Hollywood Road

Even in North America, the longstanding conflicts between some DC fans and some Marvel fans have escalated into what could be described as "elementary school fight challenges," exacerbating the discord between the two factions. This conflict has been openly displayed on the internet.

Starting Friday night, DC and Marvel fans began a near-frenzied exchange of insults across the internet.

Marvel fans were quick to respond to the so-called "elementary school fight challenge."

"Murphy-Stanton should just make a 'Man of Steel' already. With all those special effects they use, they still have the nerve to say Marvel movies are just popcorn flicks. It's unbelievable."

As the war kicked off, Marvel fans certainly didn't hold back.

"Pretentious, deep, yet ultimately, DC comic movies are mostly just bad popcorn films. Watching 'Man of Steel' and thinking you've seen through the world, that's laughable."

DC fans, unwilling to be outdone, quickly jumped into the fray.

"After watching 'Man of Steel,' I can say that Marvel superhero movies are just nonsense."

"Do you really think those holding Marvel's stinky feet have the IQ to understand 'Man of Steel'?"

"Marvel movies are just poor stand-up acts, while DC plays with real strength and substance!"

As Marvel dragged Murphy into this fray, some of Murphy's supporters also took a stand against Marvel. However, compared to the fervent DC fans, these supporters were more calm and restrained.

"Some people joke that compared to the action and battle scenes in 'Man of Steel,' the climactic battles in 'Spider-Man' series and 'Fantastic Four' seem childlike. Having seen it today, I fully agree. Murphy's action effects in 'Man of Steel' have reached a pinnacle, at least on par with Michael Bay and Roland Emmerich in terms of single-scene action spectacle. The audiovisuals in 'Man of Steel' are absolutely top-notch!"

By Saturday noon, Murphy was already aware of the online dispute but wasn't surprised. Given past fan conflicts across the Pacific over 'Avengers' and 'Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,' these seemed minor in comparison.

If it were an ordinary film, such a dispute would be merely scandalous, but Murphy, after some thought, met with Warner Brothers and DC Comics' project lead Diego Harris to share his views.

"Why don't we push this a bit further?"

In the office, Murphy looked at Diego Harris, the executive of DC Comics, and suggested, "Such disputes can generate buzz for 'Man of Steel' online, attracting more attention."

Diego Harris was somewhat apprehensive, "Is this appropriate? Could we lose potential viewers?"

"Who are the people fiercely attacking us right now?" Murphy didn't wait for an answer from Diego, stating, "They are Marvel's hardcore supporters, always happy to attack DC's works. Even if we do nothing, do you think they would buy tickets to 'Man of Steel' or any other DC superhero movie?"

"No!" Diego Harris didn't even need to think before shaking his head. "They would criticize DC's works at best; buying tickets? Impossible."

With that realization, he began to see Murphy's point.

"So, why should we care about these people?" Murphy stated succinctly, "We can subtly guide the direction of the internet disputes, ensuring they don't escalate to the average viewer. As for Marvel's biased fans, they are perfect for creating buzz."

Understanding Murphy's strategy, Diego Harris nodded in agreement.

Murphy continued, "By doing this, we might even attract some of them to spend money on 'Man of Steel.'"

"Oh?" Diego Harris looked at Murphy, puzzled.

"When they criticize each other, they have to present solid arguments, not just spout nonsense, or they'll be ridiculed," Murphy explained, spreading his hands. "Surely some of Marvel's die-hard fans will enter cinemas to gather evidence against 'Man of Steel' to criticize it."

Now fully understanding, Diego Harris laughed, "The more biased they are, the more likely they are to do this!"

When it comes to profit, Hollywood moves fast. Warner Brothers and DC Comics took Murphy's advice, mobilizing their resources and using the internet as a base to attack Marvel products while also engaging in some self-deprecating humor to incite outrage among DC fans.

"'Man of Steel' is the most technically advanced terrible movie I've seen!"

A well-known blogger's critique of 'Man of Steel' quickly spread online.

"The film scored high on IMDB after its release, hailed as the best superhero movie ever. But IMDB scores are initially inflated by fans, so boasting about 'Man of Steel' based on this is meaningless."

"Honestly, as a fan, I was happy to see 'Man of Steel' get high initial ratings, but let's not forget 'Spider-Man 3' and 'Shrek the Third,' which also received rave reviews at their premieres, each touted as the

 best summer movie ever. In the end, they were both embarrassing failures."

"Premiere ratings are mostly from fans, so high praise is normal. True public opinion takes time to emerge. What I don't understand is why people fight so bitterly over this before even seeing the film, allowing the media to decide whether they'll like or hate a movie in advance? Media ratings are just indicators; no matter how high the score, there's always bias. Ultimately, it's up to the viewer to decide the quality of a film without being swayed by external factors."

"Nutrient-less plot and repetitive explosions have become synonymous with 'Man of Steel,' so here, I congratulate Murphy-Stanton for becoming an even more terrifying vandal than Michael Bay, with seventy percent of the film showcasing CG effects and 'spectacular' fights. The few potentially deep thematic elements are barely touched upon, resulting in his worst film yet."

This orchestrated online marketing event by Murphy for Warner Brothers and DC Comics ensured that such negative reviews did not stand alone. Wherever this critique appeared, it was accompanied by opposing views.

"The fight scenes are insanely good, the sense of power is overwhelming, and the cinematography is fantastic, especially the scenes where the eyes emit beams, very destructive. Many shots could be screenshotted and look even better than promotional images! Just these fight scenes alone are worth the price of admission!"

"Super violent! The destruction of various buildings is heartbreaking, the entire city was turned into ruins. Superman and Wonder Woman's reckless fighting showed the great threat the enemy poses to Earth, their determination to stop at nothing really fired up the audience."

"Superman's suit is great, very detailed. It makes the previous suits look cheap. This new one is a high-quality product, and the warrior princess's armor is also extremely imposing and cool."

As this controversy continued to fuel debates, opposing views, purportedly from "Marvel fans," added to the discussion.

"The plot drags, the pacing and editing are terrible, the visuals are too dark to see clearly, and the fighting is long, boring, and has too many bathroom break moments."

And the opinions of average moviegoers were also represented.

"The high-speed fighting, flying through the sky, whooshing and banging, and then it just ends. Even if it's bad, it's surely better than Marvel's childish superhero films."

This controversy-driven promotional method is particularly suited for the internet, but Warner Brothers also didn't overlook traditional media. Influential publications like 'Premiere' magazine published several positive articles, and Time Warner's 'Time' magazine even featured Superman as the cover story for May.

"Directed by Murphy-Stanton, 'Man of Steel' might be the best-balanced film adaptation of a comic book hero to date, blending exaggerated comic book action with realistic emotional narratives. While viewers may still not believe Superman could exist in reality, when the battle starts and the new Superman fights to Hans Zimmer's stirring music, nothing else matters—just the thrill. For a summer blockbuster adapted from a comic, you couldn't ask for more."

"If we're talking visual impact, 'Man of Steel' is definitely the top contender of the year. Murphy-Stanton effectively uses the camera to close the visual and emotional distance with the audience. The final minutes of the battle are so extensive and destructive that they leave viewers thinking, 'This is what true excitement feels like.' There isn't a single slow-motion shot, focusing instead on highlighting the speed and power of Superman and his opponent; numerous zoom tracking shots let the audience directly experience the grandeur of the battle. The action scenes are connected with one or two beautifully composed static shots to further enhance the visual impact."

As described, ordinary viewers found the action scenes fresh and stimulating, and those who appreciate a more substantial thematic depth were delighted by the film's dark tones. Thus, as a new week began, it was no surprise when 'Man of Steel' took the top spot on the box office charts.

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