BvS Jesse Eisenberg IS Lex Luthor - Part 10

[KillerWolf]

Yeah, that's why I think this could work out in the end. Fingers crossed.

Fingers crossed, indeed.

 

[The Guard]

We really haven't, Kevin Spacey's Lex was not goofy. If you include live action TV we have gotten different takes on Lex there. Michael Rosenbaum essentially evolved into what the STAS Lex was aswell so we've even had that version. The problem is people want a specific version of Lex. None of the other Lex's have been like Eisenberg.

No, cause Kevin Spacey's Lex yelled "Wrong!" once and rolled the R in Kryptonite while he was torturing Superman. He was like, PURE CAMP.

I wish people would learn what camp means. I really, really do.

 

[Shazam]

We really haven't, Kevin Spacey's Lex was not goofy. If you include live action TV we have gotten different takes on Lex there. Michael Rosenbaum essentially evolved into what the STAS Lex was aswell so we've even had that version. The problem is people want a specific version of Lex. None of the other Lex's have been like Eisenberg.

Spacey had is own Donner take........ The whole "WRONNNG!" outburst......He even had his own version of the goofy Ms Tesbacher......and his "real estate" thing....... Sure, he had a sinister moment. But he was too Hackman-esque

 

[Mrs. Wayne]

True. And I think there's a possibility we'll get to experience a certain meta moment with Lex - same as characters in the film, we as an audience will underestimate him as well and be surprised to finally see him as a genuine threat and not quirky and silly little guy we assumed him to be.

That's a great point. There's a few cases of 'meta' moments going on throughout this film it seems. Lol. Or I may just be reading way too much into things.

 

[The Guard]

Spacey had is own Donner take........ The whole "WRONNNG!" outburst......He even had his own version of the goofy Ms Tesbacher......and his "real estate" thing....... Sure, he had a sinister moment. But he was too Hackman-esque

Hackmanesque in terms of the character's motivations, which were supposed to be an evolution of Hackman's Luthor. Not in terms of his portrayal of the character.

Lex Luthor has had a "female accomplice" for like, ever. It was a staple of the corporate businessman comic book Luthor to have various female accomplices until Mercy came along and became the go-to girl.

 

[The Guard]

That's a great point. There's a few cases of 'meta' moments going on throughout this film it seems. Lol. Or I may just be reading way too much into things.

I love that about this version of Lex. He's saying what it means, but it has at least two meanings.

He's very much the smartest guy in the room. At least he thinks he is.

Jesse mentioned this a while back. Luthor in this film will say exactly what he means, and not be lying exactly, but have a hidden meaning to almost everything he says.

 

[BH/HHH]

Spacey had is own Donner take........ The whole "WRONNNG!" outburst......He even had his own version of the goofy Ms Tesbacher......and his "real estate" thing....... Sure, he had a sinister moment. But he was too Hackman-esque

So because he yelled Wrong and the Kryptoniiite line that automatically makes him camp? Yeah right, sorry but he was nothing like Hackman's Lex outside of the real estate plot. There were many sinister moments not just the one where he stabbed Superman, what about the fact he basically ripped off an old lady fr her fortune? What about the scene where he sneaks the Kryptonite shard into his pocket? Or the moments where he talked to Jor El? Nothing camp there.

No, cause Kevin Spacey's Lex yelled "Wrong!" once and rolled the R in Kryptonite while he was torturing Superman. He was like, PURE CAMP.

I wish people would learn what camp means. I really, really do.

Edit: now I understand after seeing you're other posts. Agreed.

 

[The Guard]

Also, I think it's kind of pathetic that a man showing some energy and enthusiasm is deemed campy as a character, or "over the top".

It's like no fanboy has ever met a businessman, a salesman, someone duplicitous, fake, etc. They're quite often bright, enthusiastic, full of energy, and they're often very "fake" in public. Using your hands to make a point is Public Speaking/Business 101. It's not "over the top" or camp.

Even in the comics, Lex Luthor is often portrayed, when not being an outright snake, as bright, cheerful, glad-handing, etc.

 

[KillerWolf]

That's a great point. There's a few cases of 'meta' moments going on throughout this film it seems. Lol. Or I may just be reading way too much into things.

Ah, the Superman protesters you mean? Yeah, it does seem so. t:

Then again, we really could be reading too much into it, sometimes it's hard to tell.

 

[BH/HHH]

Also, I think it's kind of pathetic that a man showing some energy and enthusiasm is deemed campy as a character, or "over the top".

It's like no fanboy has ever met a businessman, a salesman, someone duplicitous, etc. They're quite often bright, enthusiastic, full of energy, and they're often very "fake" in public. Using your hands to make a point is Public Speaking/Business 101. It's not "over the top" or camp.

 

[Mrs. Wayne]

I love that about this version of Lex. He's saying what it means, but it has at least two meanings.

He's very much the smartest guy in the room. At least he thinks he is.

Jesse mentioned this a while back. Luthor in this film will say exactly what he means, and not be lying exactly, but have a hidden meaning to almost everything he says.

I'm in the same boat. And I remenber that quote from Jesse. There's just so much more to this character and it's intriguing. People should at least give him a chance.

 

[Shazam]

Hackmanesque in terms of the character's motivations, which were supposed to be an evolution of Hackman's Luthor. Not in terms of his portrayal of the character.

Lex Luthor has had a "female accomplice" for like, ever. It was a staple of the corporate businessman comic book Luthor to have various female accomplices until Mercy came along and became the go-to girl.

Mercy is no ditz, unlike Tesbach and this chick....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSigSQGmndg

..........she's a bodyguard and she ran Lex Corp while he was in jail in JL

 

[Infinity9999x]

We really haven't, Kevin Spacey's Lex was not goofy. If you include live action TV we have gotten different takes on Lex there. Michael Rosenbaum essentially evolved into what the STAS Lex was aswell so we've even had that version. The problem is people want a specific version of Lex. None of the other Lex's have been like Eisenberg.

Seducing an old dying woman to get her money, and sticking your wig on a family bust as he leaves the bed chamber? Goofy idiot henchmen? It was fairly campy. Not Spacey's fault, he had to play Hackman's Luthor.

And again, I'm still giving Eisenberg a shot, but right now it's really seeming like familiar territory. That may change, but I woukd have preferred a fresher take. I certainly don't think that's an unfair assessment.

 

[The Guard]

Seducing an old dying woman to get her money, and sticking your wig on a family bust as he leaves the bed chamber?

Why are those things inherently campy? He seduces the dying old woman because he wants her money. It's not played for laughs, it's played as him being a deceptive, awful human being.

He gives the wig to the kid because he's basically rubbing in the family's face that she meant nothing to him, he has her fortune, and they were powerless to stop him. It's a small moment of dark humor to allow some relaxation from the previously tense scene, not camp. There is nothing inherently campy about a wig or the use of wigs.

In all seriousness, do you know what camp is? Because a lot of people here don't seem to.

Goofy idiot henchmen? It was fairly campy. Not Spacey's fault, he had to play Hackman's Luthor.

Where exactly in the movie does he have goofy idiot henchman? He has henchman that aren't entirely prepared for Superman, or Superman's kid, or the realities of Kryptonian technology. But it's not like they're bumbling around falling all over themselves and being completely incompetent. They're deadly criminals, as evidenced in the sequence where they appropriate the Kryptonian tech, and where they beat Superman to within an inch of his life. But beyond that? I don't see being crushed by pieces of falling Kryptonian continent as "goofy".

And again, I'm still giving Eisenberg a shot, but right now it's really seeming like familiar territory. That may change, but I woukd have preferred a fresher take. I certainly don't think that's an unfair assessment.

It seems like familiar territory because you seem to equate "having some humor" as "That's the same thing I've seen before". There are some pretty sizeable differences between Gene Hackman, Kevin Spacey and Jesse Eisenberg's Luthors.

And I'm sorry, I don't consider a stoic, serious corporate villain to be a fresh concept. At all. It's been done to death, in the comics and on film.

 

[PacificBoy]

The Trinity shot was cool and all but the scene stealer for me was Lex making his entrance, because it was so unexpected. I got a real chuckle out of Jesse's Lex in the scene with Clark and Bruce, the right amount of camp at the right spot. Like something out of Argo, which I enjoyed.

 

[BH/HHH]

Seducing an old dying woman to get her money, and sticking your wig on a family bust as he leaves the bed chamber? Goofy idiot henchmen? It was fairly campy. Not Spacey's fault, he had to play Hackman's Luthor.

And again, I'm still giving Eisenberg a shot, but right now it's really seeming like familiar territory. That may change, but I woukd have preferred a fresher take. I certainly don't think that's an unfair assessment.

He wasn't it Hackman's Luthor and since when is a little one else of humour considered campy? He didn't put it on the bust either he gave it to the little girl which terrified her. Honestly Spacey's Lex been called campy or goofy is one of the biggest misconceptions ever. His henchmen weren't particularly goofy either, there wasn't an Otis there and how do his henchmen make him goofy exactly? I even think that's a big misconception about Suprrman, people say Lex was campy but it was because he was surrounded by Otis. Both Hackman and Spacey played it straight they just had a little fun with it too.

It's fair to not be keen on what you have seen but it's not a take we have already seen at all. It is a fresh take.

 

[TDK elbowstrike]

I know Eisenberg is a bit decisive right now, but can some of us at least agree that it's good that we finally get mad scientist Lex? I for one am overjoyed!

Previous Luthors in live action have had the, "greatest criminal mind" thing going for them but have been more concerned with money as an endgame. It seems the last two movie Luthors have only hated Superman because he impedes his big money schemes, and that any residual animosity he has for Supes is mostly secondary. With this Lex, it's personal...

This Lex Luthor has the potential to be the smartest one we've seen yet. And that's as important to his character as anything imho. A good start if nothing else. Guess we'll have to wait and see.

 

[The Guard]

I'm thrilled to be getting a businessman Lex with mad scientist elements.

I think it's going to be something special as the DCCU moves forward. Can't wait.

 

[BH/HHH]

I'm thrilled to be getting a businessman Lex with mad scientist elements.

I think it's going to be something special as the DCCU moves forward. Can't wait.

same

 

[Loki882]

The real problem with Spacey's Lex was that his master plan, as written in the script, is one of the most idiotic villain schemes in movie history. But aside from a couple of lines, he wasn't that much like Hackman's Lex. Heck even his sense of humor was much more, dry than Hackman's was.

 

[The Batman]

I don't think Spacey or Hackman were as campy or as goofy as fanboys think they were. I think "Camp" has become a lazy and often inaccurate term people use for when something has more humor than people want.

But, even Eisenberg has described past incarnations of Lex as camp, so what do I know?

 

[Adhesive Boy]

I know Eisenberg is a bit decisive right now, but can some of us at least agree that it's good that we finally get mad scientist Lex? I for one am overjoyed!

Previous Luthors in live action have had the, "greatest criminal mind" thing going for them but have been more concerned with money as an endgame. It seems the last two movie Luthors have only hated Superman because he impedes his big money schemes, and that any residual animosity he has for Supes is mostly secondary. With this Lex, it's personal...

This Lex Luthor has the potential to be the smartest one we've seen yet. And that's as important to his character as anything imho. A good start if nothing else. Guess we'll have to wait and see.

The character's place in the universe is most likely where it should be as he must be someone that can be a foil for more than Superman in the shared universe. The choice of having him use his resources to tamper with these weird things is definitely a good spin on it. I still remain worried though as you need a character and actor that comes off well on the screen in order for any of that to work, but at least some pieces of the puzzle seems to be where they should.

 

[Shazam]

Also, I think it's kind of pathetic that a man showing some energy and enthusiasm is deemed campy as a character, or "over the top".

It's like no fanboy has ever met a businessman, a salesman, someone duplicitous, fake, etc. They're quite often bright, enthusiastic, full of energy, and they're often very "fake" in public. Using your hands to make a point is Public Speaking/Business 101. It's not "over the top" or camp.

Even in the comics, Lex Luthor is often portrayed, when not being an outright snake, as bright, cheerful, glad-handing, etc.

Can you provide something on this?? Luthor has NEVER been played as cheerful or glad-handing!! Wow......you guys will say anything to pad your argument for these silly portrayals (especially this new one) ......Luthor has always been seriously bitter toward Superman.....motivations may have changed thru the years. But he aint never been cheerful. Even Luthor in Smallville was serious........he got even more sinister as the seasons progressed.

 

[ernesth100]

You seem to forgot one thing adaption=changes. Did you guys really expect a 100% faithful portrayal?

I mean, I think it's nice they took some creative liberties.

 

[LamboMan]

Can you provide something on this?? Luthor has NEVER been played as cheerful or glad-handing!! Wow......you guys will say anything to pad your argument for these silly portrayals (especially this new one) ......Luthor has always been seriously bitter toward Superman.....motivations may have changed thru the years. But he aint never been cheerful. Even Luthor in Smallville was serious........he got even more sinister as the seasons progressed.

So the whole "If man wont kill god, the DEVIL WILL DO IT!!" line didn't seem at all angry or sinister or bitter or whatever to you?

That seemed to me like the perfect Lex line, he can't stand to be second best or to have Superman around. He's creating Doomsday to take out Superman, how much more sinister do you want him to get really?

From the trailers I can see 3 sides to Lex. His 'campy' side for the public, his manipulative and businessman side for the senators and people of influence and his egotistical, psychotic, mad scientist side for his personal motivations against Supes. I'd say we're getting comic Lex to the L. Atleast the one from Superman Birthright.

Quoting something I said a few pages back that nobody seemed to pick up on >

Also, the core characteristic of Lex from the comics is FINALLY being shown on screen (Smallville was close), the one where he wants to be the ultimate being on the planet through his intellect and can't stand it when Supes takes his limelight and thunder away.

It was never the quest for just power, for just fame or for freaking REAL ESTATE (lol XD) but his real motive was to the be the ultimate herald of humanity and to make things in this world how HE sees fit.

He is the Ozymandias of the DC Universe, he spits in the faces of Gods and will do anything to bring them down. And I have a strong feeling we are getting that true Lex this time.