Batman v Superman Trailer #1 Thoughts

So Zack Snyder just tweeted out the first trailer for Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice. Apparently the leaked Latin American trailer was for real, and this is our first official look at the movie in action. I am glad WB and DC took this step. Marvel had to do the same thing with Avengers: Age of Ultron when their trailer leaked ahead of its premier during Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. I think this is smart. Give people a clean look at the movie. The way you intend it to look, not a subpar version. Took WB and DC a little longer than Marvel to come to this decision, but they got there.

The trailer itself is excellent, in my opinion. It clearly continues the tone of Man of Steel, and the movie appears to have a dark tone about it. Which I like. I get bogged down in the grim and gritty as much as the next fanboy (or girl), but at least WB is not just making Marvel movies with DC characters. They are trying to do their own thing, and for me, it works. Don’t know that it will garner the universal appeal of the Marvel movies which seem to be a little more light hearted, but for what WB is trying to do, it works for me.

The trailer itself makes the movie look like it is almost a direct adaptation of the seminal Batman comic The Dark Knight Returns. Which is something fans have known for a long time (ever since the movie was announced at Comic-Con 2 years ago). The trailer opens with a bunch of “talking heads” commenting on Superman’s place in our world. This is clearly inspired by the ongoing panels of “talking heads” in The Dark Knight Returns. And then you have the central conflict of Batman and Superman at odds, with Bruce even telling Kal that he will “bleed.” While the movie is subtitled Dawn of Justice, a reference to the emergence of the Justice League, there is no mention of the other major characters debuting in the movie, even Wonder Woman. I really wonder how they will work in so many debuts into a movie that seems very focused (so far) on the conflict between Bats and Supes.

I really don’t like speculating on the movies story or plot, but I have to wonder if the voice over when Ben Afflec’s Bruce is first shown, about a “fever,” has something to do with the villain and a malevolent force that is, for lack of a better word, infecting the population to turn on Superman.

I love what they did with Batman’s voice. I think it is clear, although I have been wrong before, that Bruce is using some sort of voice modulator to alter his voice. His lines to Superman come off as almost mechanical, which works for a character that is methodic and focused. Henry Cavil looks like he may be even more buff for this go around than he was in Man of Steel. The shot of him catching or picking up a large object (a satellite? Debris from a battle?) is impressive. His arms are enormous. The new Batmobile gets a short reveal, and appears to be VERY Tumbler-esque. This made me happy. A case if it ain’t broke, don’t try and fix it.

So all in all, I really enjoy the trailer. Unfortunately for WB, they debuted it a little more than 24 hours after the new Star Wars: The Force Awakens trailer. And maybe I am not gushing over BvS, because of how incredible the new Star Wars trailer was. But the Star Wars trailer also has nostalgia on its side. While I would give BvS a solid 8 out of 10 for its new trailer, Star Wars easily gets an 11 out of 10. I wonder if I would not be more enamored with the BvS trailer, had my expectation level for trailers not been shattered by Star Wars.

If you haven't seen the new Star Wars trailer, check it out below. I will try and post my thoughts on it in the near future.