Do Comics Ruin Superhero Movies?
Analyzing The Response to Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
Introduction
I pose you a question, a question rarely asked. Do comics ruin superhero movies? Of course not! We wouldn't have so many without them! But what about our attachment to the comics? These are characters we've grown up with and spent decades falling in love with, darn it! All we want is for them to be done justice in their blockbuster adaptations! But still, the question remains, are we, as a hardcore, comic book community, a little too attached to the characters and the years of comics they come from? Do they blur our vision and how we perceive their historic, cinematic debuts? My answer, yes. And this is where a lot of you will leave.
Because, ironically, I haven't read many comics. Very, very little, in fact, and I am completely unashamed to admit that. HOWEVER, I've watched all the cartoons, from Batman: The Animated Series, to The Batman, The Spectacular Spider-Man, Justice League, Teen Titans, you name it! I've seen all the movies going as far back as Batman 89'!
Etc., etc., etc....
So what does all this mean? Does it mean I have no idea what I'm talking about? That I have no right to judge these beloved characters in any shape or form? Nope. It means I get it. Just because I haven't read many comics, it doesn't mean I haven't picked up on a thing or two while surfing the web or doing research. And if there's anything I've learned on the internet, it's that Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice may be the most controversial movie of all time.
So here I am, a bumbling fool, here to review the most anticipated movie of the year, that split fans down the middle, underwhelming some, completely outraging others, yet a dream come true to a small, vast minority. However, not only am I here to discuss that movie, today we're going to take a look at other controversial flicks!
Let's start with the basics.
*SPOILERS FROM HERE ON OUT*
Plot
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice takes place 18 months after the events of Man of Steel, and the court system is finding anything that they can to hold against Superman. When we first meet Batman however, we flashback to Superman's battle with General Zod, where he loses a building full of friends (and possibly even family) in the midst of their destructive turmoil. We then find Batman searching for kryptionite to take down the Man of Steel, using any means necessary to get what he wants. Lex Luthor quickly steps into the picture, playing an evil puppet master of sorts, orchestrating something sinister behind the scenes. Early in the film, he convinces the government to grant him access to Zod's kryptionian ship, where he will later create Doomsday. He spends the majority of his time pitting the heroes against each other, crafting plots to make the world fear -as well as even hate- Superman, and ultimately succeeds.
Among critics and fans, the plot has been called uneven, a mess, and a chore to watch. I think it is a misconception, honestly. I'm not a film expert, I don't care about the length of a movie or it's pacing, as long as the characters are interesting and contribute to the plot in their own unique way, I will be satisfied. I think that's a reasonable point of view, but it certainly isn't a critics (not just the one's who get paid, either), and never will be. However, I can see how casual audiences and fans alike have issues with the plot and the pacing. I think this problem originates from the fact that there are so many characters. But when you've literally got two separate worlds colliding, the room is going to get a little crowded. I can not only accept this, but I can also understand it.
Batman and Superman are two of the most iconic superheroes in history. You can't have Superman without Lois Lane, the Daily Planet, or his mother, Martha Kent; these are elements of Superman that simply must be weaved into the the plot somehow, because they represent who he is, his humanity, and the influence that they have on his actions. Does that mean you use Lois as a plot device to make Superman more interesting? No. You make her a fearless reporter who will risk it all to uncover the truth, which is exactly what we got. Maybe she ended up boring you, or maybe you felt like Lois took away from some other underdeveloped character or plot thread (Wonder Woman, anybody?), who knows! But what I do know is, characters like Lois Lane, Senator Finch, and even Alfred represent something to the plot, but more importantly, to the starring titans. So, in the end, do I care if the movie hops around from one side of the battlefield to the other? Absolutely not. This was one of the biggest complaints regarding the movie and I couldn't care less or disagree more! Because I appreciate the strong characters that we're given and how they interact with this massive world. And again, I'm not a film expert, I'm just a fan of complex characters and good storytelling.
***Advice Section***
Put your mobile device down, shut up, chew slower, pee before you go into the theater (unless you have a medical condition), and PLEASE, just sit down and pay attention to the fricking movie. This film may not shove everything down your throat like most superhero movies, but it is not, IN ANY WAY, a chore to watch. I understood it perfectly, and guess what? I was running on fumes when I saw it because I'd been awake since 3 o'clock in the morning! If I can sit down and watch it, understand it, and enjoy it without getting bored or falling to sleep in a dark theater, then surely anyone can.
Characters: Understanding Depth and Layers.
Batman, Superman, Lois Lane, Lex Luthor, Wonder Woman-- this movie offers us a whole buffet of characters from comic book history, and it's beyond exciting! But were they accurate? Were they horrible, down-right embarrassing interpretations of the versions we're so passionate about? Were they forgettable? Did they serve a purpose?
Superman
"This is my world."
Poor, poor, Superman. To be honest, I was never a fan of him until Man of Steel *leaps for cover.* The big blue boyscout can't catch a break, on or off screen. The majority of fans have despised Zack Snyder since the previous movie, when Superman snapped Zod's neck.
(Time to throw in that "I get it" phrase.) Yeah, I get it, Superman is supposed to be a beacon of hope, a "goody two-shoes" if you will, an inspiring icon that lives by a strict no killing rule. This isn't really the issue with Batman v Superman, but it's where a lot of the hate for this version of Superman comes from.
Fans just can't seem to connect with him, because maybe, JUST MAYBE, they're too attached to the one found in those beloved comic book pages? I'm not telling you to love this Superman, because let's be honest, he is far from ideal. For once, Clark Kent is more confident that the Superman persona. But can we be realistic for a moment? This Superman has to deal with a post 9/11 world, and in spite of his mistakes (some more obvious than others) or what anyone thinks about him, he's still trying to do everything that he possibly can, but society is just too afraid of him.
Now, personally, I was hoping to see Superman stand up for himself in the court scene, while everyone else expected him to stop the bomb from going off, but that's just me. Superman is trying so hard to be the good guy, but he just gets one slap in the face right after another. His meekness in the courtroom costs him a devastating attack which kills everyone. This is not the perfect Superman that can handle anything, this Superman is 100 percent human, 100 percent complex, combined with 200 percent superpower. He wants to be accepted by this word, but like most of us when we face rejection, he cowers away. He starts to feel lost and like he doesn't belong. How would you feel if you were from another planet, had the chance to revive it (but didn't), and now you're stuck in a place that, not only doesn't appreciate you, but is afraid of you, too? Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice made me fall in love all over again, because I can relate to this Superman. Nothing he does is enough, and in some point of our lives, we've all felt that same exact way. What I believe makes up for all his weakness, though, is the fact that he never gives up on humanity. This takes me back to one of my favorite quotes from Man of Steel, because the entirety of Batman v Superman confirms this line:
"You will give the people of Earth an ideal to strive towards. They will race behind you, they will stumble, they will fall. But in time, they will join you in the sun, Kal. In time, you will help them accomplish wonders."
To top it off, Superman takes matters into his own hands and sacrifices his life to save earth from Doomsday. But moments before his death, he finally comes to terms with all he's been dealt, and ultimately overcomes it. The majority has rejected him time and time again, but he always knew they would stumble behind him. Even though he doesn't owe this world a thing, even though he's from an entirely different planet, earth is his true home. He's shared true love with Lois, and the Kents accepted him as their son when he had no one. This world has become his own. In that same instance, he realizes that there are people just like him who love and need someone, and if he doesn't do something, they will lose the very thing he found. That's what makes this Superman so special. Even when he wants to give up, he knows that, despite all the circumstances, he was taken in, loved, and given a home by complete strangers. That's the kind of world he knew was still inside the one who had rejected him repeatedly. Lois and Martha are what have made earth "his world" which is what makes this scene so touching (and ultimately heart-breaking.)
This proves that Superman is, without a doubt, the beacon of hope we've all grown to love from the comics. Yeah, he's complex all right. He's layered, he's meek, and most of all, he's humanly relatable, yet so heroic in a way that makes him larger than life. You don't find characters like that in the superhero genre these days, which makes the big blue boyscout far superior over recent, one dimensional comic adaptations.
I could literally go on all day about Superman (the same character I had ZERO attachment to before Man of Steel), but let's move on.
Batman
"Tell me. Do you bleed? You will."
Batman is near perfect in this movie; he fights how Batman should, brutally, fast, and epic. Just one exception, he's a killer. The thugs that he doesn't off, he brands them, which is a death sentence in the end. So now we have a Batman that is physically perfect, I mean even his costume is spot on, but morally, he's been confused with The Punisher. Batman is known (and quite honestly, popular) for having a no killing rule, one that is probably stricter than Superman's, and fans have every right to rip this movie to shreds for giving them this murderous, cold killer. Batman is probably my favorite superhero of all time. I was watching the Adam West show when I was in diapers (yes, that's exactly how I met our beloved Silent Guardian.) As far as I can remember, Batman has never killed (except in the Burton movies) and I've always been fascinated by his rule. Film wise, it was particularly used best in 2008's The Dark Knight, during that intense interrogation scene with The Joker. It makes Batman so much more interesting when we see him about to break, and doesn't. If you've seen the animated movie Batman: Under The Red Hood, then you'll know exactly what I'm talking about.
But I think the very fact that he does kill in this movie is used to serve the plot, and make a point. Let's take a good look at this Batman: I'm pretty sure he snapped a long time ago, he's lost a lot of friends, a Robin, and has probably seen Barbra Gordon crippled, if she isn't dead, too (very unlikely, though.) CabooseXBL, a youtube commentator, gave a very good explanation as to why Batman has started killing.
Batman relies on a lot of things, his intellect, his gadgets, and even his allies, but most of all, he relies on fear, the fear that keeps criminals at bay and stops them from mugging rich families after dark. So, when Superman flies into the picture and stops General Zod's invasion, I believe it's safe to assume that Batman starts feeling like he's been dethroned.
Why would criminals care about Batman anymore when there's a being out there, from an entirely different world, who can, in the words of Batman himself, burn the whole place down? Sure, we may not see criminals with this agenda, but it is clearly something that toys with The Dark Knight's mind. The evidence is provided by the fact that Batman goes public with his murderous rampage and brands criminals for the press to report. He's sending a message to, not only bad guys, but to Superman as well, saying, "I can't be stopped," or, "The Red Cape doesn't scare me, he's the one who should be afraid." Batman even makes remarks about fear to Superman during their colossal battle.
"Breathe in. That's fear. You aren't brave. Men are brave."
This Batman did not begin his career killing every Tom, Dick, or Harry with a gun. You have to think about the psychological toll that life as a crime fighter has taken on him. We have a broken child who turned to vigilantism to avenge his parents and grew to be Gotham's guardian, but how is he going to avenge all the friends he lost when Superman and Zod fought in Metropolis? He feels like it's not enough to protect Gotham anymore, he's genuinely concerned about the future of the world, he's experiencing the same helplessness he felt when Thomas and Martha were killed, and for once, the master of fear, is being controlled by fear. Somewhere deep inside of Batman's psyche, he has once again become that very same child who lost everything, and has fallen on his last resort.
I can totally understand if you don't want your Batman going down that kind of path, it's perfectly okay to dislike characters who are broken and not at the height of their abilities, morality, or confidence, but we as the community, who are the only ones who can keep comic book movies alive, must open our understanding and recognize what they are trying to give us. Because this same path is leading Batman to redemption.
By sacrificing his life, Superman inspired Batman. He saw the monster he had become, and now realizes he must sacrifice his anger and fears to redeem himself, to become the man that Superman knew he was and had tried to reason with. “Men are still good,” Bruce says at the gravesight, and says moments before, "I failed him in life. I won't fail him in death," meaning he's not going to be the same person anymore. He'll stop trying to prove himself to criminals, he's not going to hunt down other begins like Superman and try to destroy them, instead, he's going to unite them in Superman's honor.
He's going to have more faith in the world, he's going to trust that, together, they can protect it and make earth a better place, because Superman never completely gave up hope, and proved so in death.
Lex Luthor
"The red capes are coming...the red capes are coming."
Lex Luthor was a creepy, dramatic, little mastermind. He is, perhaps, the most layered character in the movie. His motivations aren't spoon-fed to us, but they indeed exist, and are extremely entertaining pieces in the movie when they come in to play.
I never liked Lex Luthor in the original Superman movies, nor did I like Kevin Spacey's portrayal in Superman Returns, so this Lex Luthor was like a breath of fresh air. He felt genuinely sinister and Jessie did a fine job in the role.
The majority of the community has despised this interpretation of Lex, but as someone who was never a fan in the first place, I thought he was brilliant, because he reminded me of the Lex Luthor seen in all the cartoons. The fact is, he had no regard for human life, he was a pure genius, and just down right evil. I've also heard it said that he completely contradicted himself by creating
Doomsday, which is entirely false.
It can be explained easily, but the movie already did.
So, since a lot of you missed it (see "Advice Section" again, it may help), let's think about this.
Doomsday, designed (and possibly even programed) to kill the Man of Steel, is from krypton, and is equal in strength against Superman. Everyone knows this. But if Lex is afraid of Superman (which he is), then why would he create something that is even more out of control? BECAUSE OF SUPERMAN. By the time that Lex was nearly finished creating Doomsday, he realized that Batman had failed and that Superman was incorruptible (“If god is all powerful, then he cannot be all good...and if god is all good, then he cannot be all powerful”), and so, he had to unleash the monster as a last resort. Not only that, but He knew Superman would do whatever was necessary to diminish the number of casualties and prove himself to the world that he wasn't a threat. Why is this so hard to understand? If you had watched the previous 2 hours then you would have known that Lex knows what he's doing. It just baffles me!
I mainly wanted to talk about Batman, Superman, and Lex Luthor, but I'll leave my thoughts about the rest of the cast below.
I felt that Wonder Woman was introduced very naturally as a subplot and that Gal Gadot did a fantastic job bringing her to life. She was beautiful, elegant, an astonishing warrior in combat, and I just felt like her whole entry was nothing but fan service. Say what you will about underdeveloped characters, I honestly don't care; Wonder Woman served her purpose as a lengthy cameo and did exceptional. 2017 can't get here fast enough!
The supporting cast was nothing short of fantastic. Lois, Martha, Perry White, Alfred, Senator Finch, General Swanwick, they were all given something to do and they did a fine job. No complaints here.
So, let's set the record straight. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice may not be perfect, it may not put the whole puzzle together for you, it may struggle to balance all its characters, but at the end of the day, it's realistic, it's thought-provoking, visually stunning, and it gets the job done. Does that mean we have to settle for bad storytelling or misinterpreted characters? I think it means we need to stop letting the comic books distort our vision and actually look where the movie is taking us. To flawed characters, to growing characters, to exceptional characters, to the characters we all know and love.