#bvs commentary

[john1106]

We’re Not Done Talking About Superman? No; No We Are Not.

Superman’s most important attributes by M.Schinke I had not intended to write a series of Superman articles, and indeed I will write about some other things I have on my mind, but with the re…

“ As I stated in my last Superman article, my take on the character is different than most in that his optimism is internalised. My Superman gets up every day no matter how he feels or what he thinks and does what he does because he believes he can help make the world better. That is an optimistic attitude. It’s not about smiles or pats on the back or thumbs up for the cameras. It’s not about making people feel comfortable and safe while you pull them from the wreckage of a fallen building. Optimism is a perspective; a point of view you choose to have. It’s looking at what you have and seeing how you can make it better. You put that together with faith, the belief in something with no proof, and you have a powerful brew for making change. It’s not about ebullience; it’s about belief. “

“ I promise to let this go; but only when the rest of the world does. We project so much of what we wan’t onto a character and Superman just has all the right ingredients to make the perfect meal. But we want that meal to be full of cake and ice cream; all the things that make us feel good with none of that nasty nutrition that we actually need to grow and become stronger, better people. Empty platitudes about hope and optimism won’t get us anywhere without someone slogging through the shit to show us what it’s all for. If Superman can’t get dirty, if that character can’t take the beatings and keep ticking, if HE can’t survive the darkness; what hope is there for the rest of us? “

[truemanofsteel]

Anyone who is interested in participating in the BvS anniversary commentary please contact me with your availability for the week so I can organize a set date and time for everyone!

[supesbatsy]

Okay, so I was thinking – Clark and Lois were away form each other for like maybe a month before the big showdown with Batman and Doomsday. Cause Clark goes to the artic, and they don’t say how much time has passed. But Bruce has been training after he steals the kryptonite. He is probably is going to train more than a week, maybe 3-4 weeks, and to get his gadgets in order.

Clark comes back when Lex pushes Lois. So he saves her, and then she saves him, and then he saves her again, and she saves him again. And they only have that one soft (yet so beautiful) moment of this is my world and you are my world before he sacrifices himself.

So they haven’t seen each other in a month, and when they do everything is spiraling out of control and they have to constantly save each other, and have time for a 2 minute conversation/confession....and then he is gone....gone. Thats all Lois gets?

[hcourageous]

friendly reminder that you’ll have to pry batman v superman from my cold dead hands, it’s a phenomenal film, full of comic book history and controversy, with rich characters and an extremely well crafted plot, stunning visuals and and as yet unparalleled soundtrack, which treats its characters and history with great respect and it honors its audience by being intelligent, emotional, diverse and hopeful as well as taking a more serious theme than a typical cbm, because comic books are rich works of art and not just goofy popcorn flick bait

[john1106]

All zack snyder great commentary about superman and superheroes myth in general

Listen to Zack himself discuss that his intention, beginning with Man of Steel, to place the Superman character in the real world that you and I inhabit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOJj2zw2goM&feature=youtu.be&t=5m30s

Here is the salient quote: "I never felt like a [superhero] movie should exist in the real world before, but I feel like Superman should... All the Superman movies that have been made exist in some weird stylized world where everyone's, like, apple pie and Chevrolet and it's like the American Dream in a weird way... [T]he thing I find interesting is being able to release the character from that world, where he's been stuck and shackled, and bring him to our world and see what he does."

From https://www.forbes.com/sites/markhughes/2014/04/17/exclusive-interview-with-zack-snyder-director-of-batman-vs-superman/#4dd1d84a7bf4

"I think with Superman we have this opportunity to place this icon within the sort of real world we live in. And I think that, honestly, the thing I was surprised about in response to Superman was how everyone clings to the Christopher Reeve version of Superman, you know? How tightly they cling to those ideas, not really the comic book version but more the movie version... If you really analyze the comic book version of Superman, he's killed, he's done all the things-- I guess the rules that people associate with Superman in the movie world are not the rules that really apply to him in the comic book world, because those rules are different. He's done all the things and more that we've shown him doing, right? It's just funny to see people really taking it personally... because I made him real, you know, I made him feel, or made consequences [in] the world. I felt like, it was the same thing in Watchmen. We really wanted to show it wasn't just like they thought, like the PG-13 version where everyone just gets up and they're fine. I really wanted to show the violence is real, people get killed or get hurt, and it's not fun or funny. And I guess for me, it was like I wanted a hero in Superman that was a real hero and sort of reflected the world we live in now..."

And see https://web.archive.org/web/20160321191554/https://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2016/03/21/zack-snyder-on-how-batman-v-superman-is-like-watchmen/ regarding the influence of Watchmen on this project of real world deconstruction in BvS in particular:

"I was surprised with the fervency of the defense of the concept of Superman. I feel like they were taking it personally that I was trying to grow up their character...

“[Alan Moore's 'Watchmen' is] ... all about the ‘why’ of superheroes: the political why, the religious why, the philosophical why... Once you’ve absorbed that material [of 'Watchmen'], there’s no way it doesn’t resonate with you, especially when you’re dealing with characters like Batman and Superman and Wonder Woman, who are basically the trinity. In some ways, this will be, I hope at it’s really best, the impossible version of ‘Watchmen’.”

Zack also explains in another interview that he regards Superman as, essentially, representative of all of superhero mythology itself. And he also further discusses the influence of Watchmen in his approach to Superman. See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOJj2zw2goM&feature=youtu.be&t=3m10s

[john1106]

Threads about the plot in BvS

[john1106]

On the subject of "Superman should save cats and smile 24/7"

The way in which people think Superman should behave depends entirely on their world view. Whether you prefer him portrayed as a perpetual source of constant positivity, or as someone who experiences the full range of human emotions in their position of unfathomable responsibility,

it all depends on how you view the human condition and what you're looking for in your entertainment.

Maybe you're oblivious to the chaotic nature of our species and just want to have a good time at the theater. Maybe you choose not to concern yourself with the suffering of hundreds of millions of innocents elsewhere; or maybe you're fully informed but seek out a different reality in the escapism you consume. Perhaps you want to see an Atlas like figure shoulder this burden of power and face these harsh truths head on.

These are all valid subjective preferences.

Oftentimes when it comes to discussing comicbook heroes, people value the relatability of a fictional character above all else.

However, this has different meanings from person to person, does it not? We want something to aspire to be, but these aspirations are not universal. Someone is completely entitled to disliking God-figure characterizations and preferring an upbeat smiling Superman

, but to someone else that won't make sense. To that second person they'll think: "how is a constantly upbeat Superman relatable?", do we not face anxiety and pressure in our everyday lives? That second person will also think: "What's he doing saving cats? what of the countless other crimes and atrocities that are happening simultaneously, and if this upbeat Superman has already solved them then how can someone so perfect NOT be considered a God-like figure?".

The point is there is no point in arguing which portrayal is outright superior. People will like what they like because when it comes to this subject, it appeals to us in different ways on such a fundamental level. To one person, what's inspiring is thinking that there's a likeable hero selflessly overcoming any obstacle; to another person what's inspiring is thinking there's someone out there, powerful but one of us in spirit...imperfect but giving his absolute all to fight for what's right.

Note that I’m not the one making all the commentary above. All credits goes to @titletownrelo for the awesome post above. 

[john1106]

This is a very good read. Highly recommended for all zack snyder fans, superman fans, and all DCEU fans who love MoS and BvS. This article perfectly explain how much faithful is snyder superman is to the early creations of superman and the golden age version of superman. This article also emphasize so much on how superman is actually created as a response to the immigrants and the people with different skin color being treated differently(as envision by the superman creators), which is very relevant in the context of our world. This article will also shut up all the haters who accuse Snyder for ruining superman or not respecting to the superman mythos .