4th of July 2016

Riddle me this Riddle me that what did I make of Kal-El versus The Bat.  Thats what I wrote to my review of the cinema / theatrical release of Batman V Superman Dawn of Justice, which can be read here.  

As a film the Dawn of Justice cinema release, I gave it a 6/10.  So does Batman v Superman Ultimate Edition fare any better?  Yes, is the simple answer.  It's still not my take on how Superman should be, there is just too much destruction.  I keep thinking shares in construction companies must be through the roof.

So this film was basically panned by reviewers and critics when it came out in the cinema earlier in the year.  Was that justified, again yes. Was that Zac Snyders fault,  mmhhh I would have to say watching this Ultimate Edition not entirely.  Many directors want their work to be shown the way they want it to be shown but movie companies step in and say, it's too long, change this that and the other.  At the time of the cinema release Snyder took untold flak, with this version perhaps those missiles of damnation were aimed at the wrong target.

The original release at times just made no sense.  There was so much to work out, it did not flow naturally.  It went through some of the numbers 1-10 and those numbers it missed out it never went back to. It was left to fans to surmise what happened.  Personally I thought the film was watchable, was just a joy to see Batman and Superman together on screen.

So, if you have seen the original film or are thinking of now coming back to purchasing the new Ultimate version should you?   Yes, buy it. There is extra scenes nothing particularly spectacular, they just make the movie flow so much better.  At three hours and two minutes so so from start to finish it's a long shift.  The extra scenes just hold the story together, explain things, give characters more depth and meaning. Clark is more of a reporter than he has been since Dean Cains, Clark Kent.  The reason Batman brands people, the plot to discredit Superman is explained, Lex Luthor becomes more of a credible calculating villain.  I still think Lex should have been played by someone older, such as Bryan Cranston or Kevin Spacey who were mooted at the time by certain online writers.  

After watching this version I came away thinking Warner Bros, why did you not let this version be released first time? Fans of all generations have been waiting with baited breath for years, generations to see these two guys on screen together, why did n't you let the film last longer and be told in a story that makes sense and for you as a studio make money?  I could never watch the theatrical version again.  This is the point - the theatrical version was a mystery at times and off putting to the viewer.  I love to watch Terminator 2 Judgement Day and I can watch the extended version or the normal version and they are both still watchable.  There is no real loss, the extra's are extras, they don't detract from the story, they don't leave us thinking how did that happen.  This is something that cannot be said for Batman V Superman, Theatrical v Ultimate Edition.  So much is lost with theatrical that Ultimate is the only way to go. Perhaps instead of ultimate, definitive would be more apt.

I'm not adding any specific details as to what the extra or extended scenes are, other reviews have so you will know perhaps.  The thing to know is that this Ultimate version is the one to see.  Zac Snyder, his Superman is not ours. His Batman, his Wonderwoman are fitting of the dark universe they live in and so is the Superman too.  Warner Bros you made a mistake as to the cinema release and the blame has to be apportioned to yourselves and not Snyder.  Zac Snyder has taken a lot of stick, but Warner Bros should be getting hit with a tree.  I have to up my rating from a 6 to a 7.5 for the ultimate edition.  The film is worthy of another viewing.