Batman
Billionaire Bruce Wayne has donned the cowl for a while, being left scarred and damaged by events that have occurred during the lengthy lifespan of the Batman. A feeling of loss and worthlessness fills him these days as he feels his devotion to justice has not made the impact he thought it would. Batman blames superman for the lives lost during the destruction of metropolis and fears that he may one day be part of another catastrophic event or even cause one. He feels he needs a contingency plan set in order to ensure that he is stopped if there comes a time. He has already recovered some Kryptonian armour that has been recovered from all the destruction.
Superman
After the events that occurred, superman dedicated his efforts in helping the people of metropolis rebuild. He has become this controversial character to the world. Some believe in what he’s doing and then others don’t feel safe with his presence on Earth as they feel he may one day endanger them once more. He is left confused and cautious as he feels the world is watching his every move and despite all the good he is doing, one wrong move could undo it all. As Clark Kent, he is a successful reporter on his away to achieving higher things. His relationship with Lois has grown over the past 18 months and they now live together at their apartment.
Lex Luthor
Lex Luthor has a complex demeanour and is seen by the public as a very humble mogul. He praises the Superman for his efforts but at the same time reminds everybody that not enough is known about him. Despite raising an entire city, Lex feels as if superman has done him a huge favour. After the events that occurred, he relished the idea of rebuilding a new Metropolis and dedicated all his time, money and efforts in doing so. His intentions are good overall but he goes about his business in a criminalistics way doing whatever he must to get what he wants. With his company LexCorp he hopes to build a better future for the world. His advanced technology allows great depths to be explored and his main priority is to enhance civilisation and “save the world”. At this point he holds no apparent grudges against superman except for the fact that he has all of this power and technology that this world could use. He wishes to examine the man of steel and also use the alien technology left on Earth by the Kryptonians.
F I R S T A C T
The scene starts with the destruction of Metropolis 18 months prior and shows the perspective of Bruce Wayne as he travels through metropolis during this destruction avoiding collapsing buildings as he makes his way to the Wayne towers built in metropolis. The scene is shared with a young “Victor Stone” who was competing in a stadium match when this destruction occurred. The scene has him making his way through the locker rooms as the structure is collapsing. A person trapped catches his eye and before having a momentary hesitation, he decides to help the trapped civilian. He succeeds but doesn’t make it out and is crippled. (A scene later in the movie shows Victors father attempting to revive his son by turning him into the cyborg. This is viewed by wonder woman). The scene then returns to Bruce Wayne overlooking the battle between Zod and Superman in the sky.
-
The scene showing Bruce Wayne’s perspective was a great scene in the movie. The Cyborg addition eliminates a need for an origin story. Instead of Victor sustaining injury from the lab where an experiment goes wrong, it occurs during his stadium match in metropolis. Also, the first scene showing the death of Bruce’s parents isn’t needed, though I did enjoy some segments of it.
18 months later, Kryptonite is found in the Indian Ocean and the scientist who has retrieved the rock decides to take this back to native soil and examine in great depth. (It is later known to make Krytonian’s weaker after it has been tested against Zod).
After the destruction, many people scavenged through the Earth to find any abandoned alien technology left in the aftermath such as armour, weapons or other advanced technological tools. Many people used things they found for their personal benefits for example selling them on the black market. Lex Luthor created a programme which was used to gather the remains left behind. He would spend countless resources finding technology buried around the globe and would even purchase of the black market. One of the latest discoveries included some form of a large capsule that contained encryptions thought to be in Kryptonian dialect. The large capsule buried underground was retrieved and brought to the attention of Lex. They attempt to open the chamber.
Meanwhile at the Daily planet Clark and Lois find themselves travelling in separate directions. Lois is about to expose a corrupt CEO named Mr Hanford who is selling Kryptonian technology on the black market. Clark on the other hand has seen media coverage of a flood in Bangladesh and is making his way there.
-
Lois was criticized for being vulnerable and causing problems in the film. The scene at the beginning required superman to help her and the scene at the end had her get rid of the spear in an effort to protect superman only to then realise its needed and retrieve it once more. She then became trapped and needed superman to come to the rescue AGAIN. This version takes inspiration from the prequel comics of the film, available online, where she exposes someone using the destruction to benefit them financially.
A closed meeting of the senate subcommittee on emerging threats and capabilities is taking place to discuss superman. A CGI simulation has been created to show the accuracy of superman’s powers and what potential threat he poses. Certain members make the subcommittee aware that superman is not human and so motivations, loyalties and psychology are all a mystery. They don’t know if he’s susceptible to mental illness, PTSD or dementia and need to form a team to analyse superman further. Also he’s dealt with humanitarian missions only but many people are afraid that he may one day force himself on conflicts between nations and align with a country which unsettles many of the members. Senator Finch decides to call on superman to join them at a congressional hearing.
Alfred is now attempting to watch the news as they reveal the need for superman to enter the capitol. Bruce begins to gear up for the night ahead of him.
The scene then cuts to Clark and Lois as the news reaches them about senator finch wanting Superman to make an appearance at the capitol. They discuss whether or not he should go but it is ultimately decide that it’s necessary to put people’s minds at ease.
Batman is then found seeking information from a criminal about a shipment that will be transporting the Kryptonite rock he needs for his contingency plan that may be needed if superman steps out of line.
-
The “Bat branding of Justice” was a creative and likeable concept for the film but seemed uncharacteristic of batman to do such a thing. For this reason, the idea’s scrapped.
Lex is close to finally being able to enter the Kryptonian ship when he is told that senator Finch has blocked this request and will not allow it. The two discuss this and it is made apparent that senator finch can see Lex for what he is, a criminal who will do whatever he wishes to get what he wants. Ultimately he does wish to do some good but his approach to getting what he wants has struck a nerve and the senator will not allow him access. This leads to a breaking point moment in the film where Lex shows his true colours in a moment of anger and lashes out.
Superman has now entered the capitol and the proceedings have begun. He is tirelessly questioned by the people about certain problems they may have. Superman ultimately reduces their fears and uncertainties by compassionately revealing his true intentions. The room is filled with a group of people who have made enemies of Lex Luthor including senator Finch. His access to the Kryptonian ship would be a massive breakthrough and so he decides to blow up the Capitol and eliminate those who have stood in his way. Superman leaves emotionally scarred and devastated by what’s happened and becomes frustrated.
-
I really enjoyed the” Grammy’s peach tea” scene and so wouldn’t change this however I would include the proceedings to go on for some time before the explosion took place so that we get a clear understanding of the circumstances. This scene should have been the breaking point of the film that leads batman to do what he does and should have been included earlier on in the first act.
He travels to the apartment to confront Lois and they discuss his innocence. He becomes more and more frustrated by what’s happened. Both reporters attempt to do their job and uncover who really is behind it.
Scene also shows Bruce Wayne reacting to what happened. (“You let your family die” scene). Bruce and Alfred discuss superman. Bruce comes to the conclusion that he needs to be destroyed. These tragedies are going to continue to occur so long as he’s here. Alfred is sceptical about the idea and does not want Bruce to continue down this road.
S E C O N D A C T
MONTAGE scenes showing Lois and Clark unravelling the truth and doing their job but also features Lex covering his tracks and finally finding his way to the Kryptonian ship.
The scene between the trio and Lex is shown but instead Lex’s approach is much more reserved and humble. In the scene he greets Bruce Wayne and is participating in an interview held by Clark. He discusses his future aspirations and goes into detail about superman and the capitol explosion that has just occurred. He seems humble and charming to the somewhat naive reporter who doesn’t see all the sides to him. The idea of someone examining superman and using him for scientific discovery as well as enhancing and evolving the world rubs off on Clark and he begins to admire Lex.
-
The same features of the scene still occur such as wonder woman’s appearance except in this version, Bruce attempts to chase the car down by taking a shortcut. He times it well and the car passes by him just in time for him to see the number plates of the car. He asks Alfred to run them through surveillance.
Faced with thousands of resources Lex begins soaking in all he can. He falls asleep and the dream sequence occurs where the resistance are fighting superman’s army. Batman and Lex are tied up as superman enters. Lex’s infamous green battle suit is also shown in this scene. Superman then incinerates batman with his heat vision and kills Lex by piercing his hand into his chest. Waking up from this he becomes paranoid, delusional and frantic.
Bruce speaks with Alfred about the final piece of the puzzle, Lois Lane. Knowing full well she means something to Superman he debates with Alfred about kidnapping her to lure superman in. Alfred is completely against the idea but Bruce ultimately decides to kidnap her.
Lois is at her apartment and unravels the truth and comes to the conclusion that Lex is behind all of this. She attempts to contact Clark but can’t so she leaves a message proclaiming that she’s aware of who is behind all of this. Clark isolates himself at the fortress of solitude or the Jonathan Kent scene takes place. Lois feels a burglar is at the apartment and gathers a weapon. Batman reveals himself and she attacks him repeatedly putting up a decent fight against the dark knight. She is however captured and taken to the rendezvous point.
Clark arrives home to find out that Lois has been kidnapped. Many signs such as the Batarang point towards batman and so superman goes on a manhunt for him. His eyes glare towards the bat signal as it lights up in the sky and he hovers above finding batman on the ground in his armour. Superman questions him about Lois and gathers that it was him who kidnapped her. He tells him that this was too far, even for him. Batman states that superman does not abide by any rules and so the rules do not apply to him. He then tells superman that if a threat has emerged, he will destroy it at any cost. At this point superman feels as if batman was the one behind the bombings and deaths of those innocent lives and becomes emotional and angered, questioning his reasons for it. Now he doesn’t see him as a vigilante/hero but as a terrorist who is destroying lives in a misinterpreted effort to expose him. He declines his height and tells him that he will bring him to justice, taking him by the chest. Batman resists and starts firing the high frequency weapon and starts beating on him. They begin the epic fight.
-
I enjoyed the bout between the two in the film however I found that it was anti-climactic. Both protagonists did not meet somewhere down the middle. One would gain the upper hand, for example batman having the upper hand with the kryptonite, and would launch an attack and build momentum and then superman would gain the upper hand when the kryptonite had essentially left his lungs. Batman would then fearfully back down knowing full well he’s in over his head instead of finishing what he started. This push and a pull type of fight did not explode into an all-out war as I had hoped.
-
The two combatants have fought several times in the comics so it would be great to see references from all of these fights made clear in the film, for example the shockwave frequency used at the beginning is a reference to the dark knight returns graphic novel by Frank Miller. Also the characters should rely on their strengths, superman with his power and batman with his resourceful approach and trickery he may use.
Batman then takes him out as he does in the movie with the kryptonite gun and the scene with the spear. As he’s about to plunge the spear into his chest he talks about superman’s parents and how they must have told him it wasn’t his fault etc. (Scene from the movie). Batman begins insulting his parents ethics and referring to them as aliens without names. With one final fit of rage and energy superman states that his mother’s name is MARTHA and begins fighting back only to be beat back down. Batman becomes delusional and continues to beat him down as he asks why he said that name (scene cuts to parent’s death and the pearl scene). Lois, who’s escaped at this point, tells him that it’s his mother’s name. Batman begins to empathise and sees superman in a different light. He disposes of the spear. Superman gains his energy back and lifts batman of the ground, carrying him through the walls. He tears of his armour and lifts him up, leaving him there unconscious. Lois informs superman of Lex’s plans and how he was behind everything. With no time to waste he leaves to locate Luthor.
(I agree. The “Martha” part of my take is the weakest portion of the idea so suggestions would be appreciated).
T H I R D A C T
Lex at this point is waiting for doomsday to emerge. A little more time is needed for the beast to ascend and he is now conflicted because superman knows of his plans. He decides to unleash doomsday on the world by opening the capsule and Doomsday emerges. Lex and superman begin a lengthy discussion at which point supperman is made aware of the super soldier causing havoc on the world. Superman decides to remove doomsday by taking him to space where no civilian casualties are to occur. The president sends out the missile. Superman becomes anorexic.
As doomsday lands back on earth, batman is made aware of it by Alfred. The two decide to isolate doomsday and take him to a location with no civilians. The batwing crashes and doomsday is about to destroy it with batman in it before wonder women prevents this from happening. The two of them fight of the beast with superman finding his way back down. The fight commences with the trio. As they fight, batman discovers that it expands with every attack that is launched against it. He STRATEGICALLY comes up with a plan where wonder woman uses the lasso to contain it and superman begins to also hold it down whilst targeting its weak points.
-
It is not made apparent in the movie that batman is the world’s greatest detective and he seemed irrelevant and not needed in that instance. It would be better if he did show his genius level intellect in the fight against doomsday.
Batman then takes out the spear and plunges it. He’s swept of his feet and doesn’t have the strength to kill it. Superman pushes it into doomsdays chest but is hit by doomsday and killed. Movie continues but no dirt follicles rise.
-
The idea to kill of superman was brave on Zack Snyder’s part but the scene at the end shouldn’t have occurred. It almost diminishes the admiration given to him for taking such a risk in the first place. Also there’s no solar energy for superman to feed of off because he’s contained within the coffin therefore no bio electric aura will manipulate the gravitation energy like when superman first attempted flight.
After months of conviction, Lex is shown to finally be sent to the electric chair for his crimes against humanity. The scene has him becoming bald and being sent to the chair but the scene teases a potential escape.
-
Having him sent to the electric chair requires him being bald. This gives the concept of him being bald purpose rather than in the film which didn’t have any purpose. Teasing an escape will still keep him in the picture. Also the Batman scene, despite it being cool to watch, was not needed.
Note: Many scenes from the film havn't been mentioned but still occur. the only senes that have been removed from this version are the first scene of the death of Bruce's parents, the final scene where batman visits Lex, all scenes where lex is playing around with Kryptonite, Lois's scenes chasing the spear, her time in Africa and the scene towards the end which teases superman's hibernation rather than his death.