Let's settle this once and for all: DC vs. Marvel Tournament

What are you hating on Zach Braff?

I have not seen Falling Down. Take notes for film club.

It's such a terrible movie. He spends all this time whining, travels half way around the country to tell at this dad to "let him feel" when his pill problem is his own fault.

The direction learns all the wrong lessons in twee from Wes Anderson.

And the music sucks.

THE FINAL VOTE:
Batman Forever
I want to give Hulk points for giant poodle...buuuuuuuuuut...  Hulk tried something different and artful, didn't work.  Batman Forever tried something ostentatious and loud, and it's exactly that, and it's more amusing to watch.  This is a no-brainer choice for me, as just any movie having Jim Carrey contorting his face and making weird noises is automatically better than a movie with Eric Bana contorting his face and making weird noises.

The Score
Batman Forever:  4
Hulk:  5



Batman has prep time, but Hulk smash puny Batman all the same.

DC:  5
Marvel:  7
Draw:  1

ROUND 14!

IN THIS CORNER


Superheroes:  George Clooney as Bruce Wayne/Batman,  Chris O'Donnell as Dick Grayson/Robin, Alicia Silverstone as Barbara Wilson/Batgirl, Michael Gough as Alfred Pennyworth
Supervillains:  Arnold Schwarzenegger as Dr. Victor Fries/Mr. Freeze, Uma Thurman as Dr. Pamela Isley/Poison Ivy, Robert Swenson as Bane, Michael Reid MacKay as Antonio Diego, John Glover as Dr. Jason Woodrue, Vivica A. Fox as Miss B. Haven, Coolio as Johnathan Crane (no, seriously)
Civilians:  Pat Hingle as Commissioner James Gordon, Elle Macpherson as Julie Madison, Vendela Kirsebom as Nora Fries
Run Time:  2 Hours 5 Minutes
Director:  Joel Schumacher (Batman Forever)
Writer:  Akiva Goldsman (Batman Forever)
Music:  Elliot Goldenthal (Batman Forever)
Cinematography:  Stephen Goldblatt (Batman Forever)
Tomatometer:  11%
IMDB:  3.7
Razzies Won:  Worst Supporting Actress - Alicia Silverstone
Razzies Nominated:  Worst Picture, Worst Screen Couple - George Clooney & Chris O'Donnell, Worst Supporting Actor - Chris O'Donnell, Worst Supporting Actor - Arnold Schwarzenegger, Worst Supporting Actress - Uma Thurman, Worst Reckless Disregard for Human Life and Public Property, Worst Remake or Sequel, Worst Director, Worst Screenplay, Worst Original Song - "The End is the Beginning is the End"
Story:  Batman and Robin fight a neverending battle on the streets against Mr. Freeze, an icy villain who plans to freeze Gotham and hold it for ransom to fund his research to cure his wife of an advanced disease.  The problem becomes more complicated when Freeze is joined by the femme fatale Poison Ivy and her crony Bane, who wish to rid the world of human life and turn it into an everlasting garden.  However, Batman and Robin's alter egos of Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson find themselves fighting a war at home as well when Alfred contracts the same disease as Freeze's wife.

Pros:  In this universe, there is only one absolute...EVERYTHING...FREEZES!
Cons:  What killed the dinosaurs?  THE ICE AGE!




AND IN THIS CORNER


Superheroes:  Thomas Jane as Frank Castle/The Punisher
Supervillains:  John Travolta as Howard Saint, Kevin Nash as the Russian, Mark Collie as Harry Heck, Laura Harring as Livia Saint, Will Patton as Quentin Glass, James Carpinello as Bobby Saint, James Carpinello as James Saint
Civilians:  Samantha Mathis as Maria Castle, Roy Scheider as Frank Castle Sr., Marcus Johns as Will Castle, Rebecca Romijn as Joan, Ben Foster as Spacker Dave, John Pinette as Nathaniel Bumpo, Eddie Jemison as Mickey Duka, Russell Andrews as James Weeks
Run Time:  2 Hours 4 Minutes (Theatrical Cut), 2 Hours 20 Minutes (Extended Cut)
Director:  Johnathan Hensleigh (Welcome to the Jungle)
Writer:  Johnathan Hensleigh (Die Hard With a Vengeance, Jumanji, The Saint, Armageddon, Gone in 60 Seconds, Next), Michael France (Hulk)
Music:  Carlo Siliotto
Cinematographer:  Conrad W. Hall (Panic Room, Olympus Has Fallen)
Tomatometer:  29%
IMDB:  6.4
Story:  FBI Agent Frank Castle retires after a brutal drug bust that ends in the death of Bobby Saint, son of mob boss Howard Saint.  In retaliation, Howard Saint orders a hit on Frank's entire family during a family reunion.  After a massacre leaves Frank the sole survivor, he resurfaces months later to psychologically torture Saint and "punish" him.

Pros:  Because Batman & Robin had to go up against something.
Cons:  His whole family got murdered and all he got was that lousy T-shirt.



FIGHT!

The Punisher

The Punisher

Come out of the woodwork, Neverending. Give Batman & Robin the vote that I know you want to give it.

lol. There's an extended cut of the Punisher? Did anyone ask for it?

Punisher was one of Lionsgate's big DVD sellers of 2004. It was one of their first titles on blu-ray and 4K based on that and it was also the reason they pushed forward on Punisher: War Zone, hoping those numbers meant people were thirsty for another Punisher movie (they weren't).

They pressured Johnathan Hensleigh for a director's cut so they could squeeze more money out of it. I don't think he was interested, but he did one anyway. It was mostly just a subplot where Frank's friend he tells to "Get a girlfriend" at the beginning of the movie sells information on Frank to John Travolta, which lead's to the death of Frank's family. After Frank comes back, he has a few "confiding" scenes with this guy, but Frank slowly realizes he was the one that sold him out. Just before Frank goes to raid Travolta's house, Frank gives the dude a gun and goads him into shooting himself. Long story short, theatrical cut was better.

There was also a bonus animated scene they didn't film which had Frank in the military. It was fine.

As far as I know, the extended cut was only released on DVD.