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Spoilers Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice - Grading & Discussion

Grade the movie...

  • Total voters
    224
I dunno, the limited theatrical showing or the streamed version? I haven't been following these things. Someone has posted a bunch of the augmented/additional scenes to youtube which doesn't seem exactly legal/ethical to me considering the blu isn't even out. I watched the Batman fight, but I won't watch the rest because I don't want to spoil it for myself.
 
I've watched a few excerpts from the ultimate cut, and I have to say...whoever made the final call on the theatrical cut is an imbecile. As someone who hated the film in the cinema, I'm already a lot happier with it than I was before. I'm going to hold off watching more so as to watch it all in context when the Blu-ray comes out.
 
Mr Light said:
I don't understand how are people talking about seeing the Ultimate Cut? It doesn't come out for three weeks!
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Digital versions of most major movies (via iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, Vudu, etc) are usually out weeks before the physical media versions.
 
Well, I didn't see the movie in theaters; my first exposure was the extended cut on iTunes which I watched last night. And I have to say, I really enjoyed the movie.

Ben Afleck was surprisingly good as Batman. The story was dark and gritty and added a sense of realism to both Bruce and Clark's characters. I liked how Batman was set up to be really tortured, suffering from haunting dreams, borderline mentally ill. And I also liked the controversy about Superman and the almost religious reverence his supporters had.

In fact, I have to say the only thing I particularly disliked about the movie was at the end of the duel between Superman and Batman, when Batman was about to impale Superman with the kryptonite speak. It seems beyond reason that any words -- even "Martha will die" -- would be enough to break years of fear-based obsession and hatred and suddenly transform Batman into Superman's new BFF.

Anyway, that's my two cents. :) Decent movie. Worth the $20 to watch during a night of insomnia.
 
Shikarnov said:
would be enough to break years of fear-based obsession and hatred and suddenly transform Batman into Superman's new BFF.
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I don't know why people keep intentionally misrepresenting this. They became allies, not BFF's, not even friends. They were as much "friends" as Black Panther and Tony Stark. And the "years of fear based obsession and hatred" was negated when Bruce saw that all those "years of fear based obsession and hatred" led him to becoming a guy willing to murder someone innocent of any actual wrong doing. It's called "a moment of clarity". Not sure why people struggle with this, it's really not complicated.
 
The Lensman said:
I don't know why people keep intentionally misrepresenting this. They became allies, not BFF's, not even friends. They were as much "friends" as Black Panther and Tony Stark. And the "years of fear based obsession and hatred" was negated when Bruce saw that all those "years of fear based obsession and hatred" led him to becoming a guy willing to murder someone innocent of any actual wrong doing. It's called "a moment of clarity". Not sure why people struggle with this, it's really not complicated.
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Well, seems to me there three possibilities: either 1) I'm just not capable of understanding simple stories -- nor are all all the other people you note have struggled with this, 2) the scene as written doesn't adequately set up and support the "moment of clarity" you mention, or 3) the execution of the scene is flawed such that the point is lost.

In any case, for me, the movie gets a solid A, losing the + only because of this scene.
 
Shikarnov said:
Well, seems to me there three possibilities: either 1) I'm just not capable of understanding simple stories -- nor are all all the other people you note have struggled with this, 2) the scene as written doesn't adequately set up and support the "moment of clarity" you mention, or 3) the execution of the scene is flawed such that the point is lost.

In any case, for me, the movie gets a solid A, losing the + only because of this scene.
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I apologize for being harsh, it's just the whole "BFF" thing is over the top and I feel like they did enough to establish why Bruce would stop attacking.
 
The Lensman said:
They became allies, not BFF's, not even friends
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Well Batman does tell Martha Clark "I'm a friend of your sons." He could have just said "I'm working with your son." Not saying they become BFF's, but people are not just pulling the "friends" thing out of nowhere.
 
dodge said:
He's a giant man in a scary bat costume who just jumped on a kidnapped frightened lady in the middle of a fiery inferno. One of those two quotes you mentioned sounds more calming and assuring, can you guess which one?
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Didn't say it made no sense in context, just that people complaining about them being friends is not totally out of the blue.
 
Chekov's Phaser said:
Didn't say it made no sense in context, just that people complaining about them being friends is not totally out of the blue.
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I guess, though like Dodge, I saw it more as a way to reassure her he's one of the good guys. Especially given how traumatic a situation she was in.
 
I'd say it's a slight improvement in some areas, made some points a little more coherent, but the core problems are still present.

Call it a grade D to a C-.

Lex's motivation and characterisation is still all over the place. There's still WAY too many plot threads in play (indeed, even more since it restores a few that were cut), it still makes very little sense why Bruce goes ahead with the fight when it seems as though he has enough pieces to figure out it's a set-up and Lois still nearly drowns for no good reason.

I'd be interesting to see a fan edit that cuts it down to a more manageable 2 hour movie.
I hate to say it, but probably the simplest solution would be to cut all of Lois's scenes out of the movie. You instantly loose about 40 mins of footage that only serves to show how a character came the the same conclusion the audience came to 0.5 seconds after the name "Lex Luthor" was said aloud. Should also probably loose the scene where Bruce reads the messages his crippled ex-employee sent back in his benefit checks. It only serves to make him look stupid for not figuring it out. He's supposed to be a detective after all.
As cool as it was to see live action parademons, that whole future vision/Flash warning scene can also go, as can the second Wonder Woman email scene, though that could be better served as a post-credits thing.

It won't fill in all the plot holes, but it'd make things a damn sight tighter.
 
I watched the Ultimate Edition. Literally the only differences I noticed were:

There is a blonde lab tech in a few scenes that test's a bullet for Lois. The bullet subplot might also be new, or at least expanded.

There is a bit more elaboration on the African attack stuff, although its still seems like it added nothing to Lex's plan to get Superman and Batman to fight. Batman probably would have fought him over Metropolis alone.

Lex Luthor has a few extra "crazy" lines.

Besides that, I couldn't tell the difference between the versions. Nothing was clearer or done better. Still a D+ movie that I might up to C- just because Gal Gadot was pretty good and I think Affleck could play a good Batman if he wasn't written as a borderline psychotic person who murders without hesitation or remorse.
 
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