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Well, MJ and I are getting deep into the Ultimate Cut of Batman v Superman, and the deeper we get the more convinced I am that this was the version of the movie we were supposed to see in theaters. But I'm pretty certain that the studio said a three hour long R-rated superhero movie cannot be a tentpole.

Along with the rest of the special features it's clear that this movie was originally supposed to be just, Batman v Superman. Right up until the studio stepped in and said "We're going to need you to put in some allusions to Justice League members." It was at that moment that it became "Dawn of Justice."

This is not a director's cut, this is not a movie with the "deleted scenes" added back in, this is the complete movie. Not only did they replace important pieces that flesh out the story that were cut from the theatrical version, but for the Ultimate Cut, these changes actually reorder the sequence of some scenes, which in turn evens out some of the pacing issues.

With those important story bits now back in play, we finally see just how far reaching Lex's plan is, and by extension this elevates Lois' role. There is also more emphasis on Clark Kent, the reporter, and how his being a journalist allows him access to information he would otherwise not be privy to as Superman. Even more so is the emphasis placed on Superman as an empathetic character, who clearly cares about people and only wants to help; the courthouse scene now has a new air about it thanks to some added pieces. Thanks to these replacements the Africa subplot also has more weight and makes clearer the events that took place at the desert compound. (I can't point out enough that these are not "additions" these are integral parts of the full movie that were cut out.)

If you were someone that didn't like the theatrical version, this probably is going to do nothing for you.

If you liked the theatrical version (I seem to be the only one...), then you are going to appreciate this film even more.

If you haven't seen it yet, this is the version to see. Albeit, with the caveat that watching it requires a good chunk of time for viewing.

My favorite thing about this movie, is that it felt like something different was being done, this is a world I want to see evolve alongside it's rival, because they represent two very different takes on the superhero mythos. And for those that are put off by the darkness of this universe, remember: It's always darkest before the dawn.  ;)

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice - Ultimate Edition is available now digitally. Blu-Ray releases are set for July 19th. However, the Ultimate Edition does not appear to be available on standard DVD.

Thank you for reading.

Thank you, Kham. It looks like I will have to watch this as it addresses one of the biggest sticking points I found in the theatrical release: Not enough Clark Kent.

Thanks a lot for a spoiler free review saying why this version is better.  I'm someone who still hasn't seen the film, so I'm going to go straight to this cut.  I prefer more character development and certainly don't mind watching a 3 hour movie to see it as it was meant to be seen.

You have convinced me, I'm going to have to check this out. 

I saw the movie and enjoyed it.  Only reason I can see for the hate is people comparing it to the Marvel movies, which you really cannot do.  DC is inherently a darker universe so people shouldn't expect it to be like Marvel.  I just think Batman v. Superman got a bad rap because of that. 

I loved the ultimate edition way more than the theatrical cut. You really get to understand what happened in the desert, you get more clark kent, more between bruce and alfred, a little look at the inside of arkham!(how could they not show that??) and you really get a better understanding of lex luthor's manipulation even though i still think he was a miss cast. This is definitley the version you want to see.

I bought it yesterday.  (I'd have bought it Tuesday but, unlike some people I work with, I don't go into work on my days off, even to shop ;))  I really enjoyed the film.  Of course, I watched the Ultimate Edition cut.  It came with both, but I wanted to see that one.  I think it was pretty well written.  Sure, there are some things I may have done differently, but I didn't make the film.  ;)  Everyone did a good job in their roles.  I particularly liked Ben Affleck as Bruce Wayne/Batman.  Gal Gadot did a good job and looks great as Wonder Woman.  The only one I wasn't as thrilled with was Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor.  I don't think it was necessarily his fault, I think it was more the writing.  I don't know, beyond some of the stuff you all have said, what was missing in the theatrical cut, but I can't think of anything that needed cut.  I thought the 3 hour movie had good pacing and you really needed that amount of time to tell the full story.  It didn't drag anywhere.  Doomsday was OK, though a tad large for my taste.  In the comics, he was closer to the size of Superman.  I guess they made him gargantuan to try an make him look stronger.  Anyway, thoroughly enjoyable.  I'd say a 4.5/5.  Too bad WB didn't release this version in the theaters, they probably would have had a big hit on their hands.

Interesting side note:  Superman and Batman are two of my favorite comic characters.  I've read comics of both over the years, along with watching movies, cartoons, etc.  Yet, in all of that, it never occurred to me that both Bruce Wayne and Clark Kent's mother's name was Martha.  Separately, I knew it of course, I just never thought of Martha Kent and Martha Wayne together.  I like the way that was utilized in the film.

I still have no plans to see the movie because I just don't care about Superman and only a little about Batman...

But I wanted to put in a word for the score, by Hans Zimmer and Junkie XL.

I recently picked up the score to Mad Max: Fury Road, by Tim Holkenborg, aka Junkie XL.  It was very gritty and rock-inspired in a lot of areas as you'd expect, but I remember thinking that certain tracks like "Storm Is Coming" had an awfully Hans Zimmer-like feel to them.  Wouldn't it be cool, I thought, if they worked together?

Well, Batman vs Superman is exactly that score...I got the deluxe edition and I don't regret it at all.  Do I have to see or even care about the movie to appreciate the music by itself?  Not one bit. ;)

I completely agree, their collaboration was brilliant. I also picked up the deluxe edition, (because I wanted a BvS poster  :)) and  when I got home I immediately picked up my guitar and learned "Is she with you?"

Oh yeah, the score is brilliant.  Hans Zimmer is one of the best out there and he and Junkie XL collaborated wonderfully.

Even a bad movie can sometimes have an excellent score if the best composers are hired.  Other examples would be The Village and Tron Legacy.  Awful movies yet I left the theater knowing I needed to buy the music immediately.

You know, we need a film score thread.  I'm going to make one.

What is so bad about Tron: Legacy?

You've opened up a can of worms now.  :D

I thought it was great effects and music with a paper thin plot.



I made a film score thread! :)  http://www.saberforum.com/index.php?topic=31816.0

I really appreciate your open mindedness towards BvS; a film that does have problems, but has also been unfairly maligned.  :)

It was something I really wanted to see, so I took a chance on buying it.

Eventually, I will watch the theatrical cut, just to see what they did to it to cut it down to a 2.5 hour movie, and why people hated it so.  I don't get why they didn't just release the 3 hour cut.  It's not like there haven't been 3 hour movies in theaters before.  Granted, they used to do intermissions, but that's beside the point.

Anyway, I'm glad I took a chance on it, because I really enjoyed it.  I'm also glad I waited for the Ultimate Edition, so that I could get the full film.  Even with its few flaws, I found it really enjoyable and I'm now looking forward to the Justice League films, as well as the standalone hero films.  (Wonder Woman comes out next year :))