Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice- POST COMIC CON THOUGHTS

Devils Don't Come From Hell Beneath Us...

They come from False Hope.

And I hope for the life of me that Batman V Superman doesn't disappoint.
Many people have expected failure from the outset- certain Anti-Zack Snyder-ites (A phrase I've literally just made up) hated Man of Steel greatly and thus didn't want a sequel of any sorts.

It's undeniable that DC is lacking in the races right now. It's that horse with the gammy leg struggling at the back of the line. That metaphorical gammy leg being the negative attitudes toward Man of Steel (which I don't think is that bad a film by the way). But like all underdogs (or under-horses); DC has its strengths. Namely Christopher Nolan's beautiful Dark Knight Trilogy.
Marvel has stormed ahead in the Comic Book Movie Race and it appears unbeatable. They're churning out two blockbusters a year and none of them miss the mark too much (they're all great or good or in-between). No one can beat Marvel now- its too late lets be honest: But what if they can be equalled?
DC set their phasers to stun on Comic Con week with a panel featuring Dawn of Justice's three minute long official trailer, paired with footage from Suicide Squad.
Dawn of Justice has had questionable moments in its production. For instance- the very first casting announcement of Ben Affleck as Batman caused an internet stir but two years ago. I think we can all agree now that he was a good choice- as seen in the trailer he has the cruel and calculating look of the comic book Knight. Next was the inclusion of Wonder Woman, Aqua Man and Cyborg- leading many to believe this movie was rushing the building of the Justice League in order to catch up with Marvel (who are already nearing a third outing of their Avengers).
The final controversy I shall refer to later (Here's looking at you Zombieland)

So what did the Dawn of Justice Trailer at Comic Con do?

It concluded suspicions and raised all new ones. As any good trailer should do.
It's no where near as beautifully minimalist and magical as the latest Star Wars The Force Awakens Trailer but it does have pros that in my opinion outweigh cons.

Here's my list of 6 notable features from the trailer:

6) Bruce Wayne has a motive

For every big throw down in history there needs to be a good motive behind it. Otherwise what's the point? Rocky 4 gave us a reason to want that Russian sun' bitch get clobbered after the death of Apollo Creed. There was a motive for the big fight. Marvel's Civil War will see Cap and Iron Man on two sides of politics and important themes of security- forcing them into a heated team on team battle in 2016. There's a motive for the fight.
Alien V Predator- Alien... kinda pissed of Predator and then they had a fight for 90 minutes.
There needs to be a motive for an audience to invest in the fight.
What we see in the new trailer is that Bruce Wayne is angry at Supes for a reason.
We see him in Metropolis during the climax of 2013's Man of Steel - shot for shot inserted into the ground zero chaos of Zod's City wide destruction. Not only did one of his expensive satellites get taken down- but a whole tower falls right next to him. Bruce has lost a lot of staff and a lot of business. All because of a powerful alien invader squabbling with his Dad's old mate.
Basically- Bruce wants to rid the world of this threat- a worrying superior being who in Bruce's mind is responsible for many deaths already and many more yet to come.
We can rest assured when the Dark Knight and the Man of Steel have their big showdown next year. It ain't no break dance. This is a passionate, brutal and testing battle.

5) Jesse Eisenberg is... Lex Luthor?

Here's that other controversy I mentioned. Jesse Eisenberg as Lex.
I was one of many who personally wanted to see Breaking Bad's Bryan Cranston regain that shaven head in order to play Superman's more mature, scary and smart arch nemesis Lex Luthor.
Joaquin Phoenix was rumoured to have bagged the role early last year and I saw that decision as a good one. He had the experience in acting that was required and I imagined that he could pull of bald without looking silly.
Then they announced this guy. The kid from Zombieland and the Social Network.
I, with many, was not pleased.
But I keep an open mind. People slammed Heath Ledger for his casting of Joker and yet he is now the greatest cinematic villain and arguably the greatest cinematic performance of all time. Even 1989's Batman Michael Keaton was met with great uproar upon casting (The guy from beetlejuice as Batman?) and he was great in the role.
I therefore will not completely disregard Eisenberg as Lex.
However- when you see him in the trailer that is not Lex Luthor. Yeah he has money- the company name, the kryptonite, the unconvincing wig. But this is no Gene Hackman. This isn't even a Kevin Spacey. He looks and sounds like many would have guessed- Jesse Eisenberg trying to be Lex Luthor. Heck for all I know he could end up being the next Ledger but I don't think that's likely. I just hope when the wig is off and the big baldie comes face to face with our heroes;  he holds his own.

4) Wonder Woman is Badass

Gal Gadot was a questionable casting choice. However from recent stills, the posters, the statements- its become apparent that Wonder Woman will not disappoint. In this trailer we finally see her in action- seemingly part of the fight between Gotham's Guardian and Metropolis' Man of Steel.
She undoubtedly looks the part. For her brief screen time we can see that she has captured the look well. However there's no dialogue from her in the trailer so for all we know she could talk like Uma Thurman in Batman and Robin- all melodrama and over expression. I doubt it but its still a possibility.
I have no fears with Wonder Woman. She kicks ass from the looks of it.

3) Batman is Batman

Affleck is the Batman everyones been waiting for.
People complained Keaton wasn't playboy Bruce Wayne enough. Val Kilmer wound up in the wrong movie playing a good Bruce. George Clooney never played Batman okay don't say those things.
Even Christian Bale had complaints. While he was in the best batman movies- he had that raspy ass voice, the magical robo knee brace etc. I liked him.
Ben Affleck should settle all complaints. He's Bruce Wayne (he looks the part- being heroic even without the cape and cowl as he dashes through the ruins of metropolis). And my God is he Batman. The suit is beautiful (Taking that classic grey and black of the comics, Arkham Games and toys and bringing it to life on screen). The big armour for the fight takes its cues straight out of Frank Miller's Dark Knight Returns.
I must also say the visual style Zack Snyder has brought to this film is undeniably going to excite- there will be visual homages to many great comic storylines. Such as the trailers brief recreation of a muscly Batman flying through the air as lightning strikes (the front cover of Dark Knight Returns first issue).
Batman looks like Batman. I think they've finally covered all the areas.

2) There's Secrets left for the Cinema

While many things have been shown to us its good to know that the majority of the film is unspoiled and mysterious still. Good. I can't wait to see it at the cinema and I know there will be so many geek out moments they've kept from us the whole time.

1) Red Hood is that you?

A blink and you'll miss it moment in the trailer is the presence of a used and displayed Robin suit bearing the graffiti of Jared Leto's Joker.
Undoubtedly a reference to Jason Todd- the ill fated second incarnation of Robin who died at the hands of the Joker in the late 1980s. Todd is now known for resurfacing in the comics as Batman's ally Red Hood (having been resurrected by Lazarus Pit). Todd is yet to appear on film despite appearing across all other manners of Batman media. The suit looks burned or tainted in some way and the graffiti is a taunt from the clown prince of crime himself.
This to me means that the Red Hood storyline is coming onto the big screen. A newspaper seen early in the trailer tells Bruce Wayne he let his family die- written in red (not by joker but perhaps by The Red Hood?)
We will have to wait and see but I for one am greatly excited!


So Batman V Superman comes out in March. You can see the trailers online
Comment below and tell me what your thoughts are on the whole thing
And take part in my Poll too on the reactions to the trailer,

- Elliott Griffiths