Review of "Batman v Superman: A Beautiful Lie" by Steve Baxi: Part Two

"Batman v Superman: A Beautiful Lie" is A Horrible Lie : Part Two

Steve claims Superman and Batman are one-dimensional abstractions rather than people.  This statement ignores just about everything this movie represents, an emotional and transformative journey of two very realistically conflicted people. 

It seems Steve once again starts complaining about not being told things rather than focusing on the story the movie is telling.  Next he’ll be complaining the Mona Lisa doesn’t tell us why she’s smiling.  He begins with Batman and argues we have no backstory for the character.  Aside from countless stories having been told about Batman, just about all backstory necessary to understand the story and the motivations of the character can be inferred within the context of the movie.  (Will he complain if Spider-man Homecoming has no origin story given it’s a new Spider-man in the movie?)

Steve complains that the movie never tells us that the burnt building is Wayne Manor.  Well ACTUALLY, if you pay attention Steve, the movie shows a shot of the Wayne family crest indicating this manor belongs to none other than ::gasp:: the Waynes, hence Wayne Manor.  And let’s not forget the fact that Bruce actually says to Alfred while the crest is on screen “You know my father sat me down right here, told me what Wayne Manor was built on.”  And if we’re leaving our assumptions at the door as Steve suggests we do, then how would we even know to look for Wayne Manor?  So Steve’s whole argument that it looks like Batman is hanging around an abandoned building in his spare time is completely nonsensical and is an indication that Steven needs to rewatch the movie.

Steve goes on to address the way Bruce stares at his Batman costume saying “From the way the scene is shot and Affleck’s performance we can draw a few vague ideas…” and proceeds to throw a slew of maybes at us complaining the movie doesn’t flat out tell us why he stares at the costume and it doesn’t happen often enough to form a pattern.  But is Steve forgetting that this is a visual medium?  Are we not supposed to infer things based on cinematography and performance?  Are we not humans that can read body language?  The fact that Steve can accurately decipher what is conveyed in the scene with all his maybes is evidence that the scene adequately captures what it is trying to say.  Add that to context clues from other scenes, specifically the previous scene where Bruce expresses a desire to use the suit, and the movie tells us all we need to know.

Steve then goes on a tirade about inconsistencies about Batman.  Oh geez, where do I begin.  Not only do we not need to know it is Robin’s suit in the Batcave to understand the story, but we also don’t need to know its Robin’s suit to understand that something bad clearly happened, that someone got one over on Batman, and that he is feeling remorseful about it which absolutely plays into his psyche.

Bruce’s psyche is damaged at the death of his parents which leads him to become Batman.  Its 20 years of losing good guys that have made him cynical and the destruction of Metropolis is the breaking point which led him into such a dark place.  There’s nothing inconsistent about it.  Steve lists a number of things he views as inconsistent, but it’s only because he’s completely missed the point of everything in the movie.  Why does Bruce put a tracker on the truck carrying Kryptonite?  So that if he loses the truck he can still follow it with the tracker.  Why doesn’t he just go to the location of where the tracker stops?  It’s certainly not because Batman isn’t thinking clearly which Steve suggests.  Let’s see….it would take longer and waste more time.  The Kryptonite could be removed from the truck at any point such as to transfer it to another vehicle or because it has reached its destination.  Once the Kryptonite reaches its final destination it might be in a place where the tracker would lose signal or is discovered.  He has no idea what type of place the final destination will be, potentially having very tight security therefore requiring additional reconnaissance and a new strategy.  Anyone who actually does some thinking can see the obvious reasons.

This is where Steve claims there is a big inconsistency.  He asks why bat branding is going too far but reckless endangerment isn’t.  But OF COURSE his reckless endangerment is going too far which is the whole reason Superman interferes.  Steve asks why Alfred doesn’t just pull the plug.  But Bruce will continue to be Batman with or without Alfred.  At least if Alfred helps him he can keep an eye on him and he’s less likely to get himself killed.  And to ask if Bruce even knows if people die from the bat brand implies Bruce doesn’t ever see a newspaper or watch the news.  Not only does Alfred try to reason with Bruce to try to get him to see the light, but he does express a distaste for Bruce’s methods who then replies they are criminals and have always been criminals. 

A lot of his myopic rhetoric is just stating what’s not in the movie and none of which needs to be. What Steve calls inconsistent is just more of what’s not included in the movie rather than actual inconsistency.  He complains that we don’t see Bruce’s reactions to the other Justice League members, beings Bruce knowns little to nothing about except for strange footage that warrants further investigation.  It has nothing to do with his agenda to kill Superman.  These beings did not destroy Metropolis and kill his friends and co-workers.  Nor have they posed any threat to humanity.  Once his mission to kill Superman is finished he has plenty of time to pursue these other metas and determine if they are actually threats.  The movie is woven with content establishing and exploring Bruce’s psyche.  It doesn’t need to show even more via reactions to the metas.

Steve claims Superman is equally confused and a worse character than Batman.  He gets framed for the burned bodies in Africa and Steve suggests he should have looked into it rather than his reaction of not caring what people are saying.  But I have to ask Steve, look into what?  For starters the bodies had to have already been taken away.  And even if they hadn’t, what would he find?  I bunch of burned bodies.  He didn’t know anything about the special bullets being used.  Lois never told him.  In fact that’s the only lead Lois even has to further investigate.  Where exactly is Steve’s logic?

Steve states that Superman and Lois’ relationship is underdeveloped and horribly toxic.  What?  What does that even mean?!?!  He says he doesn’t know what either of them wants from the other.  I can’t help but laugh at the absurdity of that statement.  What does anyone want in a relationship and what does anyone want from their significant other.  He argues that Lois and Clark’s relationship makes no sense as if any relationship is supposed to have more purpose than simply two people loving each other.  No, instead he insists that Lois is supposed to be Superman’s world and his connection to humanity but that Martha fills that role.  In what way is the love a mother the same as the love of a mate?  And in what scenario is it healthy for a man’s mother to be his world?  Furthermore, if Steve claims that Man of Steel failed at making Martha Superman’s connection to humanity, why would he question Lois filling that role? 

Then Steve assumes that Superman thinks Earth isn’t his world because he thinks he belongs on Krypton.  Not only does the movie never state that or imply it in any way, but the whole point of him feeling this isn’t his world goes over Steve’s head which is that the world is not accepting him as one of them making him feel always separate from humanity.  Then Steve questions what kind of hope Superman is supposed to be inspiring.  I’m sorry.  Are there different kinds of hope?  Is there good hope and bad hope?  He then asks what people see Superman as aside from a being that can save them from danger and what he is to the general public.  This is the whole point of the movie.  This is the question that’s being addressed!  If you don’t see this then you aren’t watching the same movie.  The world is trying to decide what Superman is and Lex plays on that perception in order to slander him and make the public question his existence.  In fact Batman flat out says in the closing scenes of the movie that “Men are still good.  We fight, we kill, we betray one another, but we can rebuild, we can do better, we will, we have to.”  THAT is the hope Superman is inspiring!

Steve mocks the scene of Superman being consoled by his mother demanding Superman to speak and implies the fact that he doesn’t say anything makes the scene not work.  This is yet another scene that Steve doesn’t understand.  I’d love to know what Steve thinks Superman should say here.  There really is nothing to say.  Superman is taking in advice from his mother like a good farm boy trying to decide exactly what he wants to do and how he should handle the situation.  He doesn’t know his place in the world and he struggles with it throughout the movie, which is why he doesn’t speak out about where he stands.  This inner struggle about his place in the world is even acknowledged in his scene with Lois on the balcony.  His one chance to finally address the world is at the Senate which makes Lex blowing it up all the more powerful, because it would work against Lex’s plans if Superman were to have an open dialogue.  And the fact that Steve calls Superman’s response in the explosion subdued suggests he doesn’t understand the emotional struggle Superman is feeling in that scene.  It did not warrant that type of scream that he suggests.  The people were already dead and there was nothing Superman could do at that point.  In fact two of the reactions he compares this scene to involve an extreme sense of fear at someone dying, not of people already dead with nothing that can be done about it.  Finally, the third involves a reaction to directly killing someone with Superman’s own hands.  The fact that he is comparing these emotional reactions to Superman’s emotional reaction in the Senate shows a lack of understanding of the scene and of basic human psychology.

Steve takes several quick jabs about randomly put together.

Why does Alfred say Superman is not their enemy?  Because Alfred is not blinded by fear and rage and sees the good Superman is doing.

Why does Superman turn to the mountains?  Because just like in the comics and like anyone might do he goes to a place of solitude to think, to be away from all the noise and distractions of the world.

Why can Clark stand for something in 1938 but not now?  Because if you know anything about the world and its history you know that newspapers were read far more in 1938 and they made a far greater impact than they do today in a world overrun by social media.

Why does the scene with Jonathan Kent work exactly the way Steve says it sets out to do?  Because watching Clark talk to himself on screen would be dumb as movies are not the best medium for inner monologue.

The fact that Steve questions why Superman would do anything to save Lois, the woman that he loves, is probably the most idiotic thing in this whole video rant.  Seriously?  Calling Superman overly infatuated?  I don’t know Steve personally, but I have to wonder if he has ever been in love.  If you love someone you would raise heaven and earth for them.  He cites the fact that Superman becomes a tyrannical monster once Lois dies.  Has he never watched any show or movie in which a spouse dies leaving a completely grief stricken widow or even heard of people dying from heartache from losing a spouse?  It is completely asinine.  What does Lois love about Superman?  Well ignoring the fact that he’s Superman, and the fact that he is a loving, caring, attractive person, I say what does anyone love about their significant other?

Steven needs his art spoon fed to him.  Often, subtlety is what makes good art good.  Steven considers this movie’s subtleties an insult to his “intelligence”.  

Steven Baxi's "Batman v Superman: A Beautiful Lie":

https://youtu.be/V7Z2AKOrQg4?t=22m1s

Batman v Superman: Inside the Mind of Lex Luthor

1) Lex cares about the world.

-Lex proposes a plan for "global security"

-Lex spearheads the rebuilding of Metropolis with his "rebuild Metropolis crews"

-Lex donates money to the Metropolis Library and hosts a fundraiser

-”We don’t have to depend on the kindness of monsters”

-”Look at us.  This is how it all caves in.  Civilization on the wane, manners out the window.”  This quote shows Lex’s concern for humanity and also indicates he feels he and Batman, both Men, should be fighting on the same side against other worldly tyrants.  As Lex says at the fundraiser, “You should hop the harbor more often.  Maybe I can show you my labs, partner on something.”

-Lex believes that Man can take down God.  He gives Batman a fighting chance.

2) Lex cares about his image.

-Lex puts on a purely superficial presentation to the Senators upon their arrival at LexCorp

-Lex goes out of his way to act charming and witty during the fundraiser

-Lex eliminates anyone who can tarnish his name, specifically during the Capitol bombing.

-Acts humble about having his name on the marquis

-Lex stutters at the thought of the world thinking he’s insane.

-Although he doesn’t follow through, Lex makes it known that he is at the Senate to tell his story about being willing to finance a Kryptonian deterrent

-He’s arrogant to think he can’t lose (which happens to also be his weakness).

3) Lex cares about power.

-Lex: "And now God bends to my will."

-Lex: "I don't know how to lose."

-Finch: ”He’s been using the committee as his puppet theater.”

4) Lex fears a world run by metahuman tyrants, namely Superman.

-Lex: "Every other Saturday [my father] had to march in a parade and wave flowers at tyrants"....”Why would we want to weaponize this material?”  ”As a deterrent.  A silver bullet to keep in reserve to use against the Kryptonians so that the day does not come madam when your children are waving daisies at a reviewing stand.”

-Lex: "Homeland security?  No, no, no, no madam, Planetary Security"

-Lex: ”The problem of you on top of everything else.  You above all.”

-Lex: ”If god is all powerful, he cannot be all good.  And if he is all good, he cannot be all powerful.”

-Lex: "Devil's don't come from Hell beneath us. No, they come from the sky."

-Lex: "You know the oldest lie in America, senator? It's that power can be innocent."

5) Lex plans to prove the world has reason to fear metahuman tyrants such as Superman (in part by exposing that "power can be innocent" is a lie)

-Lex’s “silver bullet” is dismissed because no one believes him that there are others with powers like Superman to fear.  

Senator: “Last I looked the only one of those flying around up here was Superman.”

Lex: “Haha, yes, Superman.  Yeah, but there are uh, there are more of them.

Finch: “The metahuman thesis.”

Lex: “Yes, the metahuman thesis.  More likely than not these exceptional beings live among us.  The basis of our myths.  God among men upon our little blue planet here."

-Lex: ”...if Man won’t kill God, the devil will do it.”  Lex acknowledges that Superman is viewed as a god by the people, and that Doomsday would be viewed as a devil.  The world views devils as bad and that they must be stopped.  By unleashing Doomsday, Lex is giving the world a devil of Kryptonian origin to justify his silver bullet, to justify the need for such a thing. Something that he has personally been pushing for openly.

-Lex unleashes Doomsday with full knowledge that Batman has the Kryptonite which could be used to defeat Doomsday.  And it’s very likely he even knows Batman created a spear from surveilling him.  In any case, Lex has made it known that he has the means to create a kryptonite weapon and the government would follow the yellow brick road back to him.

-Lex: They need to see the fraud that you are. With their eyes. The blood on your hands. And tonight they will." Lex hopes and expects Batman to kill Superman. If Batman fails and Superman kills him, Lex exposes Superman as an evil fraud with blood on his hands and proves there is reason to fear him and to put an end to him. If Batman succeeds and kills Superman, Lex is allowed to spin a tale of Superman unleashing his Doomsday into the world framing him as an evil fraud with blood on his hands that Batman was forced to kill. Superman would not be alive to defend himself or to expose Lex as the puppet master.

Review of "Batman v Superman: A Beautiful Lie" by Steve Baxi: Part One

"Batman v Superman: A Beautiful Lie" is A Horrible Lie : Part One

Steve Baxi calls Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice a "Mess".  In reality, the movie is brilliant and beautifully complex, enough so for people like Steve who don't understand the meat of it to call it a mess.

I'm not going to address any commentary about Man of Steel as my concerns are with Batman v Superman.  I like Steve's acknowledgement and assessment of some elements of this movie which shows an understanding of a lot of it and even echoes many of the sentiments found in Sam Otten's Justice League Universe Podcast which I have contributed to regarding the deconstruction of Batman and Superman.  However I completely disagree with Steve's assessment that none of what the movie sets out to do works.

Firstly Steve says that it's never explained why Lex knows Batman's and Superman's identities.  This is false.  We are shown how Lex knows Diana Prince, Barry Allen, Arthur Curry, and Vic Stone.  It is the audience's responsiblity to infer that Lex has learned Batman's and Superman's identities through the same methods of surveillance, something which is even easier to do since both Batman and Superman are already in the public eye.

Secondly Steve asks how Lex knows what Kryptonite is.  But Lex flat out says to Senator Finch how he knows about Kryptonite.  "One of my 'rebuild Metropolis' crews found it.  A little souvenir from the Kryptonian engine.......the fragment is of a radioactive zeno mineral.  We suspected it might have biointeractions, so we took the sample to  ....where they keep the remains of the Kyrptonian decedent, and when we exposed General Zod to the mineral, this happened...."

Steve questions how Lex's agent in the Indian Ocean is able to know what Kryptonite looks like at a glance.  But even the audience is able to identify Kryptonite at a glance.  It has a green glow Steve!  Then Steve assumes Lex's agent breaks open the big rock brought by the kids knowing there is Kryptonite inside.  If he knew there was Kryptonite inside, why would he need to break it open?  The whole point of breaking it open is to see if there's any Kryptonite inside.  Steve is also ignoring the possibility that that Kryptonite found in Metropolis could have been housed in a similar rocky exterior when it was discovered.  This whole complaint about the Kryptonite is just Steve grasping at straws trying to find flaws with the movie and failing miserably.  So far Steve is essentially just complaining that the movie doesn't tell you what every character is thinking which is something you'd be hard pressed to find in any movie

Steve's third complaint is regarding the movie not making it clear that Bruce has looked into Kryptonite.  Really?  Isn't the fact that Bruce says it's the first sample big enough to mean anything not clear enough?  Steve seems to have an inability to infer the obvious.  He then corrects himself via on screen text but goes on to note the movie doesn't provide the audience with a time card to tell us stating the line is a blink-and-you-miss-it line.  Well I guess Steve didn't blink because he acknowledges the line so it couldn't have been that easy to miss.  And I have to take the comment about not offering the audience a time card as a joke, otherwise I'll cry at the idiocy of such a statement.  The passage of a designated amount of time is irrelevant to any one who isn't trying to nitpick and look for flaws in a perfectly fine movie.  There is no need to know 3 months have passed to follow the story and know what's going on.  It is the assumptions made by people like Steve about how much time has passed that will make things not make sense, so stop making an ass of yourself and stop ass-uming.

Steve finishes addressing this complaint of the movie by saying that Bruce looking for Kryptonite is the only way him waiting this long to act and following Lex's breadcrumbs works.  Um....really Steve?  I think you're missing the point.  That's the WHOLE reason Bruce has waited this long.  The world's greatest detective searched for Superman's weakness, and when he found what it was he went in search for it.  It doesn't take a detective to figure out that had he not needed the Kryptonite he would have acted sooner.

Steve goes on to complain about the White Portuguese plot yet again correcting himself with on screen text and yet again giving the same excuses about time cards and blinking.  Its gotten to the point where he's just completely lost credibility.  If you're going to try  to dismantle a movie, you should know the movie you're trying to dismantle first.  Furthermore his excuse is a piss poor one and assumes the general audience is paying as little attention to the movie as him.  It stands to reason that the cargo ship would not be in play until there was something to be transported on it.  So how is that a gimme when its common sense?

Steve's fourth complaint is questioning how Lex knows where Lois will be and how he knows the African general is looking for bodyguards.  Steve assumes Lex was following Lois, which isn't unheard of considering the lengths he has gone to track the metas.  But Steve is forgetting that Lex has affiliations and contacts within the CIA who are using Lois to infiltrate the terrorist's hideout and have been tracking him.

Also, the fact that this is a newsworthy story indicates this terrorist is not just some nobody and that the world's eyes are on him.  And since Steve is using the Extended Cut of the movie we can also point out that there is a civil war in Africa which this general is a part of, something that would be covered in media outlets.  Hence of course Lex knows about the general and his need for bodyguards.  Combine this with Lex's CIA contacts and it's clear as glass how Lex knows about the interview and is able to insert his men.

The fact that Steve is asking these questions furthers the point that Steve has it out for this film and is just looking for problems.  Why would you even question it instead of accepting it as part of the story?  And the "simplest" answer he can think of requires far more assumptions and leaps than the actual answer.  Ironically he says "even if there is an explanation, the movie never makes it explicit".  I'd say the movie makes it quite explicit and this statement is just a defense for potentially being wrong.

Steve's fifth complaint is his opinion that involving Senator Finch to acquire an import license makes no sense given he intends for Batman to steal the Kryptonite and it would be more ideal to keep it on the down low.  The thing is Lex believes in humanity.  He is trying to enlist the aid of the US Government in protecting the world from beings like Superman.  This is the whole point of working with the Senators to get an import license.  He wants the US Government onboard with his plan.  While he does intead for Batman to steal the Kryptonite, are we to believe Lex didn't save some for himself knowing that Batman would steal it leaving it out in the open for him to do so?  Likewise it serves to reason that he would keep some to pursue his planned partnership with the government in creating that "silver bullet" to use against Kryptonians.

Sixth, Steve questions why Lex has both Clark and Bruce attend the fundraiser.  He assumes that Lex has setup data transfers from Anatoli's phone to lure Batman there.  But there is no way for Lex to know that Batman would copy Anatoli's phone, Steve is just assuming that's the case.  Therefore his argument about how Lex would know Batman wouldn't just break in hold no water.  In order to lure Bruce to the fundraiser Lex instead sends him an invitation.  Note that these sort of events are planned and invitations sent far in advance.  Lex must have had plans to have Bruce attend before Bruce even copied Anatoli's phone.  Further, since Clark is press, his invitation would have come just before the event, perhaps just a couple of days before.

As to why have the two at the fundraiser, there's an old adage that says "Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer." Another adage that comes to mind is, “Know thy enemy.”  Lex has never met Clark/Superman or Bruce/Batman in person.  This was an opportunity to do just that in the perfect setting.

Steve assumes Lex wants Clark and Bruce to meet claiming there was a low chance of this happening.  Well if this were Lex's agenda he could easily just introduce them so I don't understand Steve's point of questioning what the chances were they'd run into each other.  Steve also claims it’s risky to have Bruce there in the first place, but he is ignoring the fact that Mercy is keeping dibs on Bruce as the movie shows her watching him.  Lex has the home field advantage in this situation, but Lex WANTS Bruce to think HE has the upper hand.  Therefore by making his home openly available to Bruce he is letting Bruce think that he is getting one over on Lex when he steals the data and not giving him any possible reason to suspect that the data has been planted or corrupted (which it in fact is giving Bruce only the information that Lex wants him to acquire) had he made the data available to Batman at some other nonsensical offsite location.    Note that we see Lex have backup plans throughout the movie as a point of fact.  Therefore, should Bruce have failed at acquiring the data or not attended the event, surely Lex would have had a backup plan for such a possibility.

Steve’s seventh point is loaded with complaints.  He doesn’t know how Lex knows Bruce has gone crazy and intends to kill Superman.  Well firstly Lex knows Bruce Wayne is Batman.  Secondly he knows Wayne Enterprises was destroyed during the Black Zero Events.  Thirdly, he knows that Robin is dead.  Fourth, there is media evidence which shows Batman has changed over time including the branding which he plays on.  Fifth, Bruce openly speaks out against Superman as seen during his conversation with Clark.  Sixth, his continued surveillance of Batman by the same means he discovered his identity…..do I really need to continue?

Steve can’t comprehend why Lex needs to manipulate Clark, involve Martha, and include Doomsday in his plans.  Superman has made it clear to those paying attention that he fights for truth, justice, and the American way – a true boy scout.  It is not in Superman’s nature to kill, something he made abundantly clear to himself after needing to kill Zod.  Lex knows this.  While threatening Martha’s life was certainly a reason to have Superman confront Batman, in order to make Superman actually fight Batman and risk hurting him he needed to give Superman a reason to fight and go against his morals.  And even after being pushed into hating Batman and being opposed to his methods Superman still attempted to reason with Bruce first which shows us that had Lex not given Clark purpose he would have avoided exchanging blows with Batman altogether likely continuing to try to reason with him.  It’s the results of Lex’s manipulation, the brandings and the words of the dead inmate’s girlfriend which made Superman resort to violence.  Lex needed to push Superman far enough where killing Batman was a viability, and we can see that is the case when Superman speaks to Lois before flying off to face him.

As for Doomsday, while Lex gave Batman a “fighting chance” he wasn’t about to put all his eggs in one basket.  As we see throughout the movie, Lex has backup plans.  And while Doomsday was certainly a backup plan to kill Superman, that wasn’t his entire purpose.  While I can cite comic book source material to easily justify Lex’s motivation, instead I will do so strictly within the context of the movie.  Lex is faced with a government who is opposed to killing Superman, a sentient being, who he sees as a threat to humanity (ie the likes of Senator Finch).  Lex is aware of others like Superman in the world and envisions a future in which they rise, terrorize, and dominate over humanity (ie Lex’s metahuman thesis and “red capes” scare tactic).  In order to prepare the world for this eventuality and shift its opinion while simultaneously coming out the hero, Lex attempts to unleash a “Kryptonian threat” the US Government would have no objections to killing and the likes of which only Lex knows how to stop.  The government would have no choice but to employ the “silver bullet” Lex proposes to the Senators at the beginning of the film "to use against the Kryptonians" (which he was then dismissed by being told the only Kryptonian flying around here is Superman.)  And by working with the government to eliminiate this new Kryptonian threat he would become humanity's savior.

As Steve points out, the Batman v Superman bout is not televised or publicly broadcast in any way.  Therefore we can assume that when Lex says "They need to see the fraud you are.  With their eyes.  The blood on your hands.  And tonight they will" there is implication that Doomsday is what he is referring to, because if Batman were to successfully kill Superman as Lex hopes he does, then there would be no blood on his hands.  Therefore we can infer that Lex's plan is to once again frame Superman and the Kryptonians for unleashing Doomsday.

I don’t need to imagine Steve asking me how Lex would get away with this given the SWAT team arrives because I’ve already been asked that.  Had Superman killed Batman, then Doomsday would have killed Superman and neither one of them would be able to give testimony that Lex was behind it.  Had Batman killed Superman, Batman wouldn’t have known Lex was behind Doomsday.  While Lex was banking on one of them dying, as we learn in the Extended Cut Lex is able to pull off an insanity plea, something he can easily come back from.

Steve then proposes Lex should have just made a kryptonite bullet and had Superman shot.  While I’m sure Lex explored that option, let’s just use what we see in the movie.  Firstly it’s important to understand based on Lex’s behavior and speech as he speaks to Superman that he takes the existence of Superman as a personal affront.  He also indicates to the senators that Superman is a threat to humanity.  It’s a matter of “global security”.  There is also the view that Superman is a god.  And Lex also points out that there was no Superman to come save him from his father’s abominations as a child and he still turned out smart and successful.  Although there is resentment, there is still the fact that he didnt need Superman and neither does the world in his eyes.  So it makes sense for Lex to want to give Man a “fighting chance” against this god as Lex says about Batman.  "God versus Man".

Additionally we hear Bruce specifically state that the Kryptonite found in the Indian Ocean is the first sample big enough to mean anything.  This statement is loaded with implication.  Steve is working with a preconceived notion of how Kryptonite works, likely based on previous comics, tv shows, and movies.  However in this new universe we don’t exactly know how Kryptonite works.  Bruce’s statement implies that small quantities of Kryptonite won’t cause the same damage as larger quantities.  We also see Superman’s body able to circulate the Kryptonite gas out of his system, even with only minimal sunlight reflected off the moon in a gloomy night, and even then it wasn’t killing him.  We also see Superman recover fairly quickly when the Kryptonite is tossed aside.  On top of everything we see the inordinate amount of effort required to carve out a spear, and one which is still chunky and not incredibly smooth, which clues us in on how difficult it is to shape kryptonite with any sort of precision.  Therefore creating a bullet shaped piece of kryptonite that would correctly fire from a gun would be theoretically impossible.  This leads me to my next point that such a small piece of Kryptonite would not necessarily kill Superman or even completely penetrate his skin given it wouldn’t have much time to interact with his cells at such a high speed and the fact that we are led to believe that small quantities don’t have the same effect.  This would also preclude encasing kryptonite inside a bullet which would be further shielded from Superman by the metal of the bullet.  And attempting to fashion an arrow would give Superman too much of an opportunity to hear it coming and avoid it and which also wouldn’t necessarily kill him.

Steve goes on to ask why Lex doesn’t send Keefe’s checks back over time to nurse his hate.  Not only would that give Bruce the opportunity to discover that Keefe is not the one sending back the checks, but it would also not serve as a catalyst after the Capitol tragedy.  The fact that Bruce is clueless about the checks makes him feel like he failed Keefe.

Steve continues to question the antagonizing of Clark in his eight complaint.  As I explained earlier, Lex needed to motivate Clark and make Bruce out to be a murderer.  Lex has already seen Superman kill Zod for killing people.  So he is playing on that sense of righteousness in Superman that would bring him to kill someone.  Steve insists that antagonizing both Bruce and Clark is pointless because Bruce is already set on killing Superman.  This logic absolutely boggles my mind.  If a bully picks on you, you can easily just walk away.  Lex needs Superman to want to fight Batman to give Batman a chance to kill him.  And while Martha is motivation enough for Superman to confront Bruce, its not motivation enough to fight him.  Had Lex not antagonized Clark he wouldn't have given up on reasoning with him so quickly and the fight likely would not have lasted.  The fact that Superman fought back allowed the fight to escalate to the point that it did.

The ninth issue Steve addresses is regarding the witness in the African incident.  He asks why the witness is necessary given the destruction of Metropolis which he feels should be political reason enough for the US Government to blame Superman.  Steve doesn't seem to get the fact that Superman is viewed as a hero.  The government would not have authorized a giant statue of Superman if they didn't view him in this light.  Furthermore they would have considered Lex's "silver bullet" if they felt he was an enemy.  The destruction of Metropolis is an internal affair.  The US Government is aware the Superman was defending the country against Zod as all military parties involved can attest to that.  But the reason Superman's actions in Africa create such a problem is that Superman is viewed as an American agent by foreign countries given the US is harboring him.  Therefore any intereference in foreign territories by Superman is viewed as an American act.  The witness testifies that Superman was not only a participant in the African tragedy, but that people died because of him.  The Senate's hand is forced into acting to avoid political backlash.  By stating that "people" would be more cool with Superman taking action against terrorists in other countries Steve shows a lack of understanding of the events in the movie and of international politics in general.

The purpose of Wallace Keefe's presence in the Senate is threefold.  By having a civilian target Superman with a bomb it further emphasize the dangers that Superman poses by simply existing in our world with the collateral damage caused.  In addition, that collateral damage eliminate all the people who possess various knowledge of elements of his plots.  Finally, making Keefe out to be the bomber victimizes him further and, in tandem with the returned checks with imagery of Capitol Hill, shows a festering in Keefe and conpsiring over time which sets Bruce off.

Finally, in Steve's tenth issue focused on Lex, he 'wittily' shows a clip of "How Batman v Superman Should Have Ended" which can be seen on Youtube.  Surely he uses this clip to emphasize his argument that Superman could have used his super powers to quickly find Martha rather than bother with Batman.  Steve completely fails to understand the situation.  Not only is he making assumptions about the level of Superman's powers in this universe by using preconceived notions that he is overpowered, an idea perpetuated by people who are anti-Superman, by assuming he can easily distinguish a person's voice amid a flood of voices,  but he completely fails to properly interpret the situation.   Not only is Martha gagged and unable to call out for him, but Lex admits he has no idea where Martha has been taken to from her home in Kansas.  This means that Martha could literally be anywhere in the world, and Superman can't possibly search the entire planet for her in less than an hour.  It just so happens that she is being held in Gotham.  On the other hand, Lois screams at the top of her lungs.  Even if Superman didn't know it was Lois' scream, he still would hear someone falling off a building.  Steve continues to insist that Batman is already set to go after Clark and there doesn't need to be any more coaching from Lex.  But as I've already stated, Batman can want to fight Superman all he wants, but if Superman doesn't show up, how can he fight him?  Let's also take a moment to realize that Bruce still doesn't know that Superman is Clark Kent.

As for Doomsday once again, I've already explained the purpose of Lex unleashing Doomsday.

All of Steve's "problems" are simply Steve failing to understand the movie.  Is it the movie's fault just because Steven didn't understand it?  Well the fact that plenty of other people have been able to understand the movie gives me reason to say that yes, it is Steve's fault, whether because he chose not to attempt to understand it instead resorting to trying to pick the movie apart, or because he was legitimately confounded by the concepts set forth in the movie, it's clear that his issues are not thought out.  I've addressed all his concerns with Lex's plans by using only what was shown to us in the movie.  If it wasn't clear enough for Steve, then perhaps he should consider yet another viewing.  Some of the best forms of art require repeated experiences to get closer to appreciating and understanding them.  But if he doesn't care enough then I have to wonder why he is spending so much time trying to dismantle the movie.

Is Lex's plan convoluted?  Well its a series of elaborte plots orchestrated by a high level genius with many moving parts.  I would expect such a plan to be convoluted or people would have figured out what Lex was up to.  As for Lex's motivations, I'm not sure what the big question mark is.  Lex stated his motivations several times in the movie, notably to Senator Finch right at the beginning of the movie.  He doesn't trust Superman and doesn't want the world to depend on him.   "So that the day does not come, madam, when your children are raising daisies at a reviewing stand."  He doesn't believe that Superman should be held to a higher authority, nor does he believe Superman is all good.  "The problem of evil in the world.  The problem of absolute virtue.  The problem of [Superman] above all.....God takes sides."




Steve Baxi's "Batman v Superman: A Beautiful Lie":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7Z2AKOrQg4

Addressing the "Editing" Complaint by Reviewers of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

Many reviewers have had complaints about the "editing" of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Of course what they actually mean by "editing" is the sequencing of scenes. Complaints range from the movie being choppy to having scenes being randomly placed. Below is a brief analysis of the transition between scenes in the movie which shows how scenes are NOT randomly placed and that the sequencing (not the editing) makes complete sense. It squashes any claims reviewers have about the order of scenes, the "choppiness", or the illogical placement.

Scene: Waynes’ Murder and the Cave of Bats – Establishes Batman, the other protagonist.

Transition: From a funeral of people who are dead to a scene of people dying

Scene: Battle of Metropolis – Establishes Batman’s motive

Transition: From showing Batman’s motive for wanting to kill Superman to showing the means, ie the kryptonite

Scene: Kryptonite Sample – We see where the Kryptonite comes from: the world engine.  We are also introduced to the method by which Lex Luthor plans to acquire more.

Transition: From one African village to another

Scene: Tragedy in Africa – Lex orchestrates a scenario that puts Lois in danger so that Superman has to enter foreign territory to save her.  Lex’s men are planted as bodyguards for the general to incite a territorial clash causing many to die in turn framing Superman as the source of the instigation.

Transition: From the events of Africa as seen from our eyes to the repercussions and perspective as seen from the public’s eyes.

Scene: African Hearing – Senators take witness testimonies on what happened in Africa and hold Superman responsible for the collateral damage of his assertion into foreign affairs.

Transition: From the public’s perspective of the events of the African incident to Lois and Clark’s reaction of their perspective and stance on what happened.

Scene: Lois and Clark’s Apartment - Lois finds a strange bullet in her notebook and suspects foul play.  Lois and Clark discuss the public reaction to Superman’s actions in Africa.  They put those matters aside and go to a loving, happy place.

Transition: From day to night both in time and tone showing the contrast of Superman and Batman’s worlds.

Scene: Batman Branding - A glimpse into Batman’s nightly endeavors: he saves people and at the same time interrogates a criminal for information like a detective.  We see the fear in the innocents and the ruthlessness in how Batman acts.

Transition: From gathering information in the field to gathering information in the base of operations, the bat cave.  

Scene: “Everything’s changed” - Introduces Alfred and armor.  Batman pursues other leads on an investigation.  Links Batman to Anatoli.  Introduction of the “White Portuguese” which is a mystery.  Addresses the change in Batman from the Batman people are familiar with to this new ruthless Batman.

Transition: From Batman’s exploits in person to Batman’s exploits in the news.  From what Batman is up to, to what Superman is up to.

Scene: Clark Cooking – Clark is cooking food, something a normal human would do, watching news about the Batman and the way the news is spinning the story just like they spin Superman’s story.  Introduces Superman’s motive for wanting to stop the Batman.

Transition: From scenes of Batman and Superman, the protagonists, to Lex Luthor, the antagonist.

Scene: Meeting Lex Luthor - Lex Luthor is introduced to the Senators just as he is introduced also to the audience.  The senators from the earlier Africa hearing are following up with Lex regarding Superman.  Lex wants the Kryptonite seen in one of the earlier African scenes, while the Senators are pursuing matters regarding the other African scene, and their paths cross in these pursuits as Lex thinks he can help with the Superman issue.

Transition: From introducing one aspect of Lex’s plot, using the Kryptonite as a deterrent, to introducing another aspect of Lex’s plot, Wallace Keefe.  From introducing Keefe in the opening scenes to showing him today.

Scene: Wallace Keefe’s Vandalism - Wallace Keefe is suffering and he blames Superman just like the Senators who were in the last scene blame Superman and the woman who testified before them.  Keefe defaces the Superman statue making his hatred known publicly to the world, and more importantly to Lex.

Transition:  From Wallace in person to Wallace on TV.  From reactions by witnesses, to reactions from the public, ie reporters.  And moving on to Superman who Lex intends to target with Keefe.

Scene: Daily Planet Reactions - Business as usual at the Daily Planet until the television news shows us the very last scene.  We see Clark learning about Keefe, and connecting Keefe with Wayne who he later finds out is Batman.  We also see an overall swing to viewing Superman as bad by the public.

Transition: From introducing elements from two of Lex’s plots, the Kryptonite and Keefe, to introducing elements of Lex’s third plot, Zod and the Kryptonian Ship.  Showing Keefe also gave a lapse of time for Lex’s meeting with the Senators.

Scene: Lex’s Wish List - We see Lex’s plan unfold as he gains access to Zod and the Kryptonian ship and has the senator “eating out of his hand”, a further sign that he is slowly manipulating the world to see things how he wants them to.

Transition: From establishing the elements of Lex’s plans while simultaneously showing what Superman is up to, to returning back to Batman’s investigation which all the while is leading him back to Lex and his initial plan with the Kryptonite.

Scene: Bruce Underground - Bruce follows up on his lead and tails Anatoli who he mentioned to Alfred in his last scene continuing his investigation of the White Portuguese.  It leads him to an underground fight club where he blends in by betting on fights.  He gets close enough to Anatoli to clone his phone in an attempt to gather information for his investigation.

Transition: From Bruce following up on a lead, to Lois following up on a lead.  Bruce’s lead is furthering his plan to kill Superman.  Lois’ lead is furthering her plan to redeem Superman.

Scene: Daily Planet Pitch Meeting - Lois approaches Perry about a lead she wants to follow which is a continuation of what was established in the African incident.  Perry gives her the okay.  Meanwhile Clark it trying to pursue the Batman through legitimate avenues but hits a brick wall when Perry tells him no.

Transition: From a few scenes of Bruce, Lex, and Lois making progress in their pursuits, to a few scenes of them hitting brick walls starting with Clark in the last scene.  Both the White Portuguese and the bullet Lois found have to do with Lex, so the next scene moves to Lex.

Scene: Fince at Lex’s House - A little time has passed over the last couple of scenes so we go back to Lex’s proposition to Finch regarding his first plan with the Kryptonite which she has had time to consider.  She of course rejects Lex so Lex’s first plan hits a brick wall which motivates him to pursue his other plans harder.  This also affects Batman’s pursuit of the White Portuguese.  Lex tells Finch Devils come from the sky.

Transition: From Lex preserving the memory of his father and talking theology about Devils coming from the sky, to Bruce preserving the memory of his mother in a catholic cemetery and facing his own devil.  From a scene where Lex’s spirits are dropped, to a scene where Bruce’s spirits are dropped.

Scene: Bruce’s Dream - Bruce is in a cemetery to pay respects to his parents and a manbat crashes through the mausoleum to reveal this is a nightmare.  This fuels his state of being and desire to be Batman.  It is an indication that he is not well mentally and his mind is clouded.

Transition: From Bruce waking up, to Swanwick in the bathroom washing his hands where one would find someone after waking up in the morning.  Following two scenes showing Lex’s and Bruce’s spirits drop, we see a scene of Lois’ spirits dropping when she hits her own brick wall.

Scene: Lois & Swanwick in the Restroom - Lois confronts Swanwick about the bullet who sheds some light on how the events in Africa were viewed by the world.

Transition: From the bathroom, to the kitchenette where breakfast is served.  The previous scene allowed a passage of time to establish this setting which shows Bruce hitting a brick wall in his own investigation all the while paralleling Lois’ investigation.

Scene: Bruce Invited - Bruce discusses hitting a brick wall in his investigation with Alfred who gives him the answer to his problem by giving him an invitation to Lex’s fundraiser.  Bruce is not happy with doing things as Bruce because he’d rather be Batman, especially after having that nightmare which fuels Bat persona.

Transition: From bed, bathroom, kitchenette, to garage, a normal morning routine.  Bruce goes from discussing a plan to executing it, but not before resenting not being able to do things as Batman.

Scene: Bruce Broods - Bruce broods over the Batman costume with resentment and goes on to get into his car and drive to the fundraiser he just received the invitation for to further his investigation into the White Portuguese.

Transition: From Bruce leaving his home to arriving at the fundraiser where Bruce’s, Lex’s, and Clark’s paths intersect following their individual scenes.

Scene: Lex’s Fundraiser - Bruce is continuing his investigation of the White Portuguese by taking information from Lex’s servers unbeknownst that Lex is allowing him to do so as part of his plan.  By having this fundraiser Lex has a reason to invite Bruce which furthers his plans.  Clark happens upon Bruce discovering his identity which furthers his investigation of Batman.  Meanwhile Diana finds some success in her own investigation of Lex by taking Bruce’s leash.  Clark sees an emergency on the television which keeps him from pursuing Bruce further.

Transition: From the fire on the television, to the fire in person, Clark transitions to Superman and saves the people from the TV.  Already Superman we see several scenes of him saving people.

Scene: Day of the Dead & Hero Montage - Various acts of heroism by Superman which show this side of his life after seeing his journalist side as Clark.

Transition: From seeing the good that Superman does and people loving and worshipping him, to seeing the other perspective of those who hate Superman with Wallace Keefe.  From seeing Lex as a philanthropist at the fundraiser to seeing Lex as a philanthropist helping Wallace.  This also furthers Lex’s plan to discredit Superman.

Scene: Lex Bails out Keefe - Wallace Keefe is bailed out of jail by Lex who gives him a wheel chair and gives him a means to speak out against Superman at the Senate Hearing by giving him a line to Senator Finch who has it out for Superman.

Transition: From Superman’s heroics, back to Clark’s journalism.  From the fundraiser event where Clark learns about Bruce, to Clark’s copy about Batman.  From Wallace pursuing efforts to speak out against Superman to Clark pursuing efforts to speak out against Batman.

Scene: Clark & Perry - Clark attempts to get this story against Batman printed, but Perry refuses saying “No one cares about Clark Kent taking on the Batman” forcing Clark to resort to taking on the Batman as Superman.

Transition: From talking about Batman who happens to be Bruce Wayne, to Bruce Wayne trying to get his leash back which was taken at the fundraiser.

Scene: Bruce & Diana at the Museum - Bruce confronts Diana about her taking his leash device.  We also learn why she took it.  And we discover that the leash had military grade encryption gives us a hint that Lex is behind the African incident because of the military grade bullets.  Bruce gets his leash device back from Diana which is already in his car.

Transition: From talking about the leash drive, to decrypting and checking its contents back at the bat cave.

Scene: Knightmare - Bruce is waiting in anticipation of the leash drive’s decryption and “seemingly” doses off.  This of course is to facilitate the “knightmare” which isn’t a dream at all but a vision of the future.  The suddenness of this scene is done purposefully to evoke the abrupt nature of time travel, especially given that Flash has come back to the wrong time.  That initial sense of confusion is exactly what you’d experience if a time traveler randomly appeared and showed you the future.  This scene also acts as a means to justify Batman’s behavior and reasoning as it shows he is right in having those fears about Superman given they come to fruition.

Transition: From Batman’s concerns about Superman, to Superman’s concerns about Batman.

Scene: Clark gets photos -  Clark receives photos (from Lex Luthor) as evidence of Batman’s brutality.  Whereas the last scene justified Batman’s issue with Superman, this scene justifies Superman’s issue with Batman.

Transition: From addressing Batman’s concern about Superman (Superman’s counterpoint), to Bruce explaining what was found on the leash drive from his last scene and vocalizing those concerns.

Scene: Absolute Certainty - Bruce discovers what the White Portuguese is.  He has broken through his brick wall and discovered the one item that will facilitate killing Superman.  Alfred discovers along with the audience what Batman has been chasing, and Bruce explains his reasons.  We also can an insight on Bruce’s psyche.

Transition: From Alfred who has been trying to contain Bruce’s pursuit of Superman, to Perry who has been trying to contain Clark’s pursuit of Batman.  From Clark at his desk at the Daily Planet, to Perry looking for Clark who has left to pursue Batman.

Scene: Perry Looks for Clark - Perry looks for Clark who is nowhere to be found.  This is because Clark has headed to Batman to confront Batman as Superman.

Transition: From Chief Editor of the Daily Planet, to star reporter of the Daily Planet.  From the offices of the Daily Planet, to the field.  From Bruce and Clark investigating each other, to Lois investigating Lex.

Scene: Lois & Swanwick – Lois shows her persistence following up on the events of the African scene.  Swanwick gets the bullet from Lois to investigate.

Transition: From one of Lex’s plans (the African Incident) to another (the Kryptonite).  From Bruce learning about the White Portuguese and the Kryptonite, to Batman acting on that information.  From Clark seeing evidence of Batman’s crimes, to Superman acting on that information.

Scene: Batmobile Chase – Batman pursues Kryptonite from the White Portuguese which he learned about in his previous scene.  Superman shows up and threatens Batman to cease being Batman after seeing the photos in his previous scene and being unable to take any action as Clark.

Transition: From the chase, to the tracking.  From transporting the Kryptonite, to the delivery of the Kryptonite.  

Scene: Tracking the Kryptonite – Bruce returns to the Batcave due to a damaged Batmobile and losing the delivery truck.  He tracks the vehicle using a tracker he planted in the previous scene.  We see the Kryptonite delivered to Lex Luthor.

Transition: From Lex and his Kryptonite, to the person who refused him access to his Kryptonite and is responsible for the previous scene even happening because of that.

Scene: Finch’s Invitation to Superman - Finch invites Superman to the Senate to answer for himself and the events in Africa.

Transition: From Superman’s invitation to the Senate, to him discussing the invitation with his mother.

Scene: Clark and his Mom - Clark struggles with the world’s perception of him and discusses it with his mother.  He ponders the invitation presented to him by Finch.

Transition: From one of the women in Clark’s life, to the other.  From Clark debating the invitation to answer for the African incident, to Lois finding the truth about the African incident.

Scene: Swanwick Talks to Lois – Swanwick reveals Lex’s involvement in the African incident and that Superman isn’t to blame for what happened.

Transition: From Lois learning the truth about the African incident, to Capitol Hill where the Senate assembles to discuss Superman as a result of the African incident.  From Finch inviting Superman to the Senate, to the actual Senate.

Scene: The Capitol Hill Tragedy - The world is watching, including Bruce Wayne, as the Senate assembles.  The connection is made between Wallace, Bruce, and Lex’s Kryptonite plan.  The stage is set and we see Lex, the mastermind behind what is about to transpire, and Wallace, the pawn in this plan.  The Senate commences.  The jar of urine is a call back to the earlier scene Lex had with Finch and acts as a distraction when Lex’s plan comes to completion with the explosion of Wallace’s wheelchair.

Transition: From seeing the Capitol Hill tragedy in person, to seeing it on the news.  From Superman living the tragedy to Superman explaining and discussing the tragedy to Lois.

Scene: A Moment with Lois as the World Reels - We see the television news reporting on the Capitol Hill tragedy giving us more information on what happened.  Superman comes to Lois’ balcony to explain what happened and seek solace.

Transition: From the absence of Lex in the Senate, to Lex’s presence in the Scout Ship.  From one of Lex’s plans to another.  

Scene: Lex and the Scout Ship – with the distraction of the Capitol Hill tragedy and the elimination of the Senators’ watchful eyes, Lex proceeds with his other plan to kill Superman.

Transition: From Lex preparing to kill Superman, to Bruce preparing to kill Superman.  From one of Lex’s plans (Doomsday) to another (Batman v Superman).

Scene: Bruce Prepares for Battle – Bruce is training and preparing for his battle with Superman including creating the weapon which will kill Superman, the Kryptonite Spear.

Transition: From Bruce creating the weapon which will kill Superman (the Kryptonite Spear), to Lex creating the weapon that will kill Superman (Doomsday).

Scene: Lex Creates Doomsday – Lex goes through the process of cloning Zod and his own DNA to create Doomsday.  

Transition: From Lex creating Doomsday to kill Superman, to showing why it’s okay to kill Superman now: the public is against him.  From showing Bruce and Lex rallying against Superman to showing the public rally against Superman.  

Scene: Daily Planet Concerns – We see the public reaction about Superman and how the world has turned against him.  Lex’s plan to discredit Superman has come to fruition.

Transition: From Perry asking “where’s Kent?”, to showing where Kent is, in solitude.  From the world hating on Superman, to Superman trying to figure out what to do about it.

Scene: Jonathan Kent – Clark looks for answers and speaks to his dead father who gives him an anecdote about how doing good sometimes can result in bad things happening.

Transition: From Jonathan Kent’s anecdote about consequences to seeing the consequences Bruce is facing.  From Clark’s solitude, to Bruce’s solitude.  From Clark’s gleaning knowledge and advice from his father, to Bruce gleaning knowledge and advice from his father.  From Clark reasoning his purpose, to Bruce reasoning his purpose.

Scene: Wayne Manor – Bruce is at a burnt Wayne Manor where he is thinking about his dead father and how he set out to do good but only bad things seemed to happen.  How none of the good he did seemed to make a difference, similar to what Superman is feeling.

Transition: From dead fathers, to Clark’s live mother.  From Lex working on creating Doomsday for that part of his plan, to his thugs kidnapping Martha for the other part of his plan.  From the world rallying against Superman, to the woman Clark sought advice from regarding the world’s perception of him.

Scene: Martha is kidnapped in Smallville

Transition: From one woman in Superman’s life, to the other.  From Lex creating Doomsday, to Lex luring Superman.  From Lex’s goons kidnapping Marth, to Lex showing pictures of Martha kidnapped.

Scene: Lex’s Helipad - Lex lures Superman with Lois and uses Martha to get him to fight Batman in hopes that Batman, with the help of Lex’s kryptonite, will kill Superman.  Or if that fails, Doomsday will finish the job.  Although ultimately Lex plans for Doomsday to be seen as a Kryptonian creation which he will be seen as a hero for helping the government stop it.  He reveals his cards to Superman essentially telling us his whole plan.

Transition: From Lex forcing Superman to face Batman, to Batman preparing to face Superman.

Scene: Preparing for War - Batman establishes the turf for his fight with Superman preparing the field of battle.

Transition: From Batman preparing to face Superman to Superman preparing to face Batman.  From one plan going into motion, to another plan going into motion.

Scene: Preparing for the Worst - In a very different way, Superman is preparing to face Batman by seeing Lois, the reason he fights, his motivating force.  From seeing Batman prepare for battle to seeing Doomsday’s preparation for battle.

Transition: From the two helpless women in Superman’s life being used as bait, to the strong wonderous woman who will actually help Superman in his fight.  From revealing learning what is in the mind of Lex Luthor to seeing more of what Lex Luthor knows.  From showing the threat of Doomsday rising, to show who will be integral in neutralizing that threat.

Scene: Metahuman Files - Diana receives Bruce’s email containing the content of the leash drive.  It gives us a little info about her before her big fight showing her in her battle gear, and It shows the other members of the future Justice League.  Lex has been researching metas as was mentioned at the beginning of the movie when Finch refers to the “metahuman thesis”.  Here is the proof and results of that research.  Here is why Lex warns “the red capes are coming”.  It shows how Lex knew Superman’s and Batman’s identities on the Helipad scene.

Transition: From one woman who will be integral in helping Superman, to the other woman who will be integral in helping Superman.  From Lois learning of Superman’s pending face-off, to her making arrangements to go try and help him.

Scene: Lois gets a Helicopter - Lois asks Perry for a Helicopter for personal use.  This tells us she’s not chasing a story, she’s trying to help the man she loves.  It also indicates where Superman and Batman will be fighting.

Transition: From showing where Lois wants to go, to showing what’s there: Batman & Superman.  From Lex’s research to the culmination of that research: pitting the two heroes against each other, to ultimately eliminate all “metas”.  From the other members of the Justice League, to the two most important ones.  From Superman leaving Lex to fight Batman, to Superman arriving to fight Batman.  From Batman preparing the battlefield, to seeing those preparations in action.

Scene: Superman v Batman - Superman confronts Batman in the hopes of working together to stop Lex.  Batman can’t hear Superman through his suit and unleashes his attacks.  Lex’s plan is in full swing as Batman tries to kill Superman with the Kryptonite Lex smuggled into the country.  The fight culminates in a character growth moment which calls back to the opening scene and links the two characters and the part of Lex’s plan involving the kidnap of Martha.  Lois, the other woman in Superman’s life, arrives with the helicopter she acquired in the previous scene to stop the fight and acts as moderator.

Transition: From the culmination of one plan, to the blossoming of another plan as we see the Scout Ship drawing energy for Doomsday.  

Scene: The Scout Ship - We see Lex’s other plan (Doomsday) about to come to form as his previous plan to have Batman kill Superman fails.  Time passes for Superman to explain to Batman what Lex has been up to.

Transition: From seeing the Scout Ship, to Lois explaining its drawing power.  

Scene: Lois Tells the Heroes about the Scout Ship - Lois tells Batman and Superman that the scout ship is drawing power and the two realize Lex is up to something and must be stopped.  With the new information, Batman recommends the best course of action.  

Transition: From making a plan to executing it.  From Batman saying he will save Martha, to doing it.

Scene: Batman talks to Alfred and gets a location to where Martha is likely being held.  He rescues Martha as set forth in the previous scene.

Transition: From one part of the plan to the other.  From saving Martha to stopping Lex.  From Batman, to Superman.

Scene: Superman confronts Lex.  Lex learns that Martha has been saved.  His plan for Batman and Superman to kill each other has failed.  We learn exactly what Lex’s follow-up plan is relying on Superman’s need to be a hero and protect people to draw him into a battle with Doomsday.  Doomsday hatches and immediately tries to kill Superman.  Doomsday is unleashed into the world and is seen for the threat it is.  The US Government acknowledges the threat and discuss how to deal with it.  The news reports and explains the situation as Doomsday starts destroying.

Transition: From the government and news reporting on Doomsday, to Alfred reporting to Batman about Doomsday.

Scene: Batman learns about Doomsday - Alfred conveys the threat of Doomsday unleashed in Metropolis.

Transition: From the public learning about Doomsday, to Batman learning about Doomsday, and now Diana learning about Doomsday.

Scene: Diana on an uninvisible plane - Diana sees the news and is familiar with this sort of threat so she decides to stick around and help.  She wants to repay Bruce while realizing that hiding away in Themyscera won’t do any good.

Transition: From a call to action, to Superman’s action.

Scene: Superman takes Doomsday into Space

Transition: From Superman’s action to the US Government’s action.

Scene: A-Bombs Away - The US Government nukes Superman and Doomsday fighting in the stratosphere.

Transition: From action, to inaction.  A pause at the awe of the explosion and anticipation of its effects.

Scene: The Calm Before the Storm - After the explosion Doomsday falls to Earth.  The US Government waits to see what happens.  We learn where Doomsday fell and that Superman is down for the count.  We also learn about Doomsday’s power and how much of a threat he really poses.

Transition: From learning Doomsday is unkillable, to learning how it can be killed.  From losing hope, to gaining hope.  From one plan failing, to making a new plan.

Scene: Batman’s Got This - Batman immediately makes a new plan and acts on it.  

Transition: From seeing Doomsday recover from the nuke, to seeing Superman recover from the nuke.

Scene: Not Quite Dead Yet - Superman is exposed to sunlight which shows hints of healing him.

Transition: From Superman about to come alive, to Batman about to die.  From both men down for the count, to a strong woman who is ready for battle.

Scene: Diana Saves the Day - Batman manages to lure Doomsday to Gotham but crashes his ship.  Doomsday is about to kill Batman with his heat vision but Diana swoops down and saves him.  She starts battling Doomsday one on one.  Batman explains the plan to Diana.  Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman face off against Doomsday.  Lois Lane, wanting to help, retrieves the Kryptonite Spear she tossed into the water thinking it was a weapon they could use against the creature.  Batman his grapple and the kryptonite gas bullet he had created for his fight against Superman.  Wonder Woman uses her braces, lasso, and sword.  Superman uses his heat vision.  Superman hears an unusual pounding and goes to save Lois who has the spear.  He makes the ultimate sacrifice and uses the spear to kill Doomsday dying in the process.

Transition: From Superman dying, to Superman’s funerals.

Scenes: The world mourns Superman and Clark Kent.  At Clark’s funeral Bruce talks to Diana about an approaching threat.

Transition: From discussing the approaching threat and the need to recruit the metahumans, to a flashback explaining Batman getting some insight into that threat.

Scene: Batman and Lex - Batman sees Lex in prison and Lex warns of the approaching threat.  “The bells has been rung”.

Transition: From the flashback of Batman learning about the approaching threat from Lex, back to the funeral.

Scene: Again...Not Quite Dead Yet - Lois is saying her final goodbyes as dirt rises from the coffin.