BvS Jesse Eisenberg IS Lex Luthor - - Part 11

[DarthDaveBanner]

I'll just be careful not to drink any peach tea for a few weeks afterwards...

 

[JohnReese]

I can appreciate a director attempting a different approach. Snyder's approach to Luthor in this film was just odd. I can honestly say if this was Lex's first appearance in a film medium it wouldn't have been so bad.

 

[Flint Marko]

I posted this in another thread, but I'm really hoping I can actually get some answers here:

I find it absurd that the movie ends with Lex saying that "something is coming" when we haven't been clued into what he knows, how he knows it, when he found out, how that knowledge has informed him or his motivations, or why we should care.
If someone can shed some light on this, it'd be appreciated. I saw the deleted scene so I understand that clears it up but based on the theatrical cut, it came completely out of left field. Is there a scene I'm missing where this is cleared up or hinted at?

 

[Jaxon]

I posted this in another thread, but I'm really hoping I can actually get some answers here:

I find it absurd that the movie ends with Lex saying that "something is coming" when we haven't been clued into what he knows, how he knows it, when he found out, how that knowledge has informed him or his motivations, or why we should care.
If someone can shed some light on this, it'd be appreciated. I saw the deleted scene so I understand that clears it up but based on the theatrical cut, it came completely out of left field. Is there a scene I'm missing where this is cleared up or hinted at?

There's no doubt there's some assumption on how Lex knows, but it's not important to the narrative, it's something that will be revealed later. You can assume Lex has asked the scout ship 2 critical questions;

"how do I kill Superman?" - cook up a Doomsday
"what else is out there?" - this guy called Darkseid

You have to remember Lex's primary motivation is that he is trying to change the view of the world. We have so much evidence that the world is genuinely OK with Superman; newspaper articles, a statue, "puff piece editorial, world doesn't share your opinion Mr Wayne", the montage of his deeds, saving the girl, and Lex is sitting thinking "what is wrong with everyone? He can't be all powerful and all good."

Lex looks at the world and thinks the world is lying to itself, plus he has all this information about other metas who haven't come out because Superman is dealing with everything just fine. So he decides to discredit the symbol of Superman, not just simply kill him with kryptonite. You kill him, he gets immortalised, and the other metas come out. Lex would then achieve nothing.
So he goes about with all the information he has to discredit Superman and subvert the other metas from coming out.

It's a really intricate plot. It's hard to get on first viewing, that's probably because the roof top speech he has with Lois and then with Superman he is in a bit of a crazed state at that point. But that's because after going in to the scout ship and learning what he learns he knows he's done. At that point he knows he will discredit Superman, because of Batman, and he is cooking Doomsday up. But in the end it doesn't matter, he thinks everyone is stupid and lying to themselves about this Superman guy so he sees himself as winning, and that's what matters most.

If you view this as a Lex origin I think you'll get into it more, this is not an established Lex, this is a victim of child abuse who is still developing.

 

[Flint Marko]

I do appreciate the in-depth answer but from what I can tell, no, it wasn't properly set up or hinted at until he's in the jail going "ding ding ding". You can argue it isn't important to the narrative but his final scene is pretty jarring when you consider what came before. It's egregious world-building and sequel bait. You can call it an intricate plot, I'd call it muddled and convoluted.

 

[Jaxon]

I do appreciate the in-depth answer but from what I can tell, no, it wasn't properly set up or hinted at until he's in the jail going "ding ding ding". You can argue it isn't important to the narrative but his final scene is pretty jarring when you consider what came before. It's egregious world-building and sequel bait. You can call it an intricate plot, I'd call it muddled and convoluted.

You'll get that in every extended universe though. The MCU severely comprises itself to ensure set up. I think the communion scene in context in the 3 hour cut will clear this bit up.

 

[Paradox1]

I'm in the minority here but I like Jesse as Lex. At first it was jarring because I've seen a certain kinda Luthor the past 30years or so. Which is the cooperate raider inspired by the 1980's. This Lex is more of a throwback to the 60's and 70's mad scientist whose arrogant enough to believe he can box with God. He thought he was powerful till Superman arrived and became obsessed with bringing him down.

 

[sf2]

almost as smart as the lex luthor in the comic.

 

[Blitzkrieg]

I really liked Jesse Eisenberg as lex luthor in the movie,at first his interpretation seemed off the mark but upon more viewing his take on the character got to me. Apart from a scene or two I thought jesse/lex was really very good and Geoff Johns has said that lex will evolve as a character,so there'a good chance we will see a more comic book accurate lex from now on. I just wonder in what capacity will lex be present in Justice league and what purpose will he serve in the movie.

 

[Consona]

Geoff Johns has said that lex will evolve as a character,so there'a good chance we will see a more comic book accurate lex from now on.

This. The same thing as "baffled Superman" and "killing Batman", all those people yelling "this in not my Lex/Superman/Batman, Snyder doesn't understand those characters" should realize these characters will evolve. And from all the JL interviews I read, with Zack, Geoff and others, this is the case, there'll be no more killing Batman and indecisive Superman and bald Lex will be more classical/less controversial too.

Nonetheless, I loved Jesse's Lex in BvS.

 

[C. Lee]

Just a reminder to everyone.....if you want to act childish and try to start a DC v Marvel war.....you get infracted and put on probation. If you can't get along with other comic fans just because they like different comic book characters then you don't need to be posting on here.

 

[theBKwhopper]

I was a little iffy on Lex's character at first, but I'll admit, it was due to my ignorance on the character's origin. He has really grown on me and I thought Eisenberg did a fantastic job! The deleted scene really brought a lot of context of how Lex knows all that he knows and really cleared things up.

 

[ChocheTheHero]

[YT]0s5IFPrXeRI[/YT]

 

[idiot09]

I was discussing with my friend yesterday about what makes a true Lex Luthor and we couldnt decide on it.So we checked Wikipedia and dcwiki(i know thats dumb but thats a only way to settle a debate :P) to check his key characteristics and what matched and what didnt with Eisenberg's Lex.

power-mad American billionaire-check
business magnate-check
gifted scientist-check
inventor-dunno(does doomsday count?)
philanthropist to the city of Metropolis-check(rebuild metropolis,charity to library of metropolis)
and one of the most intelligent people in the world-check
A charismatic and well-known public figure-not quite.Well known yes,but not very charismatic.
he is intent on ridding the world of alien superhero Superman, who Lex Luthor views as an obstacle to his megalomaniacal plans and as a threat to the very existence of humanity-check


So I think he needs to be a bit more charismatic,charming and suave to gain the public trust.A Luthor you can trust as a president.And lose the manic ness a bit.Then he can be pretty close to canon-Lex.He is already very close.

 

[The Joker]

^ That's like saying Arnie's Mr Freeze is close to canon because;

Scientist - Check
Tragic accident - Check
Trying to save dying wife - Check
Creator of Freeze technology - Check
Ruthless in getting what he wants - Check
Wears Freeze powered suit - Check

Problem is he and Eisen Lex are as a camp as a row of tents, and don't capture the essence of their characters at all.

 

[idiot09]

If you thought this Lex was campy then I cant change your mind.But after seeing the UC,it furthered my belief that this Lex is a extremely dangerous sociopath who manipulates people like puppets.Some of his scenes like the one with the senator,and his two conversations with Superman,him in the scoutship were extremely well done where he was done seriously and felt dangerous.There were light scenes like the jolly rancher one.But overall I thought his Lex was a manic,yet an extremely dangerous foe.Obviously we dont see eye-to-eye on that(and since I have never seen you post something positive about this movie) lets agree to disagree.

 

[Paradox1]

^ That's like saying Arnie's Mr Freeze is close to canon because;

Scientist - Check
Tragic accident - Check
Trying to save dying wife - Check
Creator of Freeze technology - Check
Ruthless in getting what he wants - Check
Wears Freeze powered suit - Check

Problem is he and Eisen Lex are as a camp as a row of tents, and don't capture the essence of their characters at all.

How can you say definitively what that essence is? He's been around for a long time and each person has differing opinion on the matter.

 

[Doctor Octopus]

Snyder get essence of Lex all wrong. This supposed to be serious take on Lex Luthor but he act like he jump out of Joel Schumacher Batman film lol.

 

[theBKwhopper]

Snyder get essence of Lex all wrong. This supposed to be serious take on Lex Luthor but he act like he jump out of Joel Schumacher Batman film lol.

.... wut...

 

[The Joker]

How can you say definitively what that essence is?

Because I know the character. I've read the comics. Can you point out a serious iteration of the character that reflects Eisenberg's cartoonish performance?

He's been around for a long time and each person has differing opinion on the matter.

Batman's been around for a long time, too. That's why people slam Batfleck for being an irrational murderous fool. Because that's another characterization that goes against the essence of a character.

 

[Da-Scribe]

I don't really care about all this essence stuff. It's a fictional character that's open to varying interpretations.

 

[Paradox1]

Because I know the character. I've read the comics. Can you point out a serious iteration of the character that reflects Eisenberg's cartoonish performance?



Batman's been around for a long time, too. That's why people slam Batfleck for being an irrational murderous fool. Because that's another characterization that goes against the essence of a character.

Right, cause your the authority on cannon apparently that's good to know.

 

[The Joker]

Right, cause your the authority on cannon apparently that's good to know.

You can be, too, if you pick up a comic book or two. The facts are there in print. So could Snyder if he actually read the material, instead of just copying the pretty pictures. But he's more of a style over substance director.

 

[Mr. Forest]

While I prefer, say, the Lex Luthor from the DCAU, BvS has given me my favorite interpretation of the character on film. Plus I thought Jesse Eisenberg was superb in the role and turned in a very memorable performance. I'm looking forward to more movies with Lex and I hope to see him develop into a more sinister, intimidating villain.

 

[titansupes]

almost as smart as the lex luthor in the comic.

Haven't read it myself, but is this not from an out-of-continuity story in which Superman takes over the world? Not the best example of "being true to the source..."