Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice Ultimate Edition Review by Sebastian Soriano

Everyone who’s seen this movie already knows that it’s strong points were visual comic accuracy, phenomenal cinematography and CGI, magnificently-choreographd action sequences, and generally the best superhero movie eye candy ever. What it initially lacked though was the proper character and plot development that a MOVIE should have. I have had endless debates with many people on this, most of whom are filmmakers. The theatrical cut was very poorly done to the point that majority of the audience members left that cinema scratching their heads and shaking their fists, cursing Zack Snyder for making a “terrible film”. I never saw the film this way. In fact, I felt quite the opposite for the film. I loved it, but this version of it, solidifies how good the film really is. The internet at least, has definitely turned on it’s head lately since the release of the Ultimate Edition with people taking to Twitter and other social media platforms to apologise to Zack Snyder and the rest for bashing BVS.

Here were a few things that this cut did way better than the rest:

1. CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT

One key issue with the initial cut was no one could really quite understand anyone’s motivation. Here, it is explained quite well.

Superman is conflicted about his place and purpose in this world and whether he actually has one. He is also going through the issue of accountability with his actions. Knowing when and how to act or whether he should act at all along with the reason he does what he does.

The people are split between whether they actually want a “Superman” to exist or not even though, you know, he does. This movie actually quite accurately reflects how modern society sees…well…God. People don’t want an all powerful being watching over them. They rely on him when times get tough, blame him when people things go bad, and curse him when he can’t/won't fix it. Mankind in this movie seems to be using Superman as a scapegoat for their problems.

Lex Luthor was motivated by his hate for "gods". He blames the lack of a “higher being saviour” intervention from the abuse he suffered under his father’s hands. He doesn’t want anyone more powerful than man ruling the earth and that is why he’s so hell-bent on destroying Superman.

Batman however, is clearly shown here as a completely broken shell of his former self. The opening scene let’s us see him witness the deaths of hundreds, maybe thousands, in the Wayne Tower crash that happened in the Metropolis Battle. Later in the movie, you see the Robin suit. The Jason Todd Robin suit. Well all know what happens to him. He gave up on hope, his principles, people, and his morals and because of doing so, has become absolutely blood-thirsty. Batman, in a way, he was the bad guy in this one as much as Luthor was. He was a criminal. He said so himself. Alfred told him that Superman wasn’t their enemy, but he clearly did not want to hear that. A “1% chance that he is our enemy” is not exactly a plausible statistic. Batman WANTED to kill Superman out of a pure need to hunt down any potential threats whether proven to be so or not. This was not Batman the hero, Batman the detective, or Batman the Dark Knight, no. This was Batman the hunter and that’s all he wanted out of all of this was to wipe every single evil or potential evil that plagued the world.

Wonder Woman was the way she is because she, like Batman, gave up on people too. Whatever happened during WW2 must’ve broken something in her that made her feel like she wanted nothing to do with people anymore and therefore chose to just sideline herself.

Those are just a few characters. I could do this all day, but that would take too much time. Point is, you’ll understand what each character stood for and why they did what they did.

2. PLOT HOLES WERE FILLED 

From the courthouse bombing to the incident at the desert, it was all explained. The 30 minutes really filled everything out that we weren’t shown in the initial cut. So much of the narrative was clearly explained. So much of the narrative was clearly laid out and now you don’t have to speculate for yourself why plot points pan out the way they do.

 3. BETTER CGI

Subjective, but didn’t you all notice that the CGI seemed to be a little more well-refined in this one? To me, key CG parts in the movie just seemed more crisp, like Doomsday.

4. BATMAN KILLING

Batman’s allegedly “indirect killing” was not so indirect here. You could clearly see how many people he blatantly killed and you know he meant to do it and that Snyder owned up to this Batman being a killer.

5. MARTHA

You all know how this scene went if you already watched the original movie. I already understood it when I first watched the movie, but after watching the Ultimate Edition, this became more to me than just Bruce getting a wake up call. This was DC/the DCEU’s way of telling us that this was going to be the revival of hope and positivity in the DC Cinematic Universe. Goodbye dark, gloomy, and depressing ways of storytelling and hello hope and heroism again. This scene actually sums up what the movie’s really about. It signals the death of DC’s old formula for movies. It’s telling us that they have no plans to “Christopher Nolan” their films again. This was the death of old DC going back to the values of a more classic and enjoyable DC.

There really is so much I could say about BVS Ultimate Edition, but that would cease to make this a review and inadvertently turn it into a play-by-play of the movie and I do not want to do that for any of you. You need to see this version of the film yourself.

Overall, this really was a better film than the one we were initially given. Is it perfect? No, but about 95% of it’s flaws were rectified. With that being said, the flaws are very forgivable. The movie is a lot of fun, very tense, and quite the visual spectacle. Everything else will make up for it’s minor flaws. This version of the movie I believe, should be the only version of the movie people should watch from now on. Buy it. Don’t pirate this movie. It is a work of art and fine works of art deserve financial reward from it’s fans. Buy it on Blu-Ray or digital. It deserves your money. I give this movie a 4.9/5

The Irony Behind Granny's Peach Tea

 
In light with The Dark Knight PH's zero-tolerance against spoilers in its facebook group, we've conducted a group chat amongst members who've seen Batman v. Superman. While most of us loved the film, we cannot turn a blind eye on some of the movie's flaws.

Batman v. Superman is so great that it requires something out of the audience--and that's paying attention to the small details. And if that wasn't enough, the movie was made especially for the comicbook buffs who devoted their lives reading DC Comics.


The movie worked for some fans because it is what they've expected it to be. For most of the critics, they lambasted it for being too ambitious. As a group of Batman-enthusiasts, we've never seen a movie that made the audience pick a side. Will you defend the integrity of the movie? Or will you pick it apart with harsh words?

No matter which side you pick, the group believes that the movie is some sort of a double-edged sword. Some elements of the movie are great but such greatness also made it appalling.




AESTHETICALLY THIS MOVIE IS A MASTERPIECE. To date, this is probably the best Snyder film if we're talking about cinematography alone. Snyder pulled all the stops in creating his best visual eye-candy movie. Well, we shouldn't expect anything less from the accolade of the cinematography gods. But despite such beauty, people criticized his sequencing and the lack of camera stabilizers in the movie.

To a certain extent, we believe that Snyder should improve more on this. The lack of camera stabilizers is a major concern because it made some viewers dizzy after a couple of scenes. 

However, as regards sequencing, we do believe that Snyder copied the paneling of comicbooks. But the crux lies in believing such criticisms and watching the movie with the expectation that the sequencing will be bad. Moreover, most of those who criticized the sequencing never held a comicbook in their lives. This is probably why we believe that the movie didn't work for some fans. It was already tainted with disdain even before seeing it.

People might not notice this, but BATMAN V. SUPERMAN IS A 'COMICBOOK' MOVIE, Despite what people say, BvS is the only comicbook movie in Hollywood. There are superhero movies, but BvS is the only movie of its kind. Most of the comicbook fans appreciated this element of the movie. The movie felt like watching comicbooks come to life.

Making comicbooks into movies is probably one of the reasons why Snyder's vision is very ambitious. As comicbook fans, we love it, but to a certain extent we also believe that it didn't work.  It didn't work because it seems to exclude the enjoyment of casual fans and the avid movie goers. More than that, the paneling in the comicbooks doesn't bode well in movie screens. There is a reason why comicbooks and movies do not share the same medium.


THE SCRIPT WAS BRILLIANTLY WRITTEN, From the first scene alone, Chris Terrio's magic is already felt. The delivery of Bruce's lines about falling was epic! Most of the dialogue are too deep and symbolic that the split second you lose your attention, you lose the entire thought of that scene.

Here's an example. Remember the very first scene of the movie where Bruce was explaining his dream to someone (knowing Batman, he's probably documenting his thoughts in case he dies)? Young Bruce falls down the hole and found comfort in the company of bats. Seconds later, these bats levitate Bruce by circling around him. Before knowing that it was nothing more than just a dream, that scene was a WTF (more like WTF Snder don't mess this up!) moment. You probably missed or gave less significance to Bruce's line, "It took me to the light."

Why did we choose this as an example? Well, we're still trying to form some theories but the 'light' might refer to some revelations. And it might have some connections to the prophetic Knightmare scene--which is, in the simplest form, a dream.

At first it would seem that the line is irrelevant of it has nothing to do with the overall story of the film. But after puzzling things together, it would appear that every line in the movie is relevant in trying to convey Snyder's vision. This is the hard part. Although the script was brilliant, it requires a lot from the audience.


In connection with the reasons mentioned above, THE SCENES LAID DOWN THE GROUNDWORK FOR THE DC EXTENDED UNIVERSE. Some critics believe that some scenes were inconsistent with the story of the movie. The movie is titled Batman versus Superman. So some scenes that didn't make sense were the seeds that Snyder planted. 

This topic alone can start a day-long debate, but let us point out some facts why this reason is considered to be great and unpleasant at the same time.

The Knightmare sequence is phenomenal because it does not only set the groundwork for DCEU, but it also gives you the gateway to the vast collection of DC comics. This only means that the producers can easily choose which storyline to pick. The greatest thing about it is that you wouldn't know what they'll do next. There are many theories or layers to the Knightmare sequence that it needs a separate article for that.

The only thing that didn't make sense is the clear disconnect with the title--Batman versus Superman. Many people were expecting that Snyder would exploit more on the dynamics between the clash of ideals between the two biggest icons in comics. As people expect what the title presupposes, they were disappointed with the lack of dynamics in the fight. They suggest that there are other aspects, and not just fighting, that can compliment the movie title.

More than the CHOICE OF ACTORS, most of the critics hated how the characters were portrayed. While some of the fans enjoyed the characterization of the icons, some do not share the same opinion. Lets start of with...

Batman

Ben Affleck is the the greatest Batman ever! The only problem was his characterization. Many people weren't comfortable with the idea that Batman killed a lot of people in this movie. It was his complete disregard for human life that some fans had a hard time accepting.

Contrary to popular belief, Batman was a cold-blooded killer during the early years. We do not want to ponder with this issue because its a bit off topic. We'd like to point out that most of the problem starts from understanding the circumstances surrounding The Dark Knight.

This is a different Batman that we're used to see. After 20 years of operating, he has gone through heaps of desperation. The Batman we saw was jaded and cynical. He lost his place in the world. He lost his purpose. He lost a Robin. The Wayne Manor was burnt. A lot of things happened before BvS that weren't shown in the film. In a way, we believe that these narratives are essential in understanding why Batman takes pleasure in branding criminals.

We think that this was executed poorly. In a recent interview, Snyder explains why Batman is like that in the movie. While his explanation makes sense, you really don't need to explain those stuff in the movie. A movie is a movie for a reason. It was not meant to be read by college students in preparation for recitations where the professor would ask for the interpretation of a specific line.

Superman

The primary concern of Superman fans was that it failed to portray the Superman that they know. They contend that Snyder's Superman is dull in a way that it failed to represent the inspirational Superman.

None from the group was able to explain this extensively because not all were well versed with the Superman lore. But it was also pointed out by the group that the movie showed glimpse of inspiration from Superman. This is more evident in the characterization of Batman.

From the beginning of the movie, Batman has a misguided notion of justice. It was until he met Superman and observed how he battled Doomsday that made him change his ways. Why do we say this? Check the last scene where he and Luthor conversed. He was about to brand him but at the last moment, he decided not to.

It is those little details that makes Superman an inspiration to us Bat-fans. However we also believed that it came in too late. For most part of the movie, we cannot disagree with the critics that Superman is helpless.

Lex Luthor Jr.

Lex is probably the biggest double-edged sword in the film. While most people hated his irritating performance, some people were bewildered by his character. The scene where Superman knelt before him was amazing. Not to mention, he was able to manipulate the greatest detective in the DC universe.

Lex Luthor is the real deal! But people forget that this is not the Lex Luthor we all know. It was emphasized in the movie that Jesse is portraying the son of the man whose responsible for establishing Lex Corp. He is, in fact, Lex Luthor Jr. (emphasis provided).

This didn't work for the movie because even the comicbook readers are not that aware with the character. And to a certain extent, he was really annoying. But to Snyder's credit (but more of Chris Terrio, really), the lines given to Lex are deep and confounding.

While we're overly excited about the movie and that we might sound like robots who know nothing but to defend Snyder and the movie, we also think that there are some aspects of the movie that needs improvement. The things that made the movie great are the same things that made it unpleasant. This is the irony behind Granny's Peach Tea. It might look like something undesirable because of its color, but at the same time, we cant deny how baffled we were when Senator Finch turned the bottle. It was at that moment that we knew that shit was about to go down. And at the same time, Granny's Peach whatthehell is that!?

Granny's Peach Tea, anyone? :)

Countdown to BvS: 1 Trash Talk

One day to go for BvS!!! Everyone is excited for the greatest superhero fight. Of course what is a fight without the banter? We all know that Batman has an attitude problem and it usually show on his quips and talk back with the other heroes. Today we will showcase what we think is the best Batman trash talk against Superman ever.  

“Tell me do you bleed?” “You will.” This BVS trailer trash talk became so popular that a lot memes has been made out of it. But this is just the tip of the iceberg; Batman has a lot of things to say to Superman. So much that it’s hard to pick just one. We finally decided on Infinite Crisis number one.    

“Everyone looks up to you. They listen to you. If you tell them to fight, they'll fight. But they need to be inspired. And let's face it, "Superman" ... the last time you really inspired anyone was when you were dead”. -- Infinite Crisis #1

Infinite Crisis is a 2005 – 2006 DC comic book event written by
Geoff Johns and illustrated by Phil Jimenez, George Perez, Ivan Reis and Jerry Ordway. This was a sequel to the 1985 Crisis on Infinite Earths.

The story begins with Superman, Wonder Woman and Batman feuding, in the wake of the JLA tower being destroyed and many heroes all facing a variety of menaces. Batman created the out of control Brother Eye and OMAC program to counteract metahumans which led to Wonder Woman killing Maxwell Lord. Superman in his anger told Batman what his paranoia has done to them and Batman’s retort is a thing of beauty. This was beautifully done on two pages until they were interrupted by Mongul.

The reason why we picked this above all else, is because of the gravity of the situation and the personal attack on Superman. Heroes are being attacked all over the world not just by a united villain group but also by the public. They need Superman to regroup them and lead them out of this crisis. Superman prides himself as an inspiration to all. For Batman to tell him the last time he was inspirational was the time he died, is a serious barb to the Man of Steel. At the end, it would take a number of deaths for the three heroes to overcome this feud.

What’s your favorite Batman trash talk moment?

Countdown to BvS: 3 The Trinity

Jim Lee's Trinity

BVS highlights the epic battle between DC’s most popular and polar opposite of its heroes. Superman, a being of extraterrestrial power beyond our imagination, represent all that is good in humanity. Batman, the peak of human strength and ingenuity, casts a dark foreboding shadow for justice. These two iconic characters have been fighting each other in a battlefield of super hero methodology and philosophy, now we have them together on the big screen. But there is another iconic character that serves as a linchpin between Batman and Superman, the Amazonian Princess, Wonder Woman.

Unlike the other two heroes, Wonder Woman failed to capture the imagination of most fans in cinemas. But the BvS movie will have her play a supporting character and by 2017, her own movie. So why is she important?

Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman, combined, is regarded as DC Comics iconic super heroes of The World’s Finest Trinity. Each hero serves as a template for all other heroes. Wonder Woman has always been a role model for all girls reading comic books. Beautiful, strong willed with a heart of gold that is matched only by her prowess in battle. It is the duality of her role as an ambassador of peace and warrior of power which makes her a great match with Superman and Batman.

The Amazonians, centuries before, grew tired of the violence in the world of men, seeks refuge and isolated peace among themselves. They saw that men cannot control their violent nature. When Steve Trevor accidentally came to their island, Wonder Woman was tasked to bring him back and be an ambassador to the outside world bringing Amazonian culture and philosophy with her.

She is a warrior of power. Amazons has been learning combat and military strategy since birth. We add this with superhuman strength and the ability to fly and she can go head to head with Superman or any other opponents.

The Trinity is the ruling decision for the Justice League. When a stand is needed regarding a moral issue, it is the Trinity who decides the best course of action for the League. Crisis occurs when the three are in disagreement or fighting with each other. Kingdom Come, one of my favorite Elseworld story, is a prime example of how the Trinity works. Superman, Wonder Woman and Batman isolated themselves from the rest of the world. In doing so, a new generation of heroes has grown without the moral compass of the three. Superman and Wonder Woman teamed up with other heroes to bring the new heroes to heel, while Batman created his own set of heroes for his own goals. It took the death of Captain Marvel and many heroes to bring the three together.

The Trinity works because each hero brings something to the table. Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman are iconic heroes able to stand on their own but together they serve as an inspiration to all heroes and have led the Justice League from crisis to crisis.

What is your favorite Trinity story?   

PLDT Home DSL Batman v. Superman at Rockwell Powerplant

Comicbook fans, as well as toy collectors and avid movie goers, are excited for the premiere of Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice. The local industry is of no exception. With a lot of companies, local and foreign, jumping into the BvS hype train, the fans and collectors benefits the most.

Today at the Rockwell Powerplant Mall, PLDT Home DSL hooked us up with an interactive BvS photobooth! No one actually knew about it. I don't remember it being advertised in the local geek community. But, regardless of the noise it made, their booth is pretty cool.

They have a make-shift open space photobooth where people can stand beside a cardboard cut out of Batman and Superman. What made it more interesting was the bust cut out which you can raise like a placard. After letting the professional photographers take your photo, the PLDT girls will give you the picture inserted on a BvS themed card.

They will also ask you if you want to win an 8GB USB. All you have to do is to post the same photo on your instagram account and hashtag #pldthomedsl and #batmanvsuperman.

The fun doesnt end there! They have an amazing exhibit composed of comics, toys, and statues. Here are some of the photos i took.

Try to catch them. Their photobooth will be there until this Tuesday. In anticipation of Batman v. Superman, this is one thing you shouldn't miss out on! Thank you PLDT Home DSL for this great advertising.

Countdown to BvS: 6 iconic covers of Batman and Superman

From the golden age to the modern age of comics, Batman and Superman has shared the limelight on the covers of our favorite titles. To hype it up for all of you, we’re 6 days away from the worldwide theatrical release of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, and the boys of The Dark Knight Ph have gathered 6 of the most iconic comic book covers featuring our favorite Boy Scout and Caped Crusader.

Note: We did not include the BvS variants.

6. Dark Knight III: The Master Race #1 (Midtown Comics Variant by Greg Capullo)

Right in the face! This cover is a remake of one of the most legendary fights in comic book history. As you may all know, the basis for this piece came from the fight scene in The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller. The unforgettable dialogue of Batman, while kicking Superman’s butt, is truly one of those moments that would run a tingle down your spine. Greg Capullo did not disappoint with his own version of “the boot to the face.” This was released last November 2015, released exclusively by Midtown Comics. Look ma, Superman bleeds.

5. Batman/Superman #1 by Jae Lee (New 52)

Talk about Dawn of Justice right here, man! This cover has a bit of Gothic into it, perfect for the setting of Gotham City, and the towering Supes on top with the blue sky background complimented the, otherwise, dark and gritty Batman and his posse of robotic heads. The story shows how Batman and Superman first met….again. Jae Lee impressed all of us with his interior art on this issue. You have to get it to see. ;) This was released last June 2013.

4. Batman #612 by Jim Lee

“Deep down, Clark is essentially a good person…and deep down, I’m not.” –Batman

This infamous cover by the one and only Jim Lee, shows a mind controlled Superman tripping on Batman. Haha! Coming from Part 5 of the revolutionary “Hush” storyline, this cover is among the ones that show Batman is still a man, or rather, a speck in Superman’s godliness. God vs Man, Day vs Night, blah blah blah! This was first published on February 2003.

3. Batman #608b and Superman #204 by Jim Lee

This is another one from Jim Lee. One of the best connecting covers there is, sort. These covers are 2 years apart. Batman 608b (For those who asks what the “b” stands for, this is the second cover of this issue. A variant, if you will), is the first part of the Hush storyline; Superman 204 is part one of the “For Tomorrow” storyline. Day vs Night anyone?

Batman 608b was first published on October 2002; Superman 204 was on June 2004.

2. Superman #76 by Curt Swan

From the year 1952 comes the first ever team-up of Batman and Superman. Can you believe it? People from that era are probably going nuts seeing these 2 heroes share a story in a comic book. This was the first of many stories featuring our favorite heroes. Fun Fact: In this story, Batman and Superman uncover each others secret identity, and the rest, as they say, is history. First published on May 1952. (64 years later, they will share the silver screen, oh glory days!)

1.The Dark Knight Returns #4: The Dark Knight Falls by Frank Miller

Of course, our list wouldn’t be complete without this iconic cover from one of the most important Batman story in history, The Dark Knight Returns #4. From the man himself, Frank Miller, we get to see an armored Batman taking on Superman. Need I say more on why this made the top list? The hype is real, ladies and gents! Batman vs Superman is happening!

It’s finally happening. What was once just a comic book cover of Batman and Superman fighting is now a reality for all fanboys out there! On March 26, 2016, see history unfold and bask in the glory of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice!

Hit the comments for your favorite covers featuring Batman and Superman.