Eye-catching moments from the new 'Batman v Superman' trailer (pictures)
The second trailer for "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" is out, and it's full of information (maybe too much?). Here are some moments from the new trailer that caught our eye.
Superman, Wonder Woman and Batman finally together
Read more about the new 'Batman v Superman' trailer here from CNET's Bonnie Burton -- we went through it again and snapped some striking scenes.
This is the very last scene of the trailer before the title reveal but I had to lead off with it for obvious reasons. We've been hearing for months about the look and style of the big DC Comics heroes Superman, Wonder Woman and Batman as played by Henry Cavill, Gal Gadot and Ben Affleck respectively. This is the first time we've seen all three of them together and it looks very exciting. It almost makes me wish this were coming out on December 18 instead of "Star Wars: The Force Awakens." I said "almost."
The first meeting
So this moment may not feature giant explosions or an epic battle between two dedicated warriors but it is the first time that these "gladiators," as Lex Luthor calls them in the trailer, meet. Clark Kent and Bruce Wayne exchange words at some kind of fancy soiree, starting with Kent asking Wayne's opinion on some masked vigilante roaming the streets of Gotham. Wayne fires back by questioning the Daily Planet's constant butt-smooching of another vigilante known as Superman on its editorial page. The tension between these two is already so thick that you could pour it over a sweaty stack of pancakes.
Superman saves the day
It's kind of an unwritten rule of cinema that if you're going to put Superman in your movie, you have to feature him in at least one scene where he's hoisting something incredibly heavy over his lean, muscular shoulders. If you had strength and six-pack abs like that, you'd hoist things too.
A nod to the Joker
This shot of the Joker leaving a spray-painted calling card on Robin's suit also appeared in the first trailer but it is worth mentioning again. Back then, it sparked a weird rumor followed by a serious discussion that Robin may have actually become the Joker. That only makes sense if director Zack Snyder wants comic book fans to march to his Hollywood mansion with torches and pitchforks demanding an explanation.
Meet Lex
The first verbal showdown between Wayne and Kent sets up an interesting introduction for Lex Luthor, played by Jesse Eisenberg. He practically jumps into the trailer like a little kid who's superexcited to meet two of his heroes. Of course, we really know that he's more excited to watch them beat each other to a bloody pulp but that makes him more of an interesting villain in this movie. Does that make me a villain as well? That's what I want to see!
Superman takes the stand
Another interesting dynamic that was explored in the first trailer is the political element to the big showdown between Batman and Superman, thanks in part to Luthor's lobbying with an influential senator (played by Holly Hunter) to make Superman seem like a foreign threat. It's hard not to think about the satirical implications of this plotline in the context of many people's current fears about immigration and national security.
Batman in action
This trailer also treated us to some clearer images of the new Batsuit, including this heavily armored version. Say what you will about "Bat Affleck" but as long as Batman has cool gadgets and weaponry like this, then we'll survive.
The Batmobile rolls out
One of my favorite moments of the new trailer was getting to see the new Batmobile in action. Even though the Tumbler from the Christopher Nolan movies is still my favorite Batmobile by far, this one's got a chance to compete for that title. It's got a really sleek, almost sports-car look to it, which I never imagined would work for a vehicle that's designed for urban warfare. It's like they took Steve McQueen's Mustang Fastback GT from "Bullit" and put giant bat wings on the back of it.
Batman unmasked
It was kind of a bummer to know this early that Superman will learn about Batman's true identity. I mean, I guess we all knew it was going to happen but part of the fun of an epic showdown between two iconic heroes is getting wrapped up in the story that develops between them. Hopefully, I'll get some kind of brain damage between now and then that erases that image from my memory completely.
Say hello to Doomsday
Two of the biggest reveals in this trailer were glimpses of the film's second villain and third hero. Doomsday, the monstrous humanoid from prehistoric Krypton unleashed on Earth by Lex Luthor, definitely makes his presence known in the trailer in a big way. He bounds onto the scene right before Batman's unbelieving eyes and delivers a massive explosion.
Say hello to Wonder Woman
When the dust settles, we get an equally epic reveal of Wonder Woman, played by Gal Gadot, leading to that epic shot of all three superheroes preparing for an epic battle. Frankly, you can't use the word "epic" enough to describe that image. Epic.