Snyder's Superman was a man struggling to find his place in the world. For people like myself, feeling like an outsider, that has a greater importance than the always doing good character presented at times. Many will call that angst or whatnot; I call it very identifable.
Well said. Superman was created as an immigrant and vigilante, one who was not a manufactured, corporate symbol of "good" (e.g. how Santa Claus had been appropriated for Coca-Cola), and certainly not out of the gates. As the ultimate immigrant coming to earth, his origin--in
Man of Steel, and further development in
Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice--perfectly directed characters such as his adopted father to warn him against exposing himself, which was an unambiguous comment on the nature of humans to resent and/or harm others who are different. It did not matter that Clark could help in ways beyond the skills or ability of humans, there can be no expectation of a grateful population as some exist with a very, very familiar, inherent resentment of the racial/ethnic "other" and their mere existence holds up a mirror leading the majority to feel (without cause) threatened in more ways than I will refer to here (but being the recipient of said resentment is personally relatable).
The adapted Superman's origin & early development should be one where
struggle and threats from his new planet-mates are part of the experience--its the only way to integrate a fantasy character of
that kind into a "real world" setting and sell, particularly if he's to be a part of a larger superhero narrative set in that same "real world" audiences understand. By the time of
Dawn of Justice, we see a spit in public perception; some show great reverence for him, while others despise the former attributing God-like status to him. It's the driving motivator behind the atheistic tech giant Luthor's plot against Superman (yet in a typically contradictory mindset, he feels
he should be held in the highest regard), the military having contingency plans designed for Superman, and Bruce Wayne feeling this alien "overlord" (one with the power to--and if fact participated in destruction, yet he had no responsibility to
anyone) had to be stopped. That is how to bring a cape-wearing fantasy character such as Superman is successfully brought to life in a film.
He cannot land on earth wearing a bow on his head like a flying birthday present ready to be recieved, because you're dealing with audiences who live in a world where such adoration either exists in a limited amount, or its often misplaced (usually given to public figures). Judgement and suspicion are psychological hallmarks of humanity, and yes, many would view Superman in a manner shared by Luthor, the military and Wayne.
That Superman has to actually
prove himself during his journey (no matter how benevolent he is) when he should not need to answer the demands of those who despise him
is the story of the ethnic/racial immigrant, which he is the fantasy sense. That's a Superman who fights to overcome the odds and suspicion about his otherness, which is a potent story to tell, rather than the readily
consumed corporate symbol who lacks any substance one could relate to.