lilliam

I absolutely adore this film. I read the comic ages ago, so I don't remember it well enough to say if this film is a faithful adaptation of it or not. I do remember the art style was very austere and realistic, while the movie chooses an aesthetic and style that are much more flamboyant (yet mega-gritty), including the action sequences. For some comic fans that might be a terrible sin. All I can say is the movie works for me, specially the ultimate cut with the animation segments. I heard someone on youtube -can't remember who- say that while the comic was a commentary on superhero comics, this movie is a commentary on superhero movies, which does make sense when you think about it.

Another Zack Snyder film that has being completely misunderstood and obliterated by critics. It must be something personal, really. I love this film. I find it beautiful, moving, heart breaking and inspiring. Escapism can be a coping mechanism. Fantasies can empower. Girls can have power fantasies too, you know. Who didn't want to be Sailor Moon at some point in their lives? Although at the end of the day you can't escape reality completely. Real life problems are still there waiting for you in your daydreams. Consequences are inevitable. Sacrifices have to be made. Zack Snyder is usually accused of making movies that are too bleak, nihilistic and hopeless. But this is not a bleak, nihilistic or hopeless movie. There is hope for the survivors. Things can get better. The abusers do pay for their crimes. Even the ones that made mistakes can find redemption. Sacrifices are not worthless. Do not judge these girls by the clothes they wear. Do not judge this movie as misogynistic or sexist just because the girls are pretty and sexy. A girl can kick ass and look sexy at the same time. And these girls are wearing more clothes that all the men in 300 (2006), so don't call Zack sexist. He just likes pretty people.

Superman has always been he ultimate immigrant, but I don't think any other movie had ever focused on that idea like MoS. Many has noticed the religious aspects of this movie and had come to the (imo wrong) conclusion that Snyder is saying Superman=Jesus. Superman might be perceived as Jesus, and might try to be like him, but he's not a god (and definitely, not THE God). One of the things I love the most about this film is that it is a sci fi movie. They really developed the idea of an alien from another planet, and oh boy, this movie's Krypton is so alive, so rich, so... alien. Procreation (notice the phallic and **** shapes and objects of the culture and architecture of Kryptom, the womb-planet that gave birth to Superman) and parenting are two of the most important themes of this film, the parenting of Kal/Clark in particular. The love and guidance (sometimes conflicting, other times complimentary) provided by his human and kryptonian parents are depicted in some very touching moments. This movie is also about choice. Freedom of choice, the pain of trying to guess what's the right choice, and the pain of making the right choice (which so many critics have misinterpreted as the film saying that you shouldn't do the right thing cause it's hard, which is so far from the real message of this movie). The final fight between Zod and Superman is the most spectacular, and terrifying, superhero fight scene ever put on film. It reminds me a lot of Alan Moore's Miracleman in it's darkness and tone. I love this film. Despite what some critics say, this movie is brilliant, full of layered meaning, hope and lots of heart.

I've never seen a movie so misunderstood and obliterated by critics like this one. Some great things are controversial, I guess. I don't apologize for loving this film. I love every second of it, specially the director's cut ("Special Edition"). I love every decision the screen writer and director made. If Man of Steel (2013) is the ultimate immigrant story, BvS is a story about fearing the immigrant, about post 9/11 xenophobia, about intolerance and trauma. About how the media can shape our opinions, and how hatred, even when it feels justified, can turn the best of us into monsters. Best superhero movie ever made, hands down, and my favorite depictions of the DC characters (Batfleck!!!). It may need several watches to 'get it', but this film is absolutely brilliant, and keeps revealing layer after layer of meaning even years after it's release.

A very sweet tribute to the original Blade Runner. I didn't care much for it though. I recognize this film was made for mega-fans of the original film, and since I have mixed feelings about that movie, I realize I'm not the intended audience for Blade Runner 2049. Regardless of how I feel about the original BR, I gotta say it was VERY groundbreaking and unique. This film however, really lives in the shadow of it's predecessor. The music, cast, set designs, characters and cinematography of BR2049 are nowhere near as strong as those from the original BR. The only new idea it brings to the table is the concept of the replicants having babies (don't worry, is not a big spoiler), and these babies being special since they were born, therefore they (probably) have a soul, or are "more human" that the rest of the replicants, but I don't care much for that idea. I mean, replicants and humans are, deep down inside, really the same. What difference would it make if the baby was made or if it was born? The whole point of Blade Runner was to show that in the end it doesn't matter. The other disappointment I had with this movie is the same one I had watching the original Blade Runner: the two major concepts of the book it was based on (Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?), like the interactive religion, the artificial animals that have such a deep meaning in the novel, the concept of never knowing for sure who's "real" and who's not, are completely absent or completely sidelined and serve only as background decorations. I know is not fair to compare a film to the book i'ts based on (and in this case, this movie is probably only based on the movie BR), but when you have such a great book with such great ideas, and you choose to ignore those ideas, I can't help but look at the filmmakers sideways. Also disappointing was Leto's character. He's a god actor when he has something to work with. But in this case his character was pretty cliché and flat.

I really thought I was going to love this movie. I've been in love this this director's short animated films since I was a (very weird) child. But I haven't been impressed with his live action films so far. The movie drags to the point of feeling neverending. And it's a pretty bad (and dare I say sexist) take on "female insanity". Also, the camera looking straight at that little girl's exposed butt was gratuitous and gross af. Not a very good way of criticizing pedophilia. The one star is for the special effects and the creature design.

Some good action sequences, a villain that could have been so much better, and overall a pretty meh film for me. Cavill deserves better.

I love Snyder’s films. I love them cause they are demanding, mentally and emotionally. Because through his films he gives the audience some tough love. He doesn’t make it easy on you. He demands things from you (your complete and undivided attention, your brain power). He puts you in uncomfortable situations. But after watching them, you come out shaken. You feel it was all worth it -the demands, the discomfort, the tears-, cause it means something. He makes art that matters. That’s why I love him. As a Snyder fan I'm so glad this movie has seen the light of day. I didn’t fight for it as hard as some other fans, but I added my grain of sand, with the hashtags and lots of word-of-mouth. That been said, my feelings for this movie are… mixed to say the least. ZSJL might be my least favorite Snyder film. I read some critiques saying that this movie is very extravagant. Well, besides some musical moments, there’s nothing extravagant about it. And I wish there was. IMO it can't hold a candle to most of Snyder’s filmography, specially MoS and BvS (one of my favorite movies of all time). I would put ZSJL on the same level as Legends of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole. If I had to describe the DC-Snyder Trilogy, I would describe MoS as a realistic sci-fi/philosophical story, and BvS as a realistic sci-fi/political/philosophical story. ZSJL is a fantasy/superhero story. Zack will have the masses on his side with this one, and that makes me happy for him. But speaking as a selfish person here (and I know I might sound like a pretentious **** ZSJL lacks that demanding, complex, sometimes painful nature of most of his work. It's a bit too easy. It’s just not ballsy or weird enough for me, and that's precisely why I didn't like it so much. And that's exactly why the world will, for the most part, love it. Here’s a somewhat petty list of things I didn’t like about ZSJL: -I find the themes of this movie (faith, fathers, unity) not very interesting -Not enough Superman/Clark -That ominous warning against resuscitating Clark, and the moral question of ‘is it ok to play with life and death?’, to finally just say ‘yeah, I guess’ -Only one substantial Martha scene, and is not even Martha -The fantasy tone clashes with the realistic tone of MOS & BVS -Poor dialogue for Terrio's standards -Pretty generic score -The similarities to LOTR only remind me of a better set of movies (LOTR trilogy) -As a narrator, Gal is no Cate Blanchett -All the talk about “darkness” and “evil” and Darkseid's masterplan sound like a generic fantasy plot -No ambiguity, no complexity -Batman looks a bit awkward and uncomfortable in his bat-suit -Bland fight choreographies -Hard to suspend my disbelief -Didn't care much for Arthur, and even less for Mera -Bruce flaunting his fortune was (although in character) a little tacky -The two **** and the blood were honestly a little unnecessary in such a kid-friendly film Here’s a list of all the things I DID like about ZSJL: -Leto’s Joker and that Mad Max future -The Amazons vs Steppenwolf -Clark playing with that butterfly -Superman's resurrection -That embrace between Clark and Lois (specially Cavill’s performance in that scene) -Bruce’s infatuation with Superman & his devotion to (the idea of) him -That little music video where Arthur walks in slomo while waves crash against him -Flash/Barry (he is adorable) -That first scene between Barry and his father -Cyborg -Victor's father -The humor was tasteful and just enough -There’s a lot of caring and tenderness between the characters -The 4 hs fly by -All the heroes felt very powerful -"I'm not broken, and I'm not alone" I really can’t understand why WB didn’t put out this movie in the first place instead of that tacky, raunchy, soulless thing directed by Whedon in 2017. If they had edited out the musical moments, and trimmed it a little to make it shorter, the studio could have released this film back then and it would have been a hit, with both audience and critics, like it is now. ZSJL is everything the critics and general audience wanted from Snyder’s films (a more light-hearted tone, more hope, more straightforward narrative, more humor). There was no need to call another writer/director to change the film. Not only what the studio did to Snyder and his movie was immoral, it was also stupid. I can’t believe they deemed ZSJL “unwatchable”. The only unwatchable version is Whedon’s. ZSJL It’s a solid, inspirational, honest film full of heart, and it’s highly superior to most of the films in the superhero genre. It’s just not my cup of tea, and I genuinely think it is one of Snyder’s worst films. He can do so much better than this. He has. For that reason, and because I only rate things based on my personal taste, I gave this film the rating I did. But as much as it let me down, I do recommend it to all superhero/fantasy fans out there. I think most of you will enjoy it.