More thoughts and things that are really sticking out(things I didn't mention in previous posts) as to why I prefer the cut, so much more...
- The Library party scene is miles better, in this cut. The driving force of it is and should be Bruce and Clark Interacting/Bruce getting data of off Lex's Servers/Diana being mysterious. Lex's is speech is supposed to be aimless rambling, we're not supposed to hear most of it, as we're supposed to be focusing on what the other characters are doing. Somehow, inexplicably, the theatrical cut focuses on Lex's Speech, in a way that fixates us on it and leaves us puzzled. The Ultimate cut reverses the issue and cuts straight to Bruce on his mission right after Lex gets on stage. The only time we focus back on Lex dialogue is during the better parts of that speech, when we're being shown that Lex is so in his head, it's making him nuts..."Knowledge and Power are paradoxical..etc.". Overall the focus on the heroes gives the scene momentum and energy. I love those shoes, now I really love this scene.
- When I compare the theatrical cut to Man of Steel it felt like Lois and Clark had more chemistry in that movie, then they did in this one. It's pretty obvious, so many of the scenes with Lois and Clark together got cut out, or truncated. In the ultimate cut,The bath-tub scene obviously has more room to breathe, and we just have more Lois and Clark/Superman engaged in each others lives and caring for one another. So you're going to feel more dread when Superman makes his sacrifice. Essentially, they seem to have a stronger relationship, in this cut, which allows us to be more invested in them as characters.
- Senator Finch. Holly Hunter is phenomenal actress and the fact that she played this character so straight and seriously, gave the character and the film, a whole lot of credibility. Usually, great academy award calibre actors phone in their performance or ham it up, in superhero films. Her performance is so powerful that it would makes you believe the Superman is a real force, in our world. When she was talking to Charlie Rose about Superman, she was as serious as a heart attack. However, in the theatrical cut she kind of has a one-track mind, to the point of being grating, and then get's blown up. It's like she's not giving Lex what he wants, but she's continuously going after Superman. In the ultimate cut, there are story changes that make her a far more sympathetic, on-the-verge-of-being-heroic, character. Then when Lex blows her up, it's a bit more tragic because she was going to essentially vindicate Superman and have her "Day of Truth".
- Superman is being mopier than expected and annoying on Lois' balcony. That was my first thought watching the thatrical cut, for the first time. Why is he diappearing off to the mountains, now? Had I seen the scene, where Superman sees dead bodies lined up and zipped into body bags, I'd have been far more understanding. The capital aftermath is really a horrific scene that Superman stuck around for and saved people in(great shot of Superman landing with a woman, in his arms). I can now see why Superman is so disturbed by it all and questioning the point of being Superman is. Black Zero event, Nairomi, and now Capital explosion...even if he's not directly responsible for these events, he's around them and being associated with them. I appreciate and understand his inner conflict more than ever here...
Jon Stewart. I'm a fan and glad that him as the Daily Show host is a touch point of this film, as I'll be revisting it quite a bit. Also, unlike other media heads talking about Superman like Neil DeGrasse Tyson, and Andrew Sullivan...Jon Stewart talks about how Superman essentially said he is going to be representing the world and not just the United States. This was a story point in a David Goyer penned Superman comic, where he renounces his US citizenship. Kind of makes me think there may have been a scene of Superman addressing the press and making this proclamation. Perhaps, it was in the 4-hour cut
One other thing I forgot to mention. One of the complaints of the TC was the editing. To me the worst of example of this was Bruce Going the grave, Waking up from his nightmare at his lake house, bunch of other random scenes, then back to the lake house for the converstation with Alfred about the party. It was so jarring to me that we cut away from the lake house so quick after just getting into that scene, only to end up back there 3-4 minutes later. The UC fixes this and stays at lake house after he wakes up, from his nightmare. Many will think this is a minor change, but it really bothered me and I was super-glad to see it fixed, in the UC.
