Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice - Ultimate edition - Were they able to improve on the original?

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The greatest lie ever told: power can be innocent. - Lex Luthor

Before sitting down to experience three hours of screen time...
The original received a lukewarm reception by critics, but audiences came out to see the battle between the DC Comics icons. How will the re-mix on the Ultimate Edition fare? Will it improve or cause more confusion for this production? 

 This review will incorporate some of the content from the original review on 22 March, 2016.

Overall Rating: 3.5 stars
Original rating: 3 stars   

     Original Summary: Rising from the aftermath of the battle between General Zod and Superman (Henry Cavill) in the finale of Man of Steel, Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck) determines that Superman does more to harm society than help. Batman's alter ego wants Superman to be put into check for his future actions. This head of industry determines that the only way to hold the caped crusader accountable is to put on his own mask and the find the means to fight him. In the process of getting the necessary information to prepare for this battle of the titans, Bruce comes across Diana Prince (Gal Gadot). An intriguing woman of means who is involved in recent city events, but the billionaire playboy fails to determine her actual  intentions. Is she working with him or against him in the process of gathering intelligence? 
        While all of the heroic players are distracted by each other, Lex Luthor (Jesse Eisenberg) is planning for the demise of the caped crusader and anyone else who gets in the way of Lexcorp's purposes. In a masterful game of manipulation, Luthor becomes the catalyst for the battle between these modern day gladiators. A fight that starts as the ultimate death match, but leads the two warriors to the realisation that they must work together to defeat a new nemesis from the past. 
         The reviews were tepid for director Zach Snyder's (The Watchmen) battle of these heroes of the graphic novel universe. The Ultimate Edition contains an additional 30 minutes of footage and promises to rectify many of the issues with the theatrical release. 

 With the hype behind this edition on DVD, the question has to be can Zach Snyder's convoluted storyline be redeemed?  

What should be remembered from the original edition? 
  • Ben Affleck as Batman
  • Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman
  • Ben Affleck and Henry Cavill did decent work with the dialogue that they are given
  • The introduction of the Justice League characters, especially the Wonder Woman character who is under utilised in the both editions.
Difficulties with the original film? 
  • Unnecessary inclusion of Batman backstory
  • Too much story focused on Batman and less on Superman
  • Slow tempo for an action film
  • The Doomsday sequence
  • Disjointed editing
  • Batman dream sequences
  • Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor 

What does the Ultimate Edition fix from the original edition?    
  • Superman is more Superman-like - His storyline is developed to explain his underlying need to bring Batman to justice
  • Jesse Eisenberg's character is given more room to breathe and develop his interpretation of Lex Luthor. It is more reminiscent of The Joker, but he does prove to be a worthy adversary for both superheroes. 
  • The battle in the desert and the rescue of Lois Lane makes more sense and helps to explain the reason for the trials on Capital Hill. 
  • Superman's compassion at the Capital Hill explosion adds to his travails, but makes his character more sympathetic.
  • The overall editing makes the fluidity of the script and narrative work on screen. 
What issues remain for Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice - Ultimate Edition?
  • The overall tone is still exceptionally dark
  • Adding 30 minutes to a particularly long film does not motivate audiences to sit and watch the whole film again
  • The inclusion of the Doomsday segment still detracts from the film 
  • The need for more Wonder Woman
  • The dream sequences for Bruce Wayne were unnecessary
  • Those who were dissatisfied with Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor will not be given any relief      
REEL DIALOGUE: Did the Ultimate Edition redeem this battle of the titans?

       To answer the question of the value of this edition. For the faithful DC fans, it will be rewarding. The storyline was more fluid and key elements helped to clarify the original plot holes. For those who are engaging with this film for the first time on DVD, it is a better experience than to watch the theatrical release. The challenge is the marathon session of this caped crusader clash. For the devoted fans, this version was better than the original, but just barely lifts it above the realm of mediocrity. 

The passage read during the funeral at the end of the film was Hosea 13:3 - Therefore they will be like the morning mist, like the early dew that disappears, like chaff swirling from a threshing floor, like smoke escaping through a window. 

This passages reference to vapours, chaff and smoke provides an ironic ending to this film. Illusions to something that is memorable for a moment and then gone in an instant. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice - continues to be a film that is seen now and forgotten tomorrow.
Written by Russell Matthews based on a five star rating system @ Russelling Reviews #russellingreviews #batmanvsuperman

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