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Have you ever heard the song “Baby” by Justin Bieber? Or have you been living under a rock for the last decade? I think we can agree that this song represents the peak of our tween years. Our need for a nasally pop super star to sing us a repetitive elegy blows my mind, but hey, I won’t lie and say I don’t have the song downloaded to my phone. For how much crap everyone gave the song, it’s pretty catchy. I have recovered from Bieber Fever, but my brain can’t seem to shake the tune after I hear it. It stays with your soul. Almost like Satan. Addison Rae has come out with her single, “Obsessed”, and I am here to make the argument that this has ties to Germany. I promise this will make sense. Just keep reading.

Schläger music is a genre of music in Germany that is super tacky, super simple, and super repetitive. It also rhymes, so that adds to the sugary feel in your brain when you listen to it. I found this style of music through my German language class. My professor played us a few songs, and I was enthralled. I did some research, and apparently Schläger music is the equivalent of Christian Rock, which basically means this music is TV-G and super kitschy. I was interested to find out more about this genre.

Apparently, Schläger music is a huge part of Germany’s culture. Germany has TV night specials every day of just hours of Schlager music. I guess this would be the American equivalent of MTV. They also have the Spring Festival of Volksmusik, the Summer Festival of Volksmusik, and even the Great New Year’s Schlagin’ Eve Spectacular. Schläger music year-round! With help from Rebecca Schuman’s article, “Is Schlager Music the Most Embarrassing Thing Germany Has Ever Produced?”, I have outlined a checklist below to define the key elements of this genre:

1. Schlager contains very upbeat, simple, and rhyming lyrics; almost like a poem.
2. Content matter is never political, inappropriate, or upset.
3. Every song has a (If I seem repetitive with the word “simple”, you should see the article I read below) a simple and catchy melody

Just to really hit home what this genre is like I am attaching a video from the article that I feel showcases the outfits, lyrics, and melody of Schlager. Now, you’re probably thinking, “Great, I have learned about this terrible music. I can move on with my life”. That is where you’re wrong. Somehow, I STARTED LIKING SCHLÄGER MUSIC! It was specifically the song “Ohne dich” by Sarah Zucker that drew me in. It’s so catchy, and the music video was so fun! I also attached it in case you would like to watch, because who doesn’t want to watch a blonde German on roller-skates singing a song?

Here is my favorite song:

Now, stick with me for a second as I explain the connection. People have been going crazy on Tik Tok making fun of Addison’s music video choreography (rightfully so). After seeing one of these memes, I hopped onto YouTube to watch the video itself. I am ashamed to admit it: I liked her song. Hey! It was catchy! The reason this all connects is because I think Addison Rae is contributing to America’s Schläger music. Even tough hers is technically not very TV-G, I think the idea of a guy being obsessed with her and she being obsessed with herself, the rhymes, the simple lyrics, and the melody all fits the characteristics above. For whatever reason, I have a curse for liking simple, catchy, and annoying songs.

I have several theories as to why, but probably because it doesn’t require many brain cells to memorize the lyrics and you don’t need an amazing voice to belt out the tunes. I have found happiness in German Schläger music, maybe you will too, so much so I am finding similarities to American songs. I also highly recommend watching the memes on Tik Tok; you might use those dance moves at Lonnie’s Karaoke Bar sometime. Go give Schläger music a listen!!!

An official trailer for The Suicide Squad was released a few days ago, and it looks promising. As the trailer will make abundantly clear, the sequel (possibly reboot) to Suicide Squad (2016) is directed by James Gunn, who has directed The Guardians of the Galaxy series. This is smart on the part of Warner Brothers. They need to gain back some of the trust they lost with the original Suicide Squad by making a reputable director the face of their marketing. Even just by looking at the trailer, there are a few things that are already better than the disaster that was the original film. 

First, there is the matter of color. Many of the DC films of the past decade are colorized in such a way that it always feels like I’m watching a movie with sunglasses on. Of course, I am referring to Zack Snyder’s work, but this problem turned out to be worse in Suicide Squad, which was directed by David Ayer. The movie was so dark that, in a scene where a character is lighting an entire office space with fire, it still was difficult to make out what was going on. The brighter colors in the new trailer is a refreshing look and also one of the good indicators that this film will not be taking itself too seriously. 

There’s also the writing. Of course, we only have the bits and pieces of dialogue in the trailer to refer to, but I sincerely think it was better than any dialogue that happened in the entire Suicide Squad movie. When I watched the trailer for the original Suicide Squad I didn’t think much about the writing because it was doing what most trailers seem to do: show the dumb, quippy jokes and withhold the actual good lines. You can imagine everyone’s disappointment then, when the entire movie was full of dumb jokes and uncomfortable dialogue. Seeing just a few of the exchanges in the trailer, I can already tell these characters will act more like people, and if James Gunn gets these wacky characters right, really interesting people. Some of those lines felt a bit forced, but we can’t judge until the film comes out. 

This is a step in the right direction for DC in general. It’s about time they admit that the Marvel take on things is what sells for superhero movies if they truly want to be as big. Like I’ve said before, Marvel came first, and they set the stage for what people expect from a superhero film. Zack Snyder’s DC films are like the stubborn, edgy teenagers who refuse to admit that mother Marvel is right. Let’s hope that by stealing a Marvel movie director and actually showing some vivid colors on screen, people can unanimously enjoy a DC movie for once.

This weekend I conquered the invisible battles lines that have entrenched our campus: the Vandy Bubble. Ya know, the imaginary boundaries that surround our campus forcing us to use the old reliable restaurants like Roma or Pancake Pantry, and preventing us from truly exploring Nashville. I am very much so an introvert at heart, so forcing myself to get out of my comfort zone is a hilarious struggle constantly going on inside my brain. Yet, this weekend I had an external motivator: Norman. Norman, or Stormy Normy as I call him, is my father and he decided to come visit his favorite (!) daughter this weekend in the bustling city of Nash.

My father and I are pretty nerdy; it’s genetic you could say. We are history buffs, and it’s a tradition of ours to visit Civil War historical or battle sites when we can. This weekend we visited the Carnton Plantation, specifically the McGavock family home that was used as a field hospital during the Battle of Franklin Trust and the Belle Meade Plantation. Before I begin describing our southern adventures, I just want to write a disclaimer. As we visited and read about the history of the south, my father and I were conscious to recognize, discuss, and remember the history of the enslaved populations in the era of the Civil War and of the lands we visited. These were not visits of ignorance, but of an appreciation to remember the past of all those who experienced it. I would like to add that the Belle Meade tourist site is entirely problematic in its portrayal of slavery, white fragility, and whitewashing of the past and Civil War. I warn you to research before visiting, because their portrayal is entirely inadequate of the lives lost. I have attached an amazing podcast that was done by my classmates on the problems that exist within Belle Meade, titled, “Belle Meade – Erasure, Distortion, and Performance”*

Our journey began thirty minutes away in the town of Franklin, TN. This was a cute drive through the Tennessee country sides that felt so refreshing to see after months of viewing the urban sprawl of downtown. We stopped in at a super cute coffee shop, called “The Good Cup”. Obviously, this is so far away, but if you’re ever around Franklin, definitely try it! Their chai was spectacular and their fresh donuts were delightful. We finally arrived at our destination of the Carnton historical plantation, but our main visit was to the McGavock family mansion. I wasn’t allowed to take any photos inside, but I have included some from the outside. Fun fact: southern homes are known to paint their porch ceilings blue as a way to deceive flying critters from making nests or flying into it. Cool, right???

Stormy Normy in front of “The Good Cup”!

Stormy Normy and I in front of the Belle Meade mansion!

We took a guided-tour throughout the house, and it was insanely fascinating. I love learning about the culture and experience in history, not so much the facts or politics. The experience surrounding the McGavock mansion in terms of the Civil War is that it was used as a bloody field hospital during the Battle of Franklin Trust. Like I said, I hate political history, so I am not going into the battle or what it did; that’s what Google and the professors here are Vandy at for. But, the South was losing really badly, so the Tennessean Confederate army commandeered the mansion to use as a hospital for wounded men. My Dad and I got to see the rooms as they were in the 1800s, and on the night of the battle. Another fun fact: the gore from the hundreds of men that night is still evident on the wooden floors. Yup, you read my words correctly. We got to see the blood stains that still live on decades and decades later.

The McGavock family had two children: a nine-year-old girl and seven-year-old boy. These two kids were actually there the night of the battle, and there are historical accounts of the family helping to aid the wounded men. There are so many interesting and diverse histories associated with this plantation, so I would definitely encourage reading more, or even trying to visit if you can. I really appreciate the museum’s efforts to remember all the histories associated with the Civil War.

Our next visit was to the Belle Meade plantation. This is actually much closer to campus! This Harding family that built the mansion was actually more involved in horse racing than farming cash crops. Fun fact: horse racing found its popularity in Tennessee, not Kentucky like one might think. The popularity of breeding and racing horses actually started at the Harding Plantation. This place was gorgeous. The grass was a luscious green, and the flowers were in full Spring bloom. We started our tour sharply at 10:00 a.m., but boy was it bustling for a museum tour on a Sunday morning. This plantation didn’t have any significant battles of the Civil War attached, but it was important to the society of elites in Nashville during the time of the war. The house was elegant, elaborate, and grandiose. They had floating staircases, which means every third step was attached to the wall by a concrete cinder block, so we were warned to stay close to the wall. It was actually really cool because you could feel on the floor where the concrete ended, and it did indeed feel like you were floating. It was really cool to see the structures and how people lived not even 200 years ago. Our building processes, aesthetics, culture, and society have changed so much in what is relatively such a short time. Another fun fact: ruby red tinted windows were a sign of southern hospitality.

I have not even licked the surface of the history and experiences that are attached to these two amazing places. I was so happy that I got to learn more about my home for the next four years, and I got to venture out of the ever comfortable Vandy bubble with my favorite pal, Stormy Normy. He is my favorite partner in crime, so seeing him is definitely a recharge on the online learning battery. I was so proud to show my city of Nashville and for both us to continue our tradition of learning Civil War history.

Anime is something I’ve never gotten around to on this feature yet, but I recently rewatched one of my favorite animes of all time and thought others ought to watch it. The first time I watched Akame ga Kill was one of the most exhilarating TV watching experiences I’ve had in my entire life. To me, it was such an awesome and flawless show that it remained in my mind like a fond memory I was longing to revisit. This last rewatch makes it the sixth time I’ve done so. 

Upon rewatching, I saw some flaws that I hadn’t noticed before. This definitely isn’t a perfect anime, or at least not as perfect as I make it out to be. But I believe its awesomeness outweighs its flaws. Those who watch a lot of anime, have watched this anime, and/or at least know the controversy surrounding this anime may be scoffing at my seemingly blind love for this show. I’ve found that traditional anime fans are uncomfortable with this show, and dedicated fans absolutely loathe it. It’s different from a lot of other anime in ways that I personally think are good, but could understandably upset someone who enjoys traditional anime structures. It feels closer to western television in many respects, which is an entirely different landscape. I’ll admit, this is coming from someone who primarily enjoys western TV shows and has watched 10 animes at most. I can’t speak for the die-hard anime fans, but I think more open-minded viewers are in for a treat.  

I don’t enjoy too many animes because, like K-dramas, there’s a bunch of annoying tropes that they adhere to. When I say annoying, I mean for myself and probably other media consumers like me. If these tropes were in an American show, that show would never air. In fact, much of the problems I have with Akame ga Kill are the parts that mimic traditional anime. This includes blatant exposition, questionable retcons, and battles where the characters tell each other their strategies as they execute them. These problems don’t permeate throughout the whole series, however, and they’re hardly noticeable as long as you aren’t seeking them out.

One problem specific to the show is tonal whiplash. It’s clear that the animators had to squeeze in quite a bit of manga into just 24 episodes, so the story’s pace is very quick. This means that deeply emotional moments that I would’ve liked to linger on are cut short at times, and sad moments may be inappropriately followed by comedic ones. On the other hand, the pacing is one of the reasons why this show is so great. The story is constantly moving and engaging you with action and never wasting your time. By the end, so much stuff has happened that the show feels like one crazy adventure. 

The ending has also been a polarizing topic. I’ll say that I thought it was good, and some of the reasons people don’t like it don’t make sense. First, I don’t think it’s fair to compare anime to the manga it is adapted from. Anime is a far more popular medium than manga is, and it doesn’t exist to validate the wishes of the niche group of manga fans. The book will be better than the show a majority of the time because it is subjective to your imagination and unrestrained by production limitations. Just because a show changes things or does not meet expectations, it doesn’t mean it’s a bad show. Secondly, a show isn’t bad if it evokes emotions other than happiness. The sadness and anger viewers might feel are intentional, and add to the value of the show. 

Now onto what the show does great. First and foremost: the music. This is one aspect of the show that nobody can dispute. Not only is it Hollywood blockbuster grade, but it is weaved so well into the show that you might hardly notice it’s presence and still feel its effects. Next are the characters. The way their backstories are introduced is a bit lazy, but beyond that, Akame ga Kill introduces a cast of charismatic characters that you’ll laugh and cry for. I can count on one hand the amount of movies and shows that have actually had me jumping out of my seat or shedding a tear, and this is one of them. And finally, the structure. Akame ga Kill is one complete story, so every episode is relevant to the main conflict, and it ends with all the closure you’ll need. 

Akame ga Kill is also the only anime I’ve ever seen with no fillers. Fillers are easily the worst part about anime, and why I’m always reluctant to pick up a new one; I know that at some point, I’m going to be subjected to characters sitting around and talking about nothing while I curse the creators who aren’t even trying to hide the fact that they’re wasting my time. 

I’ll remind you again. This isn’t just for anime watchers. Anyone looking for something new can take something away from this show. I promise, or at least hope, that it’ll be every bit as awesome as I’ve described. It’s available on Netflix!     

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Who would’ve thought that a show about superheroes would take the television scene by storm? WandaVision has done just that, with each new episode triggering huge ripples across the internet from comic book fans and new viewers alike. The series ended last week with its ninth episode, and now, looking back on what we got, some people are a little disappointed. This isn’t because the show itself was bad; it just decided not to meet people’s high expectations.

Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame shattered the traditional superhero genre to such an extent that MCU fans now expect future stories to be just as interconnected and mind-bendingly creative. It’s part of the reason why Zack Snyder’s Justice League cut will most likely be underwhelming in comparison. Marvel almost ensured that superhero stories can’t just have a hero defeating a villain in a big fight anymore. So for them to employ that trope in WandaVision feels like a major step back. 

Another problem is that the show just played itself. The premise of a superhero couple stuck in a TV show dimension is so interestingly wacky that it inevitably opens itself up to a lot of potential creative outlets and fan theories. As the show progressed, it continued to introduce wacky concepts, and eventually hinted at the potential for a multiverse and even an X-Men crossover event. This made fans and fan theorists go bonkers. Instead of following through on these elements, however, the show just decided to ignore them and give us a more generic ending. Those hints will probably be relevant in future projects, but as far as WanadaVision goes, they are just teasers.  

WandaVision is also heavily reliant on your investment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. People who haven’t at least watched the Avengers films won’t be able to appreciate a lot of the elements in the show, and might even think it’s not that great. This also means that the show isn’t conducive to rewatches. The fan service and cameos were fun when I first watched the show, but once we know they’re there, they’ve lost their entertainment value. 

There were many things to enjoy beyond those things, however. Just because the show didn’t meet the expectations of fans, it doesn’t mean it still didn’t take some creative direction with its premise. I see WandaVision as a step towards Marvel’s goal to turn everyone into dedicated nerds. They’re slowly introducing more and more niche stories that only comic-book readers appreciated once. They are slowly bridging the gap between the average viewer and Marvel’s full creative potential.  

To sum it all up, manage your expectations, and you’ll have a good time watching WandaVision. It isn’t a full TV show as much as it is just a really long movie. It doesn’t have multiple arcs or complex storylines with broad implications. It’s just a side story meant to flesh out characters we don’t really know and show us what they’re capable of.  

As Oprah Winfrey once said, “I love bread.” Oprah has never been more right about the carbohydrate food category. So, when I go to a restaurant and they slap a bowl of bread and a plate of oil in my face, I know some bangin’ food is about to be served. This weekend I ventured off campus to the Barcelona Wine Bar restaurant at 1200 Villa Place. I knew it was going to be good, because of the piping hot and buttery bread, but trust me, you’re going to want to keep reading, because it gets even better. Now, before y’all start with the, “Zoe, you’re under 21! Why are you at a wine bar!?”, just know that it is actually a restaurant alongside a bar, with its own dining area.  

My close friend Emilio wanted to show me his native Spanish cuisine, and I was touched to say the least. It meant a lot to me that he wanted to share his home cuisine with my ignorant American cuisine self. Yet, I was also hesitant because my food palate is limited to chicken tenders, fries, and GoGo Squeez applesauce packets. I said yes, and saw the excitement in his eyes as he listed off dishes that included moldy sausage, along with squid, and fish. I was scared, and you would be too if your diet consisted of the safe and bland foods of chicken and rice.

The design of the restaurant itself is very easy on the eyes. The restaurant had an elegant yet gritty vibe, with beautiful hanging fixtures, golden wood floors, and metal décor to offset the glowing light coming in from the large windows. The menu was entirely in Spanish, so thank goodness Emilio was fluent and guided me through what to order. We ended up sharing five plates of tapas, which consisted of Jamón Serrano, bread and oil (my favorite!), calamari, Torrijas with Crème Catalan, Jamón & Monchego Croquetas, and Potato Tortilla. When I say run, don’t walk, to try to the Croquetas, I am not being dramatic. It’s basically a fried dough ball of cheese, ham, and potatoes blended together into a mouthwatering mixture. The Jamón is basically Spanish ham that you can put on breads, and dip into a buttery oil. Emilio says that his family usually buys Jamón by the pounds, and he could usually eat all of it one sitting. The Torrijas reminded me of French toast, and its flaky insides with notes of cinnamon were deserving of happy tears.

I was so glad I ended up going with Emilio because I tried so many new foods I wouldn’t have tried by myself. I was also so excited to try cuisine from a different culture, and get out of my comfort zone of the usual chicken tenders. But, the pinnacle of my Barcelona Wine Bar experience was seeing the excitement in Emilio to share his Spanish culture. As we ate and chatted over the tapas, he discussed his childhood memories of eating food and showed me pictures of his hometown, and photos of his hometown were actually featured in the restaurant! I was touched that he wanted to share that with me and so happy that he got to be reminded of his home which is so far away seeming even farther sometimes during this pandemic. I love that Vanderbilt gives me the opportunity to interact with students from all over the world, and gives us a space to share our culture and experiences. I urge you to try the Barcelona Wine Bar not only for its great Spanish cuisine and moderate prices, but because you might just learn something new about yourself and your peers.

My favorite place to sleep is in the car. The rhythmic motion of the car, the warmth from the seats, the low hum of the stereo, and the ticking of the turn signal provide an instant surge of melatonin. I have fond memories of my Dad and I blasting “Rockstar” by Nickelback. I know, I know. Nickelback is outdated and cringe, but they have produced some absolute bangers. I also love driving at the wheel (not asleep, of course), while blasting my music with the windows rolled down. Daydreaming is a hobby of mine, as I look out the windows of my car and the scenery from my hometown flashes by.

So, I was not surprised when I found a second home in the Vandy Vans. These vans help transport students across campus safely at night. I took my first Vandy Van ride this spring semester, and it definitely didn’t disappoint. My friends and I were headed over to Commons from Scomb, but it was cold and dark, so we decided to gamble and take the Vandy Van for the first time ever. We waited for a couple of short minutes, and then our knight-in-shining gold and black arrived. The foldable doors screeched open, and we ascended the staircase to our seats.

We sat down, and my first sense of feeling went to the heat radiating from the inside of the van. It surrounded my cold exterior, and melted through the layers of chill. I felt a sense of comfort as the yellow iridescent lights and warmth from the heaters made me sleepy. Yet, the icing on the cake for me was the music playing from the radio. The driver had put on the ’80s classic rock station, which just so happens to be my Dad’s all-time favorite era of music. Naturally, I grew up listening to these tunes, and overtime found myself enjoying them as much as my Dad. I heard classics from “Don’t Stop Believin’” by Journey to “I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing” by Aerosmith. I was jolted back to car rides with my Dad and siblings, so my meter of comfort was reaching maximum levels.

The ride itself was smooth and calm, with the blinker making soft ticking noises at corners and the engine revved a slow purr at green lights. My friends and I were all in a trance as we looked out the windows at the glittery city of Nashville. We started off the ride cracking jokes, but we were soon thrown into a vortex of utmost comfort that we ended up finishing the ride in silence. We arrived at our destination, thanked the driver, and descended the stairs into the dark and cold night. We all had glassy eyes and slow thoughts when we first exited the van. How long were we in the van? Did we all age 10 years? Are we even in Nashville? Was that the Magic School bus?

We lost our trance-like state, and returned to a homeostasis, but we all had the same experience riding in the Vandy Van. It was a vortex of comfort that threw us all into memories from our childhood. I don’t know if the vents were blasting aromatic dopamine or serotonin, but it was such a calming and euphoric experience. The Van makes you remember things clearly, and look inward at yourself. Each time I take a ride with a Vandy Van, I close my eyes and let the warmth and music take over. For a short 10 minutes, I am transported to an alternate universe where my only concerns are if I know the next song lyric. I urge you to ride the Vandy Van with your friends, and see where the vortex takes you.

Three years after the disappointing Justice League, a new trailer was released on Valentine’s day titled “Zack Snyder’s Justice League”. If you don’t know already, here’s a quick recap: 

Warner Brother hired Zack Snyder to direct their avengers style superhero crossover film, Justice League in 2014. Production of the film was marked by disputes between Warner Brothers and Snyder in terms of the film’s creative direction. In the midst of what was already a strained relationship between Snyder and the studio, a sudden family tragedy caused Snyder to step away from the project and hire Joss Whedon, who notably directed The Avengers, to take over. Whedon then rewrote and reshot approximately three-quarters of Snyder’s cut and released a Frankensteined Justice League to theaters in 2017. Snyder claims to have never seen this version, which, for his sake, was a great decision. While Snyder processed his personal tragedy with his family, DC fans adamantly demanded a release of the Snyder cut. Snyder encouraged this protest, and was backed up by the cast, who would mention that working under Whedon’s direction wasn’t too great. Warner Brothers finally gave in to the internet’s harassment, and here we are. 

On an unrelated note, I just think it’s funny that promotional material for DC films now seems to focus more on the directors than the actual content of the film. For example, the first teaser “trailer” for Suicide Squad 2 isn’t a preview of the film, but is instead a behind the scenes cut letting people know that James Gunn (director of Guardians of the Galaxy, and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2) is directing it. This is just a theory, but I like to think that Warner Brothers knows they’ve failed their audience with their existing films, and now need to tell them, “You know this director? The one who made that other film you like? He’s directing our next movie so it won’t be as bad this time”.  

Until the film is released on HBO Max and people can see it for themselves, it wouldn’t be fair to judge it. But I’m still skeptical about it for three reasons. 

First off, Zack Snyder’s disputes with Warner Brothers stemmed from his desire to show a twisted take on the DC universe. Warner Brothers was looking for a family-friendly franchise that could follow in the footsteps of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Snyder wants to realize a dark, edgy perspective he has on superheroes. Audiences can watch this dispute unfold on screen. When Batman is killing people in cold blood, it’s Zack Snyder. When he dispenses a corny line that falls flat, it’s Warner Brothers. If Snyder has been granted as much creative control as sources report, then perhaps there will at least be some tonal consistency. But even so, Snyder’s dark take is unfaithful to the original comic book material. For the rest of us who haven’t read the comics, it’s just difficult to watch characters in tights try to convey mature, R-rated concepts.

Secondly, I just don’t think Zack Snyder is a good director. People often refer to 300 as proof that Snyder can make a good movie. 300 is a technically and stylistically sensational film. But if you look past the gore and slow motion, the story just doesn’t hold up in my opinion. I think it’s popularity stemmed from its shock value, and it just left a good impression in people’s minds. It’s pretty obvious that Snyder employed the same techniques in his subsequent films. Man of Steel and Batman v. Superman have that kind of Snyder action, as well as the weak stories to go along with it. And at face value, it makes no sense why Warner Brothers would want to keep hiring Snyder when all his DC films have ranged from mediocre to terrible. The only reason I can think of is that despite their poor quality, the nostalgia and overseas market is enough to make these films profitable for the studio. On paper, Snyder’s movies have consistent earnings. Once you pay for the movie, no matter how bad it is, you’ve already given Warner Brothers one more reason to hire Zack Snyder again. 

Finally, there’s the matter of the superhero formula. DC movies seem to like making trailers that basically reveal the entire plot of the movie. The “Zack Snyder’s Justice League” video seems like it fits in that category. I could of course be wrong, but from what I can glean from the trailer, powerful villains are looking for magical objects that will let them conquer the universe, so the heroes have to band together and defeat the villains in a climactic battle towards the end of the movie. You might be thinking, “Well aren’t all superhero movies like that?”. And yes, that’s true. It’s a formula that Marvel took years to break away from. But unfortunately for DC, Marvel came first. So unless this film manages to introduce creative nuances or novel concepts, it will be a movie we’ve all seen before. And based on Snyder’s track record, it seems like this is very likely.