Interestingly, on my fifth viewing, I actually noticed for the first time Lex shedding tears at his defeat and subsequent arrest. I actually felt some pity inasmuch as his arrogance and brilliance had completely screwed up any moral compass that he may have had. But then I remembered his actions of playing Russian roulette with the street vendor and using the pocket dimension as his own Chateau D’Iff and I realized he is a danger to humanity.
Lex is an interesting character in the comics as well. He has an egotistical delusion of grandeur that manifests itself in apathy. But when humanity is under attack, he wants to be its savior and he often relishes Superman actually needing his help because it is a reminder of Superman not being all powerful, and of his own significance when a being like Superman requires his assistance.