Why I Won’t Be Seeing Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice

Why I Won’t Be Seeing Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice

The trailer is out for Batman V Superman, and with more information to go on, it’s time to update my thoughts on the film and why I will not be seeing this film.

Editorial Opinion
By Hulksta - Dec 03, 2015 02:12 PM EST
Filed Under: Batman vs. Superman
As many on this site know, I was not a fan of Man of Steel. I had issues with the film ranging from the plot holes, inconsistencies, and the over-emphasis on action. It came across as a dumb film that removed the humor, joy, and overall spectacle of Superman. The action dragged on, and eventually the idea of seeing Superman punch people got old, fast. Then of course DC/WB had to justify the film and all this other nonsense by doing a sequel/Justice League prequel/film with characters lumped in because why not.

Keeping my criticisms in mind, I wanted to watch the trailer for Batman V Superman and judge it accordingly. Maybe I could warm up to Cavill’s Superman, maybe Batfleck would be interesting. Maybe I just needed to give it a chance.

Well Snyder, you lost me.

Let’s start with the beginning of the trailer. Why does Clark not recognize Bruce Wayne? He’s a reporter, he should know everyone and everything that could affect his job, since he's, you know...a reporter! He should know Bruce considering he and Zod destroyed a Wayne Enterprise building in the first movie and even disregarding that, I'm pretty sure billionare Bruce Wayne was in the paper a few times. So why do they need to have Clark ask? Because the plot is demanding an introduction and they choose a character who should know this to ask and introduce Bruce.

The verbal sparring match between Bruce and Clark is interesting. Probably the best part of the trailer (and probably the movie). However we’re treated to Deus Ex Superman moments and people praising Superman. I get that in the comics Superman is revered as Metropolis’ protector but considering he’s killed more people than save, people should be more lukewarm then moronically worshipping him. Also, Lex shows up and kills this movie with dialogue that makes Fan4stic look like Citizen Kane.

The visuals and all that are mildly exciting, but the story isn’t gripping me. They’ve already shown Batman and Superman working together which defuses any tension from the first part of the movie. Knowing these two will work together just makes the entire conflict dull and empty.

Finally, we know Doomsday is coming, and he’s as mediocre as humanly possible. People are comparing his design to a Ninja Turtle from the recent reboot, honestly it’s just generic. Looks like someone went with the most uninspired look possible for Doomsday.

There’s two rules that Batman lives by:

1) Never Kill People
2) Never use a Gun

Yet in the trailer he both has a gun, and snaps a dude's neck. Very unlike Batman.

I wanted to give this film a chance but honestly I can’t do it. Based on what I’m seeing from this trailer, a mere three months from release; this doesn’t inspire me with confidence. This isn’t about Marvel vs. DC; this is about good filmmaking and bad filmmaking. Slapping together ideas and characters that you think will be cool is fine but explosive dumb moments and bombastic moments of awe should be connected well. There's no connective tissue here. This was my same problem with Man of Steel, and I hoped that Batman V Superman would fix this issue with a new writer and other creative talent but this just doesn't seem to be the case.


RIP DCEU 2013-2016

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Hulksta
Hulksta - 12/3/2015, 2:29 PM
DC Fans be all like

Hulksta
Hulksta - 12/3/2015, 2:46 PM
LOL!
Hulksta
Hulksta - 12/3/2015, 2:52 PM
@RandomDCdude yeah except it makes sense that Tony would create Ultron, it doesn't betray years worth of comics mythology.

Batman snapping a soldiers neck goes against his primary principle and it's been explicitly established for years.

Try harder with your 'puff' comments
Forthas
Forthas - 12/3/2015, 3:18 PM
While I don't typically ever want a movie to fail, I have to make an exception in this case. I am a DC fan and the direction that it has spun toward away from the close to perfect Nolan-verse is just inexcusable. I would feel bad for DC fans but for one thing...their incessant desire to put lipstick on a pig and try to shout down any criticism in the early stages of this film's development makes me not want the film to succeed. the unbelievably bad casting from Ben Affleck to Jesse Eisenberg is just despicable. The ONE person i feel the most sorry for is Henry Cavill. He did not deserve this. He could have made the ideal Superman if not for the studios insistence on trying to shove Affleck down everyone's throat.
Superheromoviefan
Superheromoviefan - 12/3/2015, 3:20 PM
Well you made some mistakes there.
I agree that Lex is pretty anoying, but theres not anything else you are right about.
First you don't know if its a gun and if it is what kind. In TDKR we show a gun, but it was something different. If its a gun then it wont fire bullets, but something else to stop doomsday or superman. It shape like a gun because thats the best way to aim.
Why would Clarke care about the rich. He cares more about the world problems. I doubt he even knew who Luthor was.
In what part did they show Batman and Superman working together? They show them fight, but the only "working together" in the trailer was when supes asks bats if ww was with him.
The "snaps a dude's neck" its in the same place that we see flying monsters fly around and its probably out of context so lets wait and see.
Doomsday looks like shit.
I respect your opinion, but the things you said are wrong.
Darkknight2149
Darkknight2149 - 12/3/2015, 3:32 PM
Actually, that's not a gun. At least not a traditional lethal gun with bullets, which is what Batman has a strict rule not using.

Batman has absolutely NO problem using non-lethal guns or guns that are more gadgets than they are weapons (such as an EMP).

This whole misconception only exists because people take the phrase "no guns" too literally.



TucksFrom2015
TucksFrom2015 - 12/3/2015, 4:14 PM
an alien refugee from Kansas who grew up on a farm needn't know that it's Bruce Wayne by seeing his face, but he did recognize the name, which is something. Most people in New York City don't know who Chris Pratt is, OR recognize his face.

Kyos
Kyos - 12/3/2015, 4:23 PM
@TucksDeluxe

Most people are not working as reporters in a city that's next to the city of which Bruce Wayne is probably one of the more well known citizens. Then again we never actually saw Clark Kent have any kind of training for the job he's now working in, so maybe he really doesn't know.
DrKinsolving
DrKinsolving - 12/3/2015, 5:07 PM


Invictor
Invictor - 12/3/2015, 5:13 PM
"Why I Won't Be Seeing Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice"
Invictor
Invictor - 12/3/2015, 5:16 PM
"Why I Won't Be Seeing Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice"
Hulksta
Hulksta - 12/3/2015, 5:39 PM
@ManCalledSting

Hulksta
Hulksta - 12/3/2015, 5:40 PM
@DrDoom I follow the studio system. One for them, one for me. This was one for me.
DrKinsolving
DrKinsolving - 12/3/2015, 5:54 PM
@ManCalledSting

Definitely, haha. I can't wait for next year, I loved the trailer
DrKinsolving
DrKinsolving - 12/3/2015, 6:19 PM
@ManCalledSting

True, right on. Lots of nonsense in the threads about this trailer, I can't wait though.... We're finally getting a DC Comics Cinematic Universe, and I'm loving it, I've been waiting for this for so long, haha

I can't even imagine how Epic it will be to see the Justice League on screen, haha, this trailer alone gave me goosebumps.... and when they start incorporating New Gods and the mythology, I'm going to geek out so hard, haha

Awesome stuff

Suicide Squad is my most anticipated movie next year, but after that trailer I think I'm equally excited for Batman v Superman

I'm looking forward to the full CBM slate though, next year will be insane
Pasto
Pasto - 12/3/2015, 6:43 PM
I'd be lying if I said the title + teaser image combo didn't make me chuckle.
LeeroyJenkins
LeeroyJenkins - 12/3/2015, 8:15 PM
you honestly didnt think they would team up by the end of the movie? i call bullshit
tonytony
tonytony - 12/3/2015, 9:04 PM
hulksta you are one of the biggest marvel trolls on earth. you are an example of everything that has gone wrong with comic book fandom since disney got involved.
Pedrito
Pedrito - 12/3/2015, 10:38 PM
This BvS trailer simply brought us back to reality.
For a minute we believed that Snyder wouldn't numb our brains with another piece of garbage like MOS. Sadly he has shit the bed again.
Killuminatic
Killuminatic - 12/4/2015, 3:00 AM


I'll see you in chat @Hulksta.
DerekLake
DerekLake - 12/4/2015, 8:34 AM
@Hulksta

If I may offer a response/explanation/excuse/whateveryouthinkthisis:

1) The trailer is poorly edited, and doesn't flow as well as the Comic-Con trailer. But that seems to have more to do with the intent, which was clearly to assuage the criticisms of people like yourself, who deplored all the grimness and realism of previous trailers. This trailer highlighted the lighter, more comic-book aspects of the film, while still trying to showcase the heart of the film, which is the conflict between Batman and Superman as manipulated by Lex.

2) The point of Batman's more aggressive violence here is to demonstrate that he's in a much darker place due to the events of Man of Steel. But the specific things you raise aren't so problematic. The dream sequence neck-snapping may be to show the lengths Batman would have to go to to defeat a despotic Superman in the future of he doesn't deal with him in the present. Desperate times, desperate measures, and it's possible that at this point in the film he is unaware of Kryptonite. Batman has used guns for a variety of purposes.

3) On the Clark-Bruce interaction, you make a lot of assumptions. A) It is highly possible that Clark simply doesn't know how Bruce Wayne looks, despite knowing of him. Considering that Metropolis is obsessed with Lex Luthor and Superman, perhaps the city's newspapers don't regularly show Wayne's face in newspaper or media. Perhaps Bruce is very media shy (he seems to be annoyed when Clark stops him). B) It is highly possible that Clark and Bruce DO recognize each other. We don't know when in the film this comes, so it may come after the first encounter between Superman and Batman, in which case they do recognize each other, explaining the level of vitriol between them. This also seems to serve as an introduction to Lex Luthor, who may very well have pieced together who they are. And he clearly sees the tension and deliberately interrupts them. And that is clearly an act.

4) Metropolus reveres Superman because he saved lives and never directly hurt lives. Zod announced himself to be the aggressor, Zod used the World Engine, Zod was directly responsible for most of the damage in the city. So yes, Metropolis reveres Superman, especially since he does so much local good in the intervening 2 years.

5) I didn't have a problem with them spoiling their eventual team up. EVERYONE KNOWS THEY WILL. The key thing here was to address the non-comic book fans who have NO IDEA that they've ever been at conflict, and to show more of Wonder Woman (I think I'd have preferred some Diana dialogue). I agree that they should not have shown Doomsday or the reconstructed Genesis Chamber. Too much info there. I'm also glad they showed Lois.
Hulksta
Hulksta - 12/4/2015, 3:40 PM
@DerekLake Thanks for being civil

1) I'm not against humor but I am against it being poorly executed. Now, you can say it's the trailer but this is a small snippet and representation of the film itself. So from where I stand, the film has a high chance of also being this messy.

2) We don't know this is a dream sequence. I'm willing to suspend disbelief (albeit briefly) that the gun doesn't contain bullets.

3) Clark is a reporter, and Bruce is a CEO, Billionare; and has the whole tragic story thing. These two should know eachother.

4) That doesn't make sense with the themes of the film though. The first trailer painted Supes as a martyr, but they still show people worshipping him. It's weird and hasn't been properly explained

5) Well you can say people knew that but still, they should've refrained somewhat. I mean, I know Spider-Man is in Civil War but I don't need to see him in a trailer.
Darktower
Darktower - 12/5/2015, 4:31 AM


DerekLake
DerekLake - 12/5/2015, 3:47 PM
@Hulksta

1) I think the issue here is mostly in how the trailer is cut to show off the lighter moments. The trailer creates the heightened tension and then breaks it up, or frames the Bats/Supes confusion re: Wonder Woman without any real context. Ultimately we'll have to see just how Lex is portrayed in the context of the film's overall tone, but I mostly felt that this trailer was less indicative of the film's tone, simply given how it was edited.

2)The desert scenes are most definitely a dream sequence. The way in which the other scenes portray Superman and Batman, and the scenes that outline Clark's issue with Batman and Batman's issue with Superman is entirely against the desert scenes' portrayal of Superman as tyrant and Batman as freedom fighter. As for the scenes with Batman using artillery and guns (Batwing and third act gun), those are most likely NOT dream sequences. It would seem that this is taking a page from the Keaton and Bale Batmen, who used real ammunition for various purposes.

3) Consider that Clark would have entered the Daily Planet at the lowest level. At the end of Man of Steel, Perry calls Clark their "new stringer" -- From Wikipedia:

"In journalism, a stringer is a freelance journalist or photographer who contributes reports or photos to a news organization on an ongoing basis but is paid individually for each piece of published or broadcast work. As freelancers, stringers do not receive a regular salary and the amount and type of work is typically voluntary."

So if you can imagine, it might take Clark two years just to become a reporter experienced enough to start taking on high-profile events, such as this one. Clark clearly recognizes the name, but it is not a stretch to imagine that he's never actually seen Bruce Wayne (or even a picture of him), especially considering that he spends most of his time as Superman in various places around the world. It is also likely that Bruce Wayne isn't very photogenic; note how he starts to walk away from Clark as soon as the latter introduces himself, almost as though he can't be bothered with the journalist. So there are a number of reasons why Clark may not recognize Bruce Wayne by face.

4) The teaser trailer was actually quite balanced on the different opinions on Superman, even if it ended with the negative. It only showed the negative responses, but if you listen closely, it's pretty clear that most people think favorably of him, with a relatively small but vocal minority hating him (consider the small size of the Capitol Building protest crowd, and the vandalism of the statue). Nothing has been presented that contradicts what was said in this trailer. You don't label a false god someone who only enjoys limited popularity. The fact is, between the stopping of the World Engine and Zod, and the saving acts he's been doing in the past two years, the world is awed by what he can do, and appreciative because he does so much good.

5) I agree that they should have been more selective with what they showed of the final act. Although they needed to show more of Wonder Woman, they could have been smarter about it. That said, I really do think this and much of the trailer was designed to address all of the criticisms that BvS is too grim and "realistic", or that Batman and Superman shouldn't be enemies, or that Wonder Woman is only here to set up Justice League. The trailer showcased both the humor and the more comic-booky elements, it showed both the reasons for conflict and the team up between Superman and Batman, and it showed that Wonder Woman is needed to help Superman and Batman take down Doomsday. I thought much of that criticism was stupid and ignorant, but it's clear that WB thought it was important enough to address.
Hulksta
Hulksta - 12/6/2015, 7:08 AM
@clarkman I get your point but Chris Terrio is writing, not Goyer. That got me enthusiastic...until I saw the trailer.
Hulksta
Hulksta - 12/6/2015, 4:34 PM
@clarkman with Goyer being attached to TDK trilogy, I think he will still be quite involved and I was hoping this trailer would be free of the more Goyer-ish elements but sadly they're still there.

Also, there was that leaked script a while back. I read that and it was hot trash. This trailer seems to confirm a lot of that script are still in the film. Sadly.
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