I hope the blu-Ray fixes so many of the movies mistakes, a 3 minute deleted scene explained so damn much. I think history will be far kinder to this film. The thing is so much happens that you forget a lot about the motivations for stuff (good example would be Wonder Woman). Maybe Lex's plot will hold up to scrutiny as well. Check out the podcast episode on this topic too.
http://media.blubrry.com/manofsteelanswers/p/www.manofsteelanswers.com/mosaic/mosaic042.mp3
For all the complaints about bloatedness BvS gets, Snyder and Goyer(?)/Terrio(?) actually use brevity and some nice audiovisual editing to retell an old Superman story in about 3-5 minutes.
"Must There Be A Superman?"
I don't know where it ranks among all-time Superman stories (or even if it ranks at all; it's told in a goofy Silver Age manner). All I knew about it before actually reading it was that it was referenced in Elliot Maggin's introduction to Kingdom Come. It has the same themes, but KC's multi-issue/graphic novel format gives the concept a proper examination. KC also uses Batman to represent the human aspect of the story. So, BvS is a quasi-blend of both stories, layered underneath parts of Dark Knight Returns and Death of Superman.
Basically, the Guardians of the Universe introduce Superman to the idea of whether he's stunting humanity's growth. He is reminded of a time when he and the Justice League reversed the destruction of pollution on a planet. He then encounters a miserable boss of a peach plantation, smacking a worker who's on strike. The other workers, while agreeing to strike, don't stand up for the kid until Superman shows up. In both incidents of the polluted planet and the farm, Superman
demands the citizens be self-reliant. He then suggests a preference to fighting natural disasters, because humans aren't able to control such events. Jesus even appears a couple of times.
BvS uses only parts of the story, but does it respectfully.
-The crowd embracing Superman outside the factory fire. Everyone looking to him for answers.
-Instead of the Guardians of the Universe, Superman stumbles onto the conflict himself. Likely spurred by the public reaction interwoven through the montage.
-Again, instead of little blue men, it has scientists, news reporters, Glen Woodbern, human thinkers considering what Superman is (or should be). The dialogue can also be thoughts that Superman himself has.
-Cut back to the factory fire. Superman doesn't demand people fend for themselves; he sort of turns away because he himself isn't sure what the answers are.
-The scene with the families on top of their flooded houses represent humans against natural forces, recalling the comic. This is reiterated with Batman's reasoning against Superman (Earth's future vs. Superman, a force of nature).
-The scene with Superman tugging the ship represents BOTH him and Batman's perspectives. They believe (falsely) that they are the only ones who can carry the world on their shoulders.
-The montage ends with a famous newscaster
namedropping the story's title. It's also a name of a track in the OST (though the track playing in the montage is actually Day of the Dead).
So much of the movie's theme are told in 3-5 minutes and bookended(?) with this incredible shot.
Again, with the tanker scene, Superman and Batman both THINK they have to do everything themselves. Superman's abilities make him believe he's the only one who can solve everything; Batman because humanity's future belongs in their own hands. They're not arrogant per se, but so isolated that they aren't even open to the idea of cooperation.
Throw in Luthor's supreme fuckery, and on THREE occasions (the party, the chase, and the showdown in Gotham) they are denied the opportunity to communicate without interference. Their perceptions of each other have been completely skewed numerous times by the news reports, the letters, the Africa situation, etc. Newspaper clippings and tv screens. All corrupted second hand accounts.
not unlike this movies critical reception, wouldn't you say? 
Like I said, it isn't communicated verbally, but the movie underlines several times why a Justice League must exist.
Superman went to speak with the Senate, he didn't know to look for a bomb. (RIP Soledad O'Brien)
He can't love Lois and save the world at the same time.
He can't act unilaterally. In BvS it's meant as Superman cooperating with humans. Justice League has representatives of other countries, and even some from space.
He can't find Martha and fight Lex AND Doomsday at the same time. (barring time travel, I suppose.
)
Options for both Batman and Superman immediately open when they finally cooperate. Supes doesn't need to be everywhere at once. Batman's struggle isn't futile when a force of nature is on his side.
And of course, all that struggle is rewarded/obliterated by rescued Martha's simple observation.
They are the only 2 men in the world who wear capes. They have to be friends.
