher decides to step-up their game, they are DC Comics.  The creative people behind Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, the Flash and many more classics and they are not going to settle for being second best. To counter Marvel's upcoming cinema takeover, DC has also announced their own version of a "cinematic universe". Welcome to Dateline Movies yet again, and for our Christmas special, prepare to choose on which one of the two "universes" shall triumph.

Contender Number 1: Marvel Studios

Mini-Bio: Marvel has given us several cases of nostalgia over the past decades, starting from the 60's. During the 60's as well, they did not only to make a lot of the best heroes and villains we know, they were able to top DC in their own game of chess. A few movies adapted some of their comics, but instead fell into obscurity and under critics' hate list (Films like Howard The Duck for example). However, that all changed when 20th Century made X-Men, Columbia Pictures released Spider-Man and finally Marvel made their own movie in Iron Man, and finally a shared film continuity. They have recently announced their "Phase 3" flicks, with Fox sharing with the world of their soon-to-be-released Fantastic Four reboot film, a third Wolverine solo film, a Deadpool lone-wolf adventure and an end of the world battle while Sony makes plans for a third and fourth Spidey installment, a Sinister Six and Venom spin-off and a possible female solo in their Spidey-verse. Go ahead and see more of Marvel's exciting menu selections.

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From Left to Right (Movie Title): Doctor Strange, Ant-Man, Inhumans, Black Panther and The Avengers: Age of Ultron

From Top to Bottom (Movie Title): Sinister Six, Deadpool, Venom/Carnage, The Fantastic Four, X-Men: Apocalypse and Guardians of the Galaxy 2

Center (Movie Title): Captain America: Civil War 

Our first contender is notable for bringing in this year's Guardians of the Galaxy and Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Marvel is, and always will, deliver us the sensation and enjoyment that we will only find in their films. With Age of Ultron coming in to conclude "Phase 2", one must wonder if this will be the end of Marvel. Thankfully, it's not. Black Panther, Ant-Man, Doctor Strange, the Inhumans and the Guardians of the Galaxy's second entry will be sure to make your wallets empty for the rest of the years to come.

Although Marvel has their own studio and continuity, Marvel has brought in back-up from two mega-companies, 20th Century Fox and Sony Pictures. Fox has given us the slick and stylish X-Men franchise, bringing us 7 movies in total. Although there have been a few misses along the way with their attempted Fantastic Four franchise (A little underrated in my opinion), their Last Stand (Not as good as the title) and their first Wolverine spin-off (Could have used more cohesive storytelling). However, they promise to deliver us three exciting additions to the series, with the talky Deadpool, at long last, gaining the chance in the big-screen, more X-Men action, a Gambit solo outing, and a slightly risky X-Force film (Since the members are unknown to modern audiences). All of which have potential to make it big. On the other hand, Sony is not handling their hero very well lately. Sony's sub-company, Columbia Pictures made the perfect Spider-Man movies back in the day, but with Sam Raimi leaving the scene, Sony decided to take matters in their own hands. The recent release of The Amazing Spider-Man 2 was met with mixed reception, with the criticism aimed at the story. It may seem like a dark age for Spidey, but talks confirm that there is still hope for the friendly neighborhood web-head. Two villainous spin-offs, a third and fourth installment and a female lead-movie might just save the day. Might is a strong word, if you know what I mean. However, some of these plans may be unlikely in the aftermath of the "Sony Hack".

Excited? You better be. If no, then check the schedule below.

Schedule of Planned and Announced Marvel Films:
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Phase 2 of Marvel Cinematic Universe

1. The Avengers: Age of Ultron (To Be Released in May 1, 2015)

2. Ant-Man (To Be Released in July 17, 2015)

Phase 3 of Marvel Cinematic Universe

1. Captain America: Civil War (To Be Released in May 6, 2016)

2. Doctor Strange (To Be Released in November 4, 2016)

3. Guardians of the Galaxy 2 (To Be Released in May 7, 2017)

4. Thor: Ragnarok (To Be Released in July 28, 2017)

5. Black Panther (To Be Released in November 3, 2017)

6. The Avengers: Infinity War Part 1 (To Be Released in May 4, 2018)

7. Captain Marvel (To Be Released in July 6, 2018)

8. Inhumans (To Be Released in November 2, 2018)

9. The Avengers: Infinity War Part 2 (To Be Released in May 3, 2019)

20th Century Fox Projects

1. The Fantastic Four (To Be Released in August 7, 2015)

2. Deadpool (To Be Released in February 12, 2016)

3. X-Men: Apocalypse (To Be Released in May 27, 2016)

4. Wolverine 3 (To Be Released in March 3, 2017)

5. X-Force (The release date is currently unknown)

6. Gambit (The release date is currently unknown)

Upcoming Sony (Collaborating with Marvel) Flicks

1. Sinister Six (Moved to an Unspecified Date)

2. The Spectacular Spider-Man (Reboot, To Be Released in July 28, 2017)

Contender Number 2: DC Comics

And in this corner, giving us a more realistic view of superheroic life, creating three of the most popular and influential characters of all time, rebooting more time than we can count, here's DC Comics. That's right, here they are. Nearly overshadowed by Marvel's reign of action, DC finally strikes back with a full list of planned and possible films. However, this isn't gonna be easy. Considering their reputation of taking too long to release a film, or showing several notoriously bad adaptations (Looking at you Catwoman and Batman and Robin!), DC might find it difficult to win the favor of their fans once again. Even if the Man of Steel wasn't accepted gleefully by many, if Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight Trilogy concluded or if their first attempt of a shared universe is down the drain, there will always be hope. And that hope can be fulfilled with the right kind of storytelling, release dates and teaser trailers. See if you like anything in DC's proposed future projects.

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From Left to Right (Movie Title): Suicide Squad, Dark Universe, Metal Men, Legion of Super-Heroes and Wonder Woman

From Top to Bottom (Movie Title): The Sandman, Shazam!, The Flash, Cyborg and Green Lantern

Center (Movie Title): Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice

DC Comics was the greatest before Marvel dethroned them. Back in the Golden Age of Comics, DC was able to publish the legendary Superman, the Dynamic Duo's first adventures and the first super heroine. However as time passed by, audiences wanted a more modern style of crime fighting. DC tried to catch-up, but their various plans of attempting to modernize was nearly done and fell through. The result was a not so good, an overly mature creation that many find it hard to see if it is even a superhero comic. Luckily, Christopher Reeves wore the tights of Superman while Michael Keaton and Adam West embraced the dark side of justice as Batman. The end received a popular amount of success, however, when Joel Schumacher decided to direct while Superman goes all the more campy, it didn't conclude in a happily ever after. But today is a new day, Christopher Nolan made his Batman and made it a legend.

DC's long-time media partner, Warner Bros. Studios will stop at nothing to make DC a juggernaut. They have made successful projects to show how DC can be great. From animated series (The oh-so unforgettable Batman: The Animated Series), to modern prime-time dramas (Smallville, and today's Constantine, Gotham, The Flash and Arrow), it looks like DC might at least return to the big screen in a huge way.

Are you excited? Go ahead and see their schedule below and see what you like.

Schedule of Planned and Announced DC Films:
Source 1, Source 2

Projects for a DC-Shared Movie Universe

1. Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice (To Be Released in March 25, 2016)

2. Suicide Squad (To Be Released in August 5, 2016)

3. Wonder Woman (To Be Released in June 23, 2017)

4. Justice League: Part 1 (To Be released in November 17, 2017)

5. The Flash (To Be Released in March 23, 2018)

6. Aquaman (To Be Released in July 27, 2018)

7. Shazam! (To Be Released in April 5, 2019)

8. Justice League: Part 2 (To be Released in June 14, 2019)

9. Cyborg (To Be Released in April 3, 2020)

10. Green Lantern (To Be Released in June 19. 2020)

Proposed Ideas for Separate or Shared Continuity

1. Dark Universe (The Release Date is Currently Unknown)

2. The Sandman (The Release Date is Currently Unknown)

3. Metal Men (The Release Date is Currently Unknown)

4. Legion of Super-Heroes (The Release Date is Currently Unknown)

5. The Flash/Green Lantern (The Release Date is Currently Unknown)

6. Teen Titans (The Release Date is Currently Unknown)

7. Lobo (The Release Date is Currently Unknown)

8. Green Arrow (The Release Date is Currently Unknown)

9. The Batman (The Release Date is Currently Unknown)

10. Booster Gold (The Release Date is Currently Unknown)

11. Deathstroke (The Release Date is Currently Unknown)

Conclusion:

Exciting isn't it? Marvel might only have a few installments left before (possibly) ending soon, but hey, at least these film universes have already given more than enough nostalgia factor in all of us. DC, meanwhile, may not be the sharpest knife in the drawer, but let's never jump to conclusions that they may, at least someday impress us again. For you, who do you think is the best of the two?