BLUE BALLS, BAT NIPS, and WONDER TITS -SPOILERS

[Matt]

I actually LIKED the story of MoS. I liked the characters and I liked the motivations. For me, the film just flat out worked.

[Abraham Smashington]

yeah, same here. I have no issues with the movie at all for the most part.

[Martin]

Man of Steel is still one of the best DC movie ever, and the best Superman movie by fucking FAR.

[Abraham Smashington]

Explain to me like I'm 5 what the parallels are between Snyder/Ayn and MoS/Bats?

[Matt]

Ayn Rand is an objectivist, and the short version of her philosophy is that a person has no moral or ethical obligation to be selfless...Selfishness and promoting your own self interest should be the primary focus of your life. It's pure capitalism, pure ANTI-communism/socialism. Every man for himself, make your own way in the world, you are responsible for yourself and nobody else.

Now, apply that philosophy to how the superheros interact with the world. Think of how Pa Kent interacts with Clark. Think of how Superman sees the world. It's interesting.

[Abraham Smashington]

thanks!

[Anderson]

Explain to me like I'm 5 what the parallels are between Snyder/Ayn and MoS/Bats?

Snyder is an Objectivist. For those not familiar with Ayn Rand's flawed personal philosophy, check out the wiki for an overview: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Object...%28Ayn_Rand%29

Snyder from DOTD 2004, 300 and points beyond has created films that abide by the tenets of her philosophy. The talented survive, they own nothing to anyone and self interest governs all.

For the most part, Snyder got away with this shit because he wasn't dealing with characters that could be impacted by this. That is until now.

The Objectivist perspective that Snyder deploys falls apart with Superman, but actually serves Batman and a few other characters.

You can't have a super powered alien demi god be self absorbed, otherwise he becomes a looming conquerer. Something to be feared and evaded. If Superman becomes an Objectivist, then he's no different than a Zod or Darkseid.

In the comics and other media, the thing that keeps him from embracing the corruption of ultimate power is the love of Lois and his parental upbringing. However, MOS and to a lesser extent BvS makes a big show of having these side characters bring up Objectivist tenets to Supes.

"You owe them nothing"
"You have to hide or the world will exploit you"
"I need you...not them"

Pa Kent even willingly commits suicide by tornado to hide Superman's abilities from a public that needs him. But, what came before? Young Clark has a public power laden freakout in school. Clark saves a bus full of kids in front of several eyewitnesses. Superman saves an oil rig. Superman is spotted throughout the world. Hell, the trail is so large that even Lois can follow it to his true identity.

So, where's the problem? Either Snyder is creating an Objectivist hero that can do whatever he wants/when he wants because no one can stop him. Or, we're getting a botched take on Superman that can't really be an Objectivist because you can't hide power on that level in the modern world. Especially after a few of your fellow Kryptonians nearly destroyed the planet and leveled a chunk of your adopted hometown.

It's a huge issue and it's one that BvS ultimately bungles hard in the third act. Superman is either a friendly public savior or he's a dick hiding in the Fortress of Solitude deciding who he's going to save and when.

You can't have it both ways.

[Anderson]

Also, depending on final receipts of BvS...WB is bankrolling Snyder's adaptation of Ayn Rand's "The Fountainhead" for his next film.

[Abraham Smashington]

nice explanations guys. Makes perfect sense.

Is it bad that I still don't have any problems with what Snyder did to Superman?

[Anderson]

nice explanations guys. Makes perfect sense.

Is it bad that I still don't have any problems with what Snyder did to Superman?

If you're going for just pure visual entertainment, you're going to have fun. But, anything past surface level is where the problem lies.

[Abraham Smashington]

ah for sure. And yeah, I'm all about pure visual entertainment when it comes to my superhero fighting movies.

[Martin]

I'm with Rob, most of the times.

Also, 300 was poop on a stick. Rewatching it lately and nope. Re-re-rereading Gates of Fire before sure as fuck didn't help.

[Matt]

Rob: Colin Covert (critic in the Star Tribune) didn't care for the movie all that much...
From his twitter:
#BatmanvSuperman may be the worst sequel since Indiana Jones nuked the fridge in "Crystal Skull." Better to punch your face for 151 minutes.

#BatmanvSuperman - I will say that Ben Affleck's chin looks great under the mask. Not since "Daredevil" has he been such a memorable hero!

[Abraham Smashington]

Just reinforcing my excitement for this on Saturday!

[Matt]

Seeing this tomorrow in IMAX, 6pm.