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

[theenglish]

I loved Batman vs Superman and can't wait for the extended cut.

I'm also curious about the need from some posters to trash this movie for page after page. We get it. You hated this movie and LOVED Civil War. Move on already or at least take your gushing of Civil War to the appropriate thread.

I really enjoyed BvS and would love to see the extended version--I might even buy it--but I also enjoyed Captain America. That said Civil War was definitely the much better movie of the two.

 

[Mr Light]

Is it true the uncut version is going to be readily available in Europe and most of the world, but not really in the US? Old traditions die hard.

 

[Ovation]

I really enjoyed BvS and would love to see the extended version--I might even buy it--but I also enjoyed Captain America. That said Civil War was definitely the much better movie of the two.

I just saw Captain America for a second time (yesterday) and I both agree and disagree with your statement. In terms of the mechanics of film, I concur--Captain America is the better movie of the two. Fewer jarring transitions, a more cohesive story structure and a more fluid editing job. Also, though his insertion into the story is perhaps the most awkward, I thoroughly enjoyed this take on Spider-Man.

As for BvS, despite its flaws (I gave it a lower grade in the poll than for CA), I prefer it to CA, largely for its willingness to explore the character of Superman (and here, I treat Man of Steel and BvS as one, for the most part) outside his "comfort zone". Perhaps the extended version will smooth out the rougher edges of the problems I had with BvS (mostly mechanical), though it probably won't. I suspect it might flesh out a few of the bits I found underdeveloped in the threatrical release but won't trim some of the bits I thought could have been trimmed.

Ultimately, I admire MoS/BvS for not playing it "safe" with the character of Superman, while I find the CA movie a reliable (safe) source of entertainment. But I certainly have room for both on my shelf.

 

[The Lensman]

I loved Batman vs Superman and can't wait for the extended cut.

I'm also curious about the need from some posters to trash this movie for page after page. We get it. You hated this movie and LOVED Civil War. Move on already or at least take your gushing of Civil War to the appropriate thread.

Quoted for fucking truth!

 

[Set Harth]

Kingdom of Heaven may not be your cup of tea but to deny the longer version is categorically superior suggests you've not seen it or refused to consider it on its merits. Unlike many "extended" cuts, Kingdom of Heaven is practically a different film altogether.

You can't go wrong with more Liam Neeson!

 

[STEPhon IT]

Kingdom of Heaven may not be your cup of tea but to deny the longer version is categorically superior suggests you've not seen it or refused to consider it on its merits. Unlike many "extended" cuts, Kingdom of Heaven is practically a different film altogether.

My dad has both versions, and I've seen them, and my position stands, and because you have a different view of the film doesn't make mine less valid. Grow up.
The justification for a longer cut of a film was a marketing gimmick for fans in appreciation of the success of the film. My understanding was James Cameron was the first to start these extended ventures--Aliens, and T2*, but studios' marketing -along with the helmer- has distorted this when a theatrical film was not well received critically--James Cameron's The Abyss.

The theory is by putting a longer version would give home theater buyers rose colored glasses on the view of the film. Kingdom of Heaven falls under that to me, like The Abyss, it can't alter the heart of the film was flawed.
A longer version will not change what was already ingrained in a film like Batman v Superman. If you like bad movies, more power to you, but it's foolish to believe a bad movie will all of a sudden be better because the director tinkered with the scenes or extends them or add more SFX.

*I'm well aware The Abyss was released before Terminator 2: Judgement Day.

 

[JD]

I have to disagree. There are a lot of time where adding in scenes that were cut can improve a film a lot. We can get more depth to plotlines and characters that were underdeveloped in the theatrical version, and it can put in explanations for things that didn't make sense in the theatrical version. Some movies are just bad, and no amount of added footage can fix that, but there are a lot of movies that can be greatly improved just by adding in a bit more footage that was cut from the theatrical version. I do think BvS will be in the later category, the trailer for the extended version already shows footage that looks like it will help some of my issues I had with Superman/Clark's role.

 

[STEPhon IT]

You can't go wrong with more Liam Neeson!

Even in "The Good Mother"?

 

[dahj]

and because you have a different view of the film doesn't make mine less valid. Grow up.

I like how you say this and then completely ignore his opinion and continue to assert that yours is the "correct" one.

A+ hypocrisy. Well done.

 

[STEPhon IT]

I have to disagree. There are a lot of time where adding in scenes that were cut can improve a film a lot. We can get more depth to plotlines and characters that were underdeveloped in the theatrical version, and it can put in explanations for things that didn't make sense in the theatrical version. Some movies are just bad, and no amount of added footage can fix that, but there are a lot of movies that can be greatly improved just by adding in a bit more footage that was cut from the theatrical version. I do think BvS will be in the later category, the trailer for the extended version already shows footage that looks like it will help some of my issues I had with Superman/Clark's role.

Its not a television show, it's a movie. The film should be tight, and with a good editor and director, the story and plots should be to the point, but I just can't see why explanations for things, plotlines and characters couldn't have been developed in the theatrical cut. There are too many films I can point to which were at a decent length and were great and never needed these excuses. It's like the filmmaker along with the studio, not you JD, has to create reasons to avoid the fact they made a bad movie. I'm wondering if some who didn't like the film will think differently after those extended stuff? Would critics reactions will favor if the film was even longer???

 

[Skywalker]

Wait, Kingdom of Heaven was a success?

No, the director's cut (and it was a true director's cut, not an extended cut released for marketing reasons) objectively is a superior film to the theatrical cut in every way, and it is widely recognized as such. Your opinion is not valid merely because it's your opinion. You can say you didn't like either version of the movie, and that's fine, but you cannot say that both versions of the movie are poor and be correct.

 

[Ovation]

My dad has both versions, and I've seen them, and my position stands, and because you have a different view of the film doesn't make mine less valid. Grow up.

I'm already an old man. Too late. And if your opinion is valid, so is mine. No need for hypocrisy (especially over a personal opinion about pop culture entertainment).

A longer version will not change what was already ingrained in a film like Batman v Superman. If you like bad movies, more power to you, but it's foolish to believe a bad movie will all of a sudden be better because the director tinkered with the scenes or extends them or add more SFX.

Who appointed you the arbiter of "good vs bad movies"? I don't like "bad movies". Just because you didn't like a movie, doesn't make it "bad". A movie with flaws is not, by that simple fact, bad--even if only a minority of people like it (appeals to a majority are NOT proof of much, outside of the existence of the majority view).

Of course a longer cut guarantees nothing in terms of improvement. It may well diminish the experience (the third Lord of the Rings movie suffers from that, in my view). But Kingdom of Heaven is vastly improved by its longer cut (I don't really care if you think otherwise), whereas Gladiator (another Ridley Scott movie) is not notably improved in any way by its extended cut (in each case, of course, in my view). Kingdom of Heaven isn't made flawless by any stretch in its longer form, but it is certainly a more coherent story and provides the female lead with a much more solid foundation for her actions (the removal of all references to her son in the threatrical release makes her seem downright mad in some scenes, whereas his presence in the longer cut makes a number of her decisions far easier to comprehend).

Feel free to carry on with anointing films as "bad" as if that had some objective meaning. I'll continue following the counsel of someone I trust to determine such things (my own).

P.S. You're quite wrong about Skyfall as well, incidentally.

 

[Thestral]

Yep. If nothing else the fact that the director's cut restored an entire character and subplot, let alone gives significant background for Orlando Bloom's Balian, makes it a far superior film.

 

[Ovation]

Scott addresses the viewers in the extended edition of Gladiator (both cuts are on the same disc, so it's easy enough to choose) and explicitly states it is NOT a "director's cut"--it's simply something he's offering to fans of the film who wanted a bit more of the story than was initially offered. For Kingdom of Heaven, he is quite clear about the longer cut being a "director's cut" (in multiple interviews) and spells out why the longer cut is what he wanted to present. The existence of alternate cuts is often driven by marketing motives, but that's hardly a valid statement for all cases. As to BvS, I'm curious about how the longer cut will affect my appreciation of the film, but I'm not certain I will like it more (I have to actually see it before I can offer that kind of opinion--not my habit to give detailed commentary about films, TV shows or books I've not viewed/read in their entirety).

 

[Captaindemotion]

I said when I saw BvS that it was too long and yet I would watch the extended edition. I hope it will plug the plot-holes and explain the character motivations which often seemed to be inexplicable. This being Snyder, I'm not 100% sure he'll do it but I'm still keen to see more of this universe, particularly Gotham.

Having said that, I think it'd be one to watch over 2 sittings; not sure I'll sit through (or more to the point, my wife will sit through) 3 hours of it!

 

[M.A.C.O.]

Hehehehehehe

See the Ultimate Edition in Theaters.

https://www.wbtickets.com/main/blp/QnZTVWx0aW1hdGVFZGl0aW9u

WB is really going to ride to hell with this movie. Weird thing is, it's still trending and making money for them. HOW?!

 

[Ovation]

If it's playing nearby and I can make it, I'll there. And I doubt I'll be alone. That's how.

 

[M.A.C.O.]

It looks like the event is filled up across the board. Turns out the tickets were free. Isn't that a laugh?

 

[Ovation]

No. Not really. I'd have liked to see it on the big screen, but I'll be watching it soon enough once it's out on Blu-ray. Will be a first day purchase.

 

[theenglish]

I wonder how well the movie would do if it went back into general release. I bet it would be in at least the top ten for another two or three weeks.