"If it ain't broke..." Why Batman v Superman has a serious problem...

With the release Of Batman v Superman (The Ultimate Edition) a couple of things have been made clear. 1) Zach Snyder reallllllly wanted to make a BATMAN movie and 2) Warner Brothers and the powers that be still don't understand what makes Superman compelling. That is to say in both the extended cut and theatrical versions of this movie – Super man comes off as a dour, sullen, and doubtful, dark super hero – who is down right skeptical if he should even be a hero or not. While this may be fine for brooding heroes rife with inner conflict like Daredevil or Batman – this IS NOT Superman.

Superman is confident – he's not afraid to smile and  put you at ease. He almost never worries – Why? because he knows whatever you throw at him, he can handle it. Sure, there may be moments of doubt, but it the end he has faith that what he's doing is usually truly for the best. And this isn't an arrogant deduction on his part - he will try everything within his ability to get to the right solution(honestly if course). And yet, Despite his powers, he has no desire to subjugate anyone, or exploit  his powers for monetary gain. He's positively Christlike is his selflessness.

Compare this interpretation of Superman with the version in Batman v. Superman. Sure I understand wanting to give the character of Superman flaws and a character arc so that we can see him change and develop on screen, but making him into Batman-lite is not the way.  As a result of these last two movies, critics and the public in general feel that Superman as a character may be  BROKEN. The fact is, Superman isn't broken; WE ARE.

In a post 9/11 world rife with terrorism, war, and violence; Americans find it easier to fantasize about a jaded billionaire that will exact vigilante justice, than a benevolent space faring immigrant that came here from somewhere else  to be the BEST that we have to offer. Yet in the current Political climate we have a presidential candidate whose position on immigration/immigrants is to build a wall and deport any  illegal individuals he can find.  Hardly a haven for an orphaned child from the Planet Krypton...

No, we  as a Nation currently have a hard time seeing a flying man from space represent us; not because of his outlandish Super Powers, but because of the lofty ideals he usually stands for. In our age of Cynicism, Doubt and Malaise, someone standing for Truth Justice and the American way is not only laughable but he'd be seen as downright untrustworthy. This perhaps shines a light on Warner Brothers latest interpretation of Superman in Batman v Superman. The WHOLE WORLD is Skeptical and Fearful of the character. But instead of Superman being reassuring and showing how compassionate, altruistic and understanding he can be , we're treated to a  mopey version of the character.  You can virtually hear his thoughts on the screen:"Oh mannnn, I guess they don't like me <sigh>...")

He doesn't smile, doesn't seem very bright, or witty and just seems burdened by the job of saving people. You want to yell at the screen - "If it's that much of a problem – please, Hang up  your Cape!". The advice of his adopted  mother is pretty useless - she suggests that he can be the world's hero or nothing at all – it doesn't matter! Well if it doesn't matter – why bother with ANYTHING? What a message for a superhero.

Meanwhile, in the 1978 version of Superman, there was a clear statement by his adopted father Jonathan Kent: "I don't know why you can do the things you can do – but I DO KNOW that you are here for  a REASON". It's no "great power/great responsibility", but it gives the character a drive and purpose that's lacking in the recent movie. The statement itself can be seen as indicative of America's doubt of it's place in the world during the 1970's. Suffice it to say The 1978  version of the character reminded the populace of an ideal that they had lost sight of... whereas in Batman v. Superman, we as Americans are supposed to think...what exactly? I'm not sure. Are we supposed to understand the notion of selfless sacrifice? I hope not – because if so, the filmmakers did a pretty bad job of conveying that. In fact – I felt like the filmmakers spent their time trying to convince the audience why Superman would be a BAD idea, instead of why we should believe in him.

And this is how "we're" broken. Instead trying to rekindle hope and redefine the character as a positive paradigm for the 21st century, we rather argue about how uncool, and irrelevant the character is – "He's not gritty enough, he's not violent enough, he needs to be edgy and cool"; To the point where he's remade as a dark reluctant hero who's not even sure what the right thing is. Hence the failure of our society: Around the world "The American Way" is synonymous with Globalization, dangerous GMO's, Occupying armies, civil rights violations, Obesity, and Capitalism at the expense of all else... It would seem as Americans, WE don't know what the right thing IS. How can someone write a better version of themselves when their "sense of self" suffers from dysmorphia?

Yet good versions of Superman DO exist – even in this day and age (!). Next time I'll break down 10 ways to make Superman work. If we're lucky maybe Warner Brothers will read it and he'll be in a better place in the Justice League Movie...We can only hope!