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Batman v Superman Spoiler Thread: Don't believe everything you read, Son

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It'll be interesting if Cap dies and then they go further on and compare how he returns to Superman returning. The difference is I don't think we'll have to wait until 2018 to find out how Superman returns :P.

There is one big difference though:

Civil War sounds like it's not going to have a manipulator like BvS does with Lex. It's pure hero v hero. I don't really care for that shit, not even Batman v Superman because all it does is fragment the fan base. Atleast for DC it's also disappointing because there are a ton of cool villains they can use, and honestly I get the feeling the BvS & Doomsday fight are going to outshine anything Marvel can put on the table at this point.

We all forgetting X-men though.

Uh, Zemo?
 
It's certainly more dramatic, but I don't think MOS story was bad, just bad dialog & executed poorly.

Feedback seems across the board positive, even among those that didn't care for MoS.

Yay!
Yeah thinking back I think the biggest problem was fhe dialogue/long fight scenes.
 
Uh, Zemo?

Here

"He’s under the cloak of secrecy," Feige teases. "There are a lot of amazing actors in this movie. Some of them play larger roles than others. And in some cases there are some you will meet ever so briefly in this film and then will be expanded upon in future films. He falls into that latter category

My thoughts:


I haven't seen anyone else casted as the villain besdies crossbones but it could be something pure cgi. It's look like act 2 is the airport, act 3 is cap/bucky vs tony at the mountains, as seen in the first trailer at the end. Zemo could be doing some stuff, but I don't think he'll be as prominent as Lex is in this movie.
 
I'll drop my full thoughts on this movie now. This isn't a bit by bit description because it's probably going to be very long as it is, and I'm not going to waste time with that. I just want to talk about what I liked, and didn't like, while it's still somewhat vivid. If you're in this thread, you already know what happens pretty much.

So I thought the movie was great, but it's not without flaws. My impressions will mostly focus on Batman and Superman, because that's what I liked most about the movie. I'll talk about my thoughts on the other characters too, but they're not as interesting barring Lex. Opinions are my own. Should go without saying, but just in case anyone takes issue with my personal feelings about the movie.

I think it was a good idea giving us an older, and more experienced Batman. It's different from what we recently had with Nolan, but at the same time, that difference is both a strength and a weakness. Affleck steals the show in my eyes with a great performance, and a Batman who we get to know quite well in the course of one movie. He clearly has a lighter side in there somewhere, and we do see that, but this interpretation is bound to rub some people the wrong way because he's not a hero like we had in the Nolan movies. This Batman is angry, vehemently against Superman, and while he's not painted as the villain, he is bitter enough that some people might just not like that aspect. He's not a bad person, just a good person who's been pushed a little too far. So not exactly your traditional hero.

We're used to seeing Batman endure, and be that man who can take it all. But the fact is, in this movie, he's not that man. He didn't endure. He was broken. That doesn't mean he became a killer (unless we're going to just nitpick "movie deaths" like we always do) or anything extreme, but he has questionable methods that some people will find doesn't represent him as the hero they're used to. Others will probably just ignore that, and focus on what was great about him. We're taken on a journey with Bruce Wayne from the beginning to the end of this movie in a satisfying way. We're thrown into his shoes, see him watch his family die, then see him watch his employees die. When he witnesses the carnage front and centre, you're able to understand his motivations. He wasn't able to do anything about it, and the movie clearly shows that it's not the first time he's been helpless with some contextual and verbal clues.

It's for that reason his arc is so great. He's very cynical, bitter, yet by the end of the movie, he's beginning to believe, and clearly feels a little guilt at the events that transpired. Probably because he can be a better man, and wasn't. That mistake, and that flaw, is why I like this new Batman. He's human, but he also comes to realize what it means to be a better man, and at the hands of someone else. Cue "It's time you learn what it means to be a man." Learn, indeed.

This brings us to Superman. I'll preface this by saying that Man of Steel was the first time I ever enjoyed Superman as a character. I liked the fact that we finally got a Superman who didn't have it all together. One of my major gripes with Man of Steel was that we weren't allowed to spend enough time with Clark in the present, and this movie rectifies that. It's pretty clear he's developed since that movie, but he's still conflicted about what's happening now that his secret is out in the open. It's not quite what he expected, and rather than being a Superman who knows exactly what's right, he's a Superman who's trying to do his best in the face of this conflict he's presented with. And I like this. We know where this is going, but we're not there just yet. I liked Henry's performance in Man of Steel, but his performance in this movie doesn't really stand out. That doesn't mean it's bad, since I enjoyed his arc which is central to the movie, it's just that the competition is very stiff. He's third to two better performances. I'm happy with the direction the movie goes with him. While Batman steals the show, Superman is still pretty much the centrepiece from a thematic standpoint in this particular movie.

He's the traditional hero. Some people still won't like him because he doesn't necessarily deal with the situation in the best way possible, and that could be a writing flaw rather than a character flaw, but he's clearly still developing, and the situation in the movie puts him on the back foot. He's someone who isn't a person, and he's realizing that his human qualities don't change the fact that he is indeed different from everyone else. This is his conflict. Tying this into Batman's arc was smart, because it allows us and the character to see the two sides of Superman, and the contrast works well by the end of the movie. He's a good person, and while he's not on top of everything, he'll try to do the best he can. And that difference between him and Batman works well in this movie thematically. This movie is great to him from a storytelling standpoint as a character, but it's not kind to him. He suffers, is brought to his knees, is even desperate, and that's uncomfortable. Some will see this as weakness, but I don't. He has strength of character, and I feel that's what's most important in being the best of people. Since that's what he's traditionally represented, I think he gets a moral victory in the end as he was able to overcome it all.

Really, this Bruce and Clark dynamic is set up perfectly. I want to see another movie with just them, and I'd like to see how it's explored with some more nuance and depth. It's the core of this movie, and that contrast between the two characters, and the bittersweet ending with Bruce leaves me wanting more. Some folks might not like that Batman isn't as heroic as we're used to seeing, but at the same time, the dream sequence shows Superman isn't beyond falling into the darkness either. It's really about being pushed too far, but having people who can bring you back or stop you from losing your way.

Clark is the lesser experienced hero, who is clearly good. Batman is more experienced, yet lost his way a little. Then we of course have Wonder Woman, who I assume, is going to be the balancing factor. The one who hasn't lost her way, and has been around much longer. We have our basic dynamic between the three. We just need to start establishing some relationships.

Lex is great. I thought this was the second best performance in the movie, but I'm sure some people will simply not like him because of the actor. He's unhinged which makes each of his scenes interesting because of that larger than life personality. Surprisingly, he's not in the movie as much as you'd think, but he works well when he's there. He's someone who was crazy enough to create Spike-Hulk, despite knowing what that meant, so that makes me wonder where we go next. He's obviously going to get crazier, but I hope they show some of his humanity. Right now, he's a couple of steps removed from Joker, and since Joker is coming soon, I think it needs to be balanced out a little further. What I do hope is that he isn't drawn into an otherworldly plot, unless he's forced to work on the side of Batman and Superman. The tease with him is kind of pointing in the direction of the Man of Chairs, or just general otherworldly threats, so maybe he'll realize he has to put his differences aside at some point, even if only briefly. Then again, he really doesn't like Superman.

The rest of the good elements are as expected. The action sequences are great. The final set piece was the best in the movie. It was nice to see the main man Spike-Hulk evolve and persevere against the odds, but the handicap scenario became too much. The Batman vs. Superman fight is brutal, and unsettling. Batman's highlight solo action sequence is one of the better things I've seen. And all the other little moments are good. It's the best action I've seen in a superhero movie, and does a good job of demonstrating otherworldly power as well as raw superhuman ability. My one complaint here would be that we don't really get to see Superman let loose the way I want to see it. I want him in a physical confrontation where he doesn't hold back, and it's more hand to hand. While he gets some great moments, he's not that. I want that Batman kind of fight but against another superhuman. So, one day The Rock will do this for us all. The true people's champion.

The remaining supporting cast are effective in their roles. Alfred provides a nice balance to Bruce, Lois is good by herself, and Wonder Woman gets her moment in the final fight. Frankly, she's barely a character. She's clearly there as a teaser. I'm sure a lot of people will love her though since she may as well be the Kryptonian from Man of Steel on steroids, but with some more lines. All those jabroni marks who cried about movie destruction will get their wish since they make an effort to point out civilians didn't come in harms way.

Now we move on to what I didn't like, or thought could be improved. I still dislike the Clark and Lois relationship. It felt unearned and poorly developed in Man of Steel, so it falls flat for me here. I just don't care that much. We pick up with them in the midst of it, and they hardly get any real focus, so it's just forgettable. I think it just started wrong, and I'm not sure if it's salvageable for me. I also didn't really care about any of the cameos. Probably because they're cameos.

Structurally, the movie is slightly off. The pacing is mostly pretty good, but there are a few missteps along the way. While the world building and the feeling of there being a much greater world out there is intriguing, and honestly interesting, it also creates a weird tonal shift. We're so focused on the Batman and Superman conflict, and Superman's existence, that receiving these weird ethereal dream/vision sequences and the brief Diana moments is kind of weird. I like the Batman sequence, but this one-two punch scene combo is kind of bizarre. It's like a nice little moment, but difficult to interpret beyond a basic level. It needs tuning. Superman's is also a little out of place. It's cliché, and I'm sure it'll work for some people, but I don't really like seeing these moments in a movie that was otherwise quite focused. This is probably a nitpick, but I think it's a structural flaw that the extended edition will hopefully fix. Maybe by improving the pacing and editing and giving these scenes more time to integrate better. By adding some more detail, and some more scenes that allow the characters to breathe, they could improve the character work further too.

It's a dense movie which means these issues occur. I thought the movie was great because I enjoyed the trio of Batman, Superman, and Lex a lot, so with extra time, maybe they can iron out of some of the structural issues. The writing is clearly better than Man of Steel, and while a little clumsy in one or two places, the landing is solid. I feel the movie nails the ending, and both Batman and Superman's arcs work really well together. Lex is great as the foil, and I'd like to see him again. If anything, I'm interested to see a movie with Batman and Superman, taking on Lex Luthor and Joker. No external world building. Just keep it focused.

That feels like I wrote a lot of rambling. Anyway, favorite scenes:

- Batman going berserker on the jobbers in the warehouse. Because that's how it is. That's what you get.
- Martha advising Superman. I just like their relationship. Thought it was the better than Jonathan's in Man of Steel, and this was a really nice moment here. Must be the old fart in me.
- The ending which brings everything together, and leaves you interested in what may happen next. I mean, it's obvious what happens next, but I mean how.
- The entire opening. I think I liked the soundtrack best here. Because this is where it begins. Where Batman Begins, again.

On a separate note, whether it was the audio or what, some of the lines are honestly difficult to understand in this movie. There are a few moments of mumbling or unclear pronunciation where I wondered what had been said. It's like Bane made his way here somehow, but without the theatricality. Soundtrack was pretty good, but a step down from Man of Steel. No amazing Batman theme so I hope they fix that. I don't think that's a huge deal, but a great soundtrack does enhance a movie. Interstellar and Mad Max being two recent fantastic examples of that.

Also, Baleman is still the best Batman. And you can balee dat. The hero we need, and the hero we deserved. We'll see how Beastman goes, but he could end up better. It's a great start at least.

I can finally move on. I truly ready for you now, Apocalypse.
 
Why is Superman saying Martha so bad? It's not unusual for someone to call their parent's their name. Probably even more likely when they found out about their real parents.

And if he said it because he was trying to hide his identity, wouldn't that also be plausible?

It just seems contrived, I guess. I mean the jury is still out until the movie is released.
 
Nice write up.

Seems like your main criticism could potentially be fixed by the extended cut (30 minutes is A LOT of new footage)
 
People complaining about Batman "killing" is ridiculous, in the way the SHH post describes it, it's exactly the same way that Christian Bale's batman killed goons in The Dark Knight Rises. Watch the scene where Batman is attacking the league of shadows convoy at the end, he totally guns down the driver of the bomb-truck (Talia even throws his corpse out of the truck or something) and there's a couple of others.
People will never not complain about Batman killing in movies. Moviegoers argued over Burton's Batman bombing a factory full of goons, and dropping Nicholson to his death, and burning a clown alive, and strapping dynamite to another clown's chest; they complained about Schumacher's impaling Two-Face on a bed of spikes after a long fall; they complained about Nolan's "I don't have to save you," and about crushing the cab of a semi with the Tumbler. Now people are going to complain about Batman gunning down thugs in his high-tech aerial death machine, and being driven by paranoia and rage to the brink of shoving a spear through the chest of a defeated opponent. That doesn't mean those movies aren't entertaining, or good or bad; it just means they have a problem with Batman using lethal force and/or letting people die.

As long as Batman continues to kill in movies, people will complain about it, and they should because it's uncharacteristic for a character with a strong moral code against killing to have such a cavalier attitude towards others' lives.
 
Why 'Batman v Superman' will be terrible, by a Superman fangirl

Just read this article.

raw

This was the article being circulated by bots on Twitter wasn't it?
 
Its not. His uses the gun blanks scene. Still good.

Gun blanks maybe makes less sense than the fireplace scene does, honestly. How does Superman not notice nothing actually hit him?

Him tripping and falling into a fireplace is dumb, but him failing to register that nothing touched his body is maybe even dumber.

Donner Cut is just as flawed/misguided as Lester cut, just in different ways. AND it got rid of "Care to step outside".
 
Gun blanks maybe makes less sense than the fireplace scene does, honestly. How does Superman not notice nothing actually hit him?

Him tripping and falling into a fireplace is dumb, but him failing to register that nothing touched his body is maybe even dumber.
I can't agree with you. For Superman, a normal bullet would feel like having a fly to rest on your arm, he wouldn't feel anything. The Donner cut made Lois the one who discovered it, which makes her a much more valuable character than the damsel in Lester's cut. The old Superman 2 is so terrible after watching the DC:
 
People will never not complain about Batman killing in movies. Moviegoers argued over Burton's Batman bombing a factory full of goons, and dropping Nicholson to his death, and burning a clown alive, and strapping dynamite to another clown's chest; they complained about Schumacher's impaling Two-Face on a bed of spikes after a long fall; they complained about Nolan's "I don't have to save you," and about crushing the cab of a semi with the Tumbler. Now people are going to complain about Batman gunning down thugs in his high-tech aerial death machine, and being driven by paranoia and rage to the brink of shoving a spear through the chest of a defeated opponent. That doesn't mean those movies aren't entertaining, or good or bad; it just means they have a problem with Batman using lethal force and/or letting people die.

As long as Batman continues to kill in movies, people will complain about it, and they should because it's uncharacteristic for a character with a strong moral code against killing to have such a cavalier attitude towards others' lives.

From what I've read about Batman here at least is that it sounds a bit like him being older and more than a bit war weary feeds into him not giving a shit with respect to saving every last criminal. So if BvS has a Batman that's more brutal with the branding and on occasion killing somebody in his batwing, that seems like it makes sense with a Batman that's at his wit's end and feeling beleaguered by criminals constantly taking loved ones from him and now Superman unintentionally killing tons of people in his fight with Zod.

But having Batman be a bit darker for most of the movie and have him see how Superman deals with things probably brings Batman at least a little back around towards the end of the movie, maybe making him strive a bit harder to be the more adamant "no killing" type of Batman people expect.
 
I can't agree with you. For Superman, a normal bullet would feel like having a fly to rest on your arm, he wouldn't feel anything.

a "normal" bullet? Any bullet isn't going to hurt him, but c'mon. He's not gonna feel it at all? That's ridiculous.

Lois' character doesn't really change all that much whether he falls in the fireplace or doesn't. It certainly doesn't make her "more valuable" to any discernable degree in the film proper. Her trying to find him out isn't diminished much by the alternative means shown in the Donner, because she's still pretty much committing attempted suicide to force him to prove her theory.

She figures it out on her own from the opening seconds of the film. Lois always discovered it. It's just a question of when Superman stops fucking gaslighting her, and how.
 
a "normal" bullet? Any bullet isn't going to hurt him, but c'mon. He's not gonna feel it at all? That's ridiculous.

Lois' character doesn't really change all that much whether he falls in the fireplace or doesn't. It certainly doesn't make her "more valuable" to any discernable degree in the film proper. Her trying to find him out isn't diminished much by the alternative means shown in the Donner, because she's still pretty much committing attempted suicide to force him to prover herself.

She figures it out on her own from the opening seconds of the film. Lois always discovered it. It's just a question of when Superman stops fucking gaslighting her, and how.
That goes perfectly in character, she's determined af to unmask him, and she's been presented as a very ruthless journalist. I think it works.
 
That goes perfectly in character, she's determined af to unmask him, and she's been presented as a very ruthless journalist. I think it works.

I'm not arguing that it's out of character. I'm arguing that it's not necessary, and of the two means of making him out himself, it's the dumber.

It absolutely worked as the screen-test, though.
 
JL is next year??? What's the movie slate? Is WW before JL? And then we get Aquaman and flash before JL2?

Yeah, after BvS it goes:

-Suicide Squad (August?)
-Wonder Woman (Spring/Summer)
-JL 1 (Summer or later)
-Aquaman (not sure)
-Flash (same)
-JL 2 (same)

Real talk, still can't quite believe they're following up Batman v. Superman with fucking Suicide Squad.
 
Yeah, after BvS it goes:

-Suicide Squad (August?)
-Wonder Woman (Spring/Summer)
-JL 1 (Summer or later)
-Aquaman (not sure)
-Flash (same)
-JL 2 (same)

Real talk, still can't quite believe they're following up Batman v. Superman with fucking Suicide Squad.

It boggles my mind that we are going to get WW and JL next year after waiting over 3 years for this fucking movie. It just doesn't feel right. I won't complain though!

And regarding BvS, is mercy really dead? Pretty sad that they already kill her off..
 
I think they want to quickly establish that their movies will be tonally different.

Not a bad idea.

Oh yeah, it makes sense in that context, it's just so out of left field. They go from having the 2 biggest superheroes in the world (not counting Spidey) get into a fistfight to a teamup with a whole bunch of villains nobody's heard about and Harley Quinn.

It's pretty smart, ride the Batman hype, and then ride the Wonder Woman hype (She's going to get LOTS of hype)

Batman's role in Squad is probably gonna be minimal, though.
 
I get to hang out here with the cool kids now!

So... Lex racks up the bodies... I was like... WOW at the Mercy play.

Also, I was surprised... I guess at how the marketing made the Batman v Superman fight seem compared to what we get.

I mean it's an one-sided affair because Superman isn't really trying to fight him!
 
I get to hang out here with the cool kids now!

So... Lex racks up the bodies... I was like... WOW at the Mercy play.

Also, I was surprised... I guess at how the marketing made the Batman v Superman fight seem compared to what we get.

I mean it's an one-sided affair because Superman isn't really trying to fight him!

Well, that's interesting.
 
I get to hang out here with the cool kids now!

So... Lex racks up the bodies... I was like... WOW at the Mercy play.

Also, I was surprised... I guess at how the marketing made the Batman v Superman fight seem compared to what we get.

I mean it's an one-sided affair because Superman isn't really trying to fight him!

Awesome. Did you think the movie was good?
 
I get to hang out here with the cool kids now!

So... Lex racks up the bodies... I was like... WOW at the Mercy play.

Also, I was surprised... I guess at how the marketing made the Batman v Superman fight seem compared to what we get.

I mean it's an one-sided affair because Superman isn't really trying to fight him!
So Batman definitely "wins" in the traditional sense?
The way I read it is that Batman wins the actual fight, but Superman wins the movie since he kind of proves Batman wrong.
 
So Batman definitely "wins" in the traditional sense?
The way I read it is that Batman wins the actual fight, but Superman wins the movie since he kind of proves Batman wrong.

Batman wins in the sense that Superman isn't really trying to fight him.

Almost everything Superman does is defensive.
 
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