Return of the Justice League

Unpopular opinion - Zack Snyder's Just League is not a masterpiece. It is a bloated, pretentious film that manages to be both personal and impersonal at the same time. It fixes a lot of issues from Whedon's cut but suffers from a lot of the same issues as that version. And frankly, there are parts of Whedon's version that are just plain better.

Full Disclosure - I don't really like Zack Snyder's comic book movies. I think that he completely misunderstood the point of Watchmen. I'm not a fan of his interpretations of Superman or Batman. I find that he's a director that doesn't know how to edit himself, and doesn't have any subtlety in his work at all. He puts up great visuals (if a bit drab and gray) but I find an emotional disconnect in ALL his films. That being said, I don't like Joss Whedon's work either. I was never a fan of Buffy, Angel, Firefly or Age of Ultron. I find that his dialogue is often too smug and sarcastic, his characters pretty much all having the same sense of humor. That's not even getting into all the recent allegations of abusive behavior surrounding him. The point is, I don't have a proverbial dog in this fight. As such, I'm coming at this with as much objectivity as possible.

For those that have been living under a rock for the last 4 years, let me recap how we got to this point. In 2017, Zack Snyder stepped down as director of Justice League due to a personal family tragedy. Whedon was brought in to finish the film. It had already been widely publicized that Snyder was having difficulty with the higher ups at the WB having his multi-film plan cut down from Justice League and 2 sequels to just 2 movies, and then the 2nd film even being in question. Whedon was tasked to whittle the film down to a 2 hour run time. The movie was released to much...derision. In my previous review, I commended the film for the characterizations but had issues with the pacing feeling rushed and the forgettable score by Danny Elfman. Since that release, there had been tremendous "fan" outcry for the release of the Snyder Cut, fueled by Snyder's insistence on leaking pictures from his production. Finally, the powers-that-be at HBO Max agreed to front the 70 million necessary to complete the film and release it as a 4 hour event. Which brings us to now.

After watching the Snyder Cut, I immediately watched the Whedon version again, having not seen it since its release. I wanted a fresh perspective on it to comment on the difference and the similarities. So what did I think?

The Plot - the two films share the same plot. Big Baddie Steppenwolf is after 3 macguffins, er...Mother Boxes to basically destroy the planet. It's up to Batman to recruit a ragtag group of heroes to stop him. On the way, they figure out they need Superman but...problem...he died in Batman v Superman (sorry for the spoilers). So they break into a military facility, bring him back to life, fight him because he's confused, and then head off to fight Steppenwolf.

While the two movies share the exact same plot, they couldn't be more different from each other. What works and doesn't in each? Since I've already reviewed the Whedon cut, I will focus on Snyder's with additions at the end of what I preferred in each.

What Worked 

1. Cyborg - Snyder touted him as the heart of his film and I can indeed see that. His full origin is on display here and his relationship with his father is fleshed out well.

2. Room to breathe - because of the 4 hour run time, the movie doesn't have to rush from one set piece to another. You have the opportunity to focus on other parts of the characters' lives.

3. Cameos - there are lots of Easter Eggs for fans. Ryan Choi? Iris? Joker? All here in small cameos

4. The Amazons - they really pull off a badass warrior vibe before their confrontation with Steppenwolf. They show no fear and move like the warriors they are.

What Didn't Work

1. Pacing - remember what I said about room to breathe? While it IS nice to not be rushed, by the same token, this movie drags in a lot of places. There are multiple parts that feel like it needed to be tightened up to make the movie move better. As it is, it feels like a very uneven film. Did we really need a minute of Northern European women chanting and then one sniffing Aquaman's sweater?

2. Cameos - while I like the Easter Eggs alright, most of them really add nothing to the plot. Ryan Choi is great to see for Atom fans but his character has very little bearing on the plot of the film. Scenes he is in are superfluous. Same as Iris. It's nice to have Barry meet Iris but the scene really belongs in a Flash origin film, not some afterthought in a Justice League movie.

3. The Score - I thought I was disappointed by Elfman's score for Whedon's version. I apparently did not know disappointment. Junkie XL's score is generic and forgettable. Which is too bad. After his work with Zimmer in Batman v Superman (one of the few highlights in that craptastic film), I was wondering how he would be on his own. Generic. That's how.

4. Music Cues - Snyder's choice of music was terrible. Maybe not as bad as "Hallelujah playing during a sex scene" terrible but pretty high up there. The 2 Nick Cave songs are so unbelievably on the nose with what's happening on screen that it almost seems like parody. And the wail of a female solo voice any time there is an Amazon onscreen becomes laughable after the 5th time you hear it.

Problems with Both Versions

1. Flash is too much of a spaz. From his odd running style to his extreme awkwardness, Miller's Barry Allen sticks out like a sore thumb. Sure, Whedon gives him a few more stupid things like the faceplant into Wonder Woman's boobs, but plenty of the problems come from the Snyder version.

2. Superman is the trump card and basically makes all the other heroes look ineffectual. It's obvious that they have NO chance whatsoever with Steppenwolf and that only Superman can really make the difference. The problem is that it really runs counter to the message that by working together they are greater than they are separate. Yes, Flash ends up saving the day by time traveling and Cyborg is needed to split the Mother Boxes, but without Superman, none of that would have even happened at all.

3. The plot makes no sense - both versions run on the idea that the Mother Boxes are awoken with Superman's death and calling to Steppenwolf. But they have laid hidden for thousands of years. You're telling me that at no point would the Mother Boxes have woken up if Kal had never died? So if Superman had never landed on Earth, they would have stayed asleep forever? I get that Silas waking up the box to reconstruct Victor into Cyborg woke the box up and then it went right back to sleep. How did Steppenwolf find Earth so quickly and then plan out Superman's death while being completely oblivious to all the other heroes that are apparently on Earth?

What I prefer in Whedon's take

1. The Batman - an occasional stupid line notwithstanding (quipping about bleeding after Superman batters him around and asks him, "Do you bleed?" calling back to Batman v Superman) Batman has some really great scenes. He's more of a detective in this one, actively trying to learn about the the Mother Box, the Parademons and trying to find a way to distract/hurt them. He also has quite a few really great scenes with Alfred, really exploring much more why he's so focused on getting these heroes and bringing Superman back to life. Where in Snyder's version, Bruce basically sees Superman as the ultimate weapon to use against Steppenwolf (this cape charges back!) in Whedon's, he admits that Superman is much more human than Batman ever was. He understands that the team and the world need Superman because he represents the best in all of us.

2. The relationships between characters - continuing with Batman, Whedon pairs him up with The Flash as kind of a mentor. Before the tunnel fight, The Flash admits that he's never actually been in a superhero fight, let alone a battle, and that he's scared. Batman just tells him to focus on saving 1 hostage and he'll know what to do after that. This really shows Bruce's commitment to helping Barry embrace the hero inside him. Great stuff. And it doesn't end there. Wonder Woman ends up becoming Cyborg's mentor. She's constantly checking on him to see how he's doing with everything. It gives great reason why Cyborg comes around to becoming part of the team. And their scenes show a lot of warmth that are simply missing from Snyder's version. There is also a better character arc for Diana. This movie basically takes up from BvS where Diana has been in hiding since the first World War, helping people here and there but not being in the limelight. This movie explores her feelings of not wanting to be responsible for leading people into battle, knowing that they may not survive, echoing the pain she felt when she lost Steve Trevor. Bruce really pushes her (definitely crossing the line in one scene) and she grows as a result of this. It's this conflict and working through things that Whedon seems to do well. And it's not all big confrontation scenes. There is a heartfelt moment in the graveyard where Barry and Victor figure out they're both the "accidents" the ones that weren't born into their roles and didn't choose them. I'd take that over Barry wondering if Wonder Woman would date a younger guy. This, more than anything makes the characters more human and you understand WHY they start to gel as a team whereas Snyder's take just kind of takes it for granted.

3. Showing the impact on humanity in the final battle - In Snyder's version, Steppenwolf holes up in an abandoned tower near Chernobyl and everything is deserted for miles around. Whedon chooses to have people settled in the area that need to be evacuated. Now, I think that Whedon went too far in showcasing the specific terror of one Russian family which was overly melodramatic. That being said, having Superman and Flash go out to help evacuate the settlers is a great idea. It shows the human element, the reason they are saving the world. The best disaster films are the ones where the cost of human lives is palpable. In Snyder's version, the world is oblivious to what is going on besides the fact that some people had been kidnapped and there were sightings of Parademons. But the rest of the world is pretty much kept in the dark.

And I think that's really the biggest issue I have with Snyder's version and why I said his Justice League is both personal and impersonal. The story of Cyborg and his relationship with his father is definitely expounded upon, providing the "heart" of the film.  But I find that everyone else in the movie lacks any character substance. There is barely any interpersonal conflict. Even when they are talking around the table about resurrecting Superman, they look at it from a logical and strategic point of view, with Aquaman really being the only one who has any reservations. It seems like they are merely dropping exposition and fulfilling a plot point. Whedon's version hones in on the relationships and creates perfectly understandable conflicts. You can literally see Cyborg beginning to get closer to both Flash and Wonder Woman, showing him regain his humanity. Yes, his line about feeling his toes hurt after the big climax is lame but the lines immediately preceding? Where Superman says that he hopes their plan works because he kind of likes being alive and Cyborg responding with "So do I"? It really nails the emotion and the sheer joy of being alive.

In Conclusion

I want to make absolutely clear that I don't think either film is perfect. The basic plot is problematic. Snyder really doesn't know how to edit himself down and his story doesn't flow. It's more of a series of vignettes that eventually concludes. And, as is his "style", he overuses slow motion which already makes a long movie feel even longer. Whedeon is subject to his own excesses as well. He can't help but make remarks using pop culture (Barry's comparison of Superman's resurrection to Pet Sematary), bad one liners (the aforementioned toes line, "I'm a big fan of Justice"), out of place comedy (Flash's pratfall into Wonder Woman's boobs). In the end, I feel like there is a great movie somewhere in here that combines the two. Cut out all the unnecessary slo-mo and extraneous characters of Snyder's version, keep the characterizations of  Cyborg and Steppenwolf, and throw in the character moments I've outlined above from Whedon's version. Get it down to about 3 hours or so. Boom. Great film. 

Justice League Review

I think I've made it abundantly clear that I don't like Zack Snyder as a director. Man of Steel and Batman v Superman are two movies with so much potential but executed poorly. So I was already wary of Justice League. The only thing that gave me hope was that Joss Whedon took over directing duties for reshoots. That's an odd thing to say because I don't like Whedon either, with his first Avengers movie the only piece of his that I actually like even if he did mess up royally in Age of Ultron. Needless to say, I was NOT hyped for Justice League. So how was it? Read on to find out. I will try to keep this review spoiler-free.

The Plot
The big baddie Steppenwolf is on Earth searching for the Maguffins in this movie: 3 Mother Boxes. They are boxes of immense power that can destroy the planet. It is up to Batman to gather the most powerful heroes on the planet to defend it from certain destruction.

What Worked
1. The characters - the cast clearly had a lot of chemistry and they had a lot of fun bouncing off each other. It didn't matter which characters were paired up, everyone played well with each other.
2. The heroes actually act like themselves (for the most part). You had Wonder Woman being strong yet motherly and caring. You had Flash providing comic relief. You had Batman being calculated and planning ahead. And Aquaman being surly. And they actually save people which was refreshing after MoS and BvS. The tone as a whole was lighter and hopeful in this movie which was also a welcome change.
3. Classic themes - it was awesome to hear the classic Superman and Batman themes alongside Wonder Woman's new theme. They are very iconic and helps create a mythic quality to each character.

What Didn't Work
1. The pacing - it was obvious that the movie was cut down dramatically. The team gels together too quickly without any real conflict. There was a lot of missed potential here.
2. The villain - Steppenwolf is already a D level villain in the comics. This is made worse in this film by having him fully CGI motion capture. The problem is that the CGI is awful and does not match the vocal performance of Ciaran Hinds, which is really too bad because it could have been great.
3. The music - I know I said that the classic themes worked which they did. It's the rest of the score that didn't. It was forgettable and certainly did not live up to Elfman's Batman work. Hell, it didn't even live up to his Spider-Man work. It was generic and forgettable save for the classic themes.

In Conclusion
I liked the movie well enough. It was exponentially better than either Man of Steel or Batman v Superman. I also liked it more than Thor Ragnarok and Spider-man Homecoming. But it was nowhere near as good as Wonder Woman, Winter Soldier or the first Avengers movie. It had many problems but the performances and chemistry of the actors made up for the shortcomings. In the end, it hyped me up to see more of the DCEU. I just wish that this movie's characters and tone were the first DCEU film and not the fourth. Then they might have been able to give Marvel a run for their money.

Rogue One Standing By

You should know that I'm a big Star Wars fan. Big enough to wax intellectual about the films but not enough to have blind love for any of the films, i.e. thinking they are above criticism. There are parts I like and parts I really don't and a whole world in between. So what did I think of Rogue One?  Read on.

The Plot
TV's Hannibal Lecter is one of the scientists who designed and built the Death Star. Yes. The first one from A New Hope. He's pretty much doing it as a prisoner to the Empire and to protect his daughter who has been hidden away somewhere he doesn't even know. When he sends a message to her informing her that he built a weakness into the Death Star, her ragtag group must launch a rescue mission and later a heist to steal the plans. Yes. Those plans that Leia smuggled out in Artoo. Will they succeed?
Well we all know that do. But how is it done? Aye, there's the story.

What Worked
1. K-2SO - the new droid is hilarious providing much of the comic relief in the film. And not in a Jar Jar way. More of a cross between Threepio and Han Solo's dry sardonic humor.
2. Donnie Yen - I'll be honest in that the thing that excited me the most when I first heard of this film was that Yen was going to be in it. And he didn't let me down. He was the insight into the Force for this film.
3. Easter Eggs - the film is filled with cameos and links to the original trilogy, A New Hope in particular. It's fun catching all of the fan service in the film.

What Didn't Work
1. The pacing/editing - the first and second act are so full of exposition that any momentum established in the film grinds to a halt. I've heard people comparing this film to war. And if that means long stretches of boredom broken by small bursts of excitement, then I suppose the comparison is apropos.
2. The music - Star Wars is known for its music. It's just as much a character in the film as any Skywalker. And I'm normally a huge fan of Michael Giacchino. But his score was simply forgettable. He does his best to ape the sound and instrumentation of John Williams with none of the playfulness or melodrama that makes Williams' themes so memorable. The only times his own sound came out was during the action scenes, when it was much more percussive. I wish he had gone more with his piano sound to deliver the emotional moments rather than strings, which is what Williams does. Just blah all around.
3. The CGI - it was maddening. There were some really good CGI, and then there were some awful uses. There are characters that appear in the film that are in the original A New Hope and they are done with CGI. Just not good CGI. And it's odd because it's not like every character from ANH are treated this way. There are a few that are played by new actors and then there are a couple that are CGI. Why?
4. The Writing- the characters are likeable enough as written, just very poorly developed. Motivations are sloppy and characters change at the drop of a hat. There are long instances of monologues that really mess up the pacing. And then there are a couple lines that might have sounded cool in the writer's room but are awful when performed (Vader's pun). Sure, the dialogue may not be "I hate sand" bad, but it's pretty bad in parts.

In Conclusion
I really wanted to love the film. I really did. There were just too many issues that made it impossible. As it is, I liked the movie. Definitely more than Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones but not as much as any film in the original trilogy. It probably ranks up there with Revenge of the Sith, maybe slightly lower. If you love Star Wars, you definitely need to see this film at least for the third act which is action packed and full of drama. It almost makes the rest of the film worth it. Almost.

Good to be Bad: Suicide Squad Review

So...Suicide Squad.  When the cast was announced, I was excited. After the first trailer, my excitement peaked. As a big fan of the Joker, I was approaching this film with trepidation as Jared Leto had some big shoes to fill following Heath Ledger and Jack Nicholson. And after the disappointing Batman V Superman and the bad critic reviews of this film, my excitement had cooled. So how was it? Read on, true believer. I try to keep the review as spoiler-free as possible.

The Plot
If you've seen the trailers, you know the basic gist. The government puts together a team of the worst villains to take down an even bigger threat. The team is  completely expendable and the leash holders have maximum deniability. The fate of the world rests on the shoulders of thieves and killers. What could possibly go wrong?

What Worked
1. Will Smith - No. Seriously. This is the best I've seen Smith in a long time. His character is layered and nuanced. Yes he's a stone cold killer but you also relate to him and his relationship with his daughter. He also has one of the best action scenes in the film. Smith does for Deadshot what Chris Pratt did for Star-Lord. He may not play the character exactly like the one from the comics but he infuses his natural character into it and makes something better.
2. Margot Robbie - when she was announced as Harley Quinn, I knew the character was in good hands. And she did not disappoint. She's batshit insane, sexy, sad, and playful, sometimes all at once. I could watch a movie with her and Deadshot as the leads and be perfectly happy.
3. Jay Hernandez - El Diablo is a pretty forgettable character and the way he was written could easily have gotten melodramatic fast. But Hernandez is the heart of the film, infusing the role with melancholy and regret.
4. The Music - not since Guardians of the Galaxy have I walked out of a movie and immediately wanted to buy the soundtrack. The pop songs are all well chosen and go with each scene perfectly, even though they're all different genres and from different time periods. Great work.
5. Jared Leto - I know that Leto's performance is a point of contention for a lot of critics but I think it's unfair criticism. Leto's Joker, unlike Ledger and Nicholson, is not a main character. He's basically an extended cameo. He doesn't get a story arc and not a lot of scenes to explore him as a character. Which is a shame, really as what's there is ridiculously good. In every scene he's like a coiled snake ready to strike. But you don't know if he's going to kill you or kiss you. This is actually the first Joker I've seen that I could completely believe would shoot Barbara Gordon in the spine and torture Jim Gordon. I can't wait to see him as a main villain.

What Didn't Work
1. The Plot - as you can see above, 4 out of the 5 things that worked were performances by the actors. That's because the plot is terrible and very predictable. It's basically the original Ghostbusters without the snark or sarcasm. The movie is literally saved by the character relationships and performances.
2. Generic Villains - yes I just praised the characters but that doesn't extend to the villains. They aren't developed at all. You don't really know what their doomsday machine does or why they want to take over the world. There's no background and no motivation. But hey, at least they're in good company with the weirdo elf from Thor 2 and Ronan from Guardians of the Galaxy.
3. The Pacing - no, the pacing isn't Batman V Superman bad but it's still pretty bad. It almost feels like 2 different movies that were Frankensteined together: a gaudy music video like movie in the first 20 minutes and a slower character piece later. So there are times when it feels fast paced and then it slows to a crawl unexpectedly. Characters come and go without notice or fanfare. I suspect there was a lot left on the cutting room floor.

In Conclusion
I actually really liked the movie. For all its flaws, the actors and their characters really helped me overlook them. The movie is fun with great protagonists and fantastic music. I'm not quite sure why it's gotten such a beatdown by the critics. Is it perfect? No. But the good far outweigh the bad, in my opinion. I know I said no spoilers but there is a scene at a bar near the end of the film in which the characters really open up about themselves. The scene is funny yet painful and honest. I would watch an entire film with scenes just like this, that's how good it was. As it is, the movie is good enough that I'm really looking forward to what else is in store for this band of misfits. Sometimes being bad can be so good.

To Infinity and Beyond: Star Trek Beyond Review

I love me some Star Trek. Original Series. Next Generation. And yes, even the new "Kelvin" timeline. I went into this film with a lot of trepidation, however, as the last film, Into Darkness, was a bit of a disappointment and Justin Lin isn't exactly known for brainy fare. That's not to say I don't like the guy's work as I'm a fan of his stuff on Community and the Fast and Furious franchise. So let's get on with the review. Again, I will try to keep this spoiler-free.

The Plot
The crew of the Enterprise are 3 years into their 5 year mission, exploring the far reaches of space. They take a much needed break at a new fancy outpost called the Yorktown when an emergency in an uncharted nebula sends them on a research/rescue mission. Completely cut off from the rest of the Federation, they are ambushed and left trapped on an unknown planet by a villain hellbent on unleashing a biological weapon of mass destruction on the Federation. Scattered around the planet, will the crew find each other in time to stop this vengeful madman?

What Worked
1. The Cast - the franchise really lucked out with this cast. They gel really well together and they feel like a family. Pine is perfect as Kirk and his relationship to his crew it's well done, particularly with Quinto and Urban. Also, Idris Elba turns in a really good performance despite being hidden under a ton of makeup.
2. The Pairs - the film splits the crew up into pairs that haven't really been explored in past films: Kirk with Chekov, Bones and Spock, Uhura and Sulu, and Scotty and the newcomer Jaylah. For the most part, this makes for some interesting dynamics on which each character gets a chance to shine.
3. The Music - I'm a big fan of Michael Giacchino's Star Trek work and he does not disappoint here. This time around he uses a lot of drums and timpani, almost recalling some music from the Original Series as well as a bit of Planet of the Apes.

What Didn't Work
1. The Cinematography - for the most part, the camera work is good, with Justin Lin melding his very dynamic moves with Abrams use of canted angles. However, there are scenes, particularly at night, in which the shots are too close or not lit well and the action on-screen is hard to see. It's very distracting. Not lens-flare bad but still.
2. The Villain trope - I don't want to give spoilers but the trope used for the villain is very tired and I think could have been handled better. Elba acted the hell out of the role but his motivations could have been stronger and not so cliche.

In Conclusion
I really liked this film. It was fun and had a lot of heart. While it didn't necessarily cover heady themes like Undiscovered Country, it was more in line with First Contact and The Voyage Home. What's more important is that Lin really captured the camaraderie of the crew, not surprising considering his experience on Community and the Fast and Furious films. He nails the relationships that were the core of the Original Series films. And that more than makes up for a spotty villain and some dodgy cinematography.

Batman v Superman Review

I realize it has been a LONG time since I have posted. I offer no excuses. A lot has happened in the meantime and I might post about that someday. But that day is not today. Today I have bigger fish to fry. Mainly, my thoughts on Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.

The first thing I want to make absolutely clear is that I didn't actually hate the movie. Disappointed? Yes. Hate? No. I wouldn't devote that much energy to this film, or any Zack Snyder flick for that matter.

I will also warn you that this review has spoilers. The movie has been out for over a week already and, based on box office returns, the people who originally wanted to see the movie have done so. But if you haven't and don't want to be spoiled, then stop reading now.

The Plot
For a movie that is over 2 and a half hours long, there really isn't much of a plot. We open on Bruce's parents being murdered. Again. For, like, the 4th or 5th time on film. Then we flash forward to the events of Man of Steel but this time we watch it from Bruce's perspective, watching all the destruction and trying to save lives. And this is where the problems start. We are supposed to get that Bruce develops a seething hatred and distrust of Superman. Why? Since he wasn't totally responsible for ALL the destruction...the movie doesn't really explain it. You are just supposed to accept that he hates Superman and will stop at nothing to stop him. Even if it means killing him. The movie then interweaves the story of a Senate subcommittee hearing on Superman and his obligations to humanity, Lois trying to solve a mystery, and Lex Luthor plotting...something. It's not exactly clear what. The only thing clear is that Lex hates Superman as well. Why? Well, that's not really explained either. In fact, nothing really is. You just have to accept things at face value. And ultimately it really doesn't matter. It's all an excuse to try to get the two heroes to fight each other. And if you've seen the trailer, you know that they eventually team up with Wonder Woman in tow to fight Doomsday.

What Worked:

1. The Music - Junkie XL and Hans Zimmer really outdid themselves with the score. The rhythmic portions with electric guitar in particular were a highlight. It added a nice sense of urgency even when parts of the movie dragged.
2. Wonder Woman - she stole the entire last 30 minutes of the movie. Though she wasn't given a lot to do in the role, Gal Gadot was a breath of fresh air whenever she was onscreen. That being said, I don't know how she will handle a full film where she is the main character. I don't know if she has the acting chops for that.
3. Jeremy Irons as Alfred - he was one of the few parts in the film that provided levity. He had a great world weariness and plenty of sarcasm that is reminiscent of Alfred from the Batman Animated Series

What Didn't Work:

1. Zack Snyder's understanding of the characters - It was made obvious to me in Man of Steel that Snyder does not understand Superman or the Kents. He cemented that opinion here. Superman is as dour and humorless as ever. He seems to save people not because it is who he is, but because he is obligated. It is a chore to him. There is nothing in his character that would lead me to believe that he is a figure of hope. The basic problem is that Snyder keeps comparing Superman to a God, and of course that is indeed his powerset. But the best thing about Superman is that despite having the powers of a God, he is basically a farmboy from Kansas. And the Kents aren't any better. Snyder tries to do a rewrite from Man of Steel by having Clark say that he was trying to be Superman to fulfill his Dad's dreams. Uh no. Your dad wanted you to let a bus full of kids die. He didn't want you to be a hero but instead to hide your powers. Stop trying to rewrite history Zack. And then Martha, in a great pep talk about going in front of the Senate subcommittee ends this inspiring speech by saying you don't owe them a damned thing. Great job Martha. Way to ruin a moment. Zack Snyder hates Superman and everything he stands for. He apparently also hates Batman. Instead of choosing to show the Batman that has appeared in the comics for over 70 years, he focuses on an interpretation of an Elseworld's tale in The Dark Knight Returns aka the Batman teenagers like because they don't quite understand the world yet. This Batman is tired of the world and brutal. He's so brutal, in fact, that he straight up murders people. Not just in collateral damage but actually flipping a gun and using it to shoot someone in the face. But even in this interpretation, he didn't understand the character. The Batman in The Dark Knight Returns was definitely brutal but he still had a line he would not cross. It's a big point in the story that he cannot bring himself to kill the Joker. He uses rubber bullets to take down the mutant gang. Even in a point where it seems that he shot a gang member holding a child hostage straight in the face, it is revealed that he hasn't killed anyone by the news reporters. But hey, Snyder isn't one for accuracy so what the hell.
2. Lex Luthorberg - As I stated above, Lex hates Superman. But we never establish why. He just does. Jesse Eisenberg just spends the movie doing a bizarre Joker impersonation with a bit of Frank Gorshin's Riddler thrown in for good measure. And then his plan with Doomsday doesn't make sense. He unleashes Doomsday without a back up plan on how to shut him down. What is he supposed to do with an unstoppable monster if Batman and Superman are unable to take him down. Once Doomsday took out Superman, what was his plan going to be? And in the end, Luthor is revealed to be working with/for Darkseid. So it was all a plan to kill Superman to make way for Darksied? It still doesn't explain what he was going to do with Doomsday.
3. Batman is a moron - Luthor reveals that he has been manipulating Bruce Wayne to fight Superman. And Batman really has no idea. Not only did Luthor figure out who both Superman and Batman are in their real lives, but Bruce Wayne struggled to find out that the White Portugeuse was a ship. Like running that name up against databases wouldn't have been a thing that Bruce should have tried. And Bruce completely leaves logic behind in pursuit of rage. Again, his rage is really unsupported. I get that he blames Superman for a bunch of destruction but even when faced with the fact that Superman actually does a bunch of heroic acts, he still believes he is a danger and must be stopped. For what? Oh yes, because he stopped thinking and is just angry. ALL. THE. TIME.
4. The world is dumb - Superman is being framed for an event that went down in Nairobi. Except that the only trace of Superman doing something messed up is by ramming a dude through multiple walls (he's not dead. technically. not that we see him to confirm). Everyone is dead by gunshots which isn't exactly known to be Superman's MO. So why does everyone suddenly believe he was responsible? It wasn't even made to look like he was. He was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.
5. Things just don't make sense - None of the characters have motivations that make sense. And if Batman has been operating in Gotham for over 20 years, why is this the first time that Superman has a problem with him? I mean, the damned Bat symbol can be clearly seen from any building in Metropolis.
6. Martha! - The climax of the fight is resolved when Superman reveals his mom, Martha, is being held captive by Luthor's goons. And of course, Batman is taken aback because that was his mom's name. And suddenly they're best friends and Bruce makes a Bro-mise that Martha won't die that night. Even though he just tried to RAM A KRYPTONITE SPEAR into Superman's chest. But it's all good, bro. Martha!

Conclusion

It is obvious that Zack Snyder hates superheroes. He doesn't want them to be heroic. In fact, he doesn't want them to show any emotion other than anger. He is also averse to showing affection. Superman saves Lois THREE times and he quickly flies away afterwards. No extended hug. No kiss. It's like Zack Snyder is perpetually stuck in the mindset of a 13 year old boy. Let's have Batman brutally kill people because it looks cool! Explosions! Ew romance! More explosions! And apparently the only powers Superman has are flying and eye beams. And this is the guy that the WB has entrusted with the Justice League. Great. This movie could have been good. Great even. But Snyder doesn't understand the characters he's trying to portray. Instead, he reverse engineered a plot that would lead to the title fight and Doomsday. None of it makes sense. None of the characters are relatable. They are simply cogs in a plot machine. He definitely throws in a lot of Easter eggs for fans but it all feels hollow. He adapts part of the Death of Superman without the context or the buildup so when Superman dies it doesn't resonate as well as it should. We deserve better. I've read many people claim that this was Snyder's love letter to comic fans. If that's the case, I think it's time to break up.

Review: Mario Kart 8

Mario Kart. I shouldn't really have to describe the game since by this point out should be kind of an institution. It's been around since the SNES and has had an iteration on every Nintendo console and handheld since then (save for the Virtual Boy but that doesn't really count). I own and have played each one except for the one on 3DS, solely because it would probably be the only game I would own on that system and I don't know if it's worth it for one game, even if that game is Mario Kart. So how does this one, the eighth one in the series stack up? It's the best one yet, save for one glaring issue.

What's new?
The question on most everyone's minds is what this game brings to the table. I'll try to talk about the ones that affect the game the most.

1. Anti-gravity - in certain sections of the track you can now race up walls, kind of like FZero. It opens up a whole different way of playing.
2. Super Horn - they actually introduced a weapon that can counter the blue shell. The problem? It's just as scarce.
3. Glider - not really a game changer by any means. Definitely not as cool as the planes in Sonic All-Star Racing Transformed or even Diddy Kong Racing but still useful when interacting with shells or the lightning bolt.
4. Underwater - you can now drive underwater. The karts control a little different. Coolest part? The music changes to sound more muffled.
5. Customizations - in addition to picking the character and type of vehicle, you can customize your glider and your tires which changes how the kart handles and overall performance.

What I liked
1. The handling - control is crucial in this game and fortunately it handles like the proverbial dream. Everything is intuitive and responsive and it feels tight, unlike the Wii version which sometimes felt like it would slip. Let it be known that I played on the pro pad and gamepad not with a Wii wheel or Wiimote so I'm not sure how those would compare.
2. New levels - there is seriously some great track design here. Koopa's Castle and Toad Harbor are big standouts for me.
3. Redone tracks - I like how they redid tracks to take advantage of the gliding and anti-gravity. Plus the re-scored music sounds amazing now that they're orchestral. The N64 Rainbow Road is my favorite.
4. Return of Coins - remember how in the original Mario Kart you collected coins to help you go faster? It's back. While the speed boost is minuscule, it is there. Suddenly the weight of your character matters much more because of this.
5. 1080p graphics - this is a gorgeous game. While I've never been a graphics whore, I can easily say this is the best the series has looked. There are birds that fly about, snow flakes that fall, and flashing lights all over the place. Small details that really make the world come alive. Like when you start the race on Toad Harbor and there is a light mist over the track.

What I didn't like
1. Battle mode - this is the glaring issue I mentioned earlier. Why did they simply use tracks from the Grand Prix instead of actual battle arenas? It just feels like a race where people go in both directions and too much time goes by where you might not see anyone because the tracks are so long. Bad move Nintendo.
2. Doesn't really make use of the gamepad - it can be your map, double your TV screen, or be your horn. That's it. I can't even use it as a dedicated screen in multiplayer like in Sonic All-Star Racing? Seriously? At least I can use it for off TV play.
3. Cannot hold weapons and pick up new ones - so you can't drag a shell behind you and pick up another weapon, thereby giving you two weapons at a time. I can see where it makes the game more fair but it's weird after having a couple games that allowed it.

In Conclusion
I love the game. It feels like the culmination of what Mario Kart is. It's got the coins from the SNES, the hop from the N64, the drifting and drafting from the Wii, plus a host of new features. The only real issue is the disappointing battle mode. The game is fun. Reminds me of my college days. There is a very simple not that comes out of playing games like this and honestly, no other kart game does it better. Sonic was the closest a 3rd party got but there's no denying that Mario is still king.