That is the question:
Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The pains and frustrations of outrageous lines
Or to take arms against a sea of people,
And by opposing watch the film on opening day…
Someone asked me if I thought Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice was worth watching. Since the film isn’t out to the public yet, I couldn’t give this person an honest answer: I have not seen it, therefore, I cannot answer the question of “Is it worth watching” for someone else. Even still, my initial gut-reaction was: OF COURSE IT IS. However, that got me thinking: Is Batman v Superman worth watching on opening day?
I posed this question to myself because of the discrepancy of ratings between the theatrical and DVD/Blu-Ray releases. Mere weeks before its March 25th theatrical release date, the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) announced an R rating for the Extended Cut/Director’s Cut/Ultimate Edition of the PG-13 film. (Sounds a lot like Capcom’s Street Fighter IV.) Moviegoers will see a PG-13 film; you’ll have to wait until its physical release in the summer to see the R-rated content. What’s the difference between the two versions of the film? Is the R-rated the, sort of, “true form” of Batman v Superman? What is this R-rated content?
Well, according to producer Charles Roven and director Zach Snyder, the R-rated version adds some considerable levels of intensity throughout the entire movie. The theatrical version is already 151 minutes long; however, similar to The Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, The Hobbit, Star Wars, and other “epic” films, the Extended Cut will add additional content, though how much is unknown at this moment.
“We were just like, ‘Okay, look. We’re not making a three-hour movie. I mean, even I didn’t want to make a three-hour movie. I drove the cuts probably harder than anyone. The studio, they were willing to let the movie indulge pretty hard. But I felt like it’s at a manageable two-and-a-half hours. Let’s also not forget the credits are super long, the end credits. So the movie’s closer to two hours and 22 minutes,” Snyder said.
While the exact contents and reasoning behind the R-rating are not specified, a number of characters have (apparently) been either cut or simplified in the theatrical release. One character in particular is Jena Malone, cast as Barbara Gordon. Now, as we all know, Barbara Gordon is Batgirl—in the comics, anyway. Puzzlingly, Snyder dispels this, saying:
“I think we should keep it private, but it’s nothing that’s been talked about. She’s definitely not Robin or Batgirl. I’m happy to say that.”
If Malone is cast as Barbara Gordon, but is not playing Batgirl, then who is she? Perhaps she is just Barbara Gordon before she dons “Batgirl.” Perhaps she is not Barbara Gordon at all; it is said her role has been completely removed from the theatrical release. This is perplexing, and brings forth more questions than answers: who else is casted, but cut from the theatrical release? What other characters are simplified? How many character arcs are there? How many fully fleshed out characters are there? It’ll be interesting to see how well the DVD/Blu-Ray does at answering these questions.
Whatever the case, I’m still going to see it on opening day—and purchase the Blu-Ray. Baller.
If you haven’t—which I assume you have by now—check out the final trailer in all its gritty and brooding glory:
So, tell me, do you bleed? Because Superman will. (I hope. If you know me at all, you know I hate Superman.) Are you going to see Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice on its opening day, or are you going to wait until its DVD/Blu-Ray release to get that extra content?
