Hey everybody,
It has been almost two whole years since my last post.
A lot has happened in that time…As one can imagine.
We’re having another baby. Yay!
I finished my MFA in Acting. Yay!
We moved to Scranton, Pennsylvania. Yay?
With my parents. Yay…
And remodeled their attic so we have our own apartment. Yay…? I guess.
But more on that later.
This is what I hope to be the first post of a revived blog so please share.
So I was perusing my old posts when I stumbled upon an entry involving the announcement of the Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice.
“I…I just died in your arms tonight…”
Aaaaaaaand considering I finally saw the thing yesterday, I decided it might be best for me to begin the resuscitation of my blog by sharing my thoughts on the film.
It was bad.
Rolls credits.
Okay. It wasn’t all bad.
I loved Ben Affleck and Gal Gadot and Jesse Eisenberg were enjoyable.
I disagree with the assessment that Lex was recycled Joker.
My biggest problem with this gargantuan juggernaut of a clusterflop was that there were too many logical missteps and the flow of the film was, in a word, choppy.
But you can read all about that everywhere…
Like Here, Here, Here, or Here.
[Update] The current Superman to my Batman in regards to BvS, Michael McLendon, has an excellent review of the film Here. I suggest you give it a look.
I would like to discuss my thoughts on the director and his apparent theology.
But first a small tangent.
WHO WATCHES THE WATCHMEN?
Seriously…Who was responsible for saying…
“You know, Zack…This might be cool and all, but it doesn’t progress the plot. It really has no business being in this movie.”
My thoughts?
I don’t think Zack Snyder listens to anyone, values anyone’s opinions but his own, and I think he disdains the defining characteristics of the characters he’s using
But…other people have talked about that.
I want to talk about X, D, and S.
Xerxes, Dr. Manhattan, and Superman.
Call me curious how in 3 of the films he’s best known for, he uses the God archetype.
Xerxes
Xerxes is wiping people out because he thinks he’s god (or a god).
King Leonidas stands up to him and proves that he is just a man. He can bleed.
“Do you know how I got this scar?”
Dr. Manhattan
Dr. Manhattan is a freak of science. An all-powerful man, but regardless called a god.
“I never said, “The superman exists, and he’s American” What I said was,”God exists, and he’s American.”
And yet…He is brought down by another exceptional man. Adrian Veidt – Ozymandias.
Ozy proves that god can be defeated.
[Don’t get me wrong, I know this is Alan Moore too, but Snyder directed it.]
No! And quit impersonating the Joker. Your crappy imitation is disrespectful to the memory of Heath Ledger! (Looking at you, everyone)
Superman
Superman is Jesus. There. I said it.
He’s sent from another world to lead and save humanity.
He is DC’s Jesus.
Superman’s powers and abilities list on wikipedia.
They could have just as simply said…All of them…And not written an article about it.
In fact, they keep inventing new powers to give him.
Because THAT’S exactly what he needed…
Needless to say…DC’s OG is OP.
And yet…Who brings him down?
The World’s Greatest Detective. One extraordinary man.
My imitation of Ledger’s Joker is ON FLEEK.
THE POINT
Zack Snyder seems oddly transfixed by false god characters being brought down by a man. So much so that it seems to be Lex Luthor’s only motivation in BVS: DOJ (which I still maintain is a stupid title).
Mind you. In this case, the man kind of fails…but does he?
I’m putting that in the Win column.
So…
What do we do with this?
- Zack Snyder may or may not be an angry atheist. (But who cares really?)
- He clearly thinks murder is the best way to show that a vigilante is mature. (We should care because he’s tarnishing these great characters.)
- And finally, we hope to God WB has someone watch the watchmen. In this case, we don’t let the DCCU become a wonderland of murderers. Kids should be able to see Batman and Superman movies. At the very least, they should be able to see Superman. Don’t market toys to kids 5+ and then deprive them of the film experience by making it too gritty and dark. I’m not talking about pandering either. I’m talking about knowing your target audience and telling a good story.
It’s just a bummer because this had so much potential.
I can’t help but think that people who liked this movie do so for the same reason I liked Green Lantern when it first came out…
I was a colossal Green Lantern fanboy.
A small portion of my comic collection.
I looked past the flaws of the film to find the joy the comics brought to me.
I found my will in all of that mess, and I clung to it.
But time revealed to me the truth.
It just wasn’t good.
When we eventually get a few more good DC films (which I believe we will), I think people will begin to realize this was a weak start to the DCCU.
But until that time, fans will cling to the bright spots that bring them joy.
They’ll defend it, and they’ll wait patiently for better to come.
The Guardians of the Galaxy
^I kid. I’m looking forward to it.
Until next week, true believers.
-scritch out.
Zack Snyder’s Green Lantern v. Green Arrow: Death of Another God Character.
Son of a Scritch 