IGN asked Zack Snyder why Superman didnt hear his mothers cries for help using his superhearing. First of all, Snyder told them that he thinks the distance between Metropolis to Smallville is about Supermans superhearing range. (Which, you know what? Well put that one down to a different interpretation of Supermans powers. That can happen. Of course it means that I now have no clue how Superman showed up to save Lois in the opening scene unless he always hovers within his range of her. Which is another kind of creepy all together... and, no. Im letting this particular plothole go.)
Second, of all, Snyder said that the many cries for help in the city would make finding Ma Kent difficult. Which was, he then went on to say, the basis of a cut scene:
"We had a scene that we cut from the movie where he tries to look for her when he finds out that Lex has got her. It was a slightly dark scene that we cut out because it sort of represented this dark side. Because when he was looking for his mom he heard all the cries of all the potential crimes going on in the city, you know when you look."
I know. I know the idea that something was cut from Batman v Superman for being dark is laughably insane. And while we applaud the instinct that had the scene where Superman ignores innocents crying for help removed from the final cut of the film, we do have to question the mind that filmed it in the first place. Thankfully, Snyder went on to explain why he liked the scene originally:
"I kind of like the idea that hes taught himself not to look because if he looks its just neverending, right? You have to know when, as Superman, when to intervene and when not to. Or not when not to, you cant be everywhere at once, literally you cant be everywhere at once, so he has to be really selective in a weird way about where he chooses to interfere."
http://io9.gizmodo.com/zack-snyder-actually-cut-a-scene-from-batman-v-superman-1769852911
You know what...