Watching “BvS” for the nth time a year after it premiered. And it still makes me tear up, just like it did during the opening sequence the first time I ever saw it. And that usually happens to me whenever I get the sense that a piece of art is going to do justice to another piece of art.
The perfection in casting (including a re-imagined Lex Luthor), the depth of dialogue, the ability of the music to engage, the visual tone that lets you know whether you’re in Gotham or Metropolis… just the attention to detail. Plus, I’ve got my suspicions as to which story arcs from the comics (canon) the DCEU has been taking elements from, so I’m sooo excited to see how it all plays out.
There were moments of levity, but not once do I remember thinking, “I wish there were more!”. And even those were a bit grim. Well, then. Welcome to the DC Universe, specifically the Batman Universe! So, yeah, there’s some context for everyone.
I’m sure we’ll be given more comedic moments when the Justice League unite and other personalities come into play. I mean, their banter in the comics? Gold. I don’t expect any slapstick humor, but I’d be okay without it, too, to be honest.
It wasn’t too much or too convoluted, in my opinion. No uneccessary fight scenes just to pander to audiences. It was as much “Bruce v Clark” as it was “Batman v Superman”. And I think it’s important to showcase the human side of theirs before we dive head on into superhero mode in the next films.
I’ve previously posted about my “thoughts on Martha” and reblogged other posts defending that scene, and I stand by it.
Keep in mind that this Bruce Wayne is a more jaded one (Zack Snyder said so himself; a little more Dark-Knight-Returns), one who is no longer beyond breaking his own “moral code”.
He was about to kill (KILL, people!) Superman. Something he refused to even do to the Joker for killing Jason, his adopted son. Even Damian, his biological son, asked him about this once: what if it were to happen to him? And, Bruce told him that they had to be better than their basal instincts (so, yes, not even for him).
Bruce was “out of character” on purpose – killing thugs, branding criminals, etc. It highlighted his change in demeanor in that “Martha” moment. The name snapped him out of this monster he was turning into, reminded him that what he was about to do was against everything that he stood for.
Dark, is it? Darn straight. You know why? This film tackles the pitfalls of unbridled power and trial by social media. These aren’t exactly… funny.
The film makes you ask questions that are as relevant now than they have ever been. That’s what comics in general have been doing for years. Entertainment is the big, beautiful bonus.
It’s such a work of art! It’s more invested in brains, than brawn. It’s somewhat “intellectual”, and appropriately so. (Very Bruce, if you ask me.)
As unfair (or ignorant) as I think some of the critique for the film is, the silver lining is that it all underscores how legendary Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, and the rest of the characters are. Our standards for them are so high that we find ourselves nitpicking any piece of work that tries to recreate them. We simply want creative justice. This is true for any fandom.
Anyway, just had to “vent”.
It’s a little late, but Happy Anniversary, BvS!
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