Snyder’s Batman Is Terrible (And Here’s Why)

Start listening on Audible with a 30 day trial! Get any audiobook you like for free by going to www.audible.com/closerlook or text closerlook to 500 500!
Support me on Patreon: / henryboseley
Send me hate on Twitter: / henryboseley
Zack Snyder's Batman has been a terrible incarnation of the character. In this video essay, I break down why this is, and suggest a rewrite of the DCEU to fix this Batman.
0:00 - Intro
3:45 - Part 1 - Why Batman Is A Fantastic Character
6:03 - Part 2 - Why Snyder's Batman Is Terrible
42:10 - Part 3 - A Better Batman
A massive thank you to my $10+ patrons:
Benjamin Houser
Kyong Kim
Matthew Brady
Trace Sosebee
Frank D. Lemke
Mark Miller
Chefda
ElizabethJustElizabeth
Felicity Franklin
Meulna
Thomas Feuer
Thomas Paczolt

[@TheCloserLook]

Hey guys, I hope you like today's video, I tried pretty hard to improve my style from the WW84 video with this one, I hope that effort comes through. But if you appreciated it, this one took me a lot of time and money to make as I actually hired a motion graphic designer for some parts. If you guys could pledge a dollar or two to my patreon page linked in the description, I'd really appreciate it as you'd be giving me the budget to keep hiring people, and upping the production value in more and more ridiculous ways. Also, you get early access to all of my future videos which is nice. If you guys want to chat with me and the rest of the community, I'm always active on my Discord server linked below. Feel free to drop by and have a chat with me and the guys whenever you feel like it. My discord: discord.com/invite/aJpYPQX Thanks for watching, - Henry

[@fastforwardvideos2752]

Well I fundamentally disagree with this video so I won’t be watching it, but I’m sure it’s great tho

[@LazzyRoad]

Could I just say that I agree with your point about Snyder not delving into the Batman mythos, but WB pulled the plug on what people who've read the script as the best Batman film (Batman vs Deathstroke), forced him to cut down BvS and have been rewriting the whole DCEU to be more like the MCU. Also ZSJL is about the Team forming, about introducing new characters (Cyborg, Flash, Aquaman, Darkseid, Desaad, the New Gods) for upcoming movies and an expanded universe, all which at the first fear of failure WB pulled out of, creating that failure (shortening BvS and entirely rewriting SS) and failing to expand on their expanded universe.

[@jackwydler5459]

Hey Henry, I really like the new visual style of your Video and the work your putting into it. It ist just sometimes a bit confusing to have you jumping all over the place so often and sometimes even hiding behind the characters. The overload makes it harder to follow your great script :D

[@LazzyRoad]

@Badass Batman why the anger?

[@eyesack2007]

@Badass Batman watch the video first you ham sandwich

[@dottytitan7496]

One of my biggest issues with Snyder's batman killing is that the Joker is still alive, I just don't see how Bruce could kill criminals but not the man who killed robin

[@pennydreadful5163]

Arkham Asylum exists for a reason.

[@firetarrasque4667]

@@pennydreadful5163 He murders random criminals. How the fuck does he know they *aren't* mentally ill? They could be people forced into crime because their disabilities rendered them unable to function in everyday life. But, no. He just fucking murders them.

[@Hestaka]

@Erik Kemeey Who did Nolans batman kill?

[@dimes4crimes78]

@@Hestaka two-face

[@dimes4crimes78]

@@Hestaka and talia

[@fantasticmrmonk]

Batman is what a young boy once desperately hoped for on a very cruel night.

[@lucyclayton2132]

For some reason, this comment made my tear up. 😅

[@joeseatat]

That's a beautiful way to phrase "be the hero you wish you'd had".

[@veryangryduckpl2122]

​@@joeseatat A great way to say: "Fine, I will do it myself"

[@spartanc173]

They say you become what you needed the most.

[@diblee]

I didn't have a good childhood so when I saw I young and saw Batman movies or even the animated show it made me realize I don't have to be defined by my tragedy. It also made me realize that compassion wasn't a weakness but a super power. Batman is great because of the fact he is an aspiration of the broken. At least that is what I think and what I love about Batman

[@bionicleone]

Honestly I don’t understand why so many film makers seem allergic to Batman’s compassion. The man loves humanity so much he’s been willing to sacrifice himself on multiple occasions to protect earth.

[@American_Simian]

People seem to forget why batman wears the cowl in the first place

[@hectorgermanhernandezcarde7349]

That doesn't go with the idea of masculinity that many people and writers have

[@StuckonStupid84]

Because it makes for a good redemption story to have Batman lose his faith humanity. And had snyder been able to finish his story, we might've actually got to see that.

[@kal.asther]

@@StuckonStupid84This. It's like people don't appreciate stories at all. Instead they're stuck at why isn't this the I'm familiar with? Stories make the character, it's not the other way around people. If it is, then we don't bother with the movies, let's just all buy action figures.

[@drigonfirefox]

@@kal.asther yeah the story should been about batman losing his faith. But he kills the wrong people for the story. Him gunning down goons doesnt work. The whole Martha thing doesnt work, because he kills the goons. It was close to being decent but him killing ruins it all

[@Garlicbreadsupremacist631]

I think the best way to tell whether a Batman incarnation is Batman is by picturing him being able to comfort a scared child

[@vergilthewolf3619]

That scene with ace was amazing.

[@thabreez456]

Yeah that scene at the beginning of BvS was great

[@the4GIVEN]

@@thabreez456 shame it was only that one scene and for the rest i couldnt picture him doing it again. i can picture nolans batman comforting a child and we dont need to talk about the batman. just the look he gave the mayors son sold him comforting a scared child.

[@DynestiGTI]

​@@the4GIVEN It's almost like Bruce in BvS was going through a lot of shit in his own life and had fallen down a dark path of grief and hate. After 20yrs in Gotham, making no progress, harboring his grief from his childhood tragedy, Robin dead, countless others he couldn't save, witnessing Metropolis devastated... HE is still the scared child in that alleyway. He needed Superman's example to bring him back to his former better self.

[@the4GIVEN]

@@DynestiGTI its almost as if any other Batman hast that backstory too (except the Batman, cus Hes Just starting) What you Said ist true for >90% of Batman Storys.

[@emv2917]

Good Batman stories use the four pillars, but incredible Batman stories know about the secret 5th pillar that near every screen adaptation forgets: his compassion

[@thesnatcher3616]

Mask of the Phantasm remembered this.

[@susanhillwig5784]

The scene in the JLU episode "Epilogue" with Batman and Ace talking on the swings is a phenomenal example of this.

[@Tinuvielthefair]

@@thesnatcher3616 YES, absolutely! "They stole everything, Bruce! You, dad, my life. this is all I have left. So either help me, or get out of my way!" "But, Andy, what will vengeance solve?" Oh that moment.

[@bekim7878]

Batman and Ace flashbacks

[@ibrahimmir1399]

I'd say the animated Batman series, some of the animated films, and the animated JL series remembered this. Point being: animated Batman was the best adaptation of Batman.

[@danielrBIB]

I think Zack Snyder kind of understands Batman. He just doesn't like it. What he really likes is the Punisher, but he prefers Batman aesthetics

[@monty_coolmccool]

Honestly, Zack could make an incredible adaptation of Punisher

[@dibbadyda1728]

Yo, thats a great idea

[@Deathmare235]

He should make a Red Hood movie that’s already what his batman is

[@herloss448]

there's no way Gordon will work with a psychopath murderer like ben Affleck punisher and it doesnt make sense he will use the bat gadgets that are no lethal if he kill now .even the stupid story line is garbage .batman seeing that hes becoming a murderer at the god awful martha cringe snyder said 😂but in the next scene we can see him mag dumping another 20 goons with bat plane .even if u ignore batman killing that scene alone made this batman one of the most trash ones ever and also this stupid batman shot a guy's gas tank just to kill him leaving his and martha's life in danger instead mag dumping him again like he did 5 mins ago.after all snyder clowns are praising the guy who said batman and superman cant have a conversation while they in their suits cuz its silly thats why they couldnt figure this fight through talking .what an edge lord 😂

[@herloss448]

@@monty_coolmccool movie would be garbage but the action will be great

[@Maerahn]

Totally agree with your 'buddy cop' theme for 'Batman vs. Superman.' The ingredients are already there for the 'odd couple' angle; Clark/Superman is the idealistic, optimistic one, thanks to his alien origins, and Bruce/Batman is the lone-wolf, cynical one, thanks to the trauma of his parents' death and running a corporation. And that's even before you add on the layers of Batman's guilt from Robin's death.

[@mikebottomlesspitdunham2954]

Actually, Superman is the idealistic one because of his parents(Ma and Pa Kent), not his alien origins.

[@SugarSpice07]

Batman has so much intelligence, he's known as the World's Greatest Detective. Batman has so much willpower that he was deemed worthy of a green lantern ring on several occasions. Batman has so much integrity that he refused to kill his mortal enemy, even when his own child asked him to. And he has so much compassion that he built a family around himself without even noticing.

[@fibanocci314]

Well put

[@ahmadnurhadifbinrosdi2455]

And I like to add that batman thinks everyone deserve a chance at life. His parent got killed by a random muggers, an insignificant death, they wasn't murdered because Thomas Wayne was actually corrupted politician or anything but a random guy on a street needs some cash. That's why their death was so significant to him, it made him realized that no one should have the same fate. I think what makes batman the hero that we know and love is the fact that he is compassionate on everyone, even towards joker. In his heart he's truly believed that everyone has a shot at being good and he will not take that chance away from them.

[@mrdogich5655]

Batman didn't deserve green lantern ring, he deserved yellow lantern ring and used it.(correct me if I'm wrong

[@willster2967]

@@mrdogich5655 I think it's been both. Obviously fear kind of makes sense but I think green definitely makes a lot more sense. But I think in comics he's definitely had both at some points.

[@nothingwrong2293]

Eh, he often talks about how he wouldn't be able to stop if he started killing, not very willpowerful of him

[@carpedm9846]

Yknow I feel like "someone having integrity and wants to help others is unrealistic" is a sentence that doesnt come from people who are nice to be around.

[@pats3212]

And yet Snyder is known to be an extremely nice guy in person, maybe he was going through a midlife edgelord crisis at the time, or maybe his daughter's death made him a kinder person, who knows?

[@Free_Palestine_419]

Neil Druckmann took this to heart lol

[@Despair505]

@@pats3212 I'd rather go for the second one, since all his past movies are midlife edgelord crisis material

[@iPSLee]

@@pats3212 You don't learn about a person in one day or two. You obviously wouldn't know anybody who only talk to you for 10 minutes.

[@SJ-qd6ev]

though i don't like Snyder movies, i m gonna say that sentance is completely wrong, because Snyder isn't in Batman shoes he doesn't go around preventing crime in bat costume, what he said is definitely in accordance to his taste in story, not his real life beliefs

[@bmvthemoviefanatic7282]

That scene where Clark tells Bruce about how his father died and that Bruce needs to overcome his trauma got me. THAT is Superman.

[@Mark-co8gt]

What does he say? "I stood idly by to avoid being seen, despite being able to move so fast that I can't be seen by any regular human" ?

[@dushaunlewis7574]

@@Mark-co8gt I don't even think he even knew he had super speed during that time, but okay.

[@Mark-co8gt]

@@dushaunlewis7574 I reckon he did. I think it's implied just after the bus scene, he moves from that swing rapidly. And since Snyder's Clark is very troubled, it's hard to imagine that he wouldn't come into his ability to run away at an early age. Just a thought. My earlier comment wasn't really a criticism, though, just playful. I loved MoS, went to see it three times. Hated everything that came after though 😅

[@dushaunlewis7574]

@@Mark-co8gt ah

[@92brunod]

@@Mark-co8gt That's a problem with Zack Snyder's MoS, this video is about fixing stuff after what was established before

[@cosmicspacething3474]

33:33 “Good. Dreams save us. Dreams lift us up and transform us. And on my soul I swear until my dream of a world where dignity, honor, and justice becomes the reality we all share, I'll never stop fighting. Ever!” ~Literally Superman

[@cosmicspacething3474]

Also Injustice is exactly the reason why Superman doesn’t go against this motto.

[@silvachami1017]

Thats what i thought

[@zyaicob]

+

[@emberfist8347]

@@cosmicspacething3474 Technically he has, but it always against Doomsday or sometimes Darkseid. The difference is they are remarkably hard to kill to begin with and killing them if possible is the only legitimate way to stop them. At least until Doomsday became sentient and learned to fear dying.

[@phousefilms]

Snyderverse Superman: "Hehe, Zod neck go boom."

[@serpentinious7745]

So would it be fair to say that Snyder's Batman is actually just the Punisher in a Batman outfit?

[@DiegoXRA]

You are right

[@albertonishiyama1980]

Nah, the punisher is way smarter and smoothier than Snyder's Batman. If anything, the Civil War arc where The Punisher uses the regulation to find villains and kill them is more detective work than Snyder ever did.

[@ct-117]

To be honest, Jon Bernthal's Punisher is significantly more kind, compassionate, and human than Snyder's Batman

[@histguy101]

​@@ct-117Batman isn't that kind or compassionate in general. Nolan Batman is some kind of idealist, but everyone in those movies is an idealist. Most batmen are driven crime fighters/detectives, adrenaline junkies, manic depressive, aloof, and violent

[@dobi287]

No not if you know each character and actually pay attention

[@LuigiGamesful]

"Even after everything you've done, I would have saved you." - Batman to a dying Joker, Arkham City

[@shannonkilpatrick5319]

Uhg I loved that scene. So many emotions

[@LuigiGamesful]

@Clown Prince of Crime Hudson No worries, I understood your point. I just feel that quote describes his character very well.

[@rememberthatyoumustdie]

@Clown Prince of Crime Hudson A horrible take on batman? Says the one who likes the DCEU batman lmfao

[@notaboy1878]

@Clown Prince of Crime Hudson tbh thats the court fault for not killing joker and keep putting him in arkham

[@kplayzxp2376]

@Clown Prince of Crime Hudson joker is obsessed with batman to the point when batman quit joker quit and waited for him, joker thinks they are the same and wants batman to break his no kill rule and because more like him. And batman is ob with the joker to not to the same extent but if joker breaks out of arkham batman is going to look for him while he will wait until others act first and joker is probably the most dangerous out of his rouges and he knows the least info about him

[@liamodahl1205]

"A man having any form of integrity makes them not a dark character"? All I can think of is Doctor Who, where Matt Smith drops the line, through gritted teeth, "Good men don't need rules. Today is not the day to find out why I have so many." It highlighted who the Doctor is, really, at his core. It cut right through all the silly antics and funny catchphrases, and showed the audience just how dark and scarred he was underneath--and why he was so adamant about his scruples.

[@BrokensoulRider]

Another one is Tennant's Doctor Who in the two-part episodes with Martha where he had to hide himself from that one family.

[@liamodahl1205]

@@BrokensoulRider Absolutely.

[@lunadiggorytennant]

Also the episode in the 4th season where Ten was about to kill the man that murdered his 'daughter'... but in the end he didn't. And you could really see how torn inside he was, between his morals and the need to find some sort of resolution to that loss

[@Arachnid-scribe]

@@lunadiggorytennant still disappointed we never got a spin off with her or have her appear more with Tennant or Smith

[@BadFiend]

@@lunadiggorytennant This scene was fantastic because you really could tell that the Doctor picked up that gun with full intentions to empty it on the dude, and his speech is not for them but for himself. He's actively talking himself down from a murder that most of the people present would have been okay with, in part BECAUSE they would be okay with it.

[@lonelylama5222]

Idk if anyone agrees with this but I would love to see a Batman story where the Robins are alive

[@DiegoXRA]

Yes

[@emberfist8347]

I would rather see a story Jason remains dead. Bringing him back didn't work when he started being in the good graces of the Batfamily despite still breaking the one rule they all abide by.

[@Mustang-wt1se]

@@emberfist8347nothing wrong with it focusing on Jason and Dick before Jason is killed by the Joker

[@tracytron7162]

Someone clearly doesn't know the first thing about the source material... The only Robin to consistently die is Jason Todd, the second of the four main Robin's, and he is almost just as consistently brought back to life as Red Hood. Dick Grayson has died a few times but it's always been in alternate universe stories like Injustice or temporary and quickly reversed, and Tim Drake and Damien Wayne haven't had a single death that I can think of.

[@lonelylama5222]

@@tracytron7162 I know the source bro. I mean a story where the robins are included.

[@Femboy_Mommy]

I think the people who want Batman to ge gritty and have guns don't know that there are other bat characters who do that. They want a Thomas Wayne or a Jason Todd, they don't want a Bruce Wayne

[@anas-432]

Batman literally started with guns on holsters!! In 1939, lynching people and dropping them off of rooftops too

[@concept5631]

Well said

[@emberfist8347]

No they want The Punisher. Or Az-Bats. Honestly Knightfall is a storyline that people should read more in full as it is not about breaking Batman's back to boost sales it was about why Batman acting like the Punisher doesn't work.

[@tmac731]

Grow up, Batman only killed for 1 movie and BVS explained perfectly why he kills and he stopped once Superman died

[@concept5631]

@@tmac731 Then why is Joker still alive?

[@TheBatspecter]

The pitch for Batman & Superman sounds like something that would become one of my favorite movies of all time.

[@Adam-vq7iq]

Batman and Superman had so much potential it makes me sad

[@thesylvanshadow4223]

That’s exactly what I was going to say. Agree with you 100%

[@shamshassan1008]

Only thing I don't like is the Title "Batman and Superman", Should be called something like "Man Of Steel: World's Finest"

[@highlander2319]

@@shamshassan1008 how come it’s only “Man of steel” in the title? Honestly “The World’s Finest is pretty good by itself”

[@shamshassan1008]

@@highlander2319 I see the point but, I'd rather have it as more of a Man of Steel Sequel which introduces Batman and leaves the door open for a third Superman Movie. Kinda like how in the MCU, Iron Man 2 introduced Black Widow and showed off how Bad ass she was, this Man of Steel Sequel would do the same with Batman.

[@TheRealGuywithoutaMustache]

“Does this batman look badass?” “Is the sun hot?”

[@National7575]

Nope

[@werovivero9219]

Nah

[@somerandolad]

Next you'll be telling me the floor is made of floor.

[@thebatman.]

The suit is the best so far

[@TomEyeTheSFMguy]

Does a minute pass by every 60 seconds in Africa?

[@WanderingRagabond]

A very eloquent and polite way to put it. My rationale is far less kind, with Snyder just being a cynical little edgelord with a pre-teen's understanding of what makes a story "dark". Him being allowed to create these adaptations with such open contempt for the source material and its fans is a travesty, it should never have happened. Nobody wants a movie that's embarrassed of what it's portraying, and that's twisting itself into a pretzel to make it more palatable to a hypothetical, excessively cynical audience.

[@kidkunjer]

this is the truth

[@ZombieLover84]

I think you are the one looking WAAAAY to much into the movies and comics.

[@neerGdyahS]

@@ZombieLover84 You're calling a 1 paragraph comment giving a short opinion "looking way too much into" something, on the comments section of a 1 hour video that's literally about analyzing the craft of storytelling and the mistakes a creator might have made. You've done a near equivalent to walking into a gay bar and calling someone there overly flamboyant. Zack Snyder also came across the same way to me and I think there's some validity to this guys opinion. Have you considered thinking at length about things yourself?

[@Darkvalentine333]

​@ZombieLover84 buddy.... that's just sad. God forbid anyone have passion for things. Why the fuck are you even here, on this video, if you don't get that?

[@s3.14dervision]

SO MUCH YES

[@FuelDropforthewin]

The thing about Snyder's rant that "My hero didn't do X, Y, and Z horrible things is a dream world" I mean if they are committing atrocities and murdering people then they aren't actually heroes, are they? If the hero of your story is committing atrocities and crimes and casual murders then they're not a hero, they're the protagonist. There's a significant difference. The fact that Snyder appears to be incapable of even conceiving of someone with power not being corrupt gives me major flashes of Lex Luthor justifying his crusade against Superman.

[@Man_Aslume]

33:08 if anyone is too lazy to watch through

[@FuelDropforthewin]

@@Man_Aslume Thanks!

[@amberlyveil8856]

You forgot the 5th pillar of batman: Compassion. It's why he really does what he does. Not revenge, but so no one else has to lose their loved ones in the way he did. Its why in the comics he often champions charities and political measures to improve things for the poor, and why he invested in Arkham Asylum... he kept hoping to help those most in need, and actually heal and rehabilitate his foes... The problem though is Gotham's corruption is firmly rooted enough to swallow up almost all of these efforts... hence why Batman is necessary...

[@brentambrielcabigas1086]

42:44

[@edwardteach1992]

Trying to heal his rogues gallery I think is really challenging compared to just simply killing them. This is what makes Batman interesting to me.

[@LauraSti]

@@edwardteach1992 It is, and it's made way more difficult by the fact that Arkham Asylum is a major center for corruption and abuse of the inmates, and it may legitimately have an insanity curse on it. I feel like one of these days Bruce Wayne should just straight-up start a competing treatment program on the other side of Gotham with strong security measures BUT also a good environment for recovery, then proceed to bring down the hammer of federal law and the wrath of every newspaper in the nation (including his friend Clark Kent's) on Arkham for its many abuses. Burn the place to the ground, and have a new, properly vetted, genuinely appropriate rehab facility in place to pick up the slack. Seriously, how has the world's greatest detective not figured out that Arkham is doing more harm than good by now?

[@zyaicob]

+

[@SleeperKhan]

the instant you said "this should have been a buddy cop movie" you had me I have been screaming to the skies for Batman/Superman buddy cop content

[@MChuck-]

Remember the Batman and Superman Good Cop/Bad Cop scene

[@SleeperKhan]

@@MChuck- That scene lives in my head 24/7 bro

[@valentins.905]

Watch HISHE

[@thatoneguy6465]

Superman and Batman being best friends is something that needs to be shown more in movies. It’s too bad that Zach Snyder didn’t understand either character enough to make it happen

[@who4440]

@@thatoneguy6465 exactly.

[@hnaw1360]

I mean... I would argue the Batman stories that stick to his non-killing rule are SADDER and BLEAKER than the others. Jason Todd for example when he comes back from the dead and asks Batman why he didn't kill The Joker. Not because he wants the Joker dead but just because it would show Jason that Batman TRULY loved him as his son. Batman lost the love of his son and watched him become a murderer of villains simply just because he refused to kill the Joker. Now, that story would have been ruined if Batman was just like "ok" and shot him in the head or the whole thing didn't happen at all because he killed Joker the second he killed Jason Todd. The reason Batman is so fun is watching his villains trying their best to push him as FAR as they can make him go, desperate to finally get him to kill or be the one to kill HIM.

[@zyaicob]

"So why... on God's earth... IS HE STILL ALIVE‽" is one of the few moments in a piece of fiction that have ever made me cry.

[@theenderdestruction2362]

I've always thought of a reason why Batman doesn't kill, he's one murder away from becoming the damn joker, Batman is not sane, dude is 100% insane just very high functioning, so he can't kill less he becomes one of earth biggest threats, but that doesn't mean he won't let others do it, lets say a random by stander kills joker Batman was nearby, at best he'll take the gun and simply walk the man to a near by bench and get the police to come pick up the body, batman won't kill because if he does so, he will become another joke one bad day is all it took for him to become insane and kill off bruce Wayne and now only the batman remains, one neck snap, one wrong thing and the world goes in danger, one bad day already happen, who knows what would happen if he gets blood on his hands

[@zyaicob]

@@theenderdestruction2362 this is exactly it. Other heroes can do what needs to be done but Batman lacks the stability to do it responsibly. It's the reason the Batman who laughs exists

[@theenderdestruction2362]

@@zyaicob that's the thing, I expect each of the heros to be of course, bigger people then me, but in reality, for all the jokers crimes, for all his bullshit, I don't blame batman, because as I typed before, he can't kill less he becomes a monster, but you know who i do blame, anyone on the police force, any bystander, hell i blame the other fucking batfamiy members, the jokers dangerous because of how nasty and smart he is, he isn't just a raving lunatic he's a smart bastered, his chaos usually has a plan behind it and as scary as he is, he's still a man, a bullet to the head will kill him just it would poison ivy, Harley, PRETTY MUCH ALL OF BATMANS VILLAINS, so in reality, people shouldn't blame batman for letting joker live, they should fucking blame the gothem police force, they should blame the civilians, hell blame the arkam doctors for forgoing the hypocratic oath and just harm the MOTHERCUKER

[@randot6675]

@@theenderdestruction2362 I now want an Elseworlds story where after Bruce kills the Joker for Jason Todd, he turns himself in to Arkham because he doesn't trust himself anymore, then we can get an identity reveal story where he serves as a criminal consultant from Arkham, reminiscent of the Hannibal novels, told from the point of view of either his children, Gordon or another outsider maybe.

[@alcortez1261]

Batman outsmarting Darkseid in the animated movie, is the most badass version of batman ever.

[@Cyrus-rodn45]

The batman who laughs is better

[@dominiquejones3805]

Well Played

[@emberfist8347]

Nah that is the version from the comics who that took back his city from a full-blown army when the military couldn't without breaking his no killing rule.

[@ugib10]

I think an amazing Batman moment was in Arkham Origins, when the Joker straps himself to an electric chair that charges itself from Banes heartbeats. In this moment someone has to die, if he doesn't kill Bane, the Joker dies. So he is put in this dillema, where either himself, Bane or the Joker dies. It really feels like he's trapped. Just a warning, there's going to be spoilers in the next bit. In the end, Batman "kills" Bane, making the Joker think he proved his point and leaving the electric chair. Batman then goes on to use his electric gloves to bring Bane back to life. It was honestly so cool.

[@henrychinaski5938]

Especially cause joker then adds Gordon to the mix forcing Batman to have to make a decision and when Gordon questions Batman’s integrity he replies “that’s not how I do things !” And resurrects bane . Awesome reference

[@akwilson1676]

Arkham Origins has such an amazing plot and deep story.

[@v-trigger6137]

The reason the Arkham Batman is so great because it directly takes inspiration from the 90s animated series (hell Paul Dini himself wrote those games), which is literally the benchmark portrayal of batman. I think more filmmakers should take inspiration from the animated series rather than Dark Knight Returns or Nolan's batman. the problem is that whenever a filmmaker comes to direct an Batman movie, so instead of trying to understand the character itself, they just think about how much they can moke thier iteration more dark/ edgier and cool compared to the previous one

[@frostbite2179]

And he gave him brain trauma

[@AAllen-br8it]

@@v-trigger6137 dini didn't write origins or knight but i agree with your point.

[@Mario_Angel_Medina]

"If you think a hero would never kill you live in a dream world" Yes, Zack! That's the whole point of superheroes! That they are extraordinary and can do the imposible, not just fly or shoot lazers from their eyes but to be a paragon of goodness and integrity and hope

[@Vesohag]

And yet they still are in his movie. Specially if you see it as a trilogy where the second movie always tends to be darker so the third movie gets to be hopeful.

[@Mario_Angel_Medina]

@@Vesohag I don't know if Man Of Steel, Batman V Superman and Justice League can be considered a trilogy, the three movies are just too different from eachother. Man of Steel is kind of generic compared to the other two, Batman V Superman is so stylized it feels more like a rock opera than a traditional film and Justice League is a grandiose epic. Is more like Batman V Superman and Justice League (the Snyder Cut) are a duology about Batman commiting and then rectifying the biggest mistake of his carreer, while Man of Steel is his own thing on the side

[@Vesohag]

@@Mario_Angel_Medina true, in terms of Batman works as the two moments of his life. But I meant trilogy since the three have Superman and in lots of ways focused on his arc too. Since Batman is presented in the second film, it works for it also for Superman to be the low point for both in a way. One is at a wrong path, the other is doubting himself because how the world sees him. Then in the third movie both recover and are sure of themselves and their mission.

[@TOAOM123]

Do you even "Hero's Journey", bro?

[@thecabbageman1]

That's not what he said though. That's half of his comment

[@redscorner4324]

I like that you basically kinda hit the beats of Batman and Superman: Public Enemies. And that idea to introduce Lex as a threat, Bruce and Clark becoming friends, and the Justice League getting together afterward would have worked really well

[@LateNightHalo]

The Batman just validated this video even more. Snyder has a great visual eye but he can’t tell stories to save his life.

[@erayser8250]

„Forgive me for not having a full rewrite“ Proceeds to rewrite the entire movie.

[@FireflyArc]

I love that. I'd watch a 4 hour video of a rewrite

[@BillyBob-yy6bd]

Snyder: You're living in a dream world Superman: Good. Dreams save us. Dreams lift us up and transform us into something better. And on my soul, I swear that until my dream of a world where dignity, honor and justice are the reality we all share, I'll never stop fighting. Ever.

[@zhengyingli]

Superman's response makes no sense in this context or in the original context.

[@hampter35]

what the heck, are on something

[@fellinuxvi3541]

@@zhengyingli How does it not make sense?.

[@Garland846]

@@zhengyingli it absolutely does though, addresses the argument that "good people dont exist" and "dreams are stupid"

[@aryandairshad]

This is singlehandedly the best reason to cast Zack Snyder as a live action Manchester Black

[@knull416]

Another thing that happened in the comics that showed how strong Batman's willpower is that he attracted a green lantern ring because of his immense willpower but he rejected it as it did not suit him to be a green lantern. Batman did become a yellow lantern for some time again because he instilled such great fear into the criminals a yellow lantern ring came to him

[@rendermaterial]

I don't understand how million dollar directors can be put to shame by a rewrite such as the one The Closer Look put together. How is it possible than a youtube channel with cuts from the movie can be 1000 time more entertaining... Great stuff, I'd pay top dollars to see your version. Amazing

[@jordanwhite352]

Honestly, it's because there's no conflicting egos here as well as that closer look, especially in the aftermath is able to pull back and look at everything. When you're making a film, you're in the thick of it and you can't see the forest for the trees.

[@star22sally67]

That whole interrogation bit has happened before in other animated series. I think both with deadshot. One of them, superman tried to be a bad cop and failed while batman was good cop and scared deadshot with coffee, a donut, and a smile lol

[@zacharygilmore1075]

Justice League Action.

[@DoomguyIsGrinningAtYou.]

Lol that scene was hilarious

[@thegoldencross2004]

Yeah. Most of what he says about his own plot are from the Animated shows.

[@star22sally67]

@@thegoldencross2004 shows how good the animated plots were that people just want that lol

[@ToscaTee]

And the bounty pitch reminds me of S/B: Public Enemies as well as a bit of Superman Doomsday & TAS with Superman clone 😂 the DCAU already covered a lot of these ideas

[@rikorobinson]

I think Batman just works better when the stakes are smaller than "save the world". He's so much more interesting in his own stories than he is sharing the screen with other heroes. I'm not quite sure why it is I feel that way. I'm still analyzing this conclusion. But I just watched Matt Reeve's The Batman and was like, "Yes! THIS is Batman!"

[@onacanilao]

Agree! Snyder’s Batman is even the guy recruiting the superheroes, but in the comics I remember Batman was the one who didn’t trust the JL and while he is helping out he had a Plan B in case he needs to defeat the superheroes. Batman was always better and more comfortable in his world of Gotham than fighting intergalactic wars. And yes, The Batman was amazing!

[@DaftnPunk]

I think it’s because when you compare a guy like Batman to aliens and amazons, the power scale seems so off. Like, it’s why black widow and Hawkeye seem so useless compared to the rest of the avengers. Now I know how powerful Batman is and the animated movies tend to show that so well. But even then many of his animated movie is him with the Batman and their rouges gallery. So putting batman in his own turf with no other comparison besides his villains and like regular ass people, he feels powerful.

[@ironcladnomad5639]

This is what I really enjoyed about the respective Batman and Superman animated series. They operated within their own universes - because those universes are detailed enough to support their own weight - and expanded in a few notable occasions. Doesn't surprise me that arguably the most iconic, accepted, and best live action iterations of Batman are the ones that focus on the vigilante of Gotham rather than the black sheep of the Justice League.

[@dean3134]

it's vengeance

[@grokborketharek8165]

worlds greatest detective, not omnipotent god, i fully agree.

[@mikhailryzhov9419]

Snyder does not belive in integrity, he does not belive in justice, he does not belive in honesty. Getting him near Batman and Superman was a mistake. Should have done his favorite Ayn Rand adaptations instead, he would have been a perfect fit for that moral system.

[@Owoshima_]

Your "A Better Batman" is wayy too good. Therefore I doubt we'd see anything like it in cinemas for a while to come, until they start caring about the characters they put on screen.

[@TheFirstCurse1]

Well The Batman was an amazing version of the character.

[@outerlimit4206]

This video is literally longer than Batman’s total screen time.

[@PursuerFollows]

no shit sherlock

[@unknownflickz1289]

@@PursuerFollows not really hes a big character and the films 4 hours you'd expect him to be in it

[@bruhgamer9409]

God how they did him dirty he seems dumber in the movies than anywhere else he hasn't got that batman charm

[@JacobGrim]

@@unknownflickz1289 he's in two films, one is only partially his story and the other has five other characters to focus on and ESTABLISH. No sh*t he doesn't have an hour and a half of screen time.

[@unknownflickz1289]

@@JacobGrim no need to be an ass

[@unlimited_power7666]

The Closer Look: "I don't want to say boring, bc that's too cruel" Also The Closer Look: "SO THOROUGHLY UNENERTAINING"

[@DrDolan2000]

I want to see your version of the movie so badly. The new ending with Lex and Batman in prison especially put a big 'ol grin on my face "Only the insane would try to kill me twice"

[@DistortedShelf0]

What makes Batman not having a contingency for Superman on hand so stupid was the fact that they were LITERALLY PLANNING to resurrect him, so Batman knew full well that the kryptonian might wake up, and that Clark might not be there when he does.

[@mercury2157]

which is why even though I fucking hate Josstice League, I at least respect that they made it to where Lois was actually a backup plan to restore Clark to his senses rather than her somehow being in the right place at the right time like she always happens to be in Snyder's movies

[@wintertrooper7918]

Tbf to bvs Batman didn't know anything about superman until like halfway through the movie

[@DistortedShelf0]

@@wintertrooper7918 he's Batman. Batman knows more about a given metahuman than they do about themselves most of the time

[@wintertrooper7918]

@SlipNut yes but he doesn't know of unknown it wasn't until the fight with Zod that Batman became aware of Superman, and Batman is far less capable than people believe he can't create a contingency plan for an unknown his contingencies are created from his history with the heroes and villain and the long periods of time in which he has had to fully understand their capabilities

[@luffytaro1237]

​@@wintertrooper7918bro shut up! you'll anger batman stans

[@boshwa20]

I have this very small criteria: If I cant see this batman sitting on a swing set and just talking to a little girl, there's a problem

[@chriswentz5197]

dude i will take you to court for reminding me of the mosg beautiful and sad scene there will ever be in superhero history

[@Chvse4U]

If I can't see Superman saving a cat from a tree.

[@bombasticbyaatch1803]

I have seen that clip before but have never seen where it came from. Is it from a movie or series if so what's the name?

[@Chvse4U]

@@bombasticbyaatch1803 It's from an episode of Justice League Unlimited

[@Elephantsaresupreme]

Just like red from osp once said: "if you can't picture your batman comforting a small child then you don't have the batman. You have the punisher in a silly hat"

[@hephaestus7768]

Gotham is dark enough, isn't the charm in batman that even if the whole world is evil he wouldn’t kill to change it.

[@emberfist8347]

That and he is making a real difference. Before Batman arrived, Gotham was so corrupt it made Prohibition Chicago look like Arcadia. But he believed in justice and hope and thanks to him a young cop that was in over his head was promoted to Commissioner and despite all the villains, Gotham became a place you could raise a family and the police force was honest and dedicated to public safety.

[@Snavels]

5:49 it has been mentioned a ton already, but you could maybe argue that Mr Freeze challenges Batman's compassion. When Batman stops Mr Freeze, he is also hindering the progress of Freeze finding his wife a cure

[@Kster-uj6dr]

Maybe there's some reason why in the comics, idk, but why doesn't he just give Freeze a private lab and enough funding so that he can stop robbing banks? It would be so easy

[@Snavels]

@@Kster-uj6dr Mr Freeze is unwilling to be given help because he is untrusting of anybody but himself. Likely worried the lab will be taken away from him (which led to his current condition). Though, a couple times he actually does get help and his arc ends there

[@Kster-uj6dr]

@@Snavels Ah, okay. That makes sense. Thank you!

[@misterelegantsquid3669]

The riddler in The Batman challenges Batman’s integrity (i.e. one of the goons saying “I’m vengeance”) and it was awesome

[@Hamantha]

It was a story that taught him that he needed to be more than vengeance, he needed to be Justice

[@omni0414]

@@Hamantha which is an excellent way to have a "dark, grim" batman story while still keeping his integrity and telling such a compelling story.

[@Hamantha]

@@omni0414 exactly

[@phousefilms]

"The Batman"Bruce is still young and angry, like the version from Earth One(who didn't even try to help a holdup victim as he wasn't in any danger, because he only tried to seek the person behind his parents murder.)

[@firetarrasque4667]

"My heroes didn't commit any atrocities" Snyder, when a person commits atrocities, they generally *stop being my fucking hero.*

[@firetarrasque4667]

If we discovered tomorrow that John Keats was secretly Jack the Ripper the entire time, my respect for him wouldn't exactly remain unchanged.

[@Cursed_Mark]

@Erik Kemeey "Seriously want is wrong" Maybe, but it's what keeps are society working.

[@jxlennn]

@Erik Kemeey he barley knows anything about dc. it’s like the only thing he knows is the justice league, and the suicide squad.

[@jadenpokemon8952]

*omni man would like to know your location*

[@KangarooMonkey]

@Erik Kemeey his DCEU movies are bad but people love him. I don’t think they’re just bad adaptations, I think in a vacuum they’re still terrible.

[@Macrochenia]

I'm disappointed at 12:26 that the answer to "what was going through Batman's head?" wasn't "Heat vision."

[@j.bat.8235]

I'm all on-board for the re-write of BvS into B&S, on precisely *one* condition: when Superman wakes up in the batcave and sees Bruce and Alfred, the latter steps up and states something akin to "I'll admit it: I am Batman".

[@daemonus5420]

This whole video is so much better now that The Batman is out, since Matt Reeves showed us exactly this, a very dark and gritty, deeply traumatized version of Batman, while still doing an incredible job at staying true to his character and source material.

[@citoante]

Yea, dark and gritty for the sake of being dark and gritty. New Batman is shallow as crap, while pretending to be deep. Color scheme of f a movie is not a feature. It’s a dark movie for 12 year olds.

[@aaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh6424]

@@citoante trying to be different

[@davidencoification]

I loved The Batman, best Batman movie by far. But saying that Affleck's Batman isn't true to the source material kinda wrong because it's based on The Dark Knight Returns, where he killed Joker and severely injured others. He was as much of an anti-hero in BVS as he was in TDKR.

[@aaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh6424]

@@davidencoification man watch the whole video & the ending where he rewrites the entirety of bvs, this should have been the movie we got

[@davidencoification]

@@aaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh6424 I'm not talking about the movie as a whole. I was saying that Batman was brutal way before BvS came out.

[@reidcunningham5906]

I really like the idea of a Batman that has lost his way, and needing redemption arch is interesting. Batfleck could have had so much more potential.

[@TheCloserLook]

BvS as is does half heartedly go for that angle, i mean at the end of the film batman says "I failed him in life, I won't fail him in death." but the execution on that arc was really pretty flimsy.

[@SicSemperBeats]

exactly. This could have easily been rectified with a solo movie before BVS. I dont what the hell made them thing BVS was ready when it came out. Like I really want to know what made them want to do a "team up movie" in a movie franchise.

[@teo-pc8yx]

@@TheCloserLook yes but that's only the beginning of the arc remember we were supposed to have one solo movie and then 2 Jl movies in the end of which he would sacrafise himself to save the universe and essentially getting his true redemption (and yes I know that's not really Batman nor his story but that was Zack's and Ben's Batman and it's sad we won't get to see that )

[@teo-pc8yx]

@@SicSemperBeats you can blame WB for that and everything else that went wrong with the DCEU they wanted BvS asap

[@SicSemperBeats]

@@teo-pc8yx dude yea right. You can only blame the publishers for so long. Take the Snyder cut for example, he had a ton more agency and control and the movie only JUST made sense. It wasnt good per se. It just actually made sense for a change. WB didnt make the decision to get the characterization wrong on every single character in the movie lol. If that was the case then every dc movie in history including the animated ones and even the cartoons would all be trash. If it was truly that bad where had zero control he should have just asked to have the project axed

[@Fenrisson]

I always like when Jim Gordon is well used in a Batman story! Great rewrite, mate! Really wonderful!

[@7Write4This9Heart7]

Agreed! Poor Gordon deserves more screen time! lol.

[@Fenrisson]

oh, a fellow Gordon fan! How delightful!@@7Write4This9Heart7

[@cryofpaine]

The thing about Injustice is that it first completely understands the characters that it is changing. Superman is dedicated to protecting people. He is defined by his empathy, his need to help. And when he is confronted with a situation where he wasn't able to protect someone he loves, he resolves to never let it happen again. This is why so often when we see an evil Superman (Injustice, Justice Lords, Red Son, etc.) - it's almost always because he has faced a situation where he couldn't protect someone, and comes to the conclusion that the best way to make sure people are protected is if he takes over.

[@lightdarksoul2097]

I think the only problem with Injustice is the length they went with evil superman. I mean he kills heroes and people that just plainly don't fully agree with him, not to mention that Shazam was only like sixteen or seventeen when Superman killed him. It makes sense the fall but I'm not sure how superman logics this all out in his head

[@michaelhuffin856]

The idea is then tarnished when the hero who only wants to do right, becomes a murderer by his own choice and continues becoming the very thing he sought out to destroy. The universe's worst super criminals would join him either out of belief in his vision, or fear that they would die along with everyone else. The "injustice" storyline in the DCEU isn't so much bases on free will of the hero wanting to go that route, but an unstoppable enemy taking over a planet, killing 99% of the world's heroes, and corrupting and controlling the hero to become his chief enforcer. Leaving the 1% to lead a rebellion.

[@cryofpaine]

@@michaelhuffin856 That's the point. Road to Hell, and all that. Superman becomes the villain because he loses perspective. He believes that he's doing the right thing, but with each line he crosses, he becomes more and more lost. Was he justified in killing Joker? If we're honest, probably. But if he's justified in killing Joker, would he be justified in killing Luthor? Any of his other rogues gallery? Dictators? And so on, each time he kills, it becomes easier to answer yes, until he eventually just stops asking the question altogether. That's a much more interesting story than "bad guy make good guy do bad thing by brain power."

[@eachasteriod1334]

Injustice is a disservice to all the characters it ruins

[@cryofpaine]

@@eachasteriod1334 Injustice is an alternate timeline. Do whatever you want in alternate realities, that's what they're there for. The DCEU is a disservice to the characters it fucked up, and unlike Injustice, it's supposed to be canon.

[@alexdurain3753]

“…If you truly think that you’re living in a dream world…” Zack Snyder/Manchester Black “…Dreams save us. Dreams lift us up and make us better…” Superman

[@otrocanalfrikiconfercho5824]

Tell me that you did not understand Man Of Steel without telling me you did not understand Man Of Steel

[@shadowstrike234]

@@otrocanalfrikiconfercho5824 Man of Steel, while i do like it, is most definitely not Superman.

[@alexisislas-gonzalez5991]

Why supes haven’t become a blue lantern

[@alexdurain3753]

@@alexisislas-gonzalez5991 If I recall correctly, he was a Blue Lantern during the Darkest night comic. The Guardians usually keep him from becoming a Lantern in general due to how powerful he already is.

[@Xehanort10]

@@otrocanalfrikiconfercho5824 Is that the only comeback to criticism of Zack the hack's films? Accusing people of not understanding them.

[@AnikMonette]

Another thing I kinda liked about Snyder's Batman was the scene in BvS with his Batsuits display: that was pretty scary! The zoom on the empty batsuit made me uncomfortable and it was pretty neat. It's sad coz these movies sometimes have small moments of awesome but they're like gems hidden in feces: they're cool and all but there's too much crap to go though to get them!

[@Tarnished-bn5gq]

Snyder’s Batman is Frank Castle in a Batman suit, not Bruce Wayne.

[@auroraofclanborealis]

The, "only the insane make the mistake of trying to kill me *twice*," sent shivers down my spine. It's such a Batman thing to say.

[@fuzi5303]

I can just hear the voice actor from the Arkham games saying it and it sounds so right

[@arturodejesuscruzcasab9502]

@@fuzi5303 Kevin Conroy, also known as the ultimate Batman voice. He's the Batman in the DCAU shows and movies, as well as the Arkham games and the Red Hood movie.

[@StopCallingMeShirley1180]

@@arturodejesuscruzcasab9502 Bruce Greenwood voiced Batman in Under the Red Hood.

[@AlexRider589]

Those four characteristics of Batman are great. Resolve, intellect, integrity, physical prowess.

[@theunknowncommenter725]

Affleck/Snyder Batman has all of that.

[@the4given196]

@@theunknowncommenter725 you clearly didnt watch the video. snyders batman is just an objectively bad adaptation.

[@jeppyjep]

@nnioop nnioop you mean everytime?

[@emilymfv]

The idea that Snyder wanted his heroes to be "flawed" in a "realistic way" and that this meant that they would murder and be corrupt about their actions makes me think what his character is. It gives me the vibes of someone saying, "Don't think someone is stupid/a criminal/a bad person because of their appearance," assuming everyone thinks like they do

[@jayromeric9101]

This was genuinely some of the best DC story material I've ever come across..truly thank u for that amazing story ..I really hope someone gives u a budget to write some of these rewrites and put it to the big screen

[@0047David]

In the dark knight batman literally breaks someone's legs to get info out of them but he doesn't kill them. Pretty clearly he'll do what he needs but it doesn't break his integrity

[@Fenris30]

I swear the leaps in logic you guys make it no wonder the world is going to hell in a handbasket. Who does Snyder's Batman kill when he has them in such a position? Who does he kill when he has them at his mercy? I'll wait. Snyder has no problem having his heroes kill monsters. Parademons? Check. Zod/Doomsday? Check. Steppenwolf?, Double check. Mercenaries who kidnap little old ladies and shoot at him with military grade hardware?, Fucking Check-a-rooney!

[@bekim7878]

@@Fenris30 that goon in the fighting scene where he stabs him?

[@vulpine3431]

​@@Fenris30 Literally anyone weaker than him that he fights. You didn't even watch the video so I dunno why you are commenting. Closer Look clearly pointed out an instance where batman could've easily used non-lethal moves, and yet batman chose to stab him.

[@candran3130]

and batman also invaded people's privacy by creating an ai and that ai turn into skynet

[@Fenris30]

@@candran3130 Funny how people forget that, Brother Eye Killed a Shit ton of People.

[@ChatookaMusic]

Never mind the disrespect towards Batman's character, I find it even more concerning for Snyder's view of the world that he thinks that a man with the mind and heart to put his own life, body and entire existence on the line to help people and save people's lives would find it so easy and natural to just mercilessly take a life. He has the mindset of a fucking sociopathic 12 year old playing call of duty.

[@MondeSerenaWilliams]

Yes, all his movies felt like they're made for and by edgy teenagers.

[@sectortv3835]

what a thing to point out, thank you on behalf of all of us.

[@bigbobbacharcoal]

Considering that Joker killing Robin has happened right before the destruction of man of steel I'd say it's pretty reasonable he snapped and started killing. If you don't understand what's happening it becomes a frustrating film.

[@citizenvulpes4562]

@@bigbobbacharcoal ok? So why is the joker still alive? Why in suicide squad does he just knock harley quinn out when he knows she'll just escape? WHY IS THE JOKER ALIVE IF BATMAN SNAPPED!? See it doesn't make any sense "the joker killed my kid, so I'm gonna kill random thugs, but I won't kill the joker because we need to make mon- I mean...."

[@celestialsoldier622]

Um. It's called real life? What do you think Soldiers, Police officers, or any warrior in the history of mankind do? The righteous and good only fight wars with nonlethal means? You fucking babies need to get your head out of comics if you think killing is wrong

[@DeadProstic]

The fact that you actually got footage of the released video at 17:34, for just a bit, proves you put a lot into your videos. Btw it was pretty funny.

[@jeffgoode9865]

Snyder completely misses the point of superheroes. Superheroes are supposed to an escape from the harshness of the world, to show people what goodness CAN be. Not to keep us mired in the darkness. Furthermore, to assume that there are no good people, that real-life heroes commit terrible war crimes is really sinister. There are real, good people in the world, and I've met them. Finally, Snyder's argument proves how shelter a life he lives. People with lots of money and privilege and little stress love dark, gritty movies. Anyone who has lived through real tragedy just wants to sit and watch happy, hopeful things. People who've lived through darkness usually just want some light.

[@TacticalTrucker]

His combat scene in Batman V superman was really clever coming up through the floor hiding between the pillars got everyone shooting down to the next floor, sticks miniature bombs on their weapons leaves them confused, “Where is this coming from where is he”

[@macacofrito]

why the guy with the knife didn´t go for the face?

[@TheCloserLook]

yeah, I'll give it to you that does show him having big brain.

[@TacticalTrucker]

@@macacofrito The same reason I would not go for the face of somebody who is what I would think to be a master in combat tactical skills “ Man, if I miss he’s really gonna fucq me up… NOPE!”

[@TacticalTrucker]

@@macacofrito but someone did go for the head with a gun, was that not extreme enough for you

[@master0fthearts894]

@@TheCloserLook Batman very smort.

[@neonsmoviereviews7969]

In my opinion, Netflix’s Daredevil does everything right that BvS does not, especially the final season. That series pushes that character, also with a no kill rule, to break that rule, and we the audience get to squirm in not knowing if he will or not. I don’t have an issue with a Batman who kills, I have an issue with a Batman who kills indiscriminately. Had they just kept the no kill rule intact and made the story about Bruce being pushed to his limits and breaking when he finally decides to break his rule, it would have been legitimately interesting. It also would have made the Martha moment work, instead of just having a mass murderer stop because of a name, it becomes a broken man realizing he’s about to murder someone, which is interesting for many different reasons.

[@aryarizky222]

yup, the rooftop argument between Matt and Frank in Season 2 is basically a better BvS movie in 3-4 minutes.

[@neonsmoviereviews7969]

@@aryarizky222 or anything with Matt and Fisk in season 3

[@rickardkaufman3988]

@@neonsmoviereviews7969 To be fair, that Martha moment could have worked if it was pre-established with a spinoff movie before BVS.

[@neonsmoviereviews7969]

@@rickardkaufman3988 they could have but I don’t think you need a separate film to setup this moment.

[@benlingenfelder2708]

Well that’s the whole bit that Zack does not get. Him struggling with his rule is 10,000 times more interesting than him just having blown way past it off screen.

[@cameronhodgetts920]

Your four pillars also explain why The Batman works. He never gives up, he solves all the riddles, he refuses to stoop to Catwoman or Falcone's level, and he's an intimidating fighter.

[@benjaminrupe5930]

Snyder was asked why his Batman uses guns and his response was "I would". Zak Snyder is not Bruce Wayne. He did not endure Bruce's horrific trauma, so he really doesn't get the character's defining trait; his trauma. It's responsible for everything.

[@williamwoolhouse5018]

I think what got to me, even as a huge Batman fan, was how Batman was was always tough and badass at all times. He solves every problem the same way. It made me remember an old episode from the old Justice League cartoon. How Batman chose to handle the crazy, psychic girl that was bending reality to her whims. Instead of knocking her out or threatening her, Batman sat on the swing next to her, and held her hand as she died. Because if anybody knew what she was going through as a character, Bruce Wayne would. It's that kind of thing that I don't seem to get from many of my Batman movies. Yes, he's bad ass. Yes, he's the world's greatest detective. He is a master of every fighting style, and has too many crazy feats to bother listing. But Batman's true superpower is his compassion towards all, even his mortal enemies. Why do you think the Joker keeps sticking around? After decades, he still wishing to rehabilitate him.

[@Elephantsaresupreme]

That one scene with ace is just so iconic man. I love the btas batman

[@anakinskywalker5088]

If only people understand this. But no, he's apparently a dark predator who is merciless to those who commit crime

[@jacklandy5704]

It seems to me that Snyder thinks that dark stories work because of the sheer abrasive and ballsy attitude they have. But I think the real reason dark themes and subject matter work in storytelling is because they make the hopeful aspects look better by comparison. Think of Batman not killing the Joker despite the Joker brutally murdering Jason Todd and putting Batgirl in a wheelchair. These dark moments don't work just because they're dark but because they highlight Batman's integrity. Joker deserves to die for doing these things and noone would blame Bruce for killing him. But he doesn't and that's why he's a hero.

[@Xehanort10]

Rather than understanding that good dark stories work because they fit the characters Snyder thinks them being dark automatically makes them good.

[@nutsfromberserk247]

That's why he is a fake hero giving fake hope to people of Gotham

[@veryangryduckpl2122]

​@@nutsfromberserk247 But if he killed the joker, Gotham would have a clown shortage.

[@Sarah12471]

​@@nutsfromberserk247Fake hope is still better than no hope

[@kal.asther]

And this criticism is backed up by? You give a good example of a good batman story, But miss the reasoning behind the criticism of said director's take--why? Is it because you don't know what you're talking about in the first place? You can't just say this bad, this good. Say it with the appropriate backing logic.

[@horimotogp1031]

Honestly, I think they gave him dialog in places Batman would remain silent. And you'd have a hard time convincing me he's one of the smartest people in the world.

[@onieli]

when you take away the physical prowess of Batman, you get Old Man Bruce from the Batman Beyond Series. He was also a good depiction of Batman, because you don't need him to be an adept fighter to make him a formidible opponent and an interesting character.

[@Taygon45]

Just gonna say it. If your rewrite doesn't end with Bruce warming up to partners again and walking back to the Batmobile with its tires gone, watching as a kid with a wrench tries to make off with the missing tires, but instead of getting angry Bruce just smiles. I'll be angry.

[@cherryandicecream4144]

awww......(T ^ T)

[@aeri_taylors-version]

oh no no no no no this is too soon

[@AnkhAnanku]

@@aeri_taylors-version what is this a reference?

[@megantvenstrup7687]

@@AnkhAnanku To Jason Todd, Batman's partner who died. He was a street kid who tried stealing the tires of the Batmobile and Batman adopts him.

[@monty_coolmccool]

@@aeri_taylors-version Too soon? He died nearly 35 years ago

[@TheEduardoPrime]

"Heroes being innocent is not realistic, someone having integrity is not real" My guy made Lex Luthor mix his blood with the body of a dead alien and somehow that created a monster

[@AceTheCapo823]

😭😭and honestly it’s also false saying that pple having integrity is not realistic

[@hatredlord]

The fun thing is that Lex did in fact mix his blood with that of a dead (at the time) alien. What that created was Superboy.

[@cesar6447]

@@hatredlord But superboy isnt an unstoppable monster capable of killing superman easily

[@hatredlord]

@@cesar6447 He could be if he wanted.

[@nathangoedeke694]

@@AceTheCapo823 It's true that a lot of people don't have integrity, but that's not something that should be encouraged. Superheroes are supposed to be an ideal for people to aspire towards

[@Queen_Cnidarian]

About the scene where Batman considers saving Superman, I argue it is out of character for him to hesitate to help. In “Heart if Ice” from Batman the Animated Series, Mr. Freeze, while fighting Batman, accidentally freezes on of his goon’s feet to the floor. The goon begs for help, but Mr. Freeze abandons him. Cut to the very next scene and we see Batman in his cave with the goon unconscious and suspended in a some kind of liquid. Alfred warns Batman that if the goon wakes up and escapes, that will blow his cover, but Batman doesn’t care. Batman is the kind of character that is willing to risk everything to save someone, even if it’s a villain, meaning that Batman would step in to save Superman, no questions asked if needed.

[@Aurora-xk]

Your rewriting was totally awesome. I was entirely immersed in the 'film' you told and that was played in my mind simultaneously while watching this fantastic video. I really hope that WB can see this video and bring your stories into the fact. When you said about Batman using what Lex did, putting a price on Superman's life for those assassins, to get those assassins to fight against the clone Supes and eventually made Lex lift a rock only to drop it on his own feet, I applaud for this idea. It is so smooth and so brilliant to show how genius Bruce is and what a great strategist he is. And that makes me agree that you understand more about those characters, especially Batman, than Snyder. You did show the biggest and greatest shining points of Batman.

[@kenthefele113]

So basically, villains can challenge the hero: 1.) Physically (Physical Prowess) 2.) Intellectually (Intellect) 3.) Psychologically (Resolve/Willpower) 4.) Morally (Integrity) 1 is adequate, but 2, 3, & 4 are where things really get interesting.

[@arpitdas4263]

Bane, Riddler, Scarecrow and Joker respectively

[@kr6productions]

@@arpitdas4263 perfectly said

[@jankyyard5610]

5) Compassion (The one thing that separates him from his villains and antihero vigilantes)

[@vanillabatcave5677]

Croc: 1 Bane: 1,2 Scarecrow:2,3 Riddler:2 Ivy: 3 Hatter: 3 Joker: 2,4 Condiment King: 1,2,3,4

[@_OMister_]

@@vanillabatcave5677 I actually think that Joker, at least in The Dark Knight, challenges Batman's resolve pretty hard. He spreads so much chaos in Gotham and Bruce have to keep his mind at the right place in order to keep fighting him and even predicting the unpredictable. The "Where Are They?" moment is when Batman fails to keep his resolve, and succumbs to the Joker's taunt, not being capable of reading his lie about Rachel and Harvey.

[@siegfried1422]

"You're living in a dream world" Yes. It is a dream we seek out and create, fully knowing and acknowledging that it could never be in the real world. We don't tell stories of Knights and Dragons because we want reality, we tell those stories, and re-tell those stories as a break from it.

[@zombiewerewolf9189]

Man. That's deep. 👍

[@MegaNightmare4]

Snider completely fails to understand superhero's. Superheroes aren't supposed to be relatable. They are supposed to be inspiring. The whole point is that they are BETTER than the average person, and they inspire us to better.

[@kerst4eva197]

In short, “That’s the whole fucking point”

[@harukrentz435]

Snyder: "Batman will get r^ped in prison". DC executives: "let this man direct Batman movie".

[@TheStoryMakerYT]

Did he actually say that?

[@harukrentz435]

@@TheStoryMakerYT yes.

[@liamphibia]

And you were right once again. Zack publicly admits how much doesn't understand Batman. What a shocker.

[@QuakeGamerROTMG]

Snyder on the panel where he talks about Batman's character gives me the vibe that Snyder is one of those people that have a cynical view that humanity is inherently evil and that a character having a moral compass is unrealistic because in their eyes people are all rotten and evil to the core. It's not unrealistic for someone to be a good person with strong ideals even in difficult circumstances. It's like the outlook of a 16 year old who just discovered emo or punk music and they're putting on an act to convince themselves of how "mature" they are for being cynical.

[@daryno9047]

Well apparently his favorite comics are The Dark Knight Returns and Watchmen (which is funny because that comic book mocks one of his idols, ayn Rand) so you’re probably not far off from that

[@BB-ed4om]

Or a 78 year old man who’s wife died, and who’s kids moved to other states and don’t call him. And he’s dying in a nursing home where the employees are cruel. Many people become cynical for many reasons and stop trusting.

[@pingu1312]

You did it, you broke Snyder down to his bare essentials (also apparently he likes Any Rand lol)

[@MSgt_0699]

"It's not unrealistic for someone to be a good person with strong ideals even in difficult circumstances. What's unrealistic is for someone to simply be that without development and growth. Snyder's Superman story arc was about Clark and the "man of steel" discovering Superman. You saw Superman at the end of his Justice League. Thus, Snyder's Superman faced having to make a decision with Zod (MoS), and later chose to sacrifice his life for the planet (BvS). What was brought back in Snyder's Justice League was man who chose to be Superman and Earth's guardian. Your idea of Superman involves a man who doesn't choose to be Superman. He just tosses on a cape and...is.

[@lotsofuwuenergy3983]

Imo it's possible some personal events leading to his daughter's suicide pushed him into cynicism

[@banonKING]

Snyder's Batman looked into the abyss and blinked.

[@porassrivastava8242]

Yes but isn't that the point??

[@xmasqx4504]

@@porassrivastava8242 the original comment is referring to a quote by philosopher Neitzche(pardon me for misspelling his name, I always get it wrong) Where the quote says that if you stare into the abyss long enough, you see your reflection or something of that sort basically insinuating that you become what you see going on around you or what youre experiencing if you experience it long enough. Batman becomes a dark broken person due to experiencing the abyss but he still has his integrity. For Snyder he thought that batman wasn't dark enough and failed to see that Batman's story itself shows how Darla and morally questionable he is, he thought batman stared into the abyss and then blinked and so did not become the darkness as the original quote suggests, which is why he was made grimmer and darker by Snyder to make him more 'realistic' or whatever.

[@changvasejarik62]

@@xmasqx4504 it’s also a reference to the Batman vs owl man fight from crisis on two earths.

[@captainpanda6263]

It doesnt matter

[@pats3212]

@@captainpanda6263 Yeah it doesnt matter since Snyder's sh1tty universe is no more

[@aaronromo1590]

I liked the nail analogy but I pictured the screw's threading as the pillars of Batman's character and when he removed them, it effectively made it a nail, thereby changing it into something completely different and not entirely capable of holding up the weight of the structure. Another side note - this impulse for realism has turned me off many a property, especially the DCEU. It's fantasy. I don't need it to be believable.

[@kal.asther]

The DCEU is an example of how an audience is stopping art to evolve. A realistic, gritty take on Superheroes has long been wanted, especially for the DC Brand. It would have been glorious to see how it all unfolded if the artist was just left to do their art. Instead we get people who can't even do half of what these artists can do, tell us what's good for art itself. Leave the art to the artists, let's just enjoy it. If it's not your cup of tea, don't add to the wall that stops art from flowing.

[@petermiddelkoop110]

Adding to The Riddler for challengers to intellect; The Clock King. That episode of the animated series was terrifying and amazing.

[@invisibleghost3820]

I am intrigued please explain

[@AnomalyINC]

@@invisibleghost3820 The Clock King had no powers, he was just very, very punctual and knew exactly when this or that would happen. And the absolute madlad used this knowledge to nearly kill Batman. Basically weaponised OCD. And he got away with it, too. Bats never caught him. In his second episode, he gets his hands on a device that allows him to effectively stop time for everybody but himself. My DVD copy of this episode is scratched, but from what I remember, he nearly blew up Robin. Very strange character. Looks silly, sounds silly, somehow gets closer to killing Batman than most other villains, barring the usual suspects of the Joker, Ra'as, Sidney Debris and Mr. Freeze.

[@uberlephrad8218]

The clock's king episode was really tense and dealt with raising and keeping up tension really well. It really showed Batman's versatility and intelligence in a desperate moment.

[@rajarshisantra8203]

There's also Dr. Hugo Strange

[@aaronleverton4221]

Batman trying to stay awake against De, De, De, Dr Destiny felt like total fealty to source material to me. Oh, also, how to defeat Freddy Kreuger, who scared the crap out of me as a kid.

[@junperignon]

Honestly, I wouldn't have a problem with the "Kill Criminals" if say, the Snyderverse Batman was Thomas Wayne.

[@ceciliatoledo837]

and that would be literally everything

[@ericf.a8623]

Ok so hear me out: After his Son and wife died in a tragic accident Thomas was so traumatized he started to use his son name and pretend he was indeed Bruce

[@thepaperninja3123]

Or if it was bruce wayne but recurring Supervillains like the joker are dead

[@OmarAli-mh2jm]

@@ericf.a8623 what about Bruce died Martha didn't become the joker but she never spoke again and never left her room so Alfred looked after her Thomas killed and used guns

[@roaringthunder115]

Like in flashpoint?

[@beayn]

When the Flash asks "What's your superpower" and he says "I'm rich". It's funny, but it should have been "I'm smart."

[@emberfist8347]

More like "I know every martial art to exist, I trained under the best detectives and escape artists in the world and I never ever give up."

[@celadore]

Snyder created a batman and a superman who don't stand for anything at their core, so no matter how beautifully he moves them across the stage they still feel hollow.

[@Vesohag]

Batman, standing to stop a global level threat (first Superman, then Steppenwolf). Superman, standing to protect the Earth and save everyone (a whole montage of him rescuing people around the world).

[@rockyhorrorfreakshow5091]

@@Vesohag So the superheroes stand for saving people? How deep

[@Vesohag]

@@rockyhorrorfreakshow5091 Doesn't need to be that deep to be interesting or entertaining but seems even something this easy is difficult to understand for some people, lol.

[@formerfilmstudent8349]

@@Vesohag so to you them fighting a big bad guy who’s trying to end the world is automatically good writing and strong character depth? I wish I was as easily impressed as you

[@Vesohag]

@@formerfilmstudent8349 if the movie was only about them fighting a big bad guy, sure, would be very shallow. But since there is a whole 2 hours and a half of character development before that, plus social commentary, political criticism and a whole story about deconstruction of the super hero and redemption... Well, maybe you should go back to study cinema if that doesn't sound like something well planned and executed.

[@LezbionestHere]

Honestly, your pitch was kinda of like watching a movie in my mind. I forgot I wasnt actually listening to an actual synopsis. It had twists and turns, and was thoroughly interesting

[@mikekyeame975]

right!

[@billienews]

Same. Just shows how good of a writer he is.

[@DarkTider]

25.38 - to be fair to Snyder, in the comic, Batman just straight up murders KGBeast (the Batman villain from Batman v Superman) in cold blood. - It was later retconned that he survived, but straight up premeditated first degree murder AFTER he was beaten. - Also, in the comics Batmans integrity DID go out the window after Jason Todd died, exactly the same way it happened in Batman V Superman, and in addition it plays into the core theme of the entire movie; of Superman restoring hope to just ONE person. It's why the movie opens on Batmans origin, and ends on Batman changing his ways. Did you just straight up miss Batmans entire character arc in the movie?!?!

[@emberfist8347]

Batman's integrity never went out the window after Jason died. He was still Batman as we know and love him. And he never killed KGBeast.

[@tmac731]

Batman and Superman as a buddy cop is not Batman v Superman

[@rebeccaabram2312]

And the BEST part of that Batman Animated sequence with the Society? The FIRST THING Joker remarks on is "Why is he alive?" Seriously the JOKER KNEW this would end badly! THE FRIGGIN JOKER!

[@M0nkee_mode]

Zach is asleep and the whole team is shouting at him. He jolts awake. “What” he asks. The team shouts at him “what aspect ratio should we use!!!” He looks at his watch. Ummmmm 4:3???

[@junaydfisher211]

The aspect ratio thing is something that a lot of directors are doing nowadays, it's meant for imax theaters, James Gunn is doing it with the suicide squad as well.

[@johnboko7110]

Snyder knew why he put it in 4:3

[@kidanarchy2105]

So idk if this was intentional, but the BvS rewrite pitch feels a lot like Superman/Batman Public Enemies (I'm going to assume it was since you refrenced other DC Animated works). One thing I would add to that is an additional assassin during the segments in the middle. Bruce recognizes most of them, and points them out. Bane, Shiva, Deadshot, maybe even some more obscure ones like Black Spider or Silver Monkey. But there's one assassin Bruce doesn't recognize, although he does mention that his fighting style seems familiar. The assassin wears a leather jacket, a bullet proof vest underneath, and a red, expressionless helmet. This assassin would have one or two big fight scenes, but would more or less be sticking to the background, and even more curiously, seem to be going more after Batman than Superman, despite the bounty. During the final fight with all the assassins, once it became clear the Super-clone wasn't holding back, he'd disappear in a smoke bomb. Then, in one additional after credits scene, we'd see this assassin, sitting at in a room full of computers, watching footage of all of the fights from earlier. He sighs, finally taking off his helmet, although the audience doesn't see his face. He then chuckles to himself. "You haven't lost your touch... Bruce." I just feel like if Bruce's arc is so dead focused on Jason's death, then you *have* to set up Under The Red Hood. For the more unfamiliar audience goers, this doesn't spoil the mystery that I imagine the Batman solo film would be all about, but for veteran fans it becomes immediately apparent who that is.

[@JustaGuy_Gaming]

A big aspect of it I always felt was Snyder did a decent job at batman for the most part, but basically had no Bruce Wayne. Even when he's out of the suite Snyder's batman still acts like batman.

[@amyaurion]

I'm so, so fucking sad about this because I adore Ben Affleck as Batman but the material he was given was just so depressingly bad.

[@HunterSlayer2727]

Not related but...I love the icon buddy, adore Jensen Ackles as Redhood in Under the Redhood. Not sure how i feel about his voice as Batman in The Long Halloween though. Oh and to comment on your comment, recently watched Gone Girl, omg Affleck was cheated so hard for Batman Vs Superman and Justice League as he's brilliant. So disappointing...

[@gabbjohnn]

@DoomerVlogs yeah, they are even over exaggerating at Snyder's JL

[@JacobGrim]

Haha no it wasn't. May I direct you to Twin Perfect's videos on BvS?

[@megashark1013]

@@JacobGrim That video is the shittest fucking thing. It's just non-stop terrible arguments.

[@timothysondej516]

@@JacobGrim I saw that, I agree with twin

[@spunkush]

The problem is that a character can only be as smart as the author.

[@kirbyfazendoummoonwalk9214]

Snyder thinks he is way smarter than he actualy is

[@spunkush]

@@JS-oh2dp yes, I was over simplifying. You can also make a character smarter through a team of writers.

[@har5814]

Chris Terrio wrote the screenplay.

[@Xehanort10]

@@kirbyfazendoummoonwalk9214 His fanbase don't help with that. They encourage his delusion that he's the greatest, deepest filmmaker on earth.

[@TOAOM123]

@@jamesfoxsmith It must hurt so much being you

[@tahlia__nerds_out]

So your Batman & Superman movie rewrite is kind of akin to Jeph Loeb’s Superman/Batman: Public Enemies comic. Cool stuff. I love your use over the choice Snyder made to have Clark let his father die to help Bruce (even though comic Jason absolutely was PO’ed that Bruce didn’t avenge him and resented that Bruce’s relationship with Dick was always stronger). Great rewrite

[@SpiderGoblin2012]

I think the only way Synder's Batman not having integrity could've worked is if Superman still did. Like knocking Batman down a peg to lift Superman up, and that in meeting Superman and seeing how he's kept his integrity intact shows him how far he's fallen. It still wouldn't have been great, but it at least would've given him a reason to do it

[@adamfreddo5703]

Also, the irony of Snyder saying heroes aren't innocent and if you think they are "you're living in a dream world" is literally what Manchester Black says to Superman before Superman gives a speech of what he's all about and how dreams can inspire.

[@Xehanort10]

You just know Snyder thinks Manchester Black is a hero even though he didn't just kill criminals but also innocents who disagreed with him. This is the guy who looked at Watchmen's Rorschach and saw a great hero instead of a guy who while an interesting character is still a black and white thinking psychopath who kills criminals because he likes it not to save innocent lives, is a sexist who thinks all women are whores due to projecting his hatred for his abusive prostitute mother onto women in general, he's overly patriotic to the point he justifies the Comedian trying to rape the first Silk Spectre just because Comedian was in the army.

[@MinhVTGIS]

not all heroes are innocent Superman killed people in Pocket Universe (Jim Starlin) Batman tried to kill KGbest (chuck dixon) and The Riddler (Tom king) Wonder Woman killed Maxwell (Greg Rucka)

[@bigdadybojangls9219]

@@Xehanort10 yes! In the Watchmen graphic novel, Rorschach is pretty clearly a very disturbed and very frightening psychopath that uses “justice” as an excuse to do what he does. Snyder obviously didn’t understand and was like “wow he’s so cool!”

[@emberfist8347]

@@MinhVTGIS Maxwell Lord's death ignores that was literally the only option. Max himself said Superman couldn't be freed from mind control so only killing him would stop him.

[@AndrewLyon23]

Dude, your lines between Superman and the Bat over Robins death gave goosebumps. You should've written this movie.