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Aquaman

5.15 The Power of SHAZAM!

April 28, 2019 by Steve Norton Leave a Comment

As an orphan, 14-year old Billy Batson struggles to connect with foster families as he bounces from home to home, searching for his mother. When he suddenly receives the limitless power of Shazam, he finds a new calling as a superhero… but can a broken teenager handle this sort of responsibility? What makes him worthy of the challenge? This week, Derek Wong and Mira Ibrahim join us to talk about what sets Billy apart, the dangers of deadly sins and the meaning of power.

You can also stream the episode above on podomatic, Alexa (via Stitcher), Spotify or Soundcloud! Or, you can download the ep on Apple Podcasts or Google Play!

Want to continue to conversation at home?  Click the link below to download ‘Fishing for More’ — some small group questions for you to bring to those in your area.

5.15 Shazam!Download

Thanks Derek and Mira for joining us!

Filed Under: Film, Podcast, Reviews Tagged With: Aquaman, Avengers Endgame, Batman, Billy Batson, DCEU, Dr. Sivana, Mark Strong, shazam, superhero, Superman, Wonder Woman, Zachary Levi

5.08 The Buzz Around BUMBLEBEE

December 31, 2018 by Steve Norton Leave a Comment

http://screenfish.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/5.08-Bumblebee.mp3

As the sixth (!) entry into the TRANSFORMERS franchise, BUMBLEBEE is a complete course correction for the series. Taking us back to 1987, BUMBLEBEE focuses on the emotional journey of its characters, giving a feel reminiscent of the Amblin films of the 1980s… but is it too little too late? This week, Steve is joined by author Troy Kinney (Watching Movies, Watching Stories) as they tackle giant robots, the nature of letting go and what it means to be human.

You can also stream the episode above on podomatic, SoundCloud or on Spotify! Or, you can download the ep on Apple Podcasts, Google Play or more!

5.08 Bumblebee

Want to continue to conversation at home?  Click the link below to download ‘Fishing for More’ — some small group questions for you to bring to those in your area.

Thanks Troy for joining us!

 

Filed Under: Film, Podcast Tagged With: 1980s, Aquaman, Autobots, Bumblebee, Hailee Steinfeld, John Cena, New Years Eve, nostalgia, Optimus Prime, Transformers, Troy Kinney

The Fishing Hole: Aquaman and the Next Superman

December 26, 2018 by J. Alan Sharrer Leave a Comment

Welcome to the Fishing Hole, the ScreenFish Staff’s daily roundup of late breaking cinema/TV/pop culture news. Here’s what we’re talking about today . . .

Chris U.: $105 million for Aquaman as of Christmas Day. Momoa stays. Wonder if WB/DC will flip Justice League 2 on its head by making Momoa and Gadot the leads. Frankly, I’d use JL2 to introduce the new Batman and Superman.

Arnaldo R.: Or, scrap JL altogether and continue developing these characters solo and not force it like they have been. (GIF of Hannibal Lecter saying, “All good things come to those who wait.”)

Chris: “But…but…Marvel is pwning us! We have to respond!!!”

Arnaldo: (GIF of a ship sailing away with the caption, “Ship has sailed!”) LOL

Chris: Seriously, I’m all for it. Especially if they can erase BvS. I heard Flashpoint is supposed to handle that.

Arnaldo: I think that’s why it’s important to narrow the focus. These two work, focus on them for a while and slowly build. Plan for Marvel fatigue rather than speeding to catch it.

Chris: I DO need a proper Superman to ditch Routh’s stalkerness and Cavill’s moodiness.

Arnaldo: (thumbs-up)

Chris: Reeve was a friggin Boy Scout. Give us THAT! None of this whiny conflicted hero crap.

Steve N.: (GIF of Russell from “Up” waving) That’s who you want as Superman.

Chris: Supes need to confidently stop a nuke, save kids from a burning bus and save a cat! And SMILE the whole damn time. (GIF of a smile) And THAT will set you up for a proper Bats conflict: The Boy Scout vs The Rich Kid Rebel.

Steve: Bah. So simplistic. Dark Knight Returns (animated) did it great, without the simplicity.

Chris: Supes propensity to keep the law V Bats propensity to bend and break it.

Arnaldo: Supes doesn’t need to smile all the time. Making him more “human” is fine. He just doesn’t need to be “Batman.”

Chris: Simplistic. Bah that!

Steve: Bah.

Chris: All of y’all and your moody *** heroes. Sucking all the fun out of cinema. Which is why they hated on Aquadude. It had the utter audacity to be…FUN!

Steve: LOL. Superheroes reflect the voice of the nation. Supes is a Christ figure but that doesn’t mean grinning all the time.

Arnaldo: Moody isn’t about it for me. I want an in between. I don’t want someone rehashing Christopher Reeves or trying to be like him.

Chris: But you need his charm and charisma.

Steve: I agree with charm, yes. Cavill can do it. But he needs a script.

Arnaldo: Think Chris Evans Cap. Not an exact copy but basically that’s what Supes needs to be in DCEU.

Chris: I just don’t want the BS “I don’t wanna be a hero; the people hate me” crap. 100%, Arnaldo! Heck..CAP’s a dang Boy Scout. Went Rogue for his bestie. Would love to see Supes go rogue for Lois like Superman 2.

Arnaldo: That’s what Supes needs to be. Strong willed, but “clean.”

Chris: And not afraid of who he is. Snyder’s downfall was in Pa Kent shaming Clark for who he was. Suppressing it out of the fear of man’s reaction. Opposite of Glenn Ford. My son’s a natural at the trombone. I spent the entire Fall trying to get the kid to EMBRACE that. He was ashamed.

He eventually embraced it and got promoted to the highest level band in middle school. Supes 4.0 needs Pa Kent embracing his gift. So when it’s time to save the day, he does it with no shame.

Steve: I agree with the Cap analogy. But he’s realistic at heart. Pure at heart but bears the weight of the world. Reeves wasn’t like that. Cavill could go there with a good script.

Join the conversation! Agree or disagree with our band of ScreenFishers? Ready to challenge their POV? Feel free to share in the comments!

Filed Under: Current Events, Fishing Hole, News Tagged With: Aquaman, Superman

The Fishing Hole: Aquaman, Spidey, and Justice League

December 19, 2018 by J. Alan Sharrer Leave a Comment

Welcome to the Fishing Hole, the ScreenFish Staff’s daily roundup of late breaking cinema/TV/pop culture news.  Here’s what we’re talking about today . . .

Arnaldo R.: Soooo, I know we don’t put much stock in Rotten Tomatoes, but Bumblebee is 94%, Aquabro 68%, Poppins 77%.

Steve N.: I’m shocked that Poppins is so low considering the Top 10 lists it’s on.

Chris U.: Film criticism is about to take a turn. The disconnect between writer/audience is growing deeper with every release. Critics had us prepped for a horrifying experience w/Venom. $200 million U.S. So go figure.

Jacob S.: Venom was terrible. Just because people went to see it doesn’t mean it was any good. The critics were right.

Chris: Will Sony believe you? Or that $200 million they’re still counting? THAT’s the point.
(PS – Venom was GREAT!)

Arnaldo: I have not seen Venom…so can’t say on film itself.

Jacob: IMO it was so bad I couldn’t finish it. So, for perspective, what made it great for you? I reserve great for … much more than what I saw, so I’m curious.

Alan S: So are we really influencers?

Arnaldo: As for Sony, it depends what they internally thought it would make vs what it made.

Chris: We used to be [influencers]. Millennials are making up their own minds about such things.

Arnaldo: It’s kind of the Justice League viewpoint….did it make money…yes. should it based on characters and genre made more….also yes.

Jacob: Based on the amount of money that publicists are paying for even small options like us to go to film, talk to talent, and get review copy, the studios still think we are.

Chris: Justice League made over $200 million too.

Jacob: So will Aquaman.

Chris: But it’s recognized as a major disappointment when you consider the comps.

Arnaldo: But it should have way more is my point. And it made less than the studio hoped it would.

Jacob: I’m going to go see it, regardless of what critics say, and even though I think it looks terrible.

Chris: This was DC’s answer to Avengers. And in that regard, they took a FAT L

Jacob: But Venom – to this fanboy – couldn’t compete even though I like Hardy, because that was a story devoid of Spiderman … which is dumb.

Arnaldo: There aren’t that many villains that can carry a standalone film without their rival. Again, I haven’t seen Venom so just speaking hot air. LOL Once Venom is available to rent on Amazon I’ll watch it

Jacob: I’m reading Miles Morales comics because Spiderverse was so good. If I had gone from the movie to the comic and Morales was a white rich woman, I would’ve been frustrated.

Chris: Jacob just explained it.

Jacob: Works the same way being a fan of the comic and going to see a film that doesn’t actually carry its water.

Arnaldo: I’ve been a fan of Miles since he was released

Jacob: Sure, Harry Potter movies made a lot of money – but they’re not as good as the books

Chris: The stuff we are fans of we judge more harshly

Jacob: I had gotten to the point where I was over Spidey. Needed a new twist. Miles does that.

Arnaldo: (agrees)

Chris: About Aquadude

Jacob: Given that I follow sci-fi, comics, crime fiction, thriller fiction, tv, etc., everything that doesn’t measure up gets blasted. 🙂

Chris: He doesn’t come with high fanboy pressure to nail it

Arnaldo: I have plans to see Spidey, and an idea of an article after I see it, but I have to see it first or my article doesn’t work.

Jacob: The world didn’t need another white action figure, so I get Momoa. But they’re going to have to nail it or the underwater stuff is going to look like it was shot by us with a GoPro.

Chris: I think it’ll be fine.

Jacob: At this point, DC can’t settle for “fine”

Chris: They already have. Aquaman and WW is all they’re rolling with

Arnaldo: Aquaman has fanboys believe it or not

Chris: Supes is getting course corrected

Arnaldo: Aquabro I’m not sure of

Chris: Batty is getting course corrected. Justice League 2 is off the table for now

Jacob: I own a fair share of Aquaman comics

Arnaldo: They have to blow the Fanboys away for him to accepted, which is sad

Chris: They’re folded on the current JL path

Jacob: I was a swimmer through college… appreciate the swimming aspect

Chris: Back on their “see what sticks” hustle . . . Gal and Momoa are the only things sticking

Jacob: Momoa has carried a bunch of stuff Chris will never see . . . so they’re willing to take a risk.

Chris: Jacob . . . You know they fired Cavil from Supes, right?

Jacob: Fine with me

Arnaldo: WB is throwing darts hoping to hit bullseye or at least get close.

Chris: I know Momoa, dude.

Jacob: I didn’t mind him as much as Affleck. I meant he has all those Netflix shows

Arnaldo: You don’t green light that many different joker movies if you had an actual clue

Jacob: Small screen < big screen

Chris: Case closed. Thanks, Arnaldo. Multiple Joker movies . . . Birds of Prey BEFORE Suicide Squad sequel . . . “Throw it at the wall all over again”

Jacob: #noclue

Chris: Whatever sticks graduates to JL 2.0. Whatever doesn’t will get axed like Affleck and Cavil.

Arnaldo: I’m as tired of the Marvel comparison as the DC Fanboys are but…Marvel made a talking raccoon work. DC couldn’t make Batman and Superman work.

Chris: Because they planned for it 6 years before we saw it. Feige wouldn’t have done it if he wasn’t convinced it would work. Key word: PLANNING. What, again, IS the DC plan?

Arnaldo: Who knows. Same can be asked about Sony. Are they going to stick to Spidey villains without Spidey?

Chris: 1. Pray Aquaude eeks out $250 mil
2. Hope R-rated Birds Of Prey works
3. Keep Flash on hold while we wait for JK Rowling to finish the last 2 chapters of Fantastic Beasts
4. Hope they can eke out another $100 million or so off Shazam
Did I miss anything?

Jacob: If Venom had been R-rated, I might’ve bought in.

Chris: As far as Sony, I think they’re waiting for Endgame to play out first. If Disney doesn’t lock in Spidey for another team up, he’ll be a free agent to appear in their flicks.

Jacob: Most of the Netflix Marvel stuff is better than the DC feature

Chris: It was. Reshoots. Sony chickened out at the thought of an R rated movie connected to Spidey and ordered reshoots to tone Venom down. But everyone knows, including the lying director, that R was the original plan.

Jacob: Homecoming was darker than Venom.

Arnaldo: Sony knows what Marvel’s plans are for Spidey. They don’t sign that deal without being allowed to know some small details.

Chris: Hmmmmm

Arnaldo: AKA Marvel keeps him and Sony doesn’t

Chris: That’s breaking the law. Sony owns the rights which is why Venom is here. To keep the rights spinning. If Sony abandons Spideyverse movies for a certain period of time, rights roll back. That’s why we have the Silver and Black plan. The Mobius plan.

Arnaldo: You misunderstood. I’m not talking who owns the rights. I’m saying that Sony while still holding some/most of the rights basically conceded live action Spidey to Marvel.

Chris: Not the rights. I explained it years ago.

Arnaldo: They allow Marvel to use Spidey, aka they gave the keys to the car away while still holding the title. Sony is race car owner basically. Marvel is the driver. Sony has no plans to get behind the wheel as long as Marvel continues to kill it at the box office. Sony is happy to sit back and count the money.

Chris: So why make Venom, Mobius, Into The Spiderverse if they can just sit back and eat off of Marvel?

Arnaldo: Because they want their cake and eat it too, and Marvel has no plans with those characters.

Chris: All I’m saying . . . Don’t be shocked at Tom Holland cameos after Endgame.

Arnaldo: Yet his next Solo film is after Endgame…😏 If you mean in Morbius and Venom type of films….maybe but I highly doubt it. Feige isn’t going to let Sony control part of the MCU. Sony already set it up with Miles.

Chris: It’s coming.

Arnaldo: Different universes.

Chris: Miles is animated. This is live action. We will see how it all turns out. GO AQUADUDE!

Join the conversation!  Agree or disagree with our band of ScreenFishers?  Ready to challenge their POV?  Feel free to share in the comments!

Filed Under: Current Events, Fishing Hole, News Tagged With: Aquaman, Into the Spiderverse, Justice League, spiderman, Venom

4.06 a JUSTICE LEAGUE of our own

November 26, 2017 by Steve Norton Leave a Comment

http://screenfish.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/4.06-Justice-League.mp3

Grab your batarang and 5-pronged trident, because, in this episode, ScreenFish Radio wraps the lasso of truth around JUSTICE LEAGUE, the culminating film of DC cinematic universe. Back from his vacation, Steve is joined by super friends Arnaldo Reyes and Pastor James Harleman (Cinemagogue) to decide if the film leaps tall buildings in a single bound… or falls face first in the kryptonite.

Want to continue to conversation at home?  Click the link below to download ‘Fishing for More’ — some small group questions for you to bring to those in your area.

4.06 Justice League

A very special thanks to Arnaldo and James for joining us!

Filed Under: Film, Podcast Tagged With: Aquaman, Batman, Ben Affleck, Cyborg, DC, DC Comics, DCEU, Ezra Miller, Gal Gadot, Henry Cavill, Jason Momoa, Justice League, Steppenwolf, Superman, The Flash, Warner Bros., WB, Wonder Woman

Justice League: Finding Hope in the Darkness

November 17, 2017 by Arnaldo Reyes 25 Comments

Justice League is one of the most anticipated movies of the year, but not because you get a DC team-up film. The anticipation comes because most people were wondering, “Will they finally get these characters right?” That, of course, was the big question going in–so much so that Rotten Tomatoes delayed their Tomatometer for the film because they claimed they wanted to debut a new show and get more in-depth. In reality, they received heat from the studios, complaining that they were ruining the box office numbers (umm, bad films do that–not a Tomatometer). The DCEU has only one good film in its four-film roster, and that one came out earlier this year. They hitched their wagon to Zach Snyder to create this universe; the problem has been that Snyder wanted to make it in his own vision and that doesn’t always work with established characters.

So, with all that said, is Justice League a good film? Well, it’s not bad, but it isn’t great. It is a generically okay film that is hurt by its short run time and average plot. Everything felt rushed and incomplete, so it was hard to actually believe that the team came together so flawlessly. Outside of an argument over an unethical (it really was if you think of it) decision, there was no real tension of strangers who are flawed coming together. However, when the film took its time to slow down (I will assume those were the Whedon reshoots), it gave us a glimpse of what a fleshed out story could give us. Action-wise, it’s nothing new we haven’t seen from Snyder. I do have some problems with the CGI and some other things that will be discussed in a future spoiler-filled podcast.

Ben Affleck is probably on his way out of playing Batman, but I will say that he is a good Bruce Wayne and an above average Batman. He moves slow for the Dark Knight, but then again, he’s portraying a much older and seasoned character, so that could be the reason. What he nails a little is the strategist Batman who is a reluctant leader. Even with a team, he thinks about himself as a solo act, all the while pushing team members to discover themselves.

Gal Gadot is the showstopper once again. Her Wonder Woman is most definitely a beacon of light. She’s the first character in the DCEU that was nailed perfectly first time through. In this film we see her grow as a heroine and see how great she really is. There is one complaint I have…but I won’t spoil it here.

Ezra Miller is the bright humor that the DCEU has been lacking. Besides the flaws in CGI (when they slow down, his running looks very abnormal at times) Flash was well done. If you grew up watching Justice League the Animated Series, Miller personifies this version of Flash.

Jason Mamoa as Aquaman was just meh. In an attempt to make Aquaman look cool and badass, he surprisingly came out very flat. I really didn’t think he meshed well and when he was off-screen, I didn’t miss him.

Ray Fisher as Victor Stone/Cyborg was an interesting character. He and Flash were my two favorites (besides WW, of course), only because they showed the most growth. Even though mostly cybernetic, the human element in him shined and he grew to be the hero of the story.

Ciaran Hinds, as Steppenwolf, was your generic bad guy. Like almost all of Marvel’s villains, he is forgettable. We’ve actually seen him and his story arc before…in Guardians of the Galaxy baddy Ronan the Accuser. They are literally the same character bent on doing the same thing, albeit for different reasons.

As I said above, when Justice League slowed down and gave us meaningful moments, the theme of the film shined: basically, just get over it! It’s a bit harsh to say it like that, but it is a hard truth. We can’t avoid hurt and pain and loss in this world and in our lives. However, we can’t let those things control our present and future. In the midst of all the darkness, we have to search for that glimmer of light, grab it, and let our strength be renewed. Hope isn’t found in a person. It is an ever flowing river that can guide us to be better, do better, and love better. Love and Hope snuffs out darkness, and in the world we live in, Justice League does get that right.

Justice League is definitely better than the 40% rating the Tomatometer shows. I give it a 6/10. It could and should be epic, but it falls short in time, story, and villain but makes up for it in message and some of the characters.

Filed Under: Film, Reviews Tagged With: Aquaman, Batman, Cyborg, DC Comics, DCEU, Flash, Justice League, Superman, Wonder Woman

Justice League Trailer – Who is Alfred Talking To?

July 24, 2017 by Arnaldo Reyes 2 Comments

On the heels of another Comic-Con come and gone, one of the biggest trailers revealed was the trailer for Justice League. Hoping to keep the momentum of Wonder Woman, the trailer showed a ton of action and, of course, our first look at the villain, Steppenwolf. Still, truth be told, all the action made it look like everything they’ve released before and yet another road down Batman v Superman (with an added humor of the Flash).

The first thing worth noting is thehope that Wonder Woman will continue to be front and center and not cast off to the side among the boys club. With the addition of Joss Whedon to finish the film, hopefully his touch of strong female characters will shines through in this film.

However, as I watched the trailer again, I couldn’t help but start pondering as to who Alfred is talking to at the end. The obvious person is the much anticipated return of Superman. It’s no secret that he plays a pivotal role in the last arc of the film.  But, if that’s the case, why hint in a secretive way? Does Whedon think we haven’t figured out that Superman will be in it, or maybe it is someone else?

Here’s my theory:

The secret character is Green Lantern (which one we won’t find out till then) and the reason to keep him secret is simple, they messed up with him the first time around. The question you may ask is why do I think it is?

  1. Whedon made sure to include the Lanterns in the narration of Steppenwolf. “No Lanterns, no Kryptonian” I don’t believe it is a simple easter egg to promote the Lantern Corps movie they will be working on. This was done with a purpose.
  2. One of the biggest mistakes Snyder did with BvS is that he failed to make Batman the great detective that we know he is. His lack of knowledge on Clark and Krypton (in the comics, Batman would have figured that out on his own) leads us to believe that it doesn’t make sense that Batman would know that Superman would come back. Now he could have done some work, but the fact that the only other dead Kryptonian they had as evidence needed to be resurrected into some monster would leave us to believe that there is nothing in what Lex discovered about Kryptonians (Batman’s source to kryptonite) would have yielded him the information to know that Superman wasn’t dead.
  3. We know that Batman discovered and did is research on the upcoming threat from Darkseid and Apokolips. In that research, it is safe to assume that he came across information about the Lanterns as strong opponents to Darkseid’s forces. In that research, he may have also discovered of a recent dead alien and kept in a government research facility with a lantern symbol. Through this, he could find a way to send a message to Oa and alert the Lanterns of the danger coming to Earth.
  4. Lastly, the early promotions for Justice League was “Unite the Seven” and we only see five in the trailer. We know Superman is for sure number six….so who’s number seven? The obvious choice is a Lantern.

Obviously, this is just a theory, but it is one to make you think. Hopefully, the reveal remains hidden until the actual film comes out.

Here’s the trailer again, give it a look and let us know if you agree, disagree or what theories you may have?

Filed Under: Editorial, Film, News Tagged With: Aquaman, Batman, Cyborg, Flash, Green Lantern, Justice League, Superman, Wonder Woman

Batman v Superman – Dawn of Justice: This Film Has Daddy Issues

March 23, 2016 by Jacob Sahms 4 Comments

bvs3

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice has been hyped as the battle between the alien, godlike Superman and the human vigilante Batman. Chronologically, it serves as the second film in writer/director Zack Snyder’s reboot of Superman’s film history, which attempted to erase the Superman-has-a-kid mistake that was Brandon Routh’s Superman Returns. But while Dawn of Justice failed to deliver an epic, theater-rattling battle royale between the two, it served up more than its fair share of superhero noir and metaphysical questions about the world we live in.

Opening with the impact of Superman’s (Henry Cavill) battle with General Zod (Michael Shannon) that proved to be the climax of Man of Steel, the film reminded us (in IMAX 2D and Dolby surround) of the terrible implications of two humanoid aliens ripping each other apart. While we’re left shaking our heads at the unSuperman-like neck break that saved the tourist family, Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck) struggles to free a Wayne Enterprise employee (Scoot McNairy) from the debris and stares angrily at the Superman floating in the heavens. Of course, Wayne has already donned the cowl of the Dark Knight, but his methodology (and paranoia about Superman’s intentions) create an ideological rift about which Superman remains naive for another eighteen months.

Meanwhile, LexCorp head, Alexander Luthor (Jesse Eisenberg) provides the straw that stirs the drink. He’s the one pushing in the background for these two to finally do battle, having already scouted out the secrets behind Wayne and Superman’s Clark Kent. While comic geeks like me have watched various incarnations of Superman drag out the Kent/Lois Lane (Amy Adams) romance, Snyder’s version already sets her up as reporter extraordinaire (“I’m not a woman, I’m a reporter”), Clark’s girlfriend, and Superman’s damsel in distress.

bvs2I’ve read the reviews and heard the critics of the film – “too much Snyder action,” “too few plot points developed.” I’ll ask incredulously, as someone who has been critical of Snyder’s film (300 –overrated; Man of Steel– anachronistic to the canon), what in the world are they talking about?  While I came expecting to see two hours of the extensive two-and-a-half-hour run time devoted to skull crunching, nose-mashing action, I found myself pleasantly delighted by the new version of Batman’s back story in development (although I hated his bulky suit) and the hints, peeks, and foreshadowing directed at Wonder Woman/Diana Prince (Gal Gadot) and a host of other heroes and villains.

The story of the new triumvirate, spun here as Superman, Batman, and Lex (sorry, Gal, it wasn’t equal billing for Wonder Woman), was soaked in theological underpinnings – and struggle. This in itself confronts another critic complaint about the film – “it’s not funny enough.” Let’s be clear, neither Batman (with apologies to the hokey Adam West) or Superman (how many witty one-liners can you find in Donner’s films or the works of Siegel and Shuster) have much “funny” to them, in fact, you can go count up the examples… I’ll wait. While Marvel has a handle on the mostly upbeat superhero motif, DC aims here for something different.

bvspainting

Instead of the hip quips from the smarmy mouth of Tony Stark AKA Robert Downey Jr., Snyder focuses on “showing us” versus “telling us.” Yes, there’s a voiceover from Wayne about what the destruction of the world looks like – and Lex’s fascination with a painting that was passed down from his father (above, background). He goes on and on about how mankind has long thought that evil came from below (hell) but he has recognized that evil comes from above (heavens) in his own twisted take on theology.

But Lex also introduces the problem of evil, the discussion of theodicy. Lex believes that a god cannot be both all powerful and good, because he believes power corrupts (John Dalberg-Acton, for you history scholars). This highlights Lex’s own Machiavellian beliefs, his own maniacal talents, and quite a bit of transference on what Superman (and Batman) are like. [More on that later.]

It’s enough that Batman’s vigilanteism and Superman’s straightforward “farm boy” ideals are at odds, but to have Lex manipulate them closer toward confrontation, that shows the grayscale world that we live in. Is Batman wrong to brand the criminals he catches with the bat? Is Superman right in his worldwide ‘justice is served’ decision-making? Does the government have a right to police either or both (hello, Captain America: Civil War)? Ironically, all three of these men believe they’re doing what’s right, even while their ideology separates them… or draws them together.

Thankfully, the film makes us believe that there are more questions than answers left, setting up more to come – and plenty of discussion. So, with that, I will close this first portion of my review. Simply put, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is deeper than the casual fans will expect from a comic book-inspired film. It’s done with more of a Mad Max: Fury Road vibe, with a focus on visuals over words, and filled with enough hints to keep the serious fan engaged.

bvsalfred

This Film Has Daddy Issues (Minor Spoilers)

Bruce intones about putting our thoughts and beliefs on something else, and yet, he’s really highlighting how each of the focal three men has daddy issues. Bruce Wayne, who watches his parents die at the hands of Joe Chill, believes the world is about the good and the evil but that people are primarily evil; he thinks that the evil must be destroyed through fear and violence. Clark, who watches his father (Kevin Costner) die heroically, believes the world is good and that it is his responsibility to use his power to fight for good and model it for others. Lex, whose father abused him and gave him the misguided view of reality, sees power as the only way to get what he wants – regardless of the cost to others in life or otherwise.

While Clark still “talks” to his father, in a Snyder variation on the Kryptonite crystals that allow him to speak to Jor-El, Bruce has only the nightmares that provide a look back at his parents’ murderous end — and a strange, apocalyptic future. Lex, well, Lex, doesn’t even have the mental ability to string a paragraph’s worth of sentences together because he gets lost in his own head. He doesn’t know another way than to capture, control, or destroy.

When it comes to the issues of the men and their fathers, I found both Alfred (Jeremy Irons) and Perry White (Lawrence Fishburne) to be underplayed. While in some instances, these two provide moral influences for our two heroes, they are sadly underused. Instead, the balance of the moral integrity and spiritual understanding comes from the women in Clark’s life. Honestly, I walked out of the theater seeing Amy Adams as the spiritual linchpin of the film, reminding Clark of why he was Superman – and urging him to realize that is purpose was ‘divine.’ [On the other hand, Diane Lane’s Martha Kent plays the mother Mary, urging Clark to make the decision that is best for him, stretching the difference between the human and the divine even further.]

What we see in the tug-of-war over Superman is the same thing that Snyder would say about his art: art and the individual are their own, but we (the audience/media/society) try to make them in our image. It’s not unlike the way that Jesus was received by the masses, as a “messiah” who would overthrow Rome, or as any culture making idols to represent a higher power. Ultimately, Superman is who he is with no apology – even at a price.

bvsww

If you didn’t know Wonder Woman was in the film, than you apparently didn’t watch the trailer or see any promotional information. As a huge fan of Lynda Carter’s Wonder Woman, I doubted Gal Gadot’s ability to pull of her role. The Israeli actress pulled off her position with gravitas – and subtle humor and sexuality that made the scenes ripple with electricity and promise for what will come.

And now, for the third act…

The Making of Legends (Major Spoilers & Easter Eggs)

bvsjoker

First, there’s the death of Robin, or at least the absence of the character in the older, more established Bruce Wayne/Batman’s state as played by Affleck. While there has been some buzz about the gravestone of Richard Grayson in the background of the cemetery scene, we know that Dick Grayson AKA (first) Robin AKA Nightwing would not have been a contemporary of Martha and Thomas Wayne, Bruce’s parents. So the relationship would have been different than that of dead circus performers and their adoptive son. [Snyder’s toying with the known canon includes changing the theater marquee backlighting the Waynes’ murder from The Mark of Zorro to Excalibur… for no apparent reason.] Instead, the suit in the Batcave covered by Joker’s graffiti would refer to the second Robin, Jason Todd. But is the continuity of Suicide Squad going to allow us a prequel with Jared Leto’s Joker versus Affleck’s Batman, given Affleck’s one-liner about having faced jokers in suits before?

bvsdoomsday

Lex’s mashup of Zod and Doomsday is … creative. In much the same way that Marvel is using Bucky’s Winter Soldier as the precipitation for Civil War instead of some rogue C-level superheroes as in the comics, Snyder allows Lex to create Doomsday out of Zod’s DNA in a Lazarus pool-esque ‘resurrection.’ This allows for the entrance of other … resurrections… but also makes for a singular sacrifice of Superman that echoes Iron Man’s in Avengers and Superman’s… everywhere. This also sets up the ending that no casual fan will see coming — ripped straight from Dan Jurgens’ 1982 storyline where the impossibly powerful, godlike Superman actually dies.

While Man of Steel (and even Superman Returns) seemed intent on ripping the Christ-like imagery out of the modern day Superman, from making him kill Zod to portraying him (unfairly) as an absentee father, Dawn of Justice shows his sacrificial love, with a twist. Instead of dying for the world, Superman tells Lois that she’s his world, making his salvation act one that is personal, not communal. It’s heroic, but it’s not ‘for everyone.’ Somehow, Lex has caused Superman to re-see the world in a more jaded, cynical way, even as Superman’s act opens up Batman/Bruce Wayne to see the need for heroes.

In the end, Superman’s death is portrayed a la pietà, as Batman hands down the broken body of Jesus, er, Superman to the arms of Mary AKA Lois. Wonder Woman looks on, forming a sort of holy trinity of sorts, with a cross superimposed in the background. In the same scene where the monolithic statue of Superman, celebrated for defeating Zod, is destroyed, Superman is himself destroyed in the shadow of a cross. How’s that for establishing some metaphorical crossover?

bvslast

Speaking of crossovers… rather than adapting Batman as the devious and conniving creator of the superhero files (see Mark Waid’s JLA: Tower of Babel story arc), Snyder’s major plot point has Prince stealing a file that Batman will later decrypt. This reveals the first footage of would-be Justice Leaguers like Aquaman (Jason Momoa), Cyborg (Ray Fisher), and The Flash (Ezra Miller), prepping us for 2017 – and a fight with … Darkseid?

With the foreboding dreams, the flying winged minions, and the imprinted symbol in the remains of Gotham, we don’t even need Lex to cackle, “He’s coming!” We know he is, like we know winter is coming, or like Bruce has that itch in his gut that warns him heroes are needed, or that … again, Marvel will beat DC to the punch by unveiling Marvel’s Darkseid doppleganger, Apocalypse, in May.

The truth is, while Marvel has the X-men to battle graphic evil, they leave the witty, sometimes benign villains to the Avengers. Thankfully, while Darkseid believes himself to be god, Dawn of Justice leaves us reveling in the fact that heroes live sacrificially and inspire others. Better yet, this Holy Week, we realize that the truly holy can’t be held down, that no grave can hold them.

Christ figures rise.

bvsdarkseid

 

Filed Under: Current Events, Editorial, Featured, Film, Reviews Tagged With: Alfred, Aquaman, Batman, Ben Affleck, Christ, Cyborg, Darkseid, Ezra Miller, Gal Gadot, Henry Cavill, Jason Momoa, Jeremy Irons, Lex Luthor, Ray Fisher, Superman, The Flash, Wonder Woman, Zack Snyder

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