Second Thoughts On Batman V Superman [SPOILERS]

I saw Batman V. Superman for a second time as part of the bachelor party for my friend Roy Buckingham, who, incidentally, does a podcast you might enjoy if you like my work. I scribbled down these random thoughts as the movie progressed. Naturally, they are full of snark and SPOILERS, so don't read this if you haven't seen the movie or can't bare to have me pick apart some of the problems.



1. While I regret the necessity of needing to yet again show the death of Batman's parents, I must say the opening credits sequence does accomplish that task in an efficient manner. Like it or not, a filmmaker cannot assume that EVERYONE knows how Bruce Wayne became Batman. But the bats lifting Bruce up to the light is a major "what the hell?" moment that had me laughing the first time I saw it before I realized it was a dream sequence.

2. In many ways, the dream sequences/hallucinations are the biggest problem with the movie structurally. None of these scenes serve any purpose other than setting up things for the sequels that make no sense now or being artsy for the sake of being artsy. And Zack Snyder is at his most insufferable as a director when he's being artsy for the sake of being artsy.

3. Didn't the US Military establish a no-fly zone around Metropolis when they were sending in the plane with the pod to destroy the Kryptonian mothership back in Man of Steel?  If so, then how is Bruce Wayne able to get a civilian helicopter to fly into the middle of a war zone? Apart from being rich and the rules not applying to him?

4. I had thought it was a little weird that Metropolis and Gotham City are on opposite sides of a body of water. But according to the latest DC Comics Atlas, that's the case. They're twin cities on opposite sides of Delaware Bay, with Gotham City in the location of Cape May Point, New Jersey and Metropolis in the location of Lewes, Delaware.

5. I do love the moment of Bruce saving and then hugging the lost girl. That is everything you need to know about Bruce Wayne in a nutshell in one scene. He'll risk his life to save another and he's got a soft spot for kids and orphans, despite his personal darkness. And Ben Affleck NAILS that.

6. As powerful as this moment is, however, I have to wonder how the heck that girl got to the ground floor and out of the building, unattended, in the first place.

7. This is another major problem with the movie - there are some great sequences, but the steps taken to set up those sequences don't make a lot of logical sense.

8. Let's give some praise to the costume designers. Bruce Wayne is clad in dark blues, grays and black throughout. Clark is dressed in lighter shades of blue. It's a nice, subtle touch.


9. Even though some parts of Africa have a Christian population as high as 75%, it still seems weird for the woman being interviewed by Congress about her village being destroyed to say that Superman doesn't answer to God.

10. The scene of the bathtub overflowing as Lois and Clark "get friendly" is probably the most subtle metaphor in the whole movie. I thought it was the female equivalent of a rocket going off. Which means it was probably an accident.

11. RE: The Bat-Symbol Brand (TM) on the criminals. This is another nonsensical element that exists only to give Superman a reason to distrust the more extreme Batman. It's also a blatant rip-off of The Phantom's Skull Ring.

12. So, we're told that the public is split on whether or not Superman is a hero or a menace. Yet Metropolis saw fit to make a statue of him the centerpiece of a memorial for those killed in the Kryptonian invasion. I'm willing to bet more than a few city councilors got voted out of office over that, since many people would equate that with building a statue of Adolph Hitler in the middle of a Holocaust memorial.


13. For all the complaints about things this movie got wrong in adapting the comics, I haven't heard anyone complain about Perry White. Laurence Fishburne does a good job with the character as written but there's no hint of the idealistic old-school newsman from the comics in his portrayal. His seeming annoyed about Lois and Clark wanting to go after big news stories is confusing on every level.

14. That being said, his later anger at Clark neglecting two assignments so he can write about a vigilante in another city is justified. Which makes it all the weirder later when he gives Lois a helicopter, no questions asked.

15. The dream sequence with Bruce visiting his parents grave is Snyder's direction at his most self-indulgent.

16. Did everyone see that stained-glass angel in a blue tunic with a red toga in the Wayne crypt?



17. Lex Luthor's speech to the Friends of the Metropolis Library comes off as the worst TED Talk ever.

18. Is it just me or is Jesse Eisenberg channeling Johnny Depp's Willy Wonka for his portrayal of Lex Luthor?  When he invites Bruce Wayne to his lab to see what he's cooking up, I half expected for him to say he's finally perfected the Everlasting Gobstopper.

19. Ironically, in the sequence in which the reporters and experts discuss Superman, the scriptwriters nail the biggest problem with Man of Steel and this movie. It happens with the line regarding how everyone wants to see Superman as Jesus or The Devil but nobody wants to see him as just some guy who wants to help people. He needs to be Clark first and Superman second, but the script frequently switches that metric around

20. On that note, I think Henry Cavill does great work with what he is given but he isn't given much to work with. His best moments come early on where we see him and Lois interacting as a couple. Where Clark is the guy who tries to surprise his girlfriend with flowers and a home-cooked dinner. Where he's the guy who doesn't much care what the world says about him because he's content with his life and the love of a woman who makes him feel like the greatest man in the world. THAT is the character we want to root for and one we should have seen more of.

21. Another great visual that makes no sense if you think about it - the people trapped by rising floodwaters on the roof of their home who paint a giant Superman symbol on the roof of their home.  So they didn't have time to flee their homes but DID have time go grab the paint before climbing on the roof?

22. One of the reporters asks "Must There Be A Superman?" Nice shout out to a classic Elliot S! Maggin storyline though I wonder why he wasn't listed among the writers and artists who were given a shout-out in the closing credits?


23. While I personally don't have a problem with Diana sneaking around and acting as a spy (she worked with Military Intelligence in the classic comics as Diana Prince and was a DEO spy in the modern era), I'm amazed there wasn't more outrage from Wonder Woman fans about the avatar of Truth behaving in a deceitful manner.

24. Did anyone else see the start of the post-apocalyptic (or should that be post-Apokolyptic?) dream sequence and wonder for a minute what George Miller's JLA movie might have looked like? Or wonder what mods you have to install on Fallout 4 to get this to happen?

 
25. The whole sequence with Batman chasing after the Kryptonite shipment reminds me of the driving sequences in Arkham Knight. For all the wrong reasons.

26. Superman's cape looks HUGE as he's flying over Washington DC.

27. Granting that he can hear and see if anyone might be injured instead of vaporized by the bomb, Superman standing in the middle of a burning building looks strange.

28. So we have this Kryptonian archival computer, totally unlocked, accessible by a hand-touch, containing information on over 100,000 worlds... and there isn't a team of scientists pouring over this 24-7?!

29. On that note, Lex Luthor is the dumbest genius ever. Faced with this treasure trove of knowledge, the likes of which man has ever known, what is the first thing he does? Start playing around with a device that modifies DNA with the same skill and finesse as The Cat from Red Dwarf.


30. Also, did anyone else notice that Zod's corpse is smooth as a Ken doll "down there"?

31. RE: The Pa Kent dream sequence. It's totally random, but I can forgive it since we get to hear the speech Pa Kent SHOULD have given Clark in Man of Steel about how unintended consequences shouldn't stop you from trying to do good.

32. The Pa Kent scene is also a nice, subtle segue into the next scene, where Bruce is pondering his own father's teachings in the ruins of Wayne Manor. Another subtle reminder of how Clark and Bruce aren't that different.

33. I take it back. Jesse Eisenberg isn't channeling Johnny Depp's Willy Wonka - he's becoming Heath Ledger's Joker. Just look at the hair and the purple trenchcoat!

33. This may possibly be the most obscure reference in the whole movie. In the video of Cyborg's creation, his father mentions a number - 61982. Cyborg's first appearance in the comics was in Tales Of The Teen Titans #1, which was released on June 19th, 1982. Or 6/19/82.

34. The fight between Superman and Batman DOES look awesome. But Superman shoving Batman when he shouts "I UNDERSTAND!" serves no purpose other than to provoke a fight that doesn't need to happen.. except for the sake of giving us the titular fight of this movie. Clark should have just tried talking to him then, calmly and rationally and explained that his mom was in danger. Of course then we wouldn't have gotten the fight scene, so forget it.


35. Batman swinging Superman around on that bat-rope just looks goofy as hell.

36. Why on Krypton does Clark use his mother's first name when he's begging Batman to help him instead of "Mom"?  Yes, both of their mothers are named Martha. It's a fascinating bit of trivia and it makes the characters bond but it makes no freaking sense for Clark to not say "Mom".

37. With Martha Kent a hostage and Lex doing God only knows in the Kryptonian ship, time is of the essence and the situation is urgent. But not so urgent that Bruce can't change out of his power armor and into a second Bat-Suit he just happened to have with him.

38. Bruce forgetting about his Kryptonite spear and leaving it behind is just dumb.

39. Leaving Lois behind? Slightly less dumb, but still pretty dumb given that Clark knows Luthor was watching the fight remotely.

40. So Lex decides to taunt Superman while standing between him AND the nightmarish abomination he created to kill Superman? I say it again - Dumbest Genius EVER.  I fully expect to see Doomsday doing to Lex what Hulk did to Loki in the inevitable How It Should Have Ended parody.


41. Who else expected Aquaman to show up after Lois dropped the Kryptonite spear in the flooded pit in the basement of the port building and start lecturing her about surface-dwellers dropping their junk the ocean?

42. Yes, it would have been coincidental as hell, but Aquaman totally should have shown up to save Lois when she got trapped underwater and joined the fight then.  Of course HE could have used the spear on Doomsday and then Superman wouldn't have to die. So forget it.

43. I full expect to see THAT happen on How It Should Have Ended as well.

44. Another little thing I liked - Clark mailing his engagement ring for Lois to his mother's house. Because he knew there was no way he could hide anything from Lois at work or at home.

45. Amy Adams is a marvel as Lois Lane. The bits of Lois being an investigator are great and I'd love to see her star in a solo movie. We'll never get it, but I'd like to see that.



46. Gal Godot nails the part of Wonder Woman and I can't wait for her solo film.

47. The fight between the Trinity and Doomsday... okay, let's be honest.... the fight between Wonder Woman and Doomsday with Batman lining up his shot and Clark providing air support does look amazing... except for the cheap CGI for Doomsday.

48. The series of false endings as the movie closes are almost as ridiculous as the end of The Return of The King.

49. It should have ended with Bruce's line - "Man is still good. We break things, tear them down, but we can rebuild. We can be better, we have to be."

50. Take that last line as a mission statement for Justice League, Zack Snyder!

*******

Final thoughts on a second viewing?  I like the movie a little more. I still don't love it but I can appreciate the craft of it all.

Yes, it is flawed. Yes, a lot of stupid things happen to justify the action sequences. There's way too much going on. And we could have cut the dream sequences without losing anything. But the performances are great across the board, with one glaring exception and I can't even blame Jesse Eisneberg for that because so much of it is down to the direction and script.

The production values are great, with some wonderful designs in regards to the sets and costumes. The musical score is amazing and well-mixed. And the movie makes some good points regarding the nature of heroism and how we view it in modern society.

In the end, that's just one critics opinion. I encourage you all to go see the movie and decide for yourself.

Batman v. Superman: Dawn Of Justice - A Spoiler-Free Review

Opinions were hot and heavy going into the release of Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice. Many dismissed the film out of hand, claiming that the worldview as a whole was too dark, that Lex Luthor was too comical a figure, that Ben Affleck was totally unsuitable to play Bruce Wayne, that Gail Godot was too skinny to play Wonder Woman and a host of other petty complaints. Even on the day of release, there was a gleeful - almost cannibalistic attitude - as anti-fans gloated about Tommy Wiseau's The Room having a higher approval rating with critics on RottenTomatoes.com.

Admittedly this critic was concerned going into this film, being an avowed DC Fanboy. Still, hopes were high given that my spirited defense of Man of Steel and my guesses as to what was coming in the sequel seemed to have been born out by news that the focus of this sequel would be the public's reaction to the severe destruction caused by the Kryptonian invasion. And while Zack Snyder's track-record on comic book adaptations is uneven at best, there was still reason to believe that this movie would be serviceable, if not a classic, based on the talent of the actors and artists involved.

So how was it?


It's not great but neither is it a total affront to basic human decency.

It is a flawed movie but it gets more right than it does wrong.

With one glaring exception, the acting is wonderful and even then I wonder how much of the fault might lie with the direction and the script.

Ultimately, I'd say the biggest problem with the film is that it tries to do too much and would have done better to have focused in a little more.

The CGI is rather bad at some points. But most of the problems people had based on the trailers were explained in a satisfactory way. And the movie did learn from the mistakes of Man of Steel in most respects.

Overall. I'd give it a 6 out of 10.

Man Of Steel - The SPOILER-FILLED Analysis

I'm not kidding when I say that column will be a spoiler-filled review and will likely feature some discussion of the merits and flaws of Man of Steel in the comments. Those seeking a spoiler-free review are welcome to go here for my spoiler-free review of the movie.

For the rest of you... SPOILERS AHEAD!



I'll be sticking to my usual format for movie/TV reviews this time (The Plot, Good Things, Problems and The Final Verdict) -  with two additional sections I feel necessary given the circumstances - The Plot Holes and Fanboy Rage!  The Plot Holes, I think, is self-explanatory.  Fanboy Rage will basically cover everything about the movie that Superman purists of one stripe or another are already screaming about elsewhere on The Internet..



THE PLOT

Once the center of a mighty intergalactic empire, the planet Krypton has fallen.  Zod, General of Krypton's military and Jor-El - a scientist - are unlikely allies who agree only on the inefficiency of their planet's government and how their policies will eventually see their world destroyed.  But while Zod engineers a military coup, Jor-El plots the theft of The Codex - the blueprint from which all Kryptonian life is artificially generated.  Jor-El then sends The Codex into space along with his secretly-born infant son Kal-Le - the first naturally born child on Krypton in generations.  Jor-El hopes his son will bring about the salvation of his people on another world.

Thirty-three years later, Clark Kent is wandering the Earth seeking purpose.  He has known his whole life that he is different but has no idea why.  Still, the teachings of his compassionate adopted parents have served him well and inspired him to use his strange powers to help people as best he can.  His activities win the attention of a bold reporter named Lois Lane, who chances upon the young drifter as he discovers an alien spaceship that responds to the strange metal key he's carried his whole life.  Soon Clark learns the truth of his birth - that he is Kal-El of Krypton!

Little does Clark know that his activation of the key also activates a distress beacon - one that attracts the attention of the only survivors of Krypton.  They are the followers of General Zod, whose sentence for treason was cut short when the destruction of Krypton stopped the rocket meant to carry them into The Phantom Zone.  Now, with Zod and his army desperate for the means to rebuild Krypton and the means to do so at the expense of all life on Earth, Clark must fight to save the world he long hid from.




THE GOOD PARTS 

* This film gives us an image of a Krypton that truly feels like a living alien world, right out of the pulp-fiction that inspired the original aesthetic of Krypton in the comics.  The design team did a great job on making everything - sets, costumes and vehicles - look like something from another world.  We even get to see Jor-El riding what basically amounts to a four-winged space dragon!  

* At the same time, David S. Goyer's script does a good job of making the world of Krypton emotionally accessible despite its' alien nature.  The mining of Krypton's core for energy sources destroying the planet mirrors real-world concerns about fracking and I'm sure the average American will sympathize with the Jor-El's frustration with his do-nothing politicians.

* The opening sequence with Russell Crowe does a fine job of establishing Jor-El as a character.  It reminded me a good bit of the portrayal of the character in the first episode of Superman: The Animated Series.  Crowe does a grand job portraying Jor-El as both a man of science and a man of conscience.

* Ayelet Zurer doesn't get much screen-time as Lara Lor-Van, Superman's mom.  Still, she does a fine job with what limited material she has, starring down Zod at his sentencing and emoting as she contemplates never being able to see her son grow up but realizing what is best for him.

* On that note, the movie does do a fair job answering such questions that are long asked by smart asses the world over, like why Jor-El didn't build a rocket for his whole family.

* Despite apparently being obsessed with racial purity and ensuring that only certain houses are allowed to continue on in the new regime, Zod is actually made into a somewhat sympathetic figure.  I hate to make this comparison in light of Star Trek: Into Darkness but this incarnation of Zod is basically Khan - a perfectly bred warrior whose only real purpose in life is protecting his people.  There's some dramatic irony in that his ultimate conflict with Clark comes down to Clark taking up the same role on behalf of the people of Earth.

* Just get this one out of the way now - Henry Cavill NAILS the part of Clark Kent.

* Was anyone else reminded of  Steve "Hercules" Reeves.during the part where a shirtless, bearded Clark was holding up the flaming oil derrick? 

* I like how the flashbacks showing Clark's childhood are interwoven into the narrative of the movie.  Nice way to neutralize the complaints about EVERY superhero movie starting with the same, boring origin story.

* Diane Lane does a good job as Martha "Ma" Kent.  Her best moment?  The scene where she comforts a young Clark, who can't fully control his super-senses and is freaking out as he hears everything and starts seeing through his classmates.  "The world is too big." he says.  "Then make it small." she says.  Perfect.

* By the same token, Kevin Costner plays Jonathan "Pa" Kent with the reserve one would expect of a mid-Western farmer.  The one time the facade breaks?  During the scene - pretty much lifted directly from Geoff Johns' Secret Origins - where a tearful Clark, having just learned of his alien nature tearfully asks if he can just keep pretending to be The Kents' son.  He pulls him tight and says, voice cracking, "You ARE my son."  And there we see the anguish of every parent who wants nothing more than to protect their child from the evils of the world realizing they really can't.

* The performance that surprised me the most?  Amy Adams as Lois Lane.  I think Adams is a great actress but I'm so used to her playing sweet and innocent characters (Enchanted and The Muppets) that I had a hard time imagining her as the tough-as-nails Lois Lane.  But even before we see her downing scotch in a bar, it's clear that this Lois Lane is no shrinking violet.  I know I wasn't alone in these feeling so believe me when I say that the complaints about Adams as Lois have about as much merit as the complaints about Anne Hathaway as Catwoman in The Dark Knight Rises.  

* On that note - the script does a good job of showing us what a good reporter Lois is.  The interlude where we see her following the stories of a mysterious man helping people and following the trail to Smallville and the Kent farm is an effective one.  

* The moment when Clark first realizes he can fly?  When he "pushes" while in mid-leap and keeps going up?  Magical.  Absolutely magical.  The sheer joy on his face as he realizes what he's doing is one of Cavill's perfect moments in this movie.  

* I don't think any version of the Superman origin story has ever had Pa Kent die in such a fashion.  And now I'm wondering why not?  On the surface, it should be a silly scene - the man risks his life to save a dog and then just stands there as the tornado bears down on him having just enough time to nod to his son before being ripped away by the wind... but somehow it works.  More than anything, this scene sets up how Clark truly is Jonathan Kent's son and how his father's example sets the tone for the man he is.

* The reoccurring theme of Hope vs. Fear is powerful and resonates through the film.  Perhaps the most blatant example of this is how Zod attempts to turn the people of Earth against Clark by broadcasting about the alien who has been hiding among them for years when all Clark wants is to help people.   

* Not surprisingly, there's a lot of Christ imagery throughout the film as well.  Some of it is obvious, such as Clark's cross-pose as he exits Zod's ship and floats into space.  But some of it is a bit more subtle, such as a scene where Clark turns to a priest for advice and we see a stained-glass window of Jesus directly behind him.  I believe the scene was meant to be Jesus in the garden at Gethsemane at that would certainly be fitting given that Clark is being asked to sacrifice himself to save the people of Earth at that moment.

* Another great moment - Superman agreeing to be handcuffed despite how utterly pointless it is.  He has no reason to say no and if it makes everyone else feel safer...

* Another moment I like which shows Superman to be more than just dumb muscle.  Clark can't fight Zod in a straight one-on-one fight.  Zod is a trained warrior.  Clark isn't.  So Clark presses the only advantage he has.  He's used to having to control his senses reflexively.  Zod isn't.  Nothing like the sudden sensory overload of seeing across an entire spectrum and hearing everything in the immediate area to even up a fight.

* Zach Snyder's direction is largely effective.  Nobody can produce a CGI spectacle like Snyder and when the time comes we do get that spectacle.  The CGI isn't overwhelming or obvious for the better part of the movie.  I don't know if it's Nolan's influence as producer or merely Snyder's timing as a director improving but there's very few moments where Snyder falls into the habits that made Suckerpunch so annoying to watch.

* Hans Zimmerman's score is amazing.

* Another great Superman moment - Clark staring down the soldiers, until their commander says "This man is not our enemy."

* Another great character moment?  Ma Kent going through the ruins of her home grabbing the photo albums.

* A great line for Zod and one of the better jokes in the movie.  The recording of Jor-El arguing with Zod, regarding genocide, "And I'm arguing it's merits with a ghost."

* I do like that this movie doesn't make the battle Superman's alone.  The American military and scientists (shout out to Dr. Emil Hamilton showing up as a DARPA member) have a role to play in the battle against Zod and his followers.  It feels genuine and realistic.

* A Lex-Corp truck can be seen in the background at one point.  So... in this reality Luthor is an established businessman and wasn't in Smallville?




THE PROBLEMS 

* There's a fair bit of casual cursing in this movie - most of it occuring in the scenes where a young Clark is bullied and in a later scene when Clark confronts a trucker who is sexually harassing a waitress.  It seems like much of this was included just to push the movie into the PG-13 category, for fear that teenagers wouldn't want to see a PG-rated Superman movie.

* Science Nitpick - Lois is walking around at night, in the Arctic circle, with her face uncovered?  Even after she's been warned about it going down to 40 below at night?  I know Amy Adams' face is nice to look at but come on!

* While there's a lot of subtle nods to the comics, most of them don't add up to very much.  The only people likely to know the significance of one of Zod's minions being named Jax-Ur are also the same ones who will scream bloody murder about him being a soldier instead of a scientist.  That's assuming they don't drop dead of a heart-attack over "Jenny Olsen".

* Really, the inclusion of The Daily Planet staff is kind of pointless.  Apart from giving Lois somebody to rally against when she tries to publish her piece about alien life being real, Perry White doesn't really do much.  Jenny Olsen does even less.  And I just barely noticed that the one other guy in the office was meant to be Daily Planet sports reporter Steve Lombard.  And now I hate myself because I'm wondering why there was no Cat Grant.

* The product placement.  Dear gods, the product placement!  One expects this sort of thing in movies now but the IHOP appearances were almost comical after a certain point. 

* I said that Zack Snyder's direction has improved and it has.  But there's still some moments - particularly in the final third of the movie- where he falls into the old habits of filming fight-scenes up too close and pacing things far too fast to be perceived by the viewer.

* Lois Lane falling to Earth as everything around her is being sucked into the Phantom Zone portal.  I'd be willing to buy some explanation about why it only affected the Kryptonians (ala the portal to The Void in the Doomsday episode of Doctor Who) if one had been given. 




THE PLOT HOLES 

* So the whole reason Jor-El and Lara Lor-Van had a child naturally was because of their concerns about Kryptonian children being bred in pods for specific roles - thinkers, soldiers, workers, etc.  They think the world would be a better place if everyone were allowed the chance to decide what they want to be on their own.  All well and good... except they basically force their own child into the role of becoming a bridge between two worlds in the hope of creating something better for them both.  Hypocritical much? 

* How does Clark come to wind up at the Arctic Circle, anyway?  There's no indication that he's following some kind of signal, ala the crystal in his ship in the original Superman movie though the movie does seem to depict him continually working his way north.

* Why is Lois taken on board Zod's ship?  It's not like he knows about the relationship the two have.  Indeed, he doesn't realize until later that emotionally blackmailing Kal-El with the lives of innocents would work.

*At one point one of Zod's minions says that Clark's greatest weakness is he actually cares about people and that the Kryptonian soldiers have evolved past the need for morality.  Yet all of Zod's motivation is based on his morality - i.e. I commit acts of violence to protect my people.




FANBOY RAGE! 


* This isn't a superhero movie!  It's a science-fiction movie!

Given how tired the general public is of the same-old, same-old superhero movies, I welcome anything that helps this film stand apart.  Besides, the very heart of Superman lies in the sci-fi pulps of Americana.  Any true Superman story that involves Krypton MUST involve science-fiction in a pretty heavy way. 


* Superman isn't doing enough to save people in harms way!

Given that Superman spends most of the fight in Smallville having to cope with two trained soldiers, I'm willing to cut him some slack given that he does go out of his way to save people when he gets a moment (i.e. catching the soldier who falls out of the helicopter). 


* Superman doesn't do anything to protect Metropolis while millions of people are dying!

At that moment, Zod is using a Kryptonian World Engine to forcibly terraform the planet.  This requires his ship to be on the opposite end of the world from where they park the World Engine so they're effectively digging into the world from opposite ends.  Given that the World Engine itself is an unknown quantity (i.e. they don't know what defenses it has precisely) and that the American military - who Superman is working with - will have a far easier time mobilizing to deal with a threat on their native soil, logically, it makes sense for Superman to deal with the World Engine while the Army/Air Force try to deal with Zod in Metropolis.


* Superman doesn't kill!  Not ever!  

This is a sticking point with some Silver Age fanboys and I understand their outrage.  But the fact remains that there are several incidents of Superman ending a sentient beings existence.  It's just nobody made a big deal about it when it happened to a non-humanoid alien or a sentient robot.  And that's ignoring that Superman killed bad people as a matter of course in the original Golden Age comics by Siegel and Shuster.  It's also worth noting that Superman only kills Zod after literally every other option has been exhausted and once the alternative is allowing Zod to cook a family alive with his heat vision.  More importantly, he does not take any pleasure in it and immediately screams and starts crying afterward.  I will admit to being disturbed by the idea of Superman killing.  Yet I'd be more disturbed by a Superman who showed no revulsion at doing so.

I don't believe Superman is defined by an oath to never take a life.  I think Superman is defined by his willingness to sacrifice himself for others, be it sacrificing his ability to live a normal life or making the ultimate sacrifice to save the people of Earth.  We see him willing to make that sacrifice in the mid-way point of the movie when he first surrenders himself to General Zod.  THAT is who Superman is.  And while I believe Superman will always act to preserve life and will never take the easy way out, when it comes to saving a life or compromising an ethic?  No choice.  Life comes first. 
  

* Jenny Olsen?  It's Jimmy Olsen!  And why is Perry White black?

Honestly, their presence in the movie being utterly pointless is of far greater concern to me than their gender or the color of their skin.




 

THE FINAL VERDICT 

Great performances and a good script make this movie a must-see on the big-screen this summer.  Zack Snyder's direction does get a bit annoying, especially during the final third of the movie when the action goes up to 11.  Still, everything else makes up for it and for all the faults the script holds, the good far outweighs the bad.